NEWS YOU CAN USE

MUSIC AIDS SPEECH RECOVERY

Regaining the ability to speak can be one of the most challenging parts of stroke rehabilitation. But new research from Finland shows that simply listening to music each day can improve language recovery in those who have suffered a stroke. Scientists reached this conclusion after comparing the impact of vocal music and audiobooks on the language system in the left frontal lobe of acute stroke patients. The results showed that listening to vocal music boosted the structural connectivity in the language areas of the brain compared to the audiobooks. And since music is cost-efficient and easy to implement into a patient’s normal routine, it can be a harmonious addition to traditional rehabilitation.

Sihvonen AJ. Vocal music listening enhances poststroke language network reorganization. eNeuro. 2021;8(4):158-21.

TO IMPROVE HEART HEALTH, TAKE FIVE...

Getting in that workout can be time consuming. But what if you only needed five minutes of exercise a day to fight off cardiovascular disease? According to new research, the time-saving technique known as High-Resistance Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST) could be a game changer for heart health. The workout involves inhaling through a hand-held device designed to provide resistance. According to the trial, this lowers blood pressure and improves various markers of vascular health as well as, or even better than, aerobic exercise or medication. After six weeks, the group doing IMST saw their systolic blood pressure drop nine points—comparable to walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week; and equal to the effects of some blood pressure-lowering drug regimens.

Craighead DH. Time-efficient inspiratory muscle strength training lowers blood pressure and improves endothelial function, NO bioavailability, and oxidative stress in midlife/older adults with above-normal blood pressure. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2021;10(13):e020980.

...AND SUPPLEMENT WITH OMEGA-3S

Another way to keep your cardiovascular system in shape is by supplementing with omega-3s. These fatty acids have been shown repeatedly to improve cardiovascular health and reduce cardiovascular death. But one omega-3 may be more effective than the rest—eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of 38 randomized, controlled trials of omega-3 fatty acids showed a significantly greater reduction in cardiovascular risk in the studies of EPA. Supplementing improved key outcomes, including cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal cardiovascular events, bleeding, and atrial fibrillation. But be sure to look for an EPA supplement made by coldwater enzyme extraction and bound with marine phospholipids for greater absorption.

Khan SU. Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. eClinical Medicine. 2021;100997.

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How much prolonged leisure time sitting increases the risk of death from all causes.

The study defined prolonged sitting time as 6 or more hours a day.

Patel AV. Prolonged leisure time spent sitting in relation to cause-specific mortality in a large US cohort. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2018;187(10):2151-2158.

SLEEP CONSISTENCY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SLEEP QUANTITY

Getting good quality sleep each night is important. But keeping a consistent sleep schedule may be even more consequential, according to a new NPJ Digital Medicine report. In a survey on the routines of more than 2,000 first-year medical residents, researchers found that fluctuations in sleep habits significantly affected mood and depression, regardless of how many total hours they slept. It turns out that, over time, changes in sleep schedule can affect the quality of sleep, which can have a snowballing effect on mental health and overall well-being. So to get a good slumber, wake at the same time every day, eat meals and exercise at the same time, stick to a regular bedtime routine, and if you nap, keep it short.

Fang, Y. Day-to-day variability in sleep parameters and depression risk: a prospective cohort study of training physicians. NPI Digital Medicine. 2021;4:28.

WORKING OUTDOORS MAY PROTECT AGAINST BREAST CANCER

Are you the outdoor type? Here’s some interesting news—working outdoors has now been linked to a lower risk of breast cancer in women over 50. The findings, published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, suggest that because outdoor workers are exposed to more sunlight, they get more vitamin D, which may protect against the disease. The report notes that the women in the study with 20 or more years of occupational exposure saw a 17 percent lower risk of breast cancer. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that getting a job in the sun is the only way to see similar benefits. Doing outdoor activities on a regular basis—think gardening, exercising, or just hanging in the yard—may help safeguard you from breast cancer.

Pedersen JE. Occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet B radiation and risk of subtypes of breast cancer in Danish women. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2021;78:286-292.

WHAT’S REALLY IN YOUR COSMETICS?

Even if you read the ingredient labels on the cosmetics you buy, they still might contain contaminants linked to serious health conditions. When researchers at the University of Notre Dame tested more than 230 commonly used cosmetics, they discovered that 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products, and 47 percent of mascaras contained high levels of fluorine—a sign of PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” But when twenty-nine of the high-fluorine concentrations were further tested, they were found to contain up to 13 specific PFAS chemicals—and only one product listed PFAS as an ingredient on the label. Studies show that PFASs can stay in the body for decades and are carcinogenic, disrupt hormones, and weaken the immune system.

Whitehead HD. Fluorinated compounds in North American cosmetics. Environmental Science & Technology Letters (2021).

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The amount a good belly laugh increases blood flow, suggesting that it truly may be the best medicine.

Miller M. The effect of mirthful laughter on the human cardiovascular system. Medical Hypotheses. 2009;73(5):636.

CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION COULD LEAD TO GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is the number one cause of blindness in the United States. And a new analysis from the UK Biobank suggests that if you have a family history of glaucoma, you may want to cut back on caffeine. That’s because consuming large amounts of caffeine can lead to higher intraocular pressure and a higher risk of glaucoma, especially for those with a genetic predisposition. In one cross-sectional study, participants who drank about three cups of coffee a day and had the highest genetic risk were nearly four times more likely to develop the disease than those who drank very little or no caffeine.

Kim J. Intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and dietary caffeine consumption: A gene–diet interaction study from the UK Biobank. Ophthalmology. 2021;128(6):866-876.