The European Society of Cardiology has updated its hypertension guidelines, emphasizing simpler and more aggressive blood pressure targets. The new guidelines introduce a category for elevated blood pressure, defined as a systolic BP of 120-139 mm Hg or a diastolic BP of 70-89 mm Hg, which requires cardiovascular risk assessment for treatment decisions. The new…
Soluble dietary fibers like Glucomannan are beneficial for weight loss and come with added advantages such as improved cholesterol and blood sugar control. Glucomannan is derived from the elephant yam or konjac plant, traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat various conditions. It helps you feel full, promotes good bacteria in the intestine, and aids…
The FDA has approved an Emergent BioSolutions vaccine, ACAM2000, for preventing infection from the mpox virus, which is related to smallpox. This vaccine was originally developed to protect against smallpox and is now approved for preventing mpox in high-risk individuals. The ACAM2000 vaccine uses a live vaccinia virus to stimulate the immune system to produce…
Irish researchers have developed a new implant that uses electronic signals to aid spinal cord injury repair. Currently, it is difficult to promote neuron regrowth after such injuries. The implantable 3D-printed scaffold, developed by RCSI and AMBER researchers, can bridge the gap at the injury site and boost axon regrowth when electrical stimulation is applied….
A study published in Nature Medicine in July 2024 by Oxford University scientists found that getting vaccinated against shingles can reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life. Through analyzing data from over a quarter million American senior citizens, researchers discovered that those who received the shingles vaccine delayed the onset of dementia by…
Hyrox, a global fitness race, announced a partnership with Zepp Health to make Amazfit the official wearable and timekeeping partner of HYROX. Amazfit will provide athletes with smart wearable devices for health and fitness monitoring. The partnership will last until 2026 and includes outfitting athletes with various Amazfit smartwatches. Zepp Health’s Helio Ring and Amazfit…
In this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” Caitlyn Mai faced a huge bill of over $139,000 for her cochlear implant surgery, despite getting prior approval from her insurer. She refused to pay the bill and fought back by making numerous phone calls and demanding the necessary documentation. With the support of her job…
Dr. Shivani Kamat from UT Southwestern Medical Center discusses her experiences with in vitro fertilization (IVF) as a female physician at the Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium in Carlsbad, California. She highlights the prevalence of infertility among female physicians and the importance of having a support group during the isolating process. Kamat advises women undergoing…
The RESHAPE-HF 2 trial studied Abbott’s heart clip device called the MitraClip, which is used to treat mitral regurgitation by preventing blood leakage into the heart chamber. The trial results, presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the device improved health status and…
Health leaders in the UK are in support of potential government plans to restrict smoking in outdoor public areas in an effort to reduce tobacco-related deaths and lessen the strain on the NHS. While the plans are not final, they could involve banning smoking in places like pub gardens, outdoor restaurants, and hospital grounds in…
A new blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is on the horizon, potentially replacing more invasive and costly methods like spinal taps and brain scans. This test could make diagnosis faster, more accessible, and cheaper, allowing more people to start treatment at earlier stages of the disease. Current diagnostic methods include PET scans and cerebral…