Category Archives: Health News

October 17 to 21 is International Infection Prevention Week, so we present our top articles on infection prevention including stories on rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia, fibromyalgia, urinary tract infections, and the flu. During this time, many health organizations raise awareness on infection prevention to educate the public about ways to prevent illness and the risks associated ...click here to read more

A small device synced to a smartphone may help identify irregular heartbeats, which can be potentially fatal. Irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation, is a known risk factor for stroke, but often goes undiagnosed. Hopefully, this new device can be used widely to detect more cases of atrial fibrillation and thus reduce the rates of stroke. The study involved ...click here to read more

The presidential election is causing Americans mounds of stress, according to new survey results. Lynn Bufka, associate executive director for practice research and policy at the American Psychological Association (APA), explained, “We’re seeing that it doesn’t matter whether you’re registered as a Democrat or Republican — U.S. adults say they are experiencing significant stress from the ...click here to read more

World Osteoporosis day is coming up on October 20, so in light of this we present our top articles discussing osteoporosis as well as other associated conditions such as fibromyalgia, kidney stones, psoriasis, heart disease, and breast cancer. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that commonly affects women – as well as men. Osteoporosis typically develops ...click here to read more

October is National Spinal Health Month, so we present our top health news articles regarding spinal health and other related conditions including obstructive sleep apnea, bladder problems, exercise, spinal muscular atrophy, and spinal stenosis. Obstructive sleep apnea common after spinal injury Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common after a spinal injury. The study suggests that patients who ...click here to read more

Prostate cancer patients taking testosterone-lowering drugs may be twice as likely to develop dementia. The researchers found that males who underwent androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) had an eight percent risk of dementia within five years of treatment, compared to only 3.5 percent among those who did not receive ADT. Lead researcher Dr. Kevin Nead said, “People ...click here to read more

A new study has found that women find bearded men to be more attractive when establishing a long-term relationship. The findings suggest that a beard may signify benefits, such as enhanced fertility and survival, to females. The researchers used computer graphic manipulation to morph male faces varying in facial hair from clean-shaven all the way ...click here to read more

There is a rise in popularity of wearable devices that track steps and even heart rate, but research has shown many of these devices do not provide accurate information. Researchers tested four popular wearable heart rate devices for their study. Research lead Dr. Marc Gillinov said, “All worked pretty well at rest. But as people ...click here to read more

Researchers have identified additional genes associated with the autoimmune skin condition vitiligo. Vitiligo causes white patches on the skin due to loss of pigmentation. The researchers identified 23 new genes tied to vitiligo, thus doubling the number of known genes to date. Vitiligo may be linked to other autoimmune diseases, including thyroid diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, ...click here to read more

Supplementation is a growing trend among Americans as a way to boost one’s health, but which supplements are used the most? As it turns out, multivitamins are losing their appeal to American consumers, while vitamin D, fish oil, and probiotics are gaining popularity. Between 1999 and 2012, overall supplement use among Americans has remained stable. ...click here to read more

Calcium supplements – but not calcium-rich food – may pose a risk to the heart, according to research findings. Although the study could not establish causality, the researchers still want to raise awareness about the possible risk. Lead author of the study Dr. Erin Michos said, “When it comes to using vitamin and mineral supplements, ...click here to read more

We know that high blood pressure is bad for our heart, but it may increase our risk of dementia, too. The new findings suggest that having high blood pressure, particularly in middle age, may increase a person’s risk for dementia. By the year 2050, the number of dementia cases is expected to triple. Currently, 30 ...click here to read more

Anger and heavy physical exertion may trigger a first heart attack. In the study involving over 12,000 people, the researchers found that intense activity along with intense emotions nearly double the risk of having a heart attack within the following hour. If people are angry and are exerting themselves at the same time, the risk ...click here to read more

Poor sleep can negatively impact a woman’s heart, especially during menopause. Menopausal women often have trouble sleeping, and researchers suggest this can add to their heart problems, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The researchers found that sleep loss was correlated with greater plaque buildup and thicker artery walls. Lead researcher Rebecca Thurston ...click here to read more