Category Archives: Health News

April 2, 2016 marks World Autism Awareness Day, which brings to light topics like autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and stomach issues. World Autism Day was first declared in 2007 by the United Nations in order to educate communities about this neural developmental disorder. Autism affects one in every 150 children worldwide. The condition impacts ...click here to read more

Bel Marra Health’s weekly health news roundup has stories about norovirus outbreak, tetanus shot, rheumatoid arthritis, viral gastroenteritis, and multiple sclerosis. We discussed the new links found between rheumatoid arthritis and mood disorders, multiple sclerosis itchiness symptom known as pruritus, and explained the causes, symptoms, and treatment for viral gastroenteritis so it doesn’t have to ...click here to read more

Your local sandwich shop could be serving you more than deli meat on bread – in fact, a new study has found that many deli meat slicers are not properly sanitized, thus raising the risk for harmful bacteria, including listeria. The new government survey that sampled delis found that deli meat slicers are not cleaned ...click here to read more

Epilepsy, even controlled, can still cause problems in children, such as learning and behavioral issues. Lead author Anne Berg said, “Frequency and intensity of seizures remain important predictors of how well a child does into adulthood. But, somewhat to our surprise, we also found seizures are by no means the sole influencers of social and ...click here to read more

There is a growing problem in the U.S. of individuals addicted to heroin and painkillers, but a new study suggests that anti-addiction drugs may help combat this issue. The drug – naltrexone – is injected monthly and helps block the euphoric sensation of opioid painkillers and heroin, leading to lower relapse rates. During the study, ...click here to read more

A new study has uncovered that pregnant women who receive the flu shot can cut their risk of stillbirth. Australian researchers examined nearly 58,000 births during the 2012-2013 flu season. Over 5,000 of the women subjects received the flu shot. The researchers found that pregnant women who received the flu shot had a 51 percent ...click here to read more

Spring break is a busy time when many of us head to a warmer destination where we spend most of our days soaking up the sun and staying cool by the water. Spring break is meant to be an enjoyable time, but it can also be quite dangerous, especially, when it comes to water activities. ...click here to read more

A new study has linked endometriosis – the growth of uterine tissue outside of the uterus – and heart disease. The researchers found that women with endometriosis have a 60 percent higher risk of developing heart disease, compared to women without the condition. Heart disease risk in endometriosis was also found to be highest among ...click here to read more

By 2050, the worldwide population will see a boom with individuals over the age of 65 doubling. Currently, seniors over the age of 65 account for 8.5 percent of the world’s population, but by 2050 this number is expected to rise to 17 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau report commissioned by the U.S. ...click here to read more

Enjoying healthy eating regimen like the Mediterranean diet may help reduce the risk of hip fractures in older women. The study found that women whose diet closely resembled the Mediterranean diet – plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fish – had a 20 percent reduction in hip fractures, compared to women who did ...click here to read more

A new study has found that receiving a tetanus shot every 10 years is not necessary and, in fact, it can be delayed for every 30 years. Researcher Mark Slifka said, “We have always been told to get a tetanus shot every 10 years, but actually, there is very little data to prove or disprove ...click here to read more

Anorexia patients may benefit from brain stimulation as it can help ease major symptoms related to anorexia nervosa. British researchers evaluated the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS) on treating anorexia – rTMS is currently approved to help treat depression. First author Jessica McClelland said, “With rTMS we targeted … an area of the brain ...click here to read more

According to a new study, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The researchers noted that this could be because their blood vessels don’t expand normally post-PTSD. The study also showed that the risk factors normally associated with blood vessel problems – high blood pressure, diabetes, ...click here to read more

According to a recent study, a parasite found in cat feces and undercooked meat could cause a condition called toxoplasmosis. The researchers believe that affected people frequently experience explosive bouts of rage. In fact, people experiencing intermittent explosive disorder (IED) are more than twice as likely to carry Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. ...click here to read more