August 15 2017: Breast implants can cause a rare cancer of the immune system called BIA-ALCL. Plastic surgeons and the FDA knew the risks years before the FDA officially warned the public in 2017. The National Center for Health Research explains how delayed warnings kept that important information about the risks from many women who had breast implants as well as many who were considering getting breast implants.
Read More »Medical Care for Adults
The National Center for Health Research reviews important new research as soon as it is published. We cut through the hype regarding various medical treatments to let you know what is proven and what is unknown about the risks and benefits of various treatment options. We do not accept funding from the companies that make medical products, so you can trust that our information is based on science, and not biased by financial ties to the treatments we’re evaluating.
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Some of these articles were written this year and others were not, however, if they are on our website it means the information is up-to-date. We always scrutinize new research and call the researchers to learn even more. Then we translate it into plain language that everyone can understand.
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Pregnant Women, Weight, and Babies’ Health
July 25, 2017. The obesity epidemic in the U.S. is affecting newborns and pregnant women. What are the risks associated with being overweight or obese during pregnancy?
Read More »Which Blood-Thinning Medication Is Right for You?
This article will describe the benefits and risks of different blood thinning medications for reducing the chance of stroke for those with atrial fibrillation.
Read More »Is Noctiva a Good Treatment for Nighttime Trips to the Bathroom?
Noctiva is the first drug that FDA has approved for frequent nighttime urination. Unfortunately, the low dose (0.83 mcg) isn’t effective and the high dose (1.66 mcg) can cause serious side effects. It would be more effective to treat the cause of nighttime urination, so patients should talk to their doctors to consider possible causes before considering Noctiva. Do the benefits outweigh the risks for most patients? Since the benefits are small and the risks can be serious, Noctiva is probably not the best solution for most patients. Some patients may benefit from it without any harmful side effects, but the research doesn’t help us predict who those patients would be.
Read More »Why Are So Many American Women Having Mastectomies?
Our Bodies Ourselves, June 16, 2017. Breast cancer experts believe that many women undergoing mastectomies do not need them and are getting them out of fear, not because of the actual risks.
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