Some love the mountains while others enjoy a hot day at the beach. A new report shows that the healthiest and happiest cities in the US are near the beach. If you want to live longer and have a better life, now it’s the time to pack your swimsuit and move in one of these cities.

The Gallup-Healthways State of American Well-Being 2016 Community Rankings shows that the cities that are near the ocean have a higher chance of pleasing their residents. For the second year in a row, Naples was the happiest and healthiest city in the US.

In order to conduct this study, researchers measured the physical health, financial security, sense of purpose, and social ties of residents from 189 cities in the US. They wanted to see if the city they live in has any effect on the well-being of the residents. The results showed that people are influenced by the city and the environment they reside in.

Naples, Florida, Provo-Orem, Utah, and Boulder, Colorado are the only cities that reached the first spot more than once. These reports began in 2008 and they showed the healthiest and happiest cities in the US since then. The researchers used the same method every year in order for their findings to be consistent.

Although the top spots changed from year to year, the statistics show that cities that are near the beach have a higher chance of ranking top positions when compared to cities in the center of the US. Besides the fact that the beach can be a factor that influences out happiness, the researchers mentioned that there are other factors that should be taken into consideration as well.

The scientists mentioned that the happiest cities are sometimes located near the beach due to the fact that clinical depression is less likely to hit people that live in such areas. They also mentioned that people who live near the beach eat healthier when compared to other people.

Despite the fact that the beach has some advantages, the happiest cities are ranked this way due to the fact that their residents enjoy financial stability and a sense of purpose. It is important to notice that these rankings change every year. Before 2018 begins, we should move to Naples, Florida, if we want to live in the healthiest city in the US.

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We all love to eat fast food sometimes. Sugary drinks and sodas are tasty too but they are dangerous for our health. As we have all heard that too much fat and sugar can harm us, a new study ties these products to many US deaths.

It is normal to crave bacon and soda from time to time but studies show that people tend to eat these products more often that they should. This is why researchers decided to show how bacon and soda can damage our health.

This new study suggests that eating too much bacon and drinking too many sodas contribute to more than 40% of US deaths. Despite the fact that these products did not kill these people, they were responsible for the heart diseases and strokes that killed them.

The report also states that good foods are usually skipped by many US people while bad foods are over-eaten. These good foods include seafood, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Many US deaths are caused by the fact that people tend to avoid these products.

The majority of people over-eat bad foods that include processed meats, sugary drinks, and red meats. These products contain too much salt, sugar or fat. Our body is not designed to digest and assimilate so much fat and sugar. This is why many people nowadays suffer from diabetes and heart diseases.

These health conditions caused by bad foods are responsible for 40% of the US deaths. This means that what we eat can be the reason for our health conditions. The researchers who conducted this study recommended people to start over-eating the good foods and under-eat the bad ones.

This report is based on data from more than 700.000 US deaths. These deaths occurred in 2012 and were caused by strokes, diabetes, and heart disease. The researchers also used an analysis of health surveys which questioned its participants about what they usually eat.

Most of the people who participated in these surveys over-eat red meats and under-eat nuts and seafood. This is why researchers also published a guideline that shows the exact amount of bad and good foods that should be consumed by every adult.

What is your opinion about this study? Did you know that these products were responsible for 40% of the US deaths?

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Social media is the new way to communicate nowadays. No matter if you talk, post photos, or comment on other people’s post, you are communicating. The problem is that using social media too much can make you feel isolated from the real world.

Social isolation is a health concern that affects more and more people these days. All of us are too busy checking up on Facebook or posting photos on Instagram to really stop and talk to one another, face to face. Since social media became a popular trend, face to face communication between people has declined.

Despite the fact that many people might believe that using social media means they are integrated into society, a new research shows the opposite. Studies show that people who spend a lot of their time on social media platforms tend to feel isolated when compared to those who don’t have an account on social media sites.

Another problem besides feeling isolated is that they might actually have a tendency to self-harm. Many previous studies have shown that there is a strong connection between loneliness and an increased risk of mortality. People who feel isolated might have suicidal thoughts as well.

A new research focuses on finding out the link between social media and the feeling of isolation. Despite the fact that these two contradict themselves, the research shows that spending too much time on social media can make people feel isolated.

This study was led by Dr. Brian A. Primack. When he was asked why he chose this topic, he mentioned that mental health problems are concerning and they are becoming more and more frequent among young adults.

In order to conduct this study, Dr. Primack and his team investigated the behavior of 1,780 adults on social media. All of the participants were aged between 19 and 32. They are from the US. In order to see how much time they spent on these platforms and how they behaved, all of the participants were asked a series of questions.

The findings showed that people who spend more than 2 hours on social media sites were twice more likely to feel isolated when compared to those who spend an hour or less. Despite the fact that the researchers were able to find the link between social media and the feeling of isolation, they mentioned that they did not find a cause and effect relation.

What is your opinion about this study? Do you think that social media can make us feel isolated?

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Genetic engineering is one of the most controversial topics nowadays. Due to the fact that scientists are now allowed to use stem cells and grow them in order to cure people of diseases, genetic engineering is more popular.

Some doctors claim that sickle cell anemia can be cured with genetic engineering. Despite the fact that there is no actual proof of the power of genetic engineering, many people believe that it can be a revolutionary method for the medicine available these days.

Despite the fact that medicine has evolved, doctors and scientists believe that there is always room for improvements. This is why genetic engineering could be the next step in medicine. Although it is approved for tests, this type of medicine can only be used to treat diseases or to prevent them.

Sickle cell anemia is considered to be a slow killer. People who suffer from this condition are in pain. In the US, this disease is not uncommon. One in every 360 black babies is born with this problem. Worldwide, more than 275,000 infants have sickle cell anemia.

Doctors from the Necker Children’s Hospital mentioned that there is a case that proves sickle cell anemia can be cured with gene therapy. After a trial treatment, a boy got rid of this condition. This patient took this treatment for more than 15 months when he was 13. The doctors that conducted the trial mentioned that he is well now. The boy is off his meds and he doesn’t need them anymore.

In order to treat him, doctors extracted bone marrow from the boy and they harvested stem cells. After that, the gene code was altered in order to become normal. After the doctors started administrating the trial treatment, the boy was feeling much better. He didn’t experience so much pain and he did not need blood transfusions anymore.

The doctors that made this trial treatment to treat sickle cell anemia are also preparing a treatment for thalassemia. This is another blood disorder that acts similarly to the sickle cell anemia. Doctors mentioned that they are going to continue their tests on this anemia type to see if gene therapy is the cure.

What is your opinion about this treatment? Do you think that it is effective?

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A strain of the highly contagious bird flu has been discovered at a commercial chicken farm in Lincoln County, Tennessee. The presence of H7 avian influenza has been confirmed by the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently confirmed the first case of H7 bird flu, also known as HPAI, in commercial poultry in 2017. The entire flock of chicken measures 73,500 specimens and it is located near the Mississippi flyway.

The chicken flock experienced increased mortality, prompting health officials to take samples, which were tested at the Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. The final confirmation of the results took place at the APHIS National Veterinary Service Laboratories, located in Ames, Iowa. The scientists are working to isolate the virus in order to determine its “N-type”, expected to be revealed within 48 hours.

Currently, APHIS is working with local Department of Agriculture officials to develop a joint incident response. They managed to quarantine both the premises and the birds part of the affected flock. Furthermore, the grounds will be depopulated in order to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Agriculture officials are also making sure that the poultry farm workers from the facility are taking the proper precautions to prevent any illnesses and contain the disease without spreading. Officials reminded concerned people that cooking all poultry eggs at 165-degrees Fahrenheit kills viruses and bacteria.

Current bird flu response plans involve the joint effort of both Federal and State partners to implement additional surveillance and testing programs in the nearby areas. The USDA will make use the AI surveillance program to detect the disease in various commercial poultry facilities, as well as in live bird markets and migratory wild birds.

The bird flu virus strain can travel in wild birds without making them appear sick. Therefore, people should avoid all contact with nearby birds and especially those what look sick or died, be it poultry or wild birds. In the case of accidental contacts, people should wash their hands with soap and water, change their clothing before any other contact with domestic birds.

What do you think about the latest bird flu case in the US? Were your ever affected by such an outbreak?

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Hand sanitizer may provide a good solution for cleaning your hand while on the go, but that doesn’t mean it does not have any dangerous effects, especially if ingested by children. A new report from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that an increased number of children keep getting sick after ingesting the alcohol-based solution.

The report showcases more than 70,000 cases were children below the age of 12 years old, ingested liquid hand sanitizer either as an accident or on purpose. Most sanitizers like the popular brand Purell, contain between 60 to 90 percent isopropyl or ethanol alcohol. In order to give them a pleasing aroma, instead of standard alcohol smell, the solution is infused with various other substances which pose additional health risks if ingested.

The CDC report also reveals that children who ingested hand sanitizer exhibit various conditions like eye problems, breathing difficulties, and in some extreme cases falling into a coma. Intentional ingestion of sanitizers is more common for older children with ages between six and twelve years old. Furthermore, kids in this age group also experience more severe adverse health effects than younger children.

According to the researchers, these findings suggests that some kids may deliberately ingest the alcohol-based sanitizers. The situation is getting increasingly worse as the popularity of hand sanitizers continues to grow.

Cynthia Santos, the lead author of the study and a researcher with the CDC National Center for Environmental Health, and her colleagues analyzed children sickness data from 2011 to 2014. They discovered more than 70, 000 cases of hand sanitizer ingestion in that period alone. The vast majority of cases, 91 percent, involved children below the age of five, with around 6, 200 involving kids above six years and up to twelve.

The scientists warn that their findings only include reported cases and that the number of all hand sanitizer ingestion situations by children may be much worse than what it was identified. The researchers recommend that parents keep a close watch on the bottles of hand sanitizers and keep it away from children’s reach. They also recommend avoiding them as much as possible and keep washing their hands the old fashioned way, with soap and water.

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Migraine pain is one of the worst things. You can’t concentrate and the pain is unbearable. There are a lot of drugs on the market that can ease the pain, but many people prefer to take as fewer drugs as possible. The drug-free alternative for migraine pain is a wireless patch.

This smartphone controlled patch might be able to reduce the pain caused by migraines. A new study shows that it can be as effective as any drug. The wireless patch can be worn on the arm. This device blocks the pain signals from getting to the brain. In order to do so, it uses electric stimulation.

The device uses a chip on an armband and rubber electrodes. Like most of the devices nowadays, this wireless patch can be controlled by a smartphone app. This is the first wireless stimulating system that can help people with migraines. Until now this type of tech has been used but it needed wires and it was attached to the head.

The wireless patch is a better alternative for people who don’t want to take drugs. The researchers mentioned that the device is easy to use and very effective in a short period of time. In order to see the benefits of the wireless patch scientists analyzed 71 people. All of them had episodic migraines. They suffered from 2 to 8 attacks every month.

The participants did not take any medication for this problem for two months. All of the people who participated in the study were asked to wear this wireless patch as soon as the migraine pain started. They needed to wear the device for at least 20 minutes. The participants were not allowed to take any migraine drugs for 2 hours.

The patches were programmed to give stimulation or placebo. Participants did not know what they were going to get. These stimulations were designed not to be painful. The researchers mentioned that almost 300 migraine pains were eased.

The experts noticed that, in order for the device to ease the pain, people should opt for the long stimulation because the sham did not help people who suffered from migraines. Short stimulation helped only in a few cases.

What is your opinion about this wireless patch?

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Did you often fall asleep during high school or were you constantly sleepy as a teenager? If so, then a new study shows that as an adult you have a higher predisposition to commit crimes as an adult. Basically, it means that teenage drowsiness did not only affect your present day but it will impact your future as well.

The study was published in the Child Psychology and Psychiatry journal by a team of researchers from the University of York and the University of Pennsylvania. The study reveals that daytime sleepy teens are four times more likely to become criminals in the coming years as adults.  According to Adrian Reine, this is the first such study to show a link between teenage sleeping behavior and the probability of committing crimes as an adult.

For their study, the researchers collected data on the sleeping behavior 15-year-old boys from 101 school around England. The participating students were asked to rate the degree of drowsiness they experience during an average day, as well as having their brain wave activity measured and other psychological responses.

The study accounted for other factors that could determine the criminal future of teenagers besides drowsiness. Therefore, the researchers collected data about the anti-social behavior of the teenagers such as cheating, lying, stealing and fighting. This information was obtained by talking with teachers and other students.

After compiling all the data, after 14 years, the researchers determined which of the participants had criminal records at the age of 29. They discovered that sleepy teens who reported a pattern of repeated drowsiness throughout their teenage years had 4.5 more criminal records than regular students, even after accounting for other factors in their behavior.

Reine emphasized the fact that simply being sleepy as a teenager will not make you a criminal as an adult since criminal activity is mostly determined by the person’s socioeconomic status. The researchers believe that low social class combined with early social adversity leads to daytime drowsiness in teenagers, who could be affected by inattention and brain dysfunction. This combination of factors is what mostly drives sleepy teenagers to commit crimes as adults, a problem which could be solved by simply getting more sleep.

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Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as scientists still haven’t discovered what precisely causes the disease. However, a new study has found that people who enjoy a sugar-rich diet may have a greater risk of developing the mental disorder.

The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports by a team of researchers from the University of Bath. They found that Alzheimer’s disease, characterized by memory loss and the decline of cognitive abilities, may be more prevalent in people who are eating high levels of sugar.

More specifically, the blood sugar glucose and the disease have several close connections. According to the study, glucose is capable of weakening a key enzyme known as MIF, (macrophage migration inhibitory factor), which resists the spread of Alzheimer’s.

Jean den Elsen, a researcher at the University of Bath, stated that the MIF enzyme would normally be part of the body’s immune response to the increase of abnormal proteins in the brain. However, since sugar is capable of reducing the function of the MIF enzyme, scientists have concluded that this could be a tipping point for the development of Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease currently affects more than 50 million people worldwide. However, the situation will only get worse in the future, as studies predict that the number of people affected by the neurologically degenerative disease will reach 125 million by the year 2050. Nonetheless, researchers believe that their recent findings regarding the connection of the disease with sugar may help them track the progression of Alzheimer’s in patients.

The study also found that the people who are most susceptible to developing the disease, at a much higher rate, is those who are obese and diabetic due to their high levels of blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia. This means that the function of MIF enzyme will be heavily impacted and will allow the increase of abnormal proteins in the brain, a factor that leads to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Further research is still required as scientists want to examine whether patients experience similar changes to their MIF enzyme found in their blood, not only in the brain.

What do you think about the study’s findings?

Image source: Wikipedia

If you believed that paid workouts and meal breaks are the ultimate workplace benefits, you are wrong. A Swedish politician is advocating a very interesting workplace benefit: paid sex breaks. Yes, you read that correctly.

Per-Erik Muskos is a local council member for Övertorneå. He is now proposing that workers should take one hour paid break to have sex with their partners. Despite the fact that this sounds like a crazy idea, the politician has a reason. He mentioned that people have less and less time to spend with their partners.

Studies have shown that people are spending a lot of time working and they are not spending enough time with their partner or their family. This is why he is advocating for workers having paid sex breaks. If you think about is it, it is not a bad idea.

Muskos mentioned that studies have shown that sex and intimacy are very important for the emotional health of people. When people are happy and focused, their work improves. On the other hand, when people are stressed they tend to have a lower productivity at the workplace.

The fact that this kind of break is advocated in Sweden is not unusual. Swedes are known for taking at least 2 breaks every day to enjoy coffee or to simply disconnect and to recharge. Sweden, Finland, and France are known for working a lot less hours compared to other countries. For instance, Swedes work 1,600 hours a year compared to 1,978 hours worked by Russians every year.

Despite the fact that they work a lot less than many other countries, Sweden politicians believe that workers should benefit from more breaks, including sex breaks. This shows that Sweden really values its citizens and their well-being.

Apparently, Sweden politicians now have the key for healthy relationships too. The politician mentioned that people are spending less and less time with their family but reports showed that only 1% of Sweden workers work overtime. This means that they have plenty of time for their family and friends. Despite this, the idea of paid sex breaks is interesting, but it is little chance of being adopted.

What is your opinion about this idea? Do you think that it is going to be adopted?

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