Chronic pain is common—affecting about 1 in 3 people in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health. Researchers at the University of Utah recently made a discovery that could one day provide an alternative to opioids for treating pain—a compound in snail venom.

In animal studies, this compound—used by a type of small marine snail to paralyze and kill its prey—blocked pain receptors by targeting a different pathway than opioids. According to researchers, the pain-relieving benefits of the compound were long-lasting—often more than 72 hours—although the substance cleared the body in about four hours.

Discovering non-opioid-based pathways and developing new ways to prevent pain are important aspects of pain research. Opioids are highly addictive and the CDC reports that approximately 91 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day. The next step will be pre-clinical testing to investigate the safety and effectiveness of this potential new treatment for pain.

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Sourced from: News Medical

Millions of people in the U.S. suffer from debilitating migraines—painful headaches that can be difficult to treat. A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that acupuncture therapy may help reduce migraine frequency in some patients.

The study compared true acupuncture administered by licensed acupuncturists with at least five years of training and four years of clinical experience and sham acupuncture. Study participants, who had been suffering from migraines for at least one year, received acupuncture five times a week. After 20 weeks, patients in the true acupuncture group experienced fewer migraine attacks—from 4.8 migraines per month to three per month—with no adverse effects.

Researchers, drug companies, and medical providers are working to develop new treatment options for migraines, which impact daily life for about 12 percent of people in the U.S. Migraines are a neurological disorder that is often hereditary.

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Sourced from: CNN

Despite some research that shows drinking alcohol in moderation can have a positive effect on cardiovascular health, the adverse effects of drinking are well known. Now, a new study suggests heavy drinking can lead to arterial stiffness over time and increase heart disease risk.

Arterial stiffness is a significant indicator of cardiovascular health. The goal of this recent study was to examine the effect of long-term alcohol consumption on arterial stiffness. For the study, researchers evaluated arterial elasticity using a measurement called pulse wave velocity (PWV) every 4-5 years for 25 years. High PWV indicates arterial stiffness. They also evaluated drinking patterns.

According to researchers, heavy drinking affects the elasticity of the arterial walls—especially in men—interfering with blood flow and impacting cardiovascular health. The exact reason for this is unknown at this time. It may be that alcohol intake leads to arterial stiffness by activating certain enzymes that increase collagen levels.

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Sourced from: MNT