Aspirin Resistance

Aspirin is commonly prescribed to prevent blood from clotting and causing heart attack or stroke. However, a recent study found that almost 20-percent of patients were aspirin resistant. Hospitals are getting a new test that can check on a patient’s sensitivity to aspirin. The VerifyNow™ test only requires a blood sample, and provides results in a half-hour. Patients who are aspirin resistant can be prescribed other anti-platelet drugs to keep their blood from clumping together.

Losing Knee Pain

With arthritis affecting an estimated one in three adults, a study focusing on relief of pain from knee osteoarthritis may get some sneakers laced up. In the May issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism, Canadian researchers report that a combination of walking and weight loss helped reduce knee pain. All patients in the study had knee arthritis and were considered obese. The group that lost weight through diet, and improved their fitness through walking, achieved the greatest relief.

How Smart, How Happy?

Ever wonder how you measure up to everyone else? A new book can help you figure it out, and entertain you at the same time. How Do You Compare? includes twelve personality tests. You can measure everything from your intelligence to your cheerfulness, in an easy to use format. Once you’re done, you’ll get to see how you compare to others, and see where you fall in the big scheme of things.