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Top news of the day from across the health care landscape.
A recent study found a strong link between heart attacks and a person’s emotional state at that time, according to The Wall Street Journal. A large global study published in Circulation examined more than 12,000 patients who had a heart attack for the first time. The results revealed that being angry or emotionally upset while partaking in heavy physical activity more than doubled the risk of having a heart attack.
It has been previously shown that looking at cell phones, laptops, and tablets before bed can interfere with quality sleep. In a new study, researchers found that having these mobile devices in children’s rooms, even if they’re not being used before bed, is associated with increased likelihood of poor sleep quality and quantity. According to the Los Angeles Times, 31.5% of children without mobile devices in their bedroom reported not having enough hours of sleep at night compared with 41% of kids who have the devices in their rooms, and 45.4% who use their devices right before bed. Similar findings were seen in sleep quality and difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, reported the LA Times. Researchers found that 34% of kids with no access to mobile devices at bedtime reported poor sleep quality compared with 44% who had a device in their rooms, and 52% who used a device before bed. Additionally, children without devices in their room reported less daytime sleepiness. The findings indicate that in order for children to have a good night’s sleep, mobile devices should stay out of their bedrooms. The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Adult cancer survivors are more likely to be medicated for anxiety, depression, or both compared with other individuals, reported The Washington Post. A study found that approximately 19% of adult cancer survivors were taking psych meds for these conditions compared with roughly 10% of other adults. The findings indicate the importance of cancer survivors to pay attention to their mental health in addition to their physical health.