While the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system has been criticized for long appointment wait times and limited access to specialists, the quality of care and access to a range of surgical services is as good as or better than at non-VA health centers on several measures, new research reveals. “Surgery involves many steps of care,”…  read on >  read on >

A study of triathletes reveals certain body types perform better in certain climates. Taller, leaner runners with long limbs tend to excel in Ironman endurance events held in warm climates, whereas marathoners with stockier builds and shorter limbs perform better in colder climates, a Dartmouth College researcher says. Endurance athletes may want to consider competing…  read on >  read on >

Cats who became infected with COVID-19 had the same variants as their owners throughout the different phases of the pandemic, new research finds. Scientists looked at retrospective samples to assess COVID-19 infections in U.K. cats from April 2020 to February 2022. The cats had been infected with the Alpha and Delta variants following their emergence…  read on >  read on >

Researchers have isolated for the first time a free-floating form of amyloid beta that appears to be a key driver of Alzheimer’s disease. Further, they argue that a newly approved Alzheimer’s drug — lecanemab (Leqembi) — directly targets these small, complex chains of amyloid beta (A-beta) called fibrils. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved…  read on >  read on >

Understanding what causes asthma can help you better manage its causes and triggers. Whether you, your child or another loved one has asthma, you can feel more in control by knowing your options for reducing asthma symptoms and managing its underlying causes. What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic condition that causes swelling and inflammation…  read on >  read on >

(HealthDay News) – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday issued a six-month extension for people seeking to fill controlled medication prescriptions via telehealth. That ability had been set to expire along with the ending of the pandemic public health emergency on May 11. “These medications, including those used to treat opioid use disorder, are…  read on >  read on >

If you or someone you know experiences allergies, you’ve probably heard of the life-threatening reaction called anaphylactic shock. To help you better understand exactly what this condition is and how to manage it, experts offer a guide on what anaphylactic shock is, its symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatments. What is anaphylactic shock? Anaphylactic shock…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, May 10, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Many Hispanic people in the United States face socioeconomic disadvantages and lower access to affordable health care. Despite these and other challenges to their health, they generally tend to live longer than other racial or ethnic communities – a health phenomenon that’s been studied for decades.…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, May 10, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — One hot day last June, Elmar Uy and his girlfriend, LJ Jennings, were gardening outside their home in Hudson, New Hampshire, when something strange happened. Everywhere Uy looked, he saw crescent-shaped spots. Jennings thought Uy might be dehydrated. She got him some water. Over the next…  read on >  read on >