Air Pollution Increases Kidney Disease Risk

Past research has shown that air pollution can increase one’s risk for heart and lung disease. Now, an analysis of data concerning over 47,000 adults suggests that increased exposure to fine particulate matter is also associated with an elevated risk for chronic kidney disease. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, December 2020

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Sleeping Pills Linked to Falls & Fractures in Dementia Patients.

Researchers collected data on over 27,000 dementia patients and found that those prescribed a high dosage of strong sleeping medications such as zaleplon, zolpidem, zopiclone (so-called “Z-drugs”) had an elevated risk for a stroke, serious fall, and fracture, especially hip fracture. Study author Dr. Chris Fox notes, “This research shows us that higher-dose Zdrugs should…

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Lifestyle Choices Reduce Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.

An analysis of data concerning 2.5 million adults from 16 countries found that adopting the following lifestyle choices can reduce the risk for chronic kidney disease by up to 22%: vegetable-rich diet, higher potassium intake, regular exercise, less alcohol consumption, reduced salt consumption, and not smoking. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, September 2020

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Poor Kidney Health May Affect the Brain.

Researchers tested the kidney function of over 2,600 young adults every five years for two decades and found that those who received treatment for serious kidney-related issues on at least one occasion scored lower on cognitive assessments at midlife than participants with normal kidney function. Neurology, September 2020

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Should People with Heart Disease Exercise?

New guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology recommend that individuals with heart disease should engage in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week in addition to strength training at least three times a week if they also have hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or are obese. European Society of Cardiology, August 2020

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Benefit NAFLD Patients.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption. A review of data from 22 randomized control trials revealed that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can significantly reduce fat in the liver while also improving blood lipid levels. Nutrients, September 2020

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A Link Between Temporomandibular Disorder and Sleep Apnea?

Following a review of data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, researchers report that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were 2.5 times more likely to have temporomandibular disorders (TMD) than individuals without a history of OSA. The findings suggest that OSA may be a risk factor for TMD, and patients presenting for…

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