High blood pressure, or hypertension, is generally viewed as a bad thing. It's a major risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. But there may be an upside as well. An analysis of 559 people, mostly women, found that those who develop hypertension in their 80s have a 42 percent lower risk of developing dementia after age 90 compared to those with no history of high blood pressure. And people who developed hypertension in their 90s were 63 percent less likely to develop dementia.

As the health news site STAT notes, these findings contradict the widely accepted idea that high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems increase risk for dementia. "It suggests that some risk factors for dementia change, and even reverse, over one's life. Being overweight in middle age raises the risk of Alzheimer's, for instance, but extra pounds after age 75 seem to lower the risk."

One Flu Over

This might be a case of the early bird getting the, uh, flu.

A new study, published by the CDC, suggests that it's possible to get your flu shot too early. Seasonal sign-ups can begin as early as July or August, though flu season typically reaches peak activity December through March.

CDC researchers found that, depending upon the particular strains targeted by the flu vaccine (it changes yearly), a flu shot's effectiveness may decline over time. Five or six months out, a vaccine's effectiveness could diminish to nearly zero. The CDC currently recommends people get vaccinated by the end of October.

Get Me That, Stat!

A CDC report found that more than 45 percent of death certificates at a group of Missouri hospitals incorrectly identified the patient's cause of death. That bodes ill for the rest of us because many public health initiatives, clinical funding programs and research efforts are based upon accurate chronicling of what kills us.

Number Cruncher

A single, round toaster waffle (33 grams, no syrup) contains 103 calories, 29 from fat. It has 3.2 grams of total fat or 5 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet.

It also contains 5 milligrams of cholesterol (2 percent); 241 mg of sodium (10 percent); 16.3 grams of total carbohydrates (5 percent); 1.7 grams of sugar and 2.4 g of protein.

Counts

4: Percentage of donated organs in New England that came from victims of drug overdoses in 2010

27: Percentage today

Source: New England Organ Bank

Doc Talk

Pit her: To give a pregnant woman the labor-inducing drug pitocin

Phobia of the Week

Harpaxophobia: fear of being robbed

Never Say Diet

The Major League Eating record for bratwursts is 101 in 10 minutes, held by Carmen Cincotti. It was a "first to wurst" feat.

Observation

"Nursing would be a dream job if there were no doctors." —German health economist and writer Gerhard Kocher

Medical History

A toothpick manufacturing machine was invented in 1872 by Silas Noble and James Cooley, founders of a company that also made — and still does — drums.

Self Exam

Q: Which fingernail grows fastest?

a) Thumb

b) Index finger

c) Middle finger

d) Ring finger

e) Pinkie

A: Middle finger. The slowest-growing is the thumb. The rate of growth appears related the length of the digit. Fingernails grow faster than toenails — 3.5 millimeters per month versus 1.6 mm per month, on average. Age, sex, diet, exercise, health and time of year can all affect growth rate.

Medical Myths

Though virtually everybody with arthritis thinks so, there is very little scientific evidence to support the claim that cold weather makes joints ache — or that their bones allow them to feel the weather changing.

The notion is that changes in barometric pressure are the reason, but studies haven't found any conclusive link. In fact, if ambient pressure was a culprit, people with arthritis would likely notice an increase in pain as they rode up elevators.

Last Words

"Call Me Trimtab" —American inventor, philosopher and architect R. Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983).

A trimtab is the smallest part of a rudder for a ship or airplane, and controls the direction of the craft. Fuller was probably alluding how much power one individual can have in the world.

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.