UF Health Podcasts: Recent Episodes
None
Anybody who’s ever tried to rouse a sleeping teenager (or who has been a teenager themselves) is probably aware that it can be a tough task. But it’s not without good reason. Research has shown that adolescents require more sleep than adults and children.
Now, a new study drives home just how crucial the amount and quality of sleep is to teens’ brain health.
The sleep patterns of more than 3,000 adolescents were studied, with researchers classifying the teens into three categories. The first included teens who stayed up the latest, had the highest sleeping heart rates and slept the least. The second category featured teens who had a moderate amount of sleep and sleep quality. And the third included teens who went to bed early, had lower sleeping heart rates and slept longest.
The teens with the earliest bedtimes and longest sleep duration consistently displayed better cognitive performance than other participants.
Those who slept least fared the worst in cognitive performance and were shown to have weaker connections between key parts of the brain, and smaller brain volume, in general.
The study showed these results remained consistent as researchers followed the adolescents from ages 9 to 10 through age 14. Researchers said this suggests the sleep patterns established during these years can shape brain function for years to come, so developing and maintaining healthy habits in early adolescence is extremely important.
This research offers clear evidence of how vital sleep is to teens. Perhaps future studies can explore ways to safely wake a sleeping teenager.
For years, the longstanding medical treatment for inflammation-related lost sense of smell was to prescribe oral vitamin D supplements.
But sometimes you just have to turn convention on its head.
Researchers at the University of Florida and Northwestern University, in a study published earlier this year, reduced nasal inflammation and improved the sense of smell in mice by using a vitamin D nasal spray.
The inflammation was caused by cigarette smoke. But the researchers said the potential treatment, an active form of vitamin D called calcitriol [kal-suh-tray-ahl] might be effective for treating nasal inflammation caused by other conditions, including COVID-19.
Although the study involved an animal model, researchers noted that their previous work using human tissue bolsters confidence that the treatment might work for people, too. There remain years of research ahead, including potential human trials.
Previous studies have shown that vitamin D is deficient in smokers’ nasal tissue.
In the recent study, the mice received intranasal treatment three times a week for one month. When placed in a maze, the treated mice avoided areas with an unpleasant smell. The unstreated mice didn’t notice the odor at all.
CT scans confirmed that the treated mice had much less nasal tissue blockage than their untreated counterparts.
If the spray can be used in humans, it would vastly improve treatment options, which are limited mostly to supplements, surgery or pricey lab-produced antibodies.
And it would improve quality of life for those who miss catching a whiff of gardenia, garlic and onion sizzling in a pan or cookies coming out of the oven.
There’s nothing quite like a heaping portion of sauerkraut to accompany a nice sausage or potato dish. While the tangy, fermented cabbage dish is deeply rooted in German culture today, it has actually been consumed by humans for at least 2,000 years, dating back to ancient Rome.
Besides its appealing salty-tangy combo punch and preservative qualities cultivated in the fermenting process, a new study shows how sauerkraut is also good for our gut microbiome. Its health benefits might also be a testament to why the dish has been around for millennia.
Researchers explored the fermentation process and compared the nutritional profile of sauerkraut with raw cabbage as well as the liquid brine left from fermentation.
Their findings indicated that sauerkraut, whether bought at the grocery or made in their lab, helped protect intestinal cells from inflammation-related damage, while the raw cabbage and leftover brine did not have the same effect.
The researchers explained that some of the metabolites found in sauerkraut are the same kinds made by the gut microbiome, strengthening the evidence that sauerkraut can benefit gut health.
In recent years, scientists have gained a better understanding of just how important a properly balanced gut microbiome can be for overall health. The researchers in the current study recommend eating more fermented foods alongside fruits and vegetables to help optimize gut health.
Rather than relegating sauerkraut to a lowly topping, promote it to a full-on side dish and relish its rich tangy goodness tangy goodness … while giving your gut health a boost.
It’s June, and that means it’s Paul McCartney’s birthday. On June 18, the former Beatle turns 83. Happy birthday, Paul.
So, it’s a great time to remind the world about the obscure if important role played by the Beatles in an unlikely field — medicine.
The scientist who is thought to have been most responsible for the invention of the CT scanner is Godfrey Hounsfield. Many millions of people have received a CT scan, widely called a CAT scan.
A computed tomography scan helps doctors diagnose many illnesses or injuries. It’s undoubtedly saved many lives by using X-rays in thin slices to provide a view inside your body.
Hounsfield worked for a company called English Musical Industries, or EMI. One part of the company sold records under the Parlophone label. Other divisions, however, produced a variety of products.
Hounsfield was an engineer on the nonmusical side of the business and worked at EMI through the 1960s.
As any Beatles fan can recite chapter and verse, a Parlophone producer, George Martin, signed the Fab Four to a recording contract in 1962. What followed was a string of hits and nearly 200 million records sold through the rest of the decade. EMI profits doubled.
Many argue that this rich vein of money allowed EMI to generously fund new product research. Hounsfield started work on his project in 1967, the year the Beatles’ made their seminal album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Sitting on loads of cash, EMI hardly blinked at funding Hounsfield’s big idea.
Hounsfield would be awarded a Nobel Prize for work he accomplished, perhaps with a little help from his friends.
Does a big, juicy steak for breakfast sound appealing? Perhaps not, but finding ways to boost your protein intake during breakfast and lunch might be a good idea.
A new study suggests spreading your protein intake more evenly across three meals is crucial to keeping your muscles strong as you age.
For three years, researchers led by McGill University studied more than 1,700 Canadians between the ages of 67 and 84. They measured participants’ physical performance once each year with two tests. One evaluated muscle strength through hand grip, arm and leg exercises, while the other assessed mobility through walking speed, chair stands and timed walking tests.
The researchers also conducted six 24-hour food recalls — three at the beginning of the study and three at Year 2 — to collect dietary information.
Women with the most balanced protein intake averaged 18 grams at breakfast, 23 grams at lunch and 23 grams at dinner. Men averaged 21 grams at breakfast, 29 grams at lunch and 30 grams at dinner.
These participants showed significantly higher muscle strength throughout the study, regardless of how much protein they consumed, compared with those whose protein intake was less consistent. However, the researchers also found that the rate of decline in muscle strength was not affected by protein distribution.
This suggests it might be important to do what you can to boost your muscle strength now, since we all will gradually lose it as we age.
So, no, you don’t have to eat a rare steak for breakfast. But if you want to improve your muscle strength, you might want to consider having an egg or two with your cereal.
Join us on Animal Airwaves-Live as Dr. Caryn Plummer, veterinary ophthalmology specialist from UF, discusses cataracts across pets and horses. She’ll help owners identify early signs like eye cloudiness and changes in navigation, explain the difference between normal aging and cataracts, and outline modern treatment options. Dr. Plummer will share insights on surgical procedures, recovery expectations, and species-specific considerations, equipping owners with knowledge to protect their companions’ vision and quality of life whether they have hooves or paws.
What if we put a bit of the stuff found in antiseptic mouthwash on our walls to protect our health?
That may sound like a harebrained scheme or like a bit of quackery found in the dark corners of the internet. A recent British study, however, tested an idea that does just that.
The pharmacy researchers found that adding a common antiseptic to paint containing epoxy resin can transform a surface into a deathtrap for harmful bacteria.
The scientists envision this paint being a boon to hospital infection control. Might an antiseptic paint for home use one day be found on the shelf of your local paint shop?
Experiments indicate the paint completely eradicates E. coli and candida and destroys 99.9% of antibiotic-resistant bacteria generally known as MRSA [MUR-suh].
The researchers say the paint is relatively cheap, although it will probably be a little more expensive than other resin-epoxy paints without antimicrobial properties.
The study found the paint retains the power to kill bacteria for months and does not appear to lose much strength as it ages.
The paint is combined with chlorhexidine digluconate [klor-HEX-ih-deen dye-GLOO-kuh-nate], a widely used antiseptic. It is, for example, a skin prep used before surgery. And as mentioned, it’s in mouthwash, too.
The antiseptic agent remains embedded in the resin and won’t wash off.
Touching a contaminated surface is a common way to pick up an infectious bacterium. MRSA, for example, has been shown to remain on glass and steel surfaces for six weeks. On plastic, it’s 90 days.
Someday, perhaps a doctor will send you to the hardware store instead of the pharmacy to prevent an infection.
In the last two decades, the average rate of obesity among adults in the United States has risen about 30%.
But the rate of those with the most serious, life-threatening forms of obesity —those with a body mass index, or BMI, of more than 60 — increased by a startling 210%.
Researchers from Lousiana State University analyzed national health survey data of adults from 2001 to 2023.
For those of us who don’t feel like solving our BMIs by hand, the internet is littered with calculators for the metric. If you plug in your height and weight, a widget will let you know if you’re underweight, which is a BMI under 18, within a healthy range, overweight, or obese, which is a BMI of 30 or higher.
Much scientific attention is being paid to those who are obese, but the researchers say there’s not nearly enough for the extremely obese.
According to the study, such high BMIs were presumed to be exceptionally rare, because most prior surveys lumped everyone with a BMI over 30 into one category.
For context, someone with a BMI of 30 may be 30 or 40 pounds overweight. But someone with a BMI of 60 is likely carrying 200 extra pounds.
The latter’s health is more in peril. They often need help walking, turning to motorized carts, and are hospitalized frequently. They are often disabled.
There are 850,000 or more people in the U.S. in this category — a grave concern. They also exceed weight limits for standard medical equipment, which makes imaging, surgeries and anesthesia more challenging.
The researchers said they hope their study sends an urgent message to health care providers and policymakers not to overlook this previously unnoticed group.
Wrinkles on one’s face are an obvious, unavoidable sign of aging. But your heart might be aging, too, faster than you think — and now, scientists have a way to check.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia [An-glee-uh] have developed a new MRI-based method to reveal your heart’s functional age, or a measure of how well your heart is really doing, regardless of how many years you’ve lived on this planet.
Why does this matter?
Well, for people with high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity, that number can be much higher than their actual age.
Here’s how it works: Using MRI scans from more than 500 people, scientists measured data points like the size and strength of the heart’s chambers. Then, they built a formula that calculates heart age and compared it with hearts from healthy people to verify accuracy. For those without health issues, heart age and “real” age usually matched. But in patients with conditions like hypertension or diabetes, the heart was often 5, 10, even 20 years older than expected — like a 50-year-old who is living their day-to-day routine with the heart of a 55-year-old.
That’s not just trivia. It’s a warning sign.
After all, knowing your heart’s true age could help doctors spot heart disease before symptoms appear. And for patients, it might just be the wake-up call they need to change course, eat better and move more. With heart disease one of the world’s top killers, a tool that can identify cardiac risk early and give people time to turn things around is most welcome.
In the case of our hearts, we want them to act their age. And know if they’re precocious in the wrong way.
Much like sleep or sunlight, good mental health may come down to the little things we do every day — like chatting with a friend or taking a moment to step outside.
In a new study from researchers at Curtin University, a team looked at the habits of 600 adults in Western Australia and found that simple, everyday behaviors were strongly tied to better mental health.
In one instance, daily conversations with others stood out. Folks who talked to someone every day scored a whopping 10 points higher on a standard mental health scale than those who only did so once a week or less.
Nature helped, too. Spending time outdoors daily gave people a five-point mental health boost. Other feel-good habits included regular catchups with friends, physical activity, spiritual practices and mentally engaging tasks like reading or learning something new.
The takeaway? These aren’t expensive interventions or therapy sessions. They’re small things most of us can do that consistently make a difference. Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when social contact was limited, most participants showed no signs of psychological distress. Their mental well-being scores were on par with global prepandemic levels.
Although these ideas aren’t exactly groundbreaking, they demonstrate something even more important than sheer novelty or excitement: Daily habits and routines matter quite a bit.
A walk in the park, a quick chat, a crossword — they might seem small, but they add up. Each day is a building block that makes up what your life looks like, ultimately making the little things a big deal.
And hey … maybe that catch-up coffee really does count as self-care.
Finding ways to shed a few pounds has become an American obsession. Now, researchers have hit on an idea that will be music to the ears of anyone trying to trim the waistline.
It involves something of note to any musician — the sound frequency 440 Hertz.
For the less musically inclined, that frequency is the note A-4, or A in the fourth octave. It’s sometimes called “Concert A” because it is the standard tuning pitch for instruments. Once A is calibrated, it can be used as a reference point to tune other notes.
This frequency, it turns out, might help control fat in the human body.
Japanese researchers found in a recent study that exposing cells to this and other frequencies reduced fat cell formation by 15%. The finding is based on mouse cells in a laboratory, not in the human body, so don’t press your belly against a stereo speaker just yet.
The findings, however, suggest that sound therapies might one day be a new weapon in the fight against obesity.
Sound waves can cause physical reactions in cells. The study showed that at 440 Hertz, vibrations triggered production of a specific protein that causes a chain reaction of sorts.
One of the downstream effects is the production of a hormone-like substance tied to inflammation. The end result in experiments is that fewer fat cells develop and many that do fail to mature. And they stored less fat.
Different frequencies produced other cellular impacts. Scientists say these impacts raise questions about how the sounds in the environment might influence health.
Perhaps one day weight loss will be as easy as turning up the volume.
Advanced diagnostic imaging tools can be life-saving for large and small animals. Expertise in this key area of veterinary medicine is critical for both pinpointing diseases and guiding the treatment process.
On this show, Dr. Federico Vilaplana Grosso, a clinical associate professor and diagnostic imaging specialist, will discuss some of the tools used most frequently these days in veterinary medicine to diagnose diseases. He’ll also discuss how veterinary specialists can supplement what general practitioners are able to do when the need for diagnostic images arises, and how technology has evolved to enable the veterinary care team to obtain faster and ever more accurate diagnoses in order to ensure the best possible outcome for your pet or horse.
There’s nothing quite like slipping into our ugliest, most comfortable sweatpants and settling in to binge a new TV show while snacking on the tastiest-but-unhealthiest foods possible.
But let’s face it, as fun as it can be, eating refined carbohydrates, high-fat foods and sugary snacks can result in becoming overweight and having poor physical health, in general.
If that’s not enough motivation to jettison the junk food, new research from Australia highlights how fatty, sugary diets can also negatively affect our cognitive ability.
That’s right, those sweet snacks and saturated fats aren’t just adding inches to waistlines, they’re bringing down our brains as well.
The new study focused on spatial navigation, or learning and remembering how to get from one location to another, which is known to approximate the health of the brain’s hippocampus [hip-puh-KAM-pus].
Participants were tasked with successfully navigating a virtual reality maze six times to find a treasure chest. The treasure chest was then removed, and participants were asked to locate where the chest had been in earlier rounds.
Researchers found that those whose diets included less fat and sugar were able to more accurately pinpoint where the treasure chest had been.
While the evidence is clear, the researchers said the good news is that brain health can easily be improved by altering one’s diet, which can in turn improve the health of the hippocampus.
Americans have access to more high-fat and sugary snacks than ever before, but exercising a little self-control can go a long way, especially for our spatial navigation skills.
How else will we find our way to the pantry?
Lots of studies have looked at how mom’s mood can affect childhood behavior and development, but what about Dad?
A new study suggests paternal depression during a child’s first year of school can significantly impact their behavior and social skills down the road.
Researchers from Rutgers University studied data from more than 1,400 children who were part of a national cohort of births from various U.S. cities between 1998 and 2000. Most of the children’s mothers were unmarried.
The researchers assessed fathers’ depression when the children were 5 years old and entering kindergarten, using a screening tool from the World Health Organization.
When the children reached 9 years old, their teachers assessed their behavior using two scales that measured hyperactivity, cooperation, self-control and other behaviors.
The results showed that children whose fathers had been depressed had significantly more behavioral problems than those whose fathers were not. The children with depressed fathers had 25% higher ADHD scores, 37% higher hyperactivity scores and 36% higher rates of oppositional behavior — behavior characterized by hostility and defiance toward authority figures.
These children also had 11% lower scores in social skills, and they continued to have behavioral struggles through fourth grade. What’s more, these results held even after the researchers adjusted for maternal depression and other child and family characteristics.
Raising perfect, socially adept kids can be difficult, but supporting dad’s mental health is one way for parents to support their child’s social and academic success for years to come.
NEADS Service Dogs receive a unique form of training. After early socialization, each 12-week-old pup is assigned to live with a handler in the Prison PUP Program — that is, with an incarcerated person who has met strict behavioral criteria and commits to the 12- to 18-month training program.
Each pup accompanies their handler everywhere — to obedience classes, grooming sessions and dining halls — and they sleep in their handler’s dormitory-style room. On weekends, outside volunteers take the dogs home and introduce them to the wider world.
It’s a win-win-win situation. The dogs receive excellent care, and disabled people adopt well-trained companions. As for the incarcerated handlers, experiencing the unconditional love of a dog is often life-changing.
You can learn more about the program at www.neads.org.
As we ease into summer, it’s time to take stock of pet hazards that come with the season.
Of course, there’s the danger of heat in closed cars — even with a window or two left open — so don’t leave pets unattended. And while in cars or trucks, always secure a pet passenger in a crate or a well-fitting harness. Also, never let them ride in the bed of a pickup truck or stick their head out the window of a moving vehicle.
Back home, make sure to install secure, intact screens in all windows to prevent life-threatening falls. And while doing home improvement or gardening, keep toxic products away from inquisitive paws and tongues. Also steer clear of toxic plants, like lilies, rhododendrons and azaleas.
There are more ways to keep summer safe for pets, but these few tips are a good start.
Bird migration is a monumental and mysterious process — especially given that most birds fly solo and overnight.
Migration behavior varies across bird species, and it’s presumed to be at least partly inherited. The Earth’s magnetic field is thought to be another factor that helps birds migrate so precisely.
Amazingly, quantum mechanics may play a role too. Simply put, unpaired electrons, or free radicals, in cells have a property called “spin,” which is especially sensitive to magnetic fields. Light is one way to stimulate free radical production, and a protein called cryptochrome 4 is important as well. That protein is higher in migrating versus nonmigrating birds.
It’s all too complex to fully cover here, but it sure gives the term “bird brain” a whole new meaning.
Summer means mosquitoes, and that can signal problems for pets in the form of heartworm disease. Even if you don’t live in a high-risk area, heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states.
You may travel with your pet to a locale that has a higher incidence of heartworm disease than your own — or the disease may land on your doorstep when heartworm-positive pets are adopted from elsewhere.
Stray dogs and wildlife — like coyotes, foxes and wolves — may be heartworm-positive too. Infected mosquitos can even be blown by the wind from other areas.
Because risk factors for heartworm disease are so difficult to predict, it’s best to get your pet tested yearly for heartworm and keep them on heartworm prevention throughout the year.
A group of international researchers has recently identified a genetic mutation associated with progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA, a disease that can cause blindness in Labrador retrievers.
Three littermates with PRA were brought to the attention of the researchers by a foundation that breeds service dogs for visually impaired individuals. The researchers identified a genetic mutation in the three affected dogs that wasn’t found in the general U.S. population of Labrador retrievers. They also found 19 Labrador retrievers from the same kennel that carried the gene but were clinically unaffected.
Now that a gene has been identified, the goal is to develop a diagnostic test to help prevent genetic carriers from being used in breeding.
Felycin-CA1 [fel-i-sin C-A-1], or sirolimus [si-ro·-li-mus] delayed release tablets, recently received conditional approval for the management of ventricular hypertrophy [high-PER-trō-fee] in cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM.
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, and HCM causes thickening of the heart’s left ventricle — that’s the lower left chamber of the heart, which pumps blood out to most of the body. HCM is a progressive disease that’s one of the most common causes of feline deaths. Cats with subclinical disease have thickening of the left ventricle but are not showing clinical signs.
Conditional approval may be granted if a drug addresses a serious or life-threatening disease and clinical trials would be especially difficult to implement.
Felycin-CA1 [fel-i-sin C-A-1] is only available by prescription from a veterinarian.
When you find a munched-on pair of shoes, does it make you wonder why dogs have the urge to chew?
Wild dogs stay nourished by chewing carcasses, nuts, berries and bugs. But chewing also confers other physical, psychological and emotional benefits.
The abrasive action of chewing is beneficial for a dog’s dental health, while between-meal chewing can aid digestion and help maintain a healthy gut microbial population.
Chewing also has the ability to both stimulate a bored dog and calm an anxious pooch. Chewing even helps maintain cognitive function in our dogs as they’re living longer.
You can embrace your pup’s penchant for chewing by providing canine-safe, chewable objects. Ask your veterinarian for tips.
Shelters inundated with animals are nothing new — but increasingly ingenious methods are being used to find them homes.
One TikTok personality promoting an animal shelter down south has conjured some creative names for various canine breeds. For example, a curly-furred dog became a “Himalayan fur goblin,” which joined other imagined breeds, like the “Teacup werewolf” and the “Creamsicle push-up pup.” Then, to promote the shelter’s population of pit-bull mixes, she sang “I Want a Pitt-o-potomous for Christmas.”
Judging by the numbers, it’s working. Between 2021 and 2024, the shelter’s adoption rate jumped by over 25%.
Another shelter created “Diary of a Shelter Dog” on social media. Still others waive adoption fees — all to help animals find their forever homes.
Canine osteoarthritis — or OA — affects about 20% of dogs older than one year and up to 80% of dogs over eight years of age. However, only about one in 8 pooch parents knows much about it.
OA is a chronic inflammatory disease that progressively damages a dog’s joints, causing pain, reduced activity and lost mobility. Certain breeds and dogs with early injuries are most at risk. Pooch parents should be aware of early subtle signs, like unusual postures, hesitancy in climbing stairs —even changes in a dog’s sleeping habits. It’s important to communicate any of these changes to your veterinarian.
Frequent wellness exams also help your veterinarian pinpoint signs. Remember — the earlier OA is detected, the more effective treatment is likely to be.
Allergies in captive animals appear to be on the rise — just as they are in people, especially urbanites in Western countries. That’s probably no coincidence.
This phenomenon isn’t just affecting pets and domestic animals. From bats and rhinos to dolphins and bears, more animals in zoos are itchy than ever before. Researchers suggest this is linked to animals being raised in manmade environments where they have decreased exposure to natural antigens. The result can be a faulty immune system that overreacts to harmless substances. The same may be said for people.
Another factor that could be driving allergies is climate change, which leads to higher pollen counts during longer allergy seasons.
Most allergies can be treated — but wouldn’t it be even better to nip this trend in the bud?
A personalized immunotherapy has recently been approved for canine osteosarcoma, a bone cancer diagnosed in about 10,000 dogs each year.
The first step of production involves collecting some of the patient’s cancer cells, which the manufacturer uses to create vaccine unique to that dog’s cancer.
Next, some of the dog’s T cells are collected once they’ve been exposed to the cancer vaccine’s antigens. These T cells are sent to the manufacturer where their cancer cell-fighting properties are unleashed. These super-primed T cells are then delivered intravenously back to the patient, followed by another immune-boosting agent.
The goal is that the dog’s immune system then would recognize and destroy osteosarcoma cells.
Did you know that many wild animals have ways to administer first aid?
For example, mice may tug on the tongues of their unconscious brethren and clear their mouths to help open their airways.
Elsewhere, chimpanzees with intestinal parasites munch on bitter leaves from the Aspilia [ass-PILL-ee-ya] plant, and brown bears eat razor-sharp grass to help clear tapeworms.
Closer to home, some urban songbirds weave cigarette butts into their nests to leverage tobacco’s mite-killing properties.
Even termite-hunting African ants have impressive first-aid routines. During their large-scale raids, those injured by termites are carried back to their nests, where caretaker ants lick their wounds with antibiotic-rich saliva.
These are just some of the many ways animals take care of their own.
Men have a distinct advantage over women in physical strength. But a new study from scientists in a couple of cold-weather states discovered something surprising.
In extremely cold weather, female metabolism appears to be more efficient. That makes them more resistant to fatigue than men during prolonged periods of exertion in frigid temperatures.
Scientists at the state universities in Montana and Wisconsin traveled to Alaska to monitor the performance of men and women participating in the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic. The competition occurs in the spring.
This isn’t a leisurely romp on a bunny slope. Participants ski 136 to 161 miles in unforgiving terrain. They traverse mountain ranges under Arctic conditions. Even in spring, temperatures drop as low as minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit.
Researchers tracked a group of volunteer participants by giving them water containing harmless but traceable nonradioactive isotopes. By measuring these isotopes in urine, sweat and respiration, an athlete’s energy expenditure can be measured.
The study notes that women were getting more mileage from each calorie.
Some unrelated studies by the military suggest women might also be more fatigue-resistant than men during warm weather ultra-endurance events. But that’s far from settled science.
This doesn’t mean a physically stronger male athlete would be bested by a female participant in an extreme competition like the Alaskan event. Size and strength still give men a clear advantage.
But they might be more fatigued than women at the finish line, even if they reach it first.
If your doctor has told you to lower your blood pressure, you might want to consider buying bananas in bulk. A new study suggests potassium can lower blood pressure, even if your sodium intake is high.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, a condition called hypertension that increases the risk of stroke, heart disease and other serious complications.
Researchers from Canada wanted to see if a monkey’s favorite fruit offers a simple solution.
The team used computer models to simulate the effect of potassium and sodium on blood pressure throughout the body. They accounted for biological differences between men and women. They then ran simulations, factoring in varying levels of potassium and sodium intake and different types of hypertension. Each model evaluated the interactions between the kidneys, heart, digestive system and regulatory systems.
They found that high sodium intake raised blood pressure in both men and women while high potassium intake reduced it.
Doubling the dose of potassium lowered blood pressure by up to 14 millimeters of mercury in men and 10 millimeters of mercury in women. That’s about the same reduction that many who take blood pressure medications achieve.
Even when sodium intake remained high, potassium still did its job to prevent blood pressure spikes. The researchers suggested that in the long term, increasing potassium can help your body eliminate more sodium.
So the next time you find yourself staring into the bottom of an empty potato chip bag, make a banana — maybe two — your next snack.
The way we create snake antivenom hasn’t changed much in a century. Using the standard methods leaves us with a concoction of antivenom that gets the job done. But there can be side effects, and some treatments only work to treat bites from certain snakes in specific regions.
Now, scientists may have found a better way — thanks to a man who spent years letting snakes bite him, as well as injecting himself with escalating doses of snake venom.
Tim Friede, a self-taught herpetologist, developed a kind of hyperimmunity to venom from snakes like the king cobra and black mamba, whose venom is so potent it can take out a horse.
When researchers analyzed his blood, they discovered antibodies that could neutralize a surprising number of deadly snake toxins. Using those antibodies, they created what may be one of the most broadly effective antivenoms to date.
The researchers gathered 19 of the world’s deadliest elapid [ell-uh-pidd] snakes — a group that includes cobras, mambas, krait [krite] and coral snakes. Then, they tested antibodies from Friede’s blood.
The result? A three-part cocktail: two human antibodies added to a small-molecule toxin-blocker. Together, it protected mice from all 19 snake venoms.
Any new treatments for snakebites are welcome. Some 600 species cause more than 100,000 deaths and 300,000 permanent disabilities in humans every year.
The team plans to apply the cocktail to dogs who come in for snake bite treatment in Australia. They hope to develop a second antivenom targeting vipers — the other major snake family.
Normally, nothing good comes from being bitten by a snake — but this may be a notable exception.
If you’re struggling to curb sugar cravings, you might have your intestines to blame. A new study has found that a high consumption of soda and other sugary drinks can rewire your intestines, causing them to favor sugar absorption over other nutrients.
Researchers from India used two groups of mice to study the impact of sugar on metabolism. One group was put on a diet of regular food and water while the other group received regular food and water with 10% sucrose, resembling the sugar content in soda. The mice were allowed to eat and drink freely for three months.
During the study, the researchers monitored the mice’s weight, blood sugar levels, and food and water intake. After three months, they evaluated the mice’s metabolic health by looking at how the mice processed sugar and responded to insulin. They took tissue samples from the liver, intestines and muscles to see how the sugar impacted the mice at the molecular level.
Results showed that the group of mice that drank sugary water had significantly higher blood sugar levels, increased levels of insulin resistance and increased liver glucose production compared with the group that drank regular water.
The small intestine of the mice in the sugar water group also changed. The number of sugar transporters — proteins in the intestines that help absorb sugar — increased, whereas transporters for other nutrients like fats and amino acids decreased. The researchers also noticed a change in muscle function at the cellular level.
So the next time your favorite soda starts calling your name, consider the fact that a sugar addiction goes deeper than your tongue.
For those who love sushi, here’s something to remember: Japanese wasabi might boost short- and long-term memory in older adults.
We all know the sushi condiment from the often-pungent blast that punches the nose more than our taste buds. Wasabi cultivation dates to the eighth century. But it only became better known in the United States after 1980 with the rising popularity of sushi.
We already know from work in the laboratory that wasabi might improve cognition. Yet, studies were few and improved intellectual capabilities had not been tested in older adults. So, Japanese researchers took a closer look.
They recruited 72 people ages 60 to 80 and separated them into two equal groups. One group took a 100-milligram wasabi tablet every day for three months. The second group got a placebo.
Afterward, the cognition of volunteers was measured, including language and reasoning skills, concentration and memory.
Scientists discovered that the wasabi group’s long- and short-term memory improved significantly compared with the control group. They found no effect in other cognitive functions.
More testing is being done to explore wasabi’s benefits. Physicians aren’t writing wasabi prescriptions just yet.
The spice is also known for being rich in vitamin C and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Indeed, researchers say wasabi might reduce inflammation in the area of the brain responsible for memory.
It’s important to remember that diet and exercise also play an important part in keeping our minds sharp. There is no single elixir for good brain health.
In the meantime, a sushi lunch just might hit the spot.
A green, leafy canopy benefits more than just the birds. Trees planted along the street, or in high numbers across a neighborhood, are pleasing to the eye and offer much-needed shade when temperatures climb.
Now, a new study from scientists in Switzerland credits another benefit to our arboreal companions: lowering our mortality.
That’s right — numerous, well-arranged trees in neighborhoods are linked to lower mortality risks than other areas.
We specify “well-arranged” because the study seeks to answer a question many urban planners face: How do you add trees when space for new ones is in short supply?
Over the 10-0year period from 2010 to 2019, researchers addressed this question in Switzerland and Singapore. They looked at high-resolution tree canopy data to understand green spaces close to peoples’ homes — and the placement of the trees themselves. Then, they calculated the survival rates of more than 6 million people by neighborhood. The researchers focused only on deaths from natural causes.
Data showed that tree canopy cover in residential areas, and the trees’ spatial arrangement, had a correlation with mortality. Folks who lived in neighborhoods with large, contiguous tree canopies had a lower mortality risk than those who didn’t — a contrast especially evident in highly developed urban areas with poor air quality and high temperatures.
The specific mechanisms, however, bear examination. For now, the team intends to distill its results into specific recommendations for urban planners … helping to create a future where anyone can be a tree-hugger if they want to be.
Millions of Americans battle a persistent, annoying ringing in their ears. The malady, known as tinnitus [tin-nuh-tuhs], receives relatively little research funding and has no consistently effective treatment.
Tinnitus has numerous causes. Exposure to loud noises, especially over a prolonged period, is one trigger. A long list of musical legends reports the condition, from Eric Clapton to Barbra Streisand.
History overflows with supposed remedies, usually ineffective. In an earlier age, even bloodletting might have been prescribed. But don’t reach for the leeches. This bit of quackery is a bust.
Hearing loss that occurs with age is another cause. Sometimes, a hearing aid can help alleviate the sharpness of the ringing but not eliminate it.
Now, a Chinese study has found four things in our diets that might help reduce that mind-numbing ringing — caffeine, fruits, high-fiber foods and dairy products.
Researchers analyzed data from 300,000 participants in 10 previous studies on tinnitus. They found that a diet including regular fruit lowered the risk of the disorder by 35%. The other diets reduced the risk from about 17% to 9%.
The caffeine finding is a bit baffling. Doctors have long warned those with tinnitus to avoid caffeine because a lack of sleep worsens the condition. But the study indicates it also might lower anxiety, making the ringing easier to bear.
A healthy diet improves insulin sensitivity, which helps protect our hearing. It also maintains blood vessel function, another auditory plus.
As treatments go, this tinnitus diet beats a bloodletting any day of the week. An apple and a coffee just might help unring this bell.
Tattoos are now mainstream. Once relegated to tough guys and the biceps of sailors who wanted to celebrate anchors and good ol’ Ma, those days are over.
Today, they are a means of personal expression to people of all walks of life. An art form.
That art, however, can come with a secret ingredient.
Researchers at Binghamton University in New York found that inks commonly sold in the United States often contain substances not listed on their labels. They analyzed the ink of 10 U.S. manufacturers, large and small.
About 90% of the 54 inks they studied had unlisted additives. While some of these pose no threat to health, others do. The study noted half the inks contained polyethylene glycol, which can cause organ damage with repeated exposure. Some contained allergens. Researchers even found antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections.
It’s hard to know who is responsible for the mislabeling. Manufacturers, for example, might get ingredients that have been unknowingly contaminated elsewhere.
The health implications are unclear. The study notes that allergic reactions on the skin can occur, especially with red pigments. And these can sometimes be quite severe.
European tattoo ink is less troublesome because it is more tightly regulated. Congress didn’t authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate ink here until 2022.
The researchers say their goal is to empower tattoo artists and their customers. They urge the ink industry to re-evaluate production processes and implement better labeling.
The industry, after all, doesn’t want a stain on its reputation.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus is a pathogen transmitted by midges that causes significant economic loss in the white-tailed deer farming industry and affects wild deer as well. On this show, Dr. Juan Campos Krauer, an assistant professor and a research and extension veterinarian whose interests include animal health, disease ecology and wildlife ecology and conservation, will discuss common diseases facing deer in Florida and nationally, and what he and his team are doing to help deer farmers as well as deer in the wild.
Liquor and sunbathing are a bad beach combo. As with many activities matched with alcohol, the danger comes in how it changes our behavior.
And like getting behind the wheel when intoxicated, the result can be deadly.
You don’t toy with the most-powerful star in our sky: the sun.
A study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University found that more than 1 in 5 people who get a sunburn were drinking alcohol when they got scorched. That’s according to data from 6,000 people.
It’s not that the alcohol itself makes someone more susceptible to a bad sunburn. Instead, drinkers tend to forget to apply sunscreen or put on too little. They fall asleep in the sun or get confused and spend too much time in the sun without realizing it.
The study also found that affluent folks, or those earning more than $200,000 a year, get sunburned more often than poorer folks. That makes sense when you remember that people with money can afford expensive activities that expose them to more sun, like boating, skiing or spending a week or two on a beach vacation.
Men are also more likely to get sunburned than women, and younger folks ages 18 to 39 more likely than older adults.
It adds up to booming times for skin cancer. It’s the nation’s most common cancer, and perhaps the type that is feared the least. Skin cancer costs U.S. health care $9 billion annually, by one estimate. And it claims thousands of lives.
Even so, only 10% of people surveyed say the prospect of skin cancer is extremely worrisome to them. Nearly 1 in 3 call it just slightly concerning.
It’s best to be attuned to the sobering reality that repeated sunburns can be lethal.
Feeling anxious? It’s OK. We all feel anxiety from time to time.
Whether a Little League baseball game, an important work presentation or a big life moment like a wedding, we all remember a time when we were so worried that our nerves consumed us.
But have you ever been so relaxed you ultimately procrastinated, and your lack of preparation led to a poor result?
It turns out if you can find your anxiety sweet spot, you might have an optimal outcome.
That’s because anxiety helps improve our attention to detail and elevate our focus. It also stimulates creativity and problem-solving skills.
Some studies have found that people who feel some anxiety in a pressure situation come up with better solutions to problems than those who feel calm. When we feel we can’t handle stress, our bodies produce the unhelpful hormone cortisol. When we feel we can, our heart rate increases, blood vessels dilate and oxygen goes to the brain. We produce anabolic hormones, which boost performance.
Anxiety highlights what matters to us. While the anxiety tells us that accomplishing our goals will be hard, it also moves us to take substantive action.
Psychologists say the difference between helpful and unhelpful anxiety is whether it causes “functional impairment.” Will your lack of action prevent you from living your life? Doing your job? Caring for your family?
Ultimately, anxiety is an instinct, providing useful information from our subconscious about potential negative results. It can certainly be irrational, at times.
But with a positive perspective, you’ll better handle your anxiousness as your jitters fuel you toward success.
The best way to avoid getting bitten by a venomous snake is to not go looking for one in the first place.
Much like eating well and exercising to feel better, this avoidance approach is backed by experts — and, most likely, some who just dislike the scaly critters.
A new study from researchers at the University of Florida analyzed 20 years of snakebite cases seen at the university’s largest hospital, shedding light on common behaviors related to the bites.
The team analyzed 546 de-identified patient records from 2002 to 2022 and highlighted notable conclusions — for instance, that a third of the snakebites analyzed were preventable and caused by people intentionally engaging with wild snakes.
About 78% of the snakebites occurred in adult men while they were handling wild snakes, and the majority of patients were bitten on their hands and fingers. Around 10% attempted outdated self-treatments no longer recommended by doctors — like sucking out the venom.
Notably, it took those bitten over an hour on average to travel from where the bite occurred to the hospital, suggesting that some underestimated the severity of the bite, or were unsure of next steps.
So here they are:
If you’re bitten by a snake, call 911 and move away from the snake. If it’s safe, snap a photo, which will help doctors pinpoint the right antivenom.
Then stay still and keep the bitten area at or above your heart. Remove any jewelry or tight-fitting clothing, cover the bite with a clean dressing, and monitor yourself for pain and swelling around the bite site, as well as changes in breathing, heart rate and alertness.
And keep calm. Help is on the way.
If your child is what we like to call an “iPad kid,” you might want to consider limiting their screen time.
A new study suggests children with more screen time, especially on mobile devices, show increased levels of stress and depression as teenagers.
Researchers from Finland followed 504 children for eight years from elementary school into adolescence. They used questionnaires and wearable devices to collect data on physical activity and screen time three times during the study: at the beginning, two years in and at the end. The researchers also used the Baltic Sea Diet measurement tool to assess the quality of participants’ diets.
By the study’s end, 187 teens had complete data on self-reported lifestyle behaviors. They answered the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory — two assessments that evaluate mental health.
Results showed those who reported greater screen time as a child were more susceptible to mental health problems later. Mobile device use had the strongest link to increased levels of stress and depression, but computer use also had a negative impact on stress.
And those with higher self-reported physical activity had better mental health outcomes, while those with less physical activity and more screen time saw the highest levels of stress and depression.
Interestingly, neither diet nor sleep quality had a significant impact on mental health. Boys benefited from physical activity more than girls, at least in terms of stress.
It can be tempting to give your child a phone to get them out of your hair. But next time, it might be best to send them outside — for your child’s sake, and yours.
A paralyzed man was able to control a robotic arm using a device that relays signals from his brain to a computer.
Although research has seen this before, the big news is that he was able to control the arm — eventually using it to open a cabinet, remove a cup and hold the cup to a water dispenser — for seven months. That’s far longer than the typical day or two such experiments last.
The difference between this study and others before it is that the researchers, from the University of California, San Diego, were able to account for day-to-day changes in the brain as the man repeatedly imagined specific movements.
The National Institutes of Health funded the work.
The technology relies on what is called the Brain-Computer Interface, or B-C-I for short.
Tiny sensors implanted in the main’s brain were used to connect electrical activity when he imagined himself using the arm to a device that decoded the signals for the robotic limb.
One of the researchers had a hunch that the activity in human brains would see the same kinds of day-to-day shifts he noted in animal brains as they learned.
Once the artificial intelligence model was trained to adjust to those slight movements, the robotic arm could be controlled for months at a time, rather than days.
The researchers say they are confident they now understand how to build AI models that will let the robotic arm move faster and more smoothly. Their next step? Testing the system in a home environment.
A 2013 study estimated that more than 5 million Americans live with paralysis. Being able to handle tasks for themselves would be a life-changer.
Primary care, or general practice, veterinarians do a little bit of everything. Your local veterinarian is likely to be a generalist who treats both healthy and sick animals and is someone who can follow your pet throughout its lifetime and work with you to obtain additional specialty care if needed. Because of this, establishing a relationship with a primary care veterinarian when your pet is healthy is key. On this show, Dr. Wendy Mandese, a primary care and dentistry veterinarian, will discuss why routine wellness examinations are necessary in order to properly manage a pet’s health as it ages, and why an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure when it comes to keeping our four-legged family members happy and healthy.
Human predecessors may have survived long enough to evolve into bigger-brained creatures not by eating meat, but by being flexible about what they ate.
For you kids keeping score at home, that’s one for the vegetable eaters and minus one for those who only want chicken fingers.
The new findings come courtesy of tooth enamel analyses of Australopithecus [Ahs-trah-low-pith-eh-cuss], our early relatives who lived in Africa as many as 3.7 million years ago.
German scientists knew Australopithicus had teeth and jaws capable of handling a meaty diet. They also had human-like hands and walked upright. It had long been assumed that our ancestors somewhere along the way developed a taste for meat, leading to more protein and thus, bigger brains.
But that was until recently, when scientists learned to target tiny amounts of organic matter trapped in dense tooth enamel, which stays intact for many years.
They tested 43 specimens from Sterkfontein [Sterk-fuhn-taine], South Africa, including seven Australopithecus teeth. They compared them with animal fossils from that era, including dogs, cats, hyenas and antelope.
Australopithecus, it seems, wasn’t picky and consumed a highly diverse diet of plants. Trees, shrubs, plants, fruits — anything in season. They likely used their manlike-hands to dig for bulbs and tubers other animals couldn’t easily find.
Surely, they had the occasional lucky day and scored an egg or termites to nosh on. But mostly, we’re talking stems, leaves and grass.
And that, the scientists say, was more likely what led to their longevity — and ours.
They hope to keep digging for answers about why, when and how the evolution to a more carnivorous diet began. Human predecessors may have survived long enough to evolve into bigger-brained creatures not by eating meat, but by being flexible about what they ate.
For you kids keeping score at home, that’s one for the vegetable eaters and minus one for those who only want chicken fingers.
The new findings come courtesy of tooth enamel analyses of Australopithecus [Ahs-trah-low-pith-eh-cuss], our early relatives who lived in Africa as many as 3.7 million years ago.
German scientists knew Australopithicus had teeth and jaws capable of handling a meaty diet. They also had human-like hands and walked upright. It had long been assumed that our ancestors somewhere along the way developed a taste for meat, leading to more protein and thus, bigger brains.
But that was until recently, when scientists learned to target tiny amounts of organic matter trapped in dense tooth enamel, which stays intact for many years.
They tested 43 specimens from Sterkfontein [Sterk-fuhn-taine], South Africa, including seven Australopithecus teeth. They compared them with animal fossils from that era, including dogs, cats, hyenas and antelope.
Australopithecus, it seems, wasn’t picky and consumed a highly diverse diet of plants. Trees, shrubs, plants, fruits — anything in season. They likely used their manlike-hands to dig for bulbs and tubers other animals couldn’t easily find. Surely, they had the occasional lucky day and scored an egg or termites to nosh on. But mostly, we’re talking stems, leaves and grass.
And that, the scientists say, was more likely what led to their longevity — and ours.
They hope to keep digging for answers about why, when and how the evolution to a more carnivorous diet began.
These days, the connection between exposure to nature and good health is so well-known that some doctors even prescribe outdoor outings for their patients.
Now, a study from a team of Austrian researchers finds that just looking at images of nature can lower pain.
Numerous studies have shown that exposure to nature is beneficial to humans and reduces pain. But the finding that virtual nature can offer pain relief is a new twist.
The team’s experiment used brain scans to monitor brain activity during painful experiences while study participants viewed three images.
Forty-nine participants were placed in a brain scanner and shown a natural lake with trees, an urban setting with buildings by the same lake and the interior of an office.
As they viewed the scenes, participants received brief electric shocks to their hands of varying intensity. They rated how each shock felt.
Participants reported less pain from the shocks as they gazed at the natural lake scene compared with the other two scenes.
Actual pain-related brain activity decreased when they saw images of nature, proving that the differences weren’t subjective.
None of this suggests you should toss everything in your medicine cabinet, although the researchers said nature’s pain-relieving effect was equivalent to about half that of painkillers.
The study may have particular value for hospitals and doctors’ offices, where nature scenes could be used in treatment rooms, perhaps blunting the effect of being pinched and prodded.
The next time your doctor tells you to “expect mild discomfort,” be sure she gives you a few seconds to grab your phone and search for “tranquil nature scenes” first.
Listen up, night owls: It might be time to take a page out of a rooster’s book.
In the past, research has shown that people who tend to stay up late — sometimes termed “evening chronotypes” — report more depression symptoms than those who are early risers, also known as “morning chronotypes.” The mechanisms between the two, however, bear explaining.
A new study from researchers in the United Kingdom points to a potent mix of mindfulness, total sleep quality and alcohol consumption that may help explain why those of us who prefer to stay up late reap an unpleasant reward.
The team used an online questionnaire to collect data from 546 students at the University of Surrey. The questions asked students about their sleep patterns, relationship to mindfulness, alcohol use, quality of sleep and their tendencies around rumination.
Ultimately, the study demonstrated that people with an evening chronotype were at a higher risk for depression due to their differences in sleep quality —folks who went to bed later reported poorer sleep — and increased alcohol use.
Students who woke up earlier also had higher scores when it came to “acting with awareness,” or how researchers measured mindfulness. Folks who went to bed later did not.
Now, although it may come as no surprise that sleeping a decent amount (and at a decent time) is good for your mental well-being, further research is needed — ideally in a population that isn’t always cramming for midterms.
Regardless, the study points to a useful starting point for interventions around better sleep.
And for now? It would seem like the early bird does, indeed, get more than just the worm.
Age affects all of us differently. This is especially true when it comes to memory.
Just like our bodies, our brains change over time. Volume decreases, neural connections weaken and our memory’s sharpness declines.
The risk of developing dementia rises with age, too. But there is hope. A few helpful habits can reduce your risk of memory loss and dementia, and slow cognitive decline.
According to a report published in The Lancet, nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide could be delayed or prevented altogether through lifestyle changes.
Staying active and exercising enhances cognitive function. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults strive for 150 minutes of exercise each week. It could be walking, playing pickleball or lifting weights — anything helps.
What is good for the heart is good for the brain. By quitting smoking, losing weight and managing your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, you can reduce your risk of both heart disease and dementia.
A balanced diet never hurts. The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet, or MIND diet, was designed specifically to protect brain health. It is filled with plant-based foods and is low in saturated fat.
Finally, stay socially active. Social isolation and loneliness are linked to cognitive decline and dementia. High-quality relationships benefit your brain in several ways. They not only promote healthy behaviors but reduce stress and inflammation.
Connect with others in a group class, keep in touch with loved ones or volunteer your time with an organization you support. It’s the small things that will help keep your memory in good shape.
When it comes to listing favorite subjects in school, math is rarely first. In fact, American students have struggled with math for years — consistently landing in the bottom 25% globally.
The pandemic set kids’ math progress back even more. Now, a study led by the University of Pennsylvania’s Behavior Change for Good Initiative, offers a cost-effective solution using something almost all of us are familiar with: the ever-humble, oft-ignored email.
Researchers tested small, behavioral science-based interventions aimed at teachers, sending tailored emails to over 140,000 teachers of more than 3 million students.
One intervention had teachers make detailed plans for using learning platforms, while another urged them to tap into their empathy for their students and their respective academic progress in math.
Upon analysis, the data showed a modest but promising 1.9% improvement in math scores over a four-week period.
The most effective intervention, however, turned out to be encouraging teachers to check personalized student progress reports every week via a learning platform, which boosted math scores by 5%. The takeaway? Personalization works. When teachers were reminded about their own students’ progress, the results were better than when they received generic messages.
Though the improvements were small, the research pointed to how personalized, behaviorally informed nudges could be an affordable, effective way to support teachers and improve student outcomes in one tough subject.
In short, a little nudge could go a long way in helping our students finally catch up … if not to love math itself.
Dr. Richard Hill, professor of small animal medicine and nutrition expert at UF’s Small Animal Hospital, joins us today on Animal Airwaves-Live to discuss the alarming rise of pet obesity. Dr. Hill will explain what’s driving this trend, why excess weight threatens your pet’s health with conditions like diabetes and joint disease. He also will share practical strategies for weight management. Learn how proper nutrition, appropriate exercise, and veterinary guidance can help your furry companion maintain optimal health and extend their quality of life.
Despite our couch potato reputation, more people are running marathons in the U.S. In fact, between 2010 and 2023, more than 29 million people went the distance.
In the past, the strenuous, prolonged cardiovascular effort has resulted in the occasional racer experiencing a fatal heart attack. Now, however, that risk has dropped.
According to a study from Emory University, which builds on a 2012 investigation into cardiac arrests in long-distance races, survival rates have doubled since 2010.
The study shows that while the rate of cardiac arrests among marathon runners remains steady, the number of deaths has dropped by around 50%.
There is no central registry for race-related cardiac events, so researchers collected data from race directors, media reports and other sources to get a clear picture.
The key takeaway is that survival rates have improved thanks to better emergency response systems, increased risk awareness and the widespread availability of defibrillators.
In fact, survival rates now resemble those seen in public places like airports.
For all you runners out there, the study highlights the importance of CPR training, accessible defibrillators on courses and recognizing at-risk runners before the race begins.
Identifying individuals, particularly older adults with undetected cardiovascular risks, doesn’t mean they can’t participate in a race — it just provides an opportunity to enhance preventive care and lower the risk.
In short: A little preparation and awareness can go a long way in making these events safer for everyone … who wants to run 26.2 miles for fun, that is.
Here’s a ready excuse for any male whose female partner accuses him of not listening. Men have poorer hearing than the opposite sex. Really.
That’s the conclusion of an international team of researchers. Their recent study in Scientific Reports shows women enjoy hearing that is about two decibels keener than men’s.
That isn’t a huge gap. But it makes women better able to hear softer sounds, like a whispered conversation in a theater, for example.
Researchers collected hearing data from about 450 people in 13 populations across five countries, including England and South Africa. The United States was not included.
The scientists sought a good cross section of people living in varied environments. So they included those based in cities, forested areas and at high altitudes.
Hearing ability has long been viewed by physicians as a product of genetics, age and noise exposure. This study, however, shows that gender and where someone lives is important, too.
By measuring how the inner ear responds to sound, they found that some female populations have a 6-decibel gap with similarly located men.
Scientists aren’t really sure why women have superior hearing. One theory is that they have a different hormonal exposure than men in the womb that makes for better hearing.
Cochlear anatomy also differs slightly between the sexes. The cochlea is the organ that converts sound vibrations to nerve signals.
Investigators also suspect the female brain might be better at neural processing of sound.
Whatever the reasons, it’s good to know the difference exists to help prevent future communication fumbles.
Most Americans put health problems wrecking their finances high on the list of things they fret about.
It’s with good cause. A new national survey shows that more than 31 million Americans borrowed $74 billion — yes, that’s with a “b” — last year to cover health care costs.
And what’s worse: Most of them had health insurance.
The findings came from a West Health-Gallup survey taken in November 2024 of nearly 3,600 adults in the United States ages 18 and older.
Who is crunched hardest by all this debt? First, it’s those under age 50, and families with children. Women from 50 to 64 years old were twice as likely as men to borrow to pay for health care.
Black and Hispanic adults borrowed at higher rates than white adults.
Roughly 62% of Black adults, Hispanic adults and women said they lose sleep over health care costs.
Even those many of us might consider well off aren’t immune. Of households surveyed who earn more than $180,000 a year, 40% said they worry. Of households making $120,000, 60% shared similar concerns.
What’s not to worry about when it comes to health care costs? We all seem to know at least someone who’s had a medical episode that left them struggling financially. Medical debt can hurt credit scores, limit our housing options and job prospects.
Of those who had to borrow money to cover health care, 14% borrowed more than $5,000, while 41% borrowed more than $1,000. The rest needed $500 or less.
Among the survey’s many startling findings, this may be the most telling: Of everyone questioned, only 14% could say they had absolutely no worries about health care costs or medical debt.
They are the lucky ones, indeed.
Everyone has done it, whether they realize it or not.
You pick up your phone, open a social media app and your thumbs get busy. Post after post goes by. Some you watch, some you ignore and others you don’t even absorb.
Social media affects every user differently, based on our life experiences and how we engage with the algorithm. Social networks may manipulate us, showing us the types of content they’ve learned we tend to spend time on.
It could be a post about puppies, a favorite sports team or even a deeply philosophical post that speaks to your happiness or hopelessness in that moment.
In 2014, Facebook revealed it had conducted an experiment without users’ knowledge. The platform showed some users more positive visuals and others more negative, then examined the emotions those users conveyed in later posts. Those shown more positive posts seemed happier while those who saw more negative posts seemed less so.
Spending too much time on social media can be isolating, which underscores how platforms influence users through screen time. Being lonely — specifically, lacking human interaction — is bad for our mental health.
In a 2016 study from Florida State University and Remnin University of China, the researchers scoured 80 prior studies and found significant relationships between social media use and narcissism, self-esteem and loneliness.
But the strongest relationship was with loneliness.
So, what can you do? Put your phone down and go clown around. Hang out with friends, take a walk and stay offline several hours before going to sleep. Go on a social media hiatus. All of this will help you regain control over social media.
When it comes to reading a dogs’ emotions, many folks interpret what they expect to see — instead of what’s right in front of them.
Researchers in a newly published study showed people videos of a dog reacting to positive and negative stimuli, including a treat, a leash, a vacuum cleaner and a scolding. Folks tended to assume what the dog was feeling by relying on the situational context rather than focusing on the dog’s behavior. In some cases, videos contained footage of a negative situation, such as a person showing a vacuum to a dog, spliced with a dog’s positive reaction to seeing his leash. Participants often assumed the dog was feeling bad, visual evidence to the contrary.
Bottom line? Pooch parents could benefit from taking a beat to really focus on their dog’s body language.
When it comes to pet food ingredients, corn gets a bad rap. But is that really justified?
Some folks think corn and other grains are common pet allergens. Truth is, food allergies are uncommon in pets, and most involve animal proteins, not plant proteins or grains.
Corn meal or ground corn — the kinds of corn often found in pet foods — are highly digestible grains. They’re a good source of energy and a great source of linoleic [lin-oh-LAY-ick] acid, an essential fatty acid required by dogs and cats. Corn also contains several B vitamins, potassium and magnesium. It’s also rich in carotenoids [cah-ROTTEN-oids], which have health benefits in dogs.
It often pays to look beyond the buzz. By objective measures, corn is a safe food ingredient that has a lot to offer our pets.
The healthiest diet for your rabbit or guinea pig is one that mimics that of their wild cousins. That means that about 85% of it should be fresh hay and grass. You may already know about hay, but what about grass?
Ideally, rabbits and guinea pigs should have daily access to grass — while grazing outside or munching on potted grass indoors. If grass is a new food item, introduce it slowly. Wild herbs and dandelions are also fine but avoid toxic plants. Also, never feed your furry friends lawnmower clippings, which can rapidly foster bacterial growth. Instead, use scissors to snip off grass and feed it right away.
Finally, don’t forget to round out your little one’s daily diet with a handful of fresh leafy greens, veggies and herbs.
One in three U.S. households has a pet cat, yet many feline conditions are less defined than those of their canine cousins. A big reason is that cats have been understudied for years.
But now, veterinarians are investing in making their clinics more cat-friendly. Some veterinary schools are also ramping up classes on feline health, and more researchers are studying environmental and genetic causes of feline disease.
Recently, an initiative called Darwin’s Cats was introduced for the long-term study of cats. Pet parents who enroll their cats for DNA testing also answer detailed surveys about their cats’ health and home routines. Researchers hope the information may highlight links between feline genetics and their health and behavior.
Recurrent uveitis [you-vee-EYE-tus] is a leading cause of blindness in horses. It involves repeated inflammation of the uvea [YOU-vee-uh], the pigmented layer of the eye.
In cases of equine autoimmune uveitis, a horse’s own immune system damages structures inside the eye and blocks light from the retina. In advanced cases, the damage is irreversible, but if caught early, treatment may save a horse’s sight.
Uveitis is typically treated with corticosteroids, but their long-term use is fraught with side effects. Now, University of Florida researchers are studying a topical drug that reduces inflammation through a completely different mechanism. So far, it has been shown to improve the eyesight in several severely affected horses. The next step is a larger clinical trial.
One of the toughest problems facing dogs and pooch parents is chronic canine diarrhea — the kind that lasts or crops up intermittently for weeks to months. There are many causes, and even after lengthy diagnostic testing, a definitive diagnosis may be elusive. That’s when modifying the dog’s diet may help.
An elimination diet trial is often recommended first to look for problematic ingredients. If no food allergy is found — and it rarely is — two approaches can be taken. Some dogs improve on a highly digestible reduced fat diet, while others, like those with inflammation of the colon, may respond to increased fiber.
Parents of affected dogs might consider working with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to help them through the diagnostic and treatment.
Like those of us who feel the sneeze, some of our feline friends suffer from seasonal allergies. Although cat allergies can occur any time of year, spring, summer and fall are usually the toughest seasons.
Feline allergies can cause sneezing and respiratory abnormalities, but signs of skin irritation are often more common. These include scratching, licking or biting at the skin, which can result in hair loss. Some cats develop red, watery eyes or ear infections made evident by head shaking, ear scratching or discharge. The discomfort can cause allergic cats to lose their appetite or develop behavioral changes.
If your cat shows any of these signs, see your veterinarian to get to the root of the problem.
About 1 in 10 dogs will develop heart disease, and though it’s less common in cats, they’re at risk too. That’s why heart disease should be on every pet parent’s radar.
Heart disease comes in many forms, some present at birth but most developing over time. Some breeds are at higher risk of specific cardiac problems, but heart disease can affect any dog or cat.
Clinical symptoms often first appear only once the disease has progressed. That’s when dogs may develop a cough or breathing problems. However, cats may never show any symptoms.
The average survival time from symptom onset to heart failure is months to a year. But if a veterinarian detects a murmur or abnormal heart rhythm before symptoms develop, pets can often have more time. That’s why frequent wellness exams are crucial.
Brachycephalic [brake-ee-cef-AL-ick] — or flat-faced — dogs have lots of health challenges related to their altered anatomy. Their respiratory issues get lots of press but their ear problems, not so much.
Compared with dogs with normal facial anatomy, brachycephalic dogs have narrower ear canals, allowing dirt and bacteria to get trapped deep in the canal next to the eardrum. From there, infections can break through into the middle ear cavity near the brain. Nerves regulating balance, eye movement and blinking traverse this area too, so affected dogs can get dizzy and nauseous, develop a head tilt and even lose the ability to blink, which can severely damage their eyes.
That’s why any ear odor, shaking or discharge should be addressed right away with a veterinary visit — before a problem spirals out of control.
Animal-assisted intervention, or A-A-I, includes three types of animal interactions beneficial to people.
An example of animal-assisted therapy is using animals during counseling sessions. Animal-assisted activities use animals to decrease stressors — for example, in visits to hospital patients. In animal-assisted education, animals are used to improve educational activities — for example, in reading programs.
Mental health professionals agree that AAIs are calming and great for stimulating social connections, fostering emotional awareness and boosting academic success. And just to ensure such interactions work for the animals too — and we’re talking about a variety of species — the American Veterinary Medical Association has developed best practices for AAIs.
Every year, when kids are surveyed about their dream jobs, being a veterinarian is near the top of the list. But it takes more than a big heart for animals to get there.
In the United States, veterinary school — like medical school — is a four-year graduate program that follows college. Admission to veterinary school is super competitive: Applicants usually need excellent grades just to get a foot in the door, but experience with animals is also a prerequisite. Leadership skills and community involvement are strong selling points, too.
If you’re a veterinary hopeful, you can’t start the process too early. A keen focus on math and science classes, hands-on animal experience and work with veterinarians are all money in the bank. Speaking of that, routinely contributing to a savings account will help fund the path to your dream goal.
Do animals dream? Some researchers are convinced they do.
After scouring years of research on sleeping animals, they’ve found three categories of evidence. First, in numerous species, the brain’s electrical activity during sleep intermittently mimics that of their awake activities, such as zebra finches singing.
There’s behavioral evidence too. Many chimps taught American Sign Language periodically sign in their sleep.
The anatomic evidence may be the most compelling. There’s a part of the brain that keeps us from literally acting out our dreams. Cats missing that site leap up while asleep and physically perform their dream sequences.
Our dreams have been touted as proof that humans are superior to animals — but maybe that dividing line isn’t so distinct after all.
Exercise is a good way to reduce life’s stresses. It prods the body to produce oxytocin and endorphins, which help regulate mood, emotions and boost social bonding.
Many of us, however, wouldn’t be too keen on squat-thrusting our way to an anxiety-free day.
A recent study offers hope to the exercise averse, pointing to an activity that might not seem like exercise at all — dancing.
As anyone who has ever waltzed the night away can affirm, dancing gets the heart pumping and tests the legs, arms and many of the muscles in-between.
A group of international scientists took the first in-depth look at dancing’s ability to reduce stress. They found that it is extremely effective, to the point that some call it a “stress vaccine.”
Chronic stress has been linked to physical ills. When the troubles in our lives overwhelm, it can contribute to heart disease, obesity, diabetes and depression.
What makes dancing so effective as a stress reliever?
Dance combines several elements that contribute to good mental health. For one, you might have heard that music has charms to soothe a savage beast. Evidence suggests that simply listening to music and its rhythms without moving a muscle relieves anxiety. Music triggers the production of feel-good chemicals.
It helps reduce cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.
The social side of dancing is advantageous. Being with a partner as you glide around the dance floor, or dancing with friends, contributes to a feeling of well-being.
Touch, like linking hands with a partner, also releases chemicals in the brain that modulate stress.
Any exercise benefits the body and the mind. But for a little extra juice, boogie down.
Snake bites are a common problem in veterinary hospital emergency rooms in the summer months, and prompt medical attention can make the difference between life and death. On this show, Dr. Michael Schaer, a professor emeritus of emergency medicine and critical care, will discuss different types of snake bite, the kinds of snakes associated with the most serious bites, and how veterinarians assess and treat snake bite in the ER. He’ll also discuss what pet owners should do if they suspect their animal has been bitten by a venomous snake.
Money talks. And sometimes it tells us to go take a walk.
A team of University of Pennsylvania researchers wanted to study the best ways to
motivate people to walk more.
Their yearlong study involved 1,062 participants, age 67 on average, who had a higher-than-average risk for cardiovascular disease. The study participants already were becoming more active and were averaging about 2.4 miles, or 5,000 steps, a day.
The exercisers were separated into four groups. Everyone got a wearable step-tracking device.
The first group received daily messages about their step counts. The second group was set up like a game, with points lost or won based on meeting step goals. Trophies awaited those who walked most.
A third group was given financial incentives to walk, earning $14 a week for meeting daily step goals but losing $2 if they fell short.
And the fourth group could participate in the game approach and earn the financial incentives.
Perhaps little surprise, but the group that could earn money and win prizes increased their step counts the most. They added about 40 minutes of moderate exercise to their weekly routine and stuck with their increased activity for at least six months after the study.
The researchers said the increased activity would translate to a 10% decline in risk for a cardiovascular-related death.
So if you’re in need of motivation, maybe try one of several gamified exercise apps, which offer gift cards for coffee or other prizes for achieved goals. Some apps feel like an interactive game, with the user unlocking new game levels by meeting fitness challenges.
So get your shoes on, it’s game time.
In today’s world of online influencers and dating apps, people can feel significant pressure to adhere to unrealistic physical standards. For some, this can lead to eating disorders like bulimia, which can cause serious health issues.
Bulimia is most strongly associated with binging and purging. The common perception of those suffering from the condition is that they look frail and unhealthy.
But that’s not necessarily so. Many who struggle with bulimia are at average or above average body weight.
A recent University of Florida study showed how the stereotype of the super-thin bulimia patient has taken hold, even in the medical world.
The researchers recruited a nationwide sample of more than 200 mental health providers to read patient vignettes and choose a diagnosis.
The vignettes described fictitious patients who met the criteria for their respective disorders.
In one vignette, participants were randomly assigned one of two versions: One in which the patient was described as being at a healthy weight, and a second, in which the patient was described as having obesity.
Only about 25% of the providers were able to accurately diagnose bulimia in the patient with obesity.
The researchers said this is because bulimia does not fit in the box popular culture has put it in. Many who have bulimia don’t look sick nor do they purge. They might use excessive exercise to compensate for overeating.
The study’s authors said being able to distinguish between eating disorders is vital because it allows providers to offer the best possible treatment.
Sometimes, a picture — even a mental one — doesn’t tell the whole story.
Your TV has a remote control so that you can channel surf from a sofa on the opposite side of the room. Toilets? Not so much.
It might be time to create a flushing remote. For public toilets, anyway.
Chinese researchers warn that flushing a public toilet might be fraught with danger. That’s because it releases a mist of invisible, bacteria-laden water droplets that can enter our lungs and sicken us.
Investigators say they measured bacterial exposures exceeding World Health Organization safety guidelines. That means public restrooms might pose a higher infection risk, particularly for people with weakened immune systems.
The scientists tested restroom air looking for staph bacteria, which is found on the skin and airways, and E. coli, which lives in our intestines.
Multiple flushes apparently add to the risk, further stirring up a menacing miasma.
It doesn’t take a malfunctioning toilet to release this bacterial cloud. If your mind’s eye pictures an eruption like the Old Faithful geyser, think again. Most of the droplets that carry bacteria are as small as 4.7 micrometers.
That’s smaller than a red blood cell and invisible to the eye. It’s also light enough to float easily on the air and deep into the lungs.
Other studies have shown that even a closed toilet lid can allow aerosols to escape. And, of course, most public toilets are without one.
Researchers note that good bathroom ventilation can help lessen the risk.
Whatever you do, don’t flush and run like a mad bomber scampering away from a lit fuse. Restroom floors can be slippery. One would guess rolling around the bathroom floor is as unhealthy as a flush.
Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. For new parents, the idea of traveling for a vacation with a little one might seem impossible.
The truth: It can be frustrating. But it can also be fun, if you plan well.
To travel with a baby or toddler, the key is to stick to one or two destinations. This will help your tyke get settled in and on a schedule more easily. Many small children thrive on routine, so finding the right playground or bringing the right toys and devices will keep your little one happy.
For planes, trains and automobiles, it really depends on your child’s temperament. You will need to be ready to distract, soothe, sing or nurse — and perhaps on a moment’s notice. Pediatricians agree that travel is an acceptable occasion for abandoning the usual screen time rules. Devices help pass the time, especially on longer journeys.
Just like adult passengers, any child can become completely crabby or sleep like, well, a baby during a flight. Diversions, snacks and a change of clothes are just as important as an apologetic smile for neighbors across the aisle.
For your well-being, it is a good idea to sleep when your baby sleeps. You are more likely to have a smooth trip if you follow your little one’s schedule, rather than an adult schedule with a cranky child in tow. Take the nap.
Choose child-friendly restaurants and lodging.
Before departure, be sure to check in with your child’s pediatrician. Consider whether certain vaccines and immunizations are needed based on your destination.
One final note: Bringing extra medications and drinking boiled or bottled water can go a long way in avoiding potential illness.
Have you ever had a very productive morning and then suddenly crashed in the afternoon? The afternoon blahs struggle is real.
Sleepiness is driven by circadian rhythms and sleep pressure. Circadian rhythms are greatly impacted by our environment, causing us to feel awake and alert during daylight and tired when it’s dark. Our internal alarm clock, if you will.
Those who study such things call the phenomenon that the longer we’re awake, the more our bodies crave sleep, “sleep pressure.”
Sleep pressure is lowest when we first wake in the morning. In the afternoon, circadian rhythms and sleep pressure battle each other, and the result is likely a bout of yawning.
When your body digests lunch, blood sugar rises and prompts insulin production. Sugars and carbs are digested quickly, prompting a brief energy surge before the extra insulin in the bloodstream causes sluggishness.
Experts say you can stave off sleepiness in several ways. Sometimes it starts with breakfast. Donuts and sugary beverages in the morning will cause an insulin dump and a midday crash. Try switching to something like eggs or whole-grain oatmeal. Complex carbs take longer to digest, which results in less of an insulin spike.
Another way to fend off Mr. Sandman is to be active. Take a walk when you feel drowsy. Research has long tied physical activity to improved alertness and concentration.
If all else fails, a power nap might bail you out. But it’s important to keep your snooze to 20 minutes or less to avoid grogginess.
The bottom line is, it’s natural to hit an afternoon slump. Don’t kick yourself for it, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new tactics and activities to keep your energy high.
Join us on Animal Airwaves-Live with Dr. Ronald Goncalves, clinical assistant professor of emergency and critical care at UF’s Small Animal Hospital, discussing pneumonia in dogs. This potentially life-threatening lung disease requires immediate veterinary attention. Dr. Goncalves will share insights on recognizing warning signs like coughing, labored breathing, and lethargy, plus emergency interventions including oxygen therapy and antibiotics. Learn how prompt action can make a crucial difference in your pet’s recovery from this serious condition, and about a new UF study that dogs with pneumonia may qualify for.
In today’s world, flashy apps, social media platforms and bingeable shows are constantly vying for our attention. And they often succeed. But there’s a tradeoff — quality sleep.
A night of tossing and turning can lead to a day of grogginess and irritability. Even our cave-dwelling ancestors, far removed from viral digital trends, were likely aware of this cause-and-effect pattern.
Thousands of years later, humans are still learning how lack of sleep impacts the body, and a recent study from Kuwait has identified an important piece of that puzzle. Researchers discovered that just one night of poor sleep can trigger the same inflammation response in the body as obesity.
The study, which focused on sleep, body weight and inflammation, revealed a direct link to how poor sleep impacts immune cells, called nonclassical monocytes, that are known to amplify inflammation.
Study participants who experienced bad sleep, whether they were obese or at typical weight, had an elevated number of nonclassical monocytes, resulting in an inflammatory immune response.
Chronic inflammation can lead to conditions such as autoimmune diseases, heart disease, mental health conditions and gastrointestinal disease, among others.
The study demonstrates the important role sleep quality — not just quantity — plays in maintaining a healthy immune system and overall health.
As our attention is increasingly pulled in different directions, studies like this can serve as a healthy reminder to give our bodies and minds proper time to recharge. By way of reminder, that’s 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep you’re shooting for.
Love the skin you’re in … by eating more fruits and vegetables.
While it may not be the most intuitive treatment for a condition like psoriasis, a new study from researchers in London suggests it might be the key to relief.
The chronic inflammatory skin disease causes scaly, flaky patches across the body and affects millions of people around the world. While psoriasis is primarily associated with immune system dysfunction, recent research suggests that what we eat could influence the severity of the discomfort.
The study analyzed data from 257 adults with psoriasis, looking at their adherence to popular diets like the Mediterranean Diet, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, and the Healthy Plant-Based Diet Index. Participants self-reported their psoriasis severity — and revealed some telling trends. Those who stuck closely to the DASH and Healthy Plant-Based Diet programs reported less severe symptoms, while those with lower adherence experienced the opposite effect.
One thing to note: Higher consumption of red and processed meats was linked to more intense psoriasis, even when factors like body mass index were considered. In contrast, eating more fruits, nuts and legumes seemed to reduce psoriasis severity, although BMI still played a role in this relationship.
This research adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests dietary changes can help manage a variety of diseases — including this itchy one.
After all, when you’re confronted with a never-ending parade of lotions claiming to provide relief, reaching for an apple or handful of nuts may be a welcome change of pace.
In a world where ease often surpasses healthier choices, ultra-processed foods, or U-P-Fs, have become an unfortunate, if tasty, diet staple.
These mass-produced, packaged products, like chips and candy, are engineered to be delicious and convenient, but at a cost: increased risks of disease and early death.
Now, new research from Drexel University explores a diet intervention specifically aimed at tackling the uniquely addictive nature of your standard gas station snack.
The two-month program recruited overweight or adults with obesity who regularly consumed at least two UPF items a day. Study participants learned mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies to manage cravings, received one-on-one meal planning help and support for improving their home food environment. To ease the financial burden of healthier choices, participants were given a $100 grocery store gift card.
The results were promising. By the program’s end, participants reduced their UPF intake by nearly half, cutting calories an average of 600 per day.
Sugar, saturated fat and sodium consumption all dropped significantly, and participants lost an average of 7.7 pounds.
However, fruit and vegetable consumption didn’t see much of a boost, suggesting that more encouragement might be needed for folks to improve their diets even more, rather than just avoiding the least healthy items.
The program’s success shows that support and strategies are crucial when it comes to kicking tasty snacks to the curb.
The best part? The participants reported improved mood and energy levels, suggesting that eating well positively affects not just how we look, but how we feel.
The magnificent human brain is the most complex machine in the known universe. It’s more than the sum of its 86 billion neurons. Forget your outer appearance and beating heart. Our brain and mind define us.
Now throw a bunch of microplastics in it.
That, unfortunately, is what humanity is doing at an ever-increasing pace. A new study by scientists at the University of New Mexico found extraordinarily high concentrations of microplastics in human brain tissue examined after death.
How much? The equivalent weight of four to five paper clips. Worse still, the amount of microplastics entering this exquisite human organ is growing rapidly. The study shows their accumulation has surged 50% in less than a decade.
Microplastics originate in many consumer products like plastic water bottles and food packaging.
As bits of plastic are shed, they make their way into our food, water and environment.
Scientists looking at the brain found plastic particles 200 nanometers or less in size. That’s about twice as big as a virus, making them able to jump the blood-brain barrier. The pieces tend to lodge in the fatty layer that wraps around nerve cells and helps the cells communicate.
Microplastics’ impact in the brain isn’t yet clear. But researchers found a much higher percentage in the brains of those with dementia. The study cannot establish a correlation, but the finding is concerning.
Microplastics are being found in other human organs, from the liver to the lungs. But they are accumulating faster in the brain.
Some suggest limiting plastic use as a protective measure. That can be a tall order in the modern age. But it’s good food for thought.
Researchers are teaming up to study osteoarthritic pain in horses — and better understand how pain manifests in both humans and animals.
Osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition traditionally defined by the breakdown of cartilage — though nowadays, science recognizes it as a disease that can affect the joint in its entirety.
But when it comes to studying arthritis-related pain, some roadblocks appear: Namely, the extent of joint degeneration does not always correspond with the level of pain patients experience. This mismatch complicates the development of effective solutions for pain.
But similar to people, horses with osteoarthritis experience a progression of the disease over several years — and also mirror the variety of ways pain associated with the condition can manifest in human patients.
By studying pain in horses, a team of University of Florida researchers hope to revolutionize the understanding and treatment of osteoarthritis pain by leveraging equine patients to model pain reports.
In short, the project aims to create well-validated ways to measure pain that will help researchers develop non-opioid painkilling therapies, addressing a critical technological gap in pain assessment and management.
A National Institutes of Health grant supporting the study relies on the multifaceted expertise of its researchers, who come from veterinary science, engineering, dentistry and agricultural sciences.
At the end of the day, humans have relied on horses for hundreds of years — maybe it’s only natural we’d both be experiencing knee pain. Perhaps it’s also fitting that animals’ creaky knees might help us learn how to live with our own.
Here’s a nutritional treat you don’t have to go to the supermarket to buy. Just stroll through your yard.
It’s got six legs, hops, and it’s more challenging to catch than a hamburger.
We are talking, of course, about grasshoppers.
A study recently published in the journal Food Science of Animal Products suggests that the common insect could improve sleep quality, hair health, and even lead to an improved love life.
This isn’t avant-garde scientific experimentation. With an ever-increasing world population, food shortages are a significant concern for the future. Grasshoppers are already a food source in some regions, including Africa and South America. At times, the price of grasshoppers has exceeded beef. Some consider the insect a delicacy.
In countries like Uganda and Kenya, grasshopper farming is a lucrative business.
The scientists in this study put rats on a grasshopper diet and compared them to control groups who were not fed the insects. The insect-munching rats saw improvement in several measures of health.
Their sleep patterns changed, with the rats getting an extra 12 hours a week of shut-eye. They maintained a healthier body weight. Researchers also recorded an astonishing improvement in hair quality. Nearly 95% of the rats had excellent hair health.
Just 5% of rats on a fishmeal diet and less than 1% on a no-protein diet boasted identical outstanding bobs.
And the hopper rats had sex more often.
What makes insect food attractive is its small environmental footprint. It’s a sustainable food in a world threatened by climate change and crop loss.
And many people love their flavor, especially with a chili powder dip.
From Friday night lights to Sunday afternoons and everywhere in between, football is on televisions across the country once again this fall.
But this season in the National Football League, you might notice a difference in the helmets some players sport during games.
For the first time in the NFL regular season, players can wear a soft-shell covering on helmets. Called a Guardian Cap, the protective covering slips over a player’s hard helmet.
After years of testing, the NFL recommended Guardian Caps in 2020 to team physicians, head athletic trainers, and equipment managers. Since 2022, the NFL has mandated that players wear Guardian Caps in practices with contact during the preseason, regular season, and playoffs.
At the high school and college levels, football produces more head injuries than any other sport. The covering’s maker says its product reduces injuries on the field. According to NFL research, the cap absorbs at least 10% of the force of a hit.
Other independent researchers remain skeptical about whether the covering reduces the force a player experiences. Seven players from the NFL have sported the new helmets this season and they are in use in some college football programs in the U.S.
For parents trying to prepare their kids for youth football, experts recommend choosing a good helmet before thinking about a Guardian Cap.
While there is no harm in adding the soft-shelled covering, there is a cost. Guardian Caps cost about $70. The models the NFL uses are $125.
So, wherever your field or game, make sure you study your options about head protection. Then you can get your head in the game.
Fantasy football players, it might be time to face a hard truth: Your relationship with the game may have the potential to significantly damage your mental health.
A new study has found that increased investment in this seemingly harmless hobby leads to more intense emotional highs and more extreme emotional lows.
In fantasy football, participants act as owners and managers of virtual teams. Competitors draft their teams and points are awarded in weekly matchups based on the outcomes of real-world competition. It is often played for money.
Researchers from Australia and the U.K. recruited 635 fantasy football players from social media and fantasy sport websites. Participants were quizzed about things like their financial investments in the game, how long they had played, and the number of leagues they played in.
Researchers assessed participants’ mental health using scales that measure depression, anxiety, stress, mood, functional impairment, and problematic behavior.
They found that those who were more engaged, played for higher money amounts, and were more invested in rankings reported higher positive moods — but also higher levels of anxiety, stress, bad moods, and problematic behavior.
Participants in multiple leagues had more positive moods but more problematic behavior compared with less-active fantasy players. Overall, players more caught up in results and rankings experienced worse mental health outcomes across all measures. The opposite was true for less-engaged players.
Bottom line: Like any pleasurable activity, it’s probably a good idea to enjoy fantasy football in moderation.
Exercise. We all know it’s important. We all know it offers benefits for both physical and mental health.
In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends that American adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.
Still, many of us still struggle to find time for exercise in the hustle and bustle of our daily grind. And conventional knowledge has held that for exercise to really be effective, it should be done on a regular schedule, multiple times through the week.
A recent study is bucking the idea that one needs to exercise four to five times per week — or more — to see real benefits.
The study, which analyzed data from nearly 90,000 participants, showed that those who only exercise on weekends reaped similar health benefits as those who exercise more regularly.
Those who only exercised on weekends and those who exercised through the week both were at a lower risk for over 200 diseases compared with their more sedentary peers.
Whether the weekend exercisers packed it all into one day or spread it over two days, if they reached the suggested 150 minutes in total, they got the benefits.
Among exercise’s benefits are lowered risk for cardiometabolic conditions, such as heart attack, stroke and diabetes. Not to mention a lower risk of cancer, depression and high-blood pressure.
So don’t let the idea of a regular exercise routine become a hurdle to achieving good health. No matter how you hit the 150-minute mark of moderate intensity physical activity each week, you’ll be doing your best to stave off 200 diseases.
Weekend warriors, we salute you.
Those suffering from dry eye disease might want to consider adding a stand-up comedy show to their calendar. A new study suggests laughter could be just as effective as artificial tears in treating dry eyes.
Chinese researchers studied 299 participants ages 18 to 45 with dry eye disease, assigning half of them to a laughter exercise intervention and half to an artificial tear regimen.
Those in the laughter group were asked to repeat specific phrases like “hee, hee, hee” and “hah, hah, hah” aloud 30 times during five-minute sessions to simulate laughter. Participants were also told to exaggerate their facial expressions and squint their eyes to contract the muscles used when laughing.
Participants in the artificial tear group served as the control. Both groups performed the exercise or took the eye drops four times a day for eight weeks.
Researchers found that the laughter-exercise group saw a decrease in eye discomfort that rivaled the artificial tears group. The laughers experienced a 10.5-point drop on the ocular surface disease index, a zero-to-100 scale that measures eye discomfort.
The artificial tears group experienced an 8.83-point drop, suggesting the laughter exercise was just as effective.
And, the benefits of laughter appeared to last longer. Participants in the laughter group improved up to four weeks after the study ended, while the artificial tears group saw declining improvement.
Researchers think laughter works because it activates eye muscles, stimulates the nervous system, and helps prevent tear evaporation.
In short: The cure to dry-eye discomfort may be as simple as a joke book or some funny friends.
While beautiful flowers and plants can add vibrancy and interest to a garden, many of these can also cause harm to your pets if ingested. Because animals explore the world with their mouths, it’s important to ensure your garden and your yard are free of plants that could cause gastrointestinal upset or even death. For example, sago palms are common household and landscaping plants that be lethal if ingested, even in small quantities as all parts of the plants are toxic. On this show, Dr. Chris Martyniuk, a toxicologist, will discuss what plants to be wary of or eliminate if your animals spend any time outdoors.
Watching a family member grow older and begin to decline physically or mentally can be heartbreaking. It can also be extremely frustrating for the person in decline.
One fall can be devastating and life-changing. As we age, our bodies don’t bounce back as quickly as they once did.
A recent study shows that fall injuries can also be an early indicator of cognitive decline.
Boston-area researchers looked at Medicare data for more than 2.4 million adults 66 years and older who experienced a traumatic injury between 2014 and 2015. The adults who had a fall were notably more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis within a year of the fall. Those with other types of injuries were not as likely to receive a dementia diagnosis.
After accounting for age, injury severity, and preexisting health conditions, those who fell were 21% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia.
The researchers suggested the link may be due to the person having undiagnosed dementia that is only discovered after the fall. They may also have mild cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to dementia, which increases their risk of falling.
While dementia is not a curable condition, an early diagnosis can open doors to treatment and resources for the person affected as well as their friends and family members.
The scientists recommend a more widespread approach to preventing falls and post-fall care for older adults, as well as more clinicians who can provide comprehensive care.
Ultimately, having as much information as possible as early as possible is key to helping the elderly stay safe and comfortable as they age.
As the days shorten and our yearning for caffeine increases, you might find yourself hoping some study or other will give you a hearty congratulations on your ability to cut your coffee consumption off at about three cups.
Today, you’re in luck — researchers from the Endocrine Society have good news for coffee lovers.
Their team found that moderate intake of coffee or caffeine was linked to a lower risk of new-onset cardiometabolic multimorbidity, or the simultaneous existence of at least two preventable, often chronic types of disease.
Known for short as CM, the condition is becoming more prevalent around the world as populations age, and can include diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Think of them as the illnesses that can be circumvented through lifestyle, diet, and exercise.
Using data from a detailed, longitudinal dietary study with over 500,000 participants ages 37 to 73, researchers found that folks who drank a moderate amount of coffee — defined as three drinks per day — had a 48.1% lower risk for new-onset CM compared with those who didn’t drink coffee. They found similar results when they examined caffeine.
In fact, moderate intake of caffeine or coffee was inversely associated with any developmental stage of the condition.
Researchers said more study is warranted to better understand the path from coffee, tea, and caffeine intake to the metabolites connected to them and then to disease.
No one is suggesting you blow your budget — or your nerves — on too much joe. But for those of you who look forward to second and third coffee refills, your habit’s not likely to hurt your health.
Questions about how aware brain-injured patients might be have always been wrenching for loved ones.
A new study, while shedding light on the unconscious, unfortunately won’t make those questions any easier to handle.
An international research team found that about 1 in 4 patients who appear completely unresponsive might, in fact, be conscious but unable to physically show that awareness.
The phenomenon is called cognitive motor dissociation.
The researchers used two techniques to study more than 350 patients with brain injuries of varying degree.
In the first, called functional magnetic resonance imaging, they measured brain activity by tracking changes in blood flow. Patients were asked to imagine doing tasks, such as walking inside their home or playing tennis. If the appropriate brain areas activated in response to the commands, it meant the patient could understand the instructions, despite no outward response.
In the second test, called electroencephalography [ee-leck-tro en-ceff-ah-log-ruh-fee], electrodes were placed on a patient’s scalp. The electrodes measured brain wave patterns for signs of intentional response to similar commands.
Twenty-five percent of patients tested showed brain activity consistent with being able to understand and follow commands.
In a curious plot twist, among patients who could follow commands, more than 60% showed no signs of it on the brain activity tests.
The researchers say the techniques are not yet widely used.
For now, we’re left to question what we thought we knew about consciousness and end-of-life decisions. And the troubling reminder that we can’t always trust our own eyes.
If the kombucha you bought three months ago is still sitting in your fridge, this could be good news.
A new study suggests an apple-based fermented drink rivals kombucha in health benefits but also boasts a more appealing taste.
Brazilian researchers created two new versions of kombucha, replacing its traditional green tea base in one case with passion fruit juice and apple juice in another. They added sugar and a culture of bacteria and yeast, the same mix used to make traditional kombucha.
The researchers let the mixtures ferment for 10 days at room temperature, then analyzed them for acidity, sugar, and alcohol levels, as well as beneficial compounds like flavonoids and phenolics. A small focus group tested the beverage for taste.
They found the apple-based drink had the same number of total flavonoids and phenolics [fen-ALL-ick] as traditional kombucha. These compounds have antioxidant properties that prevent cell damage.
The apple drink also had increased antioxidant activity compared with the kombucha, and it tasted better. The focus group found it to have a pleasant, cider-like taste. The passion fruit-based drink was not as tasty, with the tasters finding it too bitter.
A key difference in the fruit-based drinks is that both had higher alcohol levels than traditional kombucha, which typically has less than half of 1%. The apple drink had 1.65%, while the passion fruit drink had 6.2%.
Still, the study offers a promising alternative to traditional kombucha that could turn what is an unappetizing drink for some into a healthy treat.
If the usual kombucha isn’t to your liking, be on the lookout for apple-based beverages in the future.
The internet can be a wonderful tool. The information age allows us to get the smallest detail on any topic in seconds. Look up bizarre giraffe facts, and you’ll discover the species hums at night.
Or learn the 400-plus words the Scots have for snow. Snaw-broo, spitters, snaw, skelf. Well, you get the picture.
Remember, however, that a polluted river of misinformation flows into that ocean of facts. This is especially true on social media.
One internet trend has gained some traction: Exposing your skin to sunlight to treat skin conditions — without advice from a physician. One popular piece of bad advice is that the sun’s rays will cure acne.
Scientists, however, warn there is no strong evidence to support this. Worse still, excess sun exposure, particularly in youth, can lead to skin cancer as an adult.
A 2023 review of medical studies by Spanish and German scientists found little evidence that sunlight cures acne. On the contrary, such exposure can trigger or worsen it.
Research has shown that the sun’s ultraviolet, or UV, radiation can reduce skin inflammation. It also helps suppress the skin’s immune response. But UV therapy should occur in a clinical setting, not in a lounger by your pool.
Cell studies have shown that UV rays can kill bacteria that cause acne. But these studies, scientists say, have not been conducted on humans. And they believe the benefits are minimal, at best.
It’s always important to talk to a physician before trying something you heard about online, even if it comes from a seemingly reputable source.
After all, you wouldn’t take medical advice from a stranger on the street. At least, we hope not.
These days, a variety of dietary supplements are available to complement traditional veterinary care. Veterinarians frequently recommend supplements for a variety of conditions in pets, from arthritis to skin health to digestive issues. With so many supplements on the market, what should pet owners keep in mind when discussing the use of supplements with their veterinarian? On this show, Dr. Erin Miscioscia, a clinical assistant professor of integrative and mobility medicine, will discuss the pros and cons of veterinary supplements and how to choose safe and effective supplements for your pets.
The fountain of youth may not exist, but veganism does. And a new study suggests that just two months spent on a vegan diet is enough to slow down the biological aging process.
Stanford University researchers studied 21 pairs of identical twins who followed either an omnivorous or vegan diet for eight weeks. Using identical twins allowed them to control for genetic factors and assess the impact of diet on biological aging without outside interference.
Participants were supplied meals for the first half of the study and made their own meals for the second half after receiving nutrition education. Participants also filled out health surveys to account for lifestyle changes.
Blood samples were collected at the study’s beginning, middle, and end. Researchers used advanced technology to analyze the samples and assess epigenetic age acceleration, a biochemical test that can be used to measure age based on DNA methylation, or a chemical reaction in DNA.
Increased DNA methylation has been linked to the aging process. Researchers also evaluated changes in immune cell composition and metabolic markers.
Their findings showed that those who followed a vegan diet had significant decreases in their epigenetic age and in the estimated biological age of organs like the heart and liver. Those who followed an omnivorous diet did not enjoy the same benefits.
This suggests that a plant-based diet has anti-aging perks that can kick in almost immediately.
In other words: We may not be able to cheat Father Time, but we might be able to use a vegan diet to turn back the clock while he’s not looking.
It’s a question as old as time: Nature or nurture?
When it comes to the malleable, hormone-driven teenage brain, new research suggests the environment in which that adolescent brain develops plays a big role during a time when 75 percent of mental health disorders first appear.
Researchers from Yale University turned to a series of complex algorithms to test their theories. They also used “manifold learning,” a new technique for finding structure in thick biomedical data, like MRI scans.
Whether it’s the neighborhood you grew up in or your own family, when it comes to your emotional and behavioral development, your experience in that environment may be just as important as how your brain processes information.
Using data from the National institutes of Health and others, researchers used MRI scans to analyze teens’ brain activity during emotional and cognitive processing to predict differences in reasoning and emotional and behavioral symptoms.
Notably, researchers saw a greater association of brain activity with mental health symptoms when the algorithms took the neighborhood or family environments into account. The more environmental factors were fed to the model, the better its representation turned out to be.
Ultimately, this finding reinforced what researchers already knew: It’s imperative to consider the environmental situations adolescents must navigate in conjunction with how their brains take in information from those environments.
Being a teenager is hard enough as it is. At least now, however, researchers have more advanced tools to help us understand what’s making teens tick.
What if your kid’s Halloween candy was healthier and better for the environment? Swiss researchers may have made that fantasy more viable with their creation of “whole-fruit chocolate.”
We all know chocolate is a guilty pleasure. The chocolate that fills trick-or-treaters buckets is high in sugar and saturated fat and contributes to obesity and heart disease. Cocoa production also poses a threat to the environment as deforestation leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
But researchers found a way to address these concerns, repurposing parts of the cocoa pod that are typically thrown away. Instead of just using cocoa beans, they also used the cocoa pod husk and pulp to form a gel which they mixed with the cocoa mass to create chocolate.
They call their technique “whole-fruit chocolate.”
The researchers found that using the discarded ingredients provided significant nutritional benefits. The gel, which makes up 20% of the researchers’ proposed chocolate formula, provides comparable sweetness while it lets them do away with sugar beets used in conventional chocolate.
The formula also boasts higher dietary fiber and less saturated fat.
Taste-testers found little difference between the taste of whole-fruit chocolate and conventional chocolate.
Researchers also found that large-scale production of this healthier chocolate could reduce global warming by decreasing land use.
It may take time for whole-fruit chocolate to become an Oct. 31 staple.
But if it does, perhaps you won’t need to be as concerned for your kids’ health — or their teeth — when they bring home a bucket of this new candy.
Scientists are suggesting that we all might have a stake in the stock market even if we’ve never owned a share in any company.
Our very health might be impacted.
Chinese scientists found in a recent study that stock market volatility is associated with a higher death rate from cardiovascular illnesses like stroke or a heart attack.
The mortality risk is most pronounced when stocks go down, especially in a bear market. A look at Chinese death records between 2013 and 2019 found death from heart disease rises about 1%. Suicides rise by 1.77%.
While those percentages appear small, the numbers are not: There were 12.6 million deaths from heart attacks, stroke and suicide in the six-year span.
Losing money and seeing nest eggs diminish causes heart-taxing stress and depression.
The surprise is that mortality also ticks up to a lesser extent when the market rises. Researchers theorize that good news also makes the heart pound.
It’s important to note death records do not show who owned market shares. So, the risk is shared even by those who don’t know the stock market from the supermarket. That seems a tad unfair, like avoiding a rollercoaster because of a fear of heights only to have one drop on your head as you wait on an amusement park bench.
Unfortunately, market volatility affects society and the economy at large. Researchers believe this pendulum of angst and excitement might extend to any nation with a big market, including the United States.
Scientists suggest maintaining the right perspective on economic swings. Pay attention to your mental health. Keep your cool.
And perhaps avoid the financial news when feeling anxious.
Veterinary pain management specialists who focus on anesthesia and analgesia are always looking for new ways to detect and minimize pain in animal patients undergoing anesthesia for a medical procedure. But what if they were able to predict ahead of time the level of pain anticipated? On this show, Dr. Ludovica Chiavaccini, a specialist in anesthesia and analgesia, will discuss an exciting new research project that uses deep learning modeling and video technology to analyze facial expression as a predictor of pain in domestic goats, and how such a tool could potentially benefit patient care for a variety of species in the future.
A persistent American myth holds that it can be safe to smoke during pregnancy if it’s just a tiny bit.
A new study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, however, reiterates that the number of cigarettes that can be safely lit by an expectant mother is easy to calculate.
It’s zero, zip, nada.
Researchers say it’s best to quit smoking before conception because any amount of smoking can cause harm to the baby. Even light smoking, defined as one to two cigarettes a day, can spell trouble for a fetus. Potential ills include premature birth, low birthweight, and developmental issues.
Unfortunately, 1 in 10 expectant mothers in the U.S. smoke.
Scientists also noted that the corollary to the myth that the first three months of pregnancy is the safest time to smoke is also hogwash.
Smoking is one of the most dangerous habits and is the cause of nearly a half-million preventable deaths each year in the United States, pregnant or not.
Cigarettes greatly increase the odds of numerous cancers, heart disease, lung ailments, eye disease, and even dental problems.
For this study, scientists reviewed data from more than 12 million births in the U.S. that qualified for inclusion. The mothers were asked how much they smoked. About 7% smoked in the first trimester and 6% in the second and third.
Moms across the smoking spectrum were shown to have a higher incidence of health problems for their babies than nonsmokers. The risk of harming the baby is higher still for mothers who smoked before pregnancy.
The lesson for all Americans is that smoking is incredibly dangerous, perhaps most so for the most vulnerable — newborns.
Sometimes animals need blood transfusions just like people do — for blood loss, surgery or serious illnesses.
The North American Veterinary Blood Bank — or NAVBB — supplies blood to animal hospitals when they need it, and they’re always looking for donors. If you’re interested in volunteering your dog or cat as a donor, here are some requirements they must meet.
Both dogs and cats need to be between one and seven years of age and up to date on vaccinations. They can’t be aggressive or on medications for chronic illnesses, and they can’t have had a blood transfusion. Cats must live indoors and there are weight requirements for both dogs and cats.
You can find a full list of pet blood donor requirements at www.navbb.com.
We’ve talked before about the millions of birds that die annually after crashing into buildings. However, the statistics have been off. Tragically, the more accurate count is in the hundreds of millions.
Up to now, bird fatalities have been tallied by the number of carcasses found at building sites. But a recent study found that fewer than 10% of birds die on impact, while many more — up to 40% — leave with ultimately fatal injuries. After the correct calculations, it’s estimated that over 1 billion birds die each year from building collisions in the United States alone.
This stresses the importance of constructing bird-friendly buildings — those with smaller expanses of glass and glass that’s less reflective.
We may be done with hot weather, but it’s likely not done with us — or our pets. So, now’s not the time to let your guard down about pets in cars.
Even at a comfortable 70 degrees outside, it only takes 20 minutes for the inside of a car to reach 100 degrees — and pets with shortened flat muzzles or those that have recently exercised can get dangerously warm even quicker. And don’t assume that cracking the window helps much. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the interior of a car with a window cracked heats up at nearly the same rate as a closed car.
So, if you need to stop for a while with your pet in the car, take someone along who can sit there too, using the air conditioning as needed.
In people, removing creases around the eyes is usually done via a cosmetic procedure dubbed a “nip and tuck.” But in animals, periocular surgery — or surgery around the eye — is usually an essential procedure performed to improve the animal’s quality of life.
Some dogs and cats’ eyelids roll inward, causing their eyelashes to rub against the eye’s surface. It’s an extremely painful condition that can permanently damage vision and lead to blindness.
Another common problem is “cherry eye,” which refers to inflamed glands bulging from the inner corner of the eyes. Drooping eyelids also affect certain canine breeds, preventing complete eye closure. In these cases, periocular surgery can alleviate pain and save the animal’s sight.
It’s that time of year when hurricanes, tropical storms and flooding can batter small farms — but a disaster plan can help mitigate the dangers to livestock.
The first hazard is debris, which can cause serious physical injuries. After that, flood waters carrying bacteria, chemicals and other toxins can spread disease. High humidity means more germ-transmitting insects.
Livestock need to be moved to higher ground and given plenty of clean water and fresh feed — sometimes enough for several weeks. Staying up to date on recommended vaccines helps too.
You can find more tips in “Small Farm Preparedness: Disaster Preparedness for Owners of Farm Animals,” a free booklet available online from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
There are 32,000 fish species in the world — that’s more than all other vertebrate species combined. So, it’s a good thing there are fish veterinarians to care for them. But how do they do it?
Care begins by analyzing the water quality, since most fish conditions can be traced to their environment.
Once a fish is netted, they’re placed in an exam tub containing sedative-laced water from their habitat. That reduces stress on the fish and allows a complete exam. Diagnostics may then include biopsies, X-rays, ultrasound or other tests. After diagnosis, treatment might involve medication or even surgery.
Fish may not look like dogs or cats, but their care has many similarities — including pet parents or caretakers devoted to them.
In July 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Felanorm [FEEL-ah-norm], the first generic form of methimazole for treating hyperthyroidism in cats.
Hyperthyroidism is common in cats over eight years old. It causes the body’s metabolism to rev up, resulting in weight loss in spite of a good appetite. Other signs can include increased drinking and urinating, vomiting, diarrhea and a poor coat.
Methimazole products approved for people are not safe and effective in cats. For now, Felanorm is one of two oral methimazole drugs approved for felines. The other is Felimazole [fell-IM-ah-zol], which was approved in 2009. Either drug must be prescribed by a veterinarian after diagnostic tests, and treated cats must be closely monitored.
Although the Department of Transportation reported only seven animal deaths out of over 188,000 animal flyers in 2022, that’s seven too many for their grieving pet parents.
The truth is air travel in cargo or the cabin can be risky for pets. Cargo travel is especially dicey during hot or cold weather. But cargo air pressurization is less precise than in the cabin, posing increased risks for pets with heart issues. And for pets with short muzzles and flattened faces, cargo travel is never recommended.
Even cabin travel can be uncertain, since owners may not be able to open carriers and aid pets when needed.
If you must fly with your pet, try to keep them with you at all times, and equip their carrier with plenty of water.
Cats are meant to use their claws, and that means scratching — which can be problematic when it comes at the expense of your furniture. So, what can you do?
To determine why some cats scratch more than others, researchers surveyed over 1,200 cat parents, asking about their daily life as well as their cats’ characteristics and scratching behavior. They found stress was the main reason for excessive scratching, and the presence of young children appeared to magnify it. Long periods of stimulation — like playing — and aggression are also likely to amplify scratching.
So, along with safe scratching materials, you can offer safe hiding spaces and shorter play periods that mimic hunting. Other stress reducers may help too.
Is your cat a chatterbox? You may be able to translate your cat’s vocalizations, but chattering can be baffling to decipher.
If you’ve heard these characteristic feline chirps and twitters, chances are it’s when your buddy’s at the window staring at birds, squirrels or other critters. Feline chatters are similar to noises made by small prey animals, which could indicate they’re meant to fool prey. On the other hand, chattering might be an expression of excitement — or even frustration at not being able to get to their prey.
In any event, chattering is perfectly normal feline behavior. Just be careful if your cat does it when you’re playing — especially with prey-type toys — since their next move may be to pounce.
We’ve likely all seen pets with disabilities and wondered if they can live happy lives. So, let’s talk about cats with cerebellar hypoplasia [sare-uh-BELL-er high-po-PLAY-zha], or CH [C-H] for short.
CH is a congenital condition caused by a viral infection in a pregnant cat, which is passed to her unborn kitten. The virus damages the part of the kitten’s brain that controls balance, resulting in jerky uncoordinated movements.
CH, sometimes called “wobbly cat syndrome,” is not infectious in the newborn, but there’s no cure for the damage. Still, it doesn’t have to affect the cat’s quality of life. Some CH cats are just a bit unsteady, while others can’t walk on their own. But even severely affected cats can live happily — if they get great care.
Smell and memory have long seemed inextricably linked. It’s more than the way a certain aroma can trigger a strong, long-ago memory.
Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other disorders involving the brain are often preceded by a loss of olfactory capacity. Scientists, for example, are today studying how the loss of the sense of smell with COVID-19 infection might be associated with reports of cognitive impairment from the coronavirus.
Could that connection be used therapeutically?
A study by University of California researchers says evidence shows it likely could be. Every night for two months, they wafted a fragrance through the bedrooms of older adults without cognitive impairment and found aromas had a dramatic impact on memory.
They saw a 226% increase in cognitive capacity, or memory, for those ages 60 to 85 who slept while a strong fragrance was pumped into their bedrooms. That’s compared with a control group exposed to weaker fragrances.
Imaging showed those with improved memory had stronger integrity in a brain pathway between the medial temporal lobe and the decision-making prefrontal cortex. This pathway often weakens as we grow older.
As one researcher notes, when our eyesight deteriorates as we grow older, we can get a prescription for new eyeglasses. Memory impairment, however, resists any easy fix.
While the study is relatively small and involved just 43 participants, the scientists believe it points to the possibility of developing aroma therapy to treat cognitive decline.
“Stop and smell the roses” might become more than a cliché. It could one day be doctor’s orders.
You don’t want be as slow as a sloth in recognizing the symptoms of this virus.
The Oropouche [Orr-oh-pooch] virus, also known as “sloth fever,” has been reported in the United States. More than 8,000 cases have been confirmed this year, most of which originate from South America, where the virus is endemic.
Thus far, U.S. residents traveling from Cuba account for most of the domestic Oropouche cases. Florida leads the states in the number of cases.
The virus originates from a village in Trinidad and Tobago, where it was discovered in 1955. Since then, nearly a half-million cases have been diagnosed.
The virus spreads through insect bites, especially from biting midges, a type of tiny fly, and certain types of mosquitoes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60 percent of people infected with Oropouche develop symptoms, which can include sudden fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and joint stiffness. In rare cases, the disease infects the nervous system and causes meningitis and encephalitis.
The ongoing outbreak is spreading rapidly in countries native to the virus. Locally acquired cases have been reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, and Peru. There is no evidence of local transmission in the U.S.
However, this year marks the first time that there have been reported deaths from the Oropouche virus, as well as the first time it’s been proven the disease can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
Travelers headed to South America or the Caribbean should take special care, because so far, there are no preventive vaccines or specific antiviral treatments available for Oropouche.
You’ve heard the saying “kill them with kindness.” Sadly, a modern version of that old saw might be “kill them with rudeness.”
New research finds that workplace sass not only hinders team productivity but can threaten lives.
A team led by researchers from Indiana University and the University of Florida conducted five studies to gauge how negative workplace interactions impact teams in corporate and medical settings.
In one study, 40 teams were asked to build a bridge out of newspaper and tape, with some subjected to rude comments as they worked.
In another, 24 teams took part in a medical scenario where they tried to save a simulated infant patient while an observer lobbed either neutral or negative comments.
The other studies were online simulations that asked participants to complete virtual team tasks while a rude or neutral observer weighed in.
Researchers used these undoubtedly annoying tactics to measure what is called Social Value Orientation, or the degree to which people put group interests above their own.
They found that rudeness triggered a defensive response, making the team less likely to share information and properly distribute work.
Wherever the negativity came from, researchers found that workplace rudeness consistently made people more self-centered and their team less productive.
Adding an element of danger, rudeness contributed to poor task execution, including lifesaving medical procedures.
So, the next time your team is under pressure and you’re tempted to offer a snarky zinger, remember that biting your tongue may hurt in the moment, but will pay off in the end.
Do you love your pet? No need to answer … of course you do.
You cherish your pup’s greeting when returning from work. You appreciate the moments your cat shows affection by brushing against your leg.
We all want our pets healthy and happy. They make us happy, too. Interacting with them lowers our cortisol levels and blood pressure.
The American Pet Products Association says nearly two-thirds of Americans have at least one pet. That’s a 10% increase from the number of American households that owned pets in 1988.
Americans spent more than $136 billion on their pets in 2022. You combine that with the fact that we pamper our pets with customized nutrition and accessories, such as knapsack carriers and cat hotels, some animal welfare ethicists and veterinary scientists wonder whether we have gone too far.
The more we treat our furry friends like people, they argue, the more dependent they become on us.
What’s the harm? Well, the health risks for our pets can start in breeding and become behavioral as well. Look at the French bulldog. The breed experiences difficulties breathing, among other severe health problems.
Many of us overfeed them. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that about 59 percent of dogs and 61 percent of cats are overweight.
Plus, as we bring our pets everywhere — restaurants, the grocery store, and in the car — they can experience separation anxiety and or act out.
And while head harnesses and electronic collars should keep your pets out of potential danger, they also limit freedom of expression and movement.
Remember, to ensure our own good health, we need to ensure theirs, too.
Veterinary technicians, or nurses, are essential to veterinary hospitals and practices. Their roles are diverse, and career paths can vary widely. On this week’s Animal Airwaves-Live, Holly Kitchen, a certified veterinary technician (CVT) and veterinary technician specialist in ophthalmology (VTS), shares her career journey and insights into her specialization, along with some of the rewards unique to her profession.
Is your newborn getting all the nutrients needed to grow? If you rely on baby food, the answer might surprise you.
According to research by the George Institute for Global Health in Australia, about 60% of packaged baby food sold in the United States does not meet nutritional standards set by the World Health Organization.
Using standards from the 2022 nutrient and promotion profile outlined by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, researchers found that 70% of commercialized infant food did not meet protein requirements and nearly half exceeded total sugar limits.
As your children grow, food choices are influenced by what they are exposed to. Experts say many foods marketed to children in the United States are high in sugar, fat, and preservatives while lacking essential nutrients. This results in an unhealthy diet for many.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that on average, children’s diets have almost twice as much sugar as recommended. And, many sugary foods are associated with a rise in illness in children.
This creates a greater need to put your little one on the right path. By choosing packaged food that promotes healthy growth and following recommended nutrient guidelines, you can help ensure your baby gets all the important nutrients.
After all, nutrient deficiencies can have a lasting negative impact. Choosing healthy foods for your child that are low in sugar and salt can prepare them for a lifetime of good eating habits.
Of course, you are your child’s best role model. Let them see you nibble on vegetables, fruit, or nuts, rather than something out of a box or bag.
While a mosquito bite might be nothing but a fleeting nuisance for some, in many parts of the world, the buzzing pest poses a serious concern.
Mosquitoes are notorious for spreading deadly diseases, like malaria, which kills over 400,000 people each year. It’s no surprise mosquitoes have earned the title of the deadliest animal, along with the unofficial title of most irritating.
For over a century, scientists have studied how these tiny insects target their hosts. We’ve learned mosquitoes rely on a blend of cues: carbon dioxide from our breath, body odors, heat from our skin, and humidity. Yet, each cue on its own has limitations. For instance, mosquitoes have poor vision, and strong winds or rapid movement can disrupt their chemical tracking.
Enter the latest breakthrough from researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Their study reveals that mosquitoes have a previously unknown sense: infrared detection. Their research shows that mosquitoes use infrared radiation, emitted by sources at roughly human skin temperature, to double their host-seeking behavior when combined with CO2 and human odor.
The team found that infrared radiation enhances mosquitoes’ ability to find their targets from about 2.5 feet. The key to this discovery lies in the mosquitoes’ antennae, which contain specialized heat-sensing neurons.
By understanding how mosquitoes detect infrared, research may be able to develop better methods for controlling these flying fiends, and, by extension, reduce the spread of diseases they carry.
Not to mention how much they bug us.
It lasts about three years but feels like 300. You’ll endure unspeakable terrors, like public speaking, group exercise and misperceiving your talents as a dancer … all while dodging pimples and acrid body odor. You won’t recognize yourself — or your friends. It happens to everyone.
It, friends, is middle school.
According to research from scientists at Florida Atlantic University, we know the harsh truth — those years are much harder on those perceived as unattractive or unathletic. Some of us still carry the unhappy memories.
The study included 580 middle school students between 10 and 13 years old. Participants were asked to pinpoint classmates who best fit a handful of descriptors, like athletic, attractive, and unpopular.
Students were also asked how often they felt lonely and how many times they drank alcohol to the point of intoxication during the past month.
Results indicated that those rated as low on the attractiveness and athletic scales experienced decreasing popularity over the course of a school year, which led to more loneliness and alcohol misuse. Notably, there were no differences between gender — or even location. The same pattern held in youth from a large metropolitan area in Florida as it did for a homogeneous sample from a small town in Lithuania.
The study’s authors offered suggestions for mitigating these effects in the classroom, like creating a supportive environment for everyone and emphasizing the importance of other traits.
But it seems even researchers agree — middle school can be a traumatic ordeal. Its saving grace? It’s temporary.
Doctors in recent years have noticed an alarming trend: Colorectal cancer rates among younger people have nearly doubled.
Between 1995 and 2019, colorectal cancer diagnoses increased from 11 percent to 20 percent in people under 55 years old. That’s one in five individuals.
Scientists have been working to get to the bottom of this trend and a new Cleveland Clinic study may have uncovered a major factor in this uptick: diet.
Using artificial intelligence, researchers zeroed in on the gut microbiome as an important area to explore. What they discovered was a difference in the type and amount of metabolites present in younger versus older adults.
The higher levels of metabolites in younger adults point to the likelihood that they are overeating red meat and processed meats. The study’s authors are currently examining national datasets to confirm their findings.
The study illuminates the complicated relationship between the gut microbiome, diet, metabolism, and cancer.
The researchers said young people should be cognizant of their dietary choices. And making healthy food choices is something we can all do.
The study lays the groundwork for more study on how diet and drugs respond to the treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer. Scientists hope they can create tests for measuring metabolite levels to determine whether a person is at higher risk for colorectal cancer.
While it’s easy enough to grab a burger or sub sandwich when we’re on the go, the science is clear: Avoid red and processed meat or eat them in moderation.
After all, it’s a lot easier to change one’s diet than it is to reset your microbiome.
When you reach into your bathroom cabinet for a swig of mouthwash, you probably wouldn’t expect to find matcha [maa-chuh] there.
But a new study has found that when used as a dental hygiene product, matcha can reduce the risk of gum disease caused by the growth of bacteria.
Matcha, a vibrant green tea powder, is known for its antioxidant properties. It’s popular in Japanese culture and has caught on in the West in teas, lattes, and even desserts.
But it’s more than a tasty treat. According to researchers from Qatar [cutter] University, matcha can benefit brain and heart health and even prevent the development of cancerous tumors.
Now, Japanese researchers have added dental health to the list of matcha’s benefits. The researchers placed 45 participants diagnosed with chronic gum disease, called periodontitis, into three groups. One group used a mouthwash with barley tea, one group used a mouthwash with an anti-inflammatory solution, and one group used a matcha mouthwash.
Those who used the matcha-based mouthwash saw a significant reduction in the levels of gum disease-causing bacteria in their saliva compared with the other groups, who saw little change.
The researchers also found that matcha inhibited the growth of these gum disease-causing bacteria in lab experiments.
Left untreated, periodontitis can cause tooth loss and has been associated with both diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
While commercial matcha mouthwashes aren’t widely available, there are several recipes online to make your own version. And you won’t even need a milk frother.
Join us for a riveting episode of Animal Airwaves – Live! featuring Dr. Cory Woliver, an emergency and critical care expert at the UF Small Animal Hospital. Dr. Woliver delves into the lives of coral snakes, discussing what happens from an envenomation and what makes these snakes unique among venomous serpents. Dr. Woliver will also discuss his groundbreaking clinical trial, which is being used to treat dogs envenomated by coral snakes. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain potentially life-saving knowledge about this elusive fossorial species and the latest advancement in treatment.
Mindfulness, or the ability to be fully present in whatever moment you’re in, requires focusing attention on the present — without judgment, and with a gentle curiosity about what is going on around you.
Research has long touted this as something of a silver bullet we all can practice to reduce stress. Now, researchers from North Carolina State University suggest that hope may be just as effective, if not more so.
Specifically, their study showed that hope may better at helping employees manage stress and stay professionally engaged during periods of prolonged duress.
Researchers posited that, during tough patches, looking ahead to rosier times could be more effective than living in the moment.
For their study, researchers recruited more than 200 professional musicians from the organization MusiCares to take two surveys, one month apart, on their feelings related to hope and their state of mind during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by questions about work engagement and tensions.
The leisure and hospitality industries were among the hardest hit during the pandemic, with millions of jobs lost.
Using advanced statistical techniques, the researchers identified connections between hope, mindfulness, musicians’ personal well-being, and attitudes toward work.
When people were hopeful, as opposed to simply mindful, they were able to take more satisfaction with their lives at work while experiencing less distress.
Now, don’t take this wrong. Living in the moment, or mindfulness, has its place. But a light at the end of the tunnel may be the ticket to withstanding long stretches of workplace — or life — stress.
Humans have had their hands in the proverbial honey jar for millennia.
There’s just something about the sticky sweetness, wonderful golden color, and rich flavor that keeps us coming back for more. Honey’s health benefits have long been explored, with evidence of honey being used for therapeutic purposes in ancient Greece and ancient Egypt.
Even after thousands of years, we are still discovering ways honey can benefit humans. Scientists also continue to better understand how important a healthy gut microbiome is in preventing chronic diseases, promoting mental health and aiding in a healthy immune system.
These two topics coalesced recently as a pair of new studies offered evidence that clover honey, when added to yogurt, can help promote gut health.
So, how does it work?
When we eat yogurt, live probiotic cultures contained in the food undertake a treacherous journey as they weather the harsh environments of the mouth, stomach, and intestines. Many of these microscopic organisms will never reach their destination.
But researchers discovered that one to two teaspoons of clover honey, when added to a serving of yogurt, seemed to create a more hospitable environment for the probiotics, allowing more of them to make it safely to the gut.
The levels of enzymes, sugars, and antioxidants in clover honey seem to offer an added layer of protection for the probiotics. Researchers did point out that honey is an added sugar, so we should be mindful of how much of it we consume.
But all things considered, adding honey to a yogurt treat seems like a pretty sweet deal.
What color is pain relief? A study from the University of Arizona in Tucson suggests green — at least when it comes to migraines.
Previously, researchers discovered that green light could lead to pain relief in laboratory rats. Now, researchers are exploring the healing hue as a preventive treatment for people who experience migraines.
A migraine is a headache of extreme intensity and can cause symptoms that interfere with daily activities, such as throbbing pain, intense nausea, vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound.
For some, a migraine can last for a couple hours. For others, it can be days.
Although pain relief can be found through some medications, people can experience unwanted side effects or minimal effectiveness.
Study participants fell into two categories: those who had episodic migraines, or up to 14 headache days per month, and chronic migraines, 15 or more headache days per month for three or more months.
At first, the participants spent one to two hours every day in a dark room with a white light strip, which served as a control condition. After 10 weeks of the white lighting, participants stopped for two weeks as part of a “washout” period.
Then, for another 10 weeks, participants spent one to two hours daily with a strip that emitted green light, at the same brightness level as the white. On average, the green light treatment resulted in fewer migraines experienced.
More study is needed to replicate the light’s effects in a larger participant pool and account for the placebo effect. But the early results could be a green light on the way to migraine relief.
Those concerned about the effects of popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy on their mental health may soon find peace of mind.
A new study suggests GLP-1RA drugs, a class of glucose-lowering drugs that are used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity, may not cause increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in older adults.
Researchers from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy wanted to study the potential association between these drugs and increased suicidal thoughts and self-harm. This came after the European Medicines Agency made a statement about its review of the glucose-lowering drugs following anecdotal evidence of negative mental health impacts.
The Florida researchers studied Medicare data from over 21,000 adults ages 66 and older with Type 2 diabetes, no history of suicidal thoughts, and a treatment plan consisting of either the popular glucose-lowering drugs or less-popular versions.
They then used data from Medicare claims to compare the occurrence of suicidal behaviors among patients taking the popular GLP-1RA medications with similar patients with a prescription for other glucose-lowering drugs.
The researchers found that the use of GLP-1RA drugs did not cause an increase in suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Researchers found no difference in the risk of suicidal thoughts between those taking the popular glucose-lowering drugs and those taking less popular versions.
More research is needed to ensure the findings hold for younger populations, of course. But for now, it seems the popular weight-loss drugs aren’t the threat to mental health some believed them to be.
Want to add years to your life? Start by touching your toes — or at least give it a go.
New research suggests that increased flexibility might lower the risk of premature death among middle-aged adults.
Danish researchers studied over 3,000 adults between the ages of 46 and 65 who were part of an exercise study in Brazil. Researchers followed the participants for an average of 13 years and tracked their health and survival rates.
Participants were assigned a “Flexindex” [flex index] score based on their range of motion in 20 joint movements.
The researchers found that better flexibility had a significant positive impact on survival. Participants with higher Flexindex scores were less likely to die during the follow-up period compared with those who had lower scores, even after accounting for other factors, like age and body mass index.
The least flexible men in the study had a 21.2% chance of dying during the follow-up period, while that was true of just under 8% of the flexible men.
Women are more flexible, in general, the researchers noted. Those with lower flexibility scores had a 15.4% risk of dying during the study’s follow-up years, while that was true for just 2% of the most flexible women.
The researchers acknowledged their study doesn’t prove flexibility has a direct tie to longevity since poor flexibility could be linked to other health conditions.
Still, flexibility might be a helpful indicator, suggesting that flexibility training might be an important part of an exercise plan. So, the next time you hit the gym for some cardio or strength training, build in time for a good stretch after.
(Archive from July 28, 2023
https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/my-pet-ate-what-foreign-body-ingestion-and-how-to-minimize-risk-5/
Dogs explore the world through their mouths, but unfortunately that can mean trouble when the items they swallow include things like clothing, paper, bones and many other items that can wreak havoc on their gastrointestinal system. Cats often will ingest thread, wool, plant materials and small toys, among other things, and are similarly at risk for foreign body obstruction. On this show, Dr. Kathleen Ham will discuss what happens when something gets stuck and causes a foreign body obstruction, what treatments are needed and what pet owners can do to minimize risks associated with this problem, both inside and outside of the household.
The face is the touchstone of our emotional world. A person’s collection of facial features helps define their identity and make a first impression.
In the future, it also might define health status.
Our mugs are not a uniform temperature where a nose or a cheek and jowl or lower lip are all similarly warm or cold. Instead, our faces emit patterns of heat, invisible to the world without a thermal scan.
A recent study by Chinese researchers used thermal facial scans of 2,800 people and found that heat distribution changes as we age. For example, the nose and cheeks cool as we get older. Meantime, the forehead and the skin around the eyes might warm up.
Scientists can use this heat map to estimate someone’s age. That isn’t really a big deal. We’ve got driver’s licenses and birth certificates for that. The more significant insight comes when a visage’s temperatures doesn’t match someone’s real age.
If a 40-year-old’s scan reveals a pattern resembling what would be expected in a 65-year-old’s countenance, that could spell trouble.
The researchers say the thermal scan could accurately predict some diseases with high accuracy. Their scanning model, which they call ThermoFace, has an excellent record of spotting diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver disease. And it is often faster than other diagnostic techniques.
The researchers envision a day when the scans might be routine at a doctor’s visit, the way thermometers are today. Scans would be especially useful in remote areas where medical testing equipment is lacking.
So, not feeling well?
The diagnosis might be in your face.
When your child is upset and on the verge of making a scene in the cereal aisle, it can be easy to fill their hands with a smartphone or tablet so you can keep filling your cart.
A new study, however, says this quick fix may hinder your child’s emotional development.
Canadian and Hungarian researchers followed 265 Canadian families with preschool-aged children for a year, looking at three aspects of self-regulation, a skill children develop in early childhood.
The researchers looked at anger management, or how a child handles feelings of anger and frustration; effortful control, the ability to focus and regulate behavior; and impulsivity, which is how quickly they act without thinking.
The families completed a questionnaire that assessed their media use, child behavior, and parenting stress at the start of the study and again a year later.
The results showed that greater use of devices as digital pacifiers had a negative effect on children’s self-regulation skills and prevented them from dealing with emotions on their own.
Parents who frequently used digital devices as a calming tool reported having children who struggled to manage their anger and exhibited less ability to focus and self-regulate.
Children with poor anger-management skills at the start of the study were more likely to have parents who were reliant on digital devices a year later, suggesting a cycle that further harms children’s long-term development.
In short: the next time your toddler throws a tantrum, think twice about handing them a device, unless you want to deal with an extra moody teen down the road. The grocery store will still be there tomorrow.
Is your furry friend constantly scratching or experiencing digestive issues? Join us on Animal Airwaves-Live as Dr. Richard Hill, a small animal internal medicine and nutrition specialist, dives into the complex world of pet food allergies and immune-mediated diseases. Dr. Hill will shed light on the misconceptions surrounding dietary allergies in dogs and cats, explain the importance of proper diet trials, and discuss why there are no quick fixes when it comes to identifying and managing food sensitivities.a
Aside from the debt, getting a new car is loads of fun. Learning all its features. Feeling fancy when you drive it. And of course, delighting in that new-car aroma.
Its time-limited bouquet hits every time you buckle up, fooling you into thinking you absolutely will go years never sullying your ride with so much as a single wayward French fry.
New research may take away your zest for that new-car essence, however.
A study by researchers at Harvard and in Beijing finds that the volatile organic compounds, or VOCs [V-O-Cs], that create the new-car smell may pose significant health risks.
The scientists analyzed VOC emissions in a new car during summer. VOCs are gases emitted from products or processes. In cars, they come from materials like plastics, leather, and synthetic fibers.
Some are harmless, but others can cause health issues like headaches or irritated eyes, or more serious damage, like lung disease.
The study found that formaldehyde, which can cause cancer with repeated exposure, was the most prevalent VOC in the new car’s cabin. More than one-third of the readings exceeded China’s air-quality standards for car interiors.
Part of the problem lies not with the air, but with the temperature of the car’s interior surfaces. That’s why the new-car smell can be extra potent on a hot day.
Americans spend an average of 5.5% of our lives in our vehicles. So it’s helpful to understand the air-quality dangers lurking in this classic fragrance. The hope is that automakers can one day give us the aroma minus the toxins.
The new-car smell, after all, helps us forget a malodorous byproduct of the dealership experience: the new-car loan.
This week on Animal Airwaves, we’re focusing on your furry friend’s peepers! Join us as we welcome Dr. Bret Moore, a veterinary ophthalmology specialist, who’ll share his expertise on recognizing and treating eye problems in pets. Dr. Moore will discuss why early detection is crucial for maintaining your pet’s vision and overall eye health. Learn about common signs of eye issues, when to seek veterinary care, and how prompt treatment can lead to better outcomes.
While it may not be possible to always keep the doctor away, a new study offers strong evidence that consuming apples, berries, and other fruit can help keep antidepressants at bay.
With aging populations growing around the globe, depressive symptoms in older adults are also increasing. Specifically, many of these older adults face delayed cognitive processing, waning motivation, appetite loss, poor sleep, and increased fatigue.
Scientists in Singapore studied the dietary habits of nearly 14,000 adults there between the ages of 45 and 74 and over the course of about 20 years, controlling for other lifestyle factors such as sleep duration, smoking status, and physical activity.
Study participants who consumed at least three servings of fruit per day —compared with those who consumed less than one serving — reduced their likelihood of late-life depression by 21%.
Researchers looked at 14 of the most common fruits consumed in Singapore, including oranges, tangerines, bananas, papayas, watermelons, apples, and honeydew melon.
Fruit’s high levels of antioxidants and micronutrients, such as vitamin C, carotenoids and flavonoids — which reduce oxidative stress and inhibit inflammation — are believed to be the driving nutritional components in staving off depression later in life.
Vegetable consumption did not seem to have any impact on whether people developed late-life depressive symptoms. Enjoy relaying that to the veggie nag in your life.
The old saw about apples and doctors is a fine one, but perhaps it’s time for a modern, science-backed update: “Three apples a day keep the blues away.”
In recent years, glucose-lowering drugs — originally prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes — have gained attention for their ability to kick-start weight loss. Simply starting one of these medications seems to help many shed pounds easily.
But what if similar results could be achieved by increasing your fiber intake?
A recent study indicates this might just be the case. But not any old fiber will do.
University of Arizona researchers observed evidence in mice that specifically, beta-glucan [beta-glue-can], a dietary fiber found in oats and barley, can mirror many of the weight loss benefits of drugs like Ozempic.
These drugs are effective weight loss tools because they mimic a naturally occurring hormone that regulates appetite and blood-sugar levels. Beta-glucan from oats and barley also regulates appetite and blood sugar levels by causing the release of the same hormone into the gut microbiome.
The mice given a beta-glucan supplement showed reductions in weight gain and body fat along with improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Researchers believe these mice had a boost in energy expenditure, thanks to the beta-glucan.
This study adds to the growing body of research that points to the many benefits of dietary fiber, including constipation prevention, decreased risk of heart disease, and protection against inflammation.
For those considering medications to help them drop pounds: The research indicates that a smaller change, simply eating more beta-glucan rich foods, might be worth a try first. It’s certainly a less-expensive path to choose.
Bowl of oatmeal, anyone?
Ever caught yourself endlessly scrolling through troubling news and feeling defeated? Read a headline that left you needing to put your phone down and stare into space? Do you wonder how an endless supply of information is affecting you?
Well, you’re not the only one. A new study from Flinders University [Flin-drz] suggests that doomscrolling isn’t just a harmless habit — it might be reshaping how we view life itself. Findings suggest that routine, habitual consumption of negative news can lead to a profound shift in our outlook on humanity and the meaning we construct from our lives.
Researchers found that scrolling through negative or disturbing stories can result in a kind of vicarious trauma, or one where you experience negative psychological impacts without directly going through the trauma yourself.
In their study, the researchers surveyed 800 university students from Iran and the United States, to better understand two culturally distinct groups and how they might respond to repeated negative news or stories. Participants reported how often they engaged in doomscrolling, their feelings about their existence, and their worldview — like whether the world is a fair place, and how they felt about humanity.
The results? Doomscrolling was linked to increased existential anxiety in both the American and Iranian groups.
Most days, we’re inundated, so it can be hard to keep tabs on how much time we spend consuming negative news. But this study, and pre-digital generations, remind us that taking breaks from social media and paying attention to our emotional well-being is crucial.
More than 10 million texts, calls, and chats in just two years.
The 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which launched in July 2022, has had quite an impact.
In 2022, suicide deaths reached a record high in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The change to a three-digit number, instead of its 10-digit predecessor, led to a 45% increase in people reaching out in the lifeline’s first month.
Mental health is a priority for many Americans. A recent poll from the National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that 3 in 4 Americans say they are not content with mental health treatment in the United States.
When someone calls 9-8-8, the caller first hears a greeting message with options to connect with specialized services. They are then routed to a national network or local network crisis center. A trained crisis counselor answers the phone, works to understand the problem, and shares resources. Similarly, users can get care by texting 9-8-8, which has become an increasingly popular option, along with digital chats.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ hotline has made 110,000 contacts in Spanish and 475,000 with LGBTQI+ youth and young adults this year, the federal agency reports. About 20,000 videophone contacts were made in American Sign Language, and 1.2 million calls were answered by the Veterans Crisis Line through 9-8-8.
Studies show that speaking with a trained crisis counselor makes callers feel more hopeful while reducing feelings of depression and thoughts of suicide.
Ten million is just the start for a resource that saves lives every day. One text or phone call at a time.
In the universe of healthy snacks, baby carrots might just be one of the trendiest. A favored snack among the younger set, even the family dog might love a few if your hot dog stash runs dry.
New research tells us that if you’re a young adult, these cutest of carrots could boost your skin, too.
A team from Samford University presented findings at a national gathering of nutritionists that suggest nibbling on carrots a few times a week — especially in conjunction with a multivitamin — can improve skin carotenoid levels.
Besides increasing immunity, higher skin carotenoid levels mean better antioxidant protection and lower risk for diseases like cancer and heart ailments. And carotenoids help protect skin against premature aging and hyperpigmentation from UV radiation, hormones, and acne.
The researchers randomly assigned 60 young adults to three groups. One group snacked on Granny Smith apple slices for a month, the second took a multivitamin with beta-carotene, and the third ate baby carrots plus the multivitamin.
The researchers used an instrument called a Veggie Meter to measure skin carotenoids, which create the bright colors in some fruits and vegetables.
The subjects who ate baby carrots saw their skin carotenoid scores rise by 10%. Those who took the multivitamin and ate baby carrots saw their scores go up more than 21%.
Those who ate apple slices saw no change in carotenoid levels. Nor did those who only took the multivitamin.
So, if you’d like nicer skin: Add carrots and a multivitamin to your menu.
Scientists say their research plate includes studying colorful sweet potatoes and green, leafy vegetables.
Has your pet shown abnormal behavior lately, such as hiding or growling? Our animals can’t tell us when they’re hurting, and assessing pain in our pets can be difficult. It’s important that pet owners be tuned in to any changes in behavior, the way your pet stands, walks or even looks at you. On this show, Dr. Elizabeth Maxwell, a surgical oncology specialist, will discuss why pain assessment is so important and why contacting your veterinarian is critical if you suspect your pet is in pain. She’ll also discuss methods of pain management.
As nutritional science has evolved over time, butter has passed in and out of favor with nutritionists and the public. At times butter has been touted for its nutritional value and that it may contribute to weight loss for those on a low-carb diet.
But butter is looked upon less favorably when its fat profile is examined. That’s because butter is high in saturated animal fats, which have been shown to contribute to cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
A recent study adds even more fuel to the argument that a diet rich in plant-based unsaturated fats beats out a diet heavy on butter and other saturated animal fats. The Chalmers University of Technology study takes previous work in this area a step further by analyzing fat in the blood using lipodomics, or finely detailed lipid measurements.
Individuals with a high multi-lipid score, called an MLS, have a healthy blood fat profile and tend to have a higher intake of unsaturated plant-based fats. These folks showed significantly lower risk for developing cardiometabolic diseases.
Those with a low MLS consumed a larger amount of saturated animal fats and were at greater risk for stroke, heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, and related conditions.
The study concluded that switching to a diet high in unsaturated plant fats — such as the Mediterranean diet — can indeed deliver notable health benefits.
While some may still reach for good old-fashioned butter at the grocery store, plant-based oils are more readily available than ever before.
Perhaps the news from the recent study can finally help many of us answer the age-old question: To butter, or not to butter?
You’re pouring yourself a cup of coffee while chatting up the new boss, and you get distracted — subsequently spilling it all over. You feel your face turn beet red, and it’s not the first time. After all, blushing is a universal part of the human experience.
Now, researchers are trying to understand why.
Using MRI scans to track brain activity, teams from the Netherlands and Italy are exploring the neural mechanisms behind blushing. Notably, the behavior is more than just a physical reaction; it’s tied to our brain’s response to social judgment, especially during adolescence.
To trigger a blushing response, the adolescent girls who participated in the study took part in two lab sessions. In the first, they sang challenging karaoke songs, and in the second, they watched videos of their own performances. Raising the stakes, researchers told them an audience would be watching their recordings.
Ultimately, the teens blushed more when viewing their own videos compared with others. Brain scans revealed that blushing was linked to increased activity in the cerebellum, known for its role in movement and coordination, and heightened activation in early visual areas. That suggests for these teens, seeing themselves on screen was something that dominated their attention.
The next area of study may include investigating how blushing works in even younger children, before they are as aware of their peers.
In the future, when you find yourself blushing, remember there’s a lot happening in your brain — and you’re in great, human species-wide company. In other words: It happens to all of us.
You might be 10 slices of bacon away from a longer, healthier life. Yes, you heard that correctly.
Bacon has a rap sheet. It’s high in sodium and fat. While some sing its praises, many doctors are not in the choir. The World Health Organization calls the food a carcinogen.
University of Edinburgh scientists recently found that if Americans collectively cut back just 30% of their consumption of processed meats like sausage and bacon, it would have a profound impact on public health.
Yes, that percentage is the equivalent of 10 slices of bacon a week.
What would that do from a national perspective? Researchers estimate this reduction would lead to 353,000 fewer cases of Type 2 diabetes over a decade. Cardiovascular disease diagnoses would drop by more than 92,000, colorectal cancer by more than 50,000 cases. Thousands of deaths would be avoided.
The impact is even greater for those cutting unprocessed red meats.
The researchers used computer modeling to make these projections, aided by data from national health surveys.
Of course, bacon isn’t the only game in town when it comes to processed meats. Hot dogs, deli meats, chicken nuggets, and other foods could be flagged, too.
The study notes that restricting meat intake is not just good for your body. It’s good for the planet. A collective effort to reduce consumption will lessen the meat industry’s impact on climate change.
We can all squeeze out a health benefit by reducing our bad habits, even if we are unable to quit something entirely. In other words: It’s not great if you eat half the birthday cake at a sitting. But it’s still better than eating it all.
Having your horse vaccinated routinely is important to ensure it stay protected against infectious diseases. However, each horse’s immune system is different, so horse owners should talk to their veterinarian about which immunization program makes the most sense for their animal. On this show, Dr. Martha Mallicote, an equine internal medicine specialist, will discuss the importance of vaccination as a part of routine health care for horses. She’ll also address why keeping your horse healthy involves more than just adhering to a vaccination protocol, and why good nutrition, deworming, pasture management and minimizing stress and overcrowding are also important factors.
The blood orange is delicious, often expensive, and packed with nutrients that taste great. But unlike the more common citrus that thrives in the humid state of Florida, this pigmented fruit requires more consistent cold temperatures than are readily available in a state known for its sunshine and beaches.
Now, new University of Florida research is highlighting the potential health benefits of blood oranges, with a twist — titrating their nutrient density by storing them at a specific range of cool temperatures.
Specifically, scientists pinpointed that storing blood oranges between 40 and 53 degrees Fahrenheit carries the ability to enhance their antioxidant content while preserving crucial attributes like the fruit’s firmness, weight, and sugar content. The cool storage can even elevate the blood oranges’ levels of anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants found in red, blue, and purple fruits and veggies.
Importantly, a diet full of these compounds may help protect from inflammation and Type 2 diabetes — and this antioxidant typically develops when the fruit is exposed to cold temperatures between 46 and 59 degrees for at least 20 days. These conditions are rare in Florida’s subtropical climate, and part of the reason scientists are on the hunt for a solution.
In the future, research will pivot to emphasize the importance of tailored storage conditions to maximize the fruit’s nutritional value and market appeal — which would also help it flourish in other regions. While the blood orange is growing in popularity, they are typically grown in climates more arid than the subtropics.
Low back pain is an often-chronic condition many accept as just a natural part of aging. But what if ditching low back pain was as simple as taking a walk? A new study suggests it might be.
Australian researchers recruited adults who had recently experienced an episode of lower back pain for at least 24 hours and who had no specific diagnosis. Participants were randomly assigned to a group that received intervention that included walking, education, and six physiotherapy sessions, or to a control group that received no treatment.
The researchers then tracked them for one to three years. Those assigned to the intervention participated in an individual walking program guided by a physical therapist and managed to ensure the walker stuck with the plan. Participants walked in their free time with a loose target of five 30-minute walks per week for six months.
Participants kept a walking diary and attended follow-up sessions with their physical therapist. They also learned more about pain science and how to reduce the risk of low back pain, as well as how to manage minor pain recurrences.
Results found that those who followed the plan saw a significant reduction in the recurrence of low back pain. Researchers also found the treatment to be more cost-effective for those receiving intervention compared with those who received no treatment.
An estimated 843 million people around the world will suffer from low back pain by 2050. Its debilitating effects take a toll mentally, physically, and financially.
Now, lacing up those sneakers may be all you need to find relief. Take a walk and tell your backache to take a hike.
Millions of Americans regularly take multivitamins, accepting as fact that the dietary supplement can help them stay healthy and live longer.
Consumers reliably scoop them up at the drugstore or supermarket. One estimate pegs the value of the multivitamin market at more than $21 billion.
A new study, however, questions their usefulness.
National Cancer Institute researchers recently conducted one of the largest and longest studies of multivitamin effectiveness. The scientists tracked the health of nearly 400,000 healthy Americans for two decades, comparing a control group that didn’t take multivitamins with a group that did.
The study’s findings might be unsettling for anyone with a big bottle of these doctor’s helpers in the medicine cabinet.
Those who took the supplements daily experienced no lower risk of death from any case. Indeed, they appeared to have a slightly greater risk of mortality. It was just a tiny increase, but startling, nonetheless.
The researchers also saw no difference when controlling for a participant’s sex, dietary quality, and health behavior.
Some experts believe vitamins feed off human psychology. The lure of a pill that effortlessly boosts health is powerfully attractive. Got a bad diet? Take a pill. Even before this study, however, some nutritionists were doubtful this supposed elixir could substitute for the complex mix of natural nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods. There are few shortcuts to good health.
Scientists say they cannot preclude the possibility of a benefit for adults.
So, eat your vegetables. They’re nature’s multivitamin.
For those among us who prefer the steady thrum, pacing, and incline control of a treadmill (and the air conditioning that often comes with it), there can often be an unpleasant tax — shin splints.
Now, researchers from the University of Virginia Health System may be onto a treatment plan that protects against this pesky, but common, sports injury.
A recent study suggests that incorporating outdoor gait training alongside home exercises can improve running biomechanics, even on a treadmill.
Shin splints, a common ailment affecting 40% of runners, often start as lower leg tenderness that worsens with continued running, potentially leading to stress fractures for those unable to hang up their sneakers.
The study looked at treadmill runners from ages 18 to 45 who experienced lower leg pain. Participants underwent four weeks of outdoor gait training with vibrotactile feedback, which alerted them when their foot-ground contact time was excessive — a known contributor to shin splints.
This feedback helped participants adjust their stride to reduce impact. The results showed that those who received gait training not only improved their strength but made favorable adjustments in running mechanics, benefiting both outdoor and treadmill running. This finding suggests that outdoor gait training could be a valuable strategy for treadmill users seeking to run pain-free.
Besides reminding us that going outside remains a habit that is ultimately good for you, the study reiterates that there’s more than one way to achieve tip-top running comfort and performance … in a climate-cooled gym or the great outdoors.
Don’t mess with Texas. Not with its ticks, anyway.
The lone star tick, once found mostly in the southeastern United States, has been expanding its turf. They’re becoming more common in the Northeast, the Midwest, and even Canada.
While its bite isn’t as dangerous as that of the also-common blacklegged tick, which spreads Lyme disease, lone star ticks do cause plenty of health maladies, including ehrlichiosis [ur-luh-kee-ow-suhs], tularemia [too-lr-ee-mee-uh], southern tick-associated rash illness, and Heartland virus.
The adult female lone star tick has a white splotch on its back.
A lone star tick bite is less likely to cause illness than blacklegged ticks, but they’re certainly more likely to bite you. Entomologists say they are easily the more aggressive species.
A blacklegged tick often positions itself on a tall blade of grass or a branch and waits for a host (that’s you) to come walking by. But a lone star tick comes to find you. If you’re out in the woods or tall grass and still, the ticks sense the carbon dioxide you emit and head that way.
What is going on with these aggressive and turf-shifting ticks?
Scientists explain some of their expansion as a result of climate change. A warmer climate suits them, so that’s where they go. But studies also suggest that lone star ticks may be resettling in areas that once were their home.
If you’re going to be out in the woods, you need an effective insect repellent. Treating shoes or boots with permethrin can keep ticks from taking a hike up your leg. If you’ve been in the deep woods, an immediate shower and tick-check is a great idea.
If you live in suburbia, keep your yard mowed and clutter-free, and try to keep the deer out.
The successful identification of animal abuse and deaths caused by such abuse typically involves not just the veterinary forensic pathologist who can confirm the cause of death, but also representatives of various agencies and organizations ranging from animal shelters to law enforcement at multiple levels. On this show, Dr. Adam Stern, a veterinary forensic pathologist, will discuss the process through which successful prosecution of animal abusers typically occurs, and how members of the public can also play a role in bringing such abusers to justice.
Summertime is a great time to get outdoors, go hiking, and explore nature. Kids are out of school and vacation season is in full swing.
But so is the heat.
High temperatures are no joke and can make any hike dangerous — even deadly. Each year, multiple people die from heat exhaustion during hikes and hundreds more are rescued.
By taking a few safety precautions to heart, you can greatly reduce your chances of injury or death when hiking in hot temperatures.
Be prepared physically. If you know will be undertaking a long, strenuous hike, be confident that you are in good enough physical shape to complete the trek. You can acclimate to the heat by taking shorter, low-impact hikes in warm weather and gradually work up to more difficult hikes in hot weather.
Hikers should also know their sweat rate, which can be determined by weighing yourself before and after a hike. Experts say you shouldn’t lose more than 2% of your body weight during a hike.
Speaking of sweating — an abundant amount of water is critical in high temperatures. A water filter and electrolytes, in the form of tablets or drinks, can also help replace salt and minerals lost from perspiration.
Hikers should wear light, loose clothing to help prevent sunburn and keep body temperatures down. Experts recommend bringing a fully charged phone, extra battery, and a friend if possible.
It can be easy to underestimate just how risky a hike can be when temperatures soar. The reward doesn’t outweigh the risk.
And don’t ignore what your instinct tells you. If you think it’s too hot to hike, turn back. It is too hot to hike.
For millions of Americans, eating oatmeal isn’t enough to lower cholesterol. Many leave the doctor’s office with a high cholesterol diagnosis and a statin prescription.
One study from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University reported that by 2019, 818 million people were prescribed statins. But perhaps that number may change.
As many as 40% fewer Americans need statins, a new JAMA Internal Medicine study found.
In 2023, the American Heart Association developed the Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events equations, known as PREVENT, to estimate atherosclerotic [ather-oh-skler-ottic] cardiovascular disease risk.
This was an update to the 2013 equations, which were criticized for overestimating risk.
The PREVENT equations were based on current populations and adjusted for statin use and kidney function. They removed race as a factor.
Researchers analyzed data from 3,785 adults between ages 40 and 75 without atherosclerosis who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from January 2017 to March 2020. Their 10-year risk of heart disease was estimated using the PREVENT equations and reviewed against earlier risk predictions.
Results showed that far fewer adults qualified for statin prescriptions under the updated equations. Researchers estimated that more than 17 million adults previously prescribed statins would no longer be eligible for them.
No word yet on whether statin guidelines might change to reflect the study’s results. But perhaps in the future, many of us can enjoy a bowl of oatmeal with our morning coffee, rather than swallow a pill.
We all keep time to an internal cellular clock. Our circadian rhythms are tuned to the rotation of the Earth and its cycle of night and day. Still, our clocks aren’t all set to the same hour and minute.
Some scientists believe that the biological clock influences whether we are a morning person or a night owl. If you groan and swear at the morning alarm, perhaps you can blame this internal timepiece when you’re late for work and someone demands an explanation.
This is our chronotype. We’ve all got one.
Now, a team of international researchers has found that our chronotype might influence the effectiveness of blood pressure medication. Their work indicates that those diagnosed with hypertension might want to match the time they take prescriptions with their sleep schedule. Study findings suggest that doing so might be better for the heart.
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t change your medication schedule without first checking with a physician.
The study tracked 5,000 people for several years, analyzing their blood pressure. Researchers also asked the participants for information about their chronotype.
Findings indicated that early birds were less likely to suffer a heart attack when they took their blood pressure medication in the morning, compared with the evening.
And conversely, night owls experienced heart attacks less often when they took their meds at night.
Physicians and pharmacists often recommend taking the pills in the morning, but some scientists have challenged that recommendation. This study could influence that debate. Scientists, however, say more study is needed before declaring that it’s time for a change.
When it comes to saving a pet’s life, every second counts. Recent updates to veterinary CPR guidelines are changing the way we approach emergency care for our furry friends. On this show, Dr. Jake Wolf, an emergency and critical care specialist, will discuss the latest advancements in pet CPR. As a key contributor to the RECOVER initiative’s 2024 CPR Guidelines, Dr. Wolf will share insights on improved chest compression techniques, safe breathing methods for cats and dogs, and critical updates in medication administration and defibrillation. Learn how these new standards are enhancing the quality of emergency care and improving survival rates for our beloved companions.
The dentist adjusts his instrument in your mouth, frowning. You tense, gripping the armrests. Silence. Then, the dreaded question: “Have you been flossing?”
Maybe you have been. Maybe you really, really meant to, but forgot. Or maybe you glance over to the dusty floss pick packet every night … and then you look away.
Whether you do, don’t, or won’t, the good news is it may no longer be up to you. That is, not if the University of Pennsylvania’s shapeshifting microbots have their way.
Yes, that’s right — a swarm of tiny building blocks in the form of nanoparticles may one day be your toothbrush, rinse, and dental floss in one. While the study doesn’t specify their form at rest, the particles, composed of iron oxide, act as bristles that can extend, sweep, and even go back and forth between a space, much like flossing.
Although a boon for the lazy, the techie revamp of a mundane necessity would be a welcome solution for those who lack the dexterity or physical capability to brush and floss without help.
Using a magnetic field to direct the iron oxide nanoparticle-based microrobots into antimicrobial bristle- and floss-shaped arrangements, researchers were even able to account for things like gum sensitivity.
Part of the impetus for the study was the static landscape of tooth cleaning, which has remained largely unchanged since the advent of the electric toothbrush. This study was proof-of-concept, which is another way of saying you’ll likely have to keep brushing and flossing the old-fashioned way for now.
But take heart — one day, you just might have teeny-tiny robots brush and floss your teeth. And then, you’ll really have no excuse.
Whether we’re binging one more episode of our favorite TV show, scrolling through social media, or battling insomnia, there are plenty of distractions in today’s world to keep us from sleep.
But getting enough sleep is extremely important for a variety of reasons, and two new studies from the University of Michigan show that those who don’t get enough sleep can have extreme difficulty forming memories and retaining information.
What exactly is happening in our brains that allows sleep deprivation to inhibit the formation of memories and decrease cognitive function?
Researchers observed what are known as place neurons, which are part of the brain associated with a specific task, such as navigating the environment. The neurons are in the hippocampus, a part of the brain where memories form.
In this experiment, the lab rats’ neurons fired as they explored a maze. Next, the scientists noted many of the same neurons fired as the rats slept, suggesting that sleep is a crucial component for memory formation.
In the second study, the researchers monitored lab rats’ brain neuron activity, both during sleep and sleep deprivation.
Neural firing patterns were seen to be higher in sleep and lower when the rats remained awake. During sleep deprivation, the electric signals from the lab rats’ brains were produced at a similar or higher rate as when they slept, but at a lower power and amplitude.
So, whether you’re doom-scrolling or just tossing and turning, do what you can to get the sleep your brain needs. If you don’t, when someone asks a simple question, like “What did you do last night?” — you might just draw a blank.
If you’re a woman who needs another reason to shovel in those fruits and veggies or forgo that triple fudge brownie, this is it.
New research has shown that higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet can reduce overall mortality rates in women by 23%.
A study published in JAMA Network followed over 25,000 women for 25 years, observing their food choices and assigning points based on adherence to a Mediterranean diet.
Participants were given one point for above average vegetable, fruit, nut, whole grain, legume, and fish intake and one point for below-average red and processed meat intake. Participants earned a point if their alcohol consumption fell within a specified range.
The women were categorized by their Mediterranean diet adherence based on the points they received. A score of 0 to 3 meant low adherence, 4 to 5 was intermediate and a score of 6 to 9 was high.
Each woman also completed a health questionnaire twice during the first year and once every year after, and deaths were recorded.
Researchers found that a higher adherence score was associated with a decreased risk of overall death, cardiovascular disease, and cancer mortality. This was true even after adjustments were made for variables like smoking and physical activity.
Following a Mediterranean diet also provides a host of other health benefits. While avoiding an early grave, you’ll also be improving brain health, supporting a healthy body weight, and lowering the risk of stroke.
And no need to give up taste for health. The Mediterranean diet is popular for being simultaneously tasty and good for you.
Untreated diabetes can be life-threatening to your dog or cat, so it’s important to recognize the signs.
Diabetes is more common in cats than dogs, but the signs for both are similar. Excessive drinking and urinating are the most common, but some animals may become ravenous without gaining weight. Any of these signs warrant a trip to your veterinarian, who can diagnose diabetes using blood and urine tests.
Daily insulin injections are the most common treatment, which most animals don’t mind. For cats who’ve never been on insulin, there’s now an alternative oral treatment. Diet is also important in stabilizing your pet’s blood sugar and weight. And regular veterinary checkups are key to noting changes and fine-tuning therapy.
We spend a lot of time talking about tick prevention in our pets, but these creepy crawlers bother all sorts of animals — including horses. Worse yet, they can transmit dangerous diseases, which in horses include Lyme disease and equine granulocytic [gran-you-low-SIT-ick] anaplasmosis [ann-uh-plaz-MOE-sus].
Horses encounter ticks when they graze or just brush against vegetation. Most ticks prefer a horse’s head — or just under it — as well as their belly, mane and tail. That’s why daily grooming is the best way to check for ticks.
But prevention is the real way to go. Make sure to use a tick preventative that’s approved for horses, and don’t combine products unless you check with your veterinarian. It’s also important to have your horse vaccinated against Lyme disease.
In hot dry weather, your horse’s hooves can really take a beating.
Dry, hard ground increases the risk of lameness. Risks are even worse when a horse is exposed to alternating wet and dry conditions — like evening turnout in dew-soaked grass and hot, dry conditions during the day. The cycle causes a horse’s hooves to repeatedly swell and contract, ultimately causing horseshoe nails to loosen. The process speeds up if a horse stomps at flies or often walks the fence line.
Applying a hoof toughener before evening turnout cuts moisture absorption, while using Venice turpentine toughens soles. Strong fly protection and shorter turnouts can help. Shortening your summer shoeing schedule can also help ensure your buddy’s hoof health.
As temperatures break record highs all over the world, it’s more important than ever to protect our pets from the heat.
The best way to do that is to keep them cool indoors and provide plenty of fresh water. Pets shouldn’t stay out longer than five or 10 minutes in the midday heat — just long enough to do their business. Morning or evening walks are best. And never leave them in a car.
Heat exhaustion is most common in flat-faced animals, very young or elderly pets and those with underlying health problems. Signs can include excessive panting and drooling, restlessness and overgrooming. If you’re worried, never put your buddy in ice-cold water, which can make things worse. Instead, apply cool towels and get to a veterinary clinic.
When we call out certain plants for being hazardous to pets, we’re usually talking about toxicity. But with foxtails, it’s all about physical contact.
Foxtails are seemingly innocuous seed pods that arise from all sorts of grasses across the U.S. Their salient features are long, sticky fronds that attach to an animal’s fur. From there, pieces of the seed pod can work their way into an animal’s skin, eyes, ears or nose — sometimes much deeper.
Foxtails are especially prone to burrow between a pet’s toes, where they often cause painful inflammation. Paw chewing, eye discharge, coughing or sneezing and head shaking and are all signs to check for these sinister seed pods. Left unchecked, they can cause serious problems.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, was busy this spring approving medications for dogs with heart disease.
Pimobendan [pea-moh-BEN-din] and torsemide [TORE-suh-mide] were approved for dogs in congestive heart failure — that’s fluid buildup due to heart disease, when it’s caused by myxomatous [mix-OH-mah-tus] mitral valve disease, or a thickened heart valve.
Pimobendan was also approved for dogs in congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy, which involves an abnormal heart muscle. Both conditions are diagnosed with imaging tests.
Torsemide has conditional approval in combination with other medications used to treat congestive heart failure. That means it can be safely while its effectiveness is studied.
If you’re a pup parent who’s planning to have your dog spayed or neutered — often referred to as “neutered” for both — you may have lots of questions.
For years, it’s been common to neuter dogs before they turn one year old — that is, before they mature. But in the past 20 years, research has shown that early neutering can increase the risk of joint disorders in certain breeds — especially the larger and heavier ones. Early neutering can also increase the risk of some cancers in some breeds. The risks of early neutering can even vary between males and females of the same breed.
Neutering age guidelines by sex and breed have recently been updated, so talk to your veterinarian about what’s best for your canine companion.
Most dogs love to eat. But what should you do if your pooch is absolutely obsessed with food?
If your buddy can’t ever seem to get enough to eat, there could be lots of reasons why. So, start by scheduling a visit with your veterinarian. Diabetes, Cushing’s disease and cancer are just three conditions that can increase a dog’s appetite. If your pooch gets a clean bill of health, ask your veterinarian how to calm your dog’s cravings.
Consider trying a food that’s higher in fiber. Offering veggies might help too — both in meals and as treats. Feeding multiple smaller meals each day may do the trick. Also, think about using your dog’s penchant for treats to help with training — like finding activities to distract from the cravings.
It’s August, and your kids are likely preparing to return to school. Supplies are packed, lunches are made and blissful quiet awaits you at home. But before you send them off, make sure their eyes are classroom-ready.
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, so it’s no time to neglect an aspect crucial to your child’s academic success. A 2020 study by Canadian and Belgian researchers used visual screenings of schoolchildren ages 6 to 12 and found that students with poor visual health performed worse in school compared with their 20/20-vision peers.
Those with visual disorders were found to be at a significant disadvantage in the classroom. Luckily, there are ways to maintain your child’s visual health and ensure they get the most of their education.
Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer several easily managed tips.
Staying active and eating a balanced diet is one recommendation. Spending time outside eases eye strain caused by near-vision activities, and ditching processed lunches for whole grains and leafy greens can provide eye-benefiting nutrients like zinc and vitamin A.
Technology is a classroom staple, but when children aren’t at school, limit their use of digital screens. Johns Hopkins debunked the blue light myth but said screens still cause eye strain, which can lead to other eye problems.
The back-to-school buzz can make it difficult to stick to a routine, but ensuring children are getting enough sleep and having regular eye exams is vital to eye recovery and screening.
You can’t learn if you can’t see, so don’t let your child’s eye health take a backseat.
“Screenager” is a term often used to describe tech-savvy teens who irritate their parents with extended stints online. But is it more than that?
A new study from University College London found that increased internet addictions among adolescents may cause more serious health issues.
Researchers reviewed 12 studies involving adolescents ages 10 to 19 who had been clinically diagnosed with an internet addiction.
The studies used functional MRIs to track blood flow and evaluate how different regions of the brain interact. Adolescents were observed while resting and while completing a task, and the results were used to determine the effects of internet addiction on their behavior and development.
The researchers found there was a mix of activity in the parts of the brain engaged when resting. But there was an overall decrease in connectivity in parts of the brain involved in active thinking.
The study found that these changes led to addictive tendencies and behaviors in adolescents. Behavioral changes associated with mental health, motor coordination, intellectual ability, and development were also seen.
In an increasingly digitalized world, internet addiction might sound like a phrase made up by gripey parents who can’t get a screen-free meal with their offspring. But underdeveloped adolescent brains are especially vulnerable to external stimulation, and the consequences can be drastic.
While it may be unrealistic to quit the internet cold turkey, it’s a good idea think about occasionally pulling the plug.
Meat has been a staple of the human diet for approximately three million years — since our ancient ancestors were scavenging raw meat and fish, and long before the invention of fire and cooking.
But times change. Today, we have access to an array of plant-based meat alternatives, or PBMAs, packed with comparable nutrients to real meat.
At the same, there is more awareness than ever about the negative cardiac effects of highly processed foods — which describes many PBMAs.
When it comes to heart health, how do these fake meats stack up to real meat?
Scientists recently explored this question by looking at research on PBMAs published from 1970 to 2023, including their nutritional profiles and their impacts on cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The nutritional profiles of meat alternatives were found to vary greatly but tend to align with guidelines aimed at improving heart health. The PBMAs tended to have less saturated fat and more polyunsaturated fat and dietary fiber than their meat counterparts.
Fake meat is typically highly processed and high in sodium, but the researchers did not find evidence that these factors negate the potential heart benefits.
Instead, they found that some dietary trials where meat was replaced with PBMAs showed improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and body weight.
Researchers said that, based on the existing evidence, opting for PBMAs instead of meat may provide heart-healthy benefits, though research continues in this area.
While our ancient ancestors may have scoffed at fake meat, the protein-rich alternatives may have a permanent place at the table for modern humans.
Alligators are large and intimidating creatures, due to their size and unique anatomy, including an armored body, short legs, broad snouts and powerful tails. Most live in the South, along the edges of permanent bodies of water, such as lakes, swamps and rivers, but others reside in zoos and parks. On this show, Dr. Darryl Heard, a zoological medicine specialist, will discuss why alligators are an important part of ecosystem health, along with the challenges and rewards of working with this species to keep them healthy.
It’s summer, the temperature is rising, and so are the number of heat-related emergencies.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospitals across the country are seeing higher numbers of emergency room visits related to heat illnesses.
And it’s not necessarily the regions with the highest temperatures that have the highest number of heat-related emergencies.
While climate change has boosted the frequency and intensity of heat waves across the country, the CDC attributes two factors to the surge in emergencies.
For one, some buildings are not designed most effectively to beat the heat. Some in the mid-Atlantic or Midwest are less likely to have air-conditioning than those in the typically sweltering South or the West.
Another factor is the inexperience some have dealing with hot, outdoor locations. Some locales simply are not designed to deal with heat. They lack infrastructure — think splash pads at parks or giant tarps made for shade.
While heat exhaustion is primarily experienced by those who work or exercise outdoors, it can happen to anyone who can’t shed heat fast enough.
It often starts with heavy sweating, cool or clammy skin, weakness, and a fast or weak pulse. Then it can progress to heatstroke, evidenced by high body temperature, a headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. A heatstroke victim can show neurological symptoms like confusion. Or they may faint.
People with underlying health conditions are at the greatest risk.
Do yourself a favor and get familiar with your local heat advisories. And if you’d like to avoid the ER, stay hydrated and stay indoors when the heat is doing its worst.
Good news for coffee-lovers in cubicle land: That daily latte might be doing more than just waking you up. A new study finds that people who regularly drink coffee seem to gain some protection from the increased risk of death associated with prolonged sitting.
Chinese researchers studied data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Survey, focusing on 2007 to 2018. They used a representative sample of over 10,000 U.S. adults and followed participants for up to 12 years.
The study looked at how long people sat each day and how much coffee they drank based on their responses to the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and a 24-hour dietary recall interview.
Participants were placed into four groups based on the hours per day they spent sitting. They were also placed in four groups based on coffee consumption, measured in grams per day.
The study found there was a 46% greater risk of dying from any cause and a 79% greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease for those who sat for more than eight hours a day, compared with those who sat no more than four hours.
But those who drank coffee were at a significantly lower risk. The most dedicated coffee drinkers had a 33% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 54% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with those who didn’t drink coffee.
Only those who avoided coffee had an increased risk of death due to prolonged sitting.
This doesn’t mean you should be downing a caramel mocha latte every day. And more research is needed to fully understand coffee in all its complexity. But a cup or two of joe might not be a bad idea.
When you’re at a wedding reception and dancing begins, do you break into a sweat at the very idea of dancing, or do you kick off your shoes? If you’re the latter, your ability to loosen up may be more important than your ability to break into a cha-cha slide.
New research from scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany sheds light on how dancing is associated with different personality traits.
The study examined data from a large group: 5,435 individuals from Sweden and 574 from Germany, focusing on key traits like openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
The study found that both amateur and professional dancers tend to have lower levels of neuroticism compared with those who don’t dance. They also tend to be more agreeable, open, and extroverted, aligning with similar findings in studies that looked at musicians.
Compared with musicians, dancers are not more neurotic, but — on the contrary — less neurotic than people who do not dance.
Also noteworthy: The type of dance matters as much as the dancing itself. For example, swing dancers showed lower neuroticism levels than Latin and ballroom dancers, suggesting that dance styles might shape our personalities in distinct ways.
Looking ahead, researchers plan to broaden their work to include a larger group of dancers from diverse cultures and styles.
And while no one is suggesting we’re all meant to be Fred Astaire, dancing is one way of engaging in a meaningful social and creative activity with potential psychological benefits — whether you’d consider yourself neurotic or not.
It’s human nature. Many of us probably don’t even know we’re doing it. You’re in the supermarket, rolling a cart through the produce section.
Ah, here comes broccoli, one of the healthiest foods available. You drop some into the shopping basket. The vegetable will work its magic with numerous health benefits, from helping lower blood sugar to reducing heart disease risk. It’s a superfood so healthy that it will probably tell you to fasten your seatbelt on the ride home.
Later, a few aisles away, you see a chocolate bar. You’ve made the healthy choice with broccoli, even though you hate its taste. Maybe you deserve a reward. The chocolate joins broccoli in the cart as they no doubt scowl at one another.
If this seems far-fetched, like something you’d never do, think again.
A recent European study shows that grocery shoppers tend to follow their healthy food purchases with unhealthy selections and vice versa. At times, we might be doing it subconsciously. It’s a veritable tug of war between vice and virtue, with our best-laid shopping plans subject to the whims of a sweet tooth.
Researchers literally followed 5,000 shoppers at a Dutch supermarket chain, scanning their food choices as the selections were made. Then, they conducted an online simulation with 500 Americans.
The study found that in both scenarios, a guilty pleasure like chocolate more often followed a healthier choice. At the same time, junk food was most often followed by a selection that would make a cardiologist happy.
The lesson is to remain committed to your health and shopping goals. Do not listen to the siren song of the frosted donuts in the bakery section.
How often do you take aspirin? A couple of times a week? Do you use it every day?
For years, doctors recommended that patients take a low-dose aspirin to prevent heart disease. As a result, the Annals of Internal Medicine found more than 18.5 million older adults — more than the population in 46 states — regularly take aspirin for that purpose alone.
Did you know that in some cases, aspirin use may do more harm than good?
It’s no longer recommended for all older patients as a guard against cardiovascular disease. In 2019, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology suggested blood thinners should not be used to prevent cardiovascular issues in adults 70 and older.
Three years later, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that people 60 years old and older with no history of heart issues should refrain from using aspirin.
That’s because aspirin increases your risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Experts say some patients may still benefit from a daily aspirin to lower the risk of blood clots. These patients include those who have previously suffered a heart attack or a stroke, or have been diagnosed with heart disease.
The drug is also known to be appropriate for those between the ages of 40 and 59 who do not have a history of bleeding but struggle with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and other risk factors.
So, if you haven’t started an aspirin a day regimen, check with your doctor first. And if you are already in the habit of taking a daily aspirin, check back in with your doctor to be sure it’s still a good idea for you.
We’ve all seen it. You’re at a major airport preparing to catch a 7 a.m. flight, you pass a bar and it’s full of people drinking. Or you settle into your seat and your neighbor is desperately flagging a flight attendant for a pre-takeoff gin and tonic.
Whether it’s trying to calm frazzled-flyer nerves, kick-start a vacation, or just hoping for sleep, many air passengers opt for cocktails or a glass of wine to pass the time.
However, a study from the U.K. says you put yourself at risk when drinking alcohol on airplanes, especially on longer flights when you plan to sleep.
That’s because alcohol and altitude are a bad mix. As the airplane climbs higher, the cabin’s oxygen level drops. This causes your blood oxygen level to decrease.
And it makes your heart work harder. Researchers found study participants had an elevated heart rate after drinking and falling asleep, compared with their sober-flyer friends. Both lower blood oxygen levels and increased heart rates are telltale signs of cardiovascular strain.
Some passengers use alcohol as a sleep aid. While imbibing may help you fall asleep faster, your quality of sleep deteriorates as your body works to breaks down alcohol. You wake up more often and you’ll likely feel worse when you do.
So, what’s a tired traveler to do? Experts say it’s best to avoid alcohol before and during a flight. That is especially so if you have a heart or lung condition.
Fortunately, there are other ways to relax. Consider a travel pillow, an eye mask, and ear plugs. Headphones with calming music or white noise can help. Just don’t go looking for rest in the bottom of a glass.
In parts of the U.S., summer brings reports of anthrax in cattle. It hits rapidly, killing cattle without warning. That’s why some ranchers vaccinate their herds.
Anthrax is caused by bacteria that can lie dormant in the soil for many years before being reactivated and causing infections. Anthrax vaccine is inexpensive and effective, but it must be used with caution to prevent exposure to humans.
Anthrax is a reportable disease because it has serious health ramifications — both for people and animals. In areas where anthrax persists year after year, annual vaccination of cattle is generally recommended. Even so, consultation with a veterinarian is advised before vaccinating any animals.
Cats are always safest indoors. But if your feline friend likes to roam in warm weather, here are some hazards to keep in mind.
Traffic accidents and animal bites can happen at any time but are most common in summer when people and animals are out and about. Excessive heat can cause dehydration, so make sure fresh water is always available. That should keep your cat away from algae-contaminated water, which is often fatal.
Many cats like to sunbathe, but some burn easily and can benefit from cat-friendly sunscreens. Insect stings, snake bites, contact with toxic toads and lilies are all dangerous, too.
Protecting against fleas and ticks is also important — but don’t use preventatives containing permethrin. It’s toxic to cats.
A cat’s paws do more than cushion their gait and help them stick their landings. They provide a window into their overall health.
Some cats develop a condition called plasma cell pododermatitis, also known as “pillow foot.” Plasma cells are immune cells that normally pump out antibodies to fight infections. But in pillow foot, many of these cells invade soft tissues of the paw, causing swelling and even open sores. It can leave cats in great pain, less active and often lame. Some develop fevers and lose their appetite.
This is when keen veterinary diagnostic skills are called for, since other conditions can look similar. Once diagnosed, a veterinarian can formulate an individual treatment plan.
Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is akin to HIV in people. It weakens a cat’s immune system, increasing the risk of infections and certain cancers. So, is it possible for FIV-positive cats to live good lives?
The odds are better than you might think — if a cat’s care centers around optimizing health and catching medical issues quickly. That means keeping FIV-positive cats indoors where they’re less apt to catch infections. Top-line nutrition helps, which means avoiding raw foods that can carry germs. Frequent checkups are key — every 4 to 6 months is recommended.
There’s no guarantee that FIV-positive cats won’t develop fatal problems, but with excellent care, they have a good chance of living long, happy lives.
College has always been a stressful time for some students, and mental health conditions have been on the rise at many campuses.
But researchers said they had no idea it was this bad.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD [P-T-S-D], diagnoses among college students more than doubled between 2017 and 2022, rising most sharply as the COVID-19 pandemic closed campuses and changed life as we knew it.
PTSD rose from 3.4% among college students to 7.5%. Researchers, typically very careful to avoid sensationalized headlines about their work, called the increase “shocking.”
The team analyzed survey responses from nearly 400,000 participants in the annual online Healthy Minds Study.
PTSD is characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood and changes in physical and emotional reactions. It can include “flashbacks” to traumatic episodes. It is diagnosed when symptoms last more than a month.
Researchers said some of the increased stress clearly stemmed from the pandemic, when campuses and cities locked down while health officials worked to stop COVID-19’s spread and learned how to treat the illness. But they noted that other stressors affect college students, too, like campus shootings, global tensions and polarized politics.
An estimated 5% of adults in the U.S. experience PTSD in any given year. Over their lifetimes, 8% of women and 4% of men will face the condition.
The takeaway? PTSD treatment is needed on college campuses. Fortunately, short-term treatments created for veterans, like exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy, are effective at managing symptoms.
World-class athletes adhere to strict diets to help them perform their best and maintain peak physical condition. Conversely, those who make unhealthy dietary choices are more likely to be overweight, have lower energy and generally be in poor physical health.
But what do dietary choices do for brain health?
Well, here’s some food for thought: A new study by researchers in China and the United Kingdom shows that making healthier dietary choices not only leads to better physical fitness, but it also optimizes brain health.
The study broke down food preferences into four categories: Starch-free or reduced-starch; vegetarian; high protein and low fiber; and balanced.
Study participants in the balanced diet category displayed evidence of better mental well-being, superior cognitive function and more gray matter in the brain, which is linked to intelligence.
Those in this category showed balanced preferences for foods across a range of categories, including meats, dairy, vegetables, alcohol and bread.
The study’s implications are wide-ranging.
To start, it emphasizes the importance of considering diet when clinicians look at mental health, cognitive function and brain structure. It also shows how food preferences could help identify those at higher risk of mental health challenges or cognitive impairment — leading to earlier interventions.
The researchers suggest promoting healthy food choices from an early age, which can boost public health and help people lead healthier and happier lives.
Making healthy food choices isn’t just good for your physical health. Turns out, a balanced diet is the ultimate brain food.
Colorectal cancer rates are going up among young adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
Millennials born around 1990 are at nearly twice the risk compared with those born in the 1950s. While far more older people get colorectal cancer, researchers say younger adults often pay less attention to warning signs.
In a new study led by the University of California, San Diego, researchers say the most common warning sign for colorectal cancer is easy to see. You just need to look before you flush.
According to the research, which looked at the results of studies including nearly 25 million adults 50 years old and younger, blood in the stool is the most common warning sign for colorectal cancer.
Other signs include abdominal pain, changes in your bowel habits, abdominal pain, anemia, diarrhea, constipation and loss of appetite.
The study found that it takes nearly four to six months on average for a young adult to go from their first symptom to diagnosis. Because of those delays, they may find themselves with advanced colorectal cancer that is more difficult to treat.
For now, health researchers aren’t sure why an increasing number of younger adults are being diagnosed with early-onset colorectal cancer, but they’re investigating several factors: chemicals in the environment, changes in gut bacteria and the use of some medications, such as antibiotics.
Several studies have found a correlation between higher alcohol use and colorectal cancer, especially for men.
For peace of mind amid this worrisome trend, regular screenings, now recommended to start at age 45, and acting quickly when you notice something wrong are your best defense against colorectal cancer.
July is the peak of the heat. The month brings the scorching “dog days” of summer, a season of perspiration.
When most of the northern hemisphere isn’t taking refuge in air-conditioned places, it’s a time many of us spend outdoors, at barbecues, pool parties or trips to the beach.
Hence this reminder that July is also UV Safety Month.
Ultraviolet rays cause most skin cancers. Groups like the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society offer plenty of tips for protecting yourself from the sun’s penetrating rays.
First, the basics: Find the shade and stay in it when you can. Wear clothing that protects you from the sun and liberally apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. And reapply as the manufacturer’s instructions suggest.
There’s more to it than that, of course.
Know that the sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
If you’re in or on the water, sand or snow, the sun’s rays will be reflected and more intense. Protect your eyes with UV-blocking sunglasses and wear UV-blocking clothing. Rule of thumb: If you can see through a garment, it’s too sheer to protect you. For those with the fairest complexions who are most vulnerable to the sun, some companies make clothing that’s both comfortable and protective.
Even on a cloudy day, UV rays still cause problems. Watch for forecasts that include a UV index. In general, the higher the number, the more caution you need to take.
So, get your sun-protection game in order this month and get through summer safely. And don’t forget to put sunscreen on your ears. They burn, too.
It’s OK, everyone forgets.
There are experiences we call bitter pills to swallow — and then, there are the meds themselves. Now, researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia have found a way to trick our tongues into ignoring the flavor altogether.
Scientists are testing a taste blocker that could change medication intake, particularly for those who struggle with swallowing pills or bitter-tasting liquids. The blocker, called AF-353, targets taste-cell receptors that signal bitterness, providing a temporary reprieve from the unpleasant taste of some medications.
Unlike previous blockers that targeted specific taste receptors, AF-353 inhibits a broader range of taste sensations, including bitter, sweet, savory, salty, and sour. By blocking taste-nerve transmission, AF-353 reduces the bitterness signal caused by medications, making them more palatable. This is especially important for reducing bitterness related to vital medications such as those for parasites and HIV.
AF-353’s effects lasted 60 to 90 minutes in humans. The researchers plan to investigate ways to limit the time taste is blocked as much as possible, and to find the best way to administer it to children, perhaps through a lollipop or pacifier.
Though it’s no Flintstones vitamin, the compound carries the potential to improve medication adherence among children and elderly individuals, and its temporary nature allows taste to return to normal after a short period.
It doesn’t take away the need for medication, but it may help it go down a bit easier. And not having to cajole your youngster to take her much-needed medicine? That could make life a lot sweeter.
When it comes to water cooler talk, stress is a common theme. An even more common one? Your coworker who never seems to catch a break — and is always more stressed than anyone else.
If you’ve felt annoyed — or even privately wondered what’s going on — you’re far from alone. A recent study from the University of Georgia indicates that boasting about one’s stress levels at work can backfire, making a person appear less competent and likable to their colleagues.
The research involved 360 participants who assessed imaginary co-workers’ statements about returning from a conference. Those who bragged about stress were rated lower in likability, competence and willingness to receive help compared with those who simply acknowledged stress or focused on positive aspects of the conference. Additionally, employees with stress-bragging co-workers reported higher personal stress and burnout levels.
Interestingly, discussing stress in passing or being perceived as stressed didn’t provoke negative reactions from colleagues, nor did it increase their own stress levels.
The research suggests that being perceived as stressed isn’t inherently negative; in fact, colleagues may view stressed individuals as more competent.
But boasting about stress creates the impression that chronic stress is normal in the workplace — and that can contribute to a toxic work culture where chronic stress is accepted as the norm.
And, although we can’t tell you why Stuart from accounting is in a frazzle and insists on telling you about it, this study suggests you may not be the only one who’s noticing — and ready to talk about the weather, instead.
Walking up a flight of stairs won’t just get you to the second floor. It might also help get you to your golden years.
The elevator apparently doesn’t stop on that floor.
It’s not surprising that such exercise is healthy. Carrying the groceries up to a third-floor apartment might not sound like a workout at the gym. But taking the stairs works the leg muscles intensively and gets the heart beating faster. And walking up a staircase can be a more convenient way to fit some physical activity into a busy day.
British scientists recently decided to see just how much of a health benefit stair-steppers enjoy. The degree of the boost to the heart in particular raised investigators’ eyebrows.
They analyzed health data from 480,000 adults from their mid-30s into their 80s. The study found that those who habitually climbed stairs were almost 40% less likely to die of heart disease compared with folks who didn’t regularly do so. The risk of dying from any cause was also reduced by 24%.
This was an observational study. So, scientists warn about drawing any conclusions of cause and effect.
One of the study’s authors says the type of movement required to walk up stairs takes nearly 10 times more energy than sitting. Overcoming gravity, they say, is no easy feat. Ask any Saturn Five rocket.
Other exercises like swimming, rowing and bicycling, done vigorously, can probably achieve the same result, the study says. As always, check with a doctor before beginning a new exercise regimen, especially if you face health challenges.
So, don’t pass a stairway by. Save the elevator for the Empire State Building’s observation deck.
I scream, you scream, we all scream … for all kinds of reasons.
Variations in tone and frequency allow humans to express anger, frustration, pain, fear and happiness through the ultimate example of emotion — the scream.
Research from Emory University indicates that most people are fairly good at identifying the reason behind most screams. But screams of joy without context are frequently misidentified as screams of fear.
Some of this, researchers point out, is based in evolution. After all, screams for help — to alert others of danger, and to solicit help — are present across species.
Mistaking a joyful scream for a fearful cry may be an instance of “ancestral carryover bias,” which dictates most people will err on the side of caution, and assume someone is screaming because they are afraid.
Researchers collected recorded screams from television, YouTube videos and movies. Clips ranged from horror movie actors to unscripted, real-time screams.
After parsing through the clips to identify the timbre and pitches associated with different feelings expressed via scream, researchers selected 30 recordings and played them for study participants, asking them to name the emotion conveyed.
Ultimately, although they guessed overall contexts for screams correctly, participants tended to judge screams of “excited happiness” as screams of fear.
Of course, there are times in life where joy and fear are inextricable — like a rollercoaster, or a haunted house.
The next time you’re home and hear a scream, keep in mind it’s not necessarily a reaction to a cockroach — it could be in celebration of a favorite team’s long-awaited winning touchdown.
This serial killer’s body count surpasses the toll of all the world’s wars, terrorism, alcoholism, drugs and a litany of diseases combined. One doesn’t need to visit a remote corner of the planet to be threatened. Looking over your shoulder won’t protect you.
This menace is in the air, water and even the light that leaks through a window at night and interrupts sleep.
A new study by an international team of researchers says that pollution in all its forms kills more people than all other threats to humanity combined. Researchers estimate at least 9 million people die prematurely because of environmental pollution, especially from cardiovascular disease.
The investigation notes the threat isn’t just in the air we breathe. We’re exposed to toxic chemicals in our homes, from the soil and from the nighttime light and noise endemic to modern life.
Lost sleep and stress are thought by scientists to contribute to higher risk of heart disease and shortened lifespans.
The study points to the role of climate change in increasing the risk. Ever more common wildfires, for example, are a threat to air quality. And soaring temperatures often increase smog.
They also note that tens of thousands of chemicals we encounter in our daily lives have not been tested for toxicity.
Investigators urge a call to action. Steps that can help reduce the threat include planting more trees, less reliance on vehicles and greater investment in renewal energy sources like wind and solar.
Pollution isn’t some far-away problem for dwellers of the world’s largest and most polluted cities. Scientists warn this killer is in our own neighborhoods.
There is no place to hide.
Menstruation has never been an easy topic. And why would it be? In the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed that menstrual blood could kill crops and dull mirrors.
Some even held that a menstruating person could shoot “poisonous vapors” from their eyes. Hey, no one said that era was big for science.
A new study from researchers at Harvard, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Apple has found that in the decades since 1950, American girls have been starting their menstrual cycles at a younger age.
The study relied on the Apple Women’s Health Study’s dataset of more than 71,000 participants, who self-reported their health information.
Of those born from 1950 to 1969, the average age of menarche [men-aahr-kee] was 12 years and six months. For those born between 2000 and 2005, the average age was 11 years, nine months.
Another finding: It’s taking longer for menstrual cycles to become regular.
The researchers found all of the trends most pronounced for Black, Hispanic, Asian or mixed-race women, or those who rated themselves as having a lower socioeconomic status.
The researchers don’t know why girls are starting to menstruate earlier, but they have some theories. Childhood obesity, epidemic in the U.S., might be a factor, as could diet, stress, environmental chemicals and air pollution.
They do know it needs to be studied — and talked about — more. Earlier menstruation is associated with a higher risk for health problems like heart disease and cancer, so understanding why is a life-or-death matter.
The good news is that we can talk about the topic today, free of the superstitions of the past.
You finish your workday and start driving home. As you pass through familiar intersections and neighborhoods, perhaps your mind wanders to dinner or what the evening will bring.
A nice, cold beer has often accompanied the start of the evening, for many.
But, according to a new study from Carnegie Mellon University, more Americans aren’t popping a cap but instead, they’re lighting up or vaping when they get home.
In 2022, nearly 18 million people reported daily or near-daily marijuana use. That total was 3 million more than those who reported drinking at the same frequency. Based on four decades of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it was the first time the survey recorded more frequent users of cannabis than alcohol.
The survey found that the median drinker self-reported drinking four to five days out of 30 days. That’s compared to marijuana users, who reported they often smoke marijuana 15 to 16 days each month.
Thirty-eight states have legalized medical marijuana programs, and 24 states have approved recreational cannabis use. And marijuana is no longer the drug of choice for the young. The study found marijuana to have slightly more users over 35 years of age than under 35.
Some experts say that medical cannabis is useful for treating chronic pain and nausea. However, much remains unknown about the potential long-term health ramifications. And there are known health consequences, such as increased risks of cardiovascular disease, cannabis use disorder and cognitive impairment.
Experts urge those who choose to use legal marijuana to go to licensed retailers and to aim for occasional — not daily — use.
Your heart takes a licking, and most of the time, it keeps on ticking. But there are several screenings you can get to be sure that it does.
According to the American Heart Association, an important factor in lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease is managing your health behaviors. These include your diet, physical activity, whether you smoke, your body mass index, or B-M-I, blood pressure, total cholesterol and more.
A first step to protecting your heart health: check your blood pressure. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults over age 40 have their blood pressure measured by a health care provider at least once a year. High blood pressure greatly increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
An annual blood test to measure cholesterol is also encouraged. The National Institutes of Health says all adults over age 65 should have an annual blood test to measure their cholesterol. Like high blood pressure, cholesterol can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medication.
If you are overweight or have obesity and are between the ages of 35 and 70, the American Diabetes Association says a blood sugar check every three years is necessary. High blood sugar puts you at a greater risk of developing insulin resistance, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
You can also consider a lipoprotein test or abdominal ultrasound. A lipoprotein test is important if you have a family history of early heart disease, or if you are considering a statin to lower your cholesterol. An abdominal ultrasound is useful for older men who have a history of smoking.
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your heart health.
Some of us are lucky enough to see our parents and grandparents enjoy healthy lives well into old age. You’d probably feel as if you’d won the genetic lottery if your 90-year-old parents still managed a round of golf now and then.
On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve all heard someone lament that “they die young in my family.”
A new study reinforces that nothing is preordained when it comes to the genetic sweepstakes. Living a healthy lifestyle remains the essential ingredient in the recipe for longevity, regardless of what’s coded in your DNA.
A study published in the journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine found that a healthy lifestyle reduced the impact of life-shortening genes by as much as 60%. And for those eating a hot dog and knocking back a beer while watching their elderly parents on the 18th green, consider this:
Regardless of the magic in your genes, the study shows that living unhealthily increases the odds of dying before your time by 78%.
Investigators drew health and lifestyle data from the massive UK Biobank study and its more than 350,000 participants. The Biobank has been used for numerous studies through the years and tracked adults from 2006 to 2021.
The study also examined a person’s diet, smoking, drinking and exercise habits, as well as their genetic profile.
The results suggest we should not assume that we are either doomed or blessed by our inherited biology.
Don’t emulate the sedentary uncle who drank like a fish, denied the existence of vegetables and smoked five cigars daily until dying at age 105.
Outliers always exist. Lifestyle still matters.
The microscopic hitchhikers in our gut might be doing more than catching a ride. They could, on occasion, be driving the car.
Each of us hosts trillions of microbes in our gut. They’re essential for a healthy life, helping us digest food and maintain immunity. But do they have more than a physical impact on our bodies?
Do they also influence our notion of fair play?
That might seem like a stretch. But not to European researchers who investigated whether the bacteria, fungi and other residents of our gut could change social behavior.
They separated 101 participants into two groups. Half played the Ultimatum Game before and after taking probiotics and nutrients for several weeks that promote healthy gut bacteria. The others took a placebo.
The Ultimatum Game is a contest in which one player decides how to split a sum of cash with a second player. The second player can reject or accept the offer. So, one person given $10 might decide to give the second player $2.
Each gets the proposed cash split if the offer is accepted. If it’s rejected, neither gets a penny.
The study found participants taking the probiotic were much more likely to reject an offer than they were before taking the supplement. Not so for the placebo group.
Tests confirmed that the probiotic players had a different ratio of two key bacteria in their gut compared with the control group. Researchers think the altered gut influenced players’ brains, making them more likely to reject a sure cash payment to punish a cheapskate.
The work is a reminder of the complex internal chemistry that affects the mind and body — perhaps with a little help from our friends.
The next time you curse out the driver who cut you off or mutter expletives at the speed demon next to you, consider the fact that the driver might be a sleepy teen.
A National Sleep Foundation study found that the large number of teens who drive while tired poses a serious health concern.
The study surveyed U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 to assess the prevalence, frequency and perceived risk of drowsy driving. They were asked if they had driven while so tired they struggled to keep their eyes open and how often. They were also asked about their beliefs on drowsy driving and what prevented them from getting the necessary sleep to stay alert.
The study found that 1 in 6 teen drivers reported having driven while drowsy and estimated that over 400,000 teens drive drowsy at least once a week. Those with paying jobs were twice as likely to admit to drowsy driving compared with teens who didn’t work.
The study also found that 95% of teens agree that drowsy driving is risky, but they ranked it as having the lowest risk of death or serious injury behind drunk, drugged and distracted driving. In reality, drowsy driving accounts for a large portion of crashes. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 21% of fatal crashes involve a drowsy driver.
Study participants blamed work and school schedules for their lack of sleep. Researchers found that these time demands mean about 1.7 million teens have driven droopy-eyed and are at greater risk for drowsy driving-related consequences.
Vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death among U.S. teens, but accidents caused by drowsy driving are preventable.
Before your teen hits the road, make sure they hit the hay.
Which came first, doomscrolling or depression?
In the 17 years that smartphones have been around, and in the past decade in which they became ubiquitous, young people’s rates of depression have been on the rise.
But which came first? A never-ending parade of peers showing off their perfect boyfriends, vacations and physiques, leading young people to feel “less than?” Or was depression to blame, leaving the young with little energy to do more than snoop on others’ online lives?
A team of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center researchers aimed to find out.
In their study, 376 young Canadians, mostly women, were asked to complete three online questionnaires between May 2021 and January 2022.
At each point, the participants reported symptoms via a nine-item quiz used to measure depression. They also answered questions about social media use, time spent outdoors, physical activity, their bedtime and cannabis use.
The researchers learned that most of the study’s participants had at least mild symptoms of depression.
They found that participants who used social media more tended to be more depressed. And vice versa.
But they couldn’t find a causal link between depression and social media.
They did find that those feeling depressed who spent a lot of time on social media spent less time outdoors, smoked more cannabis, stayed up later and avoided exercise.
So, the behaviors they were engaging in weren’t helping them feel better.
Here’s the takeaway: If you’re feeling depressed, be careful about the time you spend online. Get outdoors. Exercise. Go to bed at a reasonable time and don’t smoke cannabis. You can thank us later.
When our ancient ancestors began eating meat, humans were getting more protein and nutrients than ever before. Scientists believe this development allowed human brains to grow bigger and smarter, laying the foundation for modern life.
Now, a mere 2.5 million years and a few technological leaps later, it might be time for humans to reconsider their habit of consuming animal products.
Researchers in Italy evaluated many existing studies covering a 20-year period and discovered that eating a vegan, vegetarian or lacto-ovo vegetarian diet greatly reduces the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and premature death. The analyses did not examine diets that included meat or fish.
The benefits noted from the vegetarian diets also include reduced risk of diabetes, inflammation and high blood pressure. The diets were found to significantly lower total cholesterol and C-reactive protein, an index associated with metabolic disease, which can include obesity, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and stroke.
In the past, it might have been a challenge for the average person to get enough appropriate nutrients from a strict vegetarian or vegan diet. But the availability of a diverse variety of foods and quality supplements today make a healthy vegetarian diet much more feasible.
Experts recommend that those attempting to adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet pay special attention to their nutritional intake to avoid deficiencies.
While a vegetarian diet has long been thought to have health benefits, we might just be at a point in our evolution where the negative health impacts of eating meat may outweigh the benefits.
Microplastics are trending. They’re seemingly everywhere, most notably in the news. Scientists are finding them almost anywhere they look.
The oceans. The Arctic. The air. In polar bears. In fish. In our bodies.
And now they’ve been confirmed in a place that will get the close attention of at least half of the population — in testicles.
University of New Mexico researchers recently published findings from a study in which they analyzed the testes of dogs and humans, discovering several kinds of plastics.
Could these hitchhikers impact fertility?
Researchers took samples from neutered dogs and human donors who had been autopsied.
The study found a mean total of 329 micrograms of microplastics in the human samples and 122 in the dogs. Surprisingly, the types of plastic found differed between the species.
The human polymers were mostly the type found in plastic bags and bottles. The dogs’ samples revealed more synthetic resin found in plumbing supplies like PVC piping.
In a disquieting finding, scientists noted the sperm count of the dog testes decreased as the level of microplastics increased. Sperm counts could not be measured in the human samples because they came from cadavers.
Even so, the study authors say this finding in dogs is a red flag worth a closer look. Some scientists have noted declining human sperm count, although its significance on fertility is unclear.
Nobody is sure how microplastics end up in testes. One thought is that they were accidentally ingested, fanning out to different parts of the body via fat particles.
As any reformed spendthrift can attest, plastic is better left in the wallet.
Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases are devastating to individuals and the families who care for them. Family members are often left to watch helplessly as their loved one slowly succumbs to cognitive decline. Once-simple tasks become impossible and familiar faces become unrecognizable.
Now, there is new hope for the victims and families of this destructive group of diseases, in the form of a machine-learning algorithm.
It has been generally accepted by science that the clumping of microscopic proteins in the brain is deeply connected to dementia, but it is unknown why the clumping process happens in the first place. And it has been extremely challenging to study the tiny building blocks to draw any conclusions about how to combat the condition.
A free, open-source algorithm — developed by researchers in Denmark —can track these proteins clumping in real-time. Additionally, it can map and track the development and characteristics of the proteins that are part of dementia.
With the algorithm making it much easier to study the clumping proteins, researchers hope the development will lead to a greater understanding of dementia-related diseases as well as quicker development of new drugs and therapies.
The scientists are also applying the same tool to study the same kind of protein clumping in insulin molecules, which impact our ability to regulate blood sugar.
Ultimately, the researchers hope the algorithm will inspire a push to learn more about the shapes and functions of proteins and molecules.
While countless families have been impacted by the ravages of dementia, there is hope for more effective treatments in the future.
Some people view the explanation as an all-too-convenient excuse. And just try telling this to your boss after you slur words and act tipsy in a staff meeting.
“I don’t drink, boss. My gut, however, is a brewery.”
Yup, tell it to HR.
It is, however, a real condition. And it’s called auto-brewery syndrome, or ABS. While ABS is rarely diagnosed, stories of individuals with the disorder occasionally make headlines. Take the case of a wife who was so suspicious that her husband was a secret drinker that she set up a hidden camera to catch him in the act. All she saw was her spouse playing video games all day.
A Belgian man was recently acquitted of DUI after three doctors who examined him testified that they had medically confirmed his internal brewery.
As outlandish as ABS seems, researchers have previously discovered a straightforward biological explanation. The problem is that these individuals have fungus in their gut that ferments carbohydrates, converting them into ethanol.
Some people with ABS tend to be less affected by their self-brewed alcohol and might appear sober. However, many others exhibit the telltale signs of inebriation that can lead to the same mishaps and misunderstandings as a person who is drinking heavily. They get awful hangovers. If untreated, they can even die of alcohol poisoning.
The syndrome is more common in those diagnosed with diabetes, a bowel obstruction, or liver dysfunction. Doctors usually suggest patients cut dietary carbs and take an antifungal agent.
ABS won’t get you out of a jam absent clear medical evidence. So, better bring your doctor and a stack of test results to that meeting with HR.
The University of Florida’s Veterinary Community Outreach Program, or VCOP, at the College of Veterinary Medicine provides valuable synergy between veterinary education and supporting local animal welfare. Veterinary students gain crucial hands-on surgical and medical experience while simultaneously offering services that reduce pet overpopulation, improve shelter animal health, facilitate adoptions, and educate the community on responsible pet ownership. On this show, Dr. Simone Guerios, a clinical assistant professor who works with VCOP, will discuss how the program benefits not only the students’ clinical training but also the local sheltering community by increasing access to quality veterinary care, controlling animal populations, and promoting animal welfare practices.
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be stressful and challenging for family members. All too often, families are unable to afford professional help. So, the burden can fall entirely on them.
A 2023 Alzheimer’s Association report notes that about 11 million people — family members and others — provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. That amounts to 18 billion hours.
The association also notes that 70% of caregivers confirm that coordinating care is stressful. Three out of four say they have become concerned for their own health given the stress and difficulty of the job.
Of course, the demands of care increase as the disease progresses. Even so, people step up every day to face the challenge, to give all their energy and commitment to someone with whom they share a bond of love stronger than any hardship.
Experts say caring for a family member can actually strengthen those bonds. But the hardship is real, too.
They note that caregivers need to maintain their own health. It’s OK to seek help from extended family and friends. Alzheimer’s and dementia family support groups, both in person and virtual, can offer valuable advice.
Nobody, experts note, should be afraid of asking for that assistance. It is crucial to take care of yourself during a trying time.
Eat nutritiously. Exercise. Take a break when you can. Keep in touch with friends. Maintain your favorite hobby. Seek professional help if you feel depressed.
This will help a caregiver achieve this final and dignified expression of love for a spouse or other family member in a way that maintains them physically and mentally.
Scientists believe mammograms have helped reduce breast cancer mortality in the U.S. by almost 40 percent since 1990. That’s an enormous burden of human suffering erased. Yet, modern preventive medical procedures are sometimes taken for granted.
Do women know when they should begin getting mammograms? And how often? Confusion about timing can lead to delayed diagnoses of cancer.
The guidance has evolved over the years as science and research have advanced. The latest recommendations were recently issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in JAMA [JAM-uh], a leading peer-reviewed medical journal.
An independent panel of medical experts advises that women should begin getting mammograms every other year at age 40 and continue through age 74. Previous recommendations suggested starting at age 50.
The latest guidance applies to anyone assigned female at birth. Additionally, those with a family history of dense breasts or breast cancer are urged to follow the new recommendations.
Researchers said the latest science shows that starting mammograms earlier can save up to nearly 20% more lives than the earlier recommendations.
While some medical groups suggest getting a mammogram annually, the task force notes that screening every year results in a 50% greater chance of false-positive results. That can lead to unnecessary anxiety and increase medical costs.
It’s said that age is just a number, but when that number hits 40, the latest science says it’s a good idea to have a mammogram every other year.
As always, it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor to discuss the procedure.
You might want to sit down for this. It turns out, while too much sitting can be bad for your health, not all kinds of sitting are equal.
How’s that? We’ve all been told that sitting too long raises the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems. But research suggests that leisure-time sitting has a greater risk of heart disease than sitting at work.
For more than eight years, Columbia University researchers followed nearly 4,000 people who reported how much time they spent sitting at home and how much they sat at work. They also reported how much time they spent exercising each week.
Those who watched TV for four or more hours a day had a 50% greater risk of heart problems and death compared with those who spent less than two hours a day in front of the TV. But those who sat the most at work had the same health risks as those who sat the least.
The difference appears to be what you do when you’re not sitting. Even moderate exercise like walking cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes for those who spent the most time sitting around at home. And those who exercised the recommended 150 minutes or more each week had no greater health risks even if they were glued to the tube for four or more hours a day.
The researchers said it could be that people who watch TV for hours rarely get up, while those at work move around more. Any kind of exercise, even walking around at work, is beneficial.
As for those workers who can’t get up and stretch, like truck drivers, the key may be to offset those down hours with as much physical activity as possible. What you do outside of work may be what really counts.
Similar to people, pets are living longer lives these days due to improved veterinary care and dietary habits. But with extended lives comes a whole new set of age-related conditions, which in turn affects the care needs of these “pet elders” – our beloved senior pets. This show’s guest, Dr. Amy Stone, who heads the primary care and dentistry service at UF, will discuss some of the common conditions that affect older pets, which are among the same problems that affect older people: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney/urinary tract disease, senility, among others. She’ll also talk about how to work with your veterinarian at every stage of your pet’s life to ensure that the aging process is as graceful and as painless as it can be.
High-intensity exercise and time-restricted eating may improve health together, a recent study suggests.
Many diets and exercise regimens claim to hold the golden ticket to a healthier, fitter body. Now, a new study suggests that the winning formula might lie in the interaction between time-restricted eating and high-intensity functional exercise.
Researchers from Tunisia and their collaborators sought to explore the impact of these lifestyle interventions on body composition and cardiometabolic health.
The study enrolled 64 obese women and separated them into three groups. One practiced time-restricted eating, a second engaged in high-intensity exercise, and the third combined diet and exercise.
After just 12 weeks, all groups of participants experienced significant weight loss as well as reductions in waist and hip circumference. Furthermore, favorable changes in lipid and glucose levels were observed across the board.
Notably, the diet and exercise group saw results that outstripped the others. Participants who embraced both time-restricted eating and high-intensity exercise saw a more profound improvement in body composition and cardiometabolic parameters compared with their counterparts.
The study acknowledges its limitations, like its small sample size. But the implications are overwhelmingly positive. By merging dietary changes with targeted exercise, people may be able to enhance their well-being. Whether it’s shedding stubborn pounds or optimizing metabolic markers, the synergistic effects of these lifestyle interventions may offer a promising path toward a healthier, happier life.
Glenn Frey [Fry] said it best: “The heat is on.”
If you walk outside on the street these days, you’ll certainly have noticed the temperatures are headed up.
Due to climate change, the warmer weather lasts longer each year. To help you prepare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service joined forces to create an interactive online tool called HeatRisk. This online dashboard helps people understand how the heat in your area affects your health and what you can do to protect yourself.
Instead of measuring by degrees, the forecast uses a five-level color scale — ranging from no risk to extreme risk — to indicate your health risk. The tool uses indicators such as heat index, air quality and humidity to offer guidance on how to handle the weather. Higher temperatures can lead to heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn and even heat rash.
Infants and children up to 4 years of age, people 65 and older, and those who are overweight or ill and take certain medications are most at risk from heat.
Planning for the heat is the best thing you can do to stay safe. Be sure to drink enough water and spend time in an air-conditioned room after your time outdoors. Also, consider lowering your body temperature with a cold shower.
And don’t forget your furry friends. Generally, when it’s 86 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, your dog is at risk for heatstroke. For some dogs, the threshold is even lower.
Keep your pets indoors as much as possible during the summer. If you must keep them outdoors, carve out a shady place and make sure their water bowl is filled. If it’s hot for you, they are definitely a hot dog.
Life as an American worker is challenging. Many of us work too hard and don’t get enough time off. Some employees don’t get sick time at all and lose pay if they skip a shift.
Even those with successful, lucrative careers see the work pile up when they take a day off. That work doesn’t get done if someone’s home in bed.
So, what do most of us do when we have a cold or bug? Take a sick day?
Not so much, as you might expect.
A new poll by the market research company Talker Research, found that the average American works 84 hours, or just over two work weeks a year, while sick with a cold or other virus.
About half the 2,000 adult workers surveyed said they would rather just power through their day than call in. A third worry about looking overly dramatic by staying home to rest and recover.
Many employees recall someone making a snide comment about how much they called in with an illness. That influences them to show up at the job to grind through the sneezes and sniffles.
Of course, these workers can infect the very people making the nasty remarks, who then presumably work through their own bug.
Americans will more often miss a social outing because of a cold or other virus. The average respondent missed 17 social events because of illness.
Seasonal allergies affect nearly half the adults surveyed. The poll notes this group hesitates to take a sick day because of what co-workers might think.
Employer and employee benefit from a sick day. A worker distracted by a cold is invariably going to have performance issues. That can impact job safety and increase mistakes.
And that’s nothing to sneeze at.
Regardless of your stress, a new study posits one easy solution to combat it: getting adequate exercise.
Yes, that’s correct — another health study in favor of moving your body. In this case, scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital discovered a possible association between physical activity, stress reduction and cardiovascular health.
After analyzing data from over 50,000 participants, researchers found those who met physical activity guidelines of getting 150 minutes of moderly intense exercise weekly slashed their risk of cardiovascular disease by 23%.
What was even more intriguing is that the results indicated individuals with higher physical activity levels exhibited lower stress-related brain activity, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. In the modern vernacular, they were chill or, at the least, chiller.
For those battling mental health conditions, like depression, that can be influenced by stress, exercise magnifies cardiovascular benefits. In this group, physical activity effectively halved the risk of cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the benefits of exercise on both brain function and heart health.
As with most preliminary studies, questions remain. For example, further research is needed to delve deeper into the mechanisms linking physical activity, brain health and cardiovascular resilience, or the system’s ability to recover from stress.
Clinicians now have a powerful prescription at their disposal. It doesn’t come in a bottle. And pharmacists can’t help with the proper dosage unless they’re also wearing a tracksuit.
So lace up the sneakers, work those muscles and don’t sweat the stress. Well… you know what we mean.
Ladies, please take note. Whether it’s hitting the gym, going for a walk, playing tennis, or simply climbing the stairs at your job for an office workout, new data supports why you might want to embrace an active lifestyle.
A new study from the University of Sydney in Australia emphasizes the positive impact of consistent physical activity on women’s health-related quality of life throughout middle age.
Researchers examined the long-term effects of exercise on women’s well-being. Unlike previous studies, which often relied on short-term trials, this study tracked more than 11,000 participants over fifteen years.
Women consistently adhering to the World Health Organization-recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise a week enjoyed more robust markers of good health compared with their less active counterparts. Even those who began meeting the guidelines later in life, around age 55, experienced improvements in health.
Notably, these benefits persisted even after accounting for different socioeconomic factors and pre-existing health conditions. From enhanced physical functioning to improved overall well-being, the advantages of staying active were encouraging across the board.
Although the study didn’t find a significant association between physical activity and improved mental health, the message remains clear: Prioritizing physical activity throughout life yields tangible benefits for women’s health.
Diets and medication can take you only so far. Exercise is always the best ingredient for good health, longevity and the happiness it brings.
It’s never too late to reap the rewards of an active lifestyle — and, in fact, it might just be what the doctor ordered.
All exercise improves health unless your morning jog takes you down a narrow, rock-strewn path over a high cliff.
Whether you cycle, run or swim, anything that gets the heart beating faster will improve longevity. It will help steer you away from cardiovascular disease and other ailments like diabetes.
Few people, however, give much thought to the time of their workouts. Does it matter? New research shows that it does for at least one group.
A study from the University of Sydney shows that obese individuals most benefit from evening exercise, between 6 p.m. and midnight. Moderate to vigorous exercise significantly lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and early death, compared with afternoon or morning workouts.
Moderate to vigorous exercise might include a brisk walk, gardening or cycling. Think about anything that makes the heart beat faster.
Researchers tracked 30,000 people who took part in the UK Biobank study for eight years, detailing their exercise and health outcomes. Evening exercisers had a 61% lower risk of death from any cause compared with a sedentary group.
Morning and afternoon exercisers lowered their risk by 33% and 40%, respectively.
Night owls reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease twice as much as those who exercised at other times.
One theory for why this might be is that the body is better primed later in the day to manage its blood sugar, increasing the beneficial effect of exercise. And evening exercise plays an important role in blood pressure regulation.
Still, don’t let evening obligations stop you from exercising. But you can’t go wrong, whatever time of day you increase your heart rate.
Hold onto your team-logoed ballcaps and giant foam fingers.
A new study by Japanese scientists found that watching sports is good for us. More specifically, frequent sports viewing may rewire our brains — in a good way.
Beyond its entertainment value, it’s long been known that sports foster a sense of belonging and community. But little scientific study had been devoted to understanding why.
Here’s how the researchers came to their findings.
First, they analyzed publicly available data on the influence of sports-watching on 20,000 Japanese adults. That confirmed an ongoing pattern of reported elevated well-being associated with sports viewing.
Then they conducted an online experiment with more than 200 people. They showed various sports videos and assessed participants’ well-being before and after. They found that more popular sports, like baseball, had more impact on well-being than less popular sports, like golf. (Sorry, Tiger.)
The final part of the study used neuroimaging to look at changes in brain activity following sports viewing.
Researchers took MRIs from 14 able-bodied Japanese adults as they watched sports clips. Watching the clips triggered the participants’ reward circuits, indicating happiness.
Here’s where it got really interesting: They found that participants who reported more frequent sports viewing often had more gray matter volume in parts of the brain tied to reward. Scientists said that suggests regular sports viewing may gradually induce changes in brain structure.
The study, however, did not explore the health effects of 14 trips to the kitchen or concession stand for beer and hot dogs.
Is it impossible for meat options to be healthier than a juicy Beyond Burger?
Think again, friend.
Researchers in Singapore conducted a study of adults at risk for diabetes, comparing the health effects of plant-based meat substitutes to traditional meats.
The study included nearly 90 adults at risk for Type 2 diabetes. Over an eight-week span, half of the group ate meat. The other half ate meat substitutes made from plants.
The analysis, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found no significant heart health benefits for meat or the substitutes.
They reviewed study participants bad cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, among other health indicators. They found no significant changes in cholesterol profiles for either diet, although both diets led to improvements in blood sugar.
In one smaller group that closely monitored their blood sugar, the meat eaters managed their blood sugar levels better.
Animal meat contains more protein while plant-based meat has more sodium, potassium and calcium. Therefore, the study suggests, better blood sugar levels may come from traditional meat’s low-carbohydrate, high-protein composition.
While much research has found that plant-based diets hold many health-related benefits, all plant-based meat alternatives are not created equal. Some are heavily processed and may not be a good primary source of protein.
The researchers said they hope their study will encourage the food industry to continue working toward more nutritious plant-based meat alternatives.
No matter your burger preference, doesn’t it seem like a good time to fire up the grill?
If you “slept like a dog” last night, it probably means you didn’t have one in bed, draped across your legs like a heavy blanket that occasionally licks your toes.
Indeed, even sleeping in the same room as your dog risks ruining a good night’s sleep. A dog can be like an erratic alarm clock randomly waking you through the night.
A study by researchers at Trinity College in Connecticut questioned more than 1,500 Americans about their sleep habits. About half of this representative sample of adults reported sleeping in the same room as their pet for at least part of the night. The other half didn’t sleep with pets close by.
Scientists found that adults who slept with their dogs either in bed or in the same room reported poorer sleep quality and more insomnia. That’s compared with those who either didn’t have pets or kept them clear of the bedroom.
Cats are another story. Apparently, felines are less of a sleep nuisance. An explanation for that remains elusive, like that red laser dot a cat can never catch.
More than nine out of 10 people who snuggled snoozily with their pets believed the animals had a positive or neutral effect on sleep.
Scientists note that sleep affects all of our body’s systems. It helps our brains reset, clears out waste products and promotes overall health.
Any dog owner can attest to the mental health value of keeping a pet nearby. Dogs also encourage exercise. We walk and play with them. They’re not harming you like a pack of cigarettes. Still, sleep is important.
If you can’t bear the thought of moving this bedtime companion to another room, one solution makes sense.
Get a bigger mattress.
When Florida’s marine mammals and sea turtles become sick, injured or die, a quick response is essential to understand the issues at play and, if needed, provide a means for care and treatment. At the University of Florida, the Marine Animal Rescue Program plays that role, working closely with other stranding networks within the state of Florida and nationally when needed. On this show, Dr. Mike Walsh, a clinical associate professor at UF and the program’s director, will discuss some of the program’s accomplishments since its inception, including the recovery of a deceased dolphin and the collaborations that led to a diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.
Tossing and turning. Watching the clock with dread as another minute ticks by. Feeling helpless thinking about how tired you will be the next day.
Insomnia is a burden carried by about 30% of adults in the United States. That’s nearly one-third of the country operating at a sleep deficit.
Of course, insomnia can cause a wide range of serious health conditions, including diabetes, obesity, heart attack, stroke and hypertension. Insomnia can also hinder one’s ability to learn, focus and adapt.
While a one-size-fits-all solution for insomnia has yet to be discovered, researchers continue to find ways to help those who are sleep-challenged.
Based on evidence in a new study, scientists say exercise — specifically, consistency of exercise over time — may be one of the best treatments for insomnia. The study, based out of Reykjavík University in Iceland, looked at exercise and sleep data for more than 4,300 adults over a 10-year period.
Study participants ages 39 to 67 who were consistently active were 55% more likely to be deemed normal sleepers — which means getting between six and nine hours of sleep each night. Participants who became active during the study were 21% more likely to be normal sleepers. The study adjusted for certain factors like age, sex, body mass index and smoking history.
Experts say you don’t have to become a fitness guru. Any amount of exercise is helpful, even if it’s a quick walk around the block. The important thing is just to start. And once you’ve started, stick with it.
If you’ve given up on counting sheep and are looking for a healthy, natural way to improve your sleep routine — get active.
Money talks.
And sometimes it tells us to take a walk.
A team of University of Pennsylvania researchers wanted to study the best ways to motivate people to walk more.
Their yearlong study involved 1,062 participants, age 67 on average, who had a higher-than-average risk for cardiovascular disease. The study participants already were becoming more active and were averaging about 2.4 miles, or 5,000 steps, a day.
The exercisers were separated into four groups. Everyone got a wearable step-tracking device.
The first group received daily messages about their step counts. The second group was set up like a game, with points lost or won based on meeting step goals. Trophies awaited those who walked most.
A third group was given financial incentives to walk, with $14 a week for meeting daily step goals but losing $2 if they fell short.
And the fourth group could participate in the game approach and earn the financial incentives.
Perhaps little surprise, but the group that could earn money and win prizes increased their step counts the most. They added about 40 minutes of moderate exercise to their weekly routine and stuck with their increased activity for at least six months after the study.
The researchers said those activity improvements would translate to a 10% decline in risk for a cardiovascular-related death.
So if you’re in need of motivation, maybe try one of several gamified exercise apps, which offer gift cards for coffee or other prizes for achieved goals. Some apps feel like an interactive game, with the user unlocking new game levels by meeting fitness challenges.
So gets your shoes on, it’s game time.
The fat-tailed dwarf lemur is exceptional at choosing food that is nutritionally dense and likely to help it thrive in the wild. The same might be true for humans wanting to thrive in their lives.
Research published in the journal Appetite found that humans may have the ability to intuitively choose foods based on the different types of micronutrients the foods provide.
In the study, authors looked at whether people selected multiple food items that would provide a range of different vitamins and minerals when eaten together. Participants were shown different pictures of pairings of vegetables and fruit, and asked which they favored. In both experiments, participants picked photos of foods that had a greater variety of micronutrients.
Then, analyzing data from a larger diet and nutrition survey, the study’s authors found that typical meal combinations people made increased the breadth of nutrients they consumed.
Although there is no evidence to shed light on how a person might respond to their body’s need for a specific nutrient, British sailors who suffered from scurvy often found themselves almost immediately craving fruits and vegetables.
But sometimes, the processed food industry can capitalize on our natural knack for nutrient-sourcing. For example, our North Star of micronutrients is typically our taste buds. When processed foods are imbued with artificial flavors or synthetic flavoring, it can make us believe we are eating something more nutritious than we actually are.
So, while we may not be as sensible about food as a lemur, when we do make nutritious choices, we can trust we’ll pick the best combinations.
Armadillos are the only known animal to carry leprosy in the Americas. Seen everywhere in Florida, these animals often look for insects to eat by digging in flowerbed, then resting in a burrow. Although there have been reports of people becoming infected with leprosy after coming into contact with armadillos, the details of these encounters are unclear. On this show, Dr. Juan Campos Krauer, an assistant professor and extension veterinarian, will discuss armadillo habits and the potential for human interaction, and why while caution is called for, the threat of infection by this species is minimal.
What if we told you about an exercise that can be done just about anywhere, builds strength, tightens your abs and can lower blood pressure?
All you need is a wall.
The wall sit — sometimes called a wall squat — is one of those exercises, like planks, that offer a big return on investment.
A recent British study suggests that isometric exercises can help reduce blood pressure more effectively than other types of physical activity, including aerobic, weight training or high-intensity interval workouts.
An isometric exercise is a static contraction, without joint movement.
The research reviewed 270 randomized controlled trials with nearly 16,000 participants. They found that, overall, isometric exercise training was the most effective exercise for lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A regular isometric routine of wall sits lowered systolic blood pressure by 10 milligrams of mercury and diastolic pressure by 5.
The study notes that just eight minutes of isometric exercise, three times a week, can reduce blood pressure in a meaningful way.
Before starting wall sits, remember to work your way up. Your upper thigh muscles, or quadriceps, are going to feel these.
Find a wall and stand with your back to it. Take a couple steps forward, feet hip-width apart. Slide your back down the wall until your knees are at a 90-degree angle, like you’re sitting in a chair. If you can’t hold the position, scoot up a bit.
The goal: hold the wall sit for two minutes, rest for two minutes and repeat four times.
Imagine: You can get stronger legs and lower your blood pressure just by sitting — without a chair.
Tattoos are now mainstream. They were once relegated to tough guys and the biceps of sailors who wanted to celebrate anchors and their mothers, not necessarily in that order. That was another age. Today, they’re a means of personal expression for people of all walks of life. An art form.
That art, however, can come with a secret ingredient.
Researchers at Binghamton University in New York found that inks commonly sold in the United States often contain substances not listed on their labels. They analyzed the ink of 10 U.S. manufacturers, large and small.
About 90% of the 54 inks they studied had unlisted additives. While some of these pose no threat to health, others do. The study noted half the inks contained polyethylene glycol, which can cause organ damage with repeated exposure. Some contained allergens. Researchers even found antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections.
It’s hard to know who is responsible for the mislabeling. Manufacturers, for example, might get ingredients that have been unknowingly contaminated elsewhere.
The health implications are unclear. The study notes that allergic reactions on the skin can occur, especially with red pigments. And these can sometimes be quite severe.
European tattoo ink is less troublesome because it is more tightly regulated. Congress didn’t authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate ink here until 2022.
The researchers say their goal is to empower tattoo artists and their customers. They urge the ink industry to re-evaluate production processes and implement better labeling.
The industry, after all, doesn’t want a stain on its reputation.
These microscopic creatures have cute nicknames. Water bear. Or Moss piglet. Scientists call them tardigrades [taar·duh·graydz]. They have the rare ability to suspend their metabolism.
That makes them remarkably resilient. They are seemingly impossible to destroy. If humans were as indestructible, we could shoot you into orbit without a spacesuit at breakfast and you’d be well enough to dine on Earth for lunch.
In fact, tardigrades have survived experiments in which they were exposed to space.
These tiny moss piglets can survive in the most severe environments on the planet, in or out of water. They can weather extreme heat and cold, radiation hundreds of times higher than a lethal human dose and a lack of air. They can be starved and dehydrated. Still, they go on.
That got scientists thinking: Is there something in the tardigrade’s body chemistry that might prove useful to human health?
A recent University of Wyoming study suggests tardigrade proteins might allow medication to be stored without refrigeration. They could also open the door to anti-aging medication in the future.
The creatures survive harsh environments because body proteins produce a gel in cells that protect them when threatened. This puts them into suspended animation.
The researchers exposed human cells to these proteins and watched in astonishment as they slowed their metabolism, too.
When the stress disappears, the gels vanish as well, meaning the process is reversible.
More research is needed before scientists know if the ability to protect human cells is science fiction or science fact.
So for now, that family vacation to Mars will have to wait.
Less stress is best. But sometimes tough situations are unavoidable. A new study shows that how we view these situations can make a huge impact on our mental and physical well-being.
Researchers in the UK believe they have found a link showing that those who view stressful situations as a threat are more likely to experience negative mental and physical health outcomes.
On the other hand, those who view stress as a challenge to be conquered were less likely to see negative mental and physical stress-related conditions.
The subjects who viewed stress as a threat reported feeling overwhelmed by stress and could not readily access personal coping mechanisms. This group was shown to be at a higher risk for developing depression and more susceptible to physical ailments like cold and flu.
While this notion was first theorized years ago, this study is believed to be the first to closely explore how people can have different health outcomes based on how they approach stress.
The researchers said they hope their findings can help physicians identify patients who may be at a greater risk of developing health issues based on their stress response. They also believe the individuals who reported being overwhelmed by stress can be taught coping strategies to shift their perspective.
It’s no secret that stress can take a toll on our health. Thanks to this study, we now have greater insight into how and why stress can get the best of us, mentally and physically.
The next time you’re feeling overburdened, try to rise to the challenge rather than admit defeat. Simply put: Choose to look on the bright side.
For women who take running seriously, your sports bra can be friend or foe.
A new study suggests that wearing a sports bra with an underband that is too snug can impair breathing and cause athletes to run less efficiently.
The study monitored the breathing and lung function of nine elite runners as they wore a sports bra with an underband that could be adjusted tightly, loosely or at a tension chosen by the runner. Th athletic apparel brand Lululemon funded reseach by the University of British Columbia.
The women ran with a catheter in their esophagus to monitor their breathing.
Study participants’ rib sizes measured from 30 to 34 inches and they wore a B or C cup.
As they ran wearing tight underbands, they took more frequent, shallow breaths. Once the bands were loosened, the runners needed less oxygen and ran more efficiently.
When selecting a sports bra, women — especially those with a larger bust size — often opt for a tighter bra to prevent chafing and movement.
Going from a tighter underband to a looser one gave the runners, on average, a 1.3% improvement in running economy. Over a three-hour marathon, a 2% improvement would shave three minutes.
While earlier research found that women with larger breasts enjoy better running economy when wearing high-support sports bras, those studies didn’t focus on underband tightness.
The takeaway message for those fleet of foot is that sports bras matter. Support is important, but don’t overlook how it affects your breathing.
And if sports bra manufacturers can make one that isn’t impossible to peel off after a sweaty workout, female weekend warriors will celebrate.
The decision to bring a new pet into your household is a big one, and not to be taken lightly. Whether you’re considering a cat, a dog, or some other species, you’ll want to be sure your lifestyle is conducive to meeting the pet’s needs. You should also prepare to make some adjustments in your environment, schedule and finances; it’s important that the pet’s needs be met, but to do so you also need to be able to cover the expenses of responsible pet ownership, from food to veterinary care when needed. On this show, Dr. Wendy Mandese, a primary care and dentistry veterinarian, will cover what you need to know before and after you offer a forever home to a new family member.
Canine distemper — a viral infection that’s often deadly in dogs—is surging in some parts of the country. Here’s how to keep your pooch safe.
First and foremost, stay up to date with your dog’s vaccinations. The canine distemper vaccine is super effective, but dogs need periodic boosters to maintain strong immunity.
Infection is transmitted through respiratory droplets from other dogs as well as raccoons — and sometimes foxes and skunks. Contaminated objects can also spread the virus, so keep food and water sources away from wildlife and other dogs.
You can also help by reporting raccoons that are active during the day (they’re usually out only at night) or any susceptible wild animals exhibiting abnormal respiratory or neurologic signs.
Golfing, yard work, hunting and woodworking are enjoyable weekend pastimes for some men. Now, it turns out those activities may heighten the risk of neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that certain recreational activities are linked to a higher risk of amyotrophic [ey-my-uh-trof-ik] lateral sclerosis, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The incurable disorder affects nerve cell function in the brain and spinal cord.
Scientists already knew that working in manufacturing or trade industries is linked to an increased risk of ALS. After work activities that affect the odds of ALS are now coming into focus. The researchers found that golf was associated with a three times greater risk of developing ALS. Yardwork and hunting also heightened the risk, although to a lesser degree than golf.
The risk is notably gender specific. When the researchers looked at women’s recreational activities, there was no significant association with ALS.
None of the hobbies were linked to earlier onset of ALS in men or women.
While the researchers aren’t quite sure what’s driving the higher risk among men who take part in certain activities, they have a theory. Other studies have pointed to lifetime environmental exposures as a precursor to ALS. That means golfing and yardwork could carry more ALS risk due to things like pesticide exposure.
Next, the researchers want to learn more about which activities present the greatest ALS risk, and why men are disproportionately affected. They also caution that much more research needs to be done — so don’t put those clubs away just yet.
Whether it’s an overly zealous use of air conditioning or a frigid January morning, you and other mammals have one thing in common: You can sense when it’s cold. But until recently, science had lagged in figuring out just precisely how we know we need an extra sweater.
Now, researchers from the University of Michigan have drilled down into what, exactly, allows us to “detect” that the temperature has dropped — specifically below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using prior research that identified the first cold-sensing receptor protein (in a tiny worm, no less), researchers conducted experiments to examine animals’ behavior in reaction to temperature changes and other stimuli.
In this case, mice that were missing a protein called GluK2 showed no response to icy temperatures, but responded normally to hot, warm and even cool temperatures.
Interestingly, the protein is typically found in the brain, where it acts as an operator — triaging various chemical signals to enable communication between neurons.
But GluK2 is also found in sensory neurons across the peripheral nervous system — outside the brain and spinal cord, in other words — where it takes on its cold-sensing properties, processing temperature cues instead of chemical signals to let us know when we feel cold.
Why does this matter? First, it simply adds to the knowledge base scientists have about thermosensation, in general.
As one example of why it’s relevant: Patients undergoing chemotherapy tend to feel cold in an acute, even painful way — and this could help us understand why.
For now, that’s pretty “cool” on its own — pun intended.
Broccoli is the vegetable some of us love to hate. The first President Bush famously banned it from Air Force One. Kids make faces at it. Few dogs keep it on their list of acceptable table scraps.
Ice cream it is not.
We all might want to re-evaluate our broccoli angst. This power vegetable continues to prove it is one of the healthiest foods. Broccoli contains an abundance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. It is thought to reduce inflammation, support heart health and slow aging. Broccoli does everything but drive the kids to school.
Now scientists have discovered another potential benefit: preventing and treating a stroke.
Australian researchers say they’ve found a natural compound in the vegetable that can help prevent blood clots leading to strokes. Better still, the compound appears to enhance other clot-busting medications often given in a stroke’s aftermath.
One agent often given stroke patients is a blood-thinner called tissue plasminogen [plaz·mi·nuh·jn] activator, or tPA.
The compound found in broccoli sprouts, called sulforaphane [suhl·faw·ruh·fayn], triples tPA’s effectiveness at busting clots. And the compound didn’t have the side effect sometimes seen with tPA — brain bleeding.
This natural compound opens the door to potential medications that could one day benefit millions of people globally.
And to be fair to broccoli, many people love it. Its popularity has soared in the last 30 years. It does have its presidential fan club. Thomas Jefferson planted broccoli seeds at Monticello. And President Obama once called the veggie his favorite food.
Take that, carrots.
Everyone knows the potential harm from vehicles’ tailpipe emissions. Now, scientists are turning an eye to the lesser-known particles created by brakes.
When it comes to brake particles, it’s a classic good news-bad news situation. Researchers don’t know a lot about brake particles, although some evidence suggests they may be more harmful than tailpipe emissions. But because most of those brake particles are electrically charged, they might someday help reduce tailpipe emissions.
Scientists at the University of California, Irvine determined that 80% of the aerosol particles created by vehicle braking carry an electric charge. In fact, many of them are highly charged. To learn this, the researchers attached a brake rotor and caliper to a large lathe and analyzed the particles.
The California team is just starting to understand the health effects and toxicity of brake particles. Early findings suggest the particles may play a role in oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage.
The amount of electrically charged particles varies with the composition of brake pads. And because they carry a charge, removing them from the air could be relatively easy. The researchers say the removal could be as simple as collecting the particles with an electrostatic device that whisks them away.
The recent findings have important implications for lower-income neighborhoods. Because those areas tend to be traffic-heavy, the effects of brake dust on urban air pollution may be more pronounced.
Until science delivers a firm solution, consider heeding the well-worn advice for new drivers: Easy on the gas, easy on the brakes.
The adage about an apple a day aside, it turns out that an avocado a day just may be enough to improve the nutritional quality of your diet.
According to a new study from Penn State University, the average American diet leaves much to be desired — and poor diet quality is one of the risk factors for several diseases, including heart disease.
When it comes to the agreed-upon key dietary recommendations put together by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, most of us fall short. Now, new research indicates that a single avocado could save the day — and how much nutrition we pack into it.
Typically, only 2% of the population consumes avocados regularly. Researchers wanted to see if regular consumption of the nutrient-dense, fiber-rich food could have a positive impact on diet quality.
The study included more than 1,000 participants who were placed in two groups: In the first group, folks continued their usual diet and limited their avocado intake during the 26-week study. In the second, each participant incorporated a daily avocado in their diet.
Researchers noted that not only did those who ate an avocado daily show an increased adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — they also found that participants were substituting avocadoes, packed with healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, in place of common food items high in sodium or other undesirable nutritional traits.
Of course, more research is needed, but while an avocado a day is no cure-all, it’s certainly a tasty place to start.
Scientists around the world who hope to avert the next pandemic have a plan.
A team of 25 international scientists wants to do so by conserving natural areas and protecting biodiversity. They believe this might be a better strategy than containing a pathogen already circulating in humans.
In short, they want to keep animal populations fed and safe to limit their contact with humans and, consequently, their ability to transfer pathogens to us.
Pandemics begin when disease-harboring animals, such as bats, come in proximity to people, livestock or other critters. Viruses that have spread to humans via bats include several varieties of the coronavirus, Nipah [knee-pah], Hendra and, likely, Ebola. The consequences can be deadly.
The international team of researchers, led by Cornell University, devised its strategy after two scientific papers in 2022 examined how the fatal Hendra virus moved from bats to horses to people. The research found that when bats lose their natural habitats and sources of winter food, their large populations fracture into smaller groups that migrate to agricultural and urban areas.
And when bats become stressed, whether by not getting enough to eat or being forced to leave their roost, they shed more virus in their urine. When the food supply returns, so do the bats, and they stop shedding virus.
The team of scientists calls for protecting lands that buffer bats from people. This could ensure they have enough food and that humans and animals in contact with bat populations have sufficient protection.
If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, just imagine the payoff in avoiding another pandemic.
Picture this: You sit down at a gourmet restaurant. The candelight is warm. The atmosphere is posh. And your dinner plate holds the entrée that’s been the talk of the town — an array of vegetables, carefully seasoned around the piece de resistance: mold.
Before the record screech, let’s clarify: We mean the humble mushroom. In a recent study, researchers at UC Berkeley have been fiddling with genes in koji mold, the substance used in East Asia to ferment different starches into consumables like sake, soy sauce and miso for hundreds of years.
Using gene editing software, researchers are tweaking the fungus to contain nutritional traits commonly found in meat — like increasing the production of heme [heem], an iron-based molecule most plentiful in animal tissues, and what gives most meat its unique taste. The scientists also boosted the koji mold’s ability to produce an antioxidant unique to fungi that is associated with a healthy cardiovascular system, giving the fungi the best of both worlds.
Though more work is needed, the study points to fungi as an easy-to-grow protein source that doesn’t require a laundry list of fillers and other ingredients commonly found in many existing meat substitutes. It also demonstrates the improvements in the field of synthetic biology as a whole, highlighting the profound impact a gene-editing software like CRISPR-Cas9 [Crisper-Kaz-9], the one used in the study, can have on future research.
Now, eating a mushroom patty may never be quite the same as chowing down on a medium-rare burger, but maybe it doesn’t have to be. At this rate, it’s possible that soon, you might not even notice the difference.
Just like humans, dogs are susceptible to an eye disease known as glaucoma, which causes high pressure inside of the eyeball. Have you noticed changes in eye size or color, such as a really red or cloudy or bluish appearance? Those are among the clinical signs that could indicate your dog has developed glaucoma, a painful condition that can cause blindness if left untreated. On this show, Dr Caryn Plummer, a veterinary ophthalmology specialist, will discuss causes of the disease, which breeds are most susceptible to it, common treatment practices and why it’s important to contact your veterinarian immediately if you see signs of eye trouble in your pet.
Vehicular trauma, or injury sustained when your dog is hit by a moving vehicle, is common in dogs who are allowed to roam outdoors while unattended. Even when a dog is kept inside, accidents can happen: an animal can escape through an open door, or get away from you during a walk or another outing. Injuries caused by vehicles can be minor or life-threatening, and each case is different. However, in every situation, immediate veterinary attention is critical. On this show, Dr. Carl Southern, a small animal veterinary emergency and critical care specialist, will discuss the types of injuries caused by vehicular trauma that are commonly seen in the emergency room, how these injuries are typically treated and what anyone taking an animal hit by a car to the ER needs to be aware to ensure the animal is stable during transport.
One of the most common heart problems seen by veterinary cardiologists is degenerative mitral valve disease. Although any breed of dog can be afflicted with the disease, certain small-breed dogs are more prone to it, and the likelihood of developing the ailment grows as dogs age. The progressive nature of mitral valve disease means that many dogs with it will go on to develop congestive heart failure, and ultimately die. Only open heart surgery, a highly specialized procedure, can offer a definitive treatment. On this show, Dr. Darcy Adin, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist who oversees a new open heart surgery program for dogs at the University of Florida, will discuss how the program is making a difference in the lives of mitral valve disease patients and their owners.
Keeping Fido fit is not only important for his mental and physical health, it’s a great way to build your bond and keep you active as well. However, just as people can hurt themselves by engaging in too much or the wrong types of exercise for their bodies, dogs, too, are susceptible to injury if a fitness plan isn’t carefully thought out. On this show, Dr. Christina Montalbano, a clinical assistant professor of integrative and mobility medicine, will discuss safe exercise for dogs of all ages. She’ll also offer recommendations for safe levels of exercise for dogs of different ages, from puppy to senior, surface considerations, safer ways to play fetch and how to identify signs of fatigue and injury.
In most cases, pregnant dogs and cats deliver their litters without complications, but veterinary care is important to ensure your pet’s health before, during and after delivery. However, pregnancy complications can occur in any breed, and at any age. On this show, Drs. Audrey Kelleman and Luis de Aguiar, board-certified specialists in theriogenology, or animal reproduction, will share information about common pregnancy complications seen in pets and signs to watch for to indicate these animals need immediate veterinary care.
So you want to be a veterinarian? In addition to caring for dogs, cats and other animal species as clinical practitioners, today’s veterinarians use their skill sets in a variety of careers, including the military, industry and others. A successful application to veterinary school involves an understanding of the profession and how prospective students aim to contribute to it. On today’s show, Dr. Ashley Allen-Durrance, assistant dean of admissions and student success at UF, will discuss veterinary student recruitment, what’s involved in getting into veterinary school, how to prepare a strong application and what potential applicants should keep in mind before they apply.
All animal species can experience certain types of eye disease, but in exotic or wild animals, the diagnosis and treatment eye problems can be difficult, even for highly trained veterinary ophthalmologists. The explosion in popularity of exotic animals as pets, coupled with the need for improved medical attention to endangered species, are reasons why ophthalmology has become an important medical specialty for managing the health of exotic and wild animals. On this show, Dr. Bret Moore, a veterinary ophthalmology specialist, will discuss some of the challenges associated with maintaining vision health in these species.
Proponents of a vegan diet point to its numerous health benefits. It promotes weight loss, improves heart health, is beneficial to gut health and might reduce the risk of some cancers.
Now, vegans have something else to brag about. They appear to have a lower risk of contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Brazilian researchers say a predominantly plant-based diet might reduce the risk by as much as 39%.
Scientists set out to examine the interplay between diet and the incidence, severity and duration of COVID-19. They recruited about 700 people in the spring and summer of 2022, separating them into two groups: omnivores and those on a plant-based diet.
Participants were asked about their eating patterns, medical history and coronavirus vaccination status. The age and sex of group members were similar across groups. Scientists noticed, however, that the plant eaters were more likely to be highly educated. The meat-eaters tended to be heavier.
The study found that vegans had a significantly lower incidence of COVID-19 and that omnivores tended to get sicker when infected. No change in the duration of symptoms was noted.
Researchers say a plant-based diet can positively influence the health of immune cells that play a role in the body’s ability to fight infection.
So, it’s not surprising that investigators recommend a vegan diet. Even so, they say more research must be done to determine how diet impacts COVID.
Still, it’s hard to go wrong with a vegetarian diet while waiting for scientists’ final word. It’d be a different story, of course, if greasy hamburgers were found to protect us from the disease.
Many years ago, the television set was dubbed “the electronic babysitter.” And what parent hasn’t used it for that purpose, if only to get a short respite? Now, new research suggests there’s a downside to putting your toddler in front of the TV too often.
Toddlers and babies who get too much TV time may be more likely to show atypical behaviors such as disengagement from activities. They also tend to crave more intense stimulation and are more likely to get overwhelmed by bright lights and loud sounds than children who get less screen time. That’s the upshot of a study by Drexel University researchers, who studied the habits of nearly 1,500 children nationwide.
To establish their findings, the team analyzed the TV and video-watching habits of babies and toddlers at 12, 18 and 24 months of age. At 33 months, their sensory processing was measured with a questionnaire answered by their parents or caregivers.
The researchers found that even modest amounts of screen time were likely to have an effect on very young children. Among 1-year-olds, any screen exposure was associated with a 105% greater likelihood of “high” sensory behavior. That includes such actions as excessively touching objects or being overly upset by lights and noises. At 18 and 24 months of age, each additional hour of daily screen time resulted in at least a 20% increase in the odds of high-sensory behavior.
So, what’s a parent to do? The American Academy of Pediatrics has an idea: No screen time for kids less than two years old.
As tempting as it is, parents should strongly consider sidelining the electronic babysitter.
Envy the fruit bat. They can eat twice their body weight in sugary fruit without spiking blood sugar endangering their health. In fact, you’ll see a unicorn in the wild before you find a fruit bat with diabetes.
We humans aren’t so lucky. Unlike our batty friends, we must watch what we eat. Those of us with diabetes avoid sugary treats.
The bats have evolved to accommodate their diet. A world of chocolate bars and high-carb food is a relatively modern trend. We humans can’t wait a hundred million years for a natural adaptation to fix that. So, scientists look to the fruit bat.
What’s going on in their tiny pancreases, the insulin-producing organ that regulates blood sugar?
Scientists at the University of California found that the fruit bat pancreas boasts extra insulin-producing cells compared with their insect-eating brethren. They also discovered other tiny genetic differences that allow fruit bats to process an immense amount of sugar.
A better understanding of how sugar metabolism works in this quirky species could help researchers find ways to treat people with diabetes or prediabetes. Could that knowledge one day lead to a cure?
More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and 1 in 3 Americans are prediabetic. It’s the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.
One other thing about those fruit bats. They don’t need a dentist. They can eat all the sugar they want without getting cavities. Their saliva is thought to play a role in that.
But don’t let bat envy eat you alive. After all, when was the last time you had to sleep upside down in a cave?
Don’t forget to eat your vegetables. And your tofu. Oh, and drink your soy milk.
Whether it’s in its humble bean form, disguised as a meat alternative, or serving as a dairy substitute, soy continues to wow with its health benefits.
A recent analysis looked at how soybeans, cruciferous vegetables, green tea and lignans [LIG-nans] — compounds found in many plants, nuts and seeds.
The scientists specifically looked at how those foods and compounds impact breast cancer recurrence and mortality.
In the analysis, soy isoflavones [i-so-flave-ins] were associated with a 26% reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Researchers found that the greatest risk reduction was observed when consuming 60 milligrams — that’s two to three servings — of soy per day. One serving of soy is equal to one cup of soy milk, three ounces of tofu or a half-cup of cooked soybeans.
While soy made an impressive showing, a compound metabolized from lignans reduced the risk of breast cancer-specific mortality by 28%. The compound, known as enterolactone [enter-a-lack-tone], also reduced the risk of death from any cause by 31%. The effect of soy on mortality risk was not statistically significant.
The optimal dose of lignans is unknown as they are metabolized at different rates, depending on an individual’s unique gut microbiome.
Scientists noted that the foods studied in their analysis should not be considered alternatives to breast cancer treatment. The analysis illustrates the health benefits of the compounds studied while demonstrating the need for more research.
In the meantime, breast cancer survivors can rejoice. And maybe at mealtime, raise a glass — of veggie juice.
Spring is nearly here, but some parts of the country may still see some snow.
You may not think of shoveling snow as that tough a task. But the American Heart Association says shoveling snow in cold temperatures can be dangerous. Their research indicates that the physical strain of shoveling snow may lead to an increased risk of heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest.
The cold temperature exacerbates the strain because cold air causes blood vessels to constrict throughout the body. By constricting, your blood vessels raise your blood pressure.
As you might imagine, shoveling snow depends on your arms, which is much more taxing on your heart than activities that require leg strength.
Also, when we lift heavy objects, say, shovels full of snow, we often unconsciously hold our breath. This also leads to significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
Speaking of blood, it tends to pool in our lower extremities as we shovel because we are, more or less, standing still. That means oxygenated blood is not getting back to the heart nearly as fast.
Here’s how to shovel the white stuff and stay safe doing so.
Experts recommend that you start gradually and pace yourself. Pushing or sweeping the snow may be easier because it involves less exertion than lifting and tossing the snow.
Always cover your mouth and nose, wear layered clothing and don’t forget a hat and gloves.
If you have a heart condition or high blood pressure, you might consider a snow blower. The American Heart Association says they have been scientifically proven to have less of an impact on your heart rate than shoveling snow.
The public is increasingly conscious of the teeny-tiny particles called microplastics that are turning up everywhere from snow-capped mountains to the ocean. They’re even getting into our food and drinking water.
Now Columbia University scientists have figured out how to measure microplastic’s tinier cousin — nanoplastics. Their findings are unsettling.
Nanoplastics are so small they can pass through intestines and lungs and go directly into the bloodstream, and then into our organs.
The research team, using a new microscopic technique, found that a one-liter plastic bottle of water contains an average 240,000 fragments of plastic small enough to breach our bodies.
Nanoplastics are particles less than 1 micrometer long. Microplastics range from less than a quarter-inch to 1 micrometer. By comparison, a human hair is about 70 micrometers wide.
With the new technique, researchers probe samples with two lasers tuned to make specific molecules resonate.
Testing three popular bottled-water brands, they found 110,000 to 370,000 particles in each liter. Ninety percent were nanoplastics; the rest were microplastics.
A common find was polyethylene terephthalate [pol-ee-eth-uh-lean terr-eff-thuh-late], or PET [P-E-T]. Many plastic water bottles are made of it. So are bottles for soda, sports drinks and ketchup. Even more prevalent was polyamide [poly-ah-myde], a nylon used in plastic filters purported to purify water before it’s bottled.
Some researchers note that these invaders can be toxic to humans.
Another plot twist: The seven types of known plastics the researchers looked for accounted for only about 10% of the nanoparticles they spotted. The other 90%, the researchers said, could be almost anything.
If your dog is suddenly unable to rise, or can’t move its legs, that’s a scary situation for any pet owner. However, the causes for these signs can vary greatly, ranging from trauma – such as being hit by a car – to affliction with tick-borne or other diseases, to name just a few. Getting to the root of the cause of your pet’s problem may require assistance from a veterinary neurology specialist. Dr. Gabriel Garcia, a board-certified veterinary neurologist, will describe how veterinarians work toward a diagnosis in these situations, and why pet owners faced with this problem should not panic but rather seek immediate veterinary care for the best possible outcome.
The ancients loved their olive oil. The Greek writer Homer of Iliad and Odyssey fame called it “liquid gold.” It was used to anoint the dead and the heads of kings, besides more pedestrian applications in cooking. One reason why it was so coveted by the old world? Its supposed medicinal qualities.
Indeed, physicians in antiquity prescribed it to treat fevers, hair loss, nausea, ulcers, wounds and even flatulence. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, described olive oil as “the great healer.”
Turns out, Hippocrates might have been onto something.
A study out of Harvard University’s public health college found that olive oil might substantially lower the risk of premature death. An analysis of health and dietary data collected from more than 90,000 people found that heavy olive oil consumers had a 19% lower risk of total mortality. These are folks who consumed more than seven grams of liquid gold a day.
The olive oil crowd also lowered their risk of dying of several diseases. They had a 19% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, 17% lower risk of dying from cancer and a 29% lower risk of dying from a neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers, who tracked data gathered over nearly 30 years, described their analysis as the first long-term observational study of its kind.
Compared with ingesting margarine, butter, mayonnaise or dairy fat, olive oil consumption was also associated with a lower risk of premature death.
Investigators say clinicians might encourage their patients to replace some fats, like butter and margarine, with olive oil. The current study, however, is silent on the question of whether it cures flatulence.
Did the ancient Greeks and Romans get age-related dementia? The answer is, surprisingly seldom.
A new study suggests severe cognitive decline was not a significant societal problem 2,000 or more years ago. Indeed, the Greeks seem largely free of the condition.
And it’s not because the average lifespan is much longer today.
A team led by University of Southern California researchers analyzed ancient Greek and Roman texts dating from 2,000 to 2,500 ago. They looked for descriptions of severe dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms in older adults.
They found few mentions of severe memory loss, indicating cognitive decline was extremely rare.
This supports the notion that Alzheimer’s and related cognitive diseases are a more recent phenomenon. The modern environment and lifestyle are thought to be responsible for the much higher rate of cognitive decline, from our poor diets and sedentary behavior to pollution.
Greek text revealed cases of what is today considered mild cognitive impairment. However, scientists found no cases suggesting a significant loss of reasoning, memory and speech.
The study found four later Roman cases of advanced dementia. Pliny [Plie-nee] the Elder, for example, wrote of a Roman senator who often forgot his name.
Investigators believe the congestion of some Roman cities caused pollution that posed a higher risk of dementia than in the Greek world.
Even today, indigenous Amazonians who live an active, preindustrial lifestyle rarely experience severe cognitive impairment in old age.
The lesson here is to keep to a healthy lifestyle. Yes, that’s harder said than done. Pliny the Elder, after all, didn’t own a widescreen TV.
The overwhelming choice of dog foods is enough to make a pooch parent’s head spin, from boutique foods to seemingly infinite types of kibble, each touting itself as most nutritious. How does one make sense of it all?
Start by choosing a food made in the United States, where the Association of American Feed Control Officers, or AAFCO, sets dietary standards for dogs of all ages. It’s ideal if the brand has gone through feeding trials.
The manufacturer should employ veterinary nutritionists take part in peer-reviewed research. They should also be easy to contact if you have questions.
In the end, your dog’s health will be the judge. Monitor your buddy’s weight, stool, skin and coat and contact your veterinarian if anything’s off.
Norwegian researchers entered the laboratory, labored over their instruments and eventually emerged with the latest scientific breakthrough.
A muffin.
Not just any muffin. This might be the healthiest muffin on the planet. And investigators even named it, as if it were a puppy hanging out near the centrifuge.
We introduce you to Roselle [Rose-ELL].
Roselle also happens to be the name of a flowering plant traditionally used for its medicinal qualities. It produces a tart and pleasantly acidic taste.
In science-speak, the study, published in the journal Foods, notes the muffin was developed using formulations in varying proportions resulting from Response Surface Methodology. That’s a highfallutin’ way of saying scientists created a recipe.
Using a Roselle extract called calyx [KAY-licks], their muffin is high in vitamins and antioxidants. A calyx is the outermost whorl in a flower. They left out the unhealthy preservatives often found in store-bought baked goods.
This Roselle extract contains polyphenols, flavonoids, betaine (BEET-a-een) and hibiscus acid, ingredients that reduce the risk of chronic disease. The muffin boasts a six-day shelf life at room temperature. Scientists bragged that these treats won’t last that long in the average household because they are so delicious.
The final product had little sugar, salt or saturated fat. Taste tests with a small group of people were positive.
Perhaps it makes sense that food scientists would concoct a great recipe in the lab. Cooking, to some extent, is basic chemistry.
Of course, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to make a muffin.
Just ask your favorite baker.
Some people love the heat, counting down the days until frigid winter evenings turn into sweltering summer nights. Others simply tolerate it.
Now, a new study suggests that there’s another being with its own variation in heat tolerance — the persistent, and resilient, mosquito.
That’s right. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered that some mosquito populations are more heat-tolerant and better equipped to survive heatwaves than others.
The study points out that most scientific models used to predict the spread of vector-borne diseases assume that all mosquito populations tolerate heat similarly. That means our understanding of the pests’ ability to spread diseases in a world affected by higher temperatures may need to shift.
Many millions of people around the globe suffer mosquito-borne diseases every year and more than 1 million die.
Researchers sampled mosquitoes from eight populations across four climate zones including New Orleans; St. Augustine, Florida; Huntsville, Alabama; Stillwater, Oklahoma; St. Louis; Urbana, Illinois; College Park, Maryland, and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Although there were significant regional differences, they followed no easy patterns related to temperature or latitude. Instead, researchers found precipitation was the overriding factor: Mosquitoes from places with more rain had higher heat tolerance.
Mosquitoes don’t thrive in temperatures lower than 50 degrees or higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit. But knowing the role rain plays in the insects’ lives helps humans trying to keep their numbers in check have more success.
Depending on where you live, it’s calving season or soon will be. So, now’s the time to plan for common health problems.
Recently weaned calves are particularly at risk for respiratory disease. Your first step should be to look for telltale signs like coughing, difficulty breathing and a reduced appetite. Your veterinarian can get a better sense by using a stethoscope to listen to the calf’s breathing, taking its temperature or running other tests.
An established veterinary-client-patient relationship may allow some caretakers to administer certain treatments without an exam first.
Supportive care measures, like dry bedding, tasty feed and time away from competitive pen mates, are just as important.
It’s beginning to sound like a broken record, but the United States has a problem with obesity.
Almost half of adults over the age of 20 live with the disease, which also comes in as the country’s second-leading cause of preventable death. Only smoking cigarettes carry more health risk. Obesity brings a slew of other health problems, like a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke or heart disease.
Even worse, losing weight is hard. There’s a reason so many diets, fitness programs and apps are marketed for those trying to make a lifestyle change. Now, a new study from the University of Missouri has delved into what makes an online weight loss program successful.
The secret? Don’t go it alone. Researchers found that apps that engaged users with professional health coaches and social support from others were two of the most helpful features of online weight-loss programs.
The study distilled 20 years of research, paring down which features stood out as most helpful. Three common approaches for weight-loss apps were those that simply gave information, those with an online group-chat function and those that offered a professional health coach.
As it turned out, the apps that gave users access to social support from peers or professional health coaches were just as effective as in-person weight loss programs. That’s especially notable for rural populations and places where public transportation is hard to come by.
Now, no one is saying an app will work for everyone, or that it will make losing weight easy — but it’s certainly easier if you don’t go it alone.
Veterinary oncology today makes use of increasingly sophisticated tools and methods for treating cancer in pets. In addition to surgery and medical therapy, or chemotherapy, radiation oncology is a veterinary specialty that entails the use of controlled radiation to treat certain types of cancer. On this show, Dr. Marilia Takada, a clinical assistant professor and veterinary radiation oncology specialist, will discuss what radiation therapy is, how it works and types of cancer it’s used most frequently to treat. She’ll also discuss why radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with other therapies to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.
The dangers of air pollution are all too familiar. It heightens the risk of respiratory infection, heart disease and, of course, lung cancer. Long-term exposure can damage other organs, including the brain.
If that weren’t bad enough, British researchers have found that pollution might make us lazier.
They found a proportional association between the concentration of pollution and the time people spent being inactive, or sedentary. That’s the time when we’re lazing around on our duffs.
It’s relaxing to sit around and do nothing. And there’s nothing wrong with lazy time. Doing so for too long, however, causes health problems, increasing the risk of diseases like diabetes and hypertension. It shortens life.
Researchers followed more than 600 people at risk of Type 2 diabetes for three years, using wearable technology to track their activity during the study.
Scientists then compared that information with pollution data.
A correlation was noted between heavier pollution and sedentary time.
High levels of nitrogen dioxide, typically caused by traffic, were associated with an extra 22 minutes a day of inactivity. That adds up.
The researchers say pollution might be making people less willing to go outdoors to exercise. Worse, it might make exercise less enjoyable.
Sure, we can exercise in our homes, but television, with its many streaming services, is oh-so tempting. So, go to the gym. Buy a treadmill or stationary bike. Cut the TV cord. Find a place to exercise away from city congestion.
Breathe life into your muscles.
Exposure to smoke is bad for us all, our pets included. Reports from a recent study show that it might even increase the risk of cancer in some dogs.
Researchers looked at Scottish terriers, because they already have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer than other breeds. The study followed 120 Scotties for three years, examining their lifestyles, analyzing urine samples and speaking with their owners.
The researchers found that Scotties exposed to smoke had a six times higher chance of developing bladder cancer, well above the breed’s typical risk. Metabolites from smoke were found in the dogs’ urine, even if they were only exposed to smoke on clothes.
The results are sobering — for our pets and for us, too.
Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and for many, there is only one way to celebrate — with a pint. Or many.
Even on a celebratory holiday like the Feast of Saint Patrick, you should consider alcohol’s effects on your body.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines moderate alcohol consumption as two drinks per day for men and one for women. On St. Patrick’s Day, however, the issue is often binge drinking, which is defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more for men over a two- to three-hour period.
Research shows that excessive drinking isn’t good for your body.
For starters, binge drinking or heavy drinking can alter your DNA. When researchers compared binge drinkers and heavy drinkers to moderate drinkers, they found it changed two genes in the overindulging groups.
One of those genes affects the body’s biological clock. The other regulates the stress response system. The result? An increased desire for alcohol.
The National Cancer Institute says alcohol increases your chance of having mouth, throat, liver and breast cancers. Heavy drinkers are five times more likely than their teetotaling counterparts to have esophageal cancer.
One night of binge drinking can lead to blackouts, while doing so over a longer period leaves you at risk for memory loss and dementia.
It’s OK to celebrate all things Irish without the booze. Grab something to read by the witty Oscar Wilde. Or that green milkshake folks are so fond of. Learn to jig.
Just imagine: You won’t risk your health nor will you need to worry about embarrassment from your previous-night shenanigans.
When you hear the term “scratches” in an equine context, it doesn’t refer to a superficial wound. Instead, it means a skin infection involving a horse’s lower leg. Sometimes it goes by “greasy heel,” “mud fever” or other colorful term.
Scratches is often seen in wet or muddy environments. Horses with long feathered coats, like draft breeds, are most at risk because their hair traps moisture, which can foster bacterial and fungal infections. But scratches can affect any horse.
Typical signs include scabs and a greasy discharge that progresses to inflammation, itchiness and pain. In severe cases, the skin can thicken and crack. As always, any suspicious abnormality should be addressed as soon as possible.
Even though many of us consider our pets family, most of us haven’t created a plan for their care if something happens to us. That means they could end up in shelters once we’re gone.
But there are steps you can take now to ensure that doesn’t happen. First, identify a guardian willing to care for your pet. You’ll need to consider costs, including food, preventative medicine and vet visits.
Your best bet might be to create a legally binding document that states your specific wishes. That could mean establishing a pet trust, which can be costly. Or you might put your wishes in writing and have the document notarized. Many websites can guide you and suggest legal wording for such a document.
Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco are just itching to let the world know what they found in a study about when and why we scratch.
It’s only natural: If you feel an itch, you want to scratch it. At some point our body tells our brain that the itch has been satisfied.
Scientists haven’t always understood just how these signals are sent within the body.
The recent study makes headway in answering that question. Researchers focused on an immune protein known as IL-31.
Scientists already knew that the protein is responsible for signaling an itch.
The new research shows that the compound not only triggers the urge to scratch, it limits inflammation by communicating with neurons. This prevents the itch from spiraling out of control and tamps down the immune system response.
The study’s lead author says this is the first time the body’s nervous system has been observed combating an allergic response.
The findings lay the foundation for the next generation of drugs that could interact more intelligently with the body’s self-regulation systems.
Also of note: While IL-31 is behind that itchy feeling in our skin, it’s also present in the lungs and gut. Researchers aren’t sure why that is.
The study’s results are expected to lead to new approaches in how clinicians treat conditions like allergies, eczema, asthma and Crohn’s, among others.
There’s no way to know where this greater understanding of the IL-31 compound will lead. For now, scientists have only scratched the surface.
If you have hearing aids but don’t use them, you might be unknowingly shortening your life.
Hearing aids and lifespan may seem incongruous, but consider these recent findings by University of Southern California researchers: People with hearing loss who regularly used hearing aids had a 24% lower risk of mortality than those who never wore them.
While previous research found an association between untreated hearing loss and shorter lives, the latest findings are among the first to shed light on whether hearing aids can reduce the risk of death.
To establish that, the researchers used data from more than 10,000 adults who had been given a common test to gauge hearing ability and answered questionnaires about hearing aid use. Nearly 2,000 of those people were noted to have hearing loss.
The researchers found an almost 25% difference in mortality risk during the study between regular hearing aid users and those who never used them. That difference remained constant after controlling for factors, including the severity of hearing loss, age, income and ethnicity.
The risk of death was about equal between occasional users of hearing aids and those who never used them. That, the researchers noted, suggests there’s no life-extending benefit to occasional hearing aid use.
The study drew no conclusions about why hearing aids might help people live longer. However, the researchers noted other recent findings have associated hearing aid use with lower levels of dementia and depression. They hope the findings will encourage more people to use hearing aids.
When it comes to hearing aids, the message is simple: If you have them, use them.
It’s common for horses to have two or more swollen legs after times of decreased exercise. This so-called “stocking up” usually resolves with exercise, which helps move fluid through the lymphatic system.
A far more serious condition is lymphangitis [lymph-an-JĪ-tus], which involves acute, painful swelling, generally of a hindlimb. Affected horses often develop severe lameness and a fever. They may breathe rapidly, eat less and seem depressed.
The cause of lymphangitis isn’t well understood, but it likely involves bacterial entry through skin damage. The lymphatic system, including lymph nodes and blood vessels, can become infected and damaged.
So, be on guard: horses with lymphangitis need aggressive veterinary treatment as soon as possible.
The condition known as sepsis, along with septic shock, is a major cause of death in people and in animals and a medical emergency when it occurs. Initially caused by an existing infection that progresses to a widespread dysregulated inflammation, sepsis can originate from any infection from the gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive or urinary tract, for example. On this show, Dr. Ronald Gonçalves, a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine and clinical care, will describe how veterinarians manage this critical condition when it occurs in their patients, and why prompt diagnosis and treatment can be the difference between life and death.
Late in 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, sent letters to nine manufacturers and distributors, warning them to stop selling illegally marketed over-the-counter antibiotics.
The drugs in question are marketed for species like aquarium fish and pet birds but contain antibiotics — like amoxicillin, penicillin, erythromycin and others — that are important in human medicine.
The FDA sees two public health risks with these drugs. First, they haven’t been through FDA review for safety and effectiveness in the species for which they’re being marketed. In addition, inappropriate and indiscriminate use can increase antimicrobial resistance, which puts both people and animals at risk.
How old is that Pop Tart in the bottom of your desk drawer? Or that wizened granola bar, slowingly becoming as ancient as its alleged grains? Shelf-stable items have their place in the food system, and during emergencies, but the preservatives included come at a cost — to your gut.
In fact, new research from scientists at the University of Chicago found that a particular class of bacteria-produced chemicals, that act as natural preservatives and are widely used by the food industry, can eradicate not only the pathogents they are intended to, but also beneficial gut bacteria.
The microbes inside your microbiome live in a delicate balance, with beneficial guy bacteria providing the body with important benefits like nutrient beakdowns and even protecting against other pathogens. Therefore, if too many “good” bacteria colonies are broken down, a less-than-savory set of pathogenic bacteria might set up house, resulting in health issues and an end point not much different from eating contaminated food in the first place.
Now, that’s not to say that you should never, ever eat a food with a preservative in it—we do, after all, live in a world that is always on the go, and sometimes these things are inevitable. Lantibiotics still help prevent bad microbes from contaminating certain foods, so in this case it’s almost a question of their being too good at their job.There was even a study that showed lantibiotics could help protect mice against antibiotic-resistant infections. But just in case you’re having second thoughts, put away the Pop Tart and grab an apple. Its ingredient list will almost certainly be shorter.
If even the premise of the movie “Snakes on a Plane” sent you into a flop sweat, here’s some possibly comforting news.Those who suffer from two phobias and go through exposure therapy that targets one fear can get some relief for both — even if the fears are completely different.German university researchers conducted a study with 50 participants who all suffered both from acrophobia, which is a fear of heights, and arachnophobia, a fear of spiders. About half the participants underwent one exposure therapy session for their fear of spiders, but in doing so, found their fear of heights reduced, too. The remaining study subjects were assigned to a control group not exposed to spiders.Exposure therapy is a common type of phobia treatment. It’s just like it sounds: The sufferer is gradually exposed to the things or situations they fear. A panicky flyer might listen to the sounds associated with an airplane until it slowly becomes more familiar. Someone fearful of germs might touch a contaminated surface or handle raw meat.The therapy also helps those with panic disorders, post-traumatic stress syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder.The researchers found that the exposure therapy participants who feared both spiders and heights found at least a 15% reduction in their acrophobia after just one session.The study built on the team’s earlier work, which found that people with more than one similar fear — in this case spiders and cockroaches — who underwent exposure therapy for spiders also feared cockroaches less afterward.Next up? More research to understand why the effect transfers from one fear to another.###
You might think a collar is unnecessary if your pet is always indoors. But here’s why most veterinarians disagree.
First, indoor pets can escape. Some pet parents get hung up on the possibility that their pets might possibly could get hung up on their collars. But in most cases, the pros outweigh the cons.
And microchips don’t take the place of collars. Microchips must be read at a veterinary clinic, but anyone can read a collar ID right then and there.
Finally, animals with collars are perceived as being members of a family and are more likely to be approached than their collarless brethren.
There might be health reasons not to use a collar on your particular pet, but in general, a collar ID just might save your buddy’s life.
If your cat has small, crusty bumps on her head, trunk or tail base, she may be suffering from miliary [pronounced like “military” but without the “t”] dermatitis. Other signs can include scratching, inflammation, hair loss or thinning — even behavior changes due to discomfort.
Miliary dermatitis is not a single disease but rather an umbrella term for the skin’s reaction to any allergy. The question is, allergy to what? Some cats are allergic to fleas or other parasites. Others have allergies to certain foods. And some of our feline friends suffer from atopic dermatitis — that involves allergies to environmental substances, like pollen, dust mites or mold.
Once your veterinarian helps you pin down the cause, treatment can address the problem.
Surely, you’ve heard the saying that age is nothing but a number. Perhaps you feel younger than you are. Maybe your joints scream that you are older.
To understand whether you are aging like fine wine — or like milk — the Norwegian University of Science and Technology developed a fitness calculator.
All you have to do is provide details about yourself, such as age, weight and height, your resting heart rate, how often you exercise and how hard.
The idea that we have a “fitness age” comes from studies of aerobic fitness, or more specifically, V-O 2 Max. It measures how well a person’s body uses oxygen during exercise.
Fitness age is used as a predictor of disease, mortality and good health. For the past five years, researchers have analyzed the fitness calculator’s algorithm. A low fitness age signals substantially lower long-term risk of heart attack, depression, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, brain shrinkage and dementia in those middle-aged and older.
The connection between fitness age and chronic disease is important: If your fitness age is low, your symptoms are likely to progress more slowly.
If you find your fitness age is older than you expected, there are ways to shave years off. You’ve got to move more, sometimes vigorously. Consider an uphill walk or interval training on a treadmill or stationary bike to exert yourself strenuously, and ultimately, bring your fitness age down.
Of course, it’s important to realize that fitness age is not the be-all end-all. It’s only a peek at how your body functions compared with others who are your biological age.
Still, a lower fitness age means good things. Why wait? Get moving and make yourself younger.
Avoiding memory and thinking problems later in life could depend on your sleep quality in middle age.
That’s what researchers with the American Academy of Neurology learned recently after studying the association between disrupted sleep among people in their 30s and 40s and cognitive problems as they aged. To better understand it, the scientists worked with more than 500 people in their 40s, studying their sleep duration and quality for 11 years.
The participants slept an average six hours a night, completed sleep quality surveys and occasionally wore activity monitors. They also completed a series of thinking and memory tests.
The researchers then looked more closely at sleep fragmentation, which measures short interruptions in sleep. Those with the most disrupted sleep were four times more likely to have poor cognitive performance a decade later compared with those who had the fewest sleep disruptions. Those whose sleep quality fell somewhere in the middle showed no differences in future cognitive performance when compared with the group with the least disrupted sleep.
So why study mid-life sleep habits as a window into future memory and thinking issues? The researchers say unraveling the connection between sleep and cognition is key to understanding the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Signs of the disease accumulate in the brain decades before symptoms begin.
The scientists say more research is needed to determine if there are critical life periods when sleep is more strongly associated with cognition.
So, keep an eye on your sleep habits. There may be more at stake than feeling rested in the morning.
You might think that dogs have an edge when it comes to playing fetch. But it turns out that lots of cats like it too. Just on their own terms.
Researchers in Great Britain surveyed nearly 1,000 parents of over 1,100 cats to see if their feline friends retrieved thrown objects. Nearly 95% of them did — and without any specific training — usually starting when they were less than a year old.
As opposed to dogs, cats usually decide when they want to play fetch. They also play fetch on their own, mimicking interactions with prey, while dogs prefer the social aspect, engaging with people or other dogs.
Whether or not your cat likes to fetch, playing together does wonders in strengthening your relationship.
The liver is the body’s recycling and detoxifying center. In normal dogs, the portal vein carries blood from the digestive tract to the liver where toxins are removed. Then the blood travels to the systemic circulation to nourish the body.
But in some dogs, blood draining the intestinal tract is shunted directly into the systemic circulation, bypassing the liver altogether. Affected dogs often present with neurologic signs due to the toxins in their blood. Portosystemic shunts are often congenital, so the classic presentation is a puppy that acts drunk after eating.
Portosystemic shunts are relatively easy to diagnose. And while treatment may involve abdominal surgery, some cases can be treated with minimally invasive techniques by using interventional radiology to close the shunt.
Now hear this: Scientists have found a link between hearing loss and the onset of dementia.
It’s a curious pairing of medical issues, but scientists in Denmark recently made the connection after studying data from more than a half-million people in that country. In this case, the findings involved people over age 50 whose health was tracked for 15 years.
The researchers found a clear correlation between hearing loss and the development of dementia. That includes hearing loss causing an overall 7% increase in the risk of getting dementia. Among those with severe hearing loss, the dementia risk was found to be much greater than it was for those with typical hearing.
The research did not delve into the reasons for the association between hearing loss and dementia. But the good news is that there’s a simple strategy: Wearing hearing aids can substantially reduce dementia risk.
Among people who didn’t wear hearing aids, the risk of getting dementia was 20% higher than people with typical hearing. Those who used hearing aids had a 6% increased risk of dementia.
The association between hearing loss and dementia risk is also an imperative due to sheer numbers: The National Institutes of Health notes that nearly one-quarter of people in the U.S. between the ages of 65 and 74 have some amount of hearing loss. Among those over age 75, the rate of hearing loss is 50%.
Meanwhile, use of hearing aids remains low: Fewer than one in three people over age 70 who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them.
So, don’t take chances with your brain. Get your hearing tested as you age and keep in mind that hearing aids could help ward off dementia.
Just as “Dr. Google” can be a good way to find out more about a specific disease or problem in people or in animals, it is also dangerous to rely on the internet for credible medical information. Veterinary chiropractic videos abound on social media, with ample examples of inappropriate, dangerous and even illegal chiropractic treatment on animals. On this show, Dr. Jennifer Repac, a clinical assistant professor with UF’s integrative medicine service and a board-certified canine sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist who is certified in veterinary chiropractic, will discuss what chiropractic is and why you shouldn’t always believe what you see on TV (or TikTok.)
As cute as they are, flat-faced — or brachycephalic [brā-kē-sĕ-FӐ-lĭk] — dogs, like Frenchies, Boston terriers and pugs, have lots of health problems. One of them is sleep deprivation.
Caused by sleep apnea, it’s a result of the breeds’ shortened heads and resulting upper respiratory tract malformations. Brachycephalic breeds have longer periods of rapid eye movement sleep, which is associated with increased brain activity, compared with other breeds.
Affected dogs are often sleepy during the day and can have trouble learning. They’re more apt to snore. Some dogs sleep with a ball in their mouth just to help keep their airways open.
It makes you wonder: Does the cuteness factor in flat-faced dogs warrant this kind of suffering?
Scientists had long wondered why northern Europe had the world’s highest prevalence of multiple sclerosis.
Thanks to the world’s largest ancient human gene bank — which includes bones and teeth from nearly 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia as long as 34,000 years ago — it’s no longer a mystery.
A United Kingdom-led research team traced the spread of multiple sclerosis, or MS, from its origins in what is now Ukraine, southwest Russia and west Kazakhstan to northwestern Europe.
The disease walked its way across the land, traveling along with the Yamnaya [Yum-nye-uh] people, who with their sheep, cattle and newfangled wheeled wagons were a population-defining migration.
Europeans today are a genetic mixture of three ancestral populations: hunter-gatherers, first farmers and what had been considered an unknown “Ancient North Eurasian population” from the east. Those were the Yamnayans.
The Yamnayans carried with them the genetic variants associated with a risk of developing MS. In their case, the genes were a blessing, likely shielding them from infections they might otherwise have caught from their herded animals.
The researchers analyzed data from a new gene bank of ancient DNA, created in the past five years.
The gene bank is the first of its kind in the world. The tested bones and teeth are in museums that span from Europe to western Asia. The researchers hope to glean more from the relics about the roots of autism, bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression and schizophrenia.
So spare a moment, if you will, for our hunter-gatherer, iron-tool wielding and even our marauding Viking ancestors. What they left behind may help us all.
For those who love sushi, here’s something to remember: Japanese wasabi might boost short- and long-term memory in older adults.
We all know the sushi condiment from the often-pungent blast that punches the nose more than our taste buds. Wasabi cultivation dates to the eighth century. But it only became better known in the United States after 1980 with the rising popularity of sushi.
We already know from work in the laboratory that wasabi might improve cognition. Yet, studies were few and improved intellectual capabilities had not been tested in older adults. So, Japanese researchers recently took a closer look.
They recruited 72 people ages 60 to 80 and separated them into two equal groups. One group took a 100-milligram wasabi tablet every day for three months. The second group got a placebo.
Afterward, the cognition of volunteers was measured, including language and reasoning skills, concentration and memory.
Scientists discovered that the wasabi group’s long- and short-term memory improved significantly compared with the control group. They found no effect in other cognitive functions.
More testing is being done to explore wasabi’s benefits. Physicians aren’t writing wasabi prescriptions just yet.
The spice is also known for being rich in vitamin C and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Indeed, researchers say wasabi might reduce inflammation in the area of the brain responsible for memory.
It’s important to remember that diet and exercise also play an important part in keeping our minds sharp. There is no single elixir for good brain health.
In the meantime, a sushi lunch just might hit the spot.
More than a month into 2024, how are your New Year’s resolutions holding up?
It can be difficult to stay disciplined, especially this time of year, when cold and gloomy weather can make comfort food appealing.
If you are still trying to lose weight, perhaps a new diet would be in order.
A new study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that compared with a diet that includes plants and meat, a plant-based diet is more conducive to weight loss.
More than 240 overweight adults took part in the research. Half of the trial’s participants are an omnivorous diet while the other half adopted a plant-based diet. After 16 weeks, participants who followed the vegan diet lost an average of 13 pounds.
The plant-based diet participants results correlated most strongly with weight loss.
Believe it or not — most participants lost weight, and it didn’t come from muscle loss. Instead, the lost weight was from body fat and visceral fat, which is located around the center of your body.
The study found whole grains and legumes drove weight loss. Nuts, fruits, vegetables, tea and coffee can help round out a nourishing vegan diet. It all comes down to nutrient density, which can be effective for those looking to lose weight.
Vegetables are rich in prebiotic fiber, which supports microbiome and digestive system health.
Less helpful foods, like meat, vegetable oils and sweets, were linked to weight gain in the study’s control group.
The study’s authors noted that the quality of the plant-based diet was important. The results showed that the best results came for those who consumed a healthful plant-based diet of nutrient-dense foods.
When you hit your head, the consequences can be as benign as an unsightly bump or as significant as a traumatic brain injury, which affects how the brain works — and can result in death or disability.
Now, researchers are digging into how brains respond to injury … and signs point to Snail.
No, not our slimy, mobile-housed gastropod. In this study, scientists from George Washington University use the term to refer to a protein that serves as something of a project manager, synchronizing the response of our brain cells after an injury.
When the body experiences damage to the central nervous system, a focused group of cells begin to make Snail, which appears to take on a starring role in the repair process. Depending on the levels of Snail found, the body’s response to healing the injury can handle the job capably or lead to more impairment.
For example, lowering the amount of Snail after an injury can result in higher levels of inflammation and cell death, according to the study.
This not only halts the healing process, but also worsens the injury itself … whereas higher amounts of Snail improve the outcomes of brain injuries, pointing to a potential avenue of study for those looking to improve the care of neurological injuries.
As usual, further studies will be needed to solidify the link between Snail production and its ability to help, or hinder, the brain’s ability to recover from injury.
But for now, the idea of a helpful snail being responsible for a speedy ticket to health is one we don’t mind envisioning — even if the actual process is much more biochemical in nature.
Humans have been balking at the idea of getting enough sleep since they were born. Newborns are famously fussy; teens prefer TV and phones; adults prioritize work or fun; and no one is busier than a toddler at bedtime.
Now, once more, we’re reminded that getting enough sleep is good for you — and this time, it’s with 50 years of research to cement the message.
That’s right — the new study from researchers in Texas distilled decades of research on the effects of sleep deprivation and mood. In short, losing sleep does much more than make you nod off at work. It can also heighten your feelings of anxiety, put you in a worse mood and entirely undermine how your emotions function.
Even the smallest sleep deficit can reap a terrible reward in the form of how we react to everyday events, interactions and feelings. There is no beating around the bush: Data analyzed from more than 150 studies and 1,500-plus [fifteen-hundred-plus] participants almost unequivocally point to the havoc that extended wake periods and small sleep windows wreak on humans’ emotional functioning.
People who experienced sleep deprivation across a number of studies felt fewer “happy” feelings and seemingly made up for it with an increased heart rate and more rumination.
And, while anxiety increased, researchers noted that stimulation in response to emotional stimuli was dulled.
Currently, about 30% of adults get less sleep than they need. For teens, the number is a staggering 90%, according to the study.
In some cases, environmental obstacles and life stages may play a role — but the study drives home a point we all know but could stand to be reminded of: Sleep better, feel better.
If you give a lick about hearth health, you might want to consider cutting back on your daily salt intake.
High blood pressure affects about 1 in 3 adults and is the leading cause of mortality in the world, contributing to heart attacks, heart failure, kidney damage and stroke.
While it’s long been known that there is a connection between sodium and hypertension, a new study led by scientists at Vanderbilt University finds that eliminating one teaspoon of salt from your daily regimen can notably reduce systolic blood pressure … that’s the top number in a blood pressure reading.
In fact, this slight reduction is just as effective as taking common blood pressure medicines. Even those who don’t have hypertension can see a healthy drop in their blood pressure from decreasing their daily sodium intake.
In fact, about 75% of all people — whether they take hypertension medications or not — are expected to see a reduction in their blood pressure if they lower their sodium intake.
Avoiding sodium isn’t always easy. Many processed foods like canned soups or frozen meals are high in sodium to enhance the flavor. Even store-bought foods people may not expect to be high in sodium, like a slice of bread, could be harboring a significant portion of a day’s worth of salt.
Researchers said that when reducing sodium, food may initially taste bland.
But they suggest we stick with it, because most people’s taste buds will adjust to the lower sodium diet within a couple of weeks.
So, take heart — just a little less salt will go a long way toward keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level.
While cardiovascular disease in horses is less common than in people, dogs and cats, because horses are often expected to perform work or athletic feats, their cardiovascular condition may be relatively more important, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. On this show, Dr. Meg Sleeper, a veterinary cardiology specialist, will discuss how heart problems are most frequently diagnosed in horses, and some of the tools that specialists are able to use these days to both diagnose and treat different types of heart disease when it occurs in their equine patients.
For premature infants, an incubator is usually their first stop after entering the world. Now, science may have found a better landing spot.
Immediate skin-to-skin contact between a premature newborn and a parent helps to develop the child’s social skills. That’s what researchers in Sweden determined recently after observing about 100 babies in a controlled study.
During the study, the babies were randomly assigned to either an incubator or immediate parental contact. The skin-to-skin contact lasted for six hours after birth. The study was one of the first to include fathers having skin-to-skin contact with newborns. Prior research focused on mothers’ interactions with premature infants.
Among other results, the study showed that immediate skin-to-skin contact is safe for babies. It also helps to stabilize a baby’s heart rate, breathing and temperature.
After four months, the social interactions between mothers and children were filmed and assessed. At the time of the assessments, the psychologists did not know if the babies were given parental contact or placed in incubators.
The infants who had immediate skin-to-skin contact showed better communication and social skills. On a five-point scale measuring those attributes, the incubator babies scored just above three. The infants who had skin-to-skin contact scored closer to four.
The researchers believe that initial closeness between parents and babies may help stimulate later interactions that boost development. It’s also what many parents want anyway: snuggle time with their new bundle of joy.
Drinking coffee in the morning is a routine for millions of people. Nothing beats that first sip; it instantly gets you ready for the day. But what if we told you that you could enjoy a different cup of Joe, and that it would be better for your health?
Coffee is a favorite beverage around the world. It’s notable for its smell and aroma, along with its high amounts of caffeine. While coffee is rich in antioxidants and offers a boost of energy, it does come with side effects.
Coffee has high amounts of alkaloids, organic compounds that cause physiological effects on humans. While this is not detrimental to most, consuming caffeine every day can increase blood pressure and irregularities in heart rate.
In response to this, coffee substitutes are on the rise. Known as “herbal coffee,” these substitutes are hot drinks created by roasting different parts of the plants, most often leaves, roots, fruits and seeds.
Plants such as acorns, dandelions and wild lupins are roasted until they acquire the color and taste of coffee. After the dark brown color and deep flavor are reached, phytochemicals are added to the roast to increase its health benefits. This adds both anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties. Herbal coffees have made their way from online stores to some grocery stores.
Herbal coffee provides the same benefits as regular coffee and comes without the increased risk of health conditions. And an added bonus: You can drink it in the evening with no worry that it’ll keep you up all night.
Tendon injuries in any species have a tough time healing. The repair tissue is more like a scar than regular tendon — it’s less elastic and weaker, making it susceptible to re-injury. Some tendon injuries are also at risk of mineralization and adhesion — that is, hardening and sticking — decreasing the tendon’s range of motion.
Stem cells are being examined for potential use in treating tendon injuries in horses. Stem cells reproduce well, can develop into many types of specialized cells and stimulate the production of healing molecules. What’s more, local injection of stem cells could replace invasive repairs.
Who knows? If stem cells help heal equine tendon injuries, they may help in other species, too — including humans.
Here’s a little test for you. Picture two beverage glasses, each containing a drink with identical nutritional content. Not a sugar molecule’s worth of difference. Indeed, the only thing differentiating these two beverages is color. One is clear, the other pink.
True or false? The pink drink will supercharge your workout and increase exercise performance.
On its face, that might not make sense. But the answer is true.
British researchers conducted what they believe is the first scientific investigation of the effect of drink color on exercise performance. They asked study participants to run on a treadmill for half an hour at a self-regulated pace in two sessions. The goal was to keep up a steady rate of exertion.
In one workout, volunteers rinsed their mouths with a clear drink that was artificially sweetened and low in calories. In a second, they rinsed with a drink containing a smidge of pink food dye that was otherwise identical to the first.
Why pink? Why not purple or red or taxi-cab yellow? Well, scientists figured pink is associated with perceived sweetness. As such, that increases the expectation of receiving energy-boosting sugar and carbohydrates — even if the body was really getting neither. Previous research had shown rinsing the mouth with real carbs pushes the body to better performance.
Guess what? Participants who partook of the pink drink ran an average of 695 feet farther while their mean speed increased about 4% compared with when they rinsed with a clear liquid.
Not only that, but the pink drinkers also found exercise more enjoyable.
Next time you head to the gym, think pink, and let the placebo effect work its magic.
Every year, car accidents take a sobering toll on human health and lives. But sadly, there are no statistics on the number of vehicular injuries and deaths for pet passengers.
Although many pets ride with their humans, there are no regulations for their safety, only general recommendations. In an accident or even sudden breaking or swerving, a pet can become a projectile, seriously endangering their safety and yours. Deployment of air bags can also severely injure pets.
To avoid these risks — as well as driver distraction — veterinarians recommend restraining pets, ideally in crates anchored in the rear of the car. Other restraint methods have been evaluated by the Center for Pet Safety, so check out their test results online.
In recent years, social media has been a consistent scapegoat — and often the guilty party — for problems plaguing teens, ranging from those related to how they navigate their relationships and social circles to their physical health, like how early (and often) they get enough sleep.
Though some parents may wish otherwise, social media won’t be going away anytime soon. Now, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine offers recommendations for social media companies and others to lessen the negative effects of social media use on adolescents’ health, while boosting its benefits.
The report suggests the differences between teen and adult brains mean that adolescents can be uniquely affected by social media use, for better or worse. Teens have less-developed emotional regulation controls and a heightened sensitivity to rewards. And, according to the report, they are developmentally meant to seek out independence and explore new identities. Social media appeals to all of those things.
Currently, much of the research on social media use relies on correlation, not causation — and the report cautions against equating the two until more study is done. In short: We need better guidelines, including those social media companies take part in and enact themselves, as well as better training for parents, teachers and even medical providers so they can provide advice and caution against potentially harmful use.
Liking a post won’t likely end your teen’s well-being — or if it does, there isn’t solid research to say so.
For now, moderation works better than trying to completely avoid something so entwined in our everyday lives.
Veterinary oncology today makes use of increasingly sophisticated tools and methods for treating cancer in pets. In addition to surgery and medical therapy, or chemotherapy, radiation oncology is a veterinary specialty that entails the use of controlled radiation to treat certain types of cancer. On this show, Dr. Marilia Takada, a clinical assistant professor and veterinary radiation oncology specialist, will discuss what radiation therapy is, how it works and types of cancer it’s used most frequently to treat. She’ll also discuss why radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with other therapies to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month, so it’s a great time to focus on our pet’s pearly whites.
Good dental health is a key part of any pet’s overall health. For example, periodontal disease — inflammation or infection of the gums and other soft tissues around the teeth — can spread to other parts of the body.
That’s why your pet should have a complete veterinary dental exam and cleaning at least once a year. More often if your pet develops bad breath, trouble eating, a reduced appetite, bleeding from the mouth — even general irritability.
One last thing: Veterinarians recommend that pets be anesthetized for optimal dental evaluation and teeth cleaning. Preventing movement, stress and pain makes the procedure safer.
Winter can be a tough time for cows, depending on their condition and fluctuating temperatures.
Cows in good condition with thick winter coats generally hold their own in temperatures down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But for thin cows or those with wet haircoats, temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees can cause trouble.
For each degree below those temperatures, a cow’s energy needs increase by about 1%. So, if temperatures drop below 0 degrees, cows need at least a 30% increase in maintenance calories.
Producers can help by always having fresh hay available, supplementing with concentrated feed and ensuring easy access to unfrozen water. Sheltering animals from wind and precipitation decreases cold stress too.
When is poop too soft or too hard? Poop quality can be a source of worry especially for new pet owners. Is there something wrong with the diet or is the gut working normally? Is a visit to your veterinarian or even referral to an internal medicine or nutrition specialist a good idea? On this show, Dr. Richard Hill, who is board-certified in both small animal internal medicine and nutrition, will discuss what affects fecal form, different types of diarrhea and common reasons for changes in poop quality. More importantly, he’ll talk about what information you should take with your pet to a veterinarian to help come up with an effective treatment plan.
Figuring out which foods to eat for a well-balanced, nutritious diet can be daunting. First, consider the beverages and processed foods you consume that contain high levels of added sugar and salt. Working to avoid these items can help reduce your risk for some health problems.
For instance, sugary drinks such as sodas are high in calories, and many health experts recommend avoiding them entirely. Research has linked high sugar intake with obesity and heart disease. A Tufts University study found that the consumption of sugary drinks led to a higher risk for Type 2 diabetes and cancer, not to mention tooth decay.
Fatty snacks exact a high toll, as well. Processed foods like ice cream, candy and breakfast cereal can raise your risk for obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, depression and even premature death. It is best to approach these items — along with sodium-rich foods — as a treat on special occasions.
No single approach works for everyone. That is why some nutritionists suggest there are no bad foods, only excessive quantities. Eating in moderation and following dietary guidelines outlined by the Department of Agriculture are useful to keep your cravings in check.
If you are unsure where to start, consider visiting your doctor for a check-up. Then, you will have a baseline for understanding your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, among other factors.
By tailoring your food choices to you and your family’s health risks and current health, you’ll be eating in a way that may help you stay healthier for many years to come.
Do you reflexively leave a light on when leaving your pets home alone? Many of us do, but chances are it does more for our peace of mind than theirs.
While it’s always a good idea to let pets have access to ambient light, most don’t need lights left on at night. Like us, dogs are most active during the day, and their activity is prompted by natural light from outside. In contrast, cats are more active at night. That said, both dogs and cats see better in the dark than we do, thanks to the light reflective layer in the back of their eyes.
However, pets who don’t see well can benefit from extra light to help keep them safe and tamp down their anxiety. And whenever possible, every pet benefits from a steady light routine.
By now, everyone should know that losing weight, quitting smoking and reducing stress are sure ways to lower blood pressure. But there are other not-so-obvious, natural ways that also can help. And virtually all of them can be found in your favorite grocery store.
Eating dark chocolate, in small amounts, is a tasty way to lower blood pressure. It’s filled with flavonoids, which are small plant compounds that cause blood vessels to expand, helping increase heart health in multiple areas of the body.
Adding berries to your diet also can help with blood pressure because they are packed with polyphenols. These are natural plant compounds that have been shown to lower the risk of stroke, heart disease and diabetes.
Put bananas and other potassium-rich foods on your shopping list. These remove sodium from your body and soften pressure on blood vessels. You can increase your potassium levels by eating more vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt, nuts, beans and fish.
How’s your magnesium consumption? Magnesium is a mineral that relaxes blood vessels, and most of us don’t get nearly enough. What can you eat that’s rich in magnesium? Whole foods, like legumes and whole grains, as well as chicken, lean meat, vegetables and dairy products.
You can also visit the supplements aisle. You may not be aware that aged garlic extract, whey protein, fish oils and hibiscus all have specific properties that can help reduce blood pressure.
So, if you’re looking for some nontraditional ways to lower your blood pressure and improve your overall heart health, add these natural items to your diet. And treat yourself to a piece of guilt-free dark chocolate.
Love makes us all a little loopy.
Even the expressions we use to describe romantic love evoke a special kind of madness. It’s blind. We’re head over heels. We fall in love. Two people are “crazy” about each other.
It’s been long known that our brains change when we’re in the first flush of romantic love. The hormone oxytocin [ox-ee-toe-sin] is released, causing the goofy euphoria that defines early romance.
Now, a team of Australian researchers has measured how a part of the brain is responsible for putting our new lover on a pedestal.
When we love someone or interact with loved ones, the so-called love hormone oxytocin circulates through the body’s nervous system and bloodstream.
But when romantic love is involved, our brains up the ante by adding the chemical dopamine. The dopamine and oxytocin pack a double punch, activating pathways in the brain associated with positive feelings.
The two-ingredient cocktail is responsible for the way those in love tend to put their romantic partner on a pedestal, and how that significant other often becomes the center of a person’s life.
Study participants included more than 1,550 young adults from around the world who described themselves as being in love. The adults were surveyed about their emotional reactions to their partner, their behavior related to their partner and the focus put on their partner.
The scientific study of love is in its infancy, but the Australian scientists’ next step is to investigate male and female approaches to love. Also in the works: A global survey identifying four types of romantic lovers.
Seems scientists, like the rest of us, love a lover.
Many veterinary procedures that used to require major surgery can now be accomplished through minimally invasive means, all because of interventional radiology.
This technology uses imaging to guide therapeutic procedures. Once small instruments are placed into blood vessels or tiny incisions, real-time videos created by ultrasound, X-rays or fiberoptic tubes guide them through the body to the site of repair.
Interventional radiology can be used for heart, airway and gastrointestinal or urinary tract conditions, just to name a few. Not surprisingly, these procedures require considerable expertise, but result in numerous benefits, including lower risks, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.
Laminitis [lă-mah-NĪ-tŭs] — or inflammation of the tissues connecting the hoof to underlying bone — remains a potentially debilitating disease in our equine companions. Of the possible causes, one of the most common is hyperinsulinemia [hī-per-insŭ-lǐn-Ē-mē-ah].
Also known as equine metabolic syndrome, most animals affected by hyperinsulinemia are obese. They produce too much insulin that doesn’t work effectively in controlling fat. Coupled with a high carbohydrate diet, this can snowball into laminitis.
The process is complicated, but good management can nip it in the bud. Controlling obesity is key, including curbing carbs and encouraging exercise. Equine veterinarians play a key role in identifying and monitoring animals at risk, supervising their management and medicating those who need extra help.
Being in a relationship is known to have positive health benefits like reducing anxiety and boosting longevity. But it can also increase the odds of having something less desirable in common: high blood pressure.
When one partner or spouse has hypertension, it’s more likely that the other partner does, too. That’s the takeaway from a recent study by University of Michigan researchers, who looked at blood pressure metrics among more than 33,000 couples in the U.S., England, China and India. The study is the first of its kind to look at high blood pressure among heterosexual couples in high- and middle-income countries.
The overall prevalence of hypertension in two partners or spouses was highest in England and the U.S., at 47% and 38%, respectively. Wives in India and China who had a hypertensive spouse were at least 19% more likely to have high blood pressure themselves.
High blood pressure is more common in the U.S. and England than in China and India, but the researchers found a stronger association between couples’ blood pressure in the two Asian countries. The researchers don’t know why that is, but they do have a theory: Cultural norms in India and China emphasize a cohesive family structure. As couples depend on each other, it’s possible their health issues become more closely entwined.
The researchers say the findings are significant because high blood pressure is one of the most modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Health-improvement messages aimed at spouses could be especially effective.
So, there’s one more thing happy couples might consider adding to their wedding registry: a blood pressure cuff.
In the last half of 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) approved several drugs for certain pets.
In August, Senvelgo, a once-daily liquid oral medication, was approved for feline diabetes. Up to now, at least 30% of cats with diabetes have gone untreated due to challenges of previous treatment regimens.
Then in September, the FDA issued conditional approval of Fidoquel-CA1, a phenobarbital tablet for dogs with epilepsy.
Finally, in November, the oral drug Bonqat was approved to quell fear and anxiety in cats before and during veterinary visits.
FDA approval ensures that drugs have been rigorously tested for efficacy and safety — and now our pets have more medications than ever specifically geared to their needs.
Dogs are hard-wired to be curious about others of their kind — which can result in frustrating situations when you’re out and about.
Even a usually well-behaved dog might surrender to temptation and run over to another pooch while out on a walk. But instead of coaxing him to return, you might be able to stop the reflex in its tracks.
The key is to make yourself more enticing than the alternative. A simple solution is to come armed with toys and treats. When your dog is poised to run over to another one, presenting a treat or a toy can reset the scenario. In short, you present a high-value alternative.
So, next time you’re both on your way out for a walk, bring along some fun “ammunition” to keep your dog focused.
If you find yourself toiling away into the wee hours of the night and dreading the morning alarm clock, you’re likely to identify as a night owl.
Night owls have received a good bit of criticism from early birds over the years, but having a preference for staying up late is hard-wired into those with an evening chronotype.
While there is nothing wrong with being a night owl in and of itself, new evidence shows that those who go to bed and wake up late are more likely to develop some chronic illnesses.
A recent Harvard University study points to night owls being 72% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than early risers. This disparity is largely due to lifestyle factors more common among night owls, like excessive alcohol use, smoking, a higher body mass index, poor diet and less physical activity.
Once researchers took unhealthy lifestyle factors out of the mix, that number dropped to 19% — still a notable increase over the early birds.
Experts recommend that night owls take note of these risk factors and work to avoid or eliminate them to lower the likelihood of developing diabetes, heart disease or other chronic conditions.
Another important finding the scientists uncovered was that natural night owls who worked later in the day or overnight did not have the same risk association for diabetes.
Like it or not, many night owls must stick to the typical 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work day due to family obligations and career opportunities. If this is your predicament, be mindful of how your lifestyle choices may increase your risk.
Rather than binge-watching just one more episode, think about saving it for for tomorrow night.
In a recent study, dogs fed undercooked meat were more likely to pass antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their stool. Surface contamination then increases the risk of the bacteria spreading to people, making some infections tougher to treat.
The major cause of antibiotic resistance is overuse of antibiotics. Inappropriate antibiotic use in livestock can increase antibiotic resistance in their normal bacterial flora, which then extends to their meat. In this study, antibiotic-resistant E. coli [Ē. CŌ-lī] were more often found in the stool of dogs fed raw or undercooked meat.
That’s why the American Veterinary Medical Association discourages feeding raw animal protein to dogs and cats. Thoroughly cooking the protein helps avoid the problem.
The optimal healthcare plan is one that keeps pets thriving by preventing illness and disease before it ever happens. Often termed “wellness programs”, preventative healthcare may include vaccination, internal and external parasite prevention, dental and hoof care. In this session Dr Sally DeNotta will discuss wellness programs for horses and share a few key updates for horse owners in Florida and beyond.
Listen to the whisper of a breeze through a forest, or the gentle burbling of a stream over a rocky bed. Pay attention to the birds as they greet each new day with throaty, joyful calls. These sounds from nature not only help calm our busy lives — new research finds they also can confer profound health and well-being benefits.
Researchers in Canada reviewed two dozen studies that examined the benefits of natural sounds. Participants overwhelmingly reported less stress, improved moods and less pain after listening to recordings of nature sounds. Water sounds helped the most with health, while bird sounds alleviated stress and annoyance.
The researchers noted humans are hardwired to listen for signals of danger and security. An environment of natural sounds feels safe. It allows us to let our guard down, reducing stress and encouraging mental recuperation.
One study they reviewed found people who spent just two hours each week outside in nature — including parks, woodlands and beaches — reported greater well-being than people who spent less time outdoors. Another study, involving more than 8 million people from seven countries, showed people living near green spaces tended to live longer than those living in more urban environments.
The absence of natural sounds has been shown to lead to heightened vigilance and induce a more alert, aroused state. For this reason, the researchers recommend urban planners include more water features and other natural elements in parks to help restore a sense of calmness for city dwellers.
Everyone appreciates a good listener. But not everybody has someone with a sympathetic ear available when they need to talk. And that, research indicates, might have consequences for their brain health.
People with supportive listeners tend to have greater cognitive resilience that might help prevent cognitive decline. That’s according to a study by medical researchers at New York University.
They say their findings suggest that study participants with this social support have stronger cognitive function than expected given the age- or disease-related changes seen in their brains. Scientists believe that resilience acts as a buffer to some of the mental infirmities of aging.
Researchers came to that conclusion after analyzing data from more than 2,100 people who self-reported their social interactions and then underwent brain scans and neuropsychological assessments. The scans measured participant brain volume, with lower volumes associated with diminished cognitive function.
The average age of the group was 63. The investigation, however, shows results might not just be applicable to older adults. People in their 40s and 50s who didn’t have access to good listeners had brains that were, cognitively speaking, four years older than those who had high-listener availability.
Investigators believe their findings are important enough to merit physicians adding a standard question about social history during a patient interview.
All this points to the importance of seeking out good listeners when our lives offer a challenge we don’t want to handle alone. And as the NYU scientists note, it demonstrates the need to be better listeners ourselves.
Recently, you might have heard about a mysterious dog illness cropping up in some states. Although this may involve a new pathogen, it’s likely part of the canine infectious respiratory disease complex, or C-I-R-D-C, that intermittently flares up.
CIRDC is a group of individual bacterial and viral diseases, any of which can spread from dog to dog. Most affected dogs develop only mild signs — classically a cough, but sometimes a runny nose or eyes. However, occasionally a dog can develop more serious respiratory disease.
If you’re a pooch parent, you can help by keeping your dog up to date on vaccinations and staying away from canine gatherings — especially during outbreaks. Ask your veterinarian for more advice tailored to your dog’s needs.
Since most pet parents consider their beastie buddies members of the family, it may not be surprising that most folks would pass on an otherwise ideal house if it doesn’t suit their pets’ fancies.
Enter “barkitecture,” which is basically home design geared to pets, with some aesthetics for us thrown in. Obvious examples include fenced-in yards and custom-built dog runs or catios — those are cat-safe outdoor enclosures. But that’s just the start. From custom-built dog nooks and pup showers in mudrooms to built-in feeding stations and pet beds hidden in nightstands, the sky’s the limit for some pampered pets.
But let’s face it — a lot of it’s geared to us. All our pets really want is to be safe and loved with room to do their thing.
Most everyone knows this feeling: An event invitation arrives. You don’t want to go but accept anyway in order to not seem rude.
Now, new findings by West Virginia University researchers show it’s OK to say no. That’s because people often overestimate the social consequences of declining an invitation.
It’s a pervasive sentiment: More than three-fourths of the people in a pilot study admitted accepting an invitation to an activity they didn’t want to attend because they were worried about the social stigma that comes with declining.
To determine whether those concerns were founded, the researchers conducted a group of experiments with more than 2,000 people. One of them involved either inviting or being invited by a friend to dinner with a celebrity chef at a local restaurant. The invitees were told to imagine declining due to having a busy day and wanting to relax that evening. Those who envisioned extending the invitation were told their friend declined for those reasons.
The researchers found that the invitation-decliners expected immediate, negative effects on their friendship. Those people expected their friends to be disappointed, angry and less likely to socialize in the future.
Throughout the experiments, clear evidence emerged: Invitees consistently overestimated the negative fallout of declining an invite. The researchers said that’s because people put too much emphasis on the actual refusal. In other words: The person extending the invitation may be far more understanding than you think.
So, go ahead, just say no — and then don’t give it another thought.
With festive food and tasty treats, it’s likely your holiday season was delightful.
But your exercise routine — or your lack thereof … was it frightful?
Making exercise routines stick in a new year is hard for many of us. But with a few tips, it doesn’t have to be.
If you walk just 11 minutes every day, you already are well on your way to a longer life. According to a study that involved the health records of 30 million people, researchers concluded in the British Journal of Sports Medicine that walking for even that short duration lowers your risk of premature death by nearly 25%. In fact, such a jaunt lowers your risk for heart disease and cancer, too.
But why stop there? You can boost your brain health by walking four days a week. Brain scans from a study of people 70 and older found that brain connections and cell networks grew stronger in committed walkers.
Perhaps you want to burn fat. In that case, try a morning workout. Research in mice showed that animals who ran within a few hours of waking burned more fat than those who did so later in the day. That’s because morning workouts release more fatty acids into the bloodstream, which fuels muscles.
And get this: You need not overexert yourself. The key to finding your fat-burning zone is moderate exercise. The lighter the workout, the more your body uses fat for energy. That’s because the harder you work physically, the more your body relies on carbohydrates for fuel.
For walkers, the fat-burning pace is about 2.5 to 3 miles per hour, or a 20-minute mile.
What are you waiting for? Grab your shoes, tie your laces and start walking. Soon, your friends will be trying to keep up with you.
This time of the year brings new responsibilities and priorities, growing our to-do lists…
Lazy cleaners, rejoice: The bacteria typically found in many kitchens isn’t as harmful as…
The Dog Aging Project is a collaboration among pooch parents, veterinarians and researchers looking to identify the biologic and environmental factors that allow our canine companions to live their best — and longest — lives. The project is following tens of thousands of dogs for ten years and announcing some of their findings along the way.
Their survey data on more than 21,000 dogs show that dogs who live together — experiencing routine canine interaction — are significantly healthier than those that don’t. Other factors, such as living in stable neighborhoods, in homes with greater financial stability and with older adults, lead to better health outcomes too. But these factors have only about one-fifth the impact of canine socialization.
It looks like our dogs know what’s good for them when they rush to play with fellow canines.
Similar to human medicine, the veterinary profession has different specialties that enable veterinarians, nurses, and staff to excel at particular topics. Just like your family doctor, family veterinarians are the front line of care that support most of you and your pet’s needs, from preventative care all the way to life-saving surgery. Collaboration with or referral to veterinary specialists has usually been reserved for the worst-of-the-worst conditions, or the most frustrating cases. However, on this show Dr. Bret Moore, a veterinary ophthalmologist, will discuss that true collaboration in veterinary practice means working together on a regular basis, and will share how it benefits pets, pet owners, and even veterinary professionals. We will discuss how current research and communication methods are improving our collaborative methods and opening up doors to be able to provide your pet with the best possible care in the most effective way possible.
After three decades of Labrador retrievers taking the lead, the American Kennel Club has tagged the French bulldog the favorite dog breed in the US. So, why is that controversial, especially among veterinarians?
There’s no question that Frenchies can be funny, friendly little dogs — and their short snout is pretty cute. But that flat face can make it tough for these little guys to breathe — especially in warm weather. They’re also prone to spinal issues, skin problems and eye conditions.
Although some French bulldogs can be very fit, a 2018 study showed that nearly 75 percent of them have health problems. And it’s likely that unscrupulous breeding will push that number up.
So, if you’re intent on finding a Frenchie, be sure to research breeders and health testing first — and know that their veterinary care can be quite expensive.
Canine influenza, or dog flu, is very contagious and can have wide-ranging effects. So, with vaccines available, should your pooch get the jab?
The influenza virus spreads by aerosolized droplets from infected dogs sneezing, coughing or barking. But it can also be spread by objects — like
food bowls and leashes — or even by people handling other dogs.
Dogs usually develop a mild respiratory infection within a few days after exposure, which causes coughing, nasal discharge and fever. They’re lethargic and don’t eat much, but the problems generally resolve on their own. But some dogs develop pneumonia, which can be fatal.
The vaccine isn’t for every dog, but it may be for yours if the risks are high enough — that is, if your pooch goes to day care or frequents dog parks. Talk to your veterinarian about what’s best for your buddy.
As tick populations spread across the United States, so do the diseases they carry. That includes an especially dangerous one just for cats.
Cytauxzoonosis [sīt-ō-zō-ŭn-Ō-sĭs] — known as bobcat fever — is caused by a microorganism transmitted by Lone Star ticks. It spreads from bobcats — who don’t get sick from it — to domestic cats who bear the brunt. And the numbers may be increasing — in part because pet parents don’t know about it.
Cats can get sick up to two weeks after a tick bite. They lose their appetite, become lethargic and develop a fever. As they worsen, they become anemic and jaundiced and struggle to breathe. Over 70% of affected cats die within three days without veterinary care — and that care is complex and intensive.
Prevention is a much better idea, accomplished by keeping cats indoors and using a feline tick preventative year-round.
Biotherapies are big news in veterinary medicine. They include monoclonal antibodies — or mAbs [pronounced as a word, not letters: măbs] — and agents that boost the immune system.
mAbs target precise molecules in the body. Because they’re made for a particular species, they have to be developed separately for dogs and cats. That accounts for their higher cost, but their effectiveness and relatively few side effects usually offset it.
Three mAbs are currently approved for veterinary use — one for dogs with atopic [ā-TOP-ĭc] dermatitis and one each for cats and dogs with arthritis.
Another type of biotherapy involves veterinary vaccines for cancer — most commonly malignant melanoma. These vaccines are made from tumor cells, and once injected, they can help patients produce antibodies against that cancer.
Researchers are busy developing more biotherapies for animals, so stay tuned.
Dogs and cats don’t get hay fever, per se, but they definitely can be allergic to pollen, mold and dust. It’s just that instead of affecting their respiratory tract, allergens target their skin, causing atopic [ā-TOP-ĭc] dermatitis.
Genetically affected pets have a defective skin barrier that allows the particles to enter their body, causing inflammation and relentless itching.
There’s no definitive test, but the clinical presentation of atopic dermatitis is pretty characteristic. It’s often worst from spring through fall, and animals are usually relatively young when first affected. Dogs often lick their feet, while cats tend to overgroom their face and neck.
Atopic dermatitis is miserable for pets and can cause other problems too. If your pet is scratching or licking uncontrollably, see your veterinarian as soon as possible to learn more.
Even the most diehard fans of sugar-free sweeteners might admit their flavor profile isn’t…
Serious trauma like a gunshot wound can cause massive blood loss. People sustaining such…
Now hear this: A portable device is showing some promise in silencing tinnitus [tih-nuh-tuhs],…
When most people think of farm animals, they conjure traditional farm species, such as…
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus is a pathogen transmitted by midges that causes significant economic…
Dogs explore the world through their mouths, but unfortunately that can mean trouble when…
Neanderthals walking the earth 100,000 years ago and more recent ancient humans had tartar…
Plant life, including ornamental bushes and shrubbery, is ubiquitous throughout the country. While plants…
Disinfectant wipes became a weapon of choice against the coronavirus when the COVID-19 panic…
Parlez-vous français? Sprechen sie Deutsch? ¿Hablas español? The bilingual among us might have a…
We’ve got smartphones, smartwatches and smart homes. Get ready for smart bandages, too. Scientists…
When animal shelters are overcrowded, a sad consequence can be the euthanasia of animals…
Pet overpopulation is a serious problem in our country, and animal shelters, which provide…
Summer is here, and warmer weather presents situations that could cause problems for your…
Common in Southeast Asia and the tropical Pacific islands, the rat lungworm is a parasite that can cause severe central nervous system disease in people and in animals. The parasite has been found in gastropods as well as more recently in invasive Cuban treefrogs in Florida. How worried should we be? On this show, Dr. Heather Walden, a parasitologist, will discuss how the rat lungworm is transmitted from host to host, why the discovery of new hosts for the parasite is a cause for concern, and what you can do to minimize the chance that you or your pets might become infected.
Ever thought you might want to bring an exotic pet into your household? Pets other than the traditional dog or cat have become increasingly popular in the past few decades. However, before you bring home a pet rabbit, a snake, an iguana, a ferret or some other exotic species, there are some things you need to carefully consider. Dr. Darryl Heard, a zoological medicine specialist, will talk about some of the more common exotic pet species, their specific needs and the pros and cons of exotic pet ownership.
Infectious diseases in reptiles and amphibians might not get the media attention of some other health issues, but play a key role in animal and ecosystem health. On this show, two UF veterinarians, Dr. Jim Wellehan of the zoological medicine service, and Dr. Rob Ossiboff of the aquatic, amphibian and reptile pathology service, team up to discuss some of the diseases that can be found in both captive and wild populations of reptiles and amphibians in different parts of the world, and why understanding and controlling the spread of these diseases is so important.
A diet high in fat is associated with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and some cancers. British scientists, however, have found one thing a fatty diet is good at preventing: worms.
Whipworms, to be precise. This is a parasitic worm that can infect the large intestine and cause digestive distress. That includes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and bloody stool. It’s usually not fatal. But it can lead to anemia if untreated.
The worms are a particular problem in the developing world where sanitation is poor. The eggs of the whipworm are transmitted in feces, making areas without adequate sewage treatment vulnerable.
The findings about fatty foods came as a surprise to researchers. They discovered fatty foods trigger an increase in a type of molecule on immune cells that work to eliminate the parasite.
Researchers say this is an important lesson about how diet can have profound impacts on the body. The findings also might provide clues about treatments for the millions of people who are infected.
But don’t get cocky about the health benefits of your junk food diet just yet. Previous research has shown that weight loss helps eliminate a different kind of parasite.
Of course, since the whipworm isn’t a serious health threat in the United States, it behooves most people to avoid fatty foods to protect their health.
A few facts about the whipworm. The name derives from its long and narrow tail, which looks like, you guessed it, a whip. The parasite has a lifespan of up to three years, with females capable of laying 20,000 eggs a day.
In other words, it’s one of the last things in the world anyone wants in their gut.
Dogs explore the world through their mouths, but unfortunately that can mean trouble when the items they swallow include things like clothing, paper, bones and many other items that can wreak havoc on their gastrointestinal system. Cats often will ingest thread, wool, plant materials and small toys, among other things, and are similarly at risk for foreign body obstruction. On this show, Dr. Kathleen Ham will discuss what happens when something gets stuck and causes a foreign body obstruction, what treatments are needed and what pet owners can do to minimize risks associated with this problem, both inside and outside of the household.
That noisy traffic outside your home could do more than disrupt your sleep. It may also raise your risk of developing tinnitus [tin-nuh-tuhs], a chronic ringing or other noise in the ears.
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark studied data from 3.5 million people, finding that the risk of tinnitus grew along with traffic noise. It is the first time scientists have found a correlation between hearing issues and residential traffic noise.
In addition to identifying more than 40,000 cases of tinnitus, they made a broader connection: For every 10 decibels that sound increased in Danish homes, there was a 6% increase in the risk of tinnitus. For example, 10 decibels are about the sound level a human produces when breathing, while a typical washing machine generates 70 decibels.
The researchers also noted that traffic noise can be part of a vicious, unending cycle. Traffic noise can cause stress and sleep disruptions, which can cause tinnitus to become even worse.
So how much noise is too much? In Denmark, the guidance level for harmful traffic noise indoors is 58 decibels. In the United States, it’s 55 decibels, or about the sound level of a normal conversation.
Solutions can come in many forms, although some are easier than others. Sleeping in a room farthest from the road is the simplest option. Installing sound-reducing windows is another strategy.
In some places, government has gotten involved. Noise-buffering barriers can be placed along roads. In Germany, speed limits have been lowered in some places at night.
When it comes to avoiding tinnitus, a little less noise in your home can make a big difference.
It’s the great dinner table debate, one that may never be settled: sweet potatoes or white potatoes?
Whether they’re fried, mashed or baked, opinions about the orange, starchy tubers abound. Now, there’s something else to consider: Sweet potatoes can be mass-produced into antioxidant-packed, gluten-free flour for baking or other cooking.
Recent findings from the American Chemical Society describe how sweet potatoes can be handled and processed into flour in large quantities. That’s good news for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, which causes stomach distress due to the proteins in wheat flour.
To make flour that can be produced on a large scale, experts set out to develop an optimal process for drying and grinding sweet potatoes. The researchers made many attempts, varying things like grinding methods and drying temperatures.
Understanding the effects of grinding was, well, a grind. A single grind produced sweet potato flour that is ideal for gluten-free breads. Grinding it a second time further disrupted its crystal structure, producing thickening agents for stews and soups.
Eventually, the researchers had an edible eureka moment: Sweet potatoes that were dried at a higher temperature, and ground once, produced a loaf of bread that had more antioxidants than wheat flour or currently available sweet potato flour.
While sweet potato flour is already on the market, it’s harder to find and more expensive than wheat flour. The researchers hope their findings will open the proverbial pantry door, giving sweet potato flour a spot alongside its wheat flour cousin.
You can cut back on the sweets. Or move in with your sweetheart. Doing either might help lower your blood sugar.
A study by Canadian and European researchers found that in adults over 50, tying the proverbial knot or living with a romantic partner produced the long-term benefit of lowering blood-sugar levels.
Previous work has shown that companionship helps maintain good health and might lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s, among other problems. Older adults are particularly vulnerable.
Researchers used biomarker data and reviewed medical and marital information from a group of more than 3,300 volunteers. Scientists excluded anyone with a history of diabetes.
From 2004 to 2013, they drew volunteers’ blood to measure average glucose levels.
Of the study participants, three-quarters were married or cohabitating. Interestingly, researchers found that the status of the relationship, whether strong or strained, seemed to have little if any bearing on blood sugar.
What mattered first and foremost was simply being in a relationship. The social support it brings is good for our well-being. Beyond maintaining physical health, it helps us avoid depression, which has a deleterious effect on the body.
Blood sugar levels are particularly important. The effects of diabetes can be devastating.
No one, however, suggests primary care doctors will prescribe a low-carb diet and marriage during your next appointment.
While study titles are usually heavy on scientific jargon, the authors of this paper had more of a romantic bent.
Theirs begins, “How sweet is your love?”
It’s that time of year — when mosquitoes start bugging us again. Beyond inflicting uncomfortable bites, mosquitoes carry some daunting diseases, including heartworms, which can be deadly for dogs, cats and ferrets.
Heartworm disease isn’t just a problem in the summer or the warmest parts of the county. Heartworm infections occur in all 50 states and create year-round issues.
Once a mosquito injects heartworm larvae into an animal’s body, these immature forms travel to the heart and lungs where some can grow up to 12 inches long. The damage they inflict can be life-threatening without treatment, which is costly and grueling on its own. That’s why prevention is so worth the effort.
Most veterinarians now recommend year-round treatment with a heartworm preventative. Talk to yours about the best choice for your furry friend.
Advanced diagnostic imaging tools can be life-saving for large and small animals. Expertise in this key area of veterinary medicine is critical for both pinpointing diseases and guiding the treatment process.
On this show, Dr. Federico Vilaplana Grosso, a clinical associate professor and diagnostic imaging specialist, will discuss some of the tools used most frequently these days in veterinary medicine to diagnose diseases. He’ll also discuss how veterinary specialists can supplement what general practitioners are able to do when the need for diagnostic images arises, and how technology has evolved to enable the veterinary care team to obtain faster and ever more accurate diagnoses in order to ensure the best possible outcome for your pet or horse.
Cats that don’t feel well often eat less, losing weight if it goes on long enough. But what if your cat’s getting thin in spite of a good appetite?
There are several feline medical problems that can cause weight loss — or worse — despite normal eating patterns. One is diabetes, because it causes cats to break down fat and protein instead of using sugar for energy. Another is hyperthyroidism, which is common in older cats. Cancer can also be the culprit. Less common, a malabsorption / maldigestion disorder can cause cats to shed weight in spite of a ravenous appetite.
Any of these conditions often cause other symptoms too, which you’re likely to notice. But don’t sit on it — schedule a veterinary checkup if your kitty’s weight loss is unintentional or you have other concerns.
Prescription sleep medications may help you get more rest but can also be associated with an increased risk of dementia.
That’s the primary finding by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, who tracked about 3,000 older adults for almost a decade. Among that group, 20% developed dementia. White people who “often” or “almost always” took sleep medicine were 79% more likely to get dementia than those who never or rarely took sleep aids.
For Black participants, frequent sleep-aid users had similar chances of developing dementia compared with those who abstained or rarely took them. However, the researchers also noted that Black participants’ use of sleep aids was markedly lower than white participants.
White people were three times as likely to take sleep medications and were almost twice as likely to use prescription benzodiazepines [benzo-die-az-uh-peens] and 10 times as likely to use trazodone, a nonaddictive antidepressant often prescribed for insomnia.
What’s driving the apparent association between sleep aids and dementia? Researchers are still looking for answers to those questions, but they believe the type, quantity and frequency of sleep medications play a role.
The researchers say their findings suggest we probably ought to look for other options before jumping to sleep medications. A sleep study would be a good place to start. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is also an option. The hormone melatonin may be a safer option than prescription drugs — but consult a doctor first.
At bedtime, it may be wise to count sheep instead of prescription pills.
Despite the widely known benefits of getting enough sleep, the old adage, “You can sleep when you’re dead,” is favored among college kids, workaholics and night owls alike. Now, researchers are once again suggesting we take a second look at how much rest we’re getting, and they’re serious — like a heart attack.
In a new study from the American College of Cardiology, results indicate that folks who suffer from insomnia were 69% more likely to have a heart attack than those without the sleep disorder. And, when using sleep duration as a measure of insomnia, those who slept five hours or less per night had the greatest risk of experiencing a heart attack.
Published in the scientific journal Clinical Cardiology, the study’s researchers conducted a systematic review of existing studies and found a significant association between insomnia and having a heart attack — even after they controlled for age, gender, comorbidities and smoking.
Participants who reported sleeping five hours or less a night were 1.38 times more likely to have a heart attack compared with participants who slept for six hours a night. And the five-hours-a-night crowd were 1.56 times more likely to have a heart attack than those who logged seven to eight hours of shuteye.
Getting too much sleep, however, can be almost as harmful as getting too little. Even sleeping six hours a night, as opposed to the lauded eight, carried a lower heart attack risk compared with folks who slept nine hours a night.
So check in on your own sleep habits. Rest assured, sleep continues to be a critically important factor in our overall health.
Beware of the sedentary life. Long spells of sitting have already been linked to a host of physical ailments. Now, scientists say, it can contribute to heightened anxiety and depression.
Researchers at Iowa State University took a closer look at behavior and mental well-being in early and mid-2020. That’s when the pandemic created legions of new couch potatoes. Those who spent more time sitting during a three-month period that year were more likely to feel depressed and anxious.
The scientists analyzed survey responses from more than 3,000 people in every state and the District of Columbia. People self-reported how much time they spent sitting, exercising and using electronic devices compared with pre-pandemic times. They also indicated changes to their mental well-being, including depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness.
Among the more active people — those who got up to five hours of exercise a week before the pandemic — their physical activity dropped by 32% after COVID-19 restrictions took effect. Meanwhile, their depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness increased.
That effect was even more pronounced among those who were less active heading into the pandemic. For people whose sitting times stayed high during early COVID-19, their symptoms of depression intensified significantly. The less active people also did not bounce back as quickly from their depressive feelings compared with more active people.
The researchers said one helpful strategy is to be aware of your lack of activity. Take regular breaks from your computer work to move around. For remote workers, a walk around the block can replicate the morning commute.
While some dogs are easier to train than others, sometimes it’s the trainer who could use training.
Great dog trainers share certain traits, like patience, discipline and consistency. But other qualities are just as important. For example, the ability to really listen and adapt to each dog is key. That requires real-time collaboration with a dog and the ability to tweak methods on the fly and make it fun.
Some canine behavioral experts use parenting styles to evaluate methods of dog training. An authoritative style — that’s firm but kind and adaptable — best fosters canine persistence and attachment. That’s in contrast to a permissive style, which doesn’t set clear expectations, or an authoritarian style, which emphasizes firmness over warmth.
So, if your dog flunked obedience class, perhaps Fido isn’t the only one to blame.
The less exercise, the better … is a phrase no one ever says. But a new study from the University of Cambridge may offer hope for even the busiest among us.
In a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, scientists say 11 minutes a day of moderately intense physical activity, like a brisk walk, can be enough to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and several types of cancer.
Currently, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death around the world. Physical activity is a key preventive — but for many, the idea of doing 150 minutes of moderately strenuous activity a week feels daunting.
The good news? Researchers found that just 75 minutes per week of moderate activity is enough to reap the benefits of more stringent exercise regimens. That aforementioned short, brisk walk can decrease your risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 17% and cancer by 7%.
In particular, you’ll lower your risk of head and neck cancers, as well as myeloid leukemia, myeloma and some stomach cancers. In short, there’s a lot to be said for even a little bit of movement.
Sports and running are great for those who enjoy them. But you can get your daily dose of that much-needed moderate activity by switching up your daily routine and swapping in some new habits, like walking to work or your local coffee shop and engaging in active play with your children or grandchildren. The key is to find something you enjoy so you’ll stand a much better chance of sticking with it.
And if changing your habits feels like too much, start small — like a nice, 11-minute walk. It’ll be over before you know it.
When is the last time you had scientific evidence that a cheaper option was just as effective as a pricier one?
A new study that looked at two methods for protecting public schoolchildren’s teeth from cavities did just that.
New York University researchers looked at two types of tooth-decay prevention in nearly 3,000 elementary pupils.
A method that used silver diamine [dai-uh-meen] fluoride, a liquid brushed onto the surface of teeth, was as effective as dental sealants, which are more common and cost more.
One dose of either topical treatment blocked roughly 80% of cavities and kept 50% of cavities from getting worse after two years.
The federal government advocates for and funds some dental care for schoolchildren. Painful cavities — children from low-income families are twice as likely to have them as kids from wealthier families — are associated with poor academic performance.
The NYU team’s visits to schools began in 2019, as part of a cavity prevention study called CariedAway. The randomized trial compared the simple silver diamine fluoride, called SDF, with a more complex treatment that used traditional glass ionomer [eye-AH-nuh-mer] sealants and fluoride varnish.
Both are applied to the surface of teeth.
The COVID-19 pandemic paused the study and the team finally returned to the schools for follow-up visits in March 2022.
Exams of the kids’ teeth found that both methods worked well. Just one treatment blocked more than 80% of cavities and both stopped about half of their cavities from progressing.
In this case, it seems the bargain option is a true value.
Spring, like any other season, presents unique hazards for pets. But if we know what to look for, we can enjoy the time with our furry friends.
As the weather warms, thawing ponds are dangerous for dogs and poorly screened windows create chaos for cats.
Spring also means gardening, and some plants — like rhododendrons and azaleas — are toxic to pets. Fertilizers and mulch contain a wide variety of dangerous compounds too — and slug bait is especially poisonous.
A wide array of potentially dangerous creatures come out, including heartworm-carrying mosquitoes, fleas and ticks, bees and snakes. Prevention helps with the tiny ones, while vigilance mitigates the dangers of others.
Finally, some pets are allergic to dust, plants and pollen. Contact your veterinarian if your pet needs some springtime relief.
Another Salmonella outbreak has been in the news — this time linked to pet bearded dragons. First reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, in October 2022, the outbreak has affected at least 32 people across 20 states. At least 10 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
Over half the cases have involved children under the age of 5, but people of all ages have been affected. Salmonella infections are most concerning in those with weak or immature immune systems.
While this doesn’t mean you need to rehome your bearded dragon, reptile pets shouldn’t be handled by children under five. Everything that comes in contact with a reptile should be cleaned and disinfected, and frequent thorough hand washing is a must.
Gum disease and bad breath can do more than just hamper your social life. New research shows the same bacteria may also increase the risk of heart disease.
That’s the main finding from a group of researchers in Switzerland, who explored the relationship between oral hygiene and heart disease. To do that, they analyzed blood samples, health data and genetic information from more than 3,400 people. About 6% of those people had a heart attack or other serious cardiovascular problem during the 12-year study period.
The researchers also looked closely at antibodies that were formed to fight off infection caused by a particular bacterium. After adjusting the results for other known cardiovascular risk factors, the antibodies were linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
That bacterium is known to colonize in the mouth and can also dwell in plaque that lines the walls of arteries. In other words, inflammation that starts in the mouth may eventually affect the heart.
The findings about oral bacteria are also a medical version of a canary in a coal mine: Identifying specific germs in the mouth is yet another factor that doctors might use to identify people at risk of heart disease. Likewise, treating the oral bacteria may be a path to reducing heart disease.
The researchers want to further study the link between the oral bacteria and heart disease. For now, they say, it’s more evidence that inflammation caused by infections can pave the way for heart attacks and heart disease.
So, remember: Caring for your teeth and gums might also help your heart keep humming along.
Today’s veterinarians wear a wide range of hats. They provide health care to animals, but also work in many other kinds of jobs. They help ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply, work to control the spread of diseases, and conduct scientific research that helps both animals and humans. On this show, Dr. Ashley Allen-Durrance, assistant dean of admissions and student success at UF, will discuss veterinary student recruitment, what’s involved in getting into veterinary school, how to prepare a strong application and what potential applicants should keep in mind before they apply.
The ancients loved their olive oil. The Greek writer Homer of Iliad and Odyssey fame called it “liquid gold.” It was used to anoint the dead and the heads of kings, besides more pedestrian applications in cooking. One reason why it was so coveted by the old world? Its supposed medicinal qualities.
Indeed, physicians in antiquity prescribed it to treat fevers, hair loss, nausea, ulcers, wounds and even flatulence. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, described olive oil as “the great healer.”
Turns out, Hippocrates might have been onto something.
A study out of Harvard University’s public health college found that olive oil might substantially lower the risk of premature death. An analysis of health and dietary data collected from more than 90,000 people found that heavy olive oil consumers had a 19% lower risk of total mortality. These are folks who consumed more than seven grams of liquid gold a day.
The olive oil crowd also lowered their risk of dying of several diseases. They had a 19% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, 17% lower risk of dying from cancer and a 29% lower risk of dying from a neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers described their analysis as the first long-term observational study of its kind. They tracked data that had been gathered over the course of nearly 30 years.
Compared with ingesting margarine, butter, mayonnaise or dairy fat, olive oil consumption was also associated with a lower risk of premature death.
Investigators say clinicians might encourage their patients to replace some fats, like butter and margarine, with olive oil. The current study, however, is silent on the question of whether it cures flatulence.
Moles on our skin are pretty common. Sometimes they’re cute. Sometimes we wish we didn’t have them.
Moles and melanomas are skin tumors, both caused by cells called melanocytes [muh-la-nuh-sites]. Moles are generally harmless, but melanomas can be deadly if untreated.
Scientists from the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah published a study that delves into how moles and melanomas form and why moles can turn into cancer.
Changes to the DNA sequence of melanocytes, called BRAF [braff] gene mutations, are found in more than 75% of moles. The same change is found in about half of all melanomas.
Researchers used to believe that when melanocytes only had the BRAF mutation, the cell stopped dividing, resulting in a mole. And when other mutations were in the mix, it would divide uncontrollably and become cancerous.
The new study shows that’s not the case.
The scientists used techniques — including one called digital holographic cytometry [sai-taa-muh-tree] — to scrutinize the differences between moles and melanomas.
The researchers found that the cells that become melanoma don’t necessarily have these extra mutations. But they are affected by “environmental signaling,” which happens when cells receive signals from the environment in the skin around them, telling them how to behave, and whether to divide uncontrollably or not at all.
That means scientists might be able to find ways to beat melanoma by altering its environment, potentially targeting topical agents that might thwart melanoma or at least slow it down.
So while you may never come to love your moles, at least you wouldn’t have to fear them.
Nearly one in three pets gets lost at some point, putting some at risk of never finding their way back home. Fortunately, microchipped pets are up to 20 times more likely to be reunited with their families.
Microchipping is so effective that some cities in Texas now require dog owners to microchip their canine. Those who don’t comply can be fined. City administrators aren’t trying to punish pet parents. Lost pets can end up in shelters, and they want to free up the space for animals that really need it.
Microchips are the size of a grain of rice and are easily injected under the skin. The chip contains an identification number linked to a database, which becomes visible when the chip is scanned. That allows contact with the owners.
Microchipping is an easy way to help keep our pets safe, so let’s all get with the program.
Fleas and ticks aren’t just annoying to pets — they can transmit dangerous diseases. That’s why preventatives are so important. But before you buy a canine medication for your feline friend — stop! That could be a lethal choice.
The biggest culprits are pyrethrins — particularly permethrins, the synthetic versions. They work just fine in dogs, but they’re fatal for cats because of their different liver metabolism. Permethrins can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested — even by grooming a canine companion. Any route is fraught for felines.
Read labels carefully to ensure that the flea and tick preventative you choose is cat friendly. And check your lawn treatments and tick-repellent clothes, too, because they may contain permethrins. Finally, if your cat is exposed to a canine preventative, seek veterinary care ASAP.
Unfortunately, people face all sorts of harmful addictions in their lives. Drugs. Alcohol. Gambling. Tobacco. And some even suggest our brains can get hooked on junk food.
But exercise? That’s supposed to be healthy, isn’t it? Well, as the old saying goes, you can have too much of a good thing.
A study by Norwegian scientists notes that our efforts to escape from and cope with the stresses and ills of life can lead to a dependence on exercise.
We all deal with stress through various forms of escapism. Some seek out positive experiences as a salve to the soul when they feel overwhelmed. They play with their kids or dogs or both. They turn the music up. All this isn’t a bad thing, researchers say, and serves as a distraction or a way to regain perspective.
Others embrace maladaptive escapism to suppress the negative, often by drinking or using drugs or, yes, working out too much.
Scientists recruited 227 recreational runners and quizzed them about their physical activity and lives generally, including their satisfaction with life. They found those who reported poor well-being were especially apt to indulge too much in exercise.
Certainly, running, biking or doing squat thrusts and jumping jacks late into the night is healthier than more harmful alternatives.
But investigators note these exercise extremes can undo any benefit. Overworking the body leads to pain and injury, unhealthy weight loss and heart problems. Anxiety, depression and social impairment are risks as well.
It’s usually a good idea to do most things in moderation. In the gym, that means exercising good judgment. Go easy on the pushups.
When it comes to finding your purpose in life — and improving your health — many self-help books and gurus claim to be able to help. And, for a pretty penny, perhaps they can. But researchers from Penn State University have a cheaper option:
Grab your shoes and go take a bath.
In a new study published in Leisure Sciences, researchers looked at the attitudes, beliefs and habits of a group of elderly people. Over 65 and regularly spending time in nature, the participants showed improved health and quality of life from a common practice called forest bathing.
No, you’re not shimmying through the woods in the nude. Forest bathing, which originated with older adults in Japan, China and Taiwan, refers to spending time in nature while engaging all of your five senses, like listening to birds chirping and smelling the pine trees.
Researchers surveyed almost 300 visitors to a nature preserve who were at least 65 years of age and visited the park at least once a week. They asked a series of questions that included how supported the participants felt, how much they thought about their future and how much purpose they felt their lives had.
Those who discussed their experiences in nature with others tended to show a greater sense of attachment to both forest bathing and a stronger sense of purpose in life. That, in turn, was associated with better physical and mental health.
It doesn’t take much gear or energy to forest bathe — and the results, though subtle, could have a profound effect on your elderly loved ones. As far as baths go, this may be the easiest one yet.
During the past couple of years, Bluetooth devices — like Apple AirTags — have gained a rep as hacks for finding luggage. So, it’s no surprise that manufacturers have designed pet accessories to accommodate them, too. But AirTags aren’t great for tracking lost pets.
Unless you’re trying to find a pet indoors — like a cowering cat — an AirTag won’t do you much good. That’s because beyond about 800 feet, you won’t pick up the tag with your phone alone. So, it’s useless for tracking pets missing outdoors.
Worse yet, some pets will chew and even swallow AirTags. Beyond potentially obstructing the digestive tract, AirTags contain batteries, which can leak internally once ingested.
Fortunately, there’s a better option — that’s microchipping your pet, along with tagging your buddy’s collar or harness.
Dogs explore the world through their mouths, but unfortunately that can mean trouble when the items they swallow include things like clothing, paper, bones and many other items that can wreak havoc on their gastrointestinal system. Cats often will ingest thread, wool, plant materials and small toys, among other things, and are similarly at risk for foreign body obstruction. On this show, Dr. Kathleen Ham will discuss what happens when something gets stuck and causes a foreign body obstruction, what treatments are needed and what pet owners can do to minimize risks associated with this problem, both inside and outside of the household.
It’s been more than 100 years since a forensic scientist named Harrison Martland coined the term “punch drunk syndrome” to describe boxers’ tendency to become slow, confused and trembly.
Today, the malady now known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy [ehn-seh-fuh-lah-puh-thee], or CTE, has been diagnosed in all types of athletes, including those who participated in football, rugby, soccer, ice hockey, bull-riding, wrestling, mixed-martial arts and boxing. Some athletic organizations still aren’t convinced their sports have any role in CTE.
There are now at least 600 cases of documented CTE, identified after families allowed scientists to study their loved ones’ brains postmortem.
Boston University researchers who specialize in the degenerative condition reviewed these cases and found that 97% of them had confirmed exposure to repeated head injury, mostly through contact sports.
Of 17 CTE cases where repeated head injury was not documented, the researchers found that in 14 instances, no one ever asked about the deceased’s history of injury.
CTE isn’t found only in those who suffered numerous concussions. Some cases may stem from repeated, minor blows to the head, researchers say. The disease is in its infancy in terms of how well it’s understood.
CTE has no cure. No test can tell if you’ve got it or will get it in the future.
So, wear your seat belt, don’t drive impaired and wear a quality, well-fitting bike or skateboard helmet. If you play contact sports, listen to what your own brain — and your doctor’s — tell you about how serious any injuries might be.
When it comes to protecting your brain, you don’t get a second chance.
Some dogs really like fruit. After all, they’re omnivores, which means they eat both animal and plant materials. But are all fruits safe — and how much can they eat?
Grapes, raisins and some wild berries are flat-out toxic to dogs. It’s also best to steer clear of avocados and tomatoes, which sometimes cause problems. But others are fair game, depending on your dog’s tastes and medical issues. That said, it’s always good to run any diet change by your veterinarian first.
Fruits are best used as treats — under 10% of your dog’s diet and less if your pooch is diabetic or obese. Many fruits are high in sugar — especially dried varieties — but fresh apples, berries and melons are on point. Just remove the peels, rinds, pits and seeds before treating your dog, since they can be dangerous if swallowed.
For a long time, the effects of cannabis on the lungs were thought to be about the same as tobacco. Now, new research shows cannabis leads to a different kind of lung damage.
So how does smoking cannabis differ from its nicotine-laden counterpart in terms of detrimental effects? Scientists in New Zealand recently made two major discoveries after studying lung function in marijuana and tobacco users. Long-term cannabis use caused over-inflated lungs and more resistance to air flow than tobacco.
Cannabis also impairs the lungs’ ability to extract oxygen from the breath. That was already known about tobacco but the discovery is the first of its kind involving cannabis.
Some doctors have long noted a distinct form of lung damage among major cannabis users — a form of emphysema known informally as “bong lung.” Until now, not much was known about the condition. That’s because studying the use of a stimulant that is still illegal in many parts of the world can be difficult.
To establish their findings, the researchers analyzed cannabis use and lung function in more than 1,000 people born in the early 1970s. Using 11 distinct measures, their lung function was tracked through age 45.
Exactly why cannabis affects the lungs differently than tobacco is still unknown. But the researchers note this much is clear: Long-term cannabis use isn’t the same as heavy tobacco use. And those who use both tobacco and marijuana are likely to suffer lung damage.
As cannabis use grows and becomes increasingly decriminalized around the world, scientists say the findings are a cautionary tale. Whether it’s a cannabis toke or tobacco smoke, your lungs may suffer.
While we sometimes erroneously attribute human emotions to pets, we can see that pets grieve when they lose their special person.
They miss their companion’s company, shared routines and likely much more. They might get clingy, sleep more and eat less. Some frequent their buddy’s favorite spot. And cats, in particular, may vocalize more frequently and loudly.
As with people, there’s no timetable for a pet’s grief. But there are ways we can help — like sticking to their routine, offering extra attention and being patient if they revert to, or develop, troublesome behaviors.
It’s important to reach out for veterinary help with concerns. That’s especially true if cats stop eating, because they can quickly develop life-threatening medical issues.
Animals have a profound ability to adapt. We can be there for them as they do.
Everybody knows smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products is about as harmful a habit as one can pick up. Doing so heightens the risk of stroke, heart disease and cancer, to name just a few of its ills.
But as you’re downing that burger, fries and rich dessert while watching the smokers huddled outside a restaurant, don’t get too smug.
Sure, you never touched a cigarette. But that pile of fatty food on your plate might be doing just as much harm.
Scientists at Columbia University found that restricting calories can slow the aging process by 2 to 3%. That equates to as much as a 15% drop in the risk of premature death, which is about the same benefit one would get from quitting tobacco.
Their study underlines the importance of a good diet in living a long and healthy life. How did researchers know watching your calories slows aging?
They recruited 220 non-obese men and women and separated them into two groups. One group was put on a calorie-restrictive diet, while the other ate normally.
Scientists then watched the groups over the next two years.
At the midpoint and end of the study, investigators measured DNA methylation (MEH-thuh-LAY-shun), a biologic marker that can be used to measure the speed of biological aging. This age doesn’t always match the one on your driver’s license.
They found people who restricted their eating aged more slowly than those who did not.
The good news is, we can change our diets, eating healthier foods in moderation. It’s never too late.
As for the smokers out there who have been successful at watching their waistlines, don’t take any of this as encouragement to keep puffing away.
All the dieting in the world won’t undo the harm of a tobacco habit.
Nothing evokes spring like flowers, and lilies are especially elegant. But they spell trouble if you have a cat.
No flower presents more of a threat to our feline friends than lilies — day lilies and true lilies, to be exact — like tiger lilies and Easter lilies. Every part of the plant is poisonous to cats — even the pollen on the table and water in the vase. A cat only has to ingest a bit of pollen while grooming to develop fatal kidney failure within a few days.
Early signs of lily poisoning include drooling, vomiting and loss of appetite. Prompt intensive care — within 12 hours or so — can improve a cat’s chances of surviving lily toxicity. But if a cat’s part of your family, don’t think twice. Keep lilies out of your house altogether.
Eat healthy food. Exercise regularly. Lose weight. These have all been good prescriptions for avoiding Type 2 diabetes. But new research might lead doctors to add another suggestion to the list.
Set your alarm clock back.
That’s because research recently presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting suggests that people who eat breakfast before 8:30 a.m. might be at lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
More than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and 7 million of them don’t know it because they haven’t been diagnosed. The disease can lead to cardiovascular problems, kidney disease, blindness and a host of other ills, if left uncontrolled.
In the new study, researchers analyzed medical and dietary data from over 10,000 adults over an eight-year period. Surprisingly, they discovered those early breakfast consumers had lower levels of blood sugar and less insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when the body’s cells don’t react normally to insulin and cannot adequately take up glucose from the blood.
Scientists suggested these findings might mean that eating earlier could reduce the risk of diabetes.
The investigation was done to examine whether a time-restricted diet has any association with blood sugar levels. In such a diet, someone limits the hours of the day during which they eat. Eating, for example, might be restricted to 10 hours a day, or some other timespan.
The findings indicate, however, the duration of those time-restrictions was less important to blood sugar levels than when the meals were eaten.
So, enjoy an early breakfast. Eating before the sun rises may make your health risks fall.
Cats develop preventable or treatable health issues, just like dogs. So, why do they visit veterinarians only half as often?
Sure, most cats dread leaving home to visit the clinic, while many dogs consider it an adventure. But there are ways around that.
Truth is, some folks think cats are pretty low maintenance pets, especially compared with dogs. After all, they’re more independent and they hardly complain. But since cats are masters at hiding their discomfort, wellness checkups are especially important for veterinarians to identify and address problems as soon as possible. They can even prevent some from occurring at all.
Being responsible cat parents means more than just feeding our cats and scooping out their litter boxes. By providing routine health care, we give them a chance to live their full nine lives.
Ah, spring cleaning.
After a long winter, many of us set out to spruce up our homes as the weather turns warm. From clearing out cluttered closets and washing windows to painting, gardening and lawn mowing, there are always plenty of tasks to tackle.
But use a little caution when you wave that washrag around. Plenty of injuries can occur during such cleaning sprees. In 2017 and 2018, more than 833,000 injuries sent Americans to hospitals and doctors’ offices just from climbing ladders and mowing their yards.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says it’s important to take precautions to reduce the likelihood of spring cleaning-related accidents.
Most injuries are preventable. Here are some ways to protect yourself:
When lifting something heavy, make sure to separate your feet shoulder-width apart, keep your back straight and bend at the knees. Also, lift with your legs, not with your back. You want to look like you’re starting from a squatting position, rather than bent at the waist. This will save you from unnecessary strain.
When using a ladder, place it on a firm, stable surface, never on wet grass or uneven pavement. When gardening, avoid repetitive motions, such as digging or hoeing, for too long.
Keep your lawn mower maintained. No need to throw your back out trying to get it started.
Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated. If you feel short of breath or have chest pain, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Be good to yourself this spring and pack a little common sense along with your cleaning supplies and tools. You want to be sure you can enjoy a summer full of fun activities, all pain-free.
A potential treatment for the common cold might have emerged from the primordial soup as long as a billion years ago.
Scientists believe our favorite aquatic species, algae, could offer a way to fight the cold and other viruses, including COVID-19. They are examining whether a molecule that is a waste product of a type of algae called spirulina [SPEER-ruh-lee-Nuh] holds hope to end our sniffles and sneezes.
You may have heard of blue-green spirulina and might have seen it at the supermarket. It’s known as a superfood because it’s high in protein and key vitamins. The 16th century Aztecs skimmed lakes with nets or shovels to harvest it. Today, it is a common dietary supplement.
Now Scottish scientists report promising initial results after extracting molecules from the algae. They’ve grown some in the laboratory and pulled from it something called cyanobacteria [sai-a-no-bacteria], which can disrupt viral transmission and helps tune the immune system to fight infection.
Cyanobacteria, itself an alga [al-guh], obtains energy through photosynthesis and is a central player in algae blooms harmful to water ecosystems.
If researchers can harness the antiviral properties of cyanobacteria, they say it might be effective against a broad range of viruses, from the common cold to potentially deadly infections like COVID-19.
Scientists say they are now working to purify the molecules to produce these valuable ingredients.
We’re not quite at the point of curing the common cold. But who knows, maybe doctors one day will instruct their patients to take two algae pills and call them in the morning.
The successful identification of animal abuse and deaths caused by such abuse typically involves not just the veterinary forensic pathologist who can confirm the cause of death, but also representatives of various agencies and organizations ranging from animal shelters to law enforcement at multiple levels. On this show, Dr. Adam Stern, a veterinary forensic pathologist, will discuss the process through which successful prosecution of animal abusers typically occurs, and how members of the public can also play a role in bringing such abusers to justice.
Sitting in front of a computer screen all day won’t get your photo on the bulletin board at your local gym. We have to get our legs moving for good health. Walking is great exercise. But who’s got time for a long stroll every day?
It might not be as difficult as you think.
Columbia University researchers say a five-minute walk per half-hour during the workday can lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Indeed, their study demonstrated a 60% reduction in blood sugar compared with those who sat all day.
Scientists examined five walking or sitting regimens in a group of volunteers. Some walked either one or five minutes per half-hour of sitting. Others walked the same length of time after sitting almost a full hour.
The last group didn’t walk at all.
Participants were allowed to do a range of normal things while they sat on their duffs. They could work on a laptop, use their smartphones or read books. Perhaps most important, they were fed.
Walking even a minute per half-hour was found to have a modest benefit on blood sugar levels. But one or five minutes per hour provided no meaningful effect. Five minutes out of 30 was the sweet spot.
The blood pressure finding is especially notable, as the decrease is akin to what you would expect from someone exercising daily for six months.
It won’t be easy for all of us to find that five minutes every half-hour when we’re working, unless you’re a cop walking a beat. But get the time in where you can. Visit a more distant bathroom through the day. Use the copy machine on the second floor rather than the one next to your desk.
You might just run into your boss getting their own minutes in.
Some people believe wearing socks to bed is vital for a good night’s rest, while others wouldn’t dream of it. New research indicates wearing socks when you slumber can help your sleep and health.
Sleeping with cold feet causes less blood to circulate, which can lead to restless nights. Wearing socks also helps regulate your body temperature.
Nighttime sock-wearing is particularly helpful for women experiencing hormonal changes during menopause. Controlling core body temperature helps combat hormonal fluctuations that lead to hot flashes, which can disrupt sleep.
Sock wearing can also decrease your risk of Raynaud’s [ray-NOSE] disease, which causes some areas of your body, such as fingers and toes, to feel numb or cold. When paired with moisturizer, it can also help soothe dry feet and cracked heels.
When searching for the perfect bedtime sock, look for breathable materials such as merino wool or cashmere. These will help your body regulate its temperature without overheating. Fit is also important. Socks that are too tight can cut off your circulation. Compression socks should never be worn to bed unless prescribed by your doctor. To ensure good hygiene, select a clean pair before bed and change them in the morning.
If wearing socks to bed is not for you, many of the same benefits can be achieved with a warm foot bath before you go to sleep or placing a blanket over the foot of the bed. In addition, experts recommend keeping your bedroom temperature between 60 and 67 degrees. These experts, of course, aren’t paying your power bill.
Who knew this unassuming undergarment could have such a profound impact on your sleep and health?
Viruses can be nasty things. They’re often killers, as we’ve seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. But modern vaccines have helped reduce death and human suffering for many diseases. Look at smallpox.
It killed an estimated 300 million people over the 20th century, many millions more through human history.
Thanks to scientists, a vaccine actually eradicated the disease. Smallpox no longer circulates, with the last case documented in 1977.
The coronavirus has been around for many years. It even predates the dinosaurs, according to some. The latest, particularly deadly strain mutated from more docile viral grandparents only recently.
Now Italian scientists have discovered that smallpox plagued mankind far longer than previously thought. This provides important insight into virus research generally.
Up to a few years ago, smallpox was thought to have emerged in the 1600s. A study in 2020 that harvested genetic material from Viking-era teeth and skeletal remains pushed its origin back 600 more years. But scientists were skeptical because some ancient Egyptian mummies display scarring typical of smallpox. That would push the emergence of the disease back to 3,000 years ago.
Italian scientists recently examined the virus’ genome itself. Using advanced genomic and mathematical techniques, they pushed the date of origin back to 3,800 years ago.
Viruses have caused human sorrow and suffering through the ages. Indeed, they predate our species. The coronavirus isn’t going away and may soon become endemic like the flu.
Doctors say a vaccination is still the best bet to lessen the odds of hospitalization and death.
For sun worshippers and people who just weren’t vigilant about using sunscreen, two types of skin cancers are exceedingly common. Now, research shows that simple laser treatments may help prevent the development of basal cell and squamous [skway·muhs] cell carcinomas.
Collectively, the two are the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the United States. Massachusetts General Hospital researchers discovered an easy strategy to protect skin health. It involves using nonablative lasers to deliver heat while leaving the skin fully intact.
The researchers studied patients who had been successfully treated for either of the two types of facial skin cancer. During a five-year period after, 35% to 50% of those patients typically had a recurrence.
In the study, patients were divided into two approximately equal groups of people who had received nonablative laser treatment and those who had not. The rate of new basal and squamous cell cancers was found to be about 21% for those who received the nonablative laser treatments and about double that amount for the untreated patients. That, the researchers said, established that patients treated with the laser had about half the risk of recurring facial cancers.
After controlling for age, skin type, gender and other factors, the untreated patients were 2.7 times more likely to develop new facial cancers than those who got laser treatments. Among those who did develop new facial cancers, the time it took them to develop was significantly longer for the laser-treated patients.
In the future, we may see skin damage caused by the sun’s powerful rays undone by the bright light of a laser.
For 60 years, a small number of people with a particular type of high blood pressure were never diagnosed.
The only available test used a catheter, which was difficult, so few hospitals even offered the test. In fact, 99% of such cases — until now — were never diagnosed because of the catheter test’s difficulty and its lack of availability.
But now, doctors at three United Kindgom hospitals have created and tested a new type of CT scan to light up tiny nodules in a key hormone-regulating gland and cure high blood pressure by removing them. Without the nodules being lit up by the dye, they were nearly impossible to see.
In most hypertension cases, the exact cause is unknown or can’t be pinned down, and the result is that those who have it must undergo lifelong treatment with drugs.
An estimated 5 to 20% of people with high blood pressure have a benign nodule in one of the adrenal glands that secretes a steroid hormone, called aldosterone [al-doss-tur-own]. The new scan uses a radioactive dye that sticks right to the aldosterone-producing nodule, lighting it up so surgeons can spot it and pluck it right out.
In these cases, the cause is a gene mutation in the adrenal glands, which results in excessive amounts of the steroid hormone aldosterone being produced.
Aldosterone causes the body to retain salt, driving blood pressure up.
Patients with too much aldosterone are resistant to the medicines most often used for high blood pressure, leaving them at risk for heart attacks and strokes.
While difficult, the old catheter test was as accurate as the new scan, but the new screening method is quick, painless and successful.
Whenever an animal requires surgery, the administration of anesthetic is key to minimizing pain and maximizing patient comfort and safety throughout the procedure. Each case is different, however, and it’s the job of the veterinary anesthesia specialist to determine what type of drug to use, how it should be administered and what dose is most appropriate to manage pain in the animal patient. On this show, Dr. Ludovica Chiavaccini, a veterinary anesthesia and analgesia specialist, will discuss the critical role of the anesthesia specialist in pain management for large and small animals, and knowledge in the field has grown in recent years.
Sometimes, you open a bag of chips. And sometimes, five minutes later, you reach into that same bag and come up empty. Late-night snacking can be a dietary sore point for many of us, and occasionally involves overeating.
Now, researchers from the University of Michigan are studying what makes people overeat in the first place — starting with a small region in your brain that drives you to seek rewards because they feel good.
From an evolution standpoint, this worked great when food was chronically in short supply. Now, when your town has multiple grocery stores and restaurants, all loaded up with the tastiest treats your palate could ever dream up, it’s posing a bit of a problem.
Scientists are taking a look at brain differences to learn why.
Using rat models, researchers looked at the brains of animals that have a tendency to overeat and become obese.
In animals prone to obesity, researchers found glucose took longer to get to the brain’s pleasure area. Instead, they found an excess of an excitatory [icks-site-ah-tory] neurotransmitter.
This means that the balance between how sugar gets broken down in the brain, and the neurotransmitters that are subsequently activated, affect brain activity differently in rats prone to obesity versus rats that are obesity-resistant.
Notably, this means diet is not a factor in whether sugar is processed differently in the rat brains. They either are prone to obesity or they are not.
Future research will delve into the role of inflammation and how it factors into the development of obesity — and how differences in brain function contribute to susceptibility and resistance.
Processed foods already have a rap sheet a mile long. Obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease are some of the most prevalent — and deadly — consequences of a diet heavy in such foods. A new study adds another offense to the list: increasing your risk of cancer.
Ultra-processed treats, typically cheap and convenient options, can include anything from breakfast cereal to fizzy drinks. But processing food typically involves adding unhelpful levels of certain ingredients to the mix, like salt, fat, sugar and other artificial additives.
Using UK Biobank records to garner information on the diets of 200,000 middle-aged adult participants, Imperial College of London researchers monitored their health for a decade, looking at their risk of developing cancer at all as well as their risk of developing specific types of cancer.
For every 10% increase in a person’s ultra-processed food consumption, there was a 2% rate increase for cancer overall, and a 19% increase for ovarian cancer, in particular.
Even when researchers adjusted their findings for behaviors, such as smoking or being sedentary, the links remained.
The findings build upon the team’s previous research that showed higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with a greater risk of developing obesity and Type 1 diabetes.
Granted, these foods are often consumed for good reason: They’re cheap, easy to find and have a shelf life that surpasses that bag of wilted lettuce you optimistically bought last Sunday. They’re hard to escape! So, as with everything, moderation is key.
Air pollution doesn’t just affect your heart and lungs. Its dangers affect our thinking, too. Let’s take a look at chess, the brainiest of games.
Researchers from several institutions measured air pollution at the venues of a German chess tournament over several years. They then used a computer program to analyze whether the players made weak moves or mistakes.
You don’t have to sit alongside the interstate to be affected by pollution. Indoor air quality is a significant health threat, too.
Scientists discovered that pollution — namely fine particulate matter in the air — appeared to diminish chess play. Indeed, the more pollution, the worse it got.
The study showed the odds of making an error increased by 2% with a modest increase in indoor air pollution. The consequences of these chess mistakes were more significant, with almost 11% of these poor moves being game-changing. As air pollution increased, the odds of an error or a game-changing gaffe rose as well.
This particulate matter is generally produced by burning, with the internal combustion engine being a major culprit. Other contributors include power plants, forest fires and wood-burning stoves.
This pollution is estimated to lead to 4 million premature deaths worldwide each year from cancer, heart disease and other ailments.
The findings add to growing evidence that pollution can lead to changes in our intellectual powers. Researchers note they looked at chess. But office workers face the same threat.
So, it’s not just your opponent’s queen you are battling in a match. You’re also potentially playing against a sea of invisible particulates that mess with your head.
Checkmate!
Party on, America. It can be good for your health.
Researchers at Indiana University say people who mark positive life achievements or other notable events with a gathering involving food and drink end up feeling more socially supported.
And that could lead to a longer and healthier life.
We all want someone who will be there for us when times get tough. So, with the belief that we have that social structure in place comes the assumption that the folks we share the good times with will be there for the bad. The benefits of that support even extend when the gathering is done online, so long as food and drink are available to all.
It’s an important piece of robust mental health. Scientists believe mental health difficulties like depression and anxiety weaken the immune system and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammation, and worsen chronic conditions.
Researchers studied thousands of people over multiple years and used behavioral experiments in their work. They extended their findings by investigating virtual celebrations and examining the benefits of the social activity over time.
The study notes that little is known about how celebrations help our well-being. That surprised investigators since these get-togethers are so common in society.
The study says it is crucial that people at these gatherings positively recognize someone’s achievements to ensure a benefit. Just getting together to celebrate the local football team’s championship won’t do.
All of this should not be taken as a license to party like there’s no tomorrow. Be responsible. You want to remember which friends came out to celebrate with you.
They’re a ubiquitous presence in nail salons: Those little nail-polish dryers that cure and speed up gel manicures. But their ultraviolet lights may also pose more of a public health threat than originally thought.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego who studied the devices have concluded they can contribute to cancer-causing mutations and cell death.
Unlike the ultraviolet lights used in tanning beds — which have been shown to be carcinogenic — nail driers use a different spectrum of UV light. Those effects haven’t been widely studied.
Using two types of human skin cells and one from mouse embryos, the researchers determined the UV light exposure from a 20-minute session led to death in 20% to 30% of cells. Three consecutive sessions led to the death of 65% to 70% of exposed cells. It also damaged the remaining cells and resulted in genetic mutation patterns similar to those found in human skin cancer.
The researchers also noticed other troubling issues: The damaged genetic material — specifically DNA — does not get repaired over time. Mutations also occur after every exposure to a UV nail-polish dryer. And UV light may cause dysfunction within mitochondria [MY-toh-KON-dree-uh], the “powerhouses” that make energy for many cells in the body.
While the study results showed that consistent use of nail-polish dryers damages human cells, the researchers also noted that a long-term epidemiological study is needed to conclusively determine that the machines lead to an increased risk of skin cancers.
In the salon, there’s always a slower option for those concerned about UV rays: waiting around for your nails to air dry.
A key part of training a puppy usually includes crate training, to keep your buddy safe and out of mischief. But what if your dog whines in the crate?
It takes any puppy some getting used to — especially one that’s newly separated from a litter. First, make sure the crate’s big enough for comfort but not so big that it isn’t cozy. Adding soft bedding and a safe toy helps, too. Most pups want to be near their family, so placement’s also important.
If your pup still whines, try to ignore the behavior until it stops, then reward your little one by opening the door. Dogs should think of their crate as their happy place, so make it accessible all the time — and never use it as punishment.
One more thing: If the whining’s a new thing and your puppy’s already crate-trained, discuss the behavior with your veterinarian.
Integrative veterinary medicine, along with sports medicine and rehabilitation are a subset of complementary and alternative therapies used in tandem with conventional veterinary care for pets. This unique group of patient care approaches has grown increasingly popular for pets, just as they have for people. On this show, Dr. Erin Miscioscia, a clinical assistant professor of integrative medicine, will discuss some of the more popular integrative approaches and how they are being used in veterinary medicine today to treat pain, geriatric diseases, arthritis, and sports injuries along with several other conditions.
Raise your hand and yawn if this sounds like you. You roll out of bed and immediately feel stressed, even if you slept like a log. It’s hard to be chipper at moments like this. But behavioral experts say there are some simple steps you can take to get your day off on the right foot and boost your overall well-being.
First, pick a wellness habit, then link it to a morning routine you already have. Say you get up every morning and make the bed. Link that to a healthy habit, such as spending a few moments focusing on whatever nature you see out your window, whether it’s your neighbor’s tree or the brightening sky over the city. By tacking it onto something you’re already doing, you’re more likely to stick with it.
Second, banish your phone from your bedroom. When you reach for your device first thing in the morning, you’re inviting the outside world to dictate your mood. Plenty of research shows social media can decrease your happiness over time. Don’t give negativity a head start.
Next, talk to yourself. Really. You’re probably already doing it, but use your own name when you do. If you have something big on your day’s agenda, give yourself a pep talk. Also, make sure to connect with someone positive in your life — your spouse, your child, a close friend. If your schedule is too busy to meet for a cup of coffee or even a quick call, it can be enough just to send good thoughts their way.
And remember to be thankful. Many people say a morning prayer, but just pausing to appreciate that you’re alive and all of the good things in your life can put a smile on your face.
You may not be able to dictate what’s coming your way, but you can control how you start out each day.
Equine surgery is challenging. But consider that one of the most daunting aspects is protecting the horse during recovery from general anesthesia.
General anesthetics can cause weakness and disorientation as a horse wakes up and tries to stand. One way to decrease the risk of injury is to use standing sedation instead.
Thanks to advanced sedation and local anesthetic techniques, many surgical procedures can now be performed while the horse stands. Examples include arthroscopy (that’s looking inside a joint with a camera), certain fracture repairs and sinus surgeries.
But standing surgery has challenges of its own. Some horses may move or get the urge to lie down, and it can be tough to maintain a sterile surgical field.
If surgery’s in the cards for your horse, ask your veterinarian about the relative risks involved.
Many farmers and ranchers already have a relationship with a trusted veterinarian. But if you prefer to treat your animals yourself, you’ll have some changes in store.
For the time being, farmers and ranchers can buy antibiotics off the shelves in most farm supply stores. But come June 2023, doing so will require a prescription from a veterinarian. First, the producer will need to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, which is required before a veterinarian can write a prescription. While the cost of antibiotics from feed stores, or elsewhere, isn’t expected to rise, a veterinary visit to get the ball rolling carries a fee.
So, now’s the time to schedule an appointment so the veterinarian can get to know your herd. That way, your animals won’t experience any gaps in treatment.
Planning to spring clean your home? Don’t forget to look through your medicine cabinet. Chances are, it’s full of half-used prescription bottles and cold medicine.
Leftover drugs stored in these cabinets can fall into the wrong hands. According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, two-thirds of teens who report abuse of prescription medicines say they got them from family and friends. Abuse isn’t the only risk. Consuming expired medication can harm children, pets or yourself.
Keep three tips in mind while spring cleaning your medicine cabinet.
Number 1, look for expiration dates. They are usually printed at the bottom of the bottle or carton. If the expiration date has passed, discard the medicine. If you don’t see an expiration date but bought the product at least one year prior, toss it. Most medicine expires one year after the prescription date.
Number 2, discard items that have changed color, smell or taste. This includes any medicines that have faded in color due to light exposure.
Number 3, toss anything you don’t recognize, including creams and pills kept in unmarked containers.
It’s important to properly dispose of these expired items. Toss old pills in undesired substances, such as kitty litter or old coffee grounds, and dispose in household trash. Many pharmacies and hospitals now have a drop-off spot for unused medication.
Do not flush old medications down the toilet, as they can end up in the water supply.
After you clean your medicine cabinet, stock it up with fresh supplies. Items to have on hand include pain relievers such as acetaminophen, antacids, cold and flu medicine, Band-Aids and antibiotic ointments.
When married couples argue, it often leads to hurt feelings. Now, new research shows high-intensity arguments can cause broader emotional and physical troubles.
Researchers at The Ohio State University recently took a deeper look at their 2005 research. Back then, they found that just one stressful argument can harm immune system function.
Now, they have discovered that arguing can become part of a broader, deeper and more vicious cycle. Typically, the researchers found, it goes like this: Combative arguments among the study participants were linked to more negative marital communications. That, in turn, leaves a trail of persistent negative emotions and biological markers that cause poorer health outcomes.
In particular, the stress of arguing and negative communication can lead to chronic inflammation, diminished immune-system function and emotional struggles.
During the study, the scientists looked closely at data from a group of nearly four dozen couples who had been together for an average of 12 years. Among other factors, the researchers observed wound healing as an indicator of proper immune system functioning. Couples with more relationship strife and negative communication habits needed more time for their physical wounds to heal.
In the new study, the researchers noted that couples’ negative communication tactics — especially mutual avoidance or making demands — have a cascading effect on both emotions and immune-system function.
But all is not lost. Couples can use therapy or education to boost their communication skills. And there’s also that time-honored tactic for dealing with a marital disagreement: Choose your words wisely.
Early in 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the first vaccine ever developed for honeybees — or any insect in the United States, for that matter.
Global populations of honeybees have been taking lots of hits, from climate change and habitat loss to pesticides and disease. Bees are susceptible to a number of viral, parasitic and bacterial infections, including an especially aggressive one called American foulbrood. The new vaccine contains dead Paenibacillus [pain-ŭ-bă-SILL-us], the bacteria responsible for American foulbrood. After it’s mixed with a feed given to queen bees, the ingested vaccine provides immunity for the queen’s developing larvae.
Bees are vital to many of the world’s crops, including $15 billion worth in the United States alone. It’s only right that we try to protect them as we do other livestock.
Many pet parents will move mountains to help their sick fur babies — especially those with terminal illnesses. But sadly, some people take advantage of this bond for their own gain.
Recently, a man in Pennsylvania was convicted of defrauding 900 pet owners out of more than $1 million used to purchase what they believed were cancer-curing drugs. For big dollars, he also promised to enroll customers’ pets in promising clinical trials. By the end, the state found that the so-called drugs in question were just homemade mixtures of bulk ingredients.
To avoid this kind of cruelty, make sure to ask your veterinarian before using any product you think may help your pet. That’s because you, your veterinarian and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which approves veterinary drugs, put your pet’s safety above all else.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first swept the nation, contracting the disease — and surviving it — was most people’s primary concern. Now, as we learn more about the disease, researchers are pivoting to studying and understanding long COVID.
In a new study from Harvard University researchers, findings pointed to a healthy lifestyle as key to reducing the risk of contracting long COVID.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 32,000 female nurses from the long-running Nurses’ Health Study II, in which participants reported on their lifestyle and COVID-19 experience, among other things. For the study, the researchers defined a healthy lifestyle as having a healthy body weight, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, a high-quality diet, moderate alcohol consumption and not smoking.
Women deemed to have a healthy lifestyle had about half the risk of contracting long COVID as the women who did not. Factors most strongly associated with a lower risk of long COVID were body weight and adequate sleep.
Currently, between 8 and 23 million Americans have long COVID or COVID-19 symptoms a month or more after initial infection. These can include fever, heart, digestive symptoms and fatigue. Long COVID can also include neurological symptoms, like anxiety, depression, changes in smell or taste, or trouble concentrating, often called “brain fog.”
According to the researchers, 70% of the United States’ population is not at a healthy body weight and 30% of us don’t get enough sleep.
Making small changes to your lifestyle might not only pay off in the long run … it could also help ward off any long-term ill effects from long COVID.
As organs go, our brains get the glory for allowing us to process information and think deep thoughts. The heart gets its own holiday, all the credit for romance, and keeps us alive with its rhythmic ba-bump, ba-bump.
Kidneys? They’re so vital we have two of them, but does anyone ever stop to thank them? Sadly, they do not. The bean-shaped organs are the blue-collar, work boot-wearing Joes of our bodies. Without their work to filter toxins from our blood and turn it into urine, we’d all be in trouble.
As it happens, March is National Kidney Month, so let’s take a moment to contemplate the good our kidneys do.
Besides cleaning our blood, they keep blood minerals balanced, regulate fluid levels and activate vitamin D to keep our bones healthy.
Plenty can go awry if kidneys aren’t on the job: there’s cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, weak bones, high blood pressure, stroke and anemia.
Even if we don’t go out of our way to wax poetic about, or even notice, our kidneys, the least we can do is to try not to hurt them.
Keep tabs on your blood pressure. Make sure your doctor asks for annual tests that gauge how much protein is in your urine and how well your kidneys’ filtering function is working.
Like many internal diseases, kidneys often give little or no warning before sounding the alarms. Be alert for urine that’s pink, foamy or overly dark. Puffy eyes and swollen extremities also bear checking out.
The rest is pretty standard — exercise, keep your weight in check, eat right, don’t smoke or drink too much alcohol, do drink plenty of water and get an annual physical.
And maybe just a tiny thank you once in a while wouldn’t hurt.
Young dogs are rambunctious, and they can hurt themselves if they overdo it. But what if your puppy suddenly becomes lame for no apparent reason?
It could be due to panosteitis [pan-ăs-tē-Ī-tus], a painful inflammation of long bones in the leg. It’s especially common in young, fast-growing, large breeds and is sometimes dismissed as “growing pains.” A classic sign is lameness that crops up in different legs at varying times.
Panosteitis typically waxes and wanes until it spontaneously resolves when the dog is about two years old. The cause is unknown, but genetics may be involved in some breeds.
There’s no specific treatment either, although pain may need to be addressed with analgesics and/or anti-inflammatories. Reach out to your veterinarian if you have specific questions about panosteitis or the best way to care for your pup.
Dairy calves can face a rocky road during their first few weeks of life. Diarrhea and pneumonia are common problems, but another that may fly under the radar is an umbilical, or naval, infection, usually caused by bacterial contamination.
After producing painful inflammation, bacteria can spread from the naval into the bloodstream and then to the joints, lungs and other organs. The result can be serious secondary infections like arthritis and pneumonia. Even after treatment, affected calves may face decreased weight gain and a higher risk of death.
The reported rate of umbilical infections varies widely, in part because signs aren’t as obvious as with diarrhea and pneumonia. That’s why it’s important for dairy producers to set up protocols with their veterinarian to help prevent these infections and identify them early on.
While cardiovascular disease in horses is less common than in people, dogs and cats, because horses are often expected to perform work or athletic feats, their cardiovascular condition may be relatively more important, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. On this show, Dr. Meg Sleeper, a veterinary cardiology specialist, will discuss how heart problems are most frequently diagnosed in horses, and some of the tools that specialists are able to use these days to both diagnose and treat different types of heart disease when it occurs in their equine patients.
Getting older is an inevitable, inescapable part of life. As we age, our risk of cognitive decline and other illnesses increases.
That’s a worry for many. But it doesn’t have to be, as new research shows the right diet can play a big role in keeping the mind fresh.
A recent study showed an association between eating anti-inflammatory diets and a lower risk of dementia in older adults.
After age 40, our bodies start making pro-inflammatory mediators, a process called “inflammaging.” It can reach the brain and cause cognitive issues like dementia.
While science has shown the link between inflammation and cognitive decline, the role of diet has been unclear.
The researchers evaluated more than 1,000 people in Greece during a three-year period.
The researchers evaluated participants’ diets and grouped them based on how inflammatory they were.
The first group had the least inflammatory diets, eating the most fruits, vegetables and legumes. The second group ate an average amount of those items, while the third group ate fewer greens, along with more sugar and processed foods.
Sixty-two of the participants developed dementia in that time, most of them from the group that passed over produce in favor of processed foods. Meanwhile, the group with the less-inflammatory diet showed significantly fewer signs of decline. The members of the most inflammatory diet group, in fact, were three times as likely to develop dementia during the study as those in the group that didn’t mind a salad.
So, try trading out that half-pound burger for salmon and the wine for tea. Your brain might just thank you for it.
We’ve long viewed donkeys as the quintessential beasts of burden, but they’re finally coming into focus. From the Irish movie, “The Banshees of Inisherin” [in-ish-AIR-in] to the Polish film, “EO” [Ē-oh], donkeys are having a moment — and it’s not a moment too soon.
Beyond being stoic and hardworking, donkeys are playful, smart and affectionate. Over thousands of years as prey animals, donkeys have evolved to hide their vulnerability from predators. They’ve done it so well that they’ve been stereotyped as stubborn, stupid and unfeeling — robotic animals meant to do our bidding. And that’s put them in plenty of peril.
We’re becoming more aware of the abuse and neglect that donkeys have endured over the ages, and still encounter today. We’ve used donkeys for centuries to build our nations. Now, it’s time for us to give back to them.
We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green. This year, extend the celebration to your meals by whipping up emerald-hued dishes that are festive and nutritious.
Begin your day with a bit of healthy whimsy, green eggs and ham — the meal, not the Dr. Seuss book. Combine three eggs, one cup of kale and one teaspoon of milk in a blender. Blend until the kale is pureed. Heat a small pat of butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Once the butter melts, add the egg mixture and begin to scramble. Cook until the eggs are done. Kale provides nutrition and a green hue to the scrambled eggs. Serve with ham, of course.
Continue celebrating at lunch with a twist on a favorite dish: mac and cheese. How do you add green into this classic comfort food? Avocado! Put avocado, lime juice and milk into a food processor or blender. Puree until fully blended. On the stove, cook whole-wheat macaroni as instructed on the box. With the pot on medium heat, pour the avocado sauce over the macaroni. Add pepper jack cheese and mix until melted. It’s a decadent lunch with major health benefits.
Two meals down, one to go. Finish off your green St. Patrick’s Day at dinner with stuffed green peppers. Slice the top off the peppers and remove the core and seeds. Stuff the peppers with cooked quinoa, chicken, mushrooms and spinach. Place the peppers on a baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. It’s a healthy meal and sure to impress any friends over to celebrate the holiday.
By adding various shades of green to your meals this St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll feel great and still channel the luck of the Irish.
By some measures, intermittent fasting is one of the most popular diet plans. At least one study suggests that one-fourth of U.S. adults have tried eating only during certain times of day.
While intermittent fasting helps some people lose weight, recent research suggests there may be a more effective tactic: The old-school approach of reducing calories.
To test that premise, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers studied the association between weight change and mealtimes using the electronic health records of more than 550 people in two states.
The researchers also created a mobile app that study participants used to log their eating and sleep habits in real time for six months. The researchers used that information to measure the time between the first and last meals each day.
Here’s what they found: Meal timing had no association with weight change during a six-year follow-up period. That includes the interval between first and last meals, as well as the timing of the day’s final meal relative to bedtime. Weight gains were associated with the total number of medium-sized meals — defined as 500 to 1,000 calories each — and the number of large meals over 1,000 calories.
Overall, researchers found no association between weight change and the timing of meals.
But what about prior studies suggesting that intermittent fasting may help regulate metabolism and body rhythms? The Johns Hopkins researchers found no such link in their large-group study among participants with a wide range of body weights.
Instead of intermittent fasting, the findings suggest a back-to-basics approach: fewer large meals and less eating overall.
If you’re a cat parent, you’re probably familiar with your buddy’s various meows and what they mean. But you may not have heard a loud, plaintive wail — or yowl — which can also mean different things.
This mournful cry is common among cats in heat or those looking to mate. But with neutered cats, yowling is most common among seniors. The main causes are pain and disorientation, from hearing loss, for example. Cats might yowl if they have arthritis, hyperthyroidism or chronic kidney disease — all of which are common in elders. Feline cognitive dysfunction — akin to dementia in people — affects over 50% of cats in their early- to mid-teens and can also resulting in yowling.
If your cat has started yowling, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to look for the cause and ways to ease your buddy’s stress.
Once again, it’s time to take a long, hard look at the clock on your car’s dashboard and wonder, “How do I change the time on this again?”
Daylight saving time is again upon us, and for most, the minor annoyance of losing one hour of precious weekend sleep is mitigated by the promise of more hours of early evening sunshine.
But how else does this time change affect our health?
Studies have shown that daylight saving time can have a negative effect on our circadian rhythms, those internal clocks that help regulate our sleep and wake-up patterns.
In a nutshell, when we “spring forward” this weekend, it may have a much bigger impact on us than just losing an hour at night.
Experts say the effects on our sleep and bodies can linger for months.
In 2007, German researchers reported that your body clock isn’t as easy to change as the clock on the kitchen wall. We may think we’re springing forward, but our body clocks tend to stay stubbornly stuck. Our bodies and sleep patterns adjust well when we move back an hour in the fall, but we struggle with the transition in the spring, especially night owls.
Congress has discussed, but not voted on, bills that would eliminate the federally mandated time change. In the meantime, the U.S. Department of Transportation is studying how that might affect traffic safety, among other things. For now, there are ways to make the transition easier.
Exercise, if you can. Make a bedtime routine to help you wind down and feel ready for sleep. Also, try to go to bed and wake up about a consistent time each day.
Those changes should help you catch some zzz’s and get the rest you need.
Sometimes when our pets play, they inadvertently swallow objects. These ingested non-food items are called foreign bodies—and the ones that look the most benign sometimes cause the biggest problems.
We’re talking about linear foreign bodies, which are any long, slender objects — like threads, yarn and tinsel — that cats especially love to play with. When swallowed, one end of the linear foreign body can become anchored in the upper digestive tract, say, under the tongue, while the back end keeps trying to pass, bunching up in the intestines as it goes. Eventually, the object can tighten and work like a saw against the intestinal wall, causing tears and dangerous leaks into the abdomen.
At this point, the treatment is emergency surgery. But you can avoid all the drama by keeping your cat away from string, thread, yarn and the like.
Let’s put the brakes on the idea that commuting to work or other places away from home has no redeeming value. Yes, we have to deal with traffic, aggressive drivers and potholes large enough to fit a robust moose.
Others sweat in packed buses or claustrophobia-inducing subways.
But contrary to what you might believe, that travel time might be much better for your mental health than simply staying at or close to home.
British scientists examined a nationally representative sample of more than 3,000 residents of Northern England to determine how access to transportation, or a lack of it, affects people. Many residents in the region have poor access to transportation.
Researchers found that those who traveled outside their local area reported feeling healthier than less mobile folks. The length of the commute is important, with those traveling 15 miles or more experiencing the more positive effect. This has a strong impact on mental health.
Previous investigations have shown that social isolation leads to depression. That in turn can elevate the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.
Keeping engaged, visiting friends and family, being part of a community and simply taking part in human activity all elevate mental health. So too does visiting a great variety of places.
Indeed, scientists report that the key to their findings is the number of places a person visits. Each added locale offers more chances to socialize.
All this makes it important to ensure everyone has access to reliable transportation, especially those in remote communities.
So, get in the car, bus or train. Be active.
Your trip could well be the destination to better health.
There’s a serious health problem plaguing up to 80% of our cats and dogs — that’s more than suffer from cancer, heart disease and obesity. Believe it or not, periodontal, or gum, disease is the number one medical condition affecting pets.
Bacterial buildup on teeth causes tartar, which leads to gum inflammation. If the tartar is removed, the tissues heal. If not, the inflammation spreads to bones supporting the teeth, resulting in periodontal disease.
But that’s not all. Subsequent bleeding, pain and tooth loss make it difficult for some pets to eat. And if bacteria enter the blood stream, they can be carried to numerous organs, causing severe illness or worse.
That’s why it’s important to schedule annual dental checkups with your veterinarian. Keeping your pet’s teeth healthy is an investment in their future.
For chocolate lovers, indulging in their favorite treat can make them wax poetic. Now, science has decoded the process that takes place when chocolate changes from solid to liquid as it is eaten.
But what’s driving the need to understand such a sublime experience? Researchers at the University of Leeds in England wanted to better understand the individual events that make chocolate so irresistible. It’s a first step in developing chocolate that has a classic feel and taste but is healthier to eat.
Using a luxury brand of dark chocolate, the researchers devised an artificial, tongue-like surface to study what takes place as chocolate melts in the mouth. On a human tongue, chocolate releases a fatty film that coats the mouth’s surfaces. That’s what gives chocolate its classic, silky feel.
This is what they found about the science behind the indulgence: Fat is the first taste sensation after chocolate hits the tongue. Solid cocoa particles then burst forth, delivering the treat’s classic taste and feel. That is important because it could someday lead to chocolate that contains less fat but still packs the same taste sensations.
In another key finding, they determined that where fat sits within the chocolate is more important to the eating experience than overall fat content. Having more fat on the outer layer of the chocolate matters the most, followed by cocoa particles that are effectively coated by fat. In its ideal state, that’s what makes chocolate so … chocolate.
Someday, science may help to deliver what everyone craves — a chocolate bar with all of the flavor and mouthfeel … but none of the guilt.
If you watch pet food commercials, you’ve likely heard announcers breathlessly warn of diets containing animal by-products. So, just what are these ingredients and how dangerous are they?
Truth is, the “yuck” factor attached to by-products is merely an American — and distinctly human — convention. By-products refer to organs and entrails, like liver, bone, stomach and cleaned intestines. While we may shy away from them, they’re tasty to our dogs and cats and often more nutritious, and just as safe, as the muscle meats we find more appealing. That said, certain components — like hair, hooves, hide or intestinal contents — are strictly rejected as by-products.
Ironically, some companies avoid the stigma of “by-products” on their labels and list out specific organs instead. It’s all the same — and perfectly fine for your pet.
What lies beneath the skin surface in humans and in animals is a whole ecosystem of microbes known as the microbiome. Yet in each person, and in each animal, that system is highly variable. Today’s Animal Airwaves-Live features Dr. Aline Hoffman, a veterinary anatomic pathology specialist who has a special interest in dermatopathology and studies the role of the skin microbiome in the health of companion animals. She’ll discuss some of her recent research and findings about how the skin microbiome in each animal affects the likelihood of disease, and how it could even be a reason why your pet has a unique smell.
Extreme Weather Patterns and Natural Disasters are happening more frequently than ever before, and in addition to the risk they pose for people and property, they also increase the likelihood that your pets and farm animals will be exposed to infectious diseases. Dr. Sally DeNotta, a veterinarian and infectious disease specialist at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, will discuss how your animals may be exposed to disease during extreme weather patterns, and more importantly – how you can prevent them from becoming infected.
So called “raw food diets” may mean different things to different people, but pet owners need to understand the risks associated with feeding diets other than pet food manufactured commercially. On this show, Dr. Richard Hill, a veterinary internal medicine specialist and nutrition expert, discusses why people are often drawn to feeding these types of diets to their pets but lack the understanding of risks associated with them. He’ll also discuss situations where feeding special diets that may consist of certain raw foods could be beneficial, but why discussing your pet’s diet with your veterinarian is so important, especially for animals with certain health conditions.
Similar to people, pets are living longer lives these days due to improved veterinary care and dietary habits. But with extended lives comes a whole new set of age-related conditions, which in turn affects the care needs of these “pet elders” – our beloved senior pets. This show’s guest, Dr. Amy Stone, who heads the primary care and dentistry service at UF, will discuss some of the common conditions that affect older pets, which are among the same problems that affect older people: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney/urinary tract disease, senility, among others. She’ll also talk about how to work with your veterinarian at every stage of your pet’s life to ensure that the aging process is as graceful and as painless as it can be.
In the aftermath of a disaster, veterinary colleges are often called upon to respond, whether by sending teams into the field to provide direct medical assistance to injured or displaced animals, offering support to animal shelters, or in other ways. Dr. Larry Garcia, medical director of the UF Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service, discusses some of the aspects of managing a field hospital in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, why disaster response training is an important part of veterinary medical education and why having a disaster plan is important for all pet owners.
Exercise is great, but many of us would still rather do less of it. Luckily, new research from Edith Cowan University suggests there’s a quick way to decrease your gym time while maximizing effectiveness — and no, it’s not a scam.
The recent study found that lowering weights, as a motion, rather than picking weights up or pulling them toward you, is a type of muscle contraction most effective at increasing muscle strength and size.
In fact, across groups of study participants asked to perform three different types of dumbbell curls, those who started with the weights up and slowly lowered them saw the same results as those who raised and lowered them.
The findings corroborate previous research that pointed to “eccentric” muscle contraction, where activated muscles lengthen, as being key to increasing both muscle size and strength. A traditional bicep curl would be a “concentric” muscle contraction.
The researchers also noted that the group that only lowered weights saw significant improvements in muscle thickness: 7.2% compared with a 5.4% improvement for the group that raised and lowered weights.
For those who want to give it a try, exercises such as bicep curls, front raises, shoulder press, knee extensions, leg curls and calf raises are all great places to start.
It’s also great news for those of us strapped for time, meaning that those supposedly “quick” workout plans may actually be as advertised. So go ahead: Start from what would ordinarily be the ending position of an exercise and slowly go in the opposite direction.
It will be tougher, because you’re using less frequently engaged muscles, but it won’t demand as much of your time.
In this season of trying on new, healthier habits, here’s another one for you: a nice, hot cup of tea.
Black tea, specifically.
A new study from Australian researchers suggests that flavonoids, which are naturally occurring substances in many foods and beverages, have more health benefits than were previously known.
In a study of nearly 900 women whose median age was 80, they found that those who consumed a high level of flavonoids were up to 39% less likely to have extensive buildup of something called abdominal aortic calcification, or AAC.
That sounds bad — and it is.
AAC is calcification of the abdominal aorta, the body’s largest artery. This important vessel sends oxygenated blood from our heart to our abdominal organs and legs. AAC is also a predictor of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack and stroke, as well as late-life dementia.
Not a tea person? There are many other ways to add flavonoids in your diet. Besides black and green tea, they’re also found in blueberries, strawberries, oranges, apples, raisins, grapes, red wine and dark chocolate.
However, the researchers noted that fruit juice, red wine and dark chocolate did not show a significant beneficial association with AAC.
Black tea was the study cohort’s main source of flavonoids and the women who drank two to six cups a day were 16 to 42% less likely to have extensive AAC.
In this time of flirting with new habits, swap in a tea break for your coffee break. Toss an apple into your lunch bag or top your cereal with blueberries.
Your abdominal aorta — not to mention your future, older self — will be the better for it.
To spank or not to spank. For many parents, that is the question.
From decades of research, a conventional wisdom eventually emerged: Spanking children is linked to negative effects on behavior, including an increased risk of anxiety and depression.
Now, a study by Florida State University researchers sheds new light on how corporal punishment affects a child’s neural system to produce these adverse effects.
In a study of 149 children ages 11 to 14, scientists used a monetary guessing game and a video game-like task while measuring brain-wave activity from the scalp. With that data, each participant was given two scores. One of the scores reflected neural response to reward, the other a neural response to error.
Two years later, the children and their parents completed a series of questionnaires to measure parenting style, anxiety and depression. The researchers found that anxiety and depression were more prevalent among children who were spanked.
Beyond associating spanking with anxiety and depression, the researchers said their findings show corporal punishment might affect neurodevelopment and brain activity. The study’s spanked children had both a heightened neural response to errors and a diminished response to rewards compared with those who were not spanked. Beyond a clear association between spanking and an increased risk of anxiety and depression, it also suggests that spanking alters specific neurodevelopmental pathways, making children less reactive to rewards and more hypersensitive to mistakes.
Before raising your hand to a child, think about the long term: A spanking now might have emotional consequences later.
Have you always assumed that because dogs can hear better than humans, they probably don’t need to see very well? Have you even wondered what colors they can see, or if they can see only in black and white? Do dogs really watch the TV? Do some dogs need glasses to correct near-sightedness or far-sightedness? While dogs definitely see the world differently than people do, you might be surprised at some of their visual capabilities, and the differences in visual perception between human and canines. On this show, Dr. Bret Moore, a veterinary ophthalmology specialist, will discuss what pet owners need to understand about the way a dog sees and what to do if you suspect your dog may be having vision issues.
If you’re middle age or older, hopefully this won’t keep you up at night: Getting less than five hours of sleep can heighten your risk of developing at least two chronic diseases.
That’s what researchers at University College in London determined after analyzing the effect of sleep duration among more than 7,000 people between the ages of 50 and 70. Not only was a lack of sleep associated with chronic diseases, it was also linked to higher death rates in those age groups.
At age 50, those who consistently slept five hours or less were 20% more likely to be diagnosed with a chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease than those who slept at least seven hours. Following study participants 25 more years, the researchers discovered the light sleepers were 40% more likely to have two or more chronic diseases.
For the 50-year-old group, there was also a 25% greater mortality rate over their next 25 years. The researchers noted a vicious cycle: Short-sleep duration raises the risk of chronic diseases, which increases the risk of death.
The problem is pervasive, with more than half of older adults in some wealthier countries having at least two chronic diseases. That creates challenges for governments and insurers that fund health care.
The researchers said it’s important to understand how sleep habits change with age, with older people often having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Seven to eight hours of sleep is considered ideal.
If you have trouble sleeping, here’s a pro tip: Physical activity and exposure to light during the day can help ensure you log enough hours counting sheep.
As the temperature and humidity fall, skin becomes dry, cracked and itchy. It needs extra TLC to stay supple and soft. Banish the winter woes and keep your skin smooth by incorporating a few tips into your skin care routine.
First, moisturize often. Frigid outdoor temperatures and artificial indoor heaters zap the skin of its natural moisture, so it’s a good idea to invest in a heartier moisturizer during the winter months. Look for a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic lotion or cream. To maximize its benefits, apply moisturizer immediately after you shower — the humidity in the bathroom keeps the skin’s pores open so it absorbs better.
Avoid harsh chemicals. In these days of hand sanitizers, antibacterial soaps and moistened antibacterial wipes, some chemicals probably aren’t easily avoided. But when you use them, don’t forget to follow up with lotion.
Plug in a humidifier. Centralized heaters blast dry air through homes and offices, which dries out skin. A humidifier allows you to adjust the water level in your environment and keep moisture in your skin.
Your next tip: Be religious about using sunscreen. UV rays damage skin in the winter, even though there is less sunlight around. Use a daily lotion with SPF 30 or higher to keep skin protected.
As much as you might enjoy them in cold weather, taking a long, hot bath or shower can dry out your skin. Shorten the duration and moisturize after.
Lastly, visit a dermatologist, who will analyze your skin’s condition and troubleshoot any problem areas. Investing just a bit of extra time for skin care will have you ready for a smooth spring.
Once hailed as an “industrial miracle,” manmade polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, were used to make all kinds of things.
Invented in 1929, scientists later found PCBs were carcinogens and they were widely banned from commercial use in 1979. But for decades they were ubiquitous, used to make children’s fingerpaints. Trash bags. Containers you kept leftovers in. Baby bottles. Magazines. Fluorescent bulbs.
Yet, even with a ban, PCBs still haunt us as they linger in the environment.
Now, a team of Japanese researchers say that enzymes produced by the body unevenly metabolize those lingering PCBs. Some end up with more chlorine atoms, even though all PCBs are chemically identical. The Japanese study on that process is expected to boost scientists’ understanding about potential toxicity in humans and other mammals.
PCBs don’t break down easily and can cycle repeatedly from air to water to soil. We ingest them when we eat salmon or catfish, and they find their way into our body fat, where they stay for months or even years.
Understanding which parts of PCBs are reduced by metabolism and which remain entrenched in the body will allow scientists to better estimate the toxicity of those high-chlorine PCBs.
Some 1.5 billion pounds of PCBs were made before 1979. In the 1960s, as scientists began to understand the compound’s persistence, traces of PCBs in people and animals were found around the globe, from population centers like New York City to the remote Arctic.
States and cities across the U.S. have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer of most PCBs.
One age’s industrial miracle has become another’s environmental mess —and a legal one.
As our dogs age, it’s common for their hearing to fail. But there are ways you can help your pooch to cope.
Dogs compensate so well that it’s tough to detect hearing loss until it’s severe. Your dog may stop noticing sounds that used to elicit a response or may startle when touched. Deeper than normal sleeping and excessive barking —sometimes a sign of anxiety — can be tell-tale signs too.
Dogs that are hard of hearing can be trained to respond to touch or flashing lights instead of spoken cues. Another option involves using a vibration collar, which produces a slight shaking when you press a remote-control button, prompting your dog to come to you. Of course, deaf dogs should always be leashed when they’re outdoors.
Your dog doesn’t need to hear to be happy, as long as you can quell his anxiety and keep him safe.
It can be really unsettling to hear that your pet has a heart murmur. But before you panic, let’s take a look at what causes murmurs and what they mean for your pet’s health.
Simply put, murmurs are vibrations caused by abnormal blood flow through the heart or large blood vessels. Murmurs have lots of potential causes. For example, heart structures can be defective at birth, causing rerouting of the normal blood flow. Heart valves or walls can also become misshapen as dogs age. Even thin blood from anemia can cause a murmur.
Once your veterinarian detects a murmur, they’ll look for other signs and symptoms and conduct diagnostic tests to determine the cause and whether it needs to be treated. The sooner that happens, the better — before whatever’s causing the abnormalities lead to other problems.
We age second after unrelenting second. We won’t notice any difference in our bodies day to day, month to month, even year to year. The clock, however, never stops advancing, destination unknown.
Over time we start to realize our bodies aren’t as spry as that long gone 23-year-old who could exercise all day without the hint of ache or pain.
Chances are, you were or will be about 42 when the revelation really hits.
That’s according to a poll of 2,000 Americans by the market research company OnePoll, which found, on average, people notice the signs of aging around that age. Those first gray hairs or wrinkles can, for some, be quite a shock.
The same group of respondents looked back and estimated when they were at their absolute peak of health. On average, they thought they were 34 when they stood proudly atop fitness mountain.
A significant portion of people — 15% — noticed signs of aging before their 35th year.
One in five admitted they were in denial about growing old. Wrinkles, however, do not go away simply by avoiding the bathroom mirror.
Physicians say, while aging is inevitable, we can take steps no matter how young or ancient we are to expand the time we enjoy good health. Exercise daily, eat a healthy diet and don’t smoke.
If only Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon had found that fountain of youth 500 years ago. The tale is probably apocryphal. But even if true, Ponce supposedly looked for the fountain in what was then known as La Florida. So, while its waters might have restored youth, it would have been infested with la gators.
And that wouldn’t likely have helped the Spaniards stay youthful. Not for long, anyway.
Picture this: You’re meeting a date at a restaurant. When you see them, you get excited and call their name. But they don’t seem to hear you … then they walk away. Rude? Sure, but it’s a social rejection Japanese researchers hope mosquitos begin to experience after their new study.
That’s right. Scientists have figured out a way to make female mosquitoes’ mating “buzz” fall on deaf males’ “ears.”
Disrupting mosquito populations is important not only because they are annoying — they also transmit dangerous diseases to humans such as malaria, dengue [ding-gay] and Zika.
Although much research has attempted to block mosquitoes from biting people in the first place, this study sought to determine whether scientists could control mosquito mating behavior by altering the frequency at which male mosquitoes hear.
Using a serotonin-inhibiting compound, researchers were able to make the mosquito ears go ‘out of tune,’ ideally to block their usual mating behavior. This could help control the growing mosquito population, against which common insecticides are faltering due to the buzzing beasties’ growing resistance.
The next steps in ruining mosquito romance include the development of a potential auditory-based “birth control” that would be able to pinpoint the exact receptors responsible for tuning mosquitoes’ ears.
With that in their pocket, researchers could administer even more targeted compounds to disrupt mating behavior, while ensuring other species’ romantic habits would remain untouched.
A future where you could meet a date outside on a warm summer evening without the disruption of several buzzing onlookers? Now that’s romance.
Involving the environment, animals and people, leptospirosis is a classic One Health disease — and one that public health experts and veterinarians have in their sights.
The spread of leptospirosis relies on three things: the ability of its disease-causing bacteria to thrive in the environment; the presence of host animals — usually rodents — where the bacteria can reproduce and be passed; and interactions between animals, people and the environment.
Each year, leptospirosis affects 1 million people worldwide, and it can also cause serious disease in dogs, horses, livestock and wildlife. Once primarily found in the tropics, leptospirosis is now found elsewhere too, including in the United States.
Fortunately, there are leptospirosis vaccines approved for use in animals. Ask your veterinarian if that’s something they’d recommend.
Primary care, or general practice, veterinarians do a little bit of everything. Your local veterinarian is likely to be a generalist who treats both healthy and sick animals and is someone who can follow your pet throughout its lifetime and work with you to obtain additional specialty care if needed. Because of this, establishing a relationship with a primary care veterinarian when your pet is healthy is key. On this show, Dr. Wendy Mandese, a primary care and dentistry veterinarian, will discuss why routine wellness examinations are necessary in order to properly manage a pet’s health as it ages, and why an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure when it comes to keeping our four-legged family members happy and healthy.
When bringing a new kitten home to your older cat, plan for a gradual introduction.
First, let your kitten explore her previously appointed private space while your older cat gets used to the new smells. After a few days, it’s the kitten’s turn to check out the house while your senior cat retreats to his own space.
Then, let the cats see each other through a screen or gate. Once they start sniffing noses or rubbing against the surface, let them meet face to face. As they become more comfortable, you can increase their supervised time together.
Some hissing or swatting is normal as your resident cat sets boundaries. Try playing with both cats together, praising and rewarding them — especially your senior cat — if they’re tolerating each other.
This process can be tweaked — just keep gauging each cat’s stress level along the way.
For people with anxiety and depression, there’s a well-known drug that delivers consistent results. Now, there may be a pill-free option for some: Recent research shows that a stress reduction regimen can be a reliable alternative.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have found that a guided anti-stress program known as mindfulness-based stress reduction, or MBSR, works as well as escitalopram [es-sye-tal’-oh-pram]. The drug is also known by its brand name, Lexapro.
During a study involving nearly 300 people in the northeastern United States, patients were separated into two groups. One of the groups used MBSR while the other took escitalopram. The MBSR patients spent two months attending weekly classes, one weekend retreat class and doing daily, 45-minute home exercises. Patients’ anxiety symptoms were measured at the beginning and end of the trial.
Both groups of patients had anxiety levels reduced about 30% to nearly identical levels. That, the researchers said, shows the drug and MBSR to have very similar effectiveness.
The findings about MBSR may prove to be consequential beyond just its efficacy. The researchers say it gives evidence for doctors to prescribe and insurance companies to cover mindfulness-based stress reduction as an effective anxiety treatment. For now, few insurance providers reimburse patients for mindfulness meditation programs.
The researchers also note other advantages for MBSR: A mindfulness facilitator needs no medical degree and classes can be held anywhere.
While some anxiety certainly warrants medication, some patients might use mindfulness tools to avoid an unnecessary prescription.
Obesity is a major health problem for cats, but fortunately, there are lots of ways to tackle it — including a plan developed by two feline behavioral specialists in the UK.
The central concept of the Five-A-Day Felix Plan involves mimicking how cats behave in the wild by eating frequent small meals. To that end, a cat’s daily ration is divided into at least 5 portions that are fed during a 24-hour period — that means overnight, too.
Ideally, the location of the food is often switched up so that cats can search it out. Puzzle feeders are also encouraged so that cats can work at retrieving their food. You can buy puzzle feeders or find directions online for making your own.
Last, but not least, cats should always have plenty of water available in a few locations — especially if a large portion of their diet is kibble.
How often do you wake up feeling perky? Once in a blue moon? Never?
New research suggests that paying close attention to three things — sleep, exercise and breakfast — could turn you into a morning person.
The University of California, Berkeley’s three-pronged prescription includes substantial physical activity during the day, sleeping longer and later in the morning, and having a low-sugar breakfast high in complex carbohydrates.
The study tracked more than 800 people for two weeks. Participants ate a variety of breakfasts, wore watches to record their movements and sleep, logged their food intake and alertness levels.
First, participants were asked to exercise during the day. The researchers found a high correlation between activity and those who reported waking up feeling refreshed. No surprise there. Exercise is known to lift our mood.
Snoozing longer and later than normal was found to be important in helping participants wake up feeling refreshed. The researchers say most of us already operate on a sleep deficit, so extra sleep never hurts.
Study participants ate three kinds of morning meals: A standard breakfast with moderate fat and carbohydrates, a high-protein muffin and milkshake breakfast, and a high-carbohydrate or high-sugar glucose drink breakfast. They wore blood-glucose monitors throughout the day.
The high-sugar breakfast left those who ate it feeling groggy. The high-carbohydrate, moderate-protein breakfast left participants feeling energetic.
So if you’re looking to wake up on the right side of the bed, focus on sleep, exercise and breakfast. Set your alarm a little later and see what happens.
You’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t feed wildlife. But do you know why it’s a bad idea?
Offering our snacks is especially harmful to wild animals. The addictive taste and easy access allow them to fill up on empty calories and bypass the nutritious foods they need. If it becomes a habit, they may slack off hunting and foraging, becoming more dependent on food that might disappear at any time. So, feeding wild animals can throw off an entire ecosystem whose populations are intertwined.
Food conditioning — which is what this is called — also makes animals aggressive, as they lose their fear of people to take their favored foods any way they can get them.
Don’t rock the boat by feeding wild animals. That includes cleaning up your picnic or campsite, so no trash or crumbs are left behind.
Looking for new friends? Dust off your gardening gloves and locate your knee pads.
A recent study from the University of Essex indicates that having a green thumb may be one key to thwarting loneliness — and finding a connection with your community.
Throughout the pandemic, people experienced a range of feelings, many of them negative. Stress, grief, boredom and isolation flourished.
But for a group of volunteers at a community garden in the United Kingdom, other feelings also emerged: They found solace in sowing seeds, fulfillment in growing vegetables and flowers, and a renewed sense of purpose as they tended to the greenery.
In fact, participants in the three-year study self-reported that their life satisfaction and mental well-being increased by 9%.
Now, researchers believe time spent with nature, and its cultivation, can form the basis for nature-based therapeutic interventions that prove indispensable during times of crisis, like COVID-19.
The study is part of a growing body of research that’s finding health benefits from being outdoors.
The researchers said the participants’ enhanced mental health and well-being may have stemmed from the human connections the community garden helped forge. And the outdoor physical activity was also a benefit.
Future investment in similar endeavors could even help reduce demand on the health system and social care, while growing communities in a way that encourages mental well-being.
Now, we’re not saying a cabbage patch is the only key to happiness — but the next time you see your neighbor weeding their garden or planting some tomatoes, think about grabbing a shovel and lending a hand.
Friends might be more than a boost to good mental health. They might also be the best medicine. The evidence is in the monkey poop. Let us explain.
You can draw comparisons between the social behaviors of rhesus monkeys and humans. Monkeys and humans hang out with others in their respective species.
The monkeys form relationships with other individuals in the troop. They display affection, even respect. Some experts say they get depressed when separated from siblings, as when a rival ousts the alpha male.
In a study led by a British researcher, scientists focused on a group of 22 male and 16 wild female rhesus monkeys. They observed grooming pairings, using it as an indicator of social connection. Then they checked 50 samples of monkey feces.
Analyzing these droppings, scientists found that the most social monkeys had a greater number of microbes that help fight inflammation.
The more disconnected monkeys carried more of a bacterium that in humans is harmful and can lead to strep throat or pneumonia.
Unraveling cause and effect is extremely difficult. But researchers believe it is possible that social monkeys transmitted the beneficial bacteria during grooming. Or perhaps, like humans, the lonely heart primates are more stressed, which might affect their good microbes.
We’re close to nonhuman primates genetically, so scientists think the findings might have relevance in our own species and its web of friendships and social interactions. This is especially important when so many are glued to smartphones and interact more online than with friends in the flesh.
So, want to improve your health? Hanging out with friends can’t hurt.
We can say with some confidence that the 2020 presidential race put few to sleep. Indeed, the stress of the election might actually have kept us up nights regardless of our political inclinations.
Poor sleep habits and stress can mess with our brains and bodies, leading to higher cardiovascular risk, obesity, diabetes and cognitive problems.
Stress acts like a jolt to our nervous system, with our bodies releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that elevate heart rate, blood pressure and increase energy as part of the human fight-or-flight response. This, in the short term, helps us fend off danger.
But keep that flow of stress on for days, weeks or months, and all sorts of ills can befall the body.
Boston scientists tracked 437 American adults and 106 international volunteers as part of a study to analyze an election’s impact on the body. Individuals reported their sleep quality and duration, alcohol consumption and when they were stressed or in a bad mood. They did so about a dozen days at a time in three periods — a month before the election, immediately before and right after.
Researchers found a noteworthy correlation. In the run-up to the election, everyone’s sleep deteriorated. But the U.S. participants reported more significant sleep loss in the days leading up to and after votes were cast.
And the Americans drank more alcohol on Election Day and the date, days later, when the race was finally called, than did the Europeans.
So, don’t shout at the TV as your candidate’s numbers roll in. Read a book. Hug your puppy. Relax. Keep the beers in the fridge.
An election is important. So too is your health.
Very few of us look forward to the approach of cold temperatures and the runny noses, stiff joints and stinging fingertips that accompany the wintry months. But did you know it’s actually possible to be allergic to cold weather?
The allergy is called cold urticaria [uhr-ta-care-ee-ah]. Young adults ages 18 to 25 years old are most often affected.
There are two forms: acquired and hereditary. In both cases, the most common symptom is the development of large red hives or welts on the skin after exposure to cold, cold water or cold objects. Hands that swell while holding cold objects or swollen lips after consuming cold food or drink are also symptoms.
More severe reactions include swelling of the tongue and throat that make it difficult to breathe. Anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, is also possible. It can cause fainting, a racing heart, swollen limbs or torso and shock.
In the acquired form, the symptoms become obvious about two minutes after exposure and last for up to two hours. In the hereditary form, symptoms can take up to 48 hours to develop, and can last another two days. Both types are rare.
The easiest way to diagnose the allergy is to hold an ice cube against the skin for up to five minutes. A distinct red rash should develop if the patient has cold urticaria.
The best treatment is to avoid a sudden drop in temperature. Allergy sufferers also should avoid swimming or surfing without supervision, in case cool water triggers a reaction. Antihistamines can be prescribed to help patients until their bodies, over time, warm to the thrill of the chill.
If you don’t think you’re getting as much as you can out of your morning walk, shift it into reverse. Health benefits might await.
A British exercise physiologist said in a recent essay that walking backward might actually be better for health than moving forward.
You won’t see many people out for neighborhood walks sauntering backward. It has obvious limitations. You can’t see where you’re going. It’s easier to lose your balance and fall. It takes practice. And it will confuse the heck out of your dog, to say nothing of your neighbors.
Yet, researchers say this retrograde movement makes our brains work harder by forcing more cooperation between the cerebral systems that control vision and balance. And doing so taxes muscles differently, making them stronger and, in some cases, more flexible.
One study notes that this improves our overall stability and balance. That might help healthy adults and those with conditions that interfere with confident movement, such as knee osteoarthritis.
For those with chronic lower back pain, researchers say walking backward strengthens muscles that support the lower lumbar spine.
The exercise physiologist even suggests the healthier among us might try backward running, once we’ve mastered walking in reverse.
It’s probably a good idea to consult a doctor first, especially if you’re physically infirm or have balance issues. There are many exercises to improve health without the risk of falling on your caboose.
But advocates say strolling astern has its perks — if you’re careful.
Just be sure to leave the dog at home if it pulls on a leash excitedly whenever it sees a squirrel. Or get a rearview mirror.
If sleep apnea is ruining your nights and causing sleepy days, consider a dose of self-help. A growing body of evidence suggests a trio of daytime tactics can reduce the effects of sleep apnea — and perhaps even eliminate the need for a CPAP machine.
First, try cutting out ultra-processed foods such as breakfast cereal, sweetened yogurt and soft drinks. Then, cut back on alcohol and increase your number of daily steps. Every 2,000 steps not only reduces sleep apnea symptoms, it can lower the overall risk of premature death by 8 to 11%.
Sleep apnea, a pause in breathing that leads to snoring and abrupt awakenings, can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Recent findings by researchers in Spain focused on about 100 overweight men with sleep apnea. Half of them made diet, exercise and lifestyle changes that included healthier foods and eliminating processed foods. They cut back on nighttime drinking and walked 15% more every week. The second group made no lifestyle changes. Both groups continued using CPAP machines.
In eight weeks, the group that started healthier habits had 51% fewer sleep apnea episodes per hour than those who made no changes. Fifteen percent of the healthy-habits group no longer had sleep apnea and 45% no longer needed CPAP machines. Those in the healthy-habits group lost an average of 16 pounds.
The results were sustainable: After six months, lost weight stayed off. Sleep apnea remission reached 30% and nearly two-thirds of the group no longer needed a CPAP machine.
Taking a few simple steps can help you breathe easier — especially at night.
Anyone interested in the diet that follows be forewarned: That’s a whole lotta nuts.
Or 46 almonds a day, to be exact, about 56 grams.
But they might be the ticket to a healthier gut. Part of this story involves the 10 to 100 trillion microorganisms hitchhiking in our bodies, most of which are in our gut. Don’t be grossed out. They can be beneficial to good health and help us digest food. More about them later.
A study out of King’s College London had two groups of volunteers replace their normal snacks with almonds. The first ate 28 grams a day, the second 56.
A third group ate muffins that delivered the same amount of energy as those feisty nuts. The groups contained a total of 87 people ages 18 to 45 who were in good health.
Then somebody had to check the participants’ poop. Researchers found that those who devoured the 46 almonds had a higher amount of a fatty acid called butyrate (beaut-a-rate) in their feces than the other two groups.
Butyrate is known to support the health of our guts. It is the primary source of fuel for the cells in our colon, allowing them to function properly. This fatty acid also aids in the body’s absorption of nutrients. And via the bloodstream, butyrate helps keep the brain, liver and lungs fit for duty.
Of particular importance is its ability to serve as a barrier between the bacteria in our guts and our blood. That in turn reduces inflammation and bloating, gastrointestinal discomfort and irritable bowel syndrome.
Almonds are an excellent source of fiber, which ferments in our gut and thus produces butyrate.
So if you like them, eat a handful and keep your colon happy.
Having alcohol easily available may be handy for young adults, but it certainly can mean a lot of heartache for youngsters.
A new research study led by researchers at Ohio State University examined the links between the number of stores selling alcohol in a neighborhood and the numbers of substantiated cases of child abuse in the same area.
The researchers found that having just one more off-premises alcohol outlet — a place where alcohol is sold to be consumed somewhere else — in one census tract was related to 13.5% more cases of child abuse and neglect in that area over a year, as well as 10.5% more entries into foster care.
The study, which was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, focused on Sacramento County parents from 18 to 29 years old. Younger parents are more likely to be involved with child protection agencies over abuse or neglect claims.
The researchers used surveys that asked Sacramento residents about their alcohol use as well as state alcohol-license data.
The study found that even a 1% higher per capita volume of alcohol consumed in a neighborhood was tied to a 3.2% increase in children in foster care due to alcohol-related issues.
According to the studies, stores that sell alcohol are often opened in neighborhoods full of younger adults, who are likely to drink more. That cycle, in which the young adult population has easier access to alcohol and thus drinks more, culminates in more child abuse.
Breaking that cycle, the researchers noted, may mean allowing fewer neighborhood alcohol outlets.
After all, children’s well-being is at stake.
If you’ve read or heard about a dog’s life being saved through a blood transfusion, chances are a blood bank that collects blood and blood products from qualified canine blood donors was involved. On this show, veterinary technician Camille Kelly, who manages the canine blood donor program at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, will discuss common conditions that can require a blood transfusion and how to determine if your dog might be suitable as a donor. She’ll also share how blood is collected, processed and stored and why there is an increasing demand for blood products these days to help animals in need.
Hospitals are filled with the latest technologies. CT scans can give doctors internal views of our bodies that would have seemed miraculous to previous generations. Artificial intelligence uses big data to provide insights about medicine using computer power far beyond the capabilities of the human brain.
DNA therapy can treat or even cure once intractable diseases.
These high-tech advances undoubtedly save lives. But there is one invention dating to at least the 13th century B.C. that could increase the odds of surviving surgery.
A window.
University of Michigan research shows that a hospital room with a window might play an important role in increasing the odds of surviving a risky surgery. Other factors that weigh into the equation include a room’s distance from a nursing station and whether someone is in a single-patient room.
The study involved nearly 4,000 patients at a single hospital who underwent one of 13 risky surgeries from 2016 to 2019, including kidney transplants and a colectomy.
Investigators found that the risk of death was 20% higher for patients in a room without a window, compared with those who had an outside view. That was after adjusting for the patients’ health conditions and the complexity of the operation.
Other factors also influenced mortality rates, including having a nurse able to see the patient from outside the room. Some hospital designs include a window between the room and the corridor side so caregivers can peer inside.
Scientists say more research is needed. But this study reinforces previous work dating to the 1980s pointing to the medical value of patients being able to see the outside world.
A room with a view just might be a lifesaver.
Many of us know the saying that the truth will set you free. But, for children, telling the blunt truth instead of lying gets them judged more harshly by adults.
That’s the main message of recent findings by Texas State University researchers, who tracked the attitudes of nearly 300 adults in the northeastern United States. The adults were shown videos of children, ages 6 to 15, who were telling the truth or lying in various social situations.
The 24 children in the study were told to lie for a variety of reasons. One scenario involved a child lying about where a sibling was hiding after getting in trouble with their parents. The children acted out several variations of lies or truths, including a blatant lie that the sibling had gone to the library. A subtler lie was that the sibling had gone to bed. A subtle truth was the sister went outside, while the blunt truth was that she was hiding under the porch.
After watching the videos, the adults gave their impressions of the child’s character, including their honesty, trustworthiness and kindness. Perhaps surprisingly, the adults reserved their harshest judgment for the children who told the blunt truth.
So, do the adults’ responses go against parents’ typical advice to always tell the truth? The answers from the study suggest that scenario isn’t always so cut and dried.
The researchers say their findings reveal that children learn about honesty in a complicated environment. Kids sometimes learn that it’s wrong to lie but also that it’s sometimes unkind to be brutally honest.
Considering those somewhat mixed messages, the researchers say, it’s not surprising that children can sometimes engage in some nuanced truth-fudging.
For centuries, women have endured all manner of painful and dangerous trends in the name of beauty: lung-restricting corsets, bound feet, even lead face powder.
Should chemical hair-straightening products go the way of those once-trendy treatments? A new study has found that women who used chemical hair-straightening products had more risk for uterine cancer than women who didn’t use them.
The findings have bigger health implications for Black women than others because they use hair-straightening products, called relaxers, more frequently than other groups.
While uterine cancer is relatively rare, it is the most common female reproductive system cancer. And the rate of uterine cancer is up in the United States, especially among Black women.
The National Institutes of Health study reviewed data from more than 33,000 women from age 35 to 74 who participated in the Sister Study, aimed at identifying risk factors for breast cancer and other health issues.
The study lasted almost 11 years, and during that time, 378 cases of uterine cancer were diagnosed among its participants.
The researchers found that women who reported using hair-straightening products more than four times a year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who reported less or no use.
The scientists found no increased risk for uterine cancer from other hair products women used, including bleach, highlights, perms or dyes.
With sales of hair relaxers to salons and professional stylists on the decline for the last decade, the link between relaxers and higher urterine cancer risk may prompt women to embrace their natural hair.
Beware this holiday season. Frosty the Snowman is a lovable character. But he might just threaten your safety on the roadway.
Chinese researchers note that certain songs can cause distracted driving. That, in turn, can lead to car accidents. The scientists focused on a song’s beats per minute, testing rock and light music. The idea was that faster rock songs would elicit a response in a driver that could lead to distraction on the road.
The study monitored drivers in an automobile simulator with sensors to check physiological reactions and vehicle operation. It found that songs with 120 or more beats per minute were more likely to cause distracted driving. Researchers suggested such music taxed the processing power of our brains, stressing our mental workload.
An Irish auto insurance company decided to apply this beats-per-minute formula and analyzed popular Christmas songs.
At 172 beats per minute, the Gene Autry version of “Frosty the Snowman” topped the list of the most-dangerous Christmas songs. He might be a “jolly, happy soul,” but the little guy could be responsible for your next fender-bender.
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is a holiday staple. But at 150 beats per minute, it’s nearly as distracting as Frosty. Thanks a lot, Mariah.
Same goes for another Autry hit, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at 142 beats. Rudolph with his nose so bright, might just wreck your sleigh tonight. Sinatra exhorting Mother Nature to “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow” at 143 beats isn’t going to prevent you from sliding off a slippery highway.
So, don’t wrap your car around the North Pole. Turn to easy-listening favorites this Christmas season.
Chances are, you’ve heard plenty about the dangers UV radiation poses to your skin, even in wintertime. Here’s something you may not have heard: UV radiation can burn your eyes.
“Snow blindness,” also called photokeratitis, is a burn of the cornea, the eye’s outer layer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people typically get it from spending lots of time without adequate eye protection in settings where UV radiation from the sun reflects off snow, water or concrete.
Snow is the most reflective of these substances, hence the condition’s nickname. Tanning beds, welding tools and other artificial sources of UV radiation can be culprits, too.
If you think a sunburn on your eye sounds pretty unpleasant, you’re right. A burned cornea can make your eye feel like it’s full of grit. Other symptoms include light sensitivity, pain and increased tear production. That’s enough to ruin even the best ski vacation.
To avoid this, protect your eyes with sunglasses or ski goggles specifically designed to guard against UV radiation. Add a hat with a wide brim, and even less radiation will reach your peepers.
Animals who live in Arctic regions have something even better than glasses and hats. Reindeer, for example, can see some types of UV radiation and aren’t susceptible to snow blindness. Their ability to process UV radiation is key in their habitat, where the sun’s low position on the horizon makes the glare worse.
As the reindeer are guiding Santa’s sleigh back to the North Pole just as day breaks, their eyes’ natural protection from UV radiation must come in handy. We’re guessing a team of snowblind flying reindeer wouldn’t be much help to Ol’ Saint Nick.
The holiday season tends to be an emotional time for many people, especially as the world continues to deal with unrelenting global drama and an ongoing pandemic. Holiday-related stress may seem overwhelming, but there are ways to manage your anxiety.
A group of researchers at the University of Kansas have linked added sugar consumption to metabolic, inflammatory and neurobiological processes that are connected to depressive illness. Holiday foods are often high in added sugars, making them apt to trigger this response.
Sugary foods give an initial mood boost, but if consumed in large amounts, over time, they can take a toll on a person’s mood. Added sugars can increase inflammation in the body and brain, which can lead to depression, anger or other negative mental conditions.
Avoiding an excess of sugary foods can help boost your mental health, especially during the stressful holiday season. It’s important to remember that it is OK to indulge — just do so in moderation.
Experts say that guilt and shame over diet slip-ups can also have a negative effect on mental health. Keep to a balanced diet to achieve optimal mental wellness, but give yourself permission to enjoy holiday treats. And if you overdo it, remember that we’re all human. Start over. Today’s a new day.
The last couple years have given us more emotional trauma than we might have imagined. But there’s no need to let stress win the day.
Taking time to reset your life and share traditions with those you love will help improve your mental health. Even during these trying times, don’t forget the joy of the season.
This time of year, there are many opportunities to indulge in a flute of champagne or a tumbler of spiked eggnog. But if you’re trying to pace yourself — let’s say, at the office holiday party — you might want to bring your own glass.
It’s well established that people have a hard time determining if there is more liquid in a short, wide glass than a tall, narrow one. Even if there’s an equal amount in both, we tend to use height to judge quantity, so we usually think there’s more in the tall glass. As a result, we usually end up pouring more into the short glass.
If that wasn’t enough to complicate happy hour, a new study finds that the shape of the glass also determines how quickly we consume alcohol.
Psychology researchers at the University of Bristol observed 160 social drinkers aged 18 to 40 with no history of alcoholism. The researchers found that their subjects quaffed a beer almost twice as quickly when drinking from a curvy glass than from a straight-sided glass.
The researchers hypothesize that curves make it harder for drinkers to judge exactly how much they’ve consumed. Visual cues tell us how much we’ve had to drink, but shaped glassed can play tricks on our eyes. Even determining the halfway point in a curved glass can be difficult. Consequently, we may underestimate how much alcohol we’ve actually had.
However, when the beverage was alcohol free, the shape of the glass had no impact on the speed of consumption. Perhaps we only attempt to pace ourselves when drinking alcohol.
Drink responsibly this holiday season, preferably out of a tall, straight glass. Who knows? It may be enough to keep you on Santa’s — and your boss’s — “nice list.”
’Twas the night of the holiday party and all through the house, creatures were stirring, even the mouse. The favors were strung by the punch bowl with flair, in hopes that loud partygoers would soon be there.
But in the corner, the introverts all wished they were at home in their beds. Visions of quiet rooms danced in their heads. The woman clutched her purse. The man held his hat. Both secretly wished they were at home with the cat.
Being an introvert during the holidays is tough.
In an extrovert’s eyes, a holiday party means talking and laughing, eating, and even more talking and laughing as the hours wear wee. To the introvert, it’s all an endless array of uncomfortable conversations, people talking loudly and time away from things that really matter.
It’s not that introverts are party poopers. Scientists say the key difference between introverts and extroverts is how their brains process dopamine. Introverts are more sensitive to this happiness-causing chemical. Reading or being at home can satisfy. But an extrovert needs more stimulation to feel the same boost. People. Parties. Bungee jumping.
Researchers say this makes extroverts more thrill-seeking than the average introvert.
Most folks are extroverts, though, so how can an introvert cope at a party? Experts say be early, help out, ask questions and start conversations.
Easier said than done, you say? Then be a good listener … extroverts need someone to listen to their stories.
Even if you still count down the minutes until you can leave, at least you will have shared your humanity with others. And you’ll likely come home with at least a good story or two to tell the cat.
The Grim Reaper doesn’t take rain checks or a Christmas vacation.
That’s the reality behind the findings of an Ohio State University study, which dispels the notion that cancer patients can cling to life to avoid dying just before or during major holidays and birthdays.
Smaller studies had previously backed claims that a patient’s will to live could keep them alive during holidays. But researchers found no such evidence after examining the death patterns of more than 300,000 cancer patients in Ohio.
There were no noticeable dips in death rates before holidays and no noticeable spikes afterward. Researchers actually found that women were more likely to die right before their birthdays than after.
Other research has shown a dip in the number of deaths among Jewish men just before Passover, the religion’s holiest day of the year.
But in the current study, of the 12,000 cancer patients who died around Christmas, half died the week before or on the day of the holiday and half died the week after.
So why does it seem like so many caregivers and family members of terminally ill patients seem to spot this phenomenon? Researchers say it could be because deaths that occur right after holidays cement themselves in a person’s memory more so than deaths that occur on less notable days.
However, the researchers have yet to study death patterns before or after graduations, weddings or anniversaries, high-sentiment events they say could potentially be even more meaningful to patients than many holidays.
Listen: We’ve all done it. Everyone has, at one point or another, stayed up too late or pulled an all-nighter. The next day’s bleary consequences are usually enough to dissuade us from repeating this bad habit one too many times, but as we get older, there are more formidable consequences than bloodshot eyes and nodding off during meetings.
Now, research from University College London indicates getting less than five hours of sleep in older adults may be associated with an increased risk of developing two chronic diseases.
Using data from 7,000 participants between the ages of 50 to 70, scientists looked at the relationship between how long individuals slept and whether they had been diagnosed with two or more diseases, like cancer or diabetes. Researchers followed the participants over a period of 25 years.
They found that those around the age of 50 were 20% more likely to have been diagnosed with a chronic disease, and even 40% more likely to be diagnosed with two or more chronic illnesses, over the ensuing 25 years. Their baseline for comparison was people who slept up to seven hours. Even at the age of 60 and 70, researchers found a 30 to 40% increase in risk of developing multimorbidity. This, in turn, was also associated with a 25% increased risk of death.
Part of the study’s origin stemmed from the fact that multimorbidity is appearing more and more in high-income countries. Now, more than 50% of the older adult population has at least two chronic diseases.
Although aging — however gracefully — can change our sleep habits and structure, researchers still recommend sleeping for seven to eight hours a night. Whether it’s meditation or counting sheep, the ends justify the means.
The deadliest event in humans’ recorded history, the Black Death, killed an estimated 75 million to 200 million people before its peak in the mid-1300s.
Now, researchers have used DNA from those who died during the bubonic plague era to better understand the connections between natural selection during past pandemics and disease susceptibility today.
Led by scientists from Canada’s McMaster University and the University of Chicago, an international team analyzed centuries-old data, including more than 500 DNA samples taken from those who lived during a 100-year window in the Black Death era.
The samples were taken from those who lived in London and Denmark and died before the plague, those killed by the plague and those who made it through the plague that swept through Europe, Asia and Africa.
The researchers were on the hunt for clues to genetic adaptation related to the plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia [yer-sin-ee-uh] pestis.
The team zeroed in on versions of four genes, called alleles [ul-leelz], that either protected or made one more susceptible to the plague.
Those with two identical copies of a particular gene, called ERAP2 [E-R-A-P 2], likely as much as 40 to 50%, were able to survive at much higher rates than those who had the opposing — and let’s be honest, not so helpful — set of genes.
In a curious evolutionary turn, however, those genes that helped some mount a spirited defense against the plague are today associated with increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
The question does spring to mind: What changes might Mother Nature now be imposing on our DNA as we’re in the midst of another pandemic?
In the aftermath of a disaster, veterinary colleges are often called upon to respond, whether by sending teams into the field to provide direct medical assistance to injured or displaced animals, offering support to animal shelters, or in other ways. Dr. Larry Garcia, medical director of the UF Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service, discusses some of the aspects of managing a field hospital in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, why disaster response training is an important part of veterinary medical education and why having a disaster plan is important for all pet owners.
Like so many issues highlighted by COVID-19 — say, frustration with inadequate internet in rural areas, or debates over how much time workers should spend in their cubicle — the virus didn’t create this dilemma, but it sure brought it to boil quickly.
More Americans than ever need mental health help, but there are too few therapists available to help them.
Those reaching out currently often find that therapists can’t take new patients. Or can’t schedule appointments for months.
As anyone who’s been there knows — when you’re dealing with depression, anxiety or any other mental health issue that’s interfering in your daily life, you need help now, not later.
There are ways to get relief quicker. The Association of American Medical Colleges suggests that telehealth services proved during the pandemic to be a very reasonable way of getting health care.
Need help? Use your Employee Assistance Program. Most companies of any size have one, and they can connect you to resources.
Maybe try an app. Talkspace and BetterHealth can match you with a therapist. If money is a worry, free apps like Calm and Headspace can help you relax.
Join a support or therapy group, either online or in-person. Try the self-help section at your favorite bookstore. Online, the Moodjuice website offers self-help guides that can help you work through common mental health problems like depression, anxiety and stress.
When it comes to your psychological health, waiting for symptoms to pass it not a good plan. Help is out there, although you may have to work to find it. This past summer, 988 became the new national hotline for mental health emergencies. Dial — or text — for help.
Modern family life usually moves fast. Settling in for a shared meal can be a time to connect and share the day’s events. It turns out a meal can be more than just relaxing.
A recent study by the American Heart Association has found that the vast majority of 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed — a full 84% — want to share a meal with loved ones more often. And nearly all of the parents participating in the study reported lower stress levels in their family when they bond over a meal.
The study’s authors note that sharing a meal can deliver a host of benefits, including a reduction in stress, a self-esteem boost for kids and improved social connections.
Sharing a meal can be more than habit or ritual. More than two-thirds of the people in the study said eating together reminds them of the importance of connecting with other people.
Eating together also helps foster healthier dietary habits. While people in the study reported eating alone about half of the time, nearly 60% said they were likely to eat better when others are present.
Aligning meal schedules with busy friends and family can be a challenge, so the experts advise starting small: Set a goal to gather family, friends or co-workers for one additional meal a week. If it can’t be done in person, think outside the box. Sharing a meal over the phone or computer isn’t the same as gathering around a table but it can also be a decent substitute for dining alone.
And it’s not just good practice at home. Nearly 70% of people in the study said they would feel less stressed at work if they had more time to share a meal with a colleague.
It’s a simple recipe for warding off stress: Eat together. Eat better. Feel better.
In an interconnected world of Facebook feeds and Twitter tweets and endless social media platforms, a persistent human emotion still rises above that technological clatter.
Loneliness.
That sense of isolation persists among a significant segment of the population. That is certainly a threat to good mental health. And ultimately, researchers say being lonely can lead to physical consequences.
A Norwegian study involving more than 24,000 people found that those who indicated they were very lonely in the previous two weeks were twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who felt socially connected. That’s after adjusting for age, sex and education level.
The body responds to loneliness by releasing stress hormones that can affect us in different ways. Insulin resistance occurs when fat, muscle and liver cells do not respond normally to insulin, making it difficult for them to absorb sugar from the bloodstream.
Such resistance increases, scientists say, when stress hormones are released. And that can lead to the onset of diabetes.
There might be other mechanisms at work, too. For example, lonely people have been shown in previous studies to consume more sugar because of unhealthy eating habits they can be prone to develop.
The association with diabetes points to the idea that loneliness could be added to screening guidelines for the disease.
Interestingly, investigators also found that those people who developed diabetes in their survey were far more likely than not to be married.
That finding aside, the study is yet another reminder that real connection with other people is a powerful influence on our health.
Few things hit the spot more than a late-night bite to eat. While it tastes good going down, that midnight snack can also have health consequences.
Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston recently studied the simultaneous effects of late eating on three main factors that affect body weight regulation. They found that when food is eaten greatly affects appetite, energy expenditure and molecular pathways in fat tissue.
In the case of midnight snacking, that translates into increased hunger, fewer calories burned and negative changes in fat tissue — all of which can boost the risk of obesity.
The latest findings build on earlier results showing that eating in the wee hours is associated with more body fat and less weight-loss success. This time, the researchers wanted to understand why that’s so.
To do that, they studied a group of overweight and obese patients. Each participant completed two regimens. One of the experiments included an early meal schedule. The other experiment featured the same meals served four hours later. Participants documented their appetites and hunger levels and gave frequent blood samples.
It turns out that eating four hours later made a significant difference in hunger levels, the way calories are burned and how fat is stored. That’s due in part to how late eating affects two hormones that influence the desire to eat. One of those hormones, which creates a feeling of fullness, was less abundant among the study’s late eaters.
Those who ate later also burned calories more slowly and were more prone to gene activity that promotes fat growth.
So, as unrelenting as the after-hours siren call of your refrigerator can be, tuning it out may help keep your weight in check.
For generations, home ownership has been a big part of the American dream. But new research shows the boost of happiness that comes with a home purchase doesn’t last as long as people expect.
Whether it’s a bigger yard, more space or just a place to call your own, the goal of home ownership is often the same: an investment in happiness. Now, a group of researchers in Switzerland has found that happiness can be fleeting.
To establish that, they asked more than 800 future homeowners in Germany to rate their current and expected happiness in five years on a 10-point scale. The results showed home ownership does, in fact, increase happiness — but not as much as the future owners expected.
Happiness with home ownership was also influenced by personality type. Those who are more status oriented, particularly about money and success, overestimated the added life satisfaction that comes with home ownership. On the other hand, people who put more emphasis on family and friends experienced no such disconnect.
So why are some people not very good at predicting what makes them happy? The researchers say it’s a combination of not listening to ourselves as well as the influence of outside forces. People don’t always follow their own true preferences when making decisions. Instead, they can be affected by distorted beliefs about their preferences. That, the researchers noted, can make people more susceptible to influences such as advertising or opinionated relatives.
To combat that, the researchers suggest thinking harder about what truly makes you happy. If you’re looking at home ownership as a symbol of status and success, you’re more likely to end up underwhelmed.
Owning an exotic animal as a pet can be a both learning and a rewarding experience, as they are so different from dogs and cats. Animals such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, snakes, iguanas and other unique creatures have specific needs, however. On this show, Dr. Darryl Heard, a zoological medicine specialist, will discuss some of the most common exotic pets, along with frequently seen medical issues affecting them, and why educating yourself properly about an exotic animal’s social, nutritional and environmental needs is so important to ensure you don’t end up with a pet whose needs are more than you bargained for.
If women are from Venus and men are from Mars, both planets should take a good look at their eating habits, cholesterol levels and general environment. A new study from the University of Gothenburg shows that when it comes to cardiovascular disease, the risk factors between both sexes are largely the same.
The study drew from a global pool of participants across 21 countries in five continents, accounting for both high-income, medium-income and low-income countries. Of the more than 155,000 individuals, not one had a history of cardiovascular disease when the study began. Each instance of fatal heart disease, like heart attack, stroke and heart failure, was noted during the 10-year study.
Participants ranged from 35 years to 70 years in age. Researchers looked at three kinds of risk factors: metabolic, behavioral and psychosocial.
Such risk factors include high blood pressure, obesity, smoking tobacco, economic status and depression.
At the end of the study, researchers found metabolic risks, like diabetes, were similar in both men and women. Depressive symptoms were more significant in men, while the link between poor diet and heart disease was more pronounced in women. Men smoked more, but when women lit up, the data indicated it was just as likely to pose a risk to their heart.
The researchers noted that smaller risk discrepancies between the sexes were far outweighed by the similarities.
Whether from Mars, Venus or Earth, all of us should be cognizant of general risks that can lead us down a path to developing heart disease, and manage our lifestyle, diet and mental health as best we can.
Here’s a topic you’ve probably never given a moment’s thought, perhaps with the exception of the entomologists among us: Fly vomit.
It’s one thing when a pet cat or dog regurgitates somewhere in the home. Not pleasant. But you can smell it, see it, clean it. When a house fly gets queasy, how would you know? The fly, after all, isn’t going to ask you for Pepto Bismol.
That makes these flies a particular threat to human health. Our senses just can’t detect the gastronomic occurrence. A recent study by the University of Massachusetts says we should pay more attention to the health threat of these upchucking flies. They argue the risk posed could be higher than biting flies, who until now have gotten most of the attention as disease-spreaders.
Flies, however, are believed by scientists to transmit at least 65 diseases to humans, and are known to carry 351 types of bacteria.
Investigators say, as the common house fly buzzes through its day, it samples a veritable buffet: garbage, animal dung, perhaps even roadkill or sewage. It fills its crop, which is essentially a storage tank. That’s where the fly keeps its bounty until this malodorous concoction makes its way into the digestive track.
In the crop, unfortunately, this food isn’t subjected to the fly’s digestive juices, which would eliminate most pathogens. If the storage tank is full, and the fly happens upon another treat, something’s got to give.
But you’re unlikely to hear or see a fly get sick. Scientists argue much more research in needed to better understand the health threat.
Meantime, do what you can to keep your abode fly-free. You can’t swat a gluttonous human dinner guest. Flies, however, are fair game.
Here’s some good news about cancer: Overall cancer death rates declined among men, women, children, teens and young adults in every major racial and ethnic group in the United States from 2015 to 2019.
The not-so-good news: New cancer cases remained stable for men and children, but increased for women, teens and young adults.
The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer tracked cancer incidents and death rates from 2014 through 2019. It also includes long-term trends.
One caveat: The report’s findings are based on data gathered before COVID-19. The pandemic halted annual screenings so much that it’s expected cancer diagnoses will rise as a result.
The federal government’s “Cancer Moonshot Initiative” aims to reduce the national cancer death rate by at least half over the next 25 years.
The report shows that from 2015 to 2019, overall cancer death rates went down 2.3% per year for men and 1.9% for women.
Death rates declined most in lung cancer and melanoma — 4 to 5% per year — among adults. Death rates increased for cancers of the pancreas, brain, and bones and joints among men, and for the pancreas and uterus among women.
Cancer incidence rates remained stable for men from 2014 to 2018 and rose by two-tenths of 1% for women each year during that span.
The most disappointing news in the report noted that the three most common types of cancer in children (leukemia, brain and nervous system, and lymphoma) rose from 2001 to 2018.
But, ending on a happier note: For men, the steepest decrease was in the incidence of lung cancer, which fell by 2.6% a year from 2014 to 2018. In women, thyroid cancer saw the sharpest decline, falling nearly 3% a year.
We might just be able to outrun the coronavirus. Not just outrun. Think biking, walking, walking, canoeing or just dancing your heart out.
A team of South African researchers say regular exercise helps boost the booster vaccinations protecting us against COVID-19.
The study used medical records and wearable activity tracking data to show that vaccinated people with high levels of exercise were three times less likely to be hospitalized by COVID-19 than those who are far less active.
Scientists analyzed nasal swab tests from more than 53,000 participants who didn’t exercise all that much. They then did the same with 62,000 who exercised moderately, and, lastly, with nearly 80,000 participants who were absolute gym rats.
They then coupled that analysis with compete health, vaccination and physical activity information for folks who tested negative for COVID-19.
The news was pretty good, showing a dose-dependent correlation. The more exercise, the better the boost. Compared with the unvaccinated, even couch potatoes who exercised less than an hour each week saw a 60% lower risk of hospitalization in contrast to the unvaccinated.
The risk for the most active exercisers dropped 86% — they’re sweating up a storm more than 150 minutes each week. The moderate physical activity group at 60 to 149 minutes a week saw a risk drop-off of 70%.
Exercise pays off, and not just when it comes to COVID-19. The World Health Organization notes that moderately intense exercise — 150 to 300 minutes spent engaging your muscles — helps prevent severe disease for many communicable viral infections.
So, lift yourself up. That couch can’t outrun a turtle, much less a virus capable of circling the globe.
Invasive pythons in southern Florida have been devastating to the region’s ecology, competing with native species for habitat and food sources. In addition to those known threats, a new study has revealed that Burmese pythons have introduced new viral pathogens into the environment. Rob Ossiboff, a veterinary pathologist and wildlife disease expert, will discuss some of the potential implications of these viruses and other diseases introduced by the pythons for native wildlife and ecosystem health.
Waddling away from the table with a turkey-stuffed tummy on Thanksgiving usually means one…
As the coronavirus pandemic swept the world, some health care providers quickly pivoted to…
This week, Americans will gather around the dinner table to devour slices of succulent…
Look around you. Are coworkers sneezing and coughing? Someone in your family developing a…
It happens every holiday season. We attend office parties and family get-togethers and eat…
For many new to yoga, mastering a headstand ¾ or sirsasana [shear-SHAHS-ahna], in yoga-speak…
This time of the year brings new responsibilities and priorities, growing people’s to-do lists…
Add one more feature to the ever-growing list of smartphone capabilities: measuring blood-oxygen levels.…
When most people think of farm animals, they conjure traditional farm species, such as…
If your pet undergoes an invasive procedure, anesthesia is administered to reduce the animal’s…
Veterinary technicians, also known as veterinary nurses, are a crucial part of the care…
Intermittent fasting is all the rage. The diet, which restricts eating to certain hours,…
As scientists tap the plant world to find new, unexpected therapies for life-threatening maladies,…
A classroom reward and coveted water bottle decorator, the humble sticker is entering a…
Oxytocin [aak·see·tow·sn] is a nifty hormone. Released by the pituitary gland into the bloodstream,…
Locusts, best known for the trouble they cause humanity, what with their starring roles…
Troubles with your boss? Worried about your finances? Anxious about a deadline? All of…
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus is a pathogen transmitted by midges that causes significant economic…
If your parents’ version of happy hour generally turned into many not-so-happy hours, do…
Calling all night owls, afternoon snoozers and chronic snorers: When combined with a sedentary…
Many parents look at four-wheel, all-terrain vehicles and consider the dangers they pose to…
Traditional Chinese food can be made healthier for the heart without sacrificing taste or…
A new school year means several things: crisp notebooks, fresh faces and assigned seats.…
Three years ago, researchers found that young children can safely overcome peanut allergies with…
In our attempts to communicate with our dogs, sometimes we unintentionally do more harm…
The dentist adjusts his instrument in your mouth, frowning. You tense, gripping the armrests.…
Every year, U.S. pet insurance companies categorize and tabulate annual claims for pets they…
By now, everyone should know that losing weight, quitting smoking and reducing stress are…
Whether scaling bookshelves or kitchen counters, most cats love to climb. The problem comes…
In the era of blue light and ever-present digital screens, sleep hygiene and circadian…
For parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity, the produce aisle has never been…
Animals experiencing a medical emergency or chronic illness are capable of receiving care they…
It’s no secret that children model adult behaviors they observe from their earliest years.…
Many poor habits threaten our heart health. Smoking. Excessive drinking. Not exercising. Eating junk…
Want to live longer, without losing your cognitive abilities? Perhaps look east. Far East.…
Dogs explore the world through their mouths, but unfortunately that can mean trouble when…
Dogs explore the world through their mouths, but unfortunately that can mean trouble when…
Graceful, coordinated movement is a quintessential feline trait. So, what should we make of…
Disease doesn’t distinguish between friend and stranger. Just because you like someone doesn’t mean…
The fat-tailed dwarf lemur is exceptional at choosing food that is nutritionally dense and…
Some conditions affect dogs from birth and worsen progressively in spite of supportive care.…
Equine asthma includes a group of inflammatory airway conditions that incite coughing in horses.…
Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is a respiratory, and recently neurologic, disease of birds…
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus is a pathogen transmitted by midges that causes significant economic…
When young people made carrying reusable water containers ubiquitous, they were onto something far…
Life’s struggles got you feeling blue? Australian scientists have come up with a recipe…
If you’re immunocompromised, you may wonder whether you should have a feline pet. You’ll…
Dogs are a prescription for better health. Scientists have found that they reduce stress…
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, is a contagious infection of poultry that’s once…
Gopher tortoises are found throughout Florida and the Southeast and are affected by various…
If you’re a former smoker, consider eating more fresh tomatoes and other fruits. Research…
Beef cattle herds should be vaccinated regularly to protect the animals from diseases caused…
Rat lungworms are hazardous to people and their pets alike. These parasites hitch rides…
Pet insurance is great for buffering unexpected veterinary expenses. But be sure to factor…
It’s been a persistent myth sailing around the internet. Now a large National Institutes…
Eat healthy food. Exercise regularly. Lose weight. These have all been good prescriptions for…
Asian longhorned ticks are swarming the United States, many carrying blood parasites that cause…
If you’ve been blaming your sweet tooth in moments of candy-bar weakness, you probably…
Insomnia and sleep apnea can be an especially deadly combination. New research shows people…
In human medicine, just 67% of patients follow on their surgeon’s recheck recommendations after…
But now European scientists think the broken-hearted face something beyond metaphoric damage to their…
Kidney disease commonly affects dogs and cats and is often associated with poor prognosis…
These days, veterinary teams do more than ever to optimize anesthesia safety for pets.…
We’ve all done it. Perhaps it isn’t long into the new year and we’re still adhering to our resolution to eat a healthier diet. But, hey, it’s the weekend and can’t we let our hair down a little? How about a guilty pleasure, like a cheeseburger and fries?
Cheating once in a while is no big deal, right?
Ahh, guess again. Research out of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that intermingling some junky food in an otherwise wholesome Mediterranean diet of lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish and healthy fats deflates some of the healthy benefits you might receive from eating well.
The study looked at the diets of 5,000 older adults participating in the Chicago Health and Aging Project that was conducted from 1993 to 2012. Aside from tracking the foods eaten, the investigation included cognitive testing involving memory and brain processing skills.
The people with the slowest cognitive decline tended to closely follow the Mediterranean diet. Including a less healthy Western diet of sweets, refined grains and red and processed meats diminished benefit from their otherwise healthy food consumption.
It’s no surprise that a Mediterranean diet is good for us. In addition to its cognitive benefits, it’s been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Indeed, those adhering to a strong Mediterranean plate were cognitively nearly six years younger than those who ate the poorest, least-nutritional foods.
Scientists say their results can’t be generalized. Even so, it can offer a lesson in the benefits of sticking with a good diet. Don’t cheat. Your brain will thank you for it.
For residents in assisted living, transition from their prior homes and routines can be emotionally crushing. One way to brighten the darkness is with therapy animals — even when it happens out of the blue.
When the business manager of an assisted-living center brought several foster kittens to her office, she was only thinking about caring for them while she was at work. But once the cat was out of the bag — so to speak — the scenario took on a life of its own. Residents came to cuddle the adorable furballs and now, every Wednesday is Kitten Therapy Day. It’s been transformative for even the most despondent residents.
The kittens benefit, too. There’s a very short window during which they can be socialized — thus becoming more adoptable — and interaction with the seniors meets that need. It’s the most heartwarming of win-win situations.
For people with irritable bowel syndrome, conventional wisdom has long said to avoid certain foods. Those include dairy products and certain fruits and vegetables. Now, a new study suggests that the effects of specific diets on IBS may be overstated.
Researchers at two universities in Sweden have found that eating more gluten is not associated with an increase in IBS symptoms. Gluten, which is a protein found in wheat and other grains, has traditionally been off limits to many people with IBS. The disorder affects 3% to 5% of the world’s population and causes stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea.
During the study, 110 people ate rice pudding that had been prepared in various ways. Some of the puddings were gluten rich, while others contained heavy amounts of fermentable carbohydrates. IBS patients have traditionally been advised to limit their consumption of dairy products, some breads, and certain fruits and vegetables containing fermentable carbohydrates.
Over a three-week period, the study participants ate rice puddings containing high gluten, fermentable carbohydrates and a placebo for one week each. Neither the participants nor the scientists knew who was eating which variety of pudding and when — an important step to assure valid results.
The high doses of fermentable carbohydrates provoked the subjects’ gastrointestinal systems, but not to the extent that earlier studies had suggested. Gluten was found to have no measurable negative effects on the participants’ perceived IBS symptoms.
Because many people with IBS automatically avoid gluten-heavy foods, the scientists say the ultimate answer about what triggers it may lie in biological markers in the gut or bloodstream.
If you were asked to imagine a fish driving a car, you would likely envision a Dr. Seuss book, not an animal behavior experiment. But wait…
When researchers in Israel wanted to analyze if spatial visualization and navigation are specific to a species or environment or are universal traits, they set about seeing how fish could navigate on land.
They put goldfish in a tank atop a robotic wheeled platform that used fish movements in the water to steer the device over solid ground. The fish were trained to “drive” toward a target seen through the tank’s clear walls to receive a food reward.
After several days of training, the fish could hit the target, even after encountering obstacles and readjusting. The study suggested that navigational skill is universal. It also showed that fish have impressively flexible intelligence.
We’ve all heard tell that nibbling carrots is good for our eyes, but researchers say how about trying a nice handful of dried goji [go-jee] berries?
Regularly eating a small serving of the berries may protect against age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
University of California, Davis researchers monitored adults ages 45 to 65 who ate about an ounce of goji berries five times a week for 90 days and a second group that consumed a commercial eye-health supplement.
They found that those in the goji berry group enjoyed the benefit of increased density of protective pigments in their eyes, while the supplement group did not.
Those who ate the berries had increased lutein (loo-teen) and zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin), pigments that filter harmful blue light and provide antioxidant protection — helping to protect aging eyes. The pigments are often referred to as “sunscreen for the eyes.”
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in older people, and it’s estimated that it affects more than 11 million people in the United States and 170 million around the world.
Goji berries are the fruit of two Chinese shrubs. The dried berries are similar to raisins and commonly eaten as a snack. The berries are also frequently used in soups and teas.
The Chinese often say the berries have “eye brightening” qualities, and that lore prompted a doctoral candidate from China to raise questions that led to the California research study.
So make yourself a cup of goji tea, grab a handful of berries to snack on or toss them into your morning yogurt. There’s little to lose and your world may become a little clearer.
It took scientists 13 years and cost about $3 billion to sequence the human genome by the time the feat was first accomplished in 2003.
Scientists from Stanford University recently sequenced a patient’s genome in just 5 hours and 2 minutes, setting the initial Guinness World Records title for the fastest DNA sequencing technique.
And using a new ultra-rapid genome sequencing approach they developed, they were able to diagnose rare genetic diseases in an average of about 8 hours — lightning fast compared with the weeks it might ordinarily take.
Genome sequencing allows scientists to examine a patient’s complete DNA makeup, offering patient-specific information about everything from eye color to whether one carries a variant that might predict disease.
It’s become a vital part of diagnosis, in cases where the disease is rooted in DNA. Once doctors know the genetic mutation they’re dealing with, they can tweak a patient’s treatment accordingly.
The Stanford group used a mega-sequencing approach that could redefine the notion of rapid testing. For patients, faster diagnoses mean fewer tests and visits to medical facilities, and less money spent.
To achieve the feat, a graduate student came up with a trick to funnel massive amounts of genomic data into a cloud-based system where amped-up computational power could sift through it in real time.
And it wasn’t just the computers that needed to be quick. Researchers in some cases literally ran samples by foot to the lab to save every possible second.
The team believes the turnaround time can be trimmed even more. And for anyone who’s ever waited for life-or-death test results, that may be the best news of all.
Once in a while, we hear about a species coming back from the dead. That’s played out in Australia over the past decade.
For 140 years, there were no confirmed sightings of the small night parrot, also known as the ghost bird in Aboriginal lore. Then in 2013, a naturalist produced evidence that he’d seen one in the desolate Australian outback.
Sheltering, as it does, on the ground amid thick tufts of brittle grass, the night parrot is tough to track. But over the next few years, other scientists reported sightings too — enough to spark the participation of Aboriginal rangers in the search.
Fourteen populations of night parrots have been identified in Western Australia but the species remains critically endangered. Now, the goal is to protect these birds from their biggest threat — feral cats — as well as unpredictable wildfires.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, also known as Coronavirus Infectious Disease-19, or COVID-19, was first discovered in Wuhan, China in late 2019, spreading and causing a global pandemic that is still ongoing. Early reporting emphasized human infection and transmission, but as COVID has been studied further, we now know that SARS-CoV-2 can infect multiple animals, including cats and dogs. Companion animal testing is similar to that for humans and now is more readily available to owners and veterinarians. in order for us to understand the threat this virus poses to our animals. Testing animals that we suspect may have infection will help us understand the threat this virus poses to our animals. On this show, Dr. Maureen Long, a professor at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, will discuss what we know about animal infections and how testing is pursued.
Cats are especially attuned to their environment due — in large part — to their sensitive hearing. So, what happens when a cat becomes deaf?
Older cats most often lose their hearing from traumatic injury or inner ear infections. Less commonly, tumors, drug toxicity, viral disease or nerve degeneration are to blame, but these conditions often present with other symptoms, too.
Cats that become deaf stop responding to sounds and often start meowing more often and louder. Many become more needy, wanting to be near their human parents.
Tests can be done to assess hearing in cats, but most times deafness is irreversible — that is, unless an infection can be resolved or a tumor removed. Fortunately, most deaf cats adjust to their quiet worlds as long as they’re happy, healthy and in their set routine.
Call it the prenatal version of The Battle of the Sexes. Unlike the famous 1973 tennis match that pitted Bobby Riggs against Billie Jean King, this competition unfolds in the womb. But the premise is the same, albeit on a genetic level: Male and female genes competing to control the supply of nutrients to the placenta.
University researchers in England say their recent findings help shed new light on why up to 15% of babies grow poorly in the womb. That is often due to reduced growth of blood vessels in the placenta.
One culprit is the mother’s and father’s genes. The researchers discovered that a male’s gene drives the fetus’s demand for larger blood vessels and more nutrients. A maternal gene in the placenta controls how much nourishment is provided to the fetus — essentially a genetic competition. Mediating that tussle is a protein that can turn the genes on and off.
Working in mice, the scientists studied the delicate balance between the fetus’s need for nutrition and the healthy blood vessels required to supply those nutrients. When that balance tips, fetal development can be affected.
The team says their findings provide a better understanding of the communication between mother and fetus that takes place through the placenta. The results are applicable to humans: Similarities in mice and people allows researchers to model and better understand human pregnancy.
Eventually, the findings could be used to develop medication that regulates the genetic tug-of-war. That, in turn, could help to optimize fetal development.
So instead of a tennis match, this prenatal gender battle might someday be settled with a pill.
If a 30-minute walk seems like an exhausting chore, rather than an energizing and uplifting activity, that’s not a welcome sign.
Perhaps not a harbinger of doom, but at the very least, a suggestion from the cosmos that your exercise regimen needs work.
University of Pittsburgh researchers in a recent study said the amount of fatigue an older person feels in conjunction with physical activity can predict the likelihood that their death is less than three years away.
It is believed to be the first study to tie perceived physical fatigability to earlier mortality.
The researchers gave what is known as the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale to nearly 3,000 participants aged 60 or older in a long-running international study. Using a 0 to 5 scale, they ranked how tired they thought various activities might make them, such as light housework or heavy gardening.
Those who scored the highest, based on how exhausted they believed those activities would make them, were more than twice as likely to die in the following two years and seven months compared with other survey-takers who scored lower.
The highest scores were those of 25 or above on the Fatigability Scale and the lowest scored 25 or below.
Exercise is known to reduce the amount of tiredness we feel after doing routine household chores and other activity. So starting a routine, such as a regular walk or scheduled exercise, is a good idea.
The researchers screened for a number of factors that influence mortality, such as depression or serious illness.
The bottom line: An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion. To live our best life, we all need to be objects that stay in motion.
Joint infections, usually from traumatic wounds, are common in horses. How and when they’re treated makes all the difference to the horse’s survival and return to function.
There are four goals in treating equine joint infections. Of course, the infection has to be resolved as soon as possible, but quickly reducing inflammation is equally important. Managing pain is critical too. All of this contributes to the ultimate goal: restoring normal joint function.
Thorough joint flushing and antibiotic treatment are essential for success. Anti-inflammatories and other pain medications are also key components of therapy.
Up to 85% of horses survive joint infections, but just one-third to three-quarters of these return to athletic function. Treating a horse within 24 hours of injury is one of the best ways to increase the odds.
The consequences of COVID-19 can be terrible. Severe cases might include possible lung and heart damage, or even impaired brain function. The disease has disabled many and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.
If all of that isn’t enough to convince some men to get a COVID-19 vaccination, maybe another potential symptom will — erectile dysfunction.
A University of Florida Health study adds to emerging evidence that the coronavirus might lead to sexual dysfunction. Researchers looked at men who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and found they were more than three times more likely to develop E-D. That’s compared to those not sickened by the coronavirus.
The association between E-D and COVID-19 remained strong even when controlled for other conditions. For example, the association with E-D was 1.6 times higher for men with respiratory disease; 1.8 times higher for those with obesity; and nearly two times higher for those with cardiovascular disease.
While scientists say more research is needed, some are increasingly thinking E-D might be another long-term COVID symptom.
A University of Miami study found parts of the coronavirus in the penises of several men who had recovered from COVID-19, possibly damaging blood vessels and thereby impacting sexual function.
It’s also known that COVID-19 can reduce the production of testosterone.
The lead researcher of the UF Health study said he thinks the association between E-D and COVID might even be stronger. But many men are too embarrassed to report a problem to their doctor.
Scientists say the best reason to get a vaccination is the most obvious — it might just save your life.
Anhidrosis — or the inability to sweat — is a uniquely equine condition. Affected horses are at risk of overheating, which can lead to serious consequences.
Anhidrosis is most common in the southeast United States where summer heat and humidity can be oppressive. The first signs are often heavy breathing or panting, which may be mistaken for a respiratory infection or equine asthma. In reality, the horse is simply trying to cool down. A skin test administered by a veterinarian can confirm the diagnosis.
Affected horses need to refrain from athletics during the summer. Other management strategies include shading, using fans and misters, rinsing with cold water and turning the horse out at night instead of during the day.
Finally, because anhidrosis has a genetic component, owners need to think long and hard about breeding these horses.
Toasting to someone’s good health is an age-old ritual. Now, it turns out that a little less drinking may be the path to better health.
That’s because new research shows drinking even less than the recommended limit of alcohol still heightens the risk of cardiovascular issues. For their study, researchers at a university in the United Kingdom studied cardiovascular-related hospitalizations among more than 350,000 people between 40 and 69 years old.
During the seven-year study period, people who drank less than the limit recommended by the UK’s chief medical officers still faced additional cardiovascular risks. In the UK, health experts advise consuming less than six pints of beer or 10 small glasses of wine per week. Even among those who imbibed less than that, the researchers found a heightened risk: Each additional 1½ pints of beer was associated with a 23% increased risk of a cardiovascular event.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines moderate drinking as one drink or less per day for women and two for men.
The study’s authors say their findings are additional evidence that turns the tables on the health benefits of moderate drinking. They even went a step further, calling the supposed benefit from low to moderate alcohol consumption the biggest myth since smoking was considered good for health. Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concurs: Despite past studies about the protective health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, more recent research shows that may not be true.
So whether your toast is “cheers,” “salud” [sah-lud] or “zdrowie” [naz-droh-vee-ay], less may be more when it comes to the alcohol involved.
Some dogs can be trained to sniff out COVID — and they’re pretty darned good at it. Studies have reported a 98% accuracy rating for COVID detection by trained dogs. That often beats the accuracy of PCR tests used to confirm the findings once a dog signals a “hit.”
These results are why COVID scent dogs have been used in some airports, entertainment venues and schools. But canine detection isn’t a panacea.
For one thing, canine recognition of medical scents is much more complicated than detecting drugs or explosives. Odors differ among people, and different medical conditions can have similar scents. That’s why the investment for a single trained dog can top $25,000.
So for now, COVID scent detection dogs are scarce. But researchers continue mining the potential of using man’s best friend to root out a proven enemy.
Americans love their dogs. We spend billions of dollars on their toys and treats and veterinary visits. Some of us treat them like beloved, if excessively hairy, children — indeed, might even prefer them to the human variety. And why not? Who can deny the unwavering affection of a cute pooch? The bond is steel. Woof!
Dog allergies, however, are nothing to sneeze at. Yes, they can cause sneezing, among a slew of symptoms like watery eyes, nasal congestion and coughing. In extreme cases, these reactions can be severe.
To many people, their immune system makes dog ownership impossible.
But now researchers at Japan’s Osaka Prefecture University are opening the door to the possibility of a dog allergy vaccine. The hope is that a vaccination might one day inoculate us against a dog allergen the way other vaccines fight a dangerous virus or bacteria.
Japanese scientists focused on the most common of the seven known dog allergens, known as CAN F-1. It’s a protein found in a dog’s saliva and skin that causes up to three-quarters of all allergies. Researchers used X-ray crystallography to study its structure, searching for those parts of the protein that trigger the immune response. Researchers say this has never been done before.
They found areas of CAN F-1 that might harbor these triggers. More research is needed. But investigators say a vaccination might one day deliver small doses of these pieces of the protein, essentially training the immune system to not stage an overblown reaction to the allergen.
In a sense, we’d be training our immune system to behave, kind of like teaching a 150-pound Great Dane not to jump on the sofa.
Concussions can be tricky to diagnose. Symptoms of head injuries caused by a hard blow or violent shaking can be easy to spot, but often they’re not.
The patient might have ringing in the ears, double vision or headaches. Then again, perhaps not.
There is no definitive diagnostic test and concussions don’t show up on most imaging tests. In the heat of competition, athletes may not want to hear they have a concussion, lest they be forced to miss out on the action.
But Boston Children’s Hospital scientists have made progress on what may become a key tool in diagnosing the injury: “biomarkers” in urine. Such proteins can spot chronic pelvic pain, an enlarged prostate, endometriosis and other maladies.
Markers of physical or biological damage often find their way into the bloodstream — and, ultimately, into our urine.
The researchers attended preseason physicals of athletes at a Boston-area college and froze urine samples. Athletes who had diagnosed concussions then gave another sample within seven days. They gave more samples one, three, six months and one year after the injury.
Eventually, the researchers had enough samples to study the urine profiles of 95 athletes, roughly half of whom had concussions.
Two proteins stood out: IGF-1 and the IGF-binding protein 5. Both proteins plummeted after concussions.
The researchers believe the proteins may be involved in brain injury repair, and thus are not excreted via urine.
The team hopes to expand its study, in hopes of creating a concussion-screening test that makes the question “How many fingers am I holding up?” a charming medical relic, akin to a leather football helmet.
Endocrine tumors are relatively rare in dogs and cats compared to other forms of cancer. Due to the role of the endocrine system, however, their potential impact on health is often very significant. Most pets present with one type of endocrine tumor, the most common being tumors of the thyroid. On this show, Dr. Carlos Souza, a surgical oncologist, will discuss different types of endocrine tumors, how they are diagnosed and why surgery is often recommended.
It strengthens your heart, improves your mood and combats depression. It can help ward off disease, including some cancers. It boosts energy and makes it easier to fall asleep. Want to lose weight? It does that, too, to say nothing of its ability to lengthen life and decrease frailty.
Is this some magical new pill being cranked out by a pharmaceutical lab? Nah.
We’re talking about an aid to good health as old as humankind — exercise.
Science has shown again and again that physical activity might be the most-beneficial thing you can do to stay healthy. Exercise has even demonstrated benefits for the brain, including improving memory.
Now University of California scientists say older adults who stay physically active have brains that contain higher levels of a class of proteins that protect brain health. These proteins, the researchers say, help maintain the brain’s synapses, structures allowing our neurons to transmit electrical signals and communicate with each other.
As the study’s authors noted, the synapses are where cognition happens.
This isn’t the first study to point to the benefits of exercise in maintaining the brain’s health and staving off cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. But the mechanism has been something of a mystery. In this investigation, researchers tracked the activity of a group of older adults who agreed to donate their brains at death. Findings indicated that the more someone exercised, the higher the levels of these protective proteins in their brain.
It’s more evidence that exercise is the best medicine. That’s one prescription you can write for yourself.
Planning to spring clean your home? Don’t forget to look through your medicine cabinet. Chances are, your medicine cabinet is full of half-used prescription bottles and cold medicine.
Leftover drugs stored in these cabinets can fall into the wrong hands. According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, nearly 38% of teens who report abuse of prescription medicines say they got them from family and friends. Abuse isn’t the only risk. Consuming expired medication can harm children, pets or yourself.
Keep three tips in mind while spring cleaning your medicine cabinet.
Number 1, look for expiration dates. They are usually printed at the bottom of the bottle or carton. If the expiration date has passed, discard the medicine. If you don’t see an expiration date but bought the product at least one year prior, toss it. Most medicine expires one year after the prescription date.
Number 2, discard items that have changed color, smell or taste. This includes any medicines that have faded in color due to light exposure.
Number 3, toss anything you don’t recognize, including creams and pills kept in unmarked containers.
It’s important to properly dispose of these expired items. Toss old pills in undesired substances, such as kitty litter or old coffee grounds, and dispose in household trash. Pharmacies and hospitals will often accept unused medication. Do not flush old medications down the toilet, as they can end up in the water supply.
After you clean your medicine cabinet, stock it up with fresh supplies. Items to have on hand include pain relievers such as acetaminophen, antacids, cold and flu medicine, Band-Aids and antibiotic ointments.
When it comes to public buses and the spread of airborne particles, some seats may be better than others.
Experts at IBM Research took a systematic approach to something many bus riders probably wonder: Where and how far do exhaled droplets from other passengers travel? To answer that, the researchers developed a model with an unprecedented level of detail that focused on the physics of air and droplet dynamics, as well as environmental factors that affect their spread.
They analyzed what happens when speech droplets are exhaled from a row of seated passengers in a ventilated space — much like the environment on a bus or other public transportation. They also created a ventilation pattern found on many forms of public transit. Typically, that means air is injected near the top of the vehicle and removed near the bottom through vents close to window seats.
Various transmission scenarios were replicated by placing passengers in different seats and having them pronounce a vowel for a few seconds. That allowed the researchers to create a “flow field” and track individual exhaled droplets and their ventilation paths.
This is what they found: Droplets exhaled from a window seat rose more but were less likely to invade other passengers’ space. Droplets from middle-seat passengers were more likely to invade aisle passengers’ space. Droplets that originated from the aisle were dragged down by the ventilation system almost immediately.
The researchers hope their findings will one day be applied to designing better ventilation systems on public transit. For now, this much is certain: The less you talk on the bus, the fewer airborne particles you’ll spread.
Do you have a foal on your farm? Thinking of breeding your horse in the near future? Join Dr. Sally DeNotta, a clinical assistant professor and UF’s equine extension veterinarian, as she discusses the special care and considerations for the pregnant mare and young foal. She’ll discuss preventative healthcare measures for ensuring your pregnant mare has a healthy gestation, important developmental benchmarks for a healthy growing foal, and the role your veterinarian will play in the process and when to call for help.
White line disease is a smoldering problem that hides in your horse’s foot until it breaks free, causing the hoof wall to break down and your horse to become sore.
The disease actually starts in front of the white line, which is the soft inner layer of the hoof wall. The process begins after something else causes the hoof wall to start separating from deeper tissues — anything that changes the hoof’s shape or function. This allows bacteria and fungal organisms to invade and set up house.
Affected horses aren’t lame at first — only when tissue damage has progressed. Your farrier may be the first to notice a problem.
Treatment of white line disease centers on removing the detached hoof material and keeping the foot dry and clean until it heals. It requires diligent veterinary and farrier care — and lots of patience on your part.
Dogs with jobs have special requirements regarding veterinary exams and treatment, and new guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association are giving those air. Their focus is on five groups of working dogs: protection canines; scent-detection dogs; service dogs for folks with disabilities; therapy dogs and emotional support dogs.
For example, medications that alter a dog’s sense of smell may be off limits for scent-detection dogs. Similarly, lingering effects of sedation can impact the function of protection canines or service dogs. The guidelines also address the safety of veterinarians, pointing out that certain working dogs are trained to be highly reactive.
At the heart of the guidelines is the fact that these dogs are very bonded to their people. So, these folks should be a key part of the veterinary collaboration.
Dental X-rays work the same way for pets as they do for people. They let the veterinary team see inside your pet’s teeth and under the gums so that they can identify problems that otherwise go unseen.
In cats, painful erosions in the tooth’s enamel can affect areas under the gumline. Many of these would be missed without X-rays.
All sorts of animals can suffer from fractured teeth or tooth abscesses. And tooth remnants or disease beneath the gums can only be identified on X-rays. Similarly, baby teeth that remain after adult teeth grow in will show up on X-rays.
Oral tumors are also pretty common in dogs and cats, damaging bone as well as soft tissue. X-rays can show the damage while it may still be treatable.
Just like us, dogs and cats should have dental X-rays at least once a year. It’s part of sound preventive medicine.
Some pet parents are nervous about having their fur babies anesthetized for dentistry. So, let’s see why anesthesia is so important for optimal dental care.
It’s tough enough to examine a small animal’s teeth when they’re awake, and they definitely won’t sit still with their mouths open during cleanings or other dental procedures. Speaking of cleaning, tartar scaling above and below the gums can be pretty uncomfortable.
All pets should have dental X-rays before each cleaning to look for hidden problems, like fractured roots or damage to tissues supporting the teeth. If your pet is already anesthetized, some of these problems may be addressed at the same time.
Sure, anesthesia isn’t risk-free, but now it’s safer than ever for your pet. In the vast majority of cases, the dental benefits outweigh the risks.
Collaborative care to enhance patient care outcomes happens when primary care veterinarians enlist the help of qualified veterinary medical specialists to solve complex cases or those requiring resources unavailable at the primary care clinic. Veterinary specialists have completed years of additional training beyond the D.V.M. credential and are equipped to handle a variety of pet care needs, from sophisticated diagnostics to medicine, surgery and more. On this show, Dr. Elizabeth Maxwell, a veterinary surgical oncology specialist, will discuss the importance of collaborative care and how she and her team routinely work with pet owners and their local veterinarians to maximize pet health.
As veterinary care has advanced, blood transfusions for pets have become more routine. So it’s no surprise that the supply of veterinary blood products has been waning. The pandemic has exacerbated the problem as fewer pet parents have brought their animals in to donate blood.
A few commercial blood banks at the national level still supply up to 40% of blood products. These companies maintain closed colonies of dogs and cats to donate blood. But the trend has been shifting to volunteer — or community-based — blood banks where owners bring their pets in to give blood, usually in exchange for a practice-based incentive.
There is no national blood donation program for animals as there is for people, but some veterinarians think the time has come for change. That may be what it takes to solve the supply problem.
Birds in zoos usually live longer than their wild counterparts, but old age and artificial surfaces can take a toll. With some stubborn foot problems, bird orthotics can help a lot.
A 30-year-old penguin was diagnosed with arthritis using X-rays after keepers noticed he was moving slowly, climbing less and forming calluses on his feet. After being fitted with custom neoprene boots for comfort and stability, he’s back to his old routine.
Captive birds of prey often develop pressure sores on their feet from perching for long periods on artificial surfaces. Arthritis in older birds can make the problem worse. Two elderly birds recently diagnosed with this condition — known as bumblefoot — were helped by wearing silicone shoes cast from 3-D printing molds.
Improving a bird’s quality of life often comes down to thinking on one’s feet.
It’s not rare to hear about the discovery of another novel infectious disease. But when the disease is fatal to an endangered species, the level of alert ticks up.
Veterinary researchers at the University of Florida have discovered a bacterial organism associated with a fatal disease in gopher tortoises. The novel microbe appears closely related to another recently discovered in Grand Cayman iguanas that were dying suddenly despite treatment.
Gopher tortoises are already endangered from habitat loss. They’re crucial to their native ecology of the southeast United States because their burrows shelter over 350 other local creatures.
Researchers are trying to determine where the bacteria originated and whether other factors are involved in this serious disease.
Hyperbaric therapy may be best known as a treatment for the bends, which occurs when divers surface too fast, causing nitrogen bubbles to form in their blood and tissues. Turns out, it can be used to treat fish, too.
Aquarium fish often develop gas bubble disease, named for the bubbles that form in their tissues and wreak havoc on their ability to swim upright. Historically, it’s been a tough disease to treat. But recently, veterinarians at the University of Florida, who were assessing a seahorse with the condition, used hyperbaric therapy. They placed the animal in a water-filled container within an oxygen-rich chamber, increasing the air pressure over three hours. The gas bubbles were resorbed, leaving the seahorse upright and content.
Hyperbaric therapy has also been used in some fish collected on deep-water dives.
The Human Genome Project was one of the most amazing scientific feats of all time. Between 1990 and 2003, a group of scientists mapped every human gene, creating a genetic blueprint for humans. It transformed the medical treatment of people — and animals.
The horse genome was among the next to be sequenced and many more species have been analyzed since. These genetic blueprints have enabled veterinarians and researchers to identify the genetic roots of certain diseases and devise better ways to manage them.
Sequencing the equine genome took six months of continuous work by 100 machines. Now it can be done in a few days by a single machine at a fraction of the cost.
One day, veterinarians may be able to routinely order a test of an animal’s genetic makeup. Imagine how that could benefit the treatment and prevention of disease.
Veterinary technicians, also known as veterinary nurses, fill a variety of supportive roles in the care of animals. In the veterinarian’s office or hospital, nurses work both directly with animal owners and veterinarians as well as behind the scenes to ensure each patient’s needs are met. As the profession of veterinary medicine adjusts to COVID-19 times, all members of the patient care team have been impacted, and have in many cases had to adapt operations to remain as effective as possible while ensuring a safe environment for the client, pet, veterinarian and staff. On this show, Danielle Jonas, a veterinary technician manager at UF and a certified veterinary technician, will discuss how some of today’s challenges are being met in the field of veterinary nursing, and why it remains a rewarding career.
You probably know that many dogs are afraid of loud noises, like thunder or fireworks. But you may be less aware of canine anxiety caused by common household sounds.
Dogs are more likely to become anxious around intermittent high-frequency noises rather than continuous low-frequency ones. That means the low-battery warning from your smoke detector is more apt to bother your pup than the hum of your dishwasher or dryer.
But if you’re not attuned to the subtler aspects of canine body language, it could escape your notice. Instead of shaking and hiding as with thunder, dogs frightened by household sounds may simply pant, lick their lips or stiffen. Subtle or not, they’re all signs of canine distress.
Frequently assessing your buddy’s body language can go a long way toward putting your pooch at ease.
If you suddenly find your horse or pony munching on wood shavings you use for bedding, take a look at their diet.
Horses or ponies on a restricted diet — usually for weight loss — are capable of eating lots of shavings. That’s because forage plays a key role in making them feel full. As a rule of thumb, most horses need to eat at least 1.5% of their weight in dry hay. If your buddy weighs 1,200 pounds, that’s about 18 pounds of hay. When you feed significantly less, he may look for other sources of fiber — like shavings.
But unfortunately, shavings aren’t digestible. Instead, eating them can cause intestinal obstruction and colic.
Your veterinarian can help you plan the best diet for your horse or pony. But you may need to switch out shavings for rubber matting while the diet’s restricted.
When your pet is bleeding, you need to take matters into your own hands while you determine next steps.
First aid for minor wounds is pretty easy. You use a clean, thick gauze square to put pressure on the site so the blood can clot. That usually takes several minutes, so try not to remove the bandage too soon.
Severe bleeding — especially involving a leg — requires a lot more. You still need to put pressure on the wound, but you’ll need to place a tourniquet, too. That involves wrapping an elastic band or strip of cloth tightly around the limb between the bleeding and your pet’s body. Every 15 minutes or so, you’ll loosen the tourniquet for 15 seconds to allow blood flow to the leg.
This — and any help you can get — may help save your pet’s life until you get veterinary help as soon as possible.
Too often, our bedtime is dictated to us. Maybe workdays begin long before the sun rises, requiring our heads to hit the pillow when everyone else’s night is just beginning. Or perhaps we’ve got schoolwork or papers from the office that keep our brains churning into the wee hours.
Like so much in life, there apparently is a sweet spot for the best time from a health standpoint to get to bed.
British researchers tapped a giant health databank and accelerometers worn by more than 88,000 participants and discovered our bedtime appears to influence our risk of heart disease.
Getting to sleep between 10 and 11 p.m., scientists say, appears to be the best time to ensure cardiovascular health. Getting to bed too late or too early appeared equally as bad. The study found an identical 25% increase risk of heart trouble for people whose bedtime fell before 10 p.m. or after midnight, compared with that 10 to 11 time slot.
A bedtime between 11 p.m. and midnight appears to carry a somewhat lowered increased risk — about 12%.
All this is related to our circadian rhythm. The body’s cells are finely tuned to the rotation of our planet. Things like blood pressure and hormone release differ depending on the time of day. Throwing this rhythm out of kilter has physical consequences, causing, for example, inflammation and glucose dysregulation. A disrupted circadian rhythm is why we suffer from jet lag.
This bedtime effect seems to be more pronounced in women. And scientists aren’t exactly sure why. They think it could come down to a difference in how the male and female endocrine systems work.
So, don’t stay up late or get to bed too early. Like Goldilocks, try to get it just right.
Beware of the sedentary life. Long spells of sitting have already been linked to a host of physical ailments. Now, scientists say, it can contribute to heightened anxiety and depression.
Researchers at Iowa State University took a closer look at behavior and mental well-being in early and mid-2020. That’s when the pandemic created legions of new couch potatoes. Those who spent more time sitting during a three-month period that year were more likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety.
To determine that, the scientists analyzed survey responses from more than 3,000 people in every state and the District of Columbia. People self-reported how much time they spent sitting, exercising and using electronic devices compared with pre-pandemic times. They also indicated changes to their mental well-being, including depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness.
Among the more active people — those who got up to five hours of exercise a week before the pandemic — their physical activity dropped by 32% after COVID-19 restrictions took effect. Meanwhile, their depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness increased.
That effect was even more pronounced among those who were less active heading into the pandemic. For people whose sitting times stayed high during the COVID-19 restrictions, their symptoms of depression intensified significantly. The less active people also did not bounce back as quickly from their depressive feelings compared with others who were more active.
The researchers said one helpful strategy is being aware of your lack of activity. Take regular breaks from your computer work to move around. For remote workers, a walk around the block can replicate the morning commute.
Beef cattle herds should be vaccinated regularly to protect the animals from diseases caused by infectious organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoans. Vaccines work by stimulating an animal’s immune system to produce a protective response against an organism and are very effective. On this show, Dr. Joao Bittar, UF’s beef cattle extension veterinarian, will discuss common vaccinations given to beef cattle, what’s involved in administering the vaccines and why ongoing vaccination programs are so important for cattle health.
In a pandemic world, it’s the loudly singing men who might be the most apt to spread infectious respiratory particles like the coronavirus.
It came as little surprise when the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020 that the performing arts were quickly shut down and the lights of Broadway dimmed. Now research out of Colorado State University shows how worry about the risk performers and their audience faced were spot on.
Researchers measured respiratory particles produced by people talking and singing in a specially designed aerosol testing chamber. About 100 volunteers sang and talked for science.
Findings indicate the spread of particles is mostly about volume and exhaled carbon dioxide. The emissions increase the louder someone talks or sings. What that means, scientists found, is that men emit more particles than women because, well, they’re just generally louder. Sorry, guys. It’s true. And kids emit fewer particles than adults because their voices just aren’t as robust as older folk. Singing is worse than talking. In fact, breaking out in song creates a whopping 77% more aerosols than a regular conversation.
Investigators point out their results are variable. For example, a child might be more likely to spread viral particles if they’re shouting compared with an adult talking normally.
All this work is more than idle curiosity. It opens the door to CO2 and noise level monitoring that could help protect against the coronavirus or any other respiratory disease.
Nobody is suggesting we silence our singing hearts and hold only whispered conversations. But some of us are still going to want to mask up whenever a man breaks out in song in our vicinity.
Used in the same sentence, the words “red” and “eyes” don’t usually signal good news.
But a new University College London study suggests that just three minutes of exposure to deep red light once a week can significantly boost declining eyesight.
That’s only if the exposure comes during the morning, however.
Testing a group of 20 adults with normal eyesight, the researchers exposed participants to three minutes of 670-nanometer [nan-oh-meter] red light between 8 and 9 a.m. Their vision was tested three hours after exposure and half of the participants were tested a week later.
They found an average 17% improvement in the study participants’ color contrast vision following the morning red-light exposure, and those effects lasted at least one week. But when they tried the same test in the afternoon, they found no improvement.
As most anyone who’s lasted four decades on this planet knows, most of us begin to see declines in our sight around age 40. That’s about the time we start wanting to know who shrank the writing on soup can labels.
That’s because retinal cells begin to age, meaning they can’t produce energy as well as they used to. The retina ages faster than other organs.
The researchers have previously tested deep red-light exposure on mice, bumblebees and fruit flies, finding significant improvements in the retina’s photoreceptors when their eyes were exposed to the long-wavelength light.
Despite the recent study’s small size, its findings mean inexpensive devices may soon find their way to consumers that could help millions of vision-impaired people.
Imagine: A quick once-a-week recharge of our retina cells as we make our morning coffee and we could leave our cheater glasses at home.
The term zoonotic infection — that is, infection that can spread from animals to people — often conjures up exotic diseases like Ebola. Truth is, most zoonotic infections happen right under our noses.
Ringworm from cats, Salmonella infections from pet reptiles or backyard chickens — even infections linked to drinking unpasteurized milk — they’re all zoonotic. In fact, 60% of all known human infections are zoonotic, and that number is increasing.
Some zoonoses are mild while others are deadly. Very young children, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women are at greatest risk of severe disease.
But all of us should take care. That means washing our hands and surfaces after handling animals and refraining from kissing our pets and cleaning cages in the kitchen sink. We go awry when we let our guard down.
It’s always important to watch our pets carefully during the holidays. But it’s even better if we can resolve to mind these suggestions all year long.
For starters, it’s crucial not to let our furry friends gobble a stack of treats all at once. Also, steer clear of high-fat foods — including poultry skin — that can cause serious pancreatitis, at least in dogs. Ornaments made of salted or play dough should also be off limits. Make sure you mind trash cans as well, which may be a source of other hazards, like bones.
Eating tinsel, string or ribbon can cause trouble too — especially in cats. The same goes for nibbling plants, like poinsettias, holly or — especially — lilies. And let’s keep all pets away from super risky foods, drinks and additives like chocolate, alcohol and xylitol — as well as plastic or mylar packaging.
We are still waiting for the day when pigs can fly, but what about the day when a pig kidney can be transplanted successfully to a human body? Surgeons in New York completed a procedure that did just that in October.
The transplanted organ performed normally for 54 hours, becoming the first recorded case of this procedure that worked and was not immediately rejected by the human body. While the specifics of the surgery have not been reviewed further, this advancement is a big step for medicine.
A nephrologist at Stanford University said that the organ-shortage problem will never be solved with human organs. This is why scientists and researchers have turned to animals to resolve the issue.
Data show that 90% of the 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list in the United States are waiting for a kidney. Animal-to-human organ transplants, called xenotransplantation [zee-no-transplantation], could prove to be a real breakthrough, helping bridge the organ-shortage gap.
Researchers have successfully transplanted pig kidneys into nonhuman primates and seen then hold up for more than a year. In early attempts, pig kidneys would be immediately rejected by the host. But gene-editing improvements helped make the difference.
While the successful transplant marked a revolutionary step, porcine [por-seen] kidneys must still function safely for an extended length of time to earn federal approval.
Of course, the ethical ramifications of using animal body parts for human transplant would still need to be sorted out.
So, while pigs may never be able to fly, they may be able to do something far more helpful — extend humans’ lives.
Every picky eater can identify with this scene. An island of uneaten vegetables sits on a child’s plate. Maybe it’s carrots or peas or that green nemesis of kids everywhere: broccoli. A parent scolds and demands: Eat your vegetables. Now.
But a paper by Duke Health researchers indicates this approach might not be the best path for helping kids curb their food avoidance.
A large national survey that included adults who were finicky eaters as children found that coercive or forceful strategies used by their parents did little to encourage them to be more adventuresome at the dinner table. Instead, the adults say they most benefited from a friendlier approach, with lots of positive reinforcement.
Being forced to eat something, these adults note, or hearing that they were disappointing their parents by refusing to eat some foods, left a negative impression in their young minds. That tack might also harden attitudes about avoiding some foods.
A child, after all, doesn’t like to be told what to do. And researchers say the tough approach increases anxiety around mealtime.
Scientists say a collaborative effort seems most helpful in expanding a child’s dietary variety. Surveyed adults spoke positively of being involved in food preparation. Or recalling parents experimenting with the masking the taste of distasteful foods — with the child’s knowledge. Engaging with new foods in the context of cultural or nutritional learning also appeared beneficial.
Researchers say children might respond better when parents acknowledge how hard it is for them to try different things.
Perhaps even broccoli can be conquered, with the right approach.
Feline pancreatitis doesn’t get as much buzz as the canine variety, but cats know what it means.
Pancreatitis refers to inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause enzymes to leak into the abdomen and damage other organs.
As with the canine form, feline pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. As the name implies, acute pancreatitis comes on suddenly, and clinical signs can be very severe. With the chronic form, cats may show only mild signs, often just lethargy and a poor appetite. About 50% of cats show the gastrointestinal signs that are so common in affected dogs. And unlike pancreatitis in dogs and people, most cats don’t have much abdominal pain.
However, while we can often pinpoint the cause of pancreatitis in dogs, that’s not so with cats. Unfortunately, that means there’s no obvious way to prevent the disease.
Cats have no problem letting us know what they like and what they don’t. But if a cat reacts way out of proportion when being petted on the back, it could be due to a peculiar clinical syndrome.
Feline hyperesthesia describes a cat’s intense sensitivity to touch along the back, usually just in front of the tail. Affected cats may become aggressive when the area is touched or may scratch at it themselves. Some exhibit other signs too, including skin rippling, drooling or tail chasing.
Depending on the cat, the behavior may reflect an obsessive compulsive disorder, a neurologic problem or something painful in the sensitive area.
These cats need to see a veterinarian as soon as possible before they hurt themselves. Fortunately, most cats can be treated, but it’s more effective when started sooner versus later.
Despite the modern age, diseases like dysentery (dih-suhn-teh-ree) continue to wreak havoc even outside of games like Oregon Trail. The Shigella [shuh-geh-luh] bacteria behind dystenery is among an infamous group of superbugs whose antibiotic resistance is on the rise.
After looking for alternative methods to combat the bacteria researchers from Yale University discovered a more … organic solution. Enter the bacteriophage (bak·tee·ree·ow·fayj).
The phage is a “natural enemy” of the bacteria, proving lethal even against the mutant bacteria that have grown resistant to previously effective medications and antibiotics. This has made addressing this dysentery-causing bacteria a priority for the World Health Organization.
Now, researchers hope phages may be one step closer to addressing one of the leading causes of preventable death across the world.
But how does it work?
Essentially, researchers looked for a phage that could bind to the outer membrane of the pathogen when it takes up residence in the intestine. Ideally, the process would weaken the protein that makes the dystenery-causing bacteria spread so easily.
Exposed to the phage, nicknamed A1-1, the mutant bacteria were unable to spread at an intercellular level.
Although phage therapy is promising, it may take years of development before solutions like this hero-phage are readily available.
For now, the study’s authors view this as yet another avenue for funding research toward the preventable disease, exploring phages as a means to increase clean water and act as a useful alternative to antibiotics when necessary.
If you’re not familiar with equine coronavirus, let’s look at what it is and — just as importantly — what it isn’t.
Some coronaviruses can cause serious respiratory disease in people. Others generally cause gastrointestinal disease in various animal species. Fortunately, humans cannot catch equine coronavirus and horses are not affected by COVID-19.
However, all coronaviruses are easily spread among susceptible individuals. Equine coronavirus spreads fastest in the fall and winter. Common signs include lethargy, fever and a decreased appetite. Affected horses may also be colicky and have loose stools, which is how the virus spreads.
Horses usually recover from coronavirus infections within a week but should be isolated for at least 3 weeks. During that time, handlers must take care not to cross contaminate surfaces and equipment.
The unnerving truth about the COVID-19 pandemic is that we live in a world where a lethal virus can emerge and spread to every community without regard to borders or social and economic status. While researchers continue to battle this disease, efforts are underway to head off the next one.
A team at the University of California, Davis created an interactive web tool called SpillOver to identify and rank viruses based on their risk of jumping from animals to humans and causing disease in people. These are known as zoonotic viruses, and so far, the database contains a startling 887 of them.
There are believed to be about 1.67 million viruses thought to exist in animals and birds, and researchers think roughly half of them have the potential to threaten humans.
Using data from more than 500,000 samples taken from over 74,000 animals around the world, SpillOver compares the characteristics of known zoonotic viruses with the features of those that have the potential to make the jump. It looks at factors such as the host of the virus, the environment and human behavior that could influence whether the virus could spread within human populations.
Many of the top viruses on the list are already familiar, including SARS-CoV-2, Ebola and Zika. Disturbingly, several newly detected wildlife viruses rank higher in risk than known zoonotic viruses.
The researchers point out that having this vital information is not enough — there needs to be a strategy of what to do with it. SpillOver, an open source and adaptable tool, aims to identify viruses that should be prioritized for surveillance and study.
Listen to the whisper of a breeze through a forest, or the gentle burbling of a stream over a rocky bed. Pay attention to the birds as they greet each new day with throaty, joyful calls. These sounds from nature not only help calm our busy lives — new research finds they also can confer profound health and well-being benefits.
Researchers in Canada reviewed two dozen studies that examined the benefits of natural sounds. Participants overwhelmingly reported less stress, improved moods and less pain after listening to recordings of nature sounds. Water sounds helped the most with health, while bird sounds alleviated stress and annoyance.
The researchers noted humans are hardwired to listen for signals of danger and security. An environment of natural sounds feels safe. It allows us to let our guard down, reducing stress and encouraging mental recuperation.
One study they reviewed found people who spent just two hours each week outside in nature — including parks, woodlands and beaches — reported greater well-being than people who spent less time outdoors. Another study, involving more than 8 million people from seven countries, showed people living near green spaces tended to live longer than those living in more urban environments.
The absence of natural sounds has been shown to lead to heightened vigilance and induce a more alert, aroused state. For this reason, the researchers recommend urban planners include more water features and other natural elements in parks to help restore a sense of calmness for city dwellers.
Do yourself a favor and make time to take in the music of nature. It’s the soundtrack of a healthy life.
Pet food marketing can create a number of misconceptions for pet parents. One is that dogs are obligate carnivores — that is, they need lots of meat. That’s not true. Like us, dogs are omnivores, meaning they thrive on diets that balance protein, carbohydrates and fat.
In fact, eating too much protein can be dangerous for dogs — especially those with kidney or liver problems. Surplus protein is broken down in the liver and passes through the kidneys into urine, and some dogs can’t handle that workload. Too much meat also comes with excess nutrients — like phosphorus — that can throw off the body’s mineral balance. Finally, protein is calorie-dense and can contribute to weight gain.
Instead of choosing a dog food because it’s mostly meat, look for one that’s formulated specifically for your dog’s age, lifestyle and size.
If we pay attention, we can learn something every day about how climate change is impacting animals. For example, did you know that birds are shrinking in response to warmer temperatures?
After analyzing 40 years of data collected from more than 77 species of birds in the Amazon rainforest, scientists have found that nearly all the birds weigh less today than they did in the 1980s. Every decade, they’ve lost about 2% of their body weight. Over that time, a third of these species also developed longer wingspans.
Lower body weight and longer wingspans let birds use energy more efficiently and stay cooler. So, it stands to reason that species that live highest in the forest canopy with exposure to hotter, drier conditions show the greatest changes.
There are thousands of similar stories, all pointing to the very real consequences of climate change.
Moles on our skin are pretty common. Lots of people have them. Sometimes they’re cute, like an Iggy Azalea beauty mark.
Moles and melanomas are skin tumors, both caused by cells called melanocytes [muh-la-nuh-sites]. Moles are generally harmless, whereas melanomas can be deadly if untreated.
Scientists from the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah have published a new study that delves into how moles and melanomas form and why moles can turn into cancer.
Changes to the DNA sequence of melanocytes, called BRAF [braff] gene mutations, are found in more than 75% of moles. The same change is found in about half of all melanomas.
Researchers used to believe that when melanocytes only had the BRAF mutation, the cell stopped dividing, resulting in a mole. And when other mutations were in the mix, it would divide uncontrollably and become cancerous.
The new study shows that’s not the case.
The scientists used techniques — including one called digital holographic cytometry [sai-taa-muh-tree] — to scrutinize the differences between moles and melanomas.
The researchers found that the cells that become melanoma don’t necessarily have these extra mutations. But they are affected by “environmental signaling,” which happens when cells receive signals from the environment in the skin around them, telling them how to behave, and whether to divide uncontrollably or not at all.
That means scientists might be able to find ways to beat melanoma by altering its environment, potentially targeting topical agents that can thwart melanoma or at least slow it down.
So while you may never come to love your moles, at least you wouldn’t have to fear them.
If your dog or cat has frequent digestive issues, a picky appetite or inexplicable weight loss, they might be suffering from one of many types of chronic enteropathy.
We don’t know a lot about these intestinal disorders — just that they appear to involve some combination of an overactive immune system, environmental factors and genetics.
Biopsy — or sampling of digestive tract tissue — is the best way to diagnose an enteropathy. But practically speaking, many veterinarians get useful information from treatment trials, which often involve a combination of diet changes, antibiotics and immunosuppressant drugs. Recently developed diagnostic tests have shown some promising results as well.
You can do your part by contacting your veterinarian as soon as possible if your dog or cat is having digestive problems that last more than a few days.
Lasers are the most versatile of tools: We use them to buy groceries, watch Blu-ray movies and even to map the surface of planets.
We use them for fun, because a Star Wars-style light-saber fight is a blast.
Now scientists are looking at ways lasers can be used to kill bacteria, even those resistant to antibiotics, which are responsible for much human misery.
A recent study from researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis demonstrated that ultrashort-pulse lasers were effective in killing multidrug-resistant bacteria — commonly known as “superbugs” — as well as bacterial spores.
The scientists aimed their lasers at Staphylococcus aureus [staf-fuh-luh-kaa-kuss aw-ree-uhs], which causes skin, lung and other organ infections; Escherichia coli [eh-shr-eee-kee-uh kow-lai], which causes diarrhea, urinary tract and wound infections; and spores of the bacterium Bacillus cereus [buh-si-luhs see-ree-uhs], which causes food poisoning.
The lasers won, killing more than 99.9% of the targeted organisms.
Here’s how it works: Ultrashort-pulse lasers excite the densely packed protein structures contained in viruses and bacteria. The laser shakes the protein structures until their molecular bonds break. Those broken ends quickly latch on to whatever they can find, and often what they find is wrong. The resulting mess disrupts normal protein function.
The lasers, meantime, must be calibrated at a much higher level to harm human cells. Other effective sterilization methods, including heat, chemicals like bleach, or radiation, are often too harmful to use on people.
The researchers believe ultrashort-pulse lasers could be used in the future to sterilize hospitals and surgical areas, patients’ wounds and other biological products like blood or plasma.
But sorry, Dr. Evil, still no progress on attaching laser beams to sharks’ heads.
Millions of people around the world struggle with mental health. Depression, one of the biggest factors in mental health, is controlled by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Some people deal with this through therapy, others through medication. But what if depression could be aided by a custom brain implant?
University of California researchers created and implanted a personalized device into the brain of a 36-year-old woman named Sarah who had dealt with severe depression for years. The implant stimulated the ventral capsule, a part of the brain associated with emotions. When signals indicated she was having depressive symptoms, the device administered a tiny zap that left her feeling happier and more energized.
Temporary thin wire electrodes were implanted in her brain before the permanent procedure, allowing the researchers to observe her brain activity. From there, they found the exact part of her brain that was associated with her depressive symptoms.
The team was able to calibrate the tiny electrical jolts, which for a time were administered some 300 times a day, so that she didn’t feel them.
The researchers conceded the treatment might not become a widely used technique but said developing the implant helped them better understand how to detect and change brain activity with great precision.
While researchers do not know how long the results will last, the woman said that after having the implant for over a year, her life is better.
Mental health issues may take control of some people’s lives from time to time but it is helpful to know that scientists are making headway in the battle against them.
If you have a horse, choosing the right farrier to tend to your horse’s hooves is central to your buddy’s overall health.
First, look for someone who’s familiar with your horse’s breed and type of work. To start, you might get recommendations from your trainer or riders with similar interests.
Once you have some prospects, ask them whether they received on-site training at a farrier school, completed an apprenticeship and became licensed. Find out how long they’ve been in the field, how many horses they work on every month and — if applicable — whether they’re familiar with certain competition guidelines for shoeing.
Finally, schedule a trial visit to see how the farrier interacts with your horse. That includes noting how attentive they are to your buddy — both before and after hoof trimming or shoeing.
Horses, by nature, are accident-prone due to specific behaviors, including their instinctive flight-or-fight response, dominance hierarchy and natural curiosity. Cuts, bruises and lacerations are among the most common equine emergencies, along with colic, foaling difficulties, acute lameness, and infectious diseases, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners. On this show, Dr. Martha Mallicote, an equine medicine specialist, will discuss common equine emergencies, when to call the veterinarian and what action horse owners can take in these situations while awaiting veterinary care for their animal.
First, there was the federal guideline: Fill half of kids’ plates with fruits and vegetables. Then came the research: Doing so will boost their consumption of produce.
Building on the well-intentioned guideline, researchers at Penn State University have found that a bountiful plate made kids more amenable to fruits and vegetables.
To determine that, the researchers used two feeding strategies with the study participants, who were between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. In one scenario, they added 50% more produce to kids’ meals throughout the day. In the other scenario, they added 50% more produce as a substitute for other foods such as macaroni and cheese.
Both approaches had a positive effect: Simply adding more produce increased fruit and vegetable consumption by 33% and 24%, respectively. But when the produce was used as a substitute for other foods, the effect was even more dramatic, increasing fruit intake by 38% and vegetable intake by 41%.
For most foods, kids eat more when they are given larger portions. The scientists wanted to determine if that held true for produce. Among the young study subjects, that was clearly the case.
While the strategy improved kids’ produce consumption, they still fell short of the recommended daily vegetable portions for their age group — 1½ cups.
So what’s the takeaway message for parents? The researchers suggest serving fruits and vegetable as a first course when children are hungry. Adding vegetables into mixed dishes is also an option: Squash can be added to macaroni and cheese. Pureed fruit can go into brownies. Or as most parents will attest: When it comes to produce, whatever it takes.
Did you know that adult cats don’t meow to each other? That’s right. Although kittens’ meow at their moms to signal their needs, adult cats only meow at us. And they have plenty to say.
Meowing might be a greeting, a call for attention or a way to say, “I’m hungry.” Some cats meow to be let outside or back in. Unneutered cats may produce a long-drawn-out meow — or a yowl — calling for a mate.
Senior cats suffering from cognitive disorders might meow if they become disoriented — or for no apparent reason at all. If that’s the case with your meowser, it’s time for a veterinary checkup. In fact, any cat meowing excessively might be trying to communicate pain or distress.
If everything checks out medically, there’s likely a behavioral reason for the vocalization. Your veterinary team can offer suggestions for that, too.
In the United States alone, nearly 1 billion birds die each year from collisions with glass. Unlike us, birds don’t see glass as a solid object. Instead, reflections appear as part of their environment.
Glass on any building can be lethal, but nearly half of these window strikes involve residential homes. Whether you live in a house or an apartment, there are ways to make your windows bird-safe.
You can start by moving houseplants, bird feeders and bird baths away from windows. Next, there are all sorts of unobtrusive decals or films that can be applied to window surfaces so that birds will avoid them. Some folks even find creative ways to use stencils, netting or screens.
So, if you’ve ever heard the sickening thud of a bird hitting a window, take heart. There are ways to save lives and put your mind at ease.
If you daydream about a retirement filled with naps on the sofa interrupted by lots of TV watching, you might want to come up with a new distraction.
Scientists say not only are we meant to stay active, we’re meant to keep moving late in life.
Harvard University researchers offer an evolutionary explanation for our need to keep moving: Not only does it keep muscles and joints strong and help ward off disease, it’s part of our evolutionary heritage.
They believe humans evolved, first from apes — who, if we’re being quite honest, basically just laid around digesting their latest meal — but later from hunter-gatherer types who logged some 15,000 steps and more than two hours of physical activity a day.
Our early ape ancestors had a lifespan of 35 to 40 years. But fossil evidence shows that the human hunter-gatherers who lived 40,000 years ago often made it to age 70, well after their reproductive years had ended.
Physical activity is stressful on the body, and that’s the point. Damage to molecules, cells and tissue forces the body to build itself back stronger. Exercise takes away from things that would otherwise preoccupy the body, such as storing excess fat.
And you’ve heard it all before: Exercise lowers the risk of diabetes, cancer, depression and obesity, among other chronic conditions.
Instead of envisioning yourself retired and camped in a recliner, imagine yourself tying your shoelaces and heading out for a long daily walk, learning to play pickleball or picking up golf clubs. When it comes to old age and health, one thing is sure: It’s move it or lose it.
As many of us swear off—or at least cut back—our meat consumption, pet diets are facing scrutiny too. Dog and cat foods are responsible for nearly one-third the environmental cost of US meat consumption. So, researchers—and some pet parents—are looking for ways to increase sustainability.
Increasingly, the pet food industry is working on plant-based or cell-free meat products. The latter uses cultured cells instead of muscle or other organs directly from the animal.
If you think that’s something, some of the largest pet food companies are also looking into insect-based diets. But these diets still have to be evaluated by veterinary professionals, so it’s too early to jump on that bandwagon.
One more thing. Before switching to any new diet, get the low-down from your veterinarian. That beats relying on marketing every time.
STOP! You, in the blue sedan. Fingers where we can see them. We know what you’ve been doing.
Well, not us. But researchers from the University of Nottingham have a pretty good — if gross — guess.
New research finds that drivers touch their face an average of 26 times per hour.
And by touching, they mean it all: Picking, scratching and rubbing. In the study, researchers watched 31 hours of archived video footage from on-road driving studies. They noticed that drivers touched mucous membranes, a.k.a. their lips, nostrils and eyes, on almost half of the occasions — or about once every five minutes.
But wait — it gets worse.
The most common instruments used were fingertips and thumbs, which also happen to be the areas that most of us miss when it comes to washing our hands. And yes, most of us. The study found no differences in face-touching rates between those of different genders or ages.
Importantly, study participants knew they were being observed. So even though the touching observed was mindless, researchers posit that people are probably even more inclined to get physical with their faces when they don’t think their behaviors are being documented for a study. We’re talking nose picking, ear cleaning and other sundry habits you may not even realize you have.
And, in the age of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, poor hygiene in shared vehicles could present a transmission problem — for drivers and passengers alike.
So here you have it: The results are in. People have a tendency to be gross. Researchers point out this is a great reason to double down on thorough handwashing, and keep in mind that seatbelts prevent accidents — but not germs.
For around 300,000 Americans living with a spinal cord injury, limited movement and hospital visits are the norm.
But according to a new study that shows a promising remedy, that could change.
Researchers from Northwestern University have developed molecules that mimic spinal cord cells, allowing them to repair and regenerate nerves in the spine.
Called “dancing molecules,” these particles match the motion, structure and receptors of spinal cord cells, allowing them to communicate with each other.
In the study, published by the journal Science, the molecules were injected into mice with severe spinal cord injuries.
The molecules send two signals. The first regenerates axons, which facilitate communication between the body and brain. The second causes cell growth, which reverses damage to injured sites.
The results were stunning: Nerve endings in the spine regenerated, blood vessels reformed to strengthen the injury and scar tissue diminished.
The key is the “dance” that the molecules perform. They move rapidly, matching the movement of the targeted cells, until they partner up and dance in unison, allowing the molecules to send regenerative signals and start the healing process.
After 12 weeks, the molecules disappear into the body as nutrients without any noticeable side effects.
The hope? Researchers say this therapy could someday heal paralysis due to injury or disease. If that wasn’t miraculous enough, the treatment might also be able to repair the brain.
Time will tell whether the effects of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s could eventually be reversed by the regenerative molecules.
And if so, these “dancing molecules” could help thousands of people get back on their feet and dancing again.
Getting older is the inevitable, inescapable constant of our lives. As we age, our risk of cognitive decline and other illnesses increases.
It can be worrying. But it doesn’t have to be, as new research shows the right diet can play a big role in keeping the mind fresh.
A recent study showed an association between eating anti-inflammatory diets and a lower risk of dementia in older adults.
After age 40, our bodies start making pro-inflammatory mediators, a process called “inflammaging.” It can reach the brain and cause cognitive issues like dementia.
While science has shown the link between inflammation and cognitive decline, the role of diet has been unclear before this study.
The researchers evaluated more than 1,000 people in Greece during a three-year period.
The researchers evaluated participants’ diets and grouped them based on how inflammatory they were.
The first group had the least inflammatory diets, eating the most fruits, vegetables and legumes. The second group ate an average amount of those items, while the third group ate fewer greens, along with more sugar and processed foods.
Sixty-two of the participants developed dementia in that time, most of them from the group that passed over produce in favor of processed foods. Meanwhile, the group with the less-inflammatory diet showed significantly fewer signs of decline. The members of the most inflammatory diet group, in fact, were three times as likely to develop dementia during the study as those in the group that didn’t mind a salad.
So, try trading out that half-pound burger for salmon and the wine for tea. Your brain might just thank you for it.
When most people think of farm animals, they conjure traditional farm species, such as ruminants, poultry, swine and horses. But veterinarians also play an important role in the farming of fish and other aquatic species for food, ornamental trade and research. On this show, Dr. Ruth Francis-Floyd, a professor and extension veterinarian, will discuss why practicing veterinarians as well as student trainees are becoming more interested in the specialty of aquaculture, and its benefits to the veterinary profession as well as to the public.
Capuccino connoisseurs and latte lovers, rejoice: Coffee can boast yet another possible health benefit.
A new study from researchers in Australia suggests a link between how much coffee someone drinks and their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, or the most common type of dementia.
Using data from a longitudinal study that followed 227 participants for more than a decade, researchers used a questionnaire to gather information about the participants’ rate and amount of coffee consumption.
Then, the participants, age 60 or older, completed different cognitive assessments, measuring skills such as recognition, episodic recall, language, processing speed and attention. They also did a preclinical test for Alzheimer’s that can reliably flag any inklings of early cognitive decline.
The results?
Regular coffee consumption was positively linked to cognitive tasks like attention and executive function.
Specifically, the researchers found that those who drank more coffee had a slower build of amyloid protein over the study period. This protein is associated with “sticky clumps” that appear in the brains of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
In short, this is another piece of research that underscores what most of us know: What we eat affects our bodies — including our brains. So go ahead and get that Starbucks. Future you just might remember to say thank you.
We all have our favorite songs, the ones that are deeply meaningful. Now, it turns out those songs can do more than just lift the spirit or evoke memories. They can also stimulate the brain’s neural pathways in a way that boosts memory performance.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found brain-based evidence that music with special meaning can help maintain higher levels of mental functioning.
People with early-stage cognitive decline who were exposed to personally relevant music — like the song they danced to at their wedding — had activity in a distinct part of the brain. That, the researchers found, resulted in structural and functional changes in the brain’s control center where deep cognitive processes occur.
Differences were also noted in the brain’s white matter among those who listened to personally relevant music — another indicator of beneficial brain “rewiring” known as plasticity.
The study’s participants listened to familiar music that was relevant to their lives as well as newly composed music for an hour a day over three weeks. Brain imaging was done before and after to assess changes.
Newly composed music mainly affected the brain’s auditory cortex, suggesting it was little more than a listening experience. But the familiar music activated the prefrontal cortex, indicating deeper cognitive engagement.
That means music is an access key to your memory — potentially a way to keep it functional and vibrant. It also raises an intriguing concept for the researchers: music as a cost-effective, readily accessible intervention for early cognitive decline.
So whether your best-loved tunes are Mozart or Metallica, turn them on often.
By now, everyone should know that losing weight, quitting smoking and reducing stress are sure ways to lower blood pressure. But there are other not-so-obvious, natural ways that also can help. And virtually all of them can be found in your favorite grocery store.
Eating dark chocolate, in small amounts, is a tasty way to lower blood pressure. It’s filled with flavonoids, which are small plant compounds that cause blood vessels to expand, helping increase heart health in multiple areas of the body.
Adding berries to your diet also can help with blood pressure because they are packed with polyphenols. These are natural plant compounds that have been shown to lower the risk of stroke, heart disease and diabetes.
Put bananas and other potassium-rich foods on your shopping list. These remove sodium from your body and soften pressure on blood vessels. You can increase your potassium levels by eating more vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt, nuts, beans and fish.
How’s your magnesium consumption? Magnesium is a mineral that relaxes blood vessels, and most of us don’t get nearly enough. What can you eat that’s rich in magnesium? Whole foods, like legumes and whole grains, as well as chicken, lean meat, vegetables and dairy products.
You can also visit the supplements aisle. You may not be aware that aged garlic extract, whey protein, fish oils and hibiscus all have specific properties that can help reduce blood pressure.
So, if you’re looking for some nontraditional ways to lower your blood pressure and improve your overall heart health, add these natural items to your diet. And treat yourself to a piece of guilt-free dark chocolate.
Drop that salt shaker. Pick up a banana. In fact, grab a couple. It’ll do your heart a world of good.
Harvard scientists in a study that involved more than 10,000 adults found that less sodium and more potassium in a diet was associated with a lower risk of heart disease. It’s no surprise that excessive salt is unhealthy. But this study actually quantified how bad it is.
It’s a tale told by our urine. Testing it is the most accurate way to measure sodium levels. Samples were taken from study volunteers, who were all in generally healthy shape. Scientists then tracked participants for years to determine whether any suffered adverse cardiovascular events.
U.S. dietary guidelines suggest we consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily. That’s about a teaspoon of table salt. The study’s investigators found that for every 1,000 milligrams of additional sodium excreted in the urine daily, the risk of heart disease went up 18%. If sodium dropped by 1,000 milligrams, heart disease declined by the same percentage.
Researchers found that a higher sodium-to-potassium ratio — more salt, less potassium — led to a significantly higher cardiovascular risk.
Unfortunately, many modern foods, especially commercially packaged, processed and prepared foods, are swimming in salt. Sources of potassium are legion, of course, and not just limited to the goodly banana. Potassium is found in beans, nuts, leafy greens, dairy and starchy vegetables.
Potassium, scientists say, relaxes blood vessels, decreases blood pressure and helps rid the body of sodium.
So sprinkling too much salt on your food is a bad idea if you want to live a healthy life. In fact, one might say it’s bananas.
Integrative veterinary medicine, along with sports medicine and rehabilitation are a subset of complementary and alternative therapies used in tandem with conventional veterinary care for pets. This unique group of patient care approaches has grown increasingly popular for pets, just as they have for people. On this show, Dr. Erin Miscioscia, a clinical assistant professor of integrative medicine, will discuss some of the more popular integrative approaches and how they are being used in veterinary medicine today to treat pain, geriatric diseases, arthritis, and sports injuries along with several other conditions.
Veterinarians in the military play a vital role in rebuilding and improving animal care systems in underdeveloped and war-torn countries. They also provide valuable public health capabilities through veterinary medical and surgical care, food safety and defense, and biomedical research and development. On this show, Dr. Chris Lanier, a veterinary clinical pathology specialist who served for 20 years as an Army Veterinary Corps officer, will share his insights about the range of experience military service can provide to veterinarians, how the public benefits and why future veterinarians might consider a role in the military as a potential career.
If your pet is having eye or vision problems, it should be seen by a veterinarian immediately, but routine eye examinations are part of regular physical examinations. Tests performed on your pet’s eyes will vary depending on the situation, but in all cases, your veterinarian or a veterinary ophthalmology specialist will be examining the pet’s eyes and surrounding tissues. These tests are also generally non-invasive and painless. On this show, Dr. Caryn Plummer, a veterinary ophthalmology specialist, will explain what’s involved in some of the routine tests performed and will share what to expect if your pet needs an eye exam, in addition to what veterinarians are looking for in their assessment.
For years, we’ve heard the mantra: Eat less, exercise more! With this tried-and-true formula, anyone can lose weight — or so we’re told.
This message has been pushed for decades, but it hasn’t made a dent in obesity cases, which affect nearly half of all Americans.
In a new study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers suggest that weight loss is more dependent on what you eat than how much you eat. They encouraged people to rethink calorie counting and instead focus on restricting intake of processed foods.
This thinking differs from the previous model, which framed energy imbalance — too much food and not enough movement — as the cause of obesity. New research says the problem goes deeper.
Foods with high levels of simple carbohydrates, like fries and pizza, are a major risk factor for weight gain. They tend to lack fiber and nutrients, which trick our bodies into thinking we are being deprived.
Researchers dubbed this new rationale the Carbohydrate-Insulin Model. Eating too many processed foods can increase insulin resistance, which signals to our bodies that we need to store fat while keeping us ravenous for more nutrients.
To combat this, researchers say a shift to eating more natural foods is in order. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains are all nutrient-rich alternatives that can reinvigorate our systems.
So, if you’ve been frustrated by attempts to diet, don’t worry so much about budgeting your calories at the grocery store or drive-thru. Instead, focus on eating foods as close to nature as possible, and see if you have more success.
Most of the time, organs for donation and eventual transplant are served on the rocks. Ice and cool temperatures are essential to preserving the lifegiving body parts until they can be implanted.
Or so we thought.
A new study from researchers in Toronto is shifting temperatures for donor lungs — and increasing the length of their viability, or how long they can last outside of the body.
Typically, the length of viability to keep donor lungs in tip-top shape is between six and eight hours. It may seem like a good chunk of time — until you factor in how long it takes to locate a transplant center, match a recipient, and take it there.
But by raising the temperature just a few degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, surgeons were able to extend the organs’ viability six times as long. The warmer temperature also permitted lung cells to continue performing certain basic functions, like gas exchange, potentially smoothing the transition between unfamiliar organ and recipient.
Although this idea has been attempted before, researchers were unable to closely examine the organs as well as they can now, leading to doubt about whether warmer storage was a true means of optimization.
Today, however, lung function can be studied down to an intracellular level — leaving little to the imagination.
Knowing this works for lungs begs the question: What about other organs, like the liver and kidneys? Although it’ll likely be some time before we know the answer, researchers are keenly interested — and intend to pose the question soon.
A battle is raging over the fate of 86,000 thousand mustangs and wild burros remaining in the western United States. During the past 50 years, the Bureau of Land Management has captured and adopted out over 270,000 additional animals and now, animal advocates are fighting to keep the remaining population in their natural habitat.
The bureau BLM says that public lands can support only one-third of the remaining animals, but animal advocates claim that ranchers just don’t want the mustangs and burros vying with their livestock for forage.
Also at issue is the $1,000 incentive the bureau uses to boost adoptions. Some unscrupulous adopters take the cash then illegally sell their animals to slaughterhouses. While the bureau pledges to institute a stricter adoption regimen, animal advocates don’t envision anything changing until the cash windfalls end.
It goes without saying that exercise offers outstanding health benefits. But we’re going to say it anyway. Physical activity keeps you trim, lowers blood pressure, increases cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness, and even improves mental health. And we’re not talking about running a marathon. Walking will do fine.
Walking is obviously exercise. But a brief stroll around the block just won’t cut it. How many daily steps does it take to earn a longer life? The experts say many of us need to aim for 7,000.
A study led by a University of Massachusetts epidemiologist found that walking at least 7,000 steps a day reduced the risk of premature death in those who are in middle age by a whopping 50 to 70%. Middle age was defined as starting at age 38 and ending at 50.
Scientists analyzed data from 2,100 individuals and noted a gradual reduction in the risk of death as the number of steps walked increased. But walking beyond 10,000 per day didn’t seem to make any difference.
In fact, the common 10,000-step-a-day regimen followed by many people apparently isn’t based on any real science. Researchers say that goal emerged years ago from a marketing campaign for a Japanese pedometer. But if you want to walk more than 10,000 steps, go right ahead. No harm done.
While the study looked at the impact of walking during middle age, physicians say taking a daily stroll offers many benefits at any stage of life.
Did you know, for instance, that research has shown walking can curb your craving for chocolate and other sugary snacks?
Well, maybe we shouldn’t mention that. To those of us who love chocolate, losing that sweet tooth might be a step too far.
Fast-food burgers. Sugary breakfast cereals. Bologna sandwiches. Those meals might be tasty for kids and appealing to parents for their convenience.
Now, those and other so-called ultraprocessed foods make up an ever-increasing share of the calories consumed by young children and teenagers. That’s the upshot of a long-term study by Tufts University researchers who tracked the eating habits of more than 33,000 children and adolescents for nearly 20 years.
Ultraprocessed foods are typically laden with sugar and salt and contain less fiber than minimally processed foods. The researchers found that, as a percentage of all food consumed by children, ultraprocessed foods account for 67% those calories — up from 61% when the study began.
Among the ultraprocessed foods that were trending with the study’s participants: Pre-made burgers, frozen pizza, ready-to-eat meals and takeout food.
The researchers also identified racial and ethnic disparities in the ultraprocessed food trends. The consumption of those foods increased nearly twice as much for non-Hispanic Blacks as it did among non-Hispanic whites. For Mexican-Americans, consumption increased about 50% more than non-Hispanic whites.
What the scientists did not find were disparities in ultraprocessed food consumption based on family income and parental education. That, they said, shows the pervasiveness of those foods in children’s diets.
Still, the news isn’t all troubling: Kids are drinking far fewer sweetened beverages. Sugary drinks accounted for 5.3% of all calories consumed — less than half of what it was at the start of the study.
So, parents beware: Meals that are easy for you might not be so good for your kids.
Here’s another reason to despise traffic: Noisy city streets might increase the risk of developing dementia.
A massive study out of Denmark involving two million adults age 60 and older found that long-term exposure to excessive traffic and transportation noise was associated with a higher risk of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease.
Remarkably, researchers estimated noise levels for every residential building in Denmark for the investigation.
Better understanding the risk of this neurological disorder is critically important as more than 55 million people globally have been diagnosed with dementia. And that figure is expected to climb to 150 million by 2050.
Long-term exposure to noise isn’t just a risk for our mental health. Previous studies also have associated it with health problems like obesity, diabetes and coronary disease.
Scientists have a few ideas about why noise causes problems for the brain. It’s thought, for example, that fragmented sleep can lead to alterations to the immune system, oxidative stress and higher levels of systemic inflammation.
The encouraging news is that noise pollution is a risk factor that, to some extent, can be controlled, unlike a genetic predisposition to a disease. Ear plugs or government regulation to reduce traffic noise — even better sound insulation in the home — might alleviate the issue to a significant degree.
We can also reduce our odds of developing dementia by living healthy lives. Investigators have found eating well, exercising, and staying mentally active, among other things, can keep our minds sharp as we sail into our golden years.
And if you find yourself in traffic, do everyone a favor: Lay off the horn.
Sometimes, a little bit of stress can be a good thing. When it comes to things like deadlines or being on time for a flight, stress is almost beneficial. In today’s world, however, our fast-paced lives make us all too familiar with stress, despite knowing about its negative effects on our mind — and our body.
Now, a new study is emphasizing the downside of prolonged stress on your health.
New research from scientists in California looked at the link between high levels of stress hormones and increased risk of hypertension, or high blood pressure.
When you’re stressed, your body releases several hormones, like cortisol, that prepare the body for a fight-or-flight response to perceived danger. Once these hormones flood your body, blood vessels are constricted, heart rate increases, and so does the force with which your heart pumps blood throughout your body.
But this sustained release of hormones and subsequent elevated blood pressure has consequences — like increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. And, as anyone who’s been invested in the outcome of a close Sunday night game and blown through a bag of potato chips, the more stressed you are, the less likely you are to make healthy choices when it comes to coping mechanisms.
Stress affects health at all ages, so if you think this is more pertinent for older folks, think again — the study’s researchers noted that the association between higher levels of stress-related hormones and high blood pressure was more present in younger participants than older ones.
Like death and taxes, stressors are unavoidable. But if you can remember to use them, breathing exercises and practicing gratitude may stave off some of the worst effects.
Since its U.S. debut in 2014, the spotted lanternfly has spread to 14 states in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Midwest, wreaking havoc on trees, grapevines and other plants along the way.
Although traps are recommended to stop these insects, there are good ones and others that do even more harm. The worst of the latter are the sticky tape that some folks wrap around their trees. Along with lanternflies, the tape traps birds, bats, other small mammals and snakes that injure themselves frantically trying to escape. Only about 10% of these animals survive their gruesome ordeal.
A far more humane solution is the circle trap, which funnels lanternflies through a mesh and into a container, preventing injury to nontarget animals.
Many birds love eating lanternflies, so keeping them safe also allows them to eat their fill.
Anyone who’s survived for any length of time on too little sleep knows all too well the compulsion to make a vending machine run for a mid-morning snack.
It turns out that missing the recommended seven or more hours of sleep every night is linked to chowing down on more carbohydrates, extra sugar, fats and caffeine.
Ohio State University researchers analyzed data from nearly 20,000 American adults ranging in age from 20 to 60. From 2007 through 2018, the survey tracked participants’ sleep, what they ate and when they ate it. The researchers divided survey respondents into groups who reported getting seven hours of sleep and those who didn’t.
Among their findings: We’re all too snack-happy. Regardless of how much sleep we get, we favor salty, crunchy foods, sweets and non-alcoholic drinks. But those who skip sleep also tend to consume more calories in a day from snacks.
Staying up late isn’t only bad for us from a nutrition standpoint. When we stay up, we tend to behave in ways that contribute to weight gain: specifically, not moving much and often staring at a screen.
Their analysis showed that nearly everyone — more than 95 percent — ate at least one snack a day, including soda or energy drinks and chips, pretzels and cookies.
Those who reported getting the least amount of sleep were more likely to eat a morning snack and to consume more high-calorie snacks with less nutritional value.
The bottom line: Pushing yourself to hit the sack earlier might just improve your diet, too. After all, you can’t sleep and snack at the same time.
Some pet parents know about the risks raw meat diets pose to pets. Bacterial contamination can still make pets sick, but there are other dangers, too.
A recent study showed that although various commercial dog foods carried some undesirable bacteria, raw meat diets were more likely to contain bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics. These bacteria are especially dangerous when transmitted to immunosuppressed people or pets. In addition, there are risks posed to the public by the dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Some still tout the benefits of raw food diets, but most such claims haven’t been proven. However, evidence of the potentially dangerous effects is building — especially as they impact immunocompromised, very young or elderly dogs. Now it looks like the same may hold true for their humans.
When health officials in Brazil wanted to show teens the effects of too much exposure to the sun, they used technology the teens could relate to: selfie photos.
Specifically, they used a face-aging app that showed the teens what prolonged exposure to ultraviolet, or UV, radiation could do to their skin. The damage ranged from wrinkles and dry skin to uneven pigmentation and skin cancer.
Brazil has one of the highest UV indexes in the world and tanning is very common. UV radiation exposure is a serious risk factor for melanoma, and health experts sought interventions that would get the attention of the younger generation.
Researchers enrolled more than 1,500 high schoolers, roughly half of whom were assigned to a control group. The rest attended a classroom seminar conducted by medical students where the teens’ selfies were altered by the app Sunface to show how UV would impact their future faces. The withering effects, as you might imagine, were jarring, especially when they were viewed alongside everyone else in their class.
The teens also were given information on how to protect themselves from UV radiation. When the researchers checked back at three- and six-month intervals with the students who had been shown their future faces, the results were encouraging.
A significant number of the teens reported using sunscreen daily, while more than twice as many students said they were doing self-examinations than those in the control group. They also reported a drastic reduction in the use of tanning beds.
The findings suggest that interventions like the face-aging app may motivate teens to better protect their skin. After all, seeing is believing.
Congestive heart failure affects dogs and cats in a similar way to people. Regardless of the underlying cause of heart failure, the symptoms, treatment approaches, and goals are similar. Although heart failure in pets usually carries a guarded long-term prognosis, both veterinarians and owners alike have a common desire to provide the best possible quality of life during this time. On this show, Dr. Darcy Adin, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist, will discuss what signs dogs and cats show when they are experiencing heart failure, how veterinarians diagnose, treat, and monitor heart failure, and what you can do at home as an active participant in your pet’s care.
Just because most essential oils are safe for us doesn’t mean the same holds true for our pets. In fact, many of these oils are toxic to animals.
The danger isn’t just that pets inhale diffused oils. They can also ingest them when droplets land on their feathers or fur. Either can cause serious problems.
Birds, with their sensitive respiratory tracts, are especially at risk and should never be exposed to essential oils. The same goes for any animal with respiratory issues. For cats, who metabolize substances much differently than we do, exposure to essential oils can be really dangerous. Very small animals can also be overwhelmed by exposure. Even dogs, who are super sensitive to smells, may be irritated by oils.
Essential oils just aren’t worth the risk in homes with pets. After all, our pets are much more essential.
Suffering from anxiety? Hit the gym. Walk the dog. Jog around the neighborhood. Exercise, researchers say, might be key in avoiding the disorder. They tested their hunch by looking at the mental health of skiers hitting the slopes. Skiers, after all, appear to be a happy bunch.
Scientists in a huge epidemiology study that involved 400,000 people compared skiers and a group of people who never hit the powdered hills. The skiers participated in the world’s largest long-distance cross-country race in Sweden between 1989 and 2010.
Researchers found a remarkable 60% lower risk of developing anxiety in people who skied compared with those who didn’t. That was during the study’s 21-year follow-up period. The correlation was observed in men and women.
The study suggests that physical activity in general appears to help stave off anxiety. Investigators don’t suggest that skiing alone will help. Any physical activity might do. But they are open to the possibility that being among like-minded people slaloming has an especially positive effect on the psyche.
The stakes can be high for the estimated 10% of people around the globe who experience anxiety. The ailment can be debilitating, causing an increased heart rate, hyperventilation, sweating and trembling. Some people can even faint.
An oddity was noticed in the data. The highest-performing female skiers had nearly double the risk of anxiety compared with other women who skied with less vigor. Even so, these uber-skiers still experience less anxiety than those people who weren’t on the slopes at all.
This work once again reinforces that exercise can be the best medicine. The lack of anxious skiers on the slopes might prove the point.
You might think that indoor cats don’t need parasite preventatives. But these three3 parasites show why homebodies still need protection.
Fleas are notorious for clinging to shoes, pants and other pets that go outdoors. Not only do they cause itching and inflammation — they also spread tapeworms to cats.
Cockroaches and rodents can carry young roundworms and hookworms. So, when a cat catches and eats these prey animals, they ingest the parasites too, which cause a variety of feline digestive problems.
Finally, up to 30% of cats infected with heartworms live indoors only. The mosquitoes that carry heartworm can get inside and bite cats, just like they bite us.
Talk to your veterinarian about the various ways to protect your cat against parasites. An ounce of prevention makes all the difference.
Researching the genetics of disease in our furry friends compared to humans tends to have a canine bias, in part because of the variety that canine breeds bring to the table. But cats offer equally valuable features.
For example, the cat’s genome is organized quite a bit like a human’s, so, discovering how feline genes impact disease could help humans too.
But just like us, dogs get cancer more often than cats. If there’s a genetic reason, we might benefit from the research.
Cats have already had a positive impact on human disease. Studying cats with feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, aided discovery of the human variety, HIV. In addition, remdesivir, a treatment for COVID-19 patients, was first used to treat cats with another type of coronavirus.
So, while dogs are said to be man’s best friends, cats may beg to differ.
College students burning the midnight oil, graveyard shift workers and those whose jobs make them frequent fliers know that such lifestyles can take a toll on one’s health.
But a study of dietary compounds known as prebiotics may someday help those folks recover faster.
Disruptions in our circadian rhythm, or our biological clocks, can wreck our sleep, moods, metabolism and increase our risk for some diseases.
A new University of Colorado Boulder study, paid for by the U.S. Navy, suggests that simple dietary compounds called prebiotics — foods like onions, leeks and artichokes — help stabilize good gut bacteria, making our bodies more resilient to circadian disruption.
The researchers raised two groups of lab rats: One fed a diet heavy in prebiotics, the other, regular rat food. They manipulated the rodents’ sleep cycles for eight weeks, equivalent to traveling to a time zone 12 hours ahead every week for two months.
The rats fed prebiotics more quickly realigned their sleep cycles and core body temperature and their bodies resisted gut-flora changes that often accompany stress.
Prebiotics should not be confused with probiotics, found in fermented foods like yogurt, kombucha and sauerkraut.
The Navy funded the study because its ranks are full of those whose jobs require them to endure odd schedules, often for long stretches.
Clinical trials are underway to determine if prebiotics could have similar effects on humans. Someday, there might be customizable prebiotic mixes available to help anyone forced to work an odd shift better ward off its wearying side effects.
Here’s a little test for you. Picture two beverage glasses, each containing a drink with identical nutritional content. Not a sugar molecule’s worth of difference. Indeed, the only thing differentiating these two beverages is color. One is clear, the other pink.
True or false: The pink drink will supercharge your workout and increase exercise performance.
On its face, that might not make sense. But the answer is true.
British researchers conducted what they believe is the first scientific investigation of the effect of drink color on exercise performance. They asked study participants to run on a treadmill for half an hour at a self-regulated pace in two sessions. The goal was to keep up a steady rate of exertion.
In one workout, volunteers rinsed their mouths with a clear drink that was artificially sweetened and low in calories. In a second, they rinsed with a drink containing a smidge of pink food dye that was otherwise identical to the first.
Why pink? Why not purple or red or taxi-cab yellow? Well, scientists figured pink is associated with perceived sweetness. As such, that increases the expectation of receiving energy-boosting sugar and carbohydrates — even if the body was really getting none of it. Previous research had shown rinsing the mouth with real carbs pushes the body to better performance.
Guess what? Participants who partook of the pink drink ran an average of 695 feet farther while their mean speed increased about 4% compared with when they rinsed with a clear liquid.
Not only that, but the pink drinkers also found exercise more enjoyable.
So next time you head to the gym, think pink drink, and let the placebo effect work its magic.
Many dogs have mobility issues due to birth defects, injuries or aging. If your pooch is one of them, there are ways you and others can help your veterinarian diagnose and treat the problem.
You can help by observing your dog and providing details on lameness, reduced stamina or the inability to perform certain activities.
Your veterinarian may also refer you to a certified animal rehabilitation practitioner as part of the treatment plan. A canine physical therapist of sorts, they’ll gently work your dog’s joints, massage muscles and use low-impact ways to build stamina, increase range of motion and ease pain. Again, you can help at home by walking your pooch on grass or sand instead of concrete.
Following your veterinarian’s direction on feeding and administering medications will help round out your dog’s treatment plan.
Noise anxiety impacts nearly 70% percent of dogs in the United States, but only a fraction of them receive the treatment they sorely need. That’s a shame, because a dog suffering from noise anxiety is similar to someone having panic attacks.
Whether it’s fear of thunder, fireworks or household sounds, canine noise anxiety is complicated. That’s why the tendency of many pooch parents to try to cure the problem with cuddling is just wishful thinking.
The earlier canine noise anxiety is addressed medically, the better the chances of successful treatment. Veterinary behaviorists often rely on a combination of environmental management, behavior modification and medication.
So, if your dog lives in fear of certain sounds, get the veterinary help this crippling condition deserves.
When the COVID-19 pandemic kept millions of people around the world close to home for months on end in the spring of 2020, many experts predicted a baby boom would be the inevitable outcome.
But initially, at least, it’s been more of a bust than a boom.
Researchers in Italy and at Cornell University found births declined more than 7% in the United States.
The researchers looked at the relationship between the highly contagious virus and births in 22 high-income countries. They found strong declines in southern Europe, with births dropping more than 9% in Italy, 8% in Spain and 6% in Portugal.
Overall, the pandemic’s effect on birth rates — at least initially — has been negative, with many of the 22 countries studied recording drops.
However, researchers found that some countries, including Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, held steady or gained.
It’s no surprise that, despite focusing people on hearth and home, COVID-19 would bring fewer babies. Throughout history, pandemics have had a huge influence on population changes, altering death and birth rates. By the second year of the Spanish flu in 1919, U.S. births dropped 13% from the previous year.
Researchers suggested the countries that fared best for babies in their study may have had less economic uncertainty and benefited from family-friendly policies.
The researchers say their study looked at the first phase of COVID-19, and with subsequent pandemic waves in fall 2020 and winter 2021, there is more data to be studied before they can say whether lockdowns are as rough on romance as they are on a virus.
Pet food recalls and other problems with pet foods reported in the press over the last several years have caused dog and cat owners a lot of anxiety as to how best to feed their pet companions. It is important, however, to put each recall in perspective and to know how best to ensure your pet’s safety? Dr. Richard Hill, a specialist in both small animal medicine and veterinary nutrition, will share what you need to know about pet food recalls, including how to track the most up-to-date information and when to call the veterinarian if you fear your pet is becoming sick.
Mindfulness applications could be your answer to finding the state of calm that you’ve been looking for. With more than 260 mindfulness apps to choose from, the chances of reaching inner peace are plentiful.
Mindfulness can be defined as a person’s mental state and how conscious or aware they are of life around them. It can be achieved through meditation, a mixture of concentration and mental relaxation. Achieving mindfulness through meditation can lead to the acceptance of one’s thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations.
With names like Headspace, Calm and Chill, the apps offer users features such as daily inspirational quotes, reminders to stay calm and in the moment, gentle music to fall asleep to and bite-sized meditation lessons.
A Science Direct analysis found that users of mindfulness meditation apps had an improved state of mental health and well-being. While there have only been a small number of studies on the efficiency of such apps, the results so far are promising.
Researchers looked at the use of apps in communities of employees, students and cancer patients. Generally, participants agreed that these applications are helpful tools to enhance well-being.
Mindfulness meditation applications are a relatively inexpensive, sometimes even free, way to help make daily life a little easier, reducing stress, depression, burnout and anxiety.
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, maybe download one of these apps, pop in your earbuds and see if it can ping you into a state of tranquility.
For years now, veterinary dogma has held that pooches should be neutered at 6 months of age. But it’s more complicated than that. The American Veterinary Medical Association now says that there is no single recommendation that applies to all dogs.
Research over the past decade has shown that early neutering may be linked to the risk of joint problems, obesity — even cancer — especially in large breeds. Loss of reproductive hormones may also impact growth, musculature and a dog’s memory. Fortunately, most of these risks subside if a dog is neutered when older.
That’s a good thing, because neutering at the right time reduces the incidence of other cancers and potentially life-threatening infections of the uterus. In fact, studies have concluded that neutered dogs live longer. Like so many things, it’s all about the timing.
Heart health is promoted everywhere, from cereal boxes to middle school gyms to online ads. It’s easy to think with the abundance of awareness and advice columns that you’ve skirted around heart disease.
But even if you don’t think you’re at risk, new research shows you should consider getting tested, anyway.
A study of 30,000 patients in Sweden found that about 4 in 10 otherwise healthy people had hardened arteries, called atherosclerosis. That’s when fatty deposits stick to artery walls around the heart, restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack, kidney failure and stroke.
These patients had no obvious symptoms, but about 5% of them had significant coronary heart disease.
The disease is silent, but it can strike quickly. Symptoms may only appear just before an imminent stroke or heart attack, so researchers recommended that people get screened for plaque buildup even when they feel OK, especially as they get older.
The study found that men were nearly twice as likely to have heart disease as women, and that those between 60 and 64 were nearly twice as likely to have heart disease as those a decade younger.
Being aware of your family history and leading a healthy lifestyle are major steps you can take to lower your risk.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, decreasing alcohol intake and avoiding smoking all contribute to a happier heart.
You don’t know what’s building up in your heart’s thousands of vessels, but a visit to your doctor can help to solve the mystery. And doctors say treating the problem early — before it’s too late — can make all the difference.
Turtles and tortoises — collectively known as chelonians [chell-Ō-nee-uhns] — may seem indestructible but they’re susceptible to injury like every other animal. Whether from being dropped, hit by a car or bitten by a dog, shell trauma is a common problem.
Although the chelonian shell may seem like an inert piece of armor, it’s not. It consists of vascular, neurologically sensitive bone plates covered with scutes that shed periodically.
When the shell is damaged, the underlying bone can fracture, sometimes exposing vulnerable organs — like the lungs and abdominal structures — beneath. That’s why significant shell trauma requires prompt veterinary attention instead of an at-home fix. Fortunately, veterinarians with reptile expertise have many options at their disposal for treating their shell-shocked patients.
The old adage about an apple a day keeping the doctor away might be due for an update. Maybe “an apple a day keeps the blues away?”
New research from two universities in the United Kingdom is the first to tie the consumption of fruits and vegetables — plus exercise — to happiness.
Previous studies have generalized about such a link, but researchers from universities at Kent and Reading filtered out other factors to show that eating fruits and vegetables and exercising make people happy, rather than the other way around.
The study found that people’s ability to delay gratification and employ self control — ordering a salad rather than succumbing to the temptation of a bacon cheeseburger, for example — plays a major role in lifestyle decisions that positively effect well-being.
The finding that people who eat fruits and vegetables and exercise are happier was true for many groups, including different income levels, geographic regions, gender, education levels and ages.
The researchers did note that men were more likely to exercise, while women were more likely to consume fruits and vegetables, but both choices boosted happiness.
The study’s implications for public policy are clear: Knowing how to “sell” the public on choices that lead to a healthier lifestyle is good for keeping public health costs down. And if that lifestyle not only keeps costs down but leaves people happier, then that’s a double win.
The next time you’re pondering whether to try eating better or jumping into an exercise program, consider the reward might be more than just dropping a pant size or two. It might just put a smile on your face.
Protein powder is a gym rat’s best friend — until now.
For those hitting the weights and looking to pack on the mass, the answer to muscle growth may actually lie with your gut — microbiome, that is.
A recent study in mice may demonstrate that a wonky microbiome may act as a muscle-growing speedbump, impairing healthy muscle growth.
Two groups of mice used running wheels over a period of nine weeks. One group received antibiotics, notorious for their side effect of eliminating essential colonies of beneficial bacteria, fungi and other microbes whose influence is far-reaching when it comes to not only the health of our digestive system, but also immune and central nervous systems.
Researchers determined that the mice that received antibiotics experienced a predictable imbalance in gut microflora, and demonstrated slower, less noticeable muscle growth.
Specifically, it affected their skeletal muscles, typically stimulated by running, in their ability to respond with growth.
This study builds upon previous research where mice without a microbiome had reduced skeletal mass, indicating that interactions within the gut are crucial when it comes to nurturing muscle mass.
Despite certain biological similarities, humans differ from these small, furry proxies in a number of ways, so consider these results with several grains of salt. For now, try reaching for some kefir or yogurt after your next workout — and if you’re really invested in getting ripped, keep an eye out for ways to eat foods that pack a probiotic punch.
Hypertension — or consistently high blood pressure — is a common problem in older cats. But it may even be more pervasive than originally thought.
A recent study measured the blood pressure of more than 10,000 cats over 7 years of age. More than 40% of the cats had blood pressure measurements at least 30% higher than healthy cats. Feline hypertension is often associated with chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. But many of these cats showed no outward signs and would not have been targeted for treatment until they had significant organ damage.
As a result of these findings, some feline practitioners are adding blood pressure measurements to their senior wellness exams. The earlier hypertension is detected, the sooner cats can be treated to help prevent dangerous complications.
Dogs aren’t the only ones hiking and camping these days. Adventure cats are getting in on the action, too.
We’re not talking about cats having solo adventures outdoors, many times with serious consequences. Adventure cats are side by side with their humans, walking on a leash, observing from the top of a backpack, sitting in a kayak or standing on a paddleboard. No matter the activity, they’re living large on a leash.
Training a cat to a harness and leash takes time and lots of patience. Generally, the younger the cat, the easier the process, but some older cats can learn too.
That said, not every cat is an adventure cat. Some are overwhelmed by nature’s sensory input. Even if your buddy takes to it, adventuring will be on your cat’s terms, not yours. Still, adventuring allows the two of you to make the world your oyster.
Credit cards bills or payday loans are the kind of unsecured debt that can be a pain in the you-know-what. Now scientists think the pain might end up being all too real and adversely affect your health.
A study out of the University of Missouri examined the financial health of 8,000 baby boomers when they were 28 to 40 years old. Scientists then checked on the physical health of these same individuals when they turned 50.
What they found should be concerning for anyone whose bills persistently leave a burning hole in their budget. People who carry unsecured debt through much of their adulthood experience worse health later in life than those folks who are solvent. These debt-laden souls were an extraordinary 76% more likely to experience chronic pain bad enough to interfere with their daily life.
Even those who improved their financial situation still experienced health issues. People who paid down their bills were 50% more likely to experience pain.
Debt, researchers suggest, might be a chronic stressor that can wear the body down. Stress can lead to heart problems, high blood pressure and diabetes. Its tentacles can reach to the brain and trigger anxiety and depression.
Not all debt is bad. That monthly mortgage payment helps you build wealth as equity grows in a home. So investigators focused on debt with typically high interest rates that can grow like a cancer and often lead to bankruptcy.
The study says helping families avoid debt in early adulthood can pay health dividends later in life. As with any prescription for avoiding a deep financial hole, that can be easier said than done.
In humans, the fight-or-flight response is as old as mankind itself. Now, COVID-19 may be taking some of that back.
New research shows that some otherwise healthy people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 can also have problems with their nervous system. Specifically, COVID-19 affects the sympathetic nervous system that drives the fight-or-flight response. In some COVID-19 patients, the response is muted. In others, it’s overactive.
Researchers at Appalachian State University made the discovery by studying lung function, blood vessel function and the brain’s control of heartbeat. They did so by inserting a tiny needle carrying an electrode into a nerve behind the knee. It recorded the nerve’s electrical impulses and measured their frequency and intensity.
When compared with healthy control subjects, the COVID-19 patients showed more sympathetic nerve activity while resting. Then, one hand of each participant was placed in an ice-water mixture for two minutes. In healthy people, that causes a jump in blood pressure and a significant fight-or-flight response. But the COVID-19 patients rated their discomfort substantially lower than the healthy subjects.
In one final test, both groups of participants were moved from a reclining position in a bed to an upright position. In the COVID-19 patients, that caused a major increase in heart rate and sympathetic nerve activity compared with the healthy adults.
The researchers noted that their findings are consistent with anecdotal reports involving the fight-or-flight response. Next, they plan to follow the COVID-19 patients to see if their fight-or-flight responses change over time.
In more ways than one, COVID-19 is getting on our nerves.
All of us know we can’t predict the future, but there are things you can do to prevent your pet from experiencing a life-threatening emergency. Threats are present to animals in our homes and in our yards, but understanding what those threats are, and how to limit the possibility pets will encounter them, can be life-saving knowledge. Dr. Adesola Odunayo, an emergency and critical care specialist, will discuss some of the common emergencies pet owners face with their animals, ways to prevent these events from occurring and why the right pet insurance can be a life-saving investment.