Tag: depressive symptoms

Are Relaxed BP Guidelines Safe?

Relaxed guidelines about hypertension could lead to 5.8 fewer million adults taking blood pressure medicine, according to an analysis by Duke Medicine researchers.

That finding is the first peer-reviewed study the impact of guidelines announced in February by the Eighth Joint National Committee, an expert panel. The committee changed the blood pressure goal in adults 60 years and older to 150/90, instead of the previous goal of 140/90. Goals were also eased for adults with diabetes and kidney disease.

Being Underweight Is as Hazardous as Obesity

Being underweight puts people at the highest risk of dying just as obesity does, according to research dome at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and published in March 2014 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health.

A release from the hospital written by Leslie Shepard notes that the connection between being underweight and the higher risk of dying is true for both adults and fetuses. This is so even when factors such as smoking, alcohol use or lung disease are considered, or adults with a chronic or terminal illness are excluded, the study found.

More Research Needed On Aging-Related Genes

More Research Needed On Aging-Related Genes

Although there is still no definitive way for scientists to control genes associated with aging, research into the subject could lead to preventive treatment that would prolong lifespan, according to a new analysis of global research.

The research is also paving the way for possible treatment of illnesses relating to aging, according to professor Alexey Moskalev, PhD, DSc, of the Russian Academy of Sciences and at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

Diet Drinks May Be Risky for Older Women

Healthy postmenopausal women who drink two or more diet drinks a day may be more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular problems, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session in March 2014 in Washington D.C..

Diverticular Disease: Greatest Myths and Facts

By Meagan Costedio, MD

 

There is a lot of misinformation floating around about diverticular disease – namely diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

Patients believe they can’t eat nuts or seeds, one of the most common myths, or they are simply confused about the difference between conditions. Below, the most common myths are dispelled.

Watch: Doctors Have Begun To Use Google Glass In Operating Rooms

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“Relaxation” May Not Help Migraines

Relaxation is usually a good thing, but perhaps not when it comes to migraine, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Montefiore Headache Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that migraine sufferers who experienced reduced stress from one day to the next are at significantly greater risk of migraine onset on the subsequent day.

Although stress has often been believed to be a common trigger of headaches, the researchers found that relaxation following the heighted stress was an even more significant trigger.

CT Scans Better At Finding Gout

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have discovered a new way of diagnosing gout that doesn’t involve needle aspiration.

Until now the painful form of inflammatory arthritis has been detected only through drawing fluid or tissue from an affected joint via a needle and looking for uric acid crystals. But needle aspiration doesn’t seem to work as well as the one just developed by Mayo: X-rays known as dual-energy CT scans. According to a release from Mayo, the scans found gout in one third of patients who had tested negative for the illness.

Watch: 3 Easy Ways to Spring Clean Your Attitude

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Helping Boomers Age in Place

As the Baby Boom generation ages, the number of older adults living in America will double by 2050, with nearly 19 million of those adults age 85 or older. While the needs of this older adult population continue to grow and change, the current paradigm of care—institutional settings like nursing homes and assisted living facilities—is an inflexible and expensive way of caring for older adults with physical limitations or chronic health conditions.

New Era of Lung Cancer Treatment

A new era of lung cancer therapy is close to dawning, using drugs that can prevent tumor cells from evading the immune system, according to experts who presented their findings at the 4th European Lung Cancer Congress in March 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Women’s Peak Heart Rate Different from Men’s

The formula for peak exercise heart rate that doctors have used for decades in tests to diagnose heart conditions may be flawed because it does not account for differences between men and women, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session in March 2014 in Thousand Oaks, CA.

Modified Medical Devices Should Be Re-Evaluated

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should require that clinical data be submitted as part of a more rigorous re-evaluation of medical devices that are modified after approval, according to University of San Francisco physicians in a commentary published online March 24th 2014 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Getting The Most From Springtime Walking

With spring returning, most of us want to get out and walk, especially if we’ve been stuck at home for most of the winter. Springtime walking isn’t just great exercise; it also lets us observe the beauty of a reawakening world. At this time of year, it’s no wonder that people go outside urban settings and walk on country or unpaved roads. But as wonderful as that can be, rural and even some suburban walking have their own set of hazards.

Recurrent UTIs: Hope For A Cure

Scientists may be edging closer to a permanent cure for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Researchers led by microbiologists from the University of Utah have shown the efficacy of a compound called chitosan when it’s used in combination with antibiotics. Chitosan is already approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pharmaceutical and agricultural uses.

Surgical Residents And Patients Benefit From 24-Hour Shifts

Limiting the number of working hours for surgical residents hasn’t improved patient outcomes and may actually have increased patient complications. Additionally, shorter hours seem to lead to higher failure rates on certification exams.

The finding, by researchers from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, was published in the journal Annals of Surgery.

Should You Work Out With A Cold Or Flu?

By Joe Vennare, PT & Fitness Program Director

Moving more is good for us, which makes regular exercise an essential component of a healthy, active lifestyle. Of course, creating that lifestyle takes time. It’s a product of repetition. That’s how we form habits. We try not to break the chain, for anything.