Health

For generations, America’s veterans have borne not only the visible scars of battle but also the hidden wounds of war. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, traumatic brain injury and anxiety have long haunted those who served, often with devastating effects on their quality of life and their families.

“For the four most prevalent cancers in the U.S. – breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers – we now know that community conditions like tobacco use, air pollution, insurance coverage, housing and environmental mitigation are critical for understanding the cancer screening gaps, excess prevalence and preventable deaths that afflict many communities,” said Elizabeth Y. Rula, Ph.D., executive director of the Neiman Institute. “These maps bring this information together in an easy-to-use tool that can help leaders target interventions and resources where they can save the most lives.”

The nationally representative study of more 8,500 consumers found people who purchased flowers in the past year were more likely to report feeling better at home and at work. They experienced improved mood, reduced stress and even better overall morale.

 A clinical evidence assessment by ECRI, a global patient safety organization, found that cranial electrical stimulation relieves anxiety symptoms. The treatment was found to be more effective at relieving symptoms than fake stimulation – with or without medication – for some patients. 

Athens, Ga. | Fish oil supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. and abroad, with about two out of every 25 people popping the popular omega-3 pills.

University of California, Irvine neurobiologists have found a critical link between obstructive sleep apnea during the rapid-eye-movement stage of sleep and early signs of brain changes associated with cognitive decline. Their study suggests that low oxygen levels – known as hypoxemia – during REM sleep may contribute to injury in brain regions vital to memory, even in older adults without cognitive impairment.