Monthly News Archives



		Weight Gain Between Pregnancies Risky Women who gain as little as 7 pounds between pregnancies can put themselves and their babies at medical risk, even if they don't become overweight, suggests a provocative study of thousands of women. Blindness Prevention Drug May Make Matters Worse A worldwide push to treat a leading cause of blindness may backfire in the long run, because it appears to leave people more vulnerable to re-infection, a new study reports. Acupuncture For Hot Flashes? Acupuncture may offer women an alternative for easing hot flashes during menopause, preliminary research suggests. Easy On The Eye? Maybe Also On The Brain When someone is "easy on the eye," it could also be because they are easy on the brain, according to a new international study. Finger Length Linked To Female Sporting Potential The length of a girl's ring finger could be an indicator of her future sporting potential, researchers at King's College London said. 1918 Flu Virus's Secrets Revealed An experiment to reconstruct the deadly 1918 flu virus has given a new insight into how the infection took hold. Low Birth Weight Ups Risk Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Low-birth-weight babies appear to be at significantly higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in later life, Norwegian researchers report. Many Fed Up With Fad Diets Many seem to have lost their appetite for fad diets, a new survey finds. More than two-thirds (69 percent) of respondents said they're less likely to try a specialized or fad diet today compared to five years ago. 'Magic Formula' Accurately Predicts Fracture Risk In Osteoporotic Women Researchers have developed a mathematic formula to predict a woman's risk of osteoporotic fracture. The equation has proved 75 percent accurate and will allow physicians to tailor their treatment strategies to help women prevent fractures of fragile bones. Exercise Curbs Precancerous Changes In The Colon Regular, moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise can reduce cellular changes in the tissue lining the colon that can lead to the formation of colon polyps and colon cancer, a study suggests. Nutrition Labels Confuse Consumers Many people don't have the reading and math skills to correctly interpret the nutrition labels on food packages, a new study finds. Mosquitoes' Sweet Tooth Could Be Answer To Eliminating Malaria Mosquitoes' thirst for sugar could prove to be the answer for eliminating malaria and other mosquito-transmitted diseases, says Hebrew University researcher Prof. Yosef Schlein in a study published in the American Science magazine and the International Journal for Parasitology. Diabetes a Greater Risk for Death Than Obesity New research suggests that diabetes -- not obesity -- puts people at risk of developing critical illness and dying early. Disease Of Older Adults Now Seen In Young, Obese Adults Acute diverticulitis, a disease traditionally seen in patients older than 50 years old, is now being seen in younger adults who are obese, according to a study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center's department of radiology in Baltimore, MD. Those Chips Are Fattier Than You Think Half of UK children "drink" almost five litres of cooking oil every year as a result of their pack-a-day crisp habit, experts warn. Walking Not Enough For Significant Exercise Benefits Walking is a popular form of exercise, but may not be enough to experience significant health benefits, a University of Alberta study shows. Cancer Linked To Rotating Shifts Men who work a rotating shift pattern may be at increased risk of prostate cancer, research suggests. Birth-Control Patch Label Warns Of Risk Women were recently warned that their risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs may be higher if they use the birth-control patch instead of the pill. Preference In Music Predicts Life Patterns Madonna, Mozart or Eminem? Your preference in music could predict the patterns of your life, including your sexual activity, drug use, and even your political outlook, a new British survey contends. Brain Helps Keep Emotions at Bay A new study may reveal how people function amidst distracting emotions. Fatty Fish May Protect Against Kidney Cancer The heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids abundant in fatty fish like salmon and sardines may help protect your kidneys against cancer, new research suggests. Music Lessons Help Young Child Memories Parents who spend time and money to teach their children music, take heart -- a new Canadian study shows young children who take music lessons have better memories than their nonmusical peers. Poor Sleep Contributes to Health Problems New studies are discovering just how vital sleep is to overall health. So, sleep habits should become a standard part of a complete check-up, researchers say. Studies Reveal Slow Progress on Global Child Deaths Global experts on child health met in New York City to discuss an ongoing tragedy: the fact that 10.5 million children under the age of five die each year. Air Pollution Linked to Lung Cancer A study of Texas residents suggests that tiny metallic bits of air pollution could account for some cases of lung cancer. Heart Disease: Older Women At Higher Risk Than Men A surprising new study finds that women in their 60s have as many risk factors for heart disease as men, and by their 70s have more, according to research led by demographers at the University of Southern California. Why Adolescents Put Themselves First Teenagers are more selfish than adults because they use a different part of their brain to make decisions compared to adults, new research suggests. More Infant Deaths With Elective C-Sections A new study has found a higher risk of infant deaths among infants born by Caesarean section to mothers who have no medical need for the procedure. School Involvement May Lower Kids' Health Risks Getting teenagers more active in school life may lower the odds that they will smoke, drink, use drugs or have sex, a new study suggests. Percentile Leaps In Weight Could Signal Obesity Ahead Some experts define children as obese if they are above the 95th percentile in the weight-to-height ratio, meaning they weigh more than 95% of children at the same height, and as overweight if they fall in the 85th to 95th percentiles. Vitamin D May Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk Consuming the recommended daily amount of vitamin D could nearly halve your risk for deadly pancreatic cancer, new research suggests. Experts See Slow Obesity Fight For Kids One in five children is predicted to be obese by the end of the decade. But efforts to turn that tide are scattershot and underfunded, and the government killed one of the few programs proven to work, specialists said. Green Tea Cuts Fatal Illness Risk Drinking green tea can substantially cut the risk of dying from a range of illnesses, a Japanese study has found. Many Young Men 'Abusing Steroids' The use of anabolic steroids is becoming mainstream as young men turn to the drugs to boost self-confidence and improve body image, experts warn. Junk Culture Is Killing Childhood Britain's children are being poisoned by a "junk culture" of processed food, computer games and over-competitive education, an influential group of children's authors and experts warned. Boxing Delivers Lethal Blow to Brain Cells Amateur boxing can knock out precious brain cells, Swedish researchers report. Whole-Grain Diets May Help Reduce Blood Pressure Diets with increases whole-grain foods, high in soluble or insoluble fiber, are associated with a reduction in blood pressure in individuals with slightly elevated cholesterol, according to researchers in Maryland. Are Your Omega-3s Really Protecting You From Heart Disease Has a little-known family of polyunsaturated fatty acids called Omega-6s, which has quietly permeated the Western diet in recent decades, nullified the impact of heart disease-fighting omega-3s? Weight Loss Is The Best Way To Prevent Diabetes Weight loss is the key factor in reducing diabetes risk for high-risk, overweight individuals, a new study shows. Stopovers May Ease Jet Lag If you suffer from severe jet leg, it may be because your body overshoots as it attempts to adjust to large leaps forward in time, new research shows. Exercise May Help Breast Cancer Patients Survive Weight loss is the key factor in reducing diabetes risk for high-risk, overweight individuals, a new study shows. WHO Official Urges Immediate Action On Obesity Before Battle Lost Governments must wake up to the scourge of obesity or it will soon be too late to win the battle against the global epidemic, a senior World Health Organization official warned. Abdominal Fat May Raise Blood Pressure Adults who carry most of their excess weight around the middle may be at particular risk of high blood pressure, new research shows. Tai Chi Good For Obese Diabetics Research suggests that impaired mobility and balance among obese older adults with type 2 diabetes may be related to their low muscle power, which results from their inability to quickly contract their muscles. Researchers Identify "Male Warrior Effect" Men may have developed a psychology that makes them particularly able to bond together, cooperate well and engage in wars, a scientist said. More Deaths For Caesarean Babies Babies born by caesarean are nearly three times more likely to die in the first month than those born naturally, US research shows. Virgin Olive Oil Deemed Especially Heart Healthy When it comes to heart health, virgin olive oil may have an edge over other vegetable fats, new research suggests. Dense Breasts Raise Cancer Risk Two new studies suggest breast density is nearly as important as age in predicting who is going to develop breast cancer. Obesity Pandemic Hurts Women More Than Men The global obesity pandemic combined with society's anti-fat bias is more damaging to women than to men, an expert has warned at an international conference. People Often Underestimate Calories In Big Portions While people have a good sense of the calories contained in smaller portions of fast food, they sharply underestimate the calories in "super size" servings, research hints. Higher Protein Diet Helps Keep Hunger Away Eating more protein can help increase levels of a hunger-fighting hormone called peptide YY (PYY), British scientists report. Cigarette Makers Raising Nicotine Doses While most of us were trying to curb smoking, and the rapacious habits of the tobacco companies, it turns out the industry has been sneakily making cigarettes more addictive. Exploitative Internet Marketing Fuels Child Obesity Self-regulation in food and beverage marketing is being exploited and is failing to curb childhood obesity, research by a global obesity taskforce has found. Developing World Is New Frontline In Heart Disease Heart disease, usually seen as a quintessentially Western problem, is rapidly becoming a major threat to the developing world, costing millions of lives and billions of dollars, top cardiologists said. Address Weight Issues Early, Experts Advise Contrary to popular believe, young children usually do not shed excess pounds as they get older. Even 2-year-olds who are overweight are more likely than their normal-weight counterparts to be overweight by age 12, results of a long-term study show. Orange Juice Best at Stopping Kidney Stones An independent study finds that orange juice beats lemonade and other citrus fruit juices in helping to keep kidney stones at bay. Exercise: The Antidote for a High-Fat Meal So, you've just polished off a meal high in fat, and now you're feeling guilty? Wait an hour or two, then get a little exercise, and you can reverse the potential damage to your arteries, a new study suggests. Food Allergies Soaring After having risen year on year in recent decades, the rates of eczema and hay fever seem to have stabilised, and may even be falling, suggests research published ahead of print in Thorax. Steer Clear of Antibiotics for Colds Cold season will soon be here and that means it's time to remind people that antibiotics aren't effective against colds and inappropriate use of antibiotics may be harmful, says a doctor at Washington University in St. Louis.