Category: Pills

New Pill for COVID

A new antiviral pill for COVID is very promising. It may be used widely to control the infection in people suffering from early stages of illness.

But the pill does NOT seem to work very well in people with severe illness.

It is important to note that “Prevention is better than cure”. That’s why using COVID vaccines to prevent the disease in first place is a better option.

COVID Vaccines will continue to play the lead role in controlling the COVID pandemic.

The antiviral pill by the made by the company Merck is likely to become the first approved oral medication effective against coronavirus. But other companies, including Pfizer, are also developing new oral antiviral medications.

Dexamethasone and other steroid pills, which can help COVID illness, do NOT have direct antiviral activity.

Overall, this antiviral pill is another promising step towards complete normality.

References

BBC Covid antiviral pill can halve risk of hospitalisation
By Jim Reed
Health reporter

Guardian. Covid antiviral pill halves hospitalisations and deaths.
Merck’s antiviral drug, molnupiravir.
Hannah Devlin Science correspondent
Fri 1 Oct 2021 15.56 BST

Disclaimer: Please note – This blog is NOT medical advice. This blog is NOT a expert medical opinion on various topics. This blog is purely for information only and do check the sources where cited. Please DO consult your own doctor to discuss concerns and options relevant to you. The views expressed in this blog are NOT, in way whatsoever, intended to be a substitute for professional advice. The blog is NOT previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed, in any way, by any organisation that the author is associated with. The views expressed in this blog likely represents some of the author’s personal views held at the time of drafting the blog and MAY CHANGE overtime, particularly when new evidence comes to light.

Does breast feeding the baby protect the mother from heart diseases in later life ?

Yes, it can.

A Study published in British Medical Journal found that “A longer length of breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease”

The study also found that women who had certain pregnancy related complications were also at increased risk of heart disease in later life.

In addition, the study also found that taking contraceptive pills (combined pills) in younger age led to increased risk of heart disease and stroke in later life.

Awareness of these risks would help to take steps to reduce the risk from them.

References

Association between the reproductive health of young women and cardiovascular disease in later life: umbrella review. BMJ 2020; 371 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3502 (Published 07 October 2020). Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m3502. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3502

Disclaimer: Please note- This blog is NOT medical advice. This blog is purely for information only and do check the the sources where cited. Please DO consult your own doctor to discuss concerns and options relevant to you.

The views expressed in this blog represent the author’s views held at the time of drafting the blog and may change overtime, particularly when new evidence comes to light. The blog is not necessarily endorsed by any organisation the author is associated with and the authors views are not in way intended to be a substitute for professional advice.