July 21, 2020

Under 50 and Had a Heart Attack? Quit Smoking, and You'll Live Longer

THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 -- If you're a smoker under 50 and you suffer a heart attack, new research suggests kicking the habit may be the best thing you can do to still be around years later.

"These results are definitive: among young people who have had a heart attack, quitting smoking is associated with a substantial benefit," said corresponding author Dr. Ron Blankstein, from the division of cardiovascular medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

July 16, 2020

Smog Harms Women's Brains, But One Food May Help Buffer the Damage

WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 -- Dirty air is the curse of urban living, and studies have shown that breathing it in harms the brains of men and women alike.

But a new study suggests that diet can help reverse the damage: Older women who regularly ate fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids seemed to better withstand the neurological effects of smog.

July 12, 2020

Stroke Treatment Gap Narrows Between Men and Women

WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2020 -- Women who have a stroke are far more likely to be treated with clot-busting drugs than they used to be, new research shows.

In the early 2000s, women suffering a stroke were 30% less likely than men to get clot-busting treatment, also known as thrombolysis. Recently, the gap has narrowed to 13%.

June 18, 2020

COVID Fears Keeping Americans From Vital Doctor Visits

WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2020 -- A ruptured appendix is one medical emergency that a general surgeon colleague of Dr. Jacqueline Fincher hadn't treated for more than 15 years in their small town of Thomson, Ga.

That's because the signs and symptoms of appendicitis are so well-known that nearly everyone gets to the hospital well before an inflamed appendix has a chance to burst.

June 4, 2020

Maria Shriver and AARP Take on Alzheimer's in Women

TUESDAY, June 2, 2020 -- An Alzheimer's diagnosis is devastating, no matter your sex. But the disease strikes far more women than men.

Journalist and author Maria Shriver is determined to help researchers figure out why women make up two-thirds of those with Alzheimer's disease. And why certain races and ethnicities are harder hit, too.

June 4, 2020

At-Home Gene Test for Breast, Ovarian Cancers Looks Effective

WEDNESDAY, June 3, 2020 -- Screening for breast and ovarian cancer genes might be added to the list of medical tests that can be safely and effectively done from home, new research suggests.

The study looked at screening for BRCA1, BRCA2 and other gene mutations linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have as much as a 7 in 10 chance of getting breast cancer by age 80, according to the American Cancer Society.