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Month: December 2025

Recent Highlights in Medicines & Treatments

Recent Highlights in Medicines & Treatments

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Here are some of the latest important developments and news about medicines and treatments (global + India) 👇 World Health Organization (WHO) adds key diabetes and weight-loss drugs to essential medicines.

  • The WHO has included drugs like Semaglutide (used for type-2 diabetes, also helps with weight loss) in its 2025 Essential Medicines List.
  • This may make such medications more affordable and easier to access worldwide — a significant shift, especially in countries like India, where diabetes and obesity are widespread.

New drug approvals and treatments progress in cancer, rare diseases, lung & kidney conditions.

  • Brensocatib (marketed as Brinsupri) was approved in 2025 for the treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, a serious chronic lung condition.
  • Several new cancer treatments: targeted therapies for lung cancer, advanced lung cancer drugs, and other drugs approved for serious conditions.
  • For example, Datopotamab deruxtecan has been approved for certain breast cancers, and its indication has recently expanded to certain lung cancers.

Emerging therapies for rare and difficult diseases

  • Sebetralstat, an oral on-demand treatment for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema, got approval in mid-2025. (Wikipedia)
  • New research-phase therapies are in the pipeline too: e.g., a drug candidate, Dovramilast, has received approval for investigational trials in certain immune reactions linked to leprosy, potentially helping with leprosy-related complications. (Medicines Development)

In India: regulatory changes, affordability, and concern over dangerous medicines

  • The government has reportedly reduced the prices of 35 essential medicines (including commonly used ones like painkillers and statins), giving relief to many patients.
  • However, there’s also alarming news: a spate of toxic cough syrups (some involving addictive or harmful substances) has triggered stricter government scrutiny. Recently, authorities in one state filed FIRs against over 120 pharma firms and seized illegal syrups.
  • This reflects ongoing tension: while access and affordability improve, especially for important or emerging drugs, there remains a serious need for regulation and safety vigilance.

Promising research linking vaccines and neurological health

  • A recent study by researchers at Stanford University suggests that a common vaccine (originally for shingles) could lower the risk of dementia or slow its progression. That could have big implications globally, given the aging population and rising dementia risk.

🔎 What This Means for Patients & the Public

  • The inclusion of drugs like semaglutide in the WHO’s essential list could mean lower cost & wider availability globally, good news if you or someone you know deals with diabetes or weight-related conditions.
  • New approvals and treatments offer hope for people with chronic or severe conditions (lung diseases, rare genetic disorders, some cancers). Treatment options are expanding.
  • At the same time, the crackdown on unsafe cough syrups and illicit medicines is a reminder: it’s important to buy medicines only from trusted pharmacies, confirm prescriptions, and stay informed about recalls or regulatory updates.
  • For India, the price reductions on essential medicines may make basic treatment more accessible — a potentially positive change for many people struggling with the cost of care.

If you like, I can also pull up 5–10 most important medicine-related research & drug-approval updates globally (past 6 months) so you get a compact “state-of-the-art” snapshot

Reference:

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/

A ‘spoonful’ of black cumin seed powder a day may help lower cholesterol

A ‘spoonful’ of black cumin seed powder a day may help lower cholesterol

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You’ve touched on another promising area of research for a functional food. Let’s break down the evidence for black cumin seed (Nigella sativa) and its potential cholesterol-lowering effects.

The Core Evidence

A growing body of clinical research suggests that daily supplementation with black cumin seed oil or powder can indeed improve cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors.

  • Meta-Analyses (The Gold Standard of Evidence): Multiple meta-analyses (which pool data from many randomized controlled trials) have concluded that Nigella sativa supplementation significantly reduces:
    • Total Cholesterol
    • LDL (“bad”) Cholesterol
    • Triglycerides
    • Fasting Blood Sugar
    • It also tends to increase HDL (“good”) Cholesterol, though this effect is sometimes less pronounced.
  • Typical Dose & Form: Benefits are seen with doses of 1-3 grams per day of powder or oil, typically taken for 8-12 weeks. A “spoonful” in common parlance often means ~1 teaspoon (roughly 2-3 grams).

The Active Compound & How It May Work

The primary bioactive component is thymoquinone (TQ), which is responsible for most of its therapeutic effects. The proposed mechanisms for lowering cholesterol include:

  1. Reducing Cholesterol Synthesis: TQ may inhibit key enzymes (like HMG-CoA reductase) in the liver that are involved in the body’s internal production of cholesterol. (This is a similar, though likely weaker, mechanism to that of statin drugs).
  2. Enhancing Cholesterol Excretion: It may promote the excretion of bile acids (which are made from cholesterol), forcing the liver to pull more cholesterol from the blood to make new bile.
  3. Potent Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory Effects: Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are deeply linked to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup). By reducing these, black cumin seed may improve overall vascular health and LDL particle quality.
  4. Improving Insulin Sensitivity: Since high blood sugar and cholesterol often go hand-in-hand (metabolic syndrome), improving insulin resistance has a beneficial downstream effect on lipid profiles.

Important Caveats and Context

  1. Adjunct, Not Replacement: The effect is moderate. For individuals with severely high cholesterol, black cumin seed is not a replacement for prescribed statins or other cholesterol-lowering medications. It is best viewed as a dietary adjunct or a preventive measure for those with mildly elevated levels.
  2. Whole Food vs. Supplement: The studies often use standardized oil extracts or powdered seeds. The concentration of thymoquinone can vary in store-bought seeds.
  3. Safety & Side Effects: Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for culinary use. In supplemental doses, it is well-tolerated but can cause mild digestive upset for some. Important interactions:
    • It may slow blood clotting and should be used cautiously by those on anticoagulant drugs (like warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel).
    • It may lower blood pressure and blood sugar, so monitoring is advised for those on related medications.
    • Pregnant women are typically advised to avoid therapeutic doses due to potential uterine stimulant effects.
  4. The “Spoonful” Advice: While a teaspoon a day is a common traditional and researched dose, it’s not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Starting with a smaller amount (e.g., 1/2 teaspoon) to assess tolerance is prudent.

Practical Conclusion

The statement that “a spoonful of black cumin seed powder a day may help lower cholesterol” is supported by scientific evidence. It fits into the category of a functional food with proven medicinal properties.

For someone looking to improve their cardiovascular health naturally, adding black cumin seed to their diet (e.g., sprinkled on salads, yogurt, or in smoothies) is a reasonable and likely beneficial strategy, provided they have no contraindications.

However, for diagnosed hyperlipidemia, this should be done in consultation with a doctor, as part of a broader plan that includes diet, exercise, and possibly medication. It’s a powerful seed, but not a magic bullet.

Reference:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/spoonful-black-cumin-seed-powder-daily-may-help-lower-cholesterol
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-daily-sprinkle-of-cumin-seeds-can-help-lower-cholestrol-study-finds
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20251118/Daily-black-cumin-intake-improves-blood-lipids-and-reduces-obesity-risk.aspx

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/products/disease/heart-disease

3 supplements help reduce autism-linked behaviors in mouse study

3 supplements help reduce autism-linked behaviors in mouse study

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This refers to a significant and promising line of research. The study you’re likely referring to is the 2020 work from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), led by Dr. Robert Naviaux. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the findings, mechanisms, and important context.

The Core Study & Findings

  • Study: “Triple Therapy Reverses Autism-Like Symptoms in Mouse Model” (UCSD, published in Nature journals).
  • Mouse Model: Researchers used the “maternal immune activation” (MIA) model, where the mother’s immune system is activated during pregnancy, leading to offspring with autism-like behaviors (social deficits, repetitive behaviors, anxiety).
  • The Three Supplements (The “Triple Therapy”):
    1. Bovine Colostrum: The first milk from cows, rich in growth factors, antibodies, and proteins.
    2. Curcumin: The active anti-inflammatory compound in turmeric.
    3. Broccoli Sprout Extract (or Sulforaphane): A potent activator of the body’s natural antioxidant and detoxification pathways.
  • Result: The combination of these three supplements, given for just four weeks, reversed many of the autism-like behaviors in the young adult mice. The treated mice showed improved social interaction, reduced repetitive behaviors, and normalized brain connectivity and metabolism.

The Proposed Mechanism: The Cell Danger Response (CDR)

This research is groundbreaking because it’s based on a specific biological theory, not just behavioral observation.

  1. Core Problem – Stuck CDR: The theory proposes that in some forms of autism, the body’s cells are stuck in a defensive metabolic state called the Cell Danger Response (CDR). This is a normal response to injury or infection, but if it persists, it disrupts normal cellular communication, brain development, and function.
  2. Metabolic Blockade: The stuck CDR alters mitochondria (cellular power plants) and slows down a key metabolic pathway called purinergic signaling. This pathway is crucial for how cells “talk” to each other, especially in the brain.
  3. How the Supplements Work (Synergistically):
    • Bovine Colostrum: Provides specific growth factors (e.g., IGF-1, IGF-2) that are believed to help reset the CDR and promote cellular repair and normal development.
    • Curcumin: A powerful anti-inflammatory that helps reduce the chronic inflammation associated with a stuck CDR.
    • Broccoli Sprout Extract/Sulforaphane: Activates the Nrf2 pathway, the body’s master regulator of antioxidant and detoxification responses. This helps protect cells from oxidative stress and supports metabolic cleanup.

Together, they address the proposed root cause from three angles: resetting the metabolic state (colostrum), reducing inflammation (curcumin), and boosting cellular defense (sulforaphane).

Crucial Caveats and Context

  1. This is a Mouse Study: The biology of mice and humans is similar but not identical. What works in a mouse model does not guarantee it will work the same way in humans. It is a critical first step that justifies human trials.
  2. Specific Model: The MIA model represents one potential subset of autism (prenatal environmental immune factors). Autism is a spectrum with vastly diverse causes (genetic, epigenetic, environmental). A treatment for one subtype may not work for others.
  3. Human Trials are Ongoing: Based on this work, Dr. Naviaux’s team has moved to Phase 1/2 human clinical trials (named the “ABC Trial” – Antipurinergic Therapy for Autism). Early results have been shared as promising pre-prints, but peer-reviewed, large-scale results are still pending. The human trial uses a similar metabolic strategy but with different, more standardized compounds.
  4. Not a “Cure”: Researchers frame this as a potential treatment to address an underlying metabolic dysfunction, which could alleviate associated symptoms and improve quality of life. It is not about “curing” autism itself.
  5. Do Not Self-Administer: It is absolutely not recommended for parents to try this specific combination on their children without medical supervision. Dosage, purity, interactions, and individual responses are unknown and potentially risky.

Conclusion

The study you mentioned is a highly influential piece of research that has moved the field toward metabolic and immunomodulatory approaches to autism. It provides a strong scientific hypothesis (the stuck Cell Danger Response) and a synergistic treatment strategy that showed remarkable effects in a specific mouse model.

The takeaway is promising science in progress, not a ready-made solution. The transition from this mouse study to validated human therapy is underway through rigorous clinical trials, and the world is awaiting those results.

Key Terms: Cell Danger Response (CDR), purinergic signaling, maternal immune activation (MIA) model, metabolic therapy, sulforaphane, curcumin, bovine colostrum.

Reference:
https://www.genengnews.com/topics/translational-medicine/supplement-trio-reduces-behavioral-deficits-in-mouse-models-of-autism/
https://scitechdaily.com/simple-three-nutrient-blend-rapidly-improves-autism-behaviors-in-mice/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/3-supplements-help-reduce-autism-linked-behaviors-mouse-study

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/products/disease/inflammation

Crohn’s Disease: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.

Crohn’s Disease: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.

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Crohn’s disease is a condition that causes swelling, or inflammation, in part of your digestive system. It can affect any part of your digestive tract, but most often it involves your small intestine and colon (large intestine). Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) are part of a group of conditions called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There’s no cure for Crohn’s, but treatment can ease your symptoms and help you enjoy a full, active life.

Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease 

People with Crohn’s disease can have intense symptoms, followed by periods of no symptoms that may last weeks or years. The symptoms depend on the severity and location of the disease.

What are the first signs of Crohn’s disease?

Early signs of Crohn’s disease can easily be mistaken for other conditions. They may include:

  • Frequent diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain and tenderness
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Blood in your poop

Other symptoms of Crohn’s disease

When it advances, you might notice:

  • Nausea
  • Tiredness
  • Joint pain
  • Fever
  • Long-lasting diarrhea, often bloody and with mucus or pus
  • Weight loss

Crohn’s disease and mouth sores

Crohn’s disease can cause painful mouth sores, which typically appear on the inner cheeks, lips, or tongue. These sores can be a sign of an active Crohn’s disease flare.

Types of Crohn’s Disease
There are five types of Crohn’s based on which part of your digestive tract is affected.

  • Ileocolitis, the most common form of Crohn’s disease, involves your colon and the last part of your small intestine (called the ileum or terminal ileum).
  • Crohn’s colitis or granulomatous colitis affects only your colon.
  • Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease affects your stomach and the first part of your small intestine (called the duodenum).
  • Ileitis affects your ileum.
  • Jejunoileitis causes small areas of inflammation in the upper half of your small intestine (called the jejunum).

Causes of Crohn’s Disease
Doctors aren’t sure what causes Crohn’s disease. Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors can play a role. Some people think of it as an autoimmune disease, causing your body to attack its own tissues. Your body may also be prone to more severe-than-normal responses to harmless viruses, bacteria, or food in your gut. 

Crohn’s Disease Risk Factors

A few things can make you more likely to get Crohn’s:
Genes. Crohn’s disease is often inherited. About 20% of people who have it have a close relative with either Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.
Age. Though it can affect people of all ages, it’s mostly an illness of the young. Most people are diagnosed before age 30, but the disease can affect people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, or even later in life.
Smoking. This is one risk factor that’s easy to control. Smoking can make Crohn’s more serious and raise the odds that you’ll need surgery.
Where do you live? People living in urban areas or industrialized countries are more likely to develop Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s disease epidemiology
The disease is mostly common in North America and Western Europe, where it affects 100-300 out of every 100,000 people. In the U.S., more than half a million people have it. Researchers think cases are increasing in the U.S. and some other nations.
Crohn’s disease seems to affect men and women at similar rates. People of northern European or central European Jewish (Ashkenazi) descent are at the highest risk.

Crohn’s Disease Treatment

There’s no single treatment that’s right for everyone with Crohn’s disease. Your treatment will depend on what’s causing your symptoms and how serious they are. Your doctor will try to reduce the inflammation in your digestive tract and keep you from having complications.

Anti-inflammatory drugs. 

Examples include mesalamine (Asacol, Lialda, Pentasa), olsalazine (Dipentum), and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine). Side effects include upset stomach, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and rash. These medicines are used only in mild cases.

Corticosteroids. These are a more powerful type of anti-inflammatory drug. Examples include budesonide (Entocort) and prednisone or methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol). If you take these for a long time, side effects can be serious and may include bone thinning, muscle loss, skin problems, and a higher risk of infection.

Immune system modifiers (immunomodulators), such as azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan) and methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall). It can take up to six months for these drugs to work. They also bring a higher risk of infections that could be life-threatening.

Antibiotics. These drugs, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and metronidazole (Flagyl), are used to fight infections in your digestive system caused by Crohn’s disease. Metronidazole can cause a metallic taste in your mouth, nausea, tingling, or numbness in your hands and feet. Ciprofloxacin can cause nausea and tenderness in your Achilles tendon.

Reference:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9357-crohns-disease
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease/

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/products/disease/inflammation

Understanding Arthritis and Inflammation

Understanding Arthritis and Inflammation

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The body’s white blood cells and substances that they produce to protect our bodies from infection by foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. In some inflammatory diseases, however, the body’s defense system, the immune system, triggers a response when there are no foreign substances to fight off. In these diseases, called autoimmune disorders, the body’s normally protective immune system causes damage to its own tissues. The body responds as if normal tissues are infected or somehow abnormal.

Understanding the relationship between arthritis and inflammation is key to managing these conditions. In simple terms, all arthritis involves the joints, but not all arthritis is primarily driven by inflammation. Inflammation is a core player in many, but not all, types of arthritis.

Some, but not all, types of arthritis are the result of misdirected inflammation. Arthritis is a general term that describes inflammation in the joints. Some types of arthritis associated with inflammation include the following:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
Gouty arthritis
Other painful conditions of the joints and musculoskeletal system that may not be associated with inflammation include osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, muscular low back pain, and muscular neck pain.

Inflammation occurs when substances from the body’s white blood cells are released into the blood or affected tissues to protect your body from foreign invaders. This release of chemicals increases the blood flow to the area of injury or infection, and may result in redness and warmth. Some of the chemicals cause a leak of fluid into the tissues, resulting in swelling. This protective process may stimulate nerves and cause pain. The increased number of cells and inflammatory substances within the joint cause irritation, swelling of the joint lining, and eventual wearing down of cartilage (cushions at the end of bones).

Inflammatory diseases are diagnosed after careful evaluation of the following:
Complete medical history and physical exam with attention to the location of painful joints
Presence of joint stiffness in the morning
Evaluation of accompanying symptoms and signs
Results of X-rays and laboratory tests

Can Inflammation Affect Internal Organs?
Inflammation can affect organs as part of an autoimmune disorder. The type of symptoms experienced depends on which organs are affected. For example:
Inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) may cause shortness of breath or fluid retention.
Inflammation of the small tubes that transport air to the lungs may cause shortness of breath.
Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis) may cause high blood pressure or kidney failure.
Pain may not be a primary symptom of an inflammatory disease, because many organs do not have pain-sensitive nerves. Treatment of organ inflammation is directed at the cause of inflammation whenever possible.

There are several treatment options for inflammatory diseases, including medications, rest, exercise, and surgery to correct joint damage. The type of treatment prescribed will depend on several factors, including the type of disease, the person’s age, the type of medications they are taking, overall health, medical history, and severity of symptoms.

The goals of treatment are the following:

Correct, control, or slow down the underlying disease process
Avoid or modify activities that aggravate pain
Relieve pain through pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs
Maintain joint movement and muscle strength through physical therapy
Decrease stress on the joints by using braces, splints, or canes as needed

Reference:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12061-arthritis
https://www.webmd.com/arthritis/understanding-arthritis-treatment
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350772

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/products/disease/inflammation
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/arthritis

Is He Depressed or Just Crabby?

Is He Depressed or Just Crabby?

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It can be challenging to distinguish between a temporary bad mood (crabby) and a more serious mental health condition like depression. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences.

Key Differences: Crabby vs. Depressed

Feature“Just Crabby” (Irritable Mood)Depression (Clinical)
DurationIt can occur without an obvious trigger. The mood persists even when good things happen.Persistent. Lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.
TriggerUsually has a clear cause (bad day at work, lack of sleep, hunger, stress).Pervasive. Affects almost all aspects of life—work, hobbies, relationships, and self-care.
ScopeSituational. They’re irritable about specific things.Support may be welcomed, but it doesn’t “fix” the mood. The person may feel unable to cheer up.
Other SymptomsPrimarily irritability/anger. Energy and enjoyment in other areas may be normal.Includes a cluster of symptoms:
• Anhedonia: Loss of interest/pleasure in almost all activities.
• Hopelessness: Pervasive sadness, emptiness, or worthlessness.
• Physical changes: Significant appetite/weight change, sleep disturbances (too much or too little).
• Fatigue: Constant low energy.
• Cognitive issues: Trouble concentrating, indecisiveness.
• Thoughts of death: Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Self-ViewMay be frustrated with the situation or others, but self-esteem is generally intact.Often involves intense self-criticism, guilt, and feelings of worthlessness.
Response to SupportMay snap, but often calms down after venting, solving the problem, or with distraction.Support may be welcomed, but doesn’t “fix” the mood. The person may feel unable to cheer up.

Overlap: Irritability in Depression

It’s crucial to know that irritability and anger are common symptoms of depression, especially in men, teens, and older adults. Someone who is depressed isn’t always sad; they may present as constantly short-tempered, frustrated, and easily agitated.

Questions to Ask (Gently and Compassionately):

If you’re concerned about someone, consider these patterns:

  1. How long has this lasted? Has it been more than two weeks of this consistent mood?
  2. Is it about everything or specific things? Do they still enjoy anything they used to love?
  3. How are their basics? Have their sleep, appetite, or energy levels drastically changed?
  4. What do they say about themselves? Are they making comments like “What’s the point?” or expressing hopelessness?
  5. Have they withdrawn? Have they stopped seeing friends, engaging in hobbies, or taking care of their hygiene?

What You Can Do

  • For “Crabby”: Offer patience, space, or practical help. Sometimes, a simple “You seem stressed, can I help?” or giving them time to cool off is enough.
  • If You Suspect Depression:
    • Approach with care: Use “I” statements. “I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed yourself lately, and I’m concerned. I care about you.”
    • Listen without judgment: Don’t try to “fix” it or dismiss their feelings. Validate their experience.
    • Encourage professional help: Gently suggest talking to a doctor or therapist. Frame it as a sign of strength, not weakness. You can offer to help find resources or even go with them.
    • Stay connected: Continue to invite them, even if they say no. Isolation fuels depression.

When to Be Especially Concerned

Seek immediate professional help if there are any signs of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or talk of being a burden. You can call a crisis line (988 in the US) or go to an emergency room.

In short, “Crabby” is a mood; depression is a pervasive state that alters functioning. If low mood, irritability, and other symptoms are persistent, pervasive, and affecting quality of life, it’s time to consider depression and seek professional evaluation. A doctor or mental health professional can make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the right treatment, which can be life-changing.

Reference:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-he-depressed-or-just-crabby
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/male-depression/art-20046216
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
https://www.obgynnebraska.com/contents/patient-information/mental-health-awareness

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/products/anti-depression

Tired, Achy Eyes?

Tired, Achy Eyes?

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Are your eyes tired, dry, or achy? Many factors can contribute to these types of symptoms. But a big culprit can be the intense use of your eyes. Spending too much time looking at screens and handheld devices, like smartphones, can strain your eyes. So can normal aging. What can you do to find relief?

One major cause of eye discomfort is not blinking enough. “When we focus on tasks like reading or computer work, our blink rate just plummets,” says Dr. Chantal Cousineau-Krieger, an NIH ophthalmologist.

Not blinking enough can cause your eyes to become dry and uncomfortable. Certain people are more prone to eye dryness, too. This includes those over age 50, women, and people who wear contact lenses. Certain medications, like antihistamines, and health conditions can also add to eye dryness.

Avoiding other factors that increase eye dryness may help your eyes feel better, too. Air blowing directly in your face from a fan or from air vents in the car can contribute to eye dryness, says Cousineau-Krieger. So can smoke or windy conditions. Normal aging can also lead to eye strain. With age, we start to lose our ability to focus on close objects. This is called presbyopia. Our eyes need to work harder to focus.

“When we look at something up close, we flex the muscle inside of our eye,” Cousineau-Krieger explains. “And just like any other muscle, if you hold the contraction for a long time, the muscle can become fatigued. Eventually, in your 40s, you end up not being able to see things up close as well. It’s a natural part of aging that goes along with gray hair and wrinkles. And then we typically need reading glasses to be able to see things up close.”

But eye strain doesn’t only happen to adults. Children can also develop symptoms from intensely using their eyes. They may not tell you that their eyes hurt. Instead, they may start blinking forcefully or rubbing their eyes.

Spending too much time on screens is also now believed to be contributing to children developing nearsightedness. Studies have shown growing rates of nearsightedness in children over the past few decades. To relieve eye discomfort, you can try some simple steps. Experts recommend the 20-20-20 rule. Take eye breaks every 20 minutes and look far in the distance, about 20 feet away, for about 20 seconds.

“Experts are recommending that children spend time outdoors playing to help them focus on things further at a distance,” says Cousineau-Krieger. “Hopefully, this will also help decrease the amount of nearsightedness. The amount of nearsightedness is going up around the world.”

Taking screen breaks and focusing on more distant objects can be helpful for everyone’s eye health. See the Wise Choices box for more eye health tips. If simple lifestyle changes don’t bring you relief from eye discomfort, it may be time to see a doctor for an eye exam.

Reference:
https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-fatigue-causes-symptoms-treatment
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2024/09/tired-achy-eyes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/symptoms-causes/syc-20372397

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/eye-care

Interaction of Cannabis Use and Aging: From Molecule to Mind

Interaction of Cannabis Use and Aging: From Molecule to Mind

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Given the aging Baby Boomer generation, changes in cannabis legislation, and the growing acknowledgment of cannabis for its therapeutic potential, it is predicted that cannabis use in the older population will escalate. It is, therefore, important to determine the interaction between the effects of cannabis and aging. The aim of this report is to describe the link between cannabis use and the aging brain. Our review of the literature found few and inconsistent empirical studies that directly address the impact of cannabis use on the aging brain.

However, research focused on long-term cannabis use points toward cumulative effects on multimodal systems in the brain that are similarly affected during aging. Specifically, the effects of cannabis and aging converge on overlapping networks in the endocannabinoid, opioid, and dopamine systems that may affect functional decline, particularly in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which are critical areas for memory and executive functioning.

To conclude, despite the limited current knowledge on the potential interactive effects between cannabis and aging, evidence from the literature suggests that cannabis and aging effects are concurrently present across several neurotransmitter systems. There is a great need for future research to directly test the interactions between cannabis and aging.

Prevalence of cannabis use in older populations
Cannabis is one of the most commonly abused substances in the United States (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016), with increasing prevalence of use due to legalization and decreasing perception of harm. Between 2002 and 2014, cannabis use among adolescents remained fairly constant, while use among adults over the age of 18 years increased consistently.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that between 2003 and 2014, the rate of past-year cannabis use rose from 2.95% to 9.08% among the 50- to 64-year-old age group and from 0.15% to 2.04% among those older than 65 years (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This indicates a liberalization of cannabis use in the current older-adult population, referred to as the Baby Boomer generation. In this report, we define “older adults” as individuals 50 years or older. Based on the trend of decreased perceived harm from cannabis use among older adults, the prevalence of medicinal and recreational cannabis use is expected to keep increasing.

Similar to other age groups, cannabis use is also associated with vulnerability toward comorbid neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders in older adults. Wu and Blazer posit that substance use disorder has become one of the most common psychiatric conditions found in this population. The prevalence of cannabis use disorder is rising in the general population, which increased to 2 from 1.5% in 2001–2002. The number of older users affected by cannabis use disorder appears to increase with the rate of cannabis use in older adults. For example, cannabis abuse and dependence based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV criteria have increased from 0.4% to 1.3% in middle-aged to older adults (45–64 years) and 0.1% to 0.3% in those older than 65 years from 2001–2002 to 2012–2013. noted that the increase in cannabis use in older adults is attributable to both medicinal and recreational uses that are difficult to distinguish, and found that older adults are currently more accepting of the use of medicinal cannabis.

Of the older cannabis using population, the peak age of first onset of use is 18–20, suggesting that potential effects in this population are predominantly from chronic or long-term use. This implies that despite the general changes in the perception of cannabis use, the cumulative effect of more than 30 years of regular cannabis use may be predominant in current older adults, compared to that of older adults who report a relatively recent onset of use. This indicates the need to determine the effects of long-term cannabis use on aging. Considering the trend of increasing cannabis use in older adults, it is essential to provide a prospective insight into the interaction between cannabis use and the aging process.

Cannabis mechanisms
The primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Of the cannabinoids, THC is most widely associated with the negative effects of cannabis, such as increased anxiety, psychotic symptoms, increased impulsivity, loss of learning capability, motor control, and substance use disorder. More recently, there is growing recognition that THC also provides therapeutic benefits that include neuroprotection against oxidative stress and from the accumulation of amyloid-β peptides related to Alzheimer’s disease. THC acts as a partial agonist at two known endocannabinoid system receptors, cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2, and is a comparable affinity analog of the endogenous agonists anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonyl glycerol.

Although its biochemical affinity is lower, THC also acts on the opioid system as an allosteric modulator. Thus, cannabis use directly modulates both the endocannabinoid and opioid systems. THC also indirectly modulates multiple other neurotransmitter systems, such as dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine, which may be due to CB1Rs being one of the most common G-protein-coupled receptors in the brain (Lovinger & Mathur, 2016). Endocannabinoids regulate the activity of the aforementioned neurotransmitters in the neocortex, limbic regions, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, which are disrupted by exogenous cannabinoids such as THC.

Reference:
https://www.drugs.com/illicit/cannabis.html
https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/cannabis/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/4392-marijuana-cannabis

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No-to-Low Risk for Gestational Diabetes With Oral Corticosteroids

No-to-Low Risk for Gestational Diabetes With Oral Corticosteroids

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Oral corticosteroid (OCS) use during pregnancy was not linked to gestational diabetes, although there was a small risk increase during early pregnancy, according to a nationwide cohort study of more than a million women. When adjusted for covariates, a pooled estimate for crude risk ratio of oral corticosteroid exposure in weeks 1 through 27 of pregnancy showed a slight increase in gestational diabetes risk, but it was attenuated to null.

However, they reported in JAMA Internal Medicine that oral corticosteroid exposure between 4 and 6 weeks of gestation was associated with a slight increase in the risk of gestational diabetes (weighted RR 1.10, 95 percent CI 1.03-1.17). However, the authors found no correlations in subgroup analyses of maternal age, indication, duration of action, dosage, timing, or duration of exposure.

Clinicians treating autoimmune or chronic inflammatory conditions during pregnancy, where corticosteroid therapy may be crucial for the health of both the mother and the fetus, will find these findings comforting. Oral corticosteroids are increasingly being used in pregnancy to manage chronic conditions, autoimmune diseases, and disease flares.

The authors pointed out that despite their widespread use, OCSs are known to impair glucose metabolism by increasing peripheral insulin resistance, encouraging hepatic gluconeogenesis, and possibly reducing pancreatic β-cell function, all mechanisms that may contribute to hyperglycemia and the development of gestational diabetes. They added that much of the previous research on this relationship had small sample sizes or insufficient adjustment for confounders.

The National Health Information Database of South Korea, which gathers claims information from the public health insurance system, was utilized in the population-based cohort study. Researchers examined pregnancies resulting in live births from January 1, 2010, to December. 31, 2021. Approximately 1.3 million of the roughly 3.8 million pregnancies that resulted in live births during the study period qualified for analysis; 6% of these pregnancies were exposed to oral contraceptives between 1 and 27 weeks of gestation.

Gestational diabetes occurred in 9.5 percent of pregnancies exposed to oral corticosteroids and 7.36 percent of unexposed pregnancies. Women with gestational diabetes, preexisting diabetes, no history of health screening before pregnancy, and exposure to oral corticosteroids starting 30 days before pregnancy without a prescription during the first 27 weeks of pregnancy were all excluded.

Pregnancy was divided into three weeks, from 1 week to 27 weeks’ gestation, as gestational diabetes is not typically tested after 28 weeks. Women who had not started oral corticosteroids or had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes before or during that period were included in each interval.

Women in the exposed group had more comorbidities than those in the unexposed group, including migraine (8.1 percent vs. 5.4 percent), asthma (7.2 percent vs. 2.2 percent), and immune-mediated inflammatory disease (2.5 percent vs. 0.4 percent). The majority of baseline characteristics were similar. Most patients in the full study population had a mean age of 30-34 and a BMI of 18.5-22.9. Additionally, the authors performed four sensitivity analyses, limiting the cohort to those with a known family history of diabetes, nulliparous pregnancies, singleton pregnancies, and one using women who had previously taken oral corticosteroids but not during pregnancy as the reference group. The results of these analyses were consistent with the main findings.

Shin and co-authors noted that “early pregnancy represents a critical developmental window when the endocrine pancreas anticipates increased insulin demands through adaptive-cell priming, occurring before the physiologic insulin resistance typically develops around 24 weeks’ gestation, indicating the limited risk at 4-6 weeks’ gestation. During this vulnerable period, corticosteroid exposure may disrupt foundational pancreatic-cell adaptation mechanisms, prematurely induce insulin resistance, and create a cumulative metabolic burden through prolonged exposure duration that overwhelms maternal compensatory capacity before the substantial insulin secretion increases required in later pregnancy.

Study limitations included the fact that prescription of oral corticosteroids may not guarantee actual medication intake, and the definition of gestational diabetes relied on diagnostic codes. Also, there was the overall potential for residual confounding. The study was restricted to live births, thereby introducing potential selection bias. Lastly, the authors noted that the findings might not apply to other populations with different baseline characteristics.

They concluded that “clinical decision-making regarding corticosteroid use should continue to prioritize maternal disease control while maintaining vigilance in monitoring glucose metabolism, particularly in women with preexisting risk factors” and that these results “suggest that appropriate corticosteroid therapy during pregnancy is metabolically safe with respect to gestational diabetes risk.

Reference:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5604866/
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2842158#:~:text=Conclusions%20and%20Relevance%20In%20this,of%20OCSs%20when%20clinically%20indicated.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/obgyn/pregnancy/118780

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3 New Findings on AFib and What They Mean

3 New Findings on AFib and What They Mean

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If you’re among the 1 in 5 U.S. adults who have an abnormal heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation, there’s been a flurry of new research about the condition that offers some guidance on your everyday choices and how those impact your risk of recurrence.

“The major risk is stroke, and preventing stroke is the name of the game with AFib.
Three new studies shed light on some common questions: whether your morning coffee matters, whether a diabetes drug might help lower recurrence risk, and what new data reveals about AFib’s link to dementia.

Here’s what the latest research suggests:
Coffee doesn’t increase the risk of recurrent atrial fibrillation. A small but well-designed new study showed that people who drank a cup of coffee daily were not more likely than non-coffee drinkers to have a repeat atrial fibrillation episode after successful treatment with electrical cardioversion – a quick procedure where a doctor delivers a brief, controlled shock to the heart to put it back into a normal rhythm. People in the study agreed ahead of time to be randomly assigned to one of two groups: those who continued drinking coffee as they did before the study, and those who abstained for six months.

Why it matters: Many people and even some doctors still assume coffee triggers AFib, a long-held bit of “common wisdom” that isn’t backed by strong evidence, Prystowsky said. It’s a top concern for newly diagnosed patients, but experts say coffee is rarely a problem except in people with palpitations. The design of this latest study, randomizing people before asking them to keep drinking or abstain, makes the results particularly trustworthy, he said.

What you can do: If you’re going to change one beverage you consume to manage atrial fibrillation risk, go ahead and keep drinking coffee and instead focus on reducing or cutting out alcohol.

Metformin helped reduce AFib recurrence in a small study of people with overweight and obesity. In a study of 99 people with overweight or obesity who had an ablation procedure, where doctors burn or freeze tiny areas of heart tissue to stop the abnormal signals that cause AFib, those who took the type 2 diabetes drug metformin after ablation were less likely to have recurrent AFib. None of the people in the study had diabetes, although 40% of them met prediabetic blood sugar criteria. The study was presented at an American Heart Association conference this month and hasn’t been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Why it matters: Doctors are talking about this study because it’s another step toward understanding the connection between weight and AFib risk. An important previous study showed that people who lost 10% of their body weight were six times more likely to survive four years without recurrence. “It wasn’t just weight loss, though,” Prystowsky said, noting that those who lost weight had improved glucose and blood pressure levels.
Interestingly, in this latest metformin study, people saw AFib benefits without significant weight loss. That suggests the drug may be affecting the body in other ways, possibly through metabolism, inflammation, or fat around the heart, though researchers don’t yet know the exact mechanism, Prystowsky said.

What you can do: “The most important takeaway from this small study is reinforcing the idea that the management of obesity makes a huge difference in outcomes for atrial fibrillation,” Philbin said. He and Prystowsky agreed the study was too small for a doctor to recommend that a patient take metformin to reduce AFib risk, though. The study was “hypothesis-forming rather than game-changing, but it reinforces some ideas we know about atrial fibrillation that we know will work: you should exercise. You should lose weight. You should not drink alcohol,” Philbin said. He and his colleagues plan to explore whether AFib patients benefit from six weeks of supervised exercise and dietitian guidance the way heart attack survivors do.

Another study just linked AFib with dementia risk. Published this month in JACC: Advances, the analysis looked at 670,745 Medicare patients 65 and older and found that those who developed AFib after non-cardiac surgery were more likely to later be diagnosed with dementia. In cardiac surgery patients, dementia rates were similar regardless of AFib (about 4%). But after non-cardiac surgery, dementia was diagnosed in nearly 13% of people with AFib, versus 9% without – a 20% increased risk. Non-cardiac procedures ranged widely, with orthopedic (including joint replacements), gastrointestinal, and circulatory surgeries most common.

Why it matters: The study authors wrote it was “notable” that cardiac surgery patients who developed AFib weren’t more likely to get dementia, suggesting their AFib may have been triggered by the surgery itself. They couldn’t explain why non-cardiac surgery patients had a higher dementia risk and found no clear contributing factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, or prior stroke or heart failure. They hypothesized that undetected mild strokes or heart attacks, which can damage the brain and blood vessels, might play a role. The link between AFib and dementia is established, and while silent strokes and heart attacks are suspected contributors, the data shows a link rather than a cause. Prystowsky tells patients who get AFib after non-cardiac surgery that they have a higher risk of recurrence and need to be aware of it.

What you can do: If you’re heading into surgery, worrying about AFib shouldn’t be at the top of your list, Prystowsky said. But if you like to be prepared, both Philbin and Prystowsky advised that wearing a device like a smartwatch that can check your pulse and rhythm can help you spot any issues early. And if you’ve already had AFib after a non-cardiac surgery, regular monitoring is especially important – and you should call your doctor if your device flags an abnormal pulse or rhythm.

Reference:
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/news/20251118/3-new-findings-on-afib-and-what-they-mean
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16765-atrial-fibrillation-afib
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atrial-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350624

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