It’s known that genetics and lifestyle can affect your heart health. Now, researchers say, your birth order and family size may also have an impact. A new Swedish study found that first-born children had a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes than their younger brothers and sisters. But having many siblings was associated with…  read on >  read on >

A widely used medicine for autoimmune diseases may lower people’s immune response to the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, a new study suggests. The drug, called methotrexate, is often given to patients with immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. “Our findings suggest that different strategies may need to be explored in patients…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, May 26, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Many people know too much salt in their diet is a bad thing. Not nearly as many know exactly why. “They’re surprised at the degree to which it can affect them,” said Dr. Cheryl Laffer, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. “And…  read on >  read on >

Researchers have discovered that when patients who have type 2 diabetes and asthma take a certain class of medication to control their blood sugar, their asthma symptoms also improved. Not only could this help diabetes patients who may have less asthma control on asthma medicines, but it could potentially open up new treatment options for…  read on >  read on >

As a means of providing long-term relief from chronic pain, flotation tanks simply don’t hold water, new research reveals. Nearly 100 people plagued by longstanding pain underwent “flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy” (REST), and the results were disappointing, at least over the long term, German researchers found. The treatment involves floating inside a soundproof, lightless…  read on >  read on >

Low testosterone levels may increase men’s risk of severe COVID-19, according to a new study. On average, men fare worse with COVID-19 than women. “During the pandemic, there has been a prevailing notion that testosterone is bad. But we found the opposite in men,” said senior study author Dr. Abhinav Diwan. He’s professor of medicine,…  read on >  read on >