by Anne R. Crecelius, The Conversation The rise of wearable fitness trackers has increased the number of people monitoring their heart rate, both throughout the day and during exercise. Whether you’re an athlete trying to gain the competitive edge, a weekend warrior tracking progress or someone who is just trying to improve your health, consider heart...
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Your DNA is not your destiny — or a good predictor of your health
New study from the University of Alberta suggests that diseases such as many cancers, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s have a genetic contribution of 5 to 10 per cent at most UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA In most cases, your genes have less than five per cent to do with your risk of developing a particular disease, according to...
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MORE BODY FAT MAY HAMPER THINKING AS YOU AGE
WHITNEY BAXTER-IOWA STATE “Chronological age doesn’t seem to be a factor in fluid intelligence decreasing over time. It appears to be biological age, which here is the amount of fat and muscle.” Having less muscle and more body fat may affect how flexible our thinking gets as we become older, according to a new study....
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What can you do to reduce fibroid pain?
Many people with uterine fibroids have no symptoms, but others may experience pain and abnormal vaginal bleeding. For some people living with fibroids, the pain is intense enough to interfere with daily life. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that form inside the uterus. They can grow quite large and cause pain and pressure. Fibroid pain usually occurs...
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Melatonin: Magic Potion or Unregulated Danger?
Kate Johnson “The most magical sleep supportive potion I’m aware of is melatonin,” says Rubin Naiman, PhD, sleep specialist, psychologist, and clinical assistant professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Although major sleep societies don’t recommend it for the treatment of insomnia, Naiman compares melatonin to Nyx, the Greek mythological goddess of the night...
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Ultrasound destroys 80 percent of prostate cancers in one-year study
By Nick Lavars Treating prostate cancer through traditional means such as surgery or radiotherapy carries certain risks, with some patients experiencing impotence, urinary problems and bowel trouble, among other unwanted side effects. Safer and less invasive treatment options could soon be on the table, however, including a novel MRI-guided ultrasound technique that eliminated significant cancers in...
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Virtual reality illuminates the power of opioid-associated memories
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY The number of drug overdose deaths in the US has never been higher. Most of those deaths–68 percent in 2017–have involved opioids. An estimated 10 million Americans aged 12 and older misused opioids in 2018. Insights from virtual reality experiments could help break the cycle of addiction, suggests new research from...
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How high lipid levels cause inflammation and damage kidneys and blood vessels
by Saarland University Doctors interested in ways to minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease have long had blood cholesterol levels in their sights. But other types of blood fats (also known as ‘lipids’) can also be damaging to health. “Our work has involved studying a special group of lipids, the triglycerides. We’ve been able to show...
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Secret behind diabetes drug’s benefits revealed
by McMaster University Researchers at McMaster University have unlocked one of the secrets behind the many benefits of metformin. One of the most widely used medications in the world; metformin is commonly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes. However, in addition to its effects on lowering blood sugar, in preclinical models, metformin shows benefits on aging and...
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Aptar’s Nasal Unidose Device Helps Stop Epileptic Seizures
MEDGADGET EDITORS MEDICINE, NEUROLOGY, NEUROSURGERY AptarGroup, a company based outside of Chicago, Illinois, has announced that the FDA recently approved a medication (NAYZILAM (midazolam)) for treatment of acute repetitive epileptic seizures and that the company’s Unidose Liquid System was chosen as the delivery mechanism for this rescue drug. The Unidose Liquid System doesn’t require priming and can be...