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Medicine
Stress, insomnia linked to irregular heart rhythms in post-menopausal women, study says
New research, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, finds about 1 in 4 women -- between the ages of 50 and 79 -- develop irregular heart rhythms due to stress and insomnia which can increase their risk…
Merkel cell carcinoma, the disease that killed Jimmy Buffett: What to know about this illness
Music icon Jimmy Buffett passed away on Friday at the age of 76. The cause of death was merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a disease he had been fighting for four years, according to the official obituary posted on the musician’s…
Rates of vasectomies rise among American men
The U.S. vasectomy rate increased by 26% between 2014 and 2021, according to an analysis of commercial health claims data. Photo by Chokniti Khongchum/Pixabay Vasectomies are becoming more common in the United States, with…
Fauci is ‘concerned’ that people won’t comply if masking recommendations return: ‘I…
In a Saturday interview, former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci spoke out in defense of masking up amid today's rising COVID cases. In the event that masks are again recommended, he is "concerned that people will not…
Paperwork causes delays in cancer treatment
Patients were 18% more likely to experience cancer care delays or be unable to stick to a treatment plan if they had to fill out a lot of paperwork, compared to patients who faced less red tape, a new study found. Photo by…
Virginia declares statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease: ‘Rare but serious’
The state of Virginia is warning of a statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease, a "rare but serious" bacterial illness that can lead to meningitis. Since June 2022, there have been 27 cases of the disease reported in eastern,…
CPAP may relieve heartburn, chronic cough
Researchers found that those who used CPAP regularly were about 42% less likely to suffer nighttime heartburn, compared with those who used CPAP a little or not at all. Photo courtesy of Penn Medicine A continuous positive…
Skipping the salt can reduce heart disease risk by almost 20%, study finds: ‘Know what you are…
Skipping the salt could slash heart disease risk by nearly 20%, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, which was held in Amsterdam this week. Those who never add salt to their food…
U.S. overdose deaths involving counterfeit pills rise sharply
Photo by LizM/Pixabay A growing number of overdose deaths in the United States involve counterfeit pills, health officials reported Thursday. Overdose deaths involving counterfeit pills were twice as common in the latter…
‘Silent walking’ trend: Psychiatrist shares stress-relieving benefits of strolling in…
The idea of taking a silent walk might seem completely intuitive — but on TikTok, people are taking part in a challenge to stroll without the accompaniment of music or podcasts. Their goal? Boosting their mental health. Content creator…
Blood test measuring DNA damage may help diagnose Parkinson’s disease
A new blood test that measures DNA damage in the mitochondria of cells may help diagnose Parkinson's disease. Photo by Belova59/Pixabay As it stands, no one blood test or brain scan can definitively diagnose Parkinson's…
Mistreatment in maternity care, avoiding high cholesterol and the health benefits of laughter
PREGNANCY PERILS – A CDC report says one in five women are mistreated, yet some docs warn of bias and oversimplification. Continue reading… TRANSPLANT BREAKTHROUGH – After more than six weeks, a transplanted pig kidney is…
Statins may lower risk of another stroke after ‘bleeding’ stroke
A recent study found that statin use was associated with a 12% lower risk of another stroke after the authors made adjustments for high blood pressure, diabetes and alcohol use. Photo by Julio César Velásquez Mejía/Pixabay…
Daily aspirin after a heart attack can reduce the risk of future events, study finds
For people who have previously had a heart attack, taking a daily aspirin could reduce their risk of a repeat cardiac event or stroke, according to a recent Danish study. The findings were presented at the ESC Congress 2023 in…
U. of Virginia clinical trial eyes behavior modification to treat Type 2 diabetes
A new study by the University of Virginia is seeking to determine if education would be a better way to treat Type 2 diabetes instead of insulin and other drugs. File Photo by Steve Buissinne/Pixabay A University of…
Be well: 5 tips for managing postpartum issues from a New York-based family physician
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Giving birth is one of the most transformative experiences a…
Mental health issues can affect physical health, experts say
1 of 5 | People with mental health disorders can reduce their risk for physical diseases by eating a healthy diet and exercising, among other steps, according to cardiologist Dr. Sandeer Al-Kindi. Photo courtesy of…
Unexplained fever? Malaria might be a possible diagnosis regardless of travel history, says CDC
Don’t rule out malaria just because you haven’t traveled anywhere. In light of recent locally acquired cases in the U.S., the lack of international travel should not exclude a diagnosis of malaria when Americans have unexplained fever…
Study finds telling symptoms day before cardiac arrest
For women, the most prominent symptom of an impending sudden cardiac arrest is shortness of breath for men, it is chest pain and pressure, a new study found. Photo by F. Muhammad/Pixabay Sudden cardiac arrest may not come on…
AI chatbots fall short when giving cancer treatment recommendations: ‘Remain cautious’
OpenAI’s ChatGPT has become a popular go-to for quick responses to questions of all types — but a new study in JAMA Oncology suggests that the artificial intelligence chatbot might have some serious shortcomings when it comes to doling…