The latest research appears to support the link between the Zika virus and the birth defect microcephaly, which has been on the rise in South America. A study in the Lancet estimated that the risk of microcephaly is about one in every 100 women infected with Zika virus during the first trimester of pregnancy. Microcephaly causes abnormally small heads and often brain damage.
Hoping to curb the epidemic of opioid abuse, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new recommendations for doctors who treat chronic pain. The guidelines include three key principles:
1) Non-opioid therapy is preferred
2) When opioids are used, they should be used in the lowest effective dosage
3) Providers should be cautious and monitor patients closely
A separate report has found when it comes to treating pain, meditation may provide drug-free relief. The study in the Journal of Neuroscience used a heated probe to inflict pain on a group of volunteers. Participants said meditation reduced the pain by as much as 24%.
Sources
1- The Lancet
2- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3- Journal of Neuroscience
