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A vast array of known factors play a role in the current opioid crisis, and a recent study may have identified yet another. The authors conclude that doctors are more likely to prescribe opioids later in the day and when appointments are running late. The driving forces behind the opioid epidemic are complex, and scientists are approaching the problem from all angles. Some are focusing specifically on reducing the overall number of opioid prescriptions. Of course, in certain situations, experts acknowledge that opioids are the right choice. However, there are concerns that doctors are overprescribing opioid medication. “We observed increasing rates of opioid prescribing as appointments progressed through the day and as they ran behind schedule.", say the authors. Study was conducted. Although the size of the effect that this study reported was only moderate, the authors believe that a change in prescribing behavior of this magnitude could have meaningful relevance for national trends in opioid use. (Credits: www.medicalnewstoday.com)

Surprising new research shows that antibacterial mouthwash can limit the cardiovascular benefits of exercise. The effect of mouthwash on mouth bacteria interferes with a complex molecular mechanism that usually sustains the blood pressure-lowering effects of exercise. The bacteria in our mouths play a key role in our health. An analysis of oral microbes from tens of thousands of people, for example, found an association between bacteria that can cause gum disease and a higher risk of esophageal cancer. Other studies have exposed the mechanism by which a mouth bacterium can speed the growth of colorectal tumors and shown how oral bacteria can impair respiratory health. Finally, some research has also linked gum disease with higher dementia risk. Raul Bescos, a lecturer in dietetics and physiology at the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom, is the lead author of the new study, which shows how mouth bacteria mediate the blood pressure-lowering effects of exercise and how the use of antibacterial mouthwash interferes with this process. These findings show that nitrite synthesis by oral bacteria is hugely important in kick-starting how our bodies react to exercise over the first period of recovery, promoting lower blood pressure and greater muscle oxygenation." Says Craig Cutler. "The next step," continues Cutler, "is to investigate in more detail the effect of exercise on the activity of oral bacteria and the composition of oral bacteria in individuals under high cardiovascular risk." (Credits: www.medicalnewstoday.com)