Annual “well woman” exams by OB/GYNs give an opportunity to evaluate another area of women’s health: heart health, according to a new joint advisory from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Heart Association. The advisory stresses the benefits of collaborative care between OB/GYN specialists and cardiologists. As heart disease and… Continue reading Gynecology and Your Heart Health
Author: Jane Farrell
Five Ways A Healthy Gut Makes A Healthy Brain
The idiom “trust your gut” means relying on intuition, rather than thoughtful, deep analysis, to make a decision. But research shows there is actually a tangible connection between gut health and brain health, and that linkage can affect emotions and cognitive processing. Research conducted at the California Institute of Technology by Elaine Hsiao showed how… Continue reading Five Ways A Healthy Gut Makes A Healthy Brain
Multigene Testing Replacing BRCA Tests for Breast Cancer Risk
The use of genetic tests aimed at detecting mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in women with breast cancer is declining in favor of tests that can detect multiple cancer-associated mutations, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and five other U.S. medical centers. Some researchers had wondered whether multigene… Continue reading Multigene Testing Replacing BRCA Tests for Breast Cancer Risk
Halting the Spread of Cancer
Scientists have identified a compound that blocks the metastasis of pancreatic and other cancers. Using various animal model, scientists at the National Institutes of Health, Northwestern University and other partners have collaborated to identify a compound, which they named metarrestin, that stopped tumor metastasis in multiple animal models. According to a news release from the… Continue reading Halting the Spread of Cancer
Older Americans Are Rarely Evaluated for Sleep Apnea although Many Are at Risk
In a study of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older who were asked about sleep disturbances, 56% were estimated to be at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea, but only 8% of the high-risk individuals had been tested for it. Of those tested, 94% were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The Journal of the… Continue reading Older Americans Are Rarely Evaluated for Sleep Apnea although Many Are at Risk
A Better Diet May Mean Better Hearing
Researchers have discovered that a healthy diet is associated with a lower risk of acquired hearing loss for women. Previous studies have looked at how specific nutrients affect risk, but the relation of overall diet and risk of developing hearing loss was unclear. In a new study, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital examined the… Continue reading A Better Diet May Mean Better Hearing
Keep Saying Yes to Fish Twice a Week for Heart Health
A new scientific advisory reaffirms the American Heart Association’s recommendation to eat fish, especially those rich in Omega-3 fatty acids twice a week, to help reduce the risk of heart failure, coronary heart disease, cardiac arrest and the most common type of stroke (ischemic). The advisory is published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.… Continue reading Keep Saying Yes to Fish Twice a Week for Heart Health
New Combined Risk Scores Effectively Predict Stroke Likelihood
Two clinical risk score models, when combined, help doctors more accurately assess the stroke risk of patients who have atrial fibrillation (Afib), an irregular, rapid heartbeat that can lead to stroke and heart failure. The composite stroke decision tool studied by researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City combines the… Continue reading New Combined Risk Scores Effectively Predict Stroke Likelihood
Skin Cancer More Prevalent among U.S. Military Personnel
U.S. military personnel are likelier to develop skin cancer than the general population, according to research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. A review of nine published studies indicates that both active duty service members and veterans have an increased risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of… Continue reading Skin Cancer More Prevalent among U.S. Military Personnel
Chinese Medicinal Plant Dangerous to Heart: Study
A plant often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) contains substances that can cause cardiac arrhythmia, according to new research. The plant, Evodia rutaecarpa, is readily available on the internet and can end up in tea preparations. The discovery was made by researchers from the Universities of Basel, Vienna and Utrecht. According to a news… Continue reading Chinese Medicinal Plant Dangerous to Heart: Study
5 Ways to Convince Parents to Get Hearing Aids
Repeatedly responding to “What’d you say?” can often be the norm during conversations with aging parents. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids. Despite age being the strongest predictor of hearing loss among adults, fewer than one in three adults… Continue reading 5 Ways to Convince Parents to Get Hearing Aids
Ask Your Doctor These Questions About Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. If you’re concerned about your risk, the experts at the National Institute on Aging suggest asking your doctor and nurse these questions: 1.What is my risk for heart disease? 2.What is my blood pressure? 3.What are my cholesterol numbers? (These include total… Continue reading Ask Your Doctor These Questions About Heart Disease
Popularly Prescribed Products May Not Benefit Kids with Eczema
A popular prescription bath product provides no additional benefit when used in addition to standard eczema care in children, according to a new study. The investigation was published in the BMJ. The product, emollient bath additives, are prescribed at an annual cost of more than $33 million in England. Eczema (also known as atopic eczema… Continue reading Popularly Prescribed Products May Not Benefit Kids with Eczema
Breast Cancer Places Greater Financial Burden on Black Women than White Women
Having breast cancer placed a significantly greater financial strain on black women than white women, according to study by researchers at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The researchers, who published their findings in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, surveyed women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in North Carolina between 2008… Continue reading Breast Cancer Places Greater Financial Burden on Black Women than White Women
7 Dental Milestones that Parents Need to Know
Just because most newborns don’t have teeth yet, it’s never too early for new parents to start a dental regimen for their baby. It’s important for parent to give children a proper start if they are to enjoy a lifetime of good dental health. Here are milestones for parents to keep in mind: During the… Continue reading 7 Dental Milestones that Parents Need to Know
A Crowdsourced App for Exercise
Researchers have created a crowdsourced platform that can rival professional trainers’ apps in effectiveness. The platform, developed at the University of Washington and Seattle University, is called CrowdFit and was presented in a paper at the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Montreal. It relies on nonexperts to create workout regimens… Continue reading A Crowdsourced App for Exercise
An Additional Benefit of Saunas?
Using saunas frequently may be linked to a lower risk of stroke, according to new research. The study, published in the May 2, 2018, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, was conducted in Finland, where saunas originated and nearly every home has one. “These results are exciting because… Continue reading An Additional Benefit of Saunas?
Tips for Skin-Cancer Self-Exams
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and one person dies from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, every hour. In recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May, the American Academy of Dermatology… Continue reading Tips for Skin-Cancer Self-Exams