Category Archives: Medical

Smartphone Voices Don’t Cut It in a Health Crisis

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Greg Asseff

According to the Pew Research Center, 64 percent of American adults owned a smartphone in 2015, and that number is likely to continue growing. These people often use smartphones for important, life-affecting tasks such as banking, looking up real estate listings, finding job information, taking classes, or submitting a job application. In fact, Pew Research also reports that 62 percent of smartphone owners used their phone to find information about a health condition at least once in 2015. If that health condition was an urgent crisis, however, a smartphone user may choose an option that’s quicker and easier than a browser search: vocally asking their phone a question. Smartphone voices such as Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana are made to provide quick answers, but when it comes to medical advice, they may not always be trustworthy.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies | 6,361 Comments

Losing Just 5 Percent of Body Weight Can Have Huge Benefits

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Greg Asseff

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over one-third of the adult population in the U.S. is obese. This comes out to around 78.6 million people, all of which are at much higher risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and stroke. Because of these high risk factors, it’s believed that obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the U.S. This also means that there are millions of people who should be taking active steps to reduce their body weight if they aren’t doing so already. Unfortunately, losing large amounts of weight can be an incredibly daunting task – so daunting, in fact, that it can prevent people from even making an attempt. However, a new study published this week in the medical journal Cell Metabolism could give many the hope they need to at least get started on the path to weight loss.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies, Weight Loss | 6,543 Comments

Study Says Coffee Extends Lifespan – For Some

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Greg Asseff

There’s no doubt that coffee is one of America’s favorite beverages. According to the National Coffee Association, 59 percent of Americans currently drink a cup of coffee every day. Some sources indicate that American workers who buy coffee regularly throughout the week spend an average of $1,092 on coffee every year. Despite it’s popularity, however, the effects of coffee on health are somewhat nebulous. Many studies have shown that coffee can provide all sorts of health advantages, such as skin cancer prevention and mental benefits. On the other hand, coffee is thought to present problems for those with cholesterol issues or sleep problems – especially if it’s loaded with sugar. The latest study is another win for coffee lovers, but despite the study’s massive coverage in the media, the results actually aren’t universally positive.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Studies | 1,000 Comments

30 Minutes of Exercise May Not Be Enough For Heart Health

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Greg Asseff

Fitness research often reveals that small amounts of low-intensity physical activity can be beneficial in many ways. For example, it’s been shown that just two minutes of walking every hour can lead to a longer lifespan. Short bursts of activity can be incredibly effective for senior citizens who may have a difficult time performing typical exercise routines. Also, a study published last month shows that simply fidgeting at your desk while sitting could potentially be considered a form of micro-exercise that helps contribute to a longer lifespan.

Posted in Exercise, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies | 1,118 Comments

Binge Drinking Rates on the Rise, Especially For Women

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Greg Asseff

Binge drinking is defined in several different ways. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as “a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL.” They point out that it usually takes around five drinks for men and four drinks for women over a period of around two hours to be considered “binging.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines binge drinking as consuming “five or more alcoholic drinks on the same occasion on at least one day in the past 30 days.” Using the first definition, the CDC reports that one in six adults in the U.S. binge drinks around four times every month. College students, the group perhaps most notorious for binge drinking, only make up part of the problem – 70 percent of binge drinkers are over the age of 26. According to a new study, things are getting worse.