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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Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
I wanted each of these stews to feature a nutritious vegetable along with the chicken and aromatics. In this way they are truly one-dish, nutrient-dense meals. Though I suggest serving them with rice, other grains or pasta, if carbs are an issue, know that these stews are very satisfying on their own.
I used skinless legs and boneless, skinless thighs for my chicken stews, and I sought out free-range organic chickens. While chicken breasts are lower in fat than the legs and thighs, they dry out when you stew them for very long. You can increase or decrease the number of chicken pieces according to your needs. If you’ve frozen a stew, it’s best to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator for the next night’s dinner. If the stew doesn’t thaw completely, heat gently in a casserole or use your microwave’s defrost function
~ Martha Rose Shulman ~
Cinnamon adds a subtle sweetness to this stew. If salt is an issue, omit the olives; the stew will still be delicious.
This is an adaptation of a classic French bistro dish, poulet Basquaise.
Chicken Stew With Sweet Potatoes, Almonds and Apricots
This sweetly spiced dish, with beta-carotene-rich apricots and sweet potatoes, is also evocative of recipes from the Middle East and Iran.
Chicken Cacciatore With Mushrooms, Tomatoes and Wine
This classic Italian dish must have hundreds of versions, all resulting in a rustic braise of chicken, aromatic vegetables and tomatoes.
Veracruzana Chicken Stew With Winter Squash
This is loosely based on a chicken stew from the Mexican state of Veracruz.
Long-Term Study Finds Measles Vaccines Safe
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Research included more than a half-million vaccine doses in 1- or 2-year-olds
Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Two measles-containing vaccines are safe, according to a new 12-year study.
The research included children between the ages of 12 to 23 months. Some youngsters received the combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine. Others were given separately administered measles-mumps-rubella and varicella (MMR + V) vaccines, but they received both vaccines on the same day.
In total, the researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center in California looked at almost 125,000 MMRV doses and nearly 600,000 MMR + V doses.
FDA OKs New Anti-Clotting Drug for Type of AFib
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Savaysa works like warfarin but carries less bleeding risk
an. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new anti-clotting drug to reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots and strokes in people with a type of heart rhythm disorder has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Savaysa (edoxaban) is approved to treat people with atrial fibrillation that’s not caused by a heart valve problem. Atrial fibrillation — the most common type of heart rhythm disorder — increases the risk of developing blood clots that can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
E-Cigs May Be Linked to Respiratory Infections
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Goal was to measure devices’ impact on children, researchers say
Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Vapor from electronic cigarettes may increase young people’s risk of respiratory infections, whether or not it contains nicotine, a new laboratory study has found.
Lung tissue samples from deceased children appeared to suffer damage when exposed to e-cigarette vapor in the laboratory, researchers reported in a recent issue of the journal PLOS One.
Cancer Groups Urge More Regulation of E-Cigarettes
By Alan Mozes. HealthDay
Say too little is known about potential health hazards of ‘vaping’ devices
Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The potential health hazards of e-cigarettes remain unclear, and more regulation on their use is needed, say two groups representing cancer researchers and specialists.
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) together issued a list of recommendations on Thursday aimed at bringing e-cigarette regulations more in line with those of traditional cigarettes.
Some Older Adults With Asthma, COPD Still Smoke
By EJ Mundell, HealthDay
Quitting is ‘challenging’ and depression often plays a role, one expert says
Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Close to half of U.S. adults over 40 who have trouble breathing due to asthma or COPD still continue to smoke, federal health officials reported Wednesday.
The findings highlight the difficulty facing many smokers trying to quit — even when smoking exacerbates an already distressing illness, one expert said.
However, “with assistance, quitting may still be challenging but it is possible,” said Patricia Folan, director of the Center for Tobacco Control at North Shore-LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y.
New Antibiotic May Combat Resistant Bacteria
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Teixobactin shows promise in early experiments, researchers say
Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Laboratory researchers say they’ve discovered a new antibiotic that could prove valuable in fighting disease-causing bacteria that no longer respond to older, more frequently used drugs.
The new antibiotic, teixobactin, has proven effective against a number of bacterial infections that have developed resistance to existing antibiotic drugs, researchers report in Jan. 7 in the journal Nature.
High Blood Sugar and Risk of Early Death in Some
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Even normal but slightly elevated levels can signal trouble, study notes
Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Checking the blood sugar levels of emergency department patients with heart failure can identify those at risk of diabetes, hospitalization and early death, a new study suggests.
This increased risk was true even if patients had blood sugar (glucose) levels within what is considered normal limits, the researchers said.
No Clear Winner Among Knee Arthritis Drugs
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Injections were rated slightly more effective at fighting pain than pills
Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Pain-relieving treatments for knee arthritis all work better than doing nothing — but it’s hard to point to a clear winner, a new research review concluded.
Using data from almost 140 studies, researchers found all of the widely used arthritis treatments — from over-the-counter painkillers to pain-relieving injections — brought more relief to aching knees over three months than did placebo pills.
Alcohol Poisoning Kills 6 Americans Every Day: CDC
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Older adults hardest hit by binge-drinking deaths, and long-term effects of alcoholism often play a role
Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new report finds that six people die in the United States each day after consuming far too much alcohol in too short a time — a condition known as alcohol poisoning.
“Alcohol poisoning deaths are a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of excessive alcohol use, which is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S.,” Ileana Arias, principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an agency news release.
Link Found Between Cancer Diagnosis, Stroke Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Threat was highest first three months after diagnosis, researchers say
an. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Newly diagnosed cancer patients are at increased risk for stroke in the months after they find out they have the disease. And the risk of stroke is higher among those with more aggressive cancer, a new study says.
The findings come from an analysis of Medicare claims submitted between 2001 and 2009 by patients aged 66 and older who had been diagnosed with breast, colorectal, lung, prostate and pancreatic cancer.
Type 1 Diabetes Linked to Lower Life Expectancy
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
But, second study suggests that intensive blood sugar management can make a difference
an. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People with type 1 diabetes today lose more than a decade of life to the chronic disease, despite improved treatment of both diabetes and its complications, a new Scottish study reports.
Men with type 1 diabetes lose about 11 years of life expectancy compared to men without the disease. And, women with type 1 diabetes have their lives cut short by about 13 years, according to a report published in the Jan. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Binge Drinking May Weaken Immune System
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
But whether this makes you more vulnerable to colds or flu isn’t known
Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Young adults who engage in just one bout of binge drinking may experience a relatively quick and significant drop in their immune system function, a new small study indicates.
It’s well-known that drinking ups injury risk, and this new study suggests that immune system impairment might also hamper recovery from those injuries.
Cancer Docs, Patients and Herbs, Supplements
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Many physicians cite a lack of knowledge as a primary reason, survey finds
Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Despite concerns about potentially dangerous interactions between cancer treatments and herbs and other supplements, most cancer doctors don’t talk to their patients about these products, new research found.
Fewer than half of cancer doctors — oncologists — bring up the subject of herbs or supplements with their patients, the researchers found. Many doctors cited their own lack of information as a major reason why they skip that conversation.
Rotating Shifts May Raise Lung Cancer, Heart Risks
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Research can’t prove cause-and-effect, but does suggest a link
Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Working rotating night shifts may pose a threat to your health, a new study suggests.
The study defined rotating shift work as at least three nights spent working each month, in addition to days and evenings worked in the month.
In the new study, researchers led by Dr. Eva Schernhammer of Harvard Medical School tracked 22 years of data from about 75,000 nurses across the United States.
Why Are Colds Are More Likely in Winter?
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Animal study suggests body’s defense system doesn’t seem to work as well at cooler temperatures
Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Though it’s never been scientifically confirmed, conventional wisdom has it that winter is the season of sniffles.
Now, new animal research seems to back up that idea. It suggests that as internal body temperatures fall after exposure to cold air, so too does the immune system’s ability to beat back the rhinovirus that causes the common cold.
Flu Season Bad and May Get Worse
By Kathleen Doheny, WebMD Health News
Jan. 9, 2015 — This year’s flu season is still bad, and it’s too soon to say whether it has peaked, officials from the CDC warned Friday.
“This flu season is shaping up to be a severe one, especially for older people, young children, and those with underlying conditions,” said CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, referring to conditions like asthma, sickle cell disease and other health problems.
During the press briefing, Frieden urged people who haven’t gotten vaccinated to get a flu shot. People with symptoms should get to their doctor quickly for antiviral medicines to reduce the severity of the illness, he said.
Two Ebola Vaccines Seem Safe: WHO
WebMD News, HealthDay
wo leading Ebola vaccines seem safe and clinical trials with healthy volunteers in West Africa will begin soon, according to the World Health Organization.
It says there is now enough data to show that the two most advanced Ebola vaccines have an “acceptable safety profile,” the Associated Press reported.
HPV Test Endorsed for Cervical Cancer Checks
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Two groups call it an effective alternative to the Pap test, but another group disagrees
Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An HPV test recently approved by U.S. health officials is an effective way to check for cervical cancer, two leading women’s health organizations said Thursday.
The groups said the HPV test is an effective, one-test alternative to the current recommendation of screening with either a Pap test alone or a combination of the HPV test and a Pap test.
Sleeping on Back in Pregnancy and Stillbirth Risk
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
But impaired fetal growth is a far more likely cause, researchers say
Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women who sleep on their backs in the later months of pregnancy may have a relatively higher risk of stillbirth if they already have other risk factors, a new study suggests.
Experts stressed that the findings do not prove that sleep position itself affects stillbirth risk.
“We should be cautious in interpreting the results,” said Dr. George Saade, director of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Low Vitamin D Levels Tied to Risk of Preterm Birth
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Women with lowest levels of the ‘sunshine vitamin’ most likely to deliver early, researchers found
an. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women who have low blood levels of vitamin D during pregnancy are more likely to give birth prematurely, a new study suggests.
Women with the lowest levels of vitamin D were about 1.5 times as likely to deliver early compared to those with the highest levels, the investigators found. That finding held true even after the researchers accounted for other factors linked to preterm birth, such as overweight and obesity, and smoking.
Low Birth Weight and Type 2 Diabetes Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Possible reasons include insulin resistance, problems with blood vessel lining and high blood pressure
Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new study that confirms that underweight babies are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes later in life also identifies factors associated with that increased risk.
The findings may help pinpoint which physical processes are disrupted by a low birth weight, eventually resulting in diabetes, the Brown University researchers said.
PTSD May Raise Women’s Risk for Diabetes
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Obesity, antidepressants could play a role in the connection, study suggests
Jan. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women with post-traumatic stress disorder seem more likely than others to develop type 2 diabetes, with severe PTSD almost doubling the risk, a new study suggests.
The research “brings to attention an unrecognized problem,” said Dr. Alexander Neumeister, director of the molecular imaging program for anxiety and mood disorders at New York University School of Medicine. It’s crucial to treat both PTSD and diabetes when they’re interconnected in women, he said. Otherwise, “you can try to treat diabetes as much as you want, but you’ll never be fully successful,” he added.
Study: HPV Vaccine Doesn’t Increase Risk for MS
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Researchers say findings provide more evidence supporting safety of the cervical cancer inoculation
Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The HPV vaccine for cervical cancer and other diseases doesn’t increase the risk for multiple sclerosis or other central nervous system disorders, according to a new study.
More than 175 million doses of HPV vaccines have been distributed worldwide to girls and young women — and more recently males — since 2006. Unconfirmed reports in social and news media suggested the possibility of some safety concerns about the vaccine, including increased risk for multiple sclerosis and similar diseases, according to background information with the study.
This May Help Some Women With Early Breast Cancer
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Drug-chemo combo yields low rate of recurrence after three years, study says
an. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For some women with early breast tumors, lower-dose chemotherapy and the drug Herceptin may help ward off a cancer recurrence, a new study suggests.
Experts said the findings, published in the Jan. 8 New England Journal of Medicine, could offer the first standard treatment approach for women in the early stages of HER2-positive breast cancer.
Fertility Treatments Have Low Complication Rates
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Improvements through the years have made these procedures safer, researchers say
Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Assisted reproductive technology — or fertility treatments — to help conceive a baby is growing safer in the United States and is now a low-risk procedure, according to a new study.
The researchers found the risk of complications was low for both “autologous procedures” — where women use their own eggs — as well as donor-assisted procedures.
Oral HPV Infection Lasts Longer in Older Men
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Potentially cancer-causing infection appears to linger in males over 45
Jan. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — One type of oral HPV (human papillomavirus) infection, HPV16, seems to last a year or longer in men over the age of 45 than it does in younger men, new research indicates.
HPV16 is the form of HPV often associated with the onset of head and neck cancers (oropharyngeal), the study team noted.
Can Pets Boost Social Skills for Kids With Autism?
By Tara Haelle, HealthDay
Study finds slight evidence that family pets boost social skills in children with the disorder
Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Owning a pet may play a role in social skills development for some children with autism, a new study suggests.
The findings are among the first to investigate possible links between pets and social skills in kids with an autism spectrum disorder — a group of developmental disorders that affect a child’s ability to communicate and socialize.
Kids With Bedroom Smartphones Sleep Less: Study
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Experts recommend limiting use of small screen devices
an. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A smartphone in a child’s bedroom may undermine good sleep habits even more than a TV, new research suggests.
A study of more than 2,000 elementary and middle-school students found that having a smartphone or tablet in the bedroom was associated with less weekday sleep and feeling sleepy in the daytime.
Extra Rest May Not Be Best for Kids’ Concussions
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Two days proved more effective than five days in small study of teens
Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For teens who suffer a mild concussion, more rest may not be better — and may be worse — in aiding recovery from the brain injury, new research suggests.
The researchers compared five days of strict rest to the traditionally recommended day or two of rest, followed by a gradual return to normal activities as symptoms disappear.
The Medical College of Wisconsin researchers found no significant difference in balance or mental functioning between teens who rested five days and those who rested one to two days.
Middle School Football May Not Cause Brain Damage
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Small review found hits to head occurred less often than for older players; one doctor has some concerns
Jan. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children who play football in middle school don’t appear to have any noticeable short-term brain damage from repeated hits to the head, new research suggests.
However, one doctor with expertise in pediatric brain injuries expressed some concerns about the study, saying its small size made it hard to draw definitive conclusions.
Petty ‘Crimes’ Sometimes Tied to Dementia
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Thefts, traffic violations may be first signs of mental decline, researchers say
Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some older adults with dementia unwittingly commit crimes like theft or trespassing, and for a small number, it can be a first sign of their mental decline, a new study finds.
The behavior, researchers found, is most often seen in people with a subtype of frontotemporal dementia. Frontotemporal dementia accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all dementia cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Meanwhile, older adults with Alzheimer’s — the most common form of dementia — appear much less likely to show “criminal behavior,” the researchers said.
About 1 in 7 Older Adults Has Lung Disease: CDC
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
COPD, asthma affect many aging Americans
Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 15 percent, or about one out of seven, middle-aged and older U.S. adults suffer from lung disorders such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), health officials said Tuesday.
While 10 percent of those people experience mild breathing problems, more than one-third of them report moderate or severe respiratory symptoms, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.
Avocados Help Lower Cholesterol in Some People
By Nicky Broyd, WebMD Health News
Jan. 8, 2015 — An avocado a day might help keep bad cholesterol at bay.
Eating one per day as part of a certain heart-healthy, cholesterol-lowering diet can help improve “bad” LDL cholesterol levels in people who are overweight or obese, according to a small study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Cooler Temps May Boost Calorie-Burning ‘Brown Fat’
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Human trials are needed, but study offers clues to potential method of weight control
Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cold temperatures may raise levels of calorie-burning “brown fat” in your body, a new study conducted with mice suggests.
Unlike white fat, brown fat burns calories instead of storing them, and some studies have shown that brown fat has beneficial effects on glucose (blood sugar) tolerance, fat metabolism and body weight.
“Overall, the percentage of brown fat in adults is small compared to white fat,” study lead author Hei Sook Sul, professor of nutritional science and toxicology at the University of California, Berkeley, said in a university news release. “We also know that obese people have lower levels of brown fat.”
Drug for Bladder Problems May Help Control Weight
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
But small study showed increase in heart rate in young, lean volunteers
Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A drug already used to treat overactive bladder may also someday help control weight by boosting the metabolic powers of brown fat, a small study suggests.
While white fat stores energy, brown fat burns energy to generate body heat. In the process, it can help maintain body weight and prevent obesity, at least in animals, previous studies have shown.
Weight-Loss Surgery May Extend Lives, Study Finds
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Results applied to older men and women, even with other health problems
Jan. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Weight-loss surgery appears to prolong life for severely obese adults, a new study of U.S. veterans finds.
Among 2,500 obese adults who underwent so-called bariatric surgery, the death rate was about 14 percent after 10 years compared with almost 24 percent for obese patients who didn’t have weight-loss surgery, researchers found.
Study Debunks Notion of ‘Healthy Obesity’
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Very heavy people slip into poor health over time, researchers find
Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The notion of potentially healthy obesity is a myth, with most obese people slipping into poor health and chronic illness over time, a new British study claims.
The “obesity paradox” is a theory that argues obesity might improve some people’s chances of survival over illnesses such as heart failure, said lead researcher Joshua Bell, a doctoral student in University College London’s department of epidemiology and public health.
But research tracking the health of more than 2,500 British men and women for two decades found that half the people initially considered “healthy obese” wound up sliding into poor health as years passed.
Diet Rich in Whole Grains Might Extend Your Life
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Findings held even after researchers accounted for person’s weight, age and smoking status
Jan. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Over time, regularly eating whole wheat bread, oatmeal or other whole grains may add years to your lifespan, a new Harvard-led study concludes.
Whole grains are so healthy that a person’s risk of an early death drops with every serving added to a daily diet, according to findings published online Jan. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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