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.
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There are many ways to cut down your meat intake and increase your vegetable consumption without becoming a vegetarian. Culinary traditions around the world are filled with dishes in which meat is used sparingly, for flavor and substance, but is not at the center of the plate. Think stir-fries, and some of your favorite pastas that have a little bit of pancetta but are really all about the tomatoes.
Some of America’s biggest food service companies are committed to increasing vegetable consumption, but they don’t want to lose their meat-loving customers, so they are figuring out ways to create dishes with less meat that are still appealing. You may face this challenge in your own family; you want everybody to cut down on meat consumption, but they love their burgers.
This is the mushroom base that Scott Samuel, a chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of America, uses in conjunction with beef in his burgers. I have cut the amount of olive oil that Scott uses from 1/2 cup to 1/4 cup.
Let’s face it: turkey burgers can be boring. I spiced these up with a Middle Eastern spice blend, called baharat, that is great to have on hand.
The mushroom base renders a flavor that is more vegetal than meaty. The recipe is easy to double and the meatballs freeze well.
Mushroom, Bulgur, Spinach and Turkey Fritters With Yogurt Sauce
These are smaller than burgers and are served without buns, with a pungent garlic sauce.
In this version of a stir-fry classic I am using less beef than a typical recipe would call for and adding in some shiitake mushrooms and extra peppers.
Type 1 Diabetes Poses Risk of Thyroid Disease
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Link between ‘sister diseases’ is rooted in immune system problem, expert says
March 15 (HealthDay News) — People who have type 1 diabetes are more likely than others to develop an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Though estimates vary, the rate of thyroid disease — either under- or overactive thyroid — may be as high as 30 percent in people with type 1 diabetes, according to Dr. Betul Hatipoglu, an endocrinologist with the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. And the odds are especially high for women, whether they have diabetes or not, she said, noting that women are eight times more likely than men to develop thyroid disease.
Vitamin D Supplements Lower African-Americans’ BP?
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Study found modest, but significant, drops depending on dosage
March 15 (HealthDay News) — Black Americans who take vitamin D supplements may significantly lower their blood pressure, a new study suggests.
“Compared with other races, blacks in the United States are more likely to have vitamin D deficiency and more likely to have high blood pressure,” said lead researcher Dr. John Forman, an assistant professor of medicine at the renal division of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
But among the black study participants, three months of supplemental vitamin D was associated with a drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) of up to 4 mm Hg, the researchers found.
Skies Not-So-Friendly for Passengers With Nut Allergies
by By Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
But travelers can take steps to reduce their risk of allergic reaction, study suggests
March 15 (HealthDay News) — For most passengers, airline travel is safer than ever these days. But for people with peanut or tree-nut allergies, a routine flight can end in disaster.
Many airlines still serve peanuts and tree nuts, or snacks and meals that contain these products, which can cause severe reactions in allergic travelers.
An international online survey completed by 3,200 passengers revealed that 349 had suffered an allergic reaction during an airline flight, according to a new study.
Type 1 Diabetes Puts Strain on Marriage
by Miriam E. Tucker, Medscape Medical New
March 15, 2013 — Fears about low blood sugar and future complications are major issues for married couples in which one partner has type 1 diabetes, a small study shows.
The study, published in Diabetes Care, was done in four focus group sessions, two with 16 adults with type 1 diabetes and two with 14 of their spouses.
The intent was to gather preliminary information to guide future research in an under-studied field, says researcher Paula M. Trief, PhD, professor of medicine at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.
Spine MRIs Often Show Harmless ‘Defects’: Study
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
After treatment, many people have visible evidence of a herniated disc without any symptoms
March 13 (HealthDay News) — Even though expensive MRIs produce very detailed images for assessing back pain, they may not be very good at evaluating results after treatment, research suggests.
Many physicians order an MRI before and after treatment of patients with lumbar-disk herniation and persistent sciatica. But some experts say spine imaging is overused and not necessarily accurate in certain cases.
Fewer Patients Awake During Operations
by Tim Locke, WebMD Health News
March 14, 2013 — Being aware of what’s going on during an operation under general anesthesia sounds scary. The good news is a new study suggests it happens less often than had been thought.
Previous research has found that about 1 in 500 patients is aware or awake under general anaesthesia. The new report, from the U.K.’s Royal College of Anaesthetists, finds it is far less common, about 1 case in 15,000.
Researchers also found that even where brain monitoring equipment is available, fewer than 2% of anesthesiologists routinely use it to check the effectiveness of the anesthetic.
Quit Smoking, Help Heart: Even if You Gain Weight,
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Long-term study shows cardiac-health benefits in kicking the habit despite added pounds
March 12 (HealthDay News) — Even though many smokers fear the weight gain that often comes with quitting, a new study suggests those extra pounds won’t undo the health benefits of kicking the habit.
The study, of more than 3,200 U.S. adults, found that former smokers cut their risk of heart disease and stroke in half. And it did not matter if they gained weight after quitting.
Single Concussion May Lead to Lasting Brain Damage
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Small study found measurable MRI changes in single-concussion patients
March 12 (HealthDay News) — Just one concussion can cause long-term structural damage to the brain, according to a new study.
Researchers used 3-D MRI to examine the volume of gray and white brain matter in 19 concussion patients one year after their injury, and in 12 people who had not suffered a concussion. The scans revealed measurable losses of gray and white matter (brain atrophy) in the concussion patients, according to the study, which was published online March 12 in the journal Radiology.
Certain Diabetes Meds May Lower Heart Failure Risk
by Maureen Salamon, HealthDay Reporter
Study found people taking newer drugs were 44 percent less likely to be hospitalized with the condition
March 10 (HealthDay News) — A newer class of diabetes drugs may offer an extra benefit: A new study suggests these medications lower the odds of suffering heart failure.
Researchers from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit found that patients taking so-called GLP-1 drugs — including brand-name medications such as Byetta, Januvia and Victoza — were more than 40 percent less likely to be hospitalized for heart failure than patients prescribed other blood sugar-lowering medications. GLP-1 diabetes drugs have been in use for only the last several years and are considered second-line treatments after well-established medications such as metformin, physicians said.
Grow Your Own Replacement Tooth?
by Peter Russell, WebMD Health News
March 12, 2013 — Growing a replacement tooth from your own cells may be a step closer, according to new research.
It is still too early for use in people, but the technique involves taking stem cells and growing more of them to produce a very small, immature tooth, similar to what a tooth would look like when it starts to grow in an embryo.
“It’s very immature and very small,” says Paul Sharpe, the Dickinson professor of craniofacial biology at King’s College, London, who led the work. “These are transplanted directly into the mouth where they get their blood supply, and they start to grow and gradually form a complete tooth.”
Diabetes Meds Face FDA Scrutiny for Pancreas Risks
by Lisa Nainggolan, Medscape Medical News
March 14, 2013 — The FDA is looking into an increased risk of pancreatitis and precancerous changes to the pancreas from widely used drugs to treat type 2 diabetes.
The medications are called incretin mimetics, which mimic a natural hormone in the body that tells the pancreas to release more insulin after eating. Insulin, in turn, lowers the person’s blood sugar. Included in this class are the drugs Bydureon, Byetta, Janumet, Janumet XR, Januvia, Juvisync, Kazano, Kombiglyze XR, Nesina, Onglyza, Oseni, Tradjenta, and Victoza.
Experts: Don’t Give ADHD Meds to Undiagnosed Kids
by Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay Reporter
Neurologists say some doctors are prescribing these drugs as a way to boost school performance
March 13 (HealthDay News) — Some people call it “brain doping” or “meducation.” Others label the problem “neuroenhancement.” Whatever the term, the American Academy of Neurology has published a position paper criticizing the practice of prescribing “study drugs” to boost memory and thinking abilities in healthy children and teens.
The authors said physicians are prescribing drugs that are typically used for children and teenagers diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for students solely to improve their ability to ace a critical exam — such as the college admission SAT — or to get better grades in school.
Common Antibiotic Poses Risk to Heart, FDA Warns
by Robert Lowes, Medscape Medical New
March 13, 2013 — The popular antibiotic azithromycin may cause a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm in some people, the FDA says.
Also sold under the names Zithromax and Zmax, and often called a Z-pack, the antibiotic can cause changes in the electrical system of the heart, leading to arrhythmia. The medication can also trigger a form of rapid heartbeat called torsades de pointes.
Strain of Dengue Fever Virus Pinpointed in Florida
by Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
Some 2009-2010 cases originated in Key West mosquitoes, not from travelers, CDC says
March 14 (HealthDay News) — Some people who fell prey to a 2009-2010 outbreak of dengue fever in Florida carried a particular viral strain that they did not bring into the country from a recent trip abroad, according to a fresh genetic analysis conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To date, most cases of dengue fever on American soil have typically involved travelers who “import” the painful mosquito-borne disease after having been bitten elsewhere. But though the disease cannot move from person to person, mosquitoes are able to pick up dengue from infected patients and, in turn, spread the disease among a local populace.
Secrets of New SARS-Like Virus Uncovered
by Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay Reporter
Finding shows how it enters cells, could lead to vaccine, researchers report
March 13 (HealthDay News) — A discovery that shows how a novel — and often fatal — virus infects cells may help fight a health threat that has recently emerged on the world stage, researchers report.
A unique coronavirus was identified as the cause of severe respiratory illness in 14 people from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom between April 2012 and February 2013, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eight people have died after contracting the virus.
Can Daily Aspirin Lower Melanoma Risk in Women?
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Large study found up to 30 percent reduced odds of developing melanoma
March 11 (HealthDay News) — Older women who take an aspirin regularly may be lowering their risk of developing the deadly skin cancer melanoma, a new study suggests.
And the longer postmenopausal women take aspirin, the more melanoma risk appears to diminish.
The effect is only seen with aspirin, not with other pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), the researchers noted.
Night Shifts May Raise Risk of Ovarian Cancer
by Zosia Chustecka, Medscape Medical New
March 15, 2013 — Another study has shown a link between night-shift work and cancer, this time an increase in the risk of ovarian cancer.
Much of the previous work on the link between cancer and night work has focused on breast cancer.
The latest report, published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, focuses on ovarian cancer.
Evidence Lacking for HRT-Breast Cancer Link
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter
Researchers took fresh look at three large studies, concluded data wasn’t convincing
March 14 ( HealthDay News) — Although several large studies in recent years have linked the use of hormone therapy after menopause with an increased risk of breast cancer, the authors of a new analysis claim the evidence is too limited to confirm the connection.
Dr. Samuel Shapiro, of the University of Cape Town Medical School in South Africa, and his colleagues took another look at three large studies that investigated hormone therapy and its possible health risks — the Collaborative Reanalysis, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and the Million Women Study.
HRT for Menopause Symptoms: Timing Is Everything
by Jennifer Garcia, Medscape Medical News
March 14, 2013 — Hormone replacement therapy is the most effective treatment for symptoms like hot flashes, and the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks, major medical societies say.
The statement was published in the April issue of the journal Climacteric.
Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy May Affect Baby
by Deborah Brauser, Medscape Medical News
March 13, 2013 — Babies of moms who take antidepressants have a slightly higher risk of being born preterm and other problems. But the risk to the mom and baby of stopping antidepressants may outweigh the risks of using them, new research suggests.
The research, an analysis of 23 studies, shows that being exposed to antidepressants while in the womb is linked to preterm delivery, shorter gestational age, and lower Apgar scores (a test used to check the health of the baby right after birth) compared with babies who were unexposed.
DNA Test Shows Promise for Breast Cancer Care
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Blood sample helps doctors assess treatment response, researchers say
March 13 (HealthDay News) — An experimental blood test could help show whether women with advanced breast cancer are responding to treatment, a preliminary study suggests.
The test detects abnormal DNA from tumor cells circulating in the blood. And the new findings, reported in the March 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, hint that it could outperform existing blood tests at gauging some women’s response to treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Radiation May Affect Heart Later On
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter
But expert says cancer-fighting benefits outweigh heart-disease risks
March 13 (HealthDay News) — Radiation treatment for breast cancer, given after breast-conserving surgery and sometimes after mastectomy, is known to reduce the risk of the cancer returning and death from the disease. But the therapy comes with its own risk.
The treatment has been found to increase the odds of developing heart disease later, through incidental radiation exposure to the heart. In a new study, researchers evaluated the magnitude of that risk.
Gay Men Who Marry Now Living Longer, Study Says
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Better HIV/AIDS treatment accounts for improved longevity, researchers note
March 12 (HealthDay News) — The death rate among Danish men in same-sex partnerships has dropped significantly since the 1990s, but the death rate among women in same-sex unions is increasing, a new study finds.
In 1989, Denmark became the first country to allow registered same-sex partnerships. For several years afterward, the death rate among same-sex partners was markedly high, the researchers said.
However, the death rate among men in same-sex partnerships has declined since 1996 and is now below that of unmarried or divorced men. The development of effective treatment for HIV/AIDS is a major reason for the decrease, according to the study, published online March 12 in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Depression in Kids May Be Tied to Later Heart Risk
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
For these kids, obesity, smoking and inactivity more likely in adolescence, preliminary research shows
March 15 (HealthDay News) — Teens who were depressed as children are more likely to be obese, to smoke and to be sedentary, a new study finds.
The findings suggest that depression during childhood can increase the risk of heart problems later in life, according to the researchers.
The study included more than 500 children who were followed from ages 9 to 16. There were three groups: those diagnosed with depression as children, their depression-free siblings and a control group of unrelated youngsters with no history of depression.
Breastfeeding Might Not Prevent Pre-Teen Obesity
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Nursing exclusively has no effect on later weight, but many other benefits exist
March 12 (HealthDay News) — Breast-feeding has many benefits, but preventing overweight and obesity later in a child’s life probably isn’t among them, according to a new study.
The study included nearly 14,000 children from Belarus whose mothers were involved in a study to promote exclusive breast-feeding for longer periods. When the researchers checked on the children around age 11, they found that breast-feeding duration and exclusivity didn’t make a difference in child’s later weight.
Still, the study authors pointed out that breast-feeding has many advantages, and mothers should still be encouraged to breast-feed their infants.
Antipsychotic Meds Not So Helpful for Depression?
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
These drugs, meant for other conditions, come with side effects including weight gain
March 12 (HealthDay News) — For people who don’t fully respond to antidepressants, adding commonly prescribed antipsychotic drugs appears to be only slightly effective and is linked to unwelcome side effects, a new study finds.
Drugs added to antidepressants (like Prozac, Paxil and Celexa) include the antipsychotic medications aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine/fluoxetine (Symbyax).
Antipsychotic drugs are traditionally used to treat conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder — not depression.
Coffee and Green Tea May Help Lower Stroke Risk
by Nicky Broyd, WebMD Health News
March 15, 2013 — Green tea and coffee may help lower your risk of having a stroke, especially when both are a regular part of your diet, according to new research.
The study looked at the green tea and coffee drinking habits of more than 82,000 Japanese adults, ages 45 to 74, for an average of 13 years. Researchers found that the more green tea or coffee people drink, the lower their risk of having a stroke.
The results have been published in Stroke: The Journal of the American Heart Association.
Sweet Drinks Tied to Higher Calorie Consumption in Kids
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
And sugary beverages go hand-in-hand with fatty foods, like pizza and fries, study finds
March 12 (HealthDay News) — Children who drink sugar-sweetened beverages consume more calories than other children and the beverages are the main reason for that higher calorie intake, a new study reveals.
In addition, children who drink sugar-sweetened beverages eat more unhealthy foods than other children, the researchers found.
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