Osteoarthritis is one of the world’s most common diseases and mainly affects older adults.
The disease breaks down cartilage in the joints and can lead to pain and difficulty moving.
Today, many patients receive either pain medication or undergo major surgery involving joint replacements. Researchers are therefore searching for less invasive solutions, according to SciTechDaily.
A research team from several American universities has now developed two new methods designed to help the body repair damage in joints and bones on its own.
New methods
One treatment is an injection delivered directly into the joint. The medicine is released slowly over several months.
The second method uses a special material that helps the body’s own cells rebuild damaged tissue.
The project is supported by the American health program ARPA-H, which has allocated up to 33.5 million dollars for the research.
Promising results
So far, the researchers have tested the treatments on animals. Damaged joints showed significant improvement after four to eight weeks.
Experiments using human cells have also produced positive results, but the treatments are not yet ready for general use.
If the next studies go well, the first human trials could begin within about 18 months.
The researchers hope the treatment could eventually reduce the need for major surgery.
The way medication is taken can affect both its effectiveness and the risk of side effects.
According to IW Pharmacy, factors such as food, sun exposure, and fluid intake can all influence how medication works.
Take your medication correctly
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Always follow the instructions on when to take your medication, as the timing can affect how well it works.
Food may be necessary
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Some medications should be taken with food because they may otherwise irritate the lining of the stomach.
Your stomach changes
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When there is food in your stomach, the acidity of your stomach acid changes, which can affect how your medication is absorbed.
An empty stomach can affect its effectiveness
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When your stomach is empty, the acidity is different, which can change how the medication is broken down and how it works.
Follow your treatment plan
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It is important to stick to the recommended medication routine to achieve the desired effect.
Limit prolonged sun exposure
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Spending extended periods in direct sunlight may be a disadvantage while taking certain types of medication.
Your skin may become more sensitive
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Many medications can make your skin more susceptible to sunburn, rashes, and overheating.
Antibiotics require extra attention
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According to IW Pharmacy, nearly all antibiotics increase the risk of photosensitivity and severe sunburn.
Painkillers can affect your skin
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According to IW Pharmacy, NSAIDs may increase the risk of skin reactions similar to severe sunburn.
Medication patches and heat
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Strong sun exposure can increase the effects of medicated patches, so they should be protected from direct heat.
Drink an appropriate amount of water
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IW Pharmacy recommends taking medication with a full glass of water but also emphasizes that both too little and too much fluid can be problematic.
Too little fluid can change the effects
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When you are dehydrated, medication may remain in your body for longer because less is eliminated through urine.
Too much fluid can also have an impact
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If you drink large amounts of water and urinate frequently, medication may be eliminated more quickly before it has had enough time to work.
Speak to a healthcare professional first
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Do not start taking new over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements alongside your regular medication without first consulting a healthcare professional, as this may increase the risk of interactions and side effects.
Do not change your treatment on your own
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Do not stop, change, or increase your dosage without speaking to your healthcare provider, as some medications need to be reduced gradually or adjusted carefully.
Share your experience
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If your medication causes side effects or does not work as expected, inform your healthcare provider so your treatment can be reviewed and the guidance adjusted if necessary.
A banana does not only change in texture after spending time in the freezer. It can also provide a different eating experience.
The water inside the fruit freezes into ice, altering the banana’s cellular structure. As a result, the flesh becomes soft and creamy once it thaws.
At the same time, the banana retains its vitamins and dietary fiber because they are not damaged by freezing temperatures, according to the media Onet Dom.
The flavor changes
A frozen banana may taste sweeter, even though it does not contain more sugar.
According to Onet Dom, this is because the fruit’s natural sugars are released more quickly in the mouth, while the cold temperature makes its tartness less noticeable.
The outlet also recommends peeling the banana and cutting it into smaller pieces before freezing it. Otherwise, it becomes very hard and difficult to cut.
May increase the feeling of fullness
According to Onet Dom, a frozen banana may provide a greater feeling of fullness because it is eaten more slowly than a fresh banana.
In addition, some of the banana’s starch may be converted into resistant starch during freezing.
Rather than being broken down in the small intestine, it passes into the large intestine, where it serves as food for beneficial gut bacteria.
According to Onet Dom, the effect depends in part on how ripe the banana is and how it is thawed.
The outlet also recommends eating a frozen banana with foods such as yogurt or peanut butter to promote a longer-lasting feeling of fullness.
A team of researchers has investigated whether cultural activities may be associated with the body’s biological age.
Biological age reflects how well the body functions and can differ from a person’s chronological age.
The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, is based on data from 1,899 people aged 50 and over who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
According to ScienceDaily, the researchers measured participants’ blood pressure, lung function, cholesterol levels, walking speed, and muscle strength.
Cultural participation was measured
Participants were also asked how often they went to the cinema, visited museums or art galleries, or attended theatre performances, concerts, and the opera.
The researchers also accounted for factors such as income, employment, and chronic illnesses.
This made it possible to examine whether the association between cultural experiences and biological age remained after these factors were taken into account.
The body appeared younger
The results showed that people who took part in cultural activities at least once every two months had an average biological age of 66.9 years.
Among those who rarely participated, the average biological age was 69.9 years.
The researchers believe that stronger social relationships, better mental well-being, and healthier lifestyle habits may help explain the difference.
However, they stress that the study cannot prove that cultural experiences are the cause.
It is also possible that people in better health simply find it easier to go to the cinema, visit museums, or attend concerts.
According to ScienceDaily, further research is therefore needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
They then chewed either sugar-containing or sugar-free chewing gum.
The researchers measured participants’ blood pressure and collected blood and saliva samples over several hours.
One week later, the participants repeated the experiment using the other type of chewing gum.
Sugar vs. sugar-free
Participants who chewed sugar-containing gum after drinking the beetroot juice had higher nitrite levels in both their saliva and blood than those who chewed sugar-free gum.
Their blood pressure also fell slightly for a few hours.
The researchers emphasize that the findings do not mean sugar-containing chewing gum should be used to treat high blood pressure.
The effect was only temporary, and a high intake of sugar can be harmful to both dental and overall health.
The researchers believe the findings may help develop new methods to improve the body’s use of nitrate without relying on sugar.
They therefore plan to conduct a larger study involving athletes to investigate the effect further.
Many people choose oat, almond, or soy drinks as a healthier alternative to cow’s milk, but experts say that is not necessarily the case.
More and more people are choosing plant-based drinks such as oat, almond, and soy instead of cow’s milk. Many do so because they believe these products are a healthier option.
However, according to American cancer researcher Maria Abreu, many of these products are highly processed.
Maria Abreu points out that some plant-based drinks may contain additives and other substances that can affect the balance of the gut.
According to 7News Miami, if the gut remains out of balance for an extended period, it can lead to inflammation, which in some cases may increase the risk of disease.
Nutrition expert Jessica Cording also shares these concerns.
According to 7News Miami, she believes many people mistakenly assume that plant-based products are automatically healthy.
She emphasizes that it is important to look at what these products actually contain.
A clear recommendation
Experts in Denmark have also issued a warning.
Anne Tjønneland, Head of Research at the Danish Cancer Society, told BT, according to Sosialnytt, that people should not choose plant-based drinks because they believe they are healthier than cow’s milk.
She points out that many of these products contain emulsifiers, other additives, and in some cases high amounts of sugar or rapidly absorbed carbohydrates.
According to BT, this can affect both blood sugar levels and gut function.
The researchers emphasize, however, that drinking a single glass of a plant-based drink will not make anyone ill.
Their message is that consumers should pay attention to which products they choose and what they contain.
Many people automatically reach for a cup of coffee when they start feeling tired early in the day.
However, one doctor told Parade that both the night before and the first few hours of the morning play a major role in how energetic you feel.
Good energy starts the night before
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Doctors told Parade that feeling energized in the morning begins with a good night’s sleep.
Sleep quality, consistent bedtimes and wake-up times, and the body’s ability to recover all play an important role.
Consistent bedtimes make a difference
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Experts recommend going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every day.
Large variations can create a form of social jet lag, even if you get enough sleep.
Alcohol can affect sleep
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Drinking alcohol before bed can disrupt REM sleep, making it more difficult to wake up feeling refreshed the next morning.
Drink water shortly after waking up
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According to the experts, having a glass of water in the morning is one of the most important steps for maintaining energy levels.
Your body has gone for many hours without fluids while you were asleep.
Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue
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Not drinking enough water can lead to fatigue, headaches, dizziness, poor concentration, and a general feeling of sluggishness.
Around half a liter of water is recommended
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One of the experts recommends drinking about half a liter of water shortly after getting out of bed.
Go for a short morning walk
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A brief walk in the morning can help your body get moving.
At the same time, you’ll be exposed to daylight, which supports your body’s natural circadian rhythm.
Sunlight helps your body wake up
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Morning sunlight signals to your brain that the day has begun.
This reduces melatonin levels and increases feelings of alertness.
Light movement can boost energy
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Gentle stretching or other moderate exercise in the morning can improve blood circulation, raise body temperature, and help your body transition from sleep to wakefulness.
Intense exercise requires enough sleep
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High-intensity exercise in the morning can be beneficial, but if you’re sleep-deprived, a tough workout may actually make your fatigue worse.
Eat a balanced breakfast
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A breakfast that includes protein, fiber-rich carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fluids can provide more stable energy throughout the morning.
Avoid a sugary breakfast
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A breakfast high in refined carbohydrates or sugar may provide a quick burst of energy, but it is often followed by an energy crash later in the morning.
Wait before drinking coffee
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Experts recommend waiting 30 to 90 minutes after waking up before having coffee.
This gives your body time to wake up naturally, and you should drink water first.
Chronic itching is a common problem for people living with skin conditions such as eczema.
Current treatments often work best for itching caused by factors such as insect bites or exposure to irritating substances, but they are generally less effective against persistent, long-term itching.
To better understand how this type of itching develops, researchers at the University of Michigan investigated the underlying mechanisms, according to ScienceDaily.
Experiments provide new clues
The new study, published in the journal Neuron, involved experiments on mice with skin inflammation resembling eczema in humans.
The researchers found that the mice scratched themselves significantly less when specific nerve cells were removed or deactivated.
They also found evidence suggesting that humans may have the same biological system.
Humans possess the genes required to produce these specialized nerve cells, and nerve cells grown in a laboratory responded in the same way as those found in the mice.
According to the University of Michigan, these findings suggest that the same mechanism may also exist in humans.
Tiny hairs may explain the itch
Very fine, light-colored hairs, known as vellus hairs, appear to be connected to specialized nerve cells that detect touch and may trigger itching.
If humans share this same system, it could become a new target for future treatments for chronic itching.
This could be particularly important for people with skin conditions whose symptoms are not adequately relieved by current treatments.
Many people with advanced dementia experience agitation, restlessness, or aggressive behavior.
They may pace back and forth, repeat the same actions, or become distressed without any obvious reason, according to The Sun.
Researchers say there are currently only a limited number of treatment options, and these can cause serious side effects.
They point out that agitation may be caused by damage to the brain, but also by confusion, anxiety, or side effects of other medications.
Special medicine was tested
The study was conducted by the Medical University of South Carolina.
Researchers developed a liquid medicine containing the compounds THC and CBD, both of which are found in the cannabis plant.
The medicine was tested in 120 people with advanced dementia and severe agitation.
However, the researchers stress that the findings do not apply to cannabis products that can be purchased or used outside the healthcare system, as they do not have the same formulation or dosage.
Promising results
After 12 weeks of treatment, only 24 percent of participants who received the medicine still showed signs of agitation. In the placebo group, the figure was 87 percent.
According to the researchers, nearly 90 percent of participants responded positively to the treatment.
The study therefore suggests that the cannabis-based medicine could become a new treatment option for treating agitation in people with advanced dementia.
Tight hips affect both people who spend long hours sitting and those who regularly participate in sports such as running or cycling.
According to a study published in the International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 94.3 percent of 385 young adults had tight hip flexors, with low levels of physical activity identified as one of the possible contributing factors.
Pilates instructor Reena Vokoun told Parade that prolonged periods of sitting, overworked hip flexors, and weak glute and core muscles are often key contributors to the problem.
Why it matters
Stiff hips can make everyday activities more difficult, including walking, climbing stairs, getting up from the couch, and bending down.
Vokoun also told Parade that improving hip mobility can promote better posture and make movement feel more natural.
