Latest Health News

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The main focus of epilepsy treatment is seizure control, but the aftereffects of seizures are also a major concern for many patients, experts say. More than 70% of people with epilepsy say they have complications after a seizure -- including confusion, fear, exhaustion, headache, emotional reactivity, memory problems and behavioral changes -- that can last for hours or days, according to the International League Against Epilepsy. In most cases, there are no treatments for these complications and why they occur is poorly understood. Currently, preventing seizures that trigger these complications is the only option. Complications such as fear and confusion after a seizure can sometimes cause a patient to become aggressive if a bystander or...

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Nighttime high blood pressure could harm the brain, a new study says. Most people's blood pressure goes down during the night, which is called dipping. But in some people, it stays the same or even rises -- called reverse dipping. Folks with high blood pressure and reverse dipping may be at increased risk for vascular damage in the brain and associated memory problems, according to the study published online April 15 in the journal Neurology. "It appears that reverse dipping may amplify the effects of high blood pressure on people's cerebrovascular health and associated cognitive abilities," said study author Adam Brickman, professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University. "These results add to the mounting evidence that shows the...

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent hand-washing with soap and water is key to preventing the spread of coronavirus, but what's the best way to dry your hands afterward? In a new, small study, British researchers found paper towels were better than the air dryers often found in public restrooms at getting rid of germs that are still on your hands after you wash them. "Good hand-washing practice should be followed by proper hand-drying. Paper towels can help reduce the spread of microbes and should be a preferred method of hand-drying, especially at a time when good hand hygiene is the most effective measure to prevent COVID-19," said study author Ines Moura, a research fellow at the University of Leeds. The method used to dry hands can help reduce microbial...

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- As U.S. hospitals deal with a continuing influx of COVID-19 patients, cardiologists are sounding an alarm: People may be ignoring heart attack symptoms in fear of going to the ER. Since the coronavirus first hit the United States, doctors at a number of hospitals have noticed a pattern. Fewer patients are being treated for heart attacks at a time when -- if anything -- an increase would be expected. "It started out anecdotally, with doctors talking about cases where patients are waiting so long to call 911 that all of the worst symptoms are manifesting," said Dr. Martha Gulati, editor-in-chief of CardioSmart.org, a patient education site run by the American College of Cardiology. Heart specialists started taking to Twitter to share their...