Groundbreaking Medical Findings from 2018

Groundbreaking Medical Findings from 2018

Livin' the Fast Life: 2018's Hottest Health Trends

We're about to wave goodbye to another tumultuous year - one filled with global events, personal milestones, and, of course, buckets of health biases. In the spirit of keeping our readers informed and engaged, here's a recap of the most riveting and groundbreaking health studies we delved into this year.

Fasting and Weight Loss: Got 8?

You lot have been all over our articles about intermittent fasting this year. Specifically, the 16:8 diet, where you can chow down on your fave grub for 8 hours but must fast the next 16. In a June study published in Nutrition and Healthy Aging, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago confirmed this strategy can help folks with obesity shed pounds. Those who followed this diet for 12 weeks dropped around 3% of their total body weight. Plus, this diet helped 'em maintain lower blood pressure, crucial for dealing with hypertension, a leading cause of more grave cardiovascular problems.

Another study had even more promising findings, as published in Obesity earlier in the year. Researchers at the University of Florida College of Medicine speculated that the metabolic changes induced by intermittent fasting could prolong lifespans, safeguard cognitive function, and reduce inflammation - all beyond the weight loss benefits.

Let's Get Real About Self-Destructive Habits

It's all too easy to give in to temptation during the holiday season, but some of this year's research has shown just how awful some of these indulgences can be for our health.

For instance, in June, researchers at the University of Connecticut reported that drinking alcohol can lead to more harm than using marijuana, especially in the long term. Booze can cause a loss of gray matter volume (essential for maintaining brain function) and damage to white matter (the "wiring" that connects brain cells). Yikes!

Then there's vaping: This year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report construring that e-cigarettes contain toxic substances and produce toxic vapors. While they can serve as a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes for some individuals, they're not without risk. Regular e-cigarette use can lead to nicotine addiction, increased heart rates, and potentially DNA damage, upping the risk of various cancers.

The War Against Cancer: Victory is Within Reach

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, cancer took the lives of almost 10 million people in 2018. Finding ways to diagnose and combat this scourge is an international priority.

One potential breakthrough happened this year when researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine developed a blood test called CancerSEEK. Reported in the journal Science, this test can detect eight types of cancer, including breast, lung, colorectal, ovarian, liver, stomach, pancreatic, and esophageal, with a moderate to high degree of accuracy.

Other research focused on stopping cancer in its tracks. In a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine, scientists tested a cancer-destroying injection that, when administered to mice, eliminated solid tumors with just one shot. This novel approach bypasses the need to identify tumor-specific immune targets and doesn't call for wholesale activation of the immune system, making it potentially effective against various types of cancer.

Unearthing Ancient Remedies for Modern Times

Reassessing old remedies to see if they can still help treat modern ailments is another hot research trend. For example, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University found that baking soda, long used to soothe heartburn, can actually help treat arthritis. In experiments, baking soda stabilized mesothelial cells, which line various organs, preventing them from overreacting to heavy foods. This, in turn, influences the activity of specific immune cells, leading to a decrease in pro-inflammatory cells and an increase in anti-inflammatory ones.

There's also been renewed interest in repurposing old medications for entirely new purposes. Some researchers have found that drugs currently used to treat the herpes simplex virus could lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, a common neurodegenerative condition. In one study involving nearly 5,000 people, administering this therapy aggressively lowered the relative risk of dementia by around 10-fold.

As we bid farewell to 2018 and prepare for the unknowns that 2019 brings, we’ll continue to bring you the latest medical research and advice, so you can make informed choices about your health and well-being. Stay curious, friends!

1. In the realm of diets, intermittent fasting, notably the 16:8 diet, has been a popular topic this year, with its promising ability to aid in weight loss.
2. This diet, involving eating for 8 hours and fasting for 16, can help individuals with obesity lose approximately 3% of their total body weight in 12 weeks.
3. The benefits of this diet extend beyond weight loss, with lower blood pressure being a key advantage, crucial for managing hypertension.
4. Another study suggested that intermittent fasting could prolong lifespans, protect cognitive function, and reduce inflammation, in addition to its weight loss benefits.
5. Despite the hype, self-destructive habits like smoking should not be overlooked in discussions about health.
6. A study at the University of Connecticut found that long-term alcohol consumption can lead to more harm than marijuana use, causing damage to brain tissue.
7. Vaping, while often seen as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, was found to contain toxic substances and produce toxic vapors according to a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
8. Regular e-cigarette use can lead to nicotine addiction, increased heart rates, and potential DNA damage, increasing the risk of various cancers.
9. Cancer, a leading cause of death worldwide (as per WHO data), claims nearly 10 million lives annually.
10. A potential breakthrough came this year with the development of CancerSEEK, a blood test that can detect eight types of cancer.
11. Another study focused on stopping cancer in its tracks by administering a cancer-destroying injection that eliminated solid tumors in mice with just one shot.
12. The use of ancient remedies for modern ailments is another notable research trend, such as baking soda's potential to treat arthritis.
13. Baking soda stabilizes mesothelial cells and influences the activity of immune cells, leading to a decrease in pro-inflammatory cells and an increase in anti-inflammatory ones.
14. Repurposing old medications for new purposes has gained attention, with drugs used to treat herpes simplex virus being trialled as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
15. In a study involving nearly 5,000 people, administering this therapy aggressively lowered the relative risk of dementia by around 10-fold.
16. Chronic medical conditions like chronic kidney disease, COPD, type-2 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis have also been subjects of intense study this year.
17. Research into therapies and treatments for chronic diseases, neurological disorders, skin conditions, respiratory conditions, digestive health, eye health, hearing loss, and rare autoimmune disorders will continue in 2019, as we aim to stay informed and make healthier choices for our overall well-being.

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