There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions, and they affect at least 54 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Fortunately, there are also many medications, non-medication options, lifestyle changes and surgeries available to help you manage arthritis pain and other symptoms. “We’ve really…  read on >  read on >

Have you heard the old wives’ tale that knuckle cracking will enlarge your knuckles? What about the one that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis? There are many beliefs about this common behavior, but it’s time to debunk the myths about knuckle cracking. Why do people crack their knuckles? Harvard Health cites several possible reasons. “Knuckle…  read on >  read on >

Researchers are reporting progress on the path to a “universal” flu vaccine — one that would battle all strains of the virus and give the world a weapon against future flu pandemics. In an early clinical trial, U.S. government scientists found that their experimental flu vaccine was able to coax recipients’ immune systems to produce…  read on >  read on >

Is there a simple way to screen older folks for dementia risk years before there are any signs of memory loss or thinking impairment? Yes, researchers report. It’s a test called SOMI, short for Stages of Objective Memory Impairment. The process is straightforward. After being shown a series of images, patients who have no symptoms…  read on >  read on >

Many Americans went hungry in 2021, including disproportionate numbers of people with disabilities and single parents, a new government report shows. Experts are concerned that things may have only gotten worse. “These data likely do not reflect what is going on currently as pandemic programs end and inflation is affecting food prices,” explained Linda Wilbrecht,…  read on >  read on >

For people with epilepsy, living in lower-income neighborhoods is associated with worse mental functioning, new research suggests. For the study, the researchers looked at the memory, thinking ability and mental health of people with epilepsy, and found differences based on where they lived. Brain-health issues were more common among those from disadvantaged areas with fewer…  read on >  read on >

One in five people who die by suicide experienced intimate partner problems that included divorce, separation, arguments and violence, new research shows. “I think people hear the term intimate partner problems and go straight to intimate partner violence. That is a component of intimate partner problems, but it’s not just about violence,” said study author…  read on >  read on >

A new Australian study found that children who had COVID-19 during the first couple of years of the pandemic could be safely treated at home, taking the burden off hospitals. Children who had COVID-19 with moderate symptoms or preexisting high-risk conditions could be treated effectively via a Hospital-in-the-Home (HITH) program, according to the study. The…  read on >  read on >

Patients with a common vascular disease that causes blockages in their leg vessels had both worse symptoms and outcomes if they were Black or poor, new research finds. The study from Michigan Medicine looked at more than 7,000 patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) who had a lower extremity bypass operation to improve circulation. PAD…  read on >  read on >