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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This Provençal summer dish is delightful as a starter or as a side dish with fish, chicken or cooked grains.
This mildly spicy dish from southern Italy can serve as an appetizer or side. Cut the zucchini on the diagonal into long, thin slices, or cut it lengthwise.
The summer squash is lightly steamed in this North African salad.
Raw zucchini can be a dull ingredient, but when it’s very thinly sliced it marinates beautifully, especially in lemon juice.
You can use canned beans for this dish, but if you happen to have cooked pintos or borlottis in broth, use the broth for the pasta sauce.
Sushi Linked to Salmonella Outbreak: CDC
July 24, 2015 — Store-bought sushi made with tuna is the main cause of a salmonella outbreak that’s sickened 62 people in 11 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Investigators linked the outbreak to frozen yellowfin tuna that was processed in Indonesia and sold by the Osamu Corporation. Some of the tuna was bought by the AFC Corporation for use in grocery store sushi, ABC News reported.
New Skin Cancer Drug Approved by FDA
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Odomzo is a pill for locally advanced basal cell carcinoma
July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new drug to treat the most common form of skin cancer has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Odomzo (sonidegib) was cleared to treat locally advanced basal cell carcinoma in patients who cannot undergo surgery or radiation therapy, or whose skin cancer has returned after surgery or radiation therapy.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and basal cell carcinoma accounts for about 80 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers. Locally advanced basal cell skin cancer has not spread to other parts of the body, but cannot be cured with surgery or radiation.
U.S. Oncologists Decry High Cost of Cancer Drugs
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
They suggest letting Medicare negotiate prices, back grassroots movement calling for change
July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Soaring costs for cancer drugs are hurting patient care in the United States, a group of top oncologists claim.
“High cancer-drug prices are affecting the care of patients with cancer and our health care system,” Dr. Ayalew Tefferi, a hematologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said in a Mayo news release.
Tefferi and his colleagues made a number of recommendations on how to address the problem in a commentary published July 23 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Some Cancer Survivors View Smoking as Less Risky
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Those who cling to their cigarettes have a different mindset, survey finds
July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cancer survivors who continue to smoke view the habit as less risky than survivors who quit, and they’re more likely to spend time with smokers, a new study shows.
Researchers from the American Cancer Society also found that these post-cancer smokers are more inclined than others to raise obstacles to quitting.
Not smoking is particularly important for people with cancer. These survey findings could improve strategies to help cancer survivors conquer their addiction, the researchers suggested.
Chemo and Quality of Life in End-Stage Cancer
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study suggests those still able to work and perform daily tasks may benefit from forgoing such treatment
July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Chemotherapy may worsen quality of life for some cancer patients who are nearing death, a new study finds.
“Oncologists may presume there to be no harm in giving dying patients chemotherapy, but these data point to more harm than benefit,” study author Dr. Holly Prigerson, from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, said in a college news release.
Gallbladder Disease Patients Have Many Options
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Team of experts outlines pluses, minuses of various surgical approaches
July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — It’s only a tiny, bile-producing sac tucked behind your liver, but if your gallbladder goes awry it can spell big health troubles.
In fact, more than 725,000 Americans undergo surgery to treat gallbladder disease each year, say a team of experts reporting July 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Drops Show Promise as Nonsurgical Cataract Treatment
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Eye drops may offer new approach for research, expert says
July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Eyes clouded by cataracts may one day be treated with drops rather than surgery, a new animal study suggests.
Today, surgery is the only means of treating cataracts, the leading cause of blindness in the world. Doctors extract cloudy lenses and replace them with artificial lenses.
Is Less-Invasive Aortic Aneurysm Surgery Better?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But survival advantage it showed in fixing bulging, weak spot diminished over time
July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Minimally invasive surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm appears to boost survival in the short term more than traditional surgery does, but that advantage diminishes over time, researchers report.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulging weak spot in the aorta, the large artery that takes blood away from the heart and toward the abdomen, pelvis and legs. If not fixed, it can burst unexpectedly and cause substantial bleeding that can be fatal. When detected before bursting, doctors can repair the weak spot with traditional surgery (“open repair”) or by inserting a device through a small opening to apply a patch on the aorta — called an endovascular repair.
Common Diabetes Meds & Lower Risk for Parkinson’s
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study can’t prove cause and effect, but saw dip in odds for people taking drugs such as Actos and Avandia
July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A class of diabetes meds that include widely used drugs such as Actos and Avandia may help protect users against Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests.
The study included nearly 44,600 British diabetes patients who took what are known as glitazone drugs — Avandia’s generic name is rosiglitazone, while pioglitazone is the generic name for Actos.
Study: Diabetes Drug Not Tied to Bladder Cancer
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Outcome data for more than 200,000 U.S. diabetes patients fails to show a link
July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Despite smaller, prior studies suggesting that the diabetes drug Actos might raise users’ risk of bladder cancer, a large new study finds no evidence for such an effect.
However, the study did find an association between the use of Actos (pioglitazone) and a rise in the risk of pancreatic cancer, although experts say it’s too early to draw any conclusive link.
As explained by the researchers, certain prior studies had suggested an increased risk of bladder cancer with the use of Actos.
Drug May Help Pancreas Cells in Type 1 Diabetes
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay
Used early after diagnosis, drug appears to have long-lasting effects, study reports
July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Taking two 12-week courses of alefacept — a drug already approved to treat the skin condition psoriasis — may help people with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes preserve some function in the beta cells in the pancreas, a new study suggests.
People taking the drug needed about 25 percent less insulin, and they had about half the rate of major low blood sugar episodes (hypoglycemia) compared to those who took a placebo, the study revealed.
Antibiotic May Lower Effect of Some Blood Thinners
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Doctors should closely monitor patients who have to take these drugs together, expert says
July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The antibiotic dicloxacillin may lessen the effects of some blood-thinning medications, new research shows.
“The surprise in the study was just how much of an impact dicloxacillin had,” said study author Anton Pottegard, a pharmacist and research fellow at the University of Southern Denmark, in Odense.
“Often, the effects in these kinds of studies are quite small. But this was very pronounced: Six out of 10 patients dropped so much in their level of blood-thinning that they were no longer sufficiently protected against clotting and stroke,” Pottegard said.
Immediate Bystander CPR Saves Lives: Study
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Starting rescue efforts for victims of cardiac arrest before ambulance arrives boosts survival
July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many lives could be saved if more people performed CPR immediately after seeing someone go into cardiac arrest, a new study contends.
To come to that conclusion, the researchers looked at the results of a four-year program in North Carolina that promoted bystander CPR.
“During that time, survival with good brain function increased from 7 to 10 percent for those who received bystander CPR,” said lead researcher Dr. Carolina Malta Hansen, of the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, N.C.
In addition, patients who received CPR or defibrillation from bystanders, or defibrillation from first responders — such as police or firefighters — were more likely to survive, she said.
Type 1 Diabetes Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay
Study found people with blood sugar disorder were about 80 percent more likely to have memory troubles
July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People with type 1 diabetes may face a greater risk of developing thinking and memory problems as they age compared to the general population, new research suggests.
The study found that people with type 1 diabetes were 83 percent more likely to develop dementia as seniors.
“Our study found a modestly higher risk of all-cause dementia in people with type 1 diabetes. The next step is to figure out what that means, and how we can help people with type 1 diabetes age successfully,” said study author Rachel Whitmer, a senior scientist in the division of research at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif.
Antibiotics Myths Still Common Among Parents
By Tara Haelle, HealthDay
Those with Medicaid insurance tend to know less about the drugs, study finds
July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many American parents still have misconceptions about when their children should receive antibiotics and what the medications do, a new study finds.
Looking at data results spanning more than a decade, researchers saw that parents with Medicaid insurance were more likely to misunderstand appropriate antibiotic use than parents with private commercial insurance.
‘Pap’ Test Rule Changes Tied to STD Testing Drop
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Chlamydia screening of young women plummeted at one university health center
July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A major change in Pap test guidelines introduced in 2009 may have had an unintended consequence: Some young women are missing out on screening for chlamydia — a common sexually transmitted disease that can cause infertility if left untreated.
That’s according to a small, new study that discovered chlamydia screening among 15- to 21-year-olds plummeted after national guidelines were changed to discourage routine Pap screening for cervical cancer before age 21, because of evidence that showed it did not benefit young women.
Added Radiation Helpful for Early Breast Cancer?
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Studies found it lowered chances of recurrence, but did not boost overall survival
July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some women who have surgery for early stage breast cancer may benefit from additional radiation to nearby lymph nodes, two new clinical trials suggest.
Researchers found that the extra radiation cut women’s risk of a breast cancer recurrence over the next decade. It did not, however, extend their lives.
Impotence Linked to Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Middle-aged men with erectile dysfunction may be at even greater risk, study suggests
July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Men who experience impotence may face twice the risk of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes compared to men without such sexual problems, a new study suggests.
“This effect was more significant among middle-aged men 40 to 59 years old,” said lead researcher Dr. Sean Skeldon, a resident in family medicine at the University of Toronto in Canada.
Testosterone Therapy and Blood Clots: No Link?
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Finding was based on data from more than 30,000 American men, 40 and older
July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Testosterone therapy doesn’t appear to increase the risk of blood clots in veins, a new study contends.
The most common forms of this problem — called venous thromboembolism (VTE) — are deep vein thrombosis (a clot in the leg) and pulmonary embolism (a clot in the lungs). VTE is the third most common type of cardiovascular problem, after heart attack and stroke, the researchers said.
There is conflicting information about the link between testosterone therapy and the risk of VTE. As a result, many men with low testosterone and their doctors are reluctant to start testosterone therapy, the study investigators said.
Could Antibiotics Up Juvenile Arthritis Risk?
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Odds are low, but study points to another downside of overuse
July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Here’s yet another reason not to overuse antibiotics: Children treated with the antibacterial drugs may face a greater risk for developing juvenile arthritis, new research suggests.
The study found that children and teens prescribed antibiotics had about twice the risk of developing juvenile arthritis compared to children the same age who were not prescribed the drugs.
Hormone Linked to Social Difficulties With Autism
By Tara Haelle, HealthDay
Levels of vasopressin associated with ‘theory of mind’ tasks in children with ASD
July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Low levels of a certain hormone may play a role in the social difficulties that children with autism spectrum disorders experience, new research suggests.
Vasopressin, a hormone that helps regulate blood pressure, may play a role in social behavior, according to Karen Parker, a co-author of the study and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.
“Vasopressin may be a biological marker of, and potential drug target for, social impairments in autism,” Parker said. “There are currently no medications that effectively treat the social deficits in people with autism.”
U.S. Teens Waiting Longer to Have Sex: CDC
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Report finds less than half of those aged 15 to 19 have had intercourse
July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Less than half of U.S. teenagers aged 15 to 19 are having sex, a rate dramatically lower than it was a quarter-century ago, a new federal government report shows.
Only 44 percent of girls and 47 percent of boys between the ages of 15 and 19 had sexual intercourse at least once from 2011 to 2013, the researchers found.
That’s down from 51 percent of girls and 60 percent of boys in 1988, said study author Gladys Martinez. She is a demographer/statistician with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[Teen Drinking, Smoking on the Decline, Study Finds Teen Drinking, Smoking on the Decline, Study Finds
But, research also notes more teens are trying marijuana]
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
But, research also notes more teens are trying marijuana
July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although more American teens are using marijuana, their use of alcohol and cigarettes has decreased, a new study finds.
Penn State researchers reviewed information from nearly 600,000 high school seniors surveyed about their substance use between 1976 and 2013.
The results showed an increase in marijuana use, particularly among black teens. The study also found a significant decline in cigarette use, particularly among white teens.
Medical Marijuana May Pose Risk to Teens: Study
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Having access to legal source of pot was linked to greater addiction risk than buying drug illegally
July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Teens who have legal permission to use medical marijuana are 10 times more likely to say they’re addicted than those who get the drug illegally, a new study shows.
University of Michigan researchers looked at nearly 4,400 high school seniors, including 48 who had medical marijuana cards, 266 who used others’ medical marijuana and those who bought the drug from street dealers.
Teens who used medical marijuana were far more likely to report problems with addiction, the researchers found.
Good Students: Able to Sidestep Alzheimer’s?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Better grades, complex jobs linked to a lower risk for dementia, research suggests
July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Kids at the head of the class not only have better college and job prospects, they may also stave off Alzheimer’s disease, two new studies suggest.
People with the best school grades and most complex jobs later on — as managers, teachers or executives, for example — have roughly a 40 to 60 percent reduced risk of developing dementia, according to two teams of Swedish researchers.
But, both Swedish studies only found an association between school grades, later jobs and risks of dementia, and not a proven cause-and-effect link.
As Baby Boomers Age, Alzheimer’s Rates Will Soar
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is set to skyrocket in the United States due to the aging of the baby-boom generation, and the cost of caring for these patients will devour a large chunk of Medicare’s budget, a new study suggests.
More than 28 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease during the course of their lifetimes, the researchers estimated.
By 2050, all baby boomers will be older than 85 and half of those still alive will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, said lead author Lisa Alecxih, senior vice president of The Lewin Group and director of the Lewin Center for Aging and Disability Policy.
Well-Off, Over 50: Risk for Problem Drinking
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
British study finds this demographic may often indulge more than is good for them
July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Are you over 50, making a good income, physically healthy and active? A new British study suggests you might need to be wary of one potential downside: a higher risk for excessive, problem drinking.
A team led by Jose Iparraguirre, chief economist at the British charity Age UK, found that so-called “successful agers” are at heightened risk for harmful drinking.July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Are you over 50, making a good income, physically healthy and active? A new British study suggests you might need to be wary of one potential downside: a higher risk for excessive, problem drinking.
A team led by Jose Iparraguirre, chief economist at the British charity Age UK, found that so-called “successful agers” are at heightened risk for harmful drinking.
Dementia Risk May Be Dropping With Generations
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Study finds lower risk for people born after 1930 compared to those born earlier
July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New research suggests that people born after 1930 may have a lower risk of developing dementia than the generation before them, adding to evidence that the incidence of dementia may be declining in the United States and elsewhere.
That decline was not explained by age, but did seem to be related to improvements in heart health over time, the researchers found.
High Soda Intake May Boost Diabetes Risk
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Daily sugary drink tied to 13 percent increased risk over a decade, study finds
July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Whether you are slim or obese, if you drink lots of sugary soda or other sweetened drinks you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, a new analysis reveals.
Until now, health experts have thought that sugary drinks and type 2 diabetes were linked because sugar promotes weight gain, and body fat contributes to insulin resistance, which precedes diabetes.
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