College students often put on weight during their freshman year, and a lack of structured exercise may be largely to blame, a new study suggests. Weight gain is so common among first-year college students that it has spawned the phrase “the freshman 15” — though that figure is something of a myth. More often, studies… read on > read on >
The pause in youth sports caused by the COVID-19 pandemic wound up shaking some budding athletes to their core, a new U.S. survey shows. More than 1 in 10 youth athletes ended up reconsidering their sports goals or aspirations as the pandemic closed stadiums and gyms. That included one-quarter of athletes in their later teens,… read on > read on >
You’ve just bought a new skin care product and you’re excited to see how it might transform your look. Instead, you end up with red, itchy or swollen patches because one of the ingredients causes an allergic reaction. The best way to avoid this problem while trying something new is to test it on several… read on > read on >
Heart attack survivors could gain more than seven healthy years of life if they take the right medications and improve their lifestyle, new research estimates. Unfortunately, studies have found, heart attack survivors rarely get optimal control over their risk factors. The new research echoes that evidence: Of more than 3,200 patients, only 2% had their… read on > read on >
If you’re at the beach or pool, applying sunscreen before and after you’ve been in the water is a must, a cancer specialist says. The intensity of exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays “is higher under water than it is above water,” said Dr. Arun Mavanur. He is a surgical oncologist at the Alvin &… read on > read on >
Football and other contact sports get a lot of attention for their injury hazards. But for most adults, bike riding is the biggest back-breaker, a new study suggests. Of more than 12,000 sports-related spinal injuries among U.S. adults, researchers found that a full 81% were due to bicycling mishaps. The injuries mostly included vertebral fractures,… read on > read on >
If you’re a 60-something with heart disease, it’s not too late to give your ticker the benefits of a regular workout. Swiss researchers found that survival rates among heart patients who became active later in life were nearly the same as those who’d been exercising for years. “Continuing an active lifestyle over the years is… read on > read on >
For breast cancer patients battling “chemo brain,” regular exercise may be a powerful prescription, a new study suggests. The term “chemo brain” refers to thinking and memory problems often experienced by patients who undergo chemotherapy. It’s “a growing clinical concern,” said study first author Elizabeth Salerno, an assistant professor of surgery at Washington University School… read on > read on >
Millions of Americans live with a common abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation (a-fib), but new research suggests that exercise might ease the severity of the condition. When folks with a-fib participated in a six-month exercise program, they were able to maintain a normal heart rhythm and had less severe symptoms than those who… read on > read on >
You’ve heard the warnings about kids who are forever glued to their screens, but all that screen time can have devastating health effects for grown-ups. If you’re under 60, too much time using a computer, watching TV or reading could boost your risk for a stroke, Canadian researchers warn. “Be aware that very high sedentary… read on > read on >
