Everyone knows that sustained high blood pressure does no favors for your heart or life span. But new research suggests that up-and-down shifts in blood pressure may be equally hazardous to your health. “The takeaway from the study is, if you allow your blood pressure to be uncontrolled for any period of time, or notice… read on >
A spike in the amount of time teenage girls in the United States spend online is a likely culprit behind the surge in rates of depression, suicide and contemplation of suicide, new research suggests. The finding stems from an analysis of fatal injury data collected between 1999 and 2015 by the U.S. Centers for Disease… read on >
Consumption of sodas and other sweet drinks — a big source of sugar in Americans’ diets — has dropped in the past decade among both kids and adults, researchers find. Overall, the number of adults who said they drank a sugary beverage on a daily basis dropped by 12 percentage points between 2003 and 2014,… read on >
You’ve probably heard of “distracted driving,” but what about “distracted walking?” Largely due to the immense popularity of cell phones, pedestrian deaths reached nearly 6,000 in the United States last year, a 9 percent jump over 2015, the National Safety Council says. Walking remains a great way to get healthy exercise, but you should keep… read on >
A life-threatening heart emergency can spell financial doom for people who don’t have health insurance, a pair of new studies shows. Around 4 out of 5 uninsured patients hospitalized for a heart attack, stroke or heart bypass surgery faced financial ruin before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010, the researchers reported. “Medical… read on >
Heart patients who’ve bought an all-electric Tesla need not worry that their car might interfere with their implanted defibrillator. That’s the finding from a new study of 34 seniors who had the devices, which help guard against dangerous irregular heartbeats. The study “demonstrates the safety of the Tesla electric vehicle in patients with cardiac defibrillators… read on >
Holiday parties are fun social gatherings, but they can also be diet disasters. Here’s how to enjoy yourself while sparing yourself hundreds of extra calories. First, eat healthy in the hours leading up to the party. Focus on lean protein, whole grains and simply prepared fruits and vegetables to pack your day with nutrients, suggests… read on >
Getting kids to drink water with their school lunches could help keep their weight in check and save the United States billions in obesity-related costs, a new study contends. Researchers calculated the effects of going nationwide with a program piloted in 1,200 New York City schools between 2009 and 2013. Placing water dispensers in school… read on >
No one wants the Thanksgiving holiday ruined by a nasty case of food poisoning that stems from the guest of honor — the turkey. FoodSafety.gov offers these turkey safe-preparation suggestions: If you’ll serve a fresh turkey, buy it no more than two days before Thanksgiving. On the other hand. frozen turkey needs time to thaw… read on >
A clinical trial may be just what the doctor ordered for a person who hasn’t responded to a standard treatment or is unable to handle its side effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests you should research a clinical trial carefully and ask many questions before you consider participating. The agency says before joining… read on >
