Medical devices Archive

For heart attack survivors, taking a polypill that contains a blood pressure drug, a cholesterol-lowering statin, and low-dose aspirin may help prevent more future heart attacks and serious heart problems than usual care that includes several separate drugs.

The routine yearly medical check-up is now more often referred to as the annual wellness visit, which allows people to formulate detailed health goals with their doctor and design plans to meet them, as well as assess the possibility of life-changing events, like heart attack, stroke, and cancer.

The miniaturization of electronics is leading to the development of next-generation devices to monitor health. People today are using various devices (typically smart watches) to measure their heart rate, the regularity of their heart rhythm, the quality of their sleep, their body temperature, and the levels of oxygen and sugar in their blood. And scientists are working on other devices—such as a thin strip of material that is pasted onto the skin—to constantly measure blood pressure, organ function, or certain body chemicals.

The CDC's 2016 guidelines for prescribing opioid medications aimed to reduce deaths from overdose. Recent revisions to these guidelines aim for refinement while emphasizing safety and the importance of finding the best treatment solution for each person.

The prescription drug Adderall has been in short supply for months. How widespread is this problem, and what are the consequences, and possible solutions, for adults who rely on this medication to manage ADHD?

After age 50, the number of taste buds begins to decline, so it's natural for people to notice some changes in their sense of taste. But other conditions also can affect taste, such as nasal issues, certain medications, and conditions like dry mouth and acid reflux.

In August 2022, the FDA approved a new category of safe, regulated hearing aids to be sold over the counter. The devices are meant only for people with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss who need to amplify the volume of sounds around them.

Relying on pain pills for persistent aches, pains, and soreness can come with side effects and increase the risk of drug dependency. A solution is to try any of several available drug-free therapies to help manage and even treat common types of pain, such as physical and massage therapy, yoga, acupuncture, and therapies that help change your perception and reaction to pain.

Elevated LDL cholesterol contributes to cardiovascular disease. Taking statin drugs can substantially lower this risk. But what if a person's LDL level remains too high on their maximally tolerated dose? An expert consensus report lays out a clear path for next steps.

In recent years, treatment options for inflammatory bowel disease have expanded rapidly, with new types of drugs, new medications within existing classes, and new combinations of treatments for some patients.