Taking fish oil before and after cardiac surgery does not help prevent the appearance of irregular heart rhythms that often follow surgery.
Many children with medical conditions are using alternative therapies, a study suggests. Researchers surveyed parents of children who got medical care at specialty clinics in Canada. All of the children had long-term conditions. They included epilepsy, asthma, heart problems and cancer. About 71% of children at a clinic in western Canada used some type of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). About 42% of those at a central Canada clinic used CAM. The most common CAM products used were multivitamins and minerals (85%). About 16% used herbal products. Nearly 12% used homeopathic products. The CAM practice used most often was massage (39%). More than 20% used chiropractic. About 16% each used relaxation and aromatherapy. The journal Pediatrics published the study online. MedPage Today wrote about it January 14.
Hearing loss may increase the risk of problems with memory and thinking in older adults, a study suggests. The study included 1,984 people in their 70s and 80s. At the start of the study, tests showed they had normal brain function. But 1,162 of them had problems with hearing. Researchers kept track of everyone for about 6 years. They repeated the tests of hearing and brain function 3 times. More than 600 people developed memory or thinking problems. Researchers adjusted their numbers to account for other factors that can increase the risk of mental decline, such as high blood pressure or low education. People with hearing problems were still 24% more likely to develop thinking and memory problems than people with normal hearing. Researchers noted that people who don’t hear well may not talk to other people as much.
Enlarged font sizes available on digital tablets can improve reading speed and comfort in people with vision loss.
Cataract surgery puts very little strain on the heart. In the absence of symptoms of heart disease, the cardiovascular risks of cataract surgery are low.
In the sleep disorder called sleep apnea, sleep is interrupted many times a night. Sleep apnea appears to increase the risk of developing or dying from heart disease. Several treatments are available to halt sleep apnea and restore better sleep.
Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, past or current smoking, and high cholesterol are the four factors most closely associated with the development of peripheral artery disease-blockages in the arteries of the legs or arms.
In people at risk for heart disease, the stress of losing a loved one greatly increases the risk of suffering a fatal or nonfatal heart attack. In healthy people, the stress can cause a serious but reversible condition that imitates a heart attack.
Cataracts, dry eyes, and presbyopia are common eye conditions among older women. Having regular eye exams can detect serious problems early and help avoid vision loss.