Depression Increases Risk of Stroke

People with depression are more likely to have a stroke than their mentally healthy peers, and their strokes are more likely to be fatal, according to a new analysis published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Depression is a relatively minor risk factor for stroke compared to high blood pressure (hypertension) and other health conditions and…

Diabetes Doubles Alzheimer’s Risk

People with diabetes are at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke at an early age. But that’s not the only worry: Diabetes appears to dramatically increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia later in life, according to a new study conducted in Japan.

In the study, which included more than…

To Avoid Middle-Age Weight Gain, Drop the Chips and Hot Dogs

Everyone knows the basic prescription for staving off excess weight gain in middle age: Eat less and exercise more. But a new study of long-term weight patterns among more than 120,000 adults suggests that some foods and behaviors—such as potato chips and TV watching—have a disproportionate impact on our waistlines.

The men and women in the study,…

Most High School Students Don’t Exercise Enough

High school students aren’t doing much running—and when they do run, there’s a good chance it’s to a vending machine.

Roughly one-third of high school students in the U.S. drink two or more sodas, sports drinks, or other sugary beverages per day, but only 15% get the one hour of daily aerobic exercise that health officials recommend,…

Warning Signs of Pregnancy-Related Diabetes Appear Years Earlier

Diabetes stemming from pregnancy can cause a host of problems for baby and mother alike, including birth complications and a higher risk of developing the more serious type 2 diabetes later in life.

In a new study, researchers say they’ve identified a series of routine health measures that can help doctors predict years in advance which women will develop…

How to Find Your BMI Index

Research shows that high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are linked to obesity. You can help avoid these diseases by making sure that you have a healthy body mass index. Finding your body mass index requires a quick calculation of your weight and height, which determines how much body fat you have. A healthy body mass index…

Post-Baby Weight Gain Raises Diabetes Risk in Next Pregnancy

Women who gain weight after giving birth for the first time dramatically increase their risk of developing pregnancy-related diabetes during their second pregnancy, a new study suggests.

Compared to women of similar height who maintain their weight, a 5-foot-4 woman who gains roughly 12 to 17 pounds after giving birth more than doubles her odds…

Heavy Teens at Increased Risk of Heart Disease Years Later

Teenage boys who are even slightly overweight face an increased risk of heart disease later in life, even if they slim down as adults, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Regardless of their adult weight, men who were obese as teenagers were nearly seven times more likely than their slimmest peers…

Most Obese Moms, Kids Underestimate Their Weight

Roughly two-thirds of adults and one-third of children in the U.S. are now overweight or obese. Aside from contributing to rising rates of diabetes and other chronic illnesses, this widespread weight problem also appears to be changing our perception of what’s considered heavy.

As overweight and obesity have become more common, those who are…

Alcohol May Fight Rheumatoid Arthritis

Moderate drinking has been linked to a variety of health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. According to a new study, drinking alcohol may also ease the pain of—and lower the risk of developing—rheumatoid arthritis, a potentially crippling autoimmune disorder.

People who don’t drink alcohol are roughly four times more likely…

Southeastern U.S. Named ‘Diabetes Belt’ by Scientists

The area of the country that’s already gotten a bad rap as the “stroke belt” now has another black-mark moniker to add to the list: the “diabetes belt.”

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the southeastern United States earned the latest nickname based on data they collected in 644 counties to determine where Americans have the…