A type 2 diabetes diagnosis that comes early in life carries a deadly load of health risks, new research shows. It was associated with a 60 percent higher relative risk of dying from heart disease or stroke. Not only that, it was linked to almost a 30 percent higher risk of death from any cause,… read on >
Even though it’s the end of February, it’s still not too late to get a flu shot, doctors say. This flu season is one of the worst seen in the United States in years. Flu-linked hospitalizations were still rising earlier this month, and 84 children have died from flu complications so far, according to government… read on >
Children who’ve had surgery to repair defective hearts are more likely to die or require longer hospitalizations if they live in poorer neighborhoods, a new study suggests. The disparities between affluent and poor children persisted even though all were treated at the same major hospitals, the researchers said. And those disparities were only partially explained… read on >
Women don’t need to have blocked arteries to experience a heart attack, a new study points out. Blocked arteries are a main cause of heart attack in men, according to researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. They found, though, that about 8 percent of women who have chest pain but no blocked arteries… read on >
Grinding teeth at night often is associated with daytime stress, the National Sleep Foundation says. The group suggests how to help control the problem: Relax in the hours before bedtime. Create a cool, comfortable, dark and quiet sleep environment. Keep computers, tablets and smartphones out of the bedroom. Exercise regularly. Get enough sleep each night.… read on >
Antidepressant drugs actually do help ease depression, countering debate over whether the medications do what they’re supposed to, a large research review has found. Some antidepressants, though, are more effective and better tolerated than others, the findings showed. The researchers analyzed data from 522 trials — published and unpublished — that included more than 116,000… read on >
More than one-third of early clinical trials exaggerate positive findings and may give patients false hope, a new study suggests. Researchers reviewed data from 930 clinical trials published in 10 leading medical journals between early 2007 and mid-2015. The investigators found that a significant number of early trials reported effects that were 2.7 times greater… read on >
Many of us make choices about whether to eat healthy or not-so-healthy foods based on whether we’re in a good or not-so-good mood. When a bad mood strikes, we often tend to reach for junk food. And that can be a recipe for disaster when you’re trying to lose weight. Here’s how to keep your… read on >
Cramps are a better-known symptom of a woman’s period, but about 20 percent of women are also prone to migraine headaches during menstruation. The Office on Women’s Health suggests seeing a doctor if you have any of these symptoms during menstruation: Your headaches change. Treatments that once worked no longer help. You have side effects… read on >
A malaria drug that’s also shown effectiveness against rheumatoid arthritis pain has failed to help people with the more common form of arthritis, new research shows. The drug is called Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), explained one expert who wasn’t connected to the new study. “Plaquenil was first used to treat malaria but was later found to also… read on >
