Monthly News Archives



		Early Ovarian Cancer May Cause Symptoms Ovarian cancer is generally thought to have no tell-tale symptoms, particularly in its early stages. But New York researchers report that the disease may indeed cause some recognizable symptoms, even early on. Migraine Related Disability Needs More Attention Describing how migraines hinder their daily lives may help migraine sufferers get better treatment from their doctors, according to researchers in the UK and the US. Hormone May Help Doctors Treat Diabetes A substance secreted by fat tissue and that seems to affect how well the body responds to the sugar-processing hormone insulin may hold promise as a diabetes drug, researchers in Japan and the US report in two studies. Familial Risk of Breast Cancer Raised by Alcohol Drinking alcohol daily may more than double the risk of developing breast cancer among women with a close relative with the disease, but is unlikely to have an effect among women with no such family history, a study at the Mayo Clinic found. Weight Loss Impact on Diabetes to Be Studied What's the most effective way for people with Type II diabetes to lose weight, and how does that weight loss help them? Keep The Joint Jumping If you are suffering from arthritis, the last thing you often feel like doing is exercising. But, experts say, that's exactly what could help to ease the pain. Are Your Food Labels Deceiving You? When you buy frozen blueberry waffles, do you actually expect them to be stuffed with blueberries? The Center for Science in the Public Interest says you might be disappointed. Unhappy Teens More Likely To Carry Weapons and Fight More than one quarter of US teenagers are highly dissatisfied with their lives, according to the results of a recent survey. And researchers say this unhappiness puts them at increased risk for violent and aggressive behavior. Brain Reacts Differently To Faces Based On Race People have been found to remember faces of their own race better than they remember faces of other races. Now researchers may have uncovered the changes in the brain that underlie that phenomenon. Apples, Pears May Protect Lungs Apples, pears and other fruits rich in certain plant compounds may help protect the lungs from chronic disease, researchers in the Netherlands have found. They suspect the benefit might come from catechins, one of a large group of plant compounds called flavonoids that has already been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Thyroid Cancer Therapy May Up Breast Cancer Risk Women who undergo treatment for thyroid cancer may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer up to 20 years later, according to US researchers. Most Employers Still Offer Health Programs Despite healthcare cost increases and other pressures facing corporate America, an overwhelming majority of US companies still offer some kind of health-promotion program, the benefits consulting firm Hewitt Associates reports. Massive Prostate Cancer Prevention Study Underway Federal health officials launched on Tuesday the world's largest prostate cancer prevention study, which will examine whether the nutrients vitamin E and selenium ward off the disease. Hormones May Not Prevent Heart Disease If you're thinking about starting hormone replacement therapy to prevent postmenopausal cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association urges women to reconsider. Positive Thinking, Faster Recovery It's always been an assumption, but now a study backs the idea that a positive attitude can actually help you live a healthy life. Researchers are urging employers and physicians to acknowledge this mind-body connection. Secondhand Smoke May Impair Nonsmokers' Blood Flow Even a brief bout with secondhand smoke may be enough to temporarily slow down nonsmokers' blood circulation, new study results suggest. The short-lived slowdown may help explain how, over time, exposure to cigarette smoke can raise nonsmokers' heart disease risk, according to investigators. How Divorce Affects Kids When the going gets tough, the tough get going -- unless they're the children of divorce. Children of divorced parents are more likely to give up tough tasks at school and less likely to develop new friendships, says a study in the August issue of Cognitive Therapy and Research. Depression Ups Risk of Heart Failure in Elderly Clinical depression more than doubles the risk of heart failure in elderly adults with high blood pressure, study findings reveal. Use of Alternative Therapy Not a Rejection of MD's Women diagnosed with breast cancer are likely to use some form of complementary medicine such as meditation or herbal medicines, not because of dissatisfaction with traditional medical care but to supplement their health, researchers report. Anorexics More Likely To Be Spring, Summer Babies Women who are diagnosed with anorexia nervosa are more likely to have been born in the first half of the year, a new report suggests. Some Diabetics Blind To Eye Care Call it shortsighted, but many diabetics fail to take the necessary precautions to preserve their vision. That's the conclusion of a recent study that found more than one-third of diabetics don't adhere to vision-care guidelines established by both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Diabetes Association. Preventing Divorce Starts At The Beginning of Marriage Diamond anniversary or divorce court? Researchers suggest that the long-term health of a marriage is rooted in a couple's level of love and commitment as they say their ``I do's.'' MRI Detects Alzheimer's Before Symptoms Appear Using an MRI scanning technique to track brain changes can detect Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages, new research shows. Newer Pill Version May Increase Blood Clot Risk Women taking the newest version of the Pill may want to reconsider their choice and start taking older versions of oral contraceptives, according to Dutch researchers. A review of studies has confirmed a previously noted link between ``third-generation'' birth control pills and an increased risk of potentially fatal blood clotting called venous thrombosis. Supergerm Beats New Antibiotic In a frustrating development in the battle against drug-resistant bacteria, scientists report the first entirely new type of antibiotic in 35 years has been beaten by the staph supergerm little more than a year after being introduced. Diet May Raise Asthma Risk in Children Toddlers who consume large amounts of margarine and foods fried in vegetable oil may be twice as likely to develop asthma as their peers who eat less of these foods, preliminary research suggests. Report Says Kids' Wellbeing Improving In 2000, US children were less likely to smoke cigarettes but were more likely to suffer asthma, while they were less likely to die from a firearm and more likely to have health insurance coverage, according to a new government report. Study Defends Preventive Mastectomies Removing the healthy breasts of women with genetic mutations that often trigger breast cancer can save their lives, Dutch researchers found in the strongest study yet to show that the controversial strategy works. 'Gut Feeling' Connected To Past Experiences Have a hunch that something's about to go terribly wrong? It may just be paranoia. Or, researchers suggest, it may be an entirely accurate ``gut feeling'' based on subtle, unconscious comparisons with past events. Green Tea May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk Compounds in green tea may help protect women against breast cancer, preliminary study findings suggest. Alternative Therapy Expectations Affect Results Patients who expect acupuncture or massage to work wonders for their back pain seem to improve more than patients who have lower expectations, according to a report. Maximizing Your Aerobic Workout Regular aerobic exercise may aid in fighting off all kinds of potentially life- threatening illnesses. But are you doing your best to get the best from your workout? Supplement Use High Among Breast Cancer Patients About three quarters of breast cancer patients in the UK report that they use complementary or alternative medicines (CAM), and women with higher education and income levels are among those most likely to use these therapies, according to the results of a British study. Older Americans Seeing More Docs Older Americans are visiting their doctors 22% more often than they did in the mid-1980s, and doctors are prescribing more drugs for patients of all ages, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Studies Link Video Games To Aggressive Behavior Violent video games may indeed increase aggressive behavior, two Iowa State psychologists conclude after conducting a comprehensive review of the literature in this hotly debated field. However, other experts say the research to date is still not conclusive. Women More Preoccupied About Rumors A new study shows women are more afraid of malicious gossip than men are; while many men will back down when faced with the threat of physical violence, women are more worried about being stabbed in the back by cruel rumors. Two Genes Hold Cancer Prevention Clues Two genes could be the key to understanding how to protect the body from developing cancer, an American scientist said Tuesday. Study Upholds Links Between House Cats and Kids' Asthma Being around a pet cat can make babies vulnerable to kitty-induced allergies and asthma later on, researchers in Sweden report. Their findings add to a body of conflicting evidence on whether being raised with a cat sensitizes young children to the animals. Fitness at Any Age To make sure your golden years really sparkle, start an exercise program and stick with it. Genetic Link To Disorders Discovered U.S. scientists have pinpointed an area on a particular chromosome that could make some people susceptible to alcoholism and others prone to depression, says a new study. Trans Fat Worse for Heart Than Saturated When choosing between a thick juicy steak and a heaping plate of French fries, the meat just might be the healthier option, a study from the Netherlands suggests. More Kids at Risk for Obesity-Related Ilness As American youngsters continue to pack on the pounds they can expect to confront a range of diseases and medical complications that used to be largely confined to adults, an expert with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday. Link Between Breast Cancer and Social Status British breast cancer experts are hoping to find vital clues as to why social status has a powerful effect on whether women recover from breast cancer. Healthy Habits Add Years To Life Span Showing that clean living may the key to longevity, researchers have found that Seventh-Day Adventists have significantly longer-than-average life expectancies. They ascribe this longevity to church members' high rates of vegetarianism and regular exercise and virtually non-existent rates of smoking. Soft Bedding Causes Death in Playpens An estimated 200 babies have died in playpens since 1988, with nearly half of those children suffocating from soft bedding or extra mattresses, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said today. Chronic Constipation Linked to Anxiety and Depression Psychological well-being is known to be intertwined with gastrointestinal health, and new research suggests that women with chronic constipation are more likely to be anxious or depressed than women who don't have bowel problems. Couch Potatoes May Over- estimate Their Activity Levels When normal couch potatoes return from engaging in a little gardening, walking or some other physical activity, they may think that they have exerted more energy than they actually have, new study results suggest. Girls and Boys Just See Things Differently Boys and girls use different parts of their brains to recognize faces and facial emotions, and that finding could lead to better treatments for stroke, says the author of a new study. Electric Current Helps Diabetic Foot Ulcers A device that delivers high-voltage electric stimulation to the skin can help diabetic foot ulcers heal, preliminary study findings suggest. Heart Risk Is the Same For Most People When it comes to the risk of heart disease, most people are created pretty much equal no matter what their ethnic backgrounds are, a new report says. Even a Few Extra Pounds Can Raise Disease Risk As Americans continue to ''supersize'' their food, spend more time in front of the computer and TV, and watch the number on the scale climb steadily higher, a new study highlights the health hazards of even a few extra pounds. Herbal Sleep Products May Lack Active Ingredient Some insomniacs hoping to catch up on their sleep with the help of the herbal sleep aid valerian may be getting less than they bargained for. A report released by ConsumerLab.com shows that many products that claim they contain the herb actually may contain little or none of the species listed on the label. Many Don't Make Changes After Heart Attack or Stroke Living through a heart attack or stroke might seem to be a wake-up call, prompting patients to make major life changes to reduce their risk. Subconscious May Explain Bad Mood People sometimes attribute their bad moods to getting up on the wrong side of the bed. But one researcher has come across a better explanation for unexplained grumpiness. Mysterious bad moods, she has found, may arise when people fail to meet goals they do not even know they have. One Cigarette Can Affect Heart Function Smoking just one cigarette can cause an abrupt change in the function of the heart's key pumping chamber, according to research presented here last week at the 12th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Society of Echocardiography. Secrets of Happiness in Middle Age A study that followed couples for more than 25 years has revealed some of the factors that contribute to a happy life during middle age. Among the most important is a stable and loving relationship, researchers say. Emotional Support Can Keep Mind Sharp in Old Age Having a close network of family and friends may not only improve a person's social life, but may also help ward off age-related dementia, a recent study suggests. Exercising With Asthma People with asthma can exercise, although they have to be careful. Here's how to breathe easily while exercising if you are an asthmatic. Pets in Workplace Reduce Stess Many employees are in favor of having pets in their workplace and believe they help reduce stress and improve their health, a recent study suggests. The Pill Impacts Exercise Exercise is supposed to lift your mood, strengthen your bones and slim you down. But if you're a young woman on birth control pills, a workout can spell trouble for your bones. Severe Sinus Headache Could Be Migraine Patients complaining of severe sinus headaches may actually be suffering from migraines, according to new research presented here recently at the 10th International Headache Congress. Artificial Nails Cause Allergic Reactions Beauty has its price. Researchers have found that chemicals used in acrylic nails can in some cases cause an allergic reaction. Antibiotics May Curb Fatal Bacteria Higher-dose, short-term use of antibiotics may help reduce the spread of drug-resistant bacteria that cause ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis, a government study of children suggests. Exercise_Test_Predicts Heart Disease Risk in Men A simple exercise test can help predict which men are at increased risk of developing heart disease, a new report suggests. Heart Treatment For Women Less Helpful Early, aggressive heart treatment may be less beneficial for women than it is for men, results of a study suggest. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution because other research has shown no gender differences when it comes to the heart treatments, the investigators note. Hormones Linked To Heart Disease A new study questions the heart-health benefits of hormone replacement therapy for post-menopausal women. Vitamin A Can Reset Blood Vessel Rhythm Time may wait for no man, but you can tinker with it, say University of Pennsylvania scientists who have discovered that vitamin A has the potential to alter the daily rhythms of blood vessel activities. Moderate Exercise Can Prevent Broken Hip Moderate levels of leisure-time physical activity can help protect against a hip fracture, according to a report in the July issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. On the flip side, a person's risk for hip fracture seems to increase if he or she became less active as they age. Girls With Eating Disorders Fans of Fitness Magazines Teenage girls who use dieting tactics such as appetite suppressant pills, laxatives, vomiting after eating or severely restricting their calories are more likely to be heavy readers of women's health and fitness magazines, a team of researchers reports. Some Exercise Reasearch Casts Doubt A 300-page summation of decades of research on exercise is bringing scientists face-to-face with how little they know.