A good bribe helps in quitting smoking, and a study confirms that moving more makes you live longer, and a quarter of Tunisian women over 45 years old suffer from osteoporosis. This is what the latest medical studies have shown today.
In “Al Jazeera Health” we present a roundup of research and medical news for today, Monday, January 13, 2025:
A quarter of Tunisian women over 45 years old suffer from osteoporosis
A Tunisian study revealed that 25% of women over the age of 45 suffer from osteoporosis, according to what Professor Kawthar Ben Abdel Ghani, a specialist in orthopedics and joints at Monji Slim Hospital, reported to the Tunisian African News Agency, which reported the results of the study.
The specialist in bone and joint medicine said – in a statement to the Tunisian Africa News Agency – that osteoporosis in women is a “silent” disease in many cases, as those afflicted with it may not show any symptoms or pain in the early stages.
She explained that hormonal changes play a major role in weak bones, making them more susceptible to fractures. Genetic factors, such as whether the mother or father suffered fractures in the pelvic area, may increase the possibility of children contracting the disease.
She stressed that it is important to know that a fracture of the pelvic head increases the risk of death by 20% in people with osteoporosis.
Money encourages people to quit smoking
A recent study finds that financial rewards and incentives – which some may see as a good bribe – are successful ways to help people quit smoking. For the first time, the researchers also found “high certainty evidence” that this intervention works for pregnant women too.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the United States, and the Eurek Alert website wrote about it.
“When we updated this review, we found more studies on financial incentives for pregnant people, and we found high-certainty evidence this time that they actually help pregnant people get better,” said lead author Jamie Hartman Boyce, assistant professor of health policy and promotion in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. Quit smoking and keep doing it.”
Move more live longer
Chinese researchers have found that moderate physical activity, compared to low levels of activity, is associated with an increased likelihood of living longer.
The researchers revealed the links between physical activity and sedentary behavior and their effects on longevity and accelerating the aging process, giving credence to the advice to “sit less and move more” for a healthy life and longevity.
Researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University selected 20,924 Chinese participants aged 50 or over, and collected data on their physical activity and sitting behaviors through questionnaires, according to the Chinese Xinhua News Agency.
The frequency, duration and intensity of moderate physical activity has been shown to be positively associated with the likelihood of longevity. In contrast, vigorous physical activity does not achieve the same benefits, and in some cases shows an inverse relationship.
When examining the relationship between physical activity and accelerating the aging process, researchers found that increasing the frequency of moderate physical activity was associated with a lower risk of accelerating aging by more than 5 years. In contrast, increasing the duration of vigorous physical activity is associated with an increased risk of accelerated aging by more than 5 years.
Exposure to radon increases the risk of gestational diabetes
A recent study found that greater exposure to radon is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women.
The study was conducted by researchers from Columbia University in the United States, and was published in JAMA magazine, and written about on the Eurek Alert website.
Radon is a radioactive gas found naturally in the environment, including rocks, soil and groundwater. It can enter buildings through their foundations.
For most people, the most likely place of exposure to radon is the home. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one in every 15 American homes contains radon levels higher than the recommended safety level.
Radon levels are usually higher in places closer to the ground, such as basements or underground mines, near soil containing more radioactive minerals, and in poorly ventilated spaces.