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.
Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
The scientific dispute over what’s safe and what’s not has raged for many years, but I was heartened to see that even a watchdog group like the Environmental Defense Fund can find a range of fish and shellfish make for safe and sustainable choices. I know from experience that many of them can make for fine meals; I’ll be offering a few examples this week.
As for the best ways to cook fish, there are many. I tend to go for methods that don’t leave a lingering smell in my kitchen, such as roasting in a covered baking dish or in individual foil packets, poaching in a stew, or slow-steaming in the oven. I steam mollusks like mussels and clams in wine in a wide pan or a pot, and serve them with the broth. On warm nights, I love to grill fish outdoors
~ Martha Rose Shulman ~
This is a typical fisherman’s stew. No need to make a fish stock; water, aromatics and anchovies will suffice.
Spanish-Style Shrimp With Garlic
Serve with rice, or if serving in earthenware dishes, with crusty bread for dipping.
If you’ve only had sardines from a can, you may turn up your nose at them. Fresh ones will change your mind. Brush them with olive oil, toss a few sprigs of rosemary onto a hot grill, and grill them.
Baked Halibut With Tomato Caper Sauce
This is a pungent tomato sauce that I learned to make in Provence. It goes well with any type of robust fish.
Whole Rainbow Trout Baked in Foil
It’s easy to find farmed rainbow trout these days. They’re usually boned and “butterflied” – opened up, with the halves still attached.
FDA Warns of Complications From Facial Fillers
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
When injections accidentally enter blood vessels, blockages and damage can occur
May 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Soft tissue fillers used in cosmetic procedures can accidentally be injected into blood vessels in the face and cause serious harm, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
The fillers are approved to treat wrinkles or to enhance cheeks or lips.
Injection of facial fillers into blood vessels can cause blockages that restrict blood supply to tissues. Filler material injected into blood vessels can also travel to other areas and cause stroke, vision problems, blindness and damage and/or death of the skin and underlying facial structures, the agency said in a news release.
Newer Birth Control Pills May Up Blood Clot Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study finds effect with brands such as Yaz, Yasmin and Desogen, but risk to any one user remains very low
May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Newer forms of the birth control pill — brands such as Yaz, Yasmin and Desogen — are more likely to cause blood clots than older versions, a new study finds.
However, the study authors also stressed that the odds of a clot remain very low for any one woman using the medications, and remain lower than the clotting risk that occurs when a woman is pregnant.
New Meds OK’d for Hard-to-Treat IBS With Diarrhea
By Kathleen Doheny, WebMD Health News
May 28, 2015 — The FDA has approved two new prescription medications to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, or IBS-D. It’s the latest step in a years-long struggle to find safe and effective treatments for the condition.
“I think patients with IBS should be very excited to have more options,” says Lawrence Schiller, MD, program director of the gastroenterology fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center. “Neither drug is a miracle, but they are both likely to be helpful for some patients.”
Bigger Share of Deaths Worldwide Now Due to Cancer
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Throat, lung cancers were leading cause of deaths, study finds
May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A greater percentage of deaths worldwide are now caused by cancer, a new report shows.
Between 1990 and 2013, the proportion of all deaths caused by cancer rose from 12 percent to 15 percent. During that time, years of healthy life lost to cancer increased 29 percent, the report found.
In total, there were 15 million new cases of cancer, 8 million deaths and 196 million years of a healthy life lost in 2013, the researchers said.
Tattoos May Pose Health Risks, Researchers Report
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Rashes, itching, infections and swelling found in 6 percent of those ‘inked’
May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Getting a tattoo may put you at risk for long-term skin problems, a new study warns.
“We were rather alarmed at the high rate of reported chronic complications tied to getting a tattoo,” said senior investigator Dr. Marie Leger, an assistant professor in the dermatology department at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
Diabetes Drug Metformin May Lower Glaucoma Risk
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Study found people with highest dose were 25 percent less likely to develop eye condition
May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The diabetes drug metformin was linked to a lower risk of developing the eye condition glaucoma in a new study.
People who took the most metformin during the 10-year study period had a 25 percent reduced risk of glaucoma compared with people not taking the drug, researchers found.May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The diabetes drug metformin was linked to a lower risk of developing the eye condition glaucoma in a new study.
People who took the most metformin during the 10-year study period had a 25 percent reduced risk of glaucoma compared with people not taking the drug, researchers found.
HIV Drugs Should Be Taken Right After Diagnosis
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Those who started medications early fared better than those who waited until immune systems weakened
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People with HIV should start taking medications to battle the virus that causes AIDS as soon as they’re diagnosed, a new international study finds.
Scientists involved in the trial were so impressed by the health benefits of early use of HIV drugs that they shut the study down early so they could offer the medications to all participants.
Gene Testing Can Be Flawed, Study Finds
By Margaret Farley Steele, HealthDay
Labs interpret findings differently, perhaps leading to inappropriate ‘treatment’
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Gene tests that claim to predict your risk for certain diseases are often inaccurate, a large, new study finds.
Errors in testing or interpretation are serious, possibly leading to unneeded treatment or deterring someone from a life-saving therapy, according to the first report from a public-private consortium overseeing pooled gene data.
Could a Noisy Neighborhood Make You Fat?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Constant exposure to traffic, trains and planes may add inches to your waist, researchers report
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to noise from traffic, trains and planes may be linked to a burgeoning belly, Swedish researchers report.
The increased risk of a larger waist rose with the number of sources of noise someone was exposed to at the same time — from 25 percent for those exposed to only one source to nearly double for those exposed to all three sources, the scientists added.
MS May Raise Odds for Earlier Death, Study Finds
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay Reporter
Younger people with the disease appear to face an even greater risk of dying prematurely
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People with multiple sclerosis may have twice the risk of dying prematurely compared to people without MS, a new study suggests.
And the study also found that for people younger than 59 with MS, the risk of an early death seemed to be tripled, compared to people without the disease.
Overall, MS patients live an average 76 years, compared with 83 years for people who don’t have the disease, the study revealed.
Using Herpes Virus to Fight Advanced Melanoma
By EJ Mundell, HealthDay
Study shows it helped a minority of patients, and experts say this approach has promise
May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A genetically engineered and harmless form of the herpes virus is showing promise in slowing the progression of melanoma, researchers report.
The treatment works by killing cancer cells and triggering the immune system to attack tumors, researchers said. The study, published May 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, was funded by drug maker Amgen, which is developing the therapy.
Overactive Thyroid Tied to Higher Fracture Risk
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Study found greater chances of breaks in hip bones, spinal areas
May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Even people who only have a mildly overactive thyroid gland face an elevated risk for fractures in the hips or spinal area, a new review suggests.
“Subclinical hyperthyroidism” is a condition in which an overactive thyroid gland produces too much of the hormones that control basic metabolism but there is a lack of symptoms, and hormone readings are normal in blood tests.
Lassa Fever Death: Traveler Returning From Liberia
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Only sixth known case in United States since 1969, but virus is much less deadly than Ebola
May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A man who returned to the United States after traveling to Liberia in West Africa has died of Lassa fever, federal health officials reported.
Lassa fever is a viral disease that’s common in West Africa but rarely seen in the United States. This is only the sixth known case of Lassa fever in a traveler returning to the United States since 1969, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The last case of Lassa was reported in Minnesota in 2014. There has never been a documented case of person-to-person transmission of Lassa fever in the United States, the CDC added.
This Diet Tied to Lower Uterine Cancer Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Women who followed it most closely saw significant reduction in risk, study suggests
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adhering to a Mediterranean diet may significantly reduce a woman’s risk of uterine cancer, a new study suggests.
“Our research shows the impact a healthy, balanced diet could have on a woman’s risk of developing womb [uterine] cancer. This adds more weight to our understanding of how our everyday choices, like what we eat and how active we are, affect our risk of cancer,” study author Cristina Bosetti, of the IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche in Milan, Italy, said in a Cancer Research UK news release.
Excess Weight and Prostate Cancer Prognosis
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Radiation less effective for overweight, obese men, researchers say
May 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Radiation therapy for prostate cancer may be less effective for overweight and obese men than for men of normal weight, a new study suggests.
Higher rates of prostate cancer relapse, prostate cancer death, and death from other causes were seen for overweight and obese men in this study of more than 1,400 prostate cancer patients.
Living at Higher Elevations Linked to SIDS Risk
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Study found odds were doubled, though still very rare even at greater altitudes
May 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Babies who live at very high elevations may have an increased risk of SIDS, a new study suggests.
The findings are based on nearly 400,000 Colorado infants born between 2007 and 2012. Babies of families living at an elevation of 8,000 feet or higher had a SIDS risk that was more than doubled compared to babies from families living below 6,000 feet.
Although the odds were doubled, SIDS was still rare, even at higher altitudes. There were about 0.8 SIDS deaths for every 1,000 infants who lived at the highest elevations.
Dyslexia Unrelated to Vision Problems: Study
By Tara Haelle, HealthDay
Eye therapies will not cure reading disorder, experts say
May 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Eye training or other vision therapies will not treat dyslexia in children, say researchers who found normal vision among most children with the learning disability.
The findings confirm what eye doctors have known for a long time, said Dr. Mark Fromer, an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
For Kids Who Stutter, Rhythm Perception May Be Key
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Expert says study emphasizes brain differences in those with speech problem
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children who stutter may have difficulty perceiving musical rhythms, a small study suggests.
Researchers say the findings could offer some clues to the origins of the speech problem — and even hint at potential therapies.
The study, reported online recently in the journal Brain & Language, involved 17 children with stuttering and 17 without. The investigators found that kids with the speech disorder tended to have trouble distinguishing drumbeat patterns during a computer game.
Later Umbilical Cord Clamp May Boost Development
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Fine-motor and social skills slightly improved in boys, but no difference in IQ, researchers say
May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Waiting about three minutes to clamp the umbilical cord following a baby’s delivery may help improve children’s fine-motor and social skills at age 4 years, new Swedish research suggests.
The researchers said postponing the clamping of the cord allows continued flow of fetal blood from the placenta to the newborn. This, in turn, appears to be tied to improved infant iron levels by the critical 4- to 6-month mark, which may help prevent certain developmental problems, the study authors suggested.
‘Moderate’ Drinking Harms Older People’s Hearts?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Research seems to question current recommendations regarding alcohol consumption
May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — “Moderate” drinking might harm your heart if you’re a senior citizen, a new study suggests.
And women appear to be at greater risk for alcohol-related heart damage than men, the researchers found.
“In an elderly population, increasing alcohol intake is associated with subtle alterations in heart structure and function, with women appearing more susceptible than men to the toxic effects of alcohol,” said lead researcher Dr. Alexandra Goncalves. She is a postdoctoral research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
White Matter Damage in Brain and Early Alzheimer’s
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study finds widespread changes using specialized MRI
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Damage to the brain’s white matter may be an early sign of certain types of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.
Researchers used a specialized MRI technique called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess white matter in 53 people with three different types of Alzheimer’s. Some patients had atypical forms of the disorder that affect localized parts of the brain (called focal AD syndromes). These atypical forms may cause vision and language problems.
Do People Transmit Happiness by Smell?
By Alan Mozes. HealthDay
Lab experiment with ‘scent samples’ suggests humans pick up on others’ positive emotions via sweat
May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As emotions go, happiness usually hides in plain sight: seen in a broad smile, heard in a raucous laugh, felt in a big hug.
But new research suggests there may be a less obvious way to pick up on another person’s positive vibes: smell.
According to a team of European researchers, happiness may generate chemicals that get secreted in sweat, and that sweat signal gets sniffed by those around us.
The experiments also suggest that we not only breathe in the upbeat emotions of others, but by doing so we actually become happier ourselves.
High-Fiber Diet and Type 2 Diabetes Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Effect might be largely due to weight loss linked to eating more grains and vegetables, experts say
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People who get a lot of fiber in their diet may be lowering their odds for type 2 diabetes, new research shows.
“We are not certain why this might be, but potential mechanisms could include feeling physically full for longer, prolonged release of hormonal signals, slowed down nutrient absorption, or altered fermentation in the large intestine,” wrote study author Dagfinn Aune, a Ph.D. student affiliated with the Imperial College London in England.
Vegan Diet Might Ease Diabetic Nerve Pain
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Study found those who followed it lost average of 15 pounds, had improved blood flow to feet
May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A vegan diet might help people with diabetes-related nerve damage shed weight and find some pain relief, a small pilot study suggests.
Vegan diets are free of all animal products, including eggs and dairy. Instead, people get their protein, fat and all other nutrients from foods such as beans, nuts, whole grains, vegetables, fruit and plant-based oils.
1 comment
Author