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TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- Taking an estrogen pill early in menopause could slow the progress of fatty buildups in the neck arteries, according to new research. The preliminary study, presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions in Phoenix, sheds new light on estrogen therapy's possible impact on plaque buildup in arteries in early versus late menopause. Researchers analyzed data from ELITE (Early Versus Late Intervention Trial With Estrogen), which studied the cardiovascular health of 643 healthy women who had experienced menopause for less than six years or more than 10 years. Participants received either a daily oral dose of the hormone estradiol – often...

TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Over the course of a decade, the net cost of prescription drugs in the United States rose more than three times faster than the rate of inflation, a new study finds. The net cost of a drug refers to the sticker price minus manufacturer discounts. Researchers in the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing (CP3) conducted the analysis on net drug cost trends for brand-name prescriptions in the United States. "Previously, we were limited to studying list prices, which do not account for manufacturer discounts. List prices are very important, but they are not the full story," said study author Inmaculada Hernandez, an assistant professor of pharmacy at Pitt. "This is the first time we've been able to account...

TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Helping older people manage their prescribed medicines after they leave the hospital reduces their risk of readmission, researchers say. Many older patients take multiple medicines and these often change after a hospital stay. This can cause misunderstandings that result in patients taking too much or too little of their medications, or not taking them at all, the authors of the new study noted. This can lead to serious problems and readmission to the hospital, according to the research team from the University of Bradford, in the United Kingdom. "When you're in hospital, everything is done for you, so for older people, being sent home and suddenly having to look after yourself can be a real shock," said study leader Justine Tomlinson, a...

TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- People who use marijuana either medicinally or recreationally should remember that pot can have potentially harmful interactions with medications they take regularly, a new report warns. This is particularly true of older folks, who often are on many different drugs to manage a variety of chronic ailments, said lead researcher Tony Antoniou. He's an associate professor in the department of family & community medicine at the University of Toronto. "There are some reports showing that older patients are one of the fastest-growing groups of people who are taking cannabinoids," Antoniou said. "Because they typically take more medications for a variety of illnesses, we thought it would be important to raise awareness about the potential for...