Steam inhalation is not effective for chronic sinus congestion
Steam inhalation is not effective in relieving symptoms of chronic sinus congestion, research from the University of Southampton has shown.The study, published in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), also showed that advice to use nasal irrigation, which is when the nasal cavity is washed…
Magnesium may modestly lower blood pressure
Magnesium, an essential element in the human body, may modestly lower blood pressure, according to research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.Magnesium is found in whole grains, beans, nuts and green leafy vegetables.Researchers have long debated whether magnesium plays a role in regulating…
Higher education associated with reduced heart failure risk after myocardial infarction
Higher education is associated with a reduced risk of developing heart failure after a heart attack, reports a study in more than 70 000 patients published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.“Heart failure is a serious complication of acute myocardial infarction and substantially increases…
Low physical capacity second only to smoking as highest death risk
A 45 year study in middle-aged men has shown that the impact of low physical capacity on risk of death is second only to smoking. The research is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.“The benefits of being physically active over a lifetime are…
Zika epidemic likely to end within three years
The current Zika epidemic in Latin America is likely to burn itself out within three years, suggests new research.The findings, from scientists at Imperial College London, also conclude that the epidemic cannot be contained with existing control measures. The team, who published their findings in…
Fluctuations in LDL cholesterol may be linked to worse brain health
Greater fluctuations in “bad” cholesterol levels may be linked to worse cognitive function in elderly adults, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.In a study of European adults age 70 to 82 years old, researchers found that greater fluctuations in low-density…
Diabetic Patients Experience Superior Survival with Less Conventional CABG Surgery
Arteries over veins prove better for heart bypass surgery in patients with diabetesDiabetic patients who undergo heart bypass surgery are living longer and have much better long-term outcomes when cardiothoracic surgeons use arteries rather than veins for the bypasses, according to a new study published…
Key to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is in the Gut, Not Head
Physicians have been mystified by chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition where normal exertion leads to debilitating fatigue that isn’t alleviated by rest. There are no known triggers, and diagnosis requires lengthy tests administered by an expert.Now, for the first time, Cornell University researchers report they…
Genetically inherited high cholesterol increases long-term risks of coronary heart disease and stroke
Patients who experience high cholesterol due to an inherited genetic disorder from one of their parents—heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia— are much more likely than those with average cholesterol levels to have diseases caused by hardening of the arteries, including an accelerated onset of coronary heart disease…
Men may face high lifetime risk of sudden cardiac death
About one in every nine men will experience sudden cardiac death, most before age 70, as well as about one in 30 women, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.Sudden cardiac…
Risk of Low Blood Sugar Differs among Similar Diabetes Drugs
Adding sulphonylureas (SUs) to metformin remains a commonly used strategy for treating type 2 diabetes, but individual SUs differ and may confer different risks of abnormally low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. SUs-which include newer generation agents such as gliclazide, glipizide, glimepiride, and glibenclamide-stimulate the production…
Home cooked meals for infants not always better than shop bought ones
Usually a lot cheaper, but energy density and total fat content too high Home cooked meals specifically designed for infants and young children, are not always better than commercially available baby foods.That’s suggested by research by the University of Warwick and the University of Aberdeen…