Taking good care of your teeth — brushing, flossing, regular dental checkups — is, of course, important for good health. Now researchers say it’s also vital for brain health. While it was already clear that poor dental health could increase stroke and heart disease risk, a new study funds that adults who are genetically prone…  read on >  read on >

A new study hints that treating low vitamin D levels with supplements might have a critical benefit for certain people: a decreased risk of attempting suicide. In a study of more than 1 million U.S. veterans, researchers found that those prescribed vitamin D were nearly 50% less likely to attempt suicide over eight years, versus…  read on >  read on >

Major pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth, should be recognized as lifelong risk factors for women’s heart disease, new research suggests. Women who experience any of the five major pregnancy complications have an increased risk of ischemic heart disease up to 46 years after delivery, says the study published Feb. 1 in the…  read on >  read on >

When it comes to reducing stroke risk among women, new research suggests that the more estrogen a woman is exposed to over the course of her life, the better. The finding follows nearly a decade spent tracking stroke risk among roughly 123,000 Chinese postmenopausal women. In the end, investigators concluded that those who had a…  read on >  read on >

Seniors who frequently take sleeping medications may be raising their risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease, a new study warns. Sleep medications are one of the most commonly used medications in older adults, the authors say, but their frequent use may not be without harm. Researchers found that older white adults who said they “often” or…  read on >  read on >

U.S. health officials are investigating whether a specific brand of over-the-counter eyedrops are behind one death and dozens of bacterial infections in several states. The infections have not been traced to preservative-free EzriCare Artificial Tears, but a majority of people who became ill reported using the drops, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…  read on >  read on >

A variety of ready-to-eat sausage and charcuterie products are being recalled because they may have come into contact with surfaces that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria can cause an invasive infection and is especially dangerous in pregnant women, older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Daniele International LLC, based in Rhode Island,…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 1, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — When a heart stops, seconds matter. But too often, when someone has a cardiac arrest away from a hospital, people in a position to help don’t. Misunderstandings about CPR can keep people from acting. That costs lives. We asked experts to help clear things up. You…  read on >  read on >