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.

At the recent Worlds of Healthy Flavors conference, sponsored by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Culinary Institute of America, two prominent researchers called for an end to the use of the term “low-fat.”

Dr. Ronald Krauss, director of atherosclerosis research at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, and Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, have been involved in numerous studies measuring the effects of dietary habits on health. Few of those studies, they noted, have turned up reliable associations between one’s total intake of dietary fat and such diseases as cancer and heart disease. Nor have they turned up meaningful associations between total fat intake and obesity.

As most of us now know, it is the type of fat that matters most to health. A diet in which saturated fats are replaced by polyunsaturated fats, found mostly in plants, nuts and seafood, and monounsaturated fats, present in olive oil, may help protect against heart disease.

On the other hand, trans fats, created during the hydrogenation process, seem to increase heart disease risk. And saturated fats – found mostly in meat and dairy products, and in coconut and palm oils – raise blood levels of L.D.L., or “bad” cholesterol, also a risk factor for heart disease.

Robots May Help Patients Recover From Stroke

Study Shows Robotic Therapy May Have Advantages Over Treatment by Human Physical Therapists

Feb. 11, 2011 (Los Angeles) — Robot-assisted therapy can help improve arm and shoulder mobility in people left paralyzed after a stroke.

In a study of 56 stroke survivors with paralysis on one side of the body, those who underwent robotic therapy improved more on a test of arm and shoulder motor function than those who received more standard rehab.

Many Patients Don’t Take Part in Cancer Studies

Study Shows Doctors Often Fail to Tell Patients About Ongoing Clinical Trials

Feb. 11, 2011 — Just an estimated 2% to 4% of adults who are newly diagnosed with cancer participate in clinical trials even though there are more than 8,000 such trials that are actively recruiting. One reason is that they may not know about these trials because their doctors may not tell them, suggests a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

New Adhesive Tape Test for Melanoma

Study Shows Test Using Special Tape to Collect Cells Can Spot Early Melanoma

Feb. 11, 2011 — An experimental, noninvasive test that relies on a special adhesive tape to collect cells from suspicious skin lesions can accurately identify both early and advanced melanomas, researchers say.

The test identified localized and invasive melanomas 100% of the time, with a 12% rate of false-positives, in a study performed at 18 sites across the U.S.

Melanoma is a treatable cancer if caught early but can be deadly once cancer cells have spread beyond the skin.

Its incidence has doubled over the last two decades, and in the U.S., the increase has been especially dramatic among young women and older men.

New Drug Helps Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Study Shows Apixaban Prevents Strokes in Patients With Abnormal Heart Rhythm

Feb. 10, 2011 (Los Angeles) — The experimental anti-clotting drug apixaban beat aspirin at preventing dangerous blood clots or strokes in people with the abnormal heart rhythm atrial fibrillation, according to final results of the so-called AVERROES trial.

The late-stage phase III study was stopped early after apixaban’s advantages became clear, and early results were first reported in September 2010.

Today, the final results were presented at the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2011 and simultaneously published online in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Warming Anesthetics Reduces Pain of Injections

Warming Injections to Body Temperature Eases Pain of Getting a Shot, Study Finds

Feb. 10, 2011 — Warming local anesthetics may reduce the pain experienced during injections, a new study finds.

“Warming an injection is a cost-free step that emergency physicians can take to reduce pain from a shot,” study author Anna Taddio, MD, of the University of Toronto, says in a news release.

Stroke Rates Are Rising for Young Americans

But Study Also Shows Strokes Are Decreasing Among Those Age 45 and Older

Feb. 9, 2011 (Los Angeles) — Stroke rates are rising sharply among children and younger adults while dropping in those aged 45 and older, suggests a nationwide snapshot of stroke hospitalizations.

Doctors who heard the new figures at an American Stroke Association meeting here say they point to the need to turn the tide on the epidemic of obesity and diabetes among Americans, particularly younger ones.

Wireless Sensor Monitors Heart Failure Patients

Study Suggests Experimental Device May Cut Hospitalization Rate for People With Heat Failure

Feb. 9, 2011 — An implanted wireless monitoring device about the size of a paper clip reduced hospitalizations among heart failure patients by 39%, a study shows.

The experimental implant is designed to measure pressure in a pulmonary artery, which is a leading indicator of how well a patient’s heart failure is being managed with drugs.

The study is published in The Lancet.

Pollution May Aggravate Skin Damage From Sun

Study Shows Extreme Weather May Also Worsen Skin Damage From Ultraviolet Radiation

Feb. 8, 2011 (New Orleans) — Exposure to amounts of pollution typically found in urban environments may more than double skin damage from the sun, preliminary research suggests.

Extreme weather and smoking may also increase the skin damage associated with ultraviolent (UV) radiation, the study suggests.

Michelle Garay, MS, of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies in Skillman, N.J., and colleagues presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Infant Deaths Spur Video Baby Monitor Recall

Cords Too Close to Cribs Blamed for 7 Baby Deaths

Feb. 11, 2011 — Two infant strangulation deaths and one close call have led to the recall of 1.7 million Summer Infant video baby monitors.

Various monitor brands caused the deaths of seven babies when cords were left too close to kids. This spurred an October 2010 warning from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Leprosy, Plague and Other Visitors to New York

When New York City’s health department revealed last weekend that three people had contracted cholera, it was a reminder that the city is not just a world capital of arts, business and the like – but also of exotic diseases.

If a disease has cropped up in the world, there is a good chance it will eventually find its way to New York City through the diverse travelers who cross the city’s borders.

For instance, several people every year are found to have a biblical disease, leprosy, though health officials say no one has to fear catching it in the subway. In 2002, bubonic plague, more commonly associated with the 14th century, found its way to New York City through two travelers who came from a ranch in New Mexico, where the disease is endemic in flea-bitten wild animals like prairie dogs.

Lymph Node Removal Not Needed for Breast Cancer Patients

Study Shows Breast Cancer Patients Do Well Without Surgery to Remove Lymph Nodes Under the Arm

Feb. 8, 2011 — Many women being treated for early breast cancer can keep the lymph nodes under their arms without fear that it will hurt their chances of survival or the increase the odds that their cancer will return, experts say.

A new study shows that about 92% of women with early-stage breast cancers that have spread to a nearby lymph node who have lumpectomies and radiation to treat their tumors will be alive five years later, whether or not they have multiple lymph nodes removed from under their arms, a procedure called an axillary lymph node dissection.

The study is published in the Feb. 9 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association

New Drug Lowers Preterm Birth Risk

FDA Approves Makena to Reduce Risk in Women With History of Premature Delivery

Feb. 8, 2011 — The FDA has approved an injectable drug called Makena to reduce the risk of preterm delivery before 37 weeks in pregnant women who have had at least one premature birth.

Makena, or hydroxyprogesterone caproate, was approved under the federal agency’s accelerated approval regulations, which allows drugs that show promise to get to the marketplace quickly.

FDA says in a news release that Makena is not meant to be used in women with a multiple pregnancy, such as a twin pregnancy, or other risk factors for preterm birth.

Heart Failure Treatment Works Better in Women

Study Shows Women Respond Better to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Than Men

Feb. 7, 2011 — An implantable device that packs a one-two punch against heart failure seems to be more effective in women than men, according to a new study.

Once reserved only for the sickest heart failure patients, cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator consists of a device with two functions.

Fetal Surgery: Better Odds for Spina Bifida Kids

Better Chances but No Guarantees With Pre-birth Surgery for Spina Bifida

Feb. 10, 2011 — Children’s odds of a good outcome from spina bifida surgery are better if the operation is done before birth, a major clinical trial shows.

But fetal surgery carries risks for the mother, and not all outcomes are good.

The findings come from an eight-year study led by Diana Farmer, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco. The study was halted early when it became clear that kids tended to do better with fetal surgery than with surgery after birth.

Earlier Onset of Schizophrenia Linked to Pot

Study Shows Smoking Marijuana May Be Tied to Earlier Development of Psychotic Illness

Feb. 7, 2011 — People who smoke pot are more likely to develop a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia earlier than those who do not use marijuana, according to a new analysis.

The results are published online in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Genetic Link Between Stress and Depression

Study Shows People With a Genetic Mutation May Be More Likely to Develop Depression

Feb. 7, 2011 — A gene that influences how the brain responds to stress may also play a key role in depression.

A new study shows people with a certain genetic mutation that causes them to produce less of the brain chemical neuropeptide Y (NPY) have a more intense negative emotional response to stress and may be more likely to develop depression than others.

Researchers found low levels of neuropeptide Y caused a stronger emotional response to negative stimuli and physiological response to pain in the brain, which may make people less resilient in the face of stress and more prone to depression.

Kids With ADHD Often Have Other Problems

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Often Complicated by Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Problems, Depression, and Anxiety

Feb. 7, 2011 — Unfocused, hyperactive children are often dealing with a host of other problems that hinder their progress in school and hurt their relationships, a new study finds.

The research, published in the March issue of Pediatrics, finds that nearly 70% of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, have at least one other mental or physical problem, like a learning disability, conduct disorder, depression, anxiety, or difficulty with hearing or speech.

Is Chocolate the Next Super Food?

Study Highlights High Antioxidant Content in Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Powder

Feb. 7, 2011 — Giving your sweetie chocolate for Valentine’s Day may show you care for their health as well as their heart.

A new study suggests that dark chocolate and cocoa powder may be the next “super foods” thanks to their high antioxidant content.

Researchers found the antioxidant activity of dark chocolate and cocoa powder was equivalent to or higher than that found in some other so-called “super fruit” powders or juices, including acai berry, blueberry, cranberry, and pomegranate.

Hula Hoop Workouts Burn Calories

Study: Exercise With a Weighted Hoop About as Intense as Boot Camp, Step Aerobics

Feb. 11, 2011 — Working out with a hula hoop burns about as many calories per minute as step aerobics, boot camp, or very brisk walking, a new study shows.

For the study, researchers recruited 16 women between the ages of 16 and 59 and had them learn a 30-minute aerobics routine that uses weighted hula hoops twirled around the waist, arms, and legs.

After two practice sessions to get familiar with the moves, volunteers wore portable oxygen analyzers and heart rate monitors to record their exertion.

Does Chocolate Make Acne Worse?

Study Suggests Pure Chocolate May Aggravate Acne in Young Men

Feb. 8, 2011 (New Orleans) — What your mother always told you may be true after all: Chocolate may make acne worse, a small preliminary study suggests.

Young men who ate up to 8 ounces of chocolate saw their average number of pimples skyrocket from fewer than four to as many as 70.

And the more chocolate they ate, the more they broke out — a finding that further supports the idea that the worsening of acne was due to eating the chocolate, says study researcher Samantha Block, a second-year medical student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Still, the study doesn’t prove cause and effect.

Salty Diet Linked to Stroke Risk

Study Puts New Focus on Health Risks of Getting Too Much Salt

Feb. 9, 2011 (Los Angeles) — Fewer than 2 teaspoons of salt a day may raise your risk of stroke.

In a study of over 2,600 people, those who got more than 4,000 milligrams of sodium a day were about two-and-one-half times more likely to have a stroke than those who got less than 1,500 milligrams a day.

One teaspoon of salt contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium.

Interestingly, the results held true regardless of whether a person had high blood pressure, says study researcher Hannah Gardener, ScD, an epidemiologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Salty diets have been linked to high blood pressure, a major stroke risk factor.

The findings were presented at the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference (ISC).

Is Diet Soda Linked to Heart, Stroke Risk?

Study Suggests Connection Between Drinking Diet Soda and Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

Feb. 9, 2011 (Los Angeles) — You may feel less guilty if you opt for diet sodas over sugary beverages, but drinking them regularly may raise your risk of heart attack and stroke, a study suggests.

In a nine-year study of more than 2,500 people, those who drank diet soda daily were 48% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke or die from those events, compared with those who rarely or never drank soda.

There was no increased risk of cardiovascular disorders among daily drinkers of regular soda, says study researcher Hannah Gardener, ScD, an epidemiologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Less Cholesterol in Eggs, USDA Says

New Analysis Finds 14% Less Cholesterol in Eggs, 64% More Vitamin D

Feb. 8, 2011 — Cholesterol in eggs has dropped in the past decade, according to a new analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Eggs, on average, have 14% less cholesterol and 64% more vitamin D than the last time they were analyzed by the government in 2002.

For the recent analysis, regular large-shell eggs were picked up from 12 locations across the country and then sent off to an independent lab at Virginia Tech University for evaluation.

Toddlers’ Diet May Affect IQ at Age 8

Study Shows Diet High in Processed Foods May Be Tied to Lower IQ Scores

Feb. 7, 2011 — Three-year-olds who eat diets rich in fat- and sugar-laden processed foods may have slightly lower IQ scores at age 8 than their peers with healthier eating habits, a new study shows.

The small, but measurable, difference in IQ scores detected in the study between kids who ate the most processed foods at age 3 and kids who ate the least suggests that optimizing a young child’s diet may do more than help prevent obesity; it may also give kids a lasting brain boost.

Starting Solid Food Too Soon Tied to Childhood Obesity

Starting Infants on Solids Before 4 Months Raises Childhood Obesity Risk

Feb. 7, 2011 — Starting infants on solid foods before the age of 4 months may dramatically increase the risk of childhood obesity.

A new study shows that formula-fed infants or infants who stopped breastfeeding before 4 months and started eating solid foods before 4 months of age were six times more likely to be obese by age 3 than infants who started solid foods later.

However, the timing of introducing solid foods was not linked to obesity risk among infants who were breastfed for at least four months.