Latest Health News

26Feb
2020

Years of Endurance Exercise May Change Heart Structure

Years of Endurance Exercise May Change Heart StructureWEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Triathlons, rowing, mountaineering, cross-country skiing: Tough exercise like this done over decades appears to reshape the heart, new research shows. In older adults, long-term endurance exercise seems tied to an enlargement of the aorta -- the large artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. But whether that change is beneficial or harmful remains unclear, U.S. researchers said. It's long been known that endurance athletes have larger hearts on average than the general population, and that heart enlargement is a healthy adaptation to exercise, the study authors noted. But whether that's true for the aorta isn't clear. "The prevailing wisdom is that the aorta is a relatively stable structure with...

Drug Offers Hope Against Tough-to-Treat Chronic Cough

26 February 2020
Drug Offers Hope Against Tough-to-Treat Chronic CoughWEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Anywhere from 4% to 10% of adults have troublesome chronic cough, defined as an unexplained cough lasting more than eight weeks. But a new drug may offer some long-sought relief. Reporting Feb. 25 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, British researchers said the experimental drug, called gefapixant, blocks a cellular receptor that's key to the cough reflex. "Many patients with a chronic cough are driven to seek treatment because of the significant negative impact it can have on their quality of life, but at the moment physicians are unable to help," noted study leader Jacky Smith, a professor at the University of Manchester, in England. This "is the first study to report a treatment that is safe and effective over the longer term," Smith...

Another Vaping Hazard: Less-Healthy Mouths

26 February 2020
Another Vaping Hazard: Less-Healthy MouthsWEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Your lungs might not be your only concern if you're trying electronic cigarettes -- your mouth may pay the price, too. Vaping alters the natural bacteria found in the mouth, leaving you more vulnerable to oral infections and inflammation, a new study reports. The researchers said this study is the first to show that vaping can alter the natural balance of beneficial bacteria (microbiome) in the mouth, adding to the list of potential health effects associated with e-cigarette use. "Cells that are exposed to e-cigarettes are more susceptible to infections," said the study's senior author, Deepak Saxena. He's a professor of basic science and craniofacial biology at NYU College of Dentistry in New York City. Saxena said that e-cigarettes...

AHA News: After Heart Attack, Mini-Stroke and Stroke,...

26 February 2020
AHA News: After Heart Attack, Mini-Stroke and Stroke, Survivor Has Some AdviceWEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- Andy Beal woke up at 4 a.m. and went to the bathroom as he'd done hundreds of times before. This time, though, the 44-year-old North Carolina man had trouble getting back into bed. "I collapsed. I had to like roll into bed," Andy said. "The entire right side of my body was paralyzed." When his wife, Sheila, asked if he was OK, all Andy could say was, "I feel weird." Andy answered "18" when she asked him where they lived. There is no 18 in their Raleigh address. Fear set in as Sheila called 911. The dispatcher asked her to perform some tests that would help see if he was having a stroke. Have Andy smile. Raise his arms. Repeat a common phrase. Andy struggled. When paramedics arrived 10 minutes later, he was fine. They said...

Female Firefighters Face Higher Exposure to Carcinogens

26 February 2020
Female Firefighters Face Higher Exposure to CarcinogensWEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Female firefighters are exposed to chemicals that may be linked with breast and other types of cancer, researchers say. Compared to women working in offices, female firefighters in San Francisco are exposed to higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals are used in firefighting foam and uniforms, grease- and water-resistant coatings and in fabrics, furniture and food packaging. PFAS have been linked to a number of cancers and are known to interfere with breast development as well as immune and endocrine function, according to the study published Feb. 26 in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. It's one of the first published from the Women Firefighter Biomonitoring Collaborative, a long-term...

Big Breakfast May Be the Most Slimming Meal of the Day

26 February 2020
Big Breakfast May Be the Most Slimming Meal of the DayWEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Starting the day with a big breakfast and keeping dinner light may help you burn more calories and keep you trimmer, new research suggests. Eating this way may also keep your blood sugar levels from going too high, the small study found. "Extensive breakfasting should be preferred over large dinner meals," said study lead author Juliane Richter, of the University of Lubeck's Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism in Germany. "This recommendation can be applied to healthy people to prevent metabolic diseases [such as diabetes], as well as to patients with overweight and obesity to reduce body weight," she added. How could eating breakfast improve your weight and blood sugar levels? Richter said the reason isn't clear yet and more...

Paddles Against Parkinson's: Ping Pong Might Ease Symptoms

26 February 2020
Paddles Against Parkinson`s: Ping Pong Might Ease SymptomsWEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A spirited game of ping pong may be more than just fun: New research suggests it could quell symptoms in Parkinson's patients. The small study found that patients with the movement disorder had significant improvements in a wide range of symptoms after taking part in a six-month ping pong exercise program. "Ping pong, which is also called table tennis, is a form of aerobic exercise that has been shown in the general population to improve hand-eye coordination, sharpen reflexes and stimulate the brain," said Dr. Ken-ichi Inoue, from Fukuoka University in Japan. "We wanted to examine if people with Parkinson's disease would see similar benefits that may in turn reduce some of their symptoms," Inoue explained. The study included 12...

Sugary Sodas Wreak Havoc With Cholesterol Levels, Harming the Heart

26 February 2020
Sugary Sodas Wreak Havoc With Cholesterol Levels, Harming the HeartWEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Sugar-sweetened drinks can play havoc with your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, a new study finds. Specifically, drinking more than 12 ounces (1 standard can) of sugary sodas or fruit drinks a day may not bode well for your cardiovascular health, researchers say. "Think before you drink. There is accumulating evidence linking sugar-sweetened beverages to adverse health outcomes, and this message is clear," said lead researcher Nicola McKeown, a nutritional epidemiologist at the Jean Mayer U.S.D.A. Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. According to the researchers, drinks such as sodas, sports drinks and fruit-flavored drinks are the biggest...

More Countries Report Coronavirus Cases, as Outbreak in...

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- More cases of coronavirus cropped up in countries throughout the world on Wednesday, one day after top U.S. health officials warned that a coronavirus...

Is Your Smartphone or Tablet an Injury Risk?

TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Here's a good reason to put your electronic devices down whenever you can: Experts say that using them incorrectly or too often can put you at risk for a...
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