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Supplements
Aspirin should not be recommended for healthy people over 70
- 16 hours ago
Low-dose aspirin does not prolong disability-free survival of healthy people over 70, even in those at the highest risk of cardiovascular disease. The late breaking results of the ASPREE trial are presented today at ESC Congress 2019 together with the World Congress of Cardiology.(1) On behalf of the ASPREE Investigators, Professor Christopher Reid of Curtin University, Perth, Australia said: "An ever-increasing number of people reach the age of 70 without overt cardiovascular disease (CVD). This analysis suggests that improved risk prediction methods are needed to identify those w... »
Vitamin D: How much is too much of a good thing?
- 17 hours ago
When bare skin is exposed to sunlight, it makes Vitamin D, which is needed by our bodies to absorb calcium and ensure strong, healthy bones. With bathing suit skin exposure, it only takes about 10-15 minutes of sun exposure during the summer to generate all the vitamin D your body needs for the day. Unfortunately, for Canadians, exposure to sunlight is diminished during the long winter months. This results in many turning to supplements to get the required vitamin D. For normal, healthy adults, Health Canada recommends a total daily intake of 600 international units (IU) up to age 7... »
Probiotic use can lead to major economic and health savings related to flu-like illnesses
- 6 days ago
A study published on August 27 in *Frontiers in Pharmacology* found that general probiotic use in the U.S. could save the health care payer and the economy around $1.4 billion in medical bills and lost productivity due to acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs). RTIs include influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) with symptoms ranging from mild cold to the serious flu. Although most acute RTI episodes resolve on their own, RTIs result in a high number of doctor visits and pose a heavy burden on society and the health care system. The systematic reviews by York Health Economics Conso... »
Cannabis flower is an effective medication for pain
- 1 week ago
Using the largest database of real-time recordings of the effects of common and commercially available cannabis products in the United States (U.S.), researchers at The University of New Mexico (UNM) found strong evidence that cannabis can significantly alleviate pain, with the average user experiencing a three-point drop in pain suffering on a 0-10 point scale immediately following cannabis consumption. With a mounting opioid epidemic at full force and relatively few alternative pain medications available to the general public, scientists found conclu... »
Sleep
Sleeping too much -- or too little -- boosts heart attack risk
- 16 hours ago
Even if you are a non-smoker who exercises and has no genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease, skimping on sleep - or getting too much of it - can boost your risk of heart attack, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study of nearly a half-million people. The research, published Sept. 2 in the *Journal of the American College of Cardiology*, also found that for those at high genetic risk for heart attack, sleeping between 6 and 9 hours nightly can offset that risk. "This provides some of the strongest proof yet that sleep duration is a key factor when it comes t... »
Insomnia tied to higher risk of heart disease and stroke
- 2 weeks ago
People suffering from insomnia may have an increased risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal *Circulation*. Previous observational studies have found an association between insomnia, which affects up to 30% of the general population, and an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke. These observational studies were unable to determine whether insomnia is a cause, or if it is just associated with them, explained Susanna Larsson, Ph.D., lead study author and associate professor of car... »
General Health
Heart attack and stroke be prevented with sustained drop in cholesterol and blood pressure
- 17 hours ago
Modest and sustained decreases in blood pressure and cholesterol levels reduces the lifetime risk of developing fatal heart and circulatory diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, according to research part-funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The findings are being presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Paris and published in the *Journal of the American Medical Association* (*JAMA*). Researchers have found that a long-term reduction of 1 mmol/L low-density lipoprotein (LDL)... »
Waist size, not body mass index, may be predictive of coronary artery disease
- 6 days ago
For years, women have been told that weight gain could lead to heart disease. A new study indicates that it is the location of the fat that matters most, with abdominal fat representing the greatest harm and not overall body mass index (BMI) when assessing risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Results are published online today in *Menopause*, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Because CAD remains the leading cause of death worldwide, there is tremendous attention given to its modifiable risk factors. Estrogen protects women's cardiovascular systems befor... »
Diet
Eating nuts linked with lower risk of fatal heart attack and stroke
- 16 hours ago
Eating nuts at least twice a week is associated with a 17% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to research presented today at ESC Congress 2019 together with the World Congress of Cardiology. (1) "Nuts are a good source of unsaturated fat and contain little saturated fat," said study author Dr Noushin Mohammadifard of Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Iran. "They also have protein, minerals, vitamins, fibre, phytosterols, and polyphenols which benefit heart health. European and US studies have related nuts with cardiovascular protection but there is ... »
Protein shakes may not be the answer for post-gym muscle pain
- 17 hours ago
Protein shakes have long been touted as a gym bag essential, consumed by gym-goers in an effort to boost muscle recovery and minimise post-workout muscle soreness, but they may not be the most effective way to relieve aching muscles, according to a new study. Sports scientists at the University of Lincoln, UK, found that neither whey-protein based shakes nor milk-based formulas enhanced the rate of muscle recovery following resistance training when compared to a carbohydrate only drink. The study is the first to compare the effectiveness of the two different protein formulas. The bl... »
Soft drinks associated with risk of death
- 17 hours ago
Greater consumption of soft drinks, including both sugar- and artificially sweetened, was associated with increased risk of overall death in a population-based study of nearly 452,000 men and women from 10 European countries. Drinking two or glasses per day (compared with less than one glass per month) of total soft drinks, sugar-sweetened soft drinks and artificially sweetened soft drinks was associated with higher risk of death from all causes during an average follow-up of 16 years in which 41,693 deaths occurred. The study group included participants from Denmark. France, ... »
Mouthwash use could inhibit benefits of exercise
- 17 hours ago
Exercise is known to reduce blood pressure - but the activity of bacteria in our mouths may determine whether we experience this benefit, according to new research. An international team of scientists has shown that the blood pressure-lowering effect of exercise is significantly reduced when people rinse their mouths with antibacterial mouthwash, rather than water - showing the importance of oral bacteria in cardiovascular health. The researchers now suggest that health professionals should pay attention to the oral environment when recommending interventions involving physical ac... »
Diet's effect on gut bacteria could play role in reducing Alzheimer's risk
- 17 hours ago
Could following a certain type of diet affect the gut microbiome - the good and bad bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract - in ways that decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease? According to researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine, that is a fair possibility. In a small pilot study, the researchers identified several distinct gut microbiome signatures - the chemicals produced by bacteria - in study participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but not in their counterparts with normal cognition, and found that these bacterial signatures correlated with higher... »
Food waste likely driven in part by ambiguous date labels on packages
- 5 days ago
Americans throw out a lot food than they expect they will, food waste that is likely driven in part by ambiguous date labels on packages, a new study has found. "People eat a lot less of their refrigerated food than they expect to, and they're likely throwing out perfectly good food because they misunderstand labels," said Brian Roe, the study's senior author and a professor agricultural, environmental and development economics at The Ohio State University. This is the first study to offer a data-driven glimpse into the refrigerators of American homes, and provides an importa... »
Healthy foods important than type of diet to reduce heart disease risk
- 6 days ago
Everyone knows that achieving or maintaining a healthy body weight is one key to preventing cardiovascular disease. But even experts don't agree on the best way to achieve that goal, with some recommending eliminating carbohydrates and others emphasizing reducing fats to lose weight. Few studies have investigated the effects of these specific macronutrients on cardiovascular health. In a study published online in the *International Journal of Cardiology*, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) examined the effects of three healthy diets emphasizing different ma... »
Alternate-day fasting a safe alternative to caloric restriction
- 1 week ago
[image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *This visual abstract reflects the finds of Stekovic et al., who show in the clinic that alternate day fasting (ADF) is a simple alternative to calorie restriction and provokes similar... view Credit: Stekovic et al./*Cell Metabolsim* In recent years there has been a surge in studies looking at the biologic effects of different kinds of fasting diets in both animal models and humans. These diets include continuous calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, and alternate-day fasting (ADF). Now the largest study of its kind to look at the effects of strict... »
Washing Raw Poultry Increases Contamination Elsewhere
- 1 week ago
A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that washing poultry increases contamination risk. While washing poultry has long been perceived as a typical and even a necessary part of cooking and meal preparation, an observational study showed that bacteria is easily spread when contact surfaces are not properly sanitized. Even when consumers think they are effectively cleaning after washing poultry, this study shows that bacteria can easily spread to other surfaces and foods. The best practice is not to wash poultry. That’s right - ultimately, the best pract... »
Aging
Risk factors for dementia
- 17 hours ago
[image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *Percentage of reviewed dementia risk factors for which evidence is available from different geographic regions of the world. view Credit: University of New South Wales and Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia Amsterdam, September 3, 2019 - Globally, dementia cases are increasing at a rate of than 20% a year. Most of these cases are in low- to middle-income countries. In a special supplement to the *Journal of Alzheimer's Disease*, from the International Research Network on Dementia Prevention (IRNDP), an international group of scientis... »
Married people are less likely to experience dementia as they age
- 5 days ago
Dementia and marital status could be linked, according to a new Michigan State University study that found married people are less likely to experience dementia as they age. On the other hand, divorcees are about twice as likely as married people to develop dementia, the study indicated, with divorced men showing a greater disadvantage than divorced women. In one of the first studies of its kind, Hui Liu, professor of sociology, and colleagues analyzed four groups of unmarried individuals: divorced or separated; widowed; never married; and cohabiters. Among them, the divorced had t... »
Optimists live longer
- 1 week ago
After decades of research, a new study links optimism and prolonged life. Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, have found that individuals with greater optimism are likely to live longer and to achieve "exceptional longevity," that is, living to age 85 or older. Optimism refers to a general expectation that good things will happen, or believing that the future will be favorable because we can control important outcomes. Whereas research has identified ... »
Brain game exercises can enable people in their 70s and even 80s to multitask cognitively
- 2 weeks ago
A University of California, Irvine-led study has found that online brain game exercises can enable people in their 70s and even 80s to multitask cognitively as well as individuals 50 years their junior. This is an increasingly valuable skill, given today's daily information onslaught, which can divide attention and be particularly taxing for older adults. "The brain is not a muscle, but like our bodies, if we work out and train it, we can improve our mental performance," said lead author Mark Steyvers, a UCI professor of cognitive sciences. "We discovered that people in the upper a... »
New study suggests exercise is good for the aging brain
- 1 week ago
Exercise seems to endow a wealth of benefits, from the release of happiness-inducing hormones to higher physical fitness. New research shows it may provide a boost to the mind too. University of Iowa researchers have found that a single bout of exercise improves cognitive functions and working memory in some older people. In experiments that included physical activity, brain scans, and working memory tests, the researchers also found that participants experienced the same cognitive benefits and improved memory from a single exercise session as they did from longer, regular exercise.... »
Physical activity at any intensity linked to lower risk of early death
- 1 week ago
But being sedentary for several hours a day linked to increased risk.Clear evidence that higher levels of physical activity -- regardless of intensity -- are associated with a lower risk of early death in middle aged and older people, is published by *The BMJ* today. The findings also show that being sedentary, for example sitting still, for 9.5 hours or a day (excluding sleeping time) is associated with an increased risk of death. Previous studies have repeatedly suggested that sedentary behaviour is bad and physical ... »
Lower levels of dietary vitamins and antioxidants are linked to frailty in older adults
- 1 week ago
Researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin have shown in the largest study to date that lower levels of specific dietary vitamins and antioxidants are associated with frailty. Frailty is a common chronic syndrome which affects up to 25% of adults over 65 years and over half of adults over 80. Frailty is characterised by an overall decline in physical function and a loss of ability to bounce back after experiencing a stressful event such as infection, a fall or surgery. It is associated with poor health, disability and death. The TILDA s... »
Increasing evidence shows age-related diseases--rather than age itself--may be the key cause of cognitive decline
- 1 week ago
Declining mental sharpness "just comes with age," right? Not so fast, say geriatrics researchers and clinicians gathered at a prestigious 2018 conference hosted by the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) with support from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). In a report published in the *Journal of the American Geriatrics Society* (*JAGS*), attendees of a conference for the NIA's Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists Transition into Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) program describe how increasing evidence shows age-related diseases--rather than age itself--may be the key cause of ... »
Exercise
Sedentary lifestyle for 20 years linked to doubled mortality risk compared to being active
- 16 hours ago
Two decades of a sedentary lifestyle is associated with a two times risk of premature death compared to being physically active, according to results from the HUNT study presented today at ESC Congress 2019 together with the World Congress of Cardiology. (1) Study author Dr Trine Moholdt of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway said: "Our findings imply that to get the maximum health benefits of physical activity in terms of protection against premature all-cause and cardiovascular death, you need to continue being physically active. You can also red... »
New guideline on treating runner's knee
- 17 hours ago
The University of Montana [image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *University of Montana Assistant Professor Rich Willy is the lead author on a paper that offers new guidelines for treating patellofemoral pain, or 'runner's knee.' view Credit: University of Montana MISSOULA - University of Montana Assistant Professor Richard Willy is the lead author on a paper that offers new guidelines for treating patellofemoral pain, often known as "runner's knee." Patellofemoral pain (PFP) affects one in four of the general population every year, with women reporting PFP twice as often as men. The pain pre... »
Protein shakes may not be the answer for post-gym muscle pain
- 17 hours ago
Protein shakes have long been touted as a gym bag essential, consumed by gym-goers in an effort to boost muscle recovery and minimise post-workout muscle soreness, but they may not be the most effective way to relieve aching muscles, according to a new study. Sports scientists at the University of Lincoln, UK, found that neither whey-protein based shakes nor milk-based formulas enhanced the rate of muscle recovery following resistance training when compared to a carbohydrate only drink. The study is the first to compare the effectiveness of the two different protein formulas. The bl... »
Mouthwash use could inhibit benefits of exercise
- 17 hours ago
Exercise is known to reduce blood pressure - but the activity of bacteria in our mouths may determine whether we experience this benefit, according to new research. An international team of scientists has shown that the blood pressure-lowering effect of exercise is significantly reduced when people rinse their mouths with antibacterial mouthwash, rather than water - showing the importance of oral bacteria in cardiovascular health. The researchers now suggest that health professionals should pay attention to the oral environment when recommending interventions involving physical ac... »
Marathoners, take your marks...and fluid and salt!
- 5 days ago
[image: IMAGE] *IMAGE: *A study of marathon runners led by Johns Hopkins Medicine and Yale University suggests that fluid volume and sweat sodium losses, rather than a rise in core body temperature, are... view Credit: Image of runner courtesy of the US Air Force; image of kidneys courtesy of MedicalGraphics via Creative Commons Legend states that after the Greek army defeated the invading Persian forces near the city of Marathon in 490 B.C.E., the courier Pheidippides ran to Athens to report the victory and then immediately dropped dead. The story -- and the distance Pheidippi... »
Physical activity in adolescence and later life reduces risk
- 2 weeks ago
The effects of than 60 minutes of moderate daily physical exercise, such as walking, accumulate throughout life and are associated with a 39% reduction in the risk of advanced adenomatous polyps, a precursor of colorectal cancer, the third most frequent type of cancer in Brazil. This is the main finding of an epidemiological study published in the *British Journal of Cancer*. The study was conducted by researchers in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of São Paulo's Medical School (FM-USP) in Brazil and colleagues elsewhere, specifically Harvard University... »
Medicine
Flu vaccination linked with lower risk of early death in patients with high blood pressure
- 1 day ago
Influenza vaccination in patients with high blood pressure is associated with an 18% reduced risk of death during flu season, according to research presented today at ESC Congress 2019 together with the World Congress of Cardiology. "Given these results, it is my belief that all patients with high blood pressure should have an annual flu vaccination," said first author Daniel Modin research associate of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. "Vaccination is safe, cheap, readily available, and decreases influenza infection. On top of that, our study sug... »
Prescription omega-3 fatty acid medications effectively lower high triglycerides
- 2 weeks ago
Prescription omega-3 fatty acid medication reduces triglyceride levels by 20-30% among the majority of people who require treatment for high triglyceride levels, according to a science advisory from the American Heart Association. "From our review of the evidence from 17 randomized, controlled clinical trials on high triglyceride levels, we concluded that treatment with 4 grams daily of any of the available prescription choices is effective and can be used safely in conjunction with statin medicines that lower cholesterol," said Ann Skulas-Ray, Ph.D., an author of the new science ... »
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