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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This week I worked with tiny grains and seeds: millet and teff, amaranth and chia seeds. These can be challenging, and I had a few starts and stops along the way until I came up with a collection of recipes I was pleased with, including some delicious, moist savory pancakes made with beet greens and cooked amaranth. I continued working with chia seeds; this time I didn’t soak them, and added them to whole-grain muffins and pancakes. That’s how I used to use chia seeds way back when, before they disappeared for a few decades from the whole-foods scene. You can raise the nutritional content of your whole-grain pastries and breads just by adding 3 or 4 tablespoons; along with their considerable nutrients, the seeds contribute interesting texture like that of poppy seeds.
~Martha Rose Shulman~
Cooked amaranth works well in baked goods and griddled cakes because it’s so moist.
These moist, hearty muffins have great texture because of the slight crunch that the chia seeds contribute.
Millet can be dry, but here there’s lots of custard to moisten it, and it works really nicely to hold this gratin together.
Teff Pancakes With Chia, Millet and Blueberries
If you’re trying to work more grains and seeds into your diet, a pancake can be a good home for them.
Serving millet as you would a polenta makes perfect sense.
Deep Brain Stimulation Studied as Last-Ditch Obesity Treatment
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
No major side effects seen in 3 patients over nearly 3 years
June 13 (HealthDay News) — For the first time, researchers have shown that implanting electrodes in the brain’s “feeding center” can be safely done — in a bid to develop a new treatment option for severely obese people who fail to shed pounds even after weight-loss surgery.
In a preliminary study with three patients, researchers found that they could safely use the therapy, known as deep brain stimulation (DBS). Over almost three years, none of the patients had any serious side effects, and two even lost some weight — but it was temporar
Will New Gout Findings Get a Toehold? Will New Gout Findings Get a Toehold?
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Flare-ups most likely if condition starts in joints such as knee or elbow, researchers say
June 12 (HealthDay News) — The big toe is not the biggest culprit in gout flare-ups, contrary to popular belief, a new study reports.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., found that people with the highest risk of repeated cases of gout are those whose gout first appears in other joints, such as the knee or elbow, rather than in the joints of the big toe.
Gout is a painful form of arthritis caused by uric acid buildup in the body. Continuing to take medication is essential to prevent recurrences, the researchers said.
Sleep Apnea May Boost Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter
Study findings bolster suspected link between sleep disorder and heart-related death
June 11 (HealthDay News) — Sleep apnea raises the risk of sudden cardiac death, according to a long-term study that strengthens a link doctors have suspected.
“The presence and severity of sleep apnea are associated with a significantly increased risk of sudden cardiac death,” said study leader Dr. Apoor Gami, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Midwest Heart Specialists-Advocate Medical Group in Elmhurst, Ill.
The new research is published online June 11 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
5% of Restroom Patrons Wash Hands Properly: Study
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
And 1 in 10 don’t scrub up at all after flushing
June 11 (HealthDay News) — The next time you reach out to shake someone’s hand, consider this finding: A recent study of hand-washing habits found only 5 percent of people who used the restroom scrubbed long enough to kill germs that can cause infections.
Thirty-three percent didn’t use soap, and 10 percent didn’t wash their hands at all, according to the study, based on Michigan State University researchers’ observations of more than 3,700 people in a college town’s public restrooms.
Blood Tests May Predict COPD Flare-Ups
by Brenda Goodman, HealthDay Reporter
Signs of chronic inflammation in the blood linked to faster deterioration of lung function
June 11 (HealthDay News) — People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have signs of chronic inflammation in their blood are more likely to have flare-ups of the lung disease than those who do not, a large new study shows.
In addition to the slow, steady deterioration in lung function caused by COPD, patients can have sudden, distressing flare-ups. These so-called “exacerbations” are periods of worsening breathing problems that are typically triggered by infections or air pollution.
Heading Soccer Balls Tied to Damaging Brain Changes
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Doing it a lot may increase risk of memory problems in adult soccer players, study says
June 11 (HealthDay News) — Sophisticated scans reveal that soccer players who head the ball a lot show changes in the white matter of their brain that mirror those seen in traumatic head injuries.
In addition, they face a higher risk of developing thinking and memory problems, the researchers report.
Standard RA Therapy as Good as Costlier Newcomer?
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Biologic drug Enbrel wasn’t better for patients who didn’t respond to methotrexate alone
June 11 (HealthDay News) — Newer, costlier treatment for rheumatoid arthritis appears no better than an older, less-expensive regimen for people who don’t respond to the first-line drug methotrexate, a new study suggests.
“Newer isn’t always better,” said researcher Dr. Ted Mikuls, an associate professor in the rheumatology division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha. “Some of the older medications can be effective.”
The Social Toll of Hearing Loss
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Higher rates of hospitalization, illness and depression for seniors reported in study
June 11 (HealthDay News) — Straining to catch the gist of conversations is frustrating enough, but a new study shows that seniors with hearing loss are also at increased risk for hospitalization, illness, injury and depression.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,100 American men and women aged 70 and older with hearing loss, and found that over a four-year period they were 32 percent more likely to have been admitted to the hospital than more than 500 adults with normal hearing.
Annual Dental Cleaning May Be Enough for Some
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
But people at risk of gum disease need more frequent appointments, researcher says
June 10 (HealthDay News) — For many people, once-a-year dental cleaning may be enough to prevent gum disease that leads to tooth loss, according to a new study.
“Twice-yearly cleanings have been recommended for over 50 years without supporting evidence,” study author William Giannobile, a professor of dentistry and biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan, said in a university news release.
Low BP May Weaken Brains of Some Heart Patients
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Pressure that’s too low — or too high — might damage brain cells, new research suggests
June 10 (HealthDay News) — People suffering from cardiovascular disease who have lower-than-normal blood pressure may face a higher risk of brain atrophy — the death of brain cells or connections between brain cells, Dutch researchers report.
Such brain atrophy can lead to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in these patients. In contrast, similar patients with high blood pressure can slow brain atrophy by lowering their blood pressure, the researchers added.
Designated Drivers Often Drink Themselves: Study
by Randy Dotinga, HealthDay Reporter
While most abstained, 35 percent had alcohol in bloodstreams and some were legally drunk
June 10 (HealthDay News) — Having a designated driver sounds like a great idea, but a new study found that more than one-third of those who were supposed to drive their pals home safely had been boozing it up themselves.
And some were legally drunk.
Nerve Stimulation Might Ease Fibromyalgia Pain
by Maureen Salamon, HealthDay Reporter
Small early study saw improvement in patients’ quality of life
June 10 (HealthDay News) — An implanted device that zaps the nerves at the nape of the neck — shown effective in treating some people with migraines — may also help ease the ache of fibromyalgia, an ailment that causes widespread body pain and tenderness.
A Belgian scientist treated small numbers of fibromyalgia patients with “occipital nerve stimulation,” which rouses the occipital nerves just beneath the skin at the back of the neck using an implanted device. Dr. Mark Plazier found that pain scores dropped for 20 of 25 patients using this device over six months and their quality of life improved significantly.
CDC: 87 Now Sickened in Hepatitis A Outbreak
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
All infections traced to product sold at Costco stores, agency says
June 11 (HealthDay News) — The number of people sickened in a hepatitis A outbreak that may be tied to a frozen berry/pomegranate mix now stands at 87, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.
As of June 10, cases had been reported in eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. The number of cases is expected to rise as the investigation continues, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Endoscopes Not Always Cleaned Properly: Study
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Used to examine patients’ gastrointestinal tracts, dirty devices might pose infection risk
June 13 (HealthDay News) — Three of every 20 flexible endoscopes used to examine patients’ gastrointestinal tracts and colons were improperly cleaned, a new study finds.
Those 15 percent of endoscopes had unacceptable levels of “bio dirt” — cells and matter from a patient’s body that could pose a potential infection risk to other patients, according to the researchers.
‘Hands-Free’ Devices Unsafe While Driving: Report
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
They cause mental distraction that can lead to crashes, experts warn
June 12 (HealthDay News) — Drivers who think hands-free devices for talking or texting are safer than handheld cellphones are mistaken, a new report suggests.
Instead, devices such as speech-based technologies in cars can overload drivers, taking their attention from the road and making an accident more likely, experts say.
Medicine Might Help Shield Drug Abusers From HIV
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Study found 70 percent drop in new infections among addicts who adhered closely to tenofovir treatment
June 12 (HealthDay News) — An antiviral drug may help protect injection drug users from HIV infection, a new study finds.
The study of more than 2,400 injection drug users recruited at 17 drug treatment clinics in Thailand found that daily tablets of tenofovir reduced the risk of HIV infection by nearly 49 percent, compared to inactive placebo pills.
One expert said an intervention to help shield injection drug users from HIV — the virus that causes AIDS — is much needed.
Did Men’s Yen for Younger Women Cause Menopause?
by Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay Reporter
Study found bias may have sidelined older women sexually, prompted changes that led to infertility
June 13 (HealthDay News) — Can women blame men for menopause?
They may have a case, according to new research that suggests it was men’s interest in mating with younger females that gave evolutionary rise to menopause by sidelining older women from reproduction.
Menopause — when a woman stops getting menstrual periods and can’t become pregnant — is unique to humans and its cause is still unknown, explained study author and evolutionary biologist Rama Singh. “We accept as a given the idea that older women tend to be unable to reproduce,” but Singh said this is actually an “evolutionary puzzle.”
Pesticide Exposure Tied to Fetal-Movement Changes
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Findings underscore need to protect developing brain, researcher says
June 12 (HealthDay News) — A pregnant woman’s exposure to environmental contaminants affects her unborn baby’s heart rate and movement, a new study says.
“Both fetal motor activity and heart rate reveal how the fetus is maturing and give us a way to evaluate how exposures may be affecting the developing nervous system,” study lead author Janet DiPietro, associate dean for research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in a school news release.
Heavier Pregnant Women Tend to Deliver Prematurely
by Dennis Thompson, HealthDay Reporter
In large Swedish study, risk rose along with the mother’s weight
June 11 (HealthDay News) — Overweight or obese women who are pregnant are more likely to give birth prematurely, and the risk of preterm delivery increases with their amount of excess weight, according to a study of more than 1.5 million deliveries in Sweden.
Researchers speculate that the health problems associated with overweight and obesity — high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, increased chance of infection — have a direct impact on a woman’s ability to carry their child to term, according to the study, which was published in the June 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Restless Legs Syndrome Tied to Earlier Death Risk
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Older men with condition have 39 percent increase in mortality, study suggests
June 12 (HealthDay News) — Men with restless legs syndrome now have another health concern: New research has just linked the condition to an increased risk of dying early.
In a study of nearly 20,000 men, Harvard researchers found that men with restless legs syndrome had a 39 percent higher risk of an early death than did men without the condition.
Baldness Drug Propecia May Curb Thirst for Alcohol
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Men with sexual side effects appear to drink less, even after they stop taking the drug
June 13 (HealthDay News) — Some men who use finasteride (Propecia) to help battle baldness may also be drinking less alcohol, a new study suggests.
Among the potential side effects of the hair-restoring drug are a reduced sex drive, depression and suicidal thoughts. And it’s men who have sexual side effects who also appear to want to drink less, the researchers report.
Dads Who Bond With Kids Help Keep Marriage Strong
by Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay Reporter
Sharing housework also key, study found, as is open communication with spouse
June 13 (HealthDay News) — For dads aiming at marital bliss, a new study suggests just two factors are especially important: being engaged with the kids, for sure — but also doing a fair share of the household chores.
In other words, just taking the children outside for a game of catch won’t cut it.
“In our study, the wives thought father involvement with the kids and participation in household work are all inter-related and worked together to improve marital quality,” said Adam Galovan, lead author of the study and a researcher at the University of Missouri, in Columbia. “They think being a good father involves more than just doing things involved in the care of children.”
Kids With Past Concussions Take Longer to Recover
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Study has implications for how long children should wait to resume activities, experts say
June 10 (HealthDay News) — Kids who suffer a concussion may have a substantially slower recovery if they’ve sustained one or more blows to the head in the past, a new study finds.
Researchers report that among 280 kids and young adults who sustained a concussion over one year, those who’d suffered one in the past took twice as long to recover — typically 24 days, versus 12 days for kids with no history of concussion.
More Evidence Links BPA to Childhood Obesity
by Brenda Goodman, HealthDay Reporter
Study finds preteen girls who had high levels of common chemical were twice as likely to be overweight
June 12 (HealthDay News) — There’s fresh evidence that the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, may play a part in childhood obesity.
BPA is a chemical that is widely used in food packaging. Government studies have shown that 92 percent of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies.
There’s intense scientific interest in BPA because it is chemically similar to the hormone estrogen, and there’s some concern that it may mimic estrogen’s effects in the body, causing harm to the brain and reproductive organs, particularly in children.
Volunteering Really May Be Good for the Heart
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Time spent helping others linked to lower blood pressure in older adults, study finds
June 14 (HealthDay News) — Anyone who has ever been a volunteer knows that it feels good to help others, but researchers have found a less obvious benefit: volunteering can help reduce older adults’ risk of high blood pressure.
The new study included more than 1,100 adults, aged 51 to 91, who were interviewed about their volunteering and had their blood pressure checked in 2006 and 2010. All of them had normal blood pressure at the time of the first interview.
Steroid Injections for Back Pain: Fracture Risk?
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Study of older adults doesn’t prove that steroids are to blame, but experts advise caution
June 14 (HealthDay News) — Older adults who get steroid injections to ease lower back and leg pain may have increased odds of suffering a spine fracture, a new study suggests.
It’s not clear, however, whether the treatment is to blame, according to experts. But they said the findings, which were published June 5 in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, suggest that older patients with low bone density should be cautious about steroid injections.
New Clues to Early Onset Alzheimer’s
by Dennis Thompson, HealthDay Reporter
Too much plaque-building protein produced in people with certain genes, study finds
June 12 (HealthDay News) — People with genetic mutations that lead to inherited, early onset Alzheimer’s disease overproduce a longer, stickier form of amyloid beta, the protein fragment that clumps into plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, a small new study has found.
Researchers found that these people make about 20 percent more of a type of amyloid beta — amyloid beta 42 — than family members who do not carry the Alzheimer’s mutation, according to research published in the June 12 edition of Science Translational Medicine.
This May Raise Dementia Risk in Seniors With Diabetes
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Overly aggressive glucose control might backfire in older patients, findings suggest
June 10 (HealthDay News) — Low blood sugar in older adults with type 2 diabetes may increase their risk of dementia, a new study suggests.
While it’s important for diabetics to control blood sugar levels, that control “shouldn’t be so aggressive that you get hypoglycemia,” said study author Dr. Kristine Yaffe, a professor of psychiatry, neurology and epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco.
Short Strolls After Meals May Lower Diabetes Risk
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter
Walking 15 minutes three times a day was better for blood sugar levels than one 45-minute walk, small study found
June 12 (HealthDay News) — Older adults at risk for getting diabetes who took a 15-minute walk after every meal improved their blood sugar levels, a new study shows.
Three short walks after eating worked better to control blood sugar levels than one 45-minute walk in the morning or evening, said lead researcher Loretta DiPietro, chairwoman of the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services in Washington, D.C.
Junk Food Bans Help Schoolkids Avoid Unhealthy Snacks: Study
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
But most elementary schools are in districts or states that don’t limit sales of fat, sugar, salt to students
June 10 (HealthDay News) — Elementary schools are less likely to sell unhealthy snack foods and drinks if school districts or states have rules that limit the sale of such products, a new study finds.
However, more than three-quarters of public elementary schools in the United States are located in a state or school district that does not limit the sale of items such as sugary drinks, salty snacks, candy or high-fat milk, according to the research published June 10 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
Tweaking Diet Might Boost Prostate Cancer Survival
by Denise Mann, HealthDay Reporter
Men who subbed vegetable oils, avocados, nuts for animal fats fared better in study
June 10 (HealthDay News) — Men with prostate cancer may boost their survival chances if they replace animal fats and carbohydrates in their diet with healthy fats such as olive oils, nuts and avocados, new research suggests.
Men who substituted 10 percent of their daily calories from animal fats and carbs with such healthy fats as olive oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds and avocados were 29 percent less likely to die from spreading prostate cancer and 26 percent less likely to die from any other disease when compared to men who did not make this healthy swap, the study found.
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