New research sheds light on why some people’s blood pressure is especially sensitive to salt. The research team previously discovered that a natural gene variation that occurs in 48 percent of people increases a person’s chances of having blood pressure that’s sensitive to salt. Their new study revealed how this gene variant prevents the body… read on >
Poor muscle health may be a complication of type 1 diabetes, even in young people who get plenty of exercise. That’s the finding of Canadian researchers who analyzed muscle samples from young adults with and without type 1 diabetes who did more than the weekly amount of exercise recommended by Diabetes Canada. In the young… read on >
Toxic chemicals that have been banned for nearly four decades may be hiding in kitchens across the United States, new research suggests. Polychlorinated biphenyls, more commonly known as PCBs, might be released when cabinet sealants break down, the scientists warn. PCBs are cancer-causing chemicals once used in a wide range of products, from electrical appliances… read on >
More than two of every five Americans reside in counties with unhealthy levels of smog and air pollution, thanks largely to the effect of global warming, health researchers report. Ozone levels spiked in the United States in 2016, which was the nation’s second-hottest year on record, according to the American Lung Association’s annual State of… read on >
Autism may be detected at an early age by paying attention to your baby’s social and language skills, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. But all children who have autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will not have the same symptoms or severity, the academy notes. Still, the academy says parents should monitor for these… read on >
Blisters, corns and calluses have at least one thing in common: they’re triggered by the friction of two surfaces rubbing against each other. The Nemours Foundation suggests how to care for these skin issues: Keep a blister clean, dry and bandaged until it heals. Avoid putting pressure on the area. Soak a callus in warm,… read on >
If you want to eat more vegetables and less meat, but don’t want to give up meat altogether, there’s an alternative. It’s called flexitarian — for flexible vegetarian. You primarily eat a vegetarian diet, but you eat meat on certain days of the week or when the urge strikes. Your part-time vegetarian status comes with… read on >
Girls whose moms were overweight or had high blood sugar during pregnancy may be more likely to enter puberty early, a large new study suggests. The Kaiser Permanente researchers said their findings could lead to new strategies to curb early puberty, which can have adverse long-term health effects for girls. “We know that maternal weight… read on >
The crunchy goodness of peanuts, walnuts, cashews and other nuts may be just what the cardiologist ordered, new research suggests. The study couldn’t prove cause-and-effect. However, the analysis of health data on more than 61,000 Swedes aged 45 and older found regularly eating nuts was tied to lower risks for heart failure and an irregular… read on >
Women who have diabetes should take precautions to ensure that both mother and baby stay healthy throughout pregnancy. High maternal blood sugar can harm the developing baby, resulting in birth defects or miscarriage. This is especially true during the first few weeks of pregnancy, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says.… read on >
