Happy Holidays to all who celebrate this time of year! We may be battling extreme cold weather brought on by a “bomb cyclone” sweeping across the country, but at least kids can make sure Santa comes on time, according to this military agency that tracks his movements. You can be sure of
Today, on the health front, the FDA has updated Plan B contraceptive labeling and information to draw attention to how the “morning after” pill works and to specify that it does not cause abortions.
Welcome to Overnight Health CareFollow the latest developments in policy and news that affect your health. The Hill is Nathaniel Weisel and Joseph Choi. Subscribe here.
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FDA updates Plan B labeling, says it’s not an abortion drug
On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it had approved a request by Plan B manufacturers to update how they display information about their drugs.
- In addition to some changes, the agency specified that Plan B would not cause an abortion.
- “Plan B One-Step prevents pregnancy by acting on ovulation, which occurs before implantation. will never end.
Levonorgestrel is better known under the brand name Plan B One-Step, or colloquially as the “morning after” pill. .
Usage: Plan B prevents pregnancy by temporarily delaying the release of the egg from the ovary, preventing the egg from being fertilized by sperm. The drug is most effective when taken within three days of unprotected sex, and the manufacturer advises that the sooner it is taken, the better.
If someone is already pregnant, the pill will not work and will not terminate the pregnancy, says the new packaging.
Please check this out for details.
Study finds lack of comprehensiveness in obstetrics and gynecology research
All racial and ethnic representations in obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) studies are suboptimal, according to the authors of a new analysis of 1,300 clinical trials and over 1,100 clinical trial publications.
Both clinical trials and scientific publications inform how health professionals deliver clinical care, but homogenous, non-representative studies can adversely affect OB-GYN care. Yes, the authors write in their report.
“We know that the reporting and representation of race and ethnicity in research is an important part of health equity, public health and social justice,” lead researcher Jecca Steinberg said in a release. Said. Steinberg is a resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
- The authors suggested that of all the subspecialties analyzed, trials on obstetrics and family planning were the most diverse and could serve as models for this area.
- However, gynecological studies were significantly less likely to report racial and ethnic data than obstetric studies.
Of the included trials, 51% reported race and ethnicity data, and three-quarters of the publications did the same. Trials conducted between 2007 and 2020 were included in the study along with publications from 2007 to 2021.
American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black, and Latina groups were underrepresented in trials and publications, but underrepresentation varied by subspecialty, funder, and race and ethnicity. rice field.
Please check this out for details.
NYU emergency room accused of providing special care
New York University’s (NYU) emergency department has been accused of providing special treatment to various VIPs, including Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (DN.Y.), according to a report in The New York Times. .
The New York Times spoke with 45 health care workers and scrutinized internal hospital records and other sensitive documents to find out how the NYU emergency room has worked for donors, trustees, politicians and celebrities over the years. reported that they have been giving priority care to friends and family.
According to the report, Room 20 is reserved for life-threatening and VIP patients.
- Mr. Schumer’s wife developed a fever and shortness of breath this spring, and the two of them went to the New York University emergency room.
- Sick patients were treated in the hallway, but Schumer and his wife were led to room 20 and immediately tested for COVID-19, which came back negative, The Times reported.
- Kenneth Langone, a major donor to NYU’s hospital system and for whom the center is named, complained of stomach pains in September 2021. Medical workers told The Times that room 20 was left empty for him and he was immediately taken to the room and treated. Bacterial infection on arrival.
NYU Langone denied to The Times that VIPs were being prioritized for treatment, but 33 staff members said they did so in Room 20, one of the emergency department’s largest private spaces. He told the outlet he saw a type patient undergoing the treatment.
Please check this out for details.
Target recalls child’s weighted blanket after suffocation
Target recalled more than 200,000 child weighted blankets Thursday after two girls were reportedly suffocated in the spring after being trapped inside one.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Big Box Chain have announced a recall of the 204,000 Pillowfort Weighted Blankets, citing a safety risk if a child unzips and enters the blanket.
- In April, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, a 4-year-old girl and a 6-year-old girl were suffocated in a weighted blanket cover.
- Target has received four reports of children being trapped in its products, including that one.
Both CPSC and Target are urging consumers to stop using weighted blankets and return products immediately.The Pillowfort Weighted Blanket weighs 6 pounds and measures 60 inches long by 40 inches wide.
Please check this out for details.
How to Mentally Prepare for a Holiday Gathering
Over the past few years, additional typical family conflicts and scrutiny have accompanied the terrifying side of the pandemic — even this holiday season, when COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu are all prevalent. This is no exception.
In a conversation with The Hill’s Changing America team, psychiatrist Ravi Shah offered advice on how to mentally prepare for social and family gatherings.
plan what to do if someone gets sick
- The Shah recommends following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on how and where to isolate party members if they begin to develop symptoms or test positive, and to develop a quarantine plan for exposed people. increase.
- This plan may include alternative or coordinated activities in case someone cannot fully participate. If you have a safe way to gather outdoors in a remote location, that may be a good option.
soften your expectations
- “Holidays are about socializing and spending time with other people,” Shah said. But these gatherings are rarely perfect.
- “What we should expect is… when families are together a few times a year, it’s going to be as conflicting as any other relationship,” Shah said. But how you handle them matters.” Moderating your expectations can help give you and your family a little breathing room.
Please check this out for details.
what we are reading
- Omicron’s subvariant XBB jumps to 18% of US COVID cases, CDC says (Reuters)
- There have been over 100 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States. Experts say this is likely an underestimation (ABC News)
- Influenza activity in US continues to decline after initial surge (Stat)
by state
- Colorado considers changing red flag laws after nightclub shooting (Kaiser Health News)
- UCSF apologizes for experiments on prisoners in 60’s and 70’s (Los Angeles Times)
- Watch out for sprouts! Nebraska Health Department Issues Salmonella Warning (WOWT)
That’s all for today, thanks for reading. For the latest news and coverage, visit The Hill’s Health Care page.
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