Here’s something to think about next time you’re scrolling your phone in bed or leaving the hallway light on: a major study suggests that exposure to light at night might be raising your risk of heart disease.

Researchers tracked nearly 89,000 adults in the UK for almost a decade. Instead of relying on estimates or questionnaires, they had participants wear wrist-mounted light sensors for a week to measure their actual light exposure. Then they followed up through medical records to see who developed cardiovascular problems.

The results were striking. People with the highest nighttime light exposure had a 42% higher risk of heart attack, 45% higher risk of heart failure, and roughly 28% higher risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation compared to those who kept things dark at night. And this wasn’t explained away by other factors—the researchers accounted for age, weight, diet, exercise, smoking, sleep quality, shift work, and even genetic predisposition to heart disease. The association still held.

So what’s going on? Light is the main signal that sets your body’s internal clock. When light hits your eyes at night, it can throw off the normal rhythms that regulate everything from blood pressure to metabolism. Your blood pressure is supposed to dip while you sleep, but nighttime light can prevent that drop. It can also push your nervous system into a more stressed state and mess with how your body handles glucose and fats. Over time, these disruptions may take a toll on your cardiovascular system.

What makes this study particularly relevant is that the light levels involved weren’t unusual. We’re not talking about working night shifts under fluorescent lights. The exposures that showed up as risky came from everyday sources—phone screens, bedside lamps, streetlight creeping through the curtains. Things most of us encounter regularly.

The study isn’t perfect. Measuring light for just one week might not capture someone’s typical long-term habits, and observational research can’t prove cause and effect with certainty. But the findings are consistent with what we know about circadian biology, and the dose-response pattern (more light, more risk) adds credibility.

The practical takeaway? Dimming the lights in the evening, using blackout curtains, and putting away screens before bed aren’t just good sleep hygiene—they might be good for your heart too.

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Tattoos may cause permanent changes to the immune system and affect how the body responds to vaccines, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

An international research team found that tattoo ink travels through the lymphatic system and accumulates in lymph nodes, often within minutes of being applied. More concerning, the ink appears to remain there for life — even if the tattoo is later removed.

In experiments on mice, researchers observed chronic inflammation in lymph nodes, the death of macrophages (white blood cells critical to immune function), and altered responses to vaccinations. Notably, tattooed mice showed a weaker response to COVID-19 vaccines but a stronger response to influenza vaccines, suggesting the effects vary depending on vaccine type.

Scientists first noticed the immune effects accidentally while working with mice that had been tattooed for unrelated experiments. They then conducted focused research using standard commercial inks in black, red, and green.

The team described their work as the most extensive study to date on tattoo ink’s effect on immune response. With at least one in five people globally now having a tattoo, researchers say the findings raise significant public health questions.

“Our results are crucial in informing toxicology programs, policymakers, and the general public regarding the potential risk of the tattooing practice associated with an altered immune response,” the authors wrote.

The study adds to growing concerns about tattoo safety. Recent research published in BMC Public Health found that people with large tattoos may face three times the risk of developing lymphoma compared to those without tattoos.

Researchers are calling for further study to inform regulatory frameworks around tattoo ink safety, though they acknowledge that tattooing shows no signs of slowing down as a cultural practice.

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I have noticed something remarkable over the past few months: many of my financially comfortable friends have reached their breaking point with health insurance.

It is not hard to understand why. In many cases, they are getting hit with huge increases, and those with families are facing renewal premiums of $3-4K/month.

Never before have I heard so many people talking about self-insurance. The thinking goes like this: Rather than spending $30-$50K on health care insurance, just put that money in an account and pay cash for medical bills. Over the years, even if a huge emergency arises, there will be money in the account to pay for it.

Self-insuring is appealing for many reasons:

• There is no doubt that cash payers get better prices than those paying through insurance. That sounds insane, but it is true regardless.
• Health insurance covers many things we may never want/need. This drives up the price. And on the flip side, it does not cover many things that we would like it to cover (like supplements!).
• The risk of a serious health event is modest, especially for young, healthy people.

For many, the decision of whether to have or not have insurance is unfortunately made for them because they simply can’t afford it. But if you can afford it, I am not going to encourage you to self-insure (go without health insurance) unless you have a lot (millions of dollars) of disposable cash. Here is why:

• Even young and healthy people have health emergencies, including cancer, heart attacks, car wrecks, and other accidents. While the risk is low, it is not insignificant. As a rule of thumb, you could plan on about a 10% chance per household member of having a significant health emergency in the next 10 years.
• These events can easily cost in the millions of dollars and are real debts that can/will destroy your financial life, affecting your ability to get loans and possibly driving you into bankruptcy.
• Generally speaking, health insurance premiums are subsidized for those with lower incomes and offer tax advantages for those with higher incomes. When you figure out the actual cost, while still expensive, health insurance is a bit more palatable.

Please don’t ever forget what health insurance is for. It is not primarily about paying for routine office visits. It is rather about protecting you from financial ruin in the case of a health crisis. And, if you are reading this, you have the risk of a health crisis.

If you want to protect yourself but simply cannot afford traditional health insurance, a middle ground exists: health-sharing plans. While they are not technically insurance, these plans do have a long history of paying large claims, and they cost a fraction of the cost.

There are many of these health sharing plans on the market right now. I don’t know enough about any of them to recommend particular ones, but you can find them easily online.

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I am not anti-alcohol. I live and operate in communities where alcohol is prominent, and I probably consume 1-2 drinks in a typical week.

In fact, I lean toward the belief that alcohol has many positive benefits related to community. Alcohol has been a social lubricant for thousands of years.

On the other hand, I want to make two quick points about alcohol. First, since the beginning of the world, it’s probably never been more hip not to drink alcohol. No one should feel pressure to drink, at least in the USA, because a considerable percentage of the population does not drink.

Second, there has never been a better time to get quality non-alcoholic beverages. In other words, you can sip fancy cocktails that are non-alcoholic with your friends. You can buy non-alcoholic wine and beer. Here in Atlanta, we actually have non-alcoholic bars and non-alcoholic “liquor” stores.

With that in mind, I want to talk about a recent study, which, for some unknown reason, the Department of Health and Human Services recently decided not to publish.

A draft of the report, known as the Alcohol Intake and Health Study, was published for public comment in January and is available online.

Here are some pretty shocking conclusions.

Major Health Risks Begin at One Drink Daily

Researchers discovered that consuming just one alcoholic drink per day increases the risk of developing multiple cancers—including breast, liver, colorectal, pharyngeal, and esophageal cancer—as well as liver cirrhosis. The study linked alcohol to over 200 health conditions ranging from mental health disorders to heart disease and digestive diseases.

While one drink daily slightly reduced stroke risk, this modest benefit was negated by occasional consumption of more than one drink. The risks escalate dramatically: people drinking more than seven drinks weekly face a 1-in-1,000 risk of alcohol-related death, jumping to 1-in-100 for those consuming nine or more drinks weekly.

Perhaps most striking, men who increase from one to two drinks daily face a 40-fold increase in mortality risk from alcohol-related diseases.

Two Types of Health Impact

Alcohol affects health through immediate effects—hangovers, workplace fatigue, drunk-driving dangers, and injuries—and long-term consequences, including chronic disease development. Beyond disease, alcohol influences brain function, mood, digestion, and energy levels.

Industry Influence

While this study was suppressed, the government selected a competing study to inform US advisory guidelines on alcohol. It aligns with current guidelines (one drink daily for women, two for men).

Some panelists behind this alternative report have financial ties to the alcohol industry, raising concerns about industry influence.

In other words, the fox is likely in charge of watching the hen house.

Path Forward

The suppression of the report is unfortunate. People deserve access to rigorous scientific information to make informed decisions about alcohol consumption.

However, we are all personally responsible for our health, regardless of what information (or misinformation) comes from the government.

Those wanting to reduce drinking can gradually cut back (fewer drinks per occasion or fewer drinking days), pay attention to alcohol-by-volume percentages in beverages, or switch to non-alcoholic alternatives.

The good news? There has never been a favorable time to do so.

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A large study looked at 17 different research trials with over 1,300 adults who had knee arthritis. The study found that turmeric supplements, especially special types that the body absorbs better, can reduce knee pain.

Three Types Tested

Researchers tested three kinds of turmeric:

Regular turmeric extract – the standard type found in many stores
Enhanced turmeric – special forms mixed with black pepper or made into tiny particles that the body absorbs better
Water-based turmeric – a different part of the turmeric plant that dissolves in water

The enhanced turmeric worked best, reducing pain by 30% – enough for people to really notice the difference. Regular turmeric helped some, but not as much. All three types helped when people rated their pain on a scale.

Why Turmeric Works

Turmeric fights inflammation in the body, similar to how ibuprofen works but through natural pathways. The main problem with regular turmeric is that our bodies can’t absorb it well. That’s why scientists created special versions; adding black pepper helps it get into the bloodstream, and making it into tiny particles helps the intestines absorb it better.

Compared to Regular Pain Pills

Other studies show turmeric works as well as common pain medications like ibuprofen for arthritis pain. The big advantage is that turmeric causes fewer stomach problems and other side effects that often come with long-term use of pain pills.

What This Means for You

If you have knee arthritis, turmeric might help, but the type matters. Look for supplements that say “enhanced absorption” or contain black pepper (piperine). These special formulas work much better than regular turmeric powder or basic supplements.

While more research is needed, the evidence suggests that the right kind of turmeric supplement could be a safer option than taking pain pills every day, especially since arthritis is a long-term condition that needs ongoing treatment.

New research from McGill University offers hope for aging brains, revealing that targeted mental exercises can actually reverse some cognitive decline associated with aging. The groundbreaking 10-week study found that daily mental workouts can boost levels of a crucial brain chemical that typically decreases as we age, effectively turning back the brain’s clock by approximately a decade.

The study focused on acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for attention and memory that naturally declines about 2.5% per decade with aging. Researchers worked with 92 healthy adults over 65, dividing them into two groups. Half played casual computer games like solitaire or Candy Crush, while the other half used BrainHQ, a scientifically designed program targeting memory, speed, and attention. Those using the structured cognitive training program experienced a 2.3% increase in acetylcholine levels in key brain areas after just 30 minutes of daily practice over 10 weeks.

While lead neurologist Étienne de Villers-Sidani acknowledges the increase isn’t dramatic, it’s significant given the typical age-related decline. The boost occurred not only in attention-related brain regions but also in the hippocampus, crucial for memory formation. Remarkably, participants playing casual games showed no such improvement, highlighting the importance of targeted cognitive challenges.

The study’s implications extend beyond laboratory findings to practical strategies anyone can implement. Mental exercises function like physical workouts for the brain, strengthening cognitive abilities and potentially slowing decline. Several accessible activities can provide these benefits:

Jigsaw puzzles engage multiple brain regions simultaneously, preserving visuospatial reasoning while providing relaxation and a sense of accomplishment. Whether tackling a 100-piece or 1,000-piece puzzle, the activity challenges perception and problem-solving skills.

Card games like bridge, poker, or UNO sharpen thinking through strategic planning and decision-making. Research shows they improve self-control, attention, task-switching abilities, verbal fluency, and memory across age groups.

Vocabulary building stimulates brain areas processing visual and auditory information. Simply learning one new word daily, understanding its meaning, and using it five times creates meaningful neural stimulation.

Dancing combines physical movement with cognitive challenge, requiring coordination and memory for steps. The CDC notes that dancing increases processing speed and mental flexibility while providing cardiovascular benefits.

Learning new skills creates the most comprehensive brain workout. A 2023 study found older adults who learned multiple skills simultaneously improved their cognitive function to levels comparable to middle-aged adults. Whether painting, playing an instrument, or learning a language, new hobbies build stronger neural connections.

The key distinction lies in the type of mental activity. While casual games provide entertainment, structured cognitive training that progressively challenges specific mental functions yields measurable neurological benefits. The research suggests that dedicating just 30 minutes daily to targeted mental exercises could help maintain or even improve cognitive function as we age.

This breakthrough offers a proactive approach to brain health, demonstrating that cognitive decline isn’t inevitable. Through consistent mental exercise, we can potentially preserve our memory, attention, and thinking skills well into our later years, maintaining independence and quality of life.

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