Healthy World

PixelOptics emPower!: Now automate your Vision with your Fingertips

2011-11-04T13:00:00.000+05:30

PixelOptics introduces emPower!, the world’s first Electronic Focusing Eyewear. These automated spectacle lenses are a relief to those who wear progressive or bifocal lenses. Similar to regular eyewear in both look and feel, these spectacles come in both manual and automatic modes. emPower! puts back the power of vision into the hands of the wearer, who can use the spectacle to adjust its features according to his viewing preferences.

emPower! lenses are available in all prescriptions, with UV, scratch-resistant, hydrophobic and anti-glare properties. The lenses come with their own almost invisible ‘Near Zones’. The near zones are located on the lens in the area where the vision normally focuses when reading a book or looking at a nearby object. The automatic mode can be activated by the touch of a finger, where in the lenses automatically adjust the near zones to appear and disappear according to the angle of vision. In the manual mode, the zones can be activated by tapping the finger lightly on the frame.

emPower! carries out its operations using the tiny batteries located conveniently in the frame. The spectacles can be placed on the charging unit, which comes packaged with emPower! Once charged, the batteries work for a whole 2-3 days, claims the manufacturer.

All these electronic features do not mean that emPower! compromises even a bit on style and comfort. The frames can be chosen from a wide assortment, ranging from plastic and metal, to even rimless! The emPower! frames are fashionable and are available for both the genders.

But if your guess is that all these amenities come at a price, then you’ve guessed right; a pair of emPower! spectacles is believed to cost around $1200. May be money can’t buy everything, but in this case it sure can buy you lasting, good vision!

Diet plans for a healthy skin

2011-10-21T18:52:00.001+05:30

All of you would like to have healthy glowing skin. But it is not easy to maintain the same with cosmetics. You have to follow a healthy diet to keep it healthy forever. Some particular food items will help to keep your skin soft, healthy and glowing with their nutrients. Here mentioned some food items which are exclusively for a healthy skin.

Try to include brightly colored fruits and vegetables in your diet. For instance, fruits like watermelons are rich in antioxidants, which are essential to keep a healthy moisturized skin. Antioxidants also avoid skin damage. Green tea is rich in antioxidants which can protect cell membranes and prevent inflammation in the body.

Be careful when you choose fats for your diet. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are good for having healthy skin membranes. Readily available oily fishes like Sardine, Mackerel and salmon contains Omega 3. For 6 fatty acid include sunflower oil when you fry foodies. Seeds are good sources of Omega 6.

As we know, Vitamin A, C and E are vital for a healthy glowing skin, if you plan your diet wisely. Fish and animal products like liver are rich sources of Vitamin A. pure vegetarians can have apricots, carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes to get this vitamin which is also good fir healthy eyes. Try to include any of the dairy products like milk or yoghurt also. Large quantities of vitamin A may harm your health. Vitamin e is a good antioxidant which protects skin from sunrays and wrinkles. Almonds, nuts, seeds, avocado and dark green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamin E. Vitamin C makes skin supple and it prevents skin from abnormal aging. Have plenty of citrus fruits like lemon and oranges along with kiwi fruits, strawberry and grapes.

Foods rich in zinc can help the skin heal by synthesizing collagen, the component of skin which holds the skin cells together. Zinc act as a natural sun-screen by blocking out the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It can be found in eggs, fish, meat, pulses, fish and wholegrain foods. Rich sources of Selenium skin experts claim is key to healthy skin cells. You will get it from wholemeal bread, walnuts, turkey, chicken, oysters and tuna.

Last but not least, drink plenty of water. Drink 7-8 glasses of water a day to help your kidneys flush out toxins from the body. A minor dehydration may harm your skin. Proper hydration can also help to prevent sunken eyes and under eye circles

Iced tea ‘ups risk of kidney stones’

2011-04-12T16:18:00.001+05:30

if you love iced tea, it could be time for you to give up that love – a urologist has warned that drinking it excessively could lead to kidney stones.

Iced tea contains high concentrations of oxalate, one of the key chemicals that lead to the formation of kidney stones.

Though hot tea also contains oxalate, it isn’t as easy to consume a quantity large enough amount to encourage the formation of stones.

“For people who have a tendency to form kidney stones, it’s definitely one of the worst things you can drink,” said Dr. John Milner, assistant professor, Department of Urology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Ill.

Men, postmenopausal women with low oestrogen levels and women who have had their ovaries removed are at a higher risk than others.

Kidney stones are small crystals that form from the minerals and salt normally found in the urine in the kidneys or ureter, the small tubes that drain urine from the kidney to the bladder.

Usually they can be expelled from the body harmlessly, but those big in size become lodged in the ureter.

Iced tea is a highly popular drink in summers considering it’s tastier than most other fluids, but Milner suggests there’s nothing better than water, maybe flavoured with lemon slices.

“Lemons are very high in citrates, which inhibit the growth of kidney stones,” Milner said.

Spinach, chocolate, rhubarb, nuts, salt and meat should be avoided as they encourage stones, he said.

And calcium rich foods, which reduce the amount of oxalate the body absorbs, plus water, are a must.

Resting laptop on legs can damage skin

2011-04-12T16:17:00.001+05:30

Beware -- people who work with a laptop on their legs can permanently damage their skin. A medical report has found that placing the devices next to the skin for long periods can lead to "toasted skin syndrome", an unusual-looking mottled skin condition caused by long-term heat exposure.

In one case, a 12-year-old boy developed a sponge-patterned skin discolouration on his left thigh after playing computer games a few hours every day for several months, reports the Telegraph.

"He sensed that the laptop got hot on the left side. But he still did not change its position," said Swiss researchers.

Another case involved a Virginia law student in the US who sought treatment for the mottled discoloration on her leg, according to the journal Paediatrics.

Kimberley Salkey, who treated the young woman, couldn't work out the source of the problem until she learned the student spent about six hours a day working with her computer propped on her lap. The temperature underneath registered 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius).

That case, from 2007, is one of laptop-related cases reported in medical journals in the past six years.
The condition also can be caused by overuse of heating pads and other heat sources that usually aren't hot enough to cause burns.

In very rare cases, it can cause damage leading to skin cancers, said Swiss researchers Andreas Arnold and Peter Itin from the University Hospital Basel.

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2010-09-27T00:19:00.000+05:30

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Tips to keep your heart healthy

2010-04-08T17:02:00.002+05:30

With millions of people all around the world suffering from heart disease, it’s one issue that you shouldn’t ignore. The good news is that with a few simple lifestyle changes, one can easily reduce their risk and keep the heart healthy.

Small steps such as reducing one’s intake of alcohol, eating better, exercising regularly and throwing away cigarettes, can make a world of a difference.

Including green tea in your diet can help. The drink is rich in antioxidants that reduce cholesterol and may help lower blood pressure. If drinking hot tea is not your thing, add some ice into it and drink it as a cooling beverage during the hot summer months. Green tea also contains properties that kill cancer growing cells without damaging the healthy tissue. Since it prevents the formation of abnormal blood clots, it is ideal for preventing strokes.

Using good olive oil in your regular cooking can make a difference. The fat present in the oil helps lower bad LDL cholesterol. It’s also rich in antioxidants, which may help reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases. Going slow on the butter can also help. Substitute mayonnaise-based salad dressings with olive oil whenever possible.

Every extra hour of sleep middle-aged people get can be beneficial for the heart. If the body is sleep deprived, it releases stress hormones that block arteries and cause inflammation.

Eating a diet rich in fibre is a good idea. Recent studies suggest that the more fibre you eat, the less likely you are to have a heart attack. Ditch the white bread for whole grain options and cereals oats etc. Add beans into your dishes, soups, and salads. These foods can do wonders for you. For all those non-vegetarians, eating seafood is a better option to fatty meats. Salmon and anchovies contain omega-3 fatty acids that help your heart maintain a steady rhythm. Start including them in your salads and sandwiches a couple of times a week.

Breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day and kick starting your morning with juice can help. Orange juice has folic acid that helps lower the heart attack risk. Grape juice with flavonoids and resveratrol, may prevent artery-blocking clots. Most juices are good options, just ensure you have a sugar-free one.

Along with a good diet, exercising is equally essential. Try and go for a walk for 20 minutes everyday and reduce your risk of heart attacks by one-third. Exercises not only helps you keep fit, but gets the heart pumping in the right way. If walking is not your thing, opt for aerobics or dance classes.

Regular use of chocolate lowers blood pressure

2010-04-08T17:02:00.001+05:30

Research shows regularly consuming as little as a square of chocolate a day helps to reduce your blood pressure and thus your chance of succumbing to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Scientists have found that people eating just 7.5 grams of chocolate daily were at a 39 per cent lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared with those who ate just 1.7 grams.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, found that modest chocolate intake had a significant effect on people's blood pressure. The benefits were more pronounced for a reduced risk of a stroke, but also brought less chance of a heart attack too.

Researchers led by Dr Brian Buijsse, a nutritional epidemiologist at the German Institute of Human Nutrition, made the link after studying the health of 19,357 Germans aged 35-65 for at least 10 years.

They believe that flavanols, substances in cocoa that boost the body's supply of nitric oxide, contribute to the chocolate eaters' lowered blood pressure.

The research confirms an association which other studies have made. The lower likelihood of stroke may be due to cocoa increasing the flow of blood around the brain, the authors say.

Among 1,568 participants whose chocolate intake was tracked 57 per cent ate milk chocolate, 24 per cent preferred dark and 2 per cent ate white chocolate.

The dark variety contains more flavanols, and so is thought to have a greater effect.

However, these findings should not lead to chocolate gluttony, said the authors. “Given these and other promising health effects of cocoa, it is tempting to indulge more in chocolate” — but further research was needed before small amounts of chocolate could be prescribed to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Those tempted to indulge should remember that chocolate contains large amounts of calories and saturated fats, which are related to weight gain and high cholesterol — two risk factors for heart disease.

Physical therapy exercise and health education programme can effectively reduce the risk for postnatal depression

2010-03-25T09:13:00.002+05:30

A new research has shown that a physical therapy exercise and health education programme can effectively reduce the risk for postnatal depression (PND).

Previous studies have shown that general exercise improves mood states in younger and older women, improves well-being, and leads to a reduction in depressive symptoms in mothers diagnosed with PND.

However, no studies have evaluated the benefits of group physical therapy exercise approaches to improve psychological health outcomes of women postnatally.

"Giving birth involves many changes in a woman's physical, emotional, and social health," said Mary P. Galea, BAppSci (Physio), Professor of Clinical Physiotherapy in the School of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, one of the authors of this study.

"A group exercise programme led by a physical therapist, who is an expert in improving and restoring motion to people's daily lives, can help mothers who may be at risk for PND improve their well-being and enable them to better care for their children," she added.

In this study, 161 English-speaking women who were being discharged from the postnatal ward of The Angliss Hospital were randomly assigned to an experimental Mother & Baby (M&B) Programme or an education only (EO) group.

Once a week for 8 weeks the M&B group, comprised of 62 women, undertook 1 hour of exercise with their babies, facilitated by a women's health physical therapist, combined with 30 minutes of parenting education delivered by health care professionals.

Seventy-three women were assigned to the EO group and received only the same written educational materials. Twenty-six of the women did not receive either of the allocated interventions.

The results of the study showed that there was significant improvement in well-being scores and depressive symptoms of the M&B group compared with the EO group over the study period.

More specifically, there was a significant positive effect on well-being scores and depressive scores at 8 weeks, and this score was maintained 4 weeks after completion of the programme.

The number of women identified as at risk for postnatal depression pre-intervention was reduced by 50 per cent by the end of the intervention.

One or two alcoholic drinks a day can help healthy people-and heart patients-live longer

2010-03-25T09:12:00.000+05:30

One or two alcoholic drinks a day can help healthy people-and heart patients-live longer, new research confirms.

But the two new studies-one of nearly 250,000 adults, the other an analysis of eight previous studies of more than 16,000 people with heart disease and other problems related to clogged arteries-also show that drinkers who exceeded recommended limits for alcohol consumption saw no heart health benefits.

"No question, heavy or binge drinking can have adverse health outcomes," Dr. Simona Costanzo and colleagues from Catholic University in Campobasso, Italy, warn in their report.

However, they add, doctors should tell their patients with heart disease and other clogged artery-related problems, together known as cardiovascular disease, that moderate alcohol consumption-a drink a day for women, two for men-"should not be harmful to their health."

There is considerable evidence that moderate drinking helps reduce the risk of heart disease and death from heart-related causes, likely due to the fact that drinking alcohol is linked to higher levels of "good" cholesterol.

However, questions have been raised about how research on alcohol and health is done, Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and his team, the authors of the other study, write.

To address these issues, Mukamal and his colleagues looked at nine years' worth of data from the National Health Interview Survey from 1987 to 2000, including 245,207 people in all. Census bureau employees perform the survey in person every year, sampling a representative group of around 20,000 to 40,000 US citizens.

The risk of dying due to heart disease or stroke was about the same for people who had never drank, meaning they had less than 12 drinks in their lifetime; people who drank infrequently, meaning they had more than 12 drinks in their life, but never drank more than 12 drinks in a given year; and ex-drinkers, who had more than 12 drinks in their lives and had consumed more than 12 drinks per year in the past, the researchers found.

But for light drinkers, defined as men or women who had three drinks a week or less, risk was 31 percent lower than for non-drinkers.

Among moderate drinkers (women who had three to seven drinks each week and men who had three to 14 drinks a week), risk was 38 percent lower than it was for abstainers.

Heavy drinkers, meaning women who had more than seven drinks a week and men who downed more than 14 drinks weekly, had the same cardiovascular death risk as non-drinkers.

The study's strengths include its size, the fact that it included a broad sample of the US population, and its ability to separate people who had never drank or only rarely drank from those who had drank previously but quit, Mukamal noted in an E-mail interview.

"Our results suggest that even in this well-designed study, the lower risk linked to moderate drinking remains," he told Reuters Health. "However, it also clearly confirms that the benefit is lost for excessive drinking."

People with cardiovascular disease get mixed messages on whether moderate drinking is OK. The US Food and Drug Administration advises people with heart disease who drink alcohol to quit, but guidelines from the American Heart Association say they can drink in moderation, Costanzo and her colleagues point out in their report.

To better understand the risks and potential benefits of alcohol for cardiovascular patients, the researchers identified eight studies including 16,351 patients with cardiovascular disease. They analyzed the relationship between alcohol consumption and death due to cardiovascular disease among study participants, as well as the association between drinking and overall mortality.

But people who drank more than about 25 grams of alcohol daily had overall mortality and cardiovascular death risks exceeding those of abstainers, and the more they drank, the higher the risk.

"Cardiovascular patients should be informed that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption (1 drink/day for women or up to 2 drinks/day for men) should not be harmful to their health," Costanzo and her team say. However, patients who don't drink regularly shouldn't be encouraged to start, they add, and those who drink heavily should be encouraged to quit or at least sharply reduce their alcohol intake.

"The risks of moderate drinking differ by sex, age, personal history, and family history," Dr. Arthur L. Klatsky of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, California, notes in an editorial accompanying the studies. While the case for alcohol's heart benefits is "compelling," he adds, "as is often the case in medical practice, advice about lifestyle must be based on something less than certainty."

Food can protect women against infertility

2010-03-25T09:11:00.001+05:30

Women who take diets rich in Omega-3 oils may be less likely to develop endometriosis while those whose diets are heavily laden with trans fats may be more likely to develop the debilitating condition that causes infertility, according to new study.

The study is the largest to have investigated the link between diet and endometriosis risk and the first prospective study to identify a modifiable risk factor for the condition.

It found that while the total amount of fat in the diet did not matter, the type of fat did. Women who ate the highest amount of long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids were 22 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than those who ate the least and that those who ate the most trans fats had a 48 per cent increased risk, compared with those who ate the least.

The findings from 70,709 American nurses followed for 12 years not only suggest that diet may be important in the development of endometriosis, but they also provide more evidence that a low fat diet is not necessarily the healthiest and further bolster the case for eliminating trans fats from the food supply, said the study's leader, Dr Stacey Missmer.

"Millions of women worldwide suffer from endometriosis. Many women have been searching for something they can actually do for themselves, or their daughters, to reduce the risk of developing the disease, and these findings suggest that dietary changes may be something they can do. The results need to be confirmed by further research, but this study gives us a strong indication that we're on the right track in identifying food rich in Omega-3 oils as protective for endometriosis and trans fats as detrimental," she added.

Long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids are found mostly in oily fish. They have been linked to reduced heart disease risk. In the study, the highest contributor towards endometriosis was mayonnaise and full-fat salad dressing, followed by fatty fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel.

"Women tend to go to the Internet in particular to look for something they can do. The majority of the dietary recommendations they find there are the ones prescribed for heart health, but until now, those had not been evaluated specifically for endometriosis. This gives them information that is more tailored and provides evidence for another disease where it is the type of fat in the diet, rather than the total amount, that is important," said Missmer.

Besides confirming the finding, a next step could be to investigate whether dietary intervention that reduces trans fats and increases Omega-3 oils can alleviate symptoms in women who already have endometriosis, she added.

A Steaming hot cup of coffee in morning helps to stay fit

2010-03-25T09:08:00.001+05:30

A steaming hot cup of coffee in the morning can actually do wonders for your health. And now two new studies have provided more support to the drink’s benefits.

Touted as “the devil’s brew,” coffee contains several nutrients (eg. calcium) as well as hundreds of potentially biologically active compounds (eg. polyphenols) that may promote health. For instance, observational studies have suggested a beneficial link between coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes. Two studies have lent additional information concerning the potential health benefits of coffee.

These studies provide additional support for the emerging health benefits of coffee. Rigorous clinical intervention trials will be needed to understand more fully the biological mechanisms. Dr. Shelley McGuire said “I’m a research scientist, but I still trust that foods and beverages which have been part of our culture for generations are probably good for us, or at least they’re probably not bad for us in moderation! Of particular interest is the well-controlled clinical trial that suggests coffee can lower chronic inflammation and even raise our ‘good’ cholesterol. I for one will enjoy my coffee even more in the weeks to come,” she added.

Jogger’s park

2010-03-11T16:48:00.001+05:30

Running today has become more than just a fitness routine; there are clubs, groups and online forums dedicated to running.

You don't have to be a trained athlete or an active sportsperson to start running. All it takes is a pair of running shoes and the initiative to start. You don't need a licence to run. You can run in a nearby park, or in your neighbourhood or in the beach.

Just pick your place and start running. With a modest investment of time and effort, you reap rich rewards. And while you're at it, you can also lose those extra pounds you found while eating that cake yesterday.

Running has myriad benefits including being in good shape, better coordination, improved cardiovascular health and a refreshing break from the monotony of everyday. People who have desk jobs, like software or management personnel, lead a sedentary lifestyle and don't tax their bones. This increases the susceptibility to osteoporosis later in life. Regular runners are free from this threat as there is constant stimulation of the bones and muscles.

Aside from the physical benefits, runners also benefit from reduced stress levels. While running, endorphins are released into the blood stream causing what is referred to ‘the runner's high'. These endorphins alleviate stress; improve the runners' moods and increases concentration. This keeps them focussed and alert throughout the day and thus enhances their performance at work.

Tips on running

A warm-up is crucial. People have different ways of warming up. One kind is through laughter. Another is by doing yoga. Doing yoga stretches the necessary muscles before starting to run. Recommended stretches include wall push-ups, hamstring stretch, knee clasps, backward stretches, chest push-ups and crunches.

While running, pay attention to your body. If experiencing any pain, stop and do not over-exert your muscles. Some trained runners complete long distances by interspersing regular intervals of walking between spans of running. Cool down stretches and exercises are a must to prevent accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles. Train regularly and improve your capacity gradually.

To prevent injuries

Wear proper running shoes and change them regularly. Do appropriate warm up and cool down exercises. Eat healthy. Have a balanced diet; avoid over indulgence. Cross training is recommended to strengthen specific muscle groups. Try cycling or swimming. Strength train two days a week for musculoskeletal fitness. Drink a protein-carb mix after your run.

It is recommended that runners drink water when they're thirsty rather than preventing thirst. Drinking excess water results in a decrease in amount of sodium in the blood, a condition named Hyponatraemia.

Try these wondrous ayurvedic beauty tips

2010-02-08T12:11:00.001+05:30

From olden days itself saints as well as modern treatments have always favoured the use of ayurveda. Instead of simply wasting both your money and time in saloons, it is best to grab from your kitchen counter. The usage of ayurveda herbs can give you an excellent complexion. Regular use along with adaptation of ayurvedic lifestyle can help remove skin blemishes. Try these ayurvedic beauty tips for experiencing a new you:

1. For oily skin: Make an excellent face pack using the juice of basil leaves,lemon juice and honey. Basil is an excellent antiseptic.

2. For pimples: Blend crushed basil with mint juice and lemon juice. Applying this combination regularly on pimples can work wonders.

3. For hair : Gooseberry is an excellent source of vitamin C and helps to strenghten,thicken and darken your hair and is also good for eyes. For hair care, mix henna powder,gooseberry,curd and lemon juice. Apply this on your hair and leave it for an hour. Wash your hair using a mild shampoo.

Henna is also a good hair conditioner and tonic.Make a blend of cucumber,orange,lemon juice with henna and apply.

4. For memory: indian Pennywort is an excellent relaxant. It helps in boosting your memory power and effectively cures nervous disorders.
For an excellent memory pack, crush a few tender leaves of Indian Pennywort and filter the juice with a clean cloth.Before meal take 2 teaspoons of Brahmi juice.

5. For eyes: Aloe Vera can be used as an eye pack. For dark rings around eyes and for itchy eyes, cut the pitch of it into small pieces and place on the eyelids. After 20 mins, wash the face with clean water. Regular use brings effective changes.

6. For hair loss: MIx Aloe Vera gel with castor oil,olive oil and apply.

7. For skin: Massage a blend of castor and mustard oil with aloe vera gel into your skin.Sandalwood is a skin freshner.For attaining a glowing skin,make a paste of sandalwood with fuller's earth,besan,barley flour and wheat flour and apply. Witness the change after a few days.

8. For acne and boils: Mix eucalyptus oil with mustard oil and apply on the affected spots. Applying regularly will give you a acne free face.For stubborn acnes and pimples use sandalwood with neem and basil powder.

Excessive watching of TV tolls up early death risks.

2010-02-08T12:08:00.001+05:30

A shocking news for all those couch potatoes who smuggle themselves on beds and sofa's - Every hour of television watched per day increases the risk of early death from cardiovascular disease.Latest reports reveal that each hour spent in front of television daily increases 11 percent of risk of death from all causes ranging from increased risk of cancer to cardiovascular disease related deaths. When compared to those people who spent less than two hours glued to their sets,those who watch more than four hours a day could result in a quick and early death.

This association triggers other independent and common cardiovascular disease risk factors including smoking,high blood pressure,high blood cholestrol, unhealthy diet,excessive waist circunference and leisure-time exercises.

Not only spending continuous hours in front of the television sets,but prolonged sedentary behaviour such as sitting at a desk or in front of a computer poses a high risk to one's health. Mr. David Dunstan,Ph.D, the professor and Head of the Physical Activity Laboratory in the Division of Metabolism and Obesity,Australia says that the human body was designed for moving and not sitting for extended periods of time.

As a result a lot of the normal activities that involved constant muscular movements have been converted into sitting positions.Dunstan said, "Technological,social, and economic changes have made it convenient that people don't have to move their muscles as much as they used to. This has shrinked the energy level expenditure as people go about their lives. For the majority, shifting from one chair to another-from the chair in the car to the chair in front of the television."

This is not just the situation of over weight and obese people but also those who have a balanced and healthy weight. Even if you have a healthy body weight,sitting for long periods of time will have an unhealthy ...... in their blood sugar and blood fats.

Pregnancy becomes no more painful.

2010-02-08T12:07:00.001+05:30

Becoming pregnant is the biggest dream and fulfillment in a woman's life. It is a life changing experience for a woman as she enjoys nurturing a growing fetus in her body. However survey has found that 300 women die every year due to pregnancy and childbirth complications.Now get ready to give birth without pain. Following a healthy life style can ..... smooth and easy.

Eating a well balanced diet will ensure safety both to you and your baby. Meals should include the five basic food groups.Skipping breakfast has an adverse effect during the pregnancy time. When you starve, you are depriving your baby his breakfast. This increases your blood sugar and other nutrient levels drop making your baby prone to health problems. Include whole grain products such as whole grain bread,waffles,Quaker oats rich in soluble fibre and mineral content for breakfast as it is ideal for your and baby's health.

Pregnant women need about 30 mg of iron everyday to make heamoglobin. So the body should have sufficient iron content in their daily diet for both mother and child. Eat plenty of iron rich foods which includes eggs, dry fruits, dark leafy vegetables,cereals and enriched grains. Ideally, a pregnant woman should ingest 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day. A growing baby's calcium requirements are high.So you need to take an adequate amount to prevent losing it from your own bones.Avoid drinking and smoking as it increases miscarriage,low birth weight baby and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Get ready for work when you get extra time. Keep drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Drinking enough of water helps to prevent severe problems such as dehydration and constipation.You will experience lot more fatigue while accommodating a new life. Take frequent short breaks at work and delegate tasks at home. Consume plenty of fresh fruit juices for various vitamins and minerals. Sleep for seven to nine hours every night for ample relexation of the body and mind. Maintain a good posture by standing straight and tall. Sit with your back supported by a pillow and avoid standing for a long period of time.Saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms should be avoided during pregnancy as excessive heat can be harmful for the baby.

Fertile women get attracted to flirty men

2010-02-05T11:09:00.001+05:30

To reach the conclusion, evolutionary psychologist, Dr Edward Morrison, of the University of Portsmouth, asked a group of women to examine various facial expressions.

He found when the women were ovulating they preferred flirtatious expressions, reports The BBC.

Dr Morrison said: "If we wanted to attract someone at the Christmas party, flirting effectively may help."

He added: "An ability to ''read'' and interpret the facial expressions and an awareness of what you are signalling with your own expressions could improve your chances of successful flirting.

"It is difficult to define what constitutes flirtatiousness and much of it may be something we perceive without even realising it.

"But it seems that in the absence of other cues, the ''social properties'' of facial movement influences how we judge attractiveness."

However, Dr Morrison added: "Science is still a long way from discovering the magic formula for what women find attractive in a man."

Quitting smoking improves cardiac health

2010-02-05T11:08:00.000+05:30

The research found that quitting smoking after a heart attack has about the same positive effect as other major interventions such as lipid-lowering agents like statins or more invasive procedures. “It’s really the most broad and eye-opening study of its kind. Smoking really decreases your life expectancy after a heart attack. Those who have never smoked have a 43 percent lower risk of succumbing after a heart attack, compared to the persistent smoker,” said Dr. Yariv Gerber of TAU’s Sackler School of Medicine. However, even those with a history of smoking can see their risk sharply decline once they give up the habit. “We found that people who quit smoking after their first heart attack had a 37 percent lower risk of dying from another, compared to those who continued to smoke,” Dr. Gerber said.

In the study, the researchers looked at data that covered more than 1,500 patients, 65 years old or less, who were discharged from hospitals in 1992 and 1993 in central Israel, all after their first acute myocardial infarction. At the time of their first heart attack, 27 percent of the men in the study had never smoked, some 20 percent reported being former smokers, while more than half admitted to being current smokers.

After leaving the hospital, the smokers attempted to quit. Among this group, 35 percent were able to abstain over the next decade or so. Analyzing data spanning more than 13 years, the researchers concluded that the greatest risk of death occurred in those people who continued to smoke, even when socioeconomic measures, cardiovascular risk factors and medical treatment were taken into consideration. Those who quit smoking before the first heart attack had a 50 percent lower mortality rate, while those who quit after their heart attack lowered that rate by a whopping 37 percent compared with those who continued to smoke.

Parkinson’s medications may help treat extreme drug-resistant TB

2009-07-04T00:41:00.003+05:30

Two drugs that are commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease have been found to be effective in treating extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego.

They have discovered that the two commercially available drugs, entacapone and tolcapone, have the potential to treat multi-drug resistant and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis.

"We have computational, and experimental data to support this repositioning," said Dr Philip E. Bourne, professor of pharmacology at UCSD''s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the principle investigator on the project.

"What is exciting about this finding is that the TB target, enzyme InhA, is already well known. But existing drugs are highly toxic and of completely different chemical structure than entacapone and tolcapone.

“Here we have drugs that are known to be safe and with suitable binding properties which can be further optimized to treat a completely different condition," he added.

While working with the TB bacterium itself, they found that the active component in Comtan tablets (entacapone) is effective at inhibiting M.tuberculosis in concentrations well below a level that is toxic to cells.

"Although we have demonstrated in the lab that Comtan is active against M.tuberculosis, additional studies are required in order to transform it into an anti-tubercular therapeutic," said Sarah L. Kinnings, a graduate student and lead author on the study.

"Given the continuing emergence of M.tuberculosis strains that are resistant to all existing, affordable drug treatments, the development of novel, effective and inexpensive drugs is an urgent priority," she added.

Natural compound can prevent diabetic retinopathy

2009-07-04T00:41:00.001+05:30

A natural compound can be used to stop diabetic retinopathy, one of the leading causes of blindness around the world, according to researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease, which affects people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

But the discovery of the compound’s function in inflammation and blood vessel formation related to eye disease can help scientists develop new therapies, including eye drops, to stop the disease.

“There is no good treatment for retinopathy, which is why we are so excited about this work. This opens an entirely new area for pharmaceutical companies to target,” said Jay Ma, the principal investigator on the project.

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by changes in blood vessels of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina.

Over time, diabetic retinopathy can worsen and cause some vision loss or blindness.

The Oklahoma researchers found that the inflammation and leakage is caused by an imbalance of two systems in the eye, and to restore balance, they delivered the new compound to cells using nanoparticle technology.

The treatment in research models stopped the leakage, blocked inflammation, and kept unwanted blood vessels from growing.

The researchers are now testing the compound’s uses for cancer and age-related macular degeneration.

The research has appeared online this month in the journal Diabetes, a publication of the American Diabetes Association.

Brain malformations linked to preterm birth

2009-07-04T00:39:00.001+05:30

Brain malformations are significantly associated with preterm birth, according to new research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

This is the first time that any team of researchers have found solid evidence of a strong association between congenital brain defects and preterm birth.

The researchers, thus, believe that something about the brain malformations may be causing preterm birth, and could provide a possible study path toward a better understanding of the problem.

It is the first study to investigate the risk of being born preterm for infants who have a variety of congenital brain defects.

"The most important thing about this study is that to-date, it is still unknown why there are so many preterm births. This study suggests that one way to look for the causes of preterm birth is to look at those types of brain malformations that have very strong association with preterm birth, and see if there is some sort of difference between those babies and full-term babies - some sort of soluble factor or an increased amount of something in the preterm babies that is not found in other babies," said Dr. William R. Brown, an investigator for the study.

The study was based on a study of bleeds in the brains of babies, where researchers found that a large percentage of the babies being studied had small, unrecognized types of brain malformations that warranted further investigation.

Although there has been evidence suggesting brain malformations are also associated with preterm birth, it has been difficult to document such an association.

This is because brain defects can be hidden within the cranium and may remain undetected until autopsy, whereas malformations of other parts of the body can be determined through birth registries.

In the study, the researchers looked at 1,168 autopsy files that contained congenital brain defects as well as information on the gestational age at birth of the subject.

It was found that, in the autopsy cases with brain defects, the mean gestational age was 36.6 weeks, whereas the data showed a mean gestational age of 39.9 weeks for infants with no defects and a gestation of 38.1 weeks for infants with defects of any kind.

"Preterm" birth is defined as 20 to 36 weeks gestation, while "term" birth is defined as 37 to 41 weeks.

Only 9.3 percent of babies born without defects were preterm, compared to 21.5 percent of those with defects.

In the autopsy cases with brain defects, the rate of preterm birth was even greater at 33.1 percent, showing the strongest association between the two.

The study showed that some types of brain defects have a stronger association with preterm birth than others.

Lack of sleep 'hits women harder'

2009-07-04T00:37:00.001+05:30

Lack of sleep raises a woman's risk of heart disease more than it does for a man, research suggests.

Sleeping less than the recommended eight hours a night has been linked to a raised risk of heart problems.

Researchers found levels of inflammatory markers - indicators of heart disease - vary significantly with sleep duration in women, but not men.

The study, by University College London and the University of Warwick, appears in the journal Sleep.

Previous research has suggested people who sleep less than five hours a night have an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, compared to those who get the full eight hours.

The latest study found levels of a molecule called interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is known to trigger inflammation, were much lower in women who reported sleeping eight hours, compared to those who slept for seven hours.

Levels of another molecule, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) - which is linked to heart problems - were significantly higher in women who reported sleeping for five hours or less.

Hormones

Researcher Dr Michelle Miller said the findings added to the growing body of evidence suggesting that sleep duration played a key role in heart health.

She said: "The results also are consistent with the idea that sleeping seven or eight hours per night appears to be optimal for health."

Dr Miller said more work was required to pin down why lack of sleep potentially had a greater effect on women.

However, she said differences in hormone levels might be key. There is work to suggest that inflammatory marker levels are different in pre- and post-menopausal women.

The study was based on data from more than 4,600 London-based civil servants aged 35 to 55, of which 73% were men.

Dr Janet Mullington, of Harvard Medical School, said there were many questions still to be answered about the effect of sleep deprivation.

She said it was possible that the change to inflammatory markers produced in sleep deprivation experiments were merely short-term reflections of the battle against sleepiness.

They might also be influenced by the unusual conditions, such as the interaction between the participants and the researchers.

June Davison, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Previous research suggests that a good night's sleep may help to keep our heart and circulation healthy, and this study could point to an underlying reason behind that finding.

"We should all try to get enough sleep - as it's likely to be good for heart health as well as overall health."

Healthy Food Equals Good Skin

2009-06-18T23:59:00.003+05:30

Who doesn't want glowing, vibrant, and younger looking skin? Everyone aspires to have a healthy and blemish-free skin. Still, many of us find our skin to be quite impossible to manage especially when you wake up and find a huge zit on your nose or a cold sore at the corner of your mouth. The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat common skin problems by checking in the food we take.

Did you know that dry skin during the summer might easily be remedied with a handful of nuts? We have all heard the old saying, we are what we eat. Often we ignore how our diets affect problems, such hair loss or oily skin. Most experts say eating a balanced diet is the best way to get your share of good food for healthy skin. Still, a number of specific food can be consumed to bring back the healthy glow to your skin.

Probably one of the most important components of skin health is Vitamin A. One can get it from low-fat dairy products. In fact, experts say that the health of our skin cells is dependent on dietary Vitamin A. Low-fat yogurt is also “good skin food” since it is high in Vitamin A and acidophilus, the “live” bacteria that is good for intestinal health.

Aside from milk and yoghurt, fruits and berries are also good for the skin. Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and plums have a lot of antioxidants and phytochemicals that protects the cell from damage that can be harmful to the skin. Other fruits and vegetables with a “high antioxidant capacity” include artichokes, beans (the study cited black, red, and pinto), prunes, and pecans. Salmon, walnuts, canola oil, and flax seed all deliver essential fatty acids, and thus are key foods for healthy skin.

The best-known essential fatty acids are Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are healthy ingredients that must be part of our daily diet. Though we all seem to get enough Omega-6, fish, walnut, and flax seed oil are among the best sources.

Eating good-quality oils helps keep skin lubricated and keeps it looking and feeling healthier overall. However, only those that are labeled cold pressed, expeller processed, or extra virgin are the ones to look for. Since any fat, even a healthy one, is high in calories, experts remind us that we don't need more than about two tablespoons a day.

Whole-wheat bread, muffins, and cereals; turkey, tuna, and brazil nuts are mineral selenium which connects all these foods for healthy skin. Experts say selenium plays a key role in the health of skin cells. Some studies show that even skin damaged by the sun may suffer fewer consequences if selenium levels are high.

Some beverages like Green Tea also possess beneficial properties that are good for the skin. This drink deserves a category all its own in any article about food for healthy skin. The skin-health properties of Green Tea are amazing. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and it protects the cell membrane. It may even help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer.

While the exact amount you should drink each day varies, no one disputes the role good hydration plays in keeping skin looking healthy and even young. When that hydration comes from pure, clean water, (not liquids such as soda or even soup) experts say that skin cells actually “rejoice” since the fluid helps flush out toxins and impurities from the body. When we're properly hydrated, we also sweat more efficiently. Doing so helps keep skin clean and clear as well.

Everything we eat becomes a part of not only our inner being, but the outer fabric of our body as well. No skin care solutions or treatments can replace having a healthy diet. The healthier the food we consume, the less stress we feel, and the better our skin will look.

Ways to Remove Acne Scars

2009-06-18T23:59:00.001+05:30

Acne scars are actually much more common than once believed. Most people will have acne scars that are mild and mostly out of sight. However, some people will have scars that appear significant and downright ugly. The best approach to repair and remove acne scars is to treat the acne right away, as sometimes even mild acne can cause scarring. As a result, that is the best way to minimize the risk of permanent acne scars.

One of the most effective treatments is dermabrasion, where the skin surface around the scars is removed using a rotating wire brush. Mild scars that just lie on the skin surface can almost vanish altogether with this treatment, whereas deeper ones become less noticeable. But dermabrasion cannot be applied to all patients. Scars that cover a wider area deep under the skin can get worse with this treatment, so you need to consult a dermatologist about this.

Vitamin E - You can break the vitamin E capsule and apply the oil directly to the affected area. Another way is to take it orally. Vitamin E helps in cell renewal and many people have used this method with success.Rosehip oil is another option that is effective in removing acne scars. This oil helps to regenerate the skin and heal scars. Apply topically to the affected area twice daily.

Another method for dealing with removing severe acne scars is skin surgery. This involves making round excisions of each scar which are called “punch excisions”. The holes go down quite deep beneath the skin so they will needto be stitched closed afterwards. A surgical probe may also be used to separate the scar tissue from your healthy skin which reduces the elevation of depressed scars.

Take the juice from one lemon and mix it with an equal amount of rosewater. Apply this to your face daily, leaving it on for at least half an hour. Wash your face with fresh water and continue to do this routine for about 15 days. This has been shown to help cure acne as well as reduce blemishes and scaring.

Go for a facial. If you do not want to pay for this, simply get a steamer on your face for a couple of minutes. Make sure it is approved for the skin so it does not end up burning your skin. What this does it exfoliates and brings up every thing under your skin and makes scars slowly go away. Often it will look worse for a couple of days and then you will notice an almost immediate improvement.

Remedy that has been very effective in removing scars is the application of tomato and cucumber juice on the face. Tomato is known to be very rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are often used in the prevention of skin damage at the very core or cellular level. What's more, the mixture of both tomato and cucumber juice can improve your skin tone, as well as strengthen your immune system. Your skin pores are also tightened very well by this mixture.

Pregnant women and newborns not safe in developing nations

2009-01-16T18:53:00.001+05:30

Women in underdeveloped countries are 300 times more susceptible to the complications during pregnancy, that ultimately lead to death.

In its latest annual report, the United Nations Children's Fund revealed that inadequate nutrition and poor health conditions in developing nations pose huge risks to pregnant women and newborn babies.

In a developing country, a newborn faces the risk of death during the first month of life almost 14 times more than a child born in a developed nation.

Also, according to the study, women who delivered a child before the age of 15 are five times more likely to die during childbirth than those who give birth in their 20s. In developing countries, one in every 8,000 mothers is at the risk of death due to pregnancy related complications, way above wealthier nations, where the risk is one in 24,000.

According to UNICEF, as many as 99 percent of the 500,000 maternal deaths in 2005 occurred in the less developed nations, with more than half of them reported in Africa, where the child marriages are most common, along with south Asia.

Niger, with a risk of one in seven, has the world’s highest maternal death rate, while Ireland with the risk of just one in 47,600 is at the lowest.

While releasing the report, UNICEF director Ann Veneman said that 80 percent of childbirth-related deaths could be simply avoided by the right provision of maternity and health care services.

As much as 40 percent of the deliveries across the world, are not even attended by a doctor, says the UNICEF report.

"Progress has been made in reducing child mortality, but much more must be done especially in addressing maternal and newborn health," said Veneman."Saving the lives of mothers and their newborns requires more than just medical intervention.”

She stressed on the education of girls, which is not only important for maternal and neonatal health, but eventually shows up as a huge advantage for “families and societies.”

As a part of its Millennium Development Goals program, the U.N. has called for the maternal mortality rate to go down 75 percent by 2015.

"The world must approach this task with a shared sense of urgency and a collaborative response," said Veneman.

Peppermint oil effective in digestive disorders

2009-01-16T18:51:00.001+05:30

Peppermint oil can treat digestive disorders effectively, although high dosages may result in adverse effects, a review reported in the April 1 issue of American Family Physician says.

Usually found in the traditional candy canes that are used as Christmas tree decorations, peppermint oil has strong antimicrobial properties which might fight germs and relieve digestive symptoms, and is promptly defensive against irritable bowel syndrome.

Research has shown antimicrobial activity of mentha villosa and faassen's catnip - commonly known mints with a non-mint called bluebeard. Essential oils extracted from marjoram, oregano, winter savory, horseradish, garlic, hyssop, basil and few thyme varieties showed similar properties.

Scientist Pavel Kloucek, from Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, noted that essential oils obtained from plants are lipophilic which means that they gravitate towards fat. The bacterial cell membrane is full of fat and the essential oil molecules get inside them and lead to membrane-leakage.

"Most of the (effective) species are really from the family Lamiaceae, or mint family," he added.

Ancient civilizations had discovered the medicinal properties of peppermint oil where peppermint oil combined with caraway oil can treat non-ulcer dyspepsia and also has a relaxing effects on muscles.

In ancient times, peppermint leaf was used internally as a digestive aid and for managing gallbladder disease. This oil was also inhaled for cough and upper respiratory symptoms.

Peppermint oil in high doses can have adverse effects though and is thought to be dangerous for pregnant and lactating women, infants and young children. High doses may cause allergic reactions, heartburn, perianal burning, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.

Scientists say that many medical conditions may be prevented by using essential oils with some foods.

Beer can increase liver and bowel cancer risk

2009-01-16T18:49:00.003+05:30

The risk of getting inflicted with liver and bowel cancerdefine increases by up to 20 percent in people who drink one pint of beer everyday, as per scientists at the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

The same kind of harmful effects can be possible in people who consume a large glass of wine, vodka or gin every day.

According to Dr. Rachel Thompson, Science Programme Manager at the WCRF, the probability of getting affected with bowel and liver cancerdefine increases a lot if a person intakes two units of alcohol daily.

Dr. Thompson said, “If you are drinking a pint of lager or a large glass of wine everyday, then this might not seem like a lot.” She further added, “But the science shows you are increasing your risk of bowel cancer by 18 percent and your risk of liver cancer by 20 percent.”

But she agreed that many people are still not aware of the cancer risk associated with alcohol despite the fact that a multitude of studies have shown this relation.

In addition to liver and bowel cancer, drinking alcohol also raises the chances of breast cancer and cancers of the mouth, oesophagus, pharynx and larynxdefine.

WCRF has advised people not to drink alcohol at all, so as to safeguard themselves from cancer. But if people still drink, then it should be limited to only two drinks and one drink a day for men and women respectively.

The government has also given directions that no more than three to four units of alcohol per day should be consumed by men. The limit for women has been advised between two to three units.

Clarifying on the question whether alcohol is good for people suffering from heart disease, Dr. Thompson explained that it depends on the individual cases. She said that consuming alcohol in small amounts might be good only for men above 40 and women in the post-menopausal stage.

“This study appears to be broadly consistent with known estimated risks, although we look forward to examining it in more detail,” said a spokesman for the Department of Health.

In the UK alone, more than 36,500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year. It is the third most common type of cancer in the country and leads to 16,000 deaths per year.

Psychological support aids ‘baby blues’

2009-01-16T18:46:00.001+05:30

Postnatal depressiondefine, a depressive state that occurs after childbirth, typically ranging from mild 'baby blues' to the severe postnatal psychosis affects the wellbeing of the new mum and infant.

However, psychological support can make a great difference, researchers of a new study advocate.

The condition usually surfacing within the first month following childbirth affects 13 percent of the new mothers. However, delayed treatment primarily due to lack of awareness, inability to pick up timely symptoms or the stigma attached to the illness heighten the magnitude of the problem, causing serious consequences.

The symptoms of postnatal depressiondefine are very similar to those seen in 'ordinary' depression. A typical feeling of being 'low', 'miserable' and tearful without any apparent reason. In addition, sleep and eating disturbances, irritability and anxiety may also surface.

The study, one of the largest postnatal depression studies, followed nearly 4,000 new mothers from 101 maternity centers around the country. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group of new mums received psychological treatments provided by health visitors trained to spot depression symptoms, while the other received standard care.

Psychological treatment, primarily cognitive behavioral therapy, offered in eight weekly sessions, encouraged mums to speak up their feelings. They aimed at changing behavioral responses.

The new mothers were followed for 18 months with periodical assessment. At six and 12 month follow-up, mothers who received psychological treatment fared better as opposed to those who received standard care, researchers reveal.

Mothers in the ‘specially-trained health visitors’ group hose symptoms were spotted at six-weeks were 40 percent less likely to have them at six months, compared to those sans trained help.

Summarizing the findings, Jane Morrell, researcher at Huddersfield University stated, "Training health visitors to assess women, identify symptoms of postnatal depression, and deliver psychologically informed sessions was clinically effective at six and 12 months postnatally compared with usual care."

In complete agreement with Morrell, Dr Cindy-Lee Dennis from University of Toronto marked, "Only by overcoming the barriers to treatment, providing comprehensive screening programmes, and ensuring the delivery of appropriate and timely care will we effectively prevent and treat postnatal depression."

Rare sleep disorder sparks dementia

2008-12-26T16:01:00.001+05:30

More than half of people with a rare sleep disorder develop a neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson’s disease, within 12 years of being diagnosed, results of a Canadian study published on Wednesday indicate.

So-called “REM sleep behavior disorder” affects a small percentage of the population, Ronald Postuma, at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and colleagues explain in the journal Neurology.

It is characterized by a loss of the normal muscle relaxation while dreaming and is seen most often in men aged 50 and older. REM sleep behavior disorder should not be confused with insomnia, night terrors, or confusional arousals.

Postuma’s team conducted a follow-up study of 93 patients diagnosed with unexplained REM sleep behavior disorder between 1989 and 2006. The average time from diagnosis to last evaluation was 5.2 years.

During follow-up, 14 patients developed Parkinson’s disease, 7 developed dementia, 4 developed Alzheimer’s disease, and 1 developed a neurodegenerative disorder called multiple system atrophy (wasting).

Mistletoe extends cancer patients' lives

2008-12-26T16:00:00.001+05:30

For long, it has inspired couples to share a Christmas kiss under its evergreen leaves. And, now a new study says that mistletoe may extend the lives of cancer patients too.

Researchers in Switzerland have carried out the study and found that a medicine made out of fermented mistletoe can prolong the lives of cancer patients. The fermented mistletoe medicine is called Iscador.

Lead researcher Renatus Ziegler and colleagues at Institute Hiscia in Arlesheim studied a group of cervical and ovarian cancer patients.

Over the course of a few decades, cancer patients who added mistletoe preparations to their therapies lived an average of half a year longer, the researchers found. “Mistletoe is an old medical drug in Europe particularly in Germany and goes back at least to Hippocrates,” Ziegler said.

Body heat doomed Neanderthals?

2008-12-26T15:59:00.002+05:30

Neanderthals may have died out because their bodies overheated as the earth grew warmer, according to new research.

Analysis of DNA obtained from Neanderthal remains has revealed key differences from modern humans that suggest their bodies produced excess heat, reported the Telegraph.

While in the cold climate of an ice age this would have provided the species with an advantage, as the earth warmed they would have been less able to cope. Ultimately this would have caused their extinction around 24,000 years ago.

Scientists at Newcastle University have put forward the theory after examining a particular form of genetic material which was obtained from bones of Neanderthals. By comparing it with that found in modern humans, they discovered that Neanderthals had key differences in the sections responsible for producing energy in all living cells.

Mitochondria are tiny structures found inside all living cells and are the power stations that produce the energy cells need to survive by converting sugar from food into energy.
Patrick Chinnery, a neurogeneticist at Newcastle University, believes the differences in the mitochondrial DNA could have caused Neanderthals to be inefficient at producing energy, meaning their cells leaked heat.

Scientists have also been attempting to read the Neanderthal genome in the hope that it will shed more light on the differences between them and modern humans.

Spirituality linked to quiet 'me' zone

2008-12-26T15:59:00.001+05:30

What makes us feel spiritual? It could be the quieting of a small area in our brains, a new
study suggests.

The area in question — the right parietal lobe — is responsible for defining “Me,” said researcher Brick Johnstone of Missouri University. It generates self-criticism, he said, and guides us through physical and social terrains by constantly updating our self-knowledge: my hand, my cocktail, my witty conversation skills, my new love interest etc.

People with less active Me-Definers are more likely to lead spiritual lives, reports Livescience.
Among the more spiritual of the 26 subjects examined, the researchers pinpointed a less functional right parietal lobe, a physical state which may translate psychologically as decreased self-awareness and self-focus, suggesting that selflessness is a core tenant of spiritual experience.

Appreciation of art or nature can also hush the Definer of Me, Johnstone said, pointing out that people talk of “losing themselves” in a particularly beautiful song.

Diet alters heart failure risk

2008-12-26T15:58:00.000+05:30

Each serving of whole-grains may lessen heart failure risk by 7 percent among middle-aged African-American and white men and women,according to findings from a long-term study.

Conversely, each serving of high-fat dairy and egg appear to increase heart failure risk by 8 and 23 percent, respectively, Dr. Jennifer A. Nettleton, of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, and colleagues found.

"A refined grain here, a full fat yogurt there, and the occasional egg aren't going to result in heart failure, but a continued pattern of such behaviors could," Nettleton told Reuters Health.

Heart failure is a chronic disease in which the heart gradually loses its ability to pump blood efficiently, leaving organs starved for oxygen.

On 3 occasions over the 13-year study, Nettleton's group assessed the dietary intake of 14,153 adults, aged 45 to 64 years, who did not have heart failure in 1987 when the study began. About half the participants were women and a quarter were African-American,

Overall, 1,140 of the participants were hospitalized for heart failure during the study period, the researchers report in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

After accounting for factors that impact heart failure risk such as calorie intake, lifestyle, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood, the researchers found lower heart failure risk associated with greater intake of whole grains, and higher risk associated with greater amounts of eggs and high fat dairy.

The associations held independently of intake of red meat, fruits and vegetables, fish, and nuts. In this study these foods showed no association with heart failure risk likely because there were too few heart failure cases to detect the heart benefits previously linked with eating fish, fruit and vegetables, and nuts, Nettleton said.

However, findings from the current study are consistent with current dietary recommendations to minimize saturated fat intake from meat and high fat dairy products, and eat at least 3 whole grains each day, Nettleton said.

Kids safe and secure with grandparents around

2008-11-04T19:35:00.001+05:30

Kids are safe, secure and protected from injuries when grandparents are around, a boon for working parents, according to a new study.

Compared to organised daycare or care by the mother or other relatives, having a grandmother watch a child was associated with a decreased risk of injury for the child.

According to researchers, the odds of injury were significantly greater among children whose parents never married, compared with children whose mothers stayed married.

Similarly, odds of injury were greater for children living in homes in which the father did not co-reside.

These associations were independent of family income, according to a Bloomberg press release.

The results were published in the November issue of Paediatrics.

"Recent growth in the number of grandparents providing childcare has some observers concerned they don't adhere to modern safety practices," said co-author David Bishai, professor at Bloomberg School's Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health.

"This research tells us not only is there no evidence to support this assumption, but families that choose grandparents to care for their children experience fewer child injuries."

Bishai and colleagues analysed data from the National Evaluation of the Healthy Steps for Young Children Programme, which includes information on over 5,500 newborns enrolled in 15 US cities in 1996-97 with follow-up for 30-33 months.

Data on child care arrangements reported by the mother were linked to claims reporting children's office visits, allowing researchers to identify medically attended injuries.

"As injuries are the number one cause of death for children in US, it's critical we continue to determine risk and protective factors," said study co-author Andrea C Gielen, director of the Centre for Injury Research and Policy at the Department of Health Policy and Management at Bloomberg.

Stretching before exercise can be bad

2008-11-04T19:34:00.000+05:30

Stretching before exercise can be bad for individuals, warn scientists, who found that the integral part of any athlete's warm-up routine can actually weaken muscles.

It has long been believed that the habit of holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds, known as static stretching, is beneficial for priming muscles.

But now, in a new research, scientists from the University of Nevada Las Vegas say this should no longer be encouraged.

Their findings highlight that the two common pre-running stretches - for the hamstrings and quadriceps - may actually reduce performance by weakening muscles in the leg.

"Developing flexibility is important for reducing sports injury, but the time to stretch is after, not before, performance," the Telegraph quoted Kinesiology professor Bill Holcomb, who authored the report, as saying.

Other studies have found that this stretching decreases muscle strength by as much as 30 per cent. Stretching one leg's muscles can also reduce strength in the other leg as the central nervous system can rebel against the movements.

The correct warm up, according to experts, should do two things - loosen muscles and tendons to increase the range of motion of various joints, and warm up the body.

To raise the body's temperature, a warm-up should begin with aerobic activity, and researchers recommend light jogging.

Brain slows at 40, starts body decline

2008-11-04T19:33:00.001+05:30

The brain may explain why people slow down as they get older, starting at age 40.

How fast you can throw a ball or run or swerve a steering wheel depends on how speedily brain cells fire off commands to muscles. Fast firing depends on good insulation for your brain's wiring.

Now new US research suggests that in middle age, even healthy people begin to lose some of that insulation in a motor-control part of the brain - at the same rate that their speed subtly slows.

That helps explain why "it's hard to be a world-class athlete after 40," concludes George Bartzokis, a neurologist at University of California, Los Angeles, who led the work.

And while that may sound depressing, keep reading. The research points to yet another reason to stay physically and mentally active: An exercised brain may spot fraying insulation quicker and signal for repair cells to get to work.

To Bartzokis, the brain is like the Internet. Speedy movement depends on bandwidth, which in the brain is myelin, a special sheet of fat that coats nerve fibres.

Healthy myelin - good thick insulation wound tightly around those nerve fibres - allows prompt conduction of the electrical signals the brain uses to send commands. Higher-frequency electrical discharges, known as "actional potentials," speed movement - any movement, from a basketball rebound to a finger tap.

Consider someone like Michael Jordan. "The circuitry that made him a great basketball player was probably myelinated better than most other mortals," Bartzokis notes.

But while myelin builds up during adolescence, when does production slow enough that we fall behind in the race to repair fraying, older insulation?

Breast milk provides baby molecule to build immunity

2008-10-29T00:37:00.003+05:30

A molecule holds the key to mothers' ability to strengthen the immunity of the baby through breast milk, according to a latest research.

The study highlights the amazing change that takes place in a mother's body when she begins producing breast milk.

Years before her pregnancy, cells that produce antibodies against intestinal infections travel around her circulatory system and regularly take an 'off-ramp' to her intestine.

There they stand guard against infections like cholera or rotavirus. But once she begins lactating, some of these antibody-producing cells suddenly begin taking a different off-ramp that leads to the mammary glands.

That way, when her baby nurses, the antibodies go straight to their intestine and offer protection while the baby builds up its own immunity. This is why previous studies have shown that formula-fed infants have twice the incidence of diarroheal illness as breast-fed infants.

Until now, scientists did not know how the mother's body signalled the antibody-producing cells to take the different off-ramp. The new study identifies the molecule that gives them the green light.

'Everybody hears that breast feeding is good for the baby,' said Eric Wilson, Brigham Young University microbiologist who is a co-author of the study.

'But why is it good? One of the reasons is that mothers' milk carries protective antibodies which shield the newborn from infection, and this study demonstrates the molecular mechanisms used by the mother's body to get these antibody-producing cells where they need to be.'

Understanding the role of the molecule, called CCR10, also has implications for potential future efforts to help mothers better protect their infants, according to a release from the Brigham University.

Wilson's other co-authors are Yuetching Law, Kathryn Distelhorst and Erica D. Hill.

Harvard Medical School co-authors are Olivier Morteau, Craig Gerard, Bao Lu, Sorina Ghiran and Miriam Rits. Stanford University School of Medicine co-authors are Raymond Kwan, Nicole H. Lazarus and Eugene C. Butcher.

These findings are scheduled for publication in Nov 1 issue of the Journal of Immunology.

Stress may trigger inflammatory skin diseases

2008-10-29T00:37:00.001+05:30

‘Researchers from University of Medicine Berlin and McMaster University in Canada have found that stress may activate immune cells in the skin, leading to inflammatory skin disease.

This cross talk between stress perception, which involves the brain, and the skin is mediated through the "brain-skin connection".

The immune cells in skin can over-react, resulting in inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Study leader Dr. Petra Arck hypothesized that stress could exacerbate skin disease by increasing the number of immune cells in the skin.

The researcher said that the team exposed mice to sound stress, and found that the stress challenge resulted in higher numbers of mature white blood cells in the skin.

Moreover, blocking the function of two proteins that attract immune cells to the skin, LFA-1 and ICAM-1, prevented the stress-induced increase in white blood cells in the skin.

Based on their observations, the researchers came to the conclusion that stress activates immune cells, which in turn are central in initiating and perpetuating skin diseases.

The study appears in the November issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

Growing pains: 13 per cent teens suffer from depression

2008-10-29T00:36:00.002+05:30

Being a teenager seems to have become more difficult than ever. A recent medical study reveals that over 13 per cent of our adolescents suffer from depression and the lack of trained psychiatrists in the country makes matters even worse.

Rashmi was a happy teenager from a small town three years ago. But while living away from family in a college hostel in Delhi took a toll on her.

She started to snap as academic stress got too much to handle. As the pressure mounted, Rashmi had to drop out and gradually sank into severe depression.

"I became unsocial and was afraid to face my friends or teachers. My parents also got depressed because of me," said Rashmi.

Back in Ranchi, Rashmi's parents finally saw the signs and took her to two psychiatrists. Today she works in a call-centre and is also completing her graduation. And instead of avoiding the issue, she talks objectively.

"That was a bad phase of my life. Teenagers must try to avoid depression as what has happened cannot be changed, but one needs to get a hold of themselves and look forward," she said with a positive attitude.

However, growing up seems to have become more trying for Indian teens. An All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) psychiatry report states:

* 90 per cent teenagers today show reluctance to attend school

* 70 per cent teens show signs of depressed mood

* 30 per cent teens have sleeping problems

* And 48 per cent think about the next step - suicide

As in the case of the Delhi Public School (DPS) student who killed herself as she was unable to deal with school pressures.

In fact, recent Indian studies suggest, every 90 minutes a teenager tries to commit suicide in India and every six hours, one succeeds.

Teenage depression was ignored for a long time as doctors held the Freudian view that teenagers are not developed enough to experience depression.

But a recent AIIMS report clearly indicates otherwise13 per cent of teens today are suffering from depression. There are hardly any schools that have counsellors to address teen issues. And even they lack adequate experience.

"We can create an infrastructure where teachers, principals, parents can be trained to deal with teens and then go to next level of trained psychiatrists," suggests Dr Arpita Anand.

The role of parents becomes crucial. A NIMHANS study revealed nearly 65 per cent parents are unaware of their children's depression. Experts suggest that parents must communicate and build a rapport with their children. And stay alert to changes in behaviour.

Itch! Docs warn of rash from mobile phone use

2008-10-29T00:36:00.001+05:30

Doctors baffled by an unexplained rash on people's ears or cheeks should be on alert for a skin allergy caused by too much mobile phone use, the British Association of Dermatologists said on Thursday.

Citing published studies, the group said a red or itchy rash, known as "mobile phone dermatitis", affects people who develop an allergic reaction to the nickel surface on mobile phones after spending long periods of time on the devices.

"It is worth doctors bearing this condition in mind if they see a patient with a rash on the cheek or ear that cannot otherwise be explained," it said.

The British group said many doctors were unaware mobile phones could cause the condition. Safety concerns over mobile phones has grown as more people rely on them for everyday communication, although the evidence to date has given the technology a clean bill of health when it comes to serious conditions like brain cancer.

"In mobile phone dermatitis, the rash would typically occur on the cheek or ear, depending on where the metal part of the phone comes into contact with the skin," the group said in a statement. "In theory it could even occur on the fingers if you spend a lot of time texting on metal menu buttons."

Nickel is a metal found in products, ranging from mobile phones to jewellery to belt buckles and is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, according to the Mayo Clinic in the United States.

Earlier this year Lionel Bercovitch of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and colleagues tested 22 popular handsets from eight different manufacturers and found nickel in 10 of the devices.

Take a Break to Walk if you lead a Sedentary Lifestyle

2008-09-27T19:51:00.001+05:30

People who have a desk job should take some time off to stroll a tad bit, because sitting for long hours on an office chair can be very injurious to your health. Wondering how? Read on.

New Australian research shows too much of sitting down cancels the benefits of exercise and puts people at the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

But the good news is that roaming about the house or gently walking around the office while on the phone might be enough to keep you fit.

After conducting a study on 168 people, it was found regardless of how much moderate-to-vigorous exercise they did or their total sedentary time, those who took more breaks from sitting had lower waist circumferences, lower body mass indexes and lower levels of triglycerides and glucose in blood.

Higher levels of triglycerides, or blood lipids, have been linked to a heightened risk of heart disease and stroke. High blood glucose levels are linked to the development of diabetes, which itself is a major risk factor for heart disease.

”What this shows is there are benefits in just getting up regularly and interrupting your sedentary time,” principal researcher Genevieve Healy of the University of Queensland said.

The study builds on work that is shifting the health promotion focus from purposeful exercise, such as jogging or cycling, to lower intensity activity throughout the day, the Age reported.

It has also been supported by US studies, which show the sheer effort of standing up is enough to double the metabolic rate and the amount of calories burnt.

Researchers release 5 simple steps to healthy living

2008-09-27T19:49:00.002+05:30

A healthy lifestyle has often been stressed upon for a better health. However, health as a priority is not been taken seriously by many and health regimens are often regarded as a tedious job to keep up with.

However, to make things simple for people researchers have reported 5 simple steps to cut risk to heart and risks like stroke.

The simple steps happen to be:

Do not smoke
Keep the body weight right
Engage in moderate to brisk exercise activities for atleast half-an-hour or more every day
Exclude the bad fats from food and have food rich in vegetables and fruits, protein rich meat like chicken and fish, fiber, nuts and legumes
Keeping the alcohol intake moderate. which is one a day for women and two a day for men
Researchers studied 71,000 women and about 44,000 men. The study investigated the lifestyle of the participants enquiring on their smoking, weight, lifestyle, etc and the physician diagnosed information like blood pressure, cholesterol diabetes and on going medications and treatments that also include aspirin and vitamin E supplements, plus physical activities.

“We’ve previously found that a low-risk lifestyle was very important in preventing coronary heart disease and diabetes, and now we’ve also found that these healthy habits can lower your risk of stroke,” said study author Stephanie Chiuve, a research associate in the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.

“A healthy lifestyle is associated with an 80 percent lower risk for ischemic stroke compared to people who have none of these lifestyle factors,” said Chiuve. “More than half of ischemic strokes might have been prevented if everyone adhered to these healthy lifestyle factors.”

Dr. Paul Cullis, chief of neurology at St. John Hospital in Detroit, said, “These things you can do yourself without your doctor’s intervention are very important in making you healthier. This study tells us that we’re in the driver’s seat, and hopefully gets people more engaged in the process of trying to make themselves healthier.”

The healthy ones with low risks of strokes and cardiovascular diseases were found to follow the aforementioned healthy activities which helped researchers conclude the five simple steps towards a healthy life. The complete study is published in the journal Circulation.

Fish diet for babies may help reduce eczema risk

2008-09-27T19:49:00.001+05:30

According to a new research the introduction of fish in infancy may help babies stave off eczema. In a research conducted in Sweden, experts have found that if babies are fed fish before the age of nine months, their risks of developing the serious skin condition is significantly lowered.

The long term health of more than 17,000 babies born in 2003 was analysed for the distinct study conducted by Dr Bernt Alm, a pediatrician at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. Alm and his colleagues interviewed nearly 5000 parents to obtain information about their child’s diet, home environment and any indication of eczema when the child was six and 12 months old. They also checked medical records.

The study’s authors revealed, “The fact that fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids could partly explain the effects found in this cohort.”

Interestingly the researchers found that at 6 months nearly 13% of families reported their child to have developed eczema. By the time the child was a year old, the instances increased to about 20%. Four months was the average age at which eczema was found to be developed.

The study found that children who were introduced to fish in their diet much before nine months were at a 25% lowered risk of developing the skin condition. They further mentioned that it did matter what type of fish these children were fed-it could be lean, white fish or even oily types like mackerel and tuna.

In addition to fish, the researchers also discovered an eminent role of genes. A child with a sibling or mother who had previously contracted the condition was twice as likely to be affected by eczema by the age of 12 months.

Along the study researchers made another very interesting discovery. They found that having a pet bird also reduced the chances of eczema by about 65%. Researchers assert that’s it quite possible because birds promote exposure to toxins.

The study is published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

The Truth Behind Some Beauty Myths

2008-08-10T17:13:00.000+05:30

When we were struggling through those awkward teenage years, when our hormones were wreaking havoc on our bodies and our skin, we were most likely inundated by advice from our mothers and grandmothers, and even our girlfriends, on what we should do to keep ourselves beautiful despite the storm of changes upon us and upon our bodies. Some of them sound sensible, while some sound totally absurd.

But even if these pieces of advice sound really silly, there are some of them that we could not easily shake off. They seem to work for us, and why let go of a good thing if it is working somewhat?

Nonetheless, for curiosity's sake, sometimes there is a need to ask. Do the beauty practices handed down to us by our mothers, grandmothers and girlfriends that we have religiously observed through the years hold a grain of scientific truth in them, or are they merely beauty myths spun by old wives? Let's find out.

Beauty Myth #1: Plucking white hairs yields more white hairs.
This is definitely just a beauty myth. Our hair whitens as part of the natural process of aging, and some of us see our hair start turning white earlier than usual compared to others. It only seems to us that we are having more and more gray hair after we see our first strand of white because our mind is now trained to look for the grays in our mane, and so we are now more likely to notice.

Beauty Myth #2: Shaving the hair makes it grow back thicker.

This is definitely another beauty myth as well. Shaved hair seems to grow back thicker only because when we shave, the razor cuts the hair off only on the skin's surface. They were not plucked off directly from the follicle. Therefore, when the hair grows back, the wide part of the strand grows out, making the hair appear thicker.

Beauty Myth #3: Mayonnaise makes for a great conditioner.

No, this one is not a myth. Mayonnaise, as long as it is real, does make for a great hair conditioner. The oil and eggs that can be found in real mayonnaise is rich in fatty acids and protein that nourishes the hair.

Beauty Myth #4: Applying ice to the skin makes the pores smaller.

Nothing can make the pores smaller. The size of our pores is the result of genetics, not of temperature applied on the skin, so some people just have smaller pores than others.

Beauty Myth #5: Toothpaste can cure pimples

Well, yes. Toothpaste has menthol and other active ingredients that can dry up a pimple and make it heal much quickly than if left alone. However, the same active ingredients in toothpaste that can heal a pimple can also dry up and irritate the skin of your face, so it is better to use a pimple cream rather than toothpaste for your pimple.

Beauty Myth #6: Applying beer on the skin before going for a sun tan results in a golden glow.

No, not true. In fact, you should avoid sun tanning altogether, unless you are going to use a self-tanner. Applying beer before going for a tan does not do anything for the skin. Some people are just prone to getting a golden tan, while others naturally turn red as a lobster under the sun. It is, again, a matter of genetics.
Beauty Myth #7: Crossing the legs leads to varicose veins.

Not really. The true causes of varicose veins are yet unknown, but again, some people are more prone to having them because of factors like heredity, age and weight. Crossing the legs will not cause you to have varicose veins, but if you already have them, it can make the condition worse.

Beauty Myth #8: Washing the feet when tired will make the veins swell.

The veins in the feet really swell when the feet are tired. It is the body's own automatic attempt to soothe the tiredness of the feet. In fact, it is indeed best to soak the feet in warm water to further increase the blood circulation to your lower extremities, so as to take the tiredness away.

Herbs for home remedies

2008-08-03T18:28:00.000+05:30

Use following herbs as home remedies
Cabbage -- for food poisoning
Well-cooked cabbage and the water it’s been boiled in help clear up minor diarrhoea and sickness caused by food poisoning. Cabbage has a high sulphur and chlorine content that helps destroy harmful bacteria in the stomach. Try to eat at least three large tablespoons of thoroughly boiled leaves, or sip a cup of the cooking water. Raw cabbage or boiled cabbage is more easily digested than cooked cabbage - so cabbage salad (thoroughly washed) is better than “subzi”. Add hing (asafoetida) to your cooked cabbage to retain its benefits.

Walnuts -- for winter blues
Walnuts are a rich source of zinc, amino acids and omega 3 and 6 that help prevent depression. These nuts also influence the levels of stoninesses in the brain and help to nourish the nervous system. You should aim to eat a small handful every day - don’t over-do or you might end up consuming extra calories. Other feelgood foods include alsi (flax seed), almonds and sunflower seeds that are high in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that increases the^iroduc-tion of serotonin. A feelgood mineral is calcium. So sip a glass of milk or reach for a bowl of curd when feeling low.

Dalchini (cinnamon) --for bloating and indigestion
Research has shown that this aromatic spice helps inhibit the growth of E-coli bacteria in the stomach. It also encourages the digestive system to work efficiently and can be used to treat indigestion and flatulence. And because it improves appetite, It’s also an effective spice to use when recovering from a cold or flu. Stir in half a teaspoon of dalchini powder into a warm drink or porridge every morning. Use only small amounts and avoid if you’re pregnant, as dalchini may thin the blood.

Lavender --for stress and insomnia
A 2005 American study involving 31 adults found that lavender essential oil acts as a mild sedative and promotes deep sleep. Lavender essential oil also helps aid relaxation and emotional stress. Use four drops in a carrier oil (almond, olive, jojoba or coconut oil) and dab on your pillow, or before going to bed, have a warm bath with 5-6 drops of lavender oil added to the bath water, or thrown on the shower floor. (Recent research on breast biopsy patients also found that lavender oil helped ease postoperative pain when mixed with oxygen.)

Rosemary --for circulation
Rosemary oil is an approved treatment for joint pain and poor circulation in European countries such as Germany. Use a generous pinch of fresh or dried leaves in teas and food, but don’t overdo it, warn experts. Too much rosemary can raise blood pressure.

Lemon --for colds
Vitamins A and C in lemon work well to protect the mucus membranes of the nose, mouth, throat and lungs « all more vulnerable to infections in winter. If you’re susceptible to colds, aim at taking 500-l,000mg of vitamin C tablets per day throughout the winter. Infuse lemon juice and ginger in warm water and drink every morning. Vitamin C supports liver function and is a natural immunity booster and vitality builder. Lemon juice is also an antiseptic - apply to cuts or grazes to cleanse the area and stop bleeding.

Basil (Tulsi) --for migraines
Tulsi can help calm nervous irritability. Its analgesic effect helps relieve tension headaches and migraines and should be taken as soon as the pain starts. Infuse a handful of freshly chopped tulsi in a pint of water for 20 minutes. Strain and divide into two or three doses to be drunk throughout the day. Avoid it in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, as it may lead to miscarriage. An application of camphor and tulsi paste on the forehead can relieve headaches.

Cranberries --for cystitis
Drinking 1-2 glasses of cranberry juice a day can help prevent and treat urinary infections. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that women were half as likely to have a recurrence of cystitis if they drank a glass of cranberry juice a day. The chemicals in the berries kill bacteria and flushes them out of the system. Try brands such as Ceres and Real. (Probiotic dahi such as the ones from Mother Dairy or Nestle can also help prevenfcbacteria moving from the bowel to the bladder, one of the main causes of cystitis.)

Honey --for sore throats
Honey is an excellent treatment for sore throats and irritating coughs. It soothes the inflamed mucus membranes of the upper respiratory tract, thereby relieving symptoms such as coughs and sore throats. Stir honey and lemon to taste into a glass of hot water, allow it to cool to room temperature before you sip it. The honey coats and soothes the throat, and the lemon helps cut mucus. You may add a couple of tulsi leaves for added benefit. This time-tested recipe will relieve pain.

Thyme -for chesty coughs and phlegm
The essential oils in thyme act as a powerful decongestant when swallowed. Thyme helps liquefy phlegm on the chest and enables it to break away so the cells underneath can start to heal. Cooking will destroy the oils, so use fresh thyme in food. According to a report commissioned by the German government, drinking a cup of tea made from warm water and half a teaspoon of thyme (fresh or dry), 2-3 times a day, can also help to cure coughs and colds.

Tobacco Smoke In Utero, Infancy Raises Baby’s Risk of Allergy, Asthma

2008-07-29T19:02:00.002+05:30

Mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy double their children’s chances of developing asthma before their fourth birthdays. And the more a pregnant mother smoked, the higher her child’s chance of developing asthma in the first few years of life. Smoking also increases the child’s chances of developing allergies at a young age.

A new report from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet’s medical university describes a study that delved deeper into the effects of tobacco smoking on unborn children and on children exposed to tobacco smoke in the first few months after birth. Their findings reveal secondhand, or passive, smoke in the child’s environment also increases the child’s chance of developing asthma. It can trigger allergies, too.

At the age of 4, toddlers who had been exposed to tobacco smoke when they were only two months old had allergy antibodies in their bloodstreams in greater number than 4-year-olds who had been in a nonsmoking environment at the age of two months. Some of the children in the smoking environment were found to have antibodies against more than one allergen, with antibodies for cat allergies being twice as likely in children exposed to smoke than those who had not been so exposed.

The study forms the basis of the doctoral thesis of Dr. Eva Lannero, who led the study on tobacco smoke and children’s health. Lannero has expressed particular concern over the cat allergies, which she says are everywhere and difficult to avoid. Allergies are often seen as warning signs of chronic asthma developing as the child grows.

To gauge smoking with a mother’s education level, 7% of the college-educated study participants said they smoked during pregnancy. Of those who had not completed the US-equivalent of a high school education, 20% reported smoking during pregnancy. Smoking is more common in less-educated people around the world.

The mothers in the survey gave birth between 1994 and 1996, giving the research team 4,100 children to monitor for the study. The children, monitored since birth, are part of an on-going study to explore the ways a child’s asthma and allergies are influenced by environmental factors.

Make Small Changes in Your Diet to Dramatically Improve Your Health

2008-07-29T19:02:00.001+05:30

How important is your diet to your overall health? A recent study suggests that a healthy diet can add as many as 14 years to your life. This mindset is largely ignored by most people. The good news is that even small changes can make a big difference, though. And kids are one of the most important groups of people who should be making changes! Parents have a responsibility to not short-change their children's current and future health.

Here are a few changes that are important to consider. Almost everyone is capable of making at least one of these lifestyle modifications and if you make all of them, you will likely add years to your life. How easy would it be to begin to exercise regularly or to be careful about your alcohol consumption or quit smoking or make sure that you are consuming more fruits and vegetables? Most of these changes really are not that difficult to accomplish or implement.

The belief by most people is that the changes necessary to improve their health are too difficult. Here's the truth:

* Eliminating trans fats will cut your heart disease rate by 50%.

* Those with hypertension will see improvement in their blood pressure simply by eating one small daily serving of dark chocolate.

* Start eating an apple every day and eat a few servings of vegetables.

* Look for ways to incorporate "super foods" in your diet. Some of the most effective super foods are: beans, blueberries, broccoli, oats, oranges, pumpkin, salmon, soy, spinach, tea, tomatoes, turkey, walnuts, and yogurt.

On the flip-side, here are a few myths that need dispelling.

* The low-fat movement has not been a good one for America. After the media blitz and introduction of low fat food products, Americans got fatter not thinner.

* Not all fats are bad. Diets rich in monosaturated fats (olive oil) are good for heart disease prevention.

* Eggs are a nutritious, high-protein, whole food full of vitamins and minerals. They are also relatively low in saturated fat and calories.

* High cholesterol is not as dangerous to your health as trans fats and hydrogenated oils.

Real ideas for implementing healthy changes in your life:

* Start cooking. Salads, soups, stir fries loaded with vegetables. Just including more fruits and vegetables into your diet will reduce your potential for a heart attack by 50%.

* Find a good multivitamin that includes Vitamin B and Selenium. Look for additional calcium and if you live in the north, add 1000 IU's of vitamin D.

* If you are on the go a lot, you don't have to sacrifice healthy eating. It is possible to eat healthy while out, it just takes a little planning and preparation.

* Start small instead of trying a complete diet overhaul. Perhaps a handful of raisins or walnuts instead of chips or crackers. If you're heading out the door, grab an apple instead of something sugar-laden.

Improving your health dramatically is possible with only basic modifications and this is well worth it in the long run. As parents we certainly owe this to our children!

Sweet fruit drinks found to lead to diabetes

2008-07-29T19:01:00.000+05:30

Sweetened fruit drinks are often marketed as a healthier alternative to non-diet soft drinks but are just as likely to cause weight gain and increase the risk of diabetes, researchers said on Monday.

"The public should be made aware that these drinks are not a healthy alternative to soft drinks with regard to risk of type 2 diabetes," Julie Palmer and colleagues at Boston University wrote in their report, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, is closely linked to obesity and has become more common worldwide.

The findings came from a look at nearly 44,000 black women in the United States who were checked from 1995 through 2005.

Those who said they drank two or more non-diet soft drinks a day had a 24 percent increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes than those in the study who drank fewer than one regular soft drink per month, the research team said.

Women who drank two or more sweetened fruit drinks per day had a 31 percent increased risk compared to those who drank fewer than one such fruit drink a month. Diet soft drinks, grapefruit juice and orange juice were not linked to a higher diabetes risk, the researchers said.

While pure orange and grapefruit juices also contain sugars naturally, they may have a different metabolic effect or may be more likely to be consumed as part of a meal, the investigators said.

Soft drinks and sweetened juices are often consumed between meals and may lead to snacking, they said.

An earlier study involving thousands of white women also linked diabetes to both soft drinks and sweetened juices, the report said.

Another study in the same journal found that eating fruits and vegetables seems to ward off type 2 diabetes, perhaps by preventing obesity or providing protective nutrients, including antioxidants.

A third study found that a low-fat diet does not seem to change the risk of diabetes.

"The common denominator that appears clear is that calories trump everything," Dr. Mark Feinglos of the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina wrote in a commentary in the same issue. "And certain nutrients, like high fructose corn syrup, make it easier to overeat," he added.

"If you keep the calories low, you can probably eat almost anything, which is what the low-carb diets show us. Specific metabolic issues aside, an important reason that low carb works is because you don't eat a lot of calories."

Natural & Home Remedies For Dandruff

2008-07-16T18:11:00.000+05:30

Try one of these natural ways to cure dandruff and prevent your hair from damages.

Vinegar Wonder

* Add six spoonfuls water, two spoonfuls pure vinegar and apply it on the scalp with cotton wool before going to bed. Tie a towel around your head to protect the pillow. Wash your hair next morning. After shampooing, rinse again with vinegar water. Continue this once a week for at least three months.
* Mix a spoonful of lemon juice with two spoonfuls of vinegar and massage on the scalp. Wash your hair with an egg shampoo after this.

Methi Power

* Soak fenugreek (methi) seeds in yogurt overnight and apply the curd on your scalp for half an hour before washing in the morning.
* Just soak the fenugreek seeds overnight in water to soften the seeds and grind in the morning to make paste. Before hairwash, apply this paste on scalp and hair and leave it on for half an hour. Wash off with shampoo later.

Amla Power

* Amla is rich in iron and considered to be very nourishing for strong and healthy hair. Add amla juice to lemon juice and massage your scalp with firm fingers.
* Wash after half an hour.

An Egg Pack

* Beat two eggs and add two tablespoons of water to it.
* Wet the hair and apply the egg mixture over the hair.
* Now massage your scalp and let the mixture on for ten minutes to fifteen minutes. Then rinse the hair with lukewarm water.

* About 10-15 minutes before you wash your hair, rub a lot of aloe vera gel into your scalp and leave it on for 10 minutes. Shampoo your hair with a mild shampoo and use it everyday. It is an effective home remedy for dandruff.
* Olive oil left on the hair and scalp for 8-9 hours can smother dandruff.
* Soak two tablespoonfuls of Fenugreek seeds overnight in water. In the morning the softened seeds are ground into fine paste and applied on the scalp, left on for 1/2 hr. It is also a good dandruff cure.
* Mix the olive oil with the almond oil. Leave it on about 5 mins after it starts to burn. Rinse well to clear dandruff. Massage your hair with warm coconut oil and apply the juice of two lemons, leave the oil on for about 2 hours. Shampoo with a mild shampoo. Repeat 2-3 times a week. It will help you in dandruff control.
* After shampooing, rinse the hair and scalp with vinegar. This loosens the glue that holds the nits onto the hair shafts. Cover the scalp with a shower cap for 15-20 min. Comb the hair thoroughly with a special fine-toothed nit comb, and rinse thoroughly.
* Make a paster of one teaspoon lime juice and one teaspoon garlic and apply to hair.
* Rinse the hair after soaking some neem leaves in water and then filtering. It is also a common remedy to get rid of dandruff.
* Soak two tablespoons fenugreek seeds in water overnight. In the morning grind into a fine paste. Apply all over scalp and leave for an hour. Wash with mild shampoo
Some More Home Remedies for Dandruff

Pain killer aspirin, used for relieving aches, can serve you equally effectively to eliminate the problem of dandruff? Just crush and powder two aspirin tablets and add it to your shampoo. Leave the mixture on your scalp for two minutes. Rinse and wash properly to remove the aspirin particles completely.

You can directly use Aloe Vera gel to remove excess dandruff. It is very effective home remedy for dandruff.

Boil a mixture of 4-5 dried thyme and two cups of water for 10 minutes. When the mixture cools down, massage it on the scalp and leave it for half an hour

Massage your scalp with warm coconut or castor oil twice a week.

Make a mixture of 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 6 teaspoons of water and apply it on the scalp before you go to bed. Keep it for the whole night with a towel around the head. Rinse your head with vinegar water again in the morning.

You can also use a mixture of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 2-teaspoons of vinegar. Massage the scalp with this solution. It is used as an effective dandruff treatment.

Apply warmed coconut oil with the juice of two lemons, and leave in hair for two hours before washing your hair

Rub olive oil on scalp, let sit for several minutes and wash off.

Home remedy dandruff cure

aloe vera dandruff cure - with aloe vera gel . About 10-15 minutes before you wash your hair, rub a lot of aloe vera gel into your scalp. leave it on for 10 minutes, and shampoo your hair like you regularly do. if you do this everyday the dandruff will stay away.

Using lime juice to wash hair.

Soak 2 tablespoons fenugreek seeds in water overnight. In the morning grind into a fine paste. Apply all over scalp and leave for ½ an hour. Wash with mild shampoo.

Ingredients: Olive oil and almond oil
Instructions: Mix the olive oil with the almond oil. Leave it on about 5 min.s after it starts to burn. Rinse well to clear dandruff.

Massage your hair with warm coconut oil and apply the juice of 2 lemons, steam your hair and leave the oil on for about 2 hours. Shampoo with a mild shampoo. Repeat 2-3 times a week.

Boil a handful of neem leaves in 4 teacups of water. After cooling and filtering, use for rinsing hair.

Avoid overnight make-up, maintain natural beauty

2008-07-06T00:50:00.000+05:30

TV soap queens Tulsi and Parvati of "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" and "Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki" are often seen "sleeping" with layers of make-up on their faces - but experts warn against replicating this as using greasepaint for long hours considerably damages the skin. According to renowned herbal beautician Shahnaz Hussain, "cleansing the skin at night, before bedtime, is very important, not only to remove make-up but also dirt, pollutants, sweat deposits and other impurities."

"At night, the pores should be left free to breathe. The skin should not be smothered with heavy make-up or cream during the night while sleeping as the body's repair and restoration work takes place at that time.

"This includes the renewal of skin cells. The youth of the skin depends on an efficient cell renewal process. So, the skin should be left clean while this process goes on," Hussain said.

Hema Pant, another skin specialist, voiced a similar opinion.

"The coloured cosmetics that are used can cause contact allergies. Therefore, the skin should be left free at night so that it can breathe," Pant, a senior dermatologist at Kaya Skin Clinic, a skin care solutions centre, said.

Using make-up for an entire day aggravates premature skin ageing, she added.

Although the fashion statements of screen characters do influence many women, Hussain feels that "many viewers are wise enough to realise that heavy make-up is only part of the glamorous world of television and movies."

TV soap stars concur with the experts.

"I always try and take off my make-up before going to sleep," said Sarah Khan, the "fairer" of the two girls in "Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai".

"I get so irritated with the make-up that we have to wear all day for the shoots that I always make it a point to remove it before I sleep," she added.

Gunjan Walia, who plays Radha in "Parrivar-Kartavya Ki Pariksha", went to the extent of saying that soap directors should be "a little more realistic" in their portrayals.

"Less glamour should be associated with night scenes without oodles of make-up and jewellery (as is the case now), she added.

The extent of make-up should also depend on how photogenic a person is, Gunjan felt.

"Not everyone is blessed with natural beauty. Therefore, we have to put on make up before we face the camera as this appeals to the viewers," she said.

Both Gunjan and Sarah use cleansing moisturisers and toners, while the latter also applies papaya on her face once a week to keep her skin young and glowing.

Low childhood IQ linked to dementia in old age

2008-06-27T22:16:00.003+05:30

A person's IQ in childhood may predict his or her odds of getting a common form of dementia in old age, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that children with lower IQs are more likely decades later to develop vascular dementia than children with high Iqs.

The most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia occurs when blood flow to the brain is impaired.

The study examined 173 people in Scotland who took a test of their mental ability in 1932 when they were about 11 years old and later developed dementia. This group was compared to one set of control participants of the same age and gender.

For another group of controls, the researchers made sure that the cases and controls came from families where the fathers had similar types of occupations.

The people with vascular dementia were 40 percent more likely to have low test scores when they were children than the people who did not develop dementia. This difference was not true for those with Alzheimer's disease.

"These results point to the importance of reducing the vascular risk factors that can lead to strokes and dementia," said study author John M. Starr, FRCPEd, of the University of Edinburgh.

"Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking."

Starr said the findings support the hypothesis that low childhood IQ acts as a risk factor for dementia through vascular risks rather than the "cognitive reserve" theory.

This theory speculates that greater IQ and education create a buffer against the effects of dementia in the brain, allowing people with greater cognitive reserve to stay free of signs of dementia longer, even though the disease has started affecting their brains.

Kids relate alcohol odors with mom's emotional reasons for drinking

2008-06-27T22:16:00.001+05:30

Researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center have found that how children respond to the smell of alcoholic beverages is related to their mothers' reasons for drinking.

When asked to choose between the odor of beer and an unpleasant odor, children of mothers classified as 'Escape drinkers' were more likely than children of Non-escape drinkers to choose the unpleasant odor, the study found.

"Children's responses to odors provide us with a window into their emotions," says study lead author Julie Mennella, PhD, a Monell biopsychologist.

"When given a choice between beer and pyridine - the smell of rotten eggs - children of mothers who drink to relieve tension and worry choose pyridine as smelling better. That's pretty powerful."

In the study, 145 children between the ages of 5 and 8 years were presented with seven pairs of odors. One of the odors was always beer; the others were bubblegum, chocolate, cola, coffee, green tea, pyridine, and cigarette smoke. For each pair, the children indicated which odor they liked better.

Mennella notes that because odor information travels directly to areas of the brain that deal with non-verbal aspects of emotion and memory, studying children's responses to odors provides insights into their emotional worlds.

"Like adults, children are not very good at identifying odors. However, they are good at telling us whether they like an odor or not. This study shows that whether they like the odor of beer depends not just on how often their mother drinks, but on why she drinks," Mennella says.

The children's mothers completed a questionnaire about their drinking habits, including their reasons for drinking; 35 were classified as 'Escape drinkers,' based on their indicating having at least two escape reasons for drinking. These included: helps to relax, need when tense and nervous, helps to cheer up when in a bad mood, helps to forget worries, and helps to forget everything.

Mothers' reasons for drinking influenced how children responded to the odor of beer. Relative to children of Non-escape drinkers, children whose mothers were Escape drinkers showed greater dislike for the odor of beer, even when beer was compared with unpleasant odors such as pyridine and cigarette smoke.

Questionnaires also revealed that Escape drinkers drink more often than Non-escape drinkers. Because of this, children of Escape drinkers were exposed to alcohol odors more often.

These children also experienced alcohol in a different emotional context, as the questionnaires revealed that their mothers were more tense and more likely to worry and feel guilty about their drinking.

"Even before their first taste, young children are learning about alcohol and about why their parents drink. They do this by seeing people drink and hearing them talk about it," says Mennella.

"Our findings show that children are also processing the smell of alcohol with the emotional reasons their mothers, and perhaps fathers, drink."

Mennella comments that additional research is needed to determine whether children who dislike the odor of alcohol and experience it in a negative emotional context are more or less likely as adolescents or adults to seek out alcohol when stressed.

High levels of urinary albumin excretion may lead to hypertension

2008-06-27T22:15:00.001+05:30

People with higher levels of urinary albumin excretion, even within the normal range are at greater risk of developing hypertension.

Kidneys normally prevent large molecules such as albumin from being excreted in the urine, but high levels of urinary albumin excretion, called albuminuria can be an indicator of kidney damage.

Albuminuria may also reflect dysfunction of endothelial cells throughout the body, which in turn may be a precursor to hypertension.

The study suggests that to prevent cardiovascular disease, the definition of "normal" urinary albumin excretion should be reconsidered.

For the study, Dr. John Forman and colleagues at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA, looked at the new development of hypertension among 2,179 women without baseline hypertension or diabetes, and with normal levels of urine albumin, who were a part of Nurses' Health Studies.

The findings showed that that higher levels of urinary albumin excretion, even within the range considered normal, increased an individual's risk of developing hypertension.

They found that the older women (median age of 65 years), with increased levels of albumin excretion had 76 pct greater risk of developing hypertension than those with the lowest levels.

And for younger women with median age of 44 years, the risk was 35 pct. higher.

The authors suggest, "It is time to re-evaluate our current concept of 'normal' albumin excretion."

Chocolate may help prevent bowel cancer

2008-06-27T22:12:00.001+05:30

Now, chocoholics have a justified reason to savour their favourite sweet, for a new study has found that eating chocolate can help stop bowel cancer.

Scientists say that the key is a naturally-occurring chemical in chocolate. ests on a man-made version of the chemical showed it halved the rate at which tumours grew, leaving healthy cells untouched.

The man-made creation is a copy of procyanidins, a class of molecules thought to protect the body's healthy cells.

Procyanidins are powerful antioxidants found in large quantities in cocoa beans, the main ingredient for chocolate.

For the study, scientists at Georgetown University in Washington DC used doses similar to the amounts that someone might eat if they snacked on chocolate occasionally.

The team says that their findings make the case for some of the properties of chocolate as a cancer treatment.

Researchers tested GECGC, a synthetic version of the chemical made by confectionery giant Mars, which partly funded the study. They exposed 16 different types of cancer cells to the chemical and found that it had an effect on four.

The results showed that the strongest response was seen in two types of bowel cancer cells, where tumour growth was slowed by 50 per cent - and malignant cells damaged by the chocolate chemical.

However, it remains unclear exactly how the chocolate chemical works on tumours.

"We have all heard that chocolate is good for you. Now this study suggests one reason why that might be true. This chemical seems to be safe, which makes sense because it has a structure similar to a natural product in cocoa beans," the Daily Express quoted Dr Min Kim, who led the study, as saying.

A spokeswoman for the charity Beating Bowel Cancer said: "The Georgetown research is encouraging. We urge people to maintain a healthy, balanced diet, containing plenty of fibre, combined with regular exercise to help to prevent bowel cancer."

Sudden hearing loss may be harbinger of impending stroke

2008-06-27T22:11:00.001+05:30

Taiwanese researchers have found that a sudden loss of hearing can be an early warning of impending stroke.

Researchers from the Taipei Medical University discovered that sudden loss of hearing might be an early sign of vulnerability to stroke, foreshadowing an actual cerebrovascular event by as much as two years.

Examining five-year follow-up data on 1,423 patients hospitalized for an acute episode of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), the researchers showed that these patients were more than one-and-a-half times more likely to suffer a stroke than a control group of 5,692 patients who had been hospitalized for an appendectomy.

Because the insurance records may not have contained reliable information, such as correct diagnostic codes or confounding factors, the findings should be considered tentative, said lead investigator Herng-Ching Lin, Ph.D., a professor at Taipei Medical University School of Health Care Administration.

"To the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated the incidence or risk of cerebrovascular diseases developing following the onset of sudden sensorineural hearing loss," Lin said.

"But because this is the first time any association has been suggested, and because there were many limitations in the data, the results need to be interpreted cautiously until additional independent studies are performed."

Lin explained that the findings are limited because there is not a clear universal definition for SSNHL in the database that was reviewed.

"Secondly, the database did not contain information regarding severity of hearing loss, extent of hearing recovery, tobacco use, body mass index and the medical history of cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation - all of which can contribute to stroke risk," Lin said.

Nonetheless, the researchers recommend that all SSNHL patients undergo a comprehensive neurological exam and blood testing to gauge their risk profile for stroke.

A daily glass of lowfat milk could keep your heart healthy

2008-06-27T22:10:00.000+05:30

Drinking as little as one glass of lowfat or fat free milk daily could help reduce risk of heart diseases, according to a new study.

The study found that adults who had at least one serving of lowfat milk or milk products each day had 37 percent lower odds of poor kidney function linked to heart disease compared to those who drank little or no lowfat milk.

To determine heart disease risk, researchers from several universities in the United States and Norway measured the kidney function of more than 5,000 older adults ages 45 to 84.

They tracked eating patterns and tested albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) - a measure that when too low, can indicate poor kidney function and an extremely high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association.

Researchers found that people who reported consuming more lowfat milk and milk products had lower ACR, or healthier kidney function. In fact, lowfat milk and milk products was the only food group evaluated that on its own, was significantly linked to a reduced risk for kidney dysfunction.

The study authors cited other research suggesting milk protein, vitamin D, magnesium and calcium may contribute to milk's potential heart health benefits.

An overall healthy diet, including lowfat milk and milk products, whole grains, fruits and vegetables was also associated with a benefit - 20 percent lower ACR or healthier kidney function.

Leukaemia virus may prevent stomach cancer

2008-06-24T00:00:00.001+05:30

A new study from Japan has shown that a virus responsible for causing leukaemia can actually protect a person from developing stomach cancer.

Researchers from Narao Hospital in Nagasaki have found that human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), responsible for causing blood cancer were protected against stomach cancer despite the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria that can cause disease.

During the study, lead researcher Satohiro Matsumoto compared 500 people in Kamigoto, Japan carrying HTLV-1 and 500 free of the virus.

He found that 7 per cent of those who were virus-free were thrice as likely to develop stomach cancer than those with the virus, reports New cientist.

The incidence of stomach cancer was 1.1 percent during the first 5 years of follow-up and 3.0 per cent during the entire 10-year follow-up in the HTLV-1- group, compared with 2.7 percent and 8.0percent, respectively, in the group that did not have virus.

The researchers report their findings in the Journal of Infectious Diseases

One in four Americans wakes every night due to insomnia

2008-06-23T23:59:00.000+05:30

A new study has revealed that one in every four stressed Americans suffers from insomnia, and women are the most affected.

The study on more than 9,000 adults found that one in three person wakes up in the middle of the night at least three times a week.

It showed that 27 per cent of women wake up every night, compared to 19 per cent of men following financial fears, family arguments or problems at work.

Lead researcher Dr Maurice Ohayon, of California's Stanford university, describes the findings as "incredible".

"In terms of comparing how common it is with other sleep problems, there is no comparison. This is off the scale," Daily Express quoted him as saying.

Many people only suffer insomnia for a few weeks, but as their stress goes away, so does the sleep disorder.

However, for people with chronic insomnia, the problem can go on for a long time, leading to huge distress, personal problems and illness.

"This is the first really good data we have showing the importance of nocturnal awakening in insomnia," said Dr James Walsh, of St Luke's hospital, in St Louis, Missouri,

"It shows a strong overlap between the awakening and other sleep problems and it suggests that nocturnal awakening is a very under-appreciated aspect of insomnia,

Pedicures do more harm than good

2008-06-17T17:36:00.002+05:30

It might make your feet look attractive, but a pedicure can actually do more harm than good, suggests an expert.

According to Tracey Vlahovic, D.P.M., associate professor of pediatric medicine and orthopedics at Temple University's School of Pediatric Medicine said that women often believe that since pedicure salons use sterile instruments, so it's fine to use theirs.

However, the Vlahovic said that these instruments could spread germs that can cause nail fungus and bacterial infections.

"Unfortunately, this is not the case with all nail salons. As a result, the instruments can spread germs that can cause nail fungus and bacterial infections," said Vlahovic.

She suggests that it's best to invest in your own nail files, clippers and cuticle sticks, still if you choose to use shop instruments, make sure they are sterilized after each use.

It is often believed that flats, flip-flops, or walking barefoot are perfectly fine for your feet, but Vlahovic contradicts the belief.

"This is a common misconception, because we always hear about the problems with high heels. But these three present their own types of problems," she said.

Flip-flops do not provide any support and can lead to conditions such as plantar Fascist's, or even ankle sprains and tendinitis. Flats may look comfortable but can be painful to your feet by causing severe heel pain and blisters, crowding toes and worsening conditions such as hammertoes and bunions.

Moreover, walking barefoot can lead to foot problems such as cuts, abrasions, bruises and a puncture wound from a foreign object, and make you vulnerable to skin issues or nail injuries.

You can wear flip-flops or flats, but only for a few hours at a time, and if you still plan to wear them longer, Vlahovic recommends stretching the Achilles tendon afterward.

At-home scrubs and soaks for corns are not as safe and effective as believed to be, as it would just exfoliate, not 'remove' corns, a small buildup of skin with a hard core due rubs against the shoe. It is advised to wear shoes with a wider toe box.

You don't need to put sunscreen on your feet. "Skin cancer on the legs and feet actually has a high mortality rate due to people forgetting to do skin checks on that area. It's often caught too late," said Vlahovic.

"The legs and feet are not immune to the sun's effects, and women have an even greater chance of developing skin cancer than men, because they often have more of their leg exposed," she added.

Soaking your feet in the motorized tub at a nail salon can also be harmful for your feet. Often the antiseptic that is put in the water between clients doesn't catch all the germs. Bacteria and fungus can get caught in the filter of the motorized tub and still cause a problem.

It would be safer to ask the technician if they have a clean bowl or basin to use instead, with individual liners for even greater protection.

Vlahovic also debunks the myth that antibiotics can make ingrown toenails go away. Your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic for your ingrown toenail, but it's actually to clear up a resulting infection. The cause of the problem, the nail, is still there.

Conditions such as athlete's foot and warts are highly contagious, and easily spread in environments such as locker rooms or showers. The infections can be picked up through small breaks in the skin of the bottom of the foot. It is advised to keep your feet clean and dry.

Studies have shown that duct tape is just one of the many ways of treating warts, but by no means is it a cure-all.

"If you have a plantar wart, don't pick or perform bathroom surgery on it. Don't put duct tape on it. See your dermatologist or podiatrist for this and other treatment options, said Vlahovic.

Snoring problem? You may have diabetes

2008-06-17T17:36:00.001+05:30

Australian researchers have suggested a strong relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), snoring and type-2 diabetes.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 40 per cent of patients with apnoea suffer from diabetes, while about 23 per cent of diabetics have apnoea.

Now, IDF is urging doctors treating patients with one condition to test for the other.

"There's no question about the link," New Scientist quoted Paul Zimmet, co-chairman of the IDF's task force on epidemiology and prevention, based in Melbourne, Australia, as saying.

Sleep apnoea is the commonest treatable cause of both high blood pressure and heart failure, while type 2 diabetes can also be fatal but is easily managed with the right diet and insulin.

Now, studies are on to identify all patients who have both and to investigate the cause of the link.

The study is published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.

Tomatoes in your food can help protect against wrinkles, cancer

2008-06-17T17:34:00.000+05:30

When it comes to fighting sunburn, those pesky wrinkles and skin cancer, nothing does the trick as well as adding a little more tomato to your diet.

The finding is based on a research by boffins at the universities of Manchester and Newcastle, who found that adding just five tablespoons of tomato paste to the daily diet can improve the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays.

Damage from UV rays can not only lead to premature ageing, but also skin cancer.

The researchers suggested that the protective effect was due to the antioxidant lycopene that is found at its highest concentration when the fruit has been cooked.

Lycopene has already been linked to a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer.

As a part of the study, 10 volunteers were given around 55g of standard tomato paste and 10g of olive oil daily for a period of three months.

A control group of 10 participants received just the olive oil.

The researchers found that volunteers who were given tomato had 33 percent more protection against sunburn, and higher levels of a molecule called procollagen that gives the skin its structure and keeps its firm.

"The tomato diet boosted the level of procollagen in the skin significantly. These increasing levels suggest potential reversal of the skin ageing process," The BBC quoted Professor Lesley Rhodes, a dermatologist at the University of Manchester, as saying.

"These weren't huge amounts of tomato we were feeding the group. It was the sort of quantity you would easily manage if you were eating a lot of tomato-based meals."

Medicines may soon contain cow urine

2008-06-13T20:43:00.000+05:30

Cow urine, a major component of traditional Indian medicine, may soon be used in therapeutic applications. A study has shown that cattle urine has anti-diabetic properties.

In a first, researchers of pharmacology and toxicology department, Veterinary College, Hebbal, are conducting a study on ‘pharmacological and therapeutic evaluation of cattle urine’. In the first year of study, cow urine, which has traditionally been used only in clinical applications, has shown anti-diabetic properties.

The anti-diabetic activity was tested in experimentally induced diabetic rats. The rats were orally administered a small dose of cow urine daily (equivalent to 25-30 ml per adult human). It was noticed that the urine-treated rats had lower blood glucose levels when compared to non-treated diabetic rats. Plasma insulin levels were also higher.

Principal investigator of the project, professor K Jayakumar, told The Times of India this is an important finding, and future efforts will look to confirm these studies, find out the mechanism of this activity, purify and isolate the active molecule. Studies are also on to find other medicinal uses of cow urine.

Jayakumar said it has to be investigated whether cow urine stimulated pancreatic beta cells, as in the case of anti-diabetic agents available in the market, or stimulated the cells’ regeneration.

The research follows methods employed in drug discovery by the modern pharmaceutical industry. The project, funded by the state government, will receive allocation of Rs 4.2 crore over five years.

According to Jayakumar, there has been no scientific investigation on cow urine so far, though, from ancient times, it is commonly used to prevent and cure diseases. Healers use it and cow urine products are also available in the market.

This research will look into the pharmacological action and safety of long-term concepts. There are also plans to patent the pharmacologically active (medicinally useful) molecules. After completion of cow urine research, the facilities created for plant drug research for both human and animal use would be put to use.

The department is also upgrading the lab and procuring advanced equipment.

Low Serotonin Levels Linked to Anger

2008-06-13T20:42:00.000+05:30

A new study by researchers at the University of Cambridge has found that low levels of the chemical serotonin are linked to anger in people.

Lead researcher Molly Crockett said the chemical appears to keep aggressive social responses in check. "Because we directly manipulated serotonin levels and observed an effect on behavior we can say there is a causal link between serotonin and aggressive responses," Crockett said.

The serotonin levels in 20 healthy volunteers were manipulated by researchers in an effort to analyze combative responses among them. An amino acid that is required to make serotonin can only be obtained through food. Researchers say that this might explain why hungry people are aggressive.

In the study, people deprived of food were more likely to prevent other people from getting money in a money game. "It is an anger-driven response," Crockett said.

Stomach-proof gel hints at jab-free diabetes treatment

2008-04-24T08:01:00.001+05:30

A gel that can smuggle insulin past the stomach and slowly release the drug into the blood could do away with diabetics' daily injections.

Pills made from the new material could also deliver other protein-based drugs, such as human growth hormone, that must be protected from being digested in the stomach.

"A big difficulty with type I diabetes is insulin must be [injected] two to three times a day," says Nicholas Peppas of the University of Texas at Austin, US.

Researchers and drug companies have for years searched for an easier way to deliver insulin to avoid the pain and bruising that regular injections can cause. Cheek patches and insulin inhalers have both been investigated, but both have so far failed to make it onto the market.
Acid test

Putting insulin into pills is another approach, but stomach acids and enzymes efficiently break down proteins like insulin. Previous attempts to sidestep these delivery problems involved putting the insulin inside capsules, or mixing it with fatty lipids.

"It has been a Holy Grail, not only to deliver insulin orally, but also other drugs that can [only] be taken by injection," Peppas says. With colleagues he has now developed a pill they hope will make that possible.

The team created a new water-based gel using nanoparticles of two polymers. When formed into particles around 100 nanometres across and combined with water, the polymers form a flexible hydrogel that can soak up insulin.

In lab tests, insulin-loaded gel was subjected to conditions simulating the passage through the stomach and into the gut. It was able to cope with acidic stomach-like conditions for an hour, barely leaking any insulin.

When put into less acidic conditions like those found in the intestines, the the polymer chains changed shape to make the hydrogel swell and release its payload.
Sticky fingers

The gel is also designed to stick onto the intestine wall, buying time to deliver its insulin payload. An outer coating, composed of a wheat-germ protein called agglutinin, forms structures that grab hold of intestinal cells.

"These tethers recognise the cells in the upper small intestine and they stick there," Peppas says. The sticky coating has been tested on pig intestine cells, and should give the gel the 20 or 30 minutes needed to release the drug, he says.

Mysteriously, the agglutinin also appears to help the insulin get through the intestinal wall and into the blood stream. Animal trials of the gel are planned to start soon.

"This is a significant advance, that shows great potential for improved delivery of insulin," says Cato Laurencin of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, US. "Both the new materials and the studies demonstrating the promise are highly significant and exciting."

Nomophobia is the latest stress

2008-03-31T22:34:00.001+05:30

Anxiety is the affliction of life in the modern world. Now add to the stress list: "nomophobia", the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.

Researchers in Britain have carried out a study and found that nomophobia is plaguing our 24/7 life -- running out of battery or credit, losing one's handset and not having network coverage "affects 53 per cent of mobile users".

"We're all familiar with the stressful situations of everyday life such as moving house, break-ups and organising a family Christmas, but it seems being out of mobile contact may be the 21st century's contribution to our already manic lives.

"Being phoneless and panicked is a symptom of our 24/7 culture," Stewart Fox-Mills, the Head of Telephony at the Post Office, which commissioned the YouGov survey, was quoted by The Independent newspaper as saying.

According to the survey, men suffer more than women, with 48 per cent of females and 58 per cent of males admitting to feelings of anxiety.

More than 20 per cent of the 2,163 respondents said they never switched off their mobiles, and one in ten admitted that their job required them to be contactable at all times, the survey has revealed.

Some 55 per cent cited keeping in touch with friends or family as the main reason for being wedded to their handsets and nine per cent said having their phone switched off made them anxious.

However, the Post Office has come up with a solution to avoiding nomophobia. It recommends leaving loved ones an alternative contact number and making a back-up list of all contacts in case the phone is lost or stolen.

Our brain has a sixth sense for calories

2008-03-31T22:26:00.000+05:30

The brain has a way of sensing calories in food, independent of the taste mechanism, according to a new study.

The discovery that the brain's reward system is switched on by this "sixth sense" machinery could have implications for understanding the causes of obesity.

For example, the findings suggest why high-fructose corn syrup, widely used as a sweetener in foods, might contribute to obesity.

Findings of the study have been published in the latest issue of the journal Neuron.

Ivan de Araujo and his research colleagues genetically altered mice to make them "sweet-blind", or lacking a key component of taste receptor cells that enabled them to detect the sweet taste.

The researchers next performed behavioural tests in which they compared normal and sweet-blind mice in their preference for sugar solutions and those containing the non-caloric sweetener sucralose.

In those tests, the sweet-blind mice showed a preference for calorie containing sugar water that did not depend on their ability to taste, but on the calorie content.

In analysing the brains of the sweet-blind mice, researchers showed that the animals' reward circuitry was switched on by caloric intake, independent of the animals' ability to taste.

Those analyses showed that levels of the brain chemical dopamine, known to be central to activating the reward circuitry, increased with caloric intake.

Also, electrophysiological studies showed that neurons in the food-reward region, called the nucleus accumbens, were activated by caloric intake, independent of taste.

Women over 40 more prone to cervical cancer

2008-03-31T22:25:00.000+05:30

Women over 40, beware!

Medical experts say you are more prone to cervical cancer and would do well not to ignore any kind of vaginal pain.

Senior medical oncologist at Max Healthcare, Amit Bhargava said that after breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second most frequently occurring type of cancer among women who are 40 plus.

"We have over 100 new patients treated in the hospital every year," he said.

Partha Mukhopadhyay, consultant oncologist at SMH Curie Cancer Center in Shanti Mukand Hospital, said barring metros like Mumbai and Delhi, cervical cancer has the highest incidence among all other cancers in Indian women.

"Overall, the disease occupies the number one spot among women cancer patients in India. It's the second largest type of cancer among women over 40 only in the urban cancer registries of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore," Mukhopadhyay told IANS.

Doctors identify a group of more than 100 viruses - technically termed as human "papillomavirus" or "HVP" that infect the normal body cells - as a major cause of cervical cancer. These viruses are transmitted sexually.

Mukhopadhyay explained that "HVP" causes the growth of abnormal cells on the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus.

"An infection with certain types of 'HPV' increases the risk of developing cervical cancer," he stated.

A striking feature of cervical cancer victims in India is that they are predominantly among women from the lower and middle classes of society.

Mukhopadhyay identified lack of awareness and ignorance about the disease for claiming victims among such women.

"Their lack of awareness leads them to overlook the importance of genital hygiene as well as the use of contraceptives."

Women over 40 should not ignore symptoms like post-coital bleeding, abnormal vaginal bleeding, heavy menstrual discharge and pelvic pain.

"Such symptoms may indicate the presence of the cancer and so the person must consult a specialist," suggested Bhargava.

He said women with such symptoms must immediately undergo a PAP screening.

"The PAP test is the best way to detect this cancer at an earliest. There are other tests like the fish test and the cervix biopsy, but those are for a later stage."

"Here, a small brushing (smear) from the cervix is taken which is examined under a microscope," he said.

According to Bhargava, "Most cases of cervical cancer can be cured up to Stage 3. Type 2a and 2b have a good amount of cure."

Said Mukhopadhyay, "Although there is currently no medical cure for human papillomavirus infection, the lesions and warts these viruses cause can be treated.

"Methods commonly used to treat lesions include cryosurgery (freezing that destroys the tissue), LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure, the removal of tissue using a hot wire loop), and conventional surgery.

"Similar treatments may be used for external genital warts. In addition, some drugs may be used to treat external genital warts."

Anti-obesity drug causes depression

2008-03-31T22:24:00.000+05:30

It may help lower your mark on the weighing scale but it could also leave you feeling low.

Rimonabant, an anti obesity drug, sold in India under the brand names Riobant and Rimoslim, is known to cause severe depression and anxiety.

"The drugs act by reduction in appetite through a set of neurochemicals which also affect your mood state. There can be a close link between the two," says psychologist, Fortis, Dr Sameer Malhotra.

While the FDA does not approve the drugs, the Drugs controller of India approves them.

A recent study published in the journal Lancet reports that these drugs could cause severe psychiatric symptoms.

Experts add that obese patients are in general more prone to depression and they may suffer from lack of self confidence and other body image disorders.

These drugs may actually accentuate these disorders.

"At times there is also a close association between depression and eating disorders. One needs to carefully look into the underlying issues," says Dr Malhotra.

So why is this drug still around?

Some doctors insist that while it is known to cause severe side effects in about 20 per cent of patients, there are others who benefit from it.

"If the patients using the drugs are allowed to select them carefully and made aware of possible side effects still have a place of treatment in obesity because they do help significant proportion of patients,” says Endocrinologist, Apollo, Dr Ambrish Mithal.

Apart from Rimonabant, there are other anti obesity drugs like Sibutramine which is also known to cause side effects like depression and anxiety but, to a much lesser extent.

So if you have been put on any of these drugs, it's a good idea to crosscheck with your doctor if there are any alternatives that you could go for.

And while lifestyle changes may take longer than just popping in a pill to lose weight, they are definitely a healthier and safer approach.

Therapeutic cloning offers hope for Parkinson's cure

2008-03-31T22:22:00.001+05:30

Scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) have come closer to a potential cure for Parkinson's disease, by showing that it’s possible to treat the degenerative brain disorder with stem cells produced by therapeutic cloning, also known as somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

For the first time, researchers showed that therapeutic cloning or SCNT has been effectively used to treat disease in the same subjects from whom the initial cells were derived.

Though the researchers have tried the technique only on mice, they say that their study is a proof that a similar approach could be successful in humans.

Therapeutic cloning involves creating an embryo in the lab from which researchers extract the stem cells. These master cells have the ability to develop into numerous cell types and are able to replace defective or missing cells in patients. At the stem cell extraction stage, the embryo is a microscopic ball containing a handful of cells.

As the genetic information in the resulting stem cells comes from the donor subject, therapeutic cloning or SCNT would yield subject-specific cells that are spared by the immune system after transplantation.

For the study, the scientists used skin cells from the tail of the animal to generate customized or autologous dopamine neurons, the missing neurons in Parkinson’s disease.

The team injected the stem cells into the affected region of the brains of the donor mice and monitored the animals' behaviour for 11 weeks.

The mice that received neurons derived from individually matched stem cell lines exhibited neurological improvement. But when these neurons were grafted into mice that did not genetically match the transplanted cells, the cells did not survive well and the mice did not recover.

The results showed that the treatment brought about a marked improvement in behavioural symptoms of the disease.

The study is published in the March 23 online edition of the journal Nature Medicine.

Less sleep could make men obese

2008-03-28T07:45:00.001+05:30

Researchers at the Nihon University have found that men who have less than five hours sleep a night run greater risks of obesity and are more likely to have high levels of blood sugar that could cause diabetes.

Yoshitaka Kaneita, Nihon University medical department associate professor and the study’s lead author, said that lack of sleep triggers a hormone in the blood, which stimulates the appetite, reports the Daily Telegraph.

He said that the hormone “increases a sense of hunger as well as an appetite for high-calorie food," which calls for people to pay due attention to how much they sleep.

For the study, Kaneita and his team looked at 21 693 men in 1999 and followed up to see how they were doing seven years later.

They found that men who were not fat in 1999 were 1.36 times more likely to become obese if they slept fewer than five hours a night on average over the next seven years as compared to men who slept more.

They also found that short-sleepers were 1.27 times more likely to have high blood-sugar levels.

Spine surgery most effective for lower back pain

2008-02-27T00:48:00.001+05:30

Surgical treatment for a painful, common back condition known as spinal stenosis yields better results than treatment with drugs and physical therapy, says a new study.
Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. It can result in a debilitating pain in the lower back, hips and legs. This is usually due to the natural process of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging.
The study, led by Dr. Howard An, orthopedic spine, back and neck surgeon at Rush University Medical Center, found that patients who underwent surgery for spinal stenosis showed significantly more improvement in all primary outcomes than did patients who were treated nonsurgically.
The surgical solution for the condition involves enlarging the opening to relieve the pressure on the nerves, in an operation called a laminectomy.
The results of the study were based on the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health that involved about 654 patients at 13 treatment centers across the country.
The study followed 654 surgical candidate patients with a history of at least 12 weeks of symptoms and spinal stenosis, of whom 398 ultimately received decompressive surgery.
After two years, 63 percent of those who had surgery said they had a major improvement in their condition, compared with 29 percent among those who got nonsurgical treatment.
In terms of self-reported pain and function, both groups improved over the two-year period, though the final scores for patient who had surgery were in the 60-point range, while scores for those who stuck with nonsurgical treatments, such as physical therapy, were in the low 40s.
The study separated patients who stuck with their random assignment to surgery or nonsurgery options. The randomized patients' results were very similar to those who selected one course or the other.
The study is published in the journal New England Journal of Medicine.

Mobile phone radiation disrupts sleep, causes headaches

2008-01-27T22:54:00.001+05:30

Researchers from the US and Sweden have found in a study, funded by some of the world’s biggest phone makers, that radiations emitting from mobile phones cause headaches and interrupt vital sleep patterns.

The researchers — from Wayne State University in the US and Sweden’s Karolinska Institute — say that participants who were exposed to mobile radiation during the study were found to experience headaches, change of moods, confusion, and trouble in sleeping.

Reporting their findings in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium (PIERS), they said that the symptoms of mobile phone radiation were observed in 38 of the 71 study participants.

"The study indicates that during laboratory exposure to 884 MHz wireless signals, components of sleep, believed to be important for recovery from daily wear and tear, are adversely affected," news.com.au quoted them as saying in the article.

"Moreover, participants that otherwise have no self-reported symptoms related to mobile phone use appear to have more headaches during the actual radiofrequency exposure as compared to sham exposure," they added.

The researchers said that mobile phone radiation extended the period of time it took for participants to fall asleep.

"Under the (radiofrequency) exposure condition, participants exhibited a longer latency to deep sleep," they said.

The study had been funded by the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), which is made up of industry giants like Nokia and Motorola.

A spokesperson for the forum told British newspaper The Independent that the "results were inconclusive", and that "the researchers did not claim that exposure caused sleep disturbance".

On the other hand, lead researcher Bengt Arnetz said that mobile phone radiation decreased participants’ ability to wind down and fall asleep.

"We did find an effect from mobile phones from exposure scenarios that were realistic," Professor Arnetz was quoted as telling the newspaper.

Sex during pregnancy not risky'

2007-12-28T15:47:00.001+05:30

Parents-to-be, please note - you can now safely satisfy your cravings for sex. Researchers have debunked the myth that engaging in intercourse during the final weeks of pregnancy can hasten delivery.

The researchers at the Ohio State University Medical Centre in the United States have carried out a study and found no link between sexual intercourse and premature labour, the ScienceDaily has reported.

According to lead researcher Jonathan Schaffir, women who are more comfortable late in pregnancy may be more likely to engage in sexual activity and women who experience abdominal discomfort or pelvic pressure -- possible signs of earlier delivery -- won't be inclined to want to have sex.

In fact, the researchers came to the conclusion after analysing 93 women. Out of them, those who were sexually active in the final three weeks of their pregnancies carried their babies an average of 39.9 weeks, compared to average delivery at 39.3 weeks among women who abstained from sexual activity.

Of the 93 women enrolled, 47, or 50.5 per cent, said they had sex during the final weeks of their pregnancies -- more than any other similar study has indicated.

Triglycerides linked to stroke risk

2007-12-28T15:46:00.000+05:30

Cutting on oil-rich fatty diet can be a good New Year resolution as a study has found that having high levels of fat in blood increases risk for a major stroke.

People with high triglycerides and another type of cholesterol tested but not usually evaluated as part of an individual's risk assessment have an increased risk of a certain type of stroke, according to a research published in the December 26 online issue of Neurology , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"LDL or 'bad' cholesterol has been the primary target for reducing the risk of stroke, but these results show that other types of cholesterol may be more strongly linked with stroke risk," said study author Bruce Ovbiagele, MD, of UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles and member of the American Academy of Neurology.

The researchers analysed the records of 1,049 people admitted to a university hospital with a stroke or mini-stroke over four years. Of those, 247 people had a large artery atherosclerotic stroke.

This is a type of ischemic stroke caused by blockage of blood flow to the brain. People with this type of stroke have blockage in the large arteries leading to the brain, the study said.

People with high triglycerides and elevated "non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol" were more likely to have a large artery atherosclerotic stroke than those with low levels of these fats in the blood, it added.

Avoid cough syrups for kids below 6

2007-10-27T00:06:00.000+05:30

A US FDA study has found that well over 100 children died due to the use of decongestants and antihistamines in the country between 1996 and 2006.

Another report, from the Centre for Disease control, based on a study conducted during 2004- 05,found that 1,519 toddlers in the US were taken to hospital emergency rooms for side effects associated with the use of cough and cold medications, including overdoses. The studies have raised concerns about the safety of these drugs being used in India.

“While there is a move to ban these drugs for kids in the US, the Indian Paediatric Association also feels that a similar move should be made here. A doctor's prescription should be made mandatory,” says Senior Consultant, Paediatrics, Max Hospital, Dr Nitin Verma.

One of the ingredients of cough syrups that have doctors worried is Dextromethrophan. A common ingredient in most cough syrups, it is not a drug that suits all types of conditions.

“A child with asthma should not be given a cough syrup with Dextromethrophan as it can cause adverse reactions,” says Verma.

Then there are also side effects to be kept in mind. Dextromethrophan can cause body rashes, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision high BP, diarrhoea. Dosage also needs to be carefully monitored.

Medicines, including cough syrups, are prescribed, keeping in mind a child's weight and not just age. While there may not be any advisory on cough syrups in India, the clear message is that you need to refrain from self-prescription, especially for your child.

New lens that can benefit cataract patients

2007-09-21T20:05:00.001+05:30

Cataract patients are implanted with an intra ocular lens that filter the harmful UV rays and along with it, the blue light so they cannot see the colour blue.

“It causes a lot of discomfort. It gets very difficult to see in the night,” says a cataract patient, V S Bhatnagar.

But a new lens launched by Bausch and Lomb called Sofport AO violet shield does not do that, instead it claims to block the violet light.

And why is it a better option?

The answer is simple. When you break up the white light, and look at the vibgyor range, the more we move towards the left the higher is the energy, and higher the harmful effect on the eyes.

That is why the UV rays are the most harmful. Earlier research had also pointed out that even blue light could have a damaging effect.

“The lenses are tailor-made to block the blue light. But now, research shows that blocking the violet light serves as good and does not harm the night vision,” says opthamolgist, Dr Kamal K Kapur.

Secondly, blue light is known to induce sleep so therefore, in patients using the traditional cataract lens, insomnia and depression was common.

While the initial results have been positive but the lenses could cost you about Rs 5,000 more than the traditional lens.

Also, long-term studies are required to find out whether these new eye lenses could actually help induce better sleep in patients with cataract.

Jog a mile, sip a coffee to keep cancer at bay!

2007-08-04T08:30:00.001+05:30

What is the connection between caffeine and jogging?

Well there is a new study that says that the combination of the two may just keep skin cancer away.

So doctors recommend that you start your day with a jog and a cup of coffee and you could protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.

The new study by the Rutgers University conducted on mice suggests that the combination of caffeine and exercise appears to kill some of the pre-cancerous cells damaged by the sun's ultraviolet-B(UVB) radiation.

What you need to know before a CT or MRI scan

2007-08-04T08:29:00.001+05:30

CT scans and MRI tests are commonly used to scan for heart trouble, bone disorders or irregularities with the nervous system.

They can prove more accurate than regular X-Rays or ultrasound tests, as they provide doctors with more information, especially when it comes to the heart and the brain.

However, they are not always your first line of diagnosis, so first things first, you need to ask some questions.

Ask your doctor why you need the test and how is it going to add to your diagnosis or treatment for sometimes tests can be prescribed at without any specific reason.

Next, you need to ask what are the risks and side effects of these tests?

Both the CT scan and the MRI expose you to certain levels of radiation and a recent virtual study in the US finds that the amount of radiation used in CT scans may lead to cancer.

Although, this risk is often outweighed by the benefits of early detection of disease, one should not be exposed to radiation for no reason.

Most importantly, you need to know which is the best place for the study to be done and then finally, when do you need it done?

There are private and public sector options -- both of which have their pros and cons.

Nonetheless, these are expensive tests, so one should keep in mind that one can question your doctor on them.

Robot arm gives stroke patients a hand

2007-07-13T01:25:00.000+05:30

E100 The Myomo e100 is more than an arm brace: it's a personal robotic brain-trainer.

Designed to help stroke victims learn to control their arms again, the device wraps around their arms, senses electrical activity in their weakened muscles and responds with just enough mechanical power to help wearers flip light switches or pick up objects.

But unlike earlier robotic assistants, the e100 isn't meant to provide permanent assistance: instead, as wearers move, neurological pathways damaged by stroke are strengthened.

Even making an attempted motion and then having the robot carry it out appears to help neurons reconnect: such is the incredible plasticity of the human brain, something that scientists are just beginning to understand.

Approved by the FDA, the e100 will hit the market in a few months -- and it will soon have competition.

“This is an area that’s exploding,” said Hermano Igo Krebs, a principal research scientist at MIT and one of the first scientists to envision robot-assisted therapy for stroke patients and others with brain injuries and neurological disorders.

“There are now a hundred groups around the world working on this. In 5 to 10 years, I expect we’ll see these kinds of devices in all major clinics and rehab hospitals in the developed world, and even in patients’ homes.”

Future studies will test the e100 on people with damaged spinal cords and troops who've suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iraq.

If it works, maybe the researchers could offer a few test models to injured Iraqi civilians, too.

Salt in one sandwich = eight bags of crisps

2007-07-09T19:37:00.000+05:30

Some packs of ready-made sandwiches contain as much salt as up to eight bags of crisps, according to a survey.

The campaign group Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) tested 140 sandwich packs and found that 40 per cent contained 2g of salt – more than a third of a person’s recommended daily intake.

The all-day breakfast combinations were among the worst offenders, as well as salty cheese and ham combinations. The saltiest sandwich was Asda’s extra special Yorkshire ham and Hawes Wensleydale, which contained 4g of salt. The recommended daily intake is 6g.

This was followed by Pret a Manger’s All Day Breakfast with 3.54g and the Tesco’s Finest breakfast version with sausage, bacon and egg with 3.5g.

The study noted that a bag of Walkers ready salted crisps contained 0.5g salt, so some sandwich packs contained the salt found in seven or eight bags of crisps. The sandwiches that contained the lowest amount of salt were the Coop’s tuna and cucumber and Tesco’s healthy living chicken salad, which contained 0.6 per cent salt per pack.

The survey, commissioned by the BBC, was criticised by the British Sandwich Association, which said that it had been trying to reduce salt content and was working with the Food Standards Agency to make further cuts.

Jim Winship, its director, said that the findings were nonsense. He added: “I do not know a sandwich maker in the UK that adds salt to sandwiches. The salt level depends on the ingredients used and it is not the sandwich maker’s job to dictate what consumers can and can’t eat. The fact is that salt is already in ingredients such as bacon or ham. So if consumers choose a sandwich containing these they are bound to have a higher salt content.” He said that the survey was too small to be accurate. Mr Winship did not think it was unreasonable for a sandwich to contain 2g of salt.

Jo Butten, Cash’s nutritionist, is concerned about the amount of variation of salt content in sandwiches made by different companies. For example, a Subway tuna sandwich contained more than four times as much salt as a Coop Healthy Living tuna and cucumber sandwich – 2.8g compared with 0.6g. The campaign group also raised concerns that catering outlets were failing to provide information about nutrition in sandwiches.

Pret a Manger was singled out for criticism as it provided some of the saltiest sandwiches in the survey, yet did not disclose salt content. Simon Hargeaves, the commercial director of the company, said that it operated as a “deli” not “a factory” and that sandwiches were made on site. People could ask for nutritional information at the counter, he said.

The Stroke Association backed Cash’s attempt to introduce consistent labelling. Isabel Lee, of the association, said: “Excess salt in a person’s diet can lead to high blood pressure, the single biggest factor for stroke. Around 40 per cent of strokes could be prevented through the control of high blood pressure – that’s around 50,000 a year.”

Dr Lee said that a mandatory and consistent labelling system was the only way to give consumers the information they needed to make an informed choice about food.

Saltiest sarnies

66% (of recommended daily intake)
Asda’s extra special Yorkshire ham and Hawes Wensleydale

59%
Pret a Manger’s all-day breakfast

58%
Morrisons’ deep-fill chicken and bacon; Tesco’s finest all-day breakfast

Organic fruit and vegetables really are better for your heart

2007-07-09T19:33:00.000+05:30

Organic fruit and vegetables may be better for the heart and general health than eating conventionally grown crops, new research has found.

A ten-year study comparing organic tomatoes with standard produce found that they had almost double the quantity of antioxidants called flavonoids which help to prevent high blood pressure and thus reduce the likelihood of heart disease and strokes.

Alyson Mitchell, a food chemist, who led the research at the University of California, believes that flavonoids can also help to stave off some forms of cancer and dementia.

She found that levels of quercetin and kaempferol, both flavonoids, were on average 79 and 97 per cent higher, respectively, in organic tomatoes. Her findings are due to be published in full in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Dr Mitchell said that previously it had been hard to make comparisons between organic and conventionally grown produce because of difficulties in comparing soil quality, irrigation practices and the handling of harvested produce. But for this study researchers used data from a long-term project in which standardised farming techniques were used to reveal trends in crop productivity.

The team believes that the different levels of flavonoids in tomatoes are due to the absence of fertilisers in organic farming.

Plants produce flavonoids as a defence mechanism; they are triggered by nutrient deficiency. Feeding a plant with too many nutrients, such as inorganic nitrogen commonly found in conventional fertiliser, curbs the development of flavonoids. The lower levels of flavonoids in conventional tomatoes were caused by “over-fertilisation”, the research team concluded.

The Soil Association is now pressing the Food Standards Agency to review its guidance on the merits of organic as opposed to conventional fruit and vegetables. Peter Melchett, its policy director, said that there was now a rapidly growing body of evidence which showed significant differences between the nutritional composition of organic and nonorganic food.

Recent research in Europe found that organic tomatoes contained more vitamin C, B-carotene and flavonoids than conventionally grown tomatoes. Organic peaches and organic apple purée were also found to have more antioxidants. Lord Krebs, the former chairman of the Food Standards Agency and now Master of Jesus College, Oxford, said that even if such benefits existed, higher flavonoid levels did not make organic food healthier. “This depends on the relevance of the differences to the human body,” he said. “Tomato ketchup has higher levels of lycopene [a strong antioxidant] than either organic or conventional tomatoes. So if you wanted lots of lycopene you should eat tomato ketchup.”

The Food Standards Agency, however, has commissioned a three-year study into the benefits of flavonoids. It said: “There is accumulating evidence that dietary flavonoids. . . may in large part explain the cardiovascular disease benefits of increased fruit and vegetable intake.”

Genetic bowel cancer trigger found

2007-07-09T19:29:00.000+05:30

A common genetic trigger for bowel cancer has been identified for the first time.

The rogue gene, as yet unidentified, lies in a small chromosomal region that has also been linked to breast and prostate cancer.

Around half the general population are thought to carry the genetic variant, which increases the risk of developing bowel cancer by about 20%.

The chances of suffering the disease rise from one in 20 for people who do not carry a faulty copy of the gene to one in 16 for those who do.

Around one in 10 cases of bowel cancer in the UK are linked to the genetic defect, accounting for around 3,500 of the 35,000 cases diagnosed each year. The disease is the third most common cancer after breast and lung, and it causes almost 16,100 cases each year.

Four separate scientific teams chasing the genetic causes of bowel cancer reported similar findings in two different journals.

One study, published online in the journal Nature Genetics, was led by Professor Malcolm Dunlop from the University of Edinburgh and examined DNA from a total of 16,000 individuals from Scotland, France and North America.

A second study was jointly led by Professor Ian Tomlinson from Cancer Research UK's London Research Institute and Professor Richard Houlston from the Institute of Cancer Research in Surrey and London.

Several genes are already known to contribute to the risk of bowel cancer, but they are extremely rare. Only around one person in every 2,500 carries one of these genes, and they account for less than 5% of cases diagnosed each year.

Even with the addition of the new genetic variant, the increased risk is still too small to be useful for a screening test. But experts believe as more "low risk" variants are found, it may be possible to spot them in combination and design a test for patients at high risk of bowel cancer.

Videogames eat into teens' reading and homework time

2007-07-05T15:40:00.002+05:30

Playing video games may mean spending less time reading or doing homework, according to a new research on video games and children.
Teenagers who play videogames spent 30 percent less time reading and 34 percent less time doing homework, said the study by researchers at the University of Michigan and University of Texas published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
However the authors added that video games did not appear to hamper the time spent with family and friends.
'Gamers did spend less time reading and doing homework. But they didn't spend less time interacting with their parents or their friends, nor did they spend less time in sports or active leisure activities,' NewScientist.com quoted Hope Cummings, one of two researchers who carried out the study, as saying.
Cummings and Elizabeth Vandewater at the University of Texas at Austin, US, wanted to observe how these games might influence academics and social relationships.
They gathered data from a sample of children aged 10 to 19 who tracked their activities on a random weekday and a random weekend day. Of the 1,491 who participated, 534 or about 36 percent played video games.
Eighty percent of those who played videogames were males, and they spent more time playing the games than their female counterparts.
Boys spent an average of 58 minutes per day during the week and one hour 37 minutes on weekends playing videogames, compared with girls who played for 44 minutes per day during the week and one hour and one minute on the weekends.
The boys tended to spend less time reading and girls tended to spend less time doing homework, the study said.
'The reading was just for the boys. For the homework, it was just the girls,' Vandewater said.
The researchers added that these findings did not mean that gamers were unsocial people.
'These findings do not support the notion that adolescents who play video games are socially isolated,' the researchers say.
They added that the findings signify that video game play can be a distraction from school-related activities, but it may not have an adverse effect on grades.
'Although gamers spend less time reading and doing homework, there have been some studies that show that high academic achievers spend less time doing homework,' Cummings said.

Young girls turning to speed for losing weight

2007-07-05T15:40:00.001+05:30

A new study has revealed that girls as young as 15 are resorting to the drug speed, class A and class B, for losing weight.
The Amphetamine drugs that are snorted and injected contract appetite and trigger maniac behaviour, which results in burning of calories.
Robin Herne with Suffolk's Drug and Alcohol Action Team, said that speed is used by girls as replacements for meals.
Herne warned that the drug can lead to binge eating, which in turn would result in eating disorders.
'There is anecdotal evidence that girls sometimes use speed as a meal substitute. Once the drug wears off the stomach realises it is empty. This induces periods of not eating and then bingeing. From there it doesn't take a lot to go into an eating disorder,' the Daily Mail quoted Herne, as saying.
Miss East Anglia, Rosanna Carr Taylor, who supports eating disorder charity B-eat, said that size-zero fad promoted by skinny models has resulted in drug induced look.
'The use of skinny models is promoting a drug-induced look as fashionable, something we should clamp down on,' Taylor said.

WHO launches campaign to eliminate 'Kissing Bug' disease

2007-07-05T15:39:00.001+05:30

The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched its campaign to eliminate the Chagas disease by 2010.
The strategy is designed to answer key questions about the treatment and control of Chagas disease, and to coordinate global efforts toward the prevention of transmission through a new Global Network for Chagas Elimination.
'The establishment of the WHO Global Network to combat Chagas disease occurs in the broader context of the WHO's renewed fight against neglected tropical diseases. While Chagas disease is controlled in many countries in the Americas, commitment must be strengthened as elimination of the disease is now attainable, ' said Dr Margaret Chan, Director- General, WHO.
Chagas disease is a serious, potentially life-threatening illness caused by a protozoan parasite called T. cruzi. Early symptoms can include fever, fatigue, swollen glands and heart pain, but in later years the infection can lead to chronic debilitation caused by progressive destruction of the heart muscle.
The parasite that causes Chagas disease is called T. cruzi and is mainly transmitted by large blood-sucking insects, sometimes known as 'kissing bugs', that often colonise the homes of poorer rural communities in Latin America. But the parasite can also be transmitted by blood transfusion or organ transplant from infected donors, and occasionally by transplacental passage from infected mother to new-born baby. In some regions, particularly in the southern cone countries of South America, the chronic infection can also give rise to severe intestinal problems requiring complex corrective surgery.
It occurs mainly in Latin America where, during the 1980s, over 20 million people were thought to be infected.
Since then, Latin American countries have made enormous efforts to control the infection, such that current estimates suggest that less than eight million people remain infected.
However, the infection is no longer confined to the Americas because of blood transmission and organ transplantation. Cases have been identified in non-endemic countries in Europe, and in Canada and the United States.
The WHO Global Network for eliminating Chagas will focus on the following:
.Strengthening epidemiological surveillance and information systems;
.Preventing transmission by blood transfusion and organ transplantation in endemic and non-endemic countries;
.Identifying a diagnostic test(s) for screening and diagnosis of infections;
.Expanding secondary prevention of congenital transmission and case management of congenital and non-congenital infections;
.Promoting a consensus on adequate case managementIn keeping with the goal of eliminating Chagas disease by 2010, the WHO Global Network will develop a five pillar strategy before the end of this year.