Laser-based vaginal “rejuvenation” is all the rage among women concerned about vaginal dryness and other “down there” symptoms of menopause, but it’s buyer beware when it comes to these procedures, new research warns. It turns out that laser-based vaginal rejuvenation may not be any better than placebo (dummy) treatment when it comes to relieving vaginal… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to announce Wednesday that people can mix and match their COVID vaccines and booster shots, a move that would give health officials more flexibility as they try to immunize as many Americans as possible. The FDA wouldn’t recommend one vaccine over another but might say it’s preferable to… read on > read on >
People who live in disadvantaged parts of the United States are nearly twice as likely to die young from heart disease as folks in the wealthiest locales, a new study reports. In other words, your zip code can tell you as much or more about your heart health risk as your genetic code, said senior… read on > read on >
Many female family doctors face sexual harassment, but most remain satisfied with their careers, a new study finds. Researchers surveyed 315 women physicians in family practices from 49 countries and found that 75% said they were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their work conditions and their career. “Despite all obstacles in the work environment, especially… read on > read on >
Survivors of spinal cord injuries who develop resilience are able to adapt and thrive despite the challenges, according to a researcher who himself is a resilient survivor. “For someone with a cord injury, your margin for surviving even small mistakes when it comes to your health is really thin,” said James Krause, professor and associate… read on > read on >
China and the United States are super powers of salt consumption. The two world leaders emerged with the highest salt levels in processed meat and fish products among five countries assessed in a new study. High salt levels in food is a major cause of high blood pressure and its related risks of heart and… read on > read on >
While they’re helping to ease reflux, some heartburn drugs may also be reducing the severity of gum disease, new research suggests. For the study, researchers assessed probing depth in the gums (the gap between teeth and gums) in more than 1,000 patients with gum disease who were or weren’t using drugs called proton pump inhibitors… read on > read on >
Men still outnumber women in stroke therapy clinical trials, which means women may end up receiving less effective treatment, researchers say. For the new study, investigators analyzed 281 stroke trials that included at least 100 patients each and were conducted between 1990 and 2020. Of the nearly 590,000 total participants, 37.4% were women. However, the… read on > read on >
A new plan to limit pollution from so-called “forever chemicals” will include restricting their release into the environment and speeding cleanup of contaminated sites, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday. The chemicals, called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are used in products ranging from cookware to carpets to firefighting foam. They’re increasingly showing up… read on > read on >
The number of Americans diagnosed with “broken heart” syndrome has steadily risen in the past 15 years — with the vast majority being women, a new study finds. The condition, which doctors call stress cardiomyopathy, appears similar to a heart attack — with symptoms such as chest pain and breathlessness. But its cause is entirely… read on > read on >
