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New research suggests that drinking coffee may actually help protect against atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat too quickly and irregularly, sometimes leading to stroke or heart failure. For years, doctors have advised people with AFib and other heart issues to stay away from caffeine, fearing it could worsen symptoms. But a new study from UC San Francisco and the University of Adelaide has found the opposite: participants who drank one cup of caffeinated coffee a day had a 39% lower risk of developing AFib. Why Coffee May Help the Heart"Coffee increases...

Certain bitter plant compounds — the kind found naturally in cocoa, apples, berries and red wine — may temporarily boost memory by activating the brain's internal "alarm system," a new study suggests. Researchers at the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan found that when mice consumed flavanols — plant-based compounds known for their antioxidant properties — their brains released a surge of noradrenaline, a chemical linked to alertness and focus. Within an hour, the animals performed about 30% better on a memory test compared with untreated mice, according to the findings, which were published in October in the journal Current...

Emma McGinty has tragically passed away after she collapsed last Monday while putting her kids to sleep.A Scots mum-of-seven tragically died after she collapsed while putting her children to bed. Emma McGinty, 43, was rushed to hospital on Monday November 3 after telling her family something was 'really wrong'. Her eldest daughter Nicole said she had 'appeared fine' and was getting on with cleaning their house in West Lothian earlier that day. Emma was taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston, before being moved to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Doctors discovered a clot on her carotid artery that had...

Over the past two decades, tens of millions of women have been denied or not offered hormone replacement therapy or have otherwise avoided it because of a medical dogma that it would increase their risk of dying of breast cancer. Clinical trials, however, don’t support that association. It’s time to treat women’s health with rigorous science instead of fear and misinformation. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting that drug manufacturers remove black box warnings from these products. These are the strongest drug warning the agency can require, and they have inappropriately scared women off from this life-changing,...

President Donald Trump's administration called on a federal judge to approve the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia on Friday, arguing all legal hurdles had been cleared. The Friday filing is the latest in the administration's efforts to deport Abrego Garcia a second time following his return from El Salvador earlier this year. The Justice Department called on U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis to clear the deportation, saying Abrego Garcia had failed to establish that he would face persecution in Liberia. "Petitioner's claims are procedurally barred multiple times over and fail on the merits in any event," the...

Oura's initiative illustrates the promise and peril of wearablesŌura Health, maker of the sleek ring that tracks sleep, stress, and fitness, has formally petitioned the FDA for clearance to continuously monitor blood pressure through its optical sensors. If approved, the Ōura Ring would become one of the most well-known consumer wearables not worn on the wrist to provide continuous, clinically validated blood pressure readings. The petition is an impressive leap forward for the company and for wearable technology. For decades, blood pressure has been a static snapshot taken in a clinic, once or twice a year, often under fluorescent lights...

Our favorite criminologist, Gavin de Becker, has written a new book, and it’s as terrifying as it is controversial. It’s also laugh-out-loud funny, absolutely maddening, and guaranteed to make you wonder about who to trust in these incredibly uncertain times. The book is called Forbidden Facts, and in my life, I’ve never seen such a short book so thoroughly researched and footnoted. And for good reason. Forbidden Facts outlines a long list of undeniable but inconvenient truths about our medical profession, our pharmaceutical industry, and the reality of why the list of recommended vaccines has more than quadrupled in the...

A top executive at PBS was arrested and booked on drug charges after he was pulled over by law enforcement officials in Arkansas. Michael Hibblen, director of public affairs at Arkansas PBS, was arrested after Pulaski County deputies allegedly found methamphetamine in his car during a traffic stop earlier this week, authorities said. Deputies pulled Hibblen over around 9 p.m. on Monday on Interstate 40 westbound after clocking him at 80 mph in a 60 mph zone, according to an arrest report obtained by KATV-TV. The longtime journalist told deputies he was heading home after dropping off a friend at...

"In other words, take from the BIG, BAD Insurance Companies, give it to the people, and terminate, per Dollar spent, the worst Healthcare anywhere in the World, ObamaCare. Unrelated, we must still terminate the Filibuster!" Trump says While the government shutdown continues, President Trump on Sunday urged Senate Republicans to send the Obamacare subsidy money directly to taxpayers rather than to the insurance companies. "I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO...

The Helena, Montana, city commissioner candidate who made headlines for lobbing threats and wishing a painful cancer death on Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., in an expletive-filled voicemail failed to crack the threshold of the top two candidates. Haley McKnight made national headlines earlier this week after audio of her voicemail she left for the senator in July came to light. The voicemail came from over the summer, shortly after Sheehy voted with his Republican colleagues to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping tax and spending package from Republicans that angered many Democrats, including McKnight, following its passage....

A woman has shared the heartbreaking reason why she would follow her husband on his daily run on Instagram. Racking up over 1 million views, the clip shows Michael Daubert, 40, running along the sidewalk in a red top and blue shorts. The camera then cuts to his wife, Megan, 39, who is “chasing” him on a bike to make sure his defibrillator doesn’t go off. The real estate agent told Newsweek that her husband suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on February 5, 2024, while playing in his men’s soccer league. “He was without oxygen for 24 mins,” she said....

For decades, Americans have been advised that cutting fat was key for a heart-healthy diet, spurring an industry of low-fat dairy products. A new generation of nutrition research is challenging some of those long-held beliefs—suggesting that for dairy products, the overall effects of whole-fat varieties on heart health may be positive. A new study adds to this shift. Using data from more than 3,100 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, researchers tracked dairy consumption and measured coronary artery calcification—a buildup of calcium in the arteries that can be an early sign of heart disease....

A multidisciplinary research team has discovered that liver alterations associated with metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) can directly cause cognitive and neurological impairments, and that these effects can be reversed by a therapy exclusively targeting the liver. The findings establish the existence of a "liver–brain axis" that is not only clinically relevant but also therapeutically actionable. The study demonstrates that animal models of diet-induced metabolic liver disease show alterations in social memory and sensory processing, accompanied by dysfunctions in the hippocampus, a key region for memory and learning. Most promisingly, these alterations were reversed by treating the liver with...

A combined analysis of blood tests to measure three biomarkers linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease—lipoprotein a (Lp(a)), remnant cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)—may help identify high-risk individuals earlier, according to a preliminary study. In the analysis, adults with elevated levels of all three biomarkers of heart disease had nearly three times the risk of a heart attack compared with normal levels. The three blood tests examine different pathways that can lead to cardiovascular disease. Lipoprotein(a) is a type of cholesterol that is largely inherited and can cause plaque buildup in arteries. Remnant cholesterol refers to harmful fat...

Long-term use of melatonin supplements, often used to promote sleep and address insomnia, is associated with a higher risk of heart failure diagnosis, heart failure, hospitalization and death from any cause in chronic insomnia, according to a preliminary study. Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the body by the pineal gland, and it helps regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin levels increase during darkness and decrease during daylight. Chemically identical synthetic versions of the hormone are often used. The supplements are widely available over the counter in many countries, including the U.S. In the U.S., over-the-counter supplements are not...

The innovative use of recorded messages from a family member to provide reorientation information to a critically ill patient receiving mechanical ventilation helped reduce the risk of developing delirium, according to new research. The study details a rigorous, structured intervention called Family Automated Voice Recording (FAVoR), which played recorded messages from family members on an hourly basis during the daytime to promote day-night orientation. Patients in the FAVoR intervention group had a higher rate of delirium-free days than patients in the control group who received usual care. The results also suggest a dose-response relationship between the number of times the...

In A Nutshell The 13% threshold: In this study of 52 Brazilian pros, players with 13% body fat or higher covered less distance on an endurance shuttle run test that mimics game intensity One measurement matters most: A simple abdominal skinfold reading of 20 mm or more showed the strongest link to reduced aerobic performance—faster to check than complex fitness testing Sprints vs. stamina: Body fat correlated strongly with endurance but showed weak connections to jumping and short sprints, suggesting it affects sustained running more than explosive power Use with caution: These numbers came from pre-season testing in second-division Brazilian...

Okay, my wife and I are approaching 65 and need advice/personal experiences on what company to go with for parts C and D? I don't know much and appreciate the experiences of other Freepers.

Scientists have discovered that human stomach cells can be genetically reprogrammed to act like pancreatic beta cells and produce insulin. This approach could one day help people with Type 1 diabetes generate their own insulin without injections. Understanding Type 1 Diabetes and Its Challenges Type 1 diabetes develops when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, a hormone made by specialized beta cells. This chronic condition affects an estimated 9.5 million people around the world. Without sufficient insulin, blood sugar levels remain high and, over time, can cause serious harm to vital organs including the kidneys, eyes, and heart. Managing...

The Dallas Cowboys announced the passing of Marshawn Kneeland. He was 24 years old. Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away on Thursday morning. The Dallas Cowboys announced the news. He was 24 years old. “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the Cowboys’ statement read. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.” The Cowboys selected Marshawn Kneeland in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan. He had taken...