Posts by Dr. Youdeem
Too Many Teens Ride with Impaired Drivers.
More than one-third of Canadian high school students admit to riding with a driver who has been drinking alcohol. The study, which involved 24,650 students, also revealed that almost 20% of students said they’ve ridden with someone who’d recently used marijuana. Study author Dr. Leia Minaker notes the findings are concerning because a significant proportion…
Read MoreLoneliness May Reduce Sleep Quality.
Researchers surveyed more than 2,200 young adults and found that between 25% and 30% of the participants felt lonely sometimes, while another 5% reported they frequently felt lonely. Furthermore, they observed that the lonelier people were 24% more likely to feel tired and have difficulty concentrating during the day. Study author Dr. Louise Arseneault adds,…
Read MoreKeep Sleep Apnea in Check.
Sleep apnea is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes sufferers to stop breathing during sleep. If you suffer from this condition, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends the following: visit your doctor regularly to make sure your treatment is working, avoid gaining weight as a healthy weight reduces your risk of…
Read MoreDifferent Back Pain Risk Factors Among Men and Women.
Brazilian researchers analyzed data from a 2013 National Health Survey and found that 18.5% of the Brazilian population suffers from chronic back pain. Among men, risk factors for chronic back pain include: 65 years or older; low education level; living in rural area; history of smoking, high salt intake, heavy physical activity at work or…
Read MoreMan’s Best Friend May Help Seniors Get Fit.
In a new small study, researchers monitored the activity levels of 86 people age 65 and older, half of which were dog owners, for three weeks. They found that the dog owners in the study walked an average of 22 minutes more and took 2,760 more steps per day than the non-dog owners. Lead author…
Read MoreLow-Fat Dairy Intake Linked to Parkinson’s Risk.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that can cause tremors, problems with movement, impaired balance and coordination, and muscle rigidity. An analysis of decades of data concerning more than 120,000 men and women revealed that the risk of Parkinson’s disease was higher among those who consumed at least three servings of low-fat dairy products per…
Read MoreAlmost 15% of Americans Have Kidney Disease.
Chronic kidney disease develops when the kidneys can no longer properly filter fluid and waste products from the blood. Kevin Longino, the CEO of the National Kidney Foundation, notes that about 96% of individuals with early kidney disease don’t know they have it and nearly 50% of those who have severely reduced kidney function and…
Read MoreBrain Scans May Predict Autism.
A special type of imaging known as functional connectivity MRI (FcMRI) may help doctors predict which high-risk babies may develop autism as toddlers. In this study, researchers used FcMRI to scan different regions of the brain of 59 babies believed to be at high risk for autism spectrum disorder and with this data, they accurately…
Read MoreDropping Weight Can Save Your Knees.
Losing a few extra pounds may take a load off your knees. Researchers collected data on 640 obese and overweight people who had mild osteoarthritis or were at risk of it. Investigators found that obese and overweight people who lost 5% or more of their weight over four years experienced less degeneration of their knee…
Read MoreMyofascial Release Protocol Reduces Chronic Low Back Pain.
Myofascial release (MFR) is a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. A study recently investigated the effects of MFR on pain and disability in patients suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP). The study included 54 participants with nonspecific CLBP who either…
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