Monthly News Archives



		Childhood Obesity Needs Attention Schools, food makers, government agencies and families themselves must work together to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity, a panel of scientists said. One Cup Of Coffee A Day Can Produce Caffeine Addiction It's official -- you really do need that coffee in the morning and if you don't get it, you really are in withdrawal, researchers said. Study Looks at Long-Term Effects of Abuse on Women's Health Canadian researchers are recruiting women who have left abusive relationships to study the impact that partner violence has had on their long-term mental and physical health. Parkinson's, Epilepsy Linked with Depression Patients with chronic brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy have an unusually high rate of depression, too -- suggesting links between the conditions, doctors said. Lycopene, Vitamin E Reduce Prostate Tumors Scientists are testing the impact of vitamin E and a synthetic version of lycopene, a compound in tomatoes, in cancer patients after they found that the combination slowed the growth of prostate tumors in mice. WHO Sees Tobacco Control Pact Taking Effect in 2005 The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the world's first treaty on tobacco control will take effect by early 2005, the international body said. The Benefits of Probiotics Researchers are hopeful that probiotics hold the answer to the growing number of cases of antibiotic resistance and abuse. This has caused consumers to search for other natural alternatives to treating various health conditions. Obesity On the Rise In Portugal But So Is Extreme Thinness The number of overweight or obese adults is on the rise in Portugal but so are rates of extreme thinness among youths worried about their physical appearance, a study showed. WHO Launches Campaign to Reduce Childbirth Deaths The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a training campaign to help reduce the number of maternal deaths during childbirth in developing countries. Cats, Cockroaches, Dampness, Fungi Linked to Asthma Airborne fungi are increasingly being seen as a risk factor for asthma and now, new research indicates that high levels of such fungi are found in inner city homes with cats, cockroaches, and dampness problems. Treadmill Stress Tests Can Predict Heart Ills in Healthy Men A treadmill stress test can predict heart attacks or other serious heart disease even in men without symptoms, U.S. researchers reported. Sound of Voice May Predict Sexual Behavior New research findings suggest that the sound of a person's voice may predict his or her level of sexual activity. Overweight Kids Have Lower Self-Esteem The self-esteem of children who become overweight or obese is likely to fall, claims a new study that confirms what many heavy children and their parents already know. Psychosocial Factors May Affect Diabetes Risk Social position appears to affect the risk of developing diabetes in middle-age, white-collar workers in the UK, according to the results of a study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine. First Two Weeks Can Make or Break Your Diet, Recent Poll Finds According to the results of a recent poll, the first 14 days make or break even the best intentions. Impotence: A Red Flag for Heart Disease For men, flagging potency can be a red flag that something's not right in the cardiovascular system. And experts say men who rush to fix the problem with impotence drugs may be ignoring a bigger threat to their health. Alternative Medicine Slips Into the Mainstream In medical circles, what was once considered either old-fashioned or "far out" is getting another look. And sometimes that new look can bring about different ways to treat diseases and conditions. Playing 'Boy' Games Helps Girls, and Vice Versa Ten-year olds who spend more time engaging in activities typically associated with their gender tend to have more stereotypical academic interests, skills and characteristics two years later, new research reports. YMCA of the USA's National Health Conference Imparts Action-Ready Solutions to Obesity and Chronic Disease 140 action-minded civic leaders from across the United States have returned to their hometowns with a shared promise and obligation to develop and implement community-based solutions that will help halt the nation's physical inactivity and rise in obesity and chronic disease. Teens, 'Tweens' Invade Health Clubs Teens, 'Tweens' Invade Health Clubs Sparked by Fears of Childhood Obesity. Boarding School Teaches ABCs Of Weight Control An academy for obese children reaches beyond short-term fixes by combining a strict eating plan and a ramped-up activity schedule with counseling and college prep courses to attack students' problems from several angles. Balance Boards Help Prevent Ankle Sprains Spending a few minutes each week on a balance board appears to help prevent ankles sprains in athletes with a history of the injury, new research reports. Fat Students Sap School Finances Expanding waistlines are squeezing the bottom line of the nation's schools, as poor eating and exercise subtly strip money from education, a new study suggests. Vitamin E May Help Reduce Diabetes Risk A daily dose of vitamin E may help delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk of the disease, preliminary research suggests. Advice as Good as Physiotherapy for Back Pain Routine physiotherapy seems to be no better than expert advice at relieving mild lower back pain, British researchers said. Exercise: Nature's Prozac? As little as eight minutes on a treadmill can help to dramatically, although temporarily, reduce symptoms of depression, a Duke University study says. Broccoli May Halt Growth of Breast Cancer Cells In recent years, medical researchers have been battling a top killer of women -- breast cancer. One study may have found answer in a component of broccoli. Asthma Can Prove Fatal for Young Athletes It's autumn and many are flipping with the cheering squad or running laps in gym class. It's healthy, wholesome activity, a parent's dream -- unless their child happens to have asthma. Long Walks Stave Off Dementia Elderly people who take regular walks are less likely to suffer dementia than those who take little exercise, a pair of studies said. WHO Hopes Clean Water Guide Helps Prevent Disease The World Health Organization issued new guidelines on preventing contamination of drinking water supplies and resultant illnesses. Few Britons Opt for Low-Carb Diets Atkins and other low-carb diets seem to be all the rage but only about 13 percent of Britons have tried one and fewer than 3 percent are on them, according to a report. Acupuncture Helps Ease Post-Surgical Ills Acupuncture, already shown to help ease the nausea patients often suffer after having surgery, may actually work better than drugs, U.S. researchers reported. Early Overeating Could Lead to Bulimia Later-Study Excessive eating and piling on the pounds when young could be warning signs that children will develop bulimia as adults, psychiatrists stated. Sunshine Can Increase Your Muscle Strength Researchers have linked vitamin D concentrations greater than 40 nmol/L with improved lower extremity function in ambulatory patients age 60 and older, regardless of calcium intake, activity level, sex, age, race or ethnicity. Hefty Kids Have Higher Risk of Future Heart Attack Overweight children are three to five times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke before they reach 65 than slimmer youngsters, an international charity stated. Injuries Are Deadlier for Obese People, Study Says Obese people who suffer critical injuries are much more likely to die than thinner victims because their overall health tends to be worse and surgery is riskier, a study said. Think Wasabi Clears Your Sinuses? Think Again Many people believe the sushi-seasoner wasabi clears their sinuses, but new research presented this week suggests that the spicy green paste may do the opposite. Pelvic Exercises Treat Persistent Incontinence Physical therapy aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor muscles may help many women who suffer lingering incontinence months after giving birth, a study suggests. Raw Food Hitting the Mainstream The popularity of raw food is rising but the temperature in the kitchen is not. According to one restaurant owner, the primary method of "cooking" is dehydration. School-Based Program Cuts Children's Diabetes Risk Among Mexican-American children at high risk for developing diabetes, a school-based prevention program led to statistically significant increases in fitness levels and reductions in fasting glucose levels, researchers report. Eating Habits Improve with Age Adults eat twice as many fruits and vegetables as they did when they were children and take in less fat and sugar, according to a new study. Can't Talk During Exercise? Slow Down If you can talk while exercising, you are likely doing it right, new research indicates. Vegetables Help Fight Breast Cancer The anticancer compound sulforaphane, found in vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and kale, blocks the growth of late-stage breast cancer cells, a new study says. Exercise, Diet Cut Diabetes Risk in Sedentary Men Vigorous exercise reduces the risk of diabetes among overweight, sedentary men, study findings suggest. And if these men reduce the amount of calories they consume each day, their diabetes risk drops even further. External Factors Play Part in Schizophrenia Schizophrenia, more common in men than in women in most parts of the world, is more prevalent in women in China, suggesting several external factors can play a part in the mental illness, scientists said. U.K. Docs Suggest Tax Breaks for Exercise Money spent on sports and exercise should be tax deductible as part of a national strategy to fight flab, say doctors in Britain who are grappling with one of the world's most rapidly growing obesity epidemics. Billions Needed to Meet U.N. Development Goals Wealthy countries must donate billions more dollars to ensure women's reproductive rights and cut population growth, a U.N. report said. Parents Regret Not Discussing Death with Dying Children It is OK to discuss death with a dying child and in fact desirable, Swedish researchers reported. Smoking, Drug Abuse Rise as Puberty Progresses The odds that adolescents will smoke, drink or use marijuana may have a lot to do with their physical development, regardless of their school grade level or how old they are, a new study shows. Exercise May Beat Breast Cancer in the Long Run A daily walk around the block, a few laps in the pool, a vigorous game of soccer: studies suggest exercise is extending the lives of women who've survived breast cancer, even as it lifts their spirits. Energy Drink, Alcohol Not an Invigorating Mix This may be sobering news to some bar patrons, but a study out suggests that mixing alcohol with an energy drink may not prolong that alcoholic "buzz." Sweet Tooth May Foretell of Alcoholism A combination of a sweet tooth and novelty seeking may predict alcoholism, suggests a study in the September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Exercise Can Keep Heart Failure in Check Prolonged and sustained endurance training prevents stiffening of the heart, a condition associated with the onset of heart failure. That's the finding of a new study to be published in the Sept. 28 edition of the journal Circulation. Snoring Risks Among Children Differ by Gender One in 10 children snores regularly, and girls and boys display different risk factors for snoring. That finding appears in the September issue of Chest. Few Men Recognize Deadliness Of Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is a more common disease among men than breast cancer is among women. It generally occurs in more than 50 percent of men in developed nations. Reviewer Says Depression Drugs, Suicide Linked A U.S. government medical reviewer told an advisory panel on Monday new findings confirmed his conclusion months ago that certain antidepressants increase the chances of suicidal behavior among children and teens. WHO Discusses Disease Response Strategies More countries need to enact preventative measures and boost preparedness for a possible renewed outbreak of SARS or avian flu among humans, a top World Health Organization official said. Pregnant Women with Asthma Symptoms Face Risks Women with moderate to severe symptoms of asthma during pregnancy are more likely to develop preeclampsia than women with no asthma symptoms, the results of a new study show. Mental Distress Common in Adults with Arthritis Many adults with arthritis suffer frequent mental distress, and this goes hand-in-hand with an impaired quality of life, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Vitamin C May Improve Smokers' Blood Circulation A dose of vitamin C may give a quick boost to the poorer-than-average blood circulation seen in healthy young smokers, a Japanese study suggests. Eating to Fight Boredom, Stress and Loneliness Have you ever eaten when you weren't hungry? Well, you're not alone. Recent research suggests about half of adults turn to food in times of boredom, stress and loneliness. This is clearly an unhealthy way to approach eating. Instead of feeling satisfied and better about themselves, these people often feel worse. Cannabis May Have Long-Term Benefit for MS Cannabis-based treatments may have longer-term benefits for multiple sclerosis patients, scientists stated. It's Never Too Late to Shape Up Older marathoners are running a few steps ahead of their younger counterparts, says a Yale University study. Eating Red Meat Ups Diabetes Risk in Older Women Middle age and elderly women whose diets include a lot of red meat appear to have an increased risk of developing diabetes, according to a report in the medical journal Diabetes Care. Low-Fat Diet Safe for Weight Loss by Diabetics A low-fat diet promotes weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes without unfavorable alterations in blood lipids or glucose control, according to a new report. Light at Night Might Be a Cancer Risk Docs About Muscle Protein It might seem like the wildest of paranoid beliefs, but a growing number of scientists suspect it might be true. The reason: Turning on the lights after dark may affect a small number of "clock genes" that play a major role in controlling how cells live, die and function, these researchers suggest. Suicide Is Preventable With Action The World Health Organization urged countries to do more to prevent suicides by improving care for those with mental problems and making the weapons used in suicides more difficult to obtain. Report Questions Alcohol's Heart-Healthy Effects The idea that light to moderate alcohol drinking protects against heart disease has become entrenched, but findings from a new study challenge this. Home Environment Changes May Relieve Asthma Inner-city families can help relieve children's asthma symptoms by making simple changes in their homes. Such steps include using pillow covers that are impermeable to dust mites, and air purifiers to get rid of tobacco smoke, mold and cat or dog allergens, according to new study findings. Too Much Caffeine Ups Risk of Kidney Stones People who are prone to kidney stones should limit their caffeine intake, new research suggests. Fish Oil Slows Progression of Plaque Buildup in Arteries For the first time, studies revealed that postmenopausal women who ate one or more servings of tuna or dark fish could slow down the progression of narrowing of the arteries, otherwise known as arteriosclerosis. Metabolic Syndrome Not Limited to Obese People Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of problems that can raise the risk of heart disease, is often associated with obesity, but new research indicates that people of normal weight can develop the condition too. Pediatricians Treating More Kids With Behavioral Problems Pediatricians are diagnosing and treating an increasing number of children with behavioral health problems, but they don't always feel comfortable or adequately trained to do so, says a Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center study. Height Doesn't Influence Kids' Popularity Parents of a short child who believe growth hormone therapy will better his or her social life may be mistaken, new study findings suggest. WHO Launches Bid to Boost Elderly Health Care The World Health Organization launched an initiative on Monday to improve medical services for the elderly in a bid to tackle the growing public health implications of a rapidly aging global population. Study Links TV to Teen Sexual Activity Teenagers who watch a lot of television with sexual content are twice as likely to engage in intercourse than those who watch few such programs, according to a recent study published. Environment May Be Linked to Rising Leukemia Pesticides or chemicals in the environment may be behind the steady rise in cases of childhood leukemia, which have increased five-fold since the early 1900s, scientists said. Atkins Diet Weight Loss Doesn't Last More than 45 million copies of the books have been sold and everyone seems to be on it, but researchers said that Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets do not help people stay slim. Melatonin May Prevent Migraines Melatonin, which is widely used as a sleep-aid, is also effective for migraine prevention, according to findings from a small trial. Europeans Eat Less of Dangerous Fats Europeans eat less of the most dangerous, cholesterol-raising fats than Americans do and the amount is decreasing, according to a recent report released by the European Food Safety Authority. Loud Music Can Cause Lung Collapse Blasting music can be hard on the ears and the neighbors, and now researchers say it can also pack enough punch to collapse a lung. Increase Gym Time to Combat Obesity in Girls A new report suggests a simple strategy for combating obesity among young girls -- increasing their gym time. Appetite Hormone Key to Women's Health Leptin, the hormone best known to control appetite, also appears to play a major role in fertility and bone development in women. Fish Oil May Protect Against Alzheimer's Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and other oils and known to provide a range of health benefits, may help protect against Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers reported. Elite Athletes Can Rapidly Fall Out of Shape Without enough exercise, even those impossible bodies on display at the Olympics are in danger of rapidly morphing into the shape of a couch potato, a study of endurance athletes shows. Sperm Levels Drop with Frequent Ejaculation The more a man ejaculates each week, the lower his sperm levels fall, new research shows. However, this ejaculatory frequency only partly explains why a man's sperm count varies widely each time it's checked. Cancer Can Ruin a Life, Even if You Survive Cancer can really mess up a person's life, even years after he or she has beaten the disease, U.S. researchers reported. Deconditioning May Help Athletes with Heart Condition A brief period of deconditioning in athletes with heartbeat irregularities, or "arrhythmias," may help trainers and doctors identify athletes who should stop training and those who may safely re-enter competition, according to the findings of a new study.