Abbott has warned diabetes patients that some of its continuous blood sugar monitoring systems may need to be replaced because of inaccurate readings. “Abbott has recently identified a small number of FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors that may provide incorrect high glucose readings, which if undetected may pose a potential health risk for people living with… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Athletes Can Expect High Ozone, Pollen Counts for Paris Olympics
Bad news for Olympians headed to Paris — high levels of ozone pollution and grass pollen are likely during the upcoming games if hot, sunny weather prevails, researchers said. Ozone levels in Paris and its environs tend to exceed World Health Organization (WHO) recommended thresholds about 20 days per month between July and September, according… read on > read on >
Fake Oxycontin Pills Widespread and Potentially Deadly: Report
The rate at which young Americans are ending up in hospital ICUs after using fake Oxycontin pills spiked with fentanyl is soaring, especially in the U.S. West, a new report warns. Medical toxicology data from one unnamed hospital in the western U.S. found the number of cases involving overdoses involving fake “M-30” Oxycontin pills rose… read on > read on >
Shingles Vaccine Could Lower Dementia Risk
Older people who avail themselves of the newest shingles vaccine could reap a hidden benefit: A significant drop in their odds of developing dementia. One expert applauded the new findings. “Dementia isn’t an inevitable part of aging; it’s caused by diseases like Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK. “Finding… read on > read on >
Your Odds for Accidental Gun Death Rise Greatly in Certain States
Americans’ risk of dying in a firearm accident depends in large part on where they live in the United States, a new study finds. People in Southeastern states like Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama run the greatest risk of a gunshot accidentally killing them, researchers said. Meanwhile, the risk of accidental gun death is much lower… read on > read on >
Tough Workouts Won’t Trigger Cardiac Arrest in Folks With Long QT Syndrome
People diagnosed with one of the most common inherited heart arrhythmias, called Long QT syndrome (LQTS), can safely engage in vigorous exercise without any added risk for sudden death or cardiac arrest, a new study finds. “Arrhythmic events were low in these appropriately treated individuals with LQTS in both those exercising vigorously and those exercising… read on > read on >
Wildfires in Western U.S., Canada Create Hazardous Air Conditions
Wildfires raging in several states and Canada are triggering air quality alerts and evacuation orders across the western parts of the United States. Smoke and haze have filled the skies in California, Oregon, Arizona, Washington and several other western states: As of Wednesday, there were 79 large, active wildfires that have burned over 1.4 million acres… read on > read on >
Where Your Body Stores Fat Could Affect Odds for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s
Finding yourself packing on the pounds around your waist and arms? If so, you might be at heightened risk for neurological illnesses like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, new research suggests. There was one other physical characteristic that lowered the odds, however: muscle strength. Stronger folk appeared to have a lower odds for neurological illnesses compared to… read on > read on >
New Insights Into How Sleep Apnea Affects the Brain
Millions of Americans deal with the sleep deficits brought on by sleep apnea, and many turn to one of the few treatments out there, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. But what if new neurochemical targets in the brain could lead to new, less cumbersome therapies for sleep apnea? That’s what a team at the… read on > read on >
‘Two-Target’ Antibiotics Could Make Bacterial Resistance Much Tougher
Synthetic antibiotics that attack bacteria in two directions at once could be the solution for combatting antimicrobial-resistant bugs, a new study claims. These dual-action antibiotics, called macrolones, disrupt bacterial cell function in two different ways. It’s nearly impossible for bacteria to resist macrolones, because the germ would need to defend against both attacks at once,… read on > read on >