Living in a walkable neighborhood fosters socialization and helps create a strong sense of community, new research shows. Among the active behaviors these walkable neighborhoods promote are walking for leisure or as transportation to school, work shopping or home. “Our built environments create or deny long-lasting opportunities for socialization, physical activity, contact with nature and… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Screening Newborns for ‘Bubble Boy’ Immune Disease Saves Lives
Screening newborns for severe combined immunodeficiency — SCID, sometimes referred to as “bubble boy disease” — significantly increases survival rates, researchers say. Infants with SCID appear healthy at birth, but have no immune defenses, making them highly susceptible to severe and often fatal infections. The 1976 TV movie “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble” promoted… read on > read on >
PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Blood of Pet Dogs, Horses
New research on horses and dogs found elevated levels of PFAS “forever chemicals,” establishing horses as sentinel species. Sentinel species provide advance warning of a danger to people. The work also advanced knowledge about PFAS exposure and liver and kidney function in these animals. PFAS stands for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of chemicals used… read on > read on >
When College Students Cut Back on Social Media, They Got Happier: Study
Cutting back social media to a spare 30 minutes per day could be the key to reducing anxiety, depression, loneliness and feelings of fear of missing out, researchers say. That was true for college students in a new study who self-limited social media — often successfully and sometimes squeezing in just a bit more time… read on > read on >
Screen All Adults Under Age 65 for Anxiety Disorders, Expert Panel Says
For the first time ever, the nation’s top panel of preventive health experts has recommended that doctors routinely screen all adult patients under 65 for anxiety disorder. Evidence now shows that anxiety screening can help those patients find peace of mind, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) said in recommendations that were published online… read on > read on >
New High-Tech CT Might Expand Heart Imaging
The benefits of noninvasive imaging may soon be available to patients at high risk of coronary artery disease, according to researchers studying a newer technology. That technology is called ultra-high-resolution coronary CT angiography. Currently, patients have coronary CT angiography (CCTA), which is highly effective for ruling out coronary artery disease when it’s used in patients… read on > read on >
Global Study Shows Loneliness Can Shorten Life Spans
There is an epidemic of loneliness and isolation today, and the consequences can be deadly, researchers say. Folks who reported that they were socially isolated or felt lonely were more likely to die early from all causes including cancer, according to a sweeping review of 90 studies that included more than 2.2 million people from… read on > read on >
Your Sex Life Doesn’t Have to Suffer During Menopause
Let’s talk about menopause and its impact on your sex life. We all know that this phase of life can bring about some changes, like a lower sex drive and vaginal dryness. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to suffer through it. In this article, we will break down how menopause affects your sexual… read on > read on >
Preventing Alzheimer’s: Here’s 6 Ways You May Reduce Your Risk
Alzheimer’s robs its victims of their memories and there is no cure, but there are things you can do to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. With Alzheimer’s, two types of brain proteins, called tau tangles and beta-amyloid plaques, grow out of control. According to Harvard Health, these proteins destroy brain cells and cause symptoms like confusion, memory… read on > read on >
More Hospitalizations, ER Visits in Nursing Homes With Higher Levels of Black Residents
A new study finds that nursing homes that serve Black residents have more hospitalizations and emergency room visits. This may be driven by differences in staffing levels from home to home, according to researchers. For the study, they examined 2019 data from more than 14,000 U.S. nursing homes. Nursing homes with at least 50% Black… read on > read on >