The researchers found that three months of pumping iron seemed to help curb cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while lessening the weight gain that sometimes accompanies quitting.  Overall, men and women who completed the resistance training program were twice as likely to kick the habit as smokers who didn't lift weights. "Cigarette smoking kills more than a thousand Americans every day, and while the large majority of smokers want to quit, less than 5 percent are able to do it … [Read more...]

A panel of health experts on Wednesday emphasized technological innovations as a way to improve healthcare in rural areas, after a study showed problems in those regions could be aggravated by new laws. The study showed rural Americans already are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions and face greater difficulty accessing quality healthcare than urban counterparts.  Patients in rural communities face greater rates of diabetes, heart problems and cancer but receive lower … [Read more...]

America's cities are beginning to grapple with a fact of life: People are getting old, fast, and they're doing it in communities designed for the sprightly. To envision how this silver tsunami will challenge a youth-oriented society, just consider that seniors soon will outnumber schoolchildren in hip, fast-paced New York City. It will take some creative steps to make New York and other cities age-friendly enough to help the coming crush of older adults stay active and … [Read more...]

Imaging scans show that chronic daily use of marijuana can have a detrimental effect on the brain, according to a new report. In the study, researchers revealed that chronic use of the drug caused a decrease in the number of receptors involved in a wide array of important mental and bodily functions, including concentration, movement coordination, pleasure, pain tolerance, memory and appetite. Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is abused more than any other illegal drug in America, according … [Read more...]