Disks degenerate when they become dehydrated, lose height, and the vertebrae on either side develop bony growths called osteophytes, which can cause or exacerbate lower back pain. In this study, researchers compared data concerning 160,911 … [Read more...]
Health News
Stronger Hips May Help Pitchers Stay on the Mound
In this study, researchers measured lower extremity performance in 18 collegiate pitchers before and after a simulated game. While researchers observed no change in jump squat performance following the 117-pitch session, the participants did … [Read more...]
Eye Strain? Eat More Dark, Leafy Greens!
Chinese researchers evaluated students from five universities and found that participants with poor eyesight who consumed larger quantities of dark, leafy green vegetables in their diet had a 40% reduced risk for eye strain. Examples of dark, leafy … [Read more...]
Heat Waves Raise Heart Attack Mortality Risk
A heat wave is a period of unusually hot weather lasting several days in which temperatures exceed the historical average in the region. An analysis of data from 23 published studies indicates that heat waves may increase the risk of myocardial … [Read more...]
Siblings Can Ease Pain of Family Conflict
In this study, researchers interviewed children from 236 families and found that teens who had good relationships with their siblings experienced less distress when answering questions about observed parental disagreements. Study co-author Dr. … [Read more...]
Quote of the Week
“My main hope for myself is to be where I am.” — Woody Harrelson … [Read more...]
Check for Signs of Skin Cancer
The warmer months are a great time for people to check their skin for signs of cancer. Dermatologist Dr. Katherine Gordon recommends looking for the following: moles that change, have irregular shapes, or uneven edges; moles that are multi-colored, … [Read more...]
Taking Breaks Can Reduce Back Pain Risk for Office Workers
If you work in an office, taking breaks can cut your risk for developing nonspecific lower back pain (NSLBP). In the study, researchers monitored the behavior and health of 669 office workers over the course of a year and found that those who took … [Read more...]
Improved Access to Exercise Classes May Help Those with Lung Conditions
Using information gathered from one-on-one interviews and focus groups, researchers report that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are more likely to be physically active if they have routine contact with their healthcare provider, … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding and Picky Eaters
According to a Danish study that included 236 boys and girls, the longer a child exclusively breastfeeds, the lower the chances they’ll be picky eaters when they move on to solid foods. In particular, the researchers found that kids who exclusively … [Read more...]
Lyme Disease-Carrying Ticks More Widespread Than Once Thought
A nationwide effort led by scientists at Northern Arizona University has detected ticks that can carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne illness in over 80 counties in the United States where such ticks had not previously been recorded. Researcher … [Read more...]
Bright Future May Help Teens Avoid Violence
If teens are offered the possibility of a good future, they may become more peaceful. A survey of 866 male teens in poorer neighborhoods showed that those who had a positive outlook were less likely to say that they’d threatened somebody else or … [Read more...]
Quote of the Week
“We are what we believe we are!” ~ C.S. Lewis … [Read more...]
Are You at Risk for an Ectopic Pregnancy?
When a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, it is referred to as an ectopic pregnancy. This type of pregnancy causes the fallopian tube to eventually burst, leading to life-threatening bleeding. According to the … [Read more...]