Connect with us

News

Measles Outbreak Sparks Dangerous Vitamin A Overuse 

Measles Outbreak Sparks Dangerous Vitamin A Overuse 

United States: Medical staff across the U.S. noticed an unexpected health risk when children got sick due to excessive vitamin A intake as the measles outbreak continued to expand, as reported by HealthDay. 

Excess Vitamin A Leads to Health Issues 

Multiple unvaccinated patients at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, experienced liver issues when they consumed excessive amounts of vitamin A, according to their chief medical officer, Dr. Lara Johnson. 

During the outbreak, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the U.S. HHS endorsed vitamin A use while claiming it helps prevent measles occurrences. Doctors reject this misconception about vitamin A treatment and prevention for measles. 

The false belief that parents have between vaccine and vitamin A protection for measles could create many preventable measles cases in children. Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine’s National School of Tropical Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development emphasized to CNN that this presents a significant issue especially when an epidemic occurs. Another issue emerges from the uncontrolled administration of this medicine because healthcare providers cannot properly measure doses and patients might suffer harmful side effects. 

Measles Prevention: Vaccination is Key 

Measles prevention depends entirely on getting the measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccination because its effectiveness reaches 97% after two doses. The vaccine achieves 97 percent effectiveness when administered twice by a person. Although Kennedy accepts vaccines he views vaccination decisions as individual freedoms. 

The correct medical administration of Vitamin A by a physician benefits individuals who have measles. Excessive and unsupervised intake of Vitamin A presents significant risks to human health. 

Dangers of Vitamin A Toxicity 

A body can accumulate excess amounts of vitamin A because it belongs to the fat-soluble vitamin category. Too much Vitamin A intake through unsupervised use will result in dry skin and blurry vision along with bone problems and liver damage. During pregnancy vitamin A consumption leads to the risk of birth defects developing in the fetus. 

The pediatrician Dr. Lesley Motheral from Lubbock notes that Texas children receive proper nutrition and do not require additional vitamin A supplementation. 

“Recovery for patients with acute toxicity can be rapid when the vitamin is discontinued,” Motheral said. “Sadly, some of the more serious problems with vitamin A toxicity are not always reversible.” 

Supplement Industry Urges Caution 

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) which represents supplement manufacturers advises parents against giving excessive vitamin A doses to their children.  

Measles Outbreak Sparks Dangerous Vitamin A Overuse 
Measles Outbreak Sparks Dangerous Vitamin A Overuse 

“Vitamin A plays a very important role in supporting overall immune function, research hasn’t established its effectiveness in preventing measles infection. CRN is concerned about reports of high-dose vitamin A being used inappropriately, especially in children,” it said in a statement. 

Misinformation and Social Media Influence 

According to Johnson, some parents might be heeding dubious advice from health gurus or social media. 

“It’s coming out of the health and wellness … influencer industry that downplays the importance of vaccines and tries to promote various spectacular cures like ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, or vitamin A,” Hotez added. 

Fox News interviewed Kennedy where he advocated for a treatment strategy using vitamin A alongside a steroid and antibiotic with additional dosages of cod liver oil yet medical specialists have no evidence to support this method for measles treatment, as reported by HealthDay. 

Measles Cases Continue to Rise 

The measles outbreak has spread to at least 378 people across 17 different states ranging from Texas and New Mexico up to Vermont and New York and Washington. 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

FDA Approves Self-Injectable Vyvgart Hytrulo for gMG and CIDP 

FDA Approves Self-Injectable Vyvgart Hytrulo for gMG and CIDP 

United States: The U.S. FDA has approved Vyvgart Hytrulo’s (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) self-administered form for treating adult gMG patients who carry anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies and adult CIDP patients, as reported by HealthDay. 

Fast and Easy Subcutaneous Injection 

The Vyvgart Hytrulo prefilled syringe now functions as an approved subcutaneous device that needs 20 to 30 seconds during patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional administration.  

Testing between the Vyvgart Hytrulo prefilled syringe, and the Vyvgart Hytrulo vial led to the approval of this product by the FDA. The human factors validation studies demonstrated that both gMG or CIDP patients, along with their caregivers, could execute acceptable prefilled syringe preparation and administration of Vyvgart Hytrulo safely and effectively, as reported by HealthDay. 

Designed for Independence and Flexibility 

“Today’s FDA approval provides a new self-injection option across both approved indications in the U.S. that is designed for patients who seek more independence with their treatment,” Luc Truyen, M.D., Ph.D., the chief medical officer at argenx, said in a statement. “Whether patients prefer to receive their treatment in a physician’s office, at home, or while traveling, they can experience treatment on their own terms and continue to benefit from Vyvgart Hytrulo’s favorable safety profile and strong efficacy.” 

Continue Reading

News

Quick Walking May Prevent Heart Rhythm Issues 

Quick Walking May Prevent Heart Rhythm Issues 

United States: A new research finds that individuals who walk vigorously for long periods reduce their chances of developing heart rhythm abnormalities. 

Faster Walking, Healthier Heart 

The research in the Heart journal revealed that individuals walking over 4 miles per hour had a decreased chance of 43% developing heart rhythm abnormalities compared to walkers moving less than 3 miles per hour, as reported by HealthDay. 

According to researchers, the duration of movement together with average or brisk pace walking worked to decrease heart rhythm issues by 27%. 

Duration and Pace Matter 

“These new findings reinforce the promotion of faster walking pace in physical activity recommendations,” concluded the research team led by Jill Pell, chair of public health with the University of Glasgow in the U.K. “Walking at a brisk pace may have a role in … prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.” 

Inside the Research 

Study data originated from the UK Biobank health study, which encompassed 421,000 participants, with accelerometer-wearers representing 82,000 individuals who tracked their walking pace. 

A brisk walking pace existed in 41% of study participants, whereas an average walking pace occurred in 53%, and a slow pace was observed in less than 6%. 

The study results revealed that walking swiftly reduced heart rhythm issues by 43% or walking moderately reduced them by 35%. 

Atrial Fibrillation Risk Also Drops 

Analysis of data from UK Biobank demonstrates that brisk or average-paced walkers experienced a 46% and 38% decrease in atrial fibrillation risk rates, which elevates stroke risks, as reported by HealthDay. 

Quick Walking May Prevent Heart Rhythm Issues 
Quick Walking May Prevent Heart Rhythm Issues 

The connection between heart rhythm problems and walking pace appears to be shaped by 36% through inflammation alongside metabolic factors, according to expert estimation. 

What’s Behind the Benefits? 

Research from the past supports these findings because brisk walking leads to lower obesity levels and better blood sugar control, in addition to preventing diabetes and lowering high blood pressure, according to scientists. 

“This study is the first to explore the pathways underpinning the association between walking pace and arrhythmias and to provide evidence that metabolic and inflammatory factors may have a role,” researchers concluded. “Walking faster decreased the risk of obesity and inflammation, which, in turn, reduced the risk of arrhythmia.” 

Continue Reading

News

Smart Shirt Technology Monitors Heart Health in Real Time 

Smart Shirt Technology Monitors Heart Health in Real Time 

United States: The “smart shirt” coupled with an electrocardiogram (ECG) device enables researchers to detect people with elevated cardiovascular risks, according to recent study findings. 

The wearable shirt measures heart rate recovery after workouts, so it tracks how long it takes for the heart to stabilize, as reported by HealthDay. 

“The heart’s response to exercise provides us with an early indicator of changes in health, in particular cardiovascular function and mortality,” senior researcher Manuel Hernandez, a professor of biomedical and translational sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said in a news release. 

How It Works: Tracking the Heart’s Response to Exercise 

Researchers employed smart shirts developed by Carré Technologies based in Quebec for their investigation. Continuous heart performance measures are collected using sensors attached to the smart shirt that record heart rate and electrical cardiac activity. 

Study Participants Show Promising Insights 

The research team selected 38 participants from 20 to 76 years old to complete treadmill walking exercises. The seven participants underwent medical examinations, which revealed high blood pressure as their diagnosis. 

Sounds from the laboratory tests enabled researchers to establish risk prediction systems for targeting heart disease in individuals. 

Researchers declared the investigation kickstarts the development of heart health risk understanding for individuals. 

“We want to use it to provide us with some greater insight in terms of our underlying cardiovascular function,” Hernandez said. “And we want to make something that’s clinically actionable.” 

According to a co-author, wearable technology should give physicians access to a wealth of helpful data. 

A Game-Changer for Rural and Remote Healthcare 

“One would like to have a whole bunch of data from wearables, and then that data is transmitted to a doctor’s office, and the doctor can interpret it,” said co-researcher Richard Sowers, a professor of industrial & enterprise systems engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  

Based on Sowers’ statement in the news release, these wearable devices would benefit most people who live in rural areas and places where medical resources are scarce. 

Future investigations plan to extend study participant numbers and monitor their progress longitudinally, according to researchers. 

Research groups investigate various applications of the “smart shirt” technology. 

Global Use Cases Emerging 

During the European Association of Urology conference a month ago, scientists from Italy introduced a new tracking system using smart shirts to monitor the vital signs of patients after hospital discharge, as reported by HealthDay. 

“Our patients found the T-shirt easy to use, and over 90% reported it allowed them to feel safe and cared for while recuperating at home,” lead researcher Dr. Antonio Pastore, an associate professor of urology at Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, said in a news release. 

Continue Reading

Sign Up for Our Newsletter


Join our subscribers list to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly in your inbox.


Trending