Monthly News Archives



		Siblings, Pets, Farms Help Stop Allergies Having siblings, pets and living on a farm reduces the risk of allergic illnesses in babies but having early infections increases it, Danish researchers said. Artery Thickening Found in Obese Children New research shows obese children as young as 10-years-old have arteries resembling heavy smokers and face the prospect of coronary disease in early middle age. Most Parents Not Worried About Kids' Drowning Risk Despite the fact that drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death among kids 14 and younger, most parents say they are not concerned about drowning, according to new findings published. Women Opting for Too Many Caesarians Women are opting for potentially dangerous Caesarian births far too readily, experts say. Vitamin D Use Cuts Risk of Falls in Elderly The findings from a new study suggest that older persons may cut their risk of falls by more than 20 percent by taking vitamin D supplements. Further studies, however, are needed to determine what type of vitamin D works best and at what dose, and to clarify the benefits in men. Hypnosis May Help Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients In patients with irritable bowel syndrome that does not respond to other treatments, hypnotherapy appears to be able to reduce colon symptoms after eating, according to Swedish researchers. Almost 1 in 4 Canadian Babies Delivered By Caesarean Canada's caesarean birthrate has hit an all-time high, with the surgery being used to bring almost one in four infants into the world, a report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows. Summer Brings Lower Cholesterol Levels Blood cholesterol levels peak during autumn and winter but decline in spring and summer, perhaps because warm weather and more activity add volume to the blood, researchers said. Half of Germans Too Fat Half of Germany's 83 million population is overweight, the Federal Statistics Office said, citing results of a survey of 370,000 people. Heart Disease Now Major Global Threat Cheap food, cigarettes and city life are causing millions of early deaths in the developing world, according to a report to be released. Diabetes Reportedly to Double Worldwide by 2030 Diabetes rates will double worldwide by 2030, to 366 million people with the disease, even if the obesity rate remains stable, an international team of researchers reported. People Often Inactive, Alone After a Stroke In the early days after having a stroke, most patients spend most of their time alone resting in bed, when they should be encouraged to be active. WHO Says World Is Better Prepared to Deal with SARS The World Health Organization (WHO) believes the world is better prepared to deal with a possible outbreak of SARS this year, the head of the agency said. Ditching Sodas Cuts Childhood Obesity Obesity is a growing problem in children. Researchers at the Bournemouth Diabetes and Endocrine Center in southern England found that just cutting down on carbonated drinks limited their obesity rates. Satisfying Your Hunger Cuts Cravings for Sweets If you find yourself constantly craving sweets in the afternoon, don't blame it on a sugar addiction. Hunger is most likely behind those cravings for cookies and other sweets, according to a nutrition expert. Heart Enlargement Seen in Healthy But Obese Women Young women who are obese but otherwise healthy show signs of heart remodeling and impaired contraction and relaxation of the heart. Drug Firms Withheld Negative Data Drug companies withheld information showing antidepressants were ineffective and could be harmful to children and should have issued warnings on their products, researchers said. Cervical Cancer Still Cutting Many Lives Short While deaths from cervical cancer have plunged in wealthy nations over the past 50 years, the disease remains a top killer of younger women in many parts of the world, new research shows. Exercisers Must Adjust to Summer Heat, Humidity As summer approaches, people who exercise or play sports outdoors can reduce the risk of heat stroke by giving themselves a chance to adjust to rising temperatures and humidity, according to a sports medicine expert. Curves Program Cuts Pounds Sedentary and overweight women who followed the Curves 30-minute circuit-training program significantly raised their metabolic rate, claim eight studies by health and fitness experts at Baylor University. Weight Training Helps Women and Elderly Weight training can help women lose weight and keep it off, and can also help older men and women strengthen their immune systems, according to research presented at a conference this week. Men, Too, Are Sensitive to Media Body Ideals Waifish models are often blamed for the poor body image many women have, but those well-toned lads in after-shave ads may leave men feeling inadequate too, new research shows. Prevent Heart Disease, Avoid Erection Problems Men with certain risk factors for heart disease in mid-life -- such as obesity and high cholesterol levels -- are also more likely to develop erectile dysfunction many years later, new findings indicate. You Really May Be Addicted to That Chocolate Cake People who say they are addicted to chocolate or pizza may not be exaggerating, U.S.-based scientists said. Night Eating Syndrome Leads to Obesity A condition that causes people to wake up several times a night and eat may put them on a path toward obesity, a new study suggests. Yoga Study Will Focus on Fatigue Women who have completed breast cancer treatment and are experiencing persistent fatigue are being recruited for a study to examine whether yoga can improve their energy, mood and physical functioning. Alcohol and Health: Distilling the Risks and Benefits Alcohol-related problems -- from alcoholism to drunk driving -- kill roughly thousands each year. And they cost billions annually in treatment, lost productivity and other direct and indirect expenditures. Smokers Risk Frostbite Study Finds Smokers, who already risk cancer and heart disease, are more susceptible than others to frostbite because their blood vessels do not expand fast enough to warm chilled fingers and toes, researchers said. Experts Stress Post Exercise Nutrition Carbohydrates may be considered evil in this age of the low-carb diet revolution, but the nutrient plays an important role in helping athletes recover from strenuous exercise. Studies Confirm Benefits of Varied Wholesome Diet Two studies presented on Sunday confirm the benefits of a varied, wholesome diet and call into question the wisdom of low-carb and other fad diets that limit what kinds of foods people can eat. Atkins Seeks to Tone Down 'Cheeseburger' Image Hoping to tone down the Atkins Diet's steak-and-bacon image, the company that bears the name of the low-carbohydrate food plan is launching a campaign centered on education rather than its products. Depression Not Uncommon During Pregnancy The results of a review of studies involving more than 19,000 patients suggest that rates of depression during pregnancy are high. This might be especially true during the second and third trimesters. Doctors May Screen Stool Samples for Cancer Doctors may soon be able to save lives by checking stool samples for DNA evidence of cancer, researchers said. Sleepless Tots May Become Troubled Teens - Study Sleepless toddlers are more likely to grow into troubled teens who smoke, abuse alcohol and use illegal drugs, U.S. researchers reported. Activity May Keep Diabetes at Bay During Pregnancy Women who are physically active seem to lower their odds of developing diabetes when they become pregnant. It's Official: Drinking Causes Gout It's official -- drinking causes gout. But if you must drink alcohol, drink wine, scientists say. More Than 8 Hours Sleep Too Much of a Good Thing Although the dangers of too little sleep are widely known, new research suggests that people who sleep too much may also suffer the consequences. Low Vitamin B May Impair Memory in Some Seniors A variant of a lipid gene called APOE4 is known to increase the chances of a person developing Alzheimer's disease. A Swedish study has now shown that carriers of this gene are more vulnerable to the effects of low vitamin B12 levels on mental function in old age. Heavy Social Drinkers Show Brain Damage, Study Finds Heavy social drinkers show a pattern of brain damage similar to that seen in hospitalized alcoholics -- enough to impair day-to-day functioning, U.S. researchers said. Estrogen No Overall Benefit in Disease Prevention The latest analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) shows that estrogen replacement therapy after menopause doesn't improve long-term health. While it decreases the risk of fractures, it increases the risk of stroke. Causes of Blindness Differ in Blacks, Whites U.S. investigators have found that the leading cause of blindness among whites is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), while most blacks lose their sight from glaucoma or cataracts. Kidneys from Older Donors Work as Well - U.S. Study Transplanted kidneys from older donors often work just as well as organs from younger donors, a study said. Men Take Note of Prostate Cancer in Family Most men with a family history of prostate cancer are well aware that they are at increased risk of developing the disease themselves, new research indicates. Study Suggests More Frequent Breast Exams Needed Women who carry a genetic mutation linked to a higher risk of breast cancer often are at advanced stages of the disease months before they go to the doctor for an annual screening, according to a new U.S. study. More Doctors Specializing in Weight Mgt. A growing number of physicians are specializing in weight management after their family practices were overwhelmed by patients with weight-related health problems. Company Growth May Be Bad for Employees' Health Everyone worries about downsizing, but new study findings suggest that too much hiring can also cause problems for employees. Breathing and Heart Problem Often Seen Together A breathing problem called sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) seems to be common in patients with a heart condition called atrial fibrillation. Still, it is unclear whether the rate of SAS is any higher than that seen in healthy people. Daughters Learn Eating Habits from Moms Like the old adage "like mother, like daughter" says, women can pick up many eating habits by watching their mothers in the kitchen. Health Information Too Complex for Many Drug labels, consent forms and other health information are often in language that is too complex for many to understand, a panel of experts said. Here Comes the Sun -- Do You Know What to Do? As spring takes hold, many of us will be spending more time outdoors, taking advantage of the warmer weather. But enthusiasm for the new season shouldn't cloud our judgment about sun safety, experts warn. Canada Becomes First Country To Ban Sale, Resale Of Baby Walkers The federal government has imposed an immediate ban on the sale, resale, advertisement and importation of baby walkers, becoming the first country to do so. Frequent Sex Doesn't Increase Prostate Cancer Risk Contrary to some research, frequent sexual activity does not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer and might even reduce the danger, a study of nearly 30,000 men found. Lawmakers Tackle Youth Obesity Finding ways to battle an obesity epidemic among the state's youth was touted as one of the most important issues Florida lawmakers planned to tackle in this year's legislative session. Finding a Workout Without Fancy Machinery It doesn't necessarily take an expensive elliptical trainer, fancy treadmill or any other big home gym equipment to get in shape. A fitness advocate explains his practical approach to home-based exercise. Asthma and Exercise Can Go Hand-in-Hand Parents' misconceptions that exercise can be risky for their asthmatic children may be partly to blame for low levels of physical activity among children with the disease, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Chocolate During Pregnancy Has Good Impact on Baby Pregnant women rejoice. Eating chocolate is good for the baby, say Finnish researchers. Frequent Ejaculations May Counter Prostate Cancer Sexual activity does not cause prostate cancer, and men who ejaculate frequently may even be protecting themselves against the disease, U.S. researchers reported. Exercise Key to Teen Weight Problem Exercise may be the key to keeping the pounds off adolescents and may help overweight children reverse some of the harm caused by being fat, two teams of researchers reported. Obesity to Erode Life Insurance Profits Bulging waistlines are set to weigh on life insurers' profits, a Swiss Re study showed as obesity gains on smoking as the leading cause of preventable death, particularly in the United States. Diet, Exercise Improve Blood Vessels in Obese Kids The blood vessels of children who are obese show changes that can lead to heart disease later in life. Now, new research shows that these changes can largely be reversed with diet and exercise. Smoking Ban Linked to Drop in Heart Attacks Ireland's ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants could have added health benefits as indicated by U.S. researchers. Teens and Dieting a Losing Proposition Dieting, like dating and driving, is a time-honored ritual for many teens. But it's often not a productive -- or even healthy -- one. Toddler TV Habits Tied to Attention Deficit The more television children watch between the ages of 1 and 3, the greater their risk of having attention problems at age 7, U.S. researchers reported. Most Britons Unaware of Obesity-Cancer Link Only three percent of Britons are aware that being overweight or obese is a leading risk factor for cancer, according to a poll released. Why Some People Won't Be Fit Despite Exercise Conventional wisdom has it that anyone who really wants to become fit can do so. But when a few intrepid scientists began asking if those beliefs were true, they found that fitness, like weight loss, has genetic underpinnings, making it inherently much easier for some to get fit than it is for others. Computer Program Predicts Heart Attack Risk A new computer program can help predict patients' risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke over 10 years, doctors said. Women More Sensitive to Pain Than Men Blacks and whites have about the same sensitivity to pain, but women appear to be more sensitive to it than men. That's what Duke University researchers report in the April issue of the Journal of Pain. Effort Pays Off When Diabetics Try to Lose Weight Overweight adults with diabetes who try to lose weight -- even unsuccessfully -- may live longer than those who don't give it a go, new research suggests. Ten Percent Of China's Children are Obese Official statistics show that 10 percent of the children in China are obese and the number is increasing by eight percent each year, state media said. Diabetes, Vaccinations Not Linked Researchers determined there is no link between childhood vaccines and the development of diabetes, the latest study to find no such connection. Caffeine Ups Blood Pressure in Hard-Core Users Too Even people who would never start the day without their coffee fix may not become tolerant to the blood pressure-raising effects of caffeine, new research suggests. Jury Still Out on Cancer Risk from Tanning Beds Young people with fair skin who go to tanning salons may be at increased risk of developing melanoma, the rarest but most deadly form of skin cancer, researchers in the UK report. However, the increased risk of melanoma seems small.