When people have legal access to marijuana, they’re less likely to take certain prescription drugs, new research suggests. U.S. states where recreational marijuana is legal have seen large drops in the use of prescription drugs for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, psychosis and seizures, the researchers found. “These results have important implications,” said study co-author Shyam… read on > read on >
People with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other severe mental illnesses are at increased risk of death from heart problems, a large research review finds. “Our systematic review and meta-analysis of over 100 studies has confirmed a strong association between severe mental illness and cardiovascular disease which became stronger in the 1990s and 2000s,” said study… read on > read on >
Exercise may help safeguard your brain as you age, and a new study suggests how this might happen. Previous research has shown that physical activity helps protect brain cells. This paper indicates it may do that through lower levels of insulin and body fat. “These results may help us to understand how physical activity affects… read on > read on >
A new forecasting center for infectious diseases was officially launched by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday. The goal of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics is to act as a “National Weather Service” for infectious disease outbreaks, and to guide public health decisions during outbreaks. These can include developing… read on > read on >
Fitness trackers can tell you how well you’re sleeping, how fast you’re walking and, of course, how many steps you’ve taken. But during the pandemic, researchers have also investigated the ability of smart watches to help detect COVID-19 or provide data on recovery. The latest study uses several measures of heart rate data to help… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, April 19, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Nicholas Green should’ve turned 35 this year. Instead, a random act of violence claimed his life while he was on vacation with his family in Italy more than 27 years ago. The story captivated a worldwide audience. So did what happened next. Nicholas’ organs and corneas… read on > read on >
Doctors have long thought it dangerous to prescribe erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra alongside chest pain pills containing nitrates. “It’s always been a big red line,” said Dr. John Osborne, director of State of the Heart Cardiology in Grapevine, Texas. “You do not mix. Don’t go there.” But sex remains important among men with heart… read on > read on >
Lower levels of sex hormones might be tied to tears of the shoulder’s rotator cuff in men and women, a new study suggests. Among women with low levels of estrogen, researchers found the odds of a rotator cuff tear were 48% higher, compared with women with normal estrogen levels. Among men, the odds of a… read on > read on >
Marijuana edibles that mimic the packaging of popular snack foods pose a risk to children, a new study warns. Researchers looked at the packaging of more than 200 types of edible marijuana products and found that nearly one in 10 resembled commercial snack foods, including candies and chips. “At first glance, most of the packages… read on > read on >
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be able to identify alcoholics at risk of relapsing after treatment, researchers say. Patients often return to heavy drinking during and after treatment, and may require multiple tries before they can achieve long-term abstinence from unhealthy alcohol use. AI may allow care providers and patients to predict drinking relapses and adjust… read on > read on >
