Monthly News Archives



		Divorced Women Have More Illness Women may give up more than a husband by divorcing — they may also lose some of their good health, according to a study by Iowa State University. Exercise Protects Your Eyes Regular exercise could reduce the risk of an age-related eye disease, US research has suggested. No Valid Reasoning For Annual Flu Shot There is not enough evidence to support the policy of immunising people against seasonal flu, an expert has claimed. Easing Depression May Ease Bone Loss Studies in mice are shedding light on how depression helps eat away at human bone. Patient Groups Accepting Money From Drug Companies They are supposed to be grassroots organisations representing the interests of people with serious diseases. But a deputy editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, believes that some patient groups are perilously close to becoming extensions of pharmaceutical companies' marketing departments. Falls Spell Health Danger for Elderly A simple slip in the tub or on a loose mat can be a health disaster for elderly Americans, experts say. Curry Ingredient May Help Fight Alzheimer's Curcumin, a component of curry and turmeric, seems to help the immune system get rid of amyloid beta -- the protein that builds up to form damaging plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Exercise Keeps Colds at Bay Moderate daily exercise can help fend off the common cold, new research suggests. Low Glycemic Index Diet May Help Women Stay Slim Staying away from simple carbohydrates and eating plenty of fiber may help women avoid packing on pounds as they get older, a study by Danish researchers suggests. Exposure To Sunlight Could Reduce Asthma Australian researchers have found that exposure to measured doses of ultraviolet light, such as sunlight, could reduce asthma. Heavy Mobile Use 'Damages Sperm' Heavy use of mobile phones may damage men's fertility, a study has suggested. Anxiety Disorders Tied to Physical Illness Anxiety disorders are linked to a number of physical problems, including arthritis, migraine headaches, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, and thyroid disease, a new study finds. Inadequate Sleep May Be A Factor In Child Obesity Not getting enough shut-eye each night may play a role in youngsters becoming overweight, partly by disrupting normal metabolism, a doctor from the University of Bristol, UK, contends in a report released. Humans Living Far Beyond Planet's Means Humans are stripping nature at an unprecedented rate and will need two planets' worth of natural resources every year by 2050 on current trends, the WWF conservation group said. Vegetables May Keep Brains Young New research on vegetables and aging gives mothers another reason to say "I told you so." It found that eating vegetables appears to help keep the brain young and may slow the mental decline sometimes associated with growing old. Bread-Heavy Diet Linked to Kidney Cancer A diet high in bread may boost the risk of kidney cancer, according to an Italian study that compared the food intake of kidney cancer patients and those without the disease. Widely Used Diabetes Drug Does Not Work It's unclear whether the health benefits outweigh the risks of the widely prescribed diabetes drug pioglitazone (brand name Actos), say the authors of a review that examined 22 studies of the drug involving 6,200 type 2 diabetes patients. Personal Responsibility and Prevention The American Cancer Society recently concluded that only by creating a "social environment that promotes healthy food choices and physical activity" can the nation whittle away at the nearly 170,000 of 500,000 annual cancer deaths linked to obesity, junk food and a lack of exercise. One Billion People Overweight, 300 Million Obese Worldwide For every four adults in the world who are malnourished five more are overweight, 30 percent of them clinically obese, according to the World Health Organization. Obesity May Be Linked To Shorter Sleeping Times A trend for children and adolescents to stay up later and sleep less may be linked to rising levels of obesity, according to a review of existing research published. Genes May Pass Down Smiles, Frowns Did your mother ever tell you to stop making a funny face because it might "freeze" that way? Well, in a way, she was right. New research shows that facial expressions may be "frozen" by your genes. Fish and Fish Oil's Benefits Far Outweigh Risks People looking for safe, healthy eating should focus first on fish, according to two government-funded reviews that weighed the pros and cons of eating the finned food. College Women Favor Nutrition Over Exercise Female college students are more likely than males to diet, while males who do try to shed pounds typically turn to exercise rather than dieting, says a University of Nebraska study. Preschool Puberty, and a Search for the Causes Parents often think their children grow up too quickly, but few are prepared for the problem that Dr. Michael Dedekian and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Medical School reported recently. Studies Identify Food Sources Of Disease And Drug Resistance Two studies in the Nov. 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, further illustrates that the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock increases the risk of antibiotic resistance in humans. Learning To Forgive Is A Personal Journey Scholars who study forgiveness say it is not a saintly act beyond ordinary folks' capacity but rather a vital skill that can be mastered with practice. Eating Chicken Linked To Antibiotic Resistance Antibiotic use as a livestock growth promoter increases the risk of human antibiotic resistance, a Marshfield Clinic researcher and his colleagues have found. Link Between Celiac Disease And Cognitive Decline Mayo Clinic researchers have uncovered a new link between celiac disease, a digestive condition triggered by consumption of gluten, and dementia or other forms of cognitive decline. Babies Sometimes Injured During C-Section About 1 in 100 babies delivered by cesarean section are injured in the process, a new study shows. The risk of injury is influenced by the reasons for doing the c-section. Alzheimer's Drugs Very Risky Widely prescribed anti-psychotic drugs do not help most Alzheimer's patients with delusions and aggression and are not worth the risk of sudden death and other side effects, the first major study on sufferers outside nursing homes concludes. Daily Weighing Key To Keeping Lost Pounds Off Losing excess weight is often easier than keeping it off. A new study shows that stepping on a scale every day, and adjusting eating and exercise habits accordingly, can go a long way in helping dieters maintain a weight loss. Cola Consumption Linked To Weaker Bones in Women Women who want to keep their bones strong may want to keep their cola consumption to a minimum, a new study suggests. Gain Weight, Lose Brain Power? Add another hazard to the pitfalls of being overweight -- a few extra pounds might reduce your brainpower. Adequate Sleep As Crucial As Diet and Exercise For A Healthy Life Most working blokes know that the more they work, the less they sleep. What they may not know is that the more time they spend in their cars, the less they sleep. Drive time -- not television viewing, computer addiction or exercise -- is second only to hours on the job as a reason people don't get the shut-eye they need. 'Mediterranean' Diet May Cut Alzheimer's Risk People who eat a "Mediterranean" diet rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, cereals and fish have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers report. Preventing Stress A Good Idea Everyone experiences stress. And many people are stressed every day. But, stress isn't always obvious. In fact, some people don't even realize how much stress they're under until they suffer serious physical consequences of that stress. Head Growth In Infancy Tied To Later Intelligence Head growth in fetal life and infancy is associated with later intelligence, new research hints. Moreover, catch-up increases do not appear to compensate for poor early growth. TB Poses Greatest Threat To Europe Tuberculosis has come back in a new, more deadly form to pose the disease's greatest threat to Europe since World War II, world health officials said. Exercise Alone Won't Prevent Childhood Obesity Physically active preschoolers are on to a good thing, but exercise alone won't keep obesity at bay as they get older, British researchers report. Study Spots the Brain's Selfishness 'Off-Switch' Civil society may hinge on a tiny piece of tissue at the front of the human brain, a new study suggests. Partners Pose Highest Risk To Women Of Violence Women are more likely to suffer physical and sexual violence from their husbands or partners than other people and the violence is more severe in rural areas, according to research published. Drink Tea To Beat Stress Regular cups of tea can help speed recovery from stress, researchers from University College London (UCL) said. Strength Training Slows Knee Arthritis Strengthening exercises for the legs may help slow the progression of knee arthritis over the long haul, a study shows. Companies Are Embracing 'Wellness' Programs To arrest rising health-care costs, a growing number of employers are expanding workplace "wellness" initiatives. Providing workers with tools and incentives to improve their health, the thinking goes, will reduce medical-care costs and boost worker productivity. Chemo Has Long-Term Impact On Brain Function Chemotherapy causes changes in the brain's metabolism and blood flow that can last as long as 10 years, a discovery that may explain the mental fog and confusion that affect many cancer survivors, researchers said. Curry May Prevent Alzheimer's Researchers found that curcumin -- a chemical found in curry and turmeric -- may help the immune system clear the brain of amyloid beta, which form the plaques found in Alzheimer's disease. Talking Therapy Treats 'Fatigue' People with chronic fatigue syndrome should be offered talking therapy and exercise therapy, research suggests. Sugar Linked With Mental Problems In Norway Study Oslo teens who drank the most sugary soft drinks also had more mental health problems such as hyperactivity and distress, Norwegian researchers reported. Food May Be Like A Drug For Some The same brain circuits are involved when obese people fill their stomachs as when drug addicts think about drugs, a finding that suggests overeating and addiction may be linked, U.S. researchers reported. Exercise Boosts Recovery for Arthritis Patients Weight training and cardiovascular exercise may be just the ticket for patients who are preparing for knee- or hip-replacement surgery, a new study suggests. French May Ban Smoking In Public Places A parliamentary panel in cigarette-friendly France called for the government to ban smoking in public places like cafes and restaurants in less than a year — and floated the prospect of special "smoking rooms." 'Richer' Patients More Attractive If you want the best treatment from your GP, make sure you look a million dollars, UK researchers suggest. Obesity Linked To Too Little Sleep, Again The amount of time people spend sleeping may affect their weight, study results suggest.