FDA: Know When and How to Use Antibiotics, and When to Skip Them
Antibiotics are powerful medications that save countless lives every day. But they’re not the answer for every illness. Antibiotics treat only some infections caused by bacteria – and none caused by viruses. Most often, antibiotics work by killing the targeted bacteria or by making it difficult for the bacteria to multiply. Talk to your health […]
CDC: Taking Steps for Cleaner Air for Respiratory Virus Prevention
WHAT TO KNOW Steps for cleaner air Take steps for cleaner air. This can mean bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors. Virus particles do not build up in the air outdoors as much as they do indoors. How it works Some germs spread in the air between people. This happens […]
FDA: Pulse Oximeter Basics
We need oxygen to survive. Sometimes the amount of oxygen in the blood falls too low for the body to function well. Asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the flu, and heart disease are among the health conditions that can cause oxygen levels to drop. Being at higher altitudes, where the amount of oxygen […]
FDA: The Nutrition Facts Label
In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated requirements for the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods and drinks. FDA required changes to the Nutrition Facts label based on updated scientific information, new nutrition research, and input from the public. This was the first major update to the label in over 20 years. The label’s […]
FDA: A Fresh Take on What “Healthy” Means on Food Packages
With so many food options out there, it is helpful to have information on food packages that can empower you to identify healthier choices. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing to update its definition of “healthy.” That includes the nutritional criteria a product must meet to put the claim “healthy” on the package. […]
FDA: How Gene Therapy Can Cure or Treat Diseases
The genes in your body’s cells play a key role in your health. Indeed, a defective gene or genes can make you sick. Recognizing this, scientists have worked for decades on ways to modify genes or replace faulty genes with healthy ones to treat, cure, or prevent a disease or medical condition. This research is […]
FDA: Ticks and Lyme Disease – Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, are on the rise in people and dogs. Reported cases in people in the U.S. increased from about 12,000 annually in 1995 to approximately 35,000 in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, not all diagnosed cases are reported and the CDC believes the true number […]
CDC: About Adenovirus
KEY POINTS Symptoms Adenoviruses can cause a wide range of signs and symptoms, such as: Less common symptoms include: How it spreads Adenoviruses are usually spread from an infected person to others through: How long a person can spread the virus Sometimes the virus can be shed (released from the body) for a long time […]
FDA: Critical Role in Ensuring Safe and Effective Flu Vaccines
The flu (influenza) vaccine you get at your doctor’s office or pharmacy is the result of year-round work of highly skilled microbiologists, epidemiologists, physicians and other public health experts. Sound complicated? It is. As new strains of flu viruses emerge, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration closely coordinates with sister agencies and works with manufacturers […]
FDA: Create and Keep a Medication List for Your Health
Many people of all ages take medications. Keeping track of when, how and why you use medications is important for your health and safety. A medication list is a tool to help you keep track of all the prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins and supplements that you take. Keeping a medication list helps health […]