Reading Room
The reading room includes articles and videos of potential interest to consumers and medical professionals. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the NC Medical Board, its members, and staff. Note: Some links may require registration or subscription.
4,000 steps 1 or 2 days a week may help reduce heart disease risk in older women
Medical News Today
October 22, 2025
A new study recently published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine reports that older women who took 4,000 steps on only one or two days during the week reduced their risk for cardiovascular disease and death compared to those who took fewer steps.
It’s Almost Flu Season. Should You Still Get a Shot?
KFF Health News
August 18, 2025
For parents of school-aged children, the fall to-do list can seem ever-growing. Buy school supplies. Fill out endless school forms. Block off parent-teacher nights. Do the kids’ tennis shoes still fit? Somewhere, at some point, you might remember flu shots. Get your flu shot. Get their flu shots. Or should you? Can you? Is that still a thing? In short: Yes, the flu shot is still a thing. And four doctors we spoke to said they recommend you get your flu shot this year.
Counting steps for health? Here’s how many you really need
NPR
August 14, 2025
From pricey wearable devices to your phone, it has never been easier to track your daily physical activity, or lack of it. And if you’re like many Americans and spend nine-plus hours sitting every day, chances are you could probably stand to take a few more steps. But just how many should you aim for if you want to live a longer and healthier life? New research suggests 7,000 is a good target.
White coat or casual? Here’s what patients prefer…
MedPage Today
August 12, 2025
Physician attire—namely, white coats—affected patients’ perceptions of professionalism, trust, and communication, a systematic review indicated. However, patient preferences for such attire depended on clinical environment, medical specialty, physician gender, and the context of care, including the COVID-19 pandemic, reported Bo-Young Youn of Hwasung Medi-Science University in Hwaseong-si, South Korea, and colleagues in The BMJ.
Study finds turning point when body starts aging rapidly
Medical News Today
August 9, 2025
While we can try to slow it down, human aging is something we currently can’t stop from happening. However, past studies show that aging doesn’t necessarily happen at the same pace throughout our life. According to a new study published recently in the journal Cell, the human body experiences rapid changes around age 50.
Poor sleep linked to 172 diseases, including dementia, Parkinson’s, diabetes
MedicalNewsToday
August 4, 2025
Getting enough quality sleep every night is important for good health, but the extent it affects overall health is still being researched. A new study has linked 172 different diseases, including dementia, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease to poor sleep patterns. Of those diseases, 92 of them had over 20% of their risk correlated with poor sleep behavior.