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.
Cornmeal can be at the center of your plate in the form of spoonbread or polenta, or it can be one ingredient in a mixed-grain bread or pastry. [..]
The grain is an excellent source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and vitamin B6.
Spoonbread, a traditional Southern dish, is sort of a cross between a soufflé and polenta – a light, fluffy mixture of cornmeal, water, milk and eggs. You could serve it as a vegetarian main dish or as a side.
This is a beautiful, rustic and comforting dish adapted from recipes from Epirus, a mountainous region of northwestern Greece. The cornmeal crust is like a thin layer of polenta both above and below the greens, which are fragrant with dill, mint and parsley.
If you’ve got a crowd coming for Thanksgiving, make some of these for breakfast or for afternoon tea. You can whip them up quickly. If you’ve got a crowd coming for Thanksgiving, make some of these for breakfast or for afternoon tea. You can whip them up quickly.
During World War II, when many Greeks died of starvation, cornmeal was one of the few foods people had to eat. Older Greeks eschewed it after the war because it reminded them of those difficult years.
Cornmeal is used in many breads in the Mediterranean and southern Europe, especially in Turkey and Portugal. It contributes wonderful texture.
New Anticlotting Drug May Extend Heart Patients’ Lives
by Charlene Laino
Study Shows Xarelto Helps Treat People Who Had Heart Attacks or Chest Pain
Nov. 14, 2011 (Orlando, Fla.) — People recently hospitalized for heart attack or the severe chest pain of angina may live longer if they take the new anticlotting pill Xarelto in addition to standard treatment, a large study shows.
There was a drawback to taking Xarelto: an increased risk of serious, but non-deadly, bleeding, including bleeding in the brain.
Still, “death trumps nonfatal bleeding in most people’s mind,” so overall Xarelto is a substantial advance for these people, says Paul Armstrong, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Armstrong was not involved with the study.
Poll Reveals Challenges of Providing End-of-Life Care
by Brenda Goodman, MA
Doctors Overwhelmingly Support Palliative Care, but Some Patients Have Concerns
Nov. 16, 2011 — Though doctors nearly universally agree that helping patients die without pain is a more important goal than doing everything possible to prolong their lives, many say it can be tough to talk to patients about palliative care, a new poll shows.
The poll results were released by the National Journal and The Regence Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Regence health insurance company. The results reveal some of the struggles doctors face caring for patients who are at life’s end.
Macular Degeneration Drug Eylea Approved
by Daniel J.DeNoon
Drug Is a New Option for AMD, a Common Cause of Blindness
Nov. 18, 2011 — The FDA has approved Eylea for the treatment of the wet form of age related macular degeneration (AMD), the major cause of blindness in the elderly.
Eylea inhibits a factor that makes unwanted blood vessels grow in the retina. The blood vessels can leak blood and fluid, causing damage to the retina. Eylea blocks all forms of this factor, called VEGF, and also blocks a second similar factor.
Gene May Be Linked to Frequent Cold Sores
by Denise Mann
Study Suggests Some People May Have a Genetic Predisposition to Repeated Cold Sores
Nov. 18, 2011 — Most of us have had an occasional cold sore, but some people get the painful, unsightly sores over and over again. These cold sores, which tend to appear on or around the lips, are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).
Exactly why they occur more frequently in some people was not known, but now new research suggests some of us may have a genetic predisposition to frequent, severe cold sores.
The study is published in the Journal of Infectious Disease.
Getting Your Teeth Cleaned May Help Your Heart
by Charlene Laino
Study Shows Professional Teeth Cleaning Is Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
Nov. 16, 2011 (Orlando, Fla.) — Getting your teeth cleaned may give you more than a sparkling white smile — it may give you something to smile about, like your health.
In a large study, people who had their teeth professionally scaled at least once every two years were 24% less likely to have a heart attack, compared with those who skipped the hygienist. Scaling cleans between the gums and the teeth.
And their risk of stroke dropped by 13%, says study researcher Zu-Yin Chen, MD, a cardiology fellow at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.
Pill May Boost HDL ‘Good’ Cholesterol by Charlene Laino
Early Study Shows Evacetrapib Raises HDL Without Serious Side Effects
Nov. 15, 2011 (Orlando, Fla.) — Once again, an experimental pill that boosts levels of HDL “good” cholesterol has shown promising results in a mid-stage study.
In a three-month study of nearly 400 people, the drug evacetrapib raised HDL and lowered LDL, the so-called “bad cholesterol” — both when given alone and with standard cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.
Some Kotex Tampons Recalled Due to Infection Risk 2
by Bill Hendrick
Kimberly-Clark Says Some of Its Tampons May Be Contaminated With Infection-Causing BacteriaNov. 16, 2011 — The Kimberly-Clark Corp. says it has ordered a limited recall of 1,400 cases of tampons contaminated with a bacterium that could cause serious infections and, according to the FDA, could be life threatening.
“We have so far recovered 98% of the product — Kotex Natural Balance Security Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency,” Kimberly-Clark spokesman Bob Brand tells WebMD. “We are looking for about 300 boxes, each containing 36 tampons.”
Smucker’s Chunky Peanut Butter Recalled
by Daniel J. DeNoon
Salmonella Suspected in Peanut Butter Sold in 24 States and D.C.
Nov. 17, 2011 — Smucker’s is recalling some 16-ounce jars of Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky because of possible salmonella contamination.
The recall affects only Smucker’s chunky style peanut butter. It does not involve Smucker’s creamy peanut butter or other Smucker’s products.
More CooperVision Contact Lenses Recalled
by Brenda Goodman, MA
Silicone Oil Residue May Cause Pain, Redness, Burning, Blurry Vision, and Eye Injuries
Nov. 17, 2011 — Nearly 5 million more CooperVision contact lenses are being recalled because they may cause blurry vision, eye pain, and injuries requiring medical treatment.
CooperVision Inc. says it will expand its recall of Avaira soft contacts to include 4.9 million Sphere lenses, which have already been shipped to customers around the world.
The problem appears to be the level of silicone oil left on the lenses during the manufacturing process, according to a company news release.
FDA Rejects Avastin for Breast Cancer
by Daniel J. DeNoon
FDA Finds Big Risks, Little Benefit in Avastin for Late-Stage Breast Cancer
Nov. 18, 2011 — The FDA has revoked its approval of Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer.
The ruling followed the unanimous advice of a June 2011 advisory panel, which found that the cancer drug carries major risks but few benefits for women with late-stage breast cancer.
Genentech, which makes Avastin, appealed an earlier FDA ruling, permitting continued use of Avastin in breast cancer while the FDA considered the appeal. The FDA today rejected that appeal.
Vision Problems Decreasing in People With Diabetes
by Denise Mann
But Too Few Getting Routine Eye Exams
Nov. 17, 2011 — Vision problems and vision loss are known complications of diabetes, but things seem to be getting better. The percentage of adults with diabetes who say they have vision problems has dropped from 24% in 1997 to 17% in 2010.
That’s the good news.
The not-so-good news is that only 63% of people with diabetes and vision problems get the recommended annual eye exam.
Chlamydia Tops List of STDs Reported to CDC
1.3 Million Chlamydia Cases Were Reported to the CDC in a Single Year
Nov. 17, 2011 — Half of Americans with chlamydia don’t know it, yet it’s still No. 1 among all the sexually transmitted diseases reported to public health authorities.
The No. 2 reported sexually transmitted disease: gonorrhea. While gonorrhea rates remain near the record low, there are ominous signs the disease known as “the clap” may make a comeback. Gonorrhea may be becoming resistant to the antibiotics used to treat the disease.
Teen Birth Rate at Record Low
by Denise Mann
Study Also Shows C-Section Rates May Be Dropping
Nov. 17, 2011 — The U.S. teen birth rate is the lowest in nearly seven decades.
Reality TV shows such as 16 and Pregnant and high-profile teen moms have put teen motherhood in the media spotlight lately. Some public health experts worried that this could be glamorizing teen pregnancy and motherhood.
But the rate of teen births in the U.S. has declined for the past three years.
Exercise May Improve Memory in Fibromyalgia Patients
by Cari Nierenberg
Study Shows Physical Activity Helps the Brain Work More Efficiently and Eases Pain
Nov. 17, 2011 — Exercise improved pain and memory in women with fibromyalgia, even without medication, suggests a new study.
Researchers found that regular aerobic exercise decreased activity in memory and pain control areas of the brain.
“The decreased brain activity … suggests that the brain is working more efficiently,” says study researcher Brian Walitt, MD, in a news release.
Women’s Sleep Problems Linked to Fibromyalgia Risk
by Cari Nierenberg
Stronger Connection Seen in Middle-Aged and Older Women, Study Shows
Nov. 15, 2011 — Women who often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep may have an increased risk of fibromyalgia, a new study from Norway reveals.
“Our findings indicate a strong association between sleep disturbance and fibromyalgia risk in adult women,” study researcher Paul Mork, PhD, says in a news release. He is an associate professor in the department of human movement science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.
Is Chemo the Cause of Mental Fog After Breast Cancer? by Rita Rubin
Study Suggests Mental Fog in Breast Cancer Survivors May Be Due to Brain Changes
Nov. 14, 2011 — The mental fog many breast cancer survivors complain of after treatment may be due to changes in their brains, whether or not they had chemotherapy, a study suggests.
New research shows that even breast cancer survivors who have not received chemotherapy might experience the mental fog similar to what’s commonly known as “chemo brain.”
The study is published in the Archives of Neurology.
Nerve Damage May Play a Role in ED
by Kathleen Doheny
Study Suggests Impact of Nerve Damage on Erectile Dysfunction Has Been Underestimated
Nov. 16, 2011 — Nerve damage appears to play a bigger role in erectile dysfunction (ED) than doctors believed, Spanish researchers say.
“Up to now the impact of damaged nerves … on ED has been underestimated,” says study researcher Consuelo Valles-Antuna, of the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias in Oviedo, Spain, in a news release.
The Spanish study of 90 men found that nearly 69% with sexual problems had nerve damage, mostly peripheral nerve damage.
Taking Many Medications May Raise Risk of ED
by Denise Mann
Study: Men Who Take Multiple Medications May Have Increased Risk of Erectile Dysfunction
Nov. 15, 2011 — The more medications a man takes, the more likely he will experience moderate or severe erectile dysfunction (ED), a new study shows.
The findings held even after researchers took into account underlying health problems.
The study is published online in the British Journal of Urology International.
Obese Kids Who Lose Weight May Cut Heart Risk, Too
by Salynn Boyles
Study Shows Benefits for Heart Health in Obese Children Who Lose Weight Before Adulthood
Nov. 16, 2011 — When it comes to heart and stroke risk, some of us may be able to leave our childhoods behind.
Obese children who manage to get to a healthy weight before they reach adulthood have the same risk for heart disease and other obesity-related diseases as kids who were never overweight, new research shows.
Investigators looked at information from four large studies that followed children into adulthood in an effort to determine if childhood obesity necessarily leads to an increase in heart and stroke risk as an adult.
Chew on This: Gum May Prevent Ear Infections
by Salynn Boyles
Study Shows Sweetener Xylitol May Curb Growth of Bacteria
Nov. 17, 2011 — Middle ear infections are common during early childhood, but the simple strategy of chewing gum with the sweetener xylitol just may be an effective way to help prevent them.
Based on their review of three studies of healthy children from Finland, researchers found that there is “fair evidence” to support the conclusion that kids who chew gum containing the natural sweetener xylitol may have a lower risk of ear infections.
Survey: 1 in 4 Teens Bullied at School
by Salynn Boyles
Students Who Are Subjected to School Bullying and Cyberbullying Report More Depression and Suicide Attempt
Nov. 18, 2011 — One in four high school students in a recent survey said they were victims of school bullying, and nearly 16% said they were victims of cyberbullying.
Researchers questioned more than 20,000 ninth- through 12th-graders in and around Boston in an effort to better understand the overlap between school bullying and cyberbullying and the potential impact of both.
Does Frequent Video Game Playing Alter the Brain?
by Salynn Boyles
Study Shows Differences in Brain’s Reward Center for Frequent Video Game Players
Nov. 15, 2011 — Kids who spend hours a day playing video games may be hardwired to behave that way — or their brains may have been altered as a result of all the gaming.
The answer is not yet clear, but when researchers compared the brains of 14-year-olds who played video games excessively to those who played less often, they found key differences in an area of the brain associated with reward and addiction.
The brain imaging study revealed that the structure and activity in the part of the brain associated with reward processing was bigger in frequent gamers.
Hearing Loss Bugs 1 in 5 Americans
by Kathleen Doheny
College Students Often Set Volumes Too High, Risking Hearing Loss, Study Finds
Nov. 15, 2011 — One in five Americans aged 12 and older has hearing loss that interferes with their ability to communicate, according to new research.
“It’s a pretty shocking number,” says study researcher Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University. The one in five, or about 48 million, have hearing loss in one or both ears.
Lin also found that one in eight people aged 12 and older have hearing loss in both ears. That’s about 30 million people.
High IQ in Childhood May Predict Later Drug Use
by Denise Mann
Study Suggests Kids With High IQs May Be More Likely to Try Illicit Drugs as Teens and Adults
Nov. 14, 2011 — Brainy kids — especially girls — may be more likely to experiment with marijuana, cocaine, and other illicit drugs when they grow up, according to a new report.
In the study of close to 8,000 people, those who had high IQs when they were aged 5 and 10 were more likely to use certain illicit drugs at age 16 and at age 30.
The findings appear online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
‘Mini Strokes’ Linked to Lower Life Expectancy
by Salynn Boyles
Study Highlights the Importance of Taking Mini Strokes Seriously
Nov. 14, 2011 — “Mini strokes,” with symptoms that last just a few minutes or hours, are well-recognized warning signs for potentially deadly larger strokes. Now new research confirms that they are associated with a lower life expectancy.
Survival rates after mini strokes, known medically as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), were 20% lower than expected among study participants nine years later compared to the general population.
Body Language Reveals ‘Empathy Gene’
by Jennifer Warner
Genetic Variation Linked to Empathetic Body Language and Behavior
Nov. 14, 2011 — An empathetic nod or smile may say something about your genes as well as your heart.
A new study suggests empathetic body language and behavior are linked to a genetic variation associated with sociability.
People with the “prosocial” gene displayed more caring and trusting nonverbal behaviors, like head nods, smiles, and eye contact, while listening to a loved one describe a time of suffering. They were also rated as more empathetic by strangers who watched them for 20 seconds on silent videotape.
Foods With Vitamin C May Help Heart Failure Patients
by Charlene Laino
Study: Heart Failure Patients More Likely to Be Hospitalized if Their Diet Is Low in Foods With Vitamin C
Nov.14, 2011 (Orlando, Fla.) — People with heart failure who don’t eat enough vitamin C-rich foods are almost twice as likely to be hospitalized or die as those with heart failure who get enough vitamin C in their diet, new research suggests.
They are also more than twice as likely to have high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in their blood, which has been linked to heart disease.
The study is the first to show that people with heart failure who eat enough vitamin C-rich foods live longer, according to study researcher Grace Song, PhD, RN, an assistant professor in the department of nursing at the University of Ulsan, South Korea.
Vitamin C, an antioxidant, may help people with heart failure by calming down inflammation in the body, Song tells WebMD.
Sugary Drinks Linked to Heart Risks in Women
by Chalene Laino
2 or More Sugary Drinks a Day Associated With Belly Fat, Heart Disease
Nov. 14, 2011 (Orlando, Fla.) — Once again, sugar-sweetened beverages are on the firing line. New research shows that two or more sugary drinks a day may increase a woman’s waistline and risk of heart disease — even if she doesn’t gain weight.
In a study of more than 4,000 people aged 45 to 84, women who drank at least two sugar-sweetened beverages a day were nearly four times as likely to develop higher than normal levels of blood fats called triglycerides in their blood, compared with women who drank less than one a day.
They were also more likely to pack on belly fat. Belly fat has been linked to a number a health risks, including heart disease and diabetes.
Sweets Ban at School Parties May Cut Calorie Overload
by Brenda Goodman, MA
Study Lends Support for Cutting Back on Cake and Other Sugary Treats at School Birthday Parties
Nov. 18, 2011 — As childhood obesity rises, more schools have banned parents from bringing baked goods and other sugary treats for class parties.
Now a new study suggests those controversial “cupcake crackdowns” may be on the right track.
The study shows that kids can eat as many as one-third of all the calories they need in a day at a typical half-hour birthday party.
And those calories are coming from foods high in fat and sugar and low in nutrients — such as cake, fruit punch, ice cream, and chips.
U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that getting no more than 5% to 15% of your daily calories from solid fats and added sugars.
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