The stress hormone cortisol appears to play a role in tough-to-treat type 2 diabetes, a new study finds. About 1 in 4 people (24%) with tough-to-treat type 2 diabetes have elevated cortisol levels, researchers found. “These results are significant as they highlight a previously underrecognized factor contributing to the barriers when it comes to managing… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
New Insights Into How Microbiome Helps Cause Type 2 Diabetes
A person’s gut microbiome appears to increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, researchers claim. Specific strains of gut microbes are more commonly found in people with type 2 diabetes, and these strains seem to heighten the risk of developing the metabolic disorder, they say. “We believe that changes in the gut microbiome cause… read on > read on >
Slow-Release Ketamine Pill Eases Depression: Study
A new slow-release pill form of ketamine can quell hard-to-treat depression without producing psychedelic side effects normally associated with the drug, early research suggests. Patients on the strongest dose of ketamine tablets saw significant improvement in their depression compared to a placebo, researchers found. On a 30-point depression scale, people taking the ketamine pill improved… read on > read on >
U.S. Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Emergency
Gun violence in the United States has become a national public health crisis, the U.S. Surgeon General declared Tuesday. “Today, for the first time in the history of our office, I am issuing a Surgeon General’s Advisory on firearm violence. It outlines the urgent threat firearm violence poses to the health and well-being of our… read on > read on >
Despite Falling Out of Favor With Doctors, Daily Aspirin Still Popular
For decades, millions of Americans popped a low-dose aspirin each day to lower their heart risks. Then, accumulated data prompted the nation’s two leading cardiology groups — the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association — to overturn advisories in 2019 and recommend against daily aspirin, citing a risk for bleeding that exceeded… read on > read on >
Loneliness Can Raise Older People’s Odds for Stroke
A lonely middle and old age could bring higher odds for a stroke, new data suggests. A 12-year study of people over 50 found that those who experienced chronic loneliness were 56% more likely to have a stroke, versus those who said they weren’t lonely. “Loneliness is increasingly considered a major public health issue. Our… read on > read on >
Healthy Weight Loss Could Lower Your Odds for Cancer
Losing weight can protect you against cancers related to obesity, a new study finds. Obesity has been linked to higher risk of at least 13 types of cancer, researchers said. This is largely due to excess levels of hormones like estrogen and insulin. But study results show that dropping pounds can improve a person’s odds… read on > read on >
Simple Paper-Strip Test Might Spot Flu, and Which Type You Have
A simple and inexpensive paper strip test could help diagnose a case of the flu, and even identify the influenza strain that caused it, a new study finds. The test can distinguish between influenza A and B — the two main types of seasonal flu — as well as identifying more virulent strains like H1N1… read on > read on >
Cholesterol Med Might Slow Vision Loss in People With Diabetes
A well-established cholesterol-lowering drug appears to significantly slow the progression of a diabetes-related eye disease, a new trial shows. Fenofibrate (Tricor) has been approved since 2004 as a means of lowering cholesterol. Now, this new study shows that fenofibrate also can reduce the progression of diabetic retinopathy by 27% compared to placebo. The findings were… read on > read on >
U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Decline for First Time Since Pandemic
For the first time since the pandemic, it got a little safer to cross America’s streets in 2023, new statistics show. According to data released Monday from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 7,318 American pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles last year — a dip of 5.4% from 2022 and the first such decline… read on > read on >