General Health
Medical proof a vacation is good for your heart
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
We all treasure our vacation time and look forward to that time when we can get away from work. With the arrival of summer comes the prime vacation season and along with it one more reasons to appreciate our vacation time: the value to our heart health. While there has been much anecdotal evidence about the benefits of taking a vacation from work, a new study by Syracuse University professors Bryce Hruska and Brooks Gump and other researchers reveals the benefits of a vacation for our heart health. "What we found is that people who vacation more frequently in the past 12 months have... more »
Long work hours associated with increased risk of stroke
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
People who worked long hours had a higher risk of stroke, especially if they worked those hours for 10 years or more, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal *Stroke*. Researchers reviewed data from CONSTANCES, a French population-based study group started in 2012, for information on age (18-69), sex, smoking and work hours derived from questionnaires from 143,592 participants. Cardiovascular risk factors and previous stroke occurrences were noted from separate medical interviews. Researchers found: - overall 1,224 of the participants, suffered str... more »
Iron stops anemia but has a downside
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 day ago
A global study looking at the role that iron plays in 900 diseases has uncovered the impact of both low and high iron levels - and the news is mixed. People with high iron levels are not only protected against anaemia but are also less likely to have high cholesterol, according to an international study led by Imperial College London, the University of South Australia (UniSA) and University of Ioannina. In a paper published today in *PLOS Medicine*, researchers used genetic and clinical data from approximately 500,000 people in the UK Biobank, looking at the role of iron status and... more »
One day of employment a week is all we need for mental health benefits
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 3 days ago
------------------------------ As automation advances, predictions of a jobless future have some fearing unrest from mass unemployment, while others imagine a more contented work-free society. Aside from economic factors, paid employment brings other benefits -- often psychological -- such as self-esteem and social inclusion. Now, researchers at the universities of Cambridge and Salford have set out to define a recommended "dosage" of work for optimal wellbeing. They examined how changes in working hours were linked to mental health and life satisfaction in over 70,000 UK residents b... more »
Poor oral health linked to a 75% increase in liver cancer risk
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 5 days ago
A new study, by researchers at Queen's University Belfast, analysed a large cohort of over 469,000 people in the UK, investigated the association between oral health conditions and the risk of a number of gastrointestinal cancers, including liver, colon, rectum and pancreatic cancer. Models were applied to estimate the relationship between cancer risk and self-reported oral health conditions, such as painful or bleeding gums, mouth ulcers and loose teeth. Whilst no significant associations were observed on the risk of the majority gastrointestinal cancers and poor oral health, a su... more »
Lower risk of Type 1 diabetes seen in children vaccinated against 'stomach flu' virus x
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Vaccinating babies against a virus that causes childhood "stomach flu" greatly reduces their chance of getting so sick that they need hospital care, a new study shows. But the study also reveals a surprise: Getting fully vaccinated against rotavirus in the first months of life is associated with a lower risk of developing Type 1 diabetes later on. As a group, children who received all recommended doses of rotavirus vaccine had a 33 percent lower risk than unvaccinated children of getting diagnosed with type 1 diabetes -- a lifelong disease with no known prevention strategies or c... more »
Two hours a week is key dose of nature for health and wellbeing
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Spending at least two hours a week in nature may be a crucial threshold for promoting health and wellbeing, according to a new large-scale study. Research led by the University of Exeter, published in *Scientific Reports* and funded by NIHR, found that people who spend at least 120 minutes in nature a week are significantly more likely to report good health and higher psychological wellbeing than those who don't visit nature at all during an average week. However, no such benefits were found for people who visited natural settings such as town parks, woodlands, country parks and be... more »
Exercise
Good physical fitness in middle age linked to lower chronic lung disease risk
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 3 days ago
Good heart and lung (cardiorespiratory) fitness in middle age is associated with a lower long term risk of chronic lung disease (COPD), suggests Danish research published online in the journal *Thorax*. Physical activity that boosts fitness should be encouraged "to delay development, progression and death from COPD," conclude the researchers. COPD, short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is an umbrella term for respiratory conditions that narrow the airways, such as bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking is the main risk factor for COPD, which the Wo...
A sauna session is equivalent to moderate exercise
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Your blood pressure does not drop during a sauna visit - it rises, as well as your heart rate. This increase is even comparable to the effect of a short, moderate workout. This is the result of a new study conducted by researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the Medical Center Berlin (MCB). For their study, the researchers placed their participants both in a sauna and on a bicycle ergometer. Contrary to the previous assumption, blood pressure does not drop during a sauna session - it rises. And this increase is even comparable to the increase caused by a s... more »
Weak upper and lower body physical performance associated with depression and anxiety
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Physical fitness is associated with a number of key health outcomes, including heart disease, cognition, mortality, and an overall feeling of well-being. A new study from Singapore now links physical performance with mental health and emotions, suggesting that weak upper and lower body fitness can cause more serious depression and anxiety in midlife women. Results are published online today in *Menopause*, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Although several studies have previously linked depression in midlife women with self-reported low physical activity, ... more »
Aging
High postural sway doubles older women's fracture risk
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 days ago
Postural sway is an independent risk factor for bone fractures in postmenopausal women, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital. Women with the highest postural sway had a two times higher fracture risk compared to women with the lowest postural sway. In addition, a combination of high postural sway and low bone mineral density was associated with a five times higher overall fracture risk and an 11 times higher osteoporotic fracture risk. The results were published in *Journal of Bone and Mineral R... more
Adequate protein intake associates with lower risk of frailty
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 4 days ago
Adequate intake of protein is associated with a reduced risk of frailty and prefrailty in older women, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital. Adequate protein intake was defined as at least 1.1 g per kg of body weight. The findings were published in *European Journal of Nutrition*. Frailty is a multidimensional condition common in older adults, and those affected are at an elevated risk of dependence and mobility loss, fall, fracture, multimorbidity and mortality. Evidence shows a strong link between frailty and malnutrition,... more »
Low vitamin K levels linked to mobility limitation and disability in older adults
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Low levels of circulating vitamin K are linked to increased risk of mobility limitation and disability in older adults, identifying a new factor to consider for maintaining mobility and independence in older age, according to a study led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. The study, published online in May in advance of print in the *Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences*, is the first to evaluate the association between biomarkers of vitamin K status and the onset of mobility limitation and disability in older ad... more »
Over a quarter of adults aged 50+ are deficient in vitamin D
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Over a quarter of adults aged 50+ are deficient in vitamin D according to researchers from Trinity College Dublin who announced their findings today (Thursday, June 13th). Over half (57%) had inadequate serum vitamin D levels, of which 26% were classed as vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D has a known role in bone health, with growing evidence for beneficial effects on muscle strength and other non-skeletal outcomes. The study was recently published in the international, peer-reviewed journal *Nutrients*. Better understanding of factors that contribute to vitamin D deficiency is needed... more »
Education, intelligence may protect cognition, but don't prevent Alzheimer's disease
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
In a search for clues to what may delay or prevent Alzheimer's disease, Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists report that smarter, more educated people aren't protected from the disease, but do get a cognitive "head start" that may keep their minds functioning better temporarily. Put another way, the investigators say, those who start out with greater cognitive reserve -- a baseline of higher mental functioning -- may have more they can afford to lose before Alzheimer's disease symptoms begin to interfere with their daily lives compared with those who don't have as much schooling or pa... more »
Genetics play strong role in determining age of menopause and overall longevity
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
If you're wondering why you entered menopause earlier or later than other women, blame your mother. That's because numerous studies have confirmed the role of genetics in determining a woman's age at menopause. A new study not only reconfirms this association but additionally suggests a link to familial longevity. Results are published online today in *Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS)*. The age of menopause is clinically defined as one year after the final menstrual period and is, on average, about 52 years. However, every year thousands of wome... more »
Weak upper and lower body physical performance associated with depression and anxiety
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Physical fitness is associated with a number of key health outcomes, including heart disease, cognition, mortality, and an overall feeling of well-being. A new study from Singapore now links physical performance with mental health and emotions, suggesting that weak upper and lower body fitness can cause more serious depression and anxiety in midlife women. Results are published online today in *Menopause*, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Although several studies have previously linked depression in midlife women with self-reported low physical activity, ... more »
Possible new reason why human disease burden increases so sharply from the sixth decade of life onward
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Just as a computer requires code to work, our bodies are regulated by molecular "programs" that are written early in life and then have to do their job properly for a lifetime. But do they? It's a question that has intrigued researchers for years. Claes Wahlestedt, M.D., Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate dean for therapeutic innovation at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is senior author of a new study -- Longevity Related Molecular Pathways Are Subject to Midlife 'Switch' in Humans -- published today in *Aging Cell*. Working with... more »
Study follows the health of older adults with prediabetes problems
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
In a *Journal of Internal Medicine* study that followed older adults with prediabetes for 12 years, most remained stable or reverted to normal blood sugar levels, and only one-third developed diabetes or died. Among 918 individuals aged 60 years and older with prediabetes, 204 (22%) reverted to normal blood sugar levels, 119 (13%) developed diabetes, and 215 (23%) died. Lower systolic blood pressure, absence of heart diseases, and weight loss were linked with a higher likelihood of reverting from prediabetes to normal blood sugar levels, while obesity accelerated its progression to... more »
Medicine and Supplements
Epilepsy drugs linked to increased risk of suicidal behavior, particularly in young people
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Treatment with gabapentinoids - a group of drugs used for epilepsy, nerve pain and anxiety disorders - is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour, unintentional overdose, injuries, and road traffic incidents, finds a study from Sweden published by *The BMJ* today. Prescriptions have risen steeply in recent years, and gabapentinoids are among the top 15 drugs globally in terms of revenue. The risks are strongest among 15 to 24 year-olds, prompting the researchers to suggest that treatment guidelines for young people should be reviewed. Previous studies have linked gabap... more »
Vitamin D and estradiol help guard against heart disease, stroke, and diabetes
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Vitamin D and estrogen have already shown well-documented results in improving bone health in women. A new study from China suggests that this same combination could help prevent metabolic syndrome, a constellation of conditions that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes in postmenopausal women. Results are published online today in *Menopause*, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Metabolic syndrome has emerged as a major public health concern, affecting 30% to 60% of postmenopausal women worldwide. The progression of abdominal obesity and... more »
Over a quarter of adults aged 50+ are deficient in vitamin D
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Over a quarter of adults aged 50+ are deficient in vitamin D according to researchers from Trinity College Dublin who announced their findings today (Thursday, June 13th). Over half (57%) had inadequate serum vitamin D levels, of which 26% were classed as vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D has a known role in bone health, with growing evidence for beneficial effects on muscle strength and other non-skeletal outcomes. The study was recently published in the international, peer-reviewed journal *Nutrients*. Better understanding of factors that contribute to vitamin D deficiency is needed... more »
Weighing risks and benefits of drug treatment for major depression
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Depression is a common and serious problem for older adults. Some 15 to 20 percent of people aged 65 and older who live independently deal with symptoms of major depressive disorder. For residents of nursing homes, the rates of depression may be as high as 50 percent. For some people, medication is an effective part of treatment for depression. However, when considering whether to prescribe antidepressant medication for older adults, healthcare providers must weigh the safety risks these medications pose against the often modest benefits they can provide compared to other options. F... more »
Studies examine dosage and labeling of common supplements
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
*Many prenatal supplements contain too much folic acid* Consuming folic acid prior to pregnancy helps prevent birth defects. But a new study found most prenatal supplements were labeled as containing more folic acid than the current recommended daily intake. The study also revealed different agencies and scientific bodies provide conflicting messaging around the optimal intake of folic acid (from supplements) and folate (from food) during pregnancy. *Prenatal vitamins often have nutrient content higher than labeled* Chemical analysis of the contents of 24 prenatal multivitamins repr... more »
Labels of US probiotic products lacking
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
------------------------------ When it comes to buying probiotics, many product labels do not give consumers enough information to make an informed decision, according to a research team led by Georgetown University Medical Center. In their study, published in the *Journal of General Internal Medicine*, investigators found that of 93 different bottles of probiotics purchased from four large national probiotic retailers in the Washington, DC area, only 33 (35%) could be linked to medical efficacy as supported by clinical evidence. The researchers point out that the other 65% of produc... more »
Dietary supplements linked with severe health events in children, young adults
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
*Key takeaways: * - Compared with vitamins, dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, and energy were associated with nearly three times the risk of severe medical events in children and young adults. - Efforts aimed at reducing access and consumption of these types of dietary supplements, implementing proactive enforcement of regulations, and providing clear warnings at the point of purchase are needed. Consumption of dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, and energy was associated with increased risk for severe medical ... more »
Sleep
Study links poor sleep with poor nutrition
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Many Americans get less than the recommended amount of sleep, and many do not consume the recommended amounts of important vitamins and minerals. A new study suggests the two factors may be connected. The research is based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Compared with people who got more than seven hours of sleep per night--the amount the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for adults--scientists found that people who got fewer than seven hours of sleep per night on ave... more »
Night owls can 'retrain' their body clocks to improve mental well-being and performance
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
A simple tweak to the sleeping patterns of 'night owls' - people with extreme late sleeping and waking habits - could lead to significant improvements in sleep/wake timings, improved performance in the mornings, better eating habits and a decrease in depression and stress. New international research by the Universities of Birmingham and Surrey in the UK, and Monash University in Australia, showed that, over a three-week period, it was possible to shift the circadian rhythm of 'night owls' using non-pharmacological and practical interventions. The study, published in *Sleep Medicin... more »
Sleeping with artificial light at night associated with weight gain in women
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 1 week ago
Sleeping with a television or light on in the room may be a risk factor for gaining weight or developing obesity, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health. The research, which was published online June 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine, is the first to find an association between any exposure to artificial light at night while sleeping and weight gain in women. The results suggest that cutting off lights at bedtime could reduce women’s chances of becoming obese. The research team used questionnaire data from 43,722 women in the Sister Study, a cohort study that exami... more »
Study links sleep-disordered breathing to age acceleration
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Increasing severity of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep disruption are associated with epigenetic age acceleration, according to preliminary results of a new study. Results show that each standard deviation increase in the apnea-hypopnea index, a measure of sleep-disordered breathing severity, was associated with the equivalent of 215 days of biological age acceleration. Similarly, each standard deviation increase in the arousal index, a measure of sleep disruption, was associated with the equivalent of 321 days of age acceleration. "People's biological age might not be the sam... more »
Insufficient sleep linked to mental health in college students and athletes
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Preliminary results from a new study suggest that there is a dose-response relationship between insufficient sleep and mental health symptoms in collegiate students, including varsity athletes. Results show that in adjusted models, insufficient sleep was associated with all mental health variables, and a dose-response relationship resulted when insufficient sleep was treated as categorical. With every additional night of insufficient sleep, the risk of experiencing mental health symptoms increased on average by more than 20% - including an increased risk of 21% for depressed mood,... more »
Irregular sleep patterns = metabolic disorders
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
A new study has found that not sticking to a regular bedtime and wakeup schedule--and getting different amounts of sleep each night--can put a person at higher risk for obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, high blood sugar and other metabolic disorders. In fact, for every hour of variability in time to bed and time asleep, a person may have up to a 27% greater chance of experiencing a metabolic abnormality. The results of the study, which was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, appear today in the journal *D... more »
Extending sleep may lower cardiometabolic risk
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
Increasing sleep duration may help reduce cardiometabolic risk--or the risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders-- in individuals who do not get enough sleep, according to an analysis of all published studies on the topic. The *Journal of Sleep Research* analysis, which was led by researchers at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, included seven studies that aimed to increase sleep duration in adults by any sleep extension intervention. These studies had a combined number of 138 participants who were either healthy, healthy short-sleeping, overweight short-sleeping, or p... more »
Study compares different strategies for treating insomnia
Jonathan KantrowitzatHealth News Report - 2 weeks ago
New research indicates that for treating insomnia, stimulus control therapy (which reassociates the bed with sleepiness instead of arousal) and sleep restriction therapy are effective, and it is best to use them individually rather than together. The *Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing* study, which included 517 individuals with chronic insomnia, also found that a strategy focused only on sleep education and hygiene was minimally effective.
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