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.
Like many Thanksgiving dishes, this pilaf combines sweet and savory foods. Apples and cranberries are high in phenolic acids, which are believed to have antioxidant properties.
The light-colored version of quinoa is a fluffier grain than the black version, so it’s almost as if there are two completely different grains in this colorful mixture.
This is particularly colorful because of the beautiful salmon-colored red lentils. They are soaked, not cooked, and contribute a fresh flavor and crunchy texture to the mix.
Mushrooms lend a meaty element to this savory mixture of red rice and quinoa, and kale adds color in addition to its many nutrients.
Pears and walnuts complement dark black and pale brown rice in this sweet and savory mixture. Make sure you don’t overcook the pears; they need only a quick sear in the pan. The optional red lentils or cranberries add some color to the mix.
High Uric Acid Linked to Both Gout and Diabetes
by Charlene Laino
Study Shows People With High Uric Acid Levels May Have Higher Risk for Diabetes
Nov. 11, 2011 (Chicago) — People with gout should make sure their uric acid levels are under control — even if they’re not experiencing symptoms of the painful arthritic disorder.
“Many people are walking around with uncontrolled uric acid levels and we used to not worry about it — if they’re not having symptoms, who cares?” says Eric Matteson, MD, MPH, head of rheumatology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Pill for Rheumatoid Arthritis Works as Well as Shot
by Charlene Laino
Experimental Pill Tofacitinib Could Offer Option for RA Patients Who Dislike Injections
Nov. 11, 2011 (Chicago) — An experimental pill called tofacitinib appears to reduce the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis just as well as Humira injections, researchers say.
Biologic drugs have markedly improved RA treatment in recent years. But one of their main disadvantages is that they are given as an injection or directly into the vein.
Survey: Most Smokers Want to Quit
But Study Shows Only 1/3 of Smokers Use Counseling or Medication to Help Them Quit
Nov. 10, 2011 — Ask anyone who has ever tried or even succeeded: Quitting smoking is not easy. Two-thirds of U.S. adults who smoke really do want to quit, and more than 50% of adult smokers have really tried during the past year,a survey shows.
But quitting can sometimes be easier said than done. This may be because many smokers don’t have all the tools they need to be successful.
Drugs That Control Genes May Treat Lung Cancer
by Brenda Goodman, MA
Researchers Report Some Success Against Advanced Lung Cancer With Epigenetic Drugs
Nov. 9, 2011 — A new approach to treating cancer appears to help certain patients with advanced lung cancer, and researchers say they think they may have a way of spotting those who will benefit.
The small study is generating big excitement in the world of cancer treatment because it demonstrates that so-called epigenetic drugs may work when traditional chemotherapy has failed.
Epigenetic drugs work by controlling gene expression — the way information from genes is used to create products such as proteins.
EEG Measures Awareness in Some ‘Vegetative’ Patients
by Salynn Boyles
Study: 1 in 5 Patients Diagnosed as Vegetative Showed Brain Activity Response to Verbal Commands
Nov. 10, 2011 — Some patients thought to be in a vegetative state may later be assessed to have some level of awareness. Now researchers in Canada say they are able to detect consciousness in these patients cheaply and easily by measuring electrical activity in the brain.
The researchers used a portable electroencephalography (EEG) device to measure brain activity. They found that three of 16 patients thought to be in unconscious vegetative states were able to repeatedly generate EEG responses to two distinct commands, even though they were unable to communicate in any other way.
New Guidelines on Frequent Cause of Sudden Death in Athletes
by Brenda Goodman, MA
Recommendations Aim to Improve the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Nov. 8, 2011 — When an athlete dies suddenly on the court or playing field, often an undiagnosed heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the cause.
Now new guidelines aim to shine a light on the diagnosis and treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disorder that affects an estimated 600,000 Americans.
Study: U.S. Pays More, but Health Care Is Worse
by Todd Zwillich
Commonwealth Fund Report Says ‘Medical Homes’ Are the Key to Better Health Care
Nov. 9, 2011 — We not only pay a lot more for health care in the U.S. than in other countries, but a new study suggests the care we get is often slower and more poorly coordinated.
That’s because other industrialized countries do a better job of giving patients easy access to primary care and to “medical homes” responsible for guiding care and complex treatment, according to a study published today by the Commonwealth Fund.
Most Sports Don’t Raise Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis
by Charlene Laino
But Study Shows Soccer Puts Nonprofessional Athletes at Increased Risk of Knee OA
Nov. 7, 2011 (Chicago) — While most sports don’t seem to raise the risk of knee arthritis, some sports do seem to be particularly hard on the knees.
Overall, athletes don’t have a greater risk for knee osteoarthritis, says researcher Jeffrey Driban, PhD, assistant professor of rheumatology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
That’s true regardless of whether you participate in recreational or elite-level sports, he tells WebMD.
Vitamin D Shows Early Promise Against Lupus
by Charlene Laino
Preliminary Research Suggests Vitamin D Is Safe, Affects Immune Response
Nov. 8, 2011 (Chicago) — In the first study of its kind, high doses of vitamin D were safe and appeared to temper some of the destructive immune system responses believed to cause lupus.
The small, preliminary study did not look at whether skin rashes, fatigue, fever, and other symptoms of lupus actually improved.
Acid Reflux Drugs Overused?
by Charlene Laino
Studies Suggest Many People Taking Them Don’t Need Them and May Be Putting Their Health at Risk
Nov. 7, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) — Many people who take popular antacid pills like Aciphex, Dexilant, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix don’t need them, according to a series of studies presented here at the American College of Gastroenterology’s annual meeting.
Doctors tend to overprescribe the drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), for patients in and out of the hospital, the studies find.
Stroke Risk Profile May Also Predict Odds of Memory Problems
by Cari Nierenberg
Study: Tool That Predicts Stroke Risk Also Shows Who’s Most Likely to Have Memory Problems in the Future
Nov. 7, 2011 — A screening profile used to gauge a person’s chances of having a stroke may also give doctors an easy way to predict a person’s odds of having future memory and thinking problems, a new study reveals.
This assessment tool is known as the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP). It estimates an adult’s likelihood of having a stroke over a 10-year period compared to other people of the same age and sex.
Pork-Cat Syndrome an Under-Recognized Allergy
by Jennifer Warner
People With Cat Allergies May Also Be Allergic to Pork and Other Meats
Nov. 7, 2011 — Some people with cat allergies may also be allergic to pork and other meats because of a rare type of cross-reactive allergy known as pork-cat syndrome.
A new study describes the first six cases of pork-cat syndrome documented in the U.S. The syndrome has been established in Europe since the late 1990s.
Researchers say the basis for the syndrome appears to be a reaction to a protein of non-primate mammals. Allergic reactions attributed to pork-cat syndrome include itchy mouth, hives, and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.
The study is being presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
FDA Reconsiders Weight Loss Drug Qnexa
by Salynn Boyles
Weight Loss Impressive, but Safety Questions Remain
Nov. 9, 2011 — The FDA is again considering approval of an experimental weight loss drug it rejected a year ago over concerns about potential heart problems and birth defects in babies born to women who take the drug.California-based pharmaceutical company Vivus Inc, is now asking for limited approval for its oral combination drug Qnexa, which would exclude women in their childbearing years.
Intentional Poisonings in Clubs, Bars May Be on the Rise
by Denise Mann
Date Rape and Robbery Among Main Motives; Poisonings May Be Even Higher Than Reported
Nov. 10, 2011 — There are plenty of lurid tales of people being drugged to be robbed or taken advantage of sexually. Sadly, they’re not just stories — and they may be becoming more common.
There were 14,270 emergency room visits for intentional drug poisoning in the U.S. during 2009, according to new data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Women Under 50 With RA at Higher Fracture Risk
by Charlene Laino
Study Shows Younger Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis Are More Likely to Break a Bone
Nov. 11, 2011 (Chicago) — Women under 50 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more than twice as likely to break a bone as those without the condition, a large study shows.
While it’s known that rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a higher rate of fractures in older men and women, “there is an increased risk even before a woman turns 50,” says study leader Shreyasee Amin, MD, associate professor of rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Breast Reconstruction May Quickly Improve Quality of Life
by Rita Ruben
In Just 3 Weeks, Women Having Breast Reconstruction Using Their Own Abdominal Tissue Saw Gains in Psychological and Sexual Well-Being
Nov. 11, 2011 — Women who underwent breast reconstruction after a mastectomy using their own abdominal tissue felt better about themselves as early as three weeks later, according to a new study.
“The really exciting thing about this particular study is the idea that we can show the impact of breast reconstruction on improving quality of life in women with breast cancer,” says study co-researcher Andrea Pusic, MD, a plastic and reconstruction surgeon at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. “Surprisingly, there’s been very little evidence showing breast reconstruction actually does make a difference in a woman’s life.”
New Version of Contraceptive Implant Is Easier to Insert
by Salynn Boyles
Nexplanon Is Designed to Be Put Easily Under Skin by a Health Care Professional
Nov. 10, 2011 — The drugmaker Merck has introduced a new version of its long-acting contraceptive implant Implanon, designed for easier insertion and removal by health care professionals.
The new version of the contraceptive is called Nexplanon. Like Implanon, it is a progestin-only hormonal birth control delivered through a flexible rod the size of a matchstick. It is inserted under the skin of a woman’s upper arm to prevent pregnancy for as long as three years.
Study: Vaccine for Breast, Ovarian Cancer Has Potential
by Kathleen Doheny
Researchers Say a Breast Cancer Patient Who Got the Vaccine Is Now Cancer-Free
Nov. 8, 2011 — A vaccine for breast and ovarian cancer that has spread to other parts of the body shows promise, according to a preliminary study of 26 patients.
One woman who got the investigational vaccine now has no X-ray evidence of cancer, says study researcher James Gulley, MD, PhD. “In January, it will be four years [for her],” he tells WebMD.
‘Sun Safety’ Counseling Pays Off for Kids and Teens
by Denise Mann
U.S. Guidelines Say Kids Can Avoid Skin Cancer if Counseled by Doctors on Limiting Sun Exposure
Nov. 8, 2011 — Catch them when they’re young.
That’s the message at the heart of new guidelines by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that call for pediatricians and primary care doctors to discuss sun safety and skin cancer prevention with fair-skinned children, adolescents, and young adults.
The guidelines update the group’s 2003 recommendations, which stated that there was not enough evidence to warrant such counseling for any age group.
Fast Baby Weight Gain Predicts Child Obesity
by Daniel J. DeNoon
Study Suggests Double Risk of Childhood Obesity for Kids With Fastest Weight Gain by Age 2
Nov. 8, 2011 — Babies who gain weight most quickly are at highest risk of obesity later in childhood, a Harvard study finds.
Infants who gain the most weight at age 1-6 months are most likely to be obese at ages 5 and 10 years. The risk goes up with the child’s starting weight-for-length percentile obtained from standard growth charts, find Elsie M. Taveras, MD, MPH, and colleagues.
Autistic Kids May Have More Cells in Some Brain Areas
by Denise Mann
Study Finding Could Someday Lead to New Ways to Identify Autism Early
Nov. 8, 2011 — New research highlights some potentially important differences in the brains of children with autism.
The small study found that boys with autism had an average of 67% more brain cells called neurons in the prefrontal cortex region of their brains, when compared with children who did not have autism.
Smiling Makes You Look Younger
by Jennifer Warner
Study Shows That People Think Those With Happy Faces Look Younger
Nov. 11, 2011 — Go ahead and smile. It may be Mother Nature’s way of giving you a youthful appearance.
A new study showed that when people looked at photos of happy faces, they guessed the age of the person in the photo as younger than in photos of the same person with a neutral or angry expression.
Researchers say it’s the first study to show that facial expressions have a major impact on the accuracy and bias of age estimates.
The study is published in Psychology and Aging.
Key Challenges for Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease
by Bill Hendrick
Alzheimer’s Association Says Insufficient Funding and Inadequate Treatment Are Among the Challenges
Nov. 8, 2011 — The Alzheimer’s Association in a new report has identified 10 “critical challenges” that need to be addressed by the nation to combat the growth and devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease.
The challenges include lack of funding and problems with diagnosing Alzheimer’s.
High-Fiber Diet Linked to Lower Colon Cancer Risk
by Kathleen Doheny
Research Shows Fiber From Whole Grains and Cereals Associated With Reduced Colon Cancer Risk
Nov. 10, 2011 — Eating a high-fiber diet is linked with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, according to new research that analyzed 25 different studies.
Total fiber intake, as well as fiber from whole grains and from cereals, was most strongly linked with a reduction in colorectal cancer risk, the researchers say.
The evidence was weaker for fiber from fruits, vegetables, and legumes, says study researcher Dagfinn Aune, a research associate at Imperial College London.
New Research Calls Salt Guidelines Into Question
by Brenda Goodman
Study Suggests Reducing Sodium May Increase Unhealthy Blood Fats; Critics Say Study Is Flawed
Nov. 9, 2011 — Everyone knows that too much salt is bad for you, right? Well, according to new research, not everyone is convinced.
Reducing dietary sodium (salt) helps lower blood pressure a little, but it also may increase levels of some hormones and unhealthy blood fats, a new review of studies shows.
Researchers say that means cutting back on sodium may not have a substantial health benefit.
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