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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Mushrooms are meaty – it is their juicy, chewy texture and the umami element in their flavor profile – and lend themselves to Mediterranean as well as Asian seasonings. They are low in calories and an excellent source of B vitamins and many minerals, particularly selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorous, zinc and manganese. Wild mushrooms in particular also contain phytochemicals, including L-ergothioneine, which studies have shown to have antioxidant properties. They are used medicinally throughout Asia for their immune-boosting properties.
~Martha Rose Shulman~
There are a number of options for pan-seared mushrooms, from bruschetta to big bowls.
Cod With Chanterelles and Parsley Sauce
Chanterelles are expensive, but you get a lot of volume for your dollar.
Wild Mushroom and Potato Gratin
Wild mushrooms add a luxurious dimension to this comforting, almost classic potato gratin.
The wild mushrooms are what this risotto is really all about.
Baked Miso-Glazed Tofu With Wild Mushrooms
A vegan mushroom meal with Asian flavors.
Quick Epinephrine Use Urged for Allergic Reaction
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
New guidelines emphasize how effective and safe the injection is
Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — People having a severe allergic reaction need immediate treatment with the medication epinephrine, newly released guidelines say.
But, not all medical personnel are aware of the importance of epinephrine, according to the guideline authors.
A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) caused by food, latex or an insect sting can lead to throat swelling, breathing problems, heart attack and even death. Epinephrine can halt that severe allergic reaction.
New Report Targets Hazardous Gifts for Kids
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Consumer watchdog group says many playthings can choke or poison
Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) — This holiday season, all kids on Santa’s list are vulnerable to toys that can pose real health risks, a new report finds.
There are toys with toxic chemicals, small toys that are choking hazards, toys that are so loud they can damage hearing, and toy magnets that can cause serious injury if swallowed, says the annual “Trouble in Toyland” report from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).
Brain Scans Yield Clues to Future Stroke Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Those with damage due to lack of blood flow more likely to suffer recurrence
Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Brain scans taken shortly after a mild stroke can help identify patients at risk of suffering another stroke within three months, a new study suggests.
The study included more than 2,000 people who had CT scans of the brain within 24 hours of suffering a mild, non-disabling stroke or a transient ischemic attack, which are sometimes called “mini-strokes.” Of those patients, 40 percent had brain damage due to a lack of sufficient blood flow (ischemia).
Preventing Eye Problems After Weight-Loss Surgery
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Vision-related complications can range from dry eye to night blindness
Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Weight-loss surgery patients who don’t take prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements could put themselves at risk for vision problems, a new study says.
Digestive system changes caused by the surgery can reduce nutrient absorption from food, the researchers explain in the current issue of the journal Obesity Surgery.
“There is a risk that bariatric surgery patients, who do not take the vitamin and mineral supplements prescribed to them, could develop eye-related complications because of nutrient deficiencies,” study co-author Rui Azevedo Guerreiro, of the Lisbon Hospital Central in Portugal, said in a journal news release.
Obesity Ills May Shave Up to 8 Years Off Your Life
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Excess weight also shortens the time you live free of chronic diseases that lower quality of life, researchers say
Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The heart disease and diabetes that often accompany obesity may rob people of almost a decade of life and close to two decades of a healthy life, Canadian researchers report.
“Not only is excess body weight associated with a significant reduction in life expectancy, but with an even greater reduction in healthy life years,” said lead researcher Dr. Steven Grover, a professor of medicine at McGill University in Montreal.
Public Restrooms No Germier Than Your Home: Study
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
But you should still wash your hands, experts caution
Dec. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Many people envision public restrooms as filthy and crawling with nasty germs, but they’re actually as healthy as the average room in your home, a new study reports.
Microbiologists tracking bacteria and viruses in four public restrooms found that most of the bacteria present came from human skin and outdoor environments.
Illness-causing fecal bacteria were present in the restrooms, but represented less than 15 percent of the total bacterial population, the researchers said. And they vanished quickly.
Daily Statin Might Raise Your Risk for Cataracts
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But benefits of cholesterol-lowering drugs outweigh risks, experts say
Dec. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Taking a statin to lower your cholesterol may raise your risk of developing cataracts, Canadian researchers report.
While statins such as Zocor, Crestor and Lipitor protect many people from heart attack and stroke, they may raise the odds of developing the vision problem by 27 percent, the researchers report.
Sleeping Well May Depend on Your Genes, Study Says
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Scientists pinpoint area of DNA, but difference is only few minutes each night
Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) — How much sleep you get each night may depend to some extent on your genes, a new study suggests.
“Sleep patterns are influenced by genetic differences,” said study co-author Dr. Daniel Gottlieb, a sleep researcher and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “This study is one of the first to begin identifying these genetic differences, and will hopefully help us better understand the causes of sleep disorders and their relation to other important diseases.”
Time Spent in the O.R. May Be Linked to Blood Clots
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Longer operations are associated with higher risk
Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Longer surgery times may increase a patient’s risk of dangerous blood clots, a new study suggests.
Blood clots are associated with more than 500,000 hospitalizations and 100,000 deaths a year, according to background information in the study.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 1.4 million people who had surgery under general anesthesia at 315 U.S. hospitals between 2005 and 2011.
New U.S. Kidney Transplant Rules Take Effect
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Changes intended to make organ allocation more equitable
Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) — New rules intended to create a more level playing field for those awaiting kidney transplants in the United States go into effect Thursday.
The changes are designed to lengthen the time younger patients will have working transplants, increase kidney availability and improve the odds for patients with hard-to-match donors, said Dr. Richard Formica, who chairs the kidney transplantation committee of the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network and United Network for Organ Sharing.
FDA Approves Injectable Device for Back, Leg Pain
By Susan Jeffrey, Medscape Medical News
Dec. 4, 2014 — The FDA has approved an injectable microchip nerve-stimulation device for the relief of ongoing back and leg pain.
The Stimwave Freedom Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) system is expected to be available in the United States next January, the company, Stimwave Technologies Inc., said in a statement.
The device is already being sold in Europe to treat back and leg pain.
Many Ignore Cancer’s Warning Signs, Survey Finds
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
While more than half had experienced a potential symptom, only 2 percent thought malignancy possible
Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Many people ignore potential warning signs of cancer, a new British survey found.
The study involved 1,700 people aged 50 and older in the United Kingdom who completed a health questionnaire listing 17 symptoms, including 10 widely publicized possible cancer symptoms. The symptoms included unexplained cough, bleeding, or significant changes in bowel or bladder activity.
While 53 percent of the participants said they had experienced at least one of the potential cancer symptoms in the previous three months, only 2 percent thought cancer was a possible cause of those symptoms
Common Knee Surgery May Boost Arthritis Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Repairing tears in meniscus cartilage made joint trouble more likely than physical therapy did
Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A common type of knee surgery may increase the chances of arthritis, a new study suggests.
The procedure repairs tears in the meniscus, a piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber. There are two in each knee, and they stabilize the knee joint. Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries, and surgery is often performed to reduce pain and improve joint function, the researchers said.
In their study, the scientists used MRI scans to look at 355 knees with arthritis, and compared them to a similar number of knees without arthritis. The average age of the patients was about 60 and most were overweight.
Preventable Hospital Patient Problems Down: Report
WebMD News from HealthDay
Dec. 2, 2014 — Preventable problems such as infections, bed sores, and medication errors fell 17 percent at U.S. hospitals from 2010 to 2013, according to a federal government report.
The report said the 1.3 million fewer problems during that time saved the lives of about 50,000 patients and about $12 billion in health care costs, the Associated Press reported.
Factors that may have contributed to the decrease include public reporting of errors and financial penalties implemented under the Affordable Care Act, according to the report.
Statins Won’t Help Protect Bones, Study Finds
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But they don’t raise the risk of fractures, doctor notes
Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins have been touted by some as capable of reducing the risk for broken bones. But, it appears that’s not the case, a new study finds.
In the study, almost 18,000 older adults were selected to take either the statin Crestor (rosuvastatin) or an inactive placebo. Of the 431 fractures during the study, 221 were among those taking Crestor and 210 were among people taking the placebo, the researchers found.
Antacids May Improve Head and Neck Cancer Survival
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Reason for benefit unclear, more research is needed, study author says
Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Using antacids to control acid reflux may improve head and neck cancer patients’ chances of survival, a new study suggests.
The researchers examined the effects that two types of antacids — proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2 blockers — had on head and neck cancer patients. More than two-thirds of the nearly 600 patients in the study took one or both types of the antacids after their cancer diagnosis.
Deadlier Flu Season Is Possible, C.D.C. Says
By Donald C. McNeil, Jr., New York Times
This year’s flu season may be deadlier than usual, and this year’s flu vaccine is a relatively poor match to a new virus that is now circulating, federal health officials warned on Thursday.
“Flu is unpredictable, but what we’ve seen thus far is concerning,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The C.D.C. has alerted doctors to the problem and has urged them to prescribe antiviral drugs like Tamiflu to vulnerable patients with flu symptoms without waiting for a positive flu test.
Officials Designate 35 Ebola Treatment Centers
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
‘We must prepare for the possibility of additional cases in the United States’
Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Thirty-five hospitals across the United States have been designated as Ebola treatment centers, and more will be designated in the coming weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
These centers have the staff, equipment, training and resources to provide the complex treatment required to care for Ebola patients, while minimizing risk to health care workers, the agency said.
Is HIV Becoming Less Contagious?
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Study from Africa suggests virus is evolving
Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) — New research in Africa suggests that the AIDS virus is getting smarter about evading the immune system while evolving into a less contagious and less lethal infection overall.
In the country of Botswana, at least, “anyone who is newly infected now with HIV is less likely to suffer disease than if they had been infected 20 or 30 years ago,” said study co-author Philip Goulder, a research immunologist with the University of Oxford in England. “If this process continues, HIV will cause less and less disease.”
Low-Dose Aspirin and Women Under 65
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Benefits of cutting heart disease and cancer risk is clearer in older women, but use should be individualized, experts say
Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Although low-dose aspirin may curb the risks of heart disease and colon cancer, the downsides appear to outweigh the benefits for many women, a new large study suggests.
For women younger than 65, researchers found taking low-dose aspirin for years lowered the risks of heart attack, stroke and colon cancer by a small amount.
But they also found that the benefit was countered by an increase in the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding — serious enough to land a woman in the hospital.
New Drug Labels to Better Inform Pregnant Women
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Agency official says labeling changes should help patients ‘make critical decisions’ about medicines
Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A new labeling system should give women and their doctors clearer information on the risks and benefits of prescription medicines when taken during pregnancy and breast-feeding, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
The agency “wants pregnant and breast-feeding women and their health care providers to benefit from the most useful and latest information about their prescription medicines,” Dr. Sandra Kweder, deputy director of the FDA’s Office of New Drugs, explained in an agency news release
Breast Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Trial
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Injection boosted immune response, seemed to slow spread in those with advanced disease
Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — An experimental vaccine designed to stop breast cancer in its tracks appeared to be safe in a preliminary trial.
Fourteen women with breast cancer that had spread were injected with a vaccine that targets a specific protein, known as mammaglobin-A, that is found in high amounts in breast tumors.
Although the study was small, the findings suggest that the vaccine may also boost a patient’s immune response and help slow disease progression.
]Mammograms for 40-Somethings Supported by Study http://www.webmd.com/women/new…
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Limiting screening to women with family history, dense breasts would miss many cancers, researchers find
Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Women diagnosed with breast cancer in their 40s commonly lack well-known risk factors for the disease, according to new research that could fuel debate about preventive screening for this age group.
The study of 136 women diagnosed with breast cancer after a mammogram found few had dense breast tissue and a family history of the disease. Both traits are linked to higher odds for breast cancer and often help determine whether a woman aged 40 to 49 is referred for mammography screening.Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Women diagnosed with breast cancer in their 40s commonly lack well-known risk factors for the disease, according to new research that could fuel debate about preventive screening for this age group.
The study of 136 women diagnosed with breast cancer after a mammogram found few had dense breast tissue and a family history of the disease. Both traits are linked to higher odds for breast cancer and often help determine whether a woman aged 40 to 49 is referred for mammography screening.
Smoking Might Cost Men Their ‘Y’ Chromosome: Study
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Consequences aren’t clear, but experts suspect the change might be linked to increased cancer risk
Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Men who smoke may see more of their Y chromosomes disappear as they age, a new study suggests.
Scientists have long known that as men grow older, the Y chromosome can start to disappear from some of their body cells. And that was initially thought to be a normal part of aging.
But recent research has suggested that “loss of Y” might not be so benign. In a study reported earlier this year, researchers linked Y chromosome loss to a shorter life span and an increased risk of dying from cancer, specifically.
Should Men Worry About Being Too Old to Have Kids?
By Rita Rubin, WebMD Health News
Dec. 2, 2014 — Guys, that ticking you hear might be your biological clock.
As women age, fertility wanes, and the risk of genetic problems in their babies increases. Now, a growing body of research suggests that middle-aged men might be more likely to father children with mental health problems, as well as rare genetic disorders, such as the most common type of dwarfism. The findings are mixed.
CDC Endorses Circumcision for Health Reasons
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Says benefits, including reduced chances of sexually transmitted diseases, outweigh risks
Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — U.S. health officials are poised to endorse circumcision as a means of preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released its first-ever draft guidelines on circumcision that recommend that doctors counsel parents and uncircumcised males on the health benefits of the procedure.
The guidelines do not outright call for circumcision of all male newborns, since that is a personal decision that may involve religious or cultural preferences, Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, told the Associated Press
.
Too Few Prostate Cancer Patients Get These Meds
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Men receiving hormone therapy may be missing out on protective drugs, researcher says
Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Many men on hormone therapy for prostate cancer aren’t getting bone-strengthening drugs they may need, new Canadian research contends.
Hormone therapy, which suppresses male hormones called androgens, helps stop cancer cells from growing. But one consequence of the treatment is weakening of the bones, which can lead to fractures. To reduce this risk, men can be given oral bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax, or an intravenous treatment once a month or once a year with similar drugs, such as Reclast.
Many Kids Exposed to Unneeded X-Rays, Study Finds
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Limiting radiation, costs should be objectives, researcher says
Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Many American children receive unnecessary chest X-rays, a new study indicates.
“Chest X-rays can be a valuable exam when ordered for the correct indications. However, there are several indications where pediatric chest X-rays offer no benefit and likely should not be performed to decrease radiation dose and cost,” said study author Dr. Ann Packard, a radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Babies Sleep With Soft Bedding Despite SIDS Risk
By Tara Haelle, HealthDay
Over half have items in crib that may up odds of sudden infant death syndrome
Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Although soft bedding has been linked to an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), more than half of American parents continue to use such bedding for their sleeping babies, according to a new study.
Use of soft bedding among parents declined sharply from 1993 through 2000, but has mostly leveled off since the early 2000s, the study found. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended since 1996 that infants be placed in sleeping environments without any soft surfaces or objects that might trap air, the study noted.
A Leading Cause of Toy-Linked Injuries in Kids
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
New report also shows that a child winds up in the ER with a toy-related injury every 3 minutes in the U.S.
Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Here’s a sobering statistic to ponder before buying holiday gifts for your kids: A new study shows that a child with a toy-related injury is treated in a U.S. emergency department every 3 minutes.
Much of that increase was due to one type of toy: foot-powered scooters.
The researchers found that about 3.3 million children with toy-related injuries were treated in ERs between 1990 and 2011, and the toy-related injury rate rose nearly 40 percent during that time.
High School Football Tied to Brain Changes
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Small study suggests that blows to the head in a typical season might alter brain
Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) — There’s been a lot of discussion recently about concussions and contact sports, but new research suggests that even less severe head injuries might lead to brain changes among high school football players.
The study found that repeated blows to the head after just one season could cause measurable changes in the brains of young athletes who never had a concussion.
The more often the athletes were hit, the more evidence they showed of brain changes that appeared abnormal, according to the study’s author, Dr. Christopher Whitlow, an associate professor at the Radiology Translational Science Institute at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Midlife Diabetes Linked to Memory Problems Later
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Blood sugar disorder associated with 19 percent greater decline in thinking skills, study reports
Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A midlife diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes may raise the risk of memory and thinking problems over the next 20 years, new research suggests.
Having diabetes in midlife was linked with a 19 percent greater decline in memory and thinking (cognitive) skills over 20 years, according to the new study.
Mediterranean Diet Is Good for Your DNA
By Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times
The Mediterranean diet – high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and olive oil, and low in dairy products and meat – has long been touted for its health-promoting benefits. Now researchers have new clues why.
They found that the diet is associated with longer telomeres, the protective structures at the end of chromosomes. Shorter telomeres are associated with age-related chronic diseases and reduced life expectancy.
Running Linked to Lower Alzheimer’s Death Risk
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Higher fruit intake, cholesterol-lowering drugs also associated with reduced risk, researchers say
Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Running more than 15 miles a week may reduce the risk of dying from Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests.
Walking can help, too, if the amount of energy expended is equivalent to running more than 15 miles weekly, the study found.
“Exercise seems to prevent the shrinkage [in the brain] that occurs with age,” said study researcher Paul Williams, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif. And preserving brain volume may be why vigorous exercise helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s death, according to Williams.
Sleep Apnea May Lower Your Aerobic Fitness
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
People with the sleep disorder take in less oxygen during exercise, small study finds
Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) — People with sleep apnea may have lower levels of aerobic fitness, a new study suggests.
Sleep apnea causes the upper airway to become blocked by soft tissue in the back of the throat during sleep. This causes pauses in breathing and other symptoms, such as gasping and snoring.
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