Health News — July 2021
New targeted drug may help lung cancer patients U.S. regulators have approved the first medicine for patients with the most common type of lung cancer whose tumors have a genetic mutation long considered untreatable with drugs. The Food and Drug Administration in May said it has approved Amgen’s drug Lumakras to treat non-small cell lung cancer with the mutation in patients who have... READ MORE
Try out Virtual Reality (VR) to help research
It’s something out of a fantasy novel or a movie: You strap on a pair of oversized goggles, and suddenly you’re somewhere else. When you turn your head, you can see new scenes: a kitchen, a grocery store, your hands, and other 3-D images that aren’t really there. Rather than just leaving these high-tech devices to the younger generation, researchers want older adults to take part... READ MORE
What is quercetin and how can it help?
Quercetin (pronounced kwer-set-in) is highly studied for its role in numerous biological and antioxidant actions in the body. Many are interested in this supplement for its potential to reduce disease risk. Is this supplement a “must-have” or will our normal diets do? Foods with a high quercetin content include onions, apples, berries, kale and tea. Estimates of the average... READ MORE
Can flossing fend off heart disease?
Dear Mayo Clinic: Will taking care of my teeth help prevent heart disease? A: Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke could be linked to the inflammations and infections that oral bacteria can cause. Based on that evidence, there appears to be an association between oral health and heart disease. But the association is not well understood. While taking... READ MORE
Learning to live well with ‘long-haul’ illness
When we get an acute illness like the flu or a cold, we feel sick for a week or two and then get back to our usual lives. This is how illness is “supposed” to go. But what happens when illness doesn’t fit this bill? What do patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or multiple sclerosis, or with persistent symptoms of Lyme disease or long-haul COVID-19, do when they can’t... READ MORE
Stroke survivors can help future recovery
A stroke can be permanently debilitating. Every year, of the nearly 800,000 Americans who have a stroke, only 10% make a full recovery, according to the American Stroke Association. In fact, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine are studying stroke survivors in... READ MORE
Low- and regular-dose aspirin safe, effective
Thousands of heart disease patients recently enrolled themselves in an unusual study that required them to track their health online as they took low- or regular-strength aspirin. The study concludes that both doses seem equally safe and effective for preventing additional heart problems and strokes. But there’s a big caveat: People had such a strong preference for the lower dose that... READ MORE
No evidence CBD relieves chronic pain
If you ask health care providers about the most challenging condition to treat, chronic pain is mentioned frequently. By its nature, chronic pain is a complex and multidimensional experience. Pain perception is affected by our unique biology, mood, social environment and past experiences. Given the ongoing challenges of chronic pain management coupled with the consequences of the opioid... READ MORE
Most with hearing loss don’t see a doctor
About 48 million Americans have some form of hearing loss, whether from illness, military service or too many loud concerts. Worldwide, 1 in 4 people will experience hearing loss by 2050, according to the World Health Organization’s first World Report on Hearing, released this year. In May, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) announced that its recent poll of 2,500... READ MORE
How dairy stacks up to plant-based beverages
Dear Mayo Clinic: Since I was a kid, I’ve been drinking milk with breakfast and dinner as my primary beverage. But looking in the grocery store coolers these days, there are so many options other than cow’s milk. Are plant-based milks like soy or almond milk healthier options? A: Dairy (cow’s) milk and plant-based beverages like soy and almond milks all can be healthy choices.... READ MORE
