THURSDAY, May 25, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Alexis Simon, a special education teacher in the greater Pittsburgh area, was having a routine morning at school, sending an e-mail at her desk. The next thing she knew, she woke up at a hospital, disoriented and panicked. “Is my baby OK?” Simon, who was 8… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Ketamine Beats Shock Therapy in Easing Tough-to-Treat Depression
Ketamine may be an alternative to shock treatment for people with treatment-resistant major depression, a new study suggests. Currently, patients with major depressive disorder who don’t find a medication or therapy that works may undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as shock therapy. But researchers have also been studying intravenous ketamine — a powerful anesthetic… read on > read on >
Research Helps Uncover Causes of SIDS
Researchers have found another clue as to why some infants die suddenly in their sleep, and it’s related to a faulty chemical receptor in the brainstem. Experts said the findings provide another puzzle piece in understanding the root causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). By examining autopsied brain tissue, researchers found that a particular… read on > read on >
Exercise Might Boost Your Tolerance for Pain
One potential solution to reducing chronic pain: Get moving. A new Norwegian study finds that physically active folks have greater pain tolerance compared to sedentary types. Those with higher levels of activity also had higher pain tolerance, according to the report published online May 24 in PLOS ONE. “Becoming or staying physically active over time… read on > read on >
Alzheimer’s Genes Might Also Raise Odds for Epilepsy
(HealthDay News) – People with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease may have an increased risk of epilepsy, a new study says. And folks with a certain type of epilepsy may have higher odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Having Alzheimer’s was linked to a 5.3% increased risk of generalized epilepsy, researchers report in the journal… read on > read on >
Large Study Supports Less Invasive Way to Treat ‘Leaky’ Heart Valves
When one of the heart’s valves springs a big leak, that can spell big trouble. The good news: The condition, known as degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR), is treatable using a minimally invasive intervention known as TEER (transcatheter edge-to-edge repair), a procedure that involves the insertion of a small clip to enable proper valve closure and… read on > read on >
Hi-Tech Implant Helps Paralyzed Man Walk Naturally Again
A Dutch man with paralyzed legs can now stand and walk, thanks to a wireless brain-spine interface that responds to his thoughts by moving his legs. Gert-Jan Oskam, 40, suffered a spinal cord injury 11 years ago from a bike accident in China that left him unable to walk. Oskam now has a brain implant… read on > read on >
More Older Americans Use Online ‘Patient Portals’ to Access Care
Older Americans are increasingly likely to log into “patient portals” to access their health care information — but confidence levels vary. About 78% of people aged 50 to 80 now use at least one patient portal, according to the new University of Michigan (U-M) National Poll on Healthy Aging. Five years ago, just 51% in… read on > read on >
Illicit Use of Ketamine Keeps Rising in U.S.
Seizures of illicit ketamine by drug enforcement agents have surged throughout the United States, growing 349% from 2017 through 2022, a new study finds. Rising use of ketamine could increase the likelihood that people who use the drug recreationally may instead get a potentially harmful version of the substance, researchers say. “This dramatic rise in… read on > read on >
Most Americans Don’t Know What 988 Suicide Crisis Hotline Is For: Poll
Only 13% of American adults understand the purpose of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline nearly a year after its widely publicized launch, a new survey from the Pew Charitable Trusts shows. “There is an opportunity and a need for state and local leaders to launch inclusive awareness campaigns in the months ahead,” lead researcher… read on > read on >