Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Greens With Fruit and Cheese

Photobucket

Braised Endives With Orange, Toasted Almonds and Ricotta

Apple, Fennel and Endive Salad With Feta

Watercress and Endive Salad With Pears and Roquefort

Braised Endives With Orange, Toasted Almonds and Ricotta

Kale Salad With Apples, Cheddar and Toasted Almonds or Pine Nuts

General Medicine/Family Medical

Too Much to Drink? Try Yoga

If the holiday festivities have left you feeling like your body needs a good wringing out, a trip to the yoga studio – or your own yoga mat at home – may be just what the doctor ordered. Whether you choose a gentle, restorative approach or a more vigorous one like Power Yoga, designed for the exceptionally fit, yoga can help to revive a fuzzy mind or aching body and bring relief from that bane of New Year’s Day: the hangover.

Though there is no evidence to support claims that yoga will eliminate alcohol’s toxic effects, “we do feel that yoga reduces stress and has health benefits,” said Dr. Debbie L. Cohen, a kidney specialist at the University of Pennsylvania who is studying yoga as an alternative to medication to lower high blood pressure. She cites studies showing that yoga can reduce chronic stress, ease arthritic conditions and improve the quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Gene May Be a Target of Stomach Cancer Treatment

Researchers Say Discovery of Gene’s Role in Stomach Cancer May Lead to New Therapies

Dec. 28, 2010 — Targeting ASK-1, a gene previously linked to both skin and colon cancer, may be a new way to treat stomach cancer, Japanese researchers report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“The King’s Speech”: Raising Stuttering Awareness

Colin Firth’s Portrayal of King George VI Is Praised by Stuttering Organization

Dec. 28, 2010 — The King’s Speech — the new film starring Colin Firth — could be one of the early box office hits of 2011. It is hoped that looking back at the stuttering monarch’s life will help raise awareness of stuttering, a condition that affects around 3 million adults in the U.S., according to the National Stuttering Association.

Firth plays King George VI — the father of Queen Elizabeth II — who was affectionately known as “Bertie.” The actor’s portrayal of Bertie’s struggle with stuttering, which took the form of “silent blocks,” has been praised by the British Stammering Association (BSA) for its authenticity. [Editor’s note: In the UK stuttering is referred to as stammering.]

Smoking May Worsen Cancer Pain

Smokers Report More Cancer Pain, Distress Than Nonsmokers

Dec. 28, 2010 — Smoking may make an already painful disease worse.

A new study shows that smokers who continue to light up after being diagnosed with cancer may experience more pain and more pain-related disruption in their daily lives, compared to nonsmokers.

Smoking is already known to greatly contribute to a person’s risk of developing cancer, but researchers say this study suggests that smoking may also contribute to pain in people with various types of cancer.

Sleep apnea device eases fatigue in three weeks

(Reuters) – People with breathing problems that disrupt their sleep were less tired after three weeks of treatment with a breathing device compared to those treated with a placebo, U.S. researchers said on Saturday.

The findings show that regular use of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks reduces fatigue caused by obstructive sleep apnea, a chronic disorder that affects 12 million Americans.

Sleep apnea raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat and diabetes.

Study finds high rate of ER trips for food allergies

(Reuters Health) – Food allergies may send more Americans to emergency rooms each year than commonly believed, a new study suggests.

Between 2001 and 2005, researchers estimate that Americans made just over a million visits to the ER for allergic reactions to food.

That averages out to about 200,000 ER trips each year, including an estimated 90,000 visits for serious, sometimes life-threatening, allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis.

Going under: Anesthesia closer to coma than sleep

(Reuters) – Instead of a deep sleep, general anesthesia is more like a reversible drug-induced coma, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday, in findings that could lead to better treatments for coma and better anesthesia.

“General anesthesia is pharmacological coma, not sleep,” said Dr. Nicholas Schiff of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, who worked on the study with Dr. Emery Brown of Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Ralph Lydic of the University of Michigan.

Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines

Year-End Flurry of Food Recalls, Illness

Sprouts, Parsley, Cilantro, Pastry, Cheese in Separate Recalls

Dec. 28, 2010 — A nationwide recall of curly parsley and cilantro is the latest in a year-end flurry of food warnings and outbreaks of food-borne illness.

In the two most serious of these outbreaks:

   * At least 89 people in 15 states fell ill with salmonella infections after eating contaminated Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts from Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Ill. Many of those who fell ill reported eating sandwiches at Jimmy John’s restaurants.

   * 100 people became ill after eating pastries made by Rolf’s Patisserie, a gourmet European bakery in Lincolnwood, Ill. Various desserts were shipped wholesale and repackaged by other retailers. Whole Foods has recalled gingerbread houses and a wide range of pastries, pot pies, and quiche originally made by Rolf’s.

Seasonal Flu/Other Epidemics/Disasters

South Korea confirms bird flu cases as foot-and-mouth spreads

(Reuters) – South Korea, already battling a serious outbreak of food-and-mouth disease in livestock, on Friday confirmed an outbreak of bird flu at poultry farms.

The H5N1 avian influenza virus was detected in ducks in the city of Cheonan, South Chungcheong province, and in chickens in the city of Iksan in North Jeolla province, the agriculture ministry said in a statement.

Swine flu kills 56 in Egypt since October

(Reuters) – A resurgent H1N1 swine flu virus has infected 1,172 people in Egypt and killed 56 since October 8, a Ministry of Health official said on Monday.

Women’s Health

Some soy supplements OK for long-term use

(Reuters Health) – Menopausal women who take a certain type of soy supplement long-term aren’t at increased risk for breast cancer or any other ill effects, a new two-year study suggests.

But the researchers point out that the findings may not apply to all soy supplements. The ones used in the study contained a different combination of the estrogen-like compounds called isoflavones than preparations typically available over the counter.

Family history not the sole risk for breast cancer

(Reuters Health) – A new study reconfirms something often forgotten by women and sometimes even by doctors: just because breast cancer has not struck a family before does not mean family members are safe from the disease.

Researchers tracking more than 6,000 women for up to six years found that most cases of breast cancer occurred in those without a family history of the disease, although many of the women had other known risk factors that can help predict an individual woman’s likelihood of developing the disease.

Men’s Health

Prostate cancer treatment may be tied to cataracts

(Reuters Health) – Older men who opt for hormone-blocking therapy to treat prostate cancer might be slightly raising their risk of developing cataracts, hints new research.

However, it is not yet clear if the therapy does actually cause the clouding that develops in the lens of the eye.

Pediatric Health

Low Vitamin D in Newborns Linked to Wheezing

Study Shows Link Between Low Levels of Vitamin D in Cord Blood and Respiratory Infection Risk

Dec. 27, 2010 — Infants at age 3 months who had newborn blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D — a measurement of vitamin D — below 25 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) were twice as likely to develop respiratory infections as infants who had levels at 75 nmol/L or higher, according to an international study.

That finding is based on umbilical cord blood samples taken from more than 900 infants to measure blood vitamin D levels. Earlier research has suggested that mothers who have higher levels of vitamin D in their blood during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to infants who are at a lower risk for wheezing.

Investigators led by Carlos Camargo, MD, DrPH, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Harvard Medical School, examined whether vitamin D levels in the infants’ umbilical cord blood were associated with risk for respiratory infections, wheezing, or asthma.

Teen Hearing Loss: Girls Catch Up With Boys

Study Shows Girls Now Have as Much Noise-Induced Hearing Loss as Boys

Dec. 27, 2010 — Teenage girls now have as much noise-induced hearing loss as teenage boys, an analysis of U.S. data shows.

From 1988 to 1994, hearing tests showed that 18.5% of teens had significant hearing loss by age 19. In 2005-2008, the hearing loss rate among 16- to 19-year-olds dropped to 17.7%, despite a large increase in the percentage of teens “listening to music with headphones” — likely spurred by use of personal MP3 players.

But while teen hearing loss decreased slightly among boys, it increased by more than 5% in girls. As of 2005-2008, 16.7% of girls and 17.7% of boys had hearing loss by age 19.

This could mean that kids are simply listening to music at safe volumes, note study researchers Elisabeth Henderson and colleagues at Harvard University.

Cow Milk Formula Leads to Quicker Weight Gain in Infants

In Study, Babies Fed Protein Hydrolysate Formula Gained Weight at a Normal Pace

Dec. 27, 2010 — Researchers report that infants fed cow milk formula gained more weight more quickly than infants fed protein hydrolysate formulas, which are also known as hypoallergenic formulas meant for babies that have problems digesting certain proteins. The proteins in the formula have already been broken down to make digestion easier.

Investigators led by Julie Mennella, PhD, from the Philadelphia-based Monell Chemical Senses Center, a research institute dedicated to studying the chemistry behind taste and smell, compared the benefits of drinking cow milk formula vs. protein hydrolysate formula.

Aging

Team Treatment Helps Depression, Chronic Disease

Patients Have Better Outcomes With Team Approach to Managing Care, Study Finds

Dec. 29, 2010 — More than 40% of older Americans have multiple chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, and many also suffer from depression.

These patients have the highest health care costs and the worst outcomes, but a new study suggests that a team-based approach to managing care could improve outcomes and potentially save taxpayers billions.

Researchers at the University of Washington and the Seattle-based managed care organization Group Health Cooperative published their findings in the Dec. 30 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Nutrition/Diet/Fitness

More evidence olive oil and veggies help the heart

(Reuters Health) – It’s no secret that eating well is good for both body and mind, so it may not come as a surprise that a new study finds women who eat more olive oil and leafy vegetables such as salads and cooked spinach are significantly less likely to develop heart disease.

A group of Italian researchers found that women who ate at least 1 serving of leafy vegetables per day were more than 40 percent less likely to develop heart disease over an average of eight years, relative to women who ate two or fewer portions of those vegetables each week.

Family history of alcoholism raises obesity risk

(Reuters) – People with a family history of alcoholism may be turning to high-calorie treats instead of booze to satisfy their addiction, U.S. researchers say, a change that could be fueling the obesity epidemic.

Because alcohol and bingeing on junk foods stimulate the same parts of the brain, it may be that people with a predisposition to alcoholism are replacing alcohol with junk foods, says the team from Washington University in St. Louis.

Eating lots of red meat ups women’s stroke risk

(Reuters Health) – Women who eat a lot of red meat may be putting themselves at increased risk of stroke, a new study in more than 30,000 Swedish women hints.

The study team found that those in the top tenth for red meat consumption, who ate at least 102 grams or 3.6 ounces daily, were 42 percent more likely to suffer a stroke due to blocked blood flow in the brain compared to women who ate less than 25 grams (just under an ounce) of red meat daily.

Diets heavy in red meat have been linked to a number of ill effects, including an increased risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Yet, just three studies have looked at red meat and stroke risk. One study found a link, but the others did not.

Mediterranean diet tied to slower mental decline

(Reuters Health) – People who eat and drink like the Greeks may think a little more clearly into old age, hints a new study.

The findings add to a handful of evidence that a Mediterranean-style diet may be as good for the brain as it is for the rest of the body.

Traditionally associated with the consumption of a lot of wine, fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil and fish — and with very little red meat — the Mediterranean way of eating has been credited with helping to prevent various ailments, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, lead researcher Christine Tangney of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago told Reuters Health in an e-mail.

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