Thursday, March 18, 2021

Latest Health Research

General Health

Heart-healthy lifestyles linked to lower risk of future cancers

Risk of future cancers was lowest among participants in community-based observational study who had a heart-healthy lifestyle.In addition to lowering risk of heart disease, maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle may pay off in lower risk for developing cancer, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and other centers in the United States and the Netherlands have found. Looking at the potential link between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer among participants in two large population...

Minimally invasive treatment provides fast pain relief for cancer patients
A minimally invasive treatment for patients whose cancer has spread to their bones provides quick and sustained pain relief and improves quality of life, according to a new study to be presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting. The palliative treatment known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective in providing relief in as little ...

A non-surgical treatment for arthritis in the knee is safe and effective in providing immediate and long-term pain relief, according to a new study to be presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) reduces inflammation in the knee to improve function and quality of life for people with moderate to severe knee pain. ...


In women, higher body fat may protect against heart disease death, study shows
Jonathan Kantrowitz, Health News Report - 1 day ago
A new UCLA study shows that while men and women who have high muscle mass are less likely to die from heart disease, it also appears that women who have higher levels of body fat -- regardless of their muscle mass -- have a greater degree of protection than women with less fat. The researchers analyzed national health survey data collected over a 15-year period and found that heart disease-related death in women with high muscle mass and high body fat was 42% lower than in a comparison group of women with low muscle mass and low body fat. However, women who had high muscle mass a...

Surgery should remain as mainstay of treatment for acute uncomplicated appendicitis


An RCSI study conducted in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has found that surgery, rather than antibiotics-only, should remain as the mainstay of treatment for acute uncomplicated appendicitis. Published in the *Annals of Surgery* and led by researchers from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the study entitled the COMMA trial (Conservative versus Open M...

Exercise during pregnancy may save kids from health problems as adults

Parental obesity predisposes children to develop diabetes, metabolic issues  Exercise during pregnancy may let mothers significantly reduce their children's chances of developing diabetes and other metabolic diseases later in life, new research suggests. A study in...

No more sitting in the dark?

First study to objectively document self-paced physical and cognitive activity post-concussion among youth suggests they may be able to engage in physical and cognitive activity as soon as tolerated post-concussion Concussion, a form of traumatic brain injury, is a common injury among children and teens. Concussions can have adverse effects on physical, cognitive, emotional and sleep health. Clinical guidelines for managing concussion in children and teens traditionally recommend complete ph...


High life satisfaction linked to better overall health

New research from UBC finds that higher life satisfaction is associated with better physical, psychological and behavioural health. The research, published recently in *The Milbank Quarterly*, found that higher life satisfaction is linked to 21 positive health and well-being outcomes including: - a 26 per cent reduced risk of mortality - a 46 per cent reduced risk of depression - a 25 per cent reduced risk of physical functioning limitations - a 12 per cent reduced risk of chronic pain - a 14 per cent reduced risk of sleep problem onset - an eight per cent higher l...

Structured exercise program, not testosterone therapy improved men's artery health
Jonathan Kantrowitz, Health News Report - 3 weeks ago
Twelve weeks of exercise training improved artery health and function in middle-aged and older men (ages 50-70 years) with low-to-normal testosterone levels, while testosterone therapy provided no benefits to the arteries, according to new research published today in *Hypertension*, an American Heart Association journal. The natural aging process for men includes decreased testosterone and physical activity levels decline with age, leading to declines in artery health and function. Testosterone replacement therapy is often used to combat the symptoms of decreasing testosterone le...

Acid reflux disease may increase risk of cancers of the larynx and esophagus

Results from a large prospective study indicate that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which also causes heartburn symptoms, is linked with higher risks of various cancers of the larynx (or voice box) and esophagus. The study is published early online in *CANCER*, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. GERD, a gastrointestinal disorder that affects approximately 20 percent of U.S. adults, occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, where it can cause tissue damage. Research indicates that this damage may put patients at risk of developing a ty...



Insomnia -- trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early -- is a common condition in older adults. Sleeplessness can be exacerbated by osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis causing joint pain. While there are effective therapies for treating insomnia in older adults, many people cannot get the treatment they need because they live in areas with limited access to health care, either in person or over the internet. With telephones nearly universal among the elderly, however, researchers at ...
People with migraine don't get enough exercise

Two-and-a-half hours of exercise a week may reduce migraine triggers More than two-thirds of people with migraine do not get enough exercise, according to a preliminary study released today, February 23, 2021, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 73rd Annual Meeting being held virtually April 17 to 22, 2021. The study found that people who do get a minimum of two-and-a-half hours of moderate to vigorous exercise a week had a reduced rate of migraine triggers like stress, depression and sleep problems. "Migraine is a disabling condition that affects mill...

Pregnancy, stress, sleep issues, physiology among women's unique cardiovascular concerns

Jonathan Kantrowitz, Health News Report - 3 weeks ago
Women face many female-specific risks for heart disease and stroke, including pregnancy, physical and emotional stress, sleep patterns and many physiological factors, according to multiple studies highlighted in this year’s Go Red for Women® special issue of the *Journal of the American Heart Association*, published online today. “Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in men and women, women are less likely to be diagnosed and receive preventive care and aggressive treatment compared to men,” said *Journal of the American Heart Association* Editor-in-Chief ...

Diet

Consumption of added sugar doubles fat production

Sugar is added to many common foodstuffs, and people in Switzerland consume more than 100 grams of it every day. The high calorie content of sugar causes excessive weight and obesity, and the associated diseases. But does too much sugar have any other harmful effects if consumed regularly? And if so, which sugars in particular? Even moderate amounts of sugar increase fat synthesis Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) and the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) have been investigating these questions. Compared to previous studies, which mainly examined the consumption of ver...

Healthy plant-based diet associated with lower stroke risk
- People who eat diets with higher amounts of healthy plant-based foods and lower amounts of less-healthy plant-based foods may reduce their risk of stroke compared to people with lower-quality diets, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They found that healthy plant-based diets--defined as rich in foods such as leafy greens, whole grains, and beans, and including lower levels of foods like refined grains, potatoes, and added sugars--m...


Women who reported drinking non-diet soda five times or more per week were 85% more likely to die from breast cancer

New research from the University at Buffalo suggests that breast cancer patients who drink sugar-sweetened beverages regularly are at increased risk for death from any cause and breast cancer in particular. Compared to women who never or rarely drank non-diet soda, those who reported drinking non-diet soda five times or more per week had a 62% higher likelihood of dying from any causes, and were 85% more likely to die from breast cancer specifically. The findings were published online ahead of print March 2 in *Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention,* a journal of the Ameri...


New discovery explains antihypertensive properties of green and black tea

A new study from the University of California, Irvine shows that compounds in both green and black tea relax blood vessels by activating ion chan...

 An analysis of several large studies involving participants from more than 60 countries, spearheaded by researchers from McMaster University, has found that eating oily fish regularly can help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in high-risk individuals, such as those who already have heart disease or stroke. The critical ingredient is omega-3 fatty acids, which researchers found was associated with a lower risk of major CVD events such as heart attacks and strokes by about a sixth in high-risk people who ate two servings of fish rich in omega-3 each week. ...

A vegan diet leads to poorer bone health

The vegan diet is on trend. How this type of diet affects health is the subject of scientific studies. In a new study from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the bone health of 36 vegans as well as 36 people following a mixed-food diet was determined with an ultrasound measurement of the heel bone. The result: on average, people following a vegan diet had lower ultrasound values compared to the other group. This indicates poorer bone health. In the study, the scientists also determined biomarkers in blood and urine. This aims to identify nutrients that might b...

Micronutrient-Packed Bar Improving Metabolic Health
Jonathan Kantrowitz, Health News Report - 1 week ago

A new micronutrient- and fiber-packed bar that improves metabolic health markers from cholesterol to blood sugar to inflammation is now on the market. The new bar is based on a unique formula developed by scientists with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI). This patent-pending fruit-based bar formula, fortified with micronutrients, fiber, and other ingredients that improve gut health, has been licensed to Advanced Micronutrition LLC of Orlando, Florida. Each bar has 8 grams of fiber, so 2 bars per day provides 1...

Balanced Carbohydrate and Fat Intake Can Prevent Certain Diseases

A team of scientists in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agriculture Research Service (ARS) recently found that consuming a high level of carbohydrates regulates a gene in the body that can reduce your risk of obesity, hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. This is good news for most people. The bad news, however, is that high fat intake reduces this protection and may lead to health problems for those who regularly consume fatty foods. "This is exciting for nutrition research because it gives insight on how balanced nutrition can affect our heal...


Eat 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings for longer life

*The right '5-a-day' mix is 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings for longer life* Studies representing nearly 2 million adults worldwide show that eating about five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, in which 2 are fruits and 3 are vegetables, is likely the optimal amount for a longer life, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal *Circulation*. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables help reduce risk for numerous chronic health conditions that are leading causes of death, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Yet, onl


Diet high in poor quality carbohydrates increases heart disease and death

Largest study of a geographically and dietary diverse population on this issue - A global study of people living on five continents has found a diet high in poor quality carbohydrates leads to a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death. The higher risks of a diet high in poor quality carbohydrates, called a high glycemic diet, were similar whether people had previous cardiovascular disease or not. The study, published in the *New England Journal of Medicine* today, is the largest of a geographically and dietary diverse population on this issue, as previous studies hav...

Mushrooms add important nutrients when included in the typical diet

First dietary modeling analysis of all three USDA Food Patterns investigates the effects of adding a serving of mushrooms The second study published in as many months has identified another reason to add more mushrooms to the recommended American diet. The new research , published in *Food & Nutrition Research* (February 2021), e...

England's salt reduction programme will have led to nearly 200,000 fewer adults developing heart disease and £1.64 billion of healthcare cost savings by 2050, according to research by Queen Mary University of London. However, the researchers warn that the recent stalling of salt reduction programmes...
 New research by Swansea scientists in collaboration with scientists at the University of Bristol and the Francis Crick institute in London has indicated that consuming a diet high in the sugar fructose might prevent the proper functioning of peoples' immune systems in ways that has, until now, largely been unknown. Fructose is commonly found in sugary drinks, sweets and processed foods and is used widely in food production. It is associated with obesity, t...


Actively preparing or watching others prepare food can lead to eating more

During this unique study, a team of researchers led by Professor Jane Ogden from the University of Surrey investigated the impact of actively preparing or watching others prepare food (e.g., on a cooking show) versus distraction away from this focus. Researchers sought to understand how this may affect the amount of food consumed and influence the desire to continue eating. To investigate this further, eighty female participants were recruited and assigned to one of four groups: active food preparation (preparing a cheese wrap within 10 minutes), video food preparation (watchin...

Medicine and Supplements

Study: 94% of older adults prescribed drugs that raise risk of falling

From 1999-2017, more than 7.8 billion fall-risk-increasing drugs were prescribed to older adults in the US, and deaths from falls doubled Nearly every older adult was prescribed a prescription drug that increased their risk of falling in 2017, according to new University at Buffalo research. The study found that the percentage of adults 65 and older who were prescribed a fall- risk-increasing drug climbed to 94% in 2017, a significant leap from 57% in 1999. The research also revealed that the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled during the same time ...
Aspirin is an established, safe, and low-cost medication in long-standing common use in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and in the past a pain relief and fever reducing medication. The use of aspirin was very popular during the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic, several decades before in-vitro confirmation of its activity against RNA viruses. Studies showed that aspirin, in addition to its well-known anti-inflammatory effects, could modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses helping the human im...


Five days of antibiotics fine for children with pneumonia

There are several reasons to use the least amount of antibiotics needed to effectively treat bacterial infections Many parents know the struggle of having to make children with pneumonia finish the usual 10-day course in antibiotics despite the child feeling better after a few d...


Speeding treatment for urinary tract infections in children

Guidelines on white blood cell counts could help doctors prescribe antibiotics earlier UT Southwestern and Children's Health researchers defines parameters for the number of white blood cells that must be present in children's urine at different concentrations to suggest a urinary tract infection (UTI). The findings, published recently in *Pediatrics*...
People who took statins to lower cholesterol were approximately 50% less likely to die if hospitalized for COVID-19, a study by physicians at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian has found. "Our study is one of the larger studies confirming this hypothesis and the data lay the groundwork for future randomized clinical trials that are needed to confirm the benefit of statins in COVID-19," says Aakriti Gupta, MD, a cardio...

Aging

New research finds exercise may help slow memory loss for people living with Alzheimer's dementia
 Promising new research shows aerobic exercise may help slow memory loss for older adults living with Alzheimer's dementia. ASU Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation Professor Fang Yu led a pilot randomized control trial that included 96 older adults living with mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementi...

Older women who ate more plant protein had lower risk of premature, dementia-related death

Postmenopausal women who ate high levels of plant protein had lower risks of premature death, cardiovascular disease and dementia-related death compared with women who ate less plant proteins, according to new research published today in the *Journal of the American Heart Association*, an open access journal of the American Heart Association. Previous research has shown an association between diets high in red meat and cardiovascular disease risk, yet the data is sparse and inconclusive about specific types of proteins, the study authors say. In this study, researchers analyzed...

Light activity, such as gardening or walking, preserves women's mobility during aging

One in four women over age 65 is unable to walk two blocks or climb a flight of stairs. Known as mobility disability, it is the leading type of incapacity in the United States and a key contributor to a person's loss of independence. New research from Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Sciences at UC San Diego suggests that light-intensity physical activity, including shopping or a casual walk, may protect mobility in older women. Published in the February 23, 2021 online issue of *JAMA Network Open*, researchers found that women who did not have a mobil...

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