Health and Fitness News

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 is the first summer in a long time that I haven’t had a tomato garden. My garden needed a rest, and my plan was to work on my annual tomato piece for Recipes for Health during the two weeks I spent in Provence, where my love affair with Mediterranean cuisine began. It was an easy assignment. Summer cooking here revolves around tomatoes, squash and eggplant, and these ingredients pretty much dominated my market baskets.

When I started going to Provence more than 30 years ago, the tomatoes were superior to anything I could find in the States. Now that’s not the case, thanks to our wonderful farmers’ markets, which offer a wider variety of these nutrient-dense vegetables than any French market I visited this summer. An added benefit is that in American markets you are much more likely

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Lower Blood Pressure Guidelines Could Be ‘Lifesaving,’ Federal Study Says

Declaring they had “potentially lifesaving information,” federal health officials said on Friday that they were ending a major study more than a year early because it has already conclusively answered a question cardiologists have puzzled over for decades: How low should blood pressure go?

The answer: way lower than the current guidelines. [..]

The study found that patients who were assigned to reach a systolic blood pressure goal below 120 – far lower than current guidelines of 140, or 150 for people over 60 – had their risk of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes reduced by a third and their risk of death reduced by nearly a quarter.

FDA Acts to Make Food Safer in Wake of Outbreaks

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

New rules focus on cleanliness of manufacturing facilities

Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced new steps Thursday to improve the cleanliness of food manufacturing plants in the wake of a string of lethal foodborne illness outbreaks.

Tainted foods — including recent examples such as spinach, cantaloupe and ice cream — sicken 1 in 6 Americans — or 48 million people — each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses annually.

2nd Death in Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak

By HealthDay staff, HealthDay

Tainted cucumbers also linked to 341 illnesses in 30 states, CDC officials report

Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A second death has been reported in a salmonella outbreak that has been linked to contaminated cucumbers and caused 341 illnesses in 30 states, U.S. health officials said Wednesday.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Mexico-grown cucumbers were distributed in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

Beware Unregulated Stem Cell Treatments, Experts Warn

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Clinics selling treatments that are unproven, researcher says

Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hundreds of clinics across the United States are offering unapproved stem cell treatments for conditions from baldness to heart failure and Alzheimer’s disease, researchers report.

“These for-profit stem cell clinics operate outside mainstream regulatory frameworks normally in place to protect patients,” said study lead author Hermes Taylor-Weiner, of the University of California, San Diego, bioengineering department.

‘You Can Catch Alzheimer’s’: Really?

By Brenda Goodman, MA, WebMD Health News

Sept. 11, 2015 — People in the United Kingdom and around the world woke up to some brain-shrinking headlines Thursday morning.

“You Can Catch Alzheimer’s,” said the front page of London’s Daily Mirror.

“Alzheimer’s Disease May Be Caught Through Medical Accidents,” was the headline on the Telegraph’s story.

The coverage was based on a study published in the journal Nature. The study authors suggest it might be possible — under extraordinary circumstances — for the same kinds of plaques seen in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s to be passed from one person to another.

Sinus Surgery May Also Ease Sleep Apnea

By Emily Willingham, HealthDay

Study finds that procedure boosted sleep and quality of life

Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Struggling to breathe with sinus troubles can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. But a new study suggests that surgery to deal with chronically stuffed sinuses can help people breathe and sleep better, including people with sleep apnea.

The study found that 15 percent of people with chronically stuffed sinuses also had the sleep disorder obstructive sleep apnea. After surgery to clear the sinuses, people reported better quality of life and improved sleep, regardless of whether or not they had a sleep disorder.

Too Much, Too Little Sleep May Harm the Heart

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

Sound slumber ‘recharges our batteries,’ cardiologist explains

Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Otherwise healthy people who have poor sleep habits may be putting themselves at risk for early signs of heart disease, a new study suggests.

Folks who get too much or too little sleep — or not enough quality rest — are more likely to suffer from stiffened arteries and calcium deposits on the walls of their major arteries, said study lead author Dr. Chan-Won Kim.

Seasonal Melatonin Levels May Affect MS Flare-Ups

By Maureen Salamon, HealthDay

But it’s too soon to recommend self-dosing with supplements

Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Higher levels of the hormone melatonin are linked to a lower incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) flare-ups during the darker months of fall and winter, new research suggests.

American and Argentinian scientists also found that treating mice with melatonin could improve symptoms of the disease, which can be progressive and often disabling.

Lung Cancer Rates Rising in Nonsmokers

By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay

Experts suspect environmental factors, genetics

Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nonsmokers account for a growing percentage of aggressive lung cancer cases in the United States and the United Kingdom, new research finds.

In one study, British researchers found that over seven years the proportion of U.K. never-smokers with non-small cell lung cancer jumped from 13 percent to 28 percent.

Could Marijuana Chemical Help Ease Epilepsy?

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

Early research suggests yes, but laws limit access to the drug and its compounds

Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A chemical found in marijuana might help prevent epilepsy seizures, but drug laws have hampered research efforts, a new study says.

Cannabidiol is one of the main active chemical compounds found in pot. But it doesn’t make people high, the study authors said. Cannabidiol has already been shown to prevent seizures in animal studies and in one ongoing human trial, said lead author Dr. Daniel Friedman, a neurologist and epilepsy specialist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

Rosacea Caused Half by Nature, Half by Lifestyle

By Alan Mozes, HealthDay

If you have a family history of the skin condition, limit sun exposure, doctors say

Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Millions of Americans may wonder what caused them to develop the chronic skin disease rosacea. New research suggests the reason is half environmental and half genetic.

On the environmental side, sun exposure is the key contributor. But obesity, alcohol and heart disease also appear to raise risk, the new study found.

Diabetes a Concern for Half of Americans

By Brenda Goodman, MA, WebMD Health News

Half of Americans have diabetes or are well on their way to getting it, a new study estimates.

As the U.S. population has grown older and heavier, the number of people who are having trouble controlling their blood sugar has climbed.

Two decades ago, about 1 in 10 adults had diabetes. Now, the number if closer to 1 in 7 or 8, or 12% to 14%.

Another 38% of people have blood sugar high enough to put them on the cusp of that diagnosis,a risk category doctors call prediabetes.

Quitting Smoking May Delay MS Progression

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Accelerates about 5 percent for each additional year of smoking, study finds

Sept. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Multiple sclerosis progresses faster in people who continue to smoke compared to smokers who quit after their diagnosis, a new study finds.

“This study demonstrates that smoking after MS diagnosis has a negative impact on the progression of the disease, whereas reduced smoking may improve patient quality of life, with more years before [progression to secondary disease],” wrote Dr. Jan Hillert, of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and colleagues.

Siblings Now Main Source of Infants’ Whooping Cough: CDC

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

A change from past years, when Mom posed the biggest risk of infection

Sept. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — When babies come down with whooping cough, the odds are good that a sibling is the source, new research reveals.

That’s a change from years past, when mothers were most often the source. But the shift is not surprising, said study author Tami Skoff, an investigator with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It’s been clear for years that cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, are rising in the United States. In 2012, more than 48,000 cases were reported nationwide — the highest number since 1955, the CDC said.

And older children and teenagers are accounting for a growing proportion of cases.

Vaginal Mesh Surgery Dangers May Be Overstated

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

It found only 1 in 30 women will suffer a complication that requires a second procedure

Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Surgical mesh appears to be relatively safe for treating urinary incontinence in women, despite concerns raised by U.S. regulators, a new report contends.

Only one out of every 30 women who receive a synthetic vaginal mesh sling to treat stress incontinence will suffer a complication that requires a second surgery, according to a decade-long follow-up study of nearly 60,000 Canadian women.

Testicular Cancer: Genes Account for Half the Risk

By Peter Russell, WebMD Health News

Sept. 9, 2015 — Almost 50% of the risk of getting testicular cancer comes from the DNA passed down from our parents, according to a new study.

Typically, genetics accounts for just 20% of the calculation doctors make to gauge someone’s odds of getting other types of cancer, say scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and colleagues in Europe and the U.S.

The researchers used two different methods to analyze the risk of testicular germ-cell tumors — the most common type of testicular cancer.

Sleep Apnea May Hurt Kids’ Grades

By Tara Haelle, HealthDay

Children with snoring or other irregular nighttime breathing need evaluation, experts say

Sept. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — When children have sleep troubles due to breathing problems — such as sleep apnea — they may struggle in school, new research suggests.

“Sleep apnea may not be directly causing academic problems,” said study lead author Barbara Galland, a research associate professor at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Constant Social Media and Teens’ Mental Health

By Alan Mozes, HealthDay

Adolescents could be more vulnerable than adults, expert says

Sept. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Teens who feel a round-the-clock compulsion to participate on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter may pay a price in lost sleep. They may also face a higher risk for depression and anxiety, new research suggests.

British researchers surveyed nearly 470 teens to explore how 24/7 social media participation might affect their emotional health.

Could Psychedelic Drugs Be Good Medicine for Some?

By Alan Mozes, HealthDay

Preliminary research suggests potential benefits for psychiatric disorders, substance abuse

Sept. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In a carefully controlled setting, psychedelic drugs such as LSD or “magic mushrooms” may benefit patients with hard-to-treat anxiety, addiction or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new research suggests.

The finding comes from a review of small-scale and preliminary studies conducted recently in the United States, Canada and Europe, all of which await follow-up.

Does Hopping Help Your Hips?

By Tim Locke, WebMD Health News

Sept. 11, 2015 — Hopping for 2 minutes a day can help bone health in older men, U.K. researchers say. The impact exercises help counteract the effects of aging in the bone, they claim, and that may mean hips are less likely to break after a fall.

But the research team says it’s too soon to recommend older people start hopping at home.

The Loughborough University research, called the Hip Hop study, was small, involving just 34 men over 65.

Could Eating Fish Help Ward Off Depression?

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Consuming more meals from the sea linked to lower risk, study suggests, but cause-and-effect not proven

Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Can eating a lot of fish boost your mood? Maybe, say Chinese researchers.

Overall, the researchers found that people who consumed the most fish lowered their risk of depression by 17 percent compared to those who ate the least.

Gut Bugs May Affect Body Fat, ‘Good’ Cholesterol

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

But finding does not prove certain intestinal bacteria determine size of one’s waistline

Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The size of your waistline may depend to some degree on the specific bacteria dwelling within your gut, new research suggests.

The study, of nearly 900 Dutch adults, found that certain gut bacteria might help determine not only body fat levels, but also blood concentrations of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

These Workouts May Help Hearts in Type 2 Diabetes

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay

This kind of exercise might also improve diabetes control, researchers say

Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New research suggests that short bouts of high-intensity exercise could help reverse some early cardiac changes in people with type 2 diabetes.

“Interestingly, the data also suggest that this type of high-intensity intermittent exercise benefits both the heart and diabetes control, but the benefits appear to be greatest in the heart,” explained the study authors, led by Michael Trenell and Dr. Sophie Cassidy from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.

Study Shows How Overeating May Lead to Diabetes

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay

In study, men consumed 6,000 calories daily for a week, with unhealthy results showing up within days

Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Everyone knows that high-calorie diets are tied to obesity and, too often, to type 2 diabetes. Now, a small study suggests that gorging on food can quickly tip the body into a “pre-diabetic” state.

The research involved six healthy men who were either of normal weight or overweight. The research team asked the men to consume 6,000 calories of a typical American diet every day for one week.

Think Genes Drive Obesity? Your Eating May Suffer

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay Reporter

In study, people who thought DNA dictated their body weight had worse diets and exercised less

Sept. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People with a family history of obesity who believe their genes doom them to the same may “give up” and eat worse, a new study suggests.

The study found that when it comes to weight, feelings of powerlessness against one’s DNA was tied to a higher body mass index — a measurement that takes into account weight and height.