Millions of people undergo joint replacement surgery every year. To prevent infection, doctors often give them a second antibiotic — but new research suggests this can backfire. Adding a second antibiotic at the time of hip and knee replacement surgery may actually increase infections, researchers in Australia found. “Given the number of joint replacements performed…  read on >  read on >

Yellow fever may be resurfacing in the United States, thanks to climate change. The mosquito-borne viral illness decimated southern U.S. cities from 1820 to 1905, and now a new report says it could return to those areas. One of the potential reasons for a yellow fever resurgence? Global warming, because mosquitoes love warm, wet weather.…  read on >  read on >

An inexpensive medication long used for depression and migraines now has a clinical trial to back up its off-label use for another condition that lowers quality of life: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In the study, British researchers found that those taking amitriptyline were almost twice as likely as those taking a placebo to see an…  read on >  read on >

Many breast cancer survivors take a hormonal drug after cancer treatment to stave off a recurrence, but new research suggests these drugs may be less effective in women who are obese. Breast cancer cells in hormone-positive breast cancers are fueled by the female sex hormone estrogen. Aromatase inhibitor medications lower estrogen levels by stopping an…  read on >  read on >

Want to do something to protect your thinking skills as you age? Swing that golf club or go for a walk. A new study found that walking about 3.7 miles or playing 18 holes of golf improved cognitive function. Nordic walking, a type of full-body walking using poles, showed the same benefit. “These findings underscore…  read on >  read on >

Fluctuating blood pressure can be a harbinger for both dementia and heart disease, a new study finds. Ups and downs within 24 hours or even over several days or weeks were linked with impaired thinking, researchers from Australia reported. Higher variations in systolic blood pressure, the top number, were linked with stiffening of the arteries,…  read on >  read on >