Taking laxatives regularly to ease constipation may up your chances of developing dementia down the road, a new study suggests. This risk is even higher among folks who use multiple types of laxatives or osmotic laxatives, which work by drawing water into stool. Previous research has linked other over-the-counter drugs, including non-prescription sleep aids and…  read on >  read on >

Having the lingering symptoms known as long COVID after a COVID-19 infection more than doubles the risk of developing new heart symptoms, according to new research. “COVID-19 is more than a simple respiratory disease — it is a syndrome that can affect the heart,” said lead study author Joanna Lee, a medical student at David…  read on >  read on >

The United States saw a significant decline in the overall rate of heart attack-related deaths over the past 20 years, and the gap in the rate of heart attack deaths between white people and Black people narrowed by nearly half. “It’s good news,” said study lead author Dr. Muchi Ditah Chobufo, a cardiology fellow at…  read on >  read on >

Living closer to outdoor spaces and natural water may be better for your mental health, researchers say. A new study finds that close proximity to nature may reduce an older person’s risk for serious psychological distress. That distress can lead to mild impairment of thinking and memory, as well as dementia. The study is scheduled…  read on >  read on >

A gene variant found almost exclusively among people of African descent appears to substantially raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study finds. The variant is in a gene called ApoE3, and it’s apparently only harmful when it exists in combination with the ApoE4 gene — a well-known risk factor for Alzheimer’s. That gene…  read on >  read on >

If you’re one of the millions of people with a pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator to help control abnormal heart rhythms, certain health-tracking devices may do more harm than good. Smartwatches, rings or scales that emit electrical currents can interfere with these lifesaving implantable heart devices, causing them to malfunction, a new study suggests. “While…  read on >  read on >

Stop buying or using Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday. The over-the-counter product is made by the same company that makes eye drops that were recalled earlier this year amid an outbreak of a highly drug-resistant bacteria that has hospitalized and blinded patients. Those products, which include EzriCare…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Meet the beet. Fans of “The Office” may know it as the mainstay of Schrute Farms. Others may have casually tossed them into conversation, remarking that someone has turned “beet red” from embarrassment. While the crimson-colored vegetable has deep roots in American culture and colloquialisms, it…  read on >  read on >