A survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) finds that 45% of Americans struggle to stay awake while driving a car, posing a risk to fellow drivers. To commemorate Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, the AASM provides tips to achieve healthy sleep before getting behind a wheel.
Tag: Health
Rutgers Expert Available to Discuss Risk Perception in COVID-19 Era
New Brunswick, N.J. (Oct. 26, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor William Hallman is available for interviews on the science of risk perception and its practical implications in the COVID-19 era – a time of fear and anxiety among millions of…
Rutgers Expert Available to Discuss Coronavirus Risk from Surfaces, Groceries, Food, Airborne Exposures
New Brunswick, N.J. (Oct. 26, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor Donald W. Schaffner is available for interviews on the likelihood of getting infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus via surfaces, groceries, eating food and airborne/aerosol transmission. “Current evidence still indicates that risk from surfaces remains…
Translating soil chemistry science to improve human health
Contaminated soils – and foods – influenced by soil factors
National Academy of Medicine elects UCI biomedical engineer Kyriacos A. Athanasiou
Irvine, Calif., Oct. 22, 2020 — University of California, Irvine biomedical engineer Kyriacos A. Athanasiou has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest distinctions awarded to professionals in the medical sciences, healthcare and public health. He is one of 90 new U.S.-based members announced this week, along with 10 new international members.
UNLV Physician: Why COVID-19 Makes Flu Shots More Important Than Ever
As the race for a COVID-19 vaccine intensifies, health care officials are reminding the public not to forget another important vaccine this fall: the flu shot. Flu season in the U.S. technically began in September, with illnesses expected to peak in December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Less than half of Americans received a flu vaccine during the 2019-2020 flu season, and a staggering 405,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths were attributed to influenza.
Paul Torrens Health Forum | “The 2020 Presidential Election: What’s at Stake for Health?”
The outcome of the presidential election will determine our nation’s path forward on numerous health and healthcare fronts. As the nation continues to grapple with COVID-19, systemic racism, climate change and other critical public health issues, there’s much at stake. Join us for an insightful session moderated by Gerald Kominski, professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor and senior fellow at FSPH’s UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. The program will feature two health policy experts, Dr. Lanhee Chen of the Hoover Institution of Stanford University and Mark Peterson, professor of public policy, political science and law at UCLA, discussing the Democratic and Republican health platforms, their key policy implications, and how each reflects the party’s vision for the nation’s health. An optional small group networking session will follow the webinar.
Healthy Lung Month: Know these pulmonary fibrosis risk factors
October is Healthy Lung Month, an apt time to educate the public about the importance of protecting our lungs against mold, airborne pollutants and smoking – which put hundreds of thousands of Americans at higher risk for pulmonary fibrosis (PF).
Marital conflict causes loneliness, health problems
Couples that clash often are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness and poorer physical health, according to new University of Georgia research.
Who’s lying, black hair and politics, and can we be civil in 2020: 7 Election Stories Your Subscribers Will Read
Cal State Fullerton scholars with expertise in topics ranging from spotting liars, and the art of debate to local ballot propositions, voting security and virtual debates can offer your continued election coverage new angles and depth.
Ultrasound Technique Offers More Precise, Quantified Assessments of Lung Health
Researchers have developed a technique that uses ultrasound to provide non-invasive assessments of pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary edema. The technique has been shown to both quantify lung scarring and detect lung fluid in rats. A study on pulmonary edema in humans is under way.
Nearly One in Three Americans Sacrifice Sleep on Election Night
A survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) finds that 32% of Americans are more tired than usual the day after election night. Poor sleep on election night is fueled by later bedtimes, blue light exposure and the physical and mental tolls of election uncertainty amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smartphone data helps predict schizophrenia relapses
Passive data from smartphones – including movement, ambient sound and sleep patterns – can help predict episodes of schizophrenic relapse, according to new Cornell Tech research.
When you have a stroke may determine if you survive
Stroke patients admitted to rural hospitals over the weekend may be at higher risk of death.
New research links conflict resolution, long-term health
A recent study from the University of Georgia found that the way couples approach conflict is associated with a key biomarker of physical health.
Office location linked to body size, UGA study finds
Is your office located on the opposite end of the building from the copier? That might be a good thing for your waistline.
Seasonal time changes losing favor as U.S. prepares to “fall back”
A recent survey from the AASM found that 63% of Americans support the elimination of seasonal time changes in favor of a national, fixed, year-round time. As the U.S. prepares to “fall back” on November 1, are seasonal time changes losing favor? Medical experts and legislators say yes.
NYC hotspot interventions ‘wise’ — but are they too late?
On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered new restrictions on COVID-19 hot spots in New York City, including the closure of all private and public schools in the nine city ZIP codes with upticks in coronavirus transmissions. Isaac Weisfuse is a medical…
It ain’t great to stay up late: the perils of a late bedtime for kids and parents
Staying up late is often a special treat for the kids but make it a habit and it could be damaging to their health and wellbeing, according to new research from the University of South Australia.
Genetic differences in fat shape men and women’s health risks
New findings about body fat help explain the differing health risks men and women face – and set the stage for better, more targeted treatments.
Exploring health risks of poverty, racial discrimination
Growing up in poverty and experiencing racial discrimination can affect physical health, and researchers at the University of Georgia have been awarded a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to explore how.
Neurotic college students could benefit from health education
College students are under a lot of stress, even more so lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on certain personality types, especially neurotic personalities, college health courses could help students develop a more positive stress mindset, according to research from faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Life in lockdown: health-wise, it’s not as bad as you think
While Victorians continue to endure restrictions from a second wave of COVID-19, new research from the University of South Australia is providing much-needed good news about people’s overall health and wellbeing following lockdown.
Can striving for success cost Black Americans their health?
Researchers found that Black young adults who grew up amid economic hardship and exposure to racial discrimination experienced physical deterioration that persisted through adolescence and well into adulthood—even though on the surface, they were successful.
‘Front of Package’ Nutrition Labels Improved Nutrition Quality
A new study analyzing 16 years of data on tens of thousands of products finds that the adoption of nutrition data on “front of package” labels is associated with improved nutritional content of those foods and their competitors.
Rutgers Expert Available to Discuss Communicating About COVID-19 Vaccine
New Brunswick, N.J. (Sept. 17, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor William Hallman is available for interviews on how to communicate with the public about a potential COVID-19 vaccine. “For a COVID-19 vaccine to be embraced by the public, officials can’t…
FDA Guidance Fails to Ensure Security of 3D-Printed Masks and PPE
New Brunswick, N.J. (Sept. 16, 2020) – FDA guidelines for making 3D-printed masks, face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE) in the COVID-19 era fail to defend against cyberattacks, according to Rutgers and Georgia Tech engineers. Due to the…
ChopChop Family partners with The Kids Cook Monday and UF/IFAS to offer webinar series
ChopChop Family, The Kids Cook Monday, and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are partnering to produce a series of free webinars, through the Community of Practice Healthy Food Choices in Schools eXtension, for educators to help support families in making healthful and cost-effective food choices.
Hazardous Air Pollutant Exposure Linked as Contributing Factor to COVID-19 Mortality in the United States
A study by researchers at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) researchers and ProPublica, and published in Environmental Research Letters has found a link between chronic exposure to hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) and COVID-19 mortality rates.
Rutgers-Led Project Will Buy 76,000 Oysters From Farmers Struggling During COVID-19 Pandemic
New Brunswick, N.J. (Sept. 10, 2020) – A Rutgers-led project will buy 76,000 oysters from New Jersey oyster farmers who are struggling to sell the shellfish following the shutdown of restaurants and indoor dining as a result of the COVID-19…
Bat Tick Found for the First Time in New Jersey
A tick species associated with bats has been reported for the first time in New Jersey and could pose health risks to people, pets and livestock, according to a Rutgers-led study in the Journal of Medical Entomology. This species (Carios kelleyi) is a “soft” tick. Deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease, are an example of “hard” ticks.
Mindfulness with Paced Breathing and Lowering Blood Pressure
Now more than ever, Americans and people all over the world are under increased stress, which may adversely affect their health and well-being. Researchers explore the possibility that mindfulness with paced breathing reduces blood pressure. One of the most plausible mechanisms is that paced breathing stimulates the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system, which reduce stress chemicals in the brain and increase vascular relaxation that may lead to lowering of blood pressure.
Professor: Information key to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance
Glen Nowak, director of the Center for Health and Risk Communication at the University of Georgia, co-authored a Perspective article addressing one of the most pressing topics facing the United States: achieving high acceptance of a vaccine for COVID-19. The…
WHEN DOING GOOD BOOSTS HEALTH, WELL-BEING
Performing acts of kindness and helping other people can be good for people’s health and well-being, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. But not all good-hearted behavior is equally beneficial to the giver. The strength of the link depends on many factors, including the type of kindness, the definition of well-being, and the giver’s age, gender and other demographic factors.
UK-wide study shows children with gastrointestinal symptoms should be included in COVID-19 testing strategies
Over 1,000 children from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, known as ‘COVID Warriors’ have had their antibodies measured in the UK-wide trial called ‘Seroprevalence of SARS-Cov-2 infection in healthy children’.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine calls for elimination of daylight saving time
Public health and safety would benefit from eliminating daylight saving time, according to a new position statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Each human gut has a viral “fingerprint”
Each person’s gut virus composition is as unique as a fingerprint, according to the first study to assemble a comprehensive database of viral populations in the human digestive system.
How do wildfires affect ecosystems, the atmosphere, & human health? Connecting wildfire fuel to how fires behave & what ends up in the smoke.
What are the effects of wildfires on the ecosystem, the atmosphere, and human health? Through remote sensing, Nancy French, senior research scientist at the Michigan Tech Research Institute, connects wildfire fuel to how fires behave and what ends up in…
Who Could Benefit From Exercise and Behavioral Treatment?
Aerobic exercise clearly benefits young adults with major depression, and a Rutgers-led study suggests it may be possible to predict those who would benefit from behavioral therapy with exercise. Unique to this precision medicine study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, is an assessment of cognitive control and reward-related brain activity, two facets of brain function that are impaired in people with depression. Like previous studies, this one showed that aerobic exercise helps young adults with major depression.
Rush System Leads The Way in Age-Friendly Care
After Rush University Medical Center was designated as an Age-Friendly Health System, the American Hospital Association developed a case study that took a deep dive into the Rush Center for Excellence in Aging and its successful impact on older adult health care.
Bacteria Can Defuse Dangerous Chemical In Passaic River
Bacteria that can help defuse highly toxic dioxin in sediments in the Passaic River – a Superfund hazardous waste site – could eventually aid cleanup efforts at other dioxin-contaminated sites around the world, according to Rutgers scientists. Their research, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, needs further work to realize the full potential of the beneficial bottom-dwelling microbes.
People Who Feel Their Lives Are Threatened Are More Likely to Experience Miracles
People who experience threats to their existence — which these days may well be economic and political instability — are more likely to experience miracles, according to a Baylor University study.
Scientists issue rebuke of new EPA rule that compromises U.S. waters
The Environmental Protection Agency enacted a new rule in April that strips federal Clean Water Act protections for more than half of all U.S. wetlands, temporary rain-fed streams, and connected groundwater between marshes and lakes and rivers. On Thursday, a…
Quantum Materials Quest Could Benefit From Graphene That Buckles
Graphene, an extremely thin two-dimensional layer of the graphite used in pencils, buckles when cooled while attached to a flat surface, resulting in beautiful pucker patterns that could benefit the search for novel quantum materials and superconductors, according to Rutgers-led research in the journal Nature. Quantum materials host strongly interacting electrons with special properties, such as entangled trajectories, that could provide building blocks for super-fast quantum computers. They also can become superconductors that could slash energy consumption by making power transmission and electronic devices more efficient.
NYC shoppers 4 times more likely to frequent stores adhering to social distance guidelines
New York City residents are four times more likely to choose a store where shoppers respect 6 feet of distancing than one where no one is social distancing, according to a Cornell University experiment using 3D simulation.
FAU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Researchers Receive Prestigious NSF CAREER Awards
Four FAU researchers have received the coveted NSF Early Career (CAREER) award for research to develop a low-cost, disposable point-of-care platform to detect current and emerging infectious diseases; for a cognitive screening tool for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease using wearables and a smartphone; for mathematical tools and new ways of coding to enhance cybersecurity; and to better understand how marine animals tune, or dynamically adjust their movements using their skin and skeletons.
Epigenetic Changes in ADNP Syndrome, a Cause of Autism, Do Not Indicate Profound Presentation of the Disorder
A study led by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai found that two different blood epigenetic signatures associated with ADNP syndrome (also known as Helsmoortel-Van Der Aa syndrome) have only a modest correlation with clinical manifestations of the syndrome.
UCI to launch innovative School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Irvine, Calif., Aug. 4, 2020 — As part of a prescription to reshape 21st-century healthcare, the University of California, Irvine is announcing the establishment of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the first public pharmacy school in the Los Angeles-Orange County region and a pillar of UCI’s expanding Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences.
HIIT programs show benefits for those with Down syndrome
Incorporating high-intensity interval training into exercise programs for individuals with Down syndrome may help achieve critical health outcomes in a more time-efficient manner, according to an article written by researchers at the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University.
Mount Sinai Researchers Discover Treatment Option for Rare Genetic Disorder
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine used a novel genetic sequencing technology to identify the genetic cause of—and a treatment for—a previously unknown severe auto inflammatory syndrome affecting an 18-year-old girl since infancy.