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MONDAY, July 18, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- Adults from the most socially vulnerable counties in the U.S. were more likely to die or experience serious heart problems when hospitalized for COVID-19 than those from less vulnerable areas – even after accounting for differences in underlying conditions or the severity of their COVID-19 infection, new research shows.Patients from the most vulnerable areas also were more likely to be Black and less likely to receive potentially beneficial treatments for their COVID-19, according to the study, published Monday in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes."Throughout this public health crisis, individuals who are more socioeconomically disadvantaged or from minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds have...

MONDAY, July 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Even moderate drinking may be related to higher iron levels in the brain — a potentially risky situation for memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests.Researchers found that among nearly 21,000 middle-aged and older adults, those who drank as little as a few beers a week showed more iron accumulation in their brains than non-drinkers.And iron buildup in certain brain areas correlated with weaker scores on tests of mental abilities like reasoning, planning and problem-solving.It's not yet clear what it all could mean. But the findings add to evidence that there may be no "safe" level of drinking when it comes to brain health."Even small amounts of alcohol, within current alcohol guidelines, could harm your brain," said lead researcher...

MONDAY, July 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For thousands of years, people have used meditation to help diminish their pain – but how the process works has always seemed rather mysterious.Today, advanced brain scan technology has revealed how this ancient practice alters brain function and provides pain relief to its practitioners.A first-of-its-kind study used MRI scans to discover that mindfulness meditation can interrupt the communication between brain areas that process pain and the neural network that produces a person's sense of self, researchers recently reported in the journal PAIN.Essentially, pain signals still move from the body to the brain, but the meditating person feels less ownership over those pain sensations. As a result, their pain and suffering are reduced."It's...

MONDAY, July 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Millions of older adults try to manage an underactive thyroid gland with daily medication, but a new study suggests they may still be vulnerable to developing dementia as they age.Researchers found that among over 15,000 older Taiwanese adults, those who'd been treated for hypothyroidism were substantially more likely to be diagnosed with dementia. Hypothyroidism occurs when the body is not producing enough thyroid hormones, which control metabolism.That underproduction can cause an array of symptoms, including fatigue, intolerance to cold, constipation, body aches, depression and weight gain. Studies show that waning thyroid hormones may also dull a person's thinking skills — in a way that's reversible with thyroid medication. But whether...