Folks using online message boards to learn more about their heart implant should take any advice they come across with a grain of salt. Researchers report it’s as likely as not the guidance they find will be bogus. About half of the advice related to heart implants found on an anonymous online board was either… read on >
If you are considering breast implants, you should be aware of potential risks, including breast pain and potential rupture of an implant, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. The FDA offers this information for women who are considering breast implants: Understand that breast implants may require future surgery. Review product labeling and the Summary… read on >
Young baseball pitchers are at risk for overuse injuries, but there are ways to reduce that risk, a sports medicine expert says. “Pitching year-round, inadequate rest between seasons and pitching in multiple leagues all have been linked to an increase in elbow and arm injuries,” said Dr. Eric Makhni. He’s a physician and surgeon at… read on >
When it comes to lowering high blood pressure, exercising is pretty much the last thing people want to do, a new survey shows. Much more preferable was popping a pill or sipping a cup of tea every day, the poll of 1,400 people found. The Yale researchers asked what treatment or intervention appealed the most,… read on >
Imagine a world in black and white. That’s the plight of people with an extremely rare condition called blue cone monochromacy, an inherited eye disease that renders people unable to see color. But there’s a glimmer of hope for the one in every 100,000 people with the condition: Scientists report that gene therapy improved color… read on >
Nearly everyone has a headache now and then. Most of the time, relief is just an over-the-counter pill away. Other times, learning ways to relax and relieve tension, or getting treatment for sinus infections can get rid of your headaches. Sometimes, though, headaches can warn of a serious health issue. High blood pressure, a stroke,… read on >
COPD may seem like an adult disease, often tied to smoking. But two new studies suggest it could have roots in life’s earliest years. Kids with issues such as asthma or those exposed to secondhand smoke may be more susceptible to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) decades later — especially if they grow up to… read on >
Growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood may mean more visits to the emergency room, a new study suggests. When children came from areas of “low opportunity,” they were about one-third more likely to have been treated at an urgent care center or an emergency room than kids from areas with more opportunity. They were also… read on >
Having blood drawn is a mainstay of a routine annual physical. Never provided a blood sample? The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute describes what to expect: A technician usually will draw blood from a vein in your arm. Less often, the sample is obtained from a finger prick. The technician may ask you to… read on >
Electrolytes are naturally occurring minerals that contain an electric charge. They are found in your blood, urine, other bodily fluids and tissues. Examples contained in certain foods and beverages include: sodium, calcium, potassium, chorine, phosphate and magnesium. Electrolytes influence your body’s water balance. The U.S. National Library of Medicine says electrolytes also are important because… read on >
