ALL ABOUT HEALTH -

30Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

Did Lockdowns and Masking Lead to ‘Immunity Debt’?

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The United States is in the midst of a “tripledemic” of three highly contagious respiratory illnesses: COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and seasonal flu. One theory circulating on social media blames so-called “immunity debt” for this wave of illness, arguing that COVID-19 mitigation efforts like lockdowns and masking weakened our immune systems and robbed us of our natural ability to fight off infections.However, “there’s very little basis for assuming what’s happening so far has anything to do with immunity debt,” says Michael Osterholm, PhD, a professor and director of the Center for Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota in Twin Cities.Here’s a closer look at the immunity-debt claim and other possible explanations for the spike in respiratory infections this winter.What Is ‘Immunity Debt’?The notion of immunity debt…

30Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

Weight Loss Surgery Reduces Risk of Early Death, 40-Year Study Shows

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A new study published in the journal Obesity found that people with severe obesity who underwent bariatric (weight loss) surgery were significantly less likely to die from heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, compared with people with severe obesity who didn’t have the surgery.After a follow-up of up to 40 years post-surgery, people who underwent weight loss surgery saw their risk of premature death from any cause cut by 16 percent when compared with matched subjects who did not have bariatric surgery, says coauthor Ted D. Adams, PhD, MPH, researcher and professor at Intermountain Surgical Specialties–Digestive Health Clinical Program and in the department of nutrition and integrative physiology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.“Additionally, the patients who had bariatric surgery had 29 percent, 43 percent, and 72 percent…

30Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

FDA Approves Brukinsa (Zanubrutinib) for Leukemia and Lymphoma

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) for the treatment of the blood and bone cancers known as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has endorsed zanubrutinib as a CLL-SLL treatment for both newly diagnosed and previously treated patients.Zanubrutinib belongs to a class of drugs known as BTK inhibitors (BTKi), which work by preventing the growth of malignant B-cells (white blood cells that make illness-fighting antibodies), according to the National Cancer Institute.The FDA previously approved the drug, which is made by the Beijing-based pharmaceutical company BeiGene, for three other forms of lymphatic cancer: Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma.CLL is a common form of leukemia, accounting for about one-quarter of all new cases each year; the American…

30Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

Increased Stroke Risk From Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Might Peak in Middle Age

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Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure have long been known risk factors for stroke. But a new study suggests that these two chronic health problems may make a bigger difference in stroke risk for middle-aged adults than for older people.“High blood pressure and diabetes are two important risk factors for stroke that can be managed by medication, decreasing a person’s risk,” says the lead study author, George Howard, DrPH, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health.“Our findings show that their association with stroke risk may be substantially less at older ages, yet other risk factors do not change with age,” Dr. Howard says. “These differences in risk factors imply that determining whether a person is at high risk for stroke may differ depending on…

29Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

Eating Fewer Meals May Beat Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss

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When it comes to slimming down, cutting down on calories and eating fewer larger meals may be a more effective weight control strategy than intermittent fasting, where a person cycles between brief periods of little or no eating and regular eating, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.For the study, researchers looked at electronic health records of about 550 adults and found that the total daily number of large meals (estimated at more than 1,000 calories) and medium meals (estimated at 500 to 1,000 calories) were each associated with increased weight gain over six years of follow-up, while eating fewer small meals (estimated at less than 500 calories) was linked to decreasing weight.They also found that the window of time between first to last…

29Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

FDA Approves Rykindo, a Long-Lasting Injectable, for Schizophrenia and Bipolar I

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Men and women who take risperidone to treat schizophrenia or bipolar I have a new option if they aren’t able to take oral medications every day or prefer a long-lasting alternative. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rykindo as an extended-release injectable version of risperidone on January 15, 2023, according to a press release from Luye Pharma, the company that developed the drug.Rykindo is administered via intramuscular injection once every two weeks, delivering risperidone via long-acting and extended-release “microsphere” technology. These microspheres release medication at a gradual, steady rate. The injection needs to be administered by a healthcare professional.Risperidone Has Long Been Used to Treat Schizophrenia and Bipolar IRisperidone was first approved by the FDA in 1993 to treat symptoms of schizophrenia, according to StatPearls. A long-acting injectable form of…

29Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

New Culprit Discovered in Link Between Processed Foods and Type 2 Diabetes

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Need another reason to cut back on red and processed meats? A new study suggests that a common additive called nitrites in these foods is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.For the study, researchers examined the eating habits of more than 104,000 adults who were 43 years old on average and had no history of type 2 diabetes. On the basis of detailed dietary records, scientists calculated how much exposure people had to nitrates and nitrites, chemicals naturally found in whole foods like green leafy vegetables and in additives used to improve the flavor and shelf life of processed meats and other mass-produced foods.Participants were followed for about seven years, and nearly 1,000 of them developed type 2 diabetes.People with the most nitrites in their diets from…

29Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

Short Bouts of High-Intensity Exercise May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

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Short sessions of high-intensity exercise may be just the thing to keep the brain healthy. The scientists behind a recent study in New Zealand found that about six minutes of intensive physical activity performed on a regular basis may provide protection from age-related cognitive decline.Vigorous activity may not only delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, it could also help prevent other neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease, according to the researchers.In the study, published this month in The Journal of Physiology, even just six minutes of strenuous cycling were shown to increase a protein that’s essential for brain formation, learning, and memory. The protein, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), plays an important role in the growth of synapses between nerve cells, according to a past review (PDF). BDNF also…

29Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

Too Many People Are Using Neti Pots and Vaporizers Unsafely, Survey Suggests

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Many people may be using water straight from the tap for neti pots, CPAP (sleep apnea) machines, vaporizers, and humidifiers, a practice that could put them at risk for acquiring serious and even potentially life-threatening infections, according to survey findings published in the February 2023 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Using unsterilized tap water in equipment like a neti pot, a device for rising nasal passages to reduce congestion, is potentially risky because low levels of microorganisms remain in drinking water distribution systems and wells, according to the survey authors. These include biofilm pathogens, a type of germ that can stick to water pipes and infiltrate the water system.The list of potential pathogens in tap water includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM),…

29Jan 2023 by Janice Holland

A 5-Minute Stroll Every 30 Minutes Could Decrease the Risks of a Long Day at Your Desk

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Even for people who get lots of exercise, sitting at a desk all day can still be bad for health. A new study offers some fresh insight into how many movement breaks deskbound workers need throughout the day to help offset some of the negative effects of all those sedentary hours.Five minutes every half-hour of strolling through the office — or just getting up and moving around when you work from home — can significantly reduce both blood pressure and blood sugar, according to a study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. And moving as little as one minute every hour can still help lower your blood pressure.“Regular exercise should remain a top priority for anyone looking to improve and maintain their health,” says senior…