Monthly News Archives



		Shows, Games Created to Encourage Exercise Some of the new video games on the market make children move more than their thumbs — they get the kids off the couch and get them to exercise. Kids Without Siblings Lack Social Skills Children who grow up with one or more siblings get along better with kindergarten classmates than do only children. That's the conclusion of research in the new issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family. Too Little Fish Oil Hurts Your Heart Doctors have identified a new risk factor for heart disease, according to an article in the July issue of Preventive Medicine. Osteoarthritis Cream Has Short-Term Effect-Report Painkiller creams and gels can relieve the suffering of osteoarthritis, but their effect only lasts about two weeks, researchers said. Preventing West Nile Virus Keeping the bugs away is the best way to prevent West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers preventive measures that you and your family can take. Exercise-Related Pain Diminishes with Training "No pain, no gain," may be the advice of coaches and trainers around the world, but it may not be true when it comes to cycling, research from Australia suggests. Children Do Fine with Contact Lenses Children as young as 8 can handle the responsibility of wearing contact lenses, U.S. researchers reported, opposing conventional wisdom of optometrists that children under 12 not use lenses. Women More Prone to Back Pain Women are at least twice as likely as men to develop some musculoskeletal disorders of the upper body, such as lower back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. Workout Sweat Not Just a Matter of Temperature Summer heat and vigorous exercise can both cause you to break a sweat, but new research suggests that another factor unrelated to temperature may also influence the body's sweat rate. Report Says 195,000 Deaths Due to Hospital Error As many as 195,000 people a year could be dying in U.S. hospitals because of easily prevented errors, a company said in an estimate that doubles previous figures. An Egg a Day May Be Too Much for Some Women Women who eat eggs on a daily basis may have a higher risk of dying than other women their age, study findings suggest. Test Predicts Walking Problems with Artery Disease A simple test called the ankle brachial index (ABI) can help predict future walking problems in patients with peripheral arterial disease, a condition that involves hardening of the blood vessels in the legs and elsewhere, new research shows. Staying With Same Doctor Leads to Better Preventive Care Adults who regularly visit the same doctor are most likely to receive better preventive treatment, according to a new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Health Benefits Come from Work-Related Activity Previous reports have linked high levels of leisure-time physical activity with a reduced risk of dying among people with diabetes. Now, new research shows that work-time physical activity has a similar benefit. Sleeping Disorder Linked to Risk of Stroke Death A sleep-related disorder that causes repeated interruptions in breathing is a new risk factor for death from stroke, Spanish researchers said. Moderate Exercise Helps Diabetics Avoid Death Moderate exercise, such as walking or cycling to work every day, can help keep people with diabetes alive, Finnish researchers reported. The Horrors of Aspartame Revealed in Documentary The new documentary, Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World, thoroughly examines a hot-button subject many consider to be imaginary: the toxicity of aspartame. This man-made sweetener is certainly a fact of life and hard to avoid. Aspartame is found in more than 5,000 food products, including diet soft drinks and snacks like puddings. Gene Variants May Make Women See Red, and Burgundy A new gene study may help explain why she sees crimson, vermilion and tomato, but it's all just red to him. Preventing Heat Stroke Heat stroke is definitely no fun in the sun. In fact, the condition, which happens when the body overheats and can't cool down, can be fatal. Caffeine Interferes with Diabetes Control Caffeine could interfere with the body's ability to handle blood sugar, thus worsening type 2 diabetes, U.S. researchers said. Eating Fish Protects Against Stroke More evidence that fish consumption reduces the chances of having a stroke comes from an analysis of results from several large studies. Sex Education Taught by Students Is Popular Sex education taught by older pupils to younger ones is popular with students, according to a study in Britain, the country with the highest rate of teen pregnancies in western Europe. Protein Sports Drink May Boost Endurance A sports drink with a shot of protein may give endurance athletes some extra juice, new research suggests. More Canadians Admit Pot Use, Study Finds The number of Canadians who admit they have used marijuana or hashish has nearly doubled over 13 years, according to a recent government study released. Small Kids Have Better Memories Than Parents Next time, maybe you'll believe your kid. Small children apparently have better memories than their parents, researchers reported. 'Good' Cholesterol Protects Women Against Dementia For women, maintaining high levels of "good" HDL cholesterol may be one of the most effective strategies for fending off Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. Wendy's Adds Healthier Meals for Kids Wendy's International Inc. said it has added more nutritious options to kids' menus, allowing customers to choose fruit over fries and adding chocolate milk as a substitute for soft drinks. Blacks, Hispanics Develop Alzheimer's Earlier Blacks and hispanics are more likely to suffer symptoms of Alzheimer's disease at an earlier age than their white counterparts, new research says. Lose Weight, Stay Active, Prevent Alzheimer's-Studies Losing weight, eating more fruits and vegetables and exercising your brain and body sounds like a formula to prevent heart disease, but it is also a way to prevent Alzheimer's, researchers said. Eating Fish Can Cut Risk of Heart Rhythm Disorder Chalk up another benefit of eating fish -- it can reduce the risk of deadly irregular heartbeats, researchers reported. High Meat Intake May Raise Odds of Endometriosis What a woman eats can influence her risk of endometriosis, according to a new study. Beware of Future Workout Pills Ever wished you could wash down that pizza, cheesecake and beer with a magic pill to make it all vanish from your waistline? Too good to be true? Chances are it is, but the prospect may be only a few years away. AIDS Meeting Warns of Global Dangers The largest AIDS conference to date ended Friday with delegates highlighting soaring infections among women and warning of explosive epidemics in Asia and Eastern Europe. TV-Addict Kids Run Greater Risk of Obesity Spending hours glued to your television screen during childhood causes an increased risk of obesity and other health problems during later life, according to research to be published in the Lancet medical journal. Early Binge Drinking Tied to Later Health Problems Young teens who begin a habit of binge drinking face an increased risk of poor health as young adults, study findings suggest. Niacin May Protect Against Alzheimer's High intake of the vitamin niacin, particularly from food sources, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and age-related mental decline, according to a new report. A Dangerous Thirst for Summer Sports One of the most common mistakes made by summer sports enthusiasts is a failure to get enough fluids, and the price can be heat illness. Late Childbirth Lowers Ovarian Cancer Risk At last, a health benefit to having children late in life -- it seems to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, U.S. researchers reported. Looking to Lift the Burden of Headaches The pain of an unremitting headache may not be the stuff of sensational headlines, yet in terms of the cost to human productivity and quality of life, headaches pose a tremendous burden. Healthy Exercise Helps Treat Eating Disorders Adding an exercise program to the treatment of eating disorders appears to help women who have an unhealthy attitude toward exercise, new research shows. Fading Social Life May Signal Trouble in Diabetes Older diabetic patients who withdraw from their normal social activities may be showing early signs of deteriorating health, new study findings suggest. What Does Low-Carb Actually Mean? With carbohydrate claims covering everything from cereal boxes to restaurant menus, you're likely wondering what the terms mean -- net carb, total carb, carb wise, carb fit, just to name a few. Low-carb options are prominent on grocery store shelves, but does that mean these foods fit into a healthy diet? And can a low-carbohydrate diet help you lose weight safely and permanently? Active Kids May Be Less Prone to Depression Studies have shown that exercise may battle depression in adults, and now new evidence suggests the same may be true for children. Yo-Yo Weight Loss May Impair Immunity Frequent intentional weight loss may have significant long-term detrimental effects on the immune system, study results show, while maintaining a healthy weight benefits immune function. Addicted to Tanning Booths? If you just can't stay away from your neighborhood tanning salon, new research suggests that you may have developed a dangerous habit you can't break. Acupuncture Aids Kids with Cerebral Palsy A short course of tongue acupuncture can be effective in improving movement control and function in children with cerebral palsy, Chinese investigators report. UV Light May Give Frequent Tanners a Lift For frequent tanners, the tanning bed may offer more than a bronzed skin. The ultraviolet (UV) radiation used in indoor tanning may actually raise their mood and make them feel relaxed, new research suggests. Depression Ups Risk of 'Metabolic Syndrome' Women who have had an episode of depression have increased odds of having "metabolic syndrome" -- a cluster of conditions such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and unhealthy cholesterol levels, that set the stage for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Fake Sweeteners Boost Rats' Eating Rats fed artificial sweeteners ate three times the calories of rats given sugar, a finding the study's authors said suggests sugar-free foods may play a role in the nation's obesity epidemic. Asthma Often Does Not Go Away as Kids Get Older Contrary to the commonly held view, asthma does not remit during adolescence in many cases, according to a new study. Obesity Risk Doubled for Kids of Obese Moms Children whose mothers were obese when they became pregnant are at increased risk of becoming obese themselves, according to a new study. Test Predicts Prostate Cancer Death The PSA blood test widely used to detect prostate cancer can also predict who is most likely to die from the disease, researchers said. Stress May Prompt Women to Eat Tough day at work? That might be one more reason to watch what you eat when you get home. It is well-established that people often eat to relieve stress. But a study published in the monthly Journal of Applied Social Psychology found that even after the stress was over, women who were more frustrated by it ate more fatty foods than those who were not as frustrated. Arthritis Spares Flexible Fingers People with unusually flexible fingers seem to be able to give the slip to osteoarthritis in the hand, new research suggests. Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Inflammation Some of the benefits of a Mediterranean-type diet -- rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes and olive oil and light on red meat -- may stem from the diet's effect on inflammation, new research suggests. Milk, Calcium Intake May Lower Colon Cancer Risk Higher milk and calcium consumption is linked with reduced odds of developing colorectal cancer, according to an analysis of ten studies. Parents Urged to Fight Kids' Obesity Parents are being urged to become more involved in combatting obesity among children. Experts Debate Effects of Violent Games It's hard to find clear answers in the debate between the makers of video games and activists who claim the electronic diversions are destroying an entire generation. Overweight Children Risk Iron Deficiency Overweight children are at double the risk of being iron deficient, perhaps because of bad diet or lack of exercise, a study said. Study Finds Cough Drugs No Better Than Sugar Syrup Two ingredients commonly used in cough syrup are no better than sugar water in suppressing night-time coughing in children, according to a study published. Brain Chemical Linked to Teen Suicides in Study A brain enzyme known to be involved in mood disorders may be in short supply in the brains of teenage suicide victims, a finding that could point to possible research for prevention. Saving Your Skin With skin cancer rates soaring, protecting your skin from the sun has never been more important. And there's much more you can do than simply staying in the shade. Research Focuses on Growing New Teeth Researchers have moved a little bit closer to the day when new teeth can be grown to replace damaged or missing teeth. Diabetes Ups Cancer Death Risk Diabetes appears to increase the risk of death from a number of types of cancer, new research suggests. Moreover, this holds true even after accounting for obesity, which is common among diabetics and is a well-known risk factor for cancer. Obesity Can Cause Heart Attacks in Kids Extremely obese youngsters can have heart abnormalities that put them at serious risk of heart attacks and chest pains, U.S. researchers said. Kids Do Much of Their Munching in Front of TV Elementary school children appear to down many of their daily calories while planted in front of the television, a new study shows. Caution Urged on Mosquito Repellent for Kids Mosquito repellents with DEET may cause short- and long-term health effects, says a Duke University Medical Center researcher.