Intimacy plays a larger role in casual sex among college students than previously thought, a new U.S. study reports. Researchers analyzed the results of an online survey that asked several hundred students at a university in the Northeast about their romantic relationships and casual sex. As expected, affectionate and intimate activities — such as cuddling,… read on >
You might be surprised to learn that stroke is the number three killer of women. Women and men have many of the same risk factors for stroke, but some — like high blood pressure, migraine with aura, diabetes and stress — tend to be stronger or more common in women. Your risk is also influenced… read on >
No one wants to spend the holidays in a hospital bed, but heading home might not be a good idea, new research suggests. The risk of hospital readmission or death was higher among patients who were discharged over the two-week December holiday period than at other times of the year, Canadian researchers found. For the… read on >
Hot flashes, a common curse in menopause, can be especially bothersome after breast cancer. But a new study suggests an existing medication may help. The drug is oxybutynin (Ditropan XL), long used to treat urinary incontinence. The study found that women taking the medicine had an average of five fewer hot flashes a week, compared… read on >
In a good economy, the care at U.S. nursing homes falls because it’s harder to attract and keep staff, a new study contends. “During economic downturns, many people are willing to take positions with work environments they may not prefer because there aren’t many options,” said principal investigator Sean Shenghsiu Huang. “But when the economy… read on >
There’s more evidence that when a survivor of early stage breast cancer takes up healthy eating and regular exercise, the odds of the disease returning go down. The key is sticking with such programs, said study lead author Dr. Wolfgang Janni. Healthier lifestyles “might improve the prognosis of breast cancer patients if adherence is high,”… read on >
Heart patients taking part in cardiac rehabilitation could receive a spicy side effect from the program — a boost in their sex life. Attending cardiac rehab is associated with improved sexual function and more frequent sex, according to a new evidence review. The program likely helps by increasing the patient’s physical fitness, said lead researcher… read on >
For many breast cancer patients, removal of lymph nodes in the armpit area is a common procedure, due to worries that the tumor has spread to these tissues. But the operation can also bring the difficult long-term side effect of lymphedema, a painful arm swelling. Now, new Dutch research suggests that for early stage breast… read on >
For certain women with early stage breast cancer, a newer drug that combines an antibody with chemotherapy may cut the risk of disease recurrence in half, a new trial finds. The study focused on nearly 1,500 women with early stage breast cancer that was HER2-positive — meaning it carries a protein that promotes cancer growth.… read on >
A new test for chlamydia can provide results within 30 minutes, potentially speeding up the start of treatment, researchers say. The rapid test for the sexually transmitted disease (STD) means patients can receive treatment immediately, instead of having to wait for a follow-up appointment. This could help reduce the spread of the disease, according to… read on >
