Health

This week's wellness news

Canadian Living
Health

This week's wellness news

Health News In the world of health, information is changing all the time. Scientists are constantly researching cures for diseases, conducting studies that help us better understand the human body and sifting through current health advice to see what strategies are actually going to help us live longer, healthier lives. It can be hard to keep up on it all. That’s why I’ve decided to check in on the latest in health news once a week to round up the most relevant studies that you need to know to keep yourself well. Here are three of this week’s most important stories. 1. Kids need probiotics too. A new study from the Journal of Pediatrics found that toddlers who were given probiotics every day were at less risk of infections. The probiotic Lactobaccillus reuteri prevented things like respiratory infections and diarrhea, plus using probiotics reduced the need for potentially harmful antibiotic use. You might eat yogurt or fermented foods to get your daily dose of probiotics, but it's a good idea to ensure your kids are eating some of these foods too. To learn more about the benefits of these healthy bacteria, see a doctor’s recommendation on probiotics. 2. Need a new heart? Let your doctor make a new one. This week the entire health care industry has been abuzz with the news that doctors in Louisville, Kentucky, are trying to create a brand new heart using a 3D printer. Researchers are aiming to use a patient's own cells to make what is arguably the most important organ in the human body. So far they have made heart valves, veins and some other smaller parts. One of the doctors predicts that they will be able to assemble a full heart in about five years, but it might take longer until they can actually use it in a human. Still, the research so far seems quite promising, particularly because it can overcome one of today’s biggest risks with transplantation: the possibility of rejection that comes from receiving someone else’s heart. 3. Sleep could protect you from a stroke. A recent study out of Taiwan found that patients with insomnia were about eight times more likely to suffer a stroke than those with healthy sleep patterns. The study looked at a four-year period and focused on young adults (ages 18 to 35). Insomnia has previously been linked to high blood pressure and inflammation of the arteries, but this latest study is even more motivation to conquer any sleep troubles you might be having. Learn more about insomnia, and how to beat it. (Photography: Thinkstock)

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