There are tens of millions of people in the U.S. taking the cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins to prevent heart disease. This could be because the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force advises healthcare professionals to prescribe statins in patients ages 40 to 75 who have at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as diabetes or dyslipidemia, and an estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk of 10 percent or more.

Glaucoma joins growing list of statin side effects

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done performed in the the United Kingdom June 2014 to October 2017), enrolled 207 adult patients with symptomatic, radiographic KOA and knee pain (severity ≥4 out of 10) on most days in the past 3 months, after an inadequate response to analgesic medications.

Pain Reduction with Methotrexate in Knee Osteoarthritis

Review of: Risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in patients prescribed semaglutide. Hathaway J, Sha M, Hathaway D, et al. JAMA Ophthalmology, in press 2024. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) prescribed to assist with weight management in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or those who are overweight/obese, and there have been anecdotal reports of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in patients taking this medication. This single-center, observational study compared patients prescribed semaglutide to matched patients prescribed other medications for diabetes and found a greater risk of NAION in the semaglutide cohort, though additional studies are needed to verify this relationship and causality cannot be inferred.

Semaglutide May Be Associated With an Increased Risk of Developing NAION

The primary endpoint of the 4-month study was the proportion of patients with clinically significant improvements in the contrast sensitivity. Randall Olson, MD, corresponding author of the study, Moran Eye Center CEO and Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and colleagues reported that a novel eye drop (C-KAD, Livionex Inc.) has been formulated to treat early to moderate age-related cataracts. The drop improves vision by breaking up degraded protein complexes that cause lens clouding, which leads to cataracts and vision loss, when instilled in the eye.

Efficacy of novel eye drop to reverse cataracts found in Phase 1/2 study

Everyday Health

Fatigue, feeling dizzy or out of breath, and headaches are some of the most common signs of anemia, a blood disorder in which the body lacks sufficient levels of red blood cells.

12 Most Common Symptoms of Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Levothyroxine lowered the risk for myocardial infarction and CV-related death for adults with subclinical hypothyroidism. Researchers defined subclinical hypothyroidism as a TSH level between 5 mU/L and 10 mU/L. Adults with subclinical hypothyroidism may have a lower risk for major adverse cardiovascular events if they receive levothyroxine therapy compared with...

Levothyroxine therapy may reduce CV risk for adults with subclinical hypothyroidism

A significant connection has been identified between severe menopause symptoms and cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women, according to findings from a study published in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society. A significant connection has been identified between severe menopause symptoms and cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women, according to findings...

Severe menopause symptoms linked to increased risk of cognitive decline in postmenopausal women

Women with vs. without cognitive impairment had more intense menopause symptoms. Lower BMI, sexual activity, exercise, hormone therapy use and higher education were tied to lower cognitive impairment odds. Severe menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and depressive mood, were associated with mild cognitive impairment for postmenopausal women, researchers reported...

Severe menopause symptoms linked to cognitive impairment in later life

The following is a summary of “Recombinant human nerve growth factor (cenegermin) for moderate-to-severe dry eye: phase II, randomized, vehicle-controlled, dose-ranging trial,” published in the July 2024 issue of Ophthalmology by Wirta et al. Dry eye disease (DED) involves neurosensory abnormalities and benefits from cenegermin, a topical recombinant...

Cenegermin Significantly Improves Dry Eye Symptoms Despite Not Meeting Primary Endpoint

The growing body of evidence that suggests that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D may be beneficial for preventing and managing RVO. Vitamin D supplementation may play a critical role in preventing retinal vein occlusion (RVO),1 according to the investigators from the Isfahan Eye Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Study suggests Vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of retinal vein occlusion

Beta-blockers lower your heart rate and reduce your heart’s workload. If you have heart failure, they may help improve your cardiac function. Possible side effects include unusually slow heart rate and low blood pressure. Beta-blocker medications block the production of two stress hormones called epinephrine and norepinephrine. Doctors may...

Do Beta-Blockers Work for Heart Failure?

An abnormal buildup of fat in the liver, referred to as fatty liver disease, was found to be common in a small group of children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), regardless of their disease type or severity. Patient-derived liver cells confirmed that such accumulation was a result of...

Fatty liver disease may be common complication of SMA: Small study

It’s important to communicate with the patient’s comanaging doctors to adjust necessary medications. There are four direct oral anticoagulants approved for atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism: apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), edoxaban (Savaysa) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto). Click image to enlarge. The body is an interconnected system and, as clinicians...

Some Blood Thinners May Increase Conversion to Wet AMD

Research on over 24,000 men revealed that low testosterone levels significantly increase the risks of death from all causes and cardiovascular issues, underlining the hormone’s impact on aging men’s health. A systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that men with low baseline levels of endogenous serum testosterone face a...

Low Testosterone in Men Linked to Increased Risk for Death

Among patients with fibromyalgia, there was a moderate negative correlation between vitamin D and physical functioning as well as between magnesium and stiffness. An exploratory study evaluating the link between specific micronutrients and the symptoms of fibromyalgia revealed vitamin D and magnesium played a role in physical function and stiffness among patients.1.

Vitamin D, Magnesium Deficiency Linked to Worse Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Among a cohort of glaucoma patients from the Advanced Glaucoma Progression Study, researchers found an overall low rate of mismatches involving BMO-MRW and RNFL thickness (8%), 80% of which were attributed to retinal blood vessels. These images from the paper show (A) how a large blood vessel thickens the RNFL more than the BMO-MRW at the 60° sector, (B) how a large blood vessel preferentially thickens the RNFL at the 75° sector due to the angular offset between the site of vessel insertion at the optic nerve head and the trajectory of the vessel in the retina and (C) how a small blood vessel preferentially thickens the BMO-MRW at the 52.5° sector. Photo: Zhuang I, et al. Ophthalmol Sci. August 21, 2024. Click image to enlarge.

Combine RNFL, BMO-MRW Measurements to Assess Glaucomatous Damage

The connection between migraines and cardiovascular health has been a topic of ongoing research for many years. While it is well-documented that migraines can be associated with an elevated risk of serious cardiovascular events like stroke, heart disease, and heart attack, the specific relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and the incidence of migraines remains less understood. A recent study published in Neurology explores this in depth.

Migraines and their link with cardiovascular health

Acute clinical events with stable MRI were more likely among patients with multiple sclerosis who had longer disease duration, received highly effective disease-modifying therapies, and who presented with fatigue. This article was originally published on NeurologyLive®. In a new multicenter observational cohort study published in JAMA Neurology, approximately one-fourth...

Stable MRI in Multiple Sclerosis Reveals Relapses as Acute Clinical Events

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

writer

Shin

Statins are widely recognized for their role in lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease. But new research from the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration (CTSU) has revealed that these life-saving medications may come with a small but significant drawback—an increased risk of developing diabetes, particularly in individuals already predisposed to the condition.

Statins and Diabetes: New Comprehensive Research Confirms Elevated Risk

THURSDAY, Aug. 22, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Elevated cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging-modeled pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) is an independent risk factor for heart failure and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), according to a study published online Aug. 12 in ESC Heart Failure. Ross J. Thomson, B.M.B.Ch., from...

CMR-Modeled PCWP Independent Risk Factor for Heart Failure

NewsBreak

Study evaluates impact of exercise on intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients

Recent studies that have reported that active and healthy living can reduce IOP. A new Spanish study found that exercise, especially aerobic exercise, may help modulate...

Study evaluates impact of exercise on intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients

Comments / 0