Heart and Brain Function. People with the greatest risk for heart disease performed 50% worse on cognitive tests when compared to people with the lowest risk profile. Diabetes, bad cholesterol, and smoking were all negatively linked to poor cognitive scores. Stroke, May 2013

Less Salt, More Potassium. Reducing salt intake can lower blood pressure, which ultimately reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Results show that four or more weeks of modest salt reduction leads to notable decreases in blood pressure. Increased potassium intake was associated with a 24% reduced probability of stroke in adults and may…

Heart Drug and Cancer Risk! Amiodarone, a drug used to treat arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), may increase cancer risk. People talking a high dose of amiodarone had close to twice the risk of developing cancer when compared with those taking a low dose of the drug. Cancer, April 2013

Hip/Knee Replacement? Joint damage from osteoarthritis is responsible for 80% of hip replacements and 90% of knee surgeries. Only 50% of individuals with arthritis who had a hip or knee replacement reported a significant improvement in pain and mobility after surgery. 25% of patients who get a single joint replacement will have another within two…

World’s Population To Stop Growing? A research team predicts that the Earth’s population will stabilize by 2050. The world population in 2100 will be within a range of 15.8 billion people (according to the highest estimates with a high fertility variant) and 6.2 billion (according to the lowest estimates with a low fertility variant). The…

Superbug Hits United States Hospitals! Untreatable, antibiotic-resistant infections from a rare but life-threatening super bug are on the rise in United States hospitals. Early in 2012, close to 200 hospitals and long-term care facilities treated at least one person infected with bacteria from the Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) family, and 50% of patients who contract bloodstream…

Insomnia and Heart Failure! Compared to people with no insomnia symptoms, people who suffer from insomnia appear to have a three-fold increased risk of developing heart failure. European Heart Journal, March 2013

Dementia Death Rate Soars! Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have risen from the 24th leading cause of death in the United Kingdom to the 10th in the last 20 years. Dementia is now one of the top 10 (and fastest rising) causes of death. Not including the untold human cost, dementia costs of the UK economy…

Get Healthier! Epidemiologists estimate that 80% of the most common diseases are linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Obese people are at an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, vascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Regular physical activity lowers the risk of developing breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers. National Center for Tumor Diseases, March 2013

Type 2 Diabetes Costs! Diabetes cost the United States $245 billion in 2012. The new figure represents a 41% rise in just five years. The $245 billion includes $176 in direct medical costs (such as hospital and emergency care, visits to the doctor and medications), and $69 billion resulting from indirect costs (such as absenteeism,…