Monthly News Archives



		Animal Testing: Exploring Alternatives Using animals to test products for humans is considered cruel and inhumane by many people. Scientists are sensitive to that, and are struggling to find alternative ways of ensuring items that we eat, drink and use are safe for us, our unborn children and our environment. Play Fair If You Play Favorites A favored child's self-esteem may actually suffer if the child doesn't think she deserves preferential parental treatment, says a study in the September issue of Family Psychology. Arithmetic Beats Technology in Predicting Birth Weight A simple, six-step formula is more accurate than ultrasound in predicting the birth weight of an unborn baby, says new Duke University research. Alcohol Gels Top Soap for Hand Hygiene at Hospitals Hospital workers might say so long to good old soap-and-water scrubbing, as new research finds that alcohol-based gels are an easier, more effective way to disinfect dirty hands, experts say. STD Surprisingly Tied to Low Prostate Cancer Risk In an unexpected result, Finnish researchers found that men who have been infected with the sexually transmitted disease (STD) chlamydia appear to have a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Bacteria Common in Foods, but Few Drug Resistant While many grocery store items may harbor enterococci bacteria, the presence of these microbes in the food supply does not pose a significant health threat to most people, according to a researcher from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Proper Shoes Keep Your Kids' Feet Fit Bunions, corns, calluses and hammertoes are among the foot problems caused by poor-fitting shoes, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Many foot problems experienced by adults begin with ill-fitting shoes they wore when they were children. Could flossing save your life? Researchers say a study in mice is adding ammunition to the theory that gum disease can threaten heart health by flooding the body with dangerous germs that can cause arteries to clog. Massive Prostate Cancer Trial The Cancer Care Center at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill. is seeking volunteers to be part of the largest-ever prostate cancer prevention clinical trial. Help for the Housebound a Boon to Their Health Social care services provide a self-esteem and morale boost to housebound senior citizens, even when elderly people say they don't need such services and don't welcome them, a new British report says. Breath Test May Find Ulcer Bacterium If indigestion is your problem, a new study may spell relief at the doctor's office: A simple breath test that identifies the bacterium Helicobacter pylori may be all you need to get to the bottom of that bloated feeling medically known as dyspepsia. Aim Low on Blood Pressure When it comes to reducing blood pressure, lower is better, says a new Japanese study. Mother's Milk Is Honey to Young Infants Aside from the physical benefits of breastfeeding, the mother-child bond it establishes can be of critical importance to an infant's long-term psychological well-being, according to a leading expert on breastfeeding and the law. New Data Shows Decline in Teen Sexual Activity Fewer teens are having sexual intercourse, says new data released by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Over a 10-year period from 1991 to 2001, the percentage of high school students who ever had sex dipped from 54.1 percent to 45.6 percent. The study did not address other types of sexual activity, such as oral sex. Vitamins C, E Protect Lungs from Ozone Pollution A diet rich in the antioxidant vitamins C and E may protect the lungs of asthmatic children from the effects of ozone pollution, recent study findings suggest. Pumping Iron Helps Seniors Control Diabetes High-intensity weight training coupled with a moderate weight-loss program can help older men and women with type 2 diabetes to improve their blood sugar control and also boost their muscle strength and lean body mass, researchers report. Going It Alone Counterproductive for Diabetics People with diabetes who have an "I don't need anyone to help me" attitude may fare worse over time because of their poor adjustment to the disease, new study findings suggest. Teaching Kids Their ABZzzzzs The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recently launched a new and expanded Web site to educate young children, parents, teachers and doctors about the importance of adequate nighttime sleep for children. Quality of Herbal Sexual Fixes Found Lacking Men and women hoping to rev up their sexual performance by taking herbal supplements that claim to boost the libido better think again, a new investigation suggests. Are Some Friends Dangerous to Your Health? Research is now taking a look at the impact of the friends that drain you, the "toxic friends" that some of us have in our lives. When do you pull the plug on the pals who zing veiled insults, barrage us with constant demands, or bring whining to our worlds? Women's Brains Are Better at Handling Anger Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine say they have evidence that shows there is a physiological reason for why men are more aggressive than women. Men tend to be more hot headed than women, the researchers suggest, because our brains are fundamentally different. Acid Reflux May Trigger Migraines in Some Stomach acid reflux can trigger migraines in people prone to the debilitating headaches, the cases of two patients suggest. Docs Often Overlook Nutrition Counseling Nutrition counseling is an important ingredient in the health of high-risk patients, yet many of them don't receive it and their health suffers as a result. Sugared Soft Drinks Make You Softer in Middle If you're addicted to sodas, you might want to switch to artificially sweetened ones to avoid gaining weight. Group Seeks Awareness for Deadly Disease For years, doctors have misdiagnosed ataxia as multiple sclerosis or other illnesses, preventing this rare but deadly congenital disease from getting the attention and research it deserved. Lending an Ear to Pregnancy Dangers Support from health-care professionals can play an important role in helping low-income pregnant women quit drinking and smoking. Healthy Alternatives Americans are increasingly eating on the run. Students, teachers, office workers and others chug down heavy-duty carbohydrates as they rush out the door in the morning. A similar process is repeated at lunch time, except the foods of choice now tend to be fatty, greasy, sauce-enhanced and sugary. And too many people do the same thing at dinnertime, or between meals. Recall of Emotional Stress Boosts Blood Pressure Have you been mulling over a past event that left you feeling harassed, flustered or angry? You may want to stop. Simply thinking back on an emotionally stressful event can cause spikes in blood pressure, according to the results of two experiments. Pet Owners Are Less Stressed When Cat, Dog Present Pets may not only provide good company for their owners, they may also help lower stress, according to new study findings. Women Advised to Stay Mobile During Childbirth Women shouldn't go through labor lying down, but should move around more to ease the labor and delivery process, a British charity advised. Tropical Daisy Could Help Treat Psoriasis Scientists said that a traditional Indian folk remedy for treating the common skin disorder psoriasis should not be dismissed as just another old wives' tale. Moderate Drinking May Help Control Blood Sugar Drinking moderate amounts of wine, beer or hard alcohol is associated with better blood glucose (sugar) control among healthy adults, particularly women, study findings indicate. You Will Be What You Eat Want to know what your body will look like -- buff and trim or pear-shaped and flabby -- 10 years from now? You May Have Diabetes and Not Know It As many as one third of Americans who have diabetes don't know it and may need treatment, government experts say. Backsprain Is the No. 1 Workplace Injury Only three types of injuries account for the majority of the 6 million workplace injuries that occur in the United States each year, according to a new survey. Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) More than 10 million Americans have the potentially deadly peripheral vascular disease known as PVD, but few are aware of it. Hunting Down a Cure for Sickle Cell Disease The most common inherited blood disease in the United States, sickle cell anemia affects about 80,000 Americans, primarily blacks. Another 2 million Americans have the defective gene that causes the disorder, making them potential carriers. 5-A-Day: Fruits and Veggies Research proves that a minimum of five daily servings of fruits and vegetables can ward off a host of ills, including cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and macular degeneration. Internet May Be Therapeutic The Internet may be many things to many people, but for some it can be downright therapeutic. Study Says Love Means Sharing the Same Diseases Married couples share more than their homes, cars and finances--they are also likely to have some of the same diseases, experts say. Breast-Feeding May Not Ward Off Allergies, Asthma A new long-term study is challenging the notion that breast-feeding helps protect children from developing allergies and asthma, one of the widely promoted potential benefits of breast-feeding. Analysis Confirms Hormone Replacement Dangers A British study backed US findings on the side-effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), saying the treatment taken by women to relieve menopause symptoms increases the risk of breast cancer and stroke. Young Children's Extreme Optimism May Help Learning When it comes to an upbeat outlook on the future and the ability to improve with age, kindergartners have the lion's share of optimism. Parasites May Help Explain Gender Longevity Gap It's no secret that women tend to live longer than men, but it may not be just that men drive too fast and take other risks, new research suggests. Parasites could be to blame, at least in part, according to a study from the UK. Prescription Drug Use Rising Fastest Among Kids Kids have surpassed senior citizens as the hot ticket in the prescription drug market. Smokers More Likely to Quit if Spouse Does With a little help from their spouses, even the most stubborn of smokers can quit, study findings show. College Weight May Affect Later Cancer Risks Overweight college students are at increased risk of developing deadly cancers of the breast and prostate later in life, British researchers report. Fibromyalgia Less Painful for Older Patients Older people with fibromyalgia report less pain and discomfort than their younger counterparts, according to a new report. Scientist Theorizes That MS Is Sexually Transmitted A UK researcher asserts in a new report that the degenerative neurological disease multiple sclerosis may be sexually transmitted. Study Shows Television Ads Drive Down Youth Smoking Preliminary results from an American Legacy Foundation study show the anti-smoking group's "truth" campaign is helping to lower smoking rates among US youth. Sports Med Experts Say 30-Min Exercise Rule Sticks The new recommendation by the Institute of hedicine's (IOM) Food and Nutrition Board that Americans exercise for an hour every day may be confusing and disheartening to people who thought 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week was good enough, according to experts from the American College of Sports Medicine. Women Not Heeding Warnings About Heart Disease Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of American women, but they're failing to take some simple measures to protect themselves. Herbal Remedy May Be Effective Against Cancer The roots and leaves of the Petiveria alliacea L. plant--long used as an herbal remedy for various medical conditions--may also have some anticancer properties, recent study findings suggest. More Evidence That Smoking Harms Men's Fertility Men with fertility problems who smoke should kick the habit if they want to become dads, according to researchers. Low-Calorie Diets May Help Dogs Live Longer Adding to the growing evidence that calorie-counting might make for a longer, healthier life, a study of dogs suggests that cutting down on Fido's treats could tack up to 2 years onto his life. Osteoporosis Screening Urged for Older Women Women aged 65 and older should be routinely screened for osteoporosis, according to new recommendations by the US Preventive Services Task Force. Buns of Steel? How would you like to eat whatever you want, and have your body convert almost all of it directly to muscle? Shock-Wave Therapy Doesn't Ease Heel Pain A type of shock-wave therapy that is increasingly used to treat heel pain known as plantar fasciitis is no more effective than sham treatment, according to an Australian study. Many Weight-Loss Ads Misleading Nearly 40% of weight-loss advertisements in a study by US regulators made at least one representation that was almost certainly false, according to a report released. More Women Than Men Use Web for Health Data Although men use the Internet more often to send personal e-mails and to research products, women are more likely to search for health information online for themselves and their families. Short Bouts of Exercise May Add Up to Good Health If sticking to a 30-minute routine of exercising each day seems too daunting, researchers from Ireland say three 10-minute sessions, spread out over the day, yields similar health and psychological benefits. Buzz on Cholesterol-Lowering Beeswax Is Promising A powder extracted from beeswax could one day offer a cheap, non-toxic way to reduce cholesterol, reported researchers from a Colorado company at the recent American Chemical Society meeting here. Hair Dye Use Doesn't Up Breast Cancer Risk Women who color their hair do not appear to increase their breast cancer risk, according to the results of a new study. Wine Drinking Linked to Lower Lymphoma Risk Men who consume moderate amounts of wine on a regular basis seem to have a reduced chance of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, researchers report. Talking Kids Through the 'Terrible Twos' How parents handle the frequent temper tantrums and other conflicts that arise during their toddler's "terrible twos" influences the child's approach to resolving conflict later on, as well as his or her emotional and moral development, new study findings suggest. Cyber Classes Help Docs Brush Up On Herbs Doctors, dieticians and pharmacists still have a long way to go when it comes to learning about herbal supplements. Britain Publishes Suicide Prevention Strategy Britain set out plans to reduce the number of people who commit suicide, which is the most common cause of death among men under 35. Insulin Resistance Linked to Repeat Miscarriages Woman who are resistant to the hormone insulin may face an increased risk of miscarriage, according to the results of a new study. Before-Birth Pollen Exposure May Raise Asthma Risk Babies are more likely to suffer from asthma if their mothers were exposed to pollen during the last three months of pregnancy, Swedish scientists said. UN Says African Food Crisis Threatens 14 Million The United Nations said that more than 14 million people faced starvation in southern Africa where drought, HIV-AIDS and politics are blamed for the region's worst food crisis in a decade. Researchers Zero In on Foot Problems in Diabetics The changes that take place in the tissue and bone structure of the feet of people with diabetes have been identified by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. For a Healthy Heart, Get an Early Start Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States, causing about 525,000 deaths a year. Pediatric heart specialists think they can cut that number by stressing healthy lifestyles early in childhood. Taking the Sting out of Bug Bites Forget about the Ides of March. It's the wasps of fall that you need to guard against right now. Gymnastics Strengthens Girls' Bones Supporting the notion that weight-bearing exercise throughout life can cut the risk of brittle bones later on, a small study shows that young female gymnasts build bone mass at a higher-than-average rate. Red Clover Can Help Hot Flashes A dietary supplement made from red clover provides relief for women with hot flashes, claims a new study. Hey, Doc, My Wrist Hurts! Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a painful, sometimes crippling result of too much repetitive stretching of tendons and ligaments in your wrist, has spurred an enormous amount of research over the past 25 years. Migraines a Pain For Kids, Too A surprising number of children -- more than eight million, or 15 percent of all children by age 15 -- suffer from migraine headaches, according to the American Medical Association. Experts Outline Cancer, Diet Evidence Wading through 30 years of confusing and sometimes contradictory studies on cancer and diet, experts have summarized the state of scientific knowledge: alcohol is bad, obesity is bad and lots of fruits and vegetables are good. TV Viewing Time Linked to Kids' Behavior Problems Kids who spend more time watching TV--regardless of the content of the programming--are more likely to behave aggressively and have other types of social problems, a study has found. Gentle Massage of Preemie's Mouth Helps Them Eat Gently stroking the inside and outside of premature babies' mouths before feeding helps them make the transition from a feeding tube to drinking milk from a breast or bottle, new study findings show. Intimate Contact Not Likely to Spread Ulcer Bug People cured of stomach ulcers can cozy up to their significant others without fear, according to a new study, which found that the ulcer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori is unlikely to be transmitted between married couples. What Happens Before Death? Fruit Flies May Provide Some Answers Researchers find that fruit flies lie flat on their backs and look dead days before they actually expire. Hey, Don't Just Stand There! Unless the legs are exercised, muscles can't help push blood upward through the veins and toward the heart. Regular Exercise Tied to Longer Menstrual Cycles Regular, moderate exercise may stretch out the time a woman has between her menstrual periods, new study findings suggest. Many Italians Have Unhealthy Habits Too much salami, too much wine and too little exercise--that's the verdict on the health of Italians from a survey released by the national statistics bureau Istat at a meeting in Rome. I Just Got Dumped--Pass the Ice Cream, Please A new study validates why ice cream tastes so good after a breakup, and why that nice jacket in the store window--that you really can't afford--seems like a good buy once you've been dumped. Vitamins C&E May Prevent Artery Damage Both vitamins C and E, taken alone, may prevent a type of oxidative damage tied to cardiovascular disease. However, taking the two vitamins together doesn't seem to give an added benefit, according to researchers. Exercise can Ease Knee Pain from Arthritis Therapeutic exercise programs can help reduce knee pain from osteoarthritis, and can also help the joint to function better, an analysis of 14 studies shows. Cut Saturated Fat, Skip Sugars To maintain health and reduce risk of heart disease and cancer, Americans should try to eliminate saturated fats and added sugars from their diets and get at least an hour of physical activity a day, a panel of government health advisers said. Teens Who Eat Less Meat No Healthier Than Others Despite their healthy diets, vegetarian youth in Sweden and Norway do not practice other healthy lifestyle behaviors such as exercising more or using alcohol or tobacco less frequently than do their peers, according to recent study findings. Spouses May Mimic Partner's Sickness and Health Spouses may not only support each other in sickness and health, they may actually share their partner's health status, the results of a new study suggest. Nicotine Patches, Gum Less Effective Now that nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine patches and gums are sold without a prescription, they may be less effective at helping smokers kick the habit for good, new study findings show. Correcting Infant Vision May Prevent Further Problems Researchers from University College London, who have developed a device that takes pictures of babies' eyes to identify visual defects, said correcting vision can reduce the risk of other problems later. Plant Compounds Keep Disease Away In a study of more than 10,000 men and women, individuals who consumed more of plant compounds called flavonoids--especially one type that is most abundant in apples--were less likely to die from heart disease or develop a variety of chronic diseases, including lung cancer, asthma, stroke and diabetes. Woman's Dislodged Filling Causes Cluster Headaches The source of a woman's 8-year bout with excruciating headaches was a dislodged tooth filling that found its way into one of her sinuses, according to a report in a recent issue of the journal Neurology. Anger, Stress Can Trigger Irregular Heartbeat Keeping feelings of stress and anger at bay may lower the risk of sudden death in heart patients with an implantable defibrillator, new study findings suggest. Curious Clue to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome A young girl had been receiving treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome for three years before anyone at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center noticed her special condition. Obesity Threatens to Reverse Gains in Longevity Obesity threatens to reverse gains in longevity made during the last 100 years and in some cases could result in parents outliving their children, a British nutritionist said. Extra Folic Acid Cuts Birth Defect Rate Fortifying the food supply in Canada with folic acid and educating women about the benefits of the B vitamin in preventing neural tube defects has reduced the rate of these birth defects in Canada, according to the results of two studies. Vitamin E May Help Keep Arteries Clear in Women Women who take in less vitamin E may be at greater risk of heart disease and stroke, even if they do not have other risk factors, Italian researchers report. Teens Have Questions, You Need Answers While teenagers of both sexes have fears and concerns about the changing nature of their maturing bodies, girls are more likely to get to address their questions and concerns to a doctor -- during visits with an ob-gyn. Hospital Medication Errors: 1 in 5 Hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in two states fumbled almost one of every five doses of medicine given to patients, says a new study. Check Your Cholesterol If the risk of heart disease isn't enough to convince you to check your cholesterol levels, here's another incentive: September is Cholesterol Awareness Month, so now's the time to learn your cholesterol count. Vegetarian Diet May be Healthy For Teens If your teenager has sworn off hamburgers and offers dinnertime soliloquies about how gross it is to eat cow, you don't need to worry. Heartburn Woes Despite what some heartburn medications ads imply, having chronic heartburn doesn't mean you're in imminent danger of developing esophageal cancer. Total Diet, Not Just Fat Intake, Determines Weight Women who eat a high-fat, high-sugar "empty calorie" diet are likely to become overweight in later years, according to a team of researchers, whose new study results provide more evidence that you are--or will be--what you eat. Hiking Cigarette Tax Could Save Millions Of Lives What's the single most effective way of preventing deaths from smoking? Hike the price of cigarettes, new research says. Teenage Girls Shun Milk as They Get Older Despite popular ads featuring milk-mustached athletes and rock stars, American teenage girls drink less milk as they grow older and instead quench their thirst with sugar-filled soda, a new study said. Nurse's Talk Spurs Teens to Improve Health Slightly Teenagers who participate in a health promotion program given by primary care providers exhibit a small but encouraging change in health behavior, according to a study conducted in the UK. Study Finds Reciting Poetry Calms the Heart While the rhythmic sounds of poetry may woo a lover's heart, it might also be healthy for the heart of the speaker, according to recent study findings. People Born in Autumn Live Longer People born in the autumn live longer than those born in the spring and are less likely to fall chronically ill when they are older, an Austrian scientist said. Kids Born Too Early May Be More Fearful as Teens Adolescents who were born prematurely appear to have a higher than average fear of dying and may be less able than their peers to cope with distress effectively, new study findings show. Healthy Diet May Not Prevent Prostate Cancer A diet that is low in fat and full of fiber, fruits and vegetables is a good idea in general, but it may not protect men against developing prostate cancer, US researchers report. Women Can 'Walk Away' from Cardiovascular Disease Postmenopausal women who walk regularly lower their heart disease risk just as much as women who do more vigorous exercise, such as running or playing sports, US researchers report. Experts Warn About Diabetic Devices A new array of diabetic devices are on the horizon that may make the blood glucose monitoring process a little easier. However, cost, convenience, and most importantly, effectiveness are three factors that have challenged scientists for years. Exercise Can Ease Knee Pain from Arthritis Therapeutic exercise programs can help reduce knee pain from osteoarthritis, and can also help the joint to function better, an analysis of 14 studies shows. Mom's Interest Key to Preventing Teen Sex-Report Parents who dread having "the talk" with their kids about sex may be putting it off for too long, missing years of opportunity to play a role in their teen-agers' lives, experts say. Low Self-Esteem Can Sabotage Relationships People with low self-esteem may look for evidence their romantic partner is secretly unhappy with them, and when they get it, they may put their partners down in response, new study findings show. Girls' Activity Levels Fall as They Get Older More and more girls are becoming couch potatoes during the transition from late childhood to young adulthood, new study findings show. In fact, their levels of physical activity drop by nearly two-thirds or more by age 16 or 17, researchers report. Kids Follow in Parents' Risky Footsteps New research strengthens the old saw that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree -- at least among people who smoke, drink and do other things to put their health at risk. Music May Soothe the Savage Backache While music is thought to soothe the savage beast, a new study suggests it might come in handy when taming that bad back as well, according to a study presented recently by Austrian researchers at the 10th World Congress on Pain. Obesity Alone May Not Up Risk of Heart Disease Although obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, insulin resistance--a precursor to diabetes--may play a more central role, researchers report. Child's Depression May Lead to Obesity Depressed children are at twice the risk of becoming obese compared to their peers who are not depressed, new study findings suggest. McDonald's to Cook with Healthier Oil When consumers gobble down an order of McDonald's French fries they may not think about their health, but the fast-food giant said it will soon be cooking its fried potatoes in healthier oil. Breast Milk May Lower Cholesterol in Adulthood Breast-feeding is associated with a host of medical and developmental advantages during infancy and childhood. Now, new findings suggest that its health benefits may also extend into adulthood. Kids' TV Viewing Habits Tied to Smoking Habits Later A new study that combines two hallmarks of a dangerously sedentary lifestyle for people of any age finds that adolescent couch potatoes are far likelier to start smoking than kids with more restricted viewing hours. Too Much Caffeine? Without realizing it, you could easily be consuming enough caffeine to be affecting your sleep or other aspects of your health. Why? Because consumption of a little of this, a little of that and a bit of something else containing this stimulant will put far more in your system, far faster, than you may realize. Fitness May Predict Hypertension Risk in Women A woman's fitness level may help predict her future risk of hypertension, says a study in the September issue of Psychophysiology. Keep Your Food Clean and Properly Prepared Even though Labor Day signals the winding down of summer, you still need to think about food safety. Whether you're having end-of-season picnics and cookouts or doing your daily cooking and food handling at home, how you handle and store your perishable food makes a big difference. What You Don't Hear May Hurt You The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) is focusing on hearing protection for its annual Labor Day checklist. High-Fat Diet May Foster Prostate Cancer Spread New research has linked a high-fat, high-calcium diet to an increased risk of advanced prostate cancer. And higher total calorie intake, the researchers found, appeared to boost the risk of both localized and more advanced prostate cancer. Crossing the Legs Can Prevent Fainting Spells Simply crossing your legs and squeezing them together may keep you from passing out, new research shows. Airport Noise May Be Bad for Kids' Memory The loud noise that accompanies the take-off and landing of airplanes may be more than an inconvenience for people living near airports. New study findings suggest regular exposure may also dampen children's memory.