Energy drinks are consumed by 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults. The manufacturers claim they are safe.
Researchers at the University of Miami, in Florida reviewed the evidence and came to a different conclusion. Continue reading Safety of energy drinks
Researchers in the Netherlands have reported their findings in the Active Prevention in High-Risk Individuals of Diabetes Type 2 in and Around Eindhoven (APHRODITE) study. Continue reading Contributions of the counselor in diabetes lifestyle education
Khat (Catha edulis) is a shrub from northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with stimulant effects similar to but less intense than cocaine or methamphetamine.
Researchers at Hamad General Hospital, in Doha, Qatar, studied its effects in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) — a condition associated with insufficient blood flow to the heart.
As you read this summary it might be useful to consider that addicts can detox from drugs in New York.
Continue reading Risks of chewing khat in people with acute coronary syndrome
During the Olympics, you may have noticed brightly colored kinesiology (aka Kinesin) tape attached to the legs, backs, arms and other body parts of athletes.
It’s meant to help stabilize tendons and joints and provide pressure relief. Researchers at the National Defense Academy, in Japan, studied its potential to alleviate muscle weakness. Continue reading Kinesiology tape
Clinicians in California described their clinical practice, which uses the simultaneous interview technique (SIT). Continue reading SIT and the co-disciplinary pain clinic
Researchers in Finland and Germany studied the first year of life. Continue reading Dog and cat exposure and the risk of respiratory symptoms and infections
Prof. Ernst and colleagues reviewed the evidence and they aren’t sanguine. Continue reading Contaminated and adulterated herbals
In the ‘70s, commercial tanning beds were introduced. In less than 3 decades, over half of adults in northern Europe reported using them.
Now, growing evidence of health risks is leading to restricted access to indoor tanning, worldwide. Continue reading The end of tanning parlors
Silymarin (Silybium marianum), an extract of milk thistle, is often used to treat chronic liver disease.
Researchers with the Silymarin in the NASH and C Hepatitis (SyNCH) Study Group studied its effect when combined with interferon. Continue reading Milk thistle fails in study of Hep C treatment
Research shows that coffee and caffeine are associated with increased blood pressure (acutely), (nor)epinephrine levels, arterial stiffness and impaired vasodilation.
But according to researchers in the US, drinking just the right amount may lower your risk for heart failure. Continue reading Heart failure and the benefits of drinking coffee
About 15 years ago, researchers in the US published the results of a study showing that taking selenium supplements lowered the risk of prostate cancer.
Now, researchers in the UK have examined all the available evidence for selenium intake, selenium levels in the body, and prostate cancer risk. Continue reading Does selenium reduce the risk for prostate cancer?
Vitamin D appears to affect many health outcomes.
An international group of researchers reviewed the literature to see if there’s an effect on mortality. Continue reading Benefit of vitamin D and calcium in the elderly
Drs. Catherine Neto and Joe Vinson from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and the University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania, contributed a chapter on cranberry in the textbook, Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition, 2011.
Most of the chapter is detailed biochemistry — their specialty. But, they also review the status of cranberry in cancer therapy and managing urinary tract infections.
Let’s focus on urinary tract infections. Continue reading Everything you wanted to know about cranberry
Cancer-related fatigue is occurs in 50% to 90% of all patients with cancer and severely affects quality of life, in addition to decreasing the daily functional capacity.
During the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, researchers from several US universities reported that American ginseng reduces general and physical cancer-related fatigue. Continue reading Treating cancer-related fatigue with American ginseng
Last year, the Canadian Thoracic Society clinical practice guidelines, advised there was insufficient evidence to support the routine use of acupuncture to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Since then, 2 more studies have been published. Continue reading Improvement in symptoms with acupuncture treatment of COPD
FDA is warning consumers that Reumofan Plus, marketed as a natural dietary supplement for pain relief and other serious conditions, contains several active pharmaceutical ingredients not listed on the label that could be harmful.
Here’s what we know. Continue reading Consumer alert: Reumofan Plus
It’s reported that the personal importance of religion or spirituality is associated with a lower risk for major depression.
Researchers at Columbia University, in New York City, examined this association in adults. Continue reading Religion lowers the risk of depression
Dr. Claude Bouchard and colleagues from around the US and Finland tell us that people differ in their response to regular exercise.
Sometimes these differences contribute to adverse changes in cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors, according to this study. Continue reading Adverse response to exercise
Treating chronic pain is challenging. Often, the reason for the pain isn’t clear and may require combinations of treatments before finding relief, if then.
Researchers at the Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherches, in Paris, France assessed the usefulness of their music intervention to manage patients with chronic pain. Continue reading Music to manage chronic pain
This has nothing to do with taking a bath.
Researchers at the University of Florida College of Medicine, in Gainesville, tell us, “The abuse of psychoactive “bath salts” (PABS) has become commonplace, and patients with PABS overdoses are presenting to emergency departments with increasing frequency. Continue reading Bath salts becoming illegal