What We're Reading: Exercise Outdoors; Repeat Opioid Overdoses; Tumor Test for Breast Cancer

Outdoor Exercise Provides Greatest Benefits

Long walks outside will provide greater benefits than long walks in a gym, according to a new study. The New York Times reported that the study was aiming to determine how to increase people’s enjoyment of exercise, which in turn increases the likelihood they will keep with it. Comparing an outdoor hike and the same workout on a treadmill, participants actually reported that the outdoor exercise felt less strenuous and their mood scores were higher.

Politician Takes Controversial Stance on Opioid Overdoses

 A city council member in Ohio has proposed a 3 strikes policy for people who repeatedly overdose on opioids. According to The Washington Post, under the proposed plan people who overdose too many times won’t receive help. The council member proposed the idea out of frustration over how much the city is spending to save people who repeatedly overdose.

Identifying Which Breast Cancers Don’t Need Extra Treatment

 A new test may help doctors distinguish between ultralow-risk tumors unlikely to cause problems and those that are more aggressive. The benefit of such a test is that it could help patients avoid unnecessary treatments, reported NPR. Researchers have been able to identify patients who, up to 20 years after first diagnosis, had a very low risk of death from breast cancer. The study determined that 20% to 25% of tumors may be ultralow-risk and not require treatment after surgery.