Bike lanes are a sound public health investment

A woman rides a bicycle along a designated bike lane on Queens Boulevard in the borough of Queens in New York, U.S., May 5, 2016.  (REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton) Every $1,300 New York City invested in building bike lanes in 2015 provided benefits equivalent to one additional year of life at full health over the lifetime of all city residents, according to a new economic assessment. That’s a better return on investment than some direct health treatments, like dialysis, which costs $129,000 for one quality-adjusted life year, or QALY, said coauthor Dr.…

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India Ranked 143 Among 188 Countries in Health Study

A global study on a range of health indicators released today has ranked India 143rd among 188 countries, citing various challenges, including mortality rates, malaria hygiene and air pollution. “Despite rapid economic growth, India was ranked 143rd, below Comoros and Ghana,” the first annual assessment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) health performance published in the Lancet and launched at a special event at the UN General Assembly in New York said. India was placed just ahead of Pakistan and Bangladesh which were ranked 149th and 151st respectively. India’s poor performance…

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Binge Eating May Up Various Health Conditions

Individuals with binge-eating disorder (BED) may be at high risk of getting diagnosed with illnesses associated with the endocrine and circulatory systems, a study suggests. Binge-eating disorder is a serious eating disorder in which an individual frequently consumes unusually large amounts of food and is unable to stop craving for more. Individuals with BED could be at an increased risk of 2.5-times of having an endocrine disorder and at 1.9-times of having a circulatory system disorder. The endocrine system influences heart, bones and tissues growth, and even fertility. It plays…

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10 Surprising Health Benefits of Laughter

Smiling or laughing is infectious, looking at someone smiling naturally makes you reciprocate, even if you are having a rough day. Be it a fight with your spouse or that frustrating traffic, you see a giggling baby and it tickles your funny bone, doesn’t it? Today’s mundane stressful work life has taken a toll on our health and we have forgotten to live in the present and enjoy the little moments. The rise in the number of stand-up comedians and comedy shows is testament to this growing need. People are…

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Health Weekly Roundup; India declares itself free of bird flu, 1.4m lives lost in India due to air pollution in ’13, Painkillers are not advisable for dengue

Here is this week’s aggregation of the latest news stories on health, fitness and diet. This week was packed with important health-related discoveries. To make sure you don’t miss any, here is this week’s aggregation of the latest news stories on health, fitness and diet. India declares itself free of bird flu Bird flu mainly affects domestic poultry. It spreads from infected birds to other winged creatures through contact with nasal and respiratory secretions and also due to contamination of feed and wate 1.4m lives lost in India due to…

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Laughter-based exercise may boost health in the elderly

Incorporating laughter into a physical activity program could improve older adults’ mental health, aerobic endurance and confidence in their ability to exercise, a study has found. In the study, older adults participated in a moderate-intensity group exercise program called ‘LaughActive’ that incorporates playful simulated laughter — self-initiated as bodily exercise — into a strength, balance and flexibility workout. The findings showed that simulated laughter can be an ideal way for older adults with functional or cognitive impairment. Significant improvements were also found among participants in mental health, aerobic endurance and…

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