Sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure

Here comes the sun to lower your blood pressure – Exposing skin to sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure and thus cut the risk of heart attack and stroke, a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology suggests. Research carried out at the Universities of Southampton and Edinburgh shows that sunlight alters levels of the small messenger molecule, nitric oxide (NO) in the skin and blood, reducing blood pressure.

Flu season tough for older people this year in US

Flu Season ‘Bad One for the Elderly,’ CDC Says — US flu epidemic – 29 children dead – An unusually severe flu season is exacting a heavy toll on older people in New York and across USA. This year’s edition of influenza is hitting the elderly hard, putting many in hospitals, even as overall flu activity is showing signs of slowing down.

Facebook like social media may help fight childhood obesity

Social media may be an effective way to help children overcome obesity — Parental involvement and online interaction with counselors and peers led to greater success for overweight and obese children and teens in some studies – Social media like Facebook may be an effective tool to help children overcome obesity, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published in the journal Circulation.

Grapefruit and medication interactions increasing

Grapefruit?medication interactions increasing — Grapefruit juice can be dangerous for people on certain medications – Grapefruit juice can be dangerous for people on certain medications. The potential of drug interactions with grapefruit juice has been out there a long time, but most people just aren’t aware of it.

Fungal meningitis outbreak in US due to NECC epidural steroid injection

Fungal meningitis outbreak in US due to NECC contaminated epidural steroid injection – A multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis among patients who received an epidural steroid injection with a potentially contaminated product has been notified in USA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently coordinating the investigation of this outbreak of fungal meningitis.

Spray with living human cells heals chronic venous leg ulcers

Study shows higher healing rate using unique cell-based therapy in chronic venous leg ulcers – Treating chronic venous leg ulcers with a topical spray containing a unique living human cell formula provides a 52 percent greater likelihood of wound closure than treatment with compression bandages only.

Health Newstrack