Monthly News Archives



		Cancer Patients Likelier to Use Alternative Medicine Cancer patients are twice as likely to turn to acupuncture and herbal therapy as people suffering from other diseases are, claims a new study of alternative medicine use. Hunger Sharpens Your Taste Buds This likely won't be much comfort to dieters, but hunger may actually heighten your ability to taste food, says a University of Malawi study in the current issue of BMC Neuroscience. Weight Gain Predicts Breast Cancer Risk A cancer society study found that women who gained 21 to 30 pounds after the age of 18 were forty percent more likely to get breast cancer than women who gained five pounds or less. Mom's Smoking Tied to Adult Children's Lung Disease The effects of a mother's smoking on her children's lungs may be permanent, possibly furthering the risk of serious lung disease in children who take up the habit themselves, new research suggests. TV, Eating Out Makes Kids Fat Excessive television watching and fat-laden fast food menus are working together to make U.S. children fatter and fatter, two separate reports said. No-Smoking Sections Are No Help There may not be much point in choosing the no-smoking section when you go out to a club or restaurant. An Australian study in the current issue of Tobacco Control found smoking sections offer little or no protection from the detrimental health effects of secondhand smoke. Very-Low-Calorie Diet Controls Teens' Diabetes A high-protein, low-carb, very-low-calorie diet is effective short-term treatment for obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. Long Soaking May Help Dry Hands Done correctly, soaking in water can help ease the dry skin that plagues the hands of so many people during winter, says a skin expert at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver. Ten Grams of Dietary Fiber Cuts Heart Risk Eating at least three apples a day or other sources of dietary fiber such as cereals significantly cuts the risk of death from heart disease, researchers said. Super Antioxidants A new family of antioxidants that are 100 times more effective than vitamin E has been developed by a team of international scientists. 'Good' Carbs Cut Heart Disease Risk While the debate rages on over low- and no-carbohydrate diets, a new study reiterates that a diet high in whole grains as well as fruits and vegetables significantly reduces the risk of heart disease. The Gender Differences of Heart Disease For all the myriad differences between men and women, the gravest seems to be the divergence in how the genders experience heart problems -- specifically, heart attacks. Stress Seems to Block Deep Sleep Stress may disrupt the natural rhythms of the body's nervous system during various stages of sleep, says a University of Pittsburgh study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Why Obesity Aggravates Blood-Sugar Control You're overweight and have type 2 diabetes. Your doctor urges you to drop those excess pounds, knowing a leaner you will have a better chance of managing your blood sugar. Yoga Adapts for Changing Times Hot yoga. Tot yoga. Power yoga. Disco yoga. Yoga Kickboxing. Fat-blasting yoga. Years after the ancient Eastern discipline caught on big in the Western world, yoga is proving to be a sustainable form of physical fitness that adapts to our modern lifestyles. Drum Sessions Protect Employees from Burnout Participating in drumming sessions may help people defend themselves from the stress and burnout that can cause them to leave their jobs, according to the findings of a new study. What You Can Do To Prevent Yourself From Shrinking Height loss is a normal fact of aging, unfortunately people don�t notice it when the decrements are small, and not all height loss is normal. Poor Growth in Womb May Delay Maturation Infants whose growth was restricted in the womb may show slower maturation of certain basic body functions, new research suggests. Six Common Dental Procedures That Can Harm Your Health Conventional dentistry and conventional dental practices have certainly helped a great number of people enjoy good dental function for many years now. And if that�s the case, why should anyone be interested in seeing an environmental dentist rather than a conventional dentist? Personal Trainers Instil Discipline In Those Falling Short Of Fitness Resolutions It's well into the New Year and you still haven't managed to shed those few extra pounds, tone those abs, or start that healthy lifestyle you were so keen to pursue when 2004 was in its infancy. If a lack of direction has derailed the best of intentions, a little discipline may be in order. A personal trainer could be just the thing. Exercise Need Not Be Painful "No pain, no gain" may be the mantra of coaches everywhere, but it's bad advice for most exercisers, research suggests. Exercise Sharpens Judgment Brisk walks that improve cardiovascular fitness help aging adults sharpen their mental focus and decision-making abilities. Ovulating Women More Likely to Downplay the Looks of Other Females The next time that special woman in your life mercilessly attacks the character of the females around her you might want to take notice. According to a new study, hell hath no fury like a woman ovulating. Physical Fitness May Protect Aging Brain Being physically fit may be good for the aging brain, researchers report. In a new study of older adults, higher levels of physical fitness were associated with improved mental abilities. Report Links Breast Cancer to Antibiotic Use Women exposed to higher amounts of antibiotics have as much as twice the risk of breast cancer, but it is not known if the treatment is an actual cause of the most common form of cancer afflicting women worldwide, researchers stated. More Evidence Vegetarian Diet May Cut Cancer Risk Eating a meat-free, vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, new research suggests. Weight Loss and Exercise Improve Liver Disease For people with chronic liver disease, losing weight and getting more exercise helps their liver function better and improves their quality of life, new research shows. Your Heart's Health Is in Your Hands Stopping heart disease before it starts is no longer the sole domain of doctors. These days you can do it largely by yourself if you watch what you eat, exercise when you can and keep close track of your cholesterol and blood pressure. The Fight Against Osteoporosis Should Start in Childhood Fighting osteoporosis in old age is as simple as exercise and drinking four glasses of milk a day -- when you're in your teens. Whole-Grain Foods May Lower Diabetes Risk People who consume plenty of whole-grain foods, particularly fiber-rich cereals, may be less likely to develop health conditions that put them at increased risk of diabetes, new research suggests. Heart Trouble Can Start in the Young The rising incidence of type 2 diabetes, once called adult-onset diabetes, in young people is just one aspect of the obesity epidemic. Unfortunately, both diabetes and obesity spell heart trouble, even for kids. Men, Having Friends Is Good for the Heart Men who have many friends they can turn to for support are significantly less likely to develop heart disease, findings from a new study show. Equation Predicts Marriage Success or Failure Mathematics may not seem romantic, but it may be useful for telling whether a marriage will end in divorce, according to researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle. In a study of married couples, a mathematical equation was 94 percent accurate in predicting which ones would divorce. Hostile People May Be 'Born to Smoke' People with hostile or aggressive personality traits may have genetic tendencies that make them "born to smoke," U.S. researchers report. Valentines Day or National Condom Day? Who doesn't know that Feb. 14 is Valentine's Day, with such attendant pledges of love as chocolates, flowers and possibly diamonds? But did you know the day has also been proclaimed National Condom Day? Moderate-Fat May Be Better Than Low-Fat Diet A low-fat diet can help dieters lose weight, but a moderate-fat diet that contains plenty of healthy, plant-based fats may be a better choice for boosting cardiovascular health while shedding pounds, new research suggests. Vitamin D Cuts Seniors' Risk of Falling For the elderly, protection against falls might be a multivitamin away, new research indicates. Symptoms of Depression Tied to Diabetes Depressive symptoms appear to increase the likelihood of developing diabetes, according to a new study. In Low-Carb Era, a Pro-Carb Movement Defenders of the carbohydrate are fighting back against the surging popularity of the Atkins and other high-protein diets. Drink When Thirsty, But Hold the Salt An obsession with "hydration" may have spawned an entire industry of little water bottles, water bottle holders and regular drink breaks at gyms, but most people get plenty of fluids, the Institute of Medicine panel said. UK Child Obesity Rates Set to Soar Forget the traditional image of the beautiful "English rose" -- by 2020 one third of British girls will be obese, according to a recent report published. Iron Storage Raises Diabetes Risk A study has found that storing abnormal amounts of iron in the body can lead to adult onset diabetes in women, raising the possibility that a blood test earlier in life could help identify those at risk from the disease, researchers stated. Smoking Leads to Impotence and Infertility Smoking damages almost all aspects of sexual, reproductive and child health, a hard-hitting report by the British Medical Association (BMA) stated. Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation Warns Fat is the New Tobacco According to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation�s Annual Report Card on Canadians� Health, the increasing number of overweight and obese Canadians now poses one of the greatest threats ever to public health in this country. Developing Countries Reject Science Behind UN Strategy to Combat Obesity A group of developing countries rejected the science driving the United Nations' effort to fight obesity worldwide, saying the dietary recommendations are based on flawed research and "not worthy of serious consideration." WHO Issues Guidelines on Herbal Medicines The U.N. health agency issued advice to governments around the world on how to ensure that the $60 billion herbal medicine business is safe and sustainable. Experts Weigh Possible Autism, Vaccines Link An independent scientific panel weighing a possible link between autism and the mercury preservative in childhood vaccines heard suggestions that the source of the heavy metal could be fish. Brisk Walk More Important Than Step Count Walking 10,000 steps to good health may be harder than it looks. Simply padding around from place to place during the day, while better than nothing, isn't enough to achieve the federal minimum target for physical activity, researchers say. Too Little Sleep Can Lower Kids' Self-Esteem A lack of sleep can cause feelings of depression and low self-esteem among middle school students, says a study in the January-February issue of Child Development Optimism No Help Vs. Cancer, Study Says A positive attitude does not improve the chances of surviving cancer and doctors who encourage patients to keep up hope may be burdening them, according to the results of research released. More Women Opting for Caesarean Sections Not so long ago, many women who'd had their first baby by Caesarean section pleaded with their obstetrician to let them try a vaginal delivery for the second baby. Resistance Exercise Curbs Diabetes in Pregnancy Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy can reduce their need for insulin treatment by participating in a resistance training program, investigators in Canada report. Metabolic Syndrome Is a Stroke Trigger An ominous and increasingly common mix of obesity and other health ills, known as metabolic syndrome, has been found to roughly double the risk of a stroke. Women More Susceptible to Stroke Than Men It seems women over 55 need to worry more about having a stroke than their male counterparts do. Mercury Tied to Irreversible Brain Damage Researchers have found evidence that high levels of mercury exposure while a child is still in the womb can cause lasting, irreversible brain damage. Heavy Women Who Become Pregnant Face Greater Health Risks There are new reasons to control your weight both before and after you conceive -- particularly if you're heavy before you even try to have a baby. New Women's Heart Guidelines Stress Early Action The American Heart Association released new guidelines for preventing and treating heart disease in women and said most women still did not realize heart disease was more likely to kill them than anything else. Lung Cancer Risk May Be Higher in Female Smokers Female smokers may be more likely to develop lung cancer than men who smoke a similar amount, new study findings suggest. The investigators found that of nearly 2,500 men and women age 40 and older screened for lung cancer, women had more than twice the risk of being diagnosed with the disease. Patients Leaving Hospital Report Adverse Events One of the first solid studies to look at medical errors in Canadian health care found nearly a quarter of patients had adverse events following discharge from hospital - and half of those problems were either preventable or ameliorable. Are Thin People Healthier In regard to weight, the majority of people in developed nations are concerned with overweight and obesity. There is very little panic or concern brought on the shoulders of those who are thin. However, being thin is not the same thing as being healthy, and it�s important to realize this whether you are trying to lose extra pounds or keep your weight at an unrealistic level. Computers No Better at Detecting Breast Cancer Computer-aided detection systems may not be as helpful in detecting breast cancers as earlier studies had indicated. Sexual Health Care Benefits Undervalued The developed world is failing to invest in sexual and reproductive health care because it has greatly underestimated the benefits � socially and economically � that such investment would bring, a United Nations sponsored report found. Good Bacteria Never Take a Day Off So-called "good bacteria" in the intestines, which may help people with inflammatory bowel disease, allergies and some forms of cancer, work even when they're inactive, says a study in the February issue of Gastroenterology. Antidepressant Use by Moms-To-Be May Affect Baby Certain antidepressants taken by mothers during pregnancy can lead to disturbed behavior in their offspring, according to the results of a small study. Fat-Fighting Drugs Could Raise Cancer Risk Drugs being developed to fight obesity and clogged arteries may raise the risk of colon cancer, U.S. researchers warned. Breast-Feeding May Prevent Weight Problems The longer white infants from low-income families are breast-fed, the less likely they will be overweight as young children, researchers said. Moms' Blues Bad News for Their Kids Two new studies suggest maternal depression may have more of an effect on children than had previously been realized. Don't Let Asthma Chill Winter Fun Don't let asthma put the chill on your winter fun. Cold air can cause problems for people with asthma when they're skating, snowboarding, skiing or taking part in any other outdoor winter activity. The best way to control exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is to prevent it, Dr. Sally Wenzel, of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, says in a prepared statement.