Amy Dowdenย has praised her Strictly Come Dancing co-stars for helping her with her show Dare To Dance after her cancer diagnosis. The professional dancer, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 at the start of filming for the second series. The show sees her teach people to dance and learn routines so they […]
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Following healthy lifestyle habits is associated with a reduced risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a new study. These habits included not smoking, vigorous physical activity, and getting enough quality sleep.
The findings were published February 20 in the journal Gut.
Researchers examined five key healthy behaviors, which include never smoking, getting at least 7 hours of quality sleep each night; a high level of vigorous physical activity each week; a high-quality balanced diet every day; and moderate alcohol intake.
They analyzed participants of an average age of 55 from the UK Biobank, which included 64,268 people, just over half of whom (55%) were women, and who had completed at least two 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires. The period of examination took place during a 12.6-year period, during which 961 (1.5%) cases of IBS were recorded.
Results showed 7,604 (12%) of participants didnโt engage in any of the 5 healthy lifestyle behaviors, while 20,662 (32%) reported one; 21,901 (34%) reported two; and 14,101 (22%) reported three to five behaviors at the start of the study.
According to the results of this study, individuals who adopt an increasing number of these healthy lifestyle behaviors could see a proportional decrease in their IBS risk, with adherence to one, two, or three to five behaviors associated with reductions of 21%, 36%, and 42% in IBS risk, respectively.
Furthermore, three healthy behaviors were independently linked with a lower risk of IBS: never smoking (14% lower); high level of physical activity (17% lower); and a good nightโs sleep (27% lower).
Although the exact causes of IBS are not fully understood several factors appear to contribute to its development. Dr. Anthony Lembo, a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic who specializes in gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, provided a list:
It is important to note that IBS is a very broad term.
โIt is broad because it groups a bunch of different GI issues together because they all lead to the same symptoms (irregular bowel habits and abdominal discomfort, basically),โ said Dr. Aditya Sreenivasan, gastroenterologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital. โBut it can be caused by a variety of different GI issues. It can be caused by hormonal irregularities leading to fluid shifts and irregularities in intestinal motion, bacterial imbalance in the colon and/or small intestine, or hypersensitive nerves in the GI tract. There are probably multiple other causes that are not well understood as well.โ
Results of the study showed not smoking, a high level of vigorous physical activity, and getting enough quality sleep were linked with managing IBS symptoms.
According to Lembo, the connection likely lies in their effects on various factors such as:
It is important to note the multifactorial nature of IBS includes various biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors.
โLifestyle modifications, such as not smoking, engaging in regular physical activity, and maintaining healthy sleep habits, are key components in the management of IBS,โ said Lembo.ย โThe study highlighted suggests that healthy lifestyle choices could potentially reduce the risk of developing IBS.ย We use these same lifestyle modifications to manage symptoms in those with IBS.โ
โThese things each play a major role in influencing various factors that can increase or decrease IBS symptoms,โ Sreenivasan stated. โSmoking leads to generalized inflammation and also leads to a lot of swallowed air, both of which can separately exacerbate or cause various IBS symptoms.โ
Sreenivasan added: โLack of exercise leads to slow intestinal motility, and likely leads to increases in stress hormone levels. Similarly with not sleeping – lack of sleep interferes with your brain’s ability to regulate the signals it is getting from your visceral (or intestinal) nerves.โ
So, if your brain usually blocks out the signals from your gut that are activated by fluid shifts, intestinal contractions, or gas, your sleep-deprived brain lets all of those signals in and perceives it as discomfort or pain, Sreenivasan explained.
Treatment for IBS typically focuses on managing symptoms and improving overall quality of life. This may include a combination of dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, medications, and psychological interventions, Lembo stated.
Some common approaches to treating IBS include:
IBS treatment should be individualized, ideally with a multidisciplinary team.
A new study shows practicing healthy lifestyle habits (not smoking, vigorous physical activity, and getting enough quality sleep) can lead to a lower risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The reason why these habits may be beneficial for a healthy gut: smoking may reduce inflammation, exercise can regulate bowel movements and sleep can strengthen immune function.
To manage IBS symptoms, avoid spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol. Additionally, exercise regularly, donโt smoke and practice good sleep hygiene.
Sleep, Exercise, and Avoiding Cigarettes are Key to Reducing IBS Risk Read More ยป
Former detectives have been drafted in to interrogate a fraud squad – dubbed the ‘untouchables’ – involved in the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters during the Horizon scandal.ย The new team led by Gary Brooks, former head of major crime at Lancashire Constabulary, will the under-fire Post Office investigate allegations that some detectives […]
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The drug finasteride, available under the brand names Proscar and Propecia, is currently used for male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate in men.
Finasteride works by stopping testosterone from being converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This slows down hair loss and prevents the prostate from growing too large.
However, a study published in the March 2024 issue of the Journal of Lipid Research suggests that there might be yet another application for this medication: lowering artery-clogging cholesterol.
In addition to being associated with lower cholesterol levels in men, the drug was also found to reduce cholesterol, delay atherosclerosis, and lower liver inflammation in mice.
The idea for the study first came about when the lead author, Jaume Amengual, PhD, became curious to learn about the long-term effects of finasteride.
After examining data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) that was collected between 2009 and 2016, Amengual found, on average, that the men who were taking the drug had cholesterol that was about 30 points lower than those men who weren’t taking it.
Unfortunately, there was nothing in the data to tell him what dose the men had been taking or for how long. This led him to set up a study with mice.
In this study, mice were treated with four different amounts of finasteride: 0, 10, 100, and 1,000 milligrams per kilogram of food. The drug was given to mice that were genetically prone to developing atherosclerosis.
Additionally, the animals were fed a high fat, high cholesterol diet mimicking a typical Western diet consumed by humans.
After 12 weeks, the mice had their lipids tested and were examined for evidence of atherosclerosis. They were also tested for gene expression in the liver.
The researchers additionally looked at bile acid metabolism and tested the mice for steroids, triglycerides, and immune activity.
After performing the tests, they found that the mice that were given finasteride had lower cholesterol levels, both in their plasma and in their arteries.
They also had lower lipid levels and inflammatory markers.
Amengual did note in a press release that the amount needed to achieve this result was “incredibly high.” However, he explained, mice tend to be more resistant to drugs than humans are. This, combined with the fact that men in the NHANES database also saw reduced cholesterol levels, suggests that humans would respond to a lower dose than the mice did.
Rigved Tadwalkar, MD โ a board certified consultant cardiologist at Providence Saint Johnโs Health Center in Santa Monica, California, who was not involved in the study โ stated that there are a few potential ways that finasteride might benefit human cholesterol levels.
“One proposed mechanism suggests that finasteride could reduce monocyte activity and inflammation, thereby diminishing the number of monocytes, which are immune cells that are involved in the formation of arterial plaques,” he explained.
“Another avenue explored is the modulation of bile acid metabolism by finasteride, hinting at its potential to influence the production and excretion of bile acids, consequently impacting cholesterol metabolism.”
Tadwalkar additionally noted that the study delved into the possibility that finasteride changes hepatic gene expression.
These alterations might be able to extend to lipid metabolism and inflammation in the liver, he said.
Justin Manjourides, PhD โ a biostatistician and Associate Professor of Biostatistics at Northeastern University who was not a part of the research โ commented on the study, saying, “My initial thoughts are that this is a fairly well-done study.”
Although the key results are in mice, they are consistent with what was observed in humans, he pointed out.
“By motivating the observational portion of the study on the experimental mouse data, the authors sidestep the common ‘p-hacking’ critique where several exposure-outcome pairs are examined and only those reaching significance are presented.”
Further, reduced cholesterol levels were consistent across several potential effect modifiers, said Manjourides.
He went on to note that the NHANES portion of the study had several limitations, including the fact that it only included 155 men.
“With respect to finasteride, there are no measures of dosage, adherence, or duration of treatment,” he added.
“In a cross-sectional study, lacking information on duration of treatment or information on baseline outcome measures (pre-finasteride exposure) hinders our ability to establish a causal relationship between the exposure and outcome.”
Manjourides also remarked that there are potential issues with the underlying differences between those who used finasteride and those who didn’t.
“There is no way to tell in which direction a bias caused by lacking this information would be,” he concluded.
While these findings are promising, Tadwalkar said it’s too early to say how well finasteride might compare with other established cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors.
These drugs have proven efficacy in lowering cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk, he said.
“While the study suggests a potential benefit of finasteride in delaying cardiovascular disease by improving the plasma lipid profile, the benefits should be considered in the context of existing interventions,” said Tadwalkar.
“More research is needed to determine its true efficacy, safety profile, and optimal role in managing cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk.”
New research suggests that the drug finasteride, currently used to treat male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate, might also be able to reduce cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Men using the drug had lower cholesterol levels.
Finasteride was also found to reduce cholesterol levels in mice.
However, while the findings of the study are promising, it’s too soon to say how well it might compare with existing therapies. More research is needed to show whether finasteride is safe and effective for reducing cholesterol in humans.
Finasteride Hair Loss Drug May Also Help Lower Cholesterol Read More ยป
The billionaire heiress of In-N-Out has revealed the secrets behind the family’s tragic history of drug abuse, shock deaths and a brutal legal battle inside the company.ย Lynsi Snyder, 41, recently authored a book, The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger, delving into the iconic burger chain’s history and unveiling the secret recipes behind its fan-favorite items […]
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While yoga is not a cure-all, there is no shortage of science-backed benefits of the practice.
Yoga is frequently studied for its potential to relieve chronic low back pain, an often difficult-to-treat condition that in 2020 affected 619 million people globally.
Now, an Italian research team specializing in rehabilitative medicine has furthered our understanding of yogaโs positive impact on low back pain.
The researchers evaluated the effects of a 4-week yoga program on the flexion-relaxation phenomenon, a biomarker of chronic low back pain limiting paraspinal muscle activity or range of motion.
They recruited 10 females ages 18โ40 with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) and 11 females without. Both groups participated in a structured 8-session yoga program; the first session was conducted in a clinic, and the remaining sessions were offered via telehealth. The 30-minute sessions included a sequence of nearly 30 yoga postures (asanas), breathwork, and other mindfulness practices.
The findings, published February 21 in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research, show a significant reduction in pain intensity in the back pain group. Yoga also benefitted neuromuscular response during spinal flexion in both groups, thus improving participantsโ flexion-relaxation ratio.
Due to the small number of participants and short study duration, the researchers note that further studies are needed to determine any longโterm effects of yoga on low back pain.
โRelieving back pain still remains a challenge, [and] asanas can become an addition to the range of possibilities in managing this disorder,โ Dr. Alessandro de Sire, associate professor of physical and rehabilitative medicine at the University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia and physician at University Hospital Renato Dulbecco in Italy, told Healthline.
The study builds on existing evidence supporting the benefits of yoga for low back pain relief.
Researchers observed a reduction in pain intensity after 4 weeks using a 10-point visual analog scale (6.8 average pain at the start of the study, 3.3 after the yoga sessions).
Yoga also improved participantsโ flexionโrelaxation phenomenon (5.12 at the start of the study, 9.49 after the sessions), which was measured with electromyography during maximum voluntary flexion (rounding) of the spine.
Given the short-term nature of the study, researchers used a Prophet evaluation to predict positive flexion-relaxation trends for an additional month after the intervention. The evaluation forecasts that tele-yoga asana could continue to positively affect pain intensity and spinal mobility.
The yoga postures included in the study varied, but many involved some type of hip flexion (forward bend) with a neutral spine.
โI appreciate that this study explored the ways that asana can relax muscles, and it echoes what yoga traditionally tells us, which is that forward bending poses are generally calming and relaxing,โ Jivana Heyman, a yoga therapist in Santa Barbara, CA, founder of Accessible Yoga and author of Yoga Revolution, told Healthline.
โHip flexion can be very beneficial for people with low back pain because it can increase range of motion without overly engaging the lower back. My sense is that people with chronic low back pain hold additional tension in that area as a protective mechanism, and asana can help to release some of that tension,โ Heyman said.
There are countless studies about yoga, but they donโt always disclose which poses were used to achieve the desired outcome.
Rather than study a particular style of yoga (i.e., Hatha or Vinyasa), the researchers included a regimen of nearly 30 postures to demonstrate how yoga works to relieve low back pain more clearly.
De Sire said each pose in the sequence was held for five breaths (around 1 minute each) for a total of 30 minutes per session.
โAsanas can commonly be difficult and misleading to assimilate; providing the reader with specific postures might guarantee scientific reproducibility, but above all greater dissemination of the practice with scientific evidence,โ de Sire explained.
Heyman said he appreciated the inclusion of the poses in the study.
โOften doctors refer patients with low back pain to yoga, and the patients are left to figure out what practices or classes are appropriate for them,โ he said. โThey could easily end up in a yoga class that is too physically intense, which could cause more injury or simply leave them feeling that yoga is not for them.โ
The following yoga poses for low back pain were included in the study:
The study’s model predicts the positive results of yoga for back pain could be maintained long-term, de Sire explained, but larger, more rigorous studies are needed to determine this effect.
Still, Heyman said that yoga can be a helpful intervention for finding relief from low back pain.
โThis study adds to the growing literature that supports yoga as a viable treatment for low back pain, which is a major cause of disability and lost work in the U.S. and around the world,โ he said.
โI have found that my students with low back pain gain even more benefit from the yoga practices that help regulate their nervous systems and reduce tension and stress. So building a well-rounded yoga practice that focuses not just on asana but on stress reduction and nervous system regulation could offer even greater benefit to people with low back pain,โ he added.
If you live with low back pain and are interested in trying yoga, it’s a good idea to do some research to find appropriate classes and qualified instructors.
โIf you’re looking to start yoga and you have low back pain, I’d recommend that you look for yoga therapists (C-IAYT) or classes with titles such as โAccessible Yoga,โ โAdaptive Yoga,โ and โGentle Yoga,โ Heyman shared, adding that chair yoga can also be a great place for beginners.
โBe careful about jumping into classes with titles like โAll Levelsโ or flow classes where there are quick movements,โ he noted.
Heyman said the most important component of any yoga class is clarity of instruction and the teacher’s ability to individualize the practice to meet the practitioner’s needs.
โTalk to the teacher before class starts to let them know about your condition so they can adapt the practices for you,โ he said, emphasizing yoga props as a helpful tool for finding comfortable variations within poses.
โPeople with low back pain tend to be very aware of what movements feel safe, and it’s important to support them in exploring these poses in a safe and accessible way,โ Heyman said.
A new study helps further our understanding of the benefits of yoga for low back pain relief.
The 4-week, 8-session telehealth yoga program significantly reduced low back pain among subjects with the condition. Yoga postures involving hip flexion appear to improve the flexion-relaxation phenomenon, a biomarker of low back pain.
Larger studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of yoga on low back pain relief.
These Yoga Poses Could Help People With Chronic Low Back Pain, Researchers Say Read More ยป
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Hay fever is already common during the spring and summer months, but our changing climate could see some symptoms starting earlier in the year for allergy sufferers across the UK. Recent studies suggest that some types of pollen and other โฆ
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The authors of a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE say that high blood pressure has been the top risk factor for death among the Australian population for the past 30 years.
Additionally, it has been the primary factor leading to deaths from cardiovascular disease.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease includes various conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels, such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, heart rhythm abnormalities, and heart valve problems.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that high blood pressure is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
It can damage arteries over time, making them less flexible. This reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. It can also cause the arteries in the brain to burst or become blocked.
The researchers, however, note that despite this knowledge, national health plans in Australia have not always made this condition a priority.
They felt that studying how high blood pressure compares in relation to other cardiovascular disease risk factors could help the country make more effective healthcare policy decisions.
To study the issue, the team from The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW, Sydney, looked at epidemiological data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, which includes data from 204 countries, including Australia, related to almost 400 diseases and 87 risk factors.
Data from 1990 to 2019 was used to determine the main risk factors for deaths from all causes and cardiovascular disease.
When they analyzed the data, they found that high blood pressure’s contribution to death declined from about 54% to 44%.
However, it remained the top risk factor in both all-cause and cardiovascular disease-related deaths.
Other top contributors included diet and tobacco use.
There were also differences related to age and sex. In particular, in men between the ages of 25-49, high blood pressure contributed more to deaths from stroke than in other groups.
Dr. Hoang Nguyen, a board certified interventional cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, who was not involved in the study, stressed the importance of accurately assessing your blood pressure.
“Ironically, blood pressure readings in the physician’s office are often inaccurate; falsely elevated due to the stress of being in the physician’s office or the stress of getting there,” he explained.
“Blood pressure should be measured at rest (patient should relax for 5 minutes) while seated in a chair with uncrossed legs,” Nguyen added. “An arm cuff and not a wrist cuff should be used to measure blood pressure.”
Additionally, he advises measuring your blood pressure at home and keeping a log to share with your doctor.
“Once high blood pressure is verified, we can employ lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure, such as regular exercise,” he said.
Nguyen remarked that weight loss can also be helpful in lowering blood pressure, to the point that you may no longer require medications. “Just losing 5 lbs. can lead to a significant reduction in blood pressure,” he noted.
Limiting alcohol consumption and quitting smoking can also help, Nguyen stated, adding that smoking cessation also has other benefits for cardiovascular health.
Additionally, getting good sleep and avoiding salty foods can help lower your blood pressure, he said.
Dr. Shannon Winakur, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Maryland, who was not involved in the study, added to the above by suggesting that people also consider whether they have any issues with pain.
“Pain management โ whether a result of a chronic condition or injury โ is important, as pain is a stressor that can increase your blood pressure,” she stated.
Winakur noted that there is a significant overlap between what you can do to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and what you can do to reduce your cardiovascular disease risk.
One additional suggestion she made to reduce the risk of both is moving more.
“The ‘official’ recommendation is 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity,” she said, “but I tell patients that anything is better than nothing.”
Winakur also advises not limiting yourself by thinking that exercise has to be something like running or a fitness class.
‘You can dance in your kitchen, walk your dog, park farther away from the store, anything that encourages more movementโฆBy building opportunities for moving more into your regular routines, youโll be gradually strengthening your heart,” she explained.
When it comes to what you eat, “A diet that consists mostly of vegetables and is low in saturated fat (animal fat, such as beef, pork, ham, bacon, and in dairy products) and low in refined carbs and sugars (as in breads, pastas, and sweets, for example), with small portions of lean meats, fish, and complex carbohydrates can contribute to improved heart โ and overall health,” Winakur said.
She further advises eating food as close as possible to its natural state.
“You donโt see a loaf of bread or chickpea pasta in the wild,” she noted.
Winakur also suggests seeing a doctor regularly and having basic testing like blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
“Being aware of any potential issues early on can spur a conversation with your care provider about things you can do to stay your healthiest,” she said.
Finally, Winakur says taking steps to deal with stress is important.
“Use healthy methods for managing stress by doing things like getting enough sleep, moving in some way daily, using meditation regularly, limiting the use of alcohol, and limiting your exposure to the news and screens (TVs, tablets and cell phones) of any kind when you need to,” she concluded.
High blood pressure is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
However, an Australian study has found that high blood pressure remains the leading risk factor for premature death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease, in that nation.
Experts advise taking steps to reduce your blood pressure by improving your diet, exercising, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and reducing stress.
This, in turn, will reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and death.
How High Blood Pressure Can Raise Your Risk of Heart Disease, Death Read More ยป
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