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Asthma Increases the Risk of Abdominal Aneurysm. Individuals age 50 and older who have had recent asthma-related health issues appear to be at an elevated risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a weak spot in the body’s main artery, which can rupture, causing massive bleeding. It’s speculated that a specific inflammation-related…
Read MoreGreen Space May Help Students’ Academic Performance. Students in high school who can gaze upon a green landscape from their classroom are better able to both cope with stress and focus on their studies than students in a windowless room or a room without a green view. The research team behind this finding hopes it…
Read MoreMy Heel Hurts! If you suffer from painful heels, the American Podiatric Medical Association offers these preventive tips: wear shoes with sturdy soles that absorb shock and offer support, choose shoes designed for your activity preference, warm-up and stretch before exercising, get plenty of rest, provide your body with good nutrition, and lose excess weight.…
Read MoreConservative Care vs. Surgery for Stenosis. A recent research review investigated the effectiveness of different types of surgery compared with different types of non-surgical interventions in adults with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis—a condition that is often debilitating and associated with degeneration of the spine. The investigators found both surgical and non-surgical treatment approaches produced similar…
Read MoreExercise During Pregnancy Improves Health for Mom & Baby. A large, randomized trial revealed that without exercise during pregnancy, women are three times more likely to develop hypertension, 1.5 times more likely to gain excessive weight, and 2.5 times more likely to give birth to a baby that is large for its gestational age. Study…
Read MoreSeafood, Mercury, and the Brain. Though scientists have long warned against eating large quantities of fish known to contain high levels of mercury, a new study finds the brains of individuals with greater mercury exposure did not exhibit the kind of brain that is typically seen in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of…
Read MoreCommon Air Pollution May Increase the Risk of Preterm Birth. An analysis of 225,000 births reveals that exposure to high levels of small particle air pollution from car exhaust, burning wood, coal, and other fossil fuels during pregnancy can increase the risk of early birth by up to 19%. Study author Dr. Emily DeFranco explains,…
Read MoreBipolar Disorder Symptoms Worse Among Those Abused as Children. New research suggests that individuals with bipolar disorder who have a history of childhood abuse or neglect may have an increased risk for more severe manic, depressive, and psychotic symptoms as well as a higher risk of suicide than bipolar disorder patients with a less traumatic…
Read MoreNational Smoking Bans Improve Health. A review of 77 studies indicates that in countries with national bans on smoking in public places, there has been a corresponding decrease in hospital admissions for nonsmokers related to cardiovascular disease. Review author Dr. Cecily Kelleher adds, “The current evidence provides more robust support for the previous conclusions that…
Read MoreMusculoskeletal Problems Among Hospital Staff. Musculoskeletal pain is an extremely common complaint among hospital workers. A review of questionnaires completed by 416 hospital staff regarding musculoskeletal pain complaints found 74% experienced an episode of low back pain during the previous year while between 50-60% of participants also experienced neck, upper back, and/or shoulder pain during…
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