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Health News Results - 45
Could Metformin Help Seniors Bounce Back After Surgery?
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- July 28, 2023
- Full Page
The diabetes drug metformin might also benefit older patients after an injury or illness, a small study suggests.
Researchers found that metformin -- a drug that has been around for more than a half-century to regulate blood sugar -- may have a different ability: It can ...
The Earlier MS Is Treated, the Better
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 26, 2023
- Full Page
Patients who get treatment for multiple sclerosis at the earliest signs of disease may have a lower risk of disability later, new research suggests.
Among nearly 600 patients, there were lower odds of disability and progression among people diagnosed and treated within s...
Don't Sweat It: Any Kind of Weightlifting Helps Build Muscle
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 14, 2023
- Full Page
Lifting weights regularly builds strength and muscle — and it doesn't matter if those weights are heavy or light.
It's the act itself, and being consistent, that pays off, according to a new study.
All forms of resistance training are beneficial, including body-w...
Heavy Drinking Could Raise Your Risk for Frailty: Study
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 25, 2023
- Full Page
Drinking heavily while younger puts you at risk for muscle loss and frailty later in life, new research suggests.
These findings are another reason to cut back on the booze, according to the research team from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom.
Arm in a Cast? Exercising the Other Arm Can Curb Muscle Loss
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 7, 2023
- Full Page
You can keep an arm in a cast from wasting away, researchers say, by working out your free arm.
A small group of young men who performed eccentric contraction exercises with one arm — lowering a dumbbell in a slow and controlled motion — saw a 4% strength improvement...
Vitamin D May Help Maintain Muscle as You Age
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- December 19, 2022
- Full Page
One way to maintain muscle strength with age: Get enough vitamin D.
Researchers in Brazil and the United Kingdom found that older folks who were deficient in the vitamin increased their risk of losing muscle strength by 78%.
"Vitamin D is known to participate in va...
Biggest Study Yet Finds No Link Between Statins, Muscle Aches
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 29, 2022
- Full Page
Cholesterol-lowering statins are proven lifesavers, but they've also gained a reputation for causing muscle aches and pains in a good number of patients.
That reputation is undes...
Want to Maintain Muscle? Frequency of Workouts Is Key
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- August 22, 2022
- Full Page
Whether the goal is bulging biceps or just a bit more strength and mass, a relatively light workout several times a week beats a more intense one done just once a week.
Study Links Muscle Mass to Severity of Hot Flashes in Women
- Robert Preidt
- November 12, 2021
- Full Page
Older women with muscle loss are less likely to have menopause-related hot flashes, a new study finds.
The loss of muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) is one of the most significant changes that occurs with age, and older women are at increased risk due to sex hormone ...
More Than Half of Americans Plagued by Back, Leg Pain
- Steven Reinberg
- July 29, 2021
- Full Page
There's much Americans may disagree on, but many share one thing in common: chronic pain.
More than half of U.S. adults suffer from pain, with backs and legs the most common sources, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Nati...
Plasma Injection Therapy May Be Useless Against Achilles Tendon Pain
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- July 20, 2021
- Full Page
A treatment commonly used to tackle an often painful Achilles tendon condition doesn't actually work, British researchers warn.
At issue is "Achilles tendinopathy," a degenerative wear-and-tear disease that affects the critical tissue linking calf muscles to the heel.
New Disabilities Plague Half of COVID Survivors After Hospital Discharge
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- June 7, 2021
- Full Page
People hospitalized for COVID-19 are often discharged in much worse shape than before their illness - underscoring the value of preventing severe cases with vaccination.
In a new study, researchers found that during the pandemic's early months, almost half of COVID-19 pa...
Are Adults With Cerebral Palsy Getting the Therapies They Need?
- Robert Preidt
- June 2, 2021
- Full Page
U.S. adults with cerebral palsy aren't getting adequate physical therapy, according to a new study.
While they're more likely than other adults in community-living situations to have debilitating pain from musculoskeletal disorders, those with cerebral palsy receive sign...
Shoulder Pain Can Plague Wheelchair Users, But Their Own Fat Cells Could Be Cure
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- May 26, 2021
- Full Page
People with spinal cord injuries can overwork their shoulders as they move about in a wheelchair, and that often leads to chronic shoulder pain.
However, a small study suggests that an injection of the patient's own fat cells can help ease the pain.
The injected ce...
Women Get Help Later Than Men When Heart Attack Strikes
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- May 10, 2021
- Full Page
When young women land in the emergency room with chest pain, they wait longer and get less treatment than their male counterparts, a preliminary study finds.
Using a federal survey of U.S. hospitals, researchers found that younger women with chest pain were treated less ...
Will High-Protein Diets Help the Middle-Aged Build Muscle?
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- March 29, 2021
- Full Page
Middle-aged adults looking to boost their muscle mass do not need to bulk up on protein, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that 10 weeks of strength training plus a moderate amount of protein were enough to build muscle in previously sedentary middle-aged people. A...
Want More Muscle? Go for the Greens
- Robert Preidt
- March 26, 2021
- Full Page
If you want to improve your muscle function, regular helpings of leafy green vegetables might do the trick, new research suggests.
"Our study has shown that diets high in nitrate-rich vegetables may bolster your muscle strength independently of any physical activity," sa...
For Amputees, a New Kind of Surgery May Allow Better Control, Sensation
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 9, 2021
- Full Page
A new type of surgery offers amputees better control of muscles that remain after surgery, and of their prosthetic limbs, its inventors say.
The standard surgical approach to amputation has changed little since the American Civil War, according to developers of the new a...
Study Debunks Notion That Statin Meds Trigger Muscle Aches
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- March 1, 2021
- Full Page
People taking statin drugs often complain of muscle aches, but a new study finds the medications are unlikely to be the culprit.
The results come from a trial involving patients who had quit taking their statins, or were considering quitting, due to muscle pain.
Th...
Six Months Later, Most Wuhan COVID Survivors Still Have Health Issues
- Ernie Mundell
- January 11, 2021
- Full Page
Concerns about "long-haul" symptoms in COVID-19 survivors may be reignited by a new study: It finds that 3 out of 4 patients from Wuhan, China -- where the pandemic originated -- were still suffering at least one lingering health problem six months later.
The study from ...
Older and Getting Surgery? Get Fit Beforehand
- Robert Preidt
- December 22, 2020
- Full Page
Getting fit before surgery can limit the amount of muscle older adults will lose during their recovery, researchers say.
Strength training before a scheduled operation ("prehabilitation") helps counteract muscle wasting during bed rest after a procedure. But it ...
Are Statin Side Effects 'All in Your Head'?
- Alan Mozes
- November 19, 2020
- Full Page
Most of the side effects commonly blamed on cholesterol-lowering statins may actually be the product of patients' imaginations, new British research claims.
The finding follows a study of 60 patients who had been taking statins but stopped because of reported muscle ache...
Singing Without a Face Mask Can Spread COVID-19
- Steven Reinberg
- September 23, 2020
- Full Page
If you sing indoors without a face mask, you run the risk of spreading COVID-19 through tiny airborne particles known as aerosols.
That's the conclusion researchers reached after studying a choir practice.
In Skagit Valley, Wash., one person with mild sym...
Sprains, Strains? New Guidelines Urge OTC Painkillers, Not Opioids
- Amy Norton
- August 17, 2020
- Full Page
People with common muscle and joint injuries should skip opioids and instead reach for over-the-counter pain relievers, new treatment guidelines suggest.
The recommendations, from the American College of Physicians and American Academy of Family Medicine (AAFP), cove...
Mysterious Paralyzing Illness in Kids Is Set to Return, CDC Warns
- Dennis Thompson
- August 4, 2020
- Full Page
A new outbreak of a mysterious, potentially fatal polio-like illness could strike hundreds of American children within the next few months, U.S. health officials warned Tuesday.
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) outbreaks have occurred every two years in the United States...
More Patients Turning to Medical Marijuana for Arthritis Pain
- Dennis Thompson
- May 28, 2020
- Full Page
Lots of people are using medical marijuana to treat their arthritis and other muscle aches and pains, often without consulting their doctor, a new study reports.
As many as 1 in 5 patients who consult an orthopedic surgeon for chronic musculoskeletal pain are using a c...
Is Your Smartphone or Tablet an Injury Risk?
- Robert Preidt
- February 25, 2020
- Full Page
Here's a good reason to put your electronic devices down whenever you can: Experts say that using them incorrectly or too often can put you at risk for a range of injuries.
"When people position their hand, arm or neck in uncomfortable positions for a prolonged perio...
AHA News: Expert Heart Advice for Rare Genetic Muscle Disorder
- February 6, 2020
- Full Page
A rare, inherited muscle disorder that occurs in about 1 in 8,000 people, myotonic dystrophy also can affect the heart and other organs. A new set of expert recommendations offers guidance for managing the progressive condition.
"Your average cardiologist doesn't se...
A Lifetime of Fitness Helps Women's Muscles in Old Age
- Steven Reinberg
- January 13, 2020
- Full Page
Women who exercise throughout life may keep their muscle power as they age, a new study suggests.
For the study, researchers from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., examined muscle strength, power and the size and type of muscle fibers in the thighs of three gro...
3 Easy Deskside Stretches to Keep Muscle Pain at Bay
- Len Canter
- January 2, 2020
- Full Page
If you're not taking regular breaks to move around during your workday, your muscles may rebel after being scrunched in your desk chair hour after hour.
The rebellion might be felt in your neck, shoulders, back, hips and legs when you do finally stand up. Stop the i...
Muscle in Middle Age Might Help Men's Hearts Later
- Robert Preidt
- November 18, 2019
- Full Page
Middle-aged men who maintain their muscle mass may lower their risk of heart disease as they get older, a new study suggests.
Beginning in the mid-30s, muscle begins to decline by about 3% each decade. Previous studies found that muscle mass is associated with he...
Vitamin D is Key to Muscle Strength in Older Adults
- Robert Preidt
- November 5, 2019
- Full Page
Vitamin D deficiency is linked with poor muscle health in older adults, a new study finds.
Maintaining muscle health helps seniors maintain their independence, mobility and quality of life. It also lowers their risk of falls and frailty.
Researchers looked ...
Say Yes to Foam Roller Workouts
- Len Canter
- October 2, 2019
- Full Page
Foam rollers are great tools for improving range of motion before a workout and easing soreness as part of the cooldown after exercise.
Rollers come in different densities. As a general guideline, choose low-density if you're a beginner or if you're rehabbing and nee...
Frailty Not a Normal Part of Aging
- Robert Preidt
- August 2, 2019
- Full Page
It's something everyone fears will happen to them as they age: sapped strength, slowed walking, weight loss and an inability to perform daily tasks with ease.
But it's not just a byproduct of aging: Frailty is a standalone medical condition, researchers report.
...
Exercises to Head Off a Painful Rotator Cuff Injury
- Len Canter
- July 17, 2019
- Full Page
The rotator cuff refers to a group of four distinct muscles and tendons that connect to each shoulder and stabilize the humerus, the upper arm bone. These muscles are engaged when you move your shoulder, and work together to give you the needed range of motion to toss a ball ...
CDC Warns of Start to 'Season' for Mysterious Paralyzing Illness in Kids
- Dennis Thompson
- July 9, 2019
- Full Page
The "season" for a polio-like illness that mainly strikes children is about to begin, so public health officials sent out an early warning to doctors on Tuesday.
The largest recorded outbreak of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) occurred last year, with the illness debil...
Muscle Power Might Be Key to Long Life
- Robert Preidt
- April 12, 2019
- Full Page
If you want to celebrate many more birthdays, new research suggests you should speed up your weight-lifting routine.
Boosting muscle power, which is different than muscle strength, translated into longer lives, the Brazilian scientists said.
What exactly is...
Tone Your Upper Arms With These Effective Bicep Curls
- Len Canter
- March 26, 2019
- Full Page
Toned biceps not only give your upper body a sleek look, but they're also vital for improving the upper body strength needed for daily living.
The Single Biceps Curl is a simple classic and the perfect first exercise for strength training these muscles. You can start...
Ebola Survivors Continue to Suffer Years After Recovery
- Robert Preidt
- March 14, 2019
- Full Page
Many survivors of the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa have ongoing health problems, a new study finds.
More than 28,000 people were infected and more than 11,000 died in the outbreak.
Researchers compared 966 Ebola survivors from Liberia with 2,350 ...
Stretches for Calves, Hamstrings and Quads
- Len Canter
- March 11, 2019
- Full Page
Stretching your leg muscles can improve your flexibility and prevent injury. Here are three stretches that you can do every day and at every age.
Start with a calf stretch. Stand at arm's length from a wall and place your palms flat on the wall at shoulder height for...
Getting the Most Benefit From Ab Exercises
- Len Canter
- February 11, 2019
- Full Page
Men and women alike want defined abs. But you don't have to achieve a "six-pack" -- the nickname for the three most visible pairs of abdominal muscles -- to get the benefits of a stronger middle, needed to support your back.
For a study sponsored by the American Coun...
Strengthen Your Deltoids to Help Prevent Shoulder Injuries
- Len Canter
- February 6, 2019
- Full Page
Two out of every three people will experience a shoulder injury or problem at some point in their lives.
One reason: When it comes to training, the anterior, or front, deltoid muscle gets almost all the attention, while the medial and posterior deltoids get the cold...
Good News, Bad News on Levodopa for Parkinson's Disease
- Dennis Thompson
- January 23, 2019
- Full Page
The most potent drug available for Parkinson's disease, levodopa, treats symptoms of the disease but does nothing to either ease or increase its still-mysterious underlying causes, a new clinical trial has concluded.
Doctors often delay prescribing levodopa, or L-dopa,...
4 Exercises for a Better Back
- Len Canter
- January 22, 2019
- Full Page
To strengthen your back -- the most commonly injured part of the body -- it's important to condition both the muscles in it and the ones that support it, notably the abs.
Here are four moves to boost back fitness:
For the bird dog, start on your hands and k...
Life in Space May Take Toll on Spinal Muscles
- Robert Preidt
- January 15, 2019
- Full Page
Astronauts tend to complain of back pain after returning to Earth. Now, researchers think they can explain that discomfort.
Long stays in space can cause spinal muscles to shrink and become more fatty, they found.
In some of those muscles, increased fat lev...