Maintaining tight control over blood pressure for even a short while can provide lasting benefits for seniors’ brain health, a new clinical trial says. People had lower risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia after keeping their blood pressure around 120 systolic for three and a half years, according to results published recently in the… read on > read on >
That busy highway could be contributing to depression, and not just because you’re snarled in a traffic jam. Air pollution from traffic appears to increase risk of depression among women, according to a new study published Jan. 21 in the journal Menopause. Further, researchers think this air pollution might be raising depression risk by affecting… read on > read on >
Food stamps and food banks can be key to healthy pregnancies. Food assistance programs are effective in helping hungry women avoid pregnancy complications, researchers say in a new study published Jan. 23 in JAMA Network Open. Food insecurity in pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth and newborn admission… read on > read on >
Could a virtual avatar be the future of mental health care? New research shows that artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) goggles could revolutionize therapy — helping patients overcome addiction and receive unbiased care. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Extended Reality focused on patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis, a serious liver condition… read on > read on >
In the throes of winter’s yearly round of respiratory virus outbreaks, it pays to remember what Grandma told you. Wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and stay away from folks who may be infected. And, of course, wearing a mask won’t hurt. Respiratory viruses… read on > read on >
A proposed ban on formaldehyde in chemical hair straightening products — linked to cancer and other health risks — has hit a roadblock after an executive order from President Donald Trump paused all new regulations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been considering banning formaldehyde and ingredients that release formaldehyde when heated from… read on > read on >
When one abortion pill faces lawsuits, another may be waiting in the wings, a new study suggests. The study, published Jan. 23 in the journal NEJM Evidence, has found a potential alternative to the abortion pill mifepristone, offering yet another option at a time when access to reproductive health care faces increasing legal and political… read on > read on >
Many major maladies have been linked to disturbed slumber caused by sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes. Add car wrecks to that list, a study published Jan. 21 in the journal Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, says. People with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to wind up in a vehicle crash, researchers… read on > read on >
People can reverse their type 2 diabetes through a combination of calorie cutting and medication, a small clinical trial says. Overweight and obese adults caused their diabetes to go into remission by following a calorie-restricted diet and taking the prescription diabetes drug dapagliflozin, researchers reported Jan. 22 in The BMJ. After a year, about 44%… read on > read on >
Patients can improve their odds for a successful surgery by actively preparing for the procedure through diet and exercise, a tactic called “prehabilitation,” a new evidence review shows. Surgical patients who prehabbed had fewer complications and shorter hospital stays, also recovered better and had a higher quality of life, researchers reported Jan. 22 in The… read on > read on >
