Latest news with #CVS
News18
44 minutes ago
- Health
- News18
‘Vomits 15 Times An Hour': Woman's Rare Brain Disorder Shocks The Internet
Last Updated: The symptoms began in 2021. Despite declining health and repeated hospital stays, doctors initially misdiagnosed her ailment as a migraine disease. A Massachusetts woman has opened up about her years-long battle with a rare condition that causes her to vomit up to 15 times per hour when she encounters stress, anxiety, or premenstrual symptoms episodes. She will feel better after that, but the cycle will resume the following week for days at a time. Sharisse Zeroonian, 29, has been diagnosed with rare cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) that affects 2% of the population and is more prevalent among women, young adults, and people with a personal or familial history of migraines. Sharisse told that she lost weight, had emotional turmoil and lost her job as a result of the recurrent vomiting. She even experienced suicidal thoughts, which, unfortunately, would cause her to vomit more. 'I was feeling like, I don't want to live like this anymore. What kind of quality of life is this?" she told the outlet. Sharisse's symptoms began in 2021. Despite her declining health and repeated hospital stays, doctors initially misdiagnosed her ailment as a migraine disease. Sharisse underwent two years of testing — including numerous blood tests, endoscopy and a gastric emptying study — and multiple ER visits to get a correct diagnosis. She was eventually diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) in 2023. The symptoms of CVS, a chronic gut-brain connection disorder, include frequent vomiting episodes punctuated by periods of normal health. Abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, headache, light sensitivity and dizziness are other symptoms that may appear during a vomiting episode. 'The episodes caused me to feel anxious and even suicidal at times, but it was a Catch-22 situation because the anxious and suicidal thoughts were also causing the episode," Sharisse told Managing symptoms and altering lifestyle choices to avoid situations that can cause vomiting episodes are the mainstays of CVS treatment. Additional therapies include benzodiazepines, which have been demonstrated to reduce anxiety symptoms, migraine medications, and medicinal marijuana, which can reduce stress and nausea. Sharisse still has weekly episodes of vomiting, but they are less severe and last one to two days instead of four or five. Sharisse turned her hardships into inspiration and wrote and directed the semi-autobiographical Nothing Solid, a dark comedy film that she describes as a 'vom-com." 'Making this movie and being open about it has helped because I think I suffered a lot more when I was not open," she said. First Published:
American Press
an hour ago
- Business
- American Press
Jim Beam column:CVS lawsuits won't solve PBM concerns
CVS has been targeted by three lalwsuits filed by the Louisiana attorney general for irs questionable practices.(Photo courtesy of Louisiana legislators and the state's citizens got acquainted near the end of this year's fiscal session with organizations we have heard little about — pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Large employers and health insurance companies pay PBMs to act as middlemen to negotiate drug prices. House Bill 358 by Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, was one of three measures filed dealing with PBMs. A conference committee changed the bill and it ended up saying that no permit to operate a pharmacy can be granted or renewed to a pharmacy that is wholly or partially owned or controlled by a pharmacy benefit manager. Miller's bill passed the House 95-0 and the Senate 37-0. However, the House rejected changes made by the Senate and a conference committee was eventually appointed to iron out the differences between the two chambers. The PBM change that was inserted into the bill by the conference committee was accepted by the House but the legislation died in the Senate. Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, later explained that there was no testimony on that complicated change in the bill. Donald Trump Jr., a friend of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, said that bill should pass the Legislature. Landry got so upset when it didn't, he is still threatening to call a special session to pass it. If a Trump says do it, Landry always goes to war in order to get it done. The Advocate reported that Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for CVS, which owns both a PBM and a nationwide chain of drug stores, said the bill would have forced it to close its 119 stores in Louisiana. She said it would affect about 1 million patients across the state and 22,000 patients who receive high-cost specialty drugs that smaller pharmacies find difficult to handle. An anti-PBM bill did pass. Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, sponsored HB 264 that passed both houses unanimously. The newspaper said it favored independent pharmacies by prohibiting PBMs from steering customers to pharmacies they own and by mandating that discounts negotiated by PBMs go to employers and consumers. Echols' bill has been sent to Gov. Landry, but he hasn't signed it or vetoed it yet. However, we know he's still upset because The Advocate reported that the state has filed three lawsuits against CVS accusing it of 'unethical and deceptive acts' in its use of customer data for political lobbying. All three cases allege that CVS violated Louisiana's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. One lawsuit says the text messages CVS sent to its customers were 'inaccurate, misleading and deceptive.' And that they were intended to incite fear among vulnerable people. The second suit alleges the company has used its size and control of insurers, PBMs and drugstores to squeeze out competition and drive up drug costs. The third lawsuit accuses CVS of abusing its market power to 'inflict economic harm' and impose unfair fees on independent pharmacies 'under threat of being expelled from the CVS network.' The Center Square said CVS Health is pushing back against claims that the company engaged in deceptive, anticompetitive practices. In a statement, CVS called the lawsuits 'without merit' and pledged to defend itself vigorously. CVS said, 'Our communication with CVS customers, patients and members of the community was consistent with the law.' Rather than filing lawsuits, state Sen. Kirk Tallbot, R-River Ridge, had a better solution. When the Senate refused to approve Miller's bill he sponsored Senate Resolution 209. The resolution requests the Louisiana Department of Health to study the impacts of prohibiting pharmacy benefit manager ownership of pharmacies in Louisiana and to submit a report to the Legislature. I found a helpful explanation about PBMs at in a story that said they were created to negotiate better deals for consumers on medicines. However, it said instead PBMs 'have sometimes driven up the cost of prescriptions — while also putting the survival of community pharmacies at risk.' So, it's possible that Landry and legislators should do something to prevent that from happening, However, rushing to judgment with lawsuits seldom solves major problems. More information on PBMs would better serve the legislators who pass this state's laws and the people who are served by the state's drugstores. Henry said Miller's bill wouldn't have taken effect until 2027. Instead of lawsuits, PBMs can be debated during the 2026 legislative session to give legislators the background they need on PBMs. Jim Beam, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than six decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or Reply Forward Add reaction
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) Outpaces Broader Market with Strong 2025 Rally
CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is one of the Best Dividend Stocks of 2025. A row of shelves in a retail pharmacy, demonstrating the variety of drugs and over-the-counter products. Following a challenging year in 2024, CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) appears to be making progress toward a recovery. The company remains committed to becoming the most trusted healthcare provider in the United States by delivering improved care, value, and service through its integrated and industry-leading operations. The stock has surged by over 50% since the start of 2025. With a strong focus on customer needs, CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) reported positive results across its Health Care Benefits, Health Services, and Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness segments. The company continues working toward its goal of building a healthier future for the 185 million individuals it serves. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) also updated its full-year 2025 guidance for GAAP diluted earnings per share, adjusted earnings per share, and operating cash flow to reflect strong performance across all business areas. However, the company is maintaining a cautious outlook for the rest of the year due to ongoing elevated cost trends and potential broader economic challenges. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) has paid regular dividends to shareholders since 1997. The company's quarterly dividend comes in at $0.665 per share for a dividend yield of 3.90%, as of June 26. While we acknowledge the potential of CVS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure. None. Sign in to access your portfolio
NDTV
9 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
US Woman Vomits Up To 15 Times An Hour, Misdiagnosed For Years Until Rare Illness Found
A woman from Massachusetts has spoken out about her years-long struggle with a rare illness that causes her to vomit up to 15 times per hour during episodes, according to Sharisse Zeroonian, 29, began experiencing intense bouts of vomiting triggered by stress, anxiety, or premenstrual symptoms. These episodes would last for days and then disappear, only to return the following week. Initially, doctors misdiagnosed her condition as a migraine disorder, despite her worsening health and multiple hospital visits. Sharisse told the frequent vomiting led to weight loss, emotional distress, and loss of work. She even faced suicidal thoughts, which ironically could also trigger further vomiting. After two years of medical tests and visits to emergency rooms, she was finally diagnosed in 2023 with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), a rare disorder that affects about 2% of people, particularly women and those with a history of migraines. CVS is a chronic gut-brain interaction disorder characterised by repeated vomiting episodes, followed by periods of normal health. Common triggers include stress, menstruation, certain foods, motion sickness, and overexertion. While Sharisse still has episodes every week, treatment using anti-nausea and antipsychotic medications has made them shorter and less severe. In severe cases, she can only consume vitamin-infused water or gummies and avoids going out for fear of public vomiting. Turning her struggles into creativity, Sharisse wrote and directed a semi-autobiographical dark comedy film titled Nothing Solid, which she calls a "vom-com". The film is scheduled for release in August and has helped her cope by bringing awareness to the misunderstood condition.
Gulf Today
20 hours ago
- Health
- Gulf Today
Many older people are really eager to be vaccinated
Paula Span, Tribune News Service Kim Beckham, an insurance agent in Victoria, Texas, had seen friends suffer so badly from shingles that she wanted to receive the first approved shingles vaccine as soon as it became available, even if she had to pay for it out-of-pocket. Her doctor and several pharmacies turned her down because she was below the recommended age at the time, which was 60. So, in 2016, she celebrated her 60th birthday at her local CVS. 'I was there when they opened,' Beckham recalled. After getting her Zostavax shot, she said, 'I felt really relieved.' She has since received the newer, more effective shingles vaccine, as well as a pneumonia shot, an RSV vaccine to guard against respiratory syncytial virus, annual flu shots and all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations. Some older people are really eager to be vaccinated. Robin Wolaner, 71, a retired publisher in Sausalito, California, has been known to badger friends who delay getting recommended shots, sending them relevant medical studies. 'I'm sort of hectoring,' she acknowledged. Deana Hendrickson, 66, who provides daily care for three young grandsons in Los Angeles, sought an additional MMR shot, though she was vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella as a child, in case her immunity to measles had waned. For older adults who express more confidence in vaccine safety than younger groups, the past few months have brought welcome research. Studies have found important benefits from a newer vaccine and enhanced versions of older ones, and one vaccine may confer a major bonus that nobody foresaw. The new studies are coming at a fraught political moment. The nation's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has long disparaged certain vaccines, calling them unsafe and saying that the government officials who regulate them are compromised and corrupt. On June 9, Kennedy fired a panel of scientific advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and later replaced them with some who have been skeptical of vaccines. But so far, Kennedy has not tried to curb access to the shots for older Americans. The evidence that vaccines are beneficial remains overwhelming. The phrase 'Vaccines are not just for kids anymore' has become a favorite for William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 'The population over 65, which often suffers the worst impact of respiratory viruses and others, now has the benefit of vaccines that can prevent much of that serious illness,' he said. Take influenza, which annually sends from 140,000 to 710,000 people to hospitals, most of them seniors, and is fatal to 10% of hospitalized older adults. For about 15 years, the CDC has approved several enhanced flu vaccines for people 65 and older. More effective than the standard formulation, they either contain higher levels of the antigen that builds protection against the virus or incorporate an adjuvant that creates a stronger immune response. Or they're recombinant vaccines, developed through a different method, with higher antigen levels. In a meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 'all the enhanced vaccine products were superior to the standard dose for preventing hospitalisations,' said Rebecca Morgan, a health research methodologist at Case Western Reserve University and an author of the study. Compared with the standard flu shot, the enhanced vaccines reduced the risk of hospitalization from the flu in older adults, by at least 11% and up to 18%. The CDC advises adults 65 and older to receive the enhanced vaccines, as many already do. More good news: Vaccines to prevent respiratory syncytial virus in people 60 and older are performing admirably. RSV is the most common cause of hospitalization for infants, and it also poses significant risks to older people. 'Season in and season out,' Schaffner said, 'it produces outbreaks of serious respiratory illness that rivals influenza.' Because the FDA first approved an RSV vaccine in 2023, the 2023-24 season provided 'the first opportunity to see it in a real-world context,' said Pauline Terebuh, an epidemiologist at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and an author of a recent study in the journal JAMA Network Open. In analysing electronic health records for almost 800,000 patients, the researchers found the vaccines to be 75% effective against acute infection, meaning illness that was serious enough to send a patient to a health care provider. The vaccines were 75% effective in preventing emergency room or urgent care visits, and 75% effective against hospitalisation, both among those ages 60 to 74 and those older. Immunocompromised patients, despite having a somewhat lower level of protection from the vaccine, will also benefit from it, Terebuh said. As for adverse effects, the study found a very low risk for Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare condition that causes muscle weakness and that typically follows an infection, in about 11 cases per 1 million doses of vaccine. That, she said, 'shouldn't dissuade people.' The CDC now recommends RSV vaccination for people 75 and older, and for those 60 to 74 if they're at higher risk of severe illness (from, say, heart disease). As data from the 2024-25 season becomes available, researchers hope to determine whether the vaccine will remain a one-and-done, or whether immunity will require repeated vaccination. People 65 and up express the greatest confidence in vaccine safety of any adult group, a KFF survey found in April. More than 80% said they were 'very 'or 'somewhat confident' about MMR, shingles, pneumonia, and flu shots. Although the COVID vaccine drew lower support among all adults, more than two-thirds of older adults expressed confidence in its safety. Even skeptics might become excited about one possible benefit of the shingles vaccine: This spring, Stanford researchers reported that over seven years, vaccination against shingles reduced the risk of dementia by 20%, a finding that made headlines. Biases often undermine observational studies that compare vaccinated with unvaccinated groups. 'People who are healthier and more health-motivated are the ones who get vaccinated,' said Pascal Geldsetzer, an epidemiologist at the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience at Stanford and lead author of the study. 'It's hard to know whether this is cause and effect,' he said, 'or whether they're less likely to develop dementia anyway.' So the Stanford team took advantage of a 'natural experiment' when the first shingles vaccine, Zostavax, was introduced in Wales. Health officials set a strict age cutoff: People who turned 80 on or before Sept. 1, 2013, weren't eligible for vaccination, but those even slightly younger were eligible. In the sample of nearly 300,000 adults whose birthdays fell close to either side of that date, almost half of the eligible group received the vaccine, but virtually nobody in the older group did. 'Just as in a randomized trial, these comparison groups should be similar in every way,' Geldsetzer explained. A substantial reduction in dementia diagnoses in the vaccine-eligible group, with a much stronger protective effect in women, therefore constitutes 'more powerful and convincing evidence,' he said. The team also found reduced rates of dementia after shingles vaccines were introduced in Australia and other countries. 'We keep seeing this in one dataset after another,' Geldsetzer said. In the United States, where a more potent vaccine, Shingrix, became available in 2017 and supplanted Zostavax, Oxford investigators found an even stronger effect.
