Widening the Use of a Cholesterol Drug May Come With Risk

AstraZeneca, makers of the popular statin Crestor, are aiming to market their drug as a preventive measure for millions of people who do not have cholesterol problems. But experts say this may not be a healthy move. Cholesterol-lowering drugs, or statins, are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, but they may not be as safe a preventive medicine as previously believed for people who are at low risk of heart attacks or strokes. Recently published evidence indicates that statins could raise a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 9%. Crestor may now be prescribed for apparently healthy people if they are older — men 50 and over and women 60 and over — and have one risk factor like smoking or high blood pressure, in addition to elevated inflammation in the body. A study found that taking Crestor resulted in a 55% reduction in heart attacks, 48% reduction in stroke, and 45% reduction in angioplasty bypass surgery. However, critics say that in real world terms this means 500 people would need to be treated with Crestor for a year to avoid one usually survivable heart attack. And at $3.50 a pill, the cost of prescribing Crestor to 500 people for a year would be $638,000 to prevent that one heart attack. Some doctors also say this will turn healthy people into patients, committing them to a lifetime of medication.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/business/31statins.html?pagewanted=1&tntemail1=y&emc=tnt

Alzheimer’s

Fighting Alzheimer’s With Games

A new project, the Cognitive Fitness and Innovative Therapies, or CFIT, is trying to see if the onset of Alzheimer’s can be delayed, perhaps indefinitely by keeping people at risk for the disease intellectually and physically fit with quizzes and other cognitive challenges. Participants in the program follow an exercise regimen and a meal plan based on the Mediterranean diet, and control blood pressure and cholesterol. A recent study published in JAMA showed that people who exercised more and followed the Mediterranean diet more closely had a 35% to 44% lower risk compared with those who didn’t follow these regimens. There are also social activities at the center, since one of the risk factors for cognitive decline isn’t having friends, like a Wii station where people can join in games. People are also encouraged to take on increasingly difficult brain challenges to improve cognitive function. It’s recommended that people begin efforts to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in their 50s, and even if someone is destined to get the disease, delaying its onset for even a few years could dramatically improve quality of life.

Click here to read the full Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703416204575145921517534304.html

Breast Health

Bone Strengthening Drug May Reduce Spread of Breast Cancer

Results of a new study suggest that Zometa (zoledronic acid) may reduce the spread of breast cancer by preventing chemotherapy-related bone loss. Chemotherapy speeds up bone turnover, which releases bone-derived growth factors that can promote tumor growth in breast cancer patients. The study looked at 120 women undergoing chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. It found that among women who had no tumor cells in their bone marrow at the start of the study, 87% of those in the zoledronic acid group were free of tumor cells at three months, compared with 60% of those who received chemotherapy alone. After one year, the rates were 40% and 33%, respectively. The study also found that zoledronic acid prevented chemotherapy-related bone loss.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article:  http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/03/31/bone-strengthening-drug-guards-against-spread-of-breast-cancer.html

General Health

The Bigger the Smile, the Longer Your Life?

A new study published in the journal Psychological Science has linked the size of smiles with longevity. Researchers looked at smile ratings of baseball players and compared that with data from deaths. They found that longevity ranged from an average of 72.9 years for players with no smiles (63 players) to 75 years for players with partial smiles (64 players) to 79.9 years for players with big smiles (23 players). Positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental well-being. And big smiles are more likely to reflect true emotion than partial smiles. Previous research has also shown that people who smile a lot are usually happier, have more stable personalities, more stable marriages, better cognitive skills and better interpersonal skills.

Click here to read the full Los Angeles Times article: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-capsule-20100329,0,4042521.story

Congress Approves Public Initiatives to Prevent Disease and Encourage Healthy Behavior

These new initiatives are an effort to counter sedentary lifestyles, smoking, and eating high-fat, high-calorie foods. Some of these include requiring chain restaurants to provide nutrition information on their menus and a new federal trust fund to pay for more bicycle paths, playgrounds, sidewalks and hiking trails. There are also some provisions to reduce the toll of preventable diseases, including allowing more access to cancer screenings, which will result in catching cancers earlier when they’re more treatable. The law will also entitle each Medicare beneficiary to an “annual wellness visit,” in which a doctor can assess the patient’s condition, check for signs of Alzheimer’s disease and draw up a “personalized prevention plan” with a screening schedule for the next 5 or 10 years. The Secretary of Health and Human Services said these initiatives have immense potential to “save lives and to save money.”

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/health/policy/05health.html?ref=health

Social Networks Are a Source of Support for the Chronically Ill

For many fighting chronic illness, the Internet becomes a lifeline. Beyond finding information on their illness, people can build relationships and get the support they need to keep going. From blogs to discussion groups, social networking allows people who are homebound with illness to continue to engage with society, and some call that lifesaving. Others use the Web to find practical tips about living with their disease or disability that doctors and family members, having not lived with it themselves, cannot provide. So, for those battling chronic illness, the Internet can not only provide invaluable information, but can open the door to whole new social life. Some of the larger patient networking sites are PatientsLikeMe, HealthCentral, Inspire, CureTogether and Alliance Health Networks.  

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/technology/25disable.html?ref=health

Osteoporosis

Combat Bone Loss With…Tequila?

Not quite, but Mexican researchers have found that agave, a substance from the plant used to make tequila may help fight osteoporosis and other diseases. Fructans—nondigestible carbohydrates consisting of molecules of fructose—are found in abundance in agave, artichokes, garlic, onions and chicory. This study found that mice that were fed agave fructans absorbed more calcium from food, excreted less calcium in their feces, and had a 50% increase in levels of a protein associated with the build-up of new bone tissue. Results suggest that supplementing your diet with agave fructans could help prevent bone loss and improve bone formation. Tequila, however, won’t help because the fructans turn into alcohol when agave is processed into tequila.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/bones-joints-and-muscles/articles/2010/03/23/tequila-plant-may-help-fight-bone-loss.html

Heart Health

When Is High Blood Pressure a Good Sign?

Swedish researchers report that high blood pressure is a good indicator of long-term survival for people admitted to an intensive care unit because of chest pains that indicate a major heart problem. Scientists say even dangerously high blood pressure could indicate patients with better cardiovascular reserves; that those patients who can produce a very high response may have less severe disease or a more intact neuro-hormonal system. But this is not to say the high blood pressure should be ignored. The study found that those who were treated for their high blood pressure before being released did better. This study indicates that those patients hospitalized with blood pressure below 128 need to be followed more closely.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/heart/articles/2010/03/23/when-heart-is-in-crisis-high-blood-pressure-a-good-sign.html

Breast Health

More Exercise, Less Eating May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Up to a third of breast cancer cases could be avoided through exercise and diet, researchers announced at European breast cancer conference in Barcelona. The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that 25% to 30% of breast cancer cases could be avoided if women were thinner and exercised more. According to a 2006 British study, obese women are up to 60% more likely to develop any cancer than normal-weight women. Many breast cancers are fueled by estrogen, a hormone produced in fat tissue. Experts suspect that the more overweight a woman is, the more estrogen she’s likely to produce, which could in turn fuel breast cancer. They believe that even in slender women, exercise can help reduce the cancer risk by converting more fat into muscle. The American Cancer Society recommends 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity 5 or more days a week to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Click here to read the full Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/25/AR2010032500200.html?sub=AR

Exercise

An Hour a Day to Keep Pounds at Bay

New research has just been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggesting an hour a day of moderate exercise is necessary to prevent weight gain. The study found that less active women were much more likely to gain 5 pounds or more than the most active women. It also found that overweight and obese women tended to be less active than the healthy-weight women, and overall their physical activity was insufficient to help them control their weight. Women consistently engaging in 60 minutes a day of moderate exercise gained less than 5 pounds in 13 years. The most common activity for women in the study was walking. Researchers determined 30 minutes of more vigorous exercise like running or jogging was equal to 60 minutes of walking. And other studies have shown that physical activity can be accumulated in short bouts of at least 10 minutes each. Researchers emphasize that getting even 30 minutes a day 5 days a week is beneficial for lowering the risk of heart disease, some types of cancers and type 2 diabetes.

Click here to read the full USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-03-24-preventweightgain24_ST_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

History Is Made With Healthcare Reform

The House approved legislation Sunday night that will extend insurance coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans and improve the coverage of those with insurance. And for the first time, the American Medical Association is supporting a plan for government-orchestrated healthcare reform after having denounced earlier proposals as dangerous experiments in “socialized medicine.” Republican politicians still argue against what they call a government takeover of medicine. Using phrases like “death panels” and “pulling the plug on granny,” some see the new legislation as dependency on the federal government and the death of freedom. In any case, some notable aspects of the new bill include requiring most Americans to acquire health insurance, helping cash-strapped individuals and families purchase it through government-operated insurance marketplaces called exchanges, increasing Medicaid enrollment by almost 50%, and imposing regulations on private insurers that would prevent them from denying someone coverage based on preexisting conditions. Far from perfect, the new plan is a step toward bringing coverage to those who need it most.

Click here to read the full Medscape Today article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/718911

AMA Supports New Healthcare Legislation—for the Most Part

Considering the healthcare status quo unacceptable, the American Medical Association supports the new healthcare bill, saying people live sicker and die younger if they receive all their medical care in the emergency room. The American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics also support the new healthcare legislation, which just passed the House Sunday night. However, the AMA still finds fault with the bill. Foremost among its criticisms is its lack of a permanent repeal of Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula, which will result in a pay cut for physicians this year. The group also voices its disagreement on penalties for physicians who do not participate in Medicare’s Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and regulations that would effectively ban physician-owned hospitals.

Click here to read the full Medscape Today article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/718909

Health Screening

Are We Being Overtreated?

According to an article in the Washington Post, Americans are getting too many medical tests. A New England Journal of Medicine study suggested that too many patients are getting angiograms and the American Cancer Society cast doubt on routine PSA tests for prostate cancer. This is in addition to the recent guidelines limiting mammograms and PAP smears for women under a certain age. Some doctors, however, argue that these screenings can improve survival chances and that saving even a few lives is worth the cost of routinely testing tens of thousands of people. On the other hand, some say doctors too frequently practice defensive medicine, ordering tests or procedures to protect themselves against lawsuits. Adding to the increase in screenings are patients who they themselves demand routine tests. Patients who want avoid getting tests they really don’t need are advised to thoroughly discuss testing with their doctors, including their individual disease risks, general pros and cons of testing, and possible harms a particular test may cause.

Click here to read the full Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031201083.html

Obesity

Obesity Is a Problem, So Why Don’t Doctors Talk to Their Patients About It?

Doctors know how critical a problem obesity is, but they have a hard time talking to patients about it. A new report just released by the STOP Obesity Alliance suggests that both doctors and patients are frustrated with the conversations they’re having about weight. While most doctors know it’s their responsibility to help their patients lose weight, they often don’t know what to say because they have little or no training in weight management and nutrition. This often hurts patients, because just being told they’re overweight does little good if they don’t know how to lose it. Dr. William Bestermann Jr., medical director of Holston Medical Group in Kingsport, Tennessee, says the dialogue needs to be ongoing. For patients to be successful in weight loss, their doctor should monitor their progress, offer encouragement and coach them throughout the process.

Click here to read the full New York Times story: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/doctors-and-patients-not-talking-about-weight/

Diabetes

Eat More Brown Rice to Combat Diabetes

A new research study analyzing data from 39,765 men and 157,463 women has found that people who ate 2 or more servings of brown rice per week were 11% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who ate less than one serving of brown rice per month. Researchers say that replacing 50 grams/day (about a quarter cup) intake of white rice with the same amount of brown rice was associated with a 16% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, whereas the same replacement with whole grains as a group was associated with a 36% lower diabetes risk. Brown rice is rich in fiber and vitamins, but the process that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. So whenever possible, enjoy the benefits of whole grains by choosing brown rice over white.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article:  http://www.usnews.com/health/diet-fitness/diabetes/articles/2010/03/03/whole-grains-take-a-bite-out-of-type-2-diabetes-risk.html

Click here to read more about the benefits of brown rice: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=128

Diet’s Effect on Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have found that eating more fruits and vegetables and healthful grains was associated with a longer survival time after ovarian cancer, as was eating just vegetables. A lengthier survival was associated with eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, as well as yellow vegetables. Less healthful meats like red meat were associated with a shorter survival time. There was no connection between survival time and white meats, such as chicken, and fish, but there was more risk associated with the consumption of milk and milk-based foods. Although this study doesn’t determine why eating these foods can increase survival, it does serve to increase awareness of the effects of diet and spur future research.

Click here to read the full Los Angeles Times article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/diet-may-play-a-part-in-ovarian-cancer-survival-rates.html

Heart Health 

The Healthy Side of Coffee

A series of new studies shows that drinking coffee is generally safe for the ticker. One study has determined that coffee drinkers appear to have a lower risk of hospitalization for abnormal heart rhythms. This study looked at 130,054 members of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program who were hospitalized for heart rhythm disturbances. It found that the risk for atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) was 18% lower for those who reported drinking four or more cups of coffee a day. The study didn’t offer any reason why coffee might reduce heart rhythm problems, however. A second study found that there’s no indication that coffee causes atherosclerosis, the thickening of blood vessel walls that can lead to heart attacks and other problems. And a third study, which compared 359 post-menopausal women newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 359 women without the disease found that women who drank four or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day had a 56% lower risk of developing the condition than those who did not drink coffee. One report did find a link between drinking coffee and high blood pressure, but the effect was called “modest” and scientists say more research is called for to clarify these findings.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/diet-fitness/diabetes/articles/2010/03/02/coffee-is-generally-heart-friendly.html

End-Of-Life Care

What’s Right at the End Is Not Clear Cut

Critics argue that resources are being wasted on aggressive end-of-life treatment that’s obviously futile. But in a new article in the New England Journal of Medicine, two doctors say that in the real world, the issue is far from clear. Aggressive resuscitation efforts are common because there are some situations where futile care can be appropriate and other situations where emotions come into play—especially when it comes to children or a doctor’s own grandparent. Some doctors say that when they engage in aggressive and often violent CPR they’re treating the family at that point. But, Dr. Norman Fost, a pediatrician and ethicist at the University of Wisconsin, says that “is a perversion of what medicine’s for.” Others say that while there needs to be rational decision-making and limits need to be set, they can’t just set aside their emotions.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/health/23life.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

Obesity

The Link Between Fat and Inflammation

Obesity can be the trigger for many diseases, like diabetes. But why do some people remain metabolically healthy when they’re overweight and some don’t? New research has shown that inflammation could be a trigger. For some, their fat cells function properly and they remain healthy. For others who gain weight, the inflammation the immune system normally uses to fight infection sits inside fat tissue then spreads to harm blood vessels and spur insulin resistance. One study has found that when salsalate (one of the oldest anti-inflammatories from the aspirin family) was added to regular diabetes medication, it helped poorly controlled Type 2 diabetics lower their blood sugar substantially. Other research is trying to determine what sparks the inflammation in the first place. Results suggest fat tissue primes macrophages (immune cells that cluster inside fat tissue) to be switched on by a boost in fatty acids, starting the inflammation cycle. Continued research in this area could lead to more targeted treatments for the ills caused by obesity as well as anti-inflammatory therapies for diabetes.

Click here to read the full USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-03-02-fat-inflammation_N.htm

Diabetes

Aggressive Diabetes Treatment May Not Be the Best Treatment

Results of a three-part federal study have just been released and they showed that adding drugs to aggressively lower blood pressure and blood-fats did not prevent heart problems, but caused harmful side effects in some cases. These studies, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involve people with Type 2 diabetes. For one portion of the study, 5,500 diabetics who also had high blood pressure or cholesterol were given a statin (cholesterol-lowering drugs sold as Lipitor and Zocor). Half were also given a drug called Tricor, which lowers blood fats called trigylcerides while boosting “good” cholesterol, with the other half receiving a placebo. Results showed that both groups had similar rates of heart attacks and strokes. And TriCor seemed to help men but appeared to possibly harm women, by raising the chance they would suffer a heart problem compared to women taking the placebo pill. When it came to blood pressure, intense treatment did not reduce the number of heart attacks, although it prevented more strokes, a less common problem. And side effects were greater with the intense treatment. Experts say diabetics should focus on healthy diets and lifestyles, and take tried-and-true medicines recommended by their doctors.

Click here to read the full Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/14/AR2010031400779.html

Everything in Moderation

We’ve all heard of the “super foods.” But should your diet be solely made up of those “perfect” health boosting foods?  According to dieticians and nutrition scientists, adhering to a rigid dietary regimen is not a good thing. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Nutrition compared one diet including foods from 18 different botanical families and another covering only 5 families. The researchers concluded that only the diverse diet “induced a significant reduction in DNA oxidation.” Essentially, smaller amounts of many phytochemicals (chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants that may affect health) may have greater beneficial effects than larger amounts of fewer phytochemicals. Researchers say variety gives you wider exposure to beneficial effects scientists may not yet even be aware of and limit your exposure to possible toxins, such as toxins in some mushrooms. So, in the case of your diet, variety truly is the spice of life.

Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/diet-fitness/diet/articles/2010/02/23/why-an-all-superfoods-diet-is-a-mistake.html

Arthritis Risk

Assessing a Higher Arthritis Risk

A new study shows that inactivity and being overweight, particularly in women, may account for the high prevalence of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitations (AALs) in Americans. This study, which was published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, directly compared health differences associated with the prevalence and risk factors for arthritis and AAL between the United States and Canada. The study used data from a survey in which 3,505 Canadians and 5,138 Americans responded. Results showed that in the United States, the estimated prevalence of arthritis was higher (18.7%) than in Canada (16.8%). And in both countries, those who were physically inactive were more likely to have arthritis and AAL. Results suggest that the higher incidence of arthritis in American women may be due to a higher incidence of obesity and inactivity in those women and that public health messages promoting healthy weight and physical activity should also include messages about the possible risk for arthritis.

Click here to read the full Medscape article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/717668

Mental Health

Could a Hospital Stay Increase Dementia Risk?

A group of researchers from the University of Washington and the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill found that elderly people who were hospitalized for a critical illness had a higher risk of dementia. Of the senior citizens who were hospitalized for a noncritical illness, 40% were more likely to develop dementia than their counterparts who were never hospitalized. For those who experienced critical illnesses, that risk was more than double. Researchers aren’t quick to blame the hospital. They say the increased risk may be due to the illness that sent them there. The results of this study are being published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Click here to read the full LA Times story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/02/hospitalization-cognitive-decline-dementia-risk.html

Breast Health

Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Result in Less Access to Mammograms

If you recall, those new breast cancer screening guidelines recommended that women at average risk for breast cancer should start having mammograms every two years at age 50 instead of annual screenings starting at age 40. Since those guidelines were published, access to mammograms for women ages 40 to 49 has decreased in some states. A survey conducted by the Avon Foundation for Women has found that respondents from a fourth of the areas surveyed reported changes in their states’ early detection programs for breast and cervical cancer. Respondents said that the guidelines as well as other factors, including budget cuts, have resulted in fewer women having mammograms or the elimination of early breast cancer screening programs for women younger than 50 offered through state-administered breast cancer screening programs. Some of those states that have made changes include California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and New York. Some doctors are concerned that some women are using the new guidelines to put off breast cancer screening despite family history or risk factors.Click here to read the full U.S.News & World Report article:  http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/02/23/access-to-mammograms-drops-after-guidelines-change.html

Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer Vaccine Not So Beneficial for Older Women

According to a new study, women older than 40 are unlikely to see much benefit from a cervical cancer vaccine. The vaccine for HPV is recommended for women aged 9 to 26, and a study was undertaken to see whether older women would be protected as well. The study, which was published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that the rate of newly detected infections dropped with age — to 13.5% in women 42 and older, from 35% in women 18 to 25. Scientists say that although cervical cancer is more prevalent in older women, it develops decades after the initial infection with a carcinogenic virus. And since older women get fewer infections, the benefit of the vaccine is limited.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/health/research/02prev.html?ref=health

1. Breaking News on Brittle Bone Disease
   
2. Top Five Misconceptions about Bone Diseases
3. Vitamin D and Osteoporosis: Prevent Bone Disease

Women age 45 and beyond take note: osteoporosis is the most common form of bone disease; it occurs at a rate 60% higher in women than men, leaves bones weak, brittle and at risk of breaking. With knowledge and preventative steps you can hold it at bay.

Here are some of the other types of bone disease that can affect women:

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: This disease, known as brittle bones disease, is passed down from parent to child through genes. It causes bones to be brittle and break under light conditions, such as from the impact of a mild fall. Not only are these people at risk of developing weak, easy-to-break bones, they also are at risk of developing weak muscles, brittle teeth, a bent spine and hearing loss. The disorder causes these effects by limiting the production of collagen, a protein that strengthens bones.

Paget’s Disease: This disease causes bones to grow too large, which makes them weak and brittle. Larger bones require more calcium and collagen to remain strong, and there will be an insufficient supply in the body. The cause of the disease is unknown. People Paget’s disease often experience pain, broken bones or damaged cartilage in the joints. Men are more likely to have Paget’s disease than women, and typically experience symptoms in their legs, pelvis, skull and spine. It occurs most typically in one or a group of bones, but never over the whole skeleton.

Bone Cancer: Because cancer can occur in the bones, it is considered a bone disease. The three types of bone cancers are Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma. Oseosarcoma starts in the growing bones of young people, mainly ages 10 to 25. Chondrosarcoma is a cancer of the cartilage and doesn’t begin developing until a person has reached age 50. Ewing’s Sarcoma develops in the nerve tissue of the bone marrow. It tends to develop in younger people once chemotherapy treatment for a different type of cancer has occurred.

Good News for Nappers

Preliminary results from a new study show that an afternoon nap can make you smarter. Napping is likened to rebooting a computer to make it work smoother. The study found that after taking part in a memory exercise, the nappers performed 10% better than those who stayed awake. Researchers also found that people’s ability to learn declines about 10% between noon and 6 p.m. normally, but the nappers were able to negate that decline. It’s important to sleep long enough to give the brain an opportunity to go through various cycles of sleep, people in the study napped for 100 minutes. Scientists say napping may be valuable for students and for people struggling with memory issues because of aging. Other recent research has suggested that sleep can help you think more creatively, have better long-term memory, and preserve important memories, so nap on!

Click here to read the full U.S. News and World Report article: http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2010/02/21/afternoon-nap-might-make-you-smarter.html

Hypertension

Pay More Attention to High Blood Pressure

According to a new report by the Institute of Medicine, high blood pressure, or hypertension, is not treated aggressively enough and is not enough of a priority for the government. The second leading cause of death, hypertension is relatively simple to treat and prevent, yet one in three adults has it and the numbers are rising. Often called “the silent killer” because of its lack of symptoms, it triggers more than one-third of heart attacks, is a leading cause of strokes and kidney failure, and plays a role in blindness and even dementia. The report mentions simple ways to curb high blood pressure: cut dietary salt, eat more potassium, exercise, and lose 10 pounds. And the institute urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to push doctors to better treat hypertension, and to work with communities to make it easier for people to live the healthy lifestyles that can prevent it.

Click here to read the full USA Today story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-02-22-blood-pressure_N.htm

Diabetes

The Avandia Question

With the ongoing debate over the safety of Avandia (a drug for diabetes that may increase the risk for a heart attack), patients are left wondering whether they should keep taking it or not. Physicians urge patients to stay on whatever medicines they are taking until talking things through with their doctors. Skipping or dropping treatment altogether could worsen their diabetes. Dr. Zacharey Bloomgarden, editor of the Journal of Diabetes and a clinical professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, says he won’t put new patients on Avandia, given the controversy surrounding the drug, but he has advised patients doing well on the drug to stay on it.

Click here to read the full Wall Street Journal story: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/02/23/avandia-what-should-patients-do/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed+%28WSJ.com%3A+Health+Blog%29&mod=smallbusiness

Stroke Prevention

Smoking May Affect the Risk for a Transient Ischemic Attack

Smokers may be at greater risk for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) at a younger age versus nonsmokers. Results of a retrospective study showed that smokers who sought emergency treatment for a TIA were more than a decade younger, on average, than nonsmokers (age 56.7 versus 72.2). A transient ischemic attack is an episode in which a person has stroke -like symptoms for less than 24 hours, usually less than 1-2 hours, and is considered a warning sign that a stroke may occur in the future. It’s caused by a disruption of blood flow to the brain, which is usually caused by a blood clot, or thrombus. According to Bruce Obviagele, MD, of the University of California Los Angeles, the reason smoking appears to be related to age at presentation for TIA and not for stroke might have something to do with the clot. He says that the kind of TIAs you see in smokers might be different from the kind of TIAs or stroke in people who don’t smoke or used to smoke, because those clots are friable, or “crumbly,” and quickly dissolved.

Click here to read the full Medpage Today article: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASA/18661?utm_content=GroupCL&utm_medium=email&impressionId=1267089776285&utm_campaign= DailyHeadlines&utm_source=mSpoke&userid=220600

Weight Loss

Eat Slowly to Cut Calories

Researchers have found that eating too fast leads to eating more calories. According to a new study, people who took 30 minutes to eat ice cream versus 5 minutes, released more hormones that made them feel full. In a 2008 study in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, people consumed roughly 10% fewer calories if they slowed down rather than gobbled their food. And in a study in the British Medical Journal, those who ate quickly until full had triple the risk of being overweight. By giving yourself time to feel full, you could end up eating less than if you rush your meals.

Click here to read the full New York Times story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/health/23real.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

Weight Loss Is Harder for Middle-Agers

According to USA Today, passing the 10-pound weight loss mark is more difficult for people over 50. Research shows that hitting that wall is common, with most people dropping about 5% to 10% of their starting weight in the first 3 to 6 months. After that initial loss, losing weight takes more sacrifice. Scientists say that one reason it’s difficult to drop more and keep it off is that there’s a cascade of biological responses designed to return dieters to pre-diet levels. A hunger hormone called ghrelin increases, and a fullness hormone called leptin decreases. Essentially, your body is keeping you from losing weight. Other factors may include lower overall levels of physical activity, deeply entrenched poor eating habits, and changes in sex hormones. For women, scientists have found that they have lower metabolisms after menopause than before. And if that weren’t bad enough, there is evidence that a lack of estrogen increases appetite and can cause specific cravings for certain foods, especially carbohydrates and fats. Experts say to lose weight you need to restrict calories, 1,200 to 1,500 a day for women, and exercise. It’s important to keep track of caloric intake, because they say most people are eating much more than they think. They also point out that after you lose weight and become smaller, you need fewer calories to maintain your smaller body. So, if you’re stuck on that plateau, don’t get discouraged. Just try and try again.

Click here to read the full USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-03-01-WLCstubbornweightloss01_CV_N.htm

Fitness

Chronic Illness Sufferers May Find Peace in Exercise

Living with a chronic illness brings anxiety and worry, but according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, exercise has been shown to reduce that anxiety. The study looked at 3,000 sedentary people with chronic illnesses, who were still able to exercise for 30 minutes at a time. It found that exercisers were able to reduce their anxiety by 20%. This was true for every health problem, including cancer, depression, heart disease, fibromyalgia, except multiple sclerosis. Previous research has shown exercise effective in lifting depression, but there had been little attention paid to its calming effect.

Click here to read the full LA Times story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/02/anxiety-exercise-chronic-conditions.html

Click here to read the full study in the Archives of Internal Medicine: http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/170/4/321?home

Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk With Exercise

For sedentary postmenopausal women, exercise may reduce the risk for breast cancer. A new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has found that moderate to vigorous exercise for a year reduced levels of estradiol (a sex hormone that at increased levels can lead to an increased risk for breast cancer). Critics caution that the modest reductions achieved by exercise can’t come close to those achieved through the use of aromatase inhibitors (drugs used for cancer treatment that lower the estrogen level slowing the growth of cancers). While this may be true, for women who are unwilling, or unable to take the drugs, exercise can be one lifestyle change they can make to help them reduce their risk for breast cancer.

Click here to read the full Medpage Today story: http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/BreastCancer/tb/18490 

Study Links Soda to Pancreatic Cancer

Results of a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention showed that drinking two or more soft drinks a week had an 87% increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those consuming no soft drinks. This study was begun in 1993 and evaluated 60,524 men and women in Singapore for up to 14 years, and looked at their diet and whether they got cancer. Researchers found that those who drank two or more sodas a week, the average number was five, had the 87% increased risk. They think the sugar in the soft drinks is increasing the insulin level in the body, which could contribute to pancreatic cancer cell growth. That increase in insulin is what may be leading to the development of the cancer. While scientists find these results “intriguing,” it’s important to note that these findings were based on a relatively small number of cases and do not prove cause and effect.

Click here to read the full WebMD article: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/news/20100208/pancreatic-cancer-linked-sodas

Hormone Replacement Therapy May Lead to a Higher Risk for Lung Cancer

A study of peri- and postmenopausal women has found that combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (regimens containing estrogen plus a progestin) was associated with as much as a 50% increase in the risk of lung cancer. The study also found that the longer the women were on the therapy, the higher their risk for lung cancer—the highest risk was for those who used estrogen plus progestin for 10 years or more. The use of estrogen without progestin was not associated with an increased risk. Researchers are unclear why this is, but suggest that these results may be helpful for informing women of their risk of developing lung cancer as well as pinpointing the pathways involved in hormone metabolism and lung cancer.

Click here to read the full Medpage Today article: http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/HRT/18507

Breast Health

Aspirin May Help Breast Cancer Survivors Live Longer

According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, aspirin appears to substantially reduce breast cancer survivors’ risk of metastasis and death. An aspirin taken at least two days a week reduced breast cancer death risk by 64% to 71%. The risk for distant metastasis (whether the cancer has spread to other parts of body) was also reduced by 43% to 60%. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) nonselectively block Cox-2 overexpression, which has been linked to metastasis of breast cancer, and also lower serum estradiol. (Cyclooxygenase-2, or Cox-2, is an enzyme in the body that becomes more abundant at sites of inflammation and is produced in excess in breast cancer.) The anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin might also hold benefits against cancer; however, these benefits have not been found with acetaminophen (Tylenol). Researchers find these results promising and with further study believe that physicians may be able to recommend aspirin to their breast cancer patients to reduce the risk of cancer spread and mortality.

Click here to read the full Medpage Today story: http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/BreastCancer/tb/18489 

Diabetes

Diabetes Drug May Be Harmful to Your Heart

According to reports obtained by the New York Times, if every diabetic now taking Avandia (a drug to treat Type 2 diabetes) took a similar pill called Actos instead, about 500 heart attacks and 300 cases of heart failure would be averted every month. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the makers of Avandia say scientific evidence doesn’t establish that it increases the risk of heart attacks. However, an analysis of dozens of studies of Avandia showed in 2006 that Avandia increased the risks of serious heart problems by nearly a third. After this study, negotiations with FDA officials about how and whether to alert the public continued while GSK went on to market and advertise Avandia aggressively. In 2007, a committee of independent experts found that Avandia might increase the risk of heart attack but recommended that it remain on the market, and an FDA oversight board voted 8 to 7 to accept that advice. A Senate investigation has recently criticized GSK for failing to warn patients years earlier that Avandia was potentially deadly. GSK has now been ordered to undertake a new trial comparing how many heart attacks, strokes and heart-related deaths occur among patients given either Avandia, Actos or a placebo, but two doctors from the FDA’s office of surveillance and epidemiology, argue the study is “unethical and exploitative” because patients given Avandia face far greater risks than those given Actos with no promise of any additional benefit.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/health/policy/20avandia.html?pagewanted=1&tntemail1=y&emc=tnt 

More Good News for Chocolate Lovers

Results from a recent study being presented at the American Academy of Neurology 62nd Annual Meeting suggest that higher chocolate consumption may be associated with a lower risk for stroke and stroke-related death. They showed a 22% reduction in stroke risk for people who had 1 serving of chocolate per week and a 46% reduction in stroke mortality from weekly consumption of flavonoids in 50 grams of chocolate versus no consumption. Flavonoids are antioxidants that are found naturally in plants. Foods that contain high amounts of flavonoids include blueberries, red beans, cranberries, and blackberries as well as wine and some varieties of tea. Among chocolates, dark chocolate has the highest flavonoid content and previous studies have also shown it to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. While it’s good news that chocolate may have so many health benefits, researchers warn that the amounts that are required to affect stroke risk may bring a load of sugar and fats that may work counter to the beneficial effects. More studies are called for to examine the full impact chocolate has on stroke risk.

Click here to read the full Medscape article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716923?sssdmh=dm1.589791&src=nldne&uac=123328BV

Breast Health

Paxil Use Linked to Breast Cancer Deaths

In a new study published in BMJ, results have shown a link between the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine) and increased mortality rates in breast cancer patients over the age of 66. The observational study looked at data on 2,430 patients treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer along with a single SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) for depression. Women who took Paxil for 25% of the duration of their tamoxifen treatment had a 24% increase in risk of death from breast cancer. Patients taking Paxil for 75% of the duration saw their risk jump to 91%. However, women taking other antidepressants with tamoxifen, including other SSRIs, did not have an increased risk of breast cancer death. This may be due to the fact that unlike other antidepressants, Paxil’s effect on a particular enzyme is permanent, neutralizing the effect of the cancer-fighting drug. The lead investigator of the study predicts forthcoming warnings from the FDA and Health Canada.

Click here for the full ParmExec.com article: http://pharmexec.findpharma.com/pharmexec/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=656474

The Great Breast Cancer Screening Divide

The new breast cancer screening guidelines issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force  in November caused an uproar when they suggested that most women start routine mammograms at age 50 rather than 40 and reduce their frequency to every two years, from once a year. Now, an editorial in this week’s issue of the journal, Annals of Internal Medicine says doctors seem to be more inclined to accept the new recommendations; but patients still want early and annual screenings. In a survey taken by the journal, most of the 345 doctors who responded said they would stop offering routine mammograms to women in their 40s, and most said they would advise women 50 to 74 to have mammograms only every other year. However, most of the 241 patients who responded said they did not believe in giving up routine mammograms in their 40s, even if the doctor recommended a change, and were not likely to switch to an every-other-year routine. The editor of the journal suggested this would open up more discussion between doctors and their patients about breast cancer screening, which is what she believes the guidelines were intended to do.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/health/16mamm-.html

General Health

New Guidelines for Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection

Catheter-associated bacteriuria, or urinary tract infection is the most common health care-associated infection worldwide and is a result of the widespread use of urinary catheterization. A urinary catheter is a sterile tube that’s inserted into the bladder to drain urine, and can be used for short-term or long-term use. Among other things, it can be used for urinary hesitancy, if there’s an obstruction, for nerve-related bladder dysfunction, or after surgery. These new guidelines issued by the Expert Panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America are intended to better identify those patients who need catheterization to ensure proper placement to lower the incidence of urinary tract infections. They suggest that hospitals and long-term care facilities have policies and procedures in place for catheter insertion, maintenance, removal, and replacement to minimize or prevent infection. Overuse of catheters has been blamed for the rising incidence of infection, so the aim is to limit their use to those who really need them.

Click here to read more about these new guidelines in the full Medscape article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716906

Heart Health

Having Migraines Could Mean a Higher Risk for Heart Attack

A new study shows that people who have migraines are more like to have a heart attack. According to the journal Neurology, the incidence of heart attacks in people with migraine is almost double that of those without. There was an even higher incidence in those who experienced migraine with aura (characterized by visual disturbances such as flashes of light, zigzagging patterns or even blind spots). While the reasons why these two conditions are linked are not clear, there have been suggestions of a genetic link. Studies are underway to see whether better control of migraine can reduce the cardiovascular risk. The majority of people who have migraines are women, and doctors suggest that people with migraines should be particularly vigilant about controlling their body weight, keeping their blood pressure low, and modifying all the risk factors that are within their control.

Click here to read the full U.S. News & World Report story: http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/heart/articles/2010/02/10/migraine-linked-to-increased-heart-attack-risk.html

Can Your Heart Really Break?

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, yes it can. Broken heart syndrome seems to especially affect patients who have recently lost a spouse or other family member. It appears to have little to do with coronary artery disease, rather it is typically triggered by acute emotion or physical trauma that releases a surge of adrenaline that overwhelms the heart. The effect is to freeze much of the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber, disrupting its ability to contract and effectively pump blood. Formally known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, it mostly afflicts women after menopause, possibly because lower levels of the hormone estrogen make heart cells in some women more vulnerable to an adrenaline rush. It can be fatal on occasion, but for the most part patients recover quickly, with no lasting damage to their hearts. Doctors don’t yet understand the mechanism that causes broken-heart syndrome. Nor are there any established ways to identify people who might be susceptible or known strategies to reduce risk.

Click here to read the full Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703615904575053443911673752.html

Heart Attacks are on the Rise Among Middle Aged Women

This rise in heart attacks among women may be due to higher rates of smoking and an uptick in diabetes (most likely because of obesity). It also may be due to the fact that doctors are getting better at diagnosing heart attacks. However, a study published in Circulation showed that female heart attack patients may not suffer the typical symptom of acute chest pain. Instead, they were more likely to have weakness, breathlessness, and fatigue. Nausea, dizziness, feelings of indigestion, and back pain were also linked to women’s heart attacks. This is a problem, because many women are less likely to recognize that they’re having a heart attack and seek care. Another threat to middle-aged women’s hearts is a gender gap in recognizing and addressing risk factors that can be prevented, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and smoking. Here are five things women can do to avoid a middle-aged heart attack:

1. Recognize your risk. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death among U.S. women.
2. Know your numbers. BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, as  well as your family history.
3. Consider getting an ECG. People with one or more heart disease risk factors—such as family history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, abnormal  cholesterol readings, tobacco use, excess weight, poor diet, and physical inactivity—should get an electrocardiogram (ECG) in their 40s.
4. Upgrade your health habits. Eat right, exercise regularly, and don’t smoke.
5. Take a holistic approach.  Pay attention to your overall health.

Click here to read the full WebMD article: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/heart-attacks-hit-middle-aged-women

Risk of Heart Attack Is Greater Among Women with Gout Than Men

In a new study to be published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, research has found that women with gout are at greater risk of a heart attack than men with the disease. A fairly common disease, gout is caused by inflammation in the joints as a result of excess uric acid deposits from the breakdown of purines. Purines are part of all human tissue and found in many foods, including beer, yeast, organ meats, meat gravies, and anchovies, among others. It is generally precipitated by obesity, weight gain, high alcohol intake, high blood pressure, poorly functioning kidneys and certain drugs. Gout is known to increase the risk of heart attack in men, but little has been known about its impact on women’s cardiovascular health. This study, which included more than 9,500 gout patients and 48, 000 people without the disease, aged 65 and older, found that compared with women without gout, those who did were 39% more likely to have a heart attack of any kind and 41% more likely to have a non-fatal heart attack. The risks were significantly higher among the women than among the men who were only 11% more likely than those without the disease to have a heart attack.

Click here to read the full Science Daily story: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100207214124.htm

Seven Steps for Heart Health

The American Heart Association (AHA) has just published its National Goals for Cardiovascular Health Promotion and Disease Reduction in a recent issue of Circulation. In it, the AHA claims that most 50-year-olds who adhere to their 7 factors for heart health can live another 40 years free of stroke and heart disease. These 7 factors include not smoking, keeping a slender physique, exercising, eating a healthy diet, and keeping cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar in check. And while many of us may believe we’re doing all, or many of these things, a recent survey by the AHA showed that 39% of Americans thought they had ideal heart health, yet 54% of those had been told they had either a heart disease risk factor or needed to make a lifestyle change to improve heart health, or both. So, the AHA has introduced an online quiz to gauge how close we are to that ideal. The site also offers tips for improvement. Doctors say the quiz is a good way for people to get a handle on how they’re doing, especially since people often think they’re doing better than they actually are.

Click here to read the full MSNBC story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34953484/ns/health-heart_health/

Six Unexpected Heart Attack Triggers

If you or someone you know has a history of heart trouble, there are some surprising situations to be aware of. A recent article on MSNBC.com says that according to Harvard researchers, the risk of heart attack increases 40% in the morning. As you awaken, your body secretes adrenaline and other hormones, increasing blood pressure and a demand for oxygen. Your blood is also thicker and harder to pump because you’re partially dehydrated. And 20% more heart attacks occur on Monday mornings, probably due in part to the stress of a new work week. Public speaking engagements are not surprisingly, next on the list as extreme nervousness raises blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels. Also, apparently after eating a high-fat, high-carb meal the risk is greater, because those foods constrict blood vessels, making blood more prone to clot. The strain during a bowel movement increases pressure in the chest, slowing the return of blood to the heart and can lead to a heart attack. And last on the list is vigorous exercise, where a heart attack can occur if you’re not accustomed to that kind of effort causing stress hormones to rise, along with blood pressure and heart rate.

Click here to read the full MSNBC story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34092793/ns/health-heart_health/

Can Bad Cholesterol Levels Get Too Low?

According to recent research, few if any problems resulted from the reduction of LDL levels below the usual guidelines. For patients who are at very high risk for cardiac disease, updated guidelines endorsed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute say that LDL-lowering treatment to get levels below 70 milligrams is an option. Even those who argued against drastic reduction goals said the most valuable therapeutic results were achieved with an LDL reduction of 30% to 40% in high-risk patients, regardless of the original level.

A little bit about cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as “bad” cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol. Too much bad cholesterol can lead to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, which can then lead to heart attack or stroke. High levels of good cholesterol, on the other hand, seem to protect against heart attack. According to the Mayo Clinic there are 5 top foods that can lower your cholesterol and protect your heart. They are: oatmeal and oat bran; walnuts almonds, and other nuts; fish and omega-3 fatty acids; olive oil; and foods fortified with plant sterols or stanols. Read more about these foods at MayoClinic.com.

Click here to read the full New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/science/09qna.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y