An experimental three-in-one blood pressure pill works better than layering on meds one at a time, a new clinical trial shows. After a month on the combo pill, 81% of patients had their blood pressure under control compared with 55% of patients receiving standard care, researchers report. “The triple pill still produced clinically meaningful reductions…  read on >  read on >

Your cellphone might be harming your heart, a new study warns. People who regularly use a cellphone have a higher risk of heart disease, researchers found in a large-scale study. And the more time someone spends on their phone, the greater their risk for heart problems, researchers report. Risk of heart disease was about 21%…  read on >  read on >

A sweat-powered finger wrap could make monitoring a person’s health as easy as wearing a Band-Aid, researchers report. The electronic wrap measures blood levels of sugar, vitamins, drugs and other substances by analyzing the sweat from a person’s fingertip, researchers reported Sept. 3 in the journal Nature Electronics. The device also draws its power from…  read on >  read on >

A new brain imaging study has concluded that autism likely isn’t caused by faulty connections to the amygdala. A prevailing hypothesis of autism spectrum disorder has held that people with the condition have poorer neural connections in certain brain regions, including the amygdala. However, researchers found no evidence that people with autism had amygdala connections…  read on >  read on >

The booming popularity of the weight-loss drug semaglutide has prompted increasing concerns about potential side effects from taking Ozempic or Wegovy. But a new study rules out one possible problem — using semaglutide does not increase a person’s risk of depression or suicide, researchers report. Semaglutide did not increase the risk of depression, suicidal thoughts…  read on >  read on >

New England is on alert following one death and a handful of infections of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus. A New Hampshire resident died after contracting EEE, which is spread by mosquito bites, according to a release issued in late August from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Four other cases have…  read on >  read on >

A survey of Australian adolescents finds those who are experiencing depressive symptoms have double the risk of taking up vaping. “In the short term, nicotine may reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, and young people may be reaching for vapes as a coping mechanism,” said study co-author Emily Stockings. “Regardless of whether mental ill health…  read on >  read on >

An experimental “smart mask” can check a person’s breath to check their health, researchers report. Fitted with biosensors, the simple paper mask could be used to track respiratory ailments, kidney disease and a number of other health problems, according to a study published Aug. 29 in the journal Science. “The smart mask can be prepared…  read on >  read on >

Hospitals see more admissions for heart attacks in the days after cold weather sets in, new research shows. “Individuals may be particularly vulnerable to acute cardiac events during periods of cold stress,” said study lead author Wenli Ni, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University. Her team presented its findings Sunday in London at the…  read on >  read on >