WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Memory loss is the most common symptom associated with Alzheimer’s disease — the terrifying prospect of slowly forgetting yourself and everything around you.But people who exhibit memory loss early on in their dementia actually have a slower rate of decline than those who develop other symptoms earlier, a new study reports.Difficulty forming sentences, making plans, solving problems or judging space and distance — these symptoms all herald a steeper and faster decline for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients than do early memory problems, researchers found.“People with memory changes in fact have a slightly slower rate of disease progression than people who have other symptoms, like language or judgment issues, in terms of their...

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to tobacco control, some states do a far better job than others of preventing and reducing smoking.A new report from the American Lung Association (ALA) notes that California, Maine, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., are doing the best job of putting proven tobacco control policies in place. Conversely, those who have the most need to enact policies are Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas.Policies vary widely from state to state. Some states still allow workplace smoking, including in restaurants and bars. Others have had smoke-free laws in place for decades. “The policies examined in our report have a direct impact on the health of state residents,” said Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung...

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The American Heart Association has issued a new scientific statement on pulmonary embolism (PE), a sometimes fatal condition in which a blood clot travels to the lungs.The American Heart Association (AHA) statement suggests surgery be considered for more people with high-risk PE.Refined definitions of risk levels may make it easier to identify which patients would benefit from surgical intervention, the AHA said.The association also called for development of patient registries to monitor treatment effectiveness for intermediate and high-risk patients, and more education for doctors and surgeons on surgical intervention options.“This statement demonstrates that modern surgical management strategies and mechanical circulatory support results...

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Send yourself some love this Valentine's Day by setting a reminder to start taking your spring allergy medications.It's important to begin allergy meds two weeks before symptoms are expected to appear when possible, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)."It's not the most romantic idea in the world, but it is an effective way to remember when to start taking your spring allergy medications," said allergist Dr. Kathleen May, president of the ACAAI."And although spring allergies aren't necessarily top of mind in February, climate change means that temperatures are rising, and allergy symptoms occur earlier in the year," May said in a college news release. "In southern regions of the United States,...