The gap in life expectancy between American men and women is now the biggest it has been since the mid-1990s — almost six years. The pandemic and opioid overdoses are key factors in the gender difference in longevity, said researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Harvard University T.H. Chan School of… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Two New Studies Point to the Promise of Gene Therapy for High Cholesterol
MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2023 (Healthday News) — Two new gene-editing treatments that target dangerously high levels of cholesterol in people with a genetic predisposition to the condition were found safe and effective in new, groundbreaking research. While powerful drugs like statins can help manage cholesterol in most people, they can’t treat those who have genes that… read on > read on >
Major Study Confirms Salt’s Deadly Effect on Blood Pressure
Cutting out just one teaspoon of salt every day lowers blood pressure almost as much as medication does, new research shows. Investigators said theirs is one of the largest studies ever to include people taking high blood pressure meds in a look at the effect of reducing dietary intake of sodium. “We found that 70-75%… read on > read on >
Subtle Changes Could Predict Inflammatory Bowel Disease Years Before Symptoms Hit
MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2023 (Healthday News) — Inflammatory bowel disease starts to develop years before patients come down with symptoms, a new study suggests. Gut changes can be detected in blood tests up to eight years before a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and up to three years prior to a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, according… read on > read on >
Blood Test Might Predict Worsening of MS
KEY TAKEAWAYS: The progression of multiple sclerosis is particularly difficult to predict, varying widely between patients A new blood test uses a biomarker of nerve cell damage to accurately predict progression over the next two years If the test proves valid, it might help patients and their doctor plan optimal treatments, the researchers said One… read on > read on >
Following Disasters, Untreated Mold Sends Many to Hospitals
Climate change-driven hurricanes, floods and superstorms are threatening to create a surge in mold growth in people’s homes, sickening residents and robbing them of breath. Local hospitals witness a nearly twofold increase in diagnoses related to mold exposure following a storm-related natural disaster, according to a study being presented Thursday at the annual meeting of… read on > read on >
Prediabetes Plus Smoking a Deadly Combo for Young Adults
Young people who smoke and have prediabetes have triple the risk of suffering a stroke, a new study shows. Overall, hospitalized tobacco users with prediabetes had a 3.3 times higher risk that they were in the hospital due to a stroke, after researchers accounted for other risk factors. The findings “warrant early screening and prevention… read on > read on >
Scientists Create Device That Can Isolate Blood Flow to Brain
An experimental device that isolates blood flow to the brain has the potential to revolutionize brain research. The device redirects the brain’s blood supply through a pump that maintains or adjusts a range of variables necessary to maintain the organ, including blood pressure, temperature, oxygenation and nutrients, researchers report. When tested on a pig brain,… read on > read on >
FDA Approves First Vaccine for Chikungunya Virus
FRIDAY, Nov. 10, 2023 (Healthday News) — The first vaccine to prevent infection with the chikungunya virus was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. The single-dose shot, known as Ixchiq, is approved for adults who are at increased risk of exposure to the virus. “Infection with chikungunya virus can lead to… read on > read on >
Blood Clot Risk From Contraceptive Pills Ends Soon After Women Stop Taking Them
Women and their doctors have long known that taking birth control pills can elevate the risk for a blood clot. Now, some good news: That added risk will disappear within a few weeks of stopping an oral contraceptive, a new study shows. “It’s reassuring to know that that possible harm of the pill goes away… read on > read on >