After smoking synthetic cannabis (also known as “spice” or “k2”), a young prison inmate was left permanently disabled in the absence of other risk factors. According to a news release from the British journal BMJ, the unnamed 25-year-old prison inmate was left with permanent disability in absence of other traditional risk factors. He had no… Continue reading Synthetic Cannabis May Boost Stroke Risk in Young Users
Author: Jane Farrell
Is Snoring Ruining Your Love Life? Time to See The Dentist
If you have been banished to the guest room because when you snore your significant other thinks there is a 747 landing in the cul de sac, you might want to see the dentist. The sleep disorder most associated with loud snoring is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Studies have found that it is associated… Continue reading Is Snoring Ruining Your Love Life? Time to See The Dentist
4 Downsizing Tips for Empty Nesters
All your kids have flown the coop, and this can mean only that—you guessed it—you’re an official empty nester. Although this stage of life can seem daunting or uncomfortable at first, there’s also freedom in knowing the kids are off to spread their wings, and now it’s time to prioritize yourself. For most empty nesters,… Continue reading 4 Downsizing Tips for Empty Nesters
Hormone Therapy and Cognitive Impairment
It’s well known that hormones can affect everything that goes on in a woman’s body, from sexual libido to weight gain and overall mood. Now, though, a new study shows that in the right combination, they may also help with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in post-menopausal women. The study was published in Menopause, the journal… Continue reading Hormone Therapy and Cognitive Impairment
Treating PTSD with Psychedelics
Even if you’ve never used illegal drugs, you probably have some idea what LSD and other psychedelic substances do to the brain. (The 1960s live on in movies if nowhere else.) This kind of drug triggers the brain to “alter thought processes and disable filters,” according to Science Daily, changing how people perceive everything around… Continue reading Treating PTSD with Psychedelics
American Cancer Society Updates Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines
The American Cancer Society has updated its age for initial screening of colorectal cancer to 45, based partly on statistics showing that rates of colorectal cancer are on the rise in young and middle-aged people. The recommendation is for people at average risk of the illness. The findings were published online in CA: A Cancer… Continue reading American Cancer Society Updates Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines
I Tried Ketamine for Depression
I’ve been treated for major depressive disorder for my entire adult life. I’ve been lucky enough to respond well to medication and, while the disease never went away entirely, I coped pretty well for nearly 20 years. But then researchers discovered that the drug I’d been taking had long term effects on the heart; my… Continue reading I Tried Ketamine for Depression
A Common Additive That Could Harm Your Gut
Triclosan, an antimicrobial additive contained in thousands of consumer products, causes colon inflammation and exacerbates colon cancer in mice, scientists say. A news release from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) says the results of the analysis indicate that health authorities might want to reinvestigate regulatory policies about the usage of triclosan.… Continue reading A Common Additive That Could Harm Your Gut
Stroke Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Let’s be honest: When people hear someone has suffered a cardiovascular incident, they rarely imagine it’s a woman in her 40s or 50s. More often, they imagine an elderly man clutching his chest on the way to his grandkid’s baseball game or on a grocery run for his wife. Hollywood may be to blame for… Continue reading Stroke Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Physicians’ Group Calls for Policies that Better Support Women’s Health
The American College of Physicians (ACP) is calling for health-care policies that better support the challenges women face in the U.S. health care system. The organization’s position paper, “Women’s Health Policy,” is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. According to a news release from the ACP and the Annals of Internal Medicine, the paper addresses a… Continue reading Physicians’ Group Calls for Policies that Better Support Women’s Health
The Ultimate Summer Camp Checklist: Food, Fun and Safety
Summer is here, and more than 14 million children are heading off to summer camp. To ensure your child is best prepared to enjoy all that camp offers and come home free of injury, the American Optometric Association (AOA) with the Association of Camp Nursing (ACN) have compiled a checklist of essential summer safety tips… Continue reading The Ultimate Summer Camp Checklist: Food, Fun and Safety
Limited Health Literacy is a Major Barrier to Heart Prevention and Treatment
Limited health literacy is a major barrier blocking many people from achieving good cardiovascular health or benefiting from effective treatment for heart attacks, heart failure, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases, according to a scientific statement published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation. Health literacy encompasses not only the ability to read, but skills such… Continue reading Limited Health Literacy is a Major Barrier to Heart Prevention and Treatment
Talking with a Family Member about Alzheimer’s
Having a conversation about Alzheimer’s is never easy. A new survey from the Alzheimer’s Association found that 76 percent of Americans are concerned about offending and 69 percent worry about ruining their relationship if they confront a family member about observed signs of Alzheimer’s. With June being Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association… Continue reading Talking with a Family Member about Alzheimer’s
Many Popular Vitamins Don’t Have Health Benefits
The most popular vitamin and mineral supplements provide no health benefit or harm, according to a new study. The finding, from researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital, in Toronto, and the University of Toronto, was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. According to a news release from St. Michael’s, the systematic review… Continue reading Many Popular Vitamins Don’t Have Health Benefits
Electronic Health Records Need Social-Media Upgrade
Although electronic health record (EHR) systems were once seen as a technological advance, an analysis shows they have increased rather than decreased physicians’ workload, contributed to physicians’ burnout and resulted in little improvement to health care quality. To remedy those failings, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine called for a basic change:… Continue reading Electronic Health Records Need Social-Media Upgrade
Study: African Americans and Latinos Likelier than Whites to Be at Risk for Depression
African Americans and Latinos are significantly more likely than Whites to experience serious depression, but chronic stress doesn’t seem to explain the difference, according to a new study. Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the senior study author, also found that African Americans and… Continue reading Study: African Americans and Latinos Likelier than Whites to Be at Risk for Depression
Male Depression May Lower Pregnancy Chances in Non-IVF Couples
Among couples being treated for infertility via non-in-vitro-fertilization methods, depression in the male partner was linked to lower pregnancy chances, while depression in the female partner was not found to influence the rate of live birth This according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study, which appears in Fertility and Sterility, also… Continue reading Male Depression May Lower Pregnancy Chances in Non-IVF Couples
Early Lower-Back Pain Treatment Can Save Money, Avoid Opioids
For patients with low back pain, seeing a physical therapist first resulted in lower use of costly medical services as well as lower opioid use, according to a new analysis in the publication Health Services Research. Compared with patients who saw a physical therapist late or not at all, those who saw a physical therapist… Continue reading Early Lower-Back Pain Treatment Can Save Money, Avoid Opioids