Black Americans have been persistently hard-hit with heart disease risk factors for the past 20 years — and social issues like unemployment and low income account for a good deal of it, a new study finds. Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, is the No. 1 killer of Americans, and it’s well-known that… read on > read on >
Statins are proven to lower cholesterol, but they may also come with a downside for patients with diabetes: A new study finds they may make the blood sugar disease worse. Researchers found that among those taking statins, 56% saw their diabetes progress, compared with 48% of those not taking statins. And the higher the dose… read on > read on >
Hoverboards, electric scooters and electric bikes are the transportation of choice for a growing number of Americans, but they’re taking many straight to the emergency room. Injuries associated with these so-called “micromobility products” skyrocketed 70% between 2017 and 2020, according to a soon-to-be-released report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). That increase dovetails… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, Oct. 5, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Marla Sewall does it for the endorphins. “It makes me feel good,” said the 52-year-old whose jogs help her maintain her physical and mental health. In addition to her regular outings near her home in the Dallas enclave of Highland Park, she’s completed 13 marathons. Training… read on > read on >
Dr. Francis Collins, the longest serving director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, plans to step down from his leadership post by the end of the year, the institute plans to announce on Tuesday. Collins headed the government’s effort to map the entire human genetic code 20 years ago, and he is now one… read on > read on >
Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure and only 24% have it under control, but what’s the best way to treat it — one high-dose pill or two at a lower dose? A large new study suggests that two medications may be better than one for many older patients. Lowering elevated blood pressure to… read on > read on >
Full vaccination with the two-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been 90% effective in protecting against hospitalization for at least six months, a new study shows. That includes the time during which the highly contagious Delta variant has been circulating in the United States. For the study, researchers analyzed Kaiser Permanente Southern California data on more… read on > read on >
Depression rates rose three-fold among U.S. adults during the first year of the COVID pandemic, new research shows. Surveys of more than 6,500 adults found that about 33% have had more intense symptoms of depression this year, compared to 28% in the pandemic’s early months in spring of 2020 and 9% before it began. “The… read on > read on >
Misinformation and medical mistrust are major drivers of vaccine hesitancy among U.S. Hispanics, new research shows. The researchers also found that protecting other family members is an important factor in convincing Hispanics to get vaccinated. The small study included 22 Hispanic mothers in Oregon and 24 of their children who were in grades 9 to… read on > read on >
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has hit minority groups in the United States hard, with significantly more deaths among Black and Hispanic Americans compared with white and Asian Americans, a new study finds. According to the report, these disparities highlight the need to address ongoing inequities influencing health and longevity in the United States. What’s more,… read on > read on >
