An expandable pill that can stay in the stomach for a month could help diagnose and monitor a myriad of gastro ills, a new study in pigs suggests. The pill has a Jell-O-like consistency. Once it reaches the stomach, it quickly swells to the size of a ping-pong ball and is resistant to the stomach’s… read on >
Chemotherapy drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy, a set of symptoms caused by damage to nerves that control the sensations and movements of the arms, legs, hands and feet. The American Cancer Society mentions these sensations that indicate possible neuropathy: Tingling, or a “pins and needles” feeling. A burning or warm feeling. Numbness, weakness, discomfort or… read on >
When a thin piece of wood, glass or metal gets embedded within the top layers of your skin, you know how annoying and painful a splinter can be. The U.S. Library of Medicine suggests how to remove a splinter safely: Sterilize a pin or needle by soaking it in rubbing alcohol or by placing the… read on >
Tight control of your blood pressure won’t necessarily spare you from full-blown dementia, a new trial concludes. But it might lower the risk of slight declines in thinking and memory, a condition known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the researchers added. The clinical trial is the “first study in history to show that any intervention… read on >
Millions of hepatitis C cases and related deaths could be prevented, but it will require a significant investment, researchers say. In the first study to model such measures worldwide, the authors concluded that sweeping prevention, screening and treatment efforts could prevent 15.1 million new hepatitis C infections and 1.5 million cirrhosis and liver cancer deaths… read on >
Women diagnosed with breast cancer may face a higher risk of developing the abnormal heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (a-fib), Danish researchers report. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In 2018, more than 2 million women were diagnosed with the disease. The inflammation the disease causes might increase the risk for a-fib,… read on >
If you were up all night and you ache all over the next morning, your lack of sound slumber might be to blame. New research found that sleep loss delivered a double whammy to the brain that all but guaranteed greater levels of body pain. “Activity in the somatosensory cortex, previously associated with the location… read on >
Bronchitis is typically caused by a respiratory virus, and much less frequently, by a bacterial infection, the American Lung Association says. Risk factors include having close contact with someone who has bronchitis, failure to get age-appropriate vaccinations, and exposure to tobacco smoke, fumes, dust and air pollution. The American Lung Association says symptoms of bronchitis… read on >
More U.S. families with young children are buying handguns — and that might help explain a recent spike in firearm deaths, a new study suggests. Government figures show that after years of decline, gun-related deaths among U.S. children under age 5 have been on the upswing. Between 2006 and 2016, the rate nearly doubled —… read on >
Strong limits on marketing and sales are needed to control and prevent teens’ use of electronic cigarettes, a new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement says. Teens who use e-cigarettes are more apt to use traditional cigarettes eventually, studies show. The surge in vaping among American teens threatens to turn back five decades of… read on >
