Here’s some of HealthDay’s top stories for Tuesday, July 27:

Choosing the best blood pressure drug for you. A study involving data on more than 3 million people focused on two major classes of drugs used to lower high blood pressure — ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Depending on the patient, one may be the better choice. Read more

Federal, state officials begin to mandate COVID vaccines for workers. After dozens of U.S. medical groups issued a joint statement supporting mandated COVID shots for health care workers, California, New York City and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday issued mandates of their own. Read more

Harnessing light and sound to ease Alzheimer’s. While most research on Alzheimer’s disease treatment focuses on drugs, a new study finds exposing patients to calibrated flashes of light and sound might alter brain waves in a therapeutic way. Read more

Pfizer, Moderna expand COVID vaccine trials in children. Seeking to harness the power of numbers to spot any ‘safety signals,’ the two companies behind the most-used COVID vaccines in the United States said they are expanding the number of participants in trials focused on kids under 12. Read more

Allergic reaction to your first COVID vaccine shot? Second may be safe. With new variants circulating, it takes two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to provide good protection. New research shows that in rare cases of an allergic reaction to the first dose, a second dose can be safely administered. Read more