There’s yet another downside to global warming: Higher health care expenditures for medical scans on hot days. So report Canadian researchers who discovered that periods of heat and air pollution bumped up demand for X-rays and CT scans by about 5%. Over time, that could really add up, said lead researcher Dr. Kate Hanneman. She’s… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Judge Declares Wyoming’s Abortion Bans Unconstitutional
Two Wyoming abortion bans, including the first state law to prohibit the use of abortion pills, violate the state’s constitution, a judge ruled Monday. In her decision, Judge Melissa Owens, of Teton County District Court, wrote that both a ban on medication abortion and a broader ban on all methods of abortion “impede the fundamental… read on > read on >
Newer Blood Thinner Cuts Odds for Stroke After Heart Valve Surgery
Japanese researchers say they have found a pill that works as well as existing medication to prevent blood clots after heart valve surgery, with fewer trips to the doctor. Unlike warfarin, the standard treatment, edoxaban does not require regular monitoring of blood clotting activity and doesn’t interact with other meds. “Edoxaban could make life easier… read on > read on >
Ablation Best Treatment for Rapid Heartbeat in Heart Attack Survivors
New research suggests that a procedure now regarded as Plan B when patients have episodes of rapid heartbeat after a heart attack should be the go-to treatment. Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure to treat abnormal electrical short circuits caused by a heart attack. These episodes — called ventricular tachycardia (VT) — are the most… read on > read on >
Adding Blood Thinners to A-fib Treatment Won’t Prevent Strokes, Help Cognition
People using blood thinners to control their heart rhythm shouldn’t expect the medications to head off thinking declines as well, new research suggests. The study, presented Saturday at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Chicago, is the first large trial to investigate whether anti-clotting medication can lower the risk of mental decline, stroke… read on > read on >
Diabetes Meds Metformin, GLP-1s Can Also Curb Asthma
Drugs already taken by millions of diabetes patients appear to also help slash asthma attacks by up to 70%, new British research shows. The two drugs are metformin, one of the most widely used diabetes medications, and the GLP-1 class of medications that include Ozempic, Mounjaro and Saxenda. A study of nearly 13,000 people with… read on > read on >
Certain Painkillers Can Raise Bleeding Risks for People on Blood Thinners
People on blood thinners have a doubled risk of dangerous internal bleeding if they also take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen or naproxen, a new study warns. People typically are prescribed blood thinners to treat or prevent strokes, heart attacks, or blood clots in the legs or lungs, researchers said. NSAIDs also are… read on > read on >
When Schools Give Kids Time in Nature, Anxiety and Behavior Issues Ease
A dose of green may be just what school kids with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues need, new research shows. Canadian investigators found that a school program that let 10- to 12-year-olds spend a little time each week in nature paid dividends in improving kids’ mental well-being. “Nature-based programs may offer targeted benefits… read on > read on >
New Prolapse Surgery Uses Women’s Own Tissues to Restore Function
It’s possible to correct a woman’s pelvic prolapse using her own muscle tissue in robot-assisted surgery, a new study demonstrates. In the procedure, tendon muscle is transferred from the thigh to the uterus or cervix, repairing a pelvic floor that’s become weakened and is allowing organs to press into each other, researchers explained. The newly… read on > read on >
Your Heart’s Shape Could Affect Your Health
It’s long been known that certain structural qualities of the human heart — its size, chamber volume — can influence cardiovascular health. British scientists say they’re now discovering that the gene-directed shape of a person’s heart might matter, too. “This study provides new information on how we think about heart disease risk,” said study senior… read on > read on >