HEALTH

SAN FRANCISCO — AliveCor on Monday announced that the Food and Drug Administration has granted the company over-the-counter clearance for the AliveCor Heart Monitor, a single-channel ECG (electrocardiogram) recorder, previously available by prescription only. The device is available now for pre-order purchase with shipments beginning in March.

CHICAGO — As many as 86% of Americans have experienced some type of GI or digestive issue in the past year, but according to recent Mintel research, some 40% of those who suffer from gastrointestinal issues are concerned about the side effects associated with them, the company reported Friday.

ATLANTA — According to last week’s FluView report, released Friday, influenza activity remains elevated nationally. Flu activity is likely to continue for several more weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded.

For the week of Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, the national proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for influenza-like illness decreased slightly for the fifth week, but remains above the national baseline. All 10 regions continue to report ILI activity above their region-specific baseline level. 

MARYVILLE, Tenn. — DenTek will be launching a new DenTek Adult Benzocaine solution in March, the company announced last week. 

DenTek Adult Benzocaine is a maximum strength instant pain reliever that features an applicator to apply the active effortlessly with no mess. The disposable applicators guarantee precise and sanitary application every time, the company stated. 

WASHINGTON — Dietary supplement users take supplement products as just one component of a larger effort to develop a healthier lifestyle, according to a newly published review in Nutrition Journal, a peer-reviewed scientific publication. The review, “Health Habits and Other Characteristics of Supplement Users” (Nutrition Journal.

A new and possibly transformative technology for rapidly diagnosing and evaluating patients based on their specific genetic profile may soon begin appearing at retail pharmacies and clinics, giving pharmacists and clinicians another tool for advancing patient health outcomes and their own practice capabilities.

Dr. Anita Goel, M.D., Ph.D.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Cough-cold suppliers are presently operating in a challenging environment, noted Matthew Mannelly, Prestige Brands CEO, president and director, during a conference call Thursday. The return of Tylenol to the cough-cold aisle and the accompanying media splash from McNeil Consumer isn't the only competitive factor impacting the cough-cold category, Mannelly said. The season is down more than 15% versus last year. And that lack of consumption, coupled with an overall soft retail environment, is forcing retailers to significantly cut back on inventories. 

WASHINGTON — Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Thursday joined forces to honor Chesterfield, Va.-based Substance Abuse Free Environment with this year’s Dose of Prevention award. The award recognizes community-based organizations that have implemented successful initiatives to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse and OTC cough medicine abuse.