Help in Predicting Which Whiplash Patients Will Develop Chronic Pain

It’s estimated that roughly half of patients with whiplash associated disorders will develop chronic symptoms that can persist for a year or longer. A recent study involving 203 whiplash patients found that individuals with moderate-to-severe neck pain lasting two-to-six weeks after the incident and those experiencing pain beyond the neck were significantly more likely to develop chronic symptoms. These findings may help clinicians identify patients at higher risk for poor recovery, allowing for earlier and more comprehensive interventions to potentially prevent chronicity. Pain, September 2024

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions—obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, impaired metabolic function, and excessive waist circumference—that occur together and elevate the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. A recent meta-analysis of data from twelve studies found that inflammatory bowel disease patients have a 21% increased risk for metabolic syndrome, particularly those with ulcerative colitis. Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, April 2025

Countering the perception that potatoes are unhealthy, researchers from Louisiana State University note that when boiled or roasted, potatoes are low in energy density and rich in fiber and potassium. In an experiment in which participants replaced 40% of their meat intake with potatoes, they lost an average of 5.6% of their total body weight within eight weeks without feeling hungry. Louisiana State University, February 2025

University of Jyväskylä researchers note that listening to music while working out reduces perceived exertion by up to 10%, faster-tempo music (120–140 BPM) enhances endurance, and choosing your own music makes workouts more enjoyable so you’re likely to continue exercising into the future.
medRxiv, December 2024

A survey of 550 university students revealed that those who tend to stay up late are less mindful of the present moment, less likely to get sufficient quality sleep, and more likely to consume alcohol—all of which are linked to an elevated risk for depression. PLOS One, March 2025

A systematic review that included 191 studies concluded that waterpipe smoking—such as a hookah—is associated with multiple poor health outcomes including gastric cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, infertility, chronic bronchitis, cough, sputum, and poor oral health. Systematic Reviews, March 2025