Americans with cancer are more likely to use marijuana and prescription opioids than those without cancer, and the use of medical marijuana by this group is on the rise, new research shows. Pain is common among cancer patients, but many do not get adequate pain relief, the researchers noted. The new study looked at more than 800 adults with cancer who took part in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2014. The patients were compared with about 1,650 adults without cancer. The findings showed that 40% of the cancer patients had used marijuana within the past year, compared with 38% of those without cancer. People with cancer were also more likely to use prescription opioids than those without the disease — nearly 14% versus just over 6%, respectively. When analyzing rates of marijuana and opioid use among more than 19,000 survey respondents, including those with and without cancer, the investigators found increasing rates of marijuana use over the 10-year study period, probably because legislative changes increased its availability. More clinical trials are needed to asses just how effective medical marijuana is against cancer-related pain, said co-lead author Dr. Kathryn Ries Tringale, of the University of California, San Diego. Prescription opioid use remained stable among cancer patients, the study authors said. A cancer diagnosis did not significantly affect the odds of…  read on >

Even if you love your job, your workspace might not love you back. Because people may spend 40 or more hours on the job, often at a desk, all that exposure to less-than-inspiring surroundings can negatively influence health. While some people suffer emotional and physical problems from a stressful job, for others, it’s the physical environment that can trigger back pain, sleep troubles or even breathing problems. Since you spend so much time at work, it makes sense to do what you can to improve your workspace. Researchers at Central Michigan University found that surrounding yourself with elements from nature can boost your mood and job satisfaction, and even act as a buffer to stress. At the top of the to-do list is getting more exposure to sunlight. Without it, workers are more likely to feel depressed, have lower job satisfaction and less commitment to their company. Having natural sunlight from a window is extremely helpful, but it’s also important to get outside during the day. Being in direct contact with the sun’s rays had the greatest positive influence on workers, researchers found. If your options for getting sunlight are limited, bring nature into your work area with plants. Look for a shade-loving variety if natural light inside the office is limited. Philodendron, pothos, ivy and dieffenbachia are all hardy, low-light plants readily available at…  read on >

Think breakfast isn’t the most important meal of the day? Think again, say researchers behind a new study that found the risk of heart-related death rises dramatically for folks who skip the morning repast. Compared to people who always ate breakfast, those who say they never did had a 87% higher odds of dying from heart-related causes, according to a study that tracked the health of 6,550 Americans for about 20 years. The odds for stroke, in particular, were especially elevated if people said they always skipped breakfast. These individuals had more than three times the odds of fatal stroke, compared to people who said they always ate in the a.m. Why is skipping breakfast such a toxic habit? Researchers led by Dr. Wei Bao of the University of Iowa said there could be many reasons. Most notably, skipping breakfast is tied to a boost in appetite later in the day, which “might lead to overeating later,” the research team said. Chronic overeating could bring on obesity. Insulin sensitivity — a hormonal factor that’s linked to obesity and diabetes — is also impaired when the morning “fast” lasts too long, Bao and his colleagues said. Holding back on breakfast might also affect other hormonal processes that could help raise blood pressure, they said. Finally, waiting too late in the day to begin eating has also…  read on >

Despair runs rampant through Generation X as these Americans struggle through middle age, a new study reports. So-called indicators of despair — depression, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse — are rising among those in their late 30s and early 40s, and it’s occurring across-the-board, researchers say. “These are getting worse as people age through their 30s,” said lead researcher Lauren Gaydosh, an assistant professor with the Vanderbilt University Center for Medicine, Health and Society. “For example, heavy drinking is really peaking again, almost to levels equivalent to where they were at college age.” Previous studies have drawn attention to these “deaths of despair,” but initially it appeared they were occurring mainly among poorly educated whites, Gaydosh said. These new findings indicate that despair is pervasive throughout Generation X, affecting people regardless of their race, background or family income. “Mortality, particularly for middle-aged people 45 to 54, has actually been increasing for the past several decades,” Gaydosh said. “The fact that indicators of despair are more generalized is concerning. It could mean these increases in mortality might spread more broadly, across all demographic groups.” Gaydosh and her colleagues tracked despair indicators among a group of people who were in grades 7 through 12 in 1994-1995, which places them among the youngest members of Generation X. Gen X is considered to consist of people born from the…  read on >

Leading health organizations are warning about the possibility of video game addiction. The World Health Organization has included it in the latest edition of its reference book of health disorders, while the American Psychiatric Association’s book offers warning signs but does not yet list it as an addiction. So parents might wonder whether any gaming is safe for their kids. If you follow American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for limiting daily screen time, many games and apps can help with learning, particularly for kids with certain developmental problems. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization that offers ideas and information to help children with learning and attention issues. Its Tech Finder can point parents to specific apps and games that nearly every child could benefit from. From a dropdown menu, you enter your child’s grade and the specific skill he or she would like to build on, such as reading, writing and math; attention and organization; social and motor skills; and speech and listening comprehension. Tech Finder then gives you a list of fun and educational games and apps to try. The site also offers tips for choosing a game or app. In addition to engaging your child by being fun to play, it should be challenging enough to prevent boredom but not so much so that your child gets frustrated from a lack of progress. The…  read on >

Researchers say an experimental stroke drug prevented blood clots without the typical side effect of blood thinners: increased bleeding risk. Bleeding is a common and potentially dangerous side effect of current anti-clotting drugs used to treat stroke patients. But the new findings suggest that the antiplatelet drug, called ACT017, may be a safe and effective alternative to current therapies used in stroke patients. “Any way to minimize bleeding risk after administering antiplatelet agents is highly desirable,” said one expert, Dr. Andrew Rogove. He directs stroke services at Northwell Health’s Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, N.Y. “Further investigation of this promising drug in treatment of acute ischemic stroke is warranted and necessary,” said Rogove, who wasn’t involved in the new study. This early, phase 1 trial of ACT017 was funded by the drug’s maker, Acticor-Biotech. It included 36 healthy men and women, aged 22 to 65, who were divided into six groups. Each group received intravenous infusions of the drug over six hours with doses ranging from 62.5 milligrams (mg) to 2,000 mg. The drug did not significantly extend “bleeding time” — a marker of increased risk for dangerous bleeds, said a team led by Dr. Martine Jandrot-Perrus, a scientist at France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research. ACT017 was also well-tolerated at all doses, without serious side effects, her team reported, although a dose…  read on >