https://medicalxpress.com/healthy-living-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Healthy Living New research from the University of Kansas shows people who experience chronic pain tend to consume cigarettes and e-cigarettes at higher rates than others. The findings, based on analysis of the National Health Interview Survey from 2014–2023, should inform therapies for both chronic pain and smoking cessation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-chronic-pain-odds-vaping-survey.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:00:02 EDT news695305595 Around 40% of adults worldwide are affected by osteopenia: a loss of bone mineral density. This condition is extremely common, particularly in postmenopausal women and elderly adults. It's estimated that more than 500,000 fractures occur annually in the UK due to low bone density. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-osteopenia-loss-bone-mineral-density.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:30:01 EDT news695564792 As a researcher investigating how electric brain stimulation can improve people's powers of recollection, I'm often asked how memory works—and what we can do to use it more effectively. Happily, decades of research have given us some clear answers to both questions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-memory-effectively.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:30:03 EDT news695295515 A team of researchers led by the University of Aberdeen has found that private gardens played a vital role in supporting people's well-being during the U.K.'s first COVID-19 lockdown, when access to public green spaces was significantly restricted. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-private-gardens-covid-lockdown.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:00:05 EDT news695564874 Injectable peptides are generating a lot of buzz online. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-retatrutide-weight-shredded.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:00:01 EDT news695634876 Restricting calorie intake in species such as mice, rhesus monkeys, and fruit flies has been shown to extend their lifespans. In some cases, these animals not only live longer, but are also free of disease. But when pushed too far, calorie restriction can have negative impacts. Mice that undergo a 40% reduction in calorie intake, for example, are more susceptible to infections, less likely to reproduce, and experience stunted growth. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-calories-aging-compromising-health.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:40:02 EDT news695638498 A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains is generally recommended for better health and to lower the risk of cancer and other diseases. However, new research from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC, presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research suggests that this type of diet may put non-smoking Americans under the age of 50 at greater risk of developing lung cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-healthy-diets-expose-younger-smokers.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:00:03 EDT news695625539 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will soon review whether certain peptides should be allowed in customized medications made by compounding pharmacies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-fda-access-peptides.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:40:04 EDT news695650801 Heart transplant surgeon Raymond Lee, MD, explains what patients can expect after a heart transplant—including how long the heart will last. The average lifespan of a transplanted heart is about 10 years, though outcomes vary from patient to patient. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-transplanted-heart.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:20:01 EDT news695628121 A study published in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) researchers showed that even short-term vaping at exposure levels below typical daily human use resulted in measurable accumulation of toxic metals in lung tissue—including lead, copper and nickel. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cigarette-devices-expose-users-toxic.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:20:05 EDT news695627041 Working double shifts is associated with alterations in normal cortisol patterns, according to a study published online April 8 in Nursing Open. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-shifts-disrupt-cortisol-patterns.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:00:04 EDT news695564145 New research led by a scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that watching and creating videography of scenic locations cultivates nature-based mindfulness—conveying the same cognitive and emotional benefits as outdoor activities and fostering a deep sense of connection with nature. The findings are published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-nature-videos-calm-mind-mood.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:00:10 EDT news695564070 Social media videos are claiming that mouthwash can raise the risk of blood pressure—and potentially damage heart health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-mouthwash-bad-heart.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:40:11 EDT news695561282 A significant number of Brazilians engage in improper food hygiene and handling practices at home. Examples include washing meat in the kitchen sink and failing to properly wash vegetables. These findings were revealed by a nationwide survey that examined food hygiene, handling, and storage habits in 5,000 households of various income levels across all regions of Brazil. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-poor-hygiene-food-bacterial-outbreaks.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:00:03 EDT news695486225 For individuals at risk for knee osteoarthritis, high ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption is associated with higher muscle fat content, according to a study published online April 14 in Radiology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ultraprocessed-food-linked-thigh-muscle.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:20:03 EDT news695488982 Replacing just one meat dish with a vegetarian option in workplace cafeterias can significantly shift what people eat, cutting both calories and carbon emissions, according to a new study from researchers at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. In the new study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, researchers tested the change in six English worksite cafeterias, asking managers to swap one meat-based lunch option for a vegetarian dish while keeping prices, choice and all other menu features the same. Customers were not told about the change, and meat options remained available. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-simple-menu-tweak-boost-vegetarian.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:00:01 EDT news695484721 New research published in The European Journal of Endocrinology shows that increased total body fat mass and abdominal fat mass from late adolescence to early 20s, but not from the childhood period before this, predicts progressively worsening cardiac structural and functional outcomes by young adulthood. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-future-heart-health-body-fat.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:03 EDT news695476947 The way in which the body processes cholesterol affects the risk of cardiovascular diseases. LDL cholesterol is obtained from saturated fats in food and from hepatic cholesterol synthesis. Its accumulation in the arterial walls can obstruct blood flow. In a study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, long-term monitoring has revealed that high cholesterol absorption predicted myocardial infarctions and cardiac mortality in patients who had previously had an acute coronary artery event. The worst prognosis was seen in patients with the highest cholesterol absorption, while low cholesterol absorption was associated with a better prognosis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-effective-cholesterol-absorption-intestine-cardiac.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:20:09 EDT news695482441 A new study examines the role of palmitic acid and oleic acid—among the main fatty acids in the diet—in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, a chronic condition associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The research, published in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, is led by teams from the CIBER Area for Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM) at the University of Barcelona. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-quality-quantity-fat-diet-affects.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:20:10 EDT news695481661 Adolescents who consume more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have significantly higher odds of being overweight or obese, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke of the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ultra-food-intake-sharply-higher.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:11 EDT news695466061 New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found that higher sodium intake may negatively affect episodic memory, the type of memory used to recall personal experiences and specific events from one's past such as where you parked your car or your first day of school. The findings suggest that diets high in salt could have broader cognitive impacts than previously understood, highlighting the importance of dietary choices in supporting brain health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-high-salt-diet-linked-faster.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:20:02 EDT news695469361 One in four U.S. adults—the equivalent of over 66 million Americans—report having used artificial intelligence tools or chatbots for physical or mental health care information or advice, according to new research released by the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America. Rather than replacing traditional care, more than half say they turn to AI to supplement their health care experiences, using the technology before or after seeing a doctor. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-poll-reveals-millions-americans-ai.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:10:01 EDT news695394541 When health risks become visible in black and white, perspectives often shift. A study from Umeå University shows that when ultrasound images of atherosclerosis in subjects' carotid arteries are combined with a motivational dialogue, the patients are more likely to be motivated to improve their lifestyle habits and take preventive medication. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-artery-images-nurse-boosted-heart.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:40:06 EDT news695384731 Timing exercise to match body clock chronotype—the natural predisposition to morning or evening alertness—may lower cardiovascular disease risk among those who are already vulnerable, suggests research published in the open access journal Open Heart. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-body-clock-chronotype-cardiovascular-disease.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:30:03 EDT news695294521 New waist-to-height cutoffs to assess fat mass and obesity predicted the risk of hypertension better than body mass index, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University in the US. The aim of the study was to externally validate new pediatric waist circumference-to-height ratio (WHtR)-estimated fat mass cutoffs for predicting the risk of elevated blood pressure and hypertension among a multiracial population of children and adults in the U.S. The work is published in The Journal of Nutrition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-waist-height-ratio-hypertension-bmi.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:20:01 EDT news695397601 A new survey from two food industry groups shows growing interest in meat as a "healthy" food choice, even as doctors warn that too much red meat can raise health risks. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-meat-consumption-protein-trend-experts.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:00:03 EDT news695394030 Over the past decade, as youth e-cigarette use reached what the Surgeon General labeled epidemic proportions, at least 30 U.S. states and numerous local municipalities have implemented excise taxes on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to curb consumption. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-vaping-taxes-teen-nicotine.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:40:03 EDT news695390101 Researchers found that a diet high in ultra-processed foods is associated with higher amounts of fat stored inside thigh muscles, regardless of calorie or fat intake, physical activity or sociodemographic factors in a population at risk for knee osteoarthritis. Results of the study were published in Radiology. Higher amounts of intramuscular fat in the thigh could potentially increase the risk for knee osteoarthritis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-people-consume-ultra-foods-worse.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:01 EDT news695293502 Restricting calories has long been recognized as a powerful way to live longer, with periods of intermittent fasting proving more effective than a steady diet. However, the mechanism behind this phenomenon has been unclear. Research led by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists and published in Nature Communications suggests it's not the fast itself that extends life, but how the body metabolically pivots during refeeding after fasting. Although the findings were made in Caenorhabditis elegans, a roundworm often used as a lab model, they could eventually lead to new ways to boost health in humans. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-fasting-longer-lifespan.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:20:01 EDT news695375356 People just aren't drinking the way they used to. "As recently as the late 1990s or early 2000s, 85% or more of high school seniors said they drank in the past year. Now that number is down to about 42%," said Kathryn McHugh, a Harvard Medical School associate professor of psychology at McLean Hospital and the director of the McLean Hospital Stress, Anxiety, and Substance Abuse Laboratory. "Those are whopping changes in effectively less than a generation." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-term-alcoholic-conjures-outdated-stereotypes.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:40:03 EDT news695294397