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Headaches are a common symptom of a stressful lifestyle, your body not feeling well and other issues. While headaches can be dealt with easily, migraines are not so easy to handle. Migraines are a type of headache that feels like severe throbbing and pulsing sensation, almost like you are hearing your own heartbeat in your brain, usually on one side of the brain. Many people believe that migraines are not that big of a deal because you just have to deal with the pain, but that is not all migraine is, some people find it very difficult to do their daily tasks as they experience dizzying spells, nausea and extreme sensitivity to light and sound! These attacks can last hours and make it difficult for people to go about their daily lives as well. While there are medications available for migraine patients, these medications need time to take effect, so you may be in a lot of pain, but there are not many quick reliefs you can have in place other than learning the symptoms of a migraine attack and taking medication before it happens. But a new approval by the FDA may change this!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Symbravo, a new medicine to treat acute migraine attacks in adults. This means adults can now use Symbravo to get relief from their migraine symptoms. The FDA's decision was based on the results of three big studies, called Phase 3 trials. These trials involved over 21,000 migraine attacks, so the FDA has a lot of information about how well Symbravo works and how safe it is. The FDA only approves medicines that have been shown to be both safe and effective through a thorough testing process.
"Migraine attacks can happen suddenly and really mess up people's lives. It's estimated that over 39 million people in the U.S. alone get migraines," said Herriot Tabuteau, M.D., CEO of Axsome Therapeutics told US News. This shows how common migraines are and how important it is to have good treatments. "Symbravo gives patients and doctors a new option that can quickly stop a migraine attack, keep it away, and let people get back to their normal activities, all with just one dose." Having a medicine that can give fast and long-lasting relief from migraine pain is a big deal for millions of people. This new treatment is a real step forward in how we treat migraines.
The trials took place in 3 steps, the Momentum trial study focused on people whose migraines had moderate to severe pain. The results showed that a lot more people taking Symbravo felt pain-free two hours after taking the medicine compared to those who took a placebo which is a dummy pill. Even better, many people felt relief for up to 24 and even 48 hours after just one dose. This long-lasting relief is really important for people with migraines because it means they can get back to their normal lives without worrying about the pain coming back. The study also looked at how many people were free from their worst symptom, like sensitivity to light or sound, or nausea. Symbravo worked better than the placebo in this area too.
While the intercept trial looked at people who took Symbravo when their migraine pain was still mild. Even when the pain was just starting, Symbravo was effective. The results were similar to the MOMENTUM trial, with many people getting pain relief and relief from their worst symptoms. Treating migraines early is often better because it can stop the pain from getting really bad.
And lastly the Movement trial which was to see how safe the medication is when people take it regularly. This study followed 706 people who had at least two migraines a month. The most common side effects people experienced were sleepiness and dizziness. While these side effects are important to know about, the study showed that Symbravo is generally safe for people to use on a regular basis.
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US President Donald Trump was seen with a visible neck rash and a bruised right hand that appeared to be covered with makeup during the 2026 NATO Summit in Türkiye, drawing renewed attention to his health. However, the White House has continued to insist that the 80-year-old president, the oldest America has ever had, remains in good health.
The 2026 NATO Summit was held at the Beştepe Presidential Complex in Ankara, Türkiye, from July 7 to 8.
The back of Trump's right hand—visible beneath white sleeves fastened with presidential cufflinks—looked noticeably darker than the surrounding skin, suggesting it may have been covered with makeup, The Independent reported.
The recurring discoloration has attracted attention in recent months. Similar bruising, often accompanied by visible cosmetic coverage, has been photographed during Trump's appearance at a UFC event at the White House in June and after a meeting with coal miners in February. Some photographs have also appeared to show similar markings on his left hand.
A neck rash was also visible above the president's shirt collar. Trump additionally appeared unsteady on his feet, particularly while using stairs.
Also read: Donald Trump Posts AI Video of Himself Treating Critics for 'Derangement Syndrome'
During the summit's welcome ceremony, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 72, was seen taking Trump by the arm and guiding him into position.
Both Trump, 80, and Erdoğan have faced public scrutiny over their physical and cognitive health. Trump has drawn attention for rambling speeches, apparent dozing during public events, and the recurring bruising on his hands. Erdoğan has similarly been the subject of discussion over verbal stumbles, moments of confusion, and a slower walking pace.
Read More: New Book Examines Donald Trump's Health, Age Concerns; White House Responds
The White House has repeatedly dismissed concerns, attributing the bruising to the physical demands of Trump's public schedule.
"President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement provided to The Independent. "The President is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history."
In February, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also said the bruising resulted from frequent handshaking.
Following Trump's most recent medical examination in May, White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella said the bruising was consistent with "minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking" while the president was taking aspirin as a preventive measure against cardiovascular disease.
After his check-up at Walter Reed, Trump wrote on Truth Social that "everything" had "checked out PERFECTLY."
Public attention has also focused on other aspects of Trump's appearance in recent months. A swelling around his ankles and occasions during official events when he appeared to keep his eyes closed for extended periods have been raising health concerns.
The White House has previously said the ankle swelling is caused by blood pooling in the lower legs, describing it as a common condition among older adults.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently in the middle of one of the worst outbreaks in the history of Ebola. On Tuesday, a World Health Organization (WHO) official spoke about the challenges that are making it harder for the authorities to contain the outbreak.
Since the outbreak and as of July 4, Congo has confirmed 1,561 cases, including 506 deaths, in the worst-ever outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola for which there is no proven treatment or cure yet. Currently, more than 10,000 contacts are being monitored.
Dr Anne Ancia, WHO’s representative to the DRC, said, “It is still in the expansion phase, unfortunately. The outbreak’s true scale has not yet been fully established. We would like to say it is stabilizing, but frankly, we cannot say it yet.”
Speaking from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, which is at the heart of the outbreak, she added that WHO is strengthening its understanding of the history of every case of infection “so that we can really understand the chain of transmission and isolate every contact case.”
Pointing to the challenges in containing the outbreak, the WHO representative said that Ebola treatment centres are “at saturation point”. One of the main administrative difficulties that health officials are facing is high occupancy levels, with some around 90%.
She said, “I visited treatment centres in and around Bunia, Beni, Butembo, Katwa, and I met frontline workers responsible for patient care, contact tracing, investigating alerts and sensitising and mobilising communities.”
She also praised the frontline healthcare workers: “I witnessed firsthand the dedication of staff who continue to serve their communities despite enormous challenges."
Dr Ancia added, “Today, we do not have enough ambulances, warning that all the needs in Ituri province cannot be met.
The WHO official also spoke about the high risk of transmission due to population movement. She said that the workers in the mining town of Mongwbalu are not seeking medical assistance locally, but are travelling to other regions, increasing the risk of transmission in new areas.
Dr Ancia said, “Population movements, persistent insecurity and the fragility of the health system continue to complicate efforts to bring the outbreak under control.”
While updates about new cases of Ebola have not surfaced, misinformation about the disease has been rife in several Congolese communities.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, there have been reports that some local communities believe that the disease is a hoax or was brought into the country by Western aid workers who wanted to make a profit.
While Ebola is not a new disease, the current outbreak poses a significant threat because it is caused by a rare strain of the virus, Bundibugyo. Unlike previous outbreaks dominated by the Zaire strain of Ebola, the current epidemic, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is an uncommon species of the Ebola virus family.
The rarity of the strain has created scientific and emergency public health challenges, as there is currently no licensed vaccine to protect against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
When Ebola from Zaire strain broke out, vaccination became an important part of outbreak control. Hence, in the current epidemic, public health officials are being forced to rely heavily on rapid diagnosis, infection prevention, surveillance, and existing medical care.
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The popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications in the United States has reached its highest level yet. A new survey shows that nearly one in 10 American adults now takes the drugs to lose weight. At the same time, the country's obesity rate shows a steady decline. Experts say the survey does not prove that one trend is directly causing the other.
GLP-1 drugs, including medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes but have become increasingly popular for managing obesity after studies showed they could help people lose significant amounts of weight.
According to Gallup's latest National Health and Well-Being Index, 11% of U.S. adults currently use a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. In 2024, this number was just 3%.
The survey also said that 15% of adults have tried a GLP-1 medication at some point, compared to the 6% from two years ago.
The survey also found that 91% of Americans have heard of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, up from 80% in 2024. The growing visibility of the medication reflects widespread media coverage, celebrity endorsements, and broader acceptance by patients and healthcare providers.
Also read: Serena Williams Lost 34 Pounds With The Help Of A GLP-1 Drug But It’s Not Ozempic
The Gallup report also found that the adult obesity rate in the US has fallen to 36.4% in 2026, down from a record 39.9% in 2022. The decline follows a similar trend seen last year, when obesity rates also dropped after years of steady increases.
Researchers noted that the decrease in obesity has occurred alongside the rapid rise in GLP-1 use. However, they said that the findings show an association rather than proof that the medications are responsible for the decline in obesity. Other factors, including lifestyle changes, healthcare access, fitness consciousness, and others may also be contributing.
Despite the decline in obesity, the percentage of Americans who have diabetes has remained relatively stable at around 13.5% since 2023, according to Gallup.
Researchers said this is not unexpected because diabetes is a lifelong condition. Even if people lose weight or improve their blood sugar control, they typically continue to be diabetic once diagnosed.
This is another move that will add to the popularity of GLP-1 drugs in the US. From July 1, people in the US will be able to access GLP-1 drugs for weight loss through a new pilot program, offered by the federal health insurance program Medicare. Slated to be operational for 18 months, the program will last till the end of 2027.
Until now, Medicare covered GLP-1 medications like Ozempic only for certain conditions like diabetes, but not for weight loss. The initiative aims to make these high-cost weight-loss medications more accessible to eligible candidates.
Eligible beneficiaries will be able to access the following GLP-1 weight-loss medications:
The medications will be covered only when prescribed for weight management and when beneficiaries meet the program's medical eligibility criteria.
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