Treating high blood pressure may also decrease the risk of dementia, new research suggests. The study included 774 deceased men who had high blood pressure while alive. Autopsy results showed fewer signs of dementia in the brains of men who had been treated for the condition. They had less brain shrinkage and fewer areas of brain cell death caused by mini-strokes. They also had fewer amyloid plaques and tangles, signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Treating high blood pressure can decrease the risk of strokes. But it’s unclear why treatment would prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Another surprise was that the men treated with beta-blockers had the healthiest looking brains. Beta-blockers are less effective than some other blood pressure medicines. But for those who used them brain damage was about half as severe as that for men who used other treatments.
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Like most vitamins, B12 can't be made by the body and must be gotten from food or supplements. A B12 deficiency –– which might stem from a vegan or vegetarian diet, or problems with absorption due to weight loss surgery or aging –– can seriously harm nerves, mood, thinking, energy, and more.
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So instead of trying to memorize or look up the GI or GL for every food you eat, get a general sense for which foods are more likely to cause a spike in blood sugar. For example, instead of eating a diet rich in refined carbohydrates like sugar, juice, white bread, white rice, and traditional pasta, choose whole grains like quinoa, whole-grain bread and whole-grain pasta, and brown rice instead.
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My husband is getting severe back spasms in his lower back, possibly as a result of twisting wrong while doing sit-ups. He is getting no relief from ibuprofen. Is there an over-the-counter alternative?
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I have frequent urination, pain during urination, pressure and bloating. The symptoms are there most of the time. My urine tests came back negative for bladder infection. What else could cause these symptoms?
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The answers to a few questions can help doctors figure out which teens are most likely to drink alcohol at an early age, a study suggests. The study included 820 teens, ages 14 through 17. All were part of a larger study of alcoholism risk in families. They were interviewed using a standard format related to alcoholism risk. They also completed a questionnaire related to behavior. The teens were asked at what age they had their first whole drink of alcohol (such as a full can of beer). Those who said they already had a complete drink of alcohol were more likely to say their best friends drank. They were also more likely to have family members with alcohol problems. And they were more likely to have social, conduct and school problems. The journal Pediatrics published the study January 7.
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I am a 52-year-old man. When I finish urinating, I drip much more then I used to. And I have a stinging sensation in my urethra. I have had the same partner for 32 years so I don’t think it’s a sexually transmitted disease (STD). What might cause this?
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I have some type of cyst just above my heel, pressing on my Achilles’ tendon. It causes no pain now. But could it cause a problem later on? Should I have it removed?
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Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, was recently hospitalized with a severe type of morning sickness. It’s called hyperemesis gravidarum. This form affects only 1 or 2 of every 100 pregnant women. Many pregnant women become nauseous and may vomit during the first trimester. But women with hyperemesis gravidarum have severe nausea and frequent vomiting. They become dehydrated. Their blood levels of sodium and potassium are off balance. This can endanger the woman’s health. It also can lead to pregnancy problems, such as a low birth weight baby or a baby born prematurely. For the pregnant woman, treatment often includes hospitalization. There, she is given intravenous fluids and medication to reduce nausea.
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