Hello health and wellness enthusiasts, my name is Caitlin, and I’m here to catch up on the news you may have missed this week and how it affects your life. In the meantime, here’s what my team and I focused on:
Here’s what else you need to know:
💊 MDMA rejected as a mental health medication
An independent Food and Drug Administration panel has rejected the use of MDMA (also known as Ecstasy in pill form and Molly in crystal form) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The panel said there was insufficient evidence that the treatment was effective and that the risks outweighed the benefits, citing specific concerns about the study design and the drug’s possible effects on the cardiovascular system.
Why is this important:
The ongoing debate around psychedelics and mental health suggests that people and experts are looking to other treatments, and that there is a lack of treatment options currently being explored.
Though it’s not the same drug, the committee’s rejection of MDMA as a treatment option follows recent concerns over ketamine therapy, an off-label treatment for hallucinogens that many experts believe could be a breakthrough treatment for patients with hard-to-treat mental illnesses. While people like Chrissy Teigen and Sharon Osbourne support the use of the drug in ketamine clinics, not everyone is on board. The therapy has become a hot topic again following the death of actor Matthew Perry, who died from the effects of ketamine and said he had been attending a ketamine clinic for treatment.
🫀 Cardiovascular disease is a major problem
This is alarming. New research suggests that 6 in 10 adults will develop cardiovascular disease in the next 30 years, with high blood pressure being the disease they’re most likely to develop. This is a big problem because high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Why is this important:
Cardiovascular disease has been on the rise for years, and experts tell Yahoo Life it will continue to rise due to several factors, including an increasing number of older people. Obesity, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, is also on the rise, even among younger people, who may have to fight heart disease for the rest of their lives. The good news? You can reduce your risk by making lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet and exercising.
Here are some recommendations:
🚠FDA reverses Juul ban
The Food and Drug Administration announced this week that it was lifting its ban on the controversial e-cigarette brand Juul. The FDA initially banned the product because the company failed to prove that it was safe for the public to keep it on store shelves. But the e-cigarettes — which have become increasingly popular in recent years among young people, especially in high school bathrooms — remain on store shelves following the company’s appeal. Now, Juul is once again under agency scrutiny, as the company seeks new approval to sell its products.
Why is this important:
First, let’s read behind the headline. “Lifting Juul ban” does not mean the FDA has declared e-cigarettes safe. Although there is evidence that e-cigarettes are healthier than traditional cigarettes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said they are not safe because of the chemicals they contain. Nicotine is an addictive chemical that can have adverse effects on adolescent brains. Further research, such as the FDA’s investigation into Juul, may help point the way forward.
