How to Avoid Stained Teeth When You Enjoy Red Wine

SUNDAY, Dec. 8, 2019 -- You don't have to wind up with stained teeth if you toast the holidays with red wine, an expert says.

"The strength of your enamel and how prone you are to plaque buildup is key to how much your teeth might stain," said Dr. Uchenna Akosa, head of Rutgers Health University Dental Associates, the faculty practice of Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in New Brunswick, N.J.

Good Workouts Might Extend a Woman's Life

SATURDAY, Dec. 7, 2019 -- If you can tackle a tough workout, that may bode well for your longevity, new research suggests.

A woman's risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or other causes is much lower if she can engage in vigorous exercise, scientists report.

CBD Medicine May Help Ease Another Form of Seizure

SATURDAY, Dec. 7, 2019 -- Prescription-grade CBD may help control hard-to-treat seizures caused by a rare genetic disorder, a preliminary study suggests.

The study involved 224 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) -- a genetic condition that affects about one in 6,000 people, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It causes noncancerous tumors to arise throughout the body, and -- in 90% of patients -- seizures that are often resistant to standard drugs.

Cleaner Air Quickly Brings Big Health Benefits, Study Finds

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 -- When people are breathing cleaner air, their health generally improves -- rapidly, in some cases, a new review shows.

The report, from the Environmental Committee of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), details some of the evidence on air quality and human health. Overall, it concludes, people can reap a range of benefits when air pollution is cut -- from fewer asthma attacks, to lower risks of heart attack and stroke, to a longer life expectancy.

BPA Levels in Humans Are Underestimated: Study

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 -- Levels of the widely used chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in people's bodies are much higher than once thought, according to scientists who say they've created a more accurate way to measure them.

BPA is used in many plastic products, including food and drink containers, and animal studies have shown that it can interfere with hormones. Exposure to BPA in the womb has been linked to growth, metabolism, behavior and fertility problems, as well an increased risk of cancer.

FDA Testing Levels of Carcinogen in Diabetes Drug Metformin

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 -- Levels of possible cancer-causing chemicals in metformin diabetes medications are under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Metformin is a prescription drug used to control high blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.

FDA Approves First Generic Forms of MS Drug Gilenya

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 -- The first generic versions of the multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The three generic versions of Gilenya (fingolimod) capsules were approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults.

Domestic Abuse Can Leave Legacy of Poor Health

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 -- Women with a history of domestic abuse are more likely to develop chronic conditions that cause pain and fatigue, a new study says.

British researchers examined medical records of more than 18,500 women who had suffered domestic abuse between 1995 and 2017 and more than 74,000 who had not been abused, to compare rates of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Fibromyalgia causes widespread body pain, while CFS causes extreme tiredness and other symptoms.

AHA News: Here's How Black Barbershops Could Save Lives and Millions in Health Costs

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- A national program to fight high blood pressure by sending pharmacists to black barbershops could prevent thousands of strokes, heart attacks and deaths, and save the health care system $870 million a year, a new analysis shows.

The research, led by Dr. Dhruv S. Kazi of the Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, built on the work of the late Dr. Ronald G. Victor. Victor's studies showed the effectiveness of having barbers introduce their longtime customers to an on-site pharmacist, who tested patrons' blood pressure and prescribed medicine to lower it if necessary.

Virtual Doc Visits Suffice for Many With Neurological Disorders

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 -- If you have a neurological disorder, a video chat with your doctor might be as good as an office visit for checking on your condition.

That's the conclusion of researchers who analyzed 101 studies on telemedicine use for concussion, traumatic brain injury, dementia, epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, neuromuscular conditions and general neurology.