Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increases in blood pressure (BP) and stopping drinking – even drinking less – may lead to clinically meaningful BP reductions, according to a study published today in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology. Findings show that slight changes in alcohol consumption can affect BP and can be a strategy for BP management and improvement.

About 50% of menopausal women experience genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) that involves changes to the genitals, including the vagina, urethra and bladder. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, it can cause the GSM symptoms of vaginal dryness, itching, burning, frequent urinary tract infections and pain during sex. Replenishing the hormone through vaginal estrogen is an effective GSM treatment. But many breast cancer survivors either can't or don't want to use estrogen.  

Many adults over 50 have serious or significant health conditions that might qualify them for protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but many of them don't identify as a person with a disability or ask for accommodations in health care settings, a poll finds.

Authors of a new Pediatrics commentary titled “Ethical Implications of Study Terminations” examine what happens when clinical research trials end abruptly—particularly those that involve children and adolescents, who are already underrepresented in research. They argue that such sudden closures can break trust and harm participants, especially when the research involves young people. They also note that these actions conflict with long-standing ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report—federal guidelines published in 1979 that outline three main principles for human research: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.