HEALTH SECRET

The University of Louisville's Green Heart Louisville Project has found that people living in neighborhoods where the number of trees and shrubs was more than doubled showed lower levels of a blood marker of inflammation than those living outside the planted areas. General inflammation is an important risk indicator for heart disease and other chronic diseases. http://dlvr.it/TCRQ1G

Whether they know it or not, most Americans don't go a day—or often a single meal—without eating ultraprocessed foods. http://dlvr.it/TCQhMF

Heat-related mortality rates increased from 1999 to 2023 in the United States, according to a research letter published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. http://dlvr.it/TCPzph

Peggi Wegener (middle right) poses with her three sons. Image provided by Peggi Wegener * About 2% of people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm. * Most aneurysms don’t show any signs or symptoms. * Peggi Wegener shares her story of experiencing an aneurysm. It was a typical Saturday afternoon in January for 65-year-old Peggi Wegener as she enjoyed one of her favorite pastimes, crocheting. However, the day took a turn when she suddenly experienced a “popping” sensation in her head. “[When] I looked up, I had double vision and remember thinking, Wow, that’s really weird,” she told Healthline. At first, she thought it might be related to the one contact she wore to enhance her distance vision, but she quickly began to worry that she might be experiencing a stroke. After she found her way to the bathroom, she examined her face looking for signs of stroke. “[The feeling] didn’t last a long time, but it lasted long enough for me to end up...

Proper nutrition is crucial for a child’s health and development, but a new study found that 60% of baby foods don’t meet nutritional standards. humanmade/Getty Images * A new study found that 60% of baby foods don’t meet nutritional guidelines set by the World health Organization (WHO). * Many foods were low in protein but high in sugar and sodium. * Proper nutrition is crucial for a child’s health and development, so experts advise reading baby food labels carefully. * Health claims can be verified with organizations like the Baby Food Council (BFC) and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). While many people assume that baby foods are healthy and nutritionally balanced, this may not necessarily be the case, according to a new study published on August 21 in the journal Nutrients. The researchers found that 60% of foods designated for babies and toddlers fell short of the nutritional requirements set by the World Health Organization (WHO). This fi...

A study characterizes childhood long COVID, revealing distinct symptoms in children and adolescents, highlighting the need for tailored diagnostic approaches. http://dlvr.it/TCP7dW

International Overdose Awareness Day is a worldwide campaign held each Aug. 31 that acknowledges the grief of family and friends left behind from those who have died from a drug overdose. This year's campaign theme "Together we can" highlights the power of the community standing together to help end overdose. http://dlvr.it/TCNRK8

Study found that emergency SNAP allotments were associated with a decreased risk of food hardship in households with children, particularly among White and Hispanic families, but not Black families. http://dlvr.it/TCMlvg

Study found that 69% of hospitalized COPD patients misused inhalers, with 66% making critical errors, and 14% having insufficient Peak Inspiratory Flow (PIF), even after training. http://dlvr.it/TCMlkk

Scalable telehealth mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) effectively improve pain-related function and biopsychosocial outcomes in veterans with chronic pain compared to standard care. The study confirms that low-cost, non-pharmacological treatments like MBIs can be accessible and beneficial via telehealth platforms. http://dlvr.it/TCMlZK

Eating oranges at half-time has been a popular and long-standing tradition at junior sports in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. http://dlvr.it/TCM7N0

On a hot summer day in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, dozens of men removed pipes, asbestos and hazardous waste while working to decontaminate a nuclear facility and prepare it for demolition. http://dlvr.it/TCLgF4

You might remember cottage cheese from your childhood. Back then, it was considered "diet food." You ate it out of the tub, with celery or spread it on crackers for a low-calorie snack. Then cottage cheese went out of fashion. http://dlvr.it/TCK02v

Obesity-related cancer rates in China were rising at an alarming 3.6% every year between 2007 and 2021 while non-obesity-related cancers remained stable, according to the first comprehensive study published August 22 in the Cell Press journal Med. http://dlvr.it/TCJZwg

Several reported health benefits associated with drinking baking soda water may be trending on TikTok, but health experts say only a few are supported by scientific evidence. look casting/Getty Images * Baking soda is generating discussions on TikTok because of its reported health benefits, including weight loss, endurance, and cancer risk reduction. * Experts say that many of these claims are not supported by research and that consuming baking soda carries health risks. * Experts stress the importance of speaking with a healthcare professional before trying this — or any —social media health trend at home. Baking soda. You may have put it in the back of your fridge months ago to help prevent odors or recently used it as an ingredient in a recipe. However, creators on TikTok are generating millions of views with claims that drinking a small amount of baking soda mixed into a glass of water can provide a number of health benefits, including aiding with weight l...

The anti-cancer drug olaparib may be effective in treating biochemically recurrent prostate cancer without accompanying hormone therapy for men who have mutations in genes such as BRCA2, according to results of a phase II clinical trial of 51 patients conducted at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and three other sites. http://dlvr.it/TCGqDP

Air pollution is bad for mental health. That much is clear. Now, new research shows the impact may be even worse in neighborhoods that were historically redlined. http://dlvr.it/TCGX4t

Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 don't respect boundaries, moving between species and continents and leaving destruction as they go. Beating the next pathogen with pandemic potential means getting good at crossing borders ourselves -; between fields of study, between research universities, and between scientists and the wider community. http://dlvr.it/TCGWqy

Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Nina Fefferman became a mathematician because she loves puzzles. http://dlvr.it/TCGJCh

A new study found a link between semaglutide use and suicidal ideation, adding to an ongoing debate over the safety of GLP-1 drugs. Halfpoint Images/Getty Images * The authors of a new study identified a link between semaglutide use and suicidal ideation. * They found that people who use semaglutide and medication for mental health conditions may face a higher risk.  * Other research has found little to no association between semaglutide use and suicidal thoughts. * More research in this area is needed since studies on GLP-1 drug use and suicidal ideation have yielded conflicting results. Recent studies have investigated whether glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like semaglutide are linked to an increased risk of suicidal ideation. So far, the results have been mixed. For instance, a new global study published on August 20 in JAMA Network Open found a raised risk of suicidal ideation associated with semaglutide use, while another recent stu...

Researchers investigate how switching between or within digital media, such as short videos on social media platforms, affects boredom. http://dlvr.it/TCDSVp

In a groundbreaking exploration of cell surface biology, Ryan Flynn has uncovered a surprising role for RNA outside the confines of the cell. Flynn's research, which focuses on the biology of cell surface RNA, led to the discovery that certain RNAs are chemically linked to glycans-;complex carbohydrate polymers found on the cell surface. http://dlvr.it/TCD8bZ

When UC San Francisco research showed that routinely treating children in Sub-Saharan Africa with a common antibiotic could reduce deaths in children under five, the World Health Organization (WHO) moved quickly to recommend the treatment – but only for infants between 1 and 11 months old. http://dlvr.it/TCD8Mh

It's the bane of many travelers: jet lag. Nobody wants to lose out because they're too tired to enjoy the delights of their vacation spot. http://dlvr.it/TCCw5Z

While TikTok’s viral “very demure, very mindful” meme trend may be taking a lighthearted approach to living more mindfully, health experts say it can also provide significant health benefits. Drazen_/Getty Images * The “very demure, very mindful” trend is taking over TikTok. * This trend encourages people to take a mindful approach to living their lives. * Experts say mindfulness can have numerous benefits. * It can help with anxiety, blood pressure, sleep, heart health, and weight loss. * Starting slowly and building up gradually is the key to forming mindful habits. “Very demure, very mindful” is the latest craze to take over TikTok and it has people everywhere talking about the importance of living your life in a more mindful way. The American Psychological Association states that mindfulness involves having an awareness of your internal states and surroundings and observing your thoughts and feelings without judging them or reacting. The “very ...

Flexibility exercises are often included in the exercise regimens of athletes and exercisers. New research in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports suggests that levels of flexibility may affect survival in middle-aged individuals. http://dlvr.it/TCB3JQ

University of Queensland research could lead to a more effective immunotherapy treatment against bladder cancer. http://dlvr.it/TC9ll6

Artificial intelligence (AI) is all around us—from smart home devices to entertainment and social media algorithms. But is AI okay in health care? A new national survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds most Americans believe it is, with a few reservations. http://dlvr.it/TC9lWG

RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics have garnered significant attention in clinical research due to their potential for treating various diseases, including genetic disorders, viral infections and cancer. http://dlvr.it/TC9WTx

In September 2024, new guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will require that all women receive information about their breast density following a mammogram. http://dlvr.it/TC9KTY

The genetic overlap between Alzheimer's disease (AD) (a neurodegenerative disorder causing memory loss and cognitive decline), lipid profiles, and coronary artery disease (CAD). http://dlvr.it/TC7g90

As schools reopen for another year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But back-to-school is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school? http://dlvr.it/TC7Lzd

Whether a child plays organized sports or just loves being active outdoors, hot weather can pose serious health concerns. http://dlvr.it/TC6xyc

It's that time of year when mosquitoes are at their peak, buzzing around barbecues and stinging at will. http://dlvr.it/TC6xr6

Actor Ryan Reynolds is opening up about his late father’s journey with Parkinson’s disease and the early symptoms his family missed before diagnosis. Mike Coppola/Getty Images * Ryan Reynolds is speaking out about his father’s life with Parkinson’s disease nine years after his death. * Reynolds says he hopes to raise awareness of some of the early signs and symptoms of the disease, including less common psychological and cognitive problems. * Reynolds’ father experienced hallucinations and delusions, which are part of a spectrum of symptoms due to psychosis. Actor Ryan Reynolds is opening up about his father’s journey with Parkinson’s disease and the painful effects it had on his family in hopes of raising awareness about some of the lesser-known symptoms of the disease. In an intimate interview with People, Reynolds described the cognitive symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions that his father experienced while living with Parkinson’s. He also a...

A new review was published as the cover paper of Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science), Volume 16, Issue 15, entitled, "Types of cell death and their relations to host immunological pathways". http://dlvr.it/TC52B8

Utilizing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) could save almost 700,000 children's lives between the time of their introduction to the year 2030, according to a new modeling study. This would be equivalent to the average number of babies born in the UK each year. http://dlvr.it/TC51vk

More than 3,400 Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths are reported annually in the United States, making it the country's biggest cause of death of infants from 1 month to 1 year old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). http://dlvr.it/TC4gFY

In humans, the process of learning is driven by different groups of cells in the brain firing together. For instance, when the neurons associated with the process of recognizing a dog begin to fire in a coordinated manner in response to the cells that encode the features of a dog -; four legs, fur, a tail, etc. -; a young child will eventually be able to identify dogs going forward. http://dlvr.it/TC4g6p

One of the few certainties in life is the wrinkling of our skin. http://dlvr.it/TC4g08

A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 15 on August 14, 2024, entitled, "A nanobody against the V-ATPase c subunit inhibits metastasis of 4T1-12B breast tumor cells to lung in mice." http://dlvr.it/TC3Lqx

In what they labeled a "surprising" finding, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers studying bacteria from freshwater lakes and soil say they have determined a protein's essential role in maintaining the germ's shape. http://dlvr.it/TC3Lhr

Researchers demonstrated a way to speed up—and potentially scale up—the process for separating particles in fluids, which can be used for studying microplastics in drinking water or even analyzing cancer cells from blood. http://dlvr.it/TC32z3

Scientists at deCODE genetics, a subsidiary of AMGEN, have discovered rare sequence variants, predicted to cause a loss of function of ITSN1, that are associated with a high risk of Parkinson's Disease. http://dlvr.it/TC32pP

Many of us are looking for ways to eat a healthier and more sustainable diet. And one way to do this is by reducing the amount of meat we eat. http://dlvr.it/TC32kS

The FDA warns that overdoses related to compounded forms of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound are on the rise. Iuliia Burmistrova/Getty Images * Overdoses related to compounded forms of semaglutide (Ozempic) and other GLP-1 drugs are on the rise. * The FDA warns that incorrect dosing is common when patients use unapproved formulations. * Signs of a GLP-1 overdose include extreme diarrhea and vomiting and may require hospitalization.  More people are overdosing on “do-it-yourself” Ozempic as cost and accessibility drive patients to compounded drugs. Calls to poison control centers about overdoses related to GLP-1 drugs, which includes the blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound), continue to rise.  The apparent culprit: compounded formulations of the popular drugs that, rather than being administered through a pre-measured pen, require the patient to properly dos...

Untreated high blood pressure may significantly raise your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. FreshSplash/Getty Images * A new study has found a link between high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s risk. * People with untreated high blood pressure were at greater risk for the disease. * High blood pressure can damage the brain over time, leading to cognitive decline. * Medications, diet, exercise, and stress reduction can help blood pressure. * Keeping your mind active and maintaining social ties can protect against Alzheimer’s. A new study published online on August 14, 2024, in Neurology found that people ages 60 and above with untreated high blood pressure may be at greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This was in comparison with individuals whose high blood pressure was currently being treated or had been treated in the past. A comparison was also made with people without high blood pressure. Alzheimer’s disease affects n...