Job Strain Can Worsen Sleep Longterm, Data Suggests

Ever woke in the night with your thoughts racing about work problems, co-worker disputes, or heavy career decisions?

Well, it’s more common than you think.

Job stress is robbing U.S. workers of the sleep they need, researchers reported in a study published Jan. 8 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

Wo...

Childhood Smoking Ups COPD Risk

Young teens might think smoking makes them look cool, but it’s likely to take their breath away in adulthood, a new study says.

Children who start smoking prior to age 15 have a 27% increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as adults, compared to those who started smoking later, researchers found in a ...

Can Doctors Estimate Life Expectancy After a Dementia Diagnosis?

The clock is running for people who’ve been diagnosed with dementia, but the time they have left depends on their age.

Average life expectancy for people with dementia is largely based on their age at diagnosis, researchers found in a new evidence review.

Dementia reduces life expectancy by about 2 years for those diagnosed at ...

Being Told to 'Calm Down,' Other Microaggressions May Raise Risk for Postpartum Hypertension

The words “calm down” are worse than unhelpful -- they actually can increase blood pressure among new mothers of color, a study has found.

Gender-based racism through such microaggressions significantly increased a new mom’s blood pressure, compared to women not subjected to these sort of comments, researchers reported in...

Avoiding Isolation By Volunteering Offers Mental Health Benefits to Seniors

Delivering meals to the infirm. Tutoring a student. Patrolling a city park. Helping out at a local library.

All these activities not only serve the community, but also can help seniors avoid depression related to social isolation.

Volunteering reduces the risk of depression by 43% among seniors, researchers reported in a study publis...

Poor Sleep Hurts Work Productivity, Survey Shows

Got brain fog? Can't concentrate because you didn't sleep well -- or sleep much at all -- last night?

Tiredness and fatigue from sleep deprivation are common problems, says the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). Inadequate rest can lead to individual mood and health issues, as well as dips in work productivity, which extends the problem to w...

Fitness Matters More Than Weight for Longevity, Study Says

When it comes to living a longer life, staying active may matter far more than what the scale says.

Per the largest study yet on fitness, body weight, and longevity published recently in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that people who are aerobically fit (i.e., how well your heart, lungs, and mus...

Non-Opioids Can Ease Post-Dental Surgery Pain Better Than Opioids, Study Shows

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs acetaminophen and ibuprofen are better at managing dental pain than opioids.

People who had their wisdom teeth removed got better results from an acetaminophen/ibuprofen combo than with a hydrocodone prescription, researchers reported on Jan. 4 in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

T...

Can Exercise Ease Knee Pain? Here's What the Research Shows

Movement is medicine, or so they tell people with knee osteoarthritis -- but are they right?

A recent evidence review calls into question just how helpful exercise can be for easing the pain of knee arthritis.

“Exercise probably results in an improvement in pain, physical function, and quality of life in the short‐term,&r...

Sauna Misuse May Lead to Heat Stroke, Data Suggests

Basking in a sauna can be a nice way to relieve stress or relax muscles following a workout.

But soaking too long can increase a person’s risk of heat stroke, particularly if they aren’t well-hydrated, doctors warn.

Most cases of heat stroke occur on hot days, due to overexertion, researchers say.

However, “sa...

Exercise Prior to Cancer Diagnosis May Help Slow Disease Progression

Exercising now can increase your chances of successfully fighting cancer in the future.

Even low levels of exercise provided protection against cancer, a new study published Jan. 7 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows.

People were 47% less likely to die from cancer if they’d been engaging in moderate to vigo...

Can AI Help Make IVF More Successful?

AI might be able to boost the success rates of in vitro fertilization among hopeful families.

An AI program can help doctors analyze ultrasound scans to determine the best timing for a hormone injection associated with egg collection, researchers write in a new study published Jan. 8 in the journal Nature Communications.

Get...

Gabapentin Doesn't Increase Fall Risk, Study Suggests

A pain-relieving medication might be safer for seniors than first thought.

A new study published Jan. 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine says Gabapentin is widely used to help treat chronic pain and nerve pain, particularly as an alternative to opioid painkillers.

However, some have argued that gabapentin shouldn’t b...

The Public Policies That Really Help Prevent Suicide

Some of the most effective public policies for suicide prevention aren’t crafted with suicide or mental health in mind, a new study says.

Efforts to increase the minimum wage, prohibit gender discrimination, or reduce alcohol consumption “have spillover benefits in that they also prevent suicides,” lead researcher Jonatha...

Let's Address Tomorrow's Antivax Arguments Today: Pediatrics Expert

Public health officials must prepare to counter ongoing anti-vaccine sentiment in coming years, argues a leading pediatrician-scientist.

“Antivaccine activism became a major lethal force in America” during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an estimated 200,000 deaths among the unvaccinated, according to an article in the jour...

Airport and Aircraft Noise Can Hurt Your Heart

Folks who live near airports are used to the regular roar of jet airliners taking off and landing.

But they likely don’t know that all this ruckus could be harming their heart health, a new study says.

People exposed to high aircraft noise levels could be at greater risk of poor heart function, increasing their risk of heart at...

Sugary Drinks Are To Blame for Millions of Diabetes, Heart Disease Cases Worldwide

Sugar-sweetened drink consumption accounts for more than 2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes, and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease worldwide annually.

According to new research published Jan. 6 in the journal Nature Medicine, people all over the world are impacted by this growing problem. Colombia, Mexico, and South Afric...

Can the Mediterranean Diet Boost Your Memory?

The Mediterranean diet is renown for its ability to improve heart health and help folks lose weight.

Now a new rat study says this eating pattern also might provide folks a boost in brain power.

Lab rats fed a Mediterranean diet developed changes in gut bacteria that researchers linked to better memory and improved cognitive performa...

Morning Coffee Linked to Longer Life, Heart Health Benefits

For many, coffee is a beloved morning ritual, fueling the day ahead. But what if the time you drink it could influence how long -- and how well -- you live?

New research published Jan. 8 in the European Heart Journal suggests that when you enjoy your cup of Joe might be just as important as how much you drink.

The study show...

Diabetes Prevention Program Saves People Money, Study Shows

Preventing diabetes can be as good for a person’s wallet as it is for their health, a new study says.

People participating in a diabetes prevention program saved more than $5,000 in direct medical costs over two years, researchers reported recently in the journal Diabetes Care.

These prediabetic folks saved money by no...