Eye injuries are a leading cause of childhood blindness in the United States, the U.S. National Eye Institute says. Baseball, basketball, hockey, boxing, squash, fencing, racquetball and lacrosse are just some of the high-risk sports for eye injuries, the institute says. It offers this additional advice about protective eyewear: Prescription glasses, contact lenses and sunglasses… read on >
Obesity may accelerate and amplify the crippling symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, new research suggests. Conversely, the researchers also found that unexplained weight loss might also signal problems for these patients, because it could mean that they’re at greater risk for disability. “While patients and rheumatologists may be focused mostly on disease activity, we should also… read on >
With summer comes the stings of bees and wasps, but one expert has advice on how to keep the pain to a minimum. “The first thing to do is to get the stinger out quickly,” said Dr. Carrie Kovarik. She’s an associate professor of dermatology, dermatopathology and infectious diseases at the University of Pennsylvania. “The… read on >
As the U.S. population ages, vision loss caused by age-related macular degeneration is likely to increase, an ophthalmologist says. Adults over 50 should get an annual test for the condition, said Dr. Ingrid Scott, a professor of ophthalmology at Penn State College of Medicine. Blurry or distorted vision could be symptoms of age-related macular degeneration,… read on >
Athletes, because they sweat routinely and often perform in hot conditions, are at higher risk of developing skin conditions, the American Academy of Dermatology says. The academy suggests how athletes can reduce their chances of acquiring a skin infection: Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Prevent blisters by using… read on >
After a stroke, many patients are given the clot-busting intravenous drug alteplase, but another drug may be more effective, Australian researchers report. Among more than 200 stroke victims, TNKase (tenecteplase) was about twice as effective as alteplase in restoring blood flow to the brain, and it also resulted in less disability, the scientists found. “Tenecteplase… read on >
Want to keep your unused medicines out of the hands of others? You can safely dispose of dangerous expired and unwanted prescription drugs on Take Back Day, this Saturday, April 28. Americans are in the midst of an epidemic of opioid drug abuse, and “medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion,… read on >
Hit-and-run deaths in the United States reached a record high in 2016, a new report shows. “Hit-and-run crashes in the United States are trending in the wrong direction,” said David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Our analysis shows that hit-and-run crashes are a growing traffic safety challenge and the AAA… read on >
If you need an emergency operation, you’re in safer hands with an older surgeon, new research suggests. “These findings provide evidence of a learning curve in surgical practice that has a meaningful impact on patients’ outcomes,” said lead researcher Dr. Yusuke Tsugawa. He’s with the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine’s division of general internal… read on >
Regular exercise can reduce your risk of depression, no matter what your age or where you live, research suggests. In a new study, an international team of researchers analyzed data from 49 studies that included nearly 267,000 people in North America, Europe and Oceania. The study participants did not have any mental illnesses and were… read on >
