Health News Roundup: U.S. states' clinic crackdown; major real-world impact of cervical cancer vaccines and more

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Burnout in firefighters linked to sleep issues, mental health concerns

Firefighters who feel burned out often experience sleep issues, which also increases their risk of emotional fatigue, exhaustion and health problems, researchers say. Nearly half of U.S. firefighters are likely experiencing burnout and associated health problems, the study authors report in the Journal of Sleep Research.

Study shows major real-world impact of cervical cancer vaccines

Vaccination against the virus that causes almost all cervical cancer is having a major impact on stopping infections and should significantly reduce cases of the disease within a decade, researchers said on Wednesday. Presenting results of an international analysis covering 60 million people in high-income countries, scientists from Britain and Canada said they found "strong evidence" that vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) works "to prevent cervical cancer in real-world settings".

U.S. 'gag rule' linked to 40% jump in abortions in parts of Africa

A decades-old U.S. government policy reinstated by President Donald Trump in 2017 that restricts international aid to NGOs that support abortion is linked to a 40% rise in abortions in some parts of sub-Saharan African, a study showed on Thursday. The "Mexico City Policy", also known as the "global gag rule", also led to more pregnancies and lower contraceptive use among women in African countries reliant on U.S. foreign aid, the study in the Lancet Global Health journal showed.

Fate of opioid litigation hinges on government 'police power'

The fate of thousands of lawsuits seeking to hold drugmakers responsible for fueling the U.S. opioid epidemic hinges in part on a thorny legal question: Can a company use a bankruptcy to stop lawsuits from cities and states? U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross is expected in July to decide whether to halt more than 160 active lawsuits brought by state attorneys general, cities and counties against opioid manufacturer Insys Therapeutics Inc. When it filed for Chapter 11 protection in Delaware earlier this month, Insys requested the cases be paused.

Sitting in front of TV may be worse for health than desk job

Working at a desk all day may not be as bad for heart health and longevity as sitting in front of a television after hours, according to a U.S. study that suggests not all types of sitting are equally harmful. "We've been hearing more and more about how sitting is the new smoking, and there is evidence to suggest that there are many adverse health risks associated with prolonged sedentary time," said Jeanette Garcia, a researcher at the University of Central Florida in Orlando who led the research.

U.S. states unsure how to halt online sales of abortion pills amid clinic crackdown

American women faced with new restrictions on abortions passed by a dozen U.S. states this year are turning to abortion pills from foreign online suppliers, and the states say there is little they can do to stop it. In the year before many of these new restrictions passed Republican-controlled state legislatures, over 20,000 U.S. women sought the pills online from providers willing to defy U.S. federal rules over sale of the drugs that induce miscarriage.

FDA approves expanded label for Regeneron/Sanofi's Dupixent

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Sanofi SA's drug Dupixent to treat nasal polyps, marking the third major use for the injectable medicine. The expanded label, which could significantly boost annual sales, is for use with other medicines to treat patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, the companies said in a joint statement.

Over-the-counter painkillers often suffice after minor surgery

Surgery patients who were taught to manage their pain with acetaminophen and ibuprofen ended up using few or no opioid pills, a recent study found. Volunteers in the study underwent one of six minor surgeries: laparoscopic gallbladder removal, laparoscopic repair of a groin hernia, removal of the thyroid or parathyroid gland, robot-assisted removal of the prostate, endoscopic sinus surgery, and a type of weight-loss surgery called laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Lung cancer screening guidelines may miss more African Americans at risk

Current lung cancer screening guidelines may need to be less restrictive when it comes to African American smokers, a new study suggests. Researchers found that cutoff criteria that work for white smokers may lead to missed cancers in blacks, according to the report in JAMA Oncology.

Democrats clash on healthcare, border in scrappy first U.S. presidential debate

Democratic presidential contenders battled over healthcare coverage and border policy on Wednesday during a surprisingly heated first debate that laid bare the party's divisions on whether to abolish private insurance and shift to a Medicare-for-All system. In the first round of back-to-back debates, several of the lesser-known candidates vied for attention in the crowded race to take on President Donald Trump, shouting over one another to grab the spotlight and prove they are capable of standing up to the Republican in the November 2020 election.