Black Americans have strokes nearly a decade younger on average than white people, a new study has found. The study also revealed that Black people consistently had a higher rate of stroke than white folks over a 22-year period, according to findings published in the journal Neurology. Overall, strokes have declined, regardless of race. “We… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Could Medical Marijuana Be Bad for Heart Patients?
Medical marijuana might help ease chronic pain, but it also slightly increases a patient’s risk of a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm, a new study says. Patients treated with medical cannabis had a nearly 1% increased risk of being diagnosed with a heart rhythm problem that required monitoring and possible treatment, results show. The risk was… read on > read on >
All Pain Is Not the Same When It Comes to MS
Pain can present itself in many forms for people battling multiple sclerosis, and one type can interfere with exercising, new research shows. One class of pain experienced by MS patients is what the authors of the new study call nociceptive, caused by specific damage to tissues. Another form is neuropathic pain, caused by the loss… read on > read on >
Pregnancy-Linked Depression Tied to Shorter Life Spans for Women
Women are far more likely to suffer an early death if they develop depression during or after pregnancy, a new Swedish study has found. Women who developed what’s known as “perinatal” depression were generally twice as likely to die as women who didn’t experience the mood disorder, researchers reported Jan. 10 in the BMJ. They… read on > read on >
Smoking Residue on Household Surfaces Can Harm Kids
Nearly half of homes tested in a new study contained toxic byproducts of cigarette smoke. Known as thirdhand smoke, these tobacco byproducts remained on furniture, floors and bric-a-brac. Researchers who tested homes of 84 children found nicotine on surfaces in every home, and nearly half had detectable levels of a tobacco-specific carcinogen called NNK. “This… read on > read on >
Vicious Cycle: Depression and Weight Gain Often Go Together
A bout of depression can trigger a bump in body weight among people struggling with obesity, a new study has found. People who had an increase in symptoms related to depression experienced an increase in their weight a month later, researchers report in the journal PLOS One. “Overall, this suggests that individuals with overweight or… read on > read on >
As Blizzards Bear Down, Stay Safe From Carbon Monoxide Dangers
With blizzards and possible power outages threatening much of America this week, some dangers might not be immediately obvious: carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and electric shock. “I urge consumers to follow CPSC’s safety tips to prepare ahead of storms to prevent loss of life in a storm’s aftermath,” said Alex Hoehn-Saric, chair of the U.S. Consumer… read on > read on >
U.S. Teen Smoking Rates Have Plummeted, With Less Than 1% Now Daily Smokers
The number of American teens who smoke or have even tried smoking has dropped dramatically compared to a generation ago, with less than 1% now saying they light up cigarettes daily. Researchers tracked data on students in grades 9 through 12 from 1991 through to 2021. They report a 16-fold decline in daily cigarette use… read on > read on >
Rock On: He Played Guitar While Getting His Brain Tumor Removed
Professional guitarist Christian Nolen took his stage show to an operating room last month, strumming out Deftones tunes for surgeons as they worked to remove a tumor from his brain. Nolen’s performance wasn’t just for entertainment – his guitar playing helped guide the brain surgeons during the delicate operation. By playing the guitar during an… read on > read on >
Despite Complications After Prostate Cancer Surgery, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Should Fully Recover
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized while recovering from complications related to a December surgery to treat prostate cancer, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. His doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Dr. John Maddox, director of trauma medical, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research, said the… read on > read on >