New research uncovers more damage wrought by the opioid epidemic: Cases of a dangerous heart infection linked to injection drug use have spiked in recent years at an Ohio medical center. Researchers found that admissions for infective endocarditis at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center doubled between 2012 and 2017, and that a 436… read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the nasal spray medication esketamine — a relative of the club drug and anesthetic ketamine — for use against severe depression. Sold as Spravato, the fast-acting drug becomes the first new type of medicine approved in years against an illness that plagues millions of Americans. In… read on >
Keto, Paleo, Atkins — there’s no shortage of low-carb diets to try, but new research suggests that over time, living low-carb can raise your risk of a heart condition called atrial fibrillation, or a-fib. People who regularly got fewer than 45 percent of their calories from carbohydrates were 18 percent more likely to develop a-fib… read on >
“Athlete’s heart” — an enlarged heart created by intense physical training — is a common and often brushed-off condition within elite and professional sports. But a new study of National Football League players is raising concern about the long-term consequences of athlete’s heart when it comes to retirees who have long left the field. These… read on >
Can you tell how long you’ll live? For seniors, how fit you are may offer a clearer forecast of life span than traditional markers such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking, a new study suggests. It included more than 6,500 people, age 70 and older, who had an exercise stress test between… read on >
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection that affects the urethra, bladder or kidney. Those who are pregnant or sexually active may be at a higher risk for UTIs. The American College of Physicians notes the top warning signs for UTIs: Painful urination. Abdominal discomfort. Frequent urination. Bloody or cloudy urine. Fever.… read on >
Most seniors expect their doctor to recommend testing of thinking and memory when it’s needed. But a new survey discovered that is rarely the case: Only one in seven seniors received a regular assessment for memory and thinking (or “cognitive”) troubles. That finding is in sharp contrast to those who receive assessments for other common… read on >
Fatigue can plague many people with multiple sclerosis (MS). But a small new study suggests a soothing cup of hot cocoa may bring some relief. Like dark chocolate, cocoa is rich in flavonoids, which are abundant in fruit and vegetables and have been linked with anti-inflammatory properties, explained researcher Shelly Coe, of the Center for… read on >
Getting older can be a lonely business, and a new survey shows that health problems only make matters worse. The online poll of more than 2,000 adults, aged 50 to 80, revealed that one in four said they feel isolated from other people at least some of the time, and one in three say they… read on >
Millions of Americans are left drowsy each day by sleep apnea, and new research suggests it might also raise their odds for Alzheimer’s disease. It isn’t clear, however, if sleep apnea causes the buildup of “tau” protein tangles in the brain that are a marker for Alzheimer’s, or if the increased tau helps cause the… read on >
