By Age 80, Half of All North Americans Will Deal with Cataracts
X-ray vision may be the exclusive property of Superman, but these days a lot of older people have pretty sharp focus, too, thanks to the revolution in diagnosis and treatment of cataracts. In 1984, almost a quarter of all adults 65 and older had a hard time reading a newspaper because of vision problems; by 2010, that number dropped...
Dangerous Toxins Found in Back-to-School Items
Toxic phthalates have been found in 75 percent of all school supplies for children, according to a recent report from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice. Phthalates are associated with behavioral problems, obesity, ADHD, early puberty, infertility and birth defects. They are also associated with serious health conditions such as asthma and cancer. The Center for Health, Environment &...
Disrupted Circadian Rhythm Can Contribute to Serious Health Problems
It's no secret that a solid night's sleep is crucial to your daily well-being, but now studies are pin-pointing exactly how lack of sleep has a direct impact on our systemic health. In an article soon be published in the professional journal Cell, researchers have discovered that disrupted sleep contributes to interrupting vital blood vessel development, contributing to serious...
Report: Middle-aged Physical Activity & Exercise Boosts Healthy Longevity
Researchers have known for a long time that maintaining physical fitness contributes to overall health and reduces the potential for developing serious health problems later in life. In a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found that individuals who were active in midlife improved chronic health problems. Being Active at Any Age Staying active does not mean...
We Are What They Eat: Antibiotics Pass Through Sausage to Humans
Fermenting sausages using lactic acid producing bacteria is a curing process that has been used by many cultures for centuries. However, researchers have recently discovered that this curing method can contribute to intestinal health problems for many people. Antibiotics, Lactic Acid and Gut Health Antibiotics have been used extensively since the middle of last century to prevent illness and promote weight...
Finding Great Organic Food While Pinching Pennies
Did you read a few months ago about chef Mario Battalli’s efforts to buy high quality food on a tight budget? He bemoaned the fact that he faced substantial challenges in finding good foods to prepare to feed his family on a small budget. Maybe Mario should read the Environmental Work Group’s Good Food on a Tight Budget Food Guide....
Preventing Disease and Illness Outbreaks Through Social Media Monitoring
People who tweet when they're ill could act as an early warning system for the spread of disease. Adam Sadilek at the University of Rochester in New York analyzed 4.4 million tweets tagged with GPS location data from over 630,000 users in New York City. By focusing on tweets that appeared to mention illness, he was able to predict when...
Stay Healthy and Safe at the Amusement Park
As the calendar closes in on Labor Day, a lot of you are closing in on a trip to the amusement park. Sound like fun? Darn right! But as doctors, we'd like to give you a heads-up. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that in 2005 (the last year with stats) around 7,400 people were injured on amusement-park rides. More...
West Nile Virus Danger the Worst Ever: How to Take Natural Precautions
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the infection rates of West Nile viruses are at the highest levels since 1999, when the virus came to the United States. To date, the only states that have not reported outbreaks are Vermont, Hawaii and Alaska. With infections and deaths on the rise, there are steps you can take to protect...
New Eye Exams Could Test for Alzheimer’s Symptoms
Researchers in England are excited to report new findings that may shed light on new methods to test for early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Although the results of their research are preliminary, they offer potential new methods to easily test for the devastating illness in its early stages. Eye Tracking Testing In the tests, researchers from Lancaster University had a group...
