-
Higher Stroke Risk Among Children of Divorce
A broken home seems to set a ticking time bomb in the brains of some children of divorce. Seniors have a 61% higher risk of stroke if their parents divorced when they were children or teenagers, researchers reported in a study published Jan. 22 in the journal PLOS One.The...
-
Database Identifies Unhealthy Ultra-Processed Foods
An innovative database developed by researchers at Mass General Brigham in Boston can now help you find the most nutritious prepared foods, while steering clear of unhealthful ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods, typically full of hidden sugars, unhealthy fats, and...
-
GLP-1 Drugs Lower Risk for 42 Health Conditions
Popular GLP-1 medications for weight loss and diabetes may have unexpected benefits for reducing risks for conditions such as substance abuse, psychosis, infections and even dementia. But these drugs also come with risks that shouldn't be overlooked, researchers warn in a...
-
New Option for Controlling High Blood Pressure
Nothing doctors prescribed controlled Michael Garrity's dangerously high blood pressure - until they zapped away some nerves on his kidneys. If that sounds weird, well, kidneys help regulate blood pressure in part through signals from certain nerves. The new treatment...
-
Dr. Crandall: Heart and Brain Health Are Linked
According to a new AHA study, the connection between heart and brain health is linked more closely than ever. The very same risk factors that make heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States have increased the risk for stroke, Alzheimer's, and dementia.
-
FDA Proposes New Front-of-Package Food Labels
Grabbing a quick snack might soon come with a little extra clarity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule requiring bold, easy-to-read nutrition labels on the front of food and beverage packages. These labels, which would highlight content of...
-
Incentives That Help People Quit Smoking
Smokers are better able to quit if they're offered financial incentives for their efforts. Overall, smokers had up to a 54% better chance at kicking the habit if their quit program offered them cash or vouchers as a reward, researchers found in a new evidence review...
-
Dr. Crandall: Manage Blood Pressure for Better Heart Health
High blood pressure is known as the 'silent killer' because most of the time there are no obvious symptoms, and as a result people can go years without knowing they have it. Hypertension, another name for high blood pressure, is a killer because it can cause serious health...
-
Airplane Noise Exposure Linked to Heart Problems
Folks who live near airports are used to the regular roar of jet airliners taking off and landing. But they likely don't know that all this ruckus could be harming their heart health, a new study says. People exposed to high aircraft noise levels could be at greater risk of...
-
When to Drink Coffee for Longevity, Heart Benefits
For many, coffee is a beloved morning ritual, fueling the day ahead. But what if the time you drink it could influence how long - and how well - you live? New research published Jan. 8 in the European Heart Journal suggests that when you enjoy your cup of Joe might be just...
-
Each Cigarette Smoked Shortens Life By 22 Minutes
Considering a New Year's resolution to quit smoking? New research might provide all the motivation you need: Each cigarette could shorten your life by up to 22 minutes, researchers say. The findings, published Dec. 29, 2024, in the journal Addiction, were based on mortality...
-
The Many Health Benefits of Dry January
Giving up alcohol for the first month of the year has become a popular trend. While up to 40% of Americans plan to partake in Dry January, statistics show approximately 15% end up following through by abstaining from alcohol up for the full month. Staying dry for the month...
-
How GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Boost Heart Health
Weight loss tops many folks' list of New Years resolutions, and lots of people are turning to cutting-edge weight-loss drugs like Ozempic to help them drop excess pounds. These drugs, called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), work in several different...
-
Dr. Crandall: Gratitude Bolsters Holiday Heart Health
We need to be extra careful about our heart health during the holidays. Research shows that more heart attacks occur during December than any other time of the year, according to the American Heart Association. A study published in Circulation found that more cardiac deaths...
-
With Correct Measurements, Wine Really May Protect Heart
A little wine every day can protect your heart health, a new study suggests.
-
Hot Cocoa Protects Against Negative Effects of Stress
'Tis the season to be stressed, and if that leads you to reach for fatty foods, add a cup of good quality, hot cocoa to your indulgence. Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the U.K. found that the flavanols in cocoa combat the damage excess fat from foods does...
-
Air Pollution May Increase Risk for Blood Clots
Breathing in smoggy air over time can significantly raise a person's chances for dangerous blood clots, new research shows. "What's striking from our study is the increase in serious blood clotting disease with exposure to some of the most common types of pollutants in the...
-
Common Blood Test Could Spot Multiple Diseases
A blood draw is a typical part of a person's regular check-up. But that blood sample might hold a lot more useful information about a person's health than doctors are currently getting. A new study shows that a routine part of a blood test called the complete blood count...
-
Blood Pressure Fluctuations Harmful to Brain
Keeping your blood pressure in check is important for more than just heart health - it can also keep your brain sharp as you age. A new study published Dec. 11 in the journal Neurology shows that seniors whose blood pressure spikes and drops over time might be more likely to...
-
Half of Calories Eaten at Home are Ultra-Processed
Unhealthy ultra-processed foods have wormed their way into American kitchens, likely harming people's health for decades, a new study warns. More than half of the calories adults eat at home now come from ultra-processed foods, which contain high levels of sugar, salt, fat...
-
The Worst Sugar for Heart Health
When it comes to sweets, the type a person chooses can have a significant impact on their heart health, a new study finds. Sugary drinks significantly increase a person's risk of stroke, heart failure, irregular heartbeat and other heart health problems, results showed. But...
-
Gene Therapy Reverses Heart Failure in Pig Trials
Failing hearts nearly returned to full function in laboratory pigs after they received an experimental gene therapy. New research shows the gene therapy didn't just prevent heart failure from worsening in four lab pigs, but actually prompted hearts to repair and grow...
-
Stroke Survivors Face High Odds for Dementia
Stroke survivors have an 80% increased risk of dementia compared to people who've never suffered a stroke, a new study finds. About 19% of people who'd had a stroke developed dementia during an average six-year follow-up, compared with just 13% of those with no stroke,...
-
Short Bursts of Exercise Cuts Heart Attack Risk
Take the stairs. Tote heavy shopping bags. Walk up that hill. Play tag with a kid or a pet.Weaving these tiny bursts of vigorous physical activity into everyday life can halve a woman's risk of a heart attack, a new study shows.An average of four daily minutes of this sort...
-
Dr. Crandall: Drink Coffee for a Healthier Heart
It seems like the news on whether drinking coffee is detrimental, or beneficial, to our health flip flops all the time. But now a new study brings good news to those of us who like to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, or three. Drinking coffee can help protect against heart...