A rare gene variant discovered among Amish people may help lower “bad” cholesterol and protect against heart disease, a new study suggests. Researchers found that among nearly 7,000 Amish people, the gene variant was tied to reductions in both LDL cholesterol and fibrinogen — a protein that is a marker of inflammation and linked to… read on > read on >
Nearly 13 million U.S. adults a year skip or delay filling needed prescriptions due to high price tags, new research shows. This figure includes more than 2.3 million Medicare beneficiaries and 3.8 million privately insured working-age adults who didn’t get needed medications each year in 2018 and 2019 because of cost, according to a nationally… read on > read on >
Asthma is a tough disease for kids and their parents to manage well, but not keeping it under control may make these children up to six times more likely to wind up in the hospital with severe COVID-19, new research shows. With the cold and flu season about to kick in and COVID-19 rates climbing… read on > read on >
If you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, you might want to avoid ultra-processed foods, new research suggests. The study found that a high intake of such foods significantly increases the risk of another heart attack or stroke, and it’s more likely to be fatal. This was true even in people following what seems to… read on > read on >
People who are prescribed opioid painkillers after receiving a heart pacemaker or defibrillator may be at risk for opioid abuse — and the higher the initial dose, the greater the risk, according to a new study. “The significance of this study is to make other electrophysiologists aware that even a low-risk procedure like a pacemaker… read on > read on >
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Tuesday voted narrowly to recommend emergency use of Merck’s new antiviral pill to help prevent severe COVID-19 in high-risk patients. By a 13-10 count, the panelists recommended molnupiravir for use by older COVID-19 patients or those who have medical conditions that make them especially susceptible to… read on > read on >
Several Old Spice and Secret aerosol spray antiperspirants and hygiene products have been voluntarily recalled in the United States due to the presence of the cancer-causing chemical benzene, Proctor & Gamble says. Benzene exposure can occur by inhalation, orally and through the skin. It can lead to cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the… read on >
Coffee lovers know a steaming cup of java can quickly deliver energy and mental clarity every morning, but new research suggests it may also guard against Alzheimer’s disease in the long run. “Worldwide, a high proportion of adults drink coffee every day, making it one of the most popular beverages consumed,” said lead researcher Samantha… read on > read on >
Early detection of ovarian cancer helps boost a woman’s survival, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a new imaging drug that can help spot tumors during surgery. The drug, Cytalux (pafolacianine), is meant to improve a surgeon’s ability to detect ovarian cancer while operating on a patient. It is administered intravenously… read on > read on >
Nearly 1 in 5 people with hypertension may be unintentionally taking a drug for another condition that causes their blood pressure to climb even higher, a new study suggests. Left untreated or undertreated, high blood pressure will increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and vision problems by damaging blood vessels. Lifestyle changes… read on > read on >
