Health News

This weekly health news roundup has the latest stories regarding psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, and kidney stones. We compared psoriasis vs. vitiligo, looked at the associations between overactive bladder and IBS, and the risk of relapse in inflammatory bowel diseases, like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, in pregnancy. Psoriasis vs. vitiligo, ...click here to read more

Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge, the viral charity campaign bringing awareness to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? Well, we have some good news for you. The funds raised during this initiative helped scientists discover the genes responsible for ALS! The joined efforts of enthusiasts who poured over themselves a bucket of iced water soliciting donations for ...click here to read more

Researchers are investigating a possible local transmission of Zika virus in Florida. If confirmed, this would be the first locally transmitted case of Zika virus in the U.S. Earlier speculations suggested that if Zika-infected mosquitoes were to enter the U.S., Florida – along with Louisiana and some other southern states – would be the first ...click here to read more

A new study has found that people can be sensitive to gluten even without having celiac disease. Gluten induces certain changes in their bodies different from the ones characteristic of celiac disease, although there may be some symptom overlap. Senior researcher Armin Alaedini said, “We don’t know what is triggering this response, but this study ...click here to read more

The effects of eczema span beyond the skin surface. In fact, a new study suggests that eczema sufferers are more likely to experience other medical conditions, including heart disease. Eczema causes dry, red, itchy patches on the skin. Researcher Dr. Jonathan Silverberg said, “Although it affects the skin, eczema is not just skin-deep. This disease ...click here to read more

Lack of physical activity has been found to rank second after smoking as a predictor of early death, according to new findings. In the study analyzing nearly 800 men beginning at midlife, the Swedish researchers found that an increase in physical fitness led to a 21 percent increase in longevity over the course of a ...click here to read more

Remember when everyone was pouring iced water on each other couple of years ago? Albeit strange, the viral initiative was for a good cause – raising awareness and money for a condition known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Now, thanks to the donations, researchers have made a breakthrough by discovering an important gene in ALS. ...click here to read more

The American Red Cross has announced an urgent call for blood donations as there is currently less than a five-day supply of blood available. Nick Gehrig, communications director for Red Cross Blood Services, said in a news release, “The Red Cross continues to have an emergency need for blood and platelet donors to give now ...click here to read more

If you’ve been finding the weather a little too hot to handle these past few weeks, you can blame it on the “heat dome” that has been hovering over the eastern United States. Meteorologist Kyle Elliott said, “With no strong pushes of cool air from Canada on the horizon, people from the mid-Atlantic to the ...click here to read more

Veterans are more susceptible to sleep disorders, according to new findings. The study suggests the risk of sleep disorders among veterans is six times greater than in the general public. The prevalence is highest among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study involved over 9.7 million veterans, mostly males (93 percent). Just over 750,000 ...click here to read more

The risk of type 2 diabetes is lower in people partaking in brisk walks. The study found that brisk walking may actually be more effective at warding off type 2 diabetes than jogging. Study author Dr. William Kraus said, “We know the benefits of lifestyle changes … but it is difficult to get patients to ...click here to read more

Spending long hours in front of the TV can increase a person’s risk of blood clots and other health complications. The clot forms in the leg or pelvis due to inactivity and then can travel to the lung, leading to pulmonary embolism, a serious health threat. The study included over 86,000 people in Japan who ...click here to read more

Although forgetfulness is a common sign of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study shows changes in behavior may be the first red flag signaling the onset of mental deterioration. The Alzheimer’s diagnosis is usually focused on mild cognitive impairment, but researchers are now focusing on mild behavioral impairment as an early indication of the disease. Changes ...click here to read more

July 28 is World Hepatitis Day and so to give you a heads start on hepatitis information we compiled some of our news stories not only discussing hepatitis but other health problems and factors too including fibromyalgia, Zika virus, liver inflammation, cardiovascular disease and stroke. For World Hepatitis Day the World Health Organization (WHO) urges ...click here to read more