Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – also referred to as a “cot death” – is defined as the unexpected death of an apparently healthy baby aged 12 months and under, most often during sleep.
Each year, around 3,500 infants in the United States die from sleep-related causes, including accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.
According to t…[Read more]

In the US, the use of e-cigarettes tripled from 4.5% in 2013 to 13.4% in 2014 among high school students, and from 1.1% in 2013 to 3.9% in 2014 among middle school students, surpassing rates of youth cigarette smoking. In the 25-44-year age group, 20% of Americans smoke e-cigarettes.
While teens smoke them because they are trendy, older smokers a…[Read more]

Each year, around 735,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, which occurs when a section of the heart fails to receive enough oxygen-rich blood.

Adopting a healthy diet is considered a key factor in reducing the risk of heart attack, and many studies have suggested that including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as part of such…[Read more]

In simple terms, aging is defined as the process of becoming older, which involves a number of biological mechanisms that lead to deterioration of health – both cognitive and physical – over time.
Of course, aging is inevitable. While many of us would like to stop the clock and avoid blowing out those birthday candles – an unsubtle reminder that…[Read more]

The study results are likely to be warmly welcomed by moms-to-be, given the lengthy list of foods women are told to avoid during pregnancy.
While chocolate itself is – thankfully – absent from this no-go list, expectant mothers are recommended against overindulging in the tasty treat due to its fat, sugar and caffeine content.
There are many…[Read more]

Living a sedentary lifestyle – such as sitting for prolonged periods – has been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and other conditions. Physical inactivity raises the risk of developing high blood pressure and coronary heart disease and has been found to increase the risk of certain cancers.
Studies have linked excessive sitt…[Read more]

A professor of cell biology and a team at Harvard Medical School discovered the hormone dubbed “irisin” in 2012. They isolated the natural hormone from muscle cells that trigger some of the health-promoting properties of exercise, which, they say, could be developed into novel treatments for diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
In the previous study, th…[Read more]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). It is believed to be an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
In detail, the immune system attacks myelin – the protective coating surrounding nerve fibers – as well as the nerve fibers th…[Read more]

In 1996, Medical Microbiology reported that there were over 100 known herpes viruses, eight of which can normally affect humans.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is transmitted by mouth and causes cold sores. HSV-2 is responsible for genital herpes, causing painful blisters or ulcers in the genital area. HSV-3, or herpes zoster, leads to < …[Read more]

It’s no secret that the adolescent years can be challenging: young teens have a heightened sensitivity to perceived injustice and react against authority. And their newfound social conscience and desire for autonomy can motivate many of their decisions – even food choices.
A new study, “Harnessing Adolescent Values to Motivate Healthier Eating,”…[Read more]

Scientists have long known that there is a strong association between diabetes and Alzheimer’s, but the nature of that relationship – and how to treat it – was unclear. Now Melissa Schilling, an innovation professor at NYU, has discovered the pathway between diabetes and Alzheimer’s, and it has big implications for how Alzheimer’s can be p…[Read more]

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can affect any part of the urinary system, kidneys, bladder or urethra.
More than 3 million Americans, mostly women, experience a UTI every year.
Symptoms include frequent, painful urination, pelvic pain and traces blood in the urine. The infection does not normally last long, and most patients self-diagnose.
For m…[Read more]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Mental health is an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health.”
This is a statement that is supported by numerous studies. One from 2012 published in The BMJ, for example, found that individuals with poor mental health are at increased risk of death from ca…[Read more]

Shift work has its own demands that set it apart from jobs with traditional working hours. Shift work has its benefits; it can be more convenient from a child care perspective, is sometimes better paid and can allow workers time for other activities, such as study.
However, the medical and scientific communities are continually reporting that…[Read more]