Boston (SmartAboutHealth) - A new study has revealed that nerve stimulation will not help those who suffer from chronic lower back pain.

Low back pain is something that impacts millions of Americans, with treatments being far and few between. Continue Reading

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have just issued new guidelines for treating potential stroke patients.

Originally it was recommended that after the first stroke symptom was identified, that a patient could be treated with drugs up to 3 hours after it occured. Continue Reading

It is estimated that in the United States up to 1 third of Americans do not use any sort of sunscreen when they are outside, a fact that puts them at great risk of developing skin cancer.

Skin cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer, but is also one of the most preventable forms of the disease. Continue Reading

Boston (SmartAboutHealth) - A new study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology has found that mothers who breastfeed reduce their risk of both heart attack, as well as stroke.

This new study showcases one of the many health benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother as well as the baby. Continue Reading

Boston (SmartAboutHealth) - Researchers have found that a Mediterranean diet, nuts, and vegetables are the best foods to help lower overall heart risks.

Researchers led by Andrew Mente from the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University focused on nearly 200 studies from 1950 up to 2007. Continue Reading

Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - Just recently the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put out a report which revealed that Americans simply use too much salt in their diet.  This has sparked the question of how can Americans rid of some of  this salt intake.

Currently, the recommendation is that people should not consume more than 2,300 milligrams of salt each day. Continue Reading

Washington, D.C. (SmartAboutHealth) - The U.S. governmnt’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has setup a new online media source to help people work with tough economic times.

“Getting Through Tough Economic Times” is the name of the guide which is available at www.samhsa.gov/economy/.

The website helps affected people identify and cope with serious health issues that are directly linked to financial worries.

“Economic turmoil (e.g., increased unemployment, foreclosures, loss of investments and other financial distress) can result in a whole host of negative health effects - both physical and mental. It can be particularly devastating to your emotional and mental well-being. Although each of us is affected differently by economic troubles, these problems can add tremendous stress, which in turn can substantially increase the risk for developing such problems as:”

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Compulsive Behaviors (over-eating, excessive gambling, spending, etc.)
• Substance Abuse

For more infomation, please visit: www.samhsa.gov/economy/

Boston (SmartAboutHealth.net) - According to a recent study, a  daily glass of wine each day may help prevent the development of edophageal cancer.

According to webmd.com, “Esophageal cancer rates have increased over the last three decades, due to a more than 500% increase of a subtype of the cancer linked to acid reflux disease, known as esophageal adenocarcinoma.”

The cancer can develop when heartburns and aci reflux cause damage to your esophagus. This can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, which can in the end lead into cancer.

“Researchers examined data from a larger trial that included detailed, self-reported information on alcohol consumption. The study included 320 people who were diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus between 2002 and 2005, 316 people who had gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD) without Barrett’s, and 317 people without Barrett’s or GERD.” said webmd.com.

The researchers tracked those who consumed a glass of wine on a daily basis and compared their risk to those who didn’t drink wine.

Researchers reported that drinking as little as one glass of wine a day was associated with a 56% decrease in the risk for developing Barrett’s esophagus.

Although only about 5 per cent of the U.S. population is said to have Barrett’s esophague, most are never diagnosed. People diagnosed with the condition have about a 30-40-fold higher risk or developping esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Source: Webmd.com