Health Newsfeed – Johns Hopkins Medicine Podcasts

Immunotherapies hold enormous promise for treating cancers of various types, but the bad news is that while many patients may initially respond many will also become resistant. Valsamo Anagnostou, a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins, is looking at tumor specific … Assessing individual cancer characteristics is needed to determine resistance to new types of therapies, Elizabeth Tracey report...

Studies looking at lung cancer in people who smoked showed that those who did experienced a lot more lung cancer than those who didn’t. That’s a correlation study, says Otis Brawley, a cancer epidemiology expert at Johns Hopkins. Then came … Laboratory studies demonstrate causation when it comes to cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

When people are diagnosed with a cancer many questions come up, among them what might have led to the development of cancer, especially with regard to behaviors the person adopted that increased their risk for the disease. Otis Brawley, a … Do you understand what ‘risk’ means when it comes to cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Respiratory syncytial virus or RSV can result in serious illness or death for infants, people with compromised immunity or older adults. The vaccine is safe and effective, and Panagis Galiatsatos, a critical care medicine expert and community health advocate at … What should you do about getting the RSV vaccine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

It’s vaccination season, with many considering getting a Covid vaccine in light of ongoing infections nationwide. Critical care medicine expert Panagis Galiatsatos at Johns Hopkins, who’s also a community medicine advocate, says if you’re already under the weather now is … With cold and flu season about to begin and Covid continuing, should you get a vaccine if you’re already under the weath...

People often express concerns about routine immunizations causing adverse reactions. Panagis Galiatsatos, a critical care expert at Johns Hopkins and community medicine advocate, says it’s always a good idea to manage your own expectations by becoming educated on what common … Monitoring your own symptoms after vaccination helps identify adverse reactions, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More...

Do you know about the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, or VAERS? This organization tracks and investigates bad reactions people have after receiving a vaccine. Pharmacist Victoria DeJaco at Johns Hopkins says both you and the provider who administered the … Reporting adverse events after receiving a vaccine helps you and others, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

If you’re an older adult or someone with chronic disease, now is a good time to consider getting vaccinated for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. That’s according to Johns Hopkins pharmacist Victoria DeJaco. Dejaco: It used to be that people … Respiratory infection season is almost upon us, and older people in particular should pay attention to their vaccine status, Elizabeth Tracey repor...

Being up to date on vaccines should be on the college prep list, says pharmacist Victoria DeJaco at Johns Hopkins. Dejaco: Definitely gonna want COVID or flu because those generally are going to be more prevalent. The season is going … If you’re sending a child off to college what vaccines should they get? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Do you take vitamins? While the evidence is conflicting on whether they are beneficial for health the majority of US adults do take them, and frequently are confused over which ones are best. Pharmacist Victoria DeJaco at Johns Hopkins says … Which type of vitamin is best? Your pharmacist knows, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Pharmacists are increasingly being called upon to take on additional healthcare tasks, from administering immunizations to reconciling medications to dispensing advice along with prescription and over the counter drugs. Victoria DeJaco, a pharmacist at Johns Hopkins, says there’s even more … The breadth of expertise of your pharmacist is available to you, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More &...

Only one-quarter of people who could benefit from a cholesterol lowering drug were taking one, a recent study by Caleb Alexander, a drug efficacy expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Alexander says that number is likely to go … What will loss of insurance do to people who already can’t afford their medicines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

A large number of people who could benefit from medicines to reduce cholesterol and consequent cardiovascular risk aren’t taking them, a study by Caleb Alexander, a drug efficacy expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Alexander says this has … Many people who could benefit from medicines to reduce their cardiovascular risk aren’t getting them, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More &...

Hepatitis C is a worldwide problem, with millions of people infected who don’t even know it. We do have effective treatment and untreated infection can result in liver failure and death, so a new study attempted to implement free testing … What are the barriers to testing for hepatitis C in emergency departments? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

A new blood test used to screen people for colorectal cancer just isn’t ready to replace colonoscopy or fecal immunochemical tests, since these are capable of detecting early lesions that respond best to treatment. That’s according to Kimmel Cancer Center … Could more targeted screening be helpful in colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

A new blood test for colorectal cancer finds advanced cancers well, but William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says when compared to the gold standard colonoscopy, or even stool tests used for screening, it falls … Are there aspects to blood testing for colorectal cancer that undermine screening? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

A blood test can identify the majority of colorectal cancers, a new study finds, when compared with the gold standard, colonoscopy, for screening. Yet whether this test can be trusted when it says cancer is NOT present is another matter, … Is there a role for a new blood test for colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Blood tests for cancer are much in the news lately, including one to test for colorectal cancer. Such a test, if it works as well as methods like colonoscopy or fecal immunochemical testing, would allow people to give tedious aspects … How helpful is a new blood test for colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Regular, supervised exercise helped people who’d been treated for colorectal cancer avoid recurrence of the disease, a new study shows, adding to the burgeoning body of evidence demonstrating the clear health benefits of exercise in many settings, including avoiding cancer … Supervised exercise helped reduce recurrence of colorectal cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Some drugs used to treat breast cancer might also be used to prevent it, but the hot flashes and other troublesome side effects make that an unlikely choice for many women. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says … Can a new drug that helps hot flashes herald a way to prevent many breast cancers? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Among people who’ve had a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event and need a cholesterol lowering medicine, about 2/3 will take one. Among those who have not had such an event but do have high cholesterol only about a … Engaging both patients and physicians in the use of cholesterol lowering medicines is needed, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Only about 25 percent of people who need cholesterol lowering medicines based on blood tests take them,  with about 2/3 of those who’ve had a cardiovascular event doing so, a study by Caleb Alexander, a drug safety and efficacy expert at … Why don’t people who are eligible for cholesterol lowering medicines take them? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Not taking medicines to lower cholesterol when you clearly need them increases your risk for heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events. Yet a study by Caleb Alexander, a drug safety and efficacy expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues, shows … Just how much does it cost our healthcare system when people don’t take needed medicines to reduce cardiovascular risk? Elizabeth Tracey...

Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet many people who should be taking medicines to lower their risk by lowering cholesterol aren’t. That’s according to a study by … The gap between recommendations and who is actually taking medicines to lower cardiovascular disease risk is huge, Elizabeth Tracey reports R...

Most people have heard of statins, drugs that lower cholesterol and consequent cardiovascular disease risk. Caleb Alexander, a drug safety and efficacy expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues, have looked at just how many people who should be taking such … How many people aren’t taking needed medicines to reduce cardiovascular risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »