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What to do when your blood pressure won’t go down

Doctors recommend several strategies to lower resistant hypertension. One strategy is discontinuing medications that may be contributing to high blood pressure, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), decongestants, certain antidepressants, and corticosteroids. Another strategy is treating underlying conditions that can boost blood pressure, such as sleep apnea. Other ways to lower stubbornly high blood pressure include getting lots of aerobic exercise, eating a plant-based diet that’s low in salt, getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Less may be more when treating urinary tract infections

Researchers found that treating urinary tract infections with antibiotics for seven days was just as effective as treatment lasting 14 days. The shorter duration also can reduce the risk of medication side effects like diarrhea and nausea.

Why are mRNA vaccines so exciting?

The  first vaccines approved in the US to prevent COVID-19 were an entirely new type: mRNA vaccines. Over the past year, they've proven unusually effective and safe. How do mRNA vaccines differ from traditional vaccines, and what makes them so exciting?

Is your medication making you lightheaded?

Many medications can cause lightheadedness, such as drugs to treat depression, high blood pressure, or bladder problems. It’s important to learn about a medication’s potential side effects and be on high alert if lightheadedness is a possibility. A person can jot down the day and time a drug is taken as well as any side effects that follow; those details can help a doctor determine if changes in medicines are required. Someone who continues to feel lightheaded after about a week should report it to the doctor.

Drug therapy needs time to treat heart-related chest pain

Chest pain with exertion affects about one-quarter of people with stable coronary artery disease. A 2021 study found that these individuals can often eliminate their symptoms by following conservative drug therapy, without needing a stent or bypass surgery.

What to do when elective surgery is postponed

When hospitals fill with COVID-19 patients, elective surgeries need to be postponed. If your elective surgery is temporarily derailed, what steps can you take to help yourself cope and be prepared for when the surgery is rescheduled?

Some blood pressure drugs are linked with better memory

A 2021 analysis found that adults ages 50 and older who took an ACE inhibitor such as lisinopril or an ARB like candesartan that crosses the blood-brain barrier scored higher on memory recall tests after three years on the medication, when compared with those who took a different drug in the same class that doesn’t cross over.

Experimental wireless pacemaker dissolves when no longer needed

A wireless, battery-free device that naturally absorbs into the body within two months may one day be a safer alternative to temporary pacemakers.

Aspirin and bruising

Taking low-dose aspirin may increase bruising and minor bleeding from small cuts. Minor bleeding does not necessarily indicate a greater likelihood of experiencing major bleeding.

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