The medical journal BMJ published a report today that links a lower risk of early death to higher levels of physical activity at any intensity in middle-aged and older people. Previous studies have repeatedly suggested that any type of sedentary behavior, such as sitting still, is not good for your health. Being sedentary for 9.5…… MORE
As my son’s camp brochures told it, summer’s appeal remains as timeless as popsicles and dappled light. It’s the season of freedom; a time to commune with Mother Nature and our unfettered selves. Conveniently left out of these bucolic scenes were us, his parents, hollow-eyed and deflated from the Herculean effort it takes to get…… MORE
The average American eats nearly 60 pounds of beef (27 kg) a year — roughly equal to a couple of hundred burgers. But for how much longer will the beef burger remain king? A new generation of burgers made with, “plant meat” is vying to topple the beef burger from its throne, transforming the beef…… MORE
They may be in our oceans, rivers and ice but there’s little evidence to suggest that microplastics in the water we drink pose a risk to our health. In its first review on the health risks of plastic in tap and bottled water, the World Health Organization said that microplastics “don’t appear to pose a…… MORE
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now aware of 153 possible cases of severe lung disease in 16 states that could be caused by vaping, the agency said Wednesday in an update to a multi-state investigation. The cases — reported from June 28 to August 20, 2019 — have popped up in…… MORE
Even when air pollution is at levels below air quality guidelines and regulatory limits, it can still pose a hazard to public health, a new study finds. In a 30-year analysis of 652 cities in 24 countries and regions on six continents, researchers found that increases in air pollution were linked to increases in related…… MORE
Africa has gone three years without a case of wild polio being detected, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, a significant milestone in the quest to eradicate the disease. The continent’s last case of polio caused by the wild virus was detected on 21 August 2016 in Nigeria. Africa is expected to be certified…… MORE
A federal program recommends people keep their homes between 78 and 85 degrees, and the internet is freaking out. The guidelines come from Energy Star, a government-backed program to promote energy efficiency, and they’ve sparked a fiery debate on social media. The program suggests different settings to automate at various times: 78 degrees when you…… MORE
US Customs and Border Protection will not vaccinate migrants, even though three children who had been in US custody died after contracting the flu. The cases all occurred since December. “In general, due to the short-term nature of CBP holding and the complexities of operating vaccination programs, neither CBP nor its medical contractors administer vaccinations…… MORE
More women should be assessed for harmful mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that can increase risk of certain cancers, according to new recommendations. Previously, it was recommended for women who have a family history of breast, ovarian, tubal or peritoneal cancer to be assessed for harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. That recommendation was…… MORE
