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Meditation Apps: Making Mindfulness Easy, Accessible, and Personalized
Meditation apps have become a popular way for people to practice mindfulness and reduce stress, offering easy access anytime and anywhere. Even just a few minutes, a few times a week, can help improve mood, ease anxiety, and promote better sleep. These apps fit into busy lives, letting you meditate while waiting in line or during a quick break. While they aren’t a complete replacement for in-person meditation classes or teachers, they’re a great way to get started and build healthy habits. The challenge for these apps is keeping people engaged over time, but with new technology like AI-guided sessions, meditation is becoming more personalized and easier to stick with than ever before.
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FDA Approves First Drug-Free Implant to Tackle Rheumatoid Arthritis
In a major medical first, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the SetPoint System, an implantable device that uses mild electrical pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve and reduce inflammation in people with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). About the size of a multivitamin and placed in the neck, the device activates the body’s natural “inflammatory reflex,” offering a drug-free alternative to expensive immunosuppressants, which can raise infection risk. The technology stems from a discovery made 20 years ago by neurosurgeon Kevin Tracey, who found the vagus nerve could act like an “on-off switch” for the immune system. In a year-long clinical trial of 242 RA patients, over half saw major symptom relief or remission, with most side effects being mild. While long-term safety outside trials is still unknown, the device will begin rolling out in select U.S. cities this year, with researchers exploring its potential for other autoimmune and inflammation-related diseases.
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Why Weight Loss May Not Reduce Hip Osteoarthritis Pain
New research shows that for people with hip osteoarthritis, losing weight through a very-low-calorie diet combined with exercise does not reduce hip pain more than exercise alone, even if they are overweight. While both groups experienced less pain after six months, the extra weight loss didn’t lead to significantly better pain relief. This is different from knee osteoarthritis, where weight loss can make a bigger difference. Experts believe this is because hip pain is more related to the shape and structure of the hip joint itself. So, for those with hip OA, staying active with exercise is important, but losing weight might not reduce pain as much as expected. This information could also help patients and doctors decide when surgery might be the best option without delaying for weight loss first.
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Health Canada Warns Against Unauthorized Injectable Peptides Sold Online
Health Canada is warning the public about the serious health risks of using unauthorized injectable peptide drugs, which are often promoted online for muscle building, weight loss, anti-aging, or athletic performance. These products—sold through websites like the now offline "Canada Peptide"—have not been approved for use in Canada and may lead to harmful side effects such as infections, allergic reactions, or dangerous interactions with other medications. Health Canada urges people not to buy or use these drugs and to dispose of them safely through a pharmacy or local hazardous waste program. To stay safe, always check for an official Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN), or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM) on the label, and only purchase prescription medications from licensed pharmacies.
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FDA Approves First Nerve-Stimulating Implant to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis Without Drugs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first-ever device to treat an autoimmune condition using nerve stimulation. Designed for people with rheumatoid arthritis, the tiny implant is placed in the neck alongside the vagus nerve—an important nerve that connects the brain to major organs. Once a day, it sends gentle electrical pulses that help calm the body’s immune response and reduce inflammation. Unlike traditional medications that suppress the immune system and often cause side effects, this device offers a drug-free approach that can ease joint pain and swelling without raising the risk of infections. Many patients in clinical trials were able to stop their usual medications entirely, offering new hope for people living with chronic autoimmune diseases.
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