Tag

Guidelines

All articles tagged with #guidelines

health4 days 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

health4 days 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

health5 days 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

health9 days 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

health10 days 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

health11 days 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

health13 days 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

technology20 days 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

health24 days 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

health25 days 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

health28 days ago•15 min saved

New cholesterol rules could broaden statin use for millions

The 2026 cholesterol guidelines from the AHA/ACC expand statin eligibility to about 87.5 million U.S. adults aged 30–79 (roughly 57% of those studied), by extending risk assessment to a 30-year horizon and lowering 10-year risk thresholds. Eligibility means statins should be considered but not automatically prescribed; decisions should be personalized with a clinician, and lifestyle measures remain essential for preventing cardiovascular disease.

via KSL.com|

#cardiovascular-risk #cholesterol #guidelines

health29 days ago•8 min saved

New US cholesterol guidelines expand statin eligibility for millions

The 2026 cholesterol guidelines from the AHA/ACC and partners would make about 87.5 million US adults (roughly 57% of those aged 30–79 without cardiovascular disease) eligible for statins for primary prevention, up from the 2018 rules. Changes include extending risk assessment to ages 30–79, lowering 10-year risk thresholds, adding weight to conditions like advanced CKD or HIV, and considering 30-year risk. Eligibility means statins should be discussed—not automatically prescribed—after individual risk assessment, using tools like the PREVENT calculator and possibly calcium-scoring tests. Lifestyle changes remain essential, and decisions are personalized based on risk, age, and preferences.

via CNN|

#cardiovascular-disease #cholesterol #guidelines

health1 month ago•4 min saved

LDL Target Gap: Most Americans Miss 2026 Cholesterol Goals

Under the 2026 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines, LDL targets are lower based on cardiovascular risk. A Mass General Brigham study analyzing NHANES 2021–2023 data finds about one-third of U.S. adults without prior CVD have LDL above the target, and roughly 76% of them aren’t on cholesterol-lowering meds. Among those with established cardiovascular disease, nearly 80% exceed the goal, with many already on therapy but not at target, highlighting the need to start treatment in primary prevention and intensify therapy in secondary prevention.

via Harvard Gazette|

#cardiovascular-disease #cholesterol #guidelines

health1 month ago•6 min saved

New Dyslipidemia Guideline Shifts Statin Eligibility Toward Younger, Lower-Risk Americans

The 2026 dyslipidemia guideline expands primary-prevention statin eligibility to younger and lower-risk adults, with an estimated 87.5 million Americans aged 30–79 eligible and 21.5 million newly eligible. The newly eligible group has a lower average 10-year ASCVD risk (~3.1%) than those previously recommended statins (~6.1%), driven by the PREVENT risk equations, signaling a shift in who should start lipid-lowering therapy rather than simply increasing overall statin use.

via MedPage Today|

#cardiovascular-disease #cholesterol #guidelines

health1 month ago•1 min saved

Moderate Coffee Dose Found Safe for Most Adults, AHA Reports

An American Heart Association statement finds that up to 400 mg of caffeine daily—roughly five 8-ounce cups of coffee—appears safe for most adults and may lower risk of heart disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes; however, higher caffeine intake, especially from energy drinks, may raise blood pressure and trigger abnormal heart rhythms.

via The Washington Post|

#caffeine #cardiovascular-health #coffee