Monthly News Archives



		Breathing Solution for Bed-Wetting to Be Tested Two very small studies in Sweden and Britain have shown that bed-wetting children with a narrow palate in the upper part of the mouth were helped when a dental device similar to a brace was used to widen the palate. Sun May Offer Cheap Way to Treat Cancer The sun may offer a cheaper alternative to traditional medical lasers, Israeli researchers found. Mind Control Over Motorized Wheelchairs A neural system that "reads" minds may some day let severely disabled people use their thoughts to steer a motorized wheelchair. How to Prevent a Growing Problem in the U.S. - Child Obesity Once again, the ranks of overweight children are on the rise. According to the latest report from the National Institutes of Health, although almost every indicator of adolescent health has improved over the last 10 years, America's youth continue to get heavier — to the tune of an estimated 9 million overweight children. Body Scan Centers Sprout in Upscale Burgs Body scan centers, which offer peace of mind to seemingly healthy people, are setting up shop in the nation's tonier neighborhoods. Scientists Say Ozone Depletion Slowing The rate of destruction of the protective ozone layer in the upper reaches of the atmosphere is slowing, and scientists say it mirrors a decline in the use of certain man-made chemicals. Activists Blast CDC HIV Prevention Effort AIDS groups gathered Tuesday to criticize a new federal HIV prevention policy, which they say focuses too much on people who already have the virus that causes AIDS and not enough on people at risk. London's Cold Days Can Be Killers Cold weather in London is a bigger killer than hot summer weather in that city. And London's cold is more of a danger to people than the cold in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Help Keep Forgetfullness at Bay If you're over 50, memory lapses may top your list of irritating problems. But there are steps you can take to help keep forgetfulness at bay, according to the Johns Hopkins Health After 50 medical letter. Cancer Rates Decline in European Countries European Union efforts to cut expected deaths from cancer by 15 percent by 2000 fell short of the mark but most countries show declining trends, researchers said on Tuesday. Tight Neckties Linked to Glaucoma Risk Men should think twice about how tight they wear a necktie because it could increase their chances of developing glaucoma, a group of serious eye diseases. Osteoporosis Ails Males, Too While women have long been alert to the dangers of osteoporosis as they age, few men worry about weakening bones. They should, new research shows. Take Precautions to Reduce Jet Lag Jet lag occurs when you travel across several time zones in one day and your internal body clock gets out-of-step with the time at your destination. The more time zones you cross in a day, the more likely you are to suffer jet lag, and it's usually worse when you travel from west to east, says the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Sunscreen and Bug Spray a Bad Mix University of Manitoba pharmaceutical researcher Dr. Xiaochen Gu says using sunscreen and mosquito repellant together increases their absorption rates. That could increase the risk of side effects like skin allergy, hypertension, headaches and seizures, especially in children. Similar Size Among Early Men and Women Boosted Evolution Men, on average, are about 15 percent to 20 percent larger than women. Yet compared with other mammals, that margin is slim. New research suggests it was similarities among the males and females of our early ancestors — not differences — that helped early humans evolve to become the dominant species that we are. Music Training Fine-Tunes Memory Students who participate in musical training, such as playing the violin or flute, have better verbal memory than those who don't, claims a Hong Kong study published in the July issue of Neuropsychology. Cooling Those Hot Flashes Hot flashes can lead to sleepless nights for women experiencing menopause, but summer's heat can make the hot flashes exceptionally uncomfortable. Vision Loss Common As We Age Perfect vision may be more of a blessing than most people realize. As folks age, the chances become greater that they'll start to lose vision to one of four diseases: diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, cataracts or glaucoma. Treating Risk Factors Could Produce Health Gains Treating multiple risk factors that increase the odds of developing a variety of illnesses could nearly halve the number of premature deaths worldwide and increase life expectancy, researchers said. Dietary Restrictions for Kids Prove Ineffective, Counterproductive Parents who forbid their children to eat certain foods might want to reconsider that strategy. That's because a new study finds young girls whose mothers are especially restrictive when it comes to eating are then most prone to engage in excessive snacking. Type A Behavior May Lead to Early Heart Attack Aggressive, impatient Type A behavior doesn't seem to increase a man's overall risk of a heart attack, but it does appear to make the attacks happen earlier, a Welsh study finds. Don't Let Dehydration Dampen Your Workout Federal governments and health professionals are encouraging people to exercise more in order to combat obesity and to prevent chronic health conditions. But both experienced athletes and beginning exercisers need to be careful about exercising in hot weather conditions. Applebee's to Add 'Weight Watchers' Menu Applebee's International, which owns the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurant chain, said it will add a new "Weight Watchers" section to its menus. Beat the Top 5 Exercise Excuses The trick to beat exercise procrastination is learning how to counter the excuses that keep you from exercising. Taking control of your workouts not only helps you get the body you want, it also makes you feel more in control of your life. So stop making excuses-and start making progress! Exercise and Cancer Prevention Exercise has many proven health benefits, both for preventing disease and promoting health and well-being. Physical activity has been show to give us protection against the development of cancers such as breast, prostate, lung and uterus also have been linked to exercise-related prevention. Ice Cream 'Isn't Health Food' The healthy food watchdog that took all the fun out of Chinese take-out and movie popcorn has done it again, this time with summer's favored treat -- ice cream. Bone Size Matters in Predicting Fractures A woman's chances of breaking a bone depends not only on the make-up of the bone, but also on the size, new research suggests. How to Save Your Skin From Sunburn While health experts tirelessly warn that the long-term consequences of too much sun exposure can be skin cancer, the short-term effects can be blazingly clear to anyone who's spent a day basking on the beach. Prostate Test Misses Tumors, Study Finds The widely used PSA blood test, designed to look for early signs of prostate cancer, misses 82 percent of tumors in men under 60, according to a study released. Diet Cuts Cholesterol as Well as Drugs A strict vegetarian diet can reduce high cholesterol levels about as effectively as cholesterol fighting drugs called statins, Canadian researchers said. Yes, Stress Does Make Acne Worse There are a lot of anecdotal stories about stress making acne worse, but finally clinical studies may validate these claims. Antioxidants Don't Prevent Cancer in Male Smokers Between 1985 and 1993, some 29,000 male smokers were given vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) or beta-carotene or both daily for 5 to 8 years. While the men were taking the supplements, the number of cases of lung cancer that occurred was 17 percent higher among those given beta-carotene. The total number of deaths in this group was also higher, by 8 percent. The Test Every Pregnant Woman Needs For a pregnant woman, the test is simple and painless, but it can prevent a lifetime of grief and perhaps even save the life of her baby. Obesity Fight Needs Allies The government needs help from parents, community organizers, corporations and children in the fight against obesity, Surgeon General Richard Carmona said Monday. Trans-Fat: Why is it so Dangerous? Trans fatty acids, also known as trans fat, is an artery-clogging fat that is formed when vegetable oils are hardened into margarine or shortening. Many food companies use trans fat instead of oil because it reduces cost, extends storage life of products and can improve flavor and texture. But how dangerous is it? Eating Fish, Nuts Wards Off Alzheimer's Eating plenty of fish, nuts and oil-based salad dressings that contain polyunsaturated fatty acids cuts the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, researchers said. Glucosamine Supplements OK for Diabetics Taking glucosamine supplements doesn't affect glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. In fact, glucosamine may be safer than some other treatments for painful joints. Want to Stay Healthy? Try Laughing. Want to stay healthy? Then put on a happy face. Researchers have found that people who have more positive emotions, such as happiness and calmness, have fewer colds than glum people. Make Sure Kids Get Enough Shut Eye Parents may be able to get by on little sleep from time to time, but shortchanging kids on slumber can turn their days into nightmares. Children Have Higher Risk of Dehydration A dramatic reduction in the amount of fluid in the body causes dehydration, which can be a serious, even life-threatening, condition if left untreated. And children, especially babies and toddlers, are at a greater risk of dehydration than adults due to lower fluid reserves. 120 or 180 Yrs Old? Experts Fancy living another 100 years or more? Some experts said on Saturday that scientific advances will one day enable humans to last decades beyond what is now seen as the natural limit of the human life span. Pizza Packs Anti-Cancer Punch It sounds like a suggestion you'd hear only in your dreams -- wolf down the pizza to keep cancer at bay. But that's just what researchers are saying in a new study of some 8,000 Italians that found folks who regularly chow down on pizza appear to have a decreased risk of several types of gastrointestinal cancers -- particularly of the colon and esophagus, as well as the throat and mouth. Food Industry Health Pitches Prompt Skepticism Health experts, concerned about the growing problem of obesity, are more than a little skeptical about the recent health and nutrition wellness initiatives of junk food companies, even as they welcome any effort to provide more healthful choices and nutritional information to increasingly overweight consumers. Injecting the Fountain of Youth It sounds like a suggestion you'd hear only in your dreams -- wolf down the pizza to keep cancer at bay. But that's just what researchers are saying in a new study of some 8,000 Italians that found folks who regularly chow down on pizza appear to have a decreased risk of several types of gastrointestinal cancers -- particularly of the colon and esophagus, as well as the throat and mouth. Serving Up Tips to Avoid Tennis Elbow Don't let your life get fouled up by tennis elbow. A serving of preparation and planning will net you freedom from that nagging injury. Summer Can Add on Pounds Summer's a time for becoming active, going outdoors and getting into shape. Throw in a few barbecues, some heat-induced ice cream cravings and the water retention that follows, however, and the best of summer slim-down regimes can unravel. Low 'Good' Cholesterol Predicts Death in Elderly Low levels of "good" cholesterol, rather than high levels of "bad" cholesterol, are associated with an increased risk of death from heart disease and stroke in people who have reached 85 years of age, according to a report published in the July 14th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Excess Pounds Boost Risk of Cervical Cancer Here's another reason for women carrying extra pounds to shed them -- being overweight doubles the risk of cervical cancer, a new study finds. Nurturing Young Extends Life Unlike many species, humans live well past their reproductive years. Now, a University of California, Berkeley article offers a new evolutionary theory of aging that may explain the reason for that difference. Too Much Water During Exercise Dangerous, Expert Says Drinking too much water while exercising could have fatal consequences, a sports medicine expert said on Friday. Genes Determine Limb, Spine Development In a study appearing in the July 18 issue of Science, researchers from Utah report the discovery of specific genes that direct the development of the spine and limbs, and how slight variations in those genes tell the body how many ribs and other bones to create. Children Fatter but Less Violent American children are fatter than ever before, but they are far less violent and far less likely to get pregnant than most people think, according to a U.S. government report issued on Friday. Acupuncture and Botox, Great for Migraines A traditional Chinese treatment combined with Botox injection may offer relief to millions of migraine sufferers, Brazilian dermatologists report. An Ejaculation a Day May Keep Prostate Cancer at Bay Research by Australia's Cancer Council Victoria found that the more often men ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50, the less likely they are to suffer the disease that kills more than half a million men each year. Tattooing Inks May Be Poisonous Fans of tattooing are putting poisonous chemicals into their skin because of widespread ignorance about the substances used in tattooing dyes, the European Commission warned Thursday. Socializing Paves Way for Multilingual Kids Infants who interact with people who speak foreign languages may develop a better ability to perceive foreign language sounds, says a study in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Exercise Flexes Arteries Exercise can counteract the genetic risk of stiff arteries, says a new study of healthy female twins. Vitamin C Pills May Protect the Heart Adding a vitamin C pill to your diet may be a good way of preventing heart disease, new research suggests. U.S. Nut Sellers to Promote Health Benefits The labels on packages of peanuts and certain other nuts can tout that a handful a day just might help your heart, even though that possible benefit isn't yet proven. Brain Push-Ups Prevent Dementia Everyone knows that regular exercise can help keep the body in good shape. But many assume that there's nothing they can do about becoming forgetful in their old age. Now, evidence suggests that older people can preserve their mental acuity by exercising their brains. Animal Fats Linked with Breast Cancer Young women who eat more red meat and full-fat dairy products such as cheese may be raising their risk of breast cancer, researchers reported on Tuesday. Experiencing Memory Overload? Experts Say Focus on Focus Living in the information age can be overwhelming but experts say our brains can handle it if we focus. Food For Thought Would you pay more to know where your meat came from? Are you concerned about the conditions in which animals are kept while they're being raised for slaughter? Do you care if your meat has antibiotics in it or if your food contains genetically modified ingredients? If so, you may be one of many consumers who are affecting the way food is manufactured and labeled. Can Vitamins Prevent Pre-Eclampsia? British scientists have launched a study to determine whether vitamin supplements can prevent women from developing the serious complication of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Movies Spur Teen Smoking If you want to prevent your teens from smoking, you might consider screening the movies they watch. That parental advice comes in a study in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine. Study Shows Which Men at Highest Heart Risk Researchers in Scotland said on Monday they can tell who has the highest risk of heart disease and diabetes based on three of five measurements of obesity, cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose. Elderly, Obese Women Risk Developing Alzheimer's Women who are overweight when they're 70 years old are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease in the future, researchers in Sweden have found. Black Cohosh and Breast Cancer a Dangerous Mix The herbal extract black cohosh may not be safe for women with breast cancer or for women who may have undetected breast tumors. School Vending Machines 'Out' with Health Advocates As popularity contests go, vending machines may no longer be part of the "in" crowd in high schools. At least, that is the hope of some legislators and health advocates. Help for Heat Cramps Have you ever had a muscle in your arm or leg go into spasm in the middle of an exercise routine or during another kind of strenuous activity? That means you've experienced heat cramps, which are painful and involuntary spasms caused by low salt levels in your muscles. Are Breast-Boosting Supplements Full of Broken Promises? A new report concludes that breast-enhancing herbal supplements, pills that purport to increase a woman's breasts by as much as one to two cup sizes, are unable to live up to their claims. Summertime Yeast Infections Summer can bring more than warm breezes and lazy days at the beach. Unfortunately, the season also brings an increased number of yeast infections, caused when a type of fungus that normally lives in and around the vagina overgrows. Is Inactivity Causing Diabetes Among Kids? Suspecting that inactivity is to blame for the skyrocketing rate of diabetes among children, a Georgia researcher plans to monitor and test third graders to find out for sure. Working Out to Fight Impotence Pelvic floor muscle exercises can help restore erectile function in men, says a British study. The study by researchers at the University of the West of England in Bristol found men with erectile dysfunction who did pelvic floor exercises had the same overall improvement as men in a large trial of Viagra. Arthritis Outlook Worse for Women Both women and men with early rheumatoid arthritis improve rapidly with treatment, but ultimately women fare worse than men, new research from Sweden suggests. More Schooling Leads to Smart Eating Your education level may influence how smart you are about eating a healthy diet. A new study suggests some are eating healthier diets than they did in 1965, but college-educated people are eating healthier than high school dropouts. The Test Expectant Moms Shouldn't Skip An obstetrician makes it a point to tell women about a very important test they need between their 35th and 37th week of pregnancy -- one that will tell them whether they have a bacterium called Group B streptococcus, which can threaten the life of their newborn. Food May Trigger Life-Threatening Asthma For the first time, food allergy -- especially to peanuts -- has been shown to be a major cause of life-threatening asthma in children. WHO Chief Says Need for Openness Key SARS Lesson In a globalized world, countries must be more open when they are hit by outbreaks of diseases like SARS, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. A Drink to Your Health? Over the last five years, the health benefits of moderate drinking have been widely celebrated in the headlines. To those who think everything enjoyable must be bad for you, this news might seem like a dream come true. A Closer Look at Autism Early problems with simple face-to-face interaction may be responsible for the difficulties autistic children have in pointing and showing objects to other people, says new British research. Mosquito Madness You've probably heard by now that the summer of 2003 will likely be the summer of the mosquito, particularly in the Northeast. Thanks to a record-breaking wet spring, mosquitoes are hatching at an unprecedented rate. Red Clover No Relief for Hot Flashes Red clover extract, advertised as a substitute for hormone therapy, offered menopausal women no more relief from hot flashes than a placebo, according to a study published on Tuesday. Pot Doesn't Dull Senses Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine analyzed the results of studies on long-term, recreational marijuana users. The analysis of those studies failed to reveal a substantial, systematic effect on the neurocognitive functioning of those marijuana users. U.S. Rate of Hypertension Rises in 1990s Almost one in three U.S. adults had high blood pressure at the end of the last decade, reversing a downward trend and raising another warning flag about Americans' health, researchers said on Tuesday. Exercise Levels Rise Only Slightly Over 40 Years The "couch potato" lifestyle appears to be holding its own against four decades of government health campaigns to promote exercise, new study findings show. Obesity on the Rise Among German Children One German child in five and every third teenager is obese thanks to junk food and a lack of exercise, consumer affairs minister Renate Kuenast said. Snoring Kids May Become Hyperactive Kids who snore may be prone to acting up in class, U.S. researchers reported, saying Hispanic children appeared to be more likely to have the problem. Brushing Right After Drinking Soda May Harm Teeth If you rush to brush your teeth right after drinking soda, think again. Doing so may actually do more harm than good, and it's better to wait 30 or 60 minutes before brushing, according to new research. Spending Time in the Dark Improves Sense of Touch Spending as little as 90 minutes in the dark appears to boost a person's ability to sense touch, new research reports. Doctors: The Waiting Keeps Men Away What keeps some people away from the doctor's office? New research suggests financial worries are most likely to keep women at home. But men, less likely to visit the doctor in the first place, are more concerned about wasting time in the waiting room. Genetics May Make it Hard to Kick the Habit Smokers who have a specific form of a gene that's involved in processing nicotine in the body may find it harder to kick their habit than other smokers, says a new Japanese study in Thorax. Survey Examines Costs of Sports Injuries The Centers for Disease Control has estimated that millions each year receive medical attention for sports and recreation-related injuries. Female Preemies May Face More Problems as Adults Among the tiniest infants -- including those born prematurely -- females appear to better able to "catch up" in size to their normal birthweight peers by age 20, researchers said. The Silent Killer: CO Poisoning Just because the home heating season is over doesn't mean you're free from the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Parents Can Prevent SIDS But Still Protect Baby’s Head Shape Apparently, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatricians, or AAP, there has been an observable, though slight, increase in incidence of minor skull deformity in infants in the past 11 years, possibly due to SIDS prevention. Fight Foot Fungi With more than 250,000 sweat glands in the foot, maintaining the kind of ventilation necessary to prevent fungal growth can be a challenge. Failure to do so can lead to such problems as foot odor, fungal nail infections, athlete's foot and other skin infections, warns the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). 'Pre-Diabetes' May Raise Risk of Dying from Cancer Previous studies have shown that people who have difficulty processing blood sugar are at risk of diabetes and heart disease. Now new research suggests they may also be at increased risk of dying from cancer. Sleep Apnea Linked to Bed-Wetting in Kids Children who snore may be more likely than their peers to wet the bed, new study findings suggest. Diabetes More Common in Snorers, Problem Sleepers New research shows that a pre-diabetic condition and full-fledged diabetes occur more frequently in people who snore or who have a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. Five Unhealthy Practices You Can Live With improving your health doesn't necessarily mean you have to live on bean curd and wheat grass. In fact, some of the indulgences you count among your bad habits — liquor, caffeine, fatty foods — may actually help extend your life. Very Few Quit Smoking, Even Fewer Stay Smoke-Free Around one-half of people who manage to stop smoking for one year after using nicotine patches eventually start smoking again, researchers said Friday. Having a Safe Trip No matter where in the world you're traveling or what type of weather you anticipate when you arrive, it's a good idea to plan ahead to ensure a safe and healthy journey. Canada Report: Mad Cow May Be From U.S. Canada's lone case of mad cow disease may have originated in the United States, according to a report issued Thursday by Canadian investigators, who have been unable to pinpoint the source of the infection. Study Shows Germs Stay in Urinary Tract A germ that causes stubborn urinary tract infections may be resistant to antibiotics because it invades the bladder cells and builds a fort-like colony that is impervious to drugs and attack from the body's own immune system, researchers say. Are You Addicted to Coffee? Do you have trouble getting started in the morning without having a cup of coffee? Many people have adopted drinking a morning cup of ‘Joe’ as a daily ritual to start their engines—and even more drink it throughout the day to keep going. If you find you can’t get your day started without a caffeine fix, you could be addicted to it. Muscle vs. Fat: Measure What Matters Understandably, many of us measure our weight with a scale. Insurance companies and health professionals have used height versus weight scales (body mass indicators, or BMIs) for years to determine overall health. However, these indicators are not always informative of an individual's overall health because they fail to determine whether a person is muscled or fat. Britain Heading Toward Obesity Epidemic Britain is heading toward an obesity "epidemic" and urgent action is needed to change childrens' diets to reverse the trend, Britain's chief medical officer said. Summer: A Feast -- and Threat -- for the Eyes Millions of eye injuries occur each year, with the bulk of them coming during summer. Many will have permanent visual impairment, and a large percentage of these people are blind in one eye, according to the U.S. Eye Injury Registry. 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 aerobic workout? What Kind of Fuel Can Help You Stay Active Now that it's summer and you're enjoying physical activity, you need to make sure you're eating healthy meals and snacks. So what kind of "fuel" can help you be and stay active? Will Food Giants Keep Their Promise to Fight Obesity? Kraft, the multinational company that makes thousands of products ranging from Oreo cookies and Velveeta cheese to Oscar Mayer wieners, recently stated it will make its products healthier to control obesity. Too Much Zinc Ups Prostate Cancer Risk Men who overdose on zinc supplements more than double their risk of prostate cancer, a government study finds. Milk Fat May Protect Against Childhood Asthma Young children who regularly eat full cream milk, butter and other products that contain milk fat are less likely to develop asthma. That's the finding of a Dutch study in the July issue of Thorax. When Sugar Kills People with type 1 diabetes may now have another reason to maintain tight control over their blood sugar levels — a reduced risk of heart disease. Miscarriages More Likely if Firstborn Is a Boy Women whose first child is a boy are more likely to suffer recurrent miscarriages. So says a Danish study presented Tuesday at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Madrid, Spain. Heart Patients: Save Yourself, Quit Smoking People who quit smoking reap almost immediate health returns, burning away their increased risk of early death from lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses. WHO Removes Toronto From SARS List The World Health Organization removed Toronto from its list of SARS-infected areas Wednesday, saying Canada's largest city had contained the virus. Schoolkids Choose Unhealthy Lunches Schools that offer students pizza and fries as alternatives to healthier lunch fare are not only encouraging children to eat high-fat foods during lunch hour -- but after school and at home as well. Kraft Changes Portions Over Fat Fears Kraft Foods Inc., the largest U.S. food company, on Tuesday said it would take steps like capping portion sizes and providing more nutrition information as it, like other companies, faces growing concern and even lawsuits due to rising obesity rates. Finding a "Soul Mate" May Be Easier For Women According to researchers, brides-to-be consistently rate their perception and expectations of relationship intimacy higher than do their fiancés.