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Top stories in family medicine

Healio.com/Family Medicine presents the week’s top news stories, including Internet use and elevated BP, birth month effects on height and BMI, and the country’s view on opioid use. 

FDA approves ultrasound system for targeted prostate treatment

SonaCare Medical’s Sonablast 450 focused ultrasound system has been approved by the FDA for the removal of prostate tissue. The novel system, which would allow patients to skip radiation treatment or surgery, will preserve healthy tissue while treating organ-confined prostate diseases. In the United States, focused ultrasound is currently approved for treating uterine fibroids and for pain relief from bone metastases. Read more.

Mothers supplemented with vitamin D supply ample amounts to nursing infants

Breastfeeding infants received adequate amounts of vitamin D from breast milk when their mothers took 6,400 IU vitamin D₃ per day. The infants of women taking 6,400 IU vitamin D per day had vitamin D levels comparable to infants receiving the oral 400 IU vitamin D supplement per day. Read more.

Babies born in summer have higher birth weight, taller adult height

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, birth month was found to be associated with birth weight, age of puberty onset and adult height. Results demonstrated that babies who were born in June, July and August were more likely to weigh more at birth and have taller adult heights, compared with babies born during other months. Similar patterns were observed with total hours of sunshine during the second trimester. Read more.

Excessive Internet use linked to elevated BP in teens

Teenagers who spent more than 2 hours on the Internet each day were more likely to have elevated BP. Overall, participants spent an average of 15.1 hours per week on the Internet. Forty percent of participants reported being heavy Internet users and 42% reported being moderate users. Read more.

Americans view opioid epidemic on par with gun violence, tobacco use

According to a recent survey, Americans view opioid painkiller abuse in the United States as a serious issue, equal to other major health concerns such as gun violence and tobacco use, and would support policies to combat the issue proposed by medical, law enforcement, disease control and public health experts. Read more.