COVID-19
Global platform study presents results to guide care of severely ill patients with COVID-19 using routinely available drugs The world’s largest trial of multiple interventions for critically ill adults with COVID-19 has simultaneously released results about two of its treatments, vitamin C and simvastatin. Simvastatin, a widely available and inexpensive drug that is included on the WHO list of essential medicines, was shown to have a high probability (96%) of improving outcomes (a combination of survival and length of time patients need support in an intensive care unit) when started as a treatment for critically ill patients with COVID-19, and a 92% chance of improving survival at 3 months. This equates to one life saved for every 33 patients treated with simvastatin. 2684 critically ill patients were included at 141 hospitals across 13 countries. It was shown that high dose vitamin C did not improve outcomes for patients. This is the largest trial examining high-dose vitamin C in COVID-19 and provides evidence that high-dose vitamin C is not beneficial and suggests a high probability that it may be harmful. JAMA and NEJM
A New Long COVID Explanation: Low Serotonin Levels?: A study, published in the journal Cell, found lower serotonin levels in long COVID patients in comparison with patients who were diagnosed with acute COVID-19 but who fully recovered. Reductions in serotonin were driven by low levels of circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused persistent inflammation as well as an inability of the body to absorb tryptophan, an amino acid that's a precursor to serotonin. Overactive blood platelets were also shown to play a role; they serve as the primary means of serotonin absorption. The study doesn't make any recommendations for treatment, but understanding the role of serotonin in long COVID opens the door to a host of novel ideas that could set the stage for clinical trials and affect care.
COVID, No Matter the Severity, Linked With Urologic Effects in Men: SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked in men with increased incidence of urinary retention, urinary tract infection (UTI), and blood in the urine, a new study finds.
Long COVID Lasts At Least 18 Months for Most People: The study also showed that severe symptoms lasted for at least 18 months regardless of which variant of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID — infected the person. The authors called that finding "surprising," noting that other studies have suggested that long COVID became less common as the pandemic progressed. The findings were published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Second Infection Hikes Long COVID Risk: People infected multiple times with COVID-19 are more likely to develop long COVID, and most never fully recover from the condition. Those are two of the most striking findings of a comprehensive new 3-year research study of 138,000 veterans.
New Findings Show the Path to Smell and Taste Recovery After COVID: Good news for people struggling with sensory problems after a bout of COVID-19. Although mild cases of the disease often impair the ability to taste and smell, and the problem can drag on for months, a new study from Italy shows that most people return to their senses, as it were, within 3 years. published as a research letter in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.
Saltwater Gargling May Help Avoid COVID Hospitalization: Gargling and nasal rinsing with saltwater several times a day appeared to be associated with significantly lower COVID-19 hospitalization rates in a small, randomized, double-blind, controlled study. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Meeting.
PAIN
New evidence that heightened pain sensitivity is linked to sympathy for opposing political views: New evidence shows that people with increased sensitivity to pain are also more likely to endorse values more common to people of their opposite political persuasion. It doesn’t stop there. They also show stronger support for the other camp’s politicians, and, get this -- more likely to vote for Donald Trump in 2020 if they are liberal, or Joe Biden if they are conservative. The connection is perhaps not so surprising considering that we experience pain – whether it’s the physical pain of stubbing our toe or the social pain of getting bulldozed in a political argument – in a similar part of the brain. We can also experience pain vicariously by witnessing other people’s distress or perceiving a social injustice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Attitudes and Social Cognition.
New study calls into question the superiority of stem cell therapy for treating knee pain: The initial findings of this study, which were just published in Nature Medicine, describe a first-of-its-kind randomized clinical trial to identify the most effective source of cellular injections for knee OA. The research team compared three types of cellular preparations, including autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF), and allogenic human umbilical cord tissue MSCs (UCT) against CSI. The primary outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for pain from baseline to one year. The question driving the research was whether cell therapies could outperform corticosteroids in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis at the one-year mark. While the findings showed each group had a measurable improvement in pain and function, there was no significant advantage to using any of the tested cell products compared to the gold standard anti-inflammatory corticosteroid treatment at the 12-month follow-up regarding the change in VAS pain score from baseline. Similarly, the analysis of the KOOS pain score produced consistent results, with no significant differences between groups at the 12-month mark in the change in score from baseline.
Acupuncture may offer limited relief to patients with chronic hives: Researchers from Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine randomly assigned 330 persons diagnosed with CSU to receive either 4 weeks of acupuncture, 4 weeks of sham acupuncture, or a waitlist (control) and then followed the patients for 4 weeks after treatment to investigate whether acupuncture leads to improvement of CSU synptoms. Changes in symptoms were measured using the Weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7). Patients in the acupuncture group reported improved UAS7, more than sham acupuncture or waitlist control. However, the differences between intervention and control did not meet the minimal clinical difference (MCID) threshold, so the clinical significance of the observed reductions in itch severity scores is uncertain. The rate of adverse events was highest in the acupuncture group, but events were mild and transient. Annals of Internal Medicine
Cheap medicines prevented migraine as well as expensive ones: As a rule, so-called beta blockers are used as the first choice to prevent migraine attacks, but the researchers found that especially three medicines had better preventive effect than these: CGRP inhibitors, amitriptyline and simvastatin. “The latter two medicines are also established medicines used for depression, chronic pain and high cholesterol, respectively, while CGRP inhibitors are developed and used specifically for chronic migraine.” European Journal of Neurology
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
This Traditional Chinese Medicine May Help With Heart Attack Recovery: A new study showed the positive effect of a traditional Chinese medicine compound, Tongxinluo, among patients with heart attack.While further research is needed to explore tongxinluo’s impact on cardiac health, reported benefits include arterial anti-inflammatory effects, stabilization of plaque to prevent rupture and reduction of cholesterol. JAMATrusted Source.
Tai Chi May Alleviate Parkinson's Symptoms and Slow Disease Progression: The study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry on October 24, found that cognitive function declined slower in people diagnosed with Parkinson’s who practiced tai chi than those who did not.
Enhanced Tai Chi Boosts Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Adding mental exercises to tai chi boosts memory, cognition, and executive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for up to 48 weeks, a new study shows. published online October 30 in the Annals of Internal Medicine
Cannabis Use Increases Heart Attack and Stroke Risk, Researchers Say: Two preliminary studies found that cannabis use increased the risk of major adverse heart and brain-related events. One study looked at the risk of heart attack and stroke while hospitalized among older cannabis users who also had risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In the other study, researchers examined the risk of heart failure among daily cannabis users, compared to non-cannabis users. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia.
Cannabis users appear to be relying less on conventional sleep aids: More than 80% of the 1,255 cannabis users surveyed for the Washington State University-led analysis reported no longer using over the counter or prescription sleep aids such as melatonin and benzodiazepines. Instead, they had a strong preference for inhaling high-THC cannabis by smoking joints or vaporizing flower, two fast-acting methods that previous research has shown can help with difficulty falling asleep. Exploration of Medicine,
Marijuana component offers opioid alternative by effectively treating dental pain: In a groundbreaking study that could revolutionize dental pain management, Rutgers researchers have found that cannabidiol (CBD) – the non-addictive marijuana derivative – alleviates acute dental pain. This first-of-its-kind result appears in the Journal of Dental Research and indicates that CBD, which produces no “high” among users, may be an equally effective but far safer alternative to addictive opioid painkillers.
Combination of therapeutic touch and music key to a better night's sleep during menopause: In a new study involving more than 100 menopausal women, researchers sought to examine the effects of therapeutic touch and music on sleep quality, menopause symptoms, and overall quality of life in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. After four weeks of intervention, the researchers confirmed that therapeutic touch and music significantly affected sleep quality (in terms of subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbances) in women and significantly improved menopause symptoms and menopause-specific quality of life. Menopause
For epilepsy, yoga may be good for your mind: For people with epilepsy, doing yoga may help reduce feelings of stigma about the disease along with reducing seizure frequency and anxiety, according to new research published in the November 8, 2023, online issue of Neurology®,
Heated yoga may reduce depression symptoms, according to recent clinical trial: In a randomized controlled clinical trial of adults with moderate-to-severe depression, those who participated in heated yoga sessions experienced significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared with a control group. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Stroke Patients Benefit From Neurologic Music Therapy: Neurologic music therapy (NMT), a specially designed intervention targeting movement, balance, and cognitive functioning, improves depressive symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), early results of a small study suggest. XXVI World Congress of Neurology (WCN).
Practicing mindfulness can help people make heart-healthy eating choices: Practicing mindfulness focused on healthy eating can be good for the heart, a new study shows, because it improves self-awareness and helps people stick to a heart-healthy diet. When people who had elevated blood pressure participated in an eight-week mindfulness-based blood pressure reduction program for the study, they significantly improved their scores on measures of self-awareness and adherence to a heart-healthy diet compared to a control group. The results were published in JAMA Network Open.
FDA ACTION
• Warns 26 Eye Drop Products Could Lead to Bacterial Infections. The products are marketed under the banners of major retailers and brand names including: CVS Health, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Cardinal health), Rite Aid, Target Up&Up Velocity Pharma, Specific products include CVS Health Lubricant Eye Drops, Rite Aid , Lubricant Eye Drops, and Target Up&Up Dry Eye Relief Lubricant Eye Drops. A full list of the affected products is available via the FDA website.Trusted Source
• Approved the use of a new weight loss drug sold by Eli Lilly & Co. under the brand name Zepbound.
• Approved Wezlana, the first-ever biosimilar of blockbuster psoriasis drug Stelara (ustekinumab).
• Approved the Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation system for the treatment of hypertension
• Approved the biologic Adzynma (ADAMTS13, recombinant-krhn, Takeda Pharmaceuticals) to treat adults and children who have a rare and life-threatening blood clotting disorder called congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
• Approved fruquintinib (Fruzaqla, Takeda) for the treatment of certain adults with metastatic colorectal cancerwho experience disease progression during or after prior treatment.
• Approved the first vaccine to treat Chikungunya, a tropical disease.
PREVENTION
Exercise
Forget 10,000 Steps, Walking 8,800 Steps Can Lower Your Mortality Risk: A new meta-analysis led by the University of Granada, found that 8,800 daily steps, which equates to about four miles, can significantly reduce the risk of premature death. Walking at a brisker pace can also boost the health benefits, according to the findings, which were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in October.
Just 22 Minutes of Activity Offsets Increased Mortality Risk from Prolonged Sitting: New research published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine has found that engaging in 22 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day may reduce your risk of dying if you have a sedentary lifestyle. The study included analyzing the data of 11,989 participants across Norway, Sweden, and the US. All participants included in the study were 50 or older.
Exercise as Good as Viagra for ED: Exercising for at least 30 minutes three times a week can be just as effective as Viagra and similar medications at improving erectile function, according to a new analysis of the best research to date on aerobic exercise and erectile function. The study, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, found that aerobic activities – such as walking or cycling – improved erectile function in all men with erectile dysfunction, regardless of body weight, overall health, or medication use. Men with the most severe erectile dysfunction saw the greatest benefit.
Any activity is better for your heart than sitting -- even sleeping: The study, published in the European Heart Journal, is the first to assess how different movement patterns throughout the 24-hour day are linked to heart health. In this study, researchers at UCL analysed data from six studies, encompassing 15,246 people from five countries, to see how movement behaviour across the day is associated with heart health, as measured by six common indicators*. When replacing sedentary behaviour, as little as five minutes of moderate-vigorous activity had a noticeable effect on heart health. The big takeaway from our research is that while small changes to how you move can have a positive effect on heart health, intensity of movement matters. The most beneficial change we observed was replacing sitting with moderate to vigorous activity -- which could be a run, a brisk walk, or stair climbing -- basically any activity that raises your heart rate and makes you breathe faster, even for a minute or two.
Strength Training Promotes Knee Health, Lowers OA Risk: strength training at any point in life was associated with lower incidence of frequent knee pain compared with no strength training. Findings were similar for different age ranges, but the association between strength training and less frequent knee pain was strongest in the older age groups. published on October 23 in Arthritis and Rheumatology.
Exercise Is Still Important for Weight Loss While Taking Drugs Like Ozempic: Drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound have helped individuals who are living with obesity or overweight with a specific underlying condition lose significant weight, often where diet and exercise alone have not. However, a new article — new peer-reviewed articleTrusted Source and clinical trials involving the new drugs — indicate that physical activity is still an essential part of someone’s overall health plan. About 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, combined with two days of resistance training can offer benefits in addition to aiding with weight loss.
HIIT in water improves exercise capacity in adults with long term health conditions: High-intensity interval training in water, often called aquatic HIIT (AHIIT) improves exercise capacity in adults with chronic conditions and has a similar impact as land based training (LBHIIT), suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.
Diet/Nutrition
Portfolio Diet Can Help Lower Cholesterol, Reduce Heart Disease Risk: A new study published in the peer-reviewed American Heart Association (AHA) journal CirculationTrusted Source on Oct. 25 indicated that adherence to the portfolio diet could lower a person’s risk of stroke and heart disease. “The portfolio diet is a specialized dietary pattern aimed at reducing ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, a key risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The portfolio diet is similar to more commonly-known eating plans like the Mediterranean and DASH but places a greater emphasis on plant-based proteins. there are four components of the portfolio diet: Soluble fiber, which is commonly found in foods like oats, barley, and psyllium. Soy protein, which is in tofu, tempeh, and soy milk. Plant sterols, which naturally occur in plants like lentils, fruits, and vegetables and might be added to juice and yogurt. Nuts like almonds, peanuts, and walnuts
Too Much Salt Linked to Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: The study, published on November 1 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, is the first to investigate a link between the behavioral marker of adding salt to foods and type 2 diabetes risk. Research suggests that high salt consumption could be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Researchers and experts advise reducing sodium intake since most people in the U.S. exceed the daily recommended amount.
Intermittent Fasting Helps People with Type 2 Diabetes Lose Weight, Control Blood Sugar: People with type 2 diabetes who limited their eating to an eight-hour window each day lost more weight than those who intentionally reduced their calorie intake This approach, known as time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting, still led to a decrease in how many calories people ate, even without calorie counting. Experts suggest that people interested in time-restricted eating talk to their doctor first and find dietary and accountability support. The study, published Oct. 27 in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source, included 75 participants, who were randomly assigned to do one of three interventions for six months.
14-hour fasting improves hunger, mood and sleep: Eating in a ten-hour window is associated with higher energy and mood and lower hunger levels, new results from the largest UK community science study of its kind shows1 . “This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing the importance of how you eat. The health impact of food is not just what you eat but the time at which you choose to consume your meals, and eating window is an important dietary behaviour that can be beneficial for health. Findings shows that we don’t need to be eating all the time. Many people will feel satiated and even lose weight if they restrict their food to a ten-hour window.” European Nutrition Conference
Women Over 40 Who Adopt DASH Diet May Have Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline: A heart-healthy diet was linked with less risk for cognitive decline during aging. Additionally, better compliance with the diet yielded greater protection. Heart-healthy diets have positive effects on blood pressure and brain cell health. They include beneficial foods while reducing those linked to cardiovascular risk. People on a heart-healthy diet also often adopt other lifestyle changes. Alzheimer’s & DementiaTrusted Source,
Even If You Take Meds to Lower Blood Pressure, Reducing Salt Still Helps: According to a new studyTrusted Source published online in JAMA. reducing salt intake by 1 teaspoon can lower blood pressure. The drop seen was similar to that obtained by taking a common medication. Eating less salt can lower blood pressure even if you are already taking medication.
Jury Still Out on Whether Green Tea Lowers Colon Cancer Risk: Evidence that links green tea and a lower risk of colorectal cancer goes both ways. Some researchers have found little or no significant risk from drinking the popular tea, while others point to a potential benefit. Now add two more studies — one that found no reduced risk and another that seems to strengthen the link between green tea and a lower risk of colon cancer. Medscape
Ultra-processed Foods Linked to Developing Multiple Health Conditions: A large new study found that ultra-processed food consumption raised the risk of multiple comorbidities, including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. The greatest risk was linked to processed animal-based products and artificial sweeteners. Other ultra-processed foods like breads, cereals, and plant-based products had no health risks, the researchers found. The LancetTrusted Source.
Vegan diet fosters changes in gut microbiome that reduce hot flashes by 95%, finds new study: A low-fat vegan diet that includes soy fosters changes in the gut microbiome that decrease postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms, or hot flashes, overall by 95%, according to a new study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. A vegan diet also eliminated severe hot flashes, led to a 96% decrease in moderate-to-severe hot flashes, and reduced daytime and nighttime hot flashes by 96% and 94%, respectively. Participants also lost 6.4 pounds on average.
Following a Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of cognitive decline in older people: Old people who follow a Mediterranean diet are at a lower risk of cognitive decline, according to a study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. The study provides new evidence for a better understanding of the biological mechanisms related to the impact of the diet on cognitive health in the ageing population.
Low-fat diet reduces fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: New research from Oregon Health & Science University suggests that people with multiple sclerosis, or MS, could benefit from a low-fat diet to improve the fatigue that’s a debilitating, and often-underappreciated, symptom of the condition. The study, published online Wednesday in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, is the latest in a line of OHSU research dating back a decade testing the principle that diet matters, especially for people with MS.
When nutrition becomes a treatment: Low sugar and lots of fat against polycystic kidney disease: A clinical study on special diets at the University of Cologne shows promising results on the use of a ketogenic diet as a possible treatment for hereditary polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). ‘Cell Reports Medicine’
Sleep
Shortening sleep time increases diabetes risk in women: A new study at Columbia University has found that shortening sleep by just 90 minutes for six weeks increased insulin resistance in women who are accustomed to getting adequate sleep. The effect was even more pronounced in postmenopausal women. Diabetes Care
Cleveland Clinic research links sleep apnea to increased risk of atrial fibrillation: Published in JAHA, the study of over 42,000 patients found that sleep-related hypoxia - or low oxygen levels during sleep - is associated with a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation over time. The study found this risk persisted even after accounting for lung function, suggesting sleep-related hypoxia independently increases atrial fibrillation risk separate from any underlying lung disease.
Poor night’s sleep can trigger atrial fibrillation the next day: A study by UC San Francisco has found another reason to catch more Z’s: poor sleep is tied to significantly higher odds of experiencing atrial fibrillation – irregular heartbeats that can lead to blood clots, heart failure, stroke and other heart-related problems – the following day. A bad night of sleep was associated with a 15% greater risk of having an A-Fib episode, and continued poor sleep was associated with longer episodes of A-Fib. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
Improving deep sleep may prevent dementia, study finds: As little as 1 per cent reduction in deep sleep per year for people over 60 years of age translates into a 27 per cent increased risk of dementia, according to a study which suggests that enhancing or maintaining deep sleep, also known as slow wave sleep, in older years could stave off dementia. JAMA Neurology
Vitamins/Supplements
Beware of Popular Online Liver Supplements: The 10 best-selling liver health supplements on Amazon bring in an estimated $2.5 million each month. But none of them contain ingredients recommended by major groups of doctors who treat liver issues in the United States or Europe. Like many supplements, popular online liver products are unregulated, meaning they do not have to meet the same safety and effectiveness standards as prescription medications.
Current Vitamin D Recommendations May Not Protect Against A Cardiac Event: Two new studies recently presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific SessionsTrusted Sourcein Philadelphia, PA, examined the effectiveness of vitamin D in preventing a cardiac event. The findings suggest that current dosage recommendations should be revised to help people meet their optimal vitamin D levels. According to the researchers, people enrolled in prior trials were not taking high enough doses of vitamin D, which may have led to inaccurate results. In both studies, researchers evaluated whether achieving optimal vitamin D levels through personalized supplementation management could reduce the risk of a cardiac event. They found that achieving ideal levels required giving patients more than the daily Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 600–800 International Units (IU) of vitamin D.
Other
Heart-Healthy Habits May Slow Biological Aging by 6 Years, Study Shows: A study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023Trusted Source, reports that having high cardiovascular health as defined by adherence to the AHA’s Life’s Essential 8Trusted Source checklist may slow biological aging by an average of six years. The Life’s Essential 8 checklist includes: getting good sleep; abstaining from smoking; engaging in regular physical activity; eating a healthy diet; maintaining a healthy weight; having healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels and keeping blood pressure in the normal range
High Triglycerides May Lower Dementia Risk but Raise It for Stroke, Heart Disease: A study found that higher levels of triglycerides were linked to a lower risk of dementia. They were also associated with slower cognitive decline as people got older. However, there was insufficient data to state the effect of higher than normal levels. Experts advise that people should not be seeking to have high levels of triglycerides. Rather, a healthy diet and exercise are the best ways to reduce your dementia risk. The study, published on October 25 in Neurology, speculates that having triglycerides in the upper end of the normal range might indicate that a person is engaging in a lifestyle protective against dementia.
Blood Pressure Lowering Reduces Dementia Risk: Results of a trial using an intensive, 4-year program aimed at blood pressure lowering showed that intervention reduced not only blood pressure (BP), but also significantly reduced the risk of total dementia over that period. All-cause dementia, the primary outcome, was significantly reduced by 15% in the intervention group compared with usual care, and cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND), a secondary outcome, was also significantly reduced by 16%. American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2023 in Philadelphia.
TREATMENT
Insulin Equally Effective When Refrigerated or Stored at Room Temperature for Months: According to a new Cochrane review, insulin may be less sensitive to temperature than has generally been believed. Currently, insulin is stored under refrigeration so that it does not degrade and become less effective. However, the study authors report that insulin stored at room temperature for months does not lose its potency.
Study Finds Misoprostol Alone Can Work to Safely End a Pregnancy: Medication abortion by misoprostol alone is a highly-effective method of terminating pregnancy, new research found. The findings, published on October 27 in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source, suggest that expanding access to misoprostol in clinical and non-clinical settings may be worth expanding.
People With Diabetes Who Stop Taking Metformin Face Increased Dementia Risk: Metformin, the most common first-line type 2 diabetes medication, may also improve dementia risk. New research found that patients with type 2 diabetes who stopped using the drug had a greater risk of developing dementia. Despite its health benefits, metformin can be difficult for some people to stay on. JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source,
Early Chemotherapy May Drop Cervical Cancer Mortality Rate by 35%: New research found that administering chemotherapy before the standard chemoradiation treatment (CRT) can improve survival rates and prevent cancer recurrence in people diagnosed with cervical cancer. According to the study recently published in the Annals of Oncology, an initial six-week course of chemotherapy can reduce the risk of death or cancer recurrence by 35%.
Wegovy Can Help Reduce Heart Attack Risk by 28%, Study Finds: New research presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions indicates that semaglutide has significant effects on heart health. Evidence showed that patients treated with the drug had a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. Symptoms of heart failure also improved when treated with semaglutide. 2023 American Heart Association Scientific SessionsTrusted Source,
CBT May Help You Manage Mental Health Side Effects of Ozempic, Wegovy: While anti-obesity medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are providing obesity care to many, some mental health professionals also believe people should receive therapy while taking these drugs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people cope with existing mental health conditions, as well as new ones that may arise while taking medications to aid with weight loss. Some adverse mental effects connected to Ozempic and Wegovy include anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation and attempt.
Heart stenting relieved chest pain and improved exercise capacity: The ORBITA- 2 study found that stents improved chest pain, exercise capacity and quality of life compared to a placebo procedure among patients, with stable chest pain, taking little or no chest pain medication. The effect of stenting was immediate and sustained throughout 12 weeks of follow-up. American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023
Outcomes of PF Ablation for AF Similar Between Sexes: There are no sex differences in the effectiveness and safety of pulsed field ablation (PFA), a novel modality that uses short, high-energy electrical pulses to treat atrial fibrillation (AF), results of a large registry study show. JAMA Cardiology.
These Experimental Treatments Helped Lower Cholesterol for 6 Months to a Year: Two experimental treatments offer promise for people who are genetically predisposed to having high cholesterol. One treatment uses the CRISPR gene-editing system to make a small change in a gene involved in the production of LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol. A second study blocks the production of a messenger RNA involved in the manufacture of lipoprotein(a). American Heart Association’s scientific meetingTrusted Source in Philadelphia.
Single Injection of Drug Zilebesiran Lowers Blood Pressure for 6 Months: The drug, called zilebesiran, inhibits the body’s ability to produce angiotensin, a chemical made mainly in the liver that causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure. As such, zilebesiran works by reducing constriction of blood vessels and can significantly lower blood pressure, the new researchTrusted Source found. The findings were presented at the at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023Trusted Source,
OTHER
New guide details menopause’s effects on the workplace, other surprising impacts: A sweeping new guide to menopause by a UVA Health expert and collaborators highlights the profound and sometimes surprising effects the “change of life” can have on women’s lives, health, workplaces and even finances. Hormonal changes occurring during the menopause transition may be associated with physical and psychological symptoms including irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, sleep disruptions and brain fog. Although all women go through menopause, less than 15% of them receive effective, individualized, evidence-based treatment for their symptoms,” said Pinkerton, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and executive director emeritus of the North American Menopause Society. “Working with menopause specialists from different countries, our paper summarizes what we know about menopause and calls for more research into the timeline and treatment of menopause. Menopause affects not only those going through it but also those who love them, live with them and work with them.” Cell.
Pervasive 'Forever Chemicals' Linked to Thyroid Cancer? The study suggests that higher exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (n-PFOS), may increase a person's risk for thyroid cancer by 56%. Dangerous 'Forever Chemicals' in Your Everyday Items Are Causing Cancer,"
US men die 6 years before women, as life expectancy gap widens: In a research paper, published Nov. 13, 2023, in JAMA Internal Medicine, the authors found the difference between how long American men and women live increased to 5.8 years in 2021, the largest it's been since 1996. This is an increase from 4.8 years in 2010, when the gap was at its smallest in recent history. The trend is being driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid overdose epidemic, among other factors.
