July 21, 2020

Common Heartburn Drugs May Be Tied to Higher COVID Risk

TUESDAY, July 14, 2020 -- Popular heartburn medications such as Prilosec (omeprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole) may inadvertently up your chances of catching COVID-19, new research suggests.

An online survey of more than 53,000 Americans, all with a history of acid reflux, heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) found that many took a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to lower stomach acid levels.

July 21, 2020

What If a COVID-19 Vaccine Arrived and Many Americans Said No?

TUESDAY, July 14, 2020 -- With several potential COVID-19 vaccines now in clinical trials, U.S. policymakers need to plan for the next hurdle: Ensuring Americans actually get vaccinated.

That's according to a new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. It lays out recommendations for winning the public's trust of any future vaccine, and helping them access it as easily as possible.

July 16, 2020

Guys, Going Vegetarian Won't Lower Your Testosterone

WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 -- Images of burly cavemen bringing home meat may have men thinking that steaks and burgers are key to masculinity.

It's just not true: New research shows that testosterone levels in men who eat vegetable-heavy diets are similar to those in men who wolf down meat.

June 21, 2020

How Well Do Americans Know the Facts About COVID-19?

THURSDAY, June 18, 2020 -- Months into a global pandemic, some groups of Americans simply don't know enough about COVID-19 to protect themselves and others against the highly infectious respiratory virus, a new study reports.

Most folks have a pretty good grasp about how COVID-19 spreads and the three main symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) that should prompt you to get tested for the virus, said lead researcher Dr. Marcella Alsan, a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.

June 18, 2020

AHA News: Hormone Therapy No Cure-All For 'Low T' In Aging Men

WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- Testosterone therapy ads promise to help aging men recapture their vitality, decrease body fat and enhance libido. But hormone treatments – while medically necessary for some men – aren't meant to be a fountain of youth, and experts warn more research is needed to determine if such therapy could boost heart disease risks.

Testosterone levels naturally decline in most men as they age. This decline is generally mild, and symptoms often are nonspecific, such as low energy, reduced muscle mass and reduced vigor. Roughly 20% of men over the age of 60 have experienced a drop in testosterone levels, though this gradual decline can begin as early as the mid-30s.

June 1, 2020

Prostate Cancer Drug Could Be 'Game Changing,' Researchers Say

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 -- For men with advanced prostate cancer, a new hormone therapy pill works better than standard injections -- and carries a much lower risk of heart attack or stroke, a clinical trial has found.

The drug, called relugolix, is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If it gets the green light, however, it would be "game-changing," said Dr. Neal Shore, lead researcher on the trial.