• JN.1 Variant Now Behind Nearly Half of U.S. COVID Cases

    As Americans travel far and wide to see family and friends this holiday season, a new COVID variant named JN.1 has become dominant across the country. A descendant of the variant BA.2.86, JN.1 now accounts for 44 percent...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Dreaming of a ‘Dry January’? An Expert Offers Tips

    THURSDAY, Dec. 28As the New Year approaches, many will commit to a trend called “Dry January,” where you stop drinking for a month to get more healthy. For years, it’s been a tall order to abstain from...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Too Few Cancer Patients Get Palliative Care When Urinary Blockages Arise

    The prognosis is poor for many cancer patients who develop serious urinary blockages, but researchers say less than half receive palliative care. Palliative care aims to relieve pain and other symptoms of serious illness. Hospice care, one...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Going Low-Carb? Avoid Meat to Keep the Weight Off Long-Term

    New research offers yet more evidence that veggies, whole grains and low-fat dairy products are good for you in the long run. “Our study goes beyond the simple question of, ‘To carb or not to carb?'” said...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Head Trauma Can Spur ‘Spatial Neglect’ Similar to a Stroke

    Stroke patients often suffer from “spatial neglect” — an inability to see things on the side of the body opposite to where the brain injury occurred. Now, new research suggests that spatial neglect can also affect folks...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Heart Effects of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Could Linger

    New research suggests the effects of high blood pressure during pregnancy may be long-lasting. Researchers found that women who developed high blood pressure during pregnancy had tell-tale signs of abnormal heart structure and function up to a...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Xanax, Valium in Pregnancy May Raise Miscarriage Risk

    A class of sedatives called benzodiazepines, which include meds like Ativan, Valium and Xanax, could be linked to higher odds for miscarriage if taken during pregnancy, new research finds. The findings held even after accounting for possible...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Two Kinds of Talk Therapy Work Equally Well Against Fibromyalgia

    Two types of mental health treatment are equally effective in treating fibromyalgia patients, Swedish researchers report. They compared traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to what is known as exposure-based CBT. In traditional CBT, patients receive several treatment...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Common Stomach Bug Is Linked to Higher Alzheimer’s Risk

    A common stomach bug may play a part in Alzheimer’s disease risk. New research found that older folks infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) had greater odds for developing Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia. “Given...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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  • Statins Might Slow Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

    In preliminary findings, Swedish researchers say taking a cholesterol-lowering statin could also slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The study can’t prove cause-and-effect, but might pave the way to a trial that could confirm such a link,...

    • Posted December 28, 2023
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