Your teeth may be a good indicator of your heart health, the American Heart Association says. A recent clinical study focusing on tooth loss during midlife found that people who lost two or more teeth during the trial had a 23 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The increase occurred regardless of other cardiovascular risk… read on >
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that causes the heart to become enlarged, rigid or thicker. As the condition worsens, the heart becomes weaker and is less effective at pumping blood, the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says. The agency suggests how to help tame some of the condition’s complications: Quit… read on >
Toxic chemicals that have been banned for nearly four decades may be hiding in kitchens across the United States, new research suggests. Polychlorinated biphenyls, more commonly known as PCBs, might be released when cabinet sealants break down, the scientists warn. PCBs are cancer-causing chemicals once used in a wide range of products, from electrical appliances… read on >
Poor muscle health may be a complication of type 1 diabetes, even in young people who get plenty of exercise. That’s the finding of Canadian researchers who analyzed muscle samples from young adults with and without type 1 diabetes who did more than the weekly amount of exercise recommended by Diabetes Canada. In the young… read on >
New research sheds light on why some people’s blood pressure is especially sensitive to salt. The research team previously discovered that a natural gene variation that occurs in 48 percent of people increases a person’s chances of having blood pressure that’s sensitive to salt. Their new study revealed how this gene variant prevents the body… read on >
Blisters, corns and calluses have at least one thing in common: they’re triggered by the friction of two surfaces rubbing against each other. The Nemours Foundation suggests how to care for these skin issues: Keep a blister clean, dry and bandaged until it heals. Avoid putting pressure on the area. Soak a callus in warm,… read on >
The crunchy goodness of peanuts, walnuts, cashews and other nuts may be just what the cardiologist ordered, new research suggests. The study couldn’t prove cause-and-effect. However, the analysis of health data on more than 61,000 Swedes aged 45 and older found regularly eating nuts was tied to lower risks for heart failure and an irregular… read on >
Girls whose moms were overweight or had high blood sugar during pregnancy may be more likely to enter puberty early, a large new study suggests. The Kaiser Permanente researchers said their findings could lead to new strategies to curb early puberty, which can have adverse long-term health effects for girls. “We know that maternal weight… read on >
Allergy testing may be recommended for people who suspect they react to allergens such as animal dander, food, dust or pollen. When you have an allergy, your immune system treats this type of harmless substance as a threat. To fight this perceived threat, your immune system makes antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE), the U.S. National… read on >
Women who have diabetes should take precautions to ensure that both mother and baby stay healthy throughout pregnancy. High maternal blood sugar can harm the developing baby, resulting in birth defects or miscarriage. This is especially true during the first few weeks of pregnancy, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says.… read on >
