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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Sandwiches of all kinds are perfect vehicles for vegetables, and I am always perplexed when I stand at a refrigerator case in an airport looking at the selection of sandwiches and see little more than a thin slice of tomato or lettuce here and there amid layers of cheese, tuna or chicken salad, roast beef and sandwich meats. Vegetables can take the place of those salty sandwich meats and cheeses. They also provide one way to reduce sodium in a sandwich, which is more effective than trying to reduce sodium in breads, which require salt for all sorts of reasons, palatability being just one of them.
~Martha Rode Shulman~
You can use a country whole wheat bread for this sandwich, but what I really like to use is focaccia.
A vegetable sandwich with or without kimchi.
Mushroom Melt With Parsley Pesto, Kale and Arugula
A vegetarian sandwich that is light on the melt and generous with the greens.
Creamy Goat Cheese and Cucumber Sandwich
A creamy goat cheese and cottage cheese blend provides satisfying and comforting flavor.
Chicken, Chermoula and Vegetable Sandwich
Chermoula, the spicy Tunisian pesto-like sauce made with copious amounts of cilantro, parsley, garlic, olive oil and spices is a great sandwich condiment.
Oral Allergy Treatment May Ease Asthma, Hay Fever
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
This under-the-tongue alternative to shots is used in Europe, but not approved in U.S.
March 26 (HealthDay News) — Spring is here, and so are seasonal allergies. For the millions who suffer from hay fever or asthma in the United States, a new under-the-tongue treatment may hold promise.
Pills and drops designed to desensitize the immune system to allergens could bring some of these allergy patients relief, a new research review finds.
The review, published March 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, pulled together 63 studies on so-called sublingual immunotherapy.
Brain Differences Seen in People With Migraines
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
MRI study suggests changes occur in areas associated with pain
March 26 (HealthDay News) — People who suffer migraines may have certain structural differences in pain-related areas of the brain, a new study suggests.
Using MRI scans, researchers found that in specific brain regions related to pain processing, migraine sufferers showed a thinner and smaller cortex compared to headache-free adults. The cortex refers to the outer layer of the brain.
It’s not clear what it all means. But the researchers suspect that certain aspects of brain development may make some people more vulnerable to developing migraines — and that migraine attacks create further changes in the brain.
Breath Test Might Predict Obesity Risk
by Denise Mann, HealthDay Reporter
It works by measuring bacteria balance in the gut, researchers say
March 26 (HealthDay News) — A simple breath test may be able to tell if you are overweight or will be in the future, a new study suggests.
According to the findings, results from a standard breath test used to assess bacterial overgrowth in the gut can also tell doctors if you have a high percentage of body fat.
The microbiome, or the trillions of good and bad bugs that line your gut, can get out of balance. When bad bacteria overwhelm good bacteria, symptoms such as bloating, constipation and diarrhea may occur. The new study, appearing in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, suggests that this scenario may also set someone up for obesity.
Prescription Drug Prices at Pharmacies Compared
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Prices varied four-fold between pharmacies, and there are ways shoppers can save big bucks, experts say
March 28 (HealthDay News) — Prescription drug prices at U.S. pharmacies can vary widely, and failing to shop around could result in people overpaying by as much as $100 or more a month on average, depending on the drug, a new study finds.
Researchers at Consumer Reports called more than 200 pharmacies across the United States to get retail prices (out-of-pocket costs) for a one-month supply of five popular medicines that have recently gone generic.
Blood Test Might Spot Pancreatic Cancer Early
But not early enough to make a big difference in survival rates, an expert says
March 29 (HealthDay News) — A new blood test that detects deadly pancreatic cancer earlier than usual might slightly improve patients’ odds for survival, a small Japanese study suggests.
“This new diagnostic test may be a safe and easy screening method that could improve the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer through earlier detection,” said lead researcher Dr. Masaru Yoshida, an associate professor in the division of metabolomics research at Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine. “A drop of blood contains a lot of information.”
Simple Breath Test Might Diagnose Heart Failure
by Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
Noninvasive method found accurate in small, early study
March 25 (HealthDay News) — An experimental breath test, designed to quickly identify patients suffering from heart failure simply by analyzing the contents of a single exhaled breath, has demonstrated promise in early trials, a team of researchers says.
The investigators stressed that their evaluation is based on a small group of participating patients, and that more extensive research will have to be done to confirm their initial success.
Temporary Tattoos May Leave Permanent Damage
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
As spring break nears, FDA warns that seemingly harmless lark might blister, scar skin
March 26 (HealthDay News) — As thousands of college students head to sunny spots for spring break, getting temporary tattoos may seem like a fun thing to do. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that they can cause blisters and permanent scarring.
While the ink used for permanent tattoos is injected into the skin, temporary tattoos are applied to the skin’s surface. Temporary tattoos often use “black henna,” which may contain a coal-tar hair dye containing p-phenylenediamine (PPD), an ingredient that can cause dangerous skin reactions in some people.
By law, PPD is not permitted in cosmetics intended to be applied to the skin, the FDA noted.
Valley Fever Fungal Infection on Rise in Southwest
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Flu-like symptoms can last weeks or months, CDC researchers say
March 28 (HealthDay News) — Cases of a fungal lung infection called Valley Fever increased sharply in several southwestern states since the late 1990s, according to a report released Thursday.
In Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, the number of cases climbed from less than 2,300 in 1998 to more than 22,000 in 2011, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
Drug-Resistant Superbug May Spread Among Patients
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
People with cystic fibrosis are of special concern
March 29 (HealthDay News) — Drug-resistant bacteria that cause lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis can be passed indirectly from person to person, a new study finds.
Between 3 percent and 10 percent of cystic fibrosis patients in the United States and Europe are infected with multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium abscessus, and the numbers are rising. The difficult-to-treat infection causes progressive lung damage.
New Method May Help Pinpoint Woman’s Final Period
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Doctors could use information to start preventive treatment for bone loss, researcher says
March 26 (HealthDay News) — A new formula to predict a woman’s final menstrual period could help menopausal women fight bone loss and reduce their heart disease risk, a new study reports.
The formula is based on the changing levels of two hormones: estradiol, which is found in the ovaries; and follicle-stimulating hormone, which is present in the brain and gives instructions to the ovaries.
Estradiol levels fall and follicle-stimulating hormone levels rise as women go through menopause, the University of California, Los Angeles, researchers explained in a news release from the Endocrine Society.
Hormone Therapy May Increase Breast Cancer Risk
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter
In new analysis, researchers found risk highest when used just before menopause
March 29 (HealthDay News) — Women who take hormone therapy that includes estrogen and progestin are at increased risk of developing breast cancer and dying from it, especially if they start taking the therapy just as menopause begins, a new analysis confirms.
Researchers followed nearly 42,000 women, all of whom were past menopause, for an average of more than 11 years. Of those, more than 25,000 did not use hormone therapy and more than 16,000 took estrogen and progestin, also called combined hormone therapy. For this analysis, the researchers did not include estrogen-only therapy, used by women who have had a hysterectomy.
Stress During Pregnancy, Heart Risk for Baby?
by Randy Dotinga, HealthDay Reporter
Large Danish study looked at women who had lost a close relative while expecting
March 25 (HealthDay News) — Stress in mothers before and during pregnancy may boost the risk of congenital heart defects in their children, more new evidence suggests. But the findings aren’t conclusive, and the effect — if it exists — appears to be small.
Still, “there are several studies now that show an association,” said Dr. Edward McCabe, senior vice president and medical director of the March of Dimes, who is familiar with the results of the large new study. “It suggests there needs to be continued investigation of this.”
Early Baldness in Black Men: Prostate Cancer Link?
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter
Hair loss by age 30 may raise risk, study suggests
March 26 (HealthDay News) — Black men with early hair loss may have a heightened risk of developing prostate cancer, researchers report.
This study of more than 500 black men found that those “who have baldness by age 30 are more likely to develop prostate cancer,” said researcher Charnita Zeigler-Johnson, a research assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, in Philadelphia.
‘Bigorexics’ Want to Boost Their Masculinity
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
But anorexic guys may identify with more feminine stereotypes, study suggests
March 28 (HealthDay News) — Men obsessed with muscle-building lean toward traditional ideas of masculinity, while men fixated on being thin likely associate with more feminine stereotypes, according to new research.
Guys consumed by the idea that they are not muscular enough have a disorder called muscle dysmorphia, popularly known as “bigorexia.”
Should Short Boys Take Growth Hormone?
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
If they’re healthy, probably not, experts say
March 27 (HealthDay News) — Parents often worry when their child, especially a son, is much shorter than average. But as long as there is no medical cause, parents can rest easy, experts say.
Writing in the March 28 New England Journal of Medicine, two pediatric endocrinologists describe a scenario pediatricians see all the time: Parents bring in their 11-year-old son because he’s substantially shorter than his classmates, and his growth seems to have slowed in recent years.
4 in 10 Babies Given Solid Foods Too Early: Study
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Hunger, inability to sleep through the night often cited as reasons
March 25 (HealthDay News) — Child development experts advise parents not to introduce solid foods, such as baby cereal, into an infant’s diet until the infant is at least 4 to 6 months old. However, new research suggests that about 40 percent of parents aren’t heeding this advice and are giving their babies solid food much sooner.
The researchers also found that formula-fed infants were much more likely to be given solid foods too early than were breast-fed infants.
Genes, Wheezing Tied to Childhood Asthma Risk
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Common cold symptom increased odds for asthma in study
March 27 (HealthDay News) — Certain genetic factors and wheezing early in life are associated with a greatly increased risk of asthma in children, a new study says.
Researchers examined data from nearly 500 children and found that about 90 percent of those who had two copies of a common genetic variation and who also experienced wheezing when they had a cold early in life developed asthma by age 6.
Another Study Sees No Vaccine-Autism Link
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Experts say finding should reassure parents of young children
March 29 (HealthDay News) — Although some parents worry about the sheer number of vaccines babies typically receive, a new U.S. government study finds no evidence that more vaccinations increase the risk of autism.
Looking at about 1,000 U.S. children with or without autism, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no connection between early childhood vaccinations and autism risk.
Does Too Much TV Make Kids Antisocial?
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Spending hours in front of the tube at age 5 linked to bad behavior at age 7, researchers say
March 26 (HealthDay News) — Five-year-olds who watch television for three or more hours a day are a bit more likely to fight, steal and have other antisocial behaviors by the age of 7, a new study suggests.
The researchers also found that time spent playing computer or electronic games had no effect on children’s behavior, according to the report published online March 25 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Social Isolation May Raise Death Risk for Elderly
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Study found lack of social contact a bigger predictor of early death than just feeling alone
March 25 (HealthDay News) — Elderly people who are socially isolated and lonely may be at greater risk of early death, British researchers report.
Lack of social contact might be an even bigger risk factor than loneliness, they added. Why, however, isolation is such a powerful predictor of death isn’t clear.
“Social contact is a fundamental aspect of human existence. The scientific evidence is that being socially isolated is probably bad for your health, and may lead to the development of serious illness and a reduced life span,” said lead researcher Andrew Steptoe, director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care at University College London.
Could Herpes Virus Affect Memory in Older Adults?
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Chronic infection with cold sores may affect thinking, especially in sedentary folks, study suggests
March 25 (HealthDay News) — Older adults who harbor certain infections, such as the herpes cold sore virus, may have poorer thinking and memory abilities than their peers, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that of more than 1,600 older adults, those with signs of chronic infection with herpes simplex and certain other viruses and bacteria scored lower on standard tests of mental skills.
But the findings, published in the March 26 issue of Neurology, do not prove the infections are to blame.
Implanted Brain Stimulator for Alzheimer’s Tested
by Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay Reporter
They hope the device will restore some thinking ability and improve focus, attention
March 28 (HealthDay News) — Researchers are testing whether applying electrical stimulation directly to the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease might improve thinking, focus and alertness.
The process, called direct brain stimulation, or deep brain stimulation (DBS), has been used to treat Parkinson’s disease and is being tested as a treatment for other conditions, including traumatic brain injuries and obesity, according to the researchers.
Facebook a Boost for Your Self-Worth?
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Website may strengthen notion that you’re a good person and loved by others, study contends
March 26 (HealthDay News) — Being on Facebook can bolster people’s self-confidence, a new study suggests.
After conducting experiments with 88 undergraduate students, researchers from Cornell University concluded that Facebook profiles offer people reassurance about their self-worth because the profiles allow them to display their most valued personal traits and relationships.
The researchers also discovered that after receiving criticism, Facebook users unconsciously go back to their online profiles to boost their sense of self-esteem.
The findings appear in the March issue of the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
Tofu-Rich Diet May Help Women With Lung Cancer
by Mary Brophy Marcus, HealthDay Reporter
Chinese study found eating high amounts before diagnosis boosted survival rates
March 26 (HealthDay News) — Eating tofu and other soy foods may help women who develop lung cancer increase their odds of living longer.
A study of women from Shanghai, China, published in the March 25 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, links high soy consumption before a lung cancer diagnosis with longer survival.
More Dietary Fiber Might Help Thwart Stroke: Study
by Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
Simple measures include adding fruits, veggies to your diet, experts say
March 28 (HealthDay News) — Eating more fiber-rich foods appears to lower stroke risk, according to a new British study.
For every 7-gram bump in daily fiber consumption, an individual’s risk for experiencing an initial stroke appears to plummet 7 percent, the investigators concluded after analyzing 20-plus years of research.
Most Restaurants’ Kids’ Meals Unhealthy: Report
by WebMD News from HealthDay
Too many kids’ meals served at major chain restaurants in the United States still contain too much salt and fat and too many calories, according to a report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
The consumer advocacy group analyzed thousands of kids’ meals and found that fried chicken fingers and nuggets, french fries and sodas are the most common items offered to youngsters, USA Today reported.
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