The United Kingdom has taken a positive step toward boosting the well-being of its citizens by encouraging them to explore their relationship with movement. In an effort to improve the mental and physical health of patients, and reduce disparities across England, doctors can now prescribe social prescriptions, including walking, wheeling, and cycling. The 12.7 million-pound […]
Sprucing up a concrete jungle with splashes of color and greenery can notably improve residents’ moods, a new study shows. Science has long supported the age-old advice to “stop and smell the roses.” Exposure to nature has been shown to provide significant mental health benefits, but achieving high-quality, quantifiable data to further this research can
Greenery and Color in Urban Settings Boost Morale, Study Finds Continue Reading »
It’s estimated that an individual requires a donation of blood or platelets every two seconds in the U.S., and a new initiative from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to ensure everyone who needs blood can get it. The national blood drive, called Giving = Living, aims to increase awareness of
Ultrasounds, while safe and effective, require a trip to the doctor’s office or hospital, bulky equipment, and a slather of cold gel on the area to be imaged. But a group of MIT engineers hopes to change that process. The team has developed a small, ultrasound sticker that can provide continuous, high-resolution images of internal
It may seem obvious that travel can leave people feeling relaxed and restored, but a recent study says it’s the first of its kind to explore the link between tourism and mental health, specifically for vulnerable groups like people with dementia. The researchers concluded that tourism can provide dementia patients with “relaxing and memorable experiences that stimulate neurological functioning,” and recommended using
How Travel Can Boost Mental Health for Dementia Patients and More Continue Reading »
We often hear that representation matters, but one new study from Columbia University researchers has proven just how essential diversity actually is when it comes to maternal healthcare. The study, published in July, found that more diversity in the nurse workforce is linked to a lower risk of complications during childbirth for all mothers, regardless
Diverse Nurse Workforce Linked to Improved Maternal Health Outcomes: Study Continue Reading »
Blood pressure is one of medicine’s most important measurements, not just as a diagnostic tool to predict cardiovascular disease and stroke risk, but also to monitor issues like kidney disease and diabetes. Inside the doctor’s office, restrictive blow-up arm cuffs do the job fine, but in more natural settings, measuring blood pressure is tricky. Fitbits
Researchers Develop Tattoo That Measures Blood Pressure Continue Reading »
It can track workouts, improve sleep, and provide easy access to all your favorite phone apps. And now, Apple’s smartwatch can also help you accurately monitor and manage atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that increases the risk for stroke, heart failure, and other heart problems. The AFib History feature is included in the watchOS 9
New Apple Watch Feature May Help Monitor Atrial Fibrillation  Continue Reading »
Scientists have created a blood test that can predict people’s risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, or death related to those conditions over a four-year period. The test could save lives and prevent serious medical emergencies by helping doctors see if current drugs are working and whether patients might need additional or alternative
New Blood Test More Accurately Predicts Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke Continue Reading »
Hit the gym or press play — new findings suggest pumping up the jams could be as powerful for your mental state as pumping iron. Any music lover may tell you that bopping along to your favorite song is a surefire way to feel better, but a scientific review published in JAMA concludes that music’s
Music May Improve Mental Health as Much as Exercise, Research Shows Continue Reading »
