Another Study Casts Doubt on Safety of Herbal Drug Kratom

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 -- The herbal supplement kratom regularly causes serious side effects and doesn't appear safe for use, a new study argues.

Kratom, made from the leaves of a Southeast Asian plant, is usually used to treat pain and addiction. But poison control center data shows it has been tied to seizures, withdrawal, hallucinations, agitation and rapid heart rate, researchers report.

Opioids Prescribed in Hospital Often Tied to Long-Term Use

MONDAY, June 17, 2019 -- People given opioids for the first time in the hospital are likely to continue getting them for months after, a new study reports.

A University of Pittsburgh team found that those first-timers are twice as likely to receive more opioids after discharge than patients who were not given opioids (such as oxycodone) in the hospital.

How to Head Off a Pain in the Neck

WEDNESDAY, June 19, 2019 -- Neck pain can sneak up on you over time. While it can be caused by an accident or injury, your everyday posture and body mechanics can also be to blame, from the way you carry a shoulder bag, cradle your phone while multitasking or sit at your desk. These tips will help you better protect your neck.

Hold gadgets and reading materials at eye level. Constantly looking down at your cellphone or tablet, or even a magazine, can tax the muscles in your neck. The same is true for your computer screen. When texting on your cellphone, avoid holding it at chest level or in your lap. Both positions could place your neck in an unnatural position. There's even a name for it: text neck.

More Than 5 Million U.S. Cancer Survivors Deal With Chronic Pain

THURSDAY, June 20, 2019 -- One-third of U.S. cancer survivors have chronic pain, and 1 in 6 have levels that restrict their daily activities, a new study finds.

"The prevalence of chronic pain and high impact chronic pain among cancer survivors in our study was almost double that in the general population, suggesting there are important unmet needs in the large and growing community of people with a history of cancer," said co-author Xuesong Han, an American Cancer Society (ACS) investigator.

The Safer Way to Ease Post-Surgical Pain

THURSDAY, June 20, 2019 -- For people recovering from surgery or dealing with a painful injury, an expert suggests that there are a number of safer alternatives for managing pain than using potentially addictive opioids.

"Today, more than ever before, we have a host of other methods that can effectively lessen pain," Dr. James Grant, chair of the department of anesthesiology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, said in a hospital news release.

Many Patients Don't Need Opioids After Surgery

MONDAY, June 3, 2019 -- The opioid epidemic has been fueled in part by the overprescribing of painkillers. But a new study finds that up to half of patients may not actually need the addictive pills following a surgery.

The finding could be a game-changer for post-op care, said lead researcher Dr. Michael Englesbe.