Depression, anxiety or other forms of mental distress may significantly boost the risk of heart disease among older adults, new research from Australia suggests. The finding is from a four-year study that tracked psychological distress among nearly 222,000 seemingly healthy men and women, aged 45 years and older, with no prior history of heart disease.… read on >
If you’ve been enjoying a lot of time off this summer, a new analysis has good news: All that vacationing might lengthen your life. The finding comes from an updated review of data in a 1970s Finnish heart health study that followed roughly 1,200 middle-aged men in their 40s and 50s for almost four decades.… read on >
For years, nutritionists have warned Americans to minimize dairy in their diets, especially high-fat dairy products. But new research involving 24,000 U.S. adults suggests milk and milk-derived products don’t pose the dire health risks suggested by prior research, and maybe those old warnings should be relaxed. “In light of the protective effects of dairy products,… read on >
A vasectomy is a method of birth control that involves minor surgery to prevent sperm from reaching semen. More than 500,000 men in the United States have the procedure each year, the Urology Care Foundation says. The procedure can be done in a urologist’s office, a hospital or a surgery center. Most men recover within… read on >
Weight loss depends on eating fewer calories than your body uses up. But when you eat those calories could make a difference that you’ll see on the scale. An Italian study found that you can boost weight loss by about 25 percent just by eating 70 percent of each day’s calories between breakfast and lunch,… read on >
In a new study of patients with the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation (a-fib), 4 in 10 had previously undetected brain damage, though none had a history of stroke or mini-stroke. This brain damage could put them at risk for mental decline and dementia, researchers said. Their study included nearly 1,400 patients in Switzerland, average… read on >
More and more pregnant or breastfeeding women are using marijuana, and U.S. pediatricians are pushing back against the notion that the drug is “safe.” There’s evidence that exposure to marijuana compounds might harm the fetus, and these compounds might also find their way into breast milk, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says in a… read on >
Everyone worries about drug abuse among children, but a hidden danger for some kids rests in prescription medicines intended to help them, a new study warns. Some children and teenagers who are prescribed multiple medications are at risk of drug interactions that could literally stop their heart, according to the report. “We found that about… read on >
Senator John McCain’s long battle with brain cancer ended on Saturday afternoon when he passed away at his home in Arizona. His family had announced Friday that McCain was no longer receiving treatment for his glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive of brain tumors. The 81-year-old Republican Arizona senator and Vietnam War hero had been… read on >
Pregnant women and newborns are more vulnerable to foodborne illness than others, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. Here are the agency’s suggestions for pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid foodborne illness: Clean hands and surfaces often. Separate foods to avoid spreading contamination. Cook foods to proper temperature. Use a meat thermometer when appropriate. Chill… read on >
