Expectant mothers’ high blood pressure heightens kids’ risk of stroke later in life, a Swedish study finds. “Our findings indicate that hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are associated with increased risks of stroke and potentially heart disease in offspring up to the age of 41 years,” said study author Fen Yang, a doctoral student at Karolinska…  read on >  read on >

The United States has more than two dozen regional hotspots for opioid overdose deaths, according to researchers who also found a link between fatal overdoses and mental distress. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana and Tennessee have the highest percentage of opioid overdose deaths, but researchers identified 25 regional overdose clusters nationwide. The findings highlight…  read on >  read on >

An aggressive weight-loss program not only achieves remission of type 2 diabetes, but may also end the need for blood pressure medications, new research shows. “Our study shows that, in addition to possible remission from type 2 diabetes, there are other very important health benefits, as weight loss is a very effective treatment for hypertension…  read on >  read on >

You suddenly develop the sniffles. Is it allergies or COVID-19? One expert says whether you have a history of allergies might provide your biggest clue. “Symptoms such as congestion, sore throat and loss of smell are all common with both seasonal allergies and COVID-19,” said Dr. Jonathan Matz, an allergist and immunologist with LifeBridge Health,…  read on >  read on >

As you head into the great outdoors this summer, keep safety in mind, an expert says. Drowning is one of summer’s risks. It only takes a few seconds and can happen without an obvious struggle, according to Dr. Seth Hawkins, a wilderness medicine expert and assistant professor of emergency medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Health…  read on >  read on >

A native South American population that lives a pre-industrial lifestyle may have a slower rate of brain aging than the typical Westerner, a new study finds. The study focused on the Tsimane population, whose roughly 16,000 members dwell in a remote part of the Bolivian Amazon. They live by farming, hunting, gathering and fishing —…  read on >  read on >