Health and Wellness Snippets

Here is a compilation of recent articles of relevance to our readers. I hope that's something just for you!

From NPR.org: Are compassionate doctors better at their jobs?

The short answer? Yes. In their new book Compassionomics, two physicians lay out their research findings about the win-win effects of compassionate care. When doctors take the time to make human connections that help end suffering, patient outcomes improve and Medical costs decrease. It also helps health care providers experience less burnout.

From Health.Harvard.edu: Will blue light from electronic devices increase my risk of macular degeneration and blindness?

The short answer to this common question is no. The amount of blue light from electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, LCD TVs, and laptop computers, is not harmful to the retina or any other part of the eye.

From Healthline.com: What Is Fat Fasting, and Is It Good for You?

The short answer is that it is a 2-5 day diet where 80-90% of the calories come from fat and it has problems because very little is known about the safety or efficacy of fat fasting, it’s not often used in evidence-based nutrition therapy, and this diet is lacking in many important nutrients, including protein, micronutrients, and fiber.

From Tampabay.com: Will Proposed Bill Really Allow Drugs From China?

The short answer is No. PolitiFact found no evidence to support the idea that Florida legislators want to import drugs from China with no oversight from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The ad says that the program would allow imported drugs from China, but the legislation calls for importing drugs from Canada.

From ScienceAlert.com: Why Are You Always Tired, Even Though You Get Enough Sleep?

The short answer is it could be from being too sedentary, caffeine, mental health, or physical conditions such as iron deficiency, thyroid problems and diabetes. Watch the video in the link for more details.

From TheGuardian.com: Are Millions More Americans Breathing Dirty Air as Planet Warms?

The short answer is yes, forty-three percent of Americans live in places where they’re breathing unsafe air, according to American Lung Association. For the three hottest years on record, 2015 through 2017, about 141 million people lived in US counties that saw unhealthy levels of particle pollution, either in a single 24-hour period or over a year, or unhealthy levels of smog. That is 7 million more people than in the group’s last report. “We’re seeing in this year’s report the impacts of climate change on air quality in really stunning terms,” said Paul Billings, a vice-president for the association. Both smog and particle pollution are linked with breathing problems, lung and heart complications and early deaths.

From USDA.gov: Here's the current FDA drug recall list