THURSDAY, May 20, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — New research into the growing problem of early childhood obesity suggests the bacteria in a baby’s gut may indicate weight problems in the years to come. Researchers examined gut microbiota – bacteria and other microbes in the digestive system – of babies, as well as their…  read on >  read on >

Family history, race and sex are among the factors that increase a child’s risk of asthma, a new study shows. “These findings help us to better understand what groups of children are most susceptible to asthma early in life,” said study co-author Christine Cole Johnson, chair of public health sciences at Henry Ford Health System…  read on >  read on >

More lower-income Americans are surviving cancer due to expanded Medicaid health care coverage, a new study shows. Researchers found a link between long-term survival of patients newly diagnosed with cancer — across all stages and types of the disease — and expanded Medicaid income eligibility. In other words, survival odds improved in states that granted…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, May 19, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Misplacing keys. Forgetting names. Struggling to find the right word. Walking into a room and forgetting why. Are these early signs of dementia? Or normal signs of aging? It all depends on the circumstances, health experts say. To distinguish between changes associated with typical aging and…  read on >  read on >

Pulmonary rehab can improve the quality of life for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but as many as 40% of U.S. seniors with COPD lack access to these programs, largely because there are none nearby. COPD is an umbrella term for chronic lung diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema that make it harder…  read on >  read on >