What researchers call ‘social factors’ are largely responsible for Black Americans having a greater risk of death from heart disease than whites, according to a new study. Among the social factors that contribute to this racial disparity are unemployment, low income, lack of regular access to health care and lack of a partner, Tulane University… read on > read on >
“She’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers,” Taylor Swift laments to her popular crush in the song “You Belong With Me.” The lyrics of longing to fit in at school reflect an old trope re-confirmed by a new study that compared teens in the United States and Lithuania: Kids seen by their peers as… read on > read on >
As experts begin preparing for another season of viruses, they now know that even healthy infants with no underlying health issues are at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). New research finds that most infants who were admitted last fall to an intensive care unit for RSV were generally healthy before their infection. So,… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Sure, the end of summer vacation makes many kids groan. But many will also be cheering the return of fall sports. That’s a good thing, experts say. Exercise habits form early and pay off for life, said Dr. Benjamin Levine, director of the Institute for Exercise… read on > read on >
Millions of Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and millions more struggle with an addicted family member or friend, a new poll finds. Two-thirds of those surveyed said either they or a family member have been addicted to alcohol or drugs, been homeless because of an addiction, or overdosed or died from drug use.… read on > read on >
People who daily breathe in air pollution, particularly from wildfires or agricultural sources, might need to add a heightened risk of dementia to their list of health concerns. New research looked at the potential effects of particle pollution on dementia, finding an association even when pollution levels did not exceed national ambient air quality standards.… read on > read on >
While vast quantities of peels from the aloe vera plant are thrown out every year as agricultural waste, this natural ingredient has potential to be a powerful insecticide, new research suggests. “It’s likely that millions of tons of aloe peels are disposed of globally every year,” said principal investigator Debasish Bandyopadhyay, from the University of… read on > read on >
Mosquitoes can be a big pest, leaving behind itchy bumps on skin and potentially spreading serious diseases, such as West Nile virus. Sam Telford III is a professor of infectious disease and global health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and a commissioner for the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project. Some counties… read on > read on >
A more personalized approach to exercise may be necessary, claims a new study that found fat burning varied widely between individuals. Even worse, this rate often does not align with the “fat-burning zone” on commercial exercise machines, the researchers added. Clinical exercise testing, a diagnostic procedure to measure a person’s physiological response to exercise, may… read on > read on >
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic” mushrooms, is getting renewed interest as a potential treatment for various health conditions. Now, a new research review argues that migraines should be added to that list. Psilocybin mushrooms have long been used recreationally as hallucinogens — meaning they alter users’ perceptions of their surroundings. That can lead to… read on > read on >
