Monthly News Archives



		How To Overcome Guilt And Emotions Used Against You By Your Friends And Relatives Isn't amazing how one visit or call from your friends, parents or in-laws can ruin the holiday season? Guilt is a very natural human emotion, but knowing how to overcome guilt trips will provide you with powerful tools for personal growth. Why Exertion Leads To Exhaustion Scientists have found an explanation for runners who struggle to increase their pace, cyclists who can't pedal any faster and swimmers who can't speed up their strokes. Feelings Of Anxiety And Worry Are Hard On Your Heart Neurotic people are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, while being extroverted seems to protect people from dying from respiratory illness, UK researchers report based on a study they conducted. How Accurate Is Your Perceived Exertion Compared To Your Actual Exertion? A series of studies over the last two years, has found that an individual's own sense of how hard he or she is working corresponds exactly with actual level of exertion, measured by heart-rate and oxygen uptake. Scientists Need A Better Understanding Of Cancer Before Drawing Simple Conclusions Scientists who study cancer may be prone to drawing simplistic conclusions from the powerful molecular tools now available because they don't appreciate how complex the data is that is being generated, said a team of Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) researchers in the January issue of Nature Reviews Cancer. Chronic Coughs Need a Doctor's Attention If you wake up due to coughing or have a cough that lasts for weeks, you may have a potentially serious problem that requires medical attention. Child Care in First Two Years Greatly Affects IQ How well children are cared for in their first two years directly affects brain development and IQ later in life, a new study finds. Subliminal Messages Can Influence Us In Surprising Ways Subliminal messages -- that is, messages that are processed by our brains but never reach our consciousness – do indeed influence explicit attitudes and real-life political behavior, a significant extension to what we know about the effects of non-conscious processes. Dark Chocolate Claims Often Misleading For those of you tucking into dark chocolate this Christmas using the excuse it is good for you, think again. Colon Cancer Screenings May Do More Harm Than Good Even though current guidelines advocate colorectal cancer screenings for those with severe illnesses, they may bring little benefit and may actually pose harm, according to a recent study by Yale School of Medicine. Coffee, Tea Lowers Risk Of Kidney Cancer Coffee and tea lovers may have a slightly reduced risk of developing kidney cancer, research hints. Go Easy During The Holidays When it comes to crippling holiday stress, specialists say the simplest pieces of advice are also the best. 7 Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe In the British Medical Journal this week, researchers looked into several common misconceptions, from the belief that a person should drink eight glasses of water per day to the notion that reading in low light ruins your eyesight. Sex Education Linked To Delayed Teen Intercourse Sex education greatly boosts the likelihood that teens will delay having intercourse, according to a new study that is the first of its kind in years. Prehistoric Evidence Supports Power of Vitamin D A recent discovery supports the theory that dark-skinned people who migrate out of tropical climates tend to have lower levels of vitamin D, a condition that can adversely affect the immune system as well as the skeleton. Vaccines Exposed: A Hidden Crime Against Our Children In the United States each year, anywhere from an estimated 3,900 to 7,800 infants are poisoned to death, as a direct result, of being vaccinated. Men Are More Naturally Comedic Because Of Testosterone Men are naturally more comedic than women because of the male hormone testosterone, an expert claims. Regular Walking Protects the Aging Brain In people age 65 and older, simply walking regularly or engaging in other moderate exercise can reduce dementia risk, a new Italian study finds. There Are Health Advantages To Those Who Are Creative, Have Control At Work Employees who have more control over their daily activities and do challenging work they enjoy are likely to be in better health, according to a new study from The University of Texas at Austin published in this month's Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Can A Little Alcohol Really Help You Beat a Cold? When it comes to quick remedies for colds, many people insist that a glass of brandy or a hot toddy — whiskey with hot water and lemon juice — is just what the doctor ordered. Cannabis Smoke Has More Toxins Inhaled cannabis smoke has more harmful toxins than tobacco, scientists have discovered. The Science of Shivering Revealed Scientists have figured out why your skin tenses up and your teeth chatter when an icy blast of wintry wind whips past: The brain's wiring system monitors the temperature of the skin and decides when the shivering should commence. Can You Cheat Sleep? Some folks will do anything to cheat sleep. Somewhere between sanity and insomnia lies polyphasic sleep, now gaining devotees in the blogsphere. Lung Cancer Linked To Lack Of Sun Lack of sunlight may increase the risk of lung cancer, a study suggests. Researchers found lung cancer rates were highest in countries furthest from the equator, where exposure to sunlight is lowest. Strong Link Between Obesity And Colorectal Cancer The report shows that obese individuals (Body Mass Index* (BMI) >30 kg/m2) have a 20% greater risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with those of normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2). Even Moderate Exercise Cuts Rate Of Metabolic Syndrome Research from Duke University Medical Center shows that even a modest amount of brisk walking weekly is enough to trim waistlines and cut the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), an increasingly frequent condition linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Vaccines Directed Against Cancer, HIV Don't Work Researchers from the University of Missouri and Imperial College London have found evidence suggesting why vaccines directed against the virus that causes AIDS and many cancers do not work. Do We Need To Rethink The Obesity Fight? Obesity cannot be tackled by just encouraging healthier eating and more exercise, health experts say. Traffic Pollution Hurts Asthmatic Kids' Lungs Children with asthma who are exposed to traffic pollution are at increased risk for respiratory problems and reduced lung volumes, says a study that looked at children in the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez. Overweight People More Likely To Have Bad Breath Now there's another good reason to go on that diet after the holidays. Tel Aviv University researchers have published a study that finds a direct link between obesity and bad breath: the more overweight you are, the more likely your breath will smell unpleasant to those around you. Vaccination Programs Under Scrutiny The latest problem arising from the use of vaccines is that they can cause the body to develop viral "mutants" and even spread the newly created disease to the population at large. Since viral mutants are rarely detected in blood donor screening, they can easily be transmitted through donated blood. This way, the original vaccines may be able to wipe out the strains of virus that are known to cause these various diseases, but in the same stroke they cause other mutant strains of virus to thrive. Workplace Opportunities And Stresses Are Both Increasing Teamworking and other modern employment practices can put as much strain on a woman’s family relationships as working an extra 120 hours a year, an extensive study of the British workforce funded by the Economic and Social Research Council suggests. Genetically Engineered Soy Will Destroy The Amazon, Boost Global Warming By 50% As genetically modified soybeans take over vast tracts in Brazil and all over South America and reports flow in of genetic contamination of local corn in Mesoamerica, grassroots resistance to biotech crops has also grown. This type of agriculture is systematically destroying plant diversity throughout the world. Make Sure You Cut The Right Kind of Carbs During The Holidays Here’s one tip for how to eat at the holidays: Don’t take your cues from Santa. The sugary cookies and fat-laden fruitcakes the mythical North Pole resident eats are a no-no. But you don’t have to go no-carb to stay fit at the holidays, either, University of Florida researchers say. Green Tea Protects Brain Cells Against Parkinson's Disease Does the consumption of green tea, widely touted to have beneficial effects on health, also protect brain cells" Authors of a new study being published in the December 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry share new data that indicates this may be the case. Exercise Just As Good As Surgery For Chronic Knee Pain Researchers from The ORTON Research Institute, in Helsinki, Finland, found that whilst chronic knee pain is a common complaint, there is a lack of evidence that arthroscopic surgery has a better outcome than other forms of treatment including therapeutic exercise. Chemicals Used In Your Sofa, Television, And Computer Can Damage Your Health Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), chemicals used as fire retardants found in products such as the televisions, computers, toasters and sofas, are being found in alarming concentrations, in human blood and breast milk -- a potentially major concern for human health. A Caesarean Section May Harm Your Newborn's Lung Growth Babies born by elective Caesarean section are much more likely to develop breathing problems, a Danish study examining 34,000 deliveries suggests. Natural Suggestions To Eliminate Stress From Your Life The holidays have arrived and while this is a joyful and exciting time, this can also be a stressful time for some. Let's take a look at ways we can relax year-round. It has been demonstrated in numerous studies that reducing stress will prolong your life and improve the quality of your everyday living experience. Why Don't Pregnant Women Topple? With all that growing weight up front, how is it that pregnant women don't lose their balance and topple over? Scientists think they've found the answer. High Blood Pressure Affects Thinking and Learning High blood pressure appears to be associated with an increased risk for mild cognitive impairment, a condition that involves difficulties with thinking and learning, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Stay Away From Sugary Drinks To Prevent Alzheimer's Researchers in the US have found that mice given a sugar solution as part of their daily diets showed increased signs of developing Alzheimer's disease. How Effective Is Aromatherapy? Odors have the power to alter moods, but can smells heal the body, as is purported in the pseudoscience of aromatherapy? Common Chemical in Vinyl Floor Tiles And Carpet-Backing Increases Breast Cancer The results of an animal study suggest that infants exposed to BBP, a chemical additive used in pipes, vinyl floor tiles, carpet-backing, and other household items, may affect mammary gland development and perhaps increase the susceptibility to breast cancer. World's Protected Areas Threatened By Climate Change Climate change will affect national parks, forest reserves and other protected areas around the world, in some cases altering conditions so severely that the resulting environments will be virtually new to the planet, according to a study presented at the U.N. climate change talks in Bali, Indonesia. Flexible Work Life Is Good For Your Health A flexible work life, including telecommuting and job shares, is good for your health, researchers said. Human Evolution Is Speeding Up Science fiction writers have suggested a future Earth populated by a blend of all races into a common human form. In real life, the reverse seems to be happening. People are evolving more rapidly than in the distant past, with residents of various continents becoming increasingly different from one another, researchers say. Stable Sleep Patterns Help Depression Bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic-depressive disorder, is highly influenced by the circadian system -- the body's internal clock -- and a specific kind of psychotherapy may help decrease irregularities in the circadian system that can trigger key symptoms of bipolar disorder, according to a study presented today at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual meeting. Tips To Ease The Heartburn Of Pregnancy Heartburn symptoms are one of the most commonly reported complaints among pregnant women. Physician experts have compiled important health tips on managing heartburn symptoms, and importantly, identifying which heartburn medications are safe for use in pregnant women and those, which should be avoided. Is Attractiveness Hereditary? Like father, like son, sexy fathers can give rise to sexy sons in the insect world. Researchers suggest these findings might also apply to humans. A Person's Scent Emits Their Likability Anyone who has bonded with a puppy madly sniffing with affection gets an idea of how scents, most not apparent to humans, are critical to a dog’s appreciation of her two-legged friends. Now new research from Northwestern University suggests that humans also pick up infinitesimal scents that affect whether or not we like somebody. The Verdict Is In: Good Looking People Get Better Jobs A new study published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences finds that the attractiveness of interviewees can significantly bias outcome in hiring practices, showing a clear distinction between the attractive and average looking interviewees in terms of high and low status job packages offered. Is Modern Medicine Based On Faulty Theories? Thousands of people die around the world every single week from properly prescribed medicine in properly prescribed doses. Who found this system of Western medicine and is it based on faulty theories? Inactivity Link To Mental Decline Being a slob puts you at risk of mental health problems, experts have warned. Overweight Kids Often Become Obese, Unhealthy Adults Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to be overweight or obese adults and more likely to suffer early heart disease and death, two new studies conclude. Tree Bark Improves Physical Function Of Adults With Osteoarthritis Affecting millions, Osteoarthritis of the knee (OA) is one of the five leading causes of disability among the elderly. While OA mainly affects most people over 45, it can occur at any age. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the journal Nutrition Research reveals Pycnogenol, (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, improved physical function by 52 percent in patients suffering from OA. The Number Of Obese Children Will Grow In The Coming Years The number of obese children will grow dramatically in the coming years and so will their death rates from heart disease, according to a pair of studies from the United States and Denmark published. Brief Motion Exercises Build Bone Strength for Preemies Tel Aviv University pediatric physicians are championing a training program that aims to make preemies' bones stronger. Dr. Dan Nemet and his partner Dr. Alon Eliakim, both associate professors of the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, have developed a proven protocol to prevent osteopenia of prematurity (OOP). When It Comes To Longevity, Your Fitness Level Is More Important Than Your Fat When it comes to living longer, fitness may trump fatness, U.S. researchers said. Losing Virginity Earlier Or Later Than Average Tied To Health Risks People who start having sex at a younger or older than average age appear to be at greater risk of developing sexual health problems later in life, a new study suggests. We Learn By 'Over-Imitation' Children learn by imitating adults—so much so that they will rethink how an object works if they observe an adult taking unnecessary steps when using that object, according to a Yale study today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Those Who Were Small Babies Have Higher Risk Of Depression Small babies have a higher risk of depression and anxiety in later life, say UK researchers. How Does Divorce Affect The Environment? Divorce leaves more than a trail of legal documents, stinging egos and uprooted kids. The split-ups wreak havoc on the environment. Fate May Be Predictable Why does it take so long for soul mates to find each other" How does disease spread through a person’s body? When will the next computer virus attack your hard-drive? In Romance, Ladies Should Silence Themselves While Men Continue To Blab In the land of romance, ladies might do well to shut their traps, while men can continue to blab. Just Say No To Prescription Drugs, Period! Assuming you're eating well, sleeping well, exercising and tending to your relationships, the next best optimal health step you can take after the age of fifty is to avoid prescription drugs. If You Want To Raise Smart Kids, Don't Tell Them They Are More than 30 years of scientific investigation suggests that an overemphasis on intellect or talent leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges and unwilling to remedy their shortcomings. Will Pulling An All-Nighter Help You Score Well On Exams? Pamela Thacher, associate professor of psychology at St. Lawrence University, studied the sleeping patterns and transcripts of 111 students to see the correlation between sleep and their grade-point averages. Anorexia May Be Programmed In The Womb By Mother's Hormones Babies who go on to develop anorexia may be programmed in the womb by their mother's hormones, evidence suggests. Medical Schools Affect The Way Future Doctors Interact With Drug Companies Although more and more drug advertisements are appearing on television, the bulk of the approximately $21 billion dollars that pharmaceutical companies spend annually to market their products is targeted to physicians, doctors in training (residents) and medical students. Sugar Affects Our Ability To Resist Temptation New research from a lab at Florida State University reveals that self-control takes fuel-- literally. When we exercise it, resisting temptations to misbehave, our fuel tank is depleted, making subsequent efforts at self-control more difficult. Allergies To Peanuts And Other Foods Are Showing Up Earlier In Younger Children Allergies to peanuts and other foods are showing up in children at younger ages for reasons that are not clear, researchers said on Monday, and some urged parents to postpone exposing susceptible children to peanuts.