The Daily News – October 18, 2024

Today we’ll discuss the best cure for dry eye disease. Also, a straightforward dietary change to help combat IBS. And finally, preventing lower back pain may be easier than you thought. Welcome to Health Channel Broadcasting. If you are one of the millions suffering from dry eyes, you might be reaching for those eyedrops more than you’d like. But what if the best remedy was right in front of you and completely free? Well, new research suggests that a simple chuckle might be the best medicine. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that laughter exercises may be more effective at easing the symptoms of dry eye disease than traditional eye drops. Dry eye disease affects about 360 million people worldwide. It causes red, scratchy and uncomfortable eyes. Something many of us know all too well in the study. Half of the participants use standard eyedrops four times daily, while the other half performed specific laughter exercises for eight weeks. After those eight weeks, those who perform the laughter exercises reported feeling significantly less eye discomfort compared to those using the eyedrops. The study also found improvements in the function of the oil glands in the eyes, which help prevent tears from evaporating too quickly. The researchers noted that laughter could be a practical and free initial treatment for dry eye disease. They also highlighted its additional mental health benefits, as previous studies have linked laughter therapy to reduce stress, anxiety, and even pain. Next up, new research from Lund University in Sweden is offering a fresh, simpler approach for those living with irritable bowel syndrome. For those suffering with IBS, it can be especially challenging to follow the complex FODMAP diet that is currently recommended. According to the study, following a different diet that involves simply cutting down on sugar and starch can be just as effective. The new study found that eating less sugar and starch alone improved symptoms for 75 to 80% of patients. The study’s author explains that this simpler diet approach is not only easier to follow, but also resulted in greater weight loss and reduced sugar cravings. He adds that the diet is not just for people with IBS. It could be a healthy way for anyone to eat. The diet focuses on eating fewer processed foods, less sugar, and less starch, which makes it much easier to stick with long-term. The study was conducted with 155 IBS patients over a four week period. This new research suggests that cutting out sugar and starch might be an effective and simpler alternative to current recommendations. And our final story for today, lower back pain is something millions of people deal with around the world, and it’s one of the top causes of disability. But a new study out of Australia supports the idea that walking is a simple solution that may help prevent the pain from coming back. Researchers looked at people who had recently recovered from lower back pain and found that those who started a regular walking routine were 28% less likely to have their pain return within a year. This study published in the LAN set highlights walking as an easy way to reduce the likelihood of future episodes. Experts say walking has several benefits for the spine. According to the physical therapist who co-authored this study, walking helps get blood flowing to the spine, delivering oxygen and nutrients that support healing. It’s also a gentle way to strengthen the muscles and tissues around the lower back. One of the study’s key findings is that people in the walking group had twice as many PainFREE days before the pain returned. The study suggests that regular movement helps keep the spine and its supporting muscles strong, reducing the risk of flareups. So if you are someone who’s dealt with lower back pain, the study suggests a simple solution walk for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. This routine helped participants strengthen their backs and reduce the chances of the pain returning. Thanks for joining us today. We’ll see you next time on our daily News broadcast.