Living in a poor and unhealthy neighborhood could nearly double a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study says. The findings indicate that all the factors that make for a crummy neighborhood — air and water pollution, toxic sites, few parks, tons of traffic — play a significant role in heart health.… read on > read on >
Folks who consistently work out two to three times a week are less likely to suffer from insomnia, a new study says. That sort of long-term commitment to exercise also helps people get the recommended amount of sleep each night, according to findings published March 26 in the journal BMJ Open. The paper “indicates strongly… read on > read on >
People worry about deadly viruses leaping from animals into humans, but a new study suggests that wildlife is more at risk than humans are. Roughly twice as many viruses pass from humans to animals than the other way around, researchers report March 25 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. “We should consider humans just… read on > read on >
New research offers an easy prescription to get people to roll up their sleeves for a flu shot. Just ask them to. And then reinforce the invitation with a little video and print encouragement. “Our study adds to the growing body of knowledge showing that a number of important public health interventions can and should… read on > read on >
Honey bees fly to flowers whenever the weather is right, and warmer autumns and winters are putting these crop pollinators at risk, researchers warn. Using climate and bee population models, a Washington State University team showed that longer and longer autumns with ideal flying weather increase the odds that bee colonies will collapse come spring. … read on > read on >
It’s hard for some folks who suffer illness-related urinary incontinence to judge whether they’ll be able to hold it until they get home, or if they should rush to a bathroom now. There might soon be a new app for that. A newly developed soft, flexible, battery-free implant attaches to the bladder wall and senses… read on > read on >
Ahead of a total solar eclipse arriving April 8, new research finds there was a temporary rise in U.S. traffic accidents around the time of a solar eclipse back in 2017. The area in the United States covered by the total eclipse seven years ago was relatively small (about 70 miles wide), but it was… read on > read on >
Most folks know they’d be healthier if they ate more plant-based foods, but only a quarter are willing to follow through and do it, a new study shows. Surveys reveal that Americans’ beliefs about eating more plants for health are often at odds with their daily dietary choices, researchers say. “U.S. consumers have favorable perceptions… read on > read on >
It’s well-known that dogs can learn words for spoken commands like “sit,” “stand” and “heel.” But a new study has found they also can tell their “ball-ball” from their “dolly,” “teddy,” “chewy” or “squeaky squeak.” Brain scans reveal that dogs generally know that certain words stand for certain objects, researchers reported March 22 in the… read on > read on >
Working stiffs in the United States are dying at higher rates than those in other wealthy nations, a new study finds. Death rates among working-age Americans are 2.5 times higher than the average of other high-income countries, researchers report in the March 21 issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology. These deaths among people ages… read on > read on >
