Latest Health News

24Jul
2023

Probiotics Are Good for More Than Your Gut

Probiotics Are Good for More Than Your GutMONDAY, July 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Many people turn to probiotics for their digestive woes, but a preliminary study suggests that what's good for gut may also be good for the aging brain.The study involved older adults with mild cognitive impairment, where memory and other thinking skills are starting to slide but people can still carry out their daily tasks. Researchers found that when those individuals took a particular probiotic for three months, their mental abilities improved. And those improvements correlated with specific changes in their gut bacteria.Experts cautioned that the study is preliminary and needs to be backed up by further research."I think it's too early to tell if the effects are robust and reproducible," said Robert Vassar, director of the Mesulam Center...

Kids Who Plant Themselves in Front of TV More Likely to...

24 July 2023
Kids Who Plant Themselves in Front of TV More Likely to Have Metabolic Syndrome as AdultsMONDAY, July 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Here's another reason to get your kids up and moving: Excessive TV watching in childhood leads to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome at age 45, a new long-term study finds. “What's really important about this is that even if these sedentary kids decided somewhere along the line, like in their 20s, that they wanted to get active, they still had increased metabolic risk at age 45. So the conclusion is that kids who were sedentary are at risk of health problems later on in life,” said Dr. Colleen Kraft, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and professor at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms that increase your risk of stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes....

Are These Pricey New Alzheimer's Drugs Worth It?

24 July 2023
Are These Pricey New Alzheimer`s Drugs Worth It?MONDAY, July 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Breakthrough new drugs that clear amyloid beta plaques from the brain are shaking up the field of Alzheimer’s disease research.The fact that patients’ mental deterioration slows when they’re on anti-amyloid drugs is solid proof that abnormal amyloid proteins are one of the culprits behind Alzheimer’s, essentially ending decades of debate over the so-called “amyloid hypothesis.”“We are confirming that amyloid truly is a component of the disease process, and when you address it, you see meaningful clinical benefit in individuals that sustained for some of these studies,” said Rebecca Edelmayer, senior director of scientific engagement for the Alzheimer’s Association.But Alzheimer’s experts warn that patients and their families...

Major Drug Shortages Not Likely After Tornado Damages...

24 July 2023
Major Drug Shortages Not Likely After Tornado Damages Pfizer Plant, FDA saysMONDAY, July 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Tornado damage to a Pfizer drug-making plant in North Carolina is unlikely to trigger drug shortages across the country, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. "We do not expect there to be any immediate significant impacts on supply, given the products are currently at hospitals and in the distribution system," FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in an agency news release posted Friday."Our initial analysis has identified less than 10 drugs for which Pfizer’s North Carolina plant is the sole source for the U.S. market, however, a number of these are specific formulations for which there should be substitutes or for which many weeks’ worth of stock should be available in Pfizer’s other warehouses," Califf explained."Notably, while...

HIV Meds Help Slash Infection Risk to Nearly Zero: Study

24 July 2023
HIV Meds Help Slash Infection Risk to Nearly Zero: StudyMONDAY, July 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- People taking antiretroviral therapy to treat HIV who have low but detectable virus levels have almost zero risk of transmitting the virus to others, according to a new research review.Researchers looked at eight studies of more than 7,700 couples in which one person was HIV positive and the other was not. The studies were done in 25 countries and reviewed by teams from the Global Health Impact Group and the World Health Organization.Their review, published July 22 in The Lancet, found that people with viral loads of HIV below 1,000 copies/mL have almost no risk of transmitting the virus to their sexual partners. Previous studies have not been able to confirm a lack of transmission risk above a much lower number -- 200 copies/mL.This review...

Timed Fasting Best Way for Those With Diabetes to Lose Weight

24 July 2023
Timed Fasting Best Way for Those With Diabetes to Lose WeightMONDAY, July 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Restricting eating to certain times -- a regimen known as intermittent fasting -- may be the best way to help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight.Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who ate only between noon and 8 p.m. lost more daily weight than those who counted calories.Both strategies resulted in similar improvements to participants’ blood sugar levels.The findings will be presented Monday at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, in Boston.“Many people find counting calories very hard to stick to in the long term, but our study shows that watching the clock may offer a simple way to decrease calories and lose weight,” said researcher and study presenter Vicky Pavlou, a doctoral student at the University...

Here's 8 Habits That Could Lengthen Your Life

24 July 2023
Here`s 8 Habits That Could Lengthen Your LifeMONDAY, July 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Eight healthy habits could add years to your life.A new study of more than 700,000 U.S. veterans breaks down the habits that when adopted by middle age, can help someone live substantially longer than folks who don’t have these habits.These are the big eight:Be physically active.Don't smoke.Don't get addicted to opioids.Don't binge-drink on a regular basis.Eat a healthy diet.Manage stress.Practice good sleep habits.Maintain positive social relationships.The study found that men with all those habits at age 40 could live an average of 24 years longer than men who have none of them. Women could gain an additional 21 years compared to their peers who have none of these habits.The findings will be presented Monday at a meeting of the American...

Researchers Identify Genes That Influence What You Eat

24 July 2023
Researchers Identify Genes That Influence What You EatMONDAY, July 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- You’ve likely heard that "you are what you eat,” but a new study suggests what you eat also has something to do with who you are — genetically speaking.Researchers have identified nearly 500 genes that appear to directly influence what someone eats. These insights could help improve personalized nutrition to boost health or prevent disease, they said.“Some genes we identified are related to sensory pathways — including those for taste, smell and texture — and may also increase the reward response in the brain,” said research team leader Joanne Cole. She is an assistant professor in the biomedical informatics department at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “Because some of these genes may have clear paths toward...

During Pregnancy, the Less Caffeine the Better: Expert

SUNDAY, July 23, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to pregnancy and caffeinated drinks, less is best, says an expert, warning women to avoid energy drinks in particular.“Energy drinks...

Be Smart When Working Out in Steamy Summer Weather

SATURDAY, July 22, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- It’s hot out there. If you’re working out outdoors this summer, take precautions.“If you plan to exercise in the heat, know your fitness level,...
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