HEALTHY LIVING Health Insider
MINDFULNESS AND CBT IMPROVE LOW BACK PAIN A study published in JAMA Network Open found that eight weeks of a behavioral treatment led to improvements in adults with chronic low back pain. The participants had severe back pain that had not responded to previous interventions, and they were being treated with opioids. “Usually, in that condition, people don’t really get better over time on their own,” said Bruce Barrett, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Patients underwent eight weeks of either mindfulness or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and were instructed to continue to practice on their own for 30 minutes a day, six days a week during the 12-month study. The mindfulness group learned to notice sensations they were feeling to give them more control over how they responded to pain, and the CBT group learned strategies to change their negative thought patterns. Both groups experienced improved physical function and quality of life, and pain and use of opioids were reduced.
WEEKEND WARRIORS CUT ODDS OF DYING Being a “weekend warrior” may provide benefits comparable to — or even better than — those granted by daily physical activity. Researchers divided study participants into three groups: active weekend warrior (most exercise completed in one
96 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | AUGUST 2025
or two days), active regular (activity spread throughout the week), and inactive (participants did not complete 150 minutes of physical activity a week). Compared to the inactive group, the risk of death for weekend warriors and active regulars was 32% and 26% lower, respectively. “As long as you get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week — whether packed into one to two days or spread out — you can significantly reduce your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, or other causes,” said epidemiologist Zhi-Hao Li, Ph.D.
BANANAS MAY BE KEY TO REGULATING BLOOD PRESSURE Increasing the ratio of potassium to sodium in the diet may be more effective for lowering blood pressure than simply
reducing sodium intake, according to a new study. “Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt,” said Anita Layton, Ph.D. “Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich
LOW BACK PAIN STATISTICS: 619
million The number of people
worldwide who reported low back pain in 2020.
foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium.”
E-CIGARETTES LINKED TO COPD An analysis of nearly 250,000 people over four years led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that while e-cigarettes are often marketed as being safe, they may contain significant levels of compounds that can be harmful and addictive. And like traditional tobacco
84%
The percentage of adults who will experience back pain at some point in their lives.
28%
The percentage of American adults who report having chronic low back pain.
cigarettes that are linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), e-cigarettes are also tied to the debilitating condition, although the risk is less. The research also found a possible link between e-cigarettes and high blood pressure.
Research found a possible link between e-cigarettes and high blood pressure.
CT SCANS INCREASE THE RISK FOR CANCER The radiation from CT scans could lead to lung, breast, and other cancers, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. While useful for detecting disease, including cancer, the scans are often overused and some, such as scans for upper respiratory infections, are unlikely to help patients. “CT can save lives, but its potential harms are often overlooked,” said Rebecca Smith-Bindman, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco. “Our estimates put CT on par with other significant risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and excess body weight.”
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