Health and Fitness

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Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Many families fall into one of two camps when it comes to Thanksgiving menus. There are those who never veer from their annual menu; recipes are pulled out once a year, then put away until the next. Then there are those who like to try new recipes. [..]

Winter squash offers a big nutritional bang at a small caloric price – lots of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and manganese, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B1, copper, vitamin B6, niacin and pantothenic acid.

Why the Sound of Fingernails on a Chalkboard Irks You

by Jennifer Warner

Shape of the Human Ear May Amplify Some of the Most Irritating Sounds

Nov. 4, 2011 — The mere thought of fingernails scratching a chalkboard can be enough to set some people on edge.

Now, a new study may help explain why.

Researchers say the shape of the human ear may amplify certain aspects of the sound of fingernails or chalk scraping on a chalkboard to make it even more annoying to the listener.

In addition, people’s perceptions about these irritating sounds may increase stress levels and how they rate the sound.

Cystic Fibrosis Drug a Game Changer?

by Salynn Boyles

Experimental Drug Ivacaftor May Extend Lives of Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Nov. 2, 2011 — Hopes are high that a new treatment soon could improve and possibly extend the lives of patients with the inherited disease cystic fibrosis.

In a study appearing in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report that the experimental oral drug ivacaftor, formerly known as VX-770, dramatically improved lung function and other symptoms in cystic fibrosis patients with a rare genetic mutation.

Southerners May Be Less Likely to Have Crohn’s

by Charlene Laino

Study Shows Women Who Live in South Are Less Likely to Have Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Oct. 31, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) — Women who live in the southern part of the U.S. are less likely to have ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease than those who live in the North, a new study suggests.

Researchers suspect that’s because people in the South spend more time in the sun’s ultraviolet rays, one of our body’s main sources of vitamin D. Studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

New Device Spots Melanoma

By Daniel J. DeNoon

MelaFind Device Helps Dermatologists Find Deadly Skin Cancers

Nov. 2, 2011 — MelaFind, a device that helps dermatologists decide whether to order a biopsy of suspected melanomas, has been approved by the FDA.

Melanoma is a fast-growing skin cancer. It’s often curable if detected early. If not, it’s one of the most deadly kinds of cancer.

40 U.S. Deaths a Day From Prescription Painkillers

by Daniel J. DeNoon

Prescription Drug Abuse Is an ‘Epidemic,’ CDC Declares

Nov. 1, 2011 — Every day, 40 Americans die from prescription painkiller abuse, the CDC says.

Overdoses of opioid prescription drugs now kill more people in the U.S. than do overdoses from heroin and cocaine combined. Twelve million Americans say they abused prescription drugs in the last year.

It’s not just a statistical blip. Prescription drug abuse — taking painkillers not for pain, but to get high — has tripled since 1999. Rogue doctors are a big part of the problem, according to CDC Director Thomas Frieden, MD. Indeed, a California study found that 3% of doctors wrote 62% of painkiller prescriptions.

“This stems from a few irresponsible doctors,” Frieden said at a news teleconference. “The problem is more from them than from drug pushers on street corners.”

Anti-Reflux Drugs, Antibiotics May Raise C. diff Risk

by Denise Mann

Study Highlights Factors Associated With Risk for Diarrhea Bug

Nov. 2, 2011 — About 500,000 people in the U.S. become infected with the potentially fatal diarrhea bug Clostridium difficile(C. diff.) each year. Now a new study sheds light on who is most at risk — and why.

Some people show evidence of C. diff in their gut but never have any symptoms. Others develop a range of symptoms from mild diarrhea to severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding, and fever. C. diff is typically seen in the health care setting, such as hospitals.

Preterm Birth Rates Heading in Right Direction, Barely

by Rita Ruben

March of Dimes Report Shows Decline in Nation’s Preterm Birth Rate

Nov. 1, 2011 — Preterm birth rates improved in nearly every state between 2006 and 2009, but the United States still merited only a “C” on the March of Dimes’ latest Premature Birth Report Card.

The U.S. rate rose to a peak of 12.8% in 2006. It declined to 12.3% in 2008 and, according to preliminary data, to 12.2% in 2009.

Back in 1981, the preterm birth rate was 9.4%.

Light Drinking Over Time May Raise Breast Cancer Risk

by Salynn Boyles

Routinely Drinking as Little as Three Drinks a Week Can Raise Breast Cancer Risk, Study Finds

Nov. 1, 2011 — Some studies have linked drinking alcohol to an increased risk for breast cancer, and now new research suggests that even moderate to light alcohol intake may raise a woman’s risk.

Consistently drinking as little as three alcoholic beverages a week was associated with a small — 15% — increase in breast cancer risk in the study.

Lack of Sleep, Overweight Linked to Kids’ Learning Problems

by Salynn Boyles

Study Suggests a Connection Between a Child’s Weight, Sleep Problems, and Learning Ability

Nov. 4, 2011 — Children who are overweight and don’t get enough sleep may have a harder time learning, and those with learning difficulties may be at higher risk for obesity and sleep problems, new research suggests.

The study found that a child’s weight, sleep problems, and ability to learn are all connected, with each influencing the other.

Study: ADHD Drugs Likely Do Not Boost Heart Risk

by Kathleen Doheny

New Findings May Ease Fears for Parents and Patients

Nov. 1, 2011 — Medicines to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) do not seem to substantially increase the risk of serious heart problems or stroke in children and young adults. That’s the finding of a new study that included more than a million people.

When looking at the population as a whole, “these drugs don’t appear to increase the risk of sudden cardiac death, heart attack, or stroke,” says study researcher William O. Cooper, MD, MPH. Cooper is a professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Happy People Live Longer?

by Jennifer Warner

Study Finds 35% Lower Death Risk in Happy Older People

Oct. 31, 2011 — Could happiness be the key to a long, or at least longer, life? Maybe, researchers say.

In a study from the UK, older people who said they were happy, even for a little while, were less likely to die over a five-year period. And the happier they were, the longer they lived.

Overall, the results showed that older people who reported feeling happiest had a 35% lower risk of dying during the study than those who were least happy.

Loneliness May Disrupt Sleep

by Jennifer Warner

Study Shows That People Who Feel Lonely Are More Likely to Wake Up During the Night

Nov. 1, 2011 — Feeling lonely may make it harder to get a good night’s sleep.

A new study shows that people who feel lonely are more likely to wake up during the night and have fragmented sleep. Study results may help explain why loneliness is associated with ill health effects.

“Loneliness,” says Lianne Kurina, PhD, “has been associated with adverse effects on health. We wanted to explore one potential pathway for this.” Kurina is an assistant professor in the department of health studies at the University of Chicago.

Exercise Can Overpower the ‘Obesity Gene’

by Denise Mann

Study Shows Physical Activity Can Reduce the Effects of a Genetic Predisposition for Obesity

Nov. 2, 2011 — Obesity may be in your genes, but that is no excuse not to exercise.

In fact, physical activity can reduce the effects of the ‘fat mass and obesity-associated’ (FTO) or obesity gene in adults.

Previous research has shown that about 74% of all people in the U.S. with European ancestry have a genetic variation associated with the FTO gene that can lead to weight gain that raises the risk for becoming obese.

Best Diets? DASH, TLC, Mediterranean Are Tops, Experts Say

by Kathleen Doheny

Panel Rates Popular Weight Loss Diets for Nutrition and Safety

Nov. 4, 2011 — Just in time for anyone stressing over upcoming holiday weight gain, a new list of ”best diets” is out. But this list focused not just on diets that help you lose weight, but diets that help you stay healthy while shedding pounds.

Five diets earned a ”best” rating for healthy eating from an expert panel convened by U.S. News & World Report. They include the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet, the TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes), the Mediterranean Diet, the Mayo Clinic Diet, and the Volumetrics Diet.

Very Restricted Diet May Reduce Symptoms of IBS

by Charlene Laino

Researchers Say ‘Low-FODMAP’ Diet May Relieve Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Nov. 3, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) — A very restricted diet that that is low in certain natural sugars may help relieve bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and other symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Australian researchers report.

Known as a low-FODMAP diet, it doesn’t work for everyone. And it isn’t easy to follow — rye, wheat, and white breads and pastas, apples, watermelon, ice cream, and honey are just a few of the restricted foods.

Red Wine Ingredient May Improve Health of Obese Men

by Brenda Goodman, MA

Study Shows the Compound Resveratrol May Prevent Harmful Changes, Such as Insulin Insensitivity

Nov. 2, 2011 —  A compound found in trace amounts in grape skins, peanuts, and red wine may defend against harmful changes seen in obesity that often precede diseases like type 2 diabetes, a small new study shows.

These changes include inflammation in the body and insulin insensitivity.

The study is one of the first to test the compound, called resveratrol, in humans. It is published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Study: Too Much Sugar in Drinks Marketed to Kids

by Denise Mann

Report Suggests That Many Drinks That Sound Healthy Have Lots of Sugar and Calories

Oct. 31, 2011 — It’s no surprise that many sodas have a lot of sugar. What may be more surprising is that many fruit drinks, often billed as healthier alternatives, are often loaded with close to the same amount of sugar and calories.

That is one of the findings of a new report from Yale University.