Blood pressure medications appear to more than double the risk of life-threatening bone fractures among nursing home residents, a new study warns. The increased risk stems from the drugs’ tendency to impair balance, particularly when patients stand up and temporarily experience low blood pressure that deprives the brain of oxygen, researchers reported recently in the…  read on >  read on >

People with seasonal allergies often turn to over-the-counter and prescription medicines to relieve symptoms like coughing, sneezing, runny nose, congestion and itchy eyes, nose or throat. But they often aren’t aware that these meds — including antihistamines — have as much risk for potential side effects, drug interactions and overdose as other drugs. “All medicines…  read on >  read on >

People with asthma who vape tend to develop the respiratory disease earlier in life than folks who never vaped, new research shows. Overall, asthmatic adults who said they’d vaped over the past month were over three times as likely to have developed asthma relatively early in life (before the age of 27) compared to folks…  read on >  read on >

Men are more vulnerable than women to the debilitating effects of diabetes, a new long-term study finds. Overall rates of diabetes are similar between men and women, according to the report published May 16 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. But heart disease, eye disorders, kidney problems and leg and foot complications are…  read on >  read on >

The central African nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is battling a record number of cases of mpox, fueled by a strain with a higher death rate than the variant that spread in Europe and America in 2022. Getting the DRC outbreak under control, and containing it to within that country, is imperative,…  read on >  read on >

Higher rates of blood vessel-damaging conditions like hypertension or diabetes may be driving up rates of cognitive decline and dementia among older American Indians, new research shows. The study found that 54% of American Indians ages 72 to 95 had some form of impairment in their thinking and/or memory skills, while 10% had dementia. The…  read on >  read on >

Climate change is likely to make brain conditions like stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis even worse, a new review warns. The potential effects of a changing climate is likely to be substantial on a range of neurological conditions, researchers report May 15 in The Lancet Neurology journal. “There is clear evidence for…  read on >  read on >

Telehealth has made it possible for doctors to deliver care from anywhere, but a professional-looking background helps patients feel more confident about their care and advice, a new study finds. Even if doctors are miles away from the clinic or exam room, they should make it look like they’re there, according to results published May…  read on >  read on >