Heart disease risk higher among shift workers

People who work night shifts are at increased risk of developing an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation (AF), according to research published in the European Heart Journal. The study is the first to investigate the links between night shift work and AF. Using information from 283,657 people in the UK Biobank database, researchers found that the longer and more frequently that people worked night shifts over their lifetimes, the greater their risk of AF. Night shift work was also linked to an increased risk of heart disease, but not to stroke or heart failure.

Can Varicose Veins Cause Pain and Discomfort?

Varicose veins are enlarged veins with a rope-like appearance. They’re usually purple or blue in color, occur right beneath your skin, and typically affect your legs and feet. Up to 23 percentTrusted Source of all adults are affected by this venous disease in the U.S. About 33 million of these people are older, with ages ranging between 40 and 80. Varicose veins are caused by malfunctioning valves in your veins that are unable to bring blood back to your heart effectively as they work against gravity.

Yoga may improve quality of life for people with asthma

If you have asthma, you’re not alone. Approximately 300 million peopleTrusted Source around the world have this chronic inflammatory disorder. Typically, asthma treatment involves medication and preventive measures like avoiding triggers. Some say yoga can also help alleviate asthma symptoms. To date, yoga isn’t a part of standard asthma therapy. But it’s possible that a regular, gentle practice could provide relief. Plus, if yoga improves your symptoms, there’s generally no harm in doing it.