>> Could at-home flu tests be on the way?
>> Supplement for pregnant smokers
>> Second-leading cause of death worldwide
The Med & Mic™ 11.22.22
MED NEWS blog post from Dr. Maria ON Speaking, LLC
Insightful, supportive coaching to help you meet your speaking goals
At-home flu tests: Pros and Cons
At home flu tests could help people figure out whether they need Tamiflu or Paxlovid. These medications must be started early in the course of illness. This can be important information for telehealth visits. Rapid flu tests that doctors use in the office are similar to the at-home COVID tests that are widely available. Regulators and clinicians worry about people performing and interpreting the test correctly. Also, there is a historical concern about rapid flu tests being inaccurate year to year. The FDA is trying to figure out how to bridge point-of-care and at-home testing approvals. In addition, the FDA would like public health reporting to be built into home tests. Insurance usually doesn't cover at-home tests. (Source: STAT News, B. Trang, 11.22.22)
Vitamin C for Pregnant Smokers
Children carried by smokers had better lung function at age 5 if their mothers took daily vitamin C at 18 weeks of pregnancy or earlier. A study of 250 expectant mothers who took 500 milligrams of vitamin C or placebo showed that children of the vitamin C group had a 60% lower likelihood of developing wheezing and had better breathing function across a number of parameters. Smoke exposure in utero is a risk factor for impaired fetal lung development. About 10% of people in the U.S. continue to smoke while pregnant. (Source: MedPage Today, A. D’Ambrosio, 11.21.22)
Deadly Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections accounted for one in eight deaths worldwide in 2019. This makes them the second-leading cause of death after ischemic heart disease, such as heart attacks. The bacteria were associated with 14 percent of the global total in 2019 in the era before COVID. Five bacteria were responsible for half of those deaths: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The data come from the Global Burden of Disease, a research program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (Source: Medical Xpress, 11.22.22)
The CE experience for this Blog Post / Article is powered by CMEfy - click here to reflect and earn credits {$1}: https://earnc.me/es0rr4
Like | Share | Follow | Subscribe!
What’s your favorite holiday song? Share your thoughts to win a gift card and be featured in my next newsletter. https://forms.gle/iEqkeXYRSZG3gXrH9
Editor’s note: The daily medical news updates will be going on holiday break for the month of December. Watch for media tips in my LinkedIn posts during that time. Happy Holidays! See you in 2023.
Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis, or the advice of your own physician. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.