Posts by Dr. Youdeem
Lack of Quality Care Leads to Millions of Deaths Worldwide.
An analysis of diseases in 130 low- and middle-income countries that lack quality healthcare showed that 8 million people die needlessly each year, costing those countries a total of about $6 trillion economically. Experts say it’s important to attach a monetary cost to the loss of human life, because those numbers can provide economic incentives…
Read MoreDo Wood Burning Stoves Increase Dementia Risk?
Swedish researchers monitored the health status of 1,806 individuals for nearly twenty years and found that participants who lived in areas with a higher utilization of wood burning stoves had an elevated risk for dementia. Though further research is necessary, the results suggest that exposure to air pollution from wood burning stoves may be an…
Read MoreProtect Your Eye Health.
Vision problems tend to increase as one ages, but there are things you can do to help protect your eye sight: have a medical eye exam by age 40, when early signs of disease may begin without any symptoms; find out what your family history is for inherited eye diseases; eat a healthy diet that’s…
Read MoreCommon Characteristics for Back Pain and Sciatica.
Back pain is highly prevalent and associated with significant disability and work absenteeism worldwide. Investigators recently performed a systematic review and identified the following risk factors for both low back pain and sciatica: advancing age, poor general health, physical stress on spine, and psychological stress. With the exception of age, the other characteristics are potentially…
Read MoreHIIT is As Enjoyable As Traditional Exercise.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) involves multiple short bursts of intense exercise and is known to offer many health benefits. In this study, researchers recruited 30 inactive men and women who had never tried HIIT before. Participants then completed both high-intensity and traditional moderate-intensity exercise programs and then rated each on a multi-point pleasure-displeasure scale. Despite…
Read MoreEat More Plant-Based Foods to Help Stay Thin.
Among a group of over 9,600 older adults, those with a diet rich in plant-based foods had a significantly lower average BMI and fat mass index scores than participants with a more traditional Western-style diet. Lead author Dr. Zhangling Chen adds, “Our study suggests that a more plant-based and less animal-based diet beyond strict adherence…
Read MoreSecond-Hand Smoke Exposure Increases Miscarriage Risk.
An analysis of data concerning 5.7 million Chinese women found that non-smokers in households with one or more smokers have a 17% greater risk of miscarriage than women in smoke-free homes. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, June 2018
Read MoreMany Concussion Patients Are Left Wondering…
Researchers surveyed 831 patients who suffered a concussion or mild-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and found that only 47% received educational materials about TBI from their doctor following their diagnosis. About a third of the patients in the study experienced three or more moderate-to-severe concussion symptoms within the proceeding three months but only half had a…
Read MoreLiving in the Vicinity of a Farm May Prevent Allergies.
Past research has shown that children who grow up on farms develop fewer allergies, but what about people who live near farms? Researchers surveyed 2,500 adults who lived in rural areas and found that those who resided within about 1,000 feet of livestock were 27% less likely to have allergies compared to those who lived…
Read MoreWhen to Seek Care for Low Back Pain.
The majority of people will experience an episode of low back pain at some point in their life. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends seeking treatment if you have the following symptoms: pain that radiates down your leg below your knee; leg, foot, or groin numbness; fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or weakness;…
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