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This week, we present our recent health articles on diverticulitis, tinnitus, Meniere’s disease, LDL cholesterol, and ulcerative colitis. We looked at the impact of alcohol on diverticulitis, treating tinnitus with hearing aids, causes of Meniere’s disease, and lowering LDL cholesterol though the Nordic diet. Diverticulitis and the impact of alcohol affects the way a person ...click here to read more

Labyrinthitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the inner ear. It affects the labyrinth, which is a delicate structure within the ear. Symptoms of labyrinthitis include dizziness, hearing loss, and vertigo. Symptoms can range in severity and may be accompanied by pain in the ear, tinnitus, fluid or pus leakage, nausea, fever, changes in ...click here to read more

Triglyceride levels in postmenopausal women may predict ischemic stroke risk more accurately than cholesterol. The study uncovered that common risk factors such as high cholesterol are not as effective in predicting the risk of stroke in postmenopausal women. The researchers suggest focusing on triglyceride levels instead for a more accurate risk estimate. Lead author Jeffrey ...click here to read more

Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder that leads to attacks of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss (which can progress into permanent), tinnitus, and the feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears. Meniere’s disease mainly affects one ear rather than both. The onset of Meniere’s disease usually takes place between the ages of 20 and ...click here to read more

HDL cholesterol is known as the good type of cholesterol, as it clears up LDL (bad) cholesterol and works to lower your risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions. When HDL cholesterol is low, your heart disease risk goes up because of LDL cholesterol buildup in the arteries, which makes them stiff and clogged, ...click here to read more

Overactive bladder (OAB) is often associated with menopause, as both conditions are age related. This bladder condition commonly affects women aged 45 to 55 – who are quite likely to be undergoing menopause, too. OAB affects at least 17 percent of menopausal women – although the actual numbers are probably higher. Gauging the exact number ...click here to read more

The researchers have concluded that the cause of death of a British bagpipe player is a lethal fungal infection found in wind instruments. According to the experts, the moist environment inside wind instruments is actually a perfect breeding ground for fungal and mold growth. When inhaled regularly, it can lead to chronic lung condition known ...click here to read more

Meniere’s disease may be caused by fluid buildup in the inner ear along with risk factors for vascular disease in the brain, such as migraine, sleep apnea, and atherosclerosis. Meniere’s disease affects roughly three to five million Americans and causes repetitive violent attacks of dizziness, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. Until now, its ...click here to read more

Triglycerides are a type of fat converted from any excess calories we do not immediately use. Mainly derived from fat and carbohydrates we eat, triglyceride stocks are used for energy in-between the meals, but when we take in more than we burn up, that’s when the problem arises. Although cholesterol and fat are essential for ...click here to read more

Interstitial cystitis treatment may improve with molecular biomarkers. Senior author of the study Stephen J. Walker said, “We are looking for molecular biomarkers for IC [interstitial cystitis], which basically means we are comparing bladder biopsy tissue from patients with suspected interstitial cystitis to patients without the disease. The goal is to identify factors that will ...click here to read more

Hearing loss risk has been found to be higher in both active and passive smokers. The study suggests that reducing smoking and avoiding passive smoking can help lower the risk of hearing loss. The research uncovered that smokers have a 15.1 percent higher risk of experiencing hearing loss, compared to non-smokers. Passive smoking was found ...click here to read more

Macular degeneration was found to be linked to immune abnormalities beneath the retina. The new findings may help prevent vision loss associated with this eye condition. The researchers focused on two protective mechanisms compromised during the gradual onset of macular degeneration, which degrades and destroys central vision. The retinal pigment epithelium is a layer of ...click here to read more

The risk of diverticulosis progressing into diverticulitis is actually quite low – just one percent over seven years, according to research findings. The present 15-year study contradicts the common belief on the rate of progression of diverticulosis into diverticulitis. The UCLA researchers uncovered that the progression risk is, in fact, significantly lower than previously believed ...click here to read more

Overactive bladder symptoms may be reduced with tibial nerve stimulation. Tibial nerve stimulation is a painless procedure in which a slim needle electrode is inserted into the ankle near the tibial nerve. Electric pulses are then transmitted via a hand-held stimulator to the nerves in the spinal cord controlling pelvic floor function. The researchers looked ...click here to read more