by From Mayo Clinic News Network, Mayo Clinic News Network Dear Mayo Clinic: What is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and what causes it? Is treatment available? Can Duchennemuscular dystrophy be cured? A: As with all forms of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by a genetic defect. The defect leads to muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass that worsens over time. Medication and physical therapy are used to...
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THOUSANDS OF EXCESS DEATHS’ FROM POPULAR HEARTBURN DRUGS
A new study links long-term use of proton pump inhibitors to fatal cases of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and upper gastrointestinal cancer. Past research has linked extended use of these drugs, which treat heartburn, ulcers, and acid reflux, with an increased risk of premature death. However, little has been known about the specific causes...
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10 Exciting Medical Technologies That Will Make You Hopeful About Our Future
Here are the science fiction technologies that make us believe the future of medicine is bright. I follow practically all of the latest advances and developments related to medical technology. I wake up every day to news that make me feel like living in a science fiction movie. Naturally, when sharing my analyses, I strive to be objective, as my job is to prepare every...
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How cranberries may curb the antibiotic-resistance crisis
By Ana Sandoiu Fact checked by Carolyn Robertson New research finds that cranberry molecules make bacteria more sensitive to antibiotics and reveals the twofold mechanism by which they do so. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have deemed antibiotic resistance a “global public health concern.” The overuse...
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Being Refreshed Is Not The Same As Being Hydrated
Posted Today After you have exercised on a hot day, a cool glass of water will quench your thirst immediately—even before your body has had a chance to absorb the water. Yuki Oka, assistant professor of biology and Chen Scholar at Caltech, was curious about why that is, and how the brain processes satiation and pleasure...
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Children who nap midday are happier, excel academically, and have fewer behavioral problems
A Penn study of nearly 3,000 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in China revealed strong connections between 30 to 60 minutes of shuteye at least three days a week and positive outcomes in a handful of areas. Ask just about any parent whether napping has benefits and you’ll likely hear a resounding “yes,” particularly for...
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Opioids are not sleep aids, and can actually worsen sleep, research finds
by Alice Scott, University of Warwick Evidence that taking opioids will help people with chronic pain to sleep better is limited and of poor quality, according to an interdisciplinary team of psychologists and medics from the University of Warwick in partnership with Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland. Many people suffering from long-term chronic pain use opioids as...
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CBD Not Working for You? Here Are 5 Possible Reasons Why
Before you breakup with CBD, consider these reasons. Overview I tried CBD, but it didn’t do anything for me. Why isn’t CBD working for me? Is all this CBD hype just a scam? Sound familiar? If you’ve tried CBD products without any results, you’re not the only one — but that doesn’t mean the whole industry is a scam. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a nonpsychoactive component found in the Cannabis sativa plant. It’s being...
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Dietary supplements linked with severe health events in children, young adults
HARVARD T.H. CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Key takeaways: Compared with vitamins, dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, and energy were associated with nearly three times the risk of severe medical events in children and young adults. Efforts aimed at reducing access and consumption of these types of dietary supplements, implementing proactive enforcement of regulations, and providing clear warnings at the point of purchase are needed. Boston,...
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Poor sleep is unlikely to contribute to higher BMI in children
by Purdue University Credit: CC0 Public Domain Children need more than a good night’s sleep to have a healthy weight, according to a new study in the journal Obesity that explores the relationship between sleep, body mass index (BMI) and cortisol levels in children. Shorter sleep duration has been linked to higher BMI, and that relationship has led researchers to consider whether poor sleep might contribute to higher BMI. This study found that kids...