Researchers: NFL’s Seau had brain disease
When he ended his life last year by shooting himself in the chest, Junior Seau had a degenerative brain disease often linked with repeated blows to the head.
Year: 2013
Flu season strikes early and, in some places, hard
NEW YORK (AP) — From the Rocky Mountains to New England, hospitals are swamped with people with flu symptoms. Some medical centers are turning away visitors or making them wear face masks, and one Pennsylvania hospital set up a tent outside its ER to deal with the feverish patients.
FDA requires lower doses for sleep medications
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is requiring makers of Ambien and similar sleeping pills to lower the dosage of their drugs, based on studies suggesting patients face a higher risk of injury due to morning drowsiness.
FDA advisory panel backs J&J diabetes drug approval
(Reuters) – A panel of advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended the agency approve an experimental new treatment for diabetes developed by Johnson & Johnson, potentially making it the first drug of its type to be approved in the United States. …
Report Suggests How to Improve Health Care and Save Money
After learning just yesterday about the poor health of Americans relative to other democratic wealthy nations around the world, it is heartening to learn that today the Commonwealth Fund Commission has reported on ways to improve both the quality and cost of health care. If both private and public insurers acted in tandem to put the suggested approaches to work now, spending in health care dollars would be slowed by a total of $2 trillion by 2023 .
'Physical activity is critical to academic and life success'
NFL’s Junior Seau had brain disease from blows to head
(Reuters) – Junior Seau, the 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker who killed himself last year, suffered from the same debilitating brain disease diagnosed in at least two other former NFL defensive players who also committed suicide, a study released on Thursday said. Seau, 43, died in May after shooting himself in the chest at his beachfront house in his hometown of Oceanside, California. He played mostly for the San Diego Chargers and two other teams in a 20-year career in the National Football League. …
UPDATE 4-NFL’s Junior Seau had brain disease from blows to head
(Adds statement from Seau family) Jan 10 (Reuters) – Junior Seau, the 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker who killed himself last year, suffered from the same debilitating brain disease diagnosed in at least two other former NFL defensive players who also committed suicide, a study released on Thursday said. Seau, 43, died in May after shooting himself in the chest at his beachfront house in his hometown of Oceanside, California. He played mostly for the San Diego Chargers and two other teams in a 20-year career in the National Football League. …
FDA Cuts Ambien Dosage After Sleep-Driving Incidents
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced today that it is requiring manufacturers of Ambien, Ambien CR, Zolpimist, Edluar, and other sleeping medications that contain the active ingredient zolpidem, to lower currently recommended doses.
Heart attack pattern shifted after Katrina
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Heart attacks are usually most common on weekdays and mornings, especially Mondays, but new data analysis shows that pattern reversed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. “The fact that it’s such a polar opposite shift is really surprising,” lead author Dr. Matthew Peters of Tulane University told Reuters Health. After the storm the overall number of attacks tripled, likely due to an increased number of smokers. They were more likely on weekday evenings and weekends, according to data published in The American Journal of Cardiology. …
Fake Fecal Transplants For Gut RePOOPulation
A laboratory-made slurry of healthy bacteria could replace human fecal matter in stool transplants to treat bacterial infections. Gretchen Kuda Kroen reports.
Native Canadians could block development, chief warns
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Native Canadians are so angry that they could resort to blocking resource development and bring the economy "to its knees" unless the Conservative government addresses their grievances, an influential chief said on Thursday. Native Canadian chiefs are due to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday to discuss the poor living conditions facing many of Canada's 1.2 million aboriginals. "We have had enough. Our young people have had enough. Our women have had enough … . We have nothing left to lose," said Grand Chief Derek Nepinak from the province of Manitoba. …