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.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

How many dishes can you cook on autopilot?

I’m talking about easy meals that your hands can manage on their own, leaving your mind free to ruminate about your hard day at work or help your kids memorize their multiplication tables.

If the answer is zero not counting scrambled eggs or pasta with jar sauce, read on.

The more often you can just cook without worrying through a recipe, the freer, easier and more relaxed dinnertime will be. You and your family will be better fed, too.

~ Meissa Clarke ~

How to Dispose of Unused Prescription Drugs

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay

Stashing them in a cabinet is unwise; old medications can become ineffective or unsafe

Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many people hold on to extra prescription drugs, but saving old medications is unwise, a pharmacist warns.

“Medications that are expired have passed their half-life, which leads to them being ineffective,” said Kimberly Cimarelli, pharmacy manager at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, in Hershey, Pa.

Expired medications can even be dangerous, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Their chemical composition can change and, over time, expired drugs may become less effective or potentially harmful.

Listeriosis Outbreak Linked to Soft Cheeses

Sept. 24, 2015 — An outbreak of listeria infections among dozens of people in nine states appears to be linked to soft cheeses distributed by Karoun Dairies, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Listeria infection (listeriosis) can cause serious, life-threatening illness.

Since Aug. 8, 2010, 24 people were infected with five closely-related strains of listeria. Twenty-two of those patients were hospitalized. Five illnesses occurred in pregnant women, and one of them had a miscarriage. One death was reported in Ohio.

With Liposuction, Weight Should Guide Fat Removal

By Alan Mozes, HealthDay

Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although there’s no magic bullet for weight loss, new research suggests that surgeons may be able to safely remove more fat during liposuction surgery than previously believed.

Right now, surgeons follow guidelines that set a maximum extraction limit of 5,000 milliliters of fat (11 pounds) for all patients, regardless of variations in weight or body fat status. But the new study suggests surgeons could use a patient’s body mass index (BMI) to determine how much fat extraction is safe. BMI is a rough estimate of a person’s body fat based on height and weight measurements.

Almost Half of Adults With HIV Don’t Take Meds

By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay

Finding highlights challenges of ‘unequal epidemic,’ researcher says

Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Almost half of American adults infected with HIV don’t take medications that can prevent them from developing AIDS, a new government report shows.

The statistics, based on data gathered from 2007 to 2012, are a few years out of date, so it’s not clear whether the situation has changed. Still, the report — an analysis of people aged 18 to 59 — suggests a widespread lack of recommended care.

Brain Region That Manages Multistep Tasks Found

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay

Brain injury, diseases can easily disrupt this area that helps control behavior, study finds

Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Scientists say they have pinpointed a region of the brain that helps you complete a series of activities in the right order, such as getting dressed and carrying out typical daily routines.

The study authors say that the area, the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPFC), is like a foreman that helps you remember what to do step by step.

Dizziness After Standing May Hint at Scary Risk

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

But other conditions, such as dehydration and diabetes, can also make you woozy, experts say

Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Dizzy spells that occur after you’ve been standing for a few minutes might be an early warning sign of a serious neurological disease and an increased risk of premature death, a Harvard study has found.

For some people, this dizziness is caused by a gradual drop in blood pressure. And this “suggests the nervous system is failing and isn’t maintaining blood pressure while you’re standing,” said lead author Dr. Christopher Gibbons, an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

BP Drugs at Night May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

Study finds taking medication at night cut risk of blood sugar disorder in half

Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In surprising new research, experts report that the timing of taking your blood pressure medicine could have a big impact on whether or not you develop type 2 diabetes.

Specifically, the Spanish researchers found that taking blood pressure medications at bedtime rather than waiting until morning may cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half.

Most Will Experience At Least 1 Diagnostic Error

By E.J. Mundell, HealthDay

In some cases the consequences can be severe, expert panel notes

Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new report commissioned by the U.S. government contends that most Americans will encounter at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with severe consequences for their physical and mental health.

The report, released Tuesday by an independent panel at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), urges changes to an increasingly complex health care system that may be adding to the problem.

You Carry Your ‘Microbial Cloud’ With You

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Individuals release bacteria into their surroundings, sealed chamber study finds

Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In a finding that’s sure to alarm germophobes everywhere, scientists say people emit a “microbial cloud” of bacteria wherever they may be.

The study found that air samples could even pinpoint which individual had just left a sealed chamber, based on the makeup of their particular cloud of bacteria.

Chagas Disease Parasite in Texas ‘Kissing Bugs’

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay

Study finds almost two-thirds of these insects could transmit potentially deadly infection

Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Blood-sucking insects commonly found in Texas are often carriers of a deadly parasite that causes Chagas disease, a new study finds.

The bugs — also known as “assassin bugs” or “kissing bugs” — can carry a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi that causes Chagas disease, said researchers from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Texas residents appear to be at much greater risk for this disease than previously thought, the researchers warned.

New Clues to Which Breast Cancers Might Return

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Scientists found there were differences between primary and recurring tumors

Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Researchers who pinpointed genetic factors associated with the return of breast cancer say their findings might lead to improved treatments.

Most breast cancer patients are cured after treatment, but the disease returns in about one in five patients, either in the same location as the original tumor or in other parts of the body, the British researchers said.

Ten Percent of U.S. Women Drink During Pregnancy

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

And 3 percent binge drink while expecting

Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although drinking alcohol during pregnancy poses a risk to the unborn child, one in 10 pregnant women in the United States still consumes alcohol, a new study finds.

What’s worse, slightly more than 3 percent of pregnant women admitted that they binge drink, consuming four or more alcoholic drinks at a time, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MRIs Before Breast Cancer Surgery on the Rise

By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay

Use of imaging tool has jumped dramatically, despite unclear guidelines on its use in this setting

Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The use of MRI scans before breast cancer surgery has risen eightfold over the past decade, even though guidelines on their use in this setting are inconsistent, a new study shows.

This increased use of MRI — magnetic resonance imaging — is also linked to an increase in further testing, longer wait times to surgery, a higher likelihood of a mastectomy instead of breast-conserving surgery, and a higher likelihood of having the healthy, opposite breast removed, the Canadian researchers reported.

Breast Cancer Drug vs. Standard Fertility Meds

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

Study found letrozole did not result in more pregnancies compared to two other fertility drugs

Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A breast cancer drug that is sometimes used to treat infertility may reduce a couple’s risk of having a pregnancy with multiple babies — but it might also slightly lower their chances of having a baby at all, a new clinical trial suggests.

The study did not find the cancer drug letrozole (Femara) more effective than standard fertility drugs for women with unexplained infertility.

Pregnancy Complications and Later Heart Disease

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

Risk was particularly high for women who had more than one health problem during pregnancy, study suggests

Sept. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A complicated pregnancy may increase a woman’s risk of dying from heart disease later in life, new research suggests.

The risk is particularly high for women who’ve had more than one health problem during pregnancy, said senior study author Barbara Cohn, director of child health and development studies at the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, Calif.Sept. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A complicated pregnancy may increase a woman’s risk of dying from heart disease later in life, new research suggests.

The risk is particularly high for women who’ve had more than one health problem during pregnancy, said senior study author Barbara Cohn, director of child health and development studies at the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, Calif.

This May Not Help Some With Prostate Cancer

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Analysis found men with heart disease might live longer when treated with radiation alone

Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Men with prostate cancer who also have had a heart attack may fare better with radiation therapy alone rather than with the standard treatment of radiation plus hormone therapy, a new analysis suggests.

Over an average of 17 years of follow-up, men with high-risk prostate cancer who also had a heart condition lived longer after radiation treatment alone than similar men who had radiation and hormone therapy. Men who didn’t have heart problems lived longer if they had both treatments, the researchers added.

PSA Testing Guidelines May Miss Aggressive Tumors

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Men who could be cured of more advanced prostate disease may be diagnosed late, some researchers say

Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Relaxed guidelines on prostate cancer screening may delay diagnosis and treatment of aggressive tumors, a new study suggests.

In 2011, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against routine prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing, to curb over-diagnosis and overtreatment of prostate cancer. Since then, PSA screening has dropped by 28 percent, the researchers report.

Tonsillectomy for Sleep Apnea Risky for Some Kids

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

Though the surgery is a primary treatment for sleep disorder, breathing problems can occur afterwards

Sept. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children who have their tonsils removed to treat sleep apnea are more likely to suffer breathing complications than kids who have the procedure for other reasons, a new review shows.

Researchers found that across 23 studies, about 9 percent of children undergoing a tonsillectomy developed breathing problems during or soon after the procedure. But the risk was nearly five times higher for kids with sleep apnea, versus other children.

Want Your Kids to Exercise? Skip the Guilt

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Pressuring middle schoolers to get active can backfire, researchers say

Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Trying to “guilt” kids into exercise may not work, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the University of Georgia found that middle school students were less likely to be physically active if they didn’t feel in control of their exercise choices or if they felt pressured by adults to get more exercise.

Kids who felt they could make their own decisions about physical activity were more likely to regard themselves as someone who exercises, which made them more likely to do so, the researchers said.

Older Adults’ Hearing May Be Tied to Earlier Death

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

Findings don’t prove that impaired hearing is to blame, but draw attention to quality-of-life issues

Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Older adults with impaired hearing may have a shorter life span than their peers without hearing problems, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among nearly 1,700 U.S. adults aged 70 and up, those with hearing loss were 21 percent to 39 percent more likely to die over the next several years.

Retirement Might Not Agree With Your Health

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Report found seniors who stayed in the workforce were better off physically

Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Seniors who keep working appear healthier than those who quit the workforce, new research suggests.

The study of more than 83,000 Americans 65 and older found that being unemployed or retired was associated with the greatest risk of poor health, even after taking into account predictors such as smoking and obesity.

Drug May Calm Agitation in Alzheimer’s Patients

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

It’s a combination of cough suppressant and heart medication, and experts don’t yet know why it may work

Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A drug that combines a cough suppressant with a heart medication might offer a safer option for calming the agitation that commonly affects people with Alzheimer’s disease, an early clinical trial suggests.

The study, of 220 Alzheimer’s patients, found that the drug — called Nuedexta — generally eased agitation symptoms over 10 weeks.

And it did not worsen patients’ problems with memory, thinking and judgment, researchers reported in the Sept. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk of Depression

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Study suggests popular apnea treatment could help ease symptoms of mood disorder

Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People with sleep apnea are at increased risk for depression, but continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for their apnea may ease their depression, a new study suggests.

The Australian study included 293 men and women who were newly diagnosed with sleep apnea. Nearly 73 percent had depression when the study began. The worse their apnea, the more severe their depression.

Bullied Teens Who Exercise May Lower Suicide Risk

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

But researcher adds that many U.S. schools have cut opportunities for physical activity

Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Regular exercise may lower bullied teens’ risk of suicide, researchers report.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 13,500 U.S. high school students and found that being physically active four or more days a week reduced bullied teens’ suicidal thoughts and attempts by 23 percent.

The researchers also found that about 30 percent of bullied teens said they had felt sad for two or more weeks in the previous year; 22 percent thought about suicide; and more than 8 percent attempted suicide in the previous year. About 20 percent of the students said they had been bullied on school property.

No Link Between Coffee, Irregular Heartbeat: Study

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Finds no link between beverage and increased odds of atrial fibrillation

Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New research suggests that drinking coffee doesn’t seem to up the odds of a common type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.

But these findings don’t necessarily mean coffee drinkers are free and clear. Coffee may trigger other types of irregular heartbeat, the researchers noted. They also suggested that more research should be done confirming that there isn’t a relationship between atrial fibrillation and coffee drinking.

Fidgeting Might Be Good for Your Health

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Having the jitters may undercut some of the negative effects of prolonged sitting, British study contends

Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Tapping your foot, drumming your fingers, shifting in your office chair — many people fidget at some point in their day.

And now a new study suggests that fidgeting might actually be healthy for you.

The new British research looked at the issue of long hours spent sitting, which prior studies have found to be bad for people’s health.

Not All Trans Fats Harm the Heart, Study Contends

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

Those found naturally in dairy, meat products may help, while low levels of artificial trans fats might not hurt

Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For years, trans fats have been viewed as bad for the heart, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last summer to ban artificial trans fats from food products.

But a new study suggests that not all trans fats are equal, and some might even be good for you.

The German researchers found that naturally occurring trans fats found in dairy and meat products might actually help protect the heart, while low levels of artificial trans fats did not seem to pose a health risk.

Heart Attack Shouldn’t End Your Sex Life

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay

Research shows it equals same level of physical exertion as a brisk walk

Sept. 21, 2015 — If you’ve had a heart attack, you don’t have to avoid sex for fear of having another one, researchers report.

Many people who’ve had a heart attack worry that too much physical activity could trigger a repeat event. But after reviewing data collected on 536 heart disease patients between the ages of 30 and 70, the researchers found sexual activity requires about the same amount of exertion as climbing two flights of stairs or taking a brisk walk.

Beet Juice Boosts Muscle Power in Heart Patients

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay

Researchers say dietary nitrate could help these patients climb stairs and get out of a chair

Sept. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Beet juice, with its high concentration of nitrates, may help boost muscle strength among heart patients, a small study has found.

Nitrates are processed into nitric oxide by the body, which helps relax blood vessels and improve metabolism. Dietary nitrate, found in beets and leafy greens like spinach, has been shown to boost muscle performance in elite athletes.

Adult Obesity Rate Tops 30% in Half of States

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Highest rates found in the South and Midwest: report

Sept. 21, 2015 — Obesity still plagues millions of Americans, as rates remain high in most states, a new report finds.

The South and Midwest have the highest adult obesity rates, making up 23 of the 25 states with rates now topping 30 percent.

In 42 states, blacks have obesity rates of 30 percent or more, as do Hispanics in 30 states. Obesity rates of 30 percent or more among whites are found in 13 states, the findings showed.