ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 (ABC): Reducing salt intake by 1 gram per day can significantly lower your cardiovascular risk, according to a study completed in China and published today in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention, & Health. The researchers noted that China has one of the highest daily salt intakes in the world with an average consumption of 11 grams per day – …

ISLAMABAD, NOV 6 (ABC): People with rare diseases frequently wait years for a proper diagnosis, have to travel long distances for specialty care and face high out-of-pocket health care expenses, a recent Oregon State University study found. This combination of challenges in accessing appropriate medical care leads to poor health-related quality of life, low patient satisfaction and high levels of …

ISLAMABAD, NOV 6 (ABC): Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments. They’re made by extracting natural chemicals from certain plants. These chemicals give plants their odors and flavors, so extracting them is like capturing the essence of the plant. True essential oils are extracted naturally, either by steaming or crushing various parts …

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4(ABC): A study reviewing data from nearly 3,000 U.S. counties has found an association between lack of access to healthy food and increased rates of death from heart failure, reported Science Daily. Meanwhile, living in a community with access to more grocery stores and local, healthy food resources was significantly associated with lower rates of death from heart …

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4(ABC): The Hair Society of America reports about 35 million men and 21 million women experience hair loss in the United States. While hair loss is a regular part of daily life — the American Academy of Dermatology Association reveals it’s common to lose between 50 and 100 hairs each day — it can be traumatic and upsetting …

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4(ABC): According to a 2021 Alzheimer’s Association report, estimates in the United States indicate that 6.2 million people age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The report suggests this number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 unless effective prevention or treatment options emerge. Currently, the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood. Yet …

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4(ABC): According to the World Health OrganizationTrusted Source, obesity rates have tripled worldwide since 1975. The connection between obesity and insulin resistance is bidirectional. Insulin resistance often develops due to being overweight or obese, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes can be a costly disease to treat, contribute to many health issues, and …

Nov 4(ABC): The psychedelic chemical in “magic mushrooms” may ease depression in some hard-to-treat patients, a preliminary study found. The effects were modest and waned over time but they occurred with a single experimental dose in people who previously had gotten little relief from standard antidepressants. The study is part of a resurgence of research into potential medical uses of …

LAHORE, Nov 4(ABC): Breast cancer is one of the most common diseases among women and death rates caused by it around the globe are still higher owing to late detection and lack of awareness. Several studies have revealed that when breast cancer is detected at its earliest stage, the survival rate becomes more than 90 per cent. Therefore, in order …

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4(ABC): We are still learning about the human microbiome, the 10–100 trillion microorganismsTrusted Source living in our bodies, primarily in the human gut. Piece by piece, researchers are putting together how this vast and tiny universe operates, and how it influences our health. An important player in gut health appears to be butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that …

ISLAMABAD, NOV 02 (ABC): Smoking cigarettes can have many adverse effects on the body. Some of these can lead to life threatening complications. Smoking increases a person’s risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and more. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, cigarette smoking harms almost all organs in the body and causes many diseases. It …

ISLAMABAD, NOV 02 (ABC): Quitting smoking is hard. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, which makes it difficult for people to give up cigarettes and other tobacco products. However, quitting smoking is possible, and several smoking cessation aids can help people kick the habit for good. Smoking cessation support comes in various forms, including medications, nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), and …

ISLAMABAD, NOV 02 (ABC): Smoking cigarettes is a habit that is harmful to health. Despite its dangers, it still remains a popular activity. Hence, researchers are constantly working to understand the full health impact of smoking. A recent studyTrusted Source published in JAMATrusted Source found that quitting smoking is associated with reduced mortality risk. The sooner people stop, the more …

Nov 1(ABC): Some Covid vaccines may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, specialists at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) warned, recommending that this be added to the list of potential side effects. “Cases of heavy menstrual bleeding have been reported after the first, second, and booster doses of Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna),” said a statement from the agency, citing its drugs …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31(ABC): Factors associated with modern life, such as shift work and late-night eating, have led to a misalignment between what time food is consumed and light-dark cycles. This disruption is associated with the overconsumption of food and an increased risk of obesity. As such, there’s been a surge in interest in time-restricted eating (TRE), an eating pattern that …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31(ABC): Young adults, who use more social media, are significantly more likely to develop depression within six months, regardless of personality type, finds a new study. The findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, showed that people with high agreeableness were 49 percent less likely to become depressed than those with low agreeableness. “Previous research has …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31(ABC): Displacement and health: ‘The anti-immigrant rhetoric needs to stop’ Fleeing threats in your home country, surviving a journey that few can imagine, then, finally, if you are lucky, reaching a country you hope will welcome you. This is the reality for many refugees. But what then? A new World Health Organization report has concluded that many migrants …

Oct 31(ABC): Extreme weather from climate change triggered hunger in nearly 100 million people and increased heat deaths by 68% in vulnerable populations worldwide as the world’s “fossil fuel addiction” degrades public health each year, doctors reported in a new study. Worldwide the burning of coal, oil, natural gas and biomass forms air pollution that kills 1.2 million people a …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31(ABC): Observational studies have demonstrated a strong link between high blood pressure in midlife and an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline. However, a recent meta-analysis involving over 17,000 older adults found that those with the lowest dementia risk had high blood pressure. Randomized controlled trials have meanwhile produced mixed results on the effects of lowering blood …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31(ABC): In today’s consumerist, fast-moving culture, the pursuit of meaning in life may not be everyone’s immediate goal. However, research shows that finding meaning in life, whatever that might be for the individual, could significantly benefit well-being. Why does searching for, and finding meaning in life improve our sense of well-being? Image credit: Studio Firma/Stocksy. The pursuit of …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 31(ABC): An abstract of a study published in Current Developments in Nutrition looks at whether health risks associated with a set of risk factors known as metabolic syndrome may be diminished by consuming green tea extract. The researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Ohio State University say they’re the first to study whether green tea’s anti-inflammatory benefits in …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (ABC): Expert on Sunday advised the public to take timely preventive steps to reduce the danger of heart attacks in winter and emphasized media for creating awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVD) to reduce the death rate from them. While talking to the PTV news channel, Executive Director (ED) of the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC), Major General …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 28(ABC): In 2022, the World Health Organization classified dementia as the seventh leading cause of death among all diseases and estimated that around 55 million people worldwide live with this condition. Dementia can affect people physically, psychologically, socially, and economically, and this impact can extend to caregivers, families, and society at large. Since there is currently no treatment …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 28(ABC): The way our face moves can influence how we feel, according to the facial feedback hypothesis. Facial expressions do more than express emotions, they also provide feedback to the brain, which influences our emotions. A new global collaboration led by researchers at Stanford University has shown that even fake or posed smiles can make people feel happier. …

Oct 26(ABC): Parents often worry about the harmful impacts of video games on their children, from mental health and social problems to missing out on exercise. But a large new US study published in JAMA Network Open on Monday indicates there may also be cognitive benefits associated with the popular pastime. Lead author Bader Chaarani, an assistant professor of psychiatry …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 26(ABC): Study finds slathering kids in sunscreen can protect them into adulthood. If you needed another reason for your family to use sunscreen this might be it: Regular sunscreen use in childhood can reduce the risk of melanoma by 40 percent in young adulthood. A recent studyTrusted Source examined the association between sunscreen use and melanoma risk in …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 26(ABC): You’ve most likely heard that walking is good for your health — but there’s often a lack of consensus about how much walking you need per day to produce health benefits. For instance, the popular 10,000 steps-a-day goal originated from product marketing during the 1960s and was not the product of medical investigation. But a new study …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24(ABC): Brown adipose tissue, or brown fat, is one of two types of fat that humans and other mammals have. Its main function is to turn food into body heat. It is sometimes called “good” fat. Human newborns and hibernating mammals have high levels of brown fat. The other type of fat is white or yellow fat. Much …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24(ABC): The prevalence of obesity in the United States increased from 30.5%Trusted Source in 1999–2000 to 41.9% in 2019–2020. Obesity is related to many health complications, including cardiovascular diseaseTrusted Source, strokeTrusted Source, and certain kinds of cancer, including colon cancerTrusted Source. While lifestyle interventions are key to managing obesity, they have limited efficacyTrusted Source and durability for many. …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24(ABC): Maintaining a healthy amount of body fat is part of overall well-being. It also decreases the risk of specific health problems, making it a critical factor in preventive medicine. However, experts are still researching the best methods to help people working to maintain or reach a healthy body composition. A recent study published in Metabolites found that …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19(ABC): Losing one of your senses is a frightening prospect for most people, but for many people, it is an unfortunate reality. Millions of people in the US face the prospect of irreversible changes to their ability to see the world around them. Worldwide, there are an estimated 39 million people living with blindness. Around 82% are aged …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19(ABC): Whether you are watching a sports game, picking out ripe fruit, or doing an art project with your kids, colors play a significant part in our daily lives. But with up to 8 percent of men and 0.5 percent of women experiencing red-green color blindness, life for some is not so straightforward. What seems to be a …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): Switching from table salt to salt substitutes can help reduce the risk of stroke in people over age 60 with a history of high blood pressure or prior stroke. That’s according to a study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research included nearly 21,000 participants and took place in 600 villages in …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18(ABC): That’s according to a new studyTrusted Source conducted by the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In it, researchers report that pharmacogenetic testing might help medical professionals by providing helpful information on how a person metabolizes a medication. This information can help doctors and others avoid …

RAWALPINDI, Oct 16 (ABC): Chairperson of IDEAS and Department of Social Welfare, Punjab, Iram Mumtaz said some 15 to 20 percent of children studying in every class in educational institutions of Pakistan lack the timely ability to learn and understand due to dyslexia. The IDEAS Chairperson while stating international studies and statistics said five years ago, the number of dyslexic …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 15 (ABC): Scientists are discovering several new ailments triggered by air pollution, and a new study suggests that air pollution is another factor that could increase the middle-aged women’s weight, body mass index, waist circumference and body fat. Researchers from the University of Michigan in the US found that exposure to air pollution might contribute to higher body …

ISLAMABAD, OCT 15 (ABC): Approximately 1 in 3Trusted Source people aged 85 or older will develop some type of dementia. However, dementia is not a typical side effect of the aging process. Individuals with dementia experience damage to cells in the brain. There are many different causes for this damage, from abnormal protein buildup to impaired cerebral blood flow. There …

ISLAMABAD, OCT 15 (ABC): Today, an estimated 5.8 millionTrusted Source people aged 65 years or older in the United States have dementia. Due to the fact that the average lifespan of people in the U.S. has increased over recent decades, some experts project that by 2050, the number of older adults with dementia could reach 13.8 millionTrusted Source. Figures of …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 15 (ABC): More than 55 million peopleTrusted Source around the world have dementia — a group of conditions affecting a person’s brain function. Although there is currently no cure for dementia, the earlier a doctor can diagnoseTrusted Source a person with dementia, the better in terms of symptom management, treatmentTrusted Source, and slowing its progression. Now, a team …

ISLAMABAD, Oct 15(ABC):Anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people sometimes experience prolonged periods of anxiety that can affect their social, work, or personal lives. People can try various methods to help them cope. In some cases, anxiety can become a disorder. Anxiety disorders occur when the feelings of anxiety and worry are both persistent and highly disruptive. People …