PAINRelief could be on the way for UTI sufferers dealing with debilitating pain: Findings from a new study show that UTIs cause the nerves in the bladder to become hypersensitive resulting in the extremely painful and frequent urge to urinate, pelvic pain, and burning pain while urinating. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
When using music to alleviate pain, tempo matters: Music has the best chance of providing pain relief when it is played at our natural rhythm, a McGill University research team has discovered. This suggests it may be possible to reduce a patient’s level of pain by using technology to take a piece of music someone likes and adjust the tempo to match their internal rhythm, the researchers said. Pain
New ACP guideline on migraine prevention shows no clinically important advantages for newer, expensive medications: The American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed new recommendations to prevent episodic migraines in nonpregnant adults in outpatient settings. The clinical guideline, which includes three recommendations centered around monotherapy, is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. In Recommendation 1, ACP suggests clinicians initiate monotherapy to prevent episodic migraine headache in nonpregnant adults in outpatient settings by choosing one of the following pharmacologic treatments: a beta-adrenergic blocker, either metoprolol or propranolol; the antiseizure medication valproate; the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine; or the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline. In Recommendation 2, if these patients do not tolerate or inadequately respond to a trial or trials of treatments in Recommendation 1, then ACP suggests that clinicians use monotherapy with a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist (atogepant or rimegepant) or a CGRP monoclonal antibody (eptinezumab, erenumab, fremanezumab, or galcanezumab). In Recommendation 3, if patients still do not tolerate or inadequately respond to a trial or trials of treatments suggested in Recommendations 1 and 2, then ACP suggests clinicians use monotherapy with the antiseizure medication topiramate.
Study offers new hope for relieving chronic pain in dialysis patients: A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that offering these patients pain coping skills training (PCST) significantly reduced their suffering and improved their quality of life. “This is particularly important for these patients, since the therapeutic choices for pain management are limited and the use of opioids has been shown to be associated with poor outcomes in this group.” The randomized controlled study enrolled 643 participants from 16 medical centers and 103 dialysis clinics in The HOPE Consortium, an ongoing multi-site study exploring new treatments for dialysis patients.
Propranolol may reduce ischemic stroke risk in women with migraines: Propranolol, a beta blocker medication used for treating high blood pressure and preventing migraines, may lower ischemic stroke risk in women who experience migraines frequently. In the large analysis of more than 3 million medical records, the protective effect of propranolol was stronger for ischemic stroke compared to other stroke types and in women with migraine without aura. However, it did not have the same effect on men. American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025
Chiropractic associated with reduction in opioid-related adverse drug events: A new study found that adults with newly diagnosed sciatica who initially received chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) were significantly less likely to experience opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) such as overdose and poisoning over a one-year follow-up compared to those receiving usual medical care. The study highlights the value of CSM as a potential opioid-sparing approach in the management of sciatica, a low back disorder characterized by radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in the leg due to a compressed nerve root. PLOS One
Cancer drugs linked to severe chronic peripheral nerve pain for 4 in every 10 patients: Notwithstanding wide regional variations, platinum based drugs, taxanes, and lung cancer seem to be associated with the highest rates of persistent painful neuropathy, lasting at least 3 months, the findings suggest, prompting the researchers to call for tailored approaches to pain relief. Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.
Fibromyalgia Pain Might Start in the Spinal Cord, Study Suggests: A study published in Pain Reports adds a new piece to the puzzle, showing spinal disinhibition — disruption of the spinal cord’s inhibitory systems that modulate pain signals — in people with fibromyalgia syndrome. The results suggest that spinal disinhibition could be a mechanism for generating pain in fibromyalgia.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINEFrequent Cannabis Use May Damage Working Memory, Decision-Making Skills: Frequent cannabis use was associated with a small to medium decrease in working memory, a new study shows. Working memory is needed for everyday tasks such as driving, remembering a shopping list and following verbal instructions. The study is observational, so it can’t prove that cannabis damages the brain, but it adds to scientific evidence that cannabis may impact thinking. JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source
Pilot edition of international acupuncture guidelines for non-specific low back pain: The set of guidelines, published in the World Journal of Acupuncture – Moxibustion, provides seven recommendations for 10 clinical questions. The main recommendations are: For patients with acute/subacute NSLBP, compared with oral administration of Western medicine (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants) or other non-pharmacological treatments (physical therapy, bed rest, tuina), filiform needle therapy (acupuncture or electroacupuncture) or comprehensive therapy of acupuncture therapy (acupuncture plus moxibustion, acupuncture plus cupping, acupuncture plus moxibustion and cupping) is prioritized. For patients with chronic non-specific low back pain, the degree of recommendations for therapy ranges from high to low : the comprehensive therapy of acupuncture therapy > filiform needle therapy > other non-pharmacological treatments (tuina, physical therapy plus exercise, and core stability training). For pregnant women with NSLBP, acupuncture should be delivered with caution, and the risk of safety may be induced if the acupoints are not appropriately selected or manipulated.
Ketamine-Induced Uropathy: What Urologists Need to Know: The increasing misuse of ketamine for pleasure and medical purposes causes severe urinary complications. At the 118th French Congress of Urology, experts presented the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing ketamine-induced uropathy, a condition marked by intense pain and frequent urination, reportedly as high as “30-50 times a day.” “The treatment approach must be multidisciplinary, involving addiction specialists, pain management experts, and psychiatrists,” François Meyer, MD, from Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, France, stated. According to the literature, these urinary disorders can be reversed in 50%-85% of cases with “complete and sustained” ketamine withdrawal.
Meditation induces changes in deep brain areas associated with memory and emotional regulation: Researchers using intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings from deep within the brain found that meditation led to changes in activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, key brain regions involved in emotional regulation and memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
FDA ACTION• Approved semaglutide (Ozempic, Novo Nordisk) for reducing the risk for worsening kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
• Approved Merilog (insulin-aspart-szjj) as biosimilar to Novolog (insulin aspart) for the improvement of glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.
• Alerting patients of a safety concern regarding diabetes devices, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps and automated insulin dosing systems, that rely on a smartphone to deliver critical safety alerts.
• Approved Journavx (suzetrigine) 50 milligram oral tablets, a first-in-class non-opioid analgesic, to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults.
PREVENTION
ExerciseAdding Higher-Intensity Walking to Stroke Treatment May Improve Recovery: In a new study, a stroke rehabilitation program utilizing progressive-intensity walking improved outcomes for stroke survivors. What’s more, the study demonstrated this program could be successfully implemented in real-world rehabilitation clinics. The findings will be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025Trusted Source.
Moderate-intensity exercise could help suppress hunger: Moderate-intensity exercise appears to have resulted in a reduction of appetite in people with overweight and obesity in a new study conducted by researchers from Iran and Australia. While this may disappoint those who hope they can eat more because they exercise, the good news is that the reduction in hunger may make achieving weight-loss goals a bit easier. The study — which appears in the journal Physiological ReportsTrusted Source — found that proteins associated with appetite suppression increased immediately following an hour-long exercise session, at the same time that a reduction of an appetite-stimulating hormone was observed. The peptides are produced by muscles during physical exertion.
Move more, age well: Prescribing physical activity for older adults as a recipe for healthy aging: A review article published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) summarizes the considerable evidence supporting the important role physical activity plays in preventing or reducing the effects of diseases and discusses how to prescribe effective exercise for older adults.
Diet/NutritionSwapping Regular Salt for Substitutes May Lower Risk of Recurrent Stroke, Death: A study published February 5 in JAMA CardiologyTrusted Source found that salt substitution was safe and led to a 12% reduction in mortality and a 14% reduction in the risk of recurrent stroke. “This finding shows that salt substitution is a cost-effective option for survivors of stroke by providing considerable health benefits through a simple dietary intervention strategy. It provides direct evidence to shape public health strategies worldwide, especially among populations who rely on home cooking with salt.”
Carbonated Water May Promote Weight Loss, but Effects Are Minimal: According to a new article published on January 21 in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, a researcher evaluated how fizzy water could aid your weight loss efforts beyond filling the void left by ditching sodas. The discussion highlights how drinking carbonated water may induce certain physiological changes conducive to weight loss.
Juicing may harm your health in just three days, new study finds: The study, recently published in Nutrients, found that a vegetable and fruit juice-only diet — even for just three days — can trigger shifts in gut and oral bacteria linked to inflammation and cognitive decline.
Eating a Mediterranean-style diet improved brain health in study of Hispanic/Latino adults: Closely following a Mediterranean-style diet — rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, olive oil and some fish and chicken — was associated with improved brain health in a study of Hispanic/Latino adults in the U.S. The Mediterranean diet provided benefits that extended beyond heart health, researchers said. American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025
New study reveals how a ‘non-industrialized’ style diet can reduce risk of chronic disease: A paper published today in the prestigious scientific journal Cell shows that a newly developed diet that mimics eating habits in non-industrialissed communities led to significant metabolic and immunological improvements in a human intervention study. In just three weeks the diet: Promoted weight loss; decreased bad cholesterol by 17%
reduced blood sugar by 6%; reduced C-reactive Protein (a marker of inflammation and heart disease) by 14%. The NiMeTM diet shares key characteristics of non-industrialized diets: Plant-based focus, but not vegetarian: Primarily made up of vegetables, legumes, and other whole-plant foods. One small serving of animal protein per day (salmon, chicken, or pork). No dairy, beef, or wheat: Excluded simply because they are not part of the traditional foods consumed by rural Papua New Guineans. Very low in processed foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat. Fibre-rich: Fiber content was 22 grams per 1,000 calories—exceeding current dietary recommendations. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1071336
New study highlights role of lean red meat in gut and heart health as part of a balanced healthy diet:A recent study1 from Purdue University scientists reveals following a consistent dietary pattern that features lean red meat can contribute to gut microbiota balance and support cardiovascular health.
Does Adding Sugar to Coffee Negate Its Diabetes Protection? Regular coffee consumption without any additives reduces the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) by 10% per cup, but this protection is significantly weakened when sugar or artificial sweeteners are added. Adding cream doesn’t affect coffee’s protective benefits, but adding coffee whitener shows a trend toward reduced protection. online in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Long-term yogurt consumption tied to decreased incidence of certain types of colorectal cancer:Researchers looked at the role of long-term diet and the gut bacteria in colorectal cancer using data on participants who had been followed for three decades. They found that people who consumed two or more servings of yogurt per week tended to have lower rates of colorectal cancer positive for Bifidobacterium. The findings suggest that yogurt consumption may change the microbiome, leading to a protective effect for some types of colorectal cancer. Gut Microbes
Yo-yo dieting may significantly increase kidney disease risk in people with type 1 diabetes: Body-weight cycling (also known as yo-yo dieting) has been shown to significantly increase the risk of kidney disease in people with type 1 diabetes, regardless of body mass index (BMI) and other traditional risk factors, according to a new study. The Journal of Clinical
Vitamins/SupplementsDaily omega-3 supplements and regular exercise may slow aging: A new study suggests that omega-3 and vitamin D supplements, when combined with regular exercise, may help slow biological aging by several months over a 3-year period. Researchers analysed data from the DO-HEALTH trial, which tracked over 700 older adults and found that those who followed this regimen experienced measurable benefits at the molecular level. The researchers said that even though the effects might seem small, they could still make a big difference for public health — helping to lower the risk of age-related health issues and improving the well-being of older adults. Nature AgingTrusted Source,
Lack of essential vitamins and minerals common in people with type 2 diabetes: Micronutrient deficiency, whereby levels of vitamins and minerals essential for healthy bodily function are far too low, is common in people with type 2 diabetes, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. A lack of vitamin D is the most common ‘missing’ micronutrient, overall, the findings indicate, with women at greater risk than men of these deficiencies, dubbed 'hidden hunger.'
Drinking ketones improves heart health, study suggests: This is the first time people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been given a drink with ketone esters -- a supplement that is meant to plunge your system into ketosis -- to monitor the effect on the heart. Ketosis is the metabolic state where your body is forced to burn fats instead of carbohydrates. "It's still early days, but these results are promising. We saw an improvement in cardiac efficiency after the participants had the drink with ketones, compared to a placebo drink." "In all 13 of the participants, their hearts were working more efficiently after the ketone drink at rest and during moderate intensity exercise, compared to the placebo drink. I'm feeling very positive about the results, but more research is needed because we only assessed participants on the day, which means we have no idea what the chronic impact of drinking ketones would be." Journal of Applied Physiology
OtherRegular Flossing Linked to Better Heart Health, Reduced Stroke, AFib Risk: New research shows that regular flossing was associated with a significantly lower risk of certain forms of stroke and atrial fibrillation (AFib). American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025Trusted Source
From Fox News to MSNBC: Diverse media diet linked to higher trust in vaccines: People who get their news from an ideologically diverse array of sources are more likely to get vaccinated, regardless of their political affiliation, new University of Colorado Boulder research shows. The study found that people who reported consuming more conservative media were significantly less likely to be vaccinated and boosted. The researchers noted that, for example, Fox News pundit Sean Hannity told viewers at the time that COVID-19 was made up by the “deep state,” and then-Fox business anchor Trish Regan characterized the virus as “a scam.”
Exercise and improved diet before surgery linked to fewer complications and enhanced recovery: Actively preparing for major surgery by exercising and improving diet (known as “prehabilitation”) is associated with fewer complications, less time in hospital, and improved recovery and quality of life in adults, finds an analysis of clinical trials published by The BMJ today. The researchers stress that the certainty of evidence for all comparisons was generally low to very low, but they say prehabilitation based on exercise, nutrition, or exercise combined with other components, may be beneficial.
RSV Vaccines Will Carry Warning for Guillain-Barré Syndrome: The prescribing information for two respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines will now include a warning for the increased risk for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 42 days of vaccination based on data from postmarketing research, according to a safety communication from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Seasonal Flu Shot: First Defense Against an Eventful Avian Influenza Pandemic: In this prospective observational study, immune protection against H5N1 and H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) was almost absent prior to vaccination. However, seasonal influenza vaccines induced a seroprotective response against the H5N1 subtype in nearly 15% of younger individuals. published online on December 31, 2024, in mBio.
TREATMENTGLP-1 Drugs Benefit Brain and Heart Health, but May Cause Kidney, GI Issues: Researchers report that GLP-1 drugs prescribed for weight loss, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, may improve cognition and lower dementia and cardiovascular disease risk.
However, they also found that GLP-1 drugs may lead to gastrointestinal, kidney, and pancreas issues. The researchers recommend that doctors closely monitor their patients as these medications become more widely prescribed. Nature MedicineTrusted Source
Beyond the gut: A new frontier in IBS treatment by targeting the brain: This study published online in the British Journal of Pharmacology on December 25, 2024, discovered that a class of drugs called opioid delta-receptor (DOP) agonists may help alleviate IBS symptoms by targeting the central nervous system rather than acting directly on the intestine.
Nerve stimulation: the brain is not always listening: Some health problems, from chronic pain and inflammation to neurological diseases, can also be treated by nerve stimulation, for example with the help of electrodes that are attached to the ear and activate the vagus nerve. This method is sometimes referred to as an ‘electric pill’. However, this only works well if the body's own rhythms are taken into account reports a new study. Frontiers
Clot-busting meds may be effective up to 24 hours after initial stroke symptoms: In a randomized clinical trial, giving the clot-busting medication alteplase up to 24 hours after stroke symptoms first appeared increased the odds of better recovery by 50% compared to those who received standard antiplatelet treatment. American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025
Low-Dose Aspirin Cuts Colon Cancer Recurrence: Low-dose aspirin reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence rates by more than half in patients with tumors harboring mutations in the PI3K signaling pathway, according to findings from the phase 3 ALASCCA trial. These results stress “the importance of upfront genomic testing” in patients with CRC. Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2025
Dapagliflozin and Calorie Restriction Achieves T2D Remission: Combining dapagliflozin with calorie restriction achieved a greater type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission rate and significant changes in body fat and metabolic risk factors than calorie restriction alone. published online in The BMJ.
Meta-Analysis Links Metformin to Lower Dementia Risk in T2D: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on metformin face a lower risk for all-cause dementia than those not on metformin, with the protective effect being particularly evident in patients with nonspecified diabetes. published online in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Paxlovid: Worth a Long Look for Easing Long COVID: A study published in Communication Medicine found that some patients experienced improvement in their long COVID symptoms after taking the medication for a longer period, up to 30 days in some cases. The most common symptom improvements included a decrease in fatigue and neurocognitive symptoms like brain fog and memory loss. “This is all observational data, so we weren’t able to make causal claims, but what we can say is that extended use of the medication may have meaningful benefits for some people with long COVID but not others,” said lead study author Alison Cohen, PhD, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco.
Most Antivirals Have Little Benefit for Patients With Nonsevere Influenza: Antivirals recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) for treating influenza showed little benefit for nonsevere cases in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) had little to no effect on mortality, hospitalization rates, or symptom duration. Peramivir (Rapivab) had little to no impact on mortality rates and symptom duration and had no data available for its effect on hospitalization rates. However, one drug showed some promise.
• Vitamin D and keloids: a new path to treatment: A study (DOI: 10.1093/burnst/tkae063) published in Burns & Trauma has shed light on how inhibiting CYP24A1, an enzyme involved in vitamin D metabolism, affects keloid keratinocytes. Conducted by researchers at the University of Cincinnati, the investigation revealed that suppressing CYP24A1 could reduce the expression of profibrotic genes, offering a fresh perspective on keloid treatment strategies.
OTHER
Health Benefits of Cold Water Therapy May Be Short-Lived, Study Finds: Cold-water immersion — such as sitting in an ice bath, wading into a lake in the winter, or taking a cold shower — has become increasingly popular in recent years. But is there any benefit to these bone-chilling practices? New research suggests yes, with possible benefits ranging from lower stress to improved sleep and quality of life. However, researchers caution that some of the benefits are short-term and depend on who is performing the cold therapy and what method they are using. The new paper, published January 29 in PLoS OneTrusted Source, carried out a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 previous studies involving 3,177 healthy adult participants.
Virginia Tech researchers ask how many attempts it takes to quit substance abuse: Published in the Feb. 1 issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence, found that: Substance use disorder is a chronically relapsing condition that often requires multiple quit attempts before successful abstinence. The number of quit attempts varies by substance, with opioids and pain medication requiring significantly more attempts than all other substances. Hallucinogens are less challenging to quit, requiring fewer attempts. People who meet the criteria of having a more severe or longer history of substance use disorder might need more attempts before achieving abstinence.
Docs Turn to Archives as Federal Health Information Vanishes: Resources: As the Trump administration’s mandated scrubbing of information from federal health websites continues, physicians are finding once steadfast medical guidance to be unreliable or unavailable — even as some information comes back online. Instead, they’re turning to archived sites and alternative sources hastily assembled by scientists, clinicians, and health advocates. Clinicians can still access much of the data and research previously posted on CDC sites on websites including The Wayback Machine, operated by the nonprofit digital library Internet Archive, and the End of Term web archive, which preserves existing pages from prior administrations and is housed at the Internet Archive and the Library of Congress. Medscape Medical News has created a preliminary list of alternative sources for health data and practice guidelines and will update it as more information become available.
As more Americans work later in life, poll shows positive health impacts, especially for those over 65:Having a job -- whether it's working for someone else or being their own boss -- gives older Americans more than just a way to earn money or get health insurance, a new poll finds. More than two-thirds of those who work after age 50 say that working boosts their physical health, mental health, and/or their overall wellbeing.
Study tracks physical and cognitive impairments associated with long COVID: Two-thirds of people with post-COVID-19 syndrome have persistent, objective symptoms -- including reduced physical exercise capacity and reduced cognitive test performances -- for a year or more, with no major changes in symptom clusters during the second year of their illness, according to a new study. PLOS Medicine
