People taking the weight-loss drug semaglutide could be at a slightly increased risk for a potentially blinding eye condition that affects the optic nerve, a new study says. Patients on semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) had a 32% increased relative risk of developing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) compared to people not taking the drug, researchers… read on > read on >
Fainting can be scary, but it’s often harmless. Known medically as syncope, fainting happens when there’s not enough blood flow to the brain, causing a brief loss of consciousness. But how do you know if it’s just a simple faint or something more serious? Dr. Elijah Behr, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London,… read on > read on >
The health benefits of aggressive blood pressure control outweigh the potential risks for seniors, according to the latest results from a major clinical trial. About 85% of seniors treated to a target blood pressure of 120 systolic (the top number in a blood pressure reading) had a positive net benefit from such tight control, researchers… read on > read on >
The current flu season is shaping up to be the worst in a decade. So far, there have been at least 29 million illnesses and 370,000 hospitalizations related to the flu — the most since the 2015-2016 season, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) weekly flu report. There have also… read on > read on >
Stroke patients leave the hospital with better prospects if they’re forced to hoof it more during recovery, a new study suggests. Adding a half-hour of progressive walking exercises to standard stroke rehab measurably improves patients’ quality of life and mobility by the time they go home, researchers say. “Although guidelines recommend structured, progressive exercise after… read on > read on >
Social media often tempts teenagers with non-surgical ways to improve their appearance, such as laser hair removal, skin and teeth whitening, chemical peels, botox, and face and lip fillers. And a new poll finds that a substantial number of parents are ready to support their teen’s pursuit of beauty through a trip to a med… read on > read on >
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Smoking more than doubles the risk of unexplained strokes among younger adults, a new study warns. And heavy smoking is even worse, with stroke risk more than quadrupled among adults who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes every day for 20 years compared to people who don’t smoke, researchers found. “Our findings suggest that… read on > read on >
A radioactive gas could be contributing to asthma among schoolkids, researchers have found. Children exposed to elevated levels of radon gas tended to have more asthma symptoms, results show. “Residential radon has not previously been described as an environmental risk factor for asthma,” a team led by Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul, director of immunology research with… read on > read on >
Mia Jack was stealing a glance backward when she lost control of the quadbike she’d been motoring around a family gathering. Jack, then 12, flew over the handlebars and slammed headfirst into a tree. “I was wearing a helmet at the time, but apparently my brain was like a jelly in a box that had… read on > read on >
The societal stress and stigma of being LGBTQ+ can increase a person’s risk of mental health problems, a new study suggests. People in sexual and gender minorities are more likely than heterosexuals to suffer from problems like anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder, researchers reported recently in JAMA Network Open.… read on > read on >
