Posts by Dr. Youdeem
Can Being Overweight Change the Heart Structure of Young Adults?
Being overweight may thicken heart muscle tissue and increase blood pressure, elevating one’s risk for future heart disease. In this study, researchers analyzed data on thousands of healthy young adults and found a link between a greater BMI and both higher blood pressure and enlargement of left ventricle of the heart. Lead author Dr. Kaitlin…
Read MoreDepression Can Affect Brain Function in Elderly Diabetics.
Among a group of 738 seniors with normal cognitive health, researchers observed that participants with a history of diabetes performed worse on assessments of their executive function, language/semantic categorization, and overall cognition skills. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, July 2018
Read MoreDo You Have a Urinary Tract Infection?
The urinary tract is a common site for an infection, especially among women. The National Institutes of Health lists the following warning signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI): pain or burning during urination; fever, tiredness, or shakiness; the urge to urinate often; pressure in the lower belly; urine that smells bad or looks cloudy…
Read MoreRisk Factors for Back Pain.
According to an analysis of data from an eleven-year study involving over 3,000 Finnish adults, researchers observed the following with regards to low back pain (LBP) and radicular pain: the risk of LBP declines slightly with age, while the risk of lumbar radicular pain increases over time; abdominal obesity increases the risk of LBP, while…
Read MoreHow Much Exercise Do We Need?
If you do not have any medical restrictions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends engaging in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, and at least two strength training sessions per week. Examples of moderate-intensity exercises include brisk walking, water aerobics, cycling on mostly…
Read MoreEating More Fish During Pregnancy May Reduce Premature Births.
Expectant mothers may want to consume more fish to help avoid delivering too early. In a new study, researchers monitored over 700 pregnancies and found that the women who had the lowest omega-3 fatty acid serum levels during their first and second trimester were ten times more likely to have a preterm delivery than those…
Read MoreReduce the Risk of Early Cardiovascular Death…
In this study, researchers measured the fitness levels of 2,014 apparently healthy men at age 50 and monitored their health status for the next three decades. The research team found that participants in better shape at midlife had a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease before age 60. European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, August…
Read MoreAmino Acid Deficiency Associated with Severe Depression.
Individuals with severe depression may have low blood levels of an amino acid involved in brain function called acetyl-L-carnitine (LAC). In this study, researchers found that participants with depression have lower serum levels of LAC than those without a history of depression and that patients with more severe depression had even lower LAC levels. The…
Read MoreHow to Prevent Foot Blisters.
Friction against the skin can lead to blisters on the feet, especially when wearing ill-fitting shoes. To prevent foot blisters, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following: wear socks that wick away moisture, make sure to wear shoes that fit properly, apply soft bandages to protect problem areas, apply powder or petroleum jelly to…
Read MoreMost Women Have Back Pain During Pregnancy.
Questionnaires completed by 287 expectant mothers revealed that 76% experienced back pain during their pregnancy. Additionally, the researchers found that nearly a third of the participants in the study reported both back pain and pelvic girdle pain, with the risk for each increasing over the course of the pregnancy. The research team adds that women…
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