Don’t worry if someone’s checking your blood pressure in a loud public place. The reading they get is apt to be just as accurate as if the test were taking place in a quiet, less stressful environment, researchers reported in a study published Jan. 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. “The BP readings obtained… read on > read on >
Major heart health risk factors like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure remain on the rise in the United States, according to an annual report from the American Heart Association (AHA). These risks are thwarting efforts to save lives from heart disease, heart attack, stroke and other lethal heart-related diseases, says the report published Jan.… read on > read on >
An Alabama woman has become the longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant, passing 60 days with a gene-edited kidney and showing no signs of slowing down. “I’m superwoman,” Towana Looney, 53, told The Associated Press as she marked day 61 on Saturday. Looney’s transplant, performed at NYU Langone Health on Nov. 25, represents a… read on > read on >
After years of speculation, the CIA has weighed in yet again: A lab leak is now considered the likely origin of the COVID pandemic. However, the agency admits it has “low confidence” in its conclusion and says both a natural origin and a research-related incident are still possible. “CIA assesses with low confidence that a… read on > read on >
Adderall shortages have prompted doctors to switch kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to other forms of stimulant medication. Adderall prescription fills for children and teens plunged after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a shortage of the drug in October 2022, researchers reported in a new study published today in the journal Pediatrics.… read on > read on >
Time is of the essence during a medical emergency, and helicopter transport often is essential to saving a patient teetering near death. Unfortunately, Black, Asian and Hispanic people with life-threatening injuries are significantly less likely than white patients to be airlifted to a trauma center, according to a study published Jan. 22 in JAMA Surgery.… read on > read on >
Maintaining tight control over blood pressure for even a short while can provide lasting benefits for seniors’ brain health, a new clinical trial says. People had lower risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia after keeping their blood pressure around 120 systolic for three and a half years, according to results published recently in the… read on > read on >
That busy highway could be contributing to depression, and not just because you’re snarled in a traffic jam. Air pollution from traffic appears to increase risk of depression among women, according to a new study published Jan. 21 in the journal Menopause. Further, researchers think this air pollution might be raising depression risk by affecting… read on > read on >
Could a virtual avatar be the future of mental health care? New research shows that artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) goggles could revolutionize therapy — helping patients overcome addiction and receive unbiased care. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Extended Reality focused on patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis, a serious liver condition… read on > read on >
In the throes of winter’s yearly round of respiratory virus outbreaks, it pays to remember what Grandma told you. Wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and stay away from folks who may be infected. And, of course, wearing a mask won’t hurt. Respiratory viruses… read on > read on >
