Heart Beat: Trends in high cholesterol and statin use
The effectiveness of statin drugs is contributing to a reduction in the number of Americans with high cholesterol.
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Surviving a heart attack: A success story
Heart attack survival rates are much higher than they were a few decades ago, thanks to greater awareness, new clot-busting drugs, and expanded access to specialized cardiac treatment centers.
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Measuring blood pressure: Let a machine do it
Participants in a research trial who had their blood pressure taken by a machine had lower readings than those who had their pressure taken by a doctor.
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In Brief: Why do vitamins keep on failing in clinical trials?
Two researchers theorize that trials of vitamins have not yielded more positive results because the test subjects already had ample levels of the nutrient being tested in their bodies.
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Following up: Deactivating the ICDs of hospice patients
Hospice patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators may choose to turn off the shock function of the devices to avoid a potentially painful shock.
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9 things that can affect your vitamin D level
Many factors influence the body’s production of vitamin D, including age, weight, and air quality.
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In Brief: More evidence that exercise aids the brain
Another study adds to the evidence that exercise helps protect the brain from cognitive decline in older age.
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How addiction hijacks the brain
The mechanism of addiction to a substance or pleasurable activity is rooted in the brain’s reaction to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
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Expressive writing for mental health
Writing about a traumatic experience may help some people deal with their feelings in a healthy way.
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U.S. Pushes Medicare Preventive Services
More than 5 million people have received free preventive care now offered by Medicare, U.S. officials say. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 required these benefits. Officials released a report about their use on June 20. For Medicare, preventive care includes an annual wellness visit. It also includes tests such as screening for breast and colon cancer. These services require no copayments or deductibles. Officials say they want more people to use these benefits. They believe this could save money by preventing illness or catching and treating it early. Therefore, the government is launching a campaign to promote the benefits. HealthDay News and Reuters Health news service wrote about the announcement.
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