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Working out offers a lot of health benefits, and the risks are astonishingly small, according to a new study from the United Kingdom. “This work demonstrates that engaging in fitness activities is overwhelmingly a safe and beneficial pursuit,” said study co-author Dr. Sean Williams, a researcher at the University of Bath Center for Health and Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport. “While no physical activity is entirely without risk, the chance of serious injury is exceedingly low when compared to the myriad health and wellness advantages gained from staying active,” Williams continued in a university news release. The five-year study found that even forms of exercise sometimes considered risky by the public, such as road cycling, are generally safe. Data for the study came from hospitals in England and Wales. The researchers found that between 2012 and 2017, nearly 12,000 trauma injuries resulted from sports and exercise. The study looked at 61 sports and other physical activities to provide a comparable estimate of the risks to participants. Running, golf, dance classes and gym sessions were the least likely to result in injury. Running had in 0.70 injuries, golf 1.25 injuries and fitness classes just 0.10 per 100,000 participants a year. Among the most popular sports, soccer had the highest injury incidence rate at 6.56 injuries per 100,000 participants a year. The authors characterized this as… read on > read on >

Taking the drug metformin – typically used for type 2 diabetes – can help counter weight gain in young people who are taking medication for bipolar disorder, according to a new trial. While second-generation antipsychotic medications (SGAs) that treat bipolar disorder can help improve mental health, significant side effects include higher blood pressure and blood sugar, increased appetite and weight gain. “We, the clinicians, naively justified that we’re improving your psychosis, so just deal with the weight gain,” said trial co-leader Dr. Victor Fornari, a child/adolescent psychiatrist at Northwell Health in Glen Oaks, N.Y. “But patients stopped taking their medicine because they said they didn’t want to gain weight.” A survey showed patients wanted interventions to reduce these side effects, according to Christina Klein, a University of Cincinnati research scientist. The study had broad enrollment criteria and was conducted at a wide variety of clinics, she said. It included more than 1,500 patients ages 8 to 19 who had bipolar disorder and were taking SGAs. “It was a large sample of patients to really demonstrate what’s going on,” Fornari said in a University of Cincinnati news release. “I don’t know that anybody has done a study of this magnitude.” Trial participants received recommendations for healthy eating and exercise. Half were also prescribed metformin. “If patients weren’t doing well on the metformin, they could come off… read on > read on >

Experts have long wondered whether diagnoses for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the youngest children in a class would hold. A new study suggests that being the youngest, and possibly most immature, did not appear to make a difference. “We know the youngest children in their year group are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD — but many believe this is because they lag behind their older classmates,” explained senior study author Dr. Samuele Cortese, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. “However, no one has ever explored if these younger children who are diagnosed with ADHD retain the diagnosis later on — until now,” Cortese said in a university news release. “Our study shows for the first time that these youngsters are no more likely to lose the diagnosis over time than older children.” More than 360 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the World Health Organization. About one-third are children and adolescents. Symptoms include impulsiveness, disorganization, poor time management skills, difficulty focusing and restlessness. This new study was led by researchers from University of Southampton and Paris Nanterre University, who collaborated with 161 scientists from around the world. They used data from more than 6,500 patients who had ADHD, who were followed for a period between the ages of 4… read on > read on >

Time-restricted dieting may be a better way for people with type 2 diabetes to lose weight than counting calories, a new study suggests. Researchers found that people who only ate between noon and 8 p.m. each day lost more weight than those who reduced their calories by 25%. Both groups, however, had similar reductions in long-term blood sugar levels based on a test of hemoglobin A1C. The test shows blood sugar levels over the past three months. “It’s important to give people with type 2 diabetes more than one strategy to lose weight and decrease their HbA1C,” said lead researcher Krista Varady, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois, Chicago. “Some people find it difficult to count calories. Others don’t have weekly or monthly support and they need a dietary pattern that is simple to follow, such as watching the clock,” Varady added. In the United States, about 1 in 10 U.S. residents has diabetes, and that number is rising, the researchers said. It’s crucial to find more ways to control weight and blood sugar levels for these patients. While the study represents a “proof of concept” showing that time-restricted eating is safe for those with type 2 diabetes, Varady said people with diabetes should consult their doctor before starting this sort of diet. Also, “some medications for type 2 diabetes will lower… read on > read on >

Federal regulators are warning consumers to stop using eyedrops and gels from several major brands after finding unsanitary conditions in a manufacturing plant. Twenty-six eye care products are part of the alert. Contaminated products have the potential to cause eye infection and blindness because drugs applied to the eye can bypass some of the body’s defenses. Those concerning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are branded CVS Health, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Cardinal Health), Rite Aid, Target Up & Up and Velocity Pharma. The FDA urged the manufacturer to recall all lots of these products. CVS, Rite Aid and Target are pulling products from shelves and websites. Although there were no reports of infection, bacterial tests were positive in critical drug product areas of the plant. The FDA’s list of eye products to avoid is here. Patients and providers should report any issues to the FDA. Consumers should discard products involved in the recall at a drug take-back site. They can also check the FDA’s flush list to see if they can be safely discarded at home, the New York Times reported. Certain products — those branded Leader, Rugby and Velocity — may still be available for purchase in stores and online. Don’t buy them, the FDA advised. Rite Aid is removing “applicable Rite Aid branded products” from store shelves, a spokeswoman said. CVS “immediately… read on > read on >

MONDAY, Oct. 30, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Patients with sickle cell disease may soon have two new treatments to try. On Tuesday, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will weigh the merits of a new gene therapy for the painful, inherited condition, which typically strikes Black people. The agency is expected to make a decision on that therapy in early December, and it also plans to decide on a second new treatment before year’s end, the Associated Press reported. The treatment being reviewed Tuesday is based on CRISPR technology, a gene-editing tool. The inventors of that tool won the Nobel Prize in 2020 for their work, the AP reported. A one-time treatment, “exa-cel” is made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, and it permanently changes DNA in a patient’s blood cells. How does it work? Stem cells are removed from a patient’s blood, and then CRISPR knocks out a gene that triggers the development of defective, crescent-shaped blood cells. Meanwhile, medicine kills off flawed blood-producing cells in patients, who are then given back their own altered stem cells. “Anything that can help relieve somebody with this condition of the pain and the multiple health complications is amazing,” Dr. Allison King, a professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told the AP. “It’s horribly painful. Some people will say it’s like being stabbed… read on > read on >

As sweltering summer days become more common, the number of Americans who die of heat-related heart problems or strokes could soar over the next few decades, a new study projects. The study — published Oct. 30 in the journal Circulation — estimates that by mid-century the United States will see those preventable deaths more than triple if greenhouse gas emissions are allowed to rise unchecked. Older adults and Black Americans are expected to be hardest-hit — a prospect that would widen the racial disparities in heart disease that already exist. That’s the bad news. The more hopeful finding is that some of those heat-related deaths could be avoided by implementing current proposals on cutting emissions. “Our study suggests there could be a benefit from reducing emissions, and within a short time frame,” said lead researcher Dr. Sameed Khatana, a cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Experts have long known that heat waves often trigger a spike in strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications — typically among people with preexisting risk factors. That’s because the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular system) are central players in regulating body temperature, Khatana said. When the body overheats, the heart works harder, pumping blood to the periphery of the body to release heat through sweat. And for vulnerable people, that stress can be too… read on > read on >

MONDAY, Oct. 30, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Matthew Perry, one of the stars of the beloved television sitcom “Friends,” died on Saturday. Perry, 54, was best known for his portrayal of Chandler Bing in the long-running show, but he also starred in many other roles. Capt. Scot Williams, of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide division, confirmed Perry’s death, the New York Times reported. Investigators saw no sign of foul play, but the cause of death has not been determined. The actor had spoken openly about his history of addiction in interviews and in the memoir he released in 2022, called “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” In 1997, he went to rehab for an addiction to pain medication, according to news reports at the time. He was hospitalized for pancreatitis in 2000, an inflammation that can be caused by alcohol and drug abuse, the Times reported. Then in 2018, he developed pneumonia, suffered an exploded colon, spent time on life support, was in a coma for two weeks, had a colostomy bag for nine months and went through several stomach surgeries, all of which were tied to his addiction, the Times reported. He was newly sober two years ago. Perry had said he had spent more than half his life in treatment centers or sober living facilities. “I was a guy who wanted… read on > read on >

Kids with a genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are likely to spend hours a day glued to their screens, but researchers say it doesn’t mean screen time causes ASD. The investigators also found that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) gradually increased their screen time as they got older, even if they started out with low levels of initial screen use. “While long periods of screen time in childhood have been suggested to be a cause of ASD/ADHD, the results of this study suggest that some people may have a genetic disposition to use screens because of ASD,” said lead researcher Dr. Nagahide Takahashi. He is an associate professor of medicine at Nagoya University in Japan. “Screen time may be an early sign of ASD, rather than a cause, as children with ASD are often more attracted to objects than people,” he added in a university news release. “Physicians should know that it is not fair to conclude that prolonged screen time is a risk factor for the development of ASD,” Takahashi explained. Most people are spending more time on digital devices, including smartphones, computers, television and video game systems. The researchers said that’s especially true for kids with neurodevelopmental disorders. Joining with colleagues from Hamamatsu University, Takahashi’s team examined 6.5 million differences in the DNA of 437 children to determine genetic susceptibility to… read on > read on >

Millions of people spend hours looking at screens every day, straining their eyes. An ophthalmologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston offers some tips for easing both eye strain and headaches. “We focus on one object, especially an object that’s up close, like a computer screen or phone, for prolonged periods of time, and we don’t give our eye muscles time to rest,” said Dr. Masih Ahmed, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Baylor. “If you don’t give your muscles enough time to rest, that can cause some tension of those muscles,” Ahmed explained. Dry eye can also cause eye strain, as you subconsciously blink less when reading, watching TV or working on the computer. Follow the 20-20-20 rule when working in front of a screen, Ahmed suggested. Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to focus on something 20 feet away to give your eyes a rest. And use artificial tears if you have dry eyes. Prolonged eyestrain can give you a headache. If you wear corrective lenses, make sure you have the proper prescription, he advised. If you have an astigmatism, you won’t see as sharply. This might require more focus and energy, leading to eye strain. “You might squint more trying to get that pinhole effect for things to look clearer. Astigmatism can also make things look distorted in shape if… read on > read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Get Active: Study Finds Most Forms of Exercise Are Very Safe

Metformin May Help Young Patients With Bipolar Disorder Avoid Weight Gain

Youngest Kids With ADHD in Class No Less Likely to See Diagnosis Fade

Fasting Diets Beat Low-Cal Regimens for Folks With Diabetes

FDA Warns Eyedrops From Major Brands May Cause Infection

FDA Advisors to Weigh New Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Anemia

U.S. Heat-Related Heart Deaths Will Multiply With Warming Temperatures

‘Friends’ Star Matthew Perry Dead at 54

Lots of Screen Time Could Be Early Sign of ADHD, Autism

Staring at Screens Can Cause Eye Strain. Here’s Tips to Prevent That