Health News

The health news roundup has this week’s latest articles on schizophrenia, constipation, urinary tract infections, dementia, kidney stones, and atherosclerosis. This week, we discussed a higher risk of dementia but lower cancer risk in schizophrenics, UTI treatment in dementia patients, eliminating kidney stones with a roller coaster ride, yoga moves to relieve constipation, and much ...click here to read more

Sure, having acne in your teen years was probably a devastating experience, but new findings suggest a history of acne may indicate your skin may be aging slower now that you’re older. The study included over 1,200 twins, with one-quarter of them struggling with acne at some point. Lead researcher Dr. Simone Ribero said, “For ...click here to read more

Although last year’s flu vaccine was the most successful yet, low vaccination rates last season have health officials worried for another low turnout this year, especially among the elderly. Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDC director, warned, “Flu is serious. Flu is unpredictable. Flu often gets not enough respect. If we could increase vaccination coverage in ...click here to read more

A new study has found that migraine sufferers are more likely to suffer from thyroid problems, in particular hypothyroidism – or underactive thyroid. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, mood swings, constipation, and irregular menstrual cycles. The study included over 8,400 individuals who were followed for 20 years. Those participants with ...click here to read more

The CDC will focus their attention on reducing the risk of blood infections during dialysis treatment. Dialysis is used in kidney failure patients when their kidneys are unable to filter the blood. Annually, nearly 37,000 patients develop potentially deadly blood infections as a result of dialysis. If the CDC implemented further guidelines for dialysis safety, ...click here to read more

Women who report frequent nighttime hot flashes are more likely to suffer depression during menopause. The study included 29 healthy, premenopausal women aged 18 to 45 who were given a drug to reduce estrogen to mimic menopause for four weeks. Those who believed they experienced frequent hot flashes were more likely to develop mild symptoms ...click here to read more

The FDA has approved the first ever ‘artificial pancreas’ for type 1 diabetes. Dr. Jeffrey Shuren of the FDA said in a news release, “This first-of-its-kind technology can provide people with type 1 diabetes greater freedom to live their lives without having to consistently and manually monitor baseline glucose levels and administer insulin.” The device ...click here to read more

Kidney stones are quite painful, and if you’ve ever had one you know how badly you want it out! The good news is, there may be a quite enjoyable way to release kidney stones, and it involves a roller coaster ride. There is evidence to support that enjoying a roller coaster ride can help pass ...click here to read more

Statins are a common form of treatment for reducing cholesterol, but there are effective alternatives as well. According to recent findings, a heart-healthy diet, other cholesterol-lowering medications, and intestinal bypass surgery were all found to provide cholesterol-lowering benefits similar to those of statins. Senior investigator Dr. Marc Sabatine said, “The focus really should be not ...click here to read more

Although colonoscopies in older age may help detect colon cancer early on, a new study has found that for those over the age of 75 may not benefit as much from this form of cancer prevention. Based on review of over 1.3 million Medicare patients aged 70 to 79, the study found that undergoing a ...click here to read more

The risk of deadly drug interactions is higher among seniors as they are often prescribed different medications and supplements for a variety of conditions. One drug can drastically impact the effectiveness of other drugs and how your body uses them. Dr. Sandra Kweder, the FDA medical officer, said, “There is no question that physiology changes ...click here to read more

We already know that heavy drinking can have harmful effects on the body, so it comes as no surprise that it can negatively impact an aging brain, too. The study found heavy drinking can take a toll on many brain functions, including memory, attention, and learning. The researchers from the University of Florida asked 31 ...click here to read more

Although smoking has been tied to shorter life expectancy in general, it has particularly negative effects on people with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). There is currently no cure for ALS, though researchers have identified numerous risk factors including genes, age, and underlying health issues. A recent study examined the link between tobacco and ALS. The ...click here to read more

In the wake of the rising popularity of open-concept residential plans, researchers wanted to investigate whether an easier access to the kitchen plays a role in people’s eating habits. The findings suggest that open-floor plans may actually promote overeating. Coauthor of the study Kim Rollings said, “Open kitchen-dining area floor plans remove visual and physical ...click here to read more