People recovering from wounds or severe burns might one day be treated with fully functional “bioprinted” skin created in a lab, a new study suggests. Researchers say they “printed” skin samples containing all six major human cell types found in skin. The result was multi-layered, full-thickness skin containing all three layers present in normal human… read on > read on >
All Do It Herself:
Even Short Bursts of Daily Activity Lengthen Life
Good news for couch potatoes — bursts of activity as short as one to three minutes in duration can prompt a steep decrease in the risk of heart attack, stroke and early death, a new study reports. Researchers tracked the activity of more than 25,000 people in the United Kingdom, all of whom had wearable… read on > read on >
Germs Love Two Skin ‘Hot Spots’ on Your Body
Grandma knew it all along: Certain places on the body are “hot spots” for unhealthy microbes. That notion — which the authors of a new study dubbed “the grandma hypothesis,” after grandma’s admonitions to clean behind the ears — was tested by students in a genomics course at George Washington (GW) University in Washington, D.C.… read on > read on >
Exercise Can Preserve Astronauts’ Heart Health on Long Space Flights
Extensive exercise regimens are keeping astronauts healthy and protecting their hearts during extended space missions, new research finds. A study from scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas found no loss of heart mass or output, and no loss of function in the heart’s ventricles, during flights that can last up to six months.… read on > read on >
Adding Just 3,000 Steps Per Day Could Lower High Blood Pressure
Adding 3,000 extra steps a day can help older adults with hypertension significantly lower their blood pressure. About 80% of older adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Keeping it down can help protect against heart failure, heart attacks and strokes. “We’ll all get high blood pressure if we live long enough, at… read on > read on >
Strike a Pose: Yoga Helps Heart Failure Patients
Heart failure can make everyday activities and exercise tough to carry out, but yoga might be a beneficial add-on to standard care. A new study from India finds this ancient practice improves quality of life and cardio functioning. “Our patients observed improvement in systolic blood pressure and heart rate compared to patients who were on… read on > read on >
How to Care for a New Body Piercing
Piercings can be a fun way to express yourself, but they can also cause complications — particularly in areas that aren’t the earlobes — and need proper care. “The first step to caring for your piercing is choosing a qualified piercer,” said Dr. Steven Daveluy, an associate professor and program director at Wayne State Dermatology… read on > read on >
Early Morning Exercise May Be Best for Weight Control
When it comes to staying trim, timing may be everything. That’s according to new research that found adults who routinely engaged in moderate-to-vigorous exercise early in the morning were less likely to be overweight or obese than those who worked out later in the day. “For individuals who exercise regularly, their body mass index [BMI]… read on > read on >
Dementia Risk Rises as Activity Rates Fall
Bolstering the notion that a strong body equals a strong mind, new research indicates that the more inactive seniors are, the higher their risk for dementia. The finding stems from a look at the onset of dementia among nearly 50,000 Brits. All were at least 60 years old when information about typical daily activity routines… read on > read on >
An Exercise-Induced Hormone Might Help Protect Against Alzheimer’s
Therapies based on a hormone people make while exercising may be the next frontier in treating Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study. Researchers have found that the exercise-induced hormone irisin may reduce both the plaque and the tau tangles characteristic of the disease. Before this, this same team developed the first 3D human cell… read on > read on >