The AI analysis found enormous variation in the health of the thymus between individual people. In some people, it stayed very active until a very old age. And other people, it actually declined very rapidly at a younger age. Importantly, thymus health correlated with a person's overall health. People who had a healthy thymus tended to live longer, have less cancer, and less cardiovascular disease.
Sauna challenges the body in ways that are similar to exercise, researchers say. Confronted with the sudden increase in heat, your cardiovascular system is put to the test—blood vessels dilate, heart rate increases and blood gets pushed to your skin, where it can be cooled more easily by sweat.
Compared with a control group that also reduced calories but did not eat oats, those on the oat based plan saw a markedly greater improvement in their cholesterol levels. The reduction remained noticeable even six weeks later. Researchers also found that the diet changed the balance of bacteria in the gut. Substances produced by these microbes appear to play an important role in the health benefits linked to oats.
By creating one of the nation's first state health departments, lawmakers and elected officials in 1901 were taking a leadership role in public health that continues to this day. Take the issue of heart health: Just last month, Governor Hochul unveiled a budget proposal that makes major investments in our fight against cardiovascular disease. Healthy hearts start with healthy diets, which is why Governor Hochul included over $100 million for nutrition programs, food banks and food pantries in the Executive Budget.
Rather than simply extending the fasting window or cutting more calories, the intervention group was simply asked to finish eating at least three hours before their usual bedtime. That meant no snacking while watching TV after dinner and no "just one more bite" at 10 p.m. (my personal downfall). This relatively simple intervention ensured that the overnight fast overlapped with the body's natural sleep-wake rhythm.
A humble - and delicious - berry could be the answer to improving your gut, brain and heart health, a major review found last week. Experts have long urged us to eat more blueberries, but thankfully you don't need to be consuming kilos of the superfruit for it to have an impact. Every year Britons consume 57,000 tonnes of the tiny fruits; enough to fill 23 Olympic size swimming pools.
However, new research suggests that sharing a meal with those we care about, like family or colleagues, may lower our stress levels, improve our workday, and help us make healthier food choices. In a report released this week, the American Heart Association (AHA), which surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults about their dining habits, found that almost all parents (91%) say their family is less stressed when they share meals together.
Drinking tea, particularly green tea, is linked to better heart health, improved metabolism, and lower risks of chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. It may also help protect the brain and preserve muscle strength as people age. However, processed teas-such as bottled and bubble varieties-often contain sugars and additives that may cancel out these benefits. Moderation and choosing freshly brewed tea appear key.
Sleep apnea is one of the most common - and most overlooked - sleep disorders. Millions of people live with it for years without realizing their nightly rest is being repeatedly disrupted, quietly affecting their health in ways that extend far beyond sleep. Once you know what to look for, the signs may sound familiar: getting a full eight hours yet waking up exhausted, struggling with daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Registration is open for El Camino Health's 15th Annual Heart Forum. The free event, taking place Saturday, Feb. 7, brings together cardiovascular physicians to share advances in heart care and features interactive sessions, a heart-healthy cooking demonstration and a patient's story about their journey to better heart health. Attendees will learn how to take charge of their heart health with a holistic approach to prevention and discover practical, enjoyable ways to incorporate movement into their daily routines to support cardiovascular health.
Writing at the Associated Press, Albert Stumm explored the growing evidence that the physical act of laughing has health benefits. University of Pennsylvania cardiologist Dr. Michael Miller offered Stumm advice where he compared laughter to exercise: "Belly laugh at least two to five days a week." Dr. Miller went on to discuss the role that laughter can play in deploying endorphins, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and act to reduce pain.
In the first 90 days after the Palisades and Eaton fires erupted in January, the caseload at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's emergency room looked different from the norm. There were 46% more visits for heart attacks than typically occured during the same time period over the previous seven years. Visits for respiratory illnesses increased 24%. And unusual blood test results increased 118%.
Using data from the long-running Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, which has followed more than 5,000 adults across the U.S. over the past 35 years, researchers found that individuals whose cardiovascular health declined between their 20s and 40s were up to ten times more likely to develop heart disease by their 60s than those who maintained or improved their heart health. The study's results are published in JAMA Network Open.
If a looming root canal treatment is putting a dampener on the week, take heart: having the procedure can drive health benefits that are felt throughout the body, according to research. Patients who were successfully treated for root canal infections saw their blood sugar levels fall significantly over two years, suggesting that ridding the body of the problematic bacteria could help protect against type 2 diabetes.
In August, 2005, Anand Irimpen, a cardiologist and a professor at Tulane University, evacuated New Orleans during the approach of Hurricane Katrina. He and his family watched it make landfall from a hotel room in Dallas. "The storm passed by and I was ready to go home," Irimpen told me. "But then my wife said, 'The levees broke. We can't go back.'" The damage to New Orleans lingered; they ended up staying in Dallas for months.
Clarence DeMar would train for races by running to and from his job at a print shop in Boston, up to 14 miles a day, often carrying a clean shirt. His hard work paid off. He won the 1911 Boston Marathon and competed in the next year's Olympics. But all that running raised eyebrows. At the time, many people and medical experts thought prolonged exercise was dangerous.
The senior study author, Prof Henning Bundgaard, a professor at Copenhagen University hospital, said: The human body evolved on a potassium-rich, sodium-poor diet when we were born and raised on the savannah and eating [fruit and vegetables]. We [now] tend to go to [a] modern diet that is processed foods and, the more processed, we see more and more sodium in the food and less potassium, meaning that the ratio between the two has changed from 10:1 to 1:2 a dramatic change.
Dr. Dmitry Yaranov emphasizes the importance of supplements in supporting heart health, particularly omega-3, magnesium, and vitamin D, while also highlighting healthy lifestyle choices.
Jasmine "JB" Badie emphasizes the importance of rigorous cardio training for performers, stating that the efforts pay off in delivering great shows for audiences.
