Health

A novel study among Indigenous communities in Canada utilizing sharing circles as the primary method of qualitative data collection shows that heart health is shaped by emotional, spiritual, social, and systemic factors, with trauma strongly influencing how care is accessed and trusted.

The powerful role of exercise in maintaining skeletal muscle could be the key to improving health and resilience in older age, according to new research from Monash University. The new research, published on the bioRxiv preprint server, used preclinical models to uncover the key role a protein found in skeletal muscle, NOX4, plays in this process.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved bemotrizinol (BEMT) for use in over-the-counter sunscreen products.

If you regularly drink soda or other sugary beverages, a new study may give you a reason to cut back.

People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may have reduced markers of inflammation associated with gum disease. A study by King’s College London, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, highlights how lifestyle modifications could be important alongside plaque control in managing gum disease.

Women who engage in light physical activity and lessen their sedentary time may significantly reduce the risk of key health problems during pregnancy, according to a new University of Iowa-led study. The paper, “Optimal 24-hour movement behaviour compositions across trimesters and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: the Pregnancy 24/7 cohort study,” is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The high cost of fresh fruits and vegetables and the need to restock them frequently can be barriers to healthy eating for low-income families. New research shows that online grocery shopping, combined with incentive programs, can help.

Healthy sleep and regular exercise can work to counteract genetic mutations in white blood cells that are associated with cardiovascular disease and are most common among older people, Mount Sinai researchers have found. In a study published in Nature, the team reported for the first time that sufficient sleep and exercise can help reduce the cancer-like cell expansion and atherosclerotic risk linked to mutations that spontaneously occur in white blood cells.

A new Dalhousie study suggests improved fitness may not be enough to protect blood vessels from the effects of prolonged sitting. The study, published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, examined whether 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training could protect blood-vessel function in the leg after two hours of uninterrupted sitting.

Licensed professional counselors have reported experiencing burnout and emotional exhaustion due to high workplace demands, a problem that has intensified over the past six years. On top of workplace pressures, mental health professionals also sometimes report feelings of confusion and conflict when separating their role as therapists from their interpersonal relationships, leading them to feel even more burned out.

The Journal of Medical Internet Research released a feature story on the accuracy and utility of consumer wearables that estimate so-called biological age in its News and Perspectives section. In “Sorting Science From Marketing in the Era of Data-Driven Biological Aging Clocks,” JMIR Correspondent Jenna Congdon breaks down the gimmick—how biosensor-enabled devices use proxy data to approximate age, the differences between consumer models and research-grade clinical clocks, and how users can best interpret these metrics.