Illustrating the power of the mind to heal itself, new research suggests that the placebo effect could help drive antidepressants’ effects against anxiety disorders. The placebo effect refers to an increase in the success of a treatment when a patient expects a benefit. In the new study, patients with social anxieties who were assured that… read on > read on >
Young, Black Americans are experiencing significant spikes in obesity, type 2 diabetes and smoking, all risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Between 2007 and 2017 – before the COVID-19 pandemic and the concerns it has created – hospitalized Black Americans aged 18 to 44 had sharp increases in these risks. They were also having… read on > read on >
Belly fat. No one wants it, but women are much harder on themselves about extra pounds wrapped around their middle than men are, regardless of how much they weigh. And the more they beat themselves up about their “spare tire,” the more likely women are to gain weight in this high-risk area, new research suggests.… read on > read on >
More than two-thirds of Americans would be willing to try alternatives to prescription opioids to control pain after surgery, a new survey shows. The United States is grappling with an opioid addiction crisis, and it’s common for addiction to begin when patients get painkillers after surgery or an injury. The survey of more than 2,000… read on > read on >
People who get their dietary fat from olive oil rather than steak may help reduce their risk of suffering a stroke, a preliminary study suggests. The study, of more than 100,000 health professionals, found that those who favored vegetable oils and other plant foods as their source of fat generally had a lower risk of… read on > read on >
Eating alone may be a recipe for heart trouble if you’re an older woman, Korean researchers suggest. Those who eat by themselves are likely to eat faster and less healthily, which can lead to weight gain, higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increasing the risk for heart disease, the new study found. “Women who live… read on > read on >
The sale of unproven and unapproved stem cell treatments has skyrocketed in the United States, according to a new five-year study. The study found a fourfold jump since 2016 in the availability of the treatments, which claim to do everything from relieving pain to slowing aging. People who use these treatments are needlessly spending thousands… read on > read on >
When children have colds, parents may want to hold off on using cough and cold medicines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests. Most children get better on their own, and cough or cold medicines won’t change the natural course of a cold or make it go away faster. Also, some cough and cold medicines… read on > read on >
Feeding eggs to infants could reduce their risk of egg allergy later on, new research suggests. For the study, researchers at the University at Buffalo in New York, analyzed U.S. government data from more than 2,200 parents who were surveyed about their children’s eating habits and food allergies from birth to 6 years of age.… read on > read on >
The word went out late last month throughout Utah — if you’ve got a spare set of aluminum crutches lying around, you should donate them to your local hospital. An international shortage of aluminum has caused delays in shipments of crutches and walkers, so Utah hospitals banded together for #LeanOnUtah — a community drive to… read on > read on >
