All articles tagged with #guidelines
Health Secretary Kennedy’s push to study and draft guidelines for deprescribing SSRIs follows widespread withdrawal stories, with experts advocating hyperbolic tapering to account for drug half-lives; clinicians warn against undermining necessary treatment, while patient experiences highlight the long, challenging process of stopping antidepressants.
RPCS3, the open-source PS3 emulator, updated its contribution guidelines to permit AI-assisted research but require full human ownership and disclosure for any AI-generated code in pull requests; untested AI-generated code may be closed or banned, with repeated violations leading to bans, as maintainers urge contributors to learn debugging and coding themselves rather than submitting 'AI slop'.
New data show daily baby aspirin use for preventing cardiovascular disease has fallen from 7.2% to 3.2% since 2018 as guidelines shifted to emphasize bleeding risks; aspirin is no longer broadly recommended for primary prevention in most adults, with the strongest benefit only for those who’ve already had a heart attack, stroke, or requiring a stent, and decisions should be individualized with a clinician alongside continued risk-factor management.
A Epic Research analysis of about 279 million primary-care visits (2015–2025) shows daily low-dose aspirin use for preventing cardiovascular disease has roughly halved, dropping from about 7% in 2018 to 3% by 2025; guideline changes over the past decade discourage aspirin for primary prevention in favor of managing risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure, while aspirin may still help for people who have already had a heart attack, stroke, or a stent, after individualized risk assessment.
A South Korean NEJM study found that among stable, low-risk heart-attack survivors, stopping beta-blockers after one year was as safe as continuing them for years: 58 events (7.2%) vs 74 (9%), deaths 2.4% vs 3.4%, recurrent heart attack 2.3% vs 2.6%, and heart-failure hospitalizations about 2% in both groups, with modest increases in BP/HR but SBP kept under 130. The results—alongside evolving guidelines—suggest lifelong beta-blockers may not be necessary for all, supporting shared decision-making and potential cost savings, though not all patients are candidates and further data are needed.
ACOG’s updated endometriosis guidance allows clinicians to diagnose and start treatment based on symptoms and exam (no mandatory surgical confirmation), with transvaginal ultrasound as first-line imaging and MRI for later characterization. The recommendations apply to adolescents as well as adults and urge cross-specialty recognition (pediatrics, gastroenterology, urology, internal medicine) to shorten the historically long diagnostic timeline. The shift aims to move care earlier, reduce disease progression and infertility impact, and address systemic barriers highlighted by patient stories like Leah Chapman, who faced years of pain, multiple IVF cycles, and advocacy efforts to improve access and awareness.
New ACSM guidelines say any amount of resistance training boosts strength, muscle, and function, with the biggest gains from choosing a routine you can maintain long-term; emphasize all major muscle groups at least twice weekly, and you can achieve results with bands, bodyweight, or a home workout—gym access isn’t required.
The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have updated dyslipidemia guidelines, prioritizing earlier lifestyle-based prevention, a modern cardiovascular risk calculator (PREVENT) to guide treatment, and additional tests (CAC, Lp(a), ApoB) to refine risk and LDL-C lowering decisions; the updates also address hypertriglyceridemia therapies and recommend cholesterol screening for kids aged 9–11 to identify familial hypercholesterolemia early and reduce lifetime cardiovascular risk.
A Lancet review argues that men’s health and partner support before and during pregnancy influence outcomes for mothers and children, and calls for including paternal health in pre-conception guidelines. It notes lifestyle and clinical factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, alcohol use, and age can affect sperm quality and fertility, while partner involvement improves pregnancy experience and outcomes. A separate Lancet study across countries found consistent priorities for pregnancy planning—physical and mental health, stability, and partner support—highlighting the need for policy changes to monitor reproductive-age health and to support diverse gender identities.
Major medical groups—including the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology—issued updated guidelines recommending cholesterol screening and lipid-lowering treatment begin as young as age 30 if lifestyle changes aren’t enough. The guidelines call for measuring lipoprotein(a) once in adulthood, set LDL targets of <100 mg/dL for lower/intermediate risk and <70 mg/dL for high risk, and emphasize statins as the foundation with non-statin therapies considered when needed to reduce long-term heart attack and stroke risk.
The 2026 American dyslipidemia guideline endorses PREVENT-ASCVD risk equations to guide primary prevention therapy and suggests considering lipid-lowering treatment for adults at intermediate risk based on a 10-year PREVENT-ASCVD risk, with additional considerations for borderline risk and for patients with moderate subclinical atherosclerosis, aiming to lower LDL cholesterol.
New cholesterol guidelines urge starting screening in your 30s and using lifetime risk (via the PREVENT calculator) alongside 10-year risk to guide treatment. Targets are LDL <100 mg/dL for most, <70 mg/dL for high-risk individuals, and <55 mg/dL for those with existing heart disease, with statins considered earlier; the guidance also recommends apoB testing after LDL goals and universal lipoprotein(a) testing once in adulthood, plus calcium scoring for those at borderline/intermediate risk, all aiming to reduce lifetime LDL exposure and prevent cardiovascular events.
The 2026 AHA/ACC guideline for acute PE introduces a five-category Acute PE Clinical Categories system (A–E) to sharpen risk stratification and guide therapy; patients with higher risk (categories C–E) or cardiopulmonary failure should be hospitalized, and for those eligible for oral anticoagulation, direct oral anticoagulants are preferred over vitamin K antagonists to prevent recurrent VTE and reduce major bleeding.
A Lancet meta-analysis of 19 large randomized trials (over 122,000 participants) finds that most reported statin side effects are not supported by reliable evidence, with real adverse effects being rare (about 1% muscle symptoms; rare rhabdomyolysis; small increases in liver tests and glucose for those near diabetes thresholds). The benefits remain substantial: roughly 25% lower risk of heart attack or stroke and meaningful LDL reductions, with inexpensive generic options (~$40/year). Updated PREVENT-based risk estimates could expand who should start statins, underscoring that fears of side effects should not unduly deter appropriate preventive therapy.
Longstanding NHS guidance that daily low-dose aspirin protects the heart is being re-evaluated. In people with no prior cardiovascular disease, the benefits are limited and risks—such as stomach bleeding and brain haemorrhages—are significant; this has led to updated NHS guidance since 2021 and a 2023 recommendation to avoid routinely offering aspirin to prevent a first heart attack. The NHS still recommends daily aspirin for those who have had a heart attack or stroke, but many healthy patients remain unaware of risks. Doctors urge discussions with GPs about individual risk and highlight alternatives (blood pressure control, statins, exercise) as safer, more effective preventive measures. Some patients report severe side effects, underscoring why broad daily aspirin use should be avoided unless clinically indicated.