Tag

Guidelines

All articles tagged with #guidelines

health29 days ago•7 min saved

US Guidelines Broaden Migraine Prevention to More Patients

US neurologists have updated the 2012 AAN/AHS migraine guidelines, recommending preventive treatment for patients with four or more moderate-to-severe headaches per month or substantial migraine-related disability. The update endorses newer CGRP-targeting drugs (atogepant, erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, eptinezumab) as first-line options and adds Botox for chronic migraine, while recognizing additional options like propranolol, topiramate, valproate, and amitriptyline in specific cases. Because responses vary and side effects occur, multiple treatments may be tried. The guidelines are non-binding but intended as a resource to improve access to effective prevention; after about six months of preventive therapy, clinicians should discuss tapering and potential rebound risks.

via ScienceAlert|

#botox #cgrp #guidelines

health1 month ago•16 min saved

Bone Density in Menopause: Timing Your First DEXA Scan

The New York Times health piece notes that menopause raises fracture risk, but most guidelines still recommend a first DEXA scan at age 65 unless you have osteoporosis risk factors; some doctors and influencers push for earlier screening. The decision should be personalized based on factors like prior fractures, family history, low BMI, steroid use, smoking, and other health conditions. DEXA is a low‑dose X‑ray that measures bone density and informs prevention or treatment decisions, including lifestyle changes or medications, made in consultation with a clinician.

via The New York Times|

#bone-density #dexa-scan #guidelines

health1 month ago•4 min saved

New Migraine Prevention Guidelines Highlight CGRP Therapies and Personalization

The American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society released updated migraine prevention guidelines that incorporate CGRP-targeted therapies and emphasize individualized treatment decisions based on efficacy, tolerability, long-term safety, and cost for episodic and chronic migraine. The guideline expands recommendations to more patients (those with frequent migraine days) and outlines preferred options (atogepant, CGRP monoclonal antibodies, and onabotulinumtoxinA, alongside older meds like propranolol, topiramate, and valproate). It also provides guidance on trial duration (8–12 weeks for most meds, 24 weeks for onabotulinumtoxinA), pregnancy considerations, comorbidities, medication overuse, and nonpharmacologic approaches to optimize care.

via Medscape|

#cgrp #guidelines #health

health1 month ago•0 min saved

Rethinking Common Meds for Seniors as Evidence Shifts

Medical research now often finds that medications commonly used by older adults provide limited benefit or carry higher risks, leading to guideline revisions, additions to the Beers Criteria, cautions from the USPSTF, and sometimes FDA black-box warnings as clinicians rethink prescribing for seniors.

via The New York Times|

#beers-criteria #drug-safety #geriatrics

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Independent experts unite to clarify fall vaccine guidance for flu, COVID-19, and RSV

In response to mixed political messaging about vaccines, leading medical groups (AAP, AAFP, ACOG, IDSA) with AMA-backed researchers released fall vaccination guidelines based on a broad review of evidence. They reiterate flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older (with higher-dose options for those 65+), highlight flu’s role in reducing hospitalizations and infant mortality, and note pregnancy-associated protection for newborns. For COVID-19, updated vaccines are advised annually for most groups, with a shared-decision framework for some ages; older adults and those with conditions are prioritized. RSV guidance remains focused on high-risk groups, including a one-time vaccine during late pregnancy (32–36 weeks) and alternative monoclonal antibody strategies for unvaccinated infants, plus recommendations for at-risk adults 50–74 and those 75+. The guidelines aim to provide evidence-based, transparent recommendations amid evolving vaccine policies and changing CDC/FDA positions.

via USA Today|

#covid-19 #flu #guidelines

health1 month ago•8 min saved

Rethinking antibiotic courses: shorter can be safer, longer isn't always better

A University of Utah-led study surveyed 1,475 Americans and found that the long-standing 'always finish the course' advice is not universal. Shorter antibiotic courses can be as effective and safer for infections like pneumonia, though some illnesses (e.g., tuberculosis) require longer treatment. Public beliefs lag behind evidence, with about 60% preferring longer courses and 88% having heard the 'finish your course' mantra. The authors call for clearer, nuance-focused communication between clinicians and patients as evidence evolves.

via Futurity|

#antibiotic-duration #antibiotics #doctor-patient-communication

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Protein-cutting for longevity not supported by experts

Nutrition experts say evidence that dietary protein restriction boosts lifespan in humans is unconvincing and largely based on animal studies. Older adults often need more protein than the minimum, and cutting protein could worsen frailty, muscle loss, and independence—especially for sedentary individuals or those on GLP-1 weight‑loss medications. Current guidelines suggest 0.8–1.6 g/kg/day (with higher needs for active elders), and experts advocate individualized protein targets and prioritizing functional health and physical activity over simply extending lifespan.

via STAT|

#aging #guidelines #health

health1 month ago•7 min saved

VA's road from research to routine mental-health care

The VA uses a multi-step, evidence-based process to turn new mental-health treatments into standard care, weighing research quality, patient safety, ethics, staffing, and resources—and FDA approval alone isn’t enough. Through a team-driven rollout (not a single office), treatments like rTMS are piloted in veterans, studied across facilities, and expanded before becoming routine; medications go through the National Formulary with use criteria. Emerging therapies (ketamine, cannabis, psychedelics) are approached cautiously within ongoing trials. Even after adoption, safety monitoring and guideline updates continue, and veterans may see treatments as available, restricted, or trial-based depending on evidence and logistics.

via Military Times|

#guidelines #health #ptsd

health1 month ago•5 min saved

New US Guidelines Push Early Lipid Control to Fight Heart Disease

US cardiologists updated the 2018 cholesterol guidelines, emphasizing earlier treatment of dyslipidemia to cut lifetime ASCVD risk. Key changes include screening starting in childhood (as young as 9–11, potentially earlier with family history), a new PREVENT risk calculator to personalize 10-year and 30-year cardiovascular risk, LDL targets of <100 mg/dL for borderline/intermediate risk, <70 mg/dL for high risk, and <55 mg/dL for very high risk, and a broader use of therapies (statins and other lipid-lowering drugs) alongside lifestyle changes to reduce long-term heart attack and stroke risk.

via ScienceAlert|

#ascvd #cholesterol #dyslipidemia

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Five Cups a Day: New Guidelines Say Coffee Can Be Heart-Healthy for Most Adults

New American Heart Association guidance says up to 400 mg of caffeine daily (about five 8-ounce cups of coffee) is generally safe for most adults and may offer heart benefits, but individual tolerance varies; the key is avoiding palpitations, insomnia, or anxiety, and watching added sugars. Coffee brewing matters: filtered coffee is preferred to limit LDL-raising compounds; decaf is a viable alternative, and some people—pregnant individuals or those with poorly controlled hypertension, heart rhythm issues, or caffeine sensitivity—should limit intake.

via AOL.com|

#american-heart-association #caffeine #coffee

health1 month ago•61 min saved

Guideline Shift Expands Statin Eligibility to 87.5 Million Americans

A JAMA analysis of the 2026 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines shows 21.5 million more U.S. adults now qualify for statins, bringing the total to about 87.5 million. The expansion focuses on long-term lifetime risk rather than just 10-year risk, with older adults and people with risk factors more likely to qualify. Whether to start a statin should be individualized, possibly aided by tests like coronary calcium scoring, alongside lifestyle changes; statins are generally safe with mostly minor side effects.

via AOL.com|

#cardiovascular-disease #cholesterol #guidelines

health1 month ago•202 min saved

Expanded heart guidelines could put 81 million Americans on blood pressure meds

A new study using NHANES data estimates that the updated 2025 hypertension guidelines would make about 81 million US adults eligible for blood pressure medications; roughly 23 million would become newly eligible and about 9.7 million are currently untreated. Implementing the guidelines could reduce all-cause mortality by about 23% and cardiovascular deaths by about 50% over the next 10 years, with the biggest benefits for those with diabetes. Experts stress that meds work best when paired with lifestyle changes and efforts to improve adherence.

via CNN|

#blood-pressure #cardiovascular-disease #guidelines

technology2 months ago•2 min saved

Telegram briefly vanishes from Apple App Store after user-posted abuse material

Telegram says Apple briefly removed its app globally after a user shared child sexual abuse material; Apple restored the app after Telegram removed the content and banned the user. The episode mirrors a 2018 suspension and highlights ongoing scrutiny of how platforms enforce safety policies at scale.

via aljazeera.com|

#apple-app-store #child-sexual-abuse-material #content-moderation

health2 months ago•3 min saved

Vitamin D Guidelines: Test Selectively and Favor Targeted Supplementation

Vitamin D functions as a system-wide hormone important for bone, immunity, and cardiometabolic health, best viewed through three domains: secure substrate (sun, diet, supplements), proper activation (hepatic/renal hydroxylation and FGF23-PTH regulation), and tissue responsiveness. The 2024 Endocrine Society guideline advises against routine 25(OH)D screening in healthy people and limits testing to specific medical indications. It supports empiric supplementation for adults aged 75+ due to potential mortality benefits but does not endorse universal supplementation above dietary references for younger adults to prevent chronic disease, and finds no strong extraskeletal prevention evidence. For those over 50 with an indication, daily low-dose vitamin D is preferred over high-dose boluses, which can be ineffective or harmful. The USPSTF similarly finds no meaningful reduction in fractures or falls in generally healthy older adults. There is modest evidence that vitamin D may reduce progression to diabetes in high-risk prediabetes when added to lifestyle changes, but not as a general preventive measure in euglycemic individuals. The guideline underlines treating documented deficiency and preventing nutritional rickets in children.

via Medscape|

#endocrine-society #guidelines #health

health2 months ago•6 min saved

Rethinking Menopausal Hormone Therapy: From Flawed Fears to Tailored Care for Survivors

Fear of menopausal hormone therapy stemmed from the WHI and HABITS trials, leading to underuse, especially among breast cancer survivors. New analyses highlight inconsistencies and limitations in those studies, and the FDA's 2025 removal of the black box warning signals a need for personalized risk–benefit discussions. The article advocates shared decision-making and precision medicine to determine when and for whom menopausal hormone therapy may be appropriate, rather than applying a blanket restriction.

via The Conversation|

#breast-cancer #guidelines #health