Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness around the world, but surgery can restore vision. “Unlike many of the other major eye diseases, such as glaucoma or diabetes-related eye disease, cataracts can be easily and painlessly treated by surgery to remove and replace the eye’s lens, restoring sight for most patients,” said Jeff Todd, president… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Viruses in the Gut Might Help People Live to Be 100
A key to living to 100 may be the viruses living in a centenarian’s guts. “This snapshot of how the virome interacts with gut microbiomes could tell us about how microbial and viral ecology evolves over the lifetime of a person,” said Ramnik Xavier, director of immunology and co-director of the infectious disease and microbiome… read on > read on >
What Is Avascular Necrosis and How Does It Affect Bones?
What happens when the blood supply to your bones is somehow damaged? The condition has a name, avascular necrosis, and it can trigger the death of bone cells. Other common names are osteonecrosis or bone infarction. Bone is alive and requires nourishment from the blood supply to stay healthy. If the blood supply is not… read on >
AHA News: Higher Cardiovascular Risk Score Linked to Lower Cognitive Function
TUESDAY, May 30, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — A risk calculator used to predict cardiovascular disease also may help predict a person’s poor cognitive function, new research suggests. The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that the higher a person’s 10-year cardiovascular risk score, the worse they scored… read on > read on >
More ‘Height-Challenged’ Men Are Getting Leg-Lengthening Surgeries
Some short men really struggle with their lack of height, feeling that they are both literally and figuratively looked down upon by others. That’s why an increasing number of height-challenged men are turning to limb-lengthening surgery — an expensive, potentially painful, months-long procedure that will add a few extra inches to their frame. Limb-lengthening procedures… read on > read on >
Could ‘Brain Zap’ Procedure Make Older Folks Smarter? Data Suggest It Might
For people who’ve lost some mental sharpness, to either aging or disease, a technique that gently “zaps” the brain circuitry is showing early promise. That’s according to a new analysis of more than 100 studies assessing the technique, called transcranial alternating current stimulation, or tACS. It involves using electrodes on the scalp to send weak… read on > read on >
ER-Based Pharmacies Could Improve Kids’ Care, Pediatricians’ Group Says
When parents rush their kids to an emergency room in the dead of night for an asthma attack or high fever, they are often discharged with a prescription. The problem is, there may be nowhere to fill it promptly. Now, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is calling attention to the… read on > read on >
There’s a Best Time of Day to Exercise for Folks With Type 2 Diabetes
If you’re one of the millions of folks living with type 2 diabetes, you know that regular exercise can help you keep your blood sugar in check. Now, new research suggests that working out in the afternoon may help maximize these benefits. The new study wasn’t designed to say how, or even if, exercising in… read on > read on >
One Key to Good Sleep for Teens: No Social Media at Bedtime
Teens need their sleep, and a new study sheds light on one way to help them get it: Keep cellphones and screens out of the bedroom. “Getting enough sleep is crucial for teenagers because it helps their body and mind grow and develop properly,” said lead author Dr. Jason Nagata, an assistant professor of pediatrics… read on > read on >
Differences in Treatment, Not Genes, Keep Black Mens’ Prostate Cancer Death Rates High
Black men die from prostate cancer more frequently than other men. They also shoulder the greatest burden of advanced prostate disease around the world. Now, new research shows genetics are not to blame. Rather, the culprit is treatment disparities, researchers report. “I believe this is the largest and most representative genomic study of advanced prostate… read on > read on >