A new study suggested older women with a history of gum disease may also have an elevated cancer risk. Researchers at the University of Buffalo tracked data on 65,000 post-menopausal women and found those with periodontal problems had a 14 percent higher risk for cancer. The link to esophageal and gallbladder cancers was especially high. 

More than a third of Americans used prescription opioids in 2015 and a significant number say they misused or abused them. That’s according to a new national survey published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.  More than 12 million adults reported problems with use. Most were uninsured and unemployed. 

The heart health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been well-documented, with its emphasis on vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains. Now Italian researchers cautioned those benefits may be limited to people with higher incomes and education levels.  A new study suggested people with fewer social advantages aren’t seeing the same reductions in cardiovascular risks. 

Sources:

1 – Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

2 – Annals of Internal Medicine

3 – International Journal of Epidemiology