Antidepressant Prescriptions for Young Females Dramatically Increased During COVID Pandemic
A study recently published in the journal Pediatrics found that antidepressant use in young people 12-25 years old rose 64 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic and the vast portion of this increase was seen in females. After March 2020, the rate of antidepressant prescriptions written monthly for adolescent girls 12-17 years old rose 130 percent, […]
Marijuana Use Linked to Higher Risk of Strokes and Heart Attacks
Marijuana use of any kind, including smoking, vaping or consuming edibles, is linked to a higher risk of strokes and heart attacks, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association last month. The study found that those who consume the drug regularly have an increased risk of life-threatening medical […]
Red Cross Does Not Sort Blood Donors by COVID Vaccination Status
Contrary to some claims, the American Red Cross reportedly does not sort blood donations according to whether an individual has been vaccinated for COVID-19. A representative of the organization explained, “blood is tested to ensure its safety based on FDA requirements and then provided to medical facilities for their use. Every unit of blood is […]
RSV Vaccines for Senior Adults Linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome
On Feb. 29, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) presented a preliminary analysis that showed that 23 adults over the age of 65 who received a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).1 When a person develops GBS, including after an infection or […]
FDA Proposes Banning Food Additive BVO
Following California’s lead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed to ban the food additive brominated vegetable oil (BVO). Toxicology studies conducted in collaboration with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) led to the FDA concluding that BVO is “no longer safe” due largely in part to its ability to harm thyroid […]
Influenza Vaccines Only 42 Percent Effective in Adults This Year
The influenza vaccines currently being administered in the United States are estimated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be 42 percent effective in adults. This is an interim estimate for the 2023-2024 “flu season” published in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on Feb. 29, 2024.1 2 3 […]