When you hear the term “breast massage,” you might think of breast self-exams for lumps. But there’s a whole other kind of breast massage that’s much more pleasurable than a self-check (though you should definitely be doing those, too!). Breast massage is meant to be a practice of self-love, first of all, and if done […]
Compound in fruit peels halts damage and spurs neuronal repair in multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS), characterized by increasing muscle weakness and paralysis, has a number of treatments that help stall progression of the disease when used early on in the disease. But the current treatments can hardly reverse damage that has already occurred in brain cells called neurons. New research suggests that a compound found in the […]
How viruses spread in Kenya’s low-income areas, and what can be done to prevent it
As the new coronavirus spreads in African countries, a big source of concern is how it will spread and affect those that live in congested low-income areas. Moina Spooner from The Conversation Africa asked Eric Fèvre about how viruses spread in Kenya’s low-income areas, and what can be done to prevent it from happening. What […]
Researchers find that nicotinamide may help treat fibrotic eye diseases and mitigate vision loss
Nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, can inhibit aggressive cell transformations during wound healing and may be key to the development of therapies to treat fibrotic eye diseases that impair vision, according to a new Mount Sinai study published on Thursday, April 2, in Stem Cell Reports. The findings apply to a condition in which […]
Air pollution linked to dementia and cardiovascular disease
People continuously exposed to air pollution are at increased risk of dementia, especially if they also suffer from cardiovascular diseases, according to a study at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal JAMA Neurology. Therefore, patients with cardiovascular diseases who live in polluted environments may require additional support from care providers to prevent dementia, […]
A plant-based diet helps to prevent and manage asthma, according to new review
A plant-based diet can help prevent and manage asthma, while dairy products and high-fat foods raise the risk, according to a new review published in Nutrition Reviews. Asthma is a common chronic condition in which the airways become narrow and inflamed—sometimes leading to difficulty with breathing, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. “Asthma is a […]
Explainer: what is contact tracing and how does it help limit the coronavirus spread?
You might have heard about contact tracing which, when combined with social distancing, has proven a powerful asset in controlling the spread of COVID-19. In short, it means assigning a “contact tracer” to interview each person with a confirmed case of COVID-19. The contact tracer, through painstaking and quick detective work, finds out who else […]
Improving mental health awareness and support for patients with persistent pain
People who live with persistent pain, caused by conditions like osteoarthritis, are twice as likely to experience a mental health condition compared to the general population. Now, a research team from Keele University’s School of Primary, Community and Social Care have been awarded £100,000 to develop interventions that support the mental health needs of people […]
Travel restrictions are most useful in the early and late phase of an epidemic: study
Analysis of human mobility and epidemiological data by a global consortium of researchers, led by the University of Oxford and Northeastern University, shows that human mobility was predictive of the spread of the epidemic in China. Restrictions of travel from Wuhan unfortunately came too late and research showed that the impact of travel restrictions declines […]
Coronavirus: how to access the medicines you and your family need
Panic buying of toilet paper, no meat or soap on supermarket shelves, and now an apparent run on medicines such as asthma puffers and children’s paracetamol. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting us in ways we’ve never had to deal with before. So Australia has announced measures to help people access their medicines. These include limiting […]