News From the World of Medicine

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART-HEALTH RISK IS

Life partners share a lot of things – and that includes their level of cardiovascular health, according to a JAMA Network Open study. Among the 5364 couples that took part, the correlation was most often the case because they both had the same risk factors, whether it was high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure or poor eating habits.

However, on the flip side, researchers found that partners can also have a positive effect on each other: participants were 2.3 times more likely to quit smoking if their other half did, and 6.4 times more likely to follow the other’s lead in improving their diet.

RETHINKING BREAST CANCER SURGERY FOR OLDER WOMEN

Breast cancer can often be stopped through surgery – mastectomies and lumpectomies – but doctors don’t always offer it to women over age 70, worrying that it may do them more harm than good.

However, new research suggests that for most older women, surgery is life-lengthening – and more tolerated than some have assumed.

EXPLORING CLOSE TO HOME IS ALSO A MOOD BOOSTER

COVID-19 may have curbed the joy that comes from travel, but it doesn’t have to end it. A Nature Neuroscience study showed that simply exploring near where you live brings novel experiences that could lift your mood. The researchers found those with a wider variety of daily experiences are more likely to feel happier.

THE PROS AND CONS OF PPIS

One of the world’s most commonly used drugs, proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) bring relief from acid reflux, peptic ulcers and indigestion. However, scientists have linked long-term use to an increased risk of kidney disease, gut infections, stomach cancer and diabetes. If you have relied on PPIs for two years or more, ask your doctor about risks and getting your blood sugar checked regularly.