The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved over-the-counter sales of Emergent BioSolutions Inc’s Narcan, allowing for easier availability of the life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. The formal decision makes Narcan the first naloxone-based drug available without a prescription. Currently, a 4-milligram, two-dose pack of the nasal spray has a wholesale price of about $120, according to 46Brooklyn, a drug pricing non-profit. “For people who need it most, it needs to be at a lower price point than what it is currently available,” said Maryann Mason, PhD, associate professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The approval could allow for access to the drug in areas that have concentrated overdose problems and few pharmacies, she said. Naloxone rapidly reverses or blocks the effects of opioids, restoring normal respiration, especially when given within minutes of the first signs of an overdose.

In an ideal world, experts say, you would get both ample exercise and ample sleep. But a new study suggests that exercise could potentially help counteract the health consequences of not getting a proper amount of sleep. The new research builds upon a large body of work showing just how critical both sleep and fitness are for overall health. “What this tells us is that if you can’t manage your sleep optimally right now, we should be scheduling time to get moderate or vigorous physical activity,” said Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, a former president of the American Heart Association and the chair of the department of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. And not everyone has the same need for sleep, which means that some people can function well or feel sufficiently rested with fewer hours.

A recent explosion in strep infections, many of which are presenting with few or atypical symptoms, is concerning experts around the U.S. Strep throat – caused by the bacteria Group A streptococcus and common in children and teens – can occur any time of the year, but peak season usually starts in December and goes through April. And while it is typical to see strep throat spike around this time of year, this is the worst it has been in a long time, experts warn. “It is important to recognize strep because if we treat it, then you can prevent complications,” said Dr. Alin Abraham, MD, health system clinician of general internal medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The sore throat and other symptoms of strep throat usually go away on their own within five to seven days, says Abraham. But it’s still necessary to seek treatment from a healthcare provider in order to treat the bacterial infection itself. If left untreated, it can lead to complications like abscesses, ear or sinus infections, rheumatic fever and kidney problems, the experts note.

After Utah became the first state to require parental consent in order for minors to use social media, parents, teens and experts are sharing their thoughts on government-enforced mandates for social media use. Sara Houston Katsanis, MS, a research assistant professor focusing on pediatric consent and social media at Northwestern University, says the mandates are “quite extreme,” adding that “teenagers will find ways to access what they are interested in, especially if it’s touted as something forbidden.” “I don’t disagree that social media is a problem and tech addiction is a problem among teenagers and among children,” Houston Katsanis tells TODAY.com. “Rather than trying to restrict what children have access to, let’s work with communities to limit the need for phones.” Numerous studies have found links between an increase in social media use and adverse mental health outcomes in teens, including depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.