Childhood Smoking Ups COPD Risk

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 10, 2025
• Full Page

Young teens might think smoking makes them look cool, but it’s likely to take their breath away in adulthood, a new study says.

Children who start smoking prior to age 15 have a 27% increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as adults...

Can Doctors Estimate Life Expectancy After a Dementia Diagnosis?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 10, 2025
• Full Page

The clock is running for people who’ve been diagnosed with dementia, but the time they have left depends on their age.

Average life expectancy for people with dementia is largely based on their age at diagnosis, researchers found in a new evidence review.

Dem...

Being Told to 'Calm Down,' Other Microaggressions May Raise Risk for Postpartum Hypertension

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 10, 2025
• Full Page

The words “calm down” are worse than unhelpful -- they actually can increase blood pressure among new mothers of color, a study has found.

Gender-based racism through such microaggressions significantly increased a new mom’s blood pressure, compared to ...

Avoiding Isolation By Volunteering Offers Mental Health Benefits to Seniors

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 10, 2025
• Full Page

Delivering meals to the infirm. Tutoring a student. Patrolling a city park. Helping out at a local library.

All these activities not only serve the community, but also can help seniors avoid depression related to social isolation.

Volunteering reduces the risk of d...

Poor Sleep Hurts Work Productivity, Survey Shows

• Denise Maher HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

Got brain fog? Can't concentrate because you didn't sleep well -- or sleep much at all -- last night?

Tiredness and fatigue from sleep deprivation are common problems, says the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). Inadequate rest can lead to individual mood and health issues...

Fitness Matters More Than Weight for Longevity, Study Says

• India Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

When it comes to living a longer life, staying active may matter far more than what the scale says.

Per the largest study yet on fitness, body weight, and longevity published recently in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that peo...

Non-Opioids Can Ease Post-Dental Surgery Pain Better Than Opioids, Study Shows

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs acetaminophen and ibuprofen are better at managing dental pain than opioids.

People who had their wisdom teeth removed got better results from an acetaminophen/ibuprofen combo than with a hydrocodone prescription, researchers reported on Jan....

Can Exercise Ease Knee Pain? Here's What the Research Shows

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

Movement is medicine, or so they tell people with knee osteoarthritis -- but are they right?

A recent evidence review calls into question just how helpful exercise can be for easing the pain of knee arthritis.

“Exercise probably results in an improvement in p...

Sauna Misuse May Lead to Heat Stroke, Data Suggests

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

Basking in a sauna can be a nice way to relieve stress or relax muscles following a workout.

But soaking too long can increase a person’s risk of heat stroke, particularly if they aren’t well-hydrated, doctors warn.

Most cases of heat stroke occur on ho...

Exercise Prior to Cancer Diagnosis May Help Slow Disease Progression

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

Exercising now can increase your chances of successfully fighting cancer in the future.

Even low levels of exercise provided protection against cancer, a new study published Jan. 7 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows.

People were 47% less likel...

Can AI Help Make IVF More Successful?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

AI might be able to boost the success rates of in vitro fertilization among hopeful families.

An AI program can help doctors analyze ultrasound scans to determine the best timing for a hormone injection associated with egg collection, researchers write in a new study pub...

Gabapentin Doesn't Increase Fall Risk, Study Suggests

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

A pain-relieving medication might be safer for seniors than first thought.

A new study published Jan. 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine says Gabapentin is widely used to help treat chronic pain and nerve pain, particularly as an alternative to opioid painkill...

The Public Policies That Really Help Prevent Suicide

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 9, 2025
• Full Page

Some of the most effective public policies for suicide prevention aren’t crafted with suicide or mental health in mind, a new study says.

Efforts to increase the minimum wage, prohibit gender discrimination, or reduce alcohol consumption “have spillover benef...

Let's Address Tomorrow's Antivax Arguments Today: Pediatrics Expert

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2025
• Full Page

Public health officials must prepare to counter ongoing anti-vaccine sentiment in coming years, argues a leading pediatrician-scientist.

“Antivaccine activism became a major lethal force in America” during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an estimated 200,...

Airport and Aircraft Noise Can Hurt Your Heart

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2025
• Full Page

Folks who live near airports are used to the regular roar of jet airliners taking off and landing.

But they likely don’t know that all this ruckus could be harming their heart health, a new study says.

People exposed to high aircraft noise levels could be at ...

Sugary Drinks Are To Blame for Millions of Diabetes, Heart Disease Cases Worldwide

• Denise Maher HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2025
• Full Page

Sugar-sweetened drink consumption accounts for more than 2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes, and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease worldwide annually.

According to new research published Jan. 6 in the journal Nature Medicine, people all over the world a...

Can the Mediterranean Diet Boost Your Memory?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2025
• Full Page

The Mediterranean diet is renown for its ability to improve heart health and help folks lose weight.

Now a new rat study says this eating pattern also might provide folks a boost in brain power.

Lab rats fed a Mediterranean diet developed changes in gut bacteria th...

Morning Coffee Linked to Longer Life, Heart Health Benefits

• India Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2025
• Full Page

For many, coffee is a beloved morning ritual, fueling the day ahead. But what if the time you drink it could influence how long -- and how well -- you live?

New research published Jan. 8 in the European Heart Journal suggests that when you enjoy your cup of Joe ...

Diabetes Prevention Program Saves People Money, Study Shows

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2025
• Full Page

Preventing diabetes can be as good for a person’s wallet as it is for their health, a new study says.

People participating in a diabetes prevention program saved more than $5,000 in direct medical costs over two years, researchers reported recently in the journal <...

Despite Previous Data, Paxlovid May Be Useful for Long Covid After All

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2025
• Full Page

The antiviral pill Paxlovid might help some patients who are suffering from long COVID.

A five-day course of Paxlovid is known to help limit symptoms and shorten illness in patients during an initial bout of COVID-19, researchers said in a study published Jan. 6 in the j...