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.
You’re probably taking over-the-counter painkillers incorrectly
NPR
April 18, 2025
When hit with a headache or fever, people often reach for over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as their first line of defense. Used correctly, these drugs can be safe and effective for pain relief. That means following the instructions on the label and the advice of a health care provider.
“But that’s not how we take these medications in real life,” says Trisha Pasricha, a physician and instructor at Harvard Medical School. Some people take too much pain medication too quickly, misdiagnose an ailment and take the wrong drug, or unknowingly take multiple pain relievers at the same time.
Read More…Hearing Loss May Play a Bigger Role in Dementia Than Previously Thought
MedPage Today
April 17, 2025
Hearing loss may play a bigger role in dementia than previously thought, data from a U.S. cohort study suggested. In a sample of nearly 3,000 older adults, up to 32% (95% CI 11.0%-46.5%) of incident dementia over 8 years could be attributable to any degree of audiometric hearing loss, reported Jason Smith, PhD, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, and co-authors. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were similar by hearing loss severity. For mild hearing loss, the PAF was 16.2% (95% CI 4.2%-24.2%). For moderate or greater hearing loss, it was 16.6% (95% CI 3.9%-24.3%), Smith and colleagues wrote in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
‘Weekend warriors’ have a lower risk of death from heart disease, cancer
Medical News Today
April 2, 2025
Everyone knows that exercise plays an important role in helping you live a long and healthy life. Current United States health guidelines recommend adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week, and at least 2 days of strength training. However, many people face barriers to working out throughout the week, including time restraints, limited access to exercise equipment, and lack of motivation.
Now a new study recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association says people who are only able to workout on the weekends — known as the “weekend warrior” approach — are still receiving similar health benefits than if they had spread out their workouts throughout the week.
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