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 >
Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 could now face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical costs, according to a new report. In 2020, most health insurance companies waived co-pays, deductibles and other cost-sharing for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but many stopped doing that early this year, the University of Michigan researchers noted. “Many insurers claim that it is… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Oct. 18, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Dr. Robert Zarr loves to write prescriptions that you don’t have to take to the pharmacy. Instead, he sends patients outside to soak in the healing powers of nature, combining the benefits of exercise with the therapeutic effects of fresh air and green space. “Going back… read on > read on >
Colin Powell, the first Black person to become Secretary of State, and a statesman who helped shape U.S. foreign policy for decades, died Monday of complications from COVID-19. He was 84. “General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications… read on > read on >
Researchers may have found a noninvasive way to temporarily open the brain’s borders to allow tumor-fighting medication inside. By necessity, the brain is shielded by a layer of specialized cells called the blood-brain barrier. Its job is to allow needed substances in — like oxygen and sugar — while keeping out substances that could be… read on > read on >
When states spend money on programs that reduce poverty, fewer children are abused and neglected, fewer end up in foster care and fewer die, a new study reveals. Researchers found that for every additional $1,000 that states spent on federal, state and local benefit programs per person living in poverty, there was a 4% reduction… read on > read on >
Pop singer Britney Spears was at the height of her fame in 2008 when, through a series of arcane legal maneuverings, her father gained conservatorship over her and took control of her personal and financial affairs. Spears’ plight and the #FreeBritney movement has shone a bright spotlight on America’s guardianship system, which experts say is… read on > read on >
