Donated Blood Won’t Transmit Neurodegenerative Disorders. A new study finds no credible evidence that degenerative brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, can be transmitted via donated blood. Researchers tracked data on more than 40,000 patients who received blood transfusions between 1968 and 2012 from people who were later diagnosed with any form of…

Top Causes of Death in the United States. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals that the death rate in the United States has hit an all-time low, but heart disease and cancer continue to be the leading causes of death. According to experts, the top ten cause of death are: heart disease…

High BMI & Waist Circumference Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer. A high body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference appears to increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Researchers followed 141,896 men from eight European countries and found a 10% increased risk of high grade (aggressive) prostate cancer for every five point increase in BMI…

Changes in Sleep Affect the Heart. Lack of sleep and an abnormal sleep cycle may increase the risk of heart disease. This study involved 26 healthy people who were restricted to five hours of sleep per night for eight days with either fixed bedtimes or bedtimes delayed by 8.5 hours on half the nights. The…

Being Fit Cuts Stroke Risk! After controlling for known risk factors for stroke like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation, a team of researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reports that men and women with greater cardiorespiratory fitness levels during midlife are more than 40% less likely to experience a stroke than…

Air Pollution Can Make Blood Pressure Soar. A review of 17 studies from around the world has found a link between dangerous blood pressure and air pollutants, such as vehicle exhaust, coal burning, and airborne dirt or dust. The researchers explain that just a few days of increased air pollution can lead to more emergency…

Hepatics C May Triple Heart Attack Risk. Coronary atherosclerosis is a condition described by the hardening of the arteries in the heart, which can result in sudden blood clots or a heart attack. An analysis of ten published studies concludes that chronic hepatitis C infection can increase an individual’s risk for coronary atherosclerosis by nearly…

Pesticide Exposure Possible Risk Factor for ALS. Exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease)—a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for voluntary muscle control. This study included 156 patients with ALS and…

Swaddling May Raise Risk of SIDS. The custom of swaddling infants to promote sleep by making them feel secure and calm may be linked to an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers found that the risk of SIDS is greater among swaddled babies and the risk is increased for infants placed on…

FDA to Ban E-Cigarette Sales to Minors. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it is banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The new rules will also cover other alternative forms of tobacco such as cigars, hookah tobacco, and pipe tobacco. Additionally, regulations will require photo IDs to buy e-cigarettes and…