Questions about alcohol use should be a part of regular physical checkups, according to a panel of experts.
USPSTF
Government-Backed Group Calls for Universal HIV Testing of Adults
For the first time, a federally convened panel of experts is recommending HIV testing for all adults based on evidence that early detection of the virus could lead to more effective treatment of infection.
U.S. Panel Finds Little Evidence to Support Universal Screening For Suicide
Experts say that existing screening methods can identify at-risk individuals, but such tools may not help to prevent suicides.
Study Supports Less Frequent Mammogram Screening
Mammograms every other year do not increase the risk of breast cancer compared to yearly screening.
Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements May Not Prevent Fractures
For most people, the evidence doesn’t support any bone benefit of the popular supplements.
Family MattersChildhood
Child Abuse: Why It’s So Hard to Determine Who’s at Risk
Prevention is nearly always preferable to treatment when it comes to our health, and the stakes are even higher in cases of child abuse. But is it even possible to identify children at risk of abuse before it’s too late?
Doctors Should Screen All Adults for Obesity, U.S. Panel Says
With more American adults qualifying as obese than ever before, doctors should be screening all adult patients for unhealthy weight, says a government panel.
Prostate-Cancer Screening: Men Should Forgo PSA Testing, Panel Advises
A government panel finds there is little evidence that a common prostate-cancer screening saves men’s lives and instead raises the risk of unnecessary harm
Mammograms Benefit Women in their 40s, Study Shows
Mammograms catch tumors earlier, result in less invasive treatment and increase women’s chances of survival. So, why shouldn’t younger women be screened?
The Truth About Vitamin D
Vitamin D has been touted as a magic bullet, protecting against bone fractures, heart disease and even cancer. Now, a government group takes a closer look at the data.
Why Cancer Screening May Not Be a Good Idea for the Elderly
Our risk of cancer rises dramatically as we age — cancer is, after all, a disease of aging, a consequence of our increasing longevity. So it makes sense that the elderly should be routinely screened for new tumors — or doesn’t it?
Mammograms Only Occasionally Save Lives, Analysis Finds
Some doctors and public-health experts have stirred controversy in recent years by arguing that aggressive breast-cancer screening does more harm than good. Many health professionals disagree, but perhaps the most compelling …
Study: Mammograms Lead to Many False-Positive Results
In 2009, a government advisory group sent women and their doctors into a frenzy when it rolled back recommendations for annual breast cancer screening for most women. Saying that routine mammograms could potentially do more harm …
