Newly developed battery-powered electric bandages could help wounds heal more quickly, a new study reports. In animal testing, wounds treated with electric bandages healed 30% faster than wounds treated with conventional bandages, researchers reported Aug. 7 in the journal Science Advances. The bandages could be a game-changer in treating slow-healing wounds caused by diabetes and…  read on >  read on >

People with a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol can lower their levels by taking fish oil supplements, a new study shows. The results indicate that lifestyle can be a powerful influence on artery-clogging cholesterol, even if a person’s genetics tends to make those levels higher, researchers said. “Recent advances in genetic studies have allowed us…  read on >  read on >

Nearly 1 in every 10 chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioids winds up addicted to the painkillers at some point, a new review finds. Further, nearly 1 in 3 will show symptoms of opioid addiction, researchers reported Aug. 7 in the journal Addiction. That evidence runs counter to claims made by companies like Oxycontin…  read on >  read on >

Remember your besties from high school? Sure, they made a lasting impression, but science suggests they influenced the trajectory of your health, too. It’s not that far-fetched: Your friends carry genes that may or may nor predispose them to mental health issues ranging from addiction to anxiety and depression. That can influence the mental health…  read on >  read on >