Welcome to the Stars Hollow Gazette‘s 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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On the Fourth of July, before the meat and fish hit the grill, I decided to throw on some fruit. I’ve always loved the way roasting summer stone fruit like peaches and apricots deepens their flavors, and I thought a sizzle on the grill might do the same. It did. Just a few minutes on each side – enough to create griddle marks on a peach or an apricot and soften it, but not so long that the fruit collapses, brought out the juices and warmed the fruit through. When I removed the peaches and apricots from the grill I tossed them with a little honey and lemon zest. [..]
I couldn’t get grilled fruit out of my head, and worked on other recipes after I grilled the peaches and apricots – not just desserts, but salads with grilled fruit (some wonderful combinations) and a starter of grilled figs.
Grilling the apricots makes them contrast beautifully with the pungent arugula in this salad.
Grilled Figs With Pomegranate Molasses
Serve these figs warm as an appetizer with goat cheese, or as a dessert with ricotta or yogurt.
Crêpes With Grilled Peaches and Apricots
Crêpes are great to have on hand for desserts, and easy to make with a nonstick or seasoned crêpe pan.
Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad
A winning combination: sweet, juicy watermelon paired with salty cheese and pungent onions.
Grilled Vanilla-Ginger Pineapple
A sweet and pungent mix of vanilla and ginger syrup adds new dimension to a grilled pineapple.
Diabetes: This May Someday Replace Needle Prick
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay
But device is still a long way from use by people
July 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A new type of sensor for people with diabetes is being developed to measure sugar levels in the body using saliva instead of blood, researchers report.
Scientists at Brown University in Providence, R.I., created the sensor and successfully tested it using artificial saliva. It uses light, metal and a special enzyme that changes color when exposed to blood sugar.
Don’t Blame Bad Weather for Your Aching Back
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
New study discounts notion that wind, rain influence lower back pain
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The notion that lower back pain flares up during certain kinds of weather may be all in your head, a new study suggests.
Researchers in Australia tracked nearly 1,000 people who were seen for acute low back pain at primary care clinics in Sydney. The investigators looked at weather conditions when the patients’ back pain started, as well as one week and one month before it began.
New Psoriasis Drug Shows Promise in Trials
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Secukinumab appears more effective than current popular treatment, study says
July 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A new psoriasis drug delivered dramatic results in two clinical trials, perhaps heralding an effective new treatment for patients with the chronic skin disease.
The drug, secukinumab, was stacked up against an inactive placebo and one of the best psoriasis medications on the market.
Combo Approach for Smokers Looking to Quit
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Study finds drug Chantix plus nicotine patch beats use of the patch alone
July 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Combining two anti-smoking approaches — the medication Chantix and nicotine patches — improves the odds you’ll quit smoking over the short term, a new industry-funded study suggests.
“The combination appears to be safe, although further studies are needed to confirm this,” said Dr. Coenie Koegelenberg, an associate professor of pulmonology with Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital in South Africa.
Genes May Be Key to Great Musicians
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Desire to devote long hours to your music may lie in your DNA, study suggests
July 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Chopin, Vivaldi and Bach may have had natural musical talent, and then some. A new study suggests accomplished musicians are genetically programmed to commit to the long hours of practice needed to become skilled musicians.The findings add to growing evidence that both nature and nurture help develop expertise, according to the researchers.
Many Anesthesiologists Fail to Wash Hands: Study
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Research documents numerous missed opportunities with each patient
July 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Anesthesiologists may need to improve their hand hygiene habits during surgery, because they might be putting patients at risk for infections, a new study suggests.
Researchers observed anesthesiologists during operations and found that they had an average of 149 “hand hygiene opportunities” per hour of patient anesthesia time.
Obesity May Raise Risk of COPD
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Study found those with largest waist sizes more likely to develop lung disease
July 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Obese people, particularly those with excess belly fat, may face a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study suggests.
The researchers report that women with a waist size of roughly 43 inches or more and men with waist size of 46 inches or more showed a 72 percent increased risk of developing the lung disease, compared with people who had a normal waist size.
COPD, also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association
Dengue Fever Vaccine Shows Some Promise in Trial
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But experts would still like to see a more effective vaccine developed
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A potential vaccine to protect children from the worldwide scourge of dengue fever was somewhat successful in a trial among Asian children.
While the vaccine only prevented dengue fever in 56 percent of the 10,000 kids who got the full series of three shots, it protected more than 88 percent of them from severe disease. In the worst-case scenarios, dengue fever can lead to hospitalization, and sometimes death.
Girl Thought Cured of HIV Shows Signs of Infection
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A Mississippi girl born with HIV who was thought to be cured by immediate and aggressive drug treatment has relapsed, with new tests showing detectable levels of the AIDS-causing virus in her bloodstream, disappointed federal officials announced Thursday afternoon.
The girl, now nearly 4 years old, had remained virus-free even though she stopped taking HIV medications when she was 18 months old. Doctors had hoped her remission would open the door to a functional cure for all children born with the virus.
After more than two years of no drug therapy, she’s back on medication; development disappoints doctors, researchers
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A Mississippi girl born with HIV who was thought to be cured by immediate and aggressive drug treatment has relapsed, with new tests showing detectable levels of the AIDS-causing virus in her bloodstream, disappointed federal officials announced Thursday afternoon.
The girl, now nearly 4 years old, had remained virus-free even though she stopped taking HIV medications when she was 18 months old. Doctors had hoped her remission would open the door to a functional cure for all children born with the virus.
Losing Weight May Ease Hot Flashes, Study Finds
By Kristen Fischer, HealthDay
Doctors say extra fat, and the extra estrogen it produces, make menopause tougher for heavy women
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Slimming down may help ease the hot flashes that often accompany menopause, new research suggests.
Hot flashes can be debilitating for more than 50 percent of menopausal women, said Dr. Taraneh Shirazian, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. About one-third of menopausal women experience more than 10 hot flashes a day, and she added that hot flashes are more common in obese women.
Breast Cancer Drug Fights a Cause of Infertility?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Letrozole improves pregnancy rates in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, researcher says
July 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have a better chance of getting pregnant if they take a breast cancer drug instead of the currently preferred medication, a new study suggests.
Polycystic ovary syndrome — the most common cause of female infertility in the United States — causes higher than normal levels of the male hormone androgen, infrequent periods and small cysts on the ovaries. It affects 5 to 10 percent of reproductive-age women, according to background information in the study.
Breast Cancer Drug Aromasin May Be Option for Some
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
It produced lower 5-year recurrence rates compared to tamoxifen, but didn’t boost overall survival, study finds
July 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The drug exemestane worked slightly better than the drug tamoxifen at preventing a recurrence of breast cancer in certain premenopausal women, according to a new study.
Almost 93 percent of women on exemestane (Aromasin) remained free of breast cancer after five years, compared to about 89 percent of the women on tamoxifen. That’s according to the study of nearly 4,700 women with breast cancer who all had their ovarian function suppressed.
Exercising Moms-to-Be May Have Less-Chubby Babies
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
This could benefit newborns later in life, researcher suggests
July 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Babies born to mothers who exercise in late pregnancy may enter the world with a little less body fat, a new study finds.
Researchers said that could be a good thing, since extra fat at birth could continue into childhood and beyond. But the long-term health implications, if any, are not known yet.
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Might Not Boost Clot Risk
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Analysis included more than 500,000 women from Denmark
July 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Concerns that the human papillomavirus vaccine may increase the risk of serious blood clots seem unfounded, a new study says.
The study of half a million Danish women who received the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer and other health problems, found no link between the shots and the formation of blood clots known as venous thromboembolisms. In the United States it’s called the Gardasil vaccine. Concerns about such a link had been raised in previous research.
Older Women: Some Painkillers May Raise Heart Risk
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Class of drugs that includes naproxen linked to increased chance of heart attack, stroke, but finding not conclusive
July 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A category of painkillers that includes the popular over-the-counter drug naproxen (Aleve) might increase an older woman’s risk of heart attack or stroke, researchers report.
Doctors already knew that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that target and inhibit the so-called “cox-2 enzyme” can raise a person’s heart attack risk.
Men Develop Breast Cancer, Too
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
But little research is done on male treatments, expert says
July 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) — While rare, breast cancer does occur in men and is often diagnosed at a later age and stage than in women, experts say.
Each year in the United States, about 2,000 cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed and about 500 men die from the disease. It can strike at any age, but is most often diagnosed among men at ages 60 to 70, which is five to 10 years later than in women.
Breast cancer in men is typically diagnosed at a later age and stage than in women because men don’t believe they’re at risk for the disease, said Dr. Tatiana Prowell, a medical oncologist and breast cancer scientific lead at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s office of hematology and oncology products.
Study Links Vasectomy to Aggressive Prostate Cancer
By Robert Preidt HealthDay
But the finding doesn’t prove cause-and-effect; urologists call for more research
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Men who have a vasectomy may be at increased risk for aggressive prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
But the risk is comparatively small, the researchers acknowledged. And several urologists not involved with the study said more research is needed to determine if the study findings are truly accurate.
For the study, Harvard researchers analyzed data from more than 49,400 American men who were followed for 24 years, starting in 1986. During that time, 6,023 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed among the men, including 811 fatal cases.
Cycling Doesn’t Cause Male Infertility: Study
By Tim Locke, WebMD Health News
uly 9, 2014 — Cycling doesn’t lead to male infertility and erectile dysfunction, but it may raise prostate cancer risk in cyclists over 50, a new study finds.
Although it’s considered a healthy activity, helping to lower the risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, cycling is commonly believed to affect a man’s fertility.
Kids on Tight Schedules May Lose Out, Study Says
By Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay
Study shows having more free time teaches children how to plan, solve problems and make decisions
July 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Which approach to parenting is best: tiger mom or free range?
A new study suggests that kids may need a little more latitude with their free time instead of having their days packed with lessons, sports and structured activities.
Kids Still Getting Too Much ‘Screen Time’: CDC
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Nearly three-quarters of 12- to 15-year-olds spend 2 or more hours a day watching TV or on computer
July 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — U.S. teenagers are still spending hours in front of the TV and computer every day — despite years of expert advice that kids’ “screen time” should be limited, a new government study finds.
In two national surveys of children aged 12 to 15 years, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly three-quarters spent at least two hours a day watching TV and using a computer.
Hookah Smoking Popular Among Well-Heeled Teens
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Survey found one in five high school seniors had tried it; being affluent, well-educated raised risk
July 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) — While American teenagers have increasingly been saying “no” to cigarettes over the past decade, almost one in five high school seniors now say they have smoked a hookah pipe, a new survey shows.
A form of smoking that has been a fixture throughout the Middle East and South Asia for centuries, the hookah pipe, with its relatively exotic mechanics, has become trendy among kids who are relatively well-off, the researchers report.
Report: Adults With Serious Mental Illnesses Face 80% Unemployment
By Jenny Gold, WebMD News from Kaiser Health News
Most adults with mental illness want to work, and six in 10 can succeed with the right supports, according to the report. Yet only 1.7 percent received supported employment services in 2012.
Without proper supports, many end up on expensive public programs including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). People with mental illnesses make up the largest and fastest growing group for both programs.
There are, however, several evidence-based programs to help individuals with mental illnesses find jobs and maintain them.
Brains of Sex Addicts
By Robert Preidt. HealthDay
Porn triggered activity in brain centers also tied to drug addiction responses, researcher says
July 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — In people with sex addiction, pornography affects the brain in ways that are similar to that seen in drug addicts as they consume drugs, a new study finds.
“There are clear differences in brain activity between patients who have compulsive sexual behavior and healthy volunteers. These differences mirror those of drug addicts,” study author Dr. Valerie Voon, of the University of Cambridge in England, said in a university news release.
Are You Tweeting Your Marriage Away?
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Study says too much time spent on social media can create friction in relationships
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Forget about the Twitter wars that break out regularly between outspoken celebrities or loudmouth pundits — too much Twitter can be bad for your own relationship, a new study suggests.
High amounts of Twitter use can lead to friction within a couple, even if the couple is in a long-term relationship, according to findings from an online survey of 581 Twitter users.
Severe Obesity Cuts Up to 14 Years Off Life: Study
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
As weight climbs, so do related deaths from heart disease, diabetes and cancer, researchers say
July 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — People who are severely obese may lose as many as 14 years off their life, a new study suggests.
U.S. researchers pooled data from 20 previous studies and found that a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 — considered severe obesity — raises the odds of dying early from heart disease, cancer and diabetes compared to people of normal weight.
Inactivity May Be Main Culprit in Obesity Epidemic
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Sharp rise seen in number of Americans who didn’t exercise, while calorie intake stayed steady
uly 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Lack of exercise — and not a tendency to eat too much — may explain why an increasing number of Americans are obese, a new study suggests.
Researchers analyzed U.S. government data from the last 20 years and found that the number of women who reported no physical activity rose from about 19 percent in 1994 to nearly 52 percent in 2010. The number of men who said they didn’t exercise increased from about 11 percent to about 43 percent.
Will You Be Obese? Look at Your Sisters, Brothers
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Study found older sibling’s obesity was strongest predictor for risk
July 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Obesity is known to run in families, but new research suggests this relationship may be the strongest among siblings.
Although older children in a two-child home with an obese parent are more than twice as likely to be obese, having an obese older sibling may raise the risk more than fivefold for a younger child, whether the parents are obese or not, the researchers reported.
60% of Diners Use Calorie Labeling When Posted
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
More women rely on menu’s health info than men
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — About six out of 10 adults make use of calorie information on menus, if it’s available, to decide what to order in restaurants, according to a new U.S. study.
Women in particular review the menu labeling, said the study’s lead author, Seung Hee Lee-Kwan, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A Little Alcohol May Not Be Good for Your Heart
By Robert Preidt. HealthDay
New gene-focused review suggests that cutting down on drinking is always heart-healthy
July 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A new study challenges the widely held belief that light drinking of alcohol may be good for your heart.
Researchers analyzed more than 50 studies that examined drinking habits and heart health in more than 260,000 people.
They found that those with a form of a gene tied to lower levels of drinking generally had healthier hearts. The gene affects how a person’s body breaks down alcohol, resulting in unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and facial flushing. Having this variant has been shown to lead to lower drinking over the long term, the researchers explained.
Young Pro Pitchers & Risk of ‘Tommy John’ Surgery
By Robert Preidt. HealthDay
Most players who needed the ligament procedure had it within first 5 years of professional ball
July 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Pitchers who start playing Major League Baseball at a young age may be at increased risk for requiring elbow surgery later in their career, according to a new study.
Researchers looked at 168 pitchers who spent at least one season in the major leagues and subsequently had surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the elbow of their throwing arm.
These players were compared to 178 age-matched major league pitchers who did not undergo UCL reconstruction, widely referred to as “Tommy John” surgery.
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