Monthly News Archives



		Chronic Job Strain May Raise Blood Pressure Workers who are under constant stress may start to show it in their blood pressure readings, researchers reported. Driving While on Cell Phone Worse Than Driving While Drunk Maneuvering through traffic while talking on the phone increases the likelihood of an accident five-fold and is actually more dangerous than driving drunk, U.S. researchers report. Counseling Better Than Pills For Insomnia Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a counseling method that emphasizes the role of thinking and behavior modification, is more effective than zopiclone for the short- and long-term treatment of chronic insomnia in older adults, according to a new report. Physical Activity Reduces Blood Pressure Findings from a new study using 24-hour blood pressure monitoring confirm that physical activity reduces blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure, even when they're taking medications to address this problem. Inexpensive Mail-Out Can Help Fight Depression Even a brief, low-cost mail-based intervention can help ease symptoms of mild depression, a new study finds. Small Study States Activity Level of Kids Unaffected By Environment While children vary in how active they are, they are consistent in the amount of physical activity they engage in every day, regardless of the amount of school-based physical education they receive, their daily routine, background or culture. Weight Loss May Reduce Arthritis Disability Overweight adults with osteoarthritis who lose just five percent of their body weight can reduce the amount of physical disability associated with this most common form of inflammatory joint disease, results of several studies suggest. Study Unravels Inner Working of Bacteria New research may allow scientists to prevent a certain strain of E. coli bacteria from causing illness in people who have contracted the bacterial infection. Coffee Drinking May Lower Diabetes Risk Consumption of coffee, particularly the decaffeinated variety, is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Impotence Common In Men With Sleep Apnea Men with breathing problems during sleep may commonly suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) as well, a small study suggests. Researchers found that of 30 men with the breathing disorder sleep apnea, 24 (80 percent) also had symptoms of ED. Cell Phones Found to Activate Brain Areas Cell phones appear to have a measurable physical impact on parts of your brain, new Italian research contends. Could a Low-Carb Diet Slow Alzheimer's? A low-calorie diet, particularly one that's low in carbohydrates, may reduce or even reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, a new study in mice suggests. Reality Check: Getting Your Body Fat Measured Sometimes you think you're fat, sometimes you don't. But, rather than relying on fluctuating feelings about your weight, why not have your body fat measured?� Heart Attacks Linked To Job Loss Losing your job late in your career doubles the chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke, a study says. New Agents Linked To 'Medication Overuse Headache' Medication overuse headache (MOH) "remains an important problem," but the drugs most likely associated with the overuse have changed dramatically in the past 15 years, according to headache specialists. Condoms Proven To Protect Against Virus For the first time, scientists have proof that condoms offer women impressive protection against the virus that causes cervical cancer. Migraines More Common in Overweight Kids Children who suffer from migraine headaches are 36 percent more likely to be overweight, according to a new U.S. study. Carbohydrates, Sugar, and Your Child Often called carbs, carbohydrates are the body's most important and readily available source of energy. Even though they've gotten a bad rap in the 2000s and have often been blamed for the obesity epidemic in America, carbohydrates are a necessary part of a healthy diet for both children and adults. Teen Obesity Linked To Heart Abnormalities Obesity in adolescence is associated with reduced heart function and excessive cardiac mass, according to a new study. The Dirty Truth About Allergies A study that compared lab rodents with their wild counterparts could shed light on whether overly hygienic environments cause allergies and autoimmune disease. Balance Training Useful Before Strength Training Athletes who want to gain muscle strength, may want to start with balance training before weight lifting. Sports doctors from Germany have evidence that balance training can have preconditioning effects on strength training. However, it's not a good idea to start with strength training and follow it with balance training, according to their study. What You Should Know About Complementary and Alternative Medicine If you've ever taken herbal products, seen a chiropractor or tried megavitamin therapy, you've ventured outside the boundaries of conventional medicine. What You Should Know About Complementary and Alternative Medicine If you've ever taken herbal products, seen a chiropractor or tried megavitamin therapy, you've ventured outside the boundaries of conventional medicine. Citrus Juices Prevent Osteoporosis A glass or two of orange, grapefruit or other citrus juice each day may help prevent osteoporosis-linked bone fracture, a new U.S. study in rats concludes. Are Western Lifestyles Too Hygienic? A study comparing wild and laboratory rodents supports the notion that exposing immune systems to naturally occurring germs helps build a defense against illness. Sunscreens Faulted On Cancer Protection Think slathering on the highest-number sunscreen at the beach or pool will spare you skin cancer and premature wrinkles? Probably not, if you're in the sun a lot. That's because you don't need a sunburn to suffer the effects that can cause various types of skin cancer. Pesticide Use Increases Parkinson's Risk Mayo Clinic researchers have found that using pesticides for farming or other purposes increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease for men. Acupuncture Shows Promise For Fibromyalgia Acupuncture may help relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia, especially the fatigue and anxiety that often comes with the condition, a new study suggests. Does Aging Really Bring Unhappiness? People believe happiness declines with age, new research shows, even though numerous studies have demonstrated that we actually get happier as we get older. Exercise For Menopause Symptoms Though the research is still thin, many health experts say even moderate exercise can help relieve the problems of menopause in some women, including anxiety, insomnia and night sweats. Trans Fats May Speed 'Spare Tire' Diets that are high in trans fats may lead to weight gain around the middle, even when calories are reduced, a new U.S. study finds. Taste For Meat And Fish Inherited Children inherit their taste for meat and fish but when it comes to vegetables and desserts it's more nurture than nature, according to a recent study. Overweight Ups Your Diabetes Risk Wondering if you're going to develop diabetes in your lifetime? Spend a minute on the bathroom scale: According to new research, your weight can provide a good indication of your future risk. The "Sunshine Vitamin" Truly a Wonder A growing number of serious scientists are quite willing to speculate that a single compound may be able to accomplish the feats of a "miracle drug". They're talking about a common nutrient: vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin." Health Risk From Bad Food Hygiene People are putting themselves and their families at risk of food poisoning because of bad habits in the kitchen, a survey suggests. Meditation Is Good For The Heart Already known to help reduce blood pressure, transcendental meditation has now been found to help with a cluster of other symptoms which can lead to heart attacks, a study found. Chocolate as Sunscreen As if you needed another reason to eat chocolate, German researchers have shown that ingesting types rich in cocoa solids and flavonoids�dark chocolate�can fight skin cancer. Use Your Hands Wisely To Avoid Injury Everyday tasks, like carrying heavy groceries (which can strain finger joints and arms), or slicing bagels (which can cause serious cuts) can pose a risk of injury, according to the American Society of Hand Therapists. Antidepressants Increase Diabetes Risk Study findings show that there is a link between the use of antidepressant drugs and diabetes, investigators here at the 66th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association announced. This is the first report of such an association, they say. Apples May Be Heart-Healthy New research suggests there may be truth behind the old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Is Your Baby Crying? Stop Holding Her New research suggests that if your baby cries too much or can't sleep through the night, it might have something to do with how often you hold her. Road Deaths Are A Global Epidemic Road deaths are a global epidemic on the scale of malaria and tuberculosis and world leaders must do more to address the issue, a report said. High-Fat Diet Doesn't Increase Skin Cancer Risk The notion that diet may influence the risk of developing skin cancer seems not to hold up under investigation, Australian researchers report. Cereal Grains Not So Bad for Baby Contrary to the advice of some pediatricians, a new study suggests that waiting to introduce babies to cereal grains might not be a good idea if you want to prevent food allergies. How Does Diet Link To Cancer Risk? Doctors have known for years that healthful diets help prevent heart disease. But proving that particular foods protect against cancer has been difficult, says Walter Willett, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health who spoke at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Group Support Essential in Weight Loss We often wonder if the myriad of diet plans really work at helping us lose weight. Now, British nutritionists and dietitians say the weight management programs that succeed in keeping off the pounds over the long haul are the ones that also offer group support. Obese Children Prone To Fractures Overweight children are more likely to suffer fractures than normal-weight peers, then find themselves unable to exercise, a study suggests. Pregnant Women: Avoid Canned Tuna Pregnant women should not eat canned tuna because it may contain harmful levels of mercury, Consumer Reports magazine said on Monday, taking a more cautious approach than that recommended by the U.S. government. Sperm Quality Declines With Age New research has found that as men age, the quality of their sperm deteriorates, making it more likely they will have trouble becoming fathers and increasing the possibility of having a child with dwarfism. Antipsychotic Use For Children Has Increased Nearly 6-Fold The prescription of antipsychotic medications for children and adolescents in the US increased nearly 6-fold between 1993 and 2002, according to survey results. Moderate Exercise Reverses Couch-Potato Effects There's hope for the health of Al Bundy, the fictional couch potato who spent most of his television life on a sofa, if he were to start exercising today. Strict Parenting Linked To Overweight Kids "Clean your plate or else!" and other authoritarian approaches to parenting can lead to overweight children, a new study finds. Cancer Patients Benefit From Yoga Women who took yoga classes during breast cancer treatment reported they could function better physically and felt better about their health, a small study released said. Chronic Fatigue Traced Back To Mothers Mothers of teenagers with chronic fatigue syndrome are also more likely to have the mysterious ailment, or display psychological stresses that may play a role in the child's illness, a study said. Marketing the Illness and the Cure? The drug industry has recently focused attention on what some have dubbed "disease-mongering" -- taking something that is within normal bounds and labeling it a disease needing pharmaceutical treatment. Laws Banning Tobacco Sales to Minors Don't Work Laws that prevent the sale of tobacco to minors are good in theory, but a new Swiss study suggests they actually do very little to keep kids from smoking. Female Circumcision Heightens Childbirth Risks: WHO Female circumcision, performed on as many as 3 million girls each year, complicates childbirth later in life and causes higher mortality among their babies, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Drug Industry Needs More, Better Data The pharmaceutical industry must embrace, not avoid, new ways to collect and monitor information on drug risks if it wants to continue to thrive and innovate, several U.S. health experts said. "Supersize" Deals Will Cost You More In The Long-Term The "super-size" deals at fast-food restaurants aren't such a bargain once the costs of weight gain are considered, according to a new study. Midwives Becoming More Common A small but growing contingent of people are choosing to give birth with midwives, caregivers who view birth as a natural, rather than a medical experience, and one that should be tailored to a mother's needs. The trend has been slow but steady in coming. Words as Powerful as Sticks and Stones Belittling, shaming or threatening a child may be as detrimental to the young victim as physical or sexual abuse, new research suggests. Minor Weight Gain Linked To Acid Reflux If you are a woman, even a few extra pounds can increase your risk of acid reflux, according to a recent New England Journal of Medicine study.