Erika Watts
Medical News Today
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Past articles by Erika:
Opioids and pregnancy: Researchers examine the safety of using drugs such as methadone as treatment
Researchers say medications such as methadone can safely and effectively be used to treat pregnant women with opioid use disorder → Read More
Scientists manage to detect pancreatic and prostate cancer with a urine test
* Pancreatic cancer accounted for 3.2%, and prostate cancer accounted for 14.2% of all new cancer cases in 2022 in the United States. * Pancreatic cancer, in particular, can be difficult to treat and has a much higher mortality rate than many forms of cancer, what may be due to the fact it is often diagnosed late. * Korean researchers recently devised a way to detect both pancreatic and prostate… → Read More
Antidepressants for pain? Not the right answer, experts conclude
A large meta-analysis of several reviews of the literature has concluded that, in most cases, antidepressants are ineffective in the treatment of chronic pain. → Read More
Soybean protein may help lower cholesterol, be as beneficial as statins
Scientists have found that soybean varieties with greater proportions of the protein B-conglycinin may help reduce LDL cholesterol levels. → Read More
Adults with ADHD face more mental health problems than doctors anticipated
A new study suggests that adults with ADHD tend to internalize their struggles, and they require more targeted mental health support. → Read More
Artificial pancreas for type 2 diabetes shows promise in trial
Researchers in the United Kingdom have trialed the use of an artificial pancreas in the management of type 2 diabetes. The results are very promising. → Read More
Severe hypertension: Drinking too much coffee may double mortality risk
A recent study in Japan shows that drinking 2 or more cups of coffee daily may increase mortality rates in people with severe hypertension. The findings also indicate that while 2 or more cups of coffee raised the risk, there were no risks associated with 1 cup of coffee or green tea. → Read More
High doses of statins linked to osteoporosis risk in mouse study
An animal study found that high doses of cholesterol-lowering statins may negatively impact bone health. → Read More
Alzheimer’s disease: Urine biomarker may provide early detection, study shows
A recent study suggests that higher levels of urinary formic acid may be a biomarker for impaired cognition. The findings could lead to inexpensive and accessible testing for early detection of Alzheimer’s-related dementia. → Read More
Exercising later in the day may reduce insulin resistance, control blood sugar
Physical activity in the afternoon and evening hours is linked to reduced insulin resistance, lower blood sugar, and help manage type 2 diabetes, a study finds. → Read More
Early-stage breast cancer: 3 weeks of radiation may be just as effective as 6
Two new studies explore fewer, but higher, doses of radiation for breast cancer patients, which may reduce treatment length to as little as 3 weeks. → Read More
Exercise during chemotherapy is safe and can prevent fatigue
Exercising during chemotherapy is safe for cancer patients, and may prevent fatigue and accelerate the return of function, a new study indicates. → Read More
Antibiotic from potato-infecting microbe could help treat Candida
Researchers have discovered solanimycin, an antibiotic derived from a bacterium that infects potatoes. The new compound could treat Candida, as well as plant fungal infections. → Read More
Omega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlife
* Omega-3 fatty acids have many benefits and play a role in heart health and cognitive functioning. * A new study demonstrates that there may be a connection between consuming omega-3 and an increase in brain functioning for people in midlife. * The cross-sectional study analyzed the omega-3 blood levels of people in their midlife and assessed their MRIs and thinking skills to see whether there… → Read More
Should older adults regularly check their blood pressure at home?
A new study finds that less than half of the people ages 50 to 80 who take medication for hypertension regularly check their blood pressure at home or other places. → Read More
Existing heart medication may help treat alcohol use disorder
A study found that an FDA-approved medication for hypertension and cardiovascular conditions, spironolactone, may be repurposed to treat alcohol use disorder. → Read More
Can zero-calorie sweeteners raise your risk for cardiovascular disease?
* A massive study involving French citizens that spanned more than a decade evaluated their use of artificial sweeteners. * The observational study periodically checked the participants’ food and drink intake and had the participants regularly report on their health. * By the end of the study, the researchers learned that the participants who consumed higher levels of artificial sweeteners… → Read More
The 'healthy suntan' myth: Survey finds 8 in 10 Europeans still believe it
A new global survey has found that as many as 8 in 10 Europeans believe in a ‘healthy tan’ and other myths such as only wearing sun protection on hot and sunny days. → Read More
Can monkeypox cause heart problems? One case study says it may
The case study of a man who developed myocarditis following a monkeypox infection suggests that heart problems may be a complication associated with this virus. → Read More
Moderate or vigorous exercise may boost heart health, large study finds
A large study in the U.K found that people who participated in moderate-intensity or vigorous exercise had a reduced risk of heart failure. → Read More