Category Archives: Health News

It may seem quite random that of all countries in the world Zika virus outbreak is taking place in Brazil. Why Brazil? And why now? These are some of the questions the investigator are trying to answer. Dr. Prabhjot Singh, chair of the Department of Health System Design & Global Health at the Icahn School ...click here to read more

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month, so we have compiled some of Bel Marra Health’s top stories on psoriasis in association with gluten-free diet, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, menopause, and gum disease. The exact cause of this autoimmune skin condition is still unknown, but research is underway attempting to uncover the driving mechanisms of psoriasis. Going ...click here to read more

This week’s health news roundup presents the latest research on ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, celiac disease, psoriasis, and urinary tract infections. This week, we discussed fatigue associated with ulcerative colitis, the differences between colon cancer and Crohn’s disease, increased rates of migraine due to celiac disease, psoriasis treatment reducing the risk of other health complications, ...click here to read more

A new study has found that too little or too much sleep could affect stroke risk and even stroke recovery. Based on the review of 29 previously published studies, the researchers concluded that sleep disorders are related to a higher stroke risk and impaired stroke recovery. Lead researcher Dr. Dirk Hermann said, “Sleep disturbances are ...click here to read more

Limited pharmacy access is one of the causes of rising readmission rates among seniors, according to new findings. This trend is particularly common in rural, remote, or smaller communities. Hospital readmission costs the U.S. $17 billion annually. The findings are based on data analysis involving patients over 65, as well as 507 pharmacies and 58 ...click here to read more

Although the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems is known to increase after menopause, a new study suggests the risk may begin to rise even before the menopause onset. The elevated heart risk after menopause has to do with decreasing levels of estrogen. Senior author Dr. Mark DeBoer said, “These risk factors related ...click here to read more

The FDA has just released a statement warning that many antiaging and skin-lightening products contain mercury. The FDA suggests that you stop using the product immediately if you see “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury” listed on the label. Mercury may be found in antiaging or skin-lightening products that offer to remove blemishes, freckles, ...click here to read more

Ever since childhood, you’ve been told to floss, but a new study puts under scrutiny the supposed oral health benefits of flossing. The Associated Press looked at 25 studies over the last decade, comparing the effects of tooth-brushing alone with the combination of tooth-brushing and flossing. The researchers concluded that flossing is “weak, very unreliable,” ...click here to read more

On average, Americans are 15 pounds heavier today than they were 20 years ago, according to recent findings. The weight-gain epidemic isn’t exclusive to adults only. In fact, even 11-year-olds were found to be heavier without getting any taller, compared to weight trends two decades ago. Dr. David Katz, the president of the American College ...click here to read more

A new study has found that ordering lunch one hour before eating will increase the likelihood of making healthier food choices. The study looked at the eating habits of 690 employees and 195 university students. The participants were more likely to select high-calorie meals when they ordered lunch right before eating (in other words, when ...click here to read more

If red meat is your main source of protein, you are at a higher risk for early mortality, compared to people who get their protein from plant-based diet, according to a recent study. The research findings also suggest that not all animal proteins come with the same level of risk, and that red meat eaters ...click here to read more

A new study has found that treating psoriasis may reduce the risk of developing other health problems. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition, and because the associated inflammatory processes can give rise to other health complications. An estimated 7.5 million Americans suffer from psoriasis. Health complications associated with psoriasis include heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high ...click here to read more

A new study has found that weight loss surgery does not mean improved bone health. Because extra weight and obesity put added strain on bones, making them weaker over time, one would think that bone health may improve with weight loss. The results of the study found that patients who underwent weight loss surgery were ...click here to read more

The cost of depression may be lowered with a new talk therapy. This simpler and less expensive type of talk therapy was found to be just as effective as the gold-standard version – cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – for treating depression. This new kind, dubbed behavioral activation therapy, does not require as much training for ...click here to read more