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Abnormal Pap test results don’t always indicate cervical cancer. Most abnormal findings result from the presence of human papillomavirus, or HPV. Typically, the next step is a colposcopy, a test that enables the doctor to look closely at areas that appear abnormal.
Artificial intelligence (A.I.) has made an astonishing breakthrough in our understanding of certain biological processes. A.I. has now determined the structure of nearly all proteins in humans, plants, and animals and is exploring the way they interact with each other and with other molecules. This understanding is considered the key to biological medicine, a code that scientists have never been able to crack completely. These advances are expected to speed the development of many potent medicines, vaccines, and cures for some diseases.
The combination of drinking alcohol and sleeping while on a plane puts a big strain on the body, especially the cardiovascular system. This is because blood oxygen normally drops slightly when flying high above sea level, sleeping, or consuming alcohol. The more contributors to low blood oxygen there are, the harder the body has to work to compensate by breathing faster and increasing heart rate. There’s even more strain if someone has heart or lung disease, which places the person at a higher risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Online hearing tests help detect if someone has hearing loss. The tests involve answering questions or listening to a series of tones or spoken words. The tests are not as comprehensive as tests conducted by an audiologist, but they are convenient and might help identify mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss; problems hearing particular pitch ranges; or differences in hearing ability in one ear compared to the other (asymmetry). A test might need to be followed up with a visit to an audiologist.
In 2024, RSV vaccinations are recommended for infants and young children; everyone ages 75 and older, regardless of health; and people ages 60 to 74 at increased risk for severe RSV, such as people with lung or heart disease or those who live in nursing homes.
A 2024 analysis found that many people without heart problems are taking daily low-dose aspirin therapy, even though it might have more health risks than benefits. Some of them have not consulted with a doctor about whether daily aspirin is safe for them.
Many people who develop rheumatoid arthritis later in life don’t receive optimal medications to treat it, called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Reasons for this include the high costs of DMARDs, concerns about drug side effects, coexisting conditions that complicate treatment, inaccessibility to health care, or perceived frailty that makes doctors nervous about prescribing DMARDs. People who feel they should be getting DMARDs (but aren’t) should ask about ways to make such treatment feasible.
A 2024 study of more than 215,000 people (ages 37 to 73) found a link between consuming a sodium-rich diet and increased risks of having eczema, an eczema flare-up, or severe eczema.
Older adults who received interpersonal exercise coaching (which included connecting with peers to learn and share information) improved their step counts and activity levels more than seniors who received intrapersonal coaching that was mostly self-focused, a 2024 study found. Finding an exercise partner (a spouse, friend, or neighbor) may help inspire people to exercise more. A group exercise class may provide the same benefit, in addition to providing structure, a trained instructor, and camaraderie.
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are especially vulnerable to cardiovascular problems, including a 40% increased risk of heart attack. The amygdala, a brain structure involved in processing anxiety, fear, and stress, is overactive in people with PTSD. But these people also have decreased activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for regulating emotions and dampening the fear response. This brain activity imbalance triggers chronic activation of the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. The resulting physiological changes appear to underlie the development of atherosclerosis.