Category Archives: Health

Alcohol Linked to Higher Risk of Breast Cancer In African-American Women

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Donna Whitaker

That’s the finding in a just-published study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. It’s not news that alcohol has been confirmed as a risk factor for breast cancer.  But all studies … Continue reading →

Posted in beer, Health, Wine | Tagged , | Comments Off on Alcohol Linked to Higher Risk of Breast Cancer In African-American Women

Hearing Tests May Miss Common Form of Loss

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Donna Whitaker

Traditional clinical hearing tests often fail to diagnose patients with a common form of inner ear damage that might otherwise be detected by more challenging behavioral tests, according to the findings of a University at Buffalo-led study published in the … Continue reading →

Posted in FYI, Health | Tagged , | Comments Off on Hearing Tests May Miss Common Form of Loss

Medical Marijuana Laws Linked to Illegal Use, DisordersAn additional 1.1 million adult illicit cannabis users and an additional 500,000 adults with a DSM-IV cannabis disorder may be attributable to medical marijuana law passage according to new research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA), both part of the National Institutes of Health. Comparing overall trends in states with medical marijuana laws to states without these laws, the authors examined data from three NIAAA-supported surveys conducted in 1991-1992, 2001-2002, and 2012-2013. In addition, the definition of cannabis use disorder was based upon the DSM-IV definition of cannabis abuse or dependence in the past 12 months. However, investigators also note there could be other contributing factors. These findings underscore the importance of examining how more permissive state marijuana laws can increase the risk of cannabis-related health consequences. An accompanying commentary on the article by NIDA scientists highlights the potential negative effects of cannabis on mental health.An additional 1.1 million adult illicit cannabis users and an additional 500,000 adults with a DSM-IV cannabis disorder may be attributable to medical marijuana law passage according to new research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA), both part of the National Institutes of Health. Comparing overall trends in states with medical marijuana laws to states without these laws, the authors examined data from three NIAAA-supported surveys conducted in 1991-1992, 2001-2002, and 2012-2013. In addition, the definition of cannabis use disorder was based upon the DSM-IV definition of cannabis abuse or dependence in the past 12 months. However, investigators also note there could be other contributing factors. These findings underscore the importance of examining how more permissive state marijuana laws can increase the risk of cannabis-related health consequences. An accompanying commentary on the article by NIDA scientists highlights the potential negative effects of cannabis on mental health.

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Donna Whitaker

An additional 1.1 million adult illicit cannabis users and an additional 500,000 adults with a DSM-IV cannabis disorder may be attributable to medical marijuana law passage according to new research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Drugs and driving, Health | Comments Off on Medical Marijuana Laws Linked to Illegal Use, DisordersAn additional 1.1 million adult illicit cannabis users and an additional 500,000 adults with a DSM-IV cannabis disorder may be attributable to medical marijuana law passage according to new research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA), both part of the National Institutes of Health. Comparing overall trends in states with medical marijuana laws to states without these laws, the authors examined data from three NIAAA-supported surveys conducted in 1991-1992, 2001-2002, and 2012-2013. In addition, the definition of cannabis use disorder was based upon the DSM-IV definition of cannabis abuse or dependence in the past 12 months. However, investigators also note there could be other contributing factors. These findings underscore the importance of examining how more permissive state marijuana laws can increase the risk of cannabis-related health consequences. An accompanying commentary on the article by NIDA scientists highlights the potential negative effects of cannabis on mental health.An additional 1.1 million adult illicit cannabis users and an additional 500,000 adults with a DSM-IV cannabis disorder may be attributable to medical marijuana law passage according to new research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA), both part of the National Institutes of Health. Comparing overall trends in states with medical marijuana laws to states without these laws, the authors examined data from three NIAAA-supported surveys conducted in 1991-1992, 2001-2002, and 2012-2013. In addition, the definition of cannabis use disorder was based upon the DSM-IV definition of cannabis abuse or dependence in the past 12 months. However, investigators also note there could be other contributing factors. These findings underscore the importance of examining how more permissive state marijuana laws can increase the risk of cannabis-related health consequences. An accompanying commentary on the article by NIDA scientists highlights the potential negative effects of cannabis on mental health.

Drugs, More Than Alcohol, Lead to Highway Deaths

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Donna Whitaker

That conclusion, startling because we’ve been conditioned to believe that drunk driving is the great killer on U.S. highways, is courtesy of a just-released report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.  In 2015, the most recent year available, the National … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Health | Comments Off on Drugs, More Than Alcohol, Lead to Highway Deaths

Low-Sodium Diet Might Not Lower Blood Pressure

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Donna Whitaker

A new study that followed more than 2,600 men and women for 16 years found that consuming less sodium wasn’t associated with lower blood pressure. The new findings call into question the sodium limits recommended by the current Dietary Guidelines … Continue reading →

Posted in FYI, Health | Tagged , | Comments Off on Low-Sodium Diet Might Not Lower Blood Pressure

Aggression linked to media violence in 7 cultures

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Donna Whitaker

New research offers compelling evidence that media violence affects aggressive behavior. This first-of-its-kind study, led by Craig Anderson, a Distinguished Professor of psychology at Iowa State University, confirms six decades of research showing the effect is the same, regardless of … Continue reading →

Posted in FYI, Health | Comments Off on Aggression linked to media violence in 7 cultures