Latest Health News

THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For people with multiple sclerosis, certain factors early in their disease may determine their quality of life in the years to come, a new study suggests.In medicine, there are ways to objectively measure a disease's course, such as whether a medication is keeping it under control. And then there's health-related quality of life -- the way people with a medical condition feel about their day-to-day physical and mental functioning.Many studies have asked people with multiple sclerosis (MS) about their quality of life. But few have followed them over time, tracking how things change over the years.The new study — published online Aug. 10 in Neurology — did look at that long-term trajectory and whether any factors early on could predict a...

THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Farmyard pigs could be the key to restoring sight in people who have lost their vision due to a damaged cornea, a new study reports.Collagen drawn from pig's skin is being used to create an experimental implant that mimics the human cornea, the outermost transparent layer of the eye.In a pilot study, this implant restored vision to 20 patients with diseased corneas, most of whom were blind prior to the procedure, researchers said. The human cornea consists mainly of collagen. To create the implant, researchers distilled highly purified collagen from pig skin and then stabilized the loose collagen molecules to form a tough and transparent material that could be implanted into a human eye.The implant could be a breakthrough in treating vision...

THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- A visit to the dentist's office could provide a glimpse into your heart and brain health.More than an estimated 100 diseases can show symptoms in the mouth. For instance, periodontal disease, which results from infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that support and surround the teeth, is more common and may be more severe in people with diabetes.Other times, prescription drugs may affect the mouth. For instance, some drugs used to treat hypertension can cause swollen, inflamed gums."We see a lot of systemic diseases with oral signs and symptoms," said Dr. Jennifer Perkins, executive director of clinical education at the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry.Dentists might be able to pick up on...

THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Record numbers of people are turning to plant-based diets to take advantage of the many health benefits they offer, but this may come at the expense of their bones, a new study suggests.Exactly what did researchers find? Middle-aged women who never eat meat may be more likely to break a hip than women who regularly consume meat and/or fish.More study is needed to understand why vegetarians seem to be at greater risk for hip fractures, but researchers suspect that low body mass index (BMI) and nutrient shortfalls play a role. “Whilst a lower BMI is beneficial for many health conditions, being underweight can lead to insufficient fat mass, and poor bone and muscle health, which can each increase hip fracture risk,” said study author James...