Latest Health News

MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- Fighting fires comes with many risks. But new research shows there's a new one to consider: increased exposure to fires appears to raise the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation, or AFib, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other problems.Researchers found the more fires a firefighter fought, the higher the likelihood he or she would report having been diagnosed with AFib. The work will be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, which begins Friday and is being held virtually. The research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.Lead researcher Dr. Catherine Vanchiere, an internal medicine resident at Temple University...

MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- Physical activity may reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease among American Indians, according to new research that also studied inflammation's role in exercise and heart health.Past studies of people from all populations show that inflammation plays a central role in heart disease, and that exercise might reduce inflammation in the body.For the new study, researchers focused on American Indians, "a special population that, unfortunately, is not always included in studies that show the benefit of physical activity," said the lead researcher Dr. Ozan Unlu, chief resident of quality and patient safety at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.The findings will be presented Friday at the American Heart Association's...

MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In a graphic illustration of the danger the new coronavirus poses to essential workers in America, a new study shows that as many as 74 million of these workers and their families are at increased risk for COVID-19.It gets worse: Of that number, up to 61% are at increased risk for severe COVID-19."Public policymakers face important decisions about how to balance the economic benefits of keeping workers employed and the public health benefits of protecting those with increased risk of severe COVID-19," said lead researcher Thomas Selden, from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.These issues are important when deciding to close segments of the economy and how to distribute vaccines, which will initially be available only in limited...

MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The spice that adds punch to your favorite Kung Pao chicken, Tex-Mex chili or Indian curry may also help save your life.Preliminary research shows that eating chili pepper may reduce your risk of death from heart disease, cancer and other causes, building on past studies that have found chili pepper to have health benefits."I think a lot of people are going to find this information quite new and pleasantly surprising," said Penny Kris-Etherton, a professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University in College Park, who reviewed the findings.For the study, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio reviewed health and dietary records of more than 570,000 participants in four large studies conducted in the United States, Italy, China and Iran....