1 February, 2014

Almonds for weight loss

If you are trying to lose weight and have no time to hit the gym, try munching on a handful of almonds. According to a new study published in the International Journal of Obesity, 'Almonds may help you shed those unwanted pounds'.

These nuts are healthy and are rich in healthy fats which offer a high level of satiety. Besides, they are also loaded with numerous nutrients like vitamins and minerals, which will help you to lower your carbohydrate cravings and so, help you lose weight.

Almonds are also rich in minerals like manganese, copper and magnesium and B-complex vitamins like niacin and biotin, which help to activate the energy production in our bodies. So, the more active your body is, the more it will burn calories.

This nut is also good for your overall health, because of its hearthealthy property also known as monounsaturated fatty acids. These acids help in lowering the bad cholesterol levels in your body and reduce the risk of various heart ailments.

Besides, it is also rich in vitamin E, which helps in protecting your cardiovascular health from damage by free radicals.

So, if you are hungry in the evening and are trying to lose weight, grab a handful of these nuts, because they will not only help you maintain a healthy weight but also boost your heart health.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

01.02.2014

Is it okay exercising with a cold?

Cold can be a nuisance and can cause discomfort. But you do not want to skip your workout in spite of the cold, them what? This is an important question since this is flu season and common cold is in the air. We diagnose whether it is ok to exercise with a cold.

It is ok to exercise and do some physical activity with common cold with no fever. Exercising with a cold helps clear the nasal tract and improve breathing. Don't let mild cold symptoms affect your daily workout routine. What you could do during these days is reduce the intensity of the workout and the duration of the exercise.

Avoid exercising if: 

1) You have fever

2) Muscle aches

3) No stamina

4) Stomach infection

5) Cough

6) Chest congestion

Do not let common cold affect your performance after you are cured. Bounce back to your regular routine, but check with your doctor to get a clean chit, as exercising with a cold can cause serious injuries and health problems.

Exercises with a cold: 

- Walking

- Jogging

- Endurance training

- Yoga

- Dance

- Swimming

Source: www.timesofindia.com

01.02.2014

Stand up for something even if it means standing alone

31 January, 2014

IISc to set up brain research centre in Bangalore

The premier Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and a charitable trust of Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan are collaborating to set up a centre for brain research here at a cost of Rs.225 crore. ‘The research centre will study the various aspects of the human brain’s functioning to find cures for neuro-degenerative conditions and diseases, which are accelerated by old age,’ Pratiksha Trust said in a statement. An international scientific advisory board, headed by Nobel laureate Torsten Wiesel as chairman, will guide the research centre.

‘Human brain is one of the nature’s biggest mysteries, which is yet to be understood by man. By funding the centre, we are creating a globally recognised, world-class facility for cutting-edge research on the brain,’ Gopalakrishna said on the occasion. Columbia University professor Stanley Fahn, University of Chicago don Sangram Sisodia, Washington University don John Morris and University of Geneva don Giovanni Frisoni are members of the advisory board. The board will also help the centre in its operations, set research goals and guide it in its formative years. ‘Among its goals are to understand the relative functions of the brain and leverage it to create better computing models,’ said Gopalakrishnan, the IT bellwether’s vice-chairman. The trust will also fund setting up three chairs/ professorships each in the IISc’s computer science department and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai to forge an alliance between medical research and computing.

‘We are hopeful the centre will provide impetus to alliances between medical research and computing, attracts funds and inspires similar partnerships,’ Gopalakrishnan added. Lauding the initiative, IISc director P. Balaram said the centre would provide a wonderful opportunity to bridge gap between science and engineering and biomedical research. ‘The initiative will be a trend-setter in private participation in research, which has relevance to human health,’ he noted. The city-based trust also supports education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship targeted towards the poor and focuses on creating systemic changes in society. 

Source: http://health.india.com

31.01.2014

10 minutes of exercise a day can lower mortality in breast cancer survivors

Breast cancer survivors, who meet the exercise regimen recommendations of 2.5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week, sufficiently lower their risk of mortality.

New research from the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and reported in the International Journal of Cancer suggests that exceeding the recommendations may provide greater protection, and that running may be better than walking.

The study, by Berkeley Lab’s Paul Williams of the lab’s Life Sciences Division, followed 986 breast cancer survivors as part of the National Runners’ and Walkers’ Health Study.

At least 31 of the 714 walkers and 13 of the 272 runners died from breast cancer over nine years.

When analyzed together, their risk for breast cancer mortality decreased an average of 24 percent per metabolic equivalent (MET) hours per day of exercise, where one MET hour equals a little less than a mile of brisk walking or about two-third of a mile of running.

However, when the runners and walkers were looked at separately, there was significantly less mortality in those who ran than walked.

The runners’ risk for breast cancer mortality decreased over 40 percent per MET hour per day. Runners that averaged over two and a quarter miles per day were at 95 percent lower risk for breast cancer mortality than those that did not meet the current exercise recommendations. In contrast, the walkers’ risk for breast cancer mortality decreased a non-significant five percent per MET hour per day. (Read: 10 tips to cope with breast cancer)

Williams cautions, however, that this study does not disprove the benefits of walking because the number of subjects was small compared to previous research showing a benefit.

However, he does believe that the research shows that exceeding the current exercise recommendations will be better than simply meeting them, and that running may be better than walking.

‘If I were a breast cancer survivor, I would certainly consider running or some other vigorous exercise over walking, and I wouldn’t just be doing the minimum, with the consequences and potential benefit being so great,’ he said.

Previous research from the national study showed that running was more effective than walking for weight loss. For many health benefits, however, running and walking appear to give the same benefits for the same amount of energy expenditure.

These include lower risk for coronary heart disease, diabetes, hip replacements, as well as brain cancer. Running and walking also seem to be equally beneficial in the primary prevention of breast cancer.

Source: http://health.india.com

31.01.2014

Solutions nearly always come from the direction you least expect

Douglas Adams

30 January, 2014

Heavy drinking may 'increase skin cancer risk by more than half'

London: A new study has revealed that heavy drinking can increase the risk of developing the deadliest form of skin cancer by more than half.

Researchers have found that downing three or four drinks a day causes biological changes which make the body more sensitive to sun, Metro.co.uk reported.

The study has revealed that even as little as one drink a day can raise the chance of getting melanoma by 20 per cent, while for heavy drinkers the risk increases by 55 per cent.

Researcher Dr Eva Negri said that the mix of UV rays and alcohol damages the body's immune responses, which can lead to far greater cellular damage and subsequently cause skin cancer s to form.

The researchers admit they do not know exactly how drinking increases the cancer risk, but have found that alcohol is turns acetaldehyde soon after it is consumed and makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight.

The study, which is based on a review of 16 other studies and 6,251 cases of melanoma, has been published in the British Journal of Dermatology.  

Source: www.zeenews.india.com/news/health

30.01.2014

Genes to decide what diet suits you best

Washington: Soon, genetic testing may identify what diet you should consume for a longer, healthier life.

Researchers have identified a group of genes that allow an organism to adapt to different diets and show that without them, even minor tweaks to diet can cause premature aging and death.

"The studies have revealed that single gene mutations can alter the ability of an organism to utilise a specific diet. This could explain why certain diets work for some but not others,” explained Sean Curran, assistant professor at University of Southern California (USC).

In the age of commercial gene sequencing, people might be able to identify which diet would work best for them through a simple blood test, added Shanshan Pang from USC.

They studied caenorhabditis elegans - a one-milimetre-long worm that scientists have used as a model organism for years.

Curran and Pang identified a gene called 'alh-6' which delayed the effects of aging depending on what type of diet the worm was fed by protecting it against diet-induced mitochondrial defects.

"What we have learned in the worm could translate to a better understanding of the factors that alter diet success in humans,” Curran said in the study appeared in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Finding a genetic basis for an organism's dietary needs suggests that different individuals may be genetically predisposed to thrive on different diets.

This could be the start of personalised dieting based on an individual's genetic makeup, Curran stressed.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com/news/health

30.01.2014

The most effective way to do it is to do it

 Amelia Earhart

29 January, 2014

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy 'increases preeclampsia risk'

Research led by investigators from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health suggests that women who have a vitamin D deficiency in the first 26 weeks of pregnancy are more likely to develop severe preeclampsia. This is according to a study recently published in the journalEpidemiology.

Preeclampsia is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication that usually occurs after the first 20 weeks of gestation or shortly after birth. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, around 5-8% of pregnancies are affected by the condition.

Early signs of the condition include high blood pressure and albuminuria - excess protein that leaks into the urine.

Some women may also experience swelling of the feet, ankles, face and hands - caused by fluid retention - as well as severeheadaches, problems with vision and pain just below the ribs.

Vitamin D and pregnancy

Vitamin D is known to be important for regulating and absorbing calcium and phosphorus in the body.

The majority of people are able to get all the vitamin D they need from the sun and various foods, such as oily fish, eggs and fortified fat spreads.

However, according to the Vitamin D Council, pregnancy is a known risk factor for vitamin D deficiency.

Previous research has suggested that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may lead to gestational diabetes, increased risk of infections and cesarean section, and low offspring birth weight.

To determine whether there is an association between vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and risk of preeclampsia, the research team analyzed the blood samples of 700 pregnant women who later developed preeclampsia, alongside the blood samples of 3,000 pregnant women who did not develop the condition.

All samples were collected between 1959 and 1965 from 12 US institutions. The researchers note that the blood samples were well-preserved and they were able to test the samples for vitamin D levels decades after they were collected.

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

29.01.2014

New classification system for breast cancers

Breast cancer tumors have long been classified according to their expression of three surface proteins: estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2).

These classifications are used to determine best treatments and prognoses, but are not adequate to describe tumorcharacteristics or compare them to normal breast tissue.

In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Tan Ince and colleagues of the University of Miami devised a method to categorize normal breast tissue cells as a reference point to classify tumor cells. By analyzing sections of normal breast tissue from 36 donors, the group delineated 13 previously undescribed cell types within the lobular structures of the tissue.

These cell types fit four patterns of hormone receptor expression, which could then be used to classify breast tumor samples, and correlated with distinct survival outcomes.

In an accompanying commentary, Robert Cardiff and Alexander Borowsky of University of California, Davis indicate that this new classification scheme be used to refine patient treatment plans and expand our understanding of breast cancer development.

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

29.01.2014

Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared and humble when you are victorious

28 January, 2014

High BP more dangerous for women

A new study has revealed that high blood pressure is potentially more dangerous forwomen than men.

Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for the first time found significant differences in the mechanisms that cause high blood pressure in women as compared to men.

"This is the first study to consider sex as an element in the selection of antihypertensive agents or base the choice of a specific drug on the various factors accounting for the elevation in blood pressure," lead author of the study, Carlos Ferrario, said.

Although there has been a significant decline in cardiovascular disease mortality in men during the last 20 to 30 years, the same has not held true for women, Ferrario said.

In the comparative study, 100 men and women age 53 and older with untreated high blood pressure and no other major diseases were evaluated using an array of specialized tests that indicated whether the heart or the blood vessels were primarily involved in elevating the blood pressure.

The researchers found 30 to 40 per cent more vascular disease in the women compared to the men for the same level of elevated blood pressure. In addition, there were significant physiologic differences in the women's cardiovascular system, including types and levels of hormones involved in blood pressure regulation, that contribute to the severity and frequency of heart disease.

The study is published in Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

28.01.2014

Healthy lifestyle to improve oral health in diabetics

Diabetics, who are at a higher risk of suffering from oral health problems, can avoid these by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Researchers at the University of Copenhagenhave helped a large group of diabetics to markedly improve their oral health through health coaching.

"Diabetics are at a higher risk of suffering oral health issues like periodontitis and caries and other problems like dry mouth, fungal infections and poor wound healing," said Ayse Basak Cinar,assistant professor at department of odontologyat the university.

In all, 186 patients with type 2 diabetes participated in the study done inTurkey - the first in the world - to demonstrate the role of health coaching in improving dental health.

The patients with diabetes were divided into two groups.

One group was given traditional health information, for example a brochure on good dental hygiene.

The other group was offered motivational health coaching in the form of 3-6 sessions over a six-month period, focusing on diet, stressmanagement and dental care, said the research published in the journalClinical Oral Investigations.

"In patients who were given personal health coaching, biological markers for periodontitis - also known as loose teeth disease - were reduced by as much as 50 percent over a six-month period," the research noted.

"The patients in the trial group saw a significant decline in long-range blood sugar levels, whereas figures for the control group were unchanged," said.

"Health coaching is a resource-intensive intervention. However, dishing out brochures to patients with diabetes and thinking that this would help is also a costly approach for the society," he added.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

28.01.2014

Strength isn’t about how much you can handle before you break, it’s about how much you can handle after you break

27 January, 2014

You may not see doctors in white coats soon!

Ever wondered how many hours in a day the doctors wear the same white coat? What kind of patients they see in the same apron? How many infections the white coat could spread? Well, the white apron which is so characteristic of the doctors might soon be a relic.

In a move to cut health care associated infections, certain attire for health care professionals, including the traditional white coat, may become a thing of the past.

Mark Rupp, M.D., chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and one of the authors of recommendations issued by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), one of the world’s top infection control organizations, said that white coats, neckties, and wrist watches can become contaminated and may potentially serve as vehicles to carry germs from one patient to another.

Dr. Rupp, who is a past president of SHEA, said that however, it is unknown whether white coats and neck ties play any real role in transmission of infection.

It includes a review of patient and health care professionals’ perceptions of the health professionals’ attire and transmission risk, suggesting professionalism may not be contingent on wearing the traditional white coat.

The authors developed the recommendations based on limited evidence, theoretical rationale, practical considerations, a survey of SHEA membership and SHEA Research Network, author expert opinion and consensus, and consideration of potential harm where applicable. The SHEA Research Network is a consortium of more than 200 hospitals collaborating on multi-center research projects.

The recommendations are set to appear online in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

Source: http://health.india.com

27.01.2014

Is Facebook driving teenagers to eating disorders?

Social media websites like Facebook and Twitter are to be blamed for the doubling in the number of youngsters seeking help for eating disorders in the last three years, it has been revealed. According to a charity the number of children and teenagers seeking help for an eating disorder has risen by 110 per cent in the past three years, and this dramatic increase could be attributed to several factors, including the increased pressure caused by social media, the growth of celebrity culture, and the rise of anorexia websites, the Independentreported. 

The charity suggested that the problem is most prevalent among girls of secondary school age, as they are more concerned about their body image and looks. Sue Minto, head of ChildLine, said 24/7 nature of social media places huge pressures on children and young people which in turn can lead to significant emotional issues.  

Here are some eating disorders you should know about

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterised by a cycle of recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by extreme weight-control behaviours.

Types of bulimia nervosa

Purging type: Binge eating followed by regular self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

Non-purging type: Binge eating followed by other inappropriate compensatory behaviours, such as fasting or excessive exercise or strict dieting.  

Anorexia nervosa

It’s an eating disorder characterised by extreme food restriction and an irrational fear of gaining weight. Because of this, sufferers limit the amount of food they eat. People who suffer from it are called anorexic. Various health issues are connected with this condition including a lack of energy, headaches, drowsiness and dizziness and in the long term conditions like hormonal imbalance, cardiac arrests, reduction of bone and even death (studies show that anorexia has the highest death rate among all psychological disorders). (Read 

Source: http://health.india.com

27.01.2014

Success is the sum of small efforts

R Collier

25 January, 2014

You can smell out dangerous illnesses

Even diseases have particular smells. Hard to believe?

If we look into a thrilling research, humans are able to smell sickness in someone whose immune system is highly active within just a few hours of exposure to a toxin.

‘There may be early biomarkers for illness in the form of volatile substances coming from the body,’ explained Mats Olsson of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

To test this hypothesis, Olsson and his team injected eight healthy people with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) – a toxin known to ramp up an immune response – or a saline solution.

The volunteers wore tight t-shirts to absorb sweat over the course of four hours.

Participants injected with LPS did produce a noticeable immune response, as evidenced by elevated body temperatures and increased levels of a group of immune system molecules known as cytokines, said the study published in the journal Psychological Science.

Now, the researchers asked a separate group to smell the sweat samples from t-shirts.

They rated t-shirts from the LPS group as having a more intense and unpleasant smell than the other t-shirts.

That is, the greater a participant’s immune response, the more unpleasant their sweat smelled, the study noted.

‘While the precise chemical compounds have yet to be identified, the fact we give off some kind of aversive signal shortly after the immune system has been activated is an important finding,’ said the researchers.

People with diabetes, for example, are sometimes reported to have breath that smells like rotten apples or acetone.

Being able to detect these smells would represent a critical adaptation that would allow us to avoid potentially dangerous illnesses.

Source: http://health.india.com

25.01.2014

If your spouse has diabetes, you chances of having it rises by 26%

You are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if your spouse has it.

According to a new research led by an Indian-origin scientist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal, Canada, living together under one roof could also imply sharing diabetes.

‘We found a 26 percent increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes if your spouse also has type 2 diabetes,’ says senior author Kaberi Dasgupta, an associate professor of medicine at McGill University.

‘This may be a platform to assist clinicians to develop strategies to involve both partners. Changing health behaviour is challenging and if you have the collaboration of your partner it’s likely to be easier,’ she added.

Dasgupta’s team wanted to see if risk behaviours like poor eating habits and low physical activity could be shared within a household, said the study published in the journal BMC Medicine.

They analysed results from six selected studies that were conducted in different parts of the world and looked at key outcomes such as age, socio-economic status and the way in which diabetes was diagnosed in over 75,000 couples.

Most of the studies relied on health records which may not always accurately record diabetes.

Those that used direct blood testing suggested that diabetes risk doubles if your partner has diabetes. A strong correlation with pre-diabetes risk was also found.

‘When we look at the health history of patients, we often ask about family history. Our results suggest spousal history may be another factor we should take in consideration,’ said Dasgupta.

According to Dasgupta, spousal diabetes is also a potential tool for early diabetes detection.

‘The results suggest that diabetes diagnosis in one spouse may warrant increased surveillance in the other,’ stressed Dasgupta.

Moreover, it has been observed that men are less likely than women to undergo regular medical evaluation after childhood and that can result in delayed diabetes detection.

As a result, men living with a spouse with diabetes history may particularly benefit from being followed more closely, the study concluded.

Source: http://health.india.com

25.01.2014

The naked truth is always better than best dressed lie