Diet
Whether consuming cocoa, known to be packed with powerful antioxidants that protect our cells from damage, helps us age better, is a question scientists want to definitively answer. They are looking for answers in the blood of 600 individuals age 60 and older who participated in the largest trial ever to assess the impact of a cocoa supplement as well as a common multivitamin, on reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and other health outcomes, says Dr. Yanbin Dong, geneticist and cardiologist at the Georgia Prevention Institute at the Medical College of Georgia. Th... read more
Overeating is not the primary cause of obesity
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that obesity affects more than 40% of American adults, placing them at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020 -- 2025 further tells us that losing weight "requires adults to reduce the number of calories they get from foods and beverages and increase the amount expended through physical activity." This approach to weight management is based on the century-old energy balance model which states that weight gain is c... read more
Eating peanuts may lower risk of ischemic stroke, cardiovascular disease
Asian men and women living in Japan who ate peanuts (on average 4-5 peanuts/day) had a lower risk of having an ischemic stroke or a cardiovascular disease event compared to those who did not eat peanuts, according to new research published today in *Stroke*, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. While previous studies have linked peanut consumption with improved cardiovascular health among Americans, researchers in this study specifically examined the link between peanut consumption and the incidence of different types of strok... read more
Study links healthy plant-based foods with lower risks of getting of COVID-19 and of having severe disease after infection.
Although metabolic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes have been linked to an increased risk of COVID-19, as well as an increased risk of experiencing serious symptoms once infected, the impact of diet on these risks is unknown. In a recent study led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and published in Gut, people whose diets were based on healthy plant-based foods had lower risks on both counts. The beneficial effects of diet on COVID-19 risk seemed especially relevant in individuals living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation. “Previous repo... read more
Avocados improve belly fat distribution in women
An avocado a day could help redistribute belly fat in women toward a healthier profile, according to a new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and collaborators. One hundred and five adults with overweight and obesity participated in a randomized controlled trial that provided one meal a day for 12 weeks. Women who consumed avocado as part of their daily meal had a reduction in deeper visceral abdominal fat. Led by Naiman Khan, an Illinois professor of kinesiology and community health, the researchers published their study, funded by the Hass Avocado Board, in... read
Light-to-moderate coffee drinking associated with health benefits
Up to three cups of coffee per day is associated with a lower risk of stroke and fatal heart disease, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2021.1,2 "To our knowledge, this is the largest study to systematically assess the cardiovascular effects of regular coffee consumption in a population without diagnosed heart disease," said study author Dr. Judit Simon, of the Heart and Vascular Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. "Our results suggest that regular coffee consumption is safe, as even high daily intake was not associate... read more
Up to three cups of coffee per day is associated with a lower risk of stroke and fatal heart disease, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2021.1,2 "To our knowledge, this is the largest study to systematically assess the cardiovascular effects of regular coffee consumption in a population without diagnosed heart disease," said study author Dr. Judit Simon, of the Heart and Vascular Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. "Our results suggest that regular coffee consumption is safe, as even high daily intake was not associate... read more
More on benefits of eating walnuts
Eating about ½ cup of walnuts every day for two years modestly lowered levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as “bad cholesterol,” and reduced the number of total LDL particles and small LDL particles in healthy, older adults, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal *Circulation.* Walnuts are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid), which have been shown to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. “Prior studies have shown that nuts in general, and walnuts in particular, are ... read more
Eating about ½ cup of walnuts every day for two years modestly lowered levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as “bad cholesterol,” and reduced the number of total LDL particles and small LDL particles in healthy, older adults, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal *Circulation.* Walnuts are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid), which have been shown to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. “Prior studies have shown that nuts in general, and walnuts in particular, are ... read more
Customization of diet may promote mental wellbeing in young adults
Peer-Reviewed Publication Healthy dietary patterns are associated with higher frequency of exercise and mental wellbeing in young adults, according to new research led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York. “Young adults are known to be at a higher risk for mental distress,” said Lina Begdache, assistant professor of health and wellness studies at Binghamton University. “The impact of diet on mood has been highlighted in previous studies. However, most studies depicting the role of nutrients on mood were performed on a wide-range of ages, and generali... read more
Replacing salt with a low-sodium alternative lowers the risk of stroke
Replacing salt with a low-sodium alternative lowers the risk of stroke in people with high blood pressure or prior stroke, according to late breaking research presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 20211 and published in the *New England Journal of Medicine2.* Both elevated sodium intake and low potassium intake are associated with high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death.3,4 Salt substitutes, which replace part of the sodium chloride in regular salt with potassium chloride, have been shown to lower blood pressure5 but... read more
Exercise
Regular exercise may lower risk of developing anxiety by almost 60%
Print Email App A quick online search for ways to improve our mental health will often come up with a myriad of different results. However, one of the most common suggestions put forward as a step to achieving wellness – and preventing future issues – is doing some physical exercise, whether it be a walk or playing a team sport. Anxiety disorders – which typically develop early in a person’s life – are estimated to affectapproximately 10% of the world’s population and has been found to be twice as common in women compared to men. And while exercise is put forward as a promising ... read more
Face masks do not increase body temperature during exercise in the heat
With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks became a normal part of doing just about any activity outside the house. When the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended wearing a mask especially during indoor activity, some raised concerns about how this could affect those exercising, especially in hot summer temperatures. Ayami Yoshihara, director of Sport Safety at UConn’s Korey Stringer Institute, recently published a paper in Sports Health demonstrating that exercising in the heat with a face mask on does not significantly increase body temp... read more
Steps per day matter in middle age, but not as many as you may think
Walking at least 7,000 steps a day reduced middle-aged people’s risk of premature death from all causes by 50% to 70%, compared to that of other middle-aged people who took fewer daily steps. But walking more than 10,000 steps per day – or walking faster – did not further reduce the risk, notes lead author Amanda Paluch, a physical activity epidemiologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The findings, published in *JAMA Network Open*, highlight the evolving efforts to establish evidence-based guidelines for simple, accessible physical activity that benefits health and... read more
Health wearable devices effectively promote bodyweight in overweight/obese individuals
Being overweight remains a significant public health challenge, of which physical inactivity is a major contributor. Physical activity wearables have the potential to encourage physical activity; however, there is a lack of evidence pointing to the most effective method. As a result, the goal of this study was to perform a systemic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of health wearable-based physical activity interventions on body mass index (BMI) and bodyweight reduction in overweight/obese individuals with chronic health conditions. Of 641 ... read more
COVID
Vaccines effective against Delta variant
- COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing hospitalizations and emergency department visits caused by the Delta variant, according to data from a national study. That data also indicate that *Moderna’s vaccine is significantly more effective against Delta than Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. * “These real-world data show that vaccines remain highly effective at reducing COVID-19 related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, even in the presence of the new COVID-19 variant,” said study author Shaun Grannis, M.D., M.S., Regenstrief Institute vice president for data a... read more
Vaccines effective against Delta variant
- COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing hospitalizations and emergency department visits caused by the Delta variant, according to data from a national study. That data also indicate that *Moderna’s vaccine is significantly more effective against Delta than Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. * “These real-world data show that vaccines remain highly effective at reducing COVID-19 related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, even in the presence of the new COVID-19 variant,” said study author Shaun Grannis, M.D., M.S., Regenstrief Institute vice president for data a... read more
COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing hospitalizations, emergency visits
A study published in the* New England Journal of Medicine *involving data from nearly 200 hospitals around the United States shows that 2-dose COVID-19 vaccinations are highly effective at preventing hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and intensive care admissions due to the virus. The real-world evidence gathered from electronic health records (EHRs) demonstrates that the vaccines provide high levels of protection for populations disproportionately affected by the virus, including older adults and minorities. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)... read more
Face masks do not increase body temperature during exercise in the heat
With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks became a normal part of doing just about any activity outside the house. When the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended wearing a mask especially during indoor activity, some raised concerns about how this could affect those exercising, especially in hot summer temperatures. Ayami Yoshihara, director of Sport Safety at UConn’s Korey Stringer Institute, recently published a paper in Sports Health demonstrating that exercising in the heat with a face mask on does not significantly increase body temp... read more
With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks became a normal part of doing just about any activity outside the house. When the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended wearing a mask especially during indoor activity, some raised concerns about how this could affect those exercising, especially in hot summer temperatures. Ayami Yoshihara, director of Sport Safety at UConn’s Korey Stringer Institute, recently published a paper in Sports Health demonstrating that exercising in the heat with a face mask on does not significantly increase body temp... read more
Study links healthy plant-based foods with lower risks of getting of COVID-19 and of having severe disease after infection.
Although metabolic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes have been linked to an increased risk of COVID-19, as well as an increased risk of experiencing serious symptoms once infected, the impact of diet on these risks is unknown. In a recent study led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and published in Gut, people whose diets were based on healthy plant-based foods had lower risks on both counts. The beneficial effects of diet on COVID-19 risk seemed especially relevant in individuals living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation. “Previous repo... read more
Medicine and Supplements
Experts make weak recommendation for medical cannabis for chronic pain
In The BMJ today, a panel of international experts make a weak recommendation for a trial of non-inhaled medical cannabis or cannabinoids (chemicals found in cannabis) for people living with chronic pain, if standard care is not sufficient. The recommendation applies to adults and children living with all types of moderate to severe chronic pain. It does not apply to smoked or vaporised forms of cannabis, recreational cannabis, or patients receiving end-of-life care. Their advice is part of The BMJ’s Rapid Recommendations initiative - to produce rapid and trustworthy guidelines f... read more
Stable memory test scores for Alzheimer’s patients with omega-3 intake
A unique study on Alzheimer’s disease examines the effect of omega-3 fatty acids with memory tests and testing of spinal fluid. “This study is unique. It is the first ever to collect data on these new biomarkers in people with Alzheimer’s disease treated with Omega 3 fatty acids (FFAs),” says Yvonne Freund-Levi, who has collaborated with researchers at Karolinska Institute, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Uppsala University. She does point out that it is a small study – it includes 33 patients, 18 of which were given omega-3 supplements morning and evening and 15 made up t... read more
Leading cancer centers urge vaccination to protect against HPV and other diseases
NCI-designated cancer centers, AACI members and other cancer centers and medical groups endorse HPV vaccination and cancer screening to eliminate cancers caused by the virus. Today, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 15 leading academic and freestanding cancer centers with membership in the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), all National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers—among them 70 AACI members—and other organizations have issued a joint statement urging the nation’s health care systems, physicians, parents, children and young adults to get hu... read more
General Health
Too much free time may be almost as bad as too little
*Using excess discretionary time on productive activities can help bolster well-being, study says* s an individual’s free time increases, so does that person’s sense of well-being – but only up to a point. Too much free time can be also be a bad thing, according to research published by the American Psychological Association . “People often complain about being too busy and express wanting more time. But is more time actually linked to greater happiness? We found that having a dearth of discretionary hours in one’s day results in greater stress and lower subjective well-being,... read more
Recent cannabis use linked to heart attack risk in younger adults
Adults younger than 45 years who reported recently using cannabis were 2 times more likely to have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction), and this link was stronger in frequent users, according to new research in *CMAJ* (*Canadian Medical Association Journal*). *Research: https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.202392* These findings add to evidence from earlier studies showing a link between heavy cannabis use and myocardial infarction in people in hospital settings. The current study carefully examines the relationship that frequency of cannabis use and method of cons... read more
Adults younger than 45 years who reported recently using cannabis were 2 times more likely to have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction), and this link was stronger in frequent users, according to new research in *CMAJ* (*Canadian Medical Association Journal*). *Research: https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.202392* These findings add to evidence from earlier studies showing a link between heavy cannabis use and myocardial infarction in people in hospital settings. The current study carefully examines the relationship that frequency of cannabis use and method of cons... read more
Physical activity during pregnancy is linked to lung function in offspring
Researchers have found further evidence that exercise during pregnancy is good not only for mothers but also for their offspring. In research presented at the ‘virtual’ European Respiratory Society International Congress today (Sunday), Dr Hrefna Katrin Gudmundsdottir said that a study of 814 babies had, for the first time, shown a link between lower lung fun... read more
Researchers have found further evidence that exercise during pregnancy is good not only for mothers but also for their offspring. In research presented at the ‘virtual’ European Respiratory Society International Congress today (Sunday), Dr Hrefna Katrin Gudmundsdottir said that a study of 814 babies had, for the first time, shown a link between lower lung fun... read more
How can I avoid heart disease or stroke?
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice are published online today in *European Heart Journal*.1 As much as 90% of the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can be explained by smoking, poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, raised blood lipid levels, diabetes, psychosocial factors, or alcohol. These guidelines focus on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), which affects the arteries. As the inside of the arteries become clogg... read more
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice are published online today in *European Heart Journal*.1 As much as 90% of the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can be explained by smoking, poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, raised blood lipid levels, diabetes, psychosocial factors, or alcohol. These guidelines focus on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), which affects the arteries. As the inside of the arteries become clogg... read more
Mouth-to-mouth bystander CPR preferable method for pediatric cardiac arrest
*Compression-only CPR still recommended for adults* Rescue breathing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had superior neurological outcomes compared with compression-only CPR or no CPR at all in infants, children and adolescents, according to a new analysis published today in the *Journal of the American College of Cardiology*. Over 5,000 Americans under the age of 18 experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) each year. CPR is a life-saving emergency technique used to help a person whose breathing or heart may have stopped. National and statewide efforts focus on teachi... read more
*Compression-only CPR still recommended for adults* Rescue breathing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had superior neurological outcomes compared with compression-only CPR or no CPR at all in infants, children and adolescents, according to a new analysis published today in the *Journal of the American College of Cardiology*. Over 5,000 Americans under the age of 18 experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) each year. CPR is a life-saving emergency technique used to help a person whose breathing or heart may have stopped. National and statewide efforts focus on teachi... read more
Aging
Socializing may improve older adults’ cognitive function in daily life
Peer-Reviewed Publication - Socializing with others is important for mental health and wellbeing, and it may help improve cognition, as well -- especially for older adults, according to new research. In a study led by Ruixue Zhaoyang, assistant research professor of the Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State, the researchers found that when adults between the ages of 70 and 90 reported more frequent, pleasant social interactions, they also had better cognitive performance on that day and the following two. Zhaoyang said the findings -- recently published in the journal *PLOS ONE... read more
A unique study on Alzheimer’s disease examines the effect of omega-3 fatty acids with memory tests and testing of spinal fluid. “This study is unique. It is the first ever to collect data on these new biomarkers in people with Alzheimer’s disease treated with Omega 3 fatty acids (FFAs),” says Yvonne Freund-Levi, who has collaborated with researchers at Karolinska Institute, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Uppsala University. She does point out that it is a small study – it includes 33 patients, 18 of which were given omega-3 supplements morning and evening and 15 made up t... read more
Would you like to live longer? It turns out that where you live, not just how you live, can make a big difference. That’s the finding of an innovative study co-authored by an MIT economist, which examines senior citizens across the U.S. and concludes that some locations enhance longevity more than others, potentially for multiple reasons. The results show that when a 65-year-old moves from a metro area in the 10th percentile, in terms of how much those areas enhance longevity, to a metro area the 90th percentile, it increases that person’s life expectancy by 1.1 years. That is ... read more
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