Exposure to bright light in the hour before bedtime can make it difficult for kids to fall asleep, family health experts warn. As day changes to night, the body increases production of a sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin. But exposure to artificial light from light bulbs or electronic devices can disrupt melatonin production, according to a… read on >
As much of the United States continues to swelter through 90-plus temperatures and high humidity, one emergency physician is offering advice on keeping safe. First, Dr. Robert Glatter said, it’s important to know that anyone can be a victim of heat stroke, but some people are at particular risk. “Heat stroke develops when the body… read on >
College students might want to leave their smartphones and tablets behind when they head to a lecture, new research suggests. Otherwise, the distraction might translate into a lower grade on the final exam. For the study, researchers followed 118 cognitive psychology students at Rutgers University in New Jersey. For one term, electronic devices were banned… read on >
THURSDAY, July 26There have been many setbacks on the long road to finding a treatment that might slow or stop Alzheimer’s disease, but a new trial offers a glimmer of hope. Researchers report that an experimental drug called BAN2401 slowed mental decline by as much as 30 percent in Alzheimer’s patients. It also appeared to… read on >
If you wind up in the emergency room with a minor injury, the likelihood you will be prescribed unnecessary opioids may depend on where the hospital is located, new research suggests. For example, such prescriptions were much less likely to be offered in hospitals in Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and North Dakota, while… read on >
A study of more than 3,500 French psoriasis patients found that the healthier their diet, the less severe their symptoms. Specifically, the closer an individual adhered to the nutritious “Mediterranean” diet, the less onerous their psoriasis became. This was true regardless of whether or not the patient was obese, the French researchers noted. The Mediterranean… read on >
The active ingredient in pot that gets you high can calm agitation in people with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, a small new study suggests. Canadian researchers found that a form of synthetic THC significantly decreased agitation in a small group of Alzheimer’s patients, working even better than the drugs now used. “This is the first clinical… read on >
It all started when a 60-year-old bodybuilder ignored his doctor’s advice to stop using hazardous anabolic steroids, prior to a weightlifting competition. In addition, he was taking testosterone replacement treatments plus stem cell infusions, gotten illegally from his trainer. The result: A stay in the intensive care unit of a Texas hospital because his heart… read on >
Lighting that mimics natural night-day patterns might improve sleep and mood problems for Alzheimer’s patients living in nursing homes, new research suggests. The lighting intervention, designed to stimulate dementia patients’ circadian rhythm — which regulates sleep and wake cycles — led to significant decreases in sleep disturbance, depression and agitation, the study authors said. “One… read on >
A new report suggests that people can survive Ebola and still possibly infect others up to a year later. The finding could mean that continued monitoring for the disease is still necessary after a country has been declared Ebola-free, the researchers said. The case study involved a family in Liberia, which had more than 4,800… read on >
