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Some Prostate Drugs May Cause Harm. A popular hormone-based medication for the treatment of an enlarged prostate may increase men’s risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and/or stroke. A review of records of 460 men treated for enlarged prostate at a single urologist’s office in Germany revealed that men taking the drug dutasteride for…
Read MoreDoes a Higher IQ Equal a Longer Life? Scottish researchers analyzed data on nearly 66,000 people who were born in 1936 and discovered that those with a higher IQ test score in childhood had a 28% reduced risk of death from respiratory disease, a 25% lower risk of death from heart disease, and a 24%…
Read MoreBiking Safely. To help reduce your risk of a serious biking injury, the United States National Safety Council recommends the following: obey traffic laws; understand the limits of your bike; bike in a single-file line in the same direction as traffic; watch for dangers such as open car doors; use hand signals when you turn;…
Read MoreJob Strain, Sleep Disturbances, and Back Pain. Using data from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort surveys from 2006 and 2010, researchers have determined that a physically active job, high job strain, and sleep disturbances increase the risk for developing troublesome low back pain. The findings may suggest that a reduction in job demands and improvement…
Read MoreBenefits of Intense Exercise. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is characterized by brief bouts of intense exercise followed by less intense activity. According to the American Council on Exercise, HIIT benefits include: improved anaerobic and aerobic fitness; increased sensitivity to insulin; decreased fasting insulin; reductions in belly fat and fat deposits just beneath the skin; and…
Read MoreHigh Fruit Juice Intake May Increase Thyroid Cancer Risk. Several studies have shown that consuming fruits and vegetables can reduce one’s risk for many types of cancer. While a recent study did not find this to be the case for thyroid cancer, the authors of the study did observe that higher fruit juice consumption may…
Read MoreThese Heartburn Meds May Shorten Your Life… Proton pump inhibitor medications used to treat heartburn may increase the risk of early death when taken for extended periods of time. Investigators compared the medical records of nearly 276,000 users of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) against those of about 73,000 people who took another class of heartburn…
Read MoreSlower Walking Speed May Be Harbinger of Mental Decline… In this study, researchers followed 175 seniors with normal brain function for 14 years and found that those whose walking speed slowed during the course of the study also experienced shrinkage of the right hippocampus. This area of the brain not only affects spatial orientation, which…
Read MoreFood Safety When Packing for a Picnic. Picnicking can be a lot of fun, but nothing can ruin your outdoor meal faster than a case of food poisoning. To reduce your risk, the United States Department of Health & Human Services suggests: packing any meat, seafood, poultry, sandwiches, summer salads, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products…
Read MoreSpondylolysis Associated with Degenerative Joints in the Spine. Spondylolysis is defined as a defect or stress fracture in the pars interarticularis of the vertebral arch. While the cause of spondylolysis is unknown, many factors are thought to contribute to its development. A recent study set out to determine the effects of this condition on the…
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