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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You’d think I would eventually run out of ideas for quinoa. I’ve posted over 50 recipes on this page over the years. But ideas keep coming and I keep loving this grain (O.K., Paleos, I know, it’s a seed, not a grain. But we use it on the plate like a grain, so that’s what I’ll continue to call it.) [..]
Quinoa keeps well in the refrigerator, so cook some up and make these salads through the week. They make great lunches or light suppers.
This salad is garnished with steamed asparagus and the Middle Eastern nut and spice mix called dukkah.
Spicy Quinoa Salad With Broccoli, Cilantro and Lime
The grassy flavor of quinoa works well with cilantro in this main-dish salad.
Chickpea, Quinoa and Celery Salad With Middle Eastern Flavors
Chickpeas make this salad a substantial and comforting dish for a light supper.
Green Bean Salad With Lime Vinaigrette and Red Quinoa
Red quinoa is a colorful contrast to the green beans in a salad that is full of texture.
Mediterranean Cucumber and Yogurt Salad With Red or Black Quinoa
Red quinoa adds color and substance to a typically Mediterranean mix of yogurt and finely diced cucumber.
in 10 U.S. Beaches Fails Bacteria Test: Survey
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Storm-water runoff, including sewage, continues to threaten swimmers’ health
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Swimmers, take heed: Ten percent of water samples taken from U.S. coastal and lake beaches fail to meet safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a new report finds.
“There can be hidden dangers lurking in many of our waterways in the form of bacteria and viruses that can cause a great inventory of illnesses like dysentery, hepatitis, stomach flu, infections and rashes,” Steve Fleischli, water program director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said at a Wednesday morning press conference.
Some Acne Products Can Trigger Allergic Reactions
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
In rare instances, reactions are potentially life-threatening, agency says
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Some popular over-the-counter acne treatments can cause severe irritation or even potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
The products contain the active ingredients benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid and are applied to the skin. They are available as gels, lotions, face washes, solutions, cleansing pads, toners and face scrubs, the FDA said.
BP Kiosks May Not Always Give Accurate Readings
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
FDA experts warn that if the cuff is too small or too large for your arm, the results may not be reliable
June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — If you decide to quickly check your blood pressure while you’re out shopping this summer, know that your reading might not be accurate if the cuff is too small or too large for your arm, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
These blood-pressure kiosks are available in many public places, such as pharmacies, grocery and retail stores, gyms, airports and hair salons. While they’re convenient, they may not be right for you.
Surgery Doubted as a Migraine Reliever
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Review of two studies finds inconclusive evidence of success
June 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Migraine surgery is increasingly touted as a potential “cure” for the debilitating headaches, but researchers say the evidence just isn’t there to support those claims.
In an analysis of two studies on migraine trigger “deactivation” surgery, researchers found multiple flaws in the study methods. What’s more, they say, the surgery carries risks and high costs not covered by insurance, and doesn’t jibe with what’s known about the underlying causes of migraine.
Frequent Migraines Affect the Whole Family
By Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay
Web survey suggests the condition influences marriage, parenting and family dynamics
June 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) — When a spouse, partner or parent has chronic migraines, the whole family suffers, a new study found.
The research discovered that most chronic migraine sufferers report that their severe headaches have a big impact on family relationships, activities and sexual intimacy.
The results were not surprising to lead study author Dawn Buse, a clinical psychologist and director of behavioral medicine at Montefiore Headache Center in New York City. “I hear firsthand about the tragic effect that chronic migraine has on every aspect of people’s lives, including work and home life.”
Low-Dose Aspirin May Help Ward Off This Cancer
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But, finding isn’t conclusive, and people shouldn’t take the drug just to cut cancer risk, experts say
June 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) — People who take low-dose aspirin for more than 10 years might be reducing their risk for pancreatic cancer, a new study suggests.
Even taking a daily aspirin for just three years lowered the chances of the deadly cancer by 48 percent, the researchers said.
“Aspirin use has potential risks of its own, thus the risks and benefits for each person have to be evaluated based on personal characteristics,” said lead researcher Dr. Harvey Risch, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health.
1 in 10 Deaths Among Adults Tied to Alcohol: CDC
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Study also found those who died from drinking-related causes lost roughly 30 years of life
une 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) — One in 10 deaths among U.S. adults is linked to excessive alcohol consumption, federal officials reported Thursday.
While people often link drinking with deaths from motor vehicle accidents and chronic liver disease, many other conditions that can cause death are tied to alcohol, said lead researcher Mandy Stahre.
Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to High Blood Pressure
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Researchers recommend more studies to see if vitamin D supplements can lower pressure
June 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Low levels of vitamin D may be a cause of high blood pressure, according to a new study.
Previous research has suggested a strong link between low levels of vitamin D and high blood pressure, but a direct cause-and-effect relationship has not been shown.
Heart Monitoring May Prevent Some Strokes, Study Suggests
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Irregular heartbeat that causes some attacks is often tough to detect, doctors say
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — As many as four of every 10 stroke victims leave the hospital without a clue about what caused the stroke, their doctors hamstrung on how to prevent another one from occurring.
“You can imagine how unsettling this is,” said Dr. Rod Passman, a professor of cardiology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University. “Stroke is among the most feared events in medicine, and to leave the hospital with no clear cause and no directed therapy will weigh on any patient.”
Is All That TV Killing You?
By Brenda Goodman, HealthDay
Study suggests more than 3 hours daily doubles chance of early death, but one expert questions the connection
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Attention, binge TV watchers: New research suggests that long stretches spent glued to the tube may be more than just a guilty pleasure — they could also shorten your life.
The study of more than 13,000 seemingly healthy adults in Spain found that those who spent more than three hours a day watching television had double the risk of early death compared to those who watched less than an hour a day.
“It is a little bit surprising,” said study author Dr. Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Navarra, in Pamplona, Spain.
Gonzalez said the study participants were highly educated, and slim and active. Their average age was 37.
Hepatitis C Infection May Have ‘Silver Lining’ for Transplant Patients
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Infected people who need new organ might have less need for immune-suppressing drugs, study finds
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The liver-damaging hepatitis C virus may come with an unexpected benefit for patients who need a liver transplant due to the infection, a new European study reports.
The virus appears to restrain a dangerous immune system response that can otherwise cause the body to reject the new liver, according to findings published June 25 in Science Translational Medicine.
Scientists Explain Stress and Heart Attack Link
By Peter Russell, WebMD Health News
June 24, 2014 — Scientists say they may be able to explain how ongoing stress raises the risk of having a heart attack.
They say stress triggers our bodies to make a surplus of disease-fighting white blood cells. That in turn can boost inflammation in the arteries of people with a condition called atherosclerosis, where the artery walls are thickened by a buildup of plaque.
Stress is a normal part of life, but if left unmanaged it can contribute to health problems including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, chest pains, or irregular heartbeats
CDC Readies Latest Graphic Anti-Smoking Ads
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Seven new stories show the ravages of smoking, urge smokers to quit
June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Amanda, a 30-year-old who smoked during her pregnancy, wants people to know how important it is to keep trying to quit the dangerous habit.
Her baby was born two months early, and spent weeks in an incubator.
“She wasn’t born with the reflexes to talk or swallow, so she had to be tube-fed. She only weighed 3 pounds and she was in the intensive care unit for almost a month,” Amanda said. “She suffers from asthma and allergies now.”June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Amanda, a 30-year-old who smoked during her pregnancy, wants people to know how important it is to keep trying to quit the dangerous habit.
Her baby was born two months early, and spent weeks in an incubator.
“She wasn’t born with the reflexes to talk or swallow, so she had to be tube-fed. She only weighed 3 pounds and she was in the intensive care unit for almost a month,” Amanda said. “She suffers from asthma and allergies now.”
Why Do Black People Fare Worse With Colon Cancer?
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
They may be less likely to develop a form of the disease that’s easier to treat, study says
June 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Blacks with colon cancer are about half as likely as whites to get a type of colon cancer that has a better chance of survival, a new study says.
This may be one of the reasons why blacks are more likely to die of colon cancer than whites, the researchers said.
Researchers analyzed information from 503 patients in the North Carolina Colon Cancer Study. They found that 7 percent of blacks and 14 percent of whites had cancer with a genetic marker called microsatellite instability (MSI).
Heart Failure Therapy Benefits Women More Than Men?
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
But study finds they’re less likely than males to receive pacemaker that synchronizes heartbeats
June 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Women suffering from heart failure derive more benefit than men do from a pacemaker treatment. But they are less likely than men to receive it, a new analysis shows.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) — which uses a pacemaker to improve the coordination of heartbeats — led to a 60 percent reduction in women’s risk of heart failure or death, researchers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration report. The therapy reduced their risk of death alone by 55 percent.
Those benefits far outstripped rates of effectiveness for men, whose risk of heart failure or death declined by only 26 percent with CRT, and their risk of death alone by 15 percent, the study authors said.
Many Unaware of HIV Status Until It’s Advanced
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
ER study also finds high proportion without health insurance
June 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Few patients treated at U.S. emergency departments have HIV, but those who do test positive for the virus are in the most infectious stage or have already developed AIDS, a new study says.
“People may believe that HIV and AIDS are diseases of the 20th century, but our results show that many people continue to be infected without being aware of it,” said study author Dr. Kara Iskyan Geren, of Maricopa Integrated Health System in Phoenix.
Researchers looked at data from nearly 22,500 ER patients who were tested for HIV. Of those, only 0.28 percent of patients were found to have the AIDS-causing virus.
Flu Vaccine Spray Better Than Shots for Young Kids
une 26, 2014 — Spraying a flu vaccine up young children’s noses is more effective than giving them a shot, a U.S. government panel ruled Wednesday.
The new recommendation, voted on during a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, only applies to children aged 2 to 8, according to the Associated Press.
Many Pregnant Women Not Told to Avoid These Toxins
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Lack of information and research often cited as reasons, study finds
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Few obstetricians offer their pregnant patients advice on how to avoid environmental toxins that might harm their babies, a new study finds.
“We have good scientific evidence demonstrating that pregnant women are exposed to toxic chemicals, and there’s a link between these exposures and adverse health outcomes in children. But physicians are not offering this information to their patients,” study senior author Tracey Woodruff, director of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, said in a university news release.
Natural Conception Later in Life Tied to This Perk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
If last pregnancy occurred at age 33 or older, chances of living past 95 doubled, study found
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Women who naturally have babies after age 33 tend to live longer than those who had their last child before age 30, a new study finds.
This may be because gene variations that enable women to have babies at a later age may also be tied to living longer lives, the Boston University School of Medicine researchers said.
3D Mammograms May Improve Breast Cancer Screening
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Higher detection rates, fewer false alarms seen with newer technology, study says
June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Newer, three-dimensional mammograms may be better at picking up invasive tumors and avoiding false alarms than traditional breast cancer screening methods, a study of 13 U.S. hospitals suggests.
Researchers found that 3D mammography, used along with standard digital mammograms, bumped up breast cancer detection rates by more than 40 percent.
At the same time, there was a 15 percent dip in the number of women who had to return for more tests because of a suspicious mammogram finding.
Migraines May Worsen During Menopause
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Women in perimenopause, menopause have more migraines than premenopausal women, study finds
June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — New research confirms what women with migraine headaches have told their doctors for years: migraine attacks seem to get worse in the years before and during menopause.
“In women who have migraine, headaches increase by 50 to 60 percent when they go through the perimenopause and menopausal time periods,” said Dr. Vincent Martin, professor of medicine and co-director of the Headache and Facial Pain Program at the University of Cincinnati.
Pesticide Exposure in Pregnancy Tied to Autism Risk
By Brenda Goodman, HealthDay
But it doesn’t prove pesticides cause autism, and didn’t directly measure women’s chemical exposure, expert notes
June 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Pregnant women who live within a mile of spaces where commercial pesticides are applied appear to have an increased risk of having a child with autism, a new study suggests.
The risk that a child would develop autism appeared to be highest for women who lived near farms, golf courses and other public spaces that were treated with pesticides during the last three months of their pregnancies.
Many Babies Delivered Early Without Medical Need
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study shows more than 3 percent of early deliveries are non-essential elective procedures
June 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — More than three percent of U.S. babies are delivered early without a medical reason, a new study finds.
“Our study showed that early elective deliveries made up more than 3 percent of U.S. births each year over the past 20 years. This may seem to be a small number, but with 4 million births a year in the U.S., each percentage point represents 40,000 babies,” study leader Katy Kozhimannil, an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, said in a university news release.
Moustaches, Oxygen Tanks Can Be Dangerous Match
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Serious burns may be more likely for those with facial hair, researchers report
June 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Facial hair increases the risk of burns for people who use home oxygen therapy, a new study warns.
Researchers compared a mannequin with a mustache made from human hair and a mannequin without facial hair. They drilled nostrils in the mannequins and inserted nasal tubes that were connected to a home oxygen tank.
The oxygen flow was set at two liters a minute, which is similar to the level used in home oxygen therapy. When the mannequins were exposed to sparks, the oxygen tubes on the one with facial hair ignited and the mustache went up in flames. The oxygen tubes on the mannequin without facial hair did not ignite.
Rx Lidocaine for Teething Pain Can Cause Harm: FDA
By Megan Brooks, Medscape Medical News
June 26, 2014 — Prescription oral viscous lidocaine 2% solution should not be used to treat infants and children with teething pain because of a serious risk, the FDA says.
“Oral viscous lidocaine solution is not approved to treat teething pain, and use in infants and young children can cause serious harm, including death,” the agency says.
This year, the FDA has reviewed 22 case reports of serious reactions, including deaths, in infants and young children who were given the solution to treat mouth pain (including teething and stomatitis) or who accidentally ingested it.
Routine Ultrasounds May Detect Autism in Utero
By Deborah Brauser, Medscape Medical News
June 27, 2014 (London) — Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have more rapidly growing brains and bodies at the beginning of the second trimester than children without the disorder, new research suggests.
A small study looking at ultrasound scans that checked for fetal defects showed that children who went on to develop ASD had greater head and abdominal sizes at around 20 weeks’ in the womb than did their healthy peers.
Mother’s Birthplace May Affect Autism Risk in Kids
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Some foreign-born mothers now in U.S. are more likely to have children with the disorder, study finds
June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A mother’s birthplace may affect her children’s risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder, according to new research.
Children of foreign-born black, Central and South American, Filipino and Vietnamese mothers were more likely to have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to children born to white mothers who were born in the United States, the study found.June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A mother’s birthplace may affect her children’s risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder, according to new research.
Children of foreign-born black, Central and South American, Filipino and Vietnamese mothers were more likely to have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to children born to white mothers who were born in the United States, the study found.
Parents Should Read to Kids Daily: Pediatrics Group
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
The practice should begin in infancy, American Academy of Pediatrics says, to prepare kids for school, life
June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — All pediatricians should encourage parents to read out loud to their children every day, beginning in infancy, to promote literacy and strengthen family ties.
That clarion call comes in a new policy statement issued Tuesday by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Early Childhood.
Over Half of Seniors Plagued by Incontinence: CDC
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Older men and women prone to urinary and bladder problems, report finds
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — More than 50 percent of older Americans struggle with incontinence, a new government report released Wednesday shows.
“We found that half the population experienced urinary leakage or accidental bowel leakage, and about 25 percent had moderate, severe or very severe urinary leakage. And about 8 percent had moderate, severe or very severe bowel leakage,” said lead researcher Yelena Gorina, a statistician at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Taste Buds Decline With Age — Link With Diabetes?
By Lisa Nainggolan, Medscape Medical News
June 25, 2014 (Chicago) — The number of taste buds on the tongue decreases as you age. This may be important because the fewer the taste buds, the higher your fasting blood sugar level, new research shows.
This could be part of the reason there are more older adults with type 2 diabetes now, suggests Chee W. Chia, MD, of the National Institute of Aging (NIA).
Lifetime of Learning Might Thwart Dementia
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Even taking up intellectual pursuits in mid-life appears to aid the brain
June 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A lifetime engaging in intellectually stimulating pursuits may significantly lower your risk for dementia in your golden years, new research suggests.
Even people with relatively low educational and professional achievements can gain protection against late-life dementia if they adopt a mentally stimulating lifestyle — reading and playing music and games, for example — by the time they enter middle-age, the new study contended.
After Stroke, Spouse May Also Need Care
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
If couple disagrees about recovery rate, partner can become depressed, study finds
une 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) — If your spouse has a stroke, and the two of you disagree about the rate of recovery, your own health might suffer, a new study finds.
The caregiving spouse is at increased risk for emotional distress and depression if the couple has different perceptions of the post-stroke progress, researchers found.
Stroke care needs to switch from focusing only on the patient to regarding the patient and spouse as one unit, suggested Michael McCarthy, a social work researcher at the University of Cincinnati.
Gluten-Free Diet May Lift Celiac ‘Fog’
By Maureen Salamon, HealthDay
Scores on attention, memory tests improved after one year
June 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The “brain fog” experienced by many celiac disease patients seems to improve as their intestines heal after adopting a gluten-free diet, a small new study suggests.
Australian scientists found that banishing gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye that causes intestinal inflammation in those with celiac disease — led to better scores in attention, memory and other brain functions over the course of a year.
Fruits, Veggies Not a Magic Bullet for Weight Loss?
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
If you don’t reduce your calorie intake, you won’t slim down, researcher warns
June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Eating lots of fruits and vegetables is often recommended as a way to lose weight, but doing so may not help you shed excess pounds, according to researchers.
They reviewed data from more than seven studies that examined how increased fruit and vegetable consumption affected weight loss.
Diets High in Dairy May Boost Colon Cancer Survival
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But, at least one expert strongly disagrees, and instead recommends that cancer patients avoid dairy
June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A diet rich in dairy products may slightly extend the lives of people diagnosed with colon cancer, a new study suggests.
But at least one cancer doctor not involved with the study was skeptical of the research and its conclusions.
The study found that people who ate the most dairy lived slightly longer and had a lower risk of dying from any cause.
Healthy Weight Loss May Bring Brighter Mood
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
But only the emotional boost seemed to last over the long-term, researchers say
June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Dropping excess pounds may not only improve your physical health, it might also help you feel more awake and happy, a new study shows.
The research, presented this week at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society in Chicago, included 390 obese women and men who were assigned to one of three programs meant to help them lose weight through diet and exercise.
Cooler Indoor Temps May Help ‘Good Fat’ Grow
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
In small study, levels of healthy brown fat in men rose as thermostats were turned down
June 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — An easy health boost may be as close as the nearest thermostat, a new study suggests.
Australian researchers found that cooler indoor temperatures stimulate the growth of healthy brown fat, while warm temperatures cause the loss of this beneficial type of fat.
Numerous studies have found that brown fat burns energy to generate body heat: it’s designed to help keep babies and small animals warm. Prior research has also shown that animals with plentiful brown fat are less likely to develop obesity or diabetes.
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