Tai Chi Improve Respiratory Function for Those with COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who engaged in a twelve-week tai chi intervention experienced similar improvements on the Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire—a standard measure of health status for patients with airway obstruction—as patients in a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program. Chest, March 2018

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Veggies Are Heart Healthy for Women.

Consuming vegetables can help older women keep their blood vessels healthy. In this study, researchers found that the carotid artery walls of women who ate the most vegetables were about 0.05 millimeter thinner than those who ate the fewest servings of veggies, suggesting a lower risk for heart disease. Lead researcher Dr. Lauren Blekkenhorst adds,…

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Childhood Friendships May Be Key to Health Later On.

Your childhood best friend may have a surprising protective effect on your health in adulthood. In this study, researchers monitored the social lives of 267 individuals between age six and age sixteen and found that boys who spent more time with friends had a lower risk for high blood pressure and obesity in their early…

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Depression Raises Dementia Risk in Type 1 Diabetics.

Among a sample of 3,742 type 1 diabetics, those with depression at middle-age had a 72% increased risk for developing dementia over the next two decades. This finding is especially worrisome to researchers as 20% of participants had diagnosed depression at the onset of the study. Aging & Mental Health, April 2018

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Rear-Facing Car Seats Protect in Rear-End Crashes.

Little research exists on child safety in rear-facing car seats in the event of a rear-end crash. In this study, Ohio State University researchers tested several rear-facing car seats in rear-end crashes and found that all of the seats were effective at supporting a child’s head, neck, and spine. Study lead author Dr. Julie Mansfield…

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Manipulative Therapy Provides Benefits to Those with COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production, and wheezing. A recent study found that manipulative therapies can help improve functional exercise capacity in patients with COPD, potentially helping to improve the quality of life of patients with the condition. Journal of Alternative and…

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Yoga and Exercise Help Atrial Fibrillation Patients.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition that causes a rapid and irregular heartbeat, which can lead to cardiovascular events like stroke and heart failure. A systemic review of studies published in over 1,800 journals concluded that both yoga and moderate physical exercise can help patients manage the symptoms associated with AF and improve their overall…

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Red Meat Linked to Colon Cancer Risk in Women.

In this study, researchers reviewed data concerning more than 32,000 women in the United Kingdom and found that those who regularly ate red meat were more likely to develop distal colon cancer than the females in the study who did not eat red meat. Dr. Elena Ivanina, a gastroenterologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New…

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Obesity May Cause Liver Damage By Age Eight.

A long-term study involving 635 children found that obese eight-year-olds are almost twice as likely to have elevated levels of an enzyme called ALT in their blood, which signals their liver function may be impaired. Lead author Dr. Jennifer Woo Baidal writes, “With the rise in childhood obesity, we are seeing more kids with nonalcoholic…

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High Blood Pressure Linked to Parkinson’s Disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects over one million Americans. After reviewing data from seven studies involving over 340,000 patients, researchers report that hypertensive adults have more than a 30% increased risk for developing Parkinson’s disease later in life. Frontiers in Neurology, March 2018

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