A step as simple as sticking to the same bedtime each night could improve a person’s blood pressure, new research suggests. In just two weeks, people whose more haphazard bedtimes shifted to a regular bedtime saw improvements in blood pressure that were equal to those seen when folks exercise more or cut down on salt… read on > read on >
Heatwaves are increasing with climate change, and that could mean more deaths among older people with diabetes or heart disease, new research shows. The study of U.S. veterans living in California found the largely male cohort vulnerable, especially if they were homeless or living in poorer neighborhoods. Compared with cooler days, the typical California veteran… read on > read on >
The shortage of primary care physicians in rural America was already bad in 2017. Now, new data finds the situation has only gotten worse in the years since. Between 2017 and 2023, the number of family physicians dropped by another 11% in the rural U.S., according to researchers at the University of Rochester in New… read on > read on >
A pill version of semaglutide, the ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, did not slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease, drugmaker Novo Nordisk announced Monday. In two Phase 3 trials, researchers tested an oral form of semaglutide in more than 3,800 adults with Alzheimer’s who were already receiving standard care. While the drug was safe and… read on > read on >
Add one more malady to the potential risks from untreated sleep apnea: Parkinson’s disease. A new study involving 11 million U.S. veterans finds that a person’s odds of developing Parkinson’s nearly doubled if they were diagnosed with sleep apnea but hadn’t used a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to help control it. Having untreated… read on > read on >
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 >
