Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News 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.

For home cooks with a sense of adventure, experimenting with aromatic and flavored oils can transform a dish. But deciding which type of oil to use isn’t always easy.

This week, Martha Rose Shulman explains all in a primer on the various oils that can be used in cooked dishes and baked goods and drizzled on salads, fish and vegetables. She also singles out a few new favorites, including rice bran and wasabi oils, as well as tried-and-true varieties, like canola and extra virgin olive oils. Here’s her report, followed by five new recipes using oils from walnuts, peanuts, rice bran, coconut, wasabi and sesame.

Extra Vitamin C May Help Lower Blood Pressure

by Cari Nierenberg

Taking Supplements May Slightly Reduce High Blood Pressure, Study Suggests

April 20, 2012 — Vitamin C supplements may help to lower blood pressure, a new study suggests.

In this review study, scientists analyzed data from 29 different clinical trials and about 1,400 adults aged 22 to 74.

The median dose of supplemental vitamin C taken by the study participants was 500 milligrams a day over a median of an eight-week period. In people who had high blood pressure, systolic blood pressure (the top number in a reading) dropped by nearly 5 points, while diastolic pressure (the bottom number) dropped by about 1.7 points.

Depression Linked to Peripheral Artery Disease

by Denise Mann

Being Depressed May Set Stage for PAD, or Vice Versa

April 20, 2012 — Depression may increase the risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD), which commonly results from narrowed leg arteries, a new study suggests.

The study results “demonstrate that there is an association between depression and PAD,” says researcher S. Marlene Grenon, MD. She is an assistant professor of surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. “We know that if you have depression, your risk for PAD is likely related to poor health behaviors like smoking and physical inactivity.”

Could Caffeine Help Dry Eye?

by Kathleen Doheny

Scientists Find Caffeine May Boost Tear Production

Experts: No Proof Gum Disease Causes Heart Disease

by Brenda Goodman, MA

New Statement by the American Heart Association Stirs Controversy

April 18, 2012 — Contrary to what had been “accepted” thinking by many, there is no conclusive evidence that gum disease causes heart attacks and strokes, or that treating gum disease will improve heart disease, according to a new scientific statement by the American Heart Association.

Gum disease is a major reason that adults lose their teeth. And in recent years, a growing number of studies have suggested that gum disease may pose other dangers to the body, too.

Male Hormone May Help Heart Failure Patients

by Salynn Boyles

Testosterone-Treated Patients Exercised More in Studies

April 17, 2012 — Treatment with testosterone may help heart failure patients feel better and exercise more, preliminary research shows.

The finding comes from four small studies of people with heart failure. The researchers analyzed the results from all of those studies and found that those who took testosterone supplements were able to exercise longer than those who didn’t.

Testosterone occurs naturally in men and women. But testosterone levels decline with age, which can contribute to decreases in muscle mass and strength.

Though patients in the trials appeared to benefit from supplemental testosterone, larger and longer studies are needed to prove the treatment is safe and effective, says researcher Justin A. Ezekowitz, MD, who directs the Heart Function Clinic at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

Gene Hunters Link Genes to Brain Size

by Denise Mann

Four New Papers May Pave the Way Toward New Treatments for Brain Diseases

April 16, 2012 — An international team of gene hunters has zeroed in on genes that may play a role in boosting brain size and IQ.

The findings — four studies in total — appear online in Nature Genetics.

The implications of the new studies are much wider than whether or not you will attend an Ivy League school or become a member of Mensa, the high-IQ society. Researchers hope that, if validated by other studies, these genes may become targets for drugs that treat brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and other forms of mental illness.

Are Biodegradable Heart Stents Safe?

by Kathleen Doheny

Resorbable Stents Appear Safe in 10 Year Follow-up of 50 Heart Patients

April 16, 2012 — A stent that helps keep clogged heart arteries open, then resorbs, appears safe, according to a new study.

The study was small, with 50 patients. The follow-up lasted 10 years.

The results are called ”excellent” by researcher Kunihiko Kosuga, MD, PhD, director of cardiology at Shiga Medical Center for Adults in Moriyama City, Japan.

One patient died of heart-related causes during the study follow-up. Rates of major complications, including heart attacks, were similar to those for metal stents in use now.

The research is published in the journal Circulation.

Are Biodegradable Heart Stents Safe?

by Kathleen Doheny

Resorbable Stents Appear Safe in 10 Year Follow-up of 50 Heart Patients

April 16, 2012 — A stent that helps keep clogged heart arteries open, then resorbs, appears safe, according to a new study.

The study was small, with 50 patients. The follow-up lasted 10 years.

The results are called ”excellent” by researcher Kunihiko Kosuga, MD, PhD, director of cardiology at Shiga Medical Center for Adults in Moriyama City, Japan.

One patient died of heart-related causes during the study follow-up. Rates of major complications, including heart attacks, were similar to those for metal stents in use now.

The research is published in the journal Circulation.

Tick Season Starts Early: Expert Q&A

by Matt McMillen

Warm Weather Means Early Start for Tick Season; Expert Advice on Protecting Yourself and Your Pet

The pleasant temperatures of this past winter may be giving way to unpleasant consequences, as the warmer weather has encouraged the early emergence of ticks. That means greater chances of contracting Lyme disease, particularly in the Northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and North-Central U.S., where it’s spread by Ixodes scapularis, often called deer tick or blacklegged tick. (Western blacklegged ticks, Ixodes pacificus, spread the disease in California and the Pacific Northwest.) Ticks can also transmit other diseases such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

WebMD talked with Todd Barton, MD, an infectious diseases specialist and Lyme disease expert at the University of Pennsylvania, about the possible uptick in health risks from these bloodsuckers and how you can protect yourself.

Tuna Source of 20-State Salmonella Outbreak

by Daniel J. DeNoon

30 Tons of Tuna Recalled; May Be in Sushi, Sashimi, Ceviche

April 16, 2012 — Tainted tuna appears to be the source of a 20-state salmonella outbreak, according to the CDC and FDA.

Nearly 30 tons of tuna have been recalled by Moon Marine USA Corp., also known as MMI, of Cupertino, Calif. The frozen product is made up of raw tuna “backmeat” scraped from the bones.” It’s called Nakaochi Scrape and is made at a processing facility in India.

The product looks like raw ground tuna. It’s not sold directly to consumers, but is widely used in sushi, sashimi, ceviche, and similar dishes. “Spicy tuna” dishes often contain the product.

Propecia, Proscar: New Sexual Dysfunction Warnings

by Daniel J. DeNoon

Labels Now Warn of Less Sexual Desire; Ejaculation/Orgasm, Infertility Trouble

April 13, 2012 — The baldness drug Propecia and the BPH drug Proscar may cause infertility and more sexual problems than previously thought, the FDA warns.

The main ingredient of both drugs is finasteride. Finasteride reduces male hormone activity. A dose of Proscar, used to reduce symptoms of enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), has five times more finasteride than a dose of Propecia, used to reduce male pattern hair loss.

Both drugs are known to cause erectile dysfunction in some men. The drugs’ labels already carry this warning.

HPV Cancer Hits 8,000 Men, 18,000 Women a Year

by Daniel J. DeNoon

CDC: Cancers From Sexually Transmitted Virus Not Just a Female Problem

April 19, 2012 — HPV cancer isn’t just a female problem, new CDC figures show.

Although HPV causes 18,000 cancers in women each year, it also causes 8,000 cancers in men, the CDC calculates. To get the figures, CDC researchers analyzed data collected from 2004 to 2008 in two large cancer registries.

HPV, human papillomavirus, is the cause of nearly all cervical cancers. But that’s obviously not the only cancer caused by this sexually transmitted virus.

HPV also causes about two-thirds of mouth/throat (oropharyngeal) cancers, 93% of anal cancers, and more than a third of penile cancers. Men are four times more likely than women to get HPV mouth/throat cancer, while women are more likely than men to get HPV anal cancer.

U.S. Measles Cases, Outbreaks Quadruple in 2011

by Daniel J. DeNoon

Unvaccinated Children, Teens at Risk

April 19, 2012 — Measles cases are spiking sharply in the U.S., the CDC reported today.

The 222 cases and 17 outbreaks seen in 2011 are nearly four times the median of 60 cases and four outbreaks per year seen over the last decade. A third of patients were hospitalized.

The surge in cases is largely due to people who have not been vaccinated with the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, the CDC says. A significant percentage of these people are children and teens whose parents exempted them from school vaccination requirements.

CDC: Child, Teen Injury Deaths Dropping

by Salynn Boyles

But Painkiller Deaths Rising Dramatically in Older Teens

April 16, 2012 — The death rate from unintentional injury among children and teens has dropped by about a third in a decade. But troubling increases occurred in prescription drug deaths among older teens and suffocation deaths among infants, the CDC says.

More than 9,000 children and teens in the U.S. — about one child every hour — died in 2009 from injuries with causes such as motor vehicle crashes, suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires, and falls, according to a CDC rreport released today.

Depressed Moms Disrupt Baby’s Sleep

by Denise Mann

Mothers With More Depressive Symptoms Wake Sleeping Babies, Researchers Say

April 17, 2012 — New research provides a unique look at the way a mom’s depression can affect her baby’s sleep.

Researchers watched hours of video of moms as they took care of their babies at bedtime and throughout the night. They found that moms with greater depressive symptoms were more likely to pick up their sleeping babies — sometimes waking the infant as a result.

These moms were also more likely to respond to all sounds their babies made — even those like cooing that don’t require any action.

Moms with more depressive symptoms were less likely to engage in calming pre-bedtime rituals and had trouble setting limits during bedtime when compared with moms who were not depressed.

The findings appear online in Child Development.

Ultrasound ‘Male Lumpectomy’ for Prostate Cancer

by Peter Russell

Ultrasound Treatment Zaps Tumors, Leaves Healthy Prostate Intact

April 17, 2012 — An experimental treatment zaps prostate tumors while leaving healthy prostate tissue intact.

It’s been called “male lumpectomy,” because like less-invasive forms of breast cancer surgery, it removes tumors without removing the entire organ affected by cancer.

The treatment, under development by Hashim Ahmed, MD, and colleagues at London’s University College Hospital, uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to blast away small patches of cancer cells. This “focal therapy” is intended to reduce the serious side effects common with standard treatments for prostate cancer.

Best Prostate Cancer Radiation?

by Daniel J. DeNoon

Prostate Cancer External Beam Radiation: IMRT Beats 3D, Proton Beam

April 16, 2012 — The most popular form of radiation therapy for prostate cancer may also be the best, a new comparison study finds.

Nearly all men with prostate cancer who opt for external beam radiation get a treatment called intensity-modulated radiation therapy or IMRT. IMRT has almost entirely replaced another type of radiation treatment called 3D conformational therapy — even though it’s much more expensive, with little head-to-head evidence showing it works better.

And there’s an even newer and even more expensive prostate cancer treatment: proton beam therapy. More and more medical centers are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to build new proton beam therapy centers.

Background TV May Harm Young Kids’ Development

by Denise Mann

U.S. Kids Exposed to Close to 4 Hours of Background TV Noise Every Day

April 19, 2012 — We all do it at least occasionally. We leave the TV on as background noise when no one is really watching. No problem, right? Wrong, according to a new study, if there are young children in the house.

U.S. kids are exposed to close to four hours of background TV each day. This is the main finding from a new study slated to be presented at the upcoming annual meeting of the International Communication Association in Phoenix, Ariz.

Background TV has been linked to problems with learning and reading among young children.

Victor Strasburger, MD, sums it up best when he says, “Babies don’t multitask.” Strasburger, a professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, reviewed the findings for WebMD.

Is Your Child Playing the ‘Choking Game’?

by Rita Rubin

Survey Finds 6% of Oregon 8th-Graders Have Tried the Potentially Deadly Activity

April 16, 2012 — It was a typical, relaxed Saturday in the Grant home. Jesse, 12, was playing video games with his 10-year-old brother and his cousin.

But while waiting his turn, Jesse ducked into his bedroom, closed the door, and accidentally hanged himself with a computer cord while playing a solitary “choking game.”

That was seven years ago this week, and thanks to Jesse’s mother, Sharon, and other victims’ parents, the so-called game has garnered increasing attention from the media and academia.

Any Exercise May Cut Alzheimer’s Risk at Any Age

by Denise Mann

Simple Household Chores, Active Lifestyle May Lower Alzheimer’s Risk

April 18, 2012 — Daily physical activity may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and mental decline even in people older than 80, according to a new report in Neurology.

And it’s not just walking, running, or other exercises that count. Tasks like washing dishes, cooking, playing cards, and even moving a wheelchair with a person’s arms count as physical activity and can help lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Blood Test for Teen Depression Under Study

by Kathleen Doheny

Scientists Say Blood Test Can Tell Difference Between Depression, Anxiety in Teens

April 17, 2012 — Scientists have developed a blood test that may help diagnose major depression in teens and young adults.

The test is in very early stages. However, scientists hope it will someday make diagnosing depression more objective for teens.

“The bottom line is that a test is possible from blood that can differentiate teens with major depression from those who do not have it,” says scientist Eva Redei, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

The findings are published in Translational Psychiatry.

Video Game May Help Treat Teen Depression

by Brenda Goodman, MA

Study Shows Gaming May Be a New Route to Reach Depressed Kids

by April 19, 2012 — A video game that teaches teens to shoot down and label negative thoughts may relieve depression as least as well as more traditional talk therapy, a new study shows.

The game, called “SPARX,” which stands for Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic, X-factor thoughts, was developed by researchers and teachers in New Zealand.

Fast Foods Saltier in U.S. Than Overseas?

by Salynn Boyles

Study: Foods in U.S. and Canada Tend to Have More Salt

April 16, 2012 — Your helping of McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets in the U.S. comes with something extra you won’t find in the same nuggets overseas: a lot more salt.

A new study finds that there is a wide range in the salt content of the same fast foods sold in different countries. Food in the U.S. and Canada generally contain more salt than food in the U.K. and France.

Researchers say the finding suggests that technical issues often cited by fast food franchises as barriers to reducing salt in their products may not be a major issue.

“These companies can reduce the salt in their foods because they are doing it,” says University of Calgary professor of medicine and community health Norman Campbell, MD, who was a co-author of the study. “Decreasing the salt content of fast foods is certainly technically feasible and it would improve health and save billions annually in health care costs.”

Low-Fat Dairy May Help Lower Stroke Risk

by Matt McMillen

Swedish Study Suggests Vitamin D May Play Major Role

April 19, 2012 — Middle-aged and older adults may be able to lower their risk of having a stroke by eating low-fat dairy products, according to a Swedish study published in the journal Stroke.

The study researchers, who tracked the diets of nearly 75,000 men and women over 10 years, found that those who ate the most low-fat dairy foods and beverages were 12% less likely to have a stroke than those who ate the least.