A popular asthma inhaler is being discontinued Jan. 1, fueling concerns that patients may have trouble getting insurance coverage for alternatives. GSK, maker of the branded inhaler Flovent, will make “an authorized generic” version of the drug, but without the same branding. While doctors say it will work just as well, it doesn’t appear to… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Poor Vision & Falls: A Deadly Combo for Seniors
Seniors with vision issues are at much higher risk for dangerous falls, new research confirms. Compared to seniors with good vision, the odds for a fall rose by 38% for seniors with glaucoma, 36% for those with cataracts and 25% for seniors with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), say a team reporting Dec. 28 in the… read on > read on >
Could Antibody Discovery Lead to Better Flu Vaccines?
Researchers appear to have discovered a new weapon in the war on a particularly difficult foe. They have identified a previously unrecognized class of antibodies that seem to be capable of neutralizing multiple strains of the flu virus. Their findings, recently reported in the journal PLOS Biology, could lead to development of a vaccine that… read on > read on >
Vietnam War Veterans at No Higher Risk for Suicide: Study
The Vietnam war was a traumatic event in American history, most especially for those who served. However, there’s a glimmer of good news from recent research: Suicide rates for Vietnam veterans over the past four decades were no higher than that of the general population. Still, between 1979 and 2019 — the period covered by… read on > read on >
Early-Onset Dementia: Health, Lifestyle Factors May Boost Your Risk
From alcohol use to social isolation, poor hearing and heart disease, researchers have identified more than a dozen non-genetic factors that up the risk of dementia for people under 65. Though about 370,000 new cases a year of young-onset dementia are diagnosed worldwide, it hasn’t been well-researched. Now, a large study from scientists in the… read on > read on >
Experimental Therapy Eases Alzheimer’s Signs, Symptoms in Mice
A new cellular therapy improved learning and memory in mice with Alzheimer’s disease, researchers report. The therapy — developed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) — relies on both the immune system to fight key aspects of Alzheimer’s, plus modified cells that zero in on the brain protein plaques that are a hallmark… read on > read on >
New Insights Into Fibroids Might Lead to Better Treatments
Hormone therapy is the usual go-to when women develop painful uterine fibroids, but researchers report they are zeroing in on new avenues for treatment. A University of Cincinnati team found that fibroid cells respond to physical strain differently than the uterine cells around them. That’s important, said researcher Stacey Schutte, because treatment aims to target… read on > read on >
Too Few Cancer Patients Get Palliative Care When Urinary Blockages Arise
The prognosis is poor for many cancer patients who develop serious urinary blockages, but researchers say less than half receive palliative care. Palliative care aims to relieve pain and other symptoms of serious illness. Hospice care, one type of palliative care, is an option for patients who are expected to live no more than six… read on > read on >
Head Trauma Can Spur ‘Spatial Neglect’ Similar to a Stroke
Stroke patients often suffer from “spatial neglect” — an inability to see things on the side of the body opposite to where the brain injury occurred. Now, new research suggests that spatial neglect can also affect folks who’ve had a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study makes clear that screening for spatial neglect “is warranted… read on > read on >
Heart Effects of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Could Linger
New research suggests the effects of high blood pressure during pregnancy may be long-lasting. Researchers found that women who developed high blood pressure during pregnancy had tell-tale signs of abnormal heart structure and function up to a decade later. “This study helps to clarify that, for some women, pregnancy is not just a ‘stress test’… read on > read on >