Once thought to be a bygone disease, measles is making a comeback in the United States and globally as folks shun a safe, surefire way to prevent it: The measles vaccine. But what is measles, and how easily does it spread? Drs. Aaron Milstone and Lisa Lockherd Maragakis, two infectious disease experts at Johns Hopkins… read on > read on >
Folks who use marijuana have a greater risk of heart attack and stroke, with the odds rising even higher when they partake every day, a new study finds. Both daily and non-daily marijuana users had an increased risk of heart attack and stroke compared to non-users, researchers reported Feb. 28 in the Journal of the… read on > read on >
Babies born to mothers who experience profound grief during pregnancy may be vulnerable to heart failure much later in life, new research suggests. “If future studies support our findings, the implementation of early screening for risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes in children born to mothers who experienced bereavement, as well as the… read on > read on >
What if you’d been treated for years for a condition, only to find out that you’d long ago been misdiagnosed? That’s what’s happening to a sizable number of Americans who are taking allergy meds (to little effect) when in fact they have chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a new study contends. “We have seen so many patients… read on > read on >
Live musical performances speak to the soul, stimulating the brain in ways more powerful than listening to a recorded tune does, new research finds. “Our study showed that pleasant and unpleasant emotions performed as live music elicited much higher and more consistent activity in the amygdala [the emotional center of the brain] than recorded music,”… read on > read on >
In a new study, yoga appears to have bolstered the brain health of older women who had risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. The study can’t prove that the ancient practice will slow or prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, but it did seem to reverse some forms of neurological decline, researchers said. “That is what yoga… read on > read on >
Rural homeowners face a greater threat from odorless, radioactive radon gas than people living in urban areas, and it’s likely due to the wells they rely on for their water supply, a new study shows. On average, people living in rural communities are exposed to 30% higher residential radon levels than people in cities and… read on > read on >
Mindfulness meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy can help ease the mood and sleep problems associated with menopause, a new review says. Women experienced statistically significant improvements in anxiety and depression following mindfulness therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, according to an analysis of 30 studies involving more than 3,500 women going through menopause in 14 countries.… read on > read on >
Pesticides and herbicides used in farming appear to increase people’s risk of Parkinson’s disease, a new, preliminary study finds. People exposed to pesticides and herbicides are 25% to 36% more likely to develop Parkinson’s, according to a study to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s upcoming annual meeting in April. The Parkinson’s risk… read on > read on >
Stuffy, sneezing, miserable: folks plagued by chronic sinusitis know the feeling all too well. Experts at University of Cincinnati Health say it’s also an all-too-common affliction, affecting an estimated 14.6% of Americans. What is chronic sinusitis? The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull at the back of the face, and they rely on mucus… read on > read on >
