Researchers are standing behind new data on how people’s posteriors reflect changes linked to aging and diabetes. Shrinkage or inflammation of the gluteus maximus muscles of the buttocks may reflect frailty, sitting time, fat deposition and diabetes risk, and these changes may occur differently among men and women, the British team said. “Unlike past studies… read on > read on >
Nobody wants a root canal, but if you must get one there’s possible benefit for your heart. Researchers in Britain found that a successful root canal appears to lower inflammation linked to heart disease. It might even improve cholesterol and blood sugar readings. “Root canal treatment doesn’t just improve oral health — it may also… read on > read on >
The holidays: Twinkling lights, family dinners and packed travel plans. Plus, a surge of allergy and asthma triggers that can turn the season stressful for some folks. But with a little planning, you can enjoy the celebrations without spending them sniffing, itchy or reaching for tissues. “The holidays are a wonderful time to reconnect with… read on > read on >
Pfizer’s mRNA flu vaccine worked better than a standard flu shot in a large Phase 3 trial, researchers reported. The results, published Nov. 19 in The New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that mRNA technology may help improve protection in future flu seasons. The Pfizer flu vaccine uses the same type of messenger RNA science… read on > read on >
Most folks with genetics that put them at risk for high cholesterol and early heart disease aren’t aware of their danger, a new study says. Nearly 90% of people carrying genetics that cause dangerously high cholesterol — an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolemia — were not aware of their risk, researchers recently reported in journal… read on > read on >
Increased use of hallucinogens like psilocybin hasn’t created an increase in ER visits or hospitalizations for bad trips, researchers recently reported in JAMA Network Open. “In fact, after a small rise through early 2020, admissions declined through 2023, with no correlation to decriminalization policies,” senior researcher Dr. Kevin Xu, an assistant professor of psychiatry at… read on > read on >
Common health problems of old age — dehydration, delirium, malnutrition or falls — can become catastrophic if they occur following a major surgery, a new study reports. Seniors who suffer these issues while recovering from surgery are more likely to die within a year, and will require more time in hospitals or nursing facilities, researchers… read on > read on >
A new flu variant spreading overseas may set the stage for another tough winter in the United States, experts warn. The strain, called subclade K, has caused a rise in flu cases in the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan. And now signs suggest it is beginning to take hold across the United States as flu… read on > read on >
Adding even a few extra nurses can dramatically reduce burnout and improve morale among hospital medical staff, a new study says. Increasing nurse staffing by as little as 10% improved attitudes among both physicians and nurses working in hospitals, researchers reported Nov. 17 in JAMA Network Open. “Physician burnout is a global crisis, but few… read on > read on >
Use of head CT scans in U.S. emergency departments has more than doubled over the past 15 years, a new study says. Nearly 16 million head CT scans were ordered by ERs in 2022, up from under 8 million in 2007, researchers reported Nov. 17 in the journal Neurology. “Head CT scans are a critical… read on > read on >
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