MONDAY, April 26, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — People who are salt-sensitive may have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, according to a study that points to the need for better genetic testing for sodium sensitivity. Scientists already knew high salt sensitivity is more common among people with high blood pressure, which… read on > read on >
An experimental COVID-19 vaccine could potentially provide universal protection against future COVID variants as well as other coronaviruses — maybe even the ones responsible for the common cold. And it’s dirt cheap — less than $1 a dose, researchers say. The vaccine targets a part of the COVID virus’ spike protein that appears to be… read on > read on >
A breakthrough psoriasis drug is better at treating the itchy and painful skin disease than medicines already on the market, according to results from two clinical trials. There was a “night and day difference” in the results from bimekizumab compared against two established psoriasis drugs, secukinumab (Cosentyx) and adalimumab (Humira), said Dr. Mark Lebwohl, a… read on > read on >
Music hath charms to soothe you off to slumber, new research suggests. The study found that calming tunes at bedtime seem to help older people struggling with insomnia. “We found music therapy was effective for older adults with sleep disturbance,” said study co-author Yen-Chin Chen, an associate professor of nursing at National Cheng Kung University… read on > read on >
An implanted heart defibrillator is a life changer in more ways than one. More than one in 10 patients who receive the device also developed anxiety or depression, a new study reveals. The findings highlight the need for regular screening of patients who receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in order to identity those who… read on > read on >
Neck pain? Poor posture can cause it, but may not be the only reason why, new research suggests. Lifestyle is a key culprit — particularly long periods of time spent hunched over handheld devices or working on computers. So a team at Texas A&M University set out to learn just how big a part personal… read on > read on >
If hormones are part of your treatment for breast or prostate cancer, your heart health should be closely monitored, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement. Hormonal therapies for breast and prostate cancer increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, the authors noted. This increased risk is greater in patients who already… read on > read on >
The risk of mother-to-newborn transmission of COVID-19 is low, but the illness in pregnant women can trigger preterm birth, researchers say. The new study looked at 255 babies born in Massachusetts last year to mothers with a recent positive test for COVID-19. Only about 2% of the 88% of babies who were tested for COVID-19… read on > read on >
Many conditions can trigger vertigo and the first step in treating it is to find out what’s causing it, an expert says. Middle ear fluid, dislodged crystals in the inner ear, Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis and vestibular migraine all can cause vertigo, according to Dr. Mina Le. She is an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon with… read on > read on >
If you plan to resume running after an extended break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you need to ease back in, one expert advises. “There are a lot of good programs, including Couch to 5K or C25K, that focus on increasing running slowly up to about 3 miles or 30 minutes,” said physical therapist Grace… read on > read on >
