WEDNESDAY, Sept.1, 2021Sugar is killing Americans in droves, according to researchers who found that reducing the sweetener in packaged foods and beverages could prevent more than 2 million strokes, heart attacks and cardiac arrests. Less sugary packaged foods and drinks would also curb nearly a half-million heart-related deaths and an even greater number of diabetes…  read on >  read on >

Many seniors who undergo surgery after breaking a hip continue to take opioids long after being released from the hospital, new research indicates. After tracking nearly 30,000 U.S. older patients, investigators found that nearly 17% were still taking opioids as much as half a year after hip surgery. At three months after surgery, that figure…  read on >  read on >

Along with other dangers, the aftermath of Hurricane Ida could pose significant heart health risks. Stress and trauma from the storm that slammed into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and other states could increase heart risk, and the impact may be more significant for heart disease and stroke patients, the American Heart Association (AHA) warns. For example,…  read on >  read on >

The pause in youth sports caused by the COVID-19 pandemic wound up shaking some budding athletes to their core, a new U.S. survey shows. More than 1 in 10 youth athletes ended up reconsidering their sports goals or aspirations as the pandemic closed stadiums and gyms. That included one-quarter of athletes in their later teens,…  read on >  read on >

With Labor Day festivities approaching, you might want to think twice about that cocktail. Or at least you should avoid that second round, especially if you have a history of your heart beating irregularly. A new study appears to confirm the existence of “holiday heart syndrome” — a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (a-fib), after…  read on >  read on >

Monoclonal antibody infusions can help prevent severe COVID-19, but the best protection is to get vaccinated, experts say. Antibodies are made by the immune system to fight infections. “The problem is that our immune system takes two to three weeks to make good antibodies,” said Dr. Turner Overton, co-director of the Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic…  read on >  read on >

A high amount of coronavirus in the lungs is a major contributor to death in COVID-19 patients, new research shows. The findings challenge previous theories that simultaneous infections such as pneumonia or an overreaction of the body’s immune system are significant factors in COVID-19 deaths, the researchers noted. To come to that conclusion, the investigators…  read on >  read on >