Popular diabetes and weight loss drugs may do more than curb appetites — they may also help reduce the risk of dementia, according to new research. Two studies that noted this unexpected effect were recently published in the journal JAMA Neurology, though neither were specifically designed to look at that …
Read More »Alabama woman doing well after gene
A 53-year-old Alabama woman is now free from years of dialysis after receiving a pig kidney transplant last month. Towana Looney, who is recovering from the procedure, is the fifth American given a gene-edited pig organ — and notably, she isn’t as sick as prior recipients who died within two months of receiving a pig …
Read More »Rural North Carolina county is set to reopen its shuttered hospital with help from a new federal program
Williamston, North Carolina — On a mid-August morning, Christopher Harrison stood in front of the shuttered Martin General Hospital recalling the day a year earlier when he snapped pictures as workers covered the facility’s sign. “Yes, sir. It was a sad day,” Harrison said of the financial collapse of the small …
Read More »Catching up on sleep on weekends may lower risk of heart disease, research finds
Busy week have you catching up on sleep during the weekend? That may be good for your heart health, according to new research. In a study set to be presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress on Sunday, researchers found the risk of heart disease fell about 20% for …
Read More »“We’re flying blind”: CDC has 1 million bird flu tests ready, but experts see repeat of COVID missteps
It’s been nearly three months since the U.S. government announced an outbreak of the bird flu virus on dairy farms. The World Health Organization considers the virus a public health concern because of its potential to cause a pandemic, yet the U.S. has tested only about 45 people across the …
Read More »What is Alaskapox? Symptoms to know after death brings attention to virus
News that an elderly man in Alaska has died from Alaskapox — the first known fatality, according to state health officials — has brought newfound attention to the recently discovered virus. The man, who lived in the remote Kenai Peninsula and had a suppressed immune system due to cancer treatments, …
Read More »Weight
Patients who take blockbuster drugs like Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss may face life-threatening complications if they need surgery or other procedures that require empty stomachs for anesthesia. This summer’s guidance to halt the medication for up to a week may not go far enough, either. Some anesthesiologists in …
Read More »What to know about sleep apnea, the condition Biden uses a CPAP machine for
The White House confirmed Wednesday that President Biden has been using a CPAP machine, a device commonly used to address sleep apnea, to improve his sleeping in recent weeks. Biden, 80, disclosed in 2008 medical reports that he has a history of sleep apnea — making him one of roughly …
Read More »WHO warns against artificial sweeteners for weight loss in new guidance
People looking to lose weight should skip sugar substitutes, according to new guidance from the World Health Organization. The United Nations agency said Monday that a systematic review of the available evidence suggests use of non-sugar sweeteners “does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or …
Read More »What is Lyme disease? Experts describe symptoms, testing and treatment of the tick
Supermodel Bella Hadid revealed she’s recovering from a long battle with Lyme disease — sparking questions about the tick-borne illness. And since experts say ticks are out earlier this year and sticking around longer than usual thanks to warming temperatures, it’s more important than ever to be aware of how to …
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