Monthly News Archives



		More Intense Workouts Better At Keeping Kids Slim Sustained, vigorous exercise may be more effective than lower-intensity activity in helping children avoid obesity and stay fit, a new study shows. Anger Speeds Up Deterioration Of Lungs Lung power normally declines as a person ages but being angry and hostile can speed up the process, researchers said. Body Acceptance Tied To Healthy Eating Women who accept their bodies, flaws and all, are more likely to eat healthily or intuitively, new research shows. This suggests that women's typical reasons for dieting -- dissatisfaction with their bodies -- may backfire. Sunlight Curbs Afternoon Drowsiness Letting in a little extra light throughout the day may do more than just lift your spirits. It could make you more alert and help you avoid an afternoon energy slump. Fish Fatty Acids May Prevent More Sudden Deaths Than Defibrillators Omega-3 fatty acids may prevent more sudden deaths than automated external defibrillators in homes and public places or implanted defibrillators, according to the results of a new study. Switch Off TV And Switch On Your Memory Turning off the television, picking up a crossword and eating more fish could be the key to a better memory, an Australian survey has found. New Cholesterol Guidelines Proposed for Teens Canadian researchers are reporting what they say is a better way to identify teens whose cholesterol levels put them at high risk for heart disease as adults. Long Working Hours Linked To High Blood Pressure Workers who clocked more than 51 hours at the office each week were 29 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than those who worked 39 hours or less, a new study from California has found. Tea More Healthy Than Water Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is not only as good for you as drinking floods of water, it may even be better! Urban Exercise Has Its Hazards Your intentions may be good, but exercising outdoors in a city may be riskier than you think, one expert says. Obesity 'Worsens Ovarian Cancer' Women who are obese get more aggressive ovarian cancers and are more likely to die from the disease, US scientists have found. Bad Habits May Run in the Family Children with a parent who smokes, drinks heavily or uses marijuana are more likely to adopt these behaviors when they're teens or adults, U.S. research suggests. Men Feel Pressured To Attain Muscle-Man Image Men are catching up to women in one area. They too are feeling pressure to achieve perfect bodies, and this can lead them down unhealthy paths. Fatherhood May Alter the Brain Does being a dad change a man's brain? The answer isn't clear in humans, but a study with tiny monkeys called marmosets suggests fatherhood may alter gray matter. Cancer Diagnosis Changes Lifestyle and Health Behaviors For Many The same motivation appears to hold in close relatives of cancer survivors, Drs. Carolyn Rabin and Bernadine Pinto of Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island report in the medical journal Psycho-Oncology. Scientists Find Sourness Detector Scientists have discovered what exactly leaves a sour taste in the mouth. A US team have found a protein in taste receptor cells on the tongue that detects sourness - warning mammals the food might be spoiled or unripe. Secrets in Your Food The Battle over genetically altered food continues, even while it's use is increasing. Advocates say genetically modified biotech food is perfectly safe. Critics say it's food that's been fooled around with. Whether you find biotech food appetizing or appalling, one thing is for sure: we are eating more and more of it. Even A Few Extra Pounds Is Risky Being a little overweight can kill you, according to new research that leaves little room for denial that a few extra pounds is harmful. Baby boomers who were even just a tad pudgy were more likely to die prematurely than those who were at a healthy weight, U.S. researchers reported. High-Cal, Low-Fiber Diets Driving Kids to Obesity High-calorie, low-fiber diets can promote hormonal imbalances that lead children to overeat, one researcher warns. Sleep Apnea in Children Linked to Lower IQ Scores, Learning Impairment Children with untreated sleep apnea perform significantly worse on IQ tests and may have some brain impairment that could hinder their ability to learn new tasks, according to new research from Johns Hopkins University. Older Richer People Healthier Older people with money not only have the means to buy expensive cuts of steak and good bottles of Beaujolais, they also have an easier time walking through the store shopping for their purchases and then carrying them home. 24-Hour Lighting May Disrupt Newborn's Bio-Clock Constant exposure to the lights in neonatal intensive care units could upset the development of premature babies' biological clocks, a new study suggests. Body Mass Index (BMI) Badly Flawed Body Mass Index (BMI), the standard measure of obesity, is badly flawed and a more accurate gauge should be developed, according to doctors. Strokes May Follow 'Body Clock' Strokes may be timed to the body's internal clock, Japanese researchers say. Schools Should Boost Kids' Daily Exercise Citing "alarming health trends" on kids' obesity, the American Heart Association (AHA) is calling on schools to aggressively promote physical education throughout the academic day. One More Reason To Love Nap Time A new study from the University of Arizona shows that these frequent naps are more than just extra ZZZ's. They are actually honing infants' basic abilities to learn about the world around them. Drug Marketing Dupes Doctors And Patients A study in this week's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine provides extensive detail about how drug companies push their products in subtle ways to promote their brand. Coffee Might Trigger First Heart Attack in Some An occasional cup of coffee might trigger first heart attacks in some people, a new study suggests. Exercise Shrinks Abdominal Fat Cells Exercise may be especially helpful in reducing the size of fat cells around the waistline -- more so than diet alone, a study suggests. That's important, because fat specifically in the abdomen has been linked to the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Childhood Obesity Caused By 'Toxic Environment' Of Western Diets A UCSF researcher has determined that a key reason for the epidemic of pediatric obesity, now the most commonly diagnosed childhood ailment, is that high-calorie, low-fiber Western diets promote hormonal imbalances that encourage children to overeat. Overweight 'Top World's Hungry' There are now more overweight people across the world than hungry ones, according to experts. Exercise Helps Sustain Mental Activity As We Age Based on a review of studies on exercise and its effect on brain functioning in human and animal populations, researchers find that physical exercise may slow aging's effects and help people maintain cognitive abilities well into older age. A Biological Basis for Being a Couch Potato? Different brain biology may explain why some people tend to be couch potatoes while others are more active. No Direct Link Between Anxiety, Pregnancy Outcomes There is no direct association between anxiety and pregnancy outcomes, according to a review of the data on the subject by a team at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Passive Smoke 'Bone Risk Boost' Second-hand smoke increases the risk of the bone disease osteoporosis, researchers have found. Sugary Beverages Boost Calorie Intake Sugary beverages contribute an average of 8% to 9% of total calories for children and adults. Older and Cranky May Mean Smarter Next time grumpy Aunt Gertrude growls at her bridge partner or one of her well-wishing nephews, look at it from this angle: She just may be smarter than all the rest. Smarter Parenting Takes Know How Parents' yelling, talking or handing out punishments may not have much impact on teens if the kids don't believe their parents' reactions suit the situation, according to a new study. Staying Single May Shorten Life Span Staying single all your life may not be good for your health. That's the conclusion of new research that shows that people who never marry face an even greater chance of dying early than people who have been divorced, separated or widowed. More Babies Becoming Overweight Children, including babies, are more likely to be overweight than they were in the early 1980s, a US study says. Study Suggests New Link Between Air Pollution and Infant Deaths New research into the fates of infants exposed to the smoggy air of Los Angeles provides yet another link between air pollution and respiratory illness and death in babies. Best To Let Baby Control Early Eating Of Solids Babies whose mothers give them more control over their early attempts at eating solid food appear to do a better job of regulating their own weight, UK researchers have found. Internet Program May Help Prevent Eating Disorders An Internet-based program may help prevent eating disorders in college-aged women who are most at risk, results of a study suggest. Most People Unaware of Obesity-Cancer Link Too many people are unaware obesity is linked to cancer, and believe the main reason to lose weight is to look good, a survey has found. Family's Weight Comments Cause Girls Lasting Harm Girls whose families criticize their weight or eating habits may develop lasting problems with body image and self-esteem, a new study suggests. Many Female Athletes Don't Get Proper Nutrition The number one nutritional concern for female athletes today is not whether they are drinking or eating too much but whether they are getting as much nutrition as they need, according to a University of Idaho researcher. One High-Saturated Fat Meal Can Be Bad Eating just one meal high in saturated fat � in this case, carrot cake and a milkshake � can quickly prevent "good" cholesterol from protecting the body against clogged arteries, a small study shows. Popular Curry Spice Is A Brain Booster Call it yellow ginger, haldi, turmeric or E100, the yellow root of Curcuma longa, a staple ingredient in curry, is turning out to be gratifyingly healthy. Elderly 'Should Take Probiotics' Elderly people should take probiotic supplements, according to scientists. Blood Pressure Rises In Stressed-Out Workers New study findings confirm what some office managers, senior management officials and other white-collar workers have suspected for years: working in highly stressful jobs can increase your blood pressure Fish Oil Helps Weight Loss Fatty acids, which are found in fish, can help in weight loss when combined with moderate exercise, an Australian study found. Surroundings Play Key Role In Diet A study offers new evidence that people take cues from their surroundings in deciding how much to eat. Extreme Exercise Can Slow the Heart Doctors studying what is probably the most intensive physical effort on earth have found that if the body is pushed hard enough, the heart will slow down. Diets High In Low-Calorie Foods High In Quality People who favor lower-calorie foods may eat a lot over the course of a day, but they end up consuming relatively few calories and a healthy dose of nutrients, according to a recent study published. Diet 'Affects Arteries Of Fetus' Babies whose mothers do not eat enough during pregnancy appear to be at risk of clogged up arteries later in life, researchers say. Dietary Changes May Slow Prostate Cancer Growth Increasing the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in the diet appears to slow the progression of prostate cancer, according to the results of an animal study. Low Libido May Not Be Due To Low Testosterone While there's a statistical link between men's sex drive and their testosterone levels, in practice there's little meaningful difference in testosterone levels between men with low libido and those with high libido, researchers report. More Than Half of Elderly Report Sleep Problems More than half of older Americans have trouble sleeping and accept it as a normal part of aging. But there are steps elderly people can take to improve their sleep, a researcher says. Cancer Risks Linked To Common Pollutant In Drinking Water Growing scientific evidence suggests the most widespread industrial contaminant in drinking water -- a solvent used in adhesives, paint and spot removers -- can cause cancer in people.