Study links bubbles released after heart attack to increased risk of cancer

Dina Bair
·1 min read

Medical Watch Digest for April 9

Heart disease & cancer

For a long time medical experts believed risk factors like smoking, diabetes and obesity connected both heart and cancer patients.

But a new study reveals cell bubbles, released after a heart attack, increase the risk for developing cancer.

Tel Aviv University scientists found cells secreted from the sick heart to heal itself, instead enter the bloodstream promoting the growth of cancer cells throughout the body.

The researchers hope their discovery will alert doctors to the need to monitor heart patients for cancer.

The study is published in the Journal Circulation.

Concussion & blood tests

The blood may hold clues to the severity of brain injury. Blood protein can detect concussion recovery in children according to Murdoch Children’s Research Institute doctors.

They discovered the biomarker that predicts those who will experience ongoing concussion symptoms.

Children with low levels of the protein called Alpha-1 Act had delayed recovery after a head blow.

They had headaches, light sensitivity and memory challenges weeks, even months after their concussion.

The blood test can identify those children in need of specialized recovery care.

More Coverage: WGN’s Medical Watch

Hug health

A brief hug can make a big difference for mood and health.

Physical contact alleviates pain, depression and anxiety according to an analysis of more than 130 studies of 10,000 people.

Touch also had a positive effect on blood pressure and heart rate.

And the touch doesn’t have to last long.

But the effect, especially with newborns, is enhanced when contact is skin to skin.

However, the journal nature human behavior reports even a robot’s touch had impact on enhanced health. Shorter, more frequent physical contact was the most beneficial.

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