Monthly News Archives



		Caesarean Births Pose Higher Risks For Mother And Baby Women having a non-emergency caesarean birth have double the risk of illness or even death compared to a vaginal birth, according to a recent study from Latin America. Slim Down If You Want To Reduce Your Risk of Cancer Even those who are not overweight should slim down if they want to cut their risk of cancer, a major international study has claimed. Yerba Mate Tea From South America Lowers Cholesterol When a study in her lab showed that mate tea drinkers had experienced a significant increase in the activity of an enzyme that promotes HDL (good) cholesterol while lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, University of Illinois scientist Elvira de Mejia headed for Argentina where mate tea has been grown and taken medicinally for centuries. Cholesterol Drug Use Increasing In Young Adults Instead of Prevention Use of cholesterol and blood pressure medicines by young adults appears to be rising rapidly — at a faster pace than among senior citizens, according to an industry report. Global Consumer Group Lists World's Worst Products Sleeping pills advertised for children, dangerous toys and bottled water taken from local reservoirs are among the world's worst products, a global consumer group said. Polyphenols In Fruits and Vegetables Prevent Cancer, Heart Disease Forget big Pharma...the next cancer drug might come straight from the grocery store, according to new research published in the November 2007 issue of The FASEB Journal. Toxic Chemical Triclosan Found in Common Household Products A chemical called triclosan poses a health risk, as it is a toxic compound which can promote cancer. The most shocking thing is that triclosan is commonly found in everyday consumer goods such as antibacterial soaps, deodorants, body washes, creams, lotions, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, detergents, dishwashing liquids, and yes, mouthwash and toothpaste. AIDS Vaccine Actually Raises The Risk Of Getting Aids More than 3,000 people who volunteered to receive an experimental Merck and Co. AIDS vaccine are being told to come back and get extra tests because the jab may itself raise the risk of infection. If You're Self-Disciplined, You May Reduce Your Alzheimer's Risk People who are meticulous and "finish what they start" may have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study involving Catholic nuns and priests. Vigorous Exercise Helps Overweight Youngsters Learn Three months of daily, vigorous exercise can improve overweight kids' thinking, U.S. researchers report. How You Recognize Someone Reveals Important Insights Into Memory New research from The University of Western Ontario suggests the sometimes eerie feeling experience when recognizing someone, yet failing to remember how or why, reveals important insight into how memory is wired in the human brain. How to Multitask Without Losing Your Mind Research shows that we consistently perform better and faster when tasks are done successively, rather than all at once. Broccoli Helps Fight Skin Cancer What's good for your diet may also guard against skin cancer. Scientists have discovered that an extract of broccoli sprouts protects the skin against the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Processed Foods Causing Liver Disease In Children A diet consisting of mostly processed foods is causing fatty liver disease in the young. Liver disease, primarily found in older adults, is now becoming a disease found in children. All this is being caused by the increase of processed foods in our diet. Scientists Envision Growing Human Eyeballs A genetic switch that gives tadpoles three eyes could allow stem-cell scientists to eventually grow human eyeballs or at least create replacement parts needed for repair jobs. 'Personalized Medicine' May Add Unnecessary Worry To Our Lives Ordinary people worry about the extra, and often burdensome, responsibilities which could come with scientists’ promises of ‘personalized medicine’, according to evidence to be presented at a showcase of groundbreaking social science research. Child Health Psychologists Need To Promote Adult Disease Prevention Psychologists with expertise in children's health and behavior should be taking more of a lead role in helping young people develop good lifestyle habits early on and preventing health problems from occurring, says a researcher from Georgetown University Medical Center. How Does Exercise Lower Your Cardiovascular Risk It is well known that physical activity can improve cardiovascular health. But it's the impact exercise has on specific known risk factors that accounts for about 60 percent of that improvement, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Restricted Diet Linked To Physical Fitness into Old Age Severely restricting calories leads to a longer life, scientists say they have proved. Most Elderly Sleep Worse Because of Pain and Medications “Older people complain more about their sleep; they just do,” said Dr. Michael Vitiello, a sleep researcher who is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington. How The Brain Generates The Human Tendency For Optimism A neural network that may generate the human tendency to be optimistic has been identified by researchers at New York University. Lack of Sleep Plays With Your Emotions You might have guessed it, but now researchers have real proof: Sleep deprivation causes our emotions to go haywire. Our Brains Are Hard-Wired To Keep Us Positive Despite Fears, Thoughts of Death Philosophers and scientists have long been interested in how the mind processes the inevitability of death, both cognitively and emotionally. Why are we not trembling in a constant state of terror over fear of death? Drug Company-Funded Asthma Drug Studies Conceal Adverse Effects Drug company-funded studies of asthma drugs called inhaled corticosteroids are less likely to find adverse effects than studies that were paid for by other sources, Spanish researchers say. Too Much Marijuana Makes Pain Worse Smoking large amounts of cannabis for therapeutic reasons may increase rather than reduce pain, a US study suggests. The Brain Has A Direct Route To The Immune System Scientific finding has found that the brain talks directly to the immune system, sending commands that control the body’s inflammatory response to infection and autoimmune diseases. Another Reason Why You Need To Question Any Cancer Task Force A new candidate for the "most ignorant medical advice" has emerged from a Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force -- a group of over 100 doctors and nurses who collectively have failed to publicly recognize any significant link between diet and breast cancer. The Obesity 'Epidemic' Is Global People are getting fatter in all parts of the world, with the possible exception of south and east Asia, a one-day global snapshot shows. Melatonin Slows Neuro- Degenerative Effects Of Aging The naturally produced chemical melatonin may slow the effects of aging, according to an animal study conducted by Spanish scientists associated with the Spanish Aging Research Network (RNIE). Why Do We Overcommit? A study in a 2005 Journal of Experimental Psychology suggests that it is just human nature we allow for more time in the future that is actually available. The Neuroscience of Theory of Mind The study of social cognition ("people thinking about people") and social neuroscience has exploded in the last few years. Much of energy -- but by no means all of it -- has focused on Theory of Mind. Wide Income Gaps Associated With Higher Death Rates A wide income gap between the most affluent and the worst off in society is closely associated with higher death rates worldwide, especially for younger adults, finds a study published on bmj.com as part of a global theme issue on poverty and human development. Are Some Men Predisposed To Pedophilia? Height may point to a biological basis for pedophilia, according to new research released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The study found that pedophilic males were shorter on average than males without a sexual attraction to children. Use Daylight Saving Time To Your Advantage When the clocks go back an hour on the first Sunday in November, you should use that extra hour to make a small payment on your sleep debt, experts say. Diet Soda Increases Heart Disease Risk According to a new study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, any soda, including diet, increases the risk of heart disease by contributing to the likelihood of getting what's called metabolic syndrome. Positive or Negative Emotional State May Have No Direct Bearing On Cancer Survival The power of the mind has been overestimated when it comes to fighting cancer, US scientists say. Why Do We Get More Sick In The Winter? For the first time, scientists have solid evidence suggesting exactly why the flu is so common in winter. Can Too Much Happiness Be Detrimental? Are you happy? Well don't try to be happier; you might become less happy. That is the gist of a multi-cultural study published this month in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Exposure To Sunlight May Cut Breast Cancer Risk By Half A research team has found that increased exposure to sunlight which increases levels of vitamin D in the body -- may decrease the risk of advanced breast cancer. Fear Drives Doctors To Prescribe Some Antibiotics Antibiotics are not justified to reduce the risk of complications after upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, or ear infection, finds a recent published study. Your Height May Affect How You Perceive Your Quality of Life Your height in adult life significantly affects your quality of life, with short people reporting worse physical and mental health than people of normal height. Parents Forced To Lie About Faith To Avoid Dangerous Vaccines For Children A growing number of parents are claiming religious exemptions to avoid vaccinating their children when the real reason may be skepticism of the shots or concern they can cause other illnesses. Swearing May 'Boost Team Spirit, Morale' At Work Regular swearing at work can help boost team spirit among staff, allowing them to express better their feelings as well as develop social relationships, according to a study by researchers. The Chinese Secret to Long Life Hong Kong has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, at over 82 years, followed closely by Chinese-ruled Macau, at nearly 81 years, according to the U.N. How do they do it? Dairy Consumption Linked To Breast, Prostate Cancer A South Carolina doctor claims that consumption of dairy products can increase your risk of acquiring breast and prostate cancer. Stretching Does Not Prevent Muscle Soreness After Exercise Studies show that stretching before or after exercise has little or no effect on muscle soreness between half a day and three days later, a team of Cochrane Researchers has found. Children Who Live On Farms Are Less Prone To Asthma Farm children appear to have a lower risk of asthma than their urban counterparts or even those living in a non-agricultural rural environment, according to a University of Alberta study. Depression And Cardiovascular Disease Depression has long had a popular link to cardiovascular disease and death. However, only during the last 15 years scientific evidence supporting this common wisdom has been available. Chinese Herbs Help Relieve Painful Menstrual Cramps Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for centuries in China, being used in public hospitals to treat unexplained cramps that occur during menstruation (primary dysmenorhoea). A team of Cochrane Researchers has found evidence that CHM may provide one possible form of treatment. Men May Need To Have More Sex To Maximize Fertility With Partner Some men should have sex every day to maximise the chances of getting their partner pregnant, researchers say. Being Vigorously Active Helps You Live Longer And Enjoy A Better Quality of Life British researchers say the public may be getting the wrong message about exercise -- believing that moderate exercise is sufficient. People Are More Influenced By Gossip Than The Truth Tell a fictitous story enough times and people start to believe it. The same applies to gossip. People are easily influenced by gossip about others, even when it contradicts what they see with their own eyes, suggests a new study. Your Ancestors Play A Key Role In Your Weight Loss New evidence that genetics plays a key role in obesity is published in the International Journal of Bioinformatics Research and Applications. Calorie-Cutting And Exercise Really Can Keep The Pounds Off For The Long-Term Old-fashioned calorie-cutting and exercise really can keep the pounds off for the long haul, according to a review of dozens of clinical trials. Fruit Compound Fights Head And Neck Cancer Lupeol, a compound in fruits like mangoes, grapes and strawberries, appears to be effective in killing and curbing the spread of cancer cells in the head and neck, a study in Hong Kong has found. Level of Oxytocin in Pregnant Women Predicts Mother-Child Bond Humans are hard-wired to form enduring bonds with others. One of the primary bonds across the mammalian species is the mother-infant bond. Now, new research points to a hormone that predicts the level of bonding between mother and child. Obesity Strongest Risk Factor For Colorectal Cancer Among Women Research presented at the 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology found that obesity, among other important risk factors, was the strongest risk factor for colorectal cancer in women. Humans Perceive Others' Fear Faster Than Other Emotions Vanderbilt University researchers have discovered that the brain becomes aware of fearful faces more quickly than those showing other emotions. Test 'Can Spot Alzheimer's Risk' Up To 6 Years Before Symptoms A newly developed blood test can identify those at risk of Alzheimer's disease up to six years before symptoms would become apparent, researchers say. Eat Raw Food For Weight Loss The human body is designed to run on the clean fuel of raw foods, just like all other animals. Through our experiments with cooking and processing foods however, we have moved ever further away from simplicity, towards the so-called ‘Franken-foods’ and we have paid for it with our health. Your Metabolism May Be Programmed To Love Chocolate For the first time, scientists have linked the all-too-human preference for a food — chocolate — to a specific, chemical signature that may be programmed into the metabolic system and is detectable by laboratory tests. The signature reads ‘chocolate lover’ in some people and indifference to the popular sweet in others, the researchers say. Housework And Using Spray Cleaners May Cause Asthma Giving your house a weekly clean could be enough to give you asthma, according to research. Prevention Is The Key To Curing Cancer Many people have heard the saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". When it comes to cancer, this couldn't be truer. Genetically Modified Corn Harms The Environment A new study indicates that a popular type of genetically engineered corn--called Bt corn--may damage the ecology of streams draining Bt corn fields in ways that have not been previously considered by regulators. New Tools To Assess Health Risks From Chemicals Available Determining how thousands of chemicals found in the environment may be interacting with the genes in your body to cause disease is becoming easier because of a new field of science called toxicogenomics. Alternative Food Networks Can Lead To Healthier Eating New research provides valuable insights into the motivations and practices of consumers and producers involved in ‘alternative food’ networks, which include schemes as varied as organic vegetable boxes, community gardens and farm animal adoption. Anabolic Steroid Users Mostly White-Collar, Educated Adults The majority of non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users are not cheating athletes or risk-taking teenagers. The typical male user is about 30 years old, well-educated, and earning an above-average income in a white-collar occupation. Women Are Still Outnumbered By Men In Math, Science and Engineering Fields Social scientists have studied it, lawyers have tried to fix it and post-feminist society is over it. But women are still outnumbered by men in math, science and engineering fields. Donated Blood Loses Life-Saving Properties Donated blood quickly loses some of its life-saving properties as an important gas dissipates, U.S. researchers said, in a finding that explains why many patients fare poorly after blood transfusions. Programs Show Short-term Benefits In Helping Children Maintain Weight Loss Children who lost weight were able to keep it off more effectively by participating in maintenance treatment programs that emphasized behavioral skills or social facilitation, although the effectiveness lessened over time, according to a study in the October 10 issue of JA. Why Is It So Difficult For Some of Us To 'Just Say No'? Drug abuse, crime and obesity are but a few of the problems our nation faces, but they all have one thing in common--people's failure to control their behavior in the face of temptation. While the ability to control and restrain our impulses is one of the defining features of the human animal, its failure is one of the central problems of human society. So, why do we so often lack this crucial ability? A Diet With Dairy And A Little Meat May Be Best For The Planet A low-fat vegetarian diet is very efficient in terms of how much land is needed to support it. But adding some dairy products and a limited amount of meat may actually increase this efficiency, Cornell researchers suggest. Diet Education Had No Long Term Impact On Childhood Obesity An education programme which successfully cut the level of obesity in children by teaching them about healthy eating and discouraging fizzy drinks was no longer effective three years after the intervention came to an end, according to a study published on the British Medical Journal website. Work Stress Linked To Heart Risk People who go back to a stressful job after a heart attack are more prone to a second attack than those whose work is not stressful - a study says. Our Bodies Need Raw Food Cooked food weakens your immune system. You can minimize this effect quite easily. If you have anything cooked on your plate, you should have fresh, raw vegetables to go with it. Body-mind Meditation Boosts Performance, Reduces Stress A team of researchers from China and the University of Oregon have developed an approach for neuroscientists to study how meditation might provide improvements in a person's attention and response to stress. Bad Personal Relationships and Marital Struggles Linked With Heart Disease A lousy marriage might literally make you sick. Marital strife and other bad personal relationships can raise your risk for heart disease, researchers reported. Most Meat Produced Through Routine Torture and Environmental Destruction Public and environmental health is being severely threatened through the institution of animal factory farming, which pollutes our water, air, soil and even our bodies with harmful chemicals and pollutants. When Do We Prefer To Get Rid Of Things? The theory of loss aversion is used in many contexts to explain why potential loss has a greater mitigating influence on behavior than potential gain. Hip Size Of Mothers Linked To Breast Cancer In Daughters In a study of the maternity records of more than 6,000 women, researchers discovered a strong correlation between the size and shape of a woman’s hips and her daughter’s risk of breast cancer. World Troubles Affect Parenthood One in seven adults is reluctant to have children and one in four puts off planning for the future because of world troubles, according to a survey. HIV Positive California Man to Trek To Swaziland, Africa To Offer Hope Jonathan Craig, a California man living with HIV for 25 years without major complications, will be traveling to the Kingdom of Swaziland, Africa on October 13 to address its people as their HIV and/or AIDS infection rate soars to near 45 percent. Babies Swimming In Public Pools Linked To Infections National Research Center for Environment and Health (Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres) found indications for an association between attendance of swimming pools in the first year of life and the frequency of infections. Prostate Cancer Risk Unlikley Affected By Fats and Meat New data from a large ethnically diverse group of men provides no evidence that eating a lot of fats and meat substantially affects a man's risk of developing prostate cancer. Negativity Is Contagious, Study Finds Though we may not care to admit it, what other people think about something can affect what we think about it. This is how critics become influential and why our parents’ opinions about our life choices continue to matter, long after we’ve moved out. Spouses Copy Each Other's Health Habits Spouses tend to be copycats; if one quits smoking or starts exercising, the other is more likely to follow suit, a new study finds. Emotionally Charged Events Leave Their Mark On Memory Researchers have uncovered new evidence in mice that may explain how emotionally charged situations can leave such a powerful mark on our memories. Having An Older Brother Reduces Fertility Having an older brother may reduce your fertility, research suggests. The University of Sheffield found people who had an older brother had fewer children than those who had an older sister. Bilberries May Prevent Certain Cancers A Leicester cancer research project, which receives funding from Hope Against Cancer (formerly The Hope Foundation,) is investigating whether an extract from bilberries can prevent or delay the onset of certain cancers. Medical, Behavioral Woes Can Drive Dogs to Bite Underlying anxiety, pain and other behavioral or medical problems can help prompt dogs to bite children, a new study suggests. Vigorous Exercise Keeps Knee Cartilage Healthy The world's most common joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability among adults over the age of 50. Researchers found that vigorous physical activity-- exercise that gets the heart pumping and the body sweating, as well as weight-bearing exercise were associated healthy cartilage in the knee. High Blood Pressure Due To Excess Weight In Half Of Overweight Adults As many as 50 percent of overweight men and women with high blood pressure may have hypertension as a result of being overweight, researchers reported. Increasing Young Adult Smoking Linked To Smoking In Movies Do young adults learn behaviors from movies? Researchers found that more exposure to smoking in movies was significantly associated with young adults beginning to smoke or becoming established smokers. Children Having More Trouble Falling Asleep Children have more difficulty initiating sleep than maintaining sleep. Further, parents tend to underestimate their children’s sleep problems. This highlights the importance of having treatment options available to help a child overcome a sleep disorder, according to a study published in the October 1 issue of the journal SLEEP. Top 10 Superfoods: Goji Berries, Cinnamon, Turmeric And More We're often fed news about superfoods and superherbs -- and it's tempting to want to believe everything we're told. Some superfood claims are backed by scientific studies, while other enticing claims turn certain foods into fads, though the foods have few proven benefits. We looked at the studies of 10 pantry picks and give you the real goods about their disease-fighting powers. Resveratrol Found in Grapes Fights Diabetes Even relatively low doses of resveratrol—a chemical found in the skins of red grapes and in red wine—can improve the sensitivity of mice to the hormone insulin, according to a report in the October issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication. Caesarean 'Raises Womb-Tear Risk' A Caesarean section increases the risk by 50-fold that a woman's uterus will rupture during a subsequent vaginal delivery, research suggests. How Couples Interact To Resolve Conflict Makes The Difference In A Marriage Recent studies show that how often couples fight or what they fight about usually doesn’t matter. Instead, it’s the nuanced interactions between men and women, and how they react to and resolve conflict, that appear to make a meaningful difference in the health of the marriage and the health of the couple. Childhood TV Viewing A Risk For Behavior Problems Daily television viewing for two or more hours in early childhood can lead to behavioral problems and poor social skills, according to a study of children 2.5 to 5.5 years of age conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dietary Calcium May Prevent The Spread of Breast Cancer To Bone A strong skeleton is less likely to be penetrated by metastasizing cancer cells, so dietary calcium might be the way to block cancer’s spread, according to researchers at the ANZAC Research Institute in Concord, Australia. 'Bad Carbs' Not The Enemy, Professor Finds The latest common wisdom on carbohydrates claims that eating so-called "bad" carbohydrates will make you fat, but University of Virginia professor Glenn Gaesser says, "that's just nonsense." Eating sandwiches with white bread, or an occasional doughnut, isn't going to kill you, or necessarily even lead to obesity, he said. Concord Grape Juice Has A Heart-Healthy Effect Not Reported In Red Wine Many studies have suggested that moderate red wine consumption is beneficial to cardiovascular health. But most studies don't address if the benefits are actually from the alcohol or components in the grapes themselves. What if you’d like to skip the alcohol and gain the same benefits? Popular Prostate Cancer Treatment Encourages The Spread Of Cancer A popular prostate cancer treatment called androgen deprivation therapy may encourage prostate cancer cells to produce a protein that makes them more likely to spread throughout the body, a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests. Chocolate 'Aids Fatigue Syndrome' A daily dose of specially-formulated dark chocolate may help cut chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. Why Women Worry So Much Scientists have known that on the whole, females of all ages tend to worry more and have more intense worries than males. Women also tend to perceive more risk in situations and grow more anxious than men. Now we know why. High-Carb Diet May Help You Think Faster A low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet and a high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet both improve weight loss, enhance mood, and speed thinking, a study shows, but the low-carb diet may offer less benefit in terms of the rate of cognitive processing. Asthma Linked to Cat Allergies More than 50 percent of the current asthma cases in the U.S. are the result of allergies, especially to cats, according to a new National Institutues of Health (NIH) study. The Health Risks and Toxicity of Tattoos A frighteningly growing number of teens and young adults around the world are injecting dangerous chemicals under their skin in the name of art and self-expression.