Author: Healthcare Propulsion Staff

Results from the FigHTN Phase 2 clinical trial showed baxdrostat, a new medication that inhibits the production of the hormone aldosterone, lowered systolic blood pressure by about 5% when added to the existing medications taken by people with chronic kidney disease and who also have uncontrolled high blood pressure. The analysis also found that baxdrostat lowered the loss of albumin in the urine, which is a marker of kidney and cardiovascular risk, by 55% compared to placebo, suggesting that this medication may help delay the progression of kidney disease . These findings suggest the potential for baxdrostat to improve longer-term…

The US Department of Defence said it would continue to prioritise “the care of affected personnel” as it announced the compensation, paid out under the Havana Act which was signed into law in 2021.There has been widespread speculation for many years over what – and who – is responsible for Havana Syndrome. Some have claimed the illness is caused by microwaves, prompting further speculation that a foreign power may have used some kind of sonar weapon to attack US overseas staff and their dependants. “My brain is broken,” former CIA analyst Erika Stith told CBS News in 2022, external.”We got…

Intestinal worms may help reduce inflammation, but new research suggests they can only do so when they have enough dietary fiber to thrive. Without sufficient fiber, these worms enter a hibernation-like state and lose their ability to provide anti-inflammatory benefits. The findings, published in Nature Communications, come from parasitologists at the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Why Scientists Are Studying Intestinal Worms For most of human history, intestinal parasites were a normal part of the digestive system. In industrialized countries, however, they have become far less common because of improved hygiene and modern medicine. During that same…

A new study led by researchers at National Jewish Health has found that recent infection with the common cold — often caused by rhinoviruses — may offer temporary protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The research provides fresh insight into why children are less likely than adults to develop symptoms and could point toward new ways to reduce the severity of respiratory illnesses. Published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases earlier this month, the study analyzed data from the nationwide Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS) study, which tracked more than 4,100 people in 1,394…

Growing research suggests that medications commonly prescribed for diabetes and weight loss (including the well-known Ozempic and Wegovy) might also help people drink less alcohol. A new study from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, published this month in Scientific Reports, found that GLP-1 agonists appear to slow how quickly alcohol moves into the bloodstream, which in turn delays its effects on the brain. “People who drink know there’s a difference between nursing a glass of wine and downing a shot of whiskey,” said Alex DiFeliceantonio, assistant professor and interim co-director of the FBRI’s Center for Health Behaviors Research.…

Carefully planned vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy growth in children when appropriate supplements are included, according to a major new meta-analysis, the most comprehensive review to date of plant-based diets in young people. Researchers from Italy, USA and Australia examined health, growth, and nutritional outcomes in more than 48,000 children and adolescents around the world who followed different eating patterns. Their findings show that vegetarian and vegan diets can provide many important nutrients and support normal development. At the same time, the analysis highlights a higher risk of nutrient shortfalls when key nutrients are not supplied through fortified…

A newly proposed definition of obesity could significantly increase the number of Americans considered to have the condition. According to researchers at Mass General Brigham, applying updated criteria developed earlier this year by the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Commission raises the estimated obesity rate in the United States from about 40 percent to nearly 70 percent. The study examined data from more than 300,000 people and found that the increase was especially pronounced among older adults. The findings also showed that many individuals newly classified under the updated definition face higher risks of serious health problems. The study was published…

“I was told that my symptoms were just part of being a woman.” These are words that are likely to be familiar to scores of women who have suffered years of seeking a reason for their extreme pain and heavy periods, before finally being told they have endometriosis. For years, the only way to definitively diagnose the condition – where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body, external – was through a surgical procedure. But this week it was announced that rapid, non-invasive, endometriosis tests would be made available on…

Higher exposure to artificial light at night was linked to heightened stress activity in the brain, inflammation in the arteries, and a greater likelihood of heart disease in a small study of adults in Boston. Researchers reported that light pollution at night appeared to influence cardiovascular health, suggesting it is a modifiable environmental factor in communities with elevated nighttime brightness.Nighttime Light and Heart Health A preliminary analysis to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 found that greater artificial light at night correlated with increased brain stress signals, inflamed blood vessels, and higher heart disease risk. The…

Most Americans don’t realize the cancer risks of alcohol. More than half of U.S. adults either underestimate or misunderstand how drinking increases cancer risk. Regular drinkers are the least aware. People who consume alcohol are especially likely to believe that drinking has no impact on cancer risk. Better awareness could save lives. Educating the public about the real link between alcohol and cancer may help more people follow the U.S. Surgeon General’s guidelines and reduce preventable cancer cases.Many Americans Unaware of Alcohol’s Cancer Risk New research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center shows that public understanding of…