A diet supplement derived from citrus fruits reduced swelling and pain after knee replacement surgery, a new clinical trial found. The flavonoid supplement, diosmin, could offer a new approach to painful swelling after the procedure, according to a team led by Dr. Pengde Kang of Sichuan University in Chengdu, China. “Postoperative lower-extremity swelling is a… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Your New Year’s Eve Safety Checklist
Millions of revelers hit the road after New Year’s Eve celebrations and the inevitability of impaired drivers make the holiday one of the nation’s deadliest. High blood-alcohol levels are a factor in more than 50% of crashes on New Year’s Day, the American Safety Council warns. Law enforcement officers will be on alert, with checkpoints… read on > read on >
Put Down That Salt Shaker to Spare Your Kidneys
Folks who habitually add an extra sprinkle of salt to their meals are doing no favors for their kidneys, new research confirms. The finding held even after researchers accounted for other health issues, such as being overweight, not exercising or smoking and/or drinking. The bottom line: “Adding salt to foods is associated with increased risk… read on > read on >
Small Magnetic Balls Sold at Walmart Recalled Over Swallowing Dangers
Tiny, powerful magnetic balls sold exclusively online at Walmart as building blocks and stress relievers have been recalled for swallowing dangers, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said Thursday. In announcing the recall, the commission pointed to thousands of hospitalizations and at least seven deaths linked to similar products. Swallowing magnets is dangerous because… read on > read on >
Asthma Inhaler Switch in 2024 Could Leave Some Patients Scrambling
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 >
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 >