Health Notes: A look at the latest medical studies and trends
Two herbal supplements safe with prescriptions
A study has found ginseng and ginkgo biloba don't alter how prescription drugs are absorbed into the body, unlike other herbs, such as Saint John's Wort. The University of Kansas Medical Center studied 72 adults who were given a combination of five drugs that, when taken together, yield information about how prescription drugs affect the body.
Gum disease can be sign of other issues
An unhealthy mouth, where gum disease flourishes, can contribute to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke, pregnancy complications and some types of cancers. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treating severe gum disease can improve the function of blood vessel walls, improving heart health.
New drugs and treatments improve heart attack stats
Angioplasty and new drugs introduced in the last six years have reduced by half the number of hospitalized heart attack victims who die or suffer severe heart failure, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It found for every 1,000 patients admitted to hospitals, there are 39 fewer deaths and 90 fewer patients with new heart failures compared to six years ago.