Health & Fitness News

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Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a 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.

When I lived in France I used to love watching people discover rillettes, a rustic pâté that is traditionally made by cooking pork belly or shoulder slowly in abundant fat, allowing it to cool in the fat, then raking the mixture into a spreadable paste. [..]

Rillettes are also made with other meats – most often game birds or rabbit, and also with fish, particularly fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies and tuna, which are high in omega-3s. The fish isn’t slow-cooked in fat the way meat is, but it is mixed with fat – in France that would be softened butter – and shredded in the same way. The key is a smooth, rich-tasting, spreadable mixture, which is easy to achieve with a number of types of seafood. On my last trip to Paris I saw fish rillettes on menus all over town. They were usually served from crocks or wide canning jars, the way meat rillettes are traditionally stored, to be eaten with bread. But at Buvette, a little restaurant in the 9th Arrondissment (also in New York’s Greenwich Village), a rich mound of smoked trout rillettes topped a warm plate of lentils, to great effect.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Drug Can Cause Dangerous Skin Reaction: FDA

WebMD News from HealthDay

Dec. 12, 2014 — The antipsychotic medicine Geodon (ziprasidone) and generic versions of the drug can cause a rare, dangerous skin reaction that can progress to affect other parts of the body, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

The agency has ordered that ziprasidone’s label carry a new warning about this condition, called Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS).

Painkiller Tramadol Linked to Low Blood Sugar

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Study finds the drug may be riskier than expected

Dec. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The narcotic painkiller tramadol (Ultram) seems to be associated with an increased risk of dangerously low blood sugar, Canadian researchers report.

Tramadol is a narcotic drug whose use has increased steadily worldwide.

The new research links taking the drug to around a threefold increased risk of being hospitalized for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), according to the study.

In some cases, those low blood sugar episodes proved fatal, the researchers said.

Gout Attacks More Common at Night: Study

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Dehydration, lower body temp, or hormonal shifts may be to blame, expert says

Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Acute gout attacks occur two times more often during the night and early morning than during the day, a new study finds.

“It is speculated that lower body temperature, nighttime dehydration, or a nocturnal dip of cortisol levels may contribute to the risk of gout attacks at night,” study author Dr. Hyon Choi, of Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, said in a journal news release.

Cigarettes Cause One-Third of U.S. Cancer Deaths

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Figure doesn’t include secondhand smoke, cigars, pipes or smokeless tobacco

Dec. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Despite large declines in smoking rates, cigarettes still cause about one-third of cancer deaths in the United States, according to a new study.

“Our results indicate that cigarette smoking causes about three in 10 cancer deaths in the contemporary United States. Reducing smoking prevalence as rapidly as possible should be a top priority for U.S. public health efforts to prevent future cancer deaths,” researchers from the American Cancer Society wrote.

Too Much TV and Survival Odds After Colon Cancer

By Alan Mozes, HealthDay

Researchers also found exercising seven hours or more a week boosted chances of living longer

Dec. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Watching too much television may lower your chances of survival after colon cancer, new research suggests.

“The take-away message from our study is that both minimizing TV viewing, to less than two hours per day, and increasing exercise, to four-plus hours per week, were associated with lower mortality risk among colorectal cancer survivors,” explained study author Hannah Arem, a postdoctoral fellow with the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s nutritional epidemiological branch.

BPA in Canned Goods May Raise Your Blood Pressure

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Finding is latest to raise health concerns about the common estrogen-like chemical

Dec. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Eating food from cans lined with the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) could raise your blood pressure, a new study suggests.

BPA previously has been linked to a variety of ills, including heart problems, developmental problems in children and high blood pressure. The chemical is widely used in products ranging from plastic bottles and food containers to dental fillings and cash register receipts. In cans, BPA is used as a lining, the researchers said.

Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Shows Promise

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Nivolumab harnesses power of immune system to attack cancer in patients who’ve failed other therapy

Dec. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) — In a small new trial, a form of treatment based on the body’s immune system appears to be helping patients with Hodgkin lymphoma for whom other treatments had failed.

Hodgkin lymphoma — a cancer of white blood cells called lymphocytes — is one of the most common cancers in children and young adults in the United States, with about 10,000 new cases occurring each year. While current therapies are often successful in treating the disease, up to one-fourth of patients eventually suffer a relapse, experts say.

Many Americans Still Haven’t Gotten a Flu Shot

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay

Health officials cite reports on the vaccine’s potentially limited effectiveness

Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Fewer than half of Americans have gotten a flu shot so far this flu season, which might be a bad sign for a season that could be potentially severe, infectious-disease experts said Thursday.

Worse, some people are thinking about skipping this year’s flu shot, based on reports that the vaccine could provide only partial protection against what has been the predominant influenza strain this season, doctors said.

Ebola Vaccine Trial in Switzerland Suspended

WebMD News from HealthDay

Tests on an Ebola vaccine have been temporarily halted after some participants reported concerning side effects, Swiss scientists say.

The clinical trial involving 59 people began in November, but was suspended after four cases of mild joint pain in the hands and feet of volunteers who received the vaccine 10 to 15 days earlier, the Associated Press reported.

Full Bladder and Women Over 40 at Night

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

Known as nocturia, condition can be benign or linked to more serious health issue, researchers note

Dec. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Many women have to get up more than once a night because of a full bladder, a new study finds.

Researchers found that of over 2,000 women aged 40 and up, one-third said they routinely got up at least twice a night to use the bathroom. Doctors refer to that as nocturia, and it can be a sign that you’re drinking too much tea or coffee at night — or a signal of a serious health condition.

Test May Predict Return of Early Breast Tumor

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

Idea is to identify women who do and don’t need further treatment

Dec. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) — For women who have early breast tumors surgically removed, a new genetic test may help predict the odds of a recurrence, a new study says.

The research, presented Friday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, focused on women with ductal carcinomain situ.

Pill Remains Most Common Birth Control Method

By Tara Haelle, HealthDay

But long-acting IUDs are gaining in popularity, experts note

Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The pill remains one of the most popular methods of birth control for women, along with female sterilization and condoms, a new report shows.

Among the two-thirds of women aged 15 to 44 who used birth control between 2011 and 2013, approximately 16 percent used the pill.

New Breast Cancer Treatment Promising for Some

By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay

Suppressing the ovaries and adding an anti-estrogen drug reduced recurrence in premenopausal women

Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A treatment known as ovarian suppression used along with an anti-estrogen drug normally given to older women appears to greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence in some younger women, new research suggests.

This combination approach — using estrogen-blockers known as aromatase inhibitors — was the most effective of three treatments tested in women with early stage breast cancer, said Dr. Prudence Francis, head of breast medical oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Victoria, Australia.

Fetal Exposure to Common Chemicals and Lower IQ

By Tara Haelle, HealthDay

Children’s IQs were about 7 points lower among mothers with the highest exposures

Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Children exposed in the womb to higher amounts of two chemicals commonly found in plastics may be at higher risk for lower IQ, a new study suggests.

The two compounds, di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP), are part of a class of chemicals called phthalates and are found in a variety of household goods.

FDA OKs Vaccine That Covers More HPV Strains

By E J Mundell, HealthDay

Gardasil 9 protects against 9 types of the virus, compared to the 4 covered by Gardasi

Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a new vaccine with expanded protection against the human papillomavirus (HPV), by far the leading cause of cervical and certain other cancers.

The agency said that Gardasil 9 can shield users against nine strains of the virus, compared to the four strains covered by Gardasil, the Merck & Co. vaccine approved in 2006. Merck also makes Gardasil 9.

Many Breast Cancer Patients Get Too Much Radiation

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Studies show that a shorter course of treatment yields similar benefits, but it remains underused, experts say

Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Many studies have affirmed that a newer, shorter course of radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer works just as well as a longer course.

However, new research suggests that many U.S. patients still get radiation therapy for much longer than they need to.

Preliminary Studies Target Advanced Breast Cancers

By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay

Combination treatment for estrogen-receptor-positive tumors shows promise, researchers say

Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Two preliminary studies into medications under development may offer some hope for women with advanced breast cancer.

A breast cancer specialist says the findings aren’t a “home run,” but so far the experimental treatments show some promise, especially the pair of drugs for advanced cancer that is estrogen-receptor-positive.

Many Women Don’t Lose Those Pregnancy Pounds

By Maureen Salamon, HealthDay

One-third who had been normal weight before giving birth were overweight or obese a year later

Dec. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Women’s fears that pregnancy pounds will linger are validated by new research that suggests three-quarters of new mothers are heavier a year after giving birth than they were before becoming pregnant.

Analyzing data from nearly 800 low-income women, researchers also found that one-third of those of normal weight before pregnancy became overweight or obese one year after childbirth. Nearly one-quarter of all new mothers had retained more than 20 extra pounds.

Routine Ultrasounds for Women With Dense Breasts

By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay

Study finds test after normal mammogram saves few lives while boosting costs and false-positive results

Dec. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — New research questions the value of ultrasound screening for women with dense breasts who’ve had a normal mammogram.

Although dense breasts are a known risk factor for breast cancer, this increasingly common strategy doesn’t appear to improve survival much but does “substantially” boost costs and false-positive results, researchers found.

Poor Sperm Quality May Signal Health Issues, Study Finds

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

Medical conditions or treatments may affect fertility, researchers say

Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Defects in sperm within semen may be linked to a variety of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and skin and glandular disorders, a new study suggests.

The defects probably don’t cause these problems. It’s more likely that semen quality reflects overall health, the researchers said.

Male Breast Cancer Is Different

By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay

Men’s tumor types differ; survival is increasing but not as much as for women, study finds

Dec. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Men’s breast cancer differs in some ways from women’s, new research finds.

One important difference is in the rates of survival. The study found that while survival for men with breast cancer has improved, it hasn’t kept pace with the strides made in treating breast cancer in women.

“Although we saw a significant improvement in overall survival for male breast cancer patients over time, the prognosis for men with breast cancer has not been improving as much as for women with the disease,” Dr. Fatima Cardoso, director of the breast unit at the Champalimaud Cancer Center in Lisbon, Portugal, said in a news release from the American Association for Cancer Research.

Almost Half of U.S. Kids Suffer Traumatic Stress

By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay

Teaching adults in their lives how to heal may be best first step, researchers say

Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — New research suggests that almost half of U.S. kids experience traumas that can disrupt their development.

“This study tells us that adverse childhood experiences are common among U.S. children and, as demonstrated in adult studies, have lifelong impacts that begin early in life,” study author Christina Bethell, a professor in the department of population, family and reproductive health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, said in a Hopkins news release.

Millions of Kids Can Buy ‘Harmful’ E-Cigs: CDC

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

10 states, D.C. permit sales to children, report says

Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — More than 16 million children in the United States can buy electronic cigarettes legally, even though the devices are not safe for them, a new government report says.

The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also found that hundreds of millions of Americans are not protected from indoor exposure to secondhand e-cigarette aerosol.

This “aerosol is not harmless water vapor; it can contain nicotine and other toxins,” Brian King, senior scientific advisor in the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, said in an agency news release.

Hookah Use and Chances of Cigarette Habit in Teens

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Researchers found similar trend for young users of a chewing tobacco called snus

Dec. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Exotic hookah water pipes are all the rage among teens and young adults, but a new study suggests they could be a “gateway” device to cigarette smoking.

The study found a similar effect for young people who use snus — a type of moist chewing tobacco that is popular in Sweden.

Memory Lapses May Signal Stroke Risk: Study

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Link was seen mostly in people with higher levels of education, researchers said

Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Memory lapses in people with higher levels of education may be associated with increased stroke risk, researchers report.

The research included more than 9,100 people in the Netherlands, aged 55 and older, taking part in a long-term study. During the study, more than 1,100 of the participants suffered a stroke.

Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk for Dementia

By Amy Norton, HealthDay

Study suggests low oxygen levels, less time in deep shut-eye may contribute to brain changes

Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Older men who have breathing difficulties or spend less time in deep sleep may be at greater risk of brain changes that can precede dementia, a new study suggests.

Experts said the findings don’t prove that breathing disorders, including sleep apnea, lead to dementia. But they add to evidence that poor sleep may play a role in some older adults’ mental decline.

Past studies have suggested that people with certain sleep disturbances may face a greater dementia risk, the researchers note. But the reasons remain unclear.

Laughing Gas Shows Promise in Treating Depression

WebMD News from HealthDay

Dec. 10, 2014 — Laughing gas may help treat severe depression, researchers say.

Their study of 20 patients found that nitrous oxide — often used to sedate dental surgery patients — can be a fast-acting and effective treatment for severe depression in people who haven’t responded to antidepressants or other standard therapies, CBS News reported.

Two-thirds of patients who received the gas had significant improvements in their depressive symptoms, compared to one-third of those who were given a placebo, according to the study in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Brains of Young Bipolar Patients Who Try Suicide

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Scans found evidence of less connection between areas that control emotion, motivation and memory

Dec. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Teens and young adults who attempted suicide were found to have abnormalities in the frontal areas of their brains, a new study says.

Researchers conducted brain scans on 68 participants, aged 14 to 25, with bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes extreme emotional highs and lows. Of those patients, 26 had attempted suicide. Brain scans were also done on a control group of 45 teens and young adults without bipolar disorder.

Can High-Fructose Corn Syrup Make You Hungrier?

By Alan Mozes. HealthDay

Study suggests link between fructose and obesity

Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Fructose — a kind of sugar found in a wide variety of foods and beverages — may encourage overeating, new research suggests.

Fructose may be best known to consumers in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, which has long been added to manufactured foods from sodas to cookies.

Distinct from sugar known as glucose (produced by the natural breakdown of complex carbohydrates), fructose is also a “simple” sugar and a natural component of fruit.

However, “in a series of studies we have found that when compared to glucose, the simple sugar, fructose, is a weaker suppressor of brain areas that help control appetite and the motivation to eat,” said study co-author Dr. Kathleen Page, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Low-Fat Diet May Up Some Breast Cancer Survival

By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay

Women without estrogen-dependent disease benefited most in study

Dec. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Eating a low-fat diet may reduce the risk of early death in some women with breast cancer, according to new research.

The low-fat diet seemed particularly helpful for early stage breast cancer patients with so-called estrogen receptor-negative (ER-negative) disease. These women had a 36 percent reduced risk of death from any cause over 15 years if they ate a low-fat diet for five years following their diagnosis, said study researcher Dr. Rowan Chlebowski. He is a medical oncologist at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Could a Supplement Prevent Weight Gain?

By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay

Chemical compound curbed appetite in study, but more research is needed before marketing

Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A newly developed food supplement appears to prevent weight gain and trim fat around the waist, researchers say.

However, the chemical compound doesn’t seem to help people lose pounds, and the preliminary study is so small that the findings could be misleading.

Still, it did “lower appetite and prevented weight gain in overweight people,” said study co-author Gary Frost, chair of nutrition and dietetics at Imperial College London. “This is the first time that a food ingredient has been shown to decrease weight gain.”

The ingredient in question contains propionate, a fatty acid that’s created when fiber ferments in the colon.