A new, more comfortable wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) device could be on its way. Researchers from Australia and India have created a compact, lightweight, gel-free hexagonal-shaped ECG patch that they say is ideally suited for point-of-care diagnostics. For those at risk, having a wearable device that can detect heart problems and assess overall cardiac health can…  read on >  read on >

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS, is debilitating and has no cure. Now, researchers at the University of Michigan have developed an environmental risk score that will allow them to assess a person’s risk for developing ALS, as well as their survival after diagnosis. Toxins such as pesticides and carcinogenic PCBs affect a person’s…  read on >  read on >

In some big cities, mobile stroke units can deliver a powerful clot-busting drug to patients as these specialized ambulances speed to the hospital. Now, a new study shows these units deliver anti-clotting treatment a median of 37 minutes faster than when traditional ambulances drive stroke patients to the ER. And that extra time gives stroke…  read on >  read on >

TUESDAY, Oct. 31, 2023  Getting a yearly flu shot is one of the best ways to protect yourself from infection or severe illness, but not everyone likes shots. Now, there is some potentially good news for those who fear needles: A nasal spray flu vaccine that you can take or give at home is on the…  read on >  read on >

The ancient art of tai chi, plus a modern twist, may help older adults reverse mild declines in brain power, a new clinical trial reveals.  Researchers found that tai chi classes helped older adults improve their subtle problems with cognition (memory and thinking skills). It also helped them with a fundamental multitasking skill: walking while…  read on >  read on >

Patients living with endometriosis are more likely to have complications during and after a hysterectomy, new research indicates. Knowing that, surgeons should be prepared for these problems from the outset, the researchers from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center noted. Among the surgical complications are the need for blood transfusions and increased risk of infection. “This…  read on >  read on >

A cheap, do-it-yourself air purifier is powerful enough to effectively protect a home from free-floating flu and COVID-19 viruses, according to test results from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The filter, crafted with common hardware store supplies costing $60, outperformed pricey off-the-shelf air filters in tests performed at an advanced EPA chamber that simulates real-world…  read on >  read on >

Federal regulators are warning consumers to stop using eyedrops and gels from several major brands after finding unsanitary conditions in a manufacturing plant. Twenty-six eye care products are part of the alert. Contaminated products have the potential to cause eye infection and blindness because drugs applied to the eye can bypass some of the body’s…  read on >  read on >