Monthly News Archives



		Bullying Ups Risk of Anxiety Kids who are tortured, teased or otherwise bullied at school are at risk of becoming depressed and anxious teens, according to a new report. Aspirin-Enzyme-Diabetes Link Found In a discovery that may lead to new therapies for type 2 diabetes, researchers have solved a decades-old mystery of why high doses of aspirin lower blood sugar levels and make cells more sensitive to insulin. Men's Health: The New Rules of Fitness No pain, no gain? The old rules no longer apply when it comes to fitness. The latest coming from the physiology labs and exercise eggheads shows that you can make big gains with a relatively small investment of pain and time. If the old rules have left you fat and tired, it's time for some new rules — for a new you. Genes Dictate Age of Menopause Women wanting to know how much time they have left on their biological clock should consult their mothers, because the age at which menopause occurs is largely dictated by genes, Dutch doctors said on Thursday. Humans Emit Sex Signals A Swedish study says men and women receive scent signals from the opposite sex. High Level Job May Result in Longer Life The key to a longer life may be the one that opens the executive suite. Scientists Identify Black Tea's Anti-Cancer Secret Numerous studies have suggested that regular consumption of black tea is protective against a host of human cancers. Now scientists think they know why. Flaxseed Could Fight Breast Cancer Ground flaxseed may contain compounds that protect postmenopausal women from breast cancer, researchers report. Genes May Dictate Effectiveness of Low-Fat Diets Genetic differences may explain why some people see their cholesterol levels plummet while on low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets and some people do not. Should Marijuana Be Legalized? ABC News Downtown went to Holland to take a look at the nation's tolerant drug policy. Team Sports Increase Kids Social Skills Got sports? A new study has found that middle-school kids in inner-city neighborhoods who play organized team sports have a higher sense of self worth and better social skills than their less athletic peers. Air Pollution May Cause Later Heart Disease Air pollution may be damping the heartbeat enough -- even in young, healthy men -- to pave the way for heart disease later on, a new study suggests. Food Expert Predicts 'Nutrigenomics' Revolutions A merging of genomics, nutrition and medicine may mean that ``you are what you eat'' becomes ``you eat what you are,'' as consumers of the future tailor their grocery lists to their DNA. New Device Helps Prevent Cause of Snoring A new device worn in the mouth during sleep can help prevent interrupted rest and snoring, researchers from Australia report. Daily Hassles, Pleasures Change Overtime What distinguishes a good day from a bad one varies across age groups, according to research presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association. Teens May Use Performance About 1 million young people aged 12 through 17 have taken performance-enhancing sports supplements, a health insurer's survey concluded. Herbal Anti-Impotence Websites Stretch the Truth Companies selling herbal pills for enhanced sexual performance may soon be facing the wrath of US regulators, as well as possible legal action from the legitimate maker of Viagra, the world's largest drug maker, Pfizer Inc. Cavities Might Someday Heal Themselves A ``remineralizing filling material'' called amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) may be the best news ever for drill-phobic dental patients. Researchers say the compound not only helps prevent cavities but also helps small, existing cavities heal on their own. Doctors Concerned Over Ephedrine Study Experts question whether a study touting the benefits of a stimulant-plus-caffeine was irresponsible. The Psychology of Sickness Call it a classic case of the mind-body connection. A new study of Type I diabetics says a person's emotional and physical well-being are strongly interrelated. Quitting Coffee May Help The Heart A new study from Norway has found that coffee drinkers who quit drinking caffeinated filtered coffee cut their blood levels of cholesterol and the protein homocysteine. Brain Injury Group to Study Rollercoasters The Brain Injury Association said on Thursday it will study the safety of rollercoaster rides in what is thought to be the first in-depth look at whether the quest for extreme thrills can seriously damage your health. Social Class, Birth Weight Tied to Later IQ A child's social class and weight at birth are strong independent predictors of later intelligence, a new study reports. Soda May Not Hurt Your Bones After All Remember all that scientific noise about soft drinks being bad for bone health, particularly in women? Well, score one for the junk food brigade: A new study shows that bubbly beverages won't hurt your bones -- unless you drink so much that they take the place of other calcium-rich foods or beverages. Healthier Kids Less Depressed Later in Life Parental evaluations of the overall health of their young child may be helpful in predicting an increased risk of depression in adolescence, according to new research presented here Thursday at the 10th European Conference on Developmental Psychology. Cats Can Cause Salmonella Poisoning Cats and other animals can shed Salmonella in their feces, which can spread the bacterial infection to humans, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Division of Household Chores Affects Marital Bliss Spouses beware: shirking on household duties and squabbling over money may be more harmful to the state of marital bliss than your partner's disruptive ex-mate. According to a Penn State sociologist, current marital concerns play a bigger role in marital happiness than a spouse's romantic history. Colon Cancer Screen May Miss One Quarter of Cases Combining two commonly used tests to detect colon cancer will still fail to identify one in four patients with the disease, according to a new report. Society Class, Teenage Size Tied to Adult Obesity Some children born to overweight mothers and into less well-off families may be destined for a life of obesity, researchers suggest. Longer Breast Feeding Produces Smarter Kids Children who are breast-fed for 6 months or longer may be smarter than their peers who nursed for less than 3 months, study findings suggest. Risk of Knee Ligament Injury Tied To Ovulation Women are known to face a greater risk of knee ligament injury compared with men. Now new study findings suggest that ovulation, and possibly oral contraceptive use, may play important roles in women's odds of injuring their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL). Anxious Teens May Grow Up to Be Depressed Adults Adolescents who suffer from anxiety disorders are more likely to experience mental health and substance abuse problems as young adults, study findings suggest. Diet, Exercise Prevent Pancreatic Cancer Moderate exercise and a healthy diet may reduce the risk of a deadly form of cancer, according to a new study. Two More Reasons to Quit Smoking Smokers feel the urge to smoke in many situations, whether it be anger, sadness or depression. Two new studies give smokers more reasons to quit. Yoga Helps With Chronic Pain A small study of patients suffering from chronic pain found that just 4 weeks of yoga improved symptoms. Report Links Arthritis Drugs To Heart Attack Popular anti-inflammatory drugs that were designed to be easier on the stomach than aspirin and other arthritis drugs may increase the risk of heart attack, researchers caution. Alternative Medicine Goes Mainstream Alternative medicine, once relegated to the fringes of Western science, is becoming an increasingly popular part of mainstream medicine in the US, a team of Harvard researchers concludes. Lycopene, Beta-Carotene No Help to Immune System People over the age of 65 who are taking the dietary supplements lycopene or beta-carotene with the hope that they are bolstering their immune systems may be wasting their time and money, according to British researchers. Self-Identity Associated with Hate Studies have shown that people create identity and self-esteem by associating with -- or at least relating to -- groups or organizations they view as positive. But your feelings about a group or organization you reject may be equally important for how you view yourself, researchers say. Mood Identified as Smoking Trigger Many smokers are more likely to light up during a moment of anger or a fit of anxiety. But men seem to be more likely to puff away to alleviate feelings of sadness, while women are inclined to break out their smokes when they are feeling happy, the results of a small new study suggest. Study Backs Exercise Supplements Caffeine and ephedrine supplements could help soldiers tap their deepest reserves of strength, according to researchers who say that giving the drugs to troops could be ethically sound even though giving them to athletes is not. Reducing Smoking Boosts Heart Health Smokers who quit or even just cut down on cigarettes can begin to reap the health benefits within a few months, new study findings suggest. Clues To Nighttime Snoring Individuals who are prone to snoring or who are frequently awaked at night by breathing problems may rest easier on a planet other than Earth, researchers suggest. Schools Test Children's Body Fat Kids are getting fatter, and officials are trying to keep tabs on the problem. But should schools or pediatricians be doing the health monitoring? Sex Hormones Protect Brain Women are up to three times more likely than men to get Alzheimer's disease -- and a group of Canadian researchers think they know why. Relaxing Helps Rosacea Patients See Less Red If you have rosacea, the acne-like skin disorder that afflicted W.C. Fields and former President Bill Clinton, try not to worry about it. Don't Suck in That Gut Research has shown that people under stress are more likely to get sick. Their wounds take longer to heal. They're more apt to be depressed, have high blood pressure and suffer heart attacks. Study Links Mother's Age & Child's Diabetes Risk A mother's age has no effect on her firstborn child's risk of developing type 1 diabetes, but may influence the risk that later siblings will have the disease, according to new study findings. Lifetime Activity Cuts Breast Cancer Risk Women who have remained active throughout their lives may have a lower breast cancer risk than their habitually sedentary counterparts, study findings suggest. Age, Confidence are Big Factors in Achieving Orgasm Factors such as age, confidence in one's sexual prowess and preference for either ``fast'' or ''slow'' sex help determine how often men and women achieve orgasm, according to a new survey of more than 2,200 adults in Finland. Insomniacs have Hyperactive Stress Scientists have found increased blood levels of stress hormones in people with chronic insomnia, suggesting that these individuals suffer from sustained, round-the-clock activation of the body's system for responding to stress. CDC Releases Asthma Figures Over 14 million Americans, or 7.2% of the adult population, reported having asthma in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has compiled the first state-based asthma data ever collected for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Health Benefits Linked To Cutting Greenhouse Gases Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels not only will put the brakes on global warming, but would also benefit public health, according to an international group of scientists. Natural Antibody Shows Promise as HIV Treatment In a finding that could lead to new HIV therapies, scientists have identified a component of the ``innate'' immune system that the body uses to combat the virus. Second Hand Smoke At Work Linked To Lung Damage People exposed to cigarette smoke in the workplace are at risk of serious lung damage, according to research published Thursday in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Mice Post Threat To Unborn Babies Pregnant women should pass on holding, petting or otherwise getting near mice and hamsters, no matter how cuddly and harmless they look, says a new study. Benefits of Nicotine Gum 'May Be Placebo Effect' Smokers who chew nicotine gum to help them quit may do just as well with ordinary chewing gum, a small new study suggests. Lung Surgery For Emphysema Questioned A costly but widely promoted surgery for the lung disease emphysema does not help and may in fact be risky for the sickest patients, according to the results of a large federal study. Soy and Cow Milk Formulas Equally Safe Infants fed soy-based formula have long-term health outcomes similar to those who are fed cow milk-based formula, according to the results of a study. Red Wine's a Sign of a Refined Mind It may not be that red wine makes a person healthy, as many studies propose; it may be that people who drink it are smarter and live the good life, say Danish researchers. Memory Loss Begins at 20 Walk into a room and forget why? Forget your mom's phone number? Memory is more than just something to store in your hard drive, say researchers. If you don't use it, you might lose it. Distractions Can Undermine Weight Loss Attempts For women who are trying to lose weight, eating a meal while watching an engrossing movie may be a sure way to sabotage a diet, recent study findings suggest. Healthcare Safety Institute Issues MRI Precautions In the wake of the accidental death of a young boy during a routine MRI scan last month, the nonprofit research agency ECRI has issued a hazard report and recommendations for MRI safety. Parental Divorce May Affect a Women's Love Life Young women whose parents are divorced have less satisfaction and trust and more conflict in their current dating relationships than do their peers whose parents are still together, study results suggest. Bone Marrow Cells Repair Heart Damage in Mice New research in mice suggests it may be possible to harness the body's own cells to repair damage after a heart attack. Gene For Disease of Infants Identifies German neurologists have reported the identification of a genetic mutation that can cause suffocation in infants. Study Links Spiritual Struggle With Death Risk Does questioning a higher being hasten death? A new study says that elderly patients who feel spiritually abandoned may die sooner than those that don't question a higher being. Father's Gene May Be Responsible For Child Obesity Some dads may be giving their children a genetic one-way ticket to Fat City. Study Examines Wine Consumption While studies suggest wine drinkers might be healthier, it may have nothing to do with knowing the difference between a full-bodied cabernet and a bold little merlot. Helping Overweight Kids Shape-up Childhood obesity rates seem to be expanding as quickly as kids' waistlines. But one experimental program has found a way to curb the appetites of overweight youngsters and improve their fitness levels, too. Moderate Lifelong Exercise OK for Knees Although knee injuries can raise the risk of developing knee arthritis, the wear and tear of regular exercise over a lifetime does not set the stage for the debilitating condition, UK researchers report. Stacking Dishes Wet May Promote Bacterial Growth With Americans eating out more, researchers are cautioning that the plates on which commercial meals are served may become contaminated with bacteria if they are not allowed to dry properly before being piled up after washing. Premature Aging of Cells Linked to Artery Disease The artery disease atherosclerosis could be linked to premature aging, a report from the UK suggests. World Health System Ranking Reveals Surprises Some of the world's poorest and least developed countries have health systems that are in some ways better run than those in many Western countries, according to a report from the World Health Organisation (WHO). IQ Linked to Birth Weight, Even in Healthy Babies Achievement-minded parents can enroll their toddler in early preschool or sign up their 6-month-old for music class but according to researchers, these attempts to raise a child's intelligence quotient (IQ) may be in vain. Abused Girls Grow Up To Be Abused Women Women who were physically or sexually abused as children are far more likely to enter into abusive relationships as adults, British researchers report. Biology Determines Sleep Wake Preference Whether you are a night owl or a morning lark may be predetermined by how long your body keeps a day's cycle, according to researchers. Drug Websites Provide Harmful Info. Internet surfers are far more likely to come upon Web sites with wrong and potentially dangerous information about illicit drug use than they are to find more reliable, informed sites, a new study shows. Walking, Diet Can Cut Diabetes Doctors now have proof that exercise and weight loss can dramatically cut millions of Americans' chances of getting diabetes - and it doesn't take a starvation diet or running a marathon. Bayer Pulls Anti-Cholesterol Drug A cholesterol-lowering drug taken by 700,000 Americans - Bayer Pharmaceutical's Baycol - was pulled off the market Wednesday because of muscle destruction linked to 31 U.S. deaths and at least nine more fatalities abroad. Obsessed with Building Muscles While most of the nation obsesses over getting thinner, some people can't seem to get big enough, no matter what the cost. Psychologists say our nation's teens are most at risk for developing an obsession with muscle building. Top Rungs of Corporate Ladder Brings Health, Wealth People who rise to positions of power may reap more than a corner office with a view. According to recent study findings, men and women in high-level jobs outlive their rank-and-file counterparts. Emotional Impact Key To Memory Ever wondered why some things you never forget, while others you can never remember? The answer may lie in the emotions connected to your memories. Doctors Can Get Inactive People Moving Medical experts recommend that healthy Americans perform at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week, but no one is quite sure how to dislodge sedentary people from their couches. New research shows that advice from doctors and other health professionals can make a difference. Even Small Amounts of Alcohol During Pregnancy May Be Harmful Children whose mother consumed even a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy may be at increased risk of behavioral problems later in life, according to the results of a new study. African Americans Less Likely To Breast Feed Regardless of education or income, African-American women are less likely than other US women to breast-feed their babies, new study findings show. Researchers speculate that this difference accounts for a large part of the racial disparity in the nation's infant mortality rate. Women, Men Experience Pain Differently Women report more pain, more intense pain, and more painful conditions than men do, according to studies presented here at the Second International Conference on Women's Health sponsored by the American Medical Women's Association and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Depression Common in Pregnancy Postpartum depression, also known as ``the baby blues,'' is a well known phenomenon. But according to a recent study, women are more likely to be depressed during their pregnancy than after their child is born. Scientists Find Protein That Turns Carbs Into Fat Researchers have identified a small protein in liver cells that may help convert excess dietary carbohydrates into fat stores. They hope that the finding will lead to the development of obesity-fighting drugs that inhibit the actions of this protein. Excessive Weight Linked To Early Heart Attack Overweight people suffer heart attacks at a younger age than people with normal weight, according to a decade-long study by the Mayo Clinic. Exercise May Give Emotional Lift to Eldely Regular exercise may give an emotional boost to frail elderly adults without causing them physical pain, new study results suggest. The findings add to evidence that activity can bring benefits beyond physical well-being. Neighborhood Problems May Cause Chronic Stress The neighborhood in which you live may have a direct link with your well-being and general health, according to British researchers. Wash Your Hands! That's an Order! Navy recruits who were ordered to wash their hands at least five times a day saw a decrease in respiratory illnesses of 45% from the year before, according to a study conducted by the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC). Healthy Diet Benefits Heart and Soul A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat is not only good for the waistline but may improve a person's quality of life, a recent study suggests. Millions of Unnecessary Pap Tests Performed Millions of Pap tests, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, are performed on women who don't need them, say researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta. Snacking, Meal Skipping Can Boost Calorie Intake Skipping meals may seem like a sure way to cut calories and lose weight, but study findings indicate that it may lead to increased snacking of sugary foods that can pack on the pounds in the long run.