Posts by Dr. Youdeem
Heat Waves Raise Heart Attack Mortality Risk.
A heat wave is a period of unusually hot weather lasting several days in which temperatures exceed the historical average in the region. An analysis of data from 23 published studies indicates that heat waves may increase the risk of myocardial infarction-related death by up to 64%. Environmental Pollution, October 2018
Read MoreSiblings Can Ease Pain of Family Conflict.
In this study, researchers interviewed children from 236 families and found that teens who had good relationships with their siblings experienced less distress when answering questions about observed parental disagreements. Study co-author Dr. Meredith Martin writes, “We showed that having a good relationship with a brother or sister reduced heightened vulnerability for youth exposed to…
Read MoreCheck for Signs of Skin Cancer.
The warmer months are a great time for people to check their skin for signs of cancer. Dermatologist Dr. Katherine Gordon recommends looking for the following: moles that change, have irregular shapes, or uneven edges; moles that are multi-colored, such as brown, tan, and black; moles that are raised; moles that are large or have…
Read MoreTaking Breaks Can Reduce Back Pain Risk for Office Workers.
If you work in an office, taking breaks can cut your risk for developing nonspecific lower back pain (NSLBP). In the study, researchers monitored the behavior and health of 669 office workers over the course of a year and found that those who took more frequent breaks had a lower risk for NSLBP, especially in…
Read MoreImproved Access to Exercise Classes May Help Those with Lung Conditions.
Using information gathered from one-on-one interviews and focus groups, researchers report that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are more likely to be physically active if they have routine contact with their healthcare provider, support from their peers, and access to regular organized exercise sessions. Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, June 2018
Read MoreBreastfeeding and Picky Eaters.
According to a Danish study that included 236 boys and girls, the longer a child exclusively breast feeds, the lower the chances they’ll be picky eaters when they move on to solid foods. In particular, the researchers found that kids who exclusively breast fed for their first four/five months of life were almost three-times less…
Read MoreLyme Disease-Carrying Ticks More Widespread Than Once Thought.
A nationwide effort led by scientists at Northern Arizona University has detected ticks that can carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne illness in over 80 counties in the United States where such ticks had not previously been recorded. Researcher Dr. Nate Nieto notes, “People should be aware of ticks and tick-borne disease, even when they…
Read MoreBright Future May Help Teens Avoid Violence.
If teens are offered the possibility of a good future, they may become more peaceful. A survey of 866 male teens in poorer neighborhoods showed that those who had a positive outlook were less likely to say that they’d threatened somebody else or injured others with a weapon in the past nine months. Based on…
Read MoreAre You at Risk for an Ectopic Pregnancy?
When a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, it is referred to as an ectopic pregnancy. This type of pregnancy causes the fallopian tube to eventually burst, leading to life-threatening bleeding. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, risk factors for such a pregnancy include the following: previous…
Read MoreSleep Quality Predicts Low Back Pain.
Want to reduce your risk for back pain? Work on getting sufficient, quality sleep. A new study involving 405 working adults found that those with sleep problems had an elevated risk for one or more episodes of low back pain during the following two years. Based on this finding, the study authors suggest that difficulty…
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