According to a review of findings from 200 studies, obesity is associated with shorter cancer survival in patients with cancer of the breast, uterus, colon, prostate, or pancreas. JAMA Network Open, March 2021

A review of health records concerning nearly 180,000 adults and children found that healthcare costs are nearly $1,900 higher per year for obese individuals, with the cost increasing $235 a year with each unit increase in body mass index. PLOS ONE, March 2021

A review of data from 71 studies suggests that obstructive sleep apnea can affect autonomic nervous system functions related to relaxation, digestion, stress response, and heart rate. The authors of the review speculate this may be the mechanism by which sleep apnea increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. Sleep Medicine Reviews, March 2021

New research suggests that children from smoking households are more likely to visit an urgent care center or be admitted to a hospital than kids from smoke-free homes. Lead author Dr. Ashley Merianos notes, “Despite major progress in tobacco control, about four in ten children remain exposed to tobacco smoke… This exposure places developing children…

Painful peripheral neuropathy is a common long-term complication in patients with type 2 diabetes. An analysis of blood samples from 483 type 2 diabetics revealed that those with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy were three times more likely to have severe vitamin D deficiency, leading researchers to suggest that low vitamin D status may be a…

Using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, researchers estimate that older adults who sleep five or fewer hours a night are two times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia or die in the following five years than participants who sleep an average of seven to eight hours a night. Aging, February…

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the stomach contents, especially acid, leak into the esophagus. In a review of data concerning a half-million middle aged and older adults, those with GERD had nearly a two-times increased risk for cancers of the larynx and esophagus. Cancer, February 2021

Following a review of data concerning 1.4 million adults born between 1977 and 2005, researchers report that individuals with a history of infectious mononucleosis as children or teenagers have up to a 40% elevated risk for depression in young adulthood. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity, February 2021

Cognitive assessments completed by over 500 individuals at various stages of life revealed that those who grew up in areas with greater exposure to air pollution experienced more severe cognitive decline than participants from less polluted neighborhoods. Lead author Dr. Tom Russ writes, “For the first time we have shown the effect that exposure to…

Particulate matter is a mixture of dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets in the air and has been linked to an elevated risk for several poor health outcomes. According to a new study that included over 2,200 women, living in areas with higher levels of particulate matter air pollution may be associated with reduced…