Our Blog
How Chronic Back Pain Can Affect Quality of Life. Nearly a third (32.9%) of patients receiving pharmaceutical treatment for chronic low back pain report that their current medication does not improve their pain, according to a study of over 3,000 chronic low back pain patients in South Korea. Among the patients surveyed, 67% classified their…
Read MoreSports During Adolescence Has Mental Health Benefits During Young Adulthood. Participating in school sports during adolescence appears to have a protective effect on mental health in young adulthood. Researchers surveyed 850 students for five years about their participation in school sports such as basketball, soccer, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Three years following graduation,…
Read MoreTreat High Blood Pressure with Vitamin D? An analysis of more than 146,500 individuals revealed that for every 10% increase in vitamin D blood levels, researchers found a corresponding 8% decreased risk for developing high blood pressure. According to study leader Dr. Elina Hypponen, “In view of the costs and side effects associated with antihypertensive…
Read MorePavement Sealer Ban Linked to Cleaner Lake Water. A ban of certain types of pavement sealants made from coal tar has led to lower levels of cancer-causing compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an Austin, Texas lake. In 2006, Austin was the first city in the United States to ban these types of pavement…
Read MoreUltrasounds May Detect Autism in Utero. A newly published study using ultrasound scans to check for fetal defects found that children who went on to develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had a greater head and abdominal size at 20 weeks in the womb compared with children who did not develop ASD. This discovery could offer…
Read MoreBreast Cancer Detection Rate Improves with New Screening Technique. Adding a 3D imaging technique called tomosynthesis to digital mammography appears to result in both a reduction in the number of patients being called back for additional testing and an increase in breast cancer detection rates. Digital tomosynthesis takes multiple X-ray pictures from different angles. The…
Read MoreBack Pain Patients Have Less Flexible Hamstrings. Evaluations of 72 patients with low back pain indicate a possible relationship between mechanical back pain and hamstring tightness. Researchers found that patients with more severe back pain had tighter hamstrings than patients with more mild or moderate pain. They recommend this data be considered when designing both…
Read MoreExercise May Benefit Pregnant Women with High Blood Pressure. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, are the most common and dangerous pregnancy complications, occurring in 5-8% of pregnancies. An animal study revealed that placental ischemia-induced hypertension in rats was alleviated by exercise. Researcher Jeff Gilbert explains, “The data from our study raise the possibility…
Read MoreYour Child May Be Consuming Too Many Vitamins & Minerals. The Environmental Working Group believes that fortifying foods with vitamins and minerals is placing children in danger. The report summarizes how millions of American children under eight years of age are getting too much vitamin A, zinc, and niacin from fortified food products and supplements.…
Read MoreWatching TV for Three or More Hours Daily May Increase Risk of Early Death. Most people enjoy taking time to watch a favorite television show in order to relax and unwind. New research suggests that watching three hours or more of television per day could double an individual’s risk of premature death. Investigators recommend adults…
Read More