Health

Asthma is a long-term condition, but there are ways to keep it under good control so that you feel your best.

Fewer daily steps at a faster pace or more steps at a slower pace may both substantially lower the risk of an early death, with a brisker pace for at least 30 minutes a day the potential sweet spot for those with sedentary lifestyles out of choice or necessity, suggests research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

A newly published narrative review in the journal Nutrients brings together findings from three large European research consortia—SWEET, SWITCH and Sweet Tooth—to address longstanding questions about whether non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) and sweet-tasting foods in general affect body weight, metabolic health and people’s taste preferences over time.

Every fall after school starts, I see an influx of kids with respiratory illnesses. As the weather cools and we spend more time indoors, it is easier for “the crud” to spread quickly.

In a 50-year follow-up study, men with low cardiovascular risk in their 40s maintained their functional capacity, happiness and quality of life better than others as they aged.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, affecting an estimated 38% of adults worldwide. Its progressive form, MASH, is characterized by inflammation and damage to liver cells and can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, among other complications. MASH is also becoming an increasingly important reason for liver transplantation. The disease is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and kidney disease. Diets high in sugar and fat, as well as physical inactivity, are among the factors contributing to its increasing prevalence. MASH is also becoming increasingly common in children.

New research finds that probiotic supplement use has surged in the United States, while the consumption of microbiome-supportive foods has remained virtually unchanged.

More than 1.4 billion people worldwide live with high blood pressure (hypertension). It’s the single biggest metabolic risk factor for early death—driving diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure and dementia.

For many in the workforce, spending hours at a computer is an unavoidable part of daily life. Sitting for prolonged periods in the same position can contribute to low back pain (LBP), which affects up to 80% of people over their lifetime and remains a leading cause of disability worldwide. A group of French researchers decided to find out whether wearing a soft, flexible lower-back support belt can help people with common, unexplained lower back pain feel better and move more easily.

A new program developed by University of Alberta researchers is showing promise in helping stroke survivors stride toward recovery after leaving the hospital. A pilot study published in the Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation confirmed that the intervention, known as BIG STEPS, could safely and practically help people sit less and move more after returning home following hospitalization for a stroke—a “whole-of-the-day” approach that is important for long-term health and wellness, says lead author Dr. Victor Ezeugwu of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Healthy eating content on social media may be promoting more than well-being, with new Flinders University research finding popular wellness posts often reflect attitudes and behaviors linked to orthorexia nervosa, an unhealthy obsession with eating foods considered healthy or pure.