Most people know that sleep quality matters, but few recognize the importance of consistent sleep schedules. Evidence suggests that inconsistent bedtime and wake-up routines could harm heart health. A recent study found that irregular sleep patterns increase the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes, even among people who get enough sleep overall. Researchers analyzed data from more than 72,000 adults aged 40 to 79 participating in the UK Biobank (https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/) study. Participants wore wrist devices for one week to track sleep patterns and regu... heart disease blood pressure cardiovascular sleep
Read moreAs we age, our muscles' response to resistance training diminishes to varying degrees, with some people responding and others not. This non-responsiveness can make maintaining muscle mass and strength challenging in later years. A recent study found that increasing resistance training volume—the number of sets performed—overcomes non-responsiveness in older adults. The study involved 85 older adults (average age, 68) who completed a 10-week resistance training program. Participants followed a low-volume protocol (one set) for one leg and a high-volume protocol (four sets) on the other leg whi... exercise aging muscle
Read moreCircadian rhythms regulate metabolic processes, including glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Disruptions in circadian rhythms can lead to metabolic impairments, increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. A recent study found that personal light exposure patterns predict the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers assessed the light exposure patterns of more than 84,000 UK Biobank participants. Participants wore light sensors for one week to record their day and night light exposure. The researchers tracked the incidence of type 2 diabetes among th... metabolism diabetes circadian rhythm insulin blue light
Read moreBreastfeeding profoundly affects an infant's brain, greatly influencing intellectual development. A new study shows that longer breastfeeding improves children's academic performance. Children who breastfed for longer duration performed better on standardized tests than those who breastfed for shorter periods. Researchers drew on data from the Millennium Cohort Study (https://cls.ucl.ac.uk/cls-studies/millennium-cohort-study/), which included 5,000 children born in England between 2000 and 2002. They looked at how long each child was breastfed (based on their mothers' reports) and how well th... development breast milk
Read more[toc position='left'] Background Zinc is an essential nutrient that participates in numerous biological processes and modulates the activity of more than 300 enzymes and 2,000 transcription factors.[ref doi='10.1136/bmj.326.7386.409'] First identified for its influence on growth and development, zinc is now understood to play critical roles in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. History The importance of zinc in the human diet first became apparent in the early 1960s, after a patient with a rare syndrome presented to Dr. Ananda Prasad, a physic... nutrition interesting zinc
Read moreAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by poor focus, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Approximately 5 percent of all children worldwide have ADHD. Findings from a recent study suggest that poor maternal vitamin D status may play a role in the pathophysiology of ADHD in children. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin stored in the liver and fatty tissues. It plays key roles in several physiological processes, such as the regulation of blood pressure, calcium homeostasis, immune function, and the regulation of cell growth. Emerging evidence... fatty liver vitamin a blood pressure
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