Medical Notes: Why You Should Spend More Time On Your Phone, The Dangers Of Kids Playing Tackle Football, And How Light Therapy Can Mend Your Heart

Are sound waves the next big thing in cancer treatment?

Chemotherapy has long been the standard option, but its side effects can be just as devastating for the patient as the cancer. Instead, new research in the journal Chemical Science reveals how to make this treatment more precise through using ultrasound waves. When ultrasound is applied over the cancerous area it activates the chemo just in that one spot. Researchers believe this approach could greatly minimize the damaging effects of chemotherapy.

Tackle football isn’t as kid-friendly as you think.

Adults who began playing the sport at an early age may have less white matter in their brain – which accounts for nearly half of the human brain’s volume. It’s necessary for communication between cells, and a depletion of it can lead to cognitive and behavioral problems later in life. The study, published in Brain Communications, shows a cumulative risk, meaning that the longer you play, the higher your risk for brain injury becomes.

Why you may want to spend more time on your phone.

Researchers are looking at creating an app that passively collects user data as a tool to assess mental health. A paper published in Jama Network Open reveals that it’s possible to link a user’s online behaviors with both specific and non-specific symptoms relating to mental health conditions. While this won’t be able to replace treatment, it will help clinicians make better diagnoses and treatment recommendations.

Light therapy could mend your heart.

Research in the journal Lasers In Surgery And Medicine shows improved heart functioning in mice when exposed to photo-bio-modulation therapy. The mice received low-dose light therapy for two minutes, five days a week. Scientists believe it affects inflammation, immune system functions, and stem cell activity.

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