A prospective analysis of back pain and rates of disability may help explain the association between back pain and mortality. Back pain is common and often debilitating. Back pain is very common, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is also a major cause of disability and missed work days. Risk factors such as posture, sedentary…
A few years ago, scientists conducted a real-world experiment at a ThyssenKrupp steel factory in Germany. They assigned the day shift to early risers and the late shift to night owls. Soon the steel workers, many of whom had been skeptical at the outset, were getting an extra hour of sleep on work nights. By…
The Marburg virus, a deadly cousin of Ebola, has been isolated in fruit bats in Sierra Leone, marking the first time it has been found in West Africa. Five bats caught in three health districts tested positive for the virus, according to two teams of scientists. One was led by the Centers for Disease Control…
Ice skating, chocolate making, and dinner in a 15th-century cellar; as always, the Medical News Today annual winter party was an event to remember. But it wasn’t the activities that made our party special. It was the company. The MNT team had a fabulous dinner in a 15th-century cellar for the annual winter party. Life…
Some advice from Well on what research can teach us about living longer, and better. By Gretchen Reynolds For lifelong heart health, start exercising early in life and keep exercising often — ideally, at least four times a week, according to a remarkable series of recent studies involving hundreds of people and their hearts. But…
I used to be thrilled that my blood level of HDL cholesterol, the so-called good cholesterol, was high, the likely result of my devotion to daily physical activity. After all, HDL, for high-density lipoprotein, acts like an arterial cleanser, removing cholesterol from blood vessels and preparing it for removal outside the body. An ample supply…
Three compounds, connected by their mention in the story of Jesus’ birth, may provide benefits beyond their gift of seasonal joy. Here, we investigate their healing powers. We will never know whether the three wise men knew how healthful their gifts were. When writing for a medical website, creating uplifting seasonal content can be challenging.…
In an ongoing clinical trial, researchers are using gold nanoparticles to target prostate cancer cells. So far, the results are promising, and side effects are relatively minimal. Nanotechnology may help improve prostate cancer treatment and reduce side effects. Prostate cancer affects around 1 in 9 men in the United States. Due to its high prevalence,…
Humans are unable to reverse the effects of hearing loss, but a biological process found in other animal species may hold the key to reversing this widespread problem. Reversing hearing loss is currently impossible. How the brain interprets sounds is a relatively simple process. First, a sound enters the ear via soundwaves. It then moves…
New findings show that people may be genetically predisposed to love the taste of certain beverages. Furthermore, this biological discovery could have far-reaching health consequences. Researchers are trying to get to grips with a complex coffee-based conundrum. Evolution is thought to have favored people who were able to sense bitterness. After all, sharp and unpleasant…