Reading Room
The reading room includes articles and videos of potential interest to consumers and medical professionals. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the NC Medical Board, its members, and staff. Note: Some links may require registration or subscription.
The little-known Medicare program that could help about 63 million caregivers
CNN
November 1, 2026
Many of the nation’s 63 million family caregivers feel like they are left to sink or swim in taking care of ailing and often frail loved ones. Medicare stepped in to address that in 2024 with a new training benefit for family caregivers. There also are state programs that train family members in how to give medication, prevent bedsores and infections, tend to wounds, move a person safely, communicate effectively with them and manage their specific medical conditions. Many caregivers are not aware of these benefits, experts say, because they aren’t widely promoted and sometimes require healthcare providers to initiate them.
What makes people lose motivation?
Medical News Today
October 30, 2026
People can have a lack of motivation when they feel overwhelmed, stressed, fatigued, or burnt out. However, a persistent sense of apathy, or lack of interest in doing enjoyable activities, can also be a symptom of some conditions. A consistent loss of motivation can sometimes indicate a mental health condition, such as depression. Some physical health conditions, such as neurological disorders or nutritional deficiencies, may also cause similar symptoms. This article looks at potential causes of lost motivation, how to improve motivation, and when to contact a doctor.
Remember This Acronym Next Time You’re Facing a Big Medical Decision: B.R.A.I.N.
KFF Health News
October 27, 2026
Gina Conley, an Army veteran in Aberdeen, North Carolina, knew she wanted a low-intervention birth for her first child. But her plan started to go off the rails as soon as she got to the hospital. “Everything that I did not want to happen had happened,” she said. “And I just remember that feeling of being just so utterly defeated.” Conley went on to become a birth doula, in part to help other women have better experiences than she had. Her work is not about helping people avoid medical interventions, she said, but helping them engage in shared decision-making, a collaborative approach in which medical providers and patients talk through options and make a choice together. She advocates that if you are facing a big medical decision, consider B.R.A.I.N.
Leading health groups redefine heart health for girls and women
American Heart Association
October 26, 2026
For the first time, the American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have come together to release shared guidance to help clinicians identify cardiovascular risk early and take action. The landmark three-part publication highlights how female-specific biology affects girls’ and women’s hearts and creates a “Female Life Stage” framework to help protect heart health from puberty through menopause and beyond. The societies also call for a national network of Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women’s Cardiovascular Care, built on four pillars: interdisciplinary clinical care, professional education and training, research and community engagement.
Regular tea drinking linked to 11% lower vascular disease risk
Medical News Today
October 26, 2026
In a study of nearly half a million adults, the tea that looked best for the heart was a moderately strong cup, drunk often after being allowed to cool off a little. Over about 9 years, regular tea drinkers had an 11% lower risk of vascular disease, which includes stroke, heart disease and peripheral artery disease. But people who drank their tea “burning hot” lost that edge entirely. Their risk was 16% higher than non-drinkers’, though one geneticist warned the finding should be treated as exploratory. Risk was lowest at 6 to 8 cups a day. “We shouldn’t treat that as a recommended amount,” said Dell Stanford, a senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, noting that intake was measured only once and cup sizes varied.
RSV Hospitalization may be taking a surprising mortality toll
Medpage Today
October 24, 2026
Nearly one in 10 adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection died in the hospital or within 30 days of discharge, according to a CDC analysis of eight RSV seasons. Among 18,301 adults hospitalized with RSV at some point from 2014 to 2024, 8.6% (n=1,565) died during hospitalization or within the 30 days after they were discharged. More than half of those deaths (n=812) happened in the hospital, with 753 coming within 30 days post-discharge.
