A popular medicine turns out to be no better than a placebo for treating sciatica. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine said Lyrica does not relieve pain from the sciatic nerve and that it does cause side effects such as dizziness. Sciatica causes pain or tingling in the lower limbs and back.

Researchers investigated the link between moderate drinking and twelve different cardiovascular diseases. The study published in the British Medical Journal found drinking the equivalent of about seven pints of beer a week lowers the risk of several cardiovascular conditions, including angina and heart failure.

For women who had breast reconstruction, those who use a mobile app for follow up care may be able to cut down their doctor visits. Research in JAMA Surgery tracked patients using an app to report on their recovery and submit pictures to their surgeons. The study found those women had about half as many in person visits during the first month after surgery.

Sources: 

1 – New England Journal of Medicine

2 – The BMJ

3 – JAMA Surgery