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The latest blood pressure guidelines—what they mean for you
Updated blood pressure guidelines from the American Heart Association mean that many more Americans, notably older people, are now diagnosed with high blood pressure, or hypertension. This may sound like bad news, but the new guidelines highlight some important lessons we cardiologists and heart health researchers have learned from the latest blood pressure studies.
Source: Medical Xpress
Probiotics useful in the fight against Clostridium difficile infection
Probiotics may be a relatively safe, simple, and low-cost solution for preventing Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in hospital settings. Both studies show that treating patients who received antibiotics with multi-strain probiotics, cut down on CDI incidence rates over time.
Source: Science Daily
Vitamin D deficiency linked to greater risk of diabetes
An epidemiological study conducted by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Seoul National University suggests that persons deficient in vitamin D may be at much greater risk of developing diabetes.
Source: health.ucsd.edu
Asthma and hay fever linked to increased risk of psychiatric disorders
A new study is the first to find a significant link between asthma, hay fever and a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders. Over 15 years, 10.8 percent of patients with allergic diseases developed a psychiatric disorder, compared to only 6.7 percent of those without allergies. Monitoring the mental health of patients with allergies could help doctors care for their patients more effectively.
Source: Science Daily
Even a single mindfulness meditation session can reduce anxiety
Mindfulness meditation programs have shown promise for the treatment of anxiety, one of the most common mental health disorders in the US. New research suggests people can begin to derive psychological and physiological benefits from the practice after a single introductory session.
Source: Science Daily
Relaxation response may reduce blood pressure by altering expression of a set of genes
A new study has identified genes associated with the body’s response to relaxation techniques and sheds light on the molecular mechanisms by which certain interventions may work to lower blood pressure.
Source: Science Daily
How bacteria communicate in groups to avoid antibiotics
In a new study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC), researchers from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have found that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen that causes pneumonia, sepsis and other infections, communicates distress signals within a group of bacteria in response to certain antibiotics. This communication was found to vary across the colony and suggests that this bacterium may develop protective behaviors that contribute to its ability to tolerate some antibiotics.
Source: University of Notre Dame
New blood pressure guidelines could put lives at risk
The recent recommendations from American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association are as follows:
Source: Science Daily
Another Test to Help Clinicians Diagnose Asthma More Accurately
Although about 24 million Americans are diagnosed with asthma every year, there is no single test that can diagnose the disease. Common symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough, are relatively nonspecific, and physicians may use multiple tests and observations to reach an accurate diagnosis.
Source: ScienceNewsline
Better Treatment, Not More Spending, Saves Heart Attack Patients, Study Finds
A new long-term look at heart attack care and spending in America since the turn of the century shows more survival, more spending, and more variation between hospitals on both scores.
Source: ScienceNewsline