Do we really need our appendix? Most experts believe our ancestors used it to digest tough food like tree bark. We don’t eat tree bark anymore, so is it necessary to keep the tail-like end of the large intestine? And, if a life-altering disease could originate in it, is it wrong to want it removed?…
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We’ve known that hearing loss is strongly linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. What has been unclear is whether it is a symptom, cause, or just common comorbidity. A new study out of John Hopkins University has determined that wearing a hearing aid can reduce mental decline by almost half in people at risk…
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Acid reflux sufferers, listen up! According to a recent study, researchers have found a link between elevated risk of dementia and long-term use of certain prescription acid reflux medications. Acid reflux happens when a muscle in the lower end of the esophagus relaxes at the wrong time and allows stomach acid to back up into…
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We know that multivitamins have many benefits, but for a long time, they’ve been considered controversial and received mixed reviews from the medical and scientific community. While many studies have shown improvements in blood-markers and benefits in lowering the risk of cancer and other diseases, some research seemed to suggest they did almost nothing. But…
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Researchers have added one more convincing reason to get us up and moving: a greater ability to handle pain. A recent study published in the journal PLOS One found that regular exercise effectively reduces or prevents chronic pain without medication. Researchers analyzed a sample of 10,732 participants from the Tromsø study, Norway’s largest population study. …
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AI is helping New York doctors in new ways. Several University doctors and hospital executives are using an artificial intelligence (AI) computer program to predict whether newly discharged patients will soon be sick enough to be readmitted. The AI program “NYUTron” reads physicians’ notes to evaluate a patient’s risk of dying and the potential length…
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given final approved to a new nonhormonal medicine, Fezolinetant, for hot flashes. For decades, women who can’t or choose not to take hormones to alleviate hot flashes, a common symptom in menopause, have always had no effective treatment options. But now there’s a new alternative. Developed by…
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Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have manipulated stem cells to mimic the development of the human heart, resulting in a sort of “mini-heart” known as an organoid. It will enable the study of the earliest development phase of the heart and further research on diseases. Amazingly, the human heart starts forming less…
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As our society becomes more health-conscious, we are constantly bombarded with new information about what we should and shouldn’t be consuming. Two topics that have been in the spotlight recently are sweeteners and statins, both of which play a significant role in our diets and overall health. On one hand, artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes…
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Say “Good-bye” to steak tartare! In a new study, researchers say they found drug-resistant bacteria in 40% of meat samples at supermarkets in Spain. Namely, they found E. coli bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. The team presented their findings at Denmark’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. E.coli causes severe illness, often…
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