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They're the most effective drugs for weight loss to date. But they're expensive, scarce, and not right for everyone. Learn more about the latest batch of anti-obesity drugs.
A 2023 study of lab animals suggests that the population of microbes in an individual’s gut may influence the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that healthy lab rats developed signs characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease when they were injected with gut microbe samples from people with Alzheimer’s. Rats that received samples from the most severely affected Alzheimer’s patients developed the greatest brain abnormalities and memory problems. Rats did not develop these problems when they were injected with samples from people who had no signs of the disease.
Some couples find that sleeping in separate rooms helps them get a better night’s sleep. But before trying it, it’s important to consider compromises to stay in the same room. For example, if one person snores, a doctor visit might be in order, and the other person might try wearing earplugs to better tolerate the sound. If separate bedrooms are the answer, it helps to make both sleeping spaces cozy, schedule time for intimacy, and regularly assess whether the arrangement is working for both partners.
Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Eugene Braunwald, known as “the father of modern cardiology,” identified five promising future trends in cardiology. They include (1) using polygenic risk scores in newborns for early prevention of heart disease; (2) the emergence of a battery of drugs to treat inflammation; (3) improvements in cardiac cell therapy for repairing damaged hearts; (4) the development of smaller, more powerful, and less expensive left ventricular assist devices; and (5) transplanting genetically modified pig hearts into humans.
For preventing repeat heart attacks, coated aspirin is just as effective as regular aspirin, but it does not appear to provide extra protection against bleeding risk.
The start of a new year is always a great opportunity for people to re-engage with their health. One of the first steps is to conduct a personal health review. It’s a way to measure where a person’s health stands now, outline the goals, and create a strategy to reach them. A personal health review follows a three-step process: gathering all current health information, listing short- and long-term goals, and sharing everything with a doctor during a scheduled wellness visit.
Excessive beer drinking may play a role in men’s experiencing expanding girth known as a “beer belly.” However, most experts believe the two primary reasons are eating too many simple carbohydrates and getting less daily exercise.
A nonsurgical approach for replacing a damaged aortic valve, known as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), has become very popular in recent years. But it may not make sense for people in their 60s, who are likely to need a second valve replacement later in life. The valves used in TAVR only last about 10 years, on average. In addition, diagnosing and treating coronary artery disease may be more challenging in people who’ve had TAVR. Also, the surgery to replace a failed TAVR valve is more complicated than regular valve replacement surgery. So people who are likely to need least one traditional valve surgery are better off having the surgery in their 60s rather than in their 70s. A TAVR can be done the second time around.
In women, sleep problems—including falling asleep, staying asleep, and insufficient sleep—were associated with a greater risk of high blood pressure.
Up to three in 10 people who use marijuana may be unable to stop using the drug, even when it has negative effects on their lives. A 2023 study links this problem— known as cannabis use disorder—to a higher risk of heart problems.