People taking blood pressure medications have faced a frightening and bewildering series of pharmaceutical recalls in recent months, as trace amounts of cancer-causing chemicals have been discovered in individual batches of drugs. But experts from the nation’s leading heart groups are urging patients to remain calm, even as the recall list continues to grow. The…  read on >

The switch to Daylight Saving Time can increase the risk of driver fatigue and crashes, but there are a number of ways to reduce the danger, an expert says. “Any time change can exacerbate drowsiness because your internal clock has not adjusted to the time change. This can lead to disruptions in sleep until your…  read on >

High testosterone levels can drastically increase a man’s risk of heart failure and stroke-causing blood clots, a new study reports. Men with a genetic predisposition to high testosterone levels have a nearly eightfold increased risk of heart failure and twice the risk of thromboembolism (blood clots that can block veins or arteries leading to the…  read on >

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor is likely to start you on a program to lower blood sugar and help insulin work more efficiently — a regimen that may include a modified diet, exercise and possibly medication. Starting (or ramping up) an exercise program can be the hardest of all these lifestyle changes. Typical…  read on >

WEDNESDAY, March 6, 2019 (American Heart Association News) — For black adults, connecting with neighbors could do much more than create a sense of community — it also might be good for their heart. A study presented this week at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions suggests black adults…  read on >

Tooth extractions can be painful, leaving patients sore and swollen for a few days post-surgery. Your dentist will likely provide instructions on aftercare, but the Oral Health Foundation offers general guidelines. After the surgery, people should: Brush carefully. Avoid rinsing for the first 24 hours. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes. Source: HealthDay

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are nightmares for athletes. Depending on the severity of the tear, patients can expect surgery followed by more than a year of physical therapy. Most commonly, ACL tears are the result of sudden twisting motions, MedlinePlus says. Though the injury is hard to predict, MedlinePlus suggests that athletes: Warm up…  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 >