Hypercholesterolemia: Causes and Management

Two in five Americans have harmful levels of cholesterol in their blood. Hypercholesterolemia, or high cholesterol, remains one of the significant risk factors for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the United States. Knowing how to prevent and manage the condition is vital, as there are almost no symptoms.

Clinical Studies and You

You may have heard of clinical studies, but you might not know much about them. Each medicine doctors give their patients must first be approved by a regulatory agency, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and similar agencies in other countries. Before this can happen, we need real-world evidence that a medicine is safe and that it is effective in the populations with disease. Sponsors (pharma and biotech companies) run clinical studies to gather the evidence and submit it to regulatory agencies who review the evidence and approve the medicine for patients, if it is safe and effective.

Diversity in clinical studies: Why it matters

People from different ethnic backgrounds may have a different response to certain medical products (medicines and medical devices) and that is why it is important for clinical studies to include people from all background and across different age groups, races and ethnicities.

Mental Health Challenges: Seasonal Depression and Anxiety

As fall begins, many people may start to experience symptoms of seasonal depression. In fact, about 5% of Americans experience symptoms of seasonal depression every year. It is essential to recognize these symptoms and seek effective treatment options.

Chronic Kidney Disease: Overview and Emerging Therapies

Chronic kidney disease is a condition marked by the progressive loss of kidney function and life-threatening complications such as high blood pressure and heart disease. It is estimated that chronic kidney disease affects more than 1 in 7 Americans. Although kidney diseases rank as a leading cause of death in the United States, 40% of people with severely reduced kidney function remain unaware of their condition.

10 Signs You May Have Kidney Disease

Your kidneys play a crucial role in your overall health and well-being. Serving as the body’s blood filtration system they help remove waste, toxins and drugs, balance fluid levels, control blood pressure, regulate pH levels, and more. Without them you wouldn’t be able to survive.

Navigating the ClinicalTrials.gov website

Researching and understanding clinical trial information can be daunting. With so many different sources of information and language that can be difficult to understand, trying to find a clinical trial that is right for you can be overwhelming. While ClinicalTrials.gov is the most comprehensive database for clinical trials, it is written for healthcare professionals and can be difficult to navigate. But don’t worry, there are several best practices that can help.

Nomenclature Change from NASH/NAFLD to MASH/MASLD

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affect a high percentage of the global population, yet the terminology creates stigma and fails to encompass the main driver of liver injury—metabolic syndrome. After many years of debates, experts in the field have come up with new, more appropriate names for these conditions and introduced new terminology for patients who have both metabolic problems and consume alcohol.

COVID-19 Now: Accessing the Latest Vaccines

Regulatory authorities recommend that people get the latest COVID-19 booster, but for some the vaccines can be hard to find. Since the federal government stopped purchasing COVID-19 vaccines, there are fewer highly visible public vaccination sites and events than there were with the initial and earlier vaccines and boosters. Although the government is no longer purchasing COVID-19 vaccines, a new program has been announced to provide access for people without insurance at no cost to them. People with insurance still have access to COVID-19 vaccines with no out-of-pocket cost, but there may be fewer locations where they can get the vaccines.

Pancreatic Cancer: Overview and Promising New Therapies

Pancreatic cancer is rarely diagnosed before spreading to other organs. Thankfully, researchers are developing promising new therapies that can be used to treat it. The American Cancer Society predicts that about 64,050 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023. This aggressive cancer, which accounts for about 7% of all cancer deaths, is slightly more common in men than women.