A recent study examined the prevalence of OCD symptoms in children, and their association with lifetime psychological disorders. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, believed to be a type of anxiety disorder, is a complex ailment that is oftentimes illusive to therapists and researchers. It is often characterized by cognitive as well as behavioral symptoms. Patients with OCD suffer
Month: February 2019
Is it safe to have a drink after a diagnosis of heart failure? Researchers recently investigated the relationship between alcohol and heart failure in a study published in JAMA Network Open. Heart failure affects up to 26 million people around the world and is showing no sign of decreasing. The relationship between alcohol and heart
A new study at the University of Oxford evaluated if omega-3 supplements help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with diabetes. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. People with diabetes are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Unquestionably, diet has a substantial effect on the
Medical scientists in the United States have discovered the key protein responsible for childhood leukemia. They discussed their findings in Genes & Development. Childhood leukemia, the most common cancer of children in Canada, is a cancer of the white blood cells. Leukemia develops when abnormal white blood cells form in the bone marrow. These abnormal
A recent study explored breastfeeding in comparison to bottle-feeding. Specifically, researchers looked into breastfeeding duration and its impacts on infants becoming right or left-handed. Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding concerning infants’ neurodevelopment continues to be a strong conversation. Infants’ intelligence levels, speech, and head circumference are often analysed in association with breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. Does the length
New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the United States explores how genetics impacts the effects of vitamin E in cancer. Nearly half (48%) of all Americans take daily vitamin supplements. However, clinical data supporting the use of many of these supplements is severely lacking. One such vitamin often supplemented is vitamin E (also
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment used in at least 14 different disorders. A significant risk of this treatment is oxygen toxicity which can lead to seizures. A recent clinical study explored the effects of ketogenic supplements on delaying oxygen-induced seizures in a preclinical study. The major applications of hyperbaric oxygen treatment are in the
A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine analyzed data from over 79000 patients and compared the risk of fractures in type 2 diabetes patients using canagliflozin or GLP-1 agonists. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that hinders the ability of the individual to metabolize glucose, leading to an alarming rise in blood-glucose levels. The
It has been known that diabetes raises the risk of heart failure. Researchers recently determined the cellular link contributing to the increased risk. Diabetic patients are at a significantly higher risk of developing heart failure. Studies have shown that men with diabetes are 2.4 times more likely and women five times more likely to suffer
A study conducted by researchers in Italy explored the benefits of combining statin drugs with a Mediterranean diet. Statin drugs are a mainstay treatment for those with a history of cardiovascular-related diseases, such as a heart attack or stroke. Lifestyle modifications, such as a healthy diet, are also recommended in addition to drug therapy to
A recent study carried out by researchers in Korea investigated the effects of hormone therapy for menopause on the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis. One of the most frequent musculoskeletal disorders in the older population is osteoarthritis (OA), and it results in high levels of pain and physical disability. OA primarily occurs due to the ‘wearing
In a study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, researchers examined the capacity of food insecurity to increase the likelihood of binge eating disorder. Food security is known as the capacity to afford foods that provide the nutritional value for a healthy life. Food insecurity, which is the inability to afford or acquire
In a recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers determined whether mindfulness could be an effective weight loss method. What is mindfulness? You may have heard of the word on TV ads for yoga retreats and on the front of self-help books. To many, “mindfulness” sounds like a broad term
Researchers investigated the benefits of dried fruits and how they affect blood sugar spikes when compared to other carbohydrates. Fruits are widely recommended for achieving stability in health mainly due to their high anti-oxidative effects. Fruits are rich in vitamins and essential minerals important for ensuring adequate support for growth, repair, detoxification, and immune support
A recent study discovered the molecular mechanisms of infection of an emerging virus that causes severe hemorrhagic fever. Tick-borne diseases have been on the rise over the last few decades and are a threat to human health. Lyme disease is the most common and perhaps most well-known tick-borne illness in the United States, but at
A Spanish study investigated the effects of the use of marijuana and stressful environments in teenagers and if this would cause long-term psychiatric damage. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the world today, with its use normally beginning in the teenage years. These teenage years are also a time of important neural
A recent study described a possible molecular mechanism for how a class of drugs leads to mental health side effects in breast cancer patients. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects Canadian women and is considered to be the second leading cause of cancer-related death in this gender. Estrogen-positive breast cancer
Tuberculosis infects millions of people across the world. A recent study investigated if an inhalable drug, derived from vitamin A, may be a new form of tuberculosis treatment. Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that typically affects the lungs. In 2017, the disease killed 1.6 million people and made many more ill. It is usually treated
In this study, researchers examined whether an inhibitor drug could be used to treat those suffering from cannabis withdrawal symptoms. Cannabis is used worldwide and the trend continues to grow. A troubling issue is that cannabis use disorder can result from the use of the drug, especially if the individual uses more potent forms.
A recent report determined the safety of parabens as preservatives in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals, and evaluated if a paraben allergy is a problematic health concern. Looking for “paraben free” on labels of various products has become a new trend. The product reviewers, health enthusiasts, and some self-proclaimed experts have been advocating the use of
Researchers in Geneva and Strasbourg recently tested tamoxifen, a breast cancer drug, as a treatment for muscle paralysis in a preclinical study. Myotubular myopathy is a genetic disorder causing muscle paralysis upon birth. With no known treatment, the vast majority of infants with this condition do not live past the age of two. Tamoxifen, a
A recent study in the journal Nature Letters has reported a set of chemical inhibitors that can block cancer cell growth but leave normal cells unaffected. One of the biggest hallmarks of cancer is abnormalities in the cell cycle – a process which regulates the timing and the frequency of cell division. The cell cycle
Brain surgeons in Australia tested the accuracy of a specialized imaging needle to detect blood vessels during brain surgery. Surgeons perform brain biopsies on approximately 80,000 patients a year in the United States. Biopsies are usually carried out for the diagnosis of brain tumours, which would then be removed by brain surgery. Bleeding into the
In a massive international study, researchers investigated the level that constitutes the safe amount of alcohol to drink. The general belief of many in society is that drinking alcohol in moderation has no negative health effects, and may even have a positive effect on one’s well being. But the research on this subject is inconclusive,
Researchers at the Broad Institute in the USA searched for links between genetic variants and irregular heartbeat in young and middle-aged adults. Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat. This irregular heartbeat is caused by electrical signals in the heart that are too fast, causing less efficient pumping of the blood. If left
How does mindset affect weight loss? Researchers recently studied mindfulness for weight loss to determine its effects and published their results in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Obesity has become a global epidemic in the last 25 years. At least 2.8 million people every year die from obesity-related causes. However, there are few
In this study, researchers examine the effects of a drug, fluoxetine, in improving the functional ability of those facing stroke recovery. Stroke affects many worldwide. Disability is one of the debilitating effects after a stroke. It is estimated that 6.5 million people worldwide are affected by post-stroke disability. Usually, post-stroke recovery involves treating depression
A study was recently published on how people who experienced personal income fluctuation for 15 years were impacted by cardiovascular disease later in life. Fluctuations in personal income is a growing public health concern. To study the effects of personal income fluctuation on health, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Heart Association