President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that an over-the-counter painkiller is linked to autism, and said US physicians would be notified immediately of the risk for use in pregnancy. Medical groups pushed back against the guidance, saying the commonly used drug is safe.
Mr Trump said the ingredient paracetamol, or acetaminophen as it is known in the US, was to blame for the development of the condition. He said drug labels would be updated.
"Effective immediately, the FDA will be notifying physicians at the use of ... acetaminophen, OK, which is basically commonly known as Tylenol, during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism," Mr Trump said. "So taking Tylenol is not good."
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, under the slogan Maha, or Make America Healthy Again, has promised to find the causes of autism.
Mr Kennedy has said the increase in autism diagnoses in children in the US is happening at an “alarming rate”. He has rejected the argument that this rise is mainly due to better diagnosis tools and increased awareness, instead suggesting vaccines cause the disorder – a theory that has been debunked.
Earlier on Monday, the White House said the announcement said was evidence of the Trump administration's dedication to to health and transparency.
"This will be a powerful display of how the entire Trump administration is committed to addressing root causes of chronic conditions and diseases, embracing full transparency in government and championing gold-standard science," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Tylenol has been identified by experts as one of the only safe pain relievers and fever reducers for pregnant women.
"Studies that have been conducted in the past show no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and foetal developmental issues," the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has said.
The Yale School of Public Health highlighted that frequent or prolonged acetaminophen use during pregnancy has been found to be associated with higher rates of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, but experts say those observational studies do not definitively prove that frequent Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism.
"Until more definitive research is published, the US Food and Drug Administration and the CDC [Centres for Disease Control] continue to recommend acetaminophen as the safest over-the-counter pain reliever for pregnant women," it said.
Mr Kennedy said Health and Human Services would launch a nationwide public service campaign to inform families on the updates.
He also acknowledged that acetaminophen is often the only drug for fevers and pain in pregnancy, as others have well-documented adverse health effects.
"HHS wants, therefore, to encourage clinicians to exercise their best judgment and use of acetaminophen for fevers and pain in pregnancy by prescribing the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary duration and only when treatment is required," Mr Kennedy said.
He said that there is evidence that taking pain relievers prolongs viral infections.
Experts say autism, a developmental condition that manifests itself on a spectrum, is a complex condition involving genetics and some environmental factors.
It can have an effect on social and emotional skills, as well as learning and language abilities. In mild forms, autistic people have impaired abilities to pick up on social cues, take part in social activities or focus on tasks. Some people with autism are nonverbal and have intellectual disabilities.
According to the CDC, about 3.2 per cent of eight year olds – or about one in 31 children – have had a form of autism diagnosed. Research suggests that the condition is more common in boys than girls. The cause of the disorder is largely unknown, despite decades of scientific research.
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 5
Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'
Huddersfield 0
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
More on Quran memorisation:
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
The%20Specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.6-litre%20twin%20turbocharged%20V6%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20472hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20603Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh290%2C000%20(%2478%2C9500)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
