The last year of the decade was a remarkable one for health research and news. In 2019, physicians saw numerous clinical discoveries and breakthroughs in the fields of oncology, pharmacology, epidemiology, and population health. Additionally, technology continued to revolutionize the delivery of healthcare in America. As we look ahead to the new decade, we feel that these five health news stories will be among the ones that have the greatest impact in the decade to come. Taking another look at tramadol Tramadol might not be as safe as physicians and researchers once thought. For years, doctors and surgeons have prescribed the opioid tramadol post operatively for pain control. However, a BMJ study conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers showed that tramadol has a slightly increased risk of prolonged use when compared to other opioids, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. In the face of the opioid crisis, this has major implications for U.S. physicians. Tramadol is a Schedule IV substance, whereas hydrocodone and oxycodone are Schedule II. As a result, doctors have been turning to tramadol as a safer, potentially less-addictive alternative. The data suggest that this isn’t the case. Seven percent of study participants refilled their prescription between 90-180 days post-operations. Researchers classified this as “additional use.” When we eat might be just as important as how much Until now, managing quantity of caloric intake has been the tried-and-true method of weight management and weight loss, which are inexorably linked to lifespan. However, new research indicates that when we eat might be as important as how much we eat, when trying to maintain a healthy weight. Presenting at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Joseph Takahashi, PhD, discussed his team’s research, which he says shows the link between when we eat and how long we live. Takahashi is known for discovering the gene that controls mammalian biological clocks. His research process is essentially taking the entire body of caloric intake research and starting from square one, accounting for timing, in order to correct for its absence. Locations to live longer Where you live might be just as important as having healthy habits, if you want to live longer. Certain geographical regions tend to have the biggest clusters of people living well into their 100s. These so-called Blue Zones include: Ikaria, Greece Nicoya, Costa Rica Okinawa, Japan Sardinia, Italy Loma Linda, California Factors that are possibly contributing to longevity in these locations include close family bonds, physical activity throughout life, and nutritious, balanced diets. Additionally, all but Loma Linda are in close proximity to large bodies of water. One study shows that being near a body of water can decrease mortality for adults. America’s new, silent epidemic Research shows that loneliness can be a killer. It increases early mortality risk by 26%. For comparison, that’s similar to obesity or 15-cigarette daily smoking habit. Loneliness, research shows, raises systolic blood pressure, BMI, and puts people at increased risk for depression and suicide. A Cigna and Ipsos survey demonstrated that nearly half of Americans (46%) sometimes or always feel alone. About a quarter of Americans (27%) say they rarely or never feel understood. Complicating this issue is that loneliness is something that physicians rarely screen for. Stress disorders tied to risk for life-threatening infections New research indicates that stress disorders may make people more prone to deadly infections. Diagnosis at a young age, as well as having other psychiatric disorders, may worsen the effect, the study suggests. Researchers looked at data from almost 145,000 people, who had stress disorders such as PTSD, acute stress reaction, and adjustment disorder, among others. They also examined data from nearly 185,000 siblings who didn’t have stress disorders, as well as data from 1.4 million people who are unrelated and do not have stress disorders. The study organizers found infections of the nervous system or heart in 2.9 out of every 1,000 people who had stress disorders. The rate stood at 1.7 for every 1,000 among the siblings, and 1.3 for every 1,000 among the unrelated people. Source
