Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome 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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My quiches are delicious vehicles for vegetables. Right now this means fat spears of asparagus and sweet spring onions, green garlic and lush bunches of spinach. I also slipped in a few other vegetables that we can get year-round in the supermarket, like cabbage and red peppers. I used lots of scallions too, but they were fat ones from the farmers’ market, not the thin scallions from the supermarket, though they work too; you just need more of them.
These tarts have everything necessary for a satisfying main dish – protein from the dairy, delicious vegetables cooked in olive oil with fresh herbs, and a little bit of indulgence in the presence of an almost classic French pastry (though with a nutty whole-wheat twist).
Martha Rose Shulman
This dough, made with half whole-wheat flour, has a nutty, rich flavor that works well for a savory tart.
Quiche With Red Peppers and Spinach
Spinach is plentiful and gorgeous this time of year, and slow cooking makes even the blandest red peppers sweet.
Cabbage and Spring Onion Quiche With Caraway
Seasonal onions and a winter stalwart, cabbage, make a deliciously sweet filling.
An underappreciated vegetable, celery, is the star of this tart.
Roasted Asparagus and Scallion Quiche
Roasting asparagus makes it succulent even when it’s hidden inside a quiche.
FDA Proposes E-Cigarette Regulations
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Opponents of the increasingly popular devices worry about their impact on children
April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing long-awaited regulations governing the fast-growing electronic cigarette industry.
The new rules, made public Thursday, would give the FDA the authority to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products, placing them under the same requirements as cigarettes. That would include a ban on the sale to minors.
Saturday Is National Drug Take-Back Day
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Rid your home of unused, expired prescription meds by turning them in at a collection site near you
April 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — If you have expired, unused or unwanted drugs in your medicine cabinet, you can safely dispose of them on National Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday.
The free and anonymous service is offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at collection sites across the nation. To find a site near you, go to the National Take-Back Initiative website and type in your ZIP code.
One major goal of the program is to reduce prescription drug abuse and overdose deaths. In 2010, more than 22,000 people in the United States died of prescription drug overdoses.
Stem Cells Yield Lab-Grown Skin, Researchers Say
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Finding might boost study of skin conditions, and eliminate testing of drugs and cosmetics on animals
April 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Skin that was created from stem cells and grown in a lab could be used instead of animals to test drugs and cosmetics, and to develop new treatments for skin disorders, scientists report.
An international team of researchers said it’s the first to create lab-grown epidermis — the outermost layer of skin — that has a functional barrier like real skin. The functional barrier prevents water from escaping the body and keeps germs and toxins out. Until now, no one had successfully grown epidermis with a functional barrier, which is needed for drug testing, the study authors said.
The research, led by scientists at King’s College London and the San Francisco Veteran Affairs Medical Center, is described in the current issue of the journal Stem Cell Reports.
Cell-Targeted Therapy Shows Promise Against MS
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Patients with relapsing-remitting form of the disease showed fewer brain lesions with ofatumumab
April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Treatment targeting specific white blood cells in the immune system known as B cells may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests.
The study involved 231 people with a form of MS that’s called relapsing-remitting. For these patients, there are times when their disease is very active. At other times, the condition becomes less intense and they may experience a full or partial recovery of function.
Frozen vs. Fresh Fecal Transplants for Diarrhea
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Researchers looked at recurring infections caused by C. difficile bacteria
April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Using frozen material for fecal transplants is as effective as fresh material in curing people with chronic diarrhea caused by recurrent infection with Clostridium difficile bacteria, according to a small new study.
Each year in the United States, C. difficile causes 250,000 infections requiring hospitalization and 14,000 deaths. Fecal transplants treat C. difficile infection by restoring the normal balance of intestinal microbes, the researchers explained.
Pot Smoking May Pose Heart Dangers, Study Suggests
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
But some believe the study is flawed
pril 23, 2014 — Marijuana use might contribute to heart and artery disease among young and middle-aged adults, particularly those already at risk for cardiovascular problems, a small French study reports.
By reviewing reported cases of marijuana abuse in France between 2006 and 2010, researchers identified 35 users who suffered heart disease — including 20 heart attacks and nine deaths.
The percentage of heart disease cases among reported marijuana abusers more than tripled during those five years, rising from 1.1 percent of cases to 3.6 percent, the investigators reported.
Research Shows Ways to Speed Stroke Care
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Studies looked at improvements in ER, specially equipped ambulance that could deliver clot-busting drug
April 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Every minute counts for stroke victims who need clot-busting medications quickly to restore blood flow to their brain and prevent further damage.
Now, new efforts to hasten treatment in both ambulances and emergency rooms appear to have significantly improved patients’ chances of survival and limited their long-term disability, according to a pair of studies in the April 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
New Drugs May Help Prevent Migraines
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Two early trials show two experimental compounds reduced number of headaches for sufferers
April 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Two experimental drugs may help prevent migraines in people who suffer multiple attacks a month, according to preliminary findings from a pair of clinical trials.
The drugs, one given by IV and one by injection, are part of a new approach to preventing migraine headaches. They are “monoclonal antibodies” that target a tiny protein called the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) — which recent research has implicated in triggering migraine pain.
Low Blood Sugar & Heartbeat in People With Diabetes
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay
Study found abnormal rhythms when blood sugar dipped at night in people with type 2 disease
April 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Low blood sugar levels — known as hypoglycemia — in people with diabetes may cause potentially dangerous changes in heart rate, according to a small new study.
This study’s findings may help explain why a large-scale study found that very tight control of blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes led to higher-than-expected death rates. It may also help explain why some otherwise healthy people with type 1 diabetes die during their sleep — sometimes called “dead-in-bed syndrome” — without an apparent cause, researchers say.
Homes Now ‘Reservoirs’ for Superbug MRSA
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria common on household surfaces, study finds
April 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — An antibiotic-resistant “superbug,” long a problem in health-care settings, is now taking up residence in people’s homes, a new U.S. study finds.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as MRSA, was once mainly confined to places like hospitals and nursing homes, where it can cause severe conditions such as pneumonia and bloodstream infections.
Thinking Problems Tied to Blockages in Neck Artery
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Researcher suggests more aggressive treatment might be warranted
April 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Blockage of the carotid artery in the neck appears to increase the odds for memory and thinking problems, a new study indicates.
The researchers said their findings suggest more aggressive treatment might be needed for people with this condition, which is caused by plaque buildup in the artery.
The study is to be presented Wednesday at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting in Philadelphia.
Paper Money Carries Thousands of Types of Bacteria
April 23, 2014 — A study gives new meaning to the term “dirty money.”
Researchers found that dollar bills from a Manhattan bank carried 3,000 types of bacteria. Most were the kind found on people’s skin, while others were similar to those found in mouths and even in vaginas, ABC News reported.
Measles on Upswing Despite Vaccine
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Vaccination has saved thousands of lives, report says, but outbreaks occurring as some people opt out
April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Vaccinations have prevented an estimated 732,000 deaths, 21 million hospitalizations and 322 million illnesses among U.S. children born in the last 20 years, according to a government report released Thursday.
Despite this success, measles — a highly contagious disease — is seeing a recurrence in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported.
As of April 18, 129 people have been diagnosed with measles in outbreaks in 13 states this year. Most of the people sickened were not vaccinated, the CDC says.
Got Hay Fever? New Tablets vs. Allergy Shots
By Rita Rubin, WebMD Health News
April 24, 2014 — As many as 4 in 10 Americans have sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes due to allergies. If you’re one of them, allergy shots can help ease your reaction to the plants, insects, or animals that trigger your symptoms. But they require multiple doctor visits over years.
That’s one reason only about 5% of Americans with allergies get the shots, even though they can provide long-lasting relief, says Linda Cox, MD, of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The rest rely on avoiding whatever triggers their allergies, which isn’t always easy. Or they use antihistamines and steroid nose sprays to temporarily ease symptoms.
FDA Approves HPV Test for Cervical Cancer
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Detects presence of high-risk strains of virus believed to cause disease
pril 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a human papillomavirus (HPV) test as a first step in cervical cancer screening for women aged 25 and older.
“Today’s approval offers women and physicians a new option for cervical cancer screening,” Alberto Gutierrez, director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in an agency news release.
Size of Fetus May Affect Stillbirth Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study linked abnormally low or high weight to greater odds of fetal death
April 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Fetuses that are either too small or too large are at increased risk for stillbirth, a large new study says.
Researchers analyzed all the stillbirths that occurred over 2.5 years at 59 hospitals in five regions of the United States. They found that abnormal fetal growth was associated with between 25 percent and 50 percent of the stillbirths.
Stillbirth refers to a fetal death that occurs during pregnancy at 20 weeks’ gestation or later, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
For Many Men, Impotence Is Treatable Without Drugs
By Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay
And there’s a bonus: heart-healthy changes will boost overall well-being, too, experts say
April 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A new study reminds men with erectile dysfunction that there’s help out there that doesn’t require a prescription: diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes.
Losing weight, eating better, getting more active, drinking less alcohol and getting better sleep can all help reverse problems that contribute to impotence, according to a new study published recently in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Drug vs. Drug for Epileptic Seizures in Kids
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Ativan, Valium both good options for emergency treatment, experts say
April 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Researchers comparing two drugs used to treat epileptic seizures in children — lorazepam (Ativan) and diazepam (Valium) — found no difference between them in safety or effectiveness.
Although previous studies gave the edge to Ativan, Dr. James Chamberlain, lead researcher for the new study, gave several reasons why Valium might be as good or better.
“Unexpectedly, Ativan is not superior to Valium for treating pediatric seizures. It’s been dogma in medicine that Ativan is better than Valium, but this study shows that they are just about equal,” said Chamberlain, division chief of emergency medicine and trauma services at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
1 in 13 U.S. Schoolkids Takes Psych Meds: Report
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay
More than half of parents said the drugs are helpful
April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — More than 7 percent of American schoolchildren are taking at least one medication for emotional or behavioral difficulties, a new government report shows.
Apparently, the medications are working: More than half of the parents said the drugs are helping their children, according to the report.
“We can’t advise parents on what they should do, but I think it’s positive that over half of parents reported that medications helped ‘a lot,’ ” said report author LaJeana Howie, a statistical research scientist at the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.
Language Problems Common for Kids With ADHD: Study
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay
Anxiety often goes hand in hand with attention disorder, too
April 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Children who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are nearly three times more likely to have language problems than kids without ADHD, according to new research.
And those language difficulties can have far-reaching academic consequences, the study found.
The study, published online April 21 in Pediatrics, looked at 6- to 8-year-olds with and without ADHD in Australia.
Bowel Illnesses Sometimes Coincide in Kids
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Children with irritable bowel syndrome were more likely to also have celiac disease in Italian study
April 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Children suffering from irritable bowel syndrome are four times more likely than other kids to have a condition called celiac disease — an allergy to gluten — Italian researchers report.
More than 2 million people in the United States have celiac disease, or about one in every 133 people, according to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
Irritable bowel syndrome, another condition, causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. Some symptoms may overlap with those of celiac disease.
No Link Between Induced Labor, Autism: Obgyns
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises against changes to current practice
April 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — There is no connection between inducing labor in childbirth and autism, according to a new statement released Monday by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Existing guidelines on when and how labor should be induced or accelerated should not be changed, because limiting labor inductions could have negative effects on the health of women and their babies, ACOG’s committee on obstetric practice recommended in a “committee opinion.”
Too Much Codeine Still Prescribed to Kids: Study
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
ERs give potentially dangerous drug to thousands of children each year
April 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Emergency room physicians still hand out hundreds of thousands of codeine prescriptions for children every year, despite warnings that kids’ responses to codeine vary wildly and the drug can cause an accidental overdose, a new study finds.
ER doctors issued about 560,000 to 880,000 prescriptions for codeine to kids each year between 2001 and 2010, according to an analysis of hospital survey data collected annually by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Seniors With Mental Declines May Face Earlier Death
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Those with memory loss fared better than those who showed deficits in thinking abilities
April 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Seniors with mild symptoms of mental decline may face a higher risk of dying earlier than those with no thinking or memory problems, new Mayo Clinic research suggests.
Folks with mild impairment of memory or thought had an 80 percent higher death rate during the six-year study, compared to people with their mental faculties intact, according to findings that are to be presented Wednesday at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Philadelphia.
The research also revealed that losing one’s ability to think is much more dire than losing one’s memory.
Vitamin D May Not Lower Seniors’ Fall Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Researchers conclude there isn’t enough evidence to support supplement use
April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Taking vitamin D supplements does little to reduce seniors’ risk of falls, a new review finds.
Researchers analyzed 20 studies that included nearly 30,000 people and tested how vitamin D supplements affected fall risk.
The results showed that the supplements did not reduce falls by 15 percent or more, which means they had little effect, according to Mark Bolland of the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and colleagues.
Mental Illness Not a Driving Force Behind Crime?
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Few crimes committed by mentally ill patients were directly linked to symptoms, researcher notes
April 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Less than 10 percent of crimes committed by mentally ill people are directly linked to the symptoms of their disorders, a new study shows.
“When we hear about crimes committed by people with mental illness, they tend to be big headline-making crimes, so they get stuck in people’s heads,” said study author Jillian Peterson, a psychology professor at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minn. “The vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent, not criminal and not dangerous.”
A Little Wine Might Help Kidneys Stay Healthy
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Less than a glass a day may also help the heart in those who already have kidney disease, researchers found
April 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — An occasional glass of wine might help keep your kidneys healthy, new research suggests.
And for those who already have kidney disease, which puts one at higher risk for cardiovascular problems, moderate wine drinking might help the heart, the researchers added.
“Those [with healthy kidneys] who drank less than one glass of wine a day had a 37 percent lower risk of having chronic kidney disease than those who drank no wine,” said study author Dr. Tapan Mehta, a renal fellow at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, in Aurora.
Could More Coffee Lower Your Odds for Diabetes?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Yes, says study, but experts note there are better ways to reduce the risk
April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Drinking more coffee might lower your risk for type 2 diabetes, a new large U.S. study suggests.
People who boosted their daily java intake by more than one cup over four years reduced their diabetes risk, while adults who drank less coffee in that time frame saw their odds for diabetes rise, the study of over 123,000 adults found.
“It looks like there is a dose-response relationship between increasing coffee consumption and a lower risk of diabetes,” said lead researcher Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.
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