Older adults commonly suffer damage to heart cells during various types of surgery — even non-heart-related surgeries — and it can significantly raise their risk of dying from the procedure, a new study finds. The research looked at a phenomenon called perioperative myocardial injury, or PMI. It refers to subtler heart damage that can happen…  read on >

From the hills of Hollywood to the halls of Congress, it’s now clear that sexual harassment in the workplace has long been a fact of life for working women. But while the media highlights high-profile firings — NBC anchor Matt Lauer and NPR showman Garrison Keillor among the latest — little attention has been given…  read on >

It’s been used by many people to help ease sleep apnea, but new research suggests the CPAP mask may also help ease seizures in people with epilepsy. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) involves wearing an airflow mask over the nose or mouth each night, to help keep the back of the throat open for better…  read on >

The flu can develop quickly and cause aching muscles, high fever and chills. If you have diabetes, it’s important to have a plan before you get sick. The National Diabetes Foundation offers these suggestions: You doctor may suggest that you check your blood glucose more frequently and monitor for ketones. Your doctor also may advise…  read on >

Even months after recovering from the flu, older people remain at increased risk for a heart attack, stroke or disability, a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases warns. “We all know about the illness influenza causes — obviously fever and making you feel poorly, aches and pains — and that is because it sets up…  read on >

What makes a poem touch your heart? New research suggests that poetry that triggers vivid mental images and positive emotions tends to be the most enjoyed. For the study, researchers had more than 400 people read and rate two types of poems — haikus and sonnets. “People disagree on what they like, of course,” said…  read on >

A common condition in men — enlarged veins in the scrotum — may raise the risk for heart disease and diabetes, a new study suggests. The problem is known medically as varicoceles. It affects about 15 percent of men and can cause pain and infertility. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers wanted to find out…  read on >

In a case that investigators say is a first, a lung cancer drug unmasked and then attacked the kind of HIV-infected cells that standard antiretroviral therapy has been unable to touch. The finding was reported on Dec. 1, which is also World AIDS Day, in the Annals of Oncology. While one AIDS expert said the…  read on >

The more college football referees know about concussion symptoms, the more confident they are in calling a timeout for a suspected head injury, a new study shows. Researchers surveyed more than 1,300 college football officials during the 2015 season and found that they called an average of one injury timeout for a suspected concussion every…  read on >

People who were born prematurely may have smaller-than-normal airways in adulthood, which can cause respiratory problems, researchers say. Premature birth is associated with poorer heart and lung function, but the reasons why have not been fully understood. In a new study, investigators compared adults who were born eight weeks or more early with people who…  read on >