Monthly News Archives



		More Small Children Overweight: WHO Twenty to 30 percent more young children may be overweight than previously thought according to new growth standards, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Sleep Position Gives Personality Clue If you want an insight into somebody's true personality, then try to catch a glimpse of the way they sleep. Boomers Can Aid Parents in Dieting, Exercise As those of us in our 40s and 50s exercise and eat right so we can age healthfully, we also can ensure our elderly parents do the same. Many Parents 'Ignorant On Drugs' One in four parents say they do not know enough about recreational drugs to talk to their children about them, a survey suggests. Older Women Often Have Satisfying Sex Lives About three-fourths of middle-aged and older women are sexually active and two-thirds of them are at least somewhat satisfied, according to a new study. Vitamins Disappoint in Preeclampsia Study A disappointing new study found that vitamin C and E supplements given to healthy pregnant women do not reduce their risk of developing preeclampsia, a complication that can be lethal to both mother and child. Home Exercise Aids Heart Failure Patients A home-based exercise program for overweight or obese patients with advanced heart failure results in significant weight loss after six months, researchers in California report. Unhappy Marriage May Harm Older Adults' Health A troubled marriage may speed the decline in health that comes with age, a study has found. Small Changes 'Add Years To Life' Making small changes to your lifestyle can have a significant impact on how long you will live, research has shown. Driving While Stupid Ups Risk Those sleep-deprived, multitasking drivers clutching cell phones, fiddling with their radios or applying lipstick apparently are involved in an awful lot of crashes. Low Folate Levels Could Cut Colon Cancer Risk Conventional wisdom has indicated that high levels of folate cut risks for colorectal cancer, but a new study suggests low levels may do the trick, too. Drinking Lots Of Coffee Doesn't Harm Heart Go ahead and have that second cup of coffee. A study recently published shows heavy, long-term coffee drinking does not raise the risk of heart disease for most people. Exercise Helps Delay Alzheimers Older people who exercise three or more times a week are less likely to develop Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, according to a study that adds to the evidence that staying active can help keep the mind sharp. Baby Growth Charts To Be Revised The World Health Organization is to issue new guidelines on measuring the growth rates of babies. Diet Change May Improve Ovary Disease Outcomes The fertility problems and hormone irregularities that plague women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may improve on a low-carbohydrate diet, according to a new study. More Medical Experts Tied To The Drug Industry Most of the experts who wrote the manual widely used to diagnose mental illness have had financial ties to drug makers such as research funding or stock holdings, U.S. researchers said. Chronic Fatigue May Be In The Genes Chronic fatigue syndrome, once dismissed by some medical experts as being all in the head, has a clear biological basis, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Child Obesity 'Doubles In Decade' Childhood obesity in England has doubled in 10 years, and one in four children is now obese, the Health and Social Care Information Centre survey of 2,000 children found. People With Arthritis Skip Exercise People with arthritis are even less likely than the average to get enough -- or any --exercise, a large U.S. study shows. Governments Told To Spend More On "neglected" Diseases Governments rather than industry pay for most drug development and should ensure more money is spent on fighting diseases such as malaria that afflict poor countries, a health advocacy group said. Food, Beverage Marketers Seek Healthier Images Marketers are working to give a healthier glow to many products perceived as not so good for you by increasingly nutrition-conscious consumers. Obesity Driving Diabetes Epidemic The obesity epidemic is definitely driving the type 2 diabetes epidemic, says a new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early Obesity Raises Risk Of Hip Replacement Later Young adults who are overweight or obese may be particularly likely to need a hip replacement later in life, a large study suggests. No Clear Winner in Fight Against Bad Breath There's no conclusive evidence to indicate which approach -- mouthwash, breath mint, spray, chewing gum or mechanical tongue cleaning -- is most effective for treating bad breath (halitosis), says a new review of previous clinical studies. Experts Suggest Spacing Pregnancies Women can maximize their chances of having healthy babies by spacing their pregnancies at least 18 months but no more than five years apart, researchers say. Light-zapped mushrooms filled with vitamin D Mushrooms may soon emerge from the dark as an unlikely but significant source of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin that helps keep bones strong and fights disease. 'Yes, Aspartame Is a Carcinogen' The Italian scientist Morando Soffritti has revived the debate about the safety of aspartame, an artificial sweetener used in many popular products, including diet softdrinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi Co. Natural Protein Might Ward Off Obesity A natural protein might help the body rid itself of fat while suppressing appetite. Unhappy Marriage May Harm Older Adults' Health A troubled marriage may speed the decline in health that comes with age, a study has found. Fat Contained In Fast Food Varies By Country The chicken nuggets and french fries sold at a McDonald's in New York City may be more unhealthy than those sold in Europe, a study showed. Lack Of Sleep Linked To High Blood Pressure Skimping on sleep over a prolonged period appears to be an important risk factor for developing high blood pressure, according to a report in the medical journal Hypertension. Many Researchers Break the Rules A new study has found that scientific misbehavior appears to be endemic and is occurring far more often than just the more egregious, media-hyped examples, such as faking research. Try Soccer For Bone Health So-called "weight-bearing" exercise, which includes high-impact sports like soccer, may be best when it comes to helping girls build strong bones, researchers say. Prostate Cancer Cholesterol Link Scientists have produced evidence linking high cholesterol levels to a raised risk of prostate cancer. Snoring 'Could Run In Families' Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital found children whose parents snore have a three-fold increased risk of being noisy sleepers themselves. Big Hips And Big Belly Are In Your Genes A new study shows that obesity and the way fat is distributed on the body may be more related to a person's genes than previously known. Drugs Companies 'Inventing Diseases To Boost Their Profits' Pharmaceutical companies are systematically creating diseases in order to sell more of their products, turning healthy people into patients and placing many at risk of harm, a special edition of a leading medical journal claims today. Fluoride May Cause Cancer A study associating drinking fluoridated water with osteosarcoma, a rare malignant bone tumor, was recently published on Cancer Causes and Control, an online peer-review journal of Harvard University. Diet Drug Linked To Pre-Cancer Roche Holding AG's prescription diet drug Xenical should immediately be pulled from the U.S. market after recent data linked it to precancerous colon lesions in animal studies, a consumer group told federal health regulators. Sleep Cycle Might Explain Near-Death Experience People who say they've had a near-death experience -- which includes feeling outside of one's body, and an accompanying sense of peace -- often have different sleep-wake control systems than other people, U.S. researchers report. When Worry Gets in the Way of Life To be human is to worry -- about finances, your children's health, work, even whether you remembered to unplug the iron when you go on vacation. Obese People Lack Health Awareness Obese people have a blind spot when it comes to their own weight problem, according to a study that showed only 15 percent of people in that category view themselves as obese. Too Much Weight Ups Alzheimer's Risk People who are overweight or obese in their 40s have a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life, a new study suggests. Secondhand Smoke Linked to Diabetes Risk Everyone knows that secondhand smoke is bad for the lungs, but a new study suggests it might also increase the risk of diabetes. Strong Economy Generates More Heart Attacks If a high-fat cholesterol-laden snack doesn't trigger a heart attack, then a healthy economy just might. No Sign Bird Flu Becoming More Infectious A leading bird flu expert said there was no evidence that the virus was showing any signs of mutating into a form that would be more infectious in humans. Heart Disease, Stroke Plague Third World Each year cardiovascular disease kills 13 million people in developing countries, almost triple the number who die from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, researchers said. More Children and Men Getting Fat According to the government's most accurate recent check of the nation's girth, U.S. men and children are increasingly tipping the scales. But the obesity rate among women — who at 33 percent are heavier as a group — held steady. Chronic Sleep Problems Affect Millions Chronic sleeping problems afflict millions, costing billions in medical expenses, accidents and lost productivity, a new study reports. Lifestyle Changes Cut High Blood Pressure Risk People really can commit to diet and lifestyle changes for the long haul, and the benefit shows up in their blood pressure, researchers reported. Ginger, Pepper Treat Difficult Cancers Ginger can kill ovarian cancer cells while the compound that makes peppers hot can shrink pancreatic tumors, researchers told a conference. Light Drinking May Not Be Good For You After All Researchers poured cold water on the idea that moderate drinking helps prevent heart disease, noting that many studies include teetotalers as a control group but don't ask why they did not drink. Eating Less May Lead To A Longer Life A preliminary study in human suggests that reducing calories may well extend life, researchers report in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association. Sexy Media Leads To Promiscuity Sexually charged music, magazines, TV and movies push youngsters into intercourse at an earlier age, perhaps by acting as kind of virtual peer that tells them everyone else is doing it, a study said. Many Women Still Misinformed About Heart Disease It's a health message that doctors have been directing at women for some time, but too often it fails to get through: The classic sign of a heart attack isn't always searing pain in the chest, usually lasting several minutes.