Regular standing and walking activities in the classroom can aid in the fight against childhood obesity, a new study shows. Children who took part in the Active Movement program experienced an 8% reduction in their waist-to-height ratio, according to results from British primary schools. Participation in sports also increased by 10% at schools with the… read on > read on >
Weather disasters driven by climate change are stressing out U.S. teenagers, a new study warns. Teens with the most firsthand experience of events like hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, droughts and wildfires were more likely to show signs of mental distress than peers who hadn’t been confronted with the effects of climate change, researchers report. “We know… read on > read on >
Excess fat around your pancreas could bode ill for the health of your aging brain, new research shows. But maybe only if you’re male: The relationship wasn’t observed among women, noted the team from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. “In middle-aged males at high Alzheimer’s disease risk — but not females –higher pancreatic fat… read on > read on >
Well-to-do American families are more likely than poorer families to increase their children’s risk of cervical cancer by skipping the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, a new study has found. Nearly two-thirds of well-off parents (65%) do not intend to seek out the HPV vaccine for their teens, compared with 40% of disadvantaged parents, researchers report.… read on > read on >
Surging temperatures caused by climate change could lead to more premature births worldwide, a new study reports. Researchers found a strong association between exposure to extreme heat during the third trimester of pregnancy and the risk of premature delivery. “High night-time temperatures can disrupt circadian rhythms and potentially influence blood pressure, which may be an… read on > read on >
The mind is alert to relaxing words spoken by others when you’re asleep, so much so that your heart beat slows down, new research shows. Hearing words like “relax” and “easy” spoken while asleep appeared to help put study participants into a deeper sleep and slowed their heartbeat, while words deemed not to be relaxing… read on > read on >
Data from dozens of studies supports the notion that mental health crises are a big factor behind rising rates of maternal deaths during and around pregnancy in the United States. “We need to bring this to the attention of the public and policymakers to demand action to address the mental health crisis that is contributing… read on > read on >
Of course grief can ravage your mind, but science shows it can also weaken your body, leaving you open to illness. “As humans, we are strongly motivated to seek out social bonds that are warm, dependable, friendly and supportive,” explained George Slavich. He directs the Laboratory for Stress Assessment and Research at the Semel Institute… read on > read on >
Comedian Amy Schumer has disclosed that she has been diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome, a condition that arises when there is too much cortisol in the body. In an interview published Friday in the News Not Noise newsletter, Schumer revealed she has exogenous Cushing syndrome, brought on by getting steroid injections. The condition can trigger weight gain, fatigue,… read on > read on >
The asthma medication Xolair has proved its prowess against food allergies, with new research showing the medication substantially lowers the chances of severe reactions in patients. Data published Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented simultaneously at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting in Washington, D.C., showed that multiple injections… read on > read on >
