Category Archives: Medical

New Drug May Prevent Stroke-Related Brain Damage

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Greg Asseff

A recent study conducted by the Toronto Western Hospital Research Institute shows that a new drug known as NA-1 may protect recipients from brain damage from stroke.

The study was performed on monkeys by Dr. Michael Tymianski and a team of researchers, and suggested that brain damage from stroke could be prevented even if the drug is administered several hours after a stroke.

During the study, the monkeys that received the drug scored better on brain function tests and maintained additional healthy brain tissue in comparison to monkeys that were not given the drug. According to Dr. Tymianski, monkeys were chosen for the study because they’re more biologically similar to humans than rats or mice.

This being said, over the last 50 years, there have been over 1,000 drugs have been designed for a similar purpose, reducing brain damage caused from a stroke. While all of the prior drugs have worked in rats and mice, none of them have been effective for humans.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, Mental Health, News, Studies | 3,870 Comments

Breast Feeding Benefits Moms, Not Just Babies

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Greg Asseff

It’s commonly understood for literally hundreds of years that breast-feeding provides a large number of health benefits to babies, ranging from improved growth and development, both physically and mentally, to increased resistance to infection and disease.

As recent as two days ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released an updated policy statement reaffirming its stance that breast milk is the single most complete nutritional source for infants.

The American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement also included a collection of clinical evidence concluding that the health benefits associated with breast feeding are not just for babies, but for mothers as well.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, Mental Health, News, Parenting, Studies, Weight Loss, Women | 1,240 Comments

Synthetic Pot is Far More Dangerous than Real Marijuana

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Greg Asseff

If you are the parent of a teenager or pre-teen, you have a long list of dangerous drug trends to be concerned about, ranging from prescription pills such as Xanax and Oxycontin to illegal drugs to bath salts and even huffing of toxic substances.

Unfortunately, many of the illicit substances and drugs that are most popular with kids today are not purchased on the street, but instead found under your bathroom sink, in your medicine cabinet or at the local gas station.

Another easily-obtainable substance for parents to discuss with their children is synthetic marijuana, a legal drug that (in most states) medical experts agree is far more dangerous than real marijuana due to horrifying synthetic pot side effects.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, Mental Health, News, Parenting, Studies | 339 Comments

Frequent Migraines Increase Depression Risk for Women

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Greg Asseff

We are all familiar with having a common headache and the affects that they can have on us. From a continual throbbing to pain behind the eyes to even a stiffening of the neck, the severity of each headache, and for each individual, can vary. However, migraine headaches can be much more severe and, in some instances, literally debilitating.

According to recent research examining 14 years of medical data, women who experience frequent migraine headaches are more likely to develop depression.

Dr. Timothy A. Collins, a neurologist and headache and migraine treatment researcher at Duke University Medical Center who was not directly involved in the study, said that the study “confirms” what experts have long believed.

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Foodborne Illness Vaccine is Coming Soon

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Greg Asseff

Foodborne illness, also referred to as foodborne disease and food poisoning, is any illness that results from consuming food that has been contaminated, pathogenic parasites, bacteria, or viruses that contaminate food, as well as other chemical or natural toxins.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the (CDC), estimates that approximately 48 million foodborne illness cases occur in the U.S. each year with at least 128,000 individuals being hospitalized and over 3,000 dying from contaminated food.

If recent studies are any indication, a foodborne illness vaccine that will protect against norovirus – the most common cause of foodborne illness in the United States – could be available to the general public well within the next half-decade.

According to Charles Arntzen of Arizona State University’s Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, norovirus vaccines have already been successful in multiple human trials, though additional studies are needed in order to determine how effective they’ll be overall.