A majority of people who have a minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure are not getting the recommended cardiac rehab after their surgeries, researchers say. A new study finds that just under 31% of patients who have transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are receiving this service within 90 days of the procedure. This could be… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Wegovy, Ozempic Help Folks Lose Weight, But How?
As many doctors and patients hail the advent of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy as the perfect fix for obesity, some experts are urging caution. The drugs are not well-tolerated by everyone struggling with obesity. For some folks, the weight piles back on as soon as the medication stops. There are also financial and… read on > read on >
California Governor Rejects Bill to Provide Free Condoms to High Schoolers
A California bill would have made free condoms available for high schoolers, but it was vetoed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom because of cost. California has a budget deficit of $30 billion, Newsom noted in his veto of Senate Bill 541. This bill, plus several other measures lawmakers passed, would have increased state budget costs… read on > read on >
What Is Croup? Its Symptoms and Treatment
Croup can be a scary thing for new parents to watch their babies struggle with, so here is a primer on what it is and how to best treat it. Croup is a common respiratory illness, characterized by a narrowing of the main airway (the trachea), just below the vocal cords. It can be caused… read on > read on >
Running vs. Meds: Which Works Best to Beat Depression?
Exercise has been dubbed “nature’s antidepressant” by doctors for years, and now a new study confirms the notion. The finding follows a four-month look at the impact that running had on anxiety and depression when compared to a common antidepressant. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) work by boosting levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s a… read on > read on >
Woman Resistant to Alzheimer’s Helps Inspire New Way to Fight the Disease
Researchers have developed an antibody that can reduce Alzheimer’s-like brain damage in lab mice — inspired by the case of one woman with remarkable resistance to the disease. The work, by researchers at Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School in Boston, and elsewhere, began a few years ago, with the case of a woman in… read on > read on >
‘Liquid Biopsy’ Could Help Guide Lung Cancer Treatment
For a subset of patients with advanced lung cancer, radiation therapy can sometimes substantially extend their lives. Now a new study hints that a blood test could be used to identify the people most likely to benefit. Right now, there is no way to cure stage 4, or metastatic, lung cancer — where the disease… read on > read on >
Want to Lower Your Odds for Long COVID? Get More Sleep
MONDAY, Oct. 9, 2023 (HealthDay News) – One way to help lower the odds for long COVID in people with pre-existing conditions may be to get more sleep. A new study discovered the risk was lower in those who slept six to nine hours a night compared to “short sleepers” who snoozed less. “Habitual short… read on > read on >
Scientists Discover Secrets of the Cat’s Purr
Anyone with a cat knows the calm, low rumble of purring, but how does such a small animal make such a low sound? New research suggests it boils down to a pad embedded in feline vocal cord folds. That’s different than previously thought, which was that purring happened through a special mechanism, with cyclical contraction… read on > read on >
Flu Shot Season Is Here: Why You (and Your Kids) Need One
It’s time to get the flu shot. They’re important not just for adults, but also for children, and keeping the whole family safe, according to an expert in pediatrics. “You never know how bad a flu season will be,” said Dr. Mona Patel, attending physician in the department of general pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los… read on > read on >