Posts from — May 2009

Health Tip – Audio Version - Happy and healthy
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step: Mind-Body Medicine: An Overview (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health)

You
might be happy you’re avoiding a cold, and you might be avoiding a cold
because you’re happy. One researcher says people with more positive
emotions tend to be sick less.

Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University looked into that. Their
study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine was supported by the
National Institutes of Health.

The scientists interviewed volunteers over several weeks to check
out their usual mood state, and then infected the volunteers with a
cold or a flu virus. The volunteers stayed in isolation while
researchers saw who got symptoms that looked like a cold.

Carnegie Mellon’s Sheldon Cohen:

“The higher people are in positive emotional style – the more
positive emotions they reported over the three-week period – the less
likely they are to develop a cold when we exposed them to a virus.”

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 19 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - Weight on the knees

Health Tip – Healthy Next Step: Growing Stronger – Strength Training for Older Adults: Why Strength Training? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Osteoarthritis
can make a person literally weak in the knees. Besides the joint
disease itself, pain can discourage people from working out for muscle
strength.

Researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis saw
what happened when people with moderate to severe osteoarthritis weight
trained. Their study, which was supported by the National Institutes of
Health, was published in Arthritis Care and Research.

Weight trainers seemed to keep more cushioning cartilage in their
knees, and lost less strength, than non-exercisers. The effect wasn’t
strong enough to be sure. But researcher Alan Mikesky says people with
osteoarthritis can perform strength- training exercises without
increases in symptoms.

“It appears to be very well tolerated if it’s structured the weight
you are lifting is sufficient to challenge you over eight to 10 reps.”

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last rSevised: January, 18 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - Do what the feds do
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step: The HealthierFeds initiative: HealthierFeds Through Healthier Workplaces (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)

Many federal employees want a leaner workforce, starting with them. Like the rest of us, they struggle with weighing too much and exercising too little.

So the government is doing something about it. 2007 is the Year of the Healthier Fed. Employees, retirees, family members and contractors can start by doing 30 minutes or more of physical activity at least five days a week for six weeks.

A Web site, healthierfeds.gov, offers them help

Not a fed? The executive director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Melissa Johnson, says you can join in, too. Just log onto presidentschallenge.org and get started.

“It’s the exact same program as for federal employees; Individuals, families, organizations, and communities can all log on, track and monitor activity, and work towards presidential awards. So it’s for everyone.”

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 23 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - Low fat and breast cancer
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step: Reduced Levels of Fat in the Diet May Decrease the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence According to New Clinical Trial (National Cancer Institute)

A
low-fat diet is not easy for many people to live with. But a study
indicates it could help protect some women’s lives. These are women who
have been through menopause, who had breast cancer that was caught
early, and who got the standard treatments doctors recommend.

Women in the study got 20 percent or less of their calories from fat. About 30 percent is more typical in America.

Researchers followed them followed them about five years. The study,
supported by the National Institutes of Health, was in the Journal of
the National Cancer Institute. Rowan Chlebowski of Harbor View-UCLA
Medical Center gave an update at the San Antonio Breast Cancer
Symposium in Texas:

“They had 22 percent fewer recurrences, which is borderline
statistically significant, and perhaps more importantly, 22 percent
less risk of dying.”

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 25 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - What a difference
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step:Mental Illness – What a Difference a Friend Makes (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administratio)

Close to one in five 18- to-25-year-olds have experienced serious psychological distress. But this is the least likely age group to seek help for mental problems. So HHS experts, working with the Ad Council, are showing how to support friends with mental health problems and the critical role that friendship plays in recovery.

A series of ads, including TV and radio spots, gives those friends some guidance – simple things, like remembering that a mental illness is just that, an illness, and people who have it should not be stigmatized by it.

Acting U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu:

“Sometimes the best medicine of all is the support and understanding of friends.”

HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has tips at whatadifference.org.

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 25 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - Weighted odds
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step:Obesity and Cancer: Questions and Answers (National Cancer Institute)

Weighing way too much may tilt the odds against a colon cancer patient. A study finds that, even after successful medical treatment, obese patients had a greater risk that the cancer would return – and that they could die.

James Dignam of the University of Chicago looked over data on close to 4,300 patients. The study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute was supported by the institute.

“Very obese individuals – that is, those with body mass index 35 or greater – had about a 40 percent greater risk of colon cancer recurrence.”

It’ll take more work to figure out exactly what’s going on. So Dignam can’t be sure if obese people can lower their risk by losing weight. But he says weight control is a good idea, and worth trying for good health in general.

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 25 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - Mind games
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step: Mental Exercise May Aid Aging Minds (National Cancer Institute)

Work
on your muscles, and you won’t lose as much muscle as you grow older.
And it appears that the same can be said about the mind.

Researchers found this when they had people 65 and older take
training in one of three areas – memory, reasoning and basically
responding fast. The research in the Journal of the American Medical
Association was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Sherry Willis of Penn State says 10 sessions of an hour or more each
made a difference. Even five years later, trained people were better
off than those who were not trained.

But Willis says it’s not just training – it’s doing.

“Older adults really can continue to exercise mentally and to
improve their cognitive abilities. But it’s just like physical
exercise. You have to do it consistently and diligently.”

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 26 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - Cold comfort for hot flashes
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Treatment and Talking to your Doctor (Womenshealth.gov)

When it was put to a key test, the herbal supplement black cohosh didn’t live up to its reputation for relieving hot flashes and night sweats of menopause. A study found it no better than fake medication.

Katherine Newton of the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle did the comparisons. Her study, in Annals of Internal Medicine, was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

“Our finding wasn’t a surprise. We weren’t sure when we began the study whether black cohosh worked or didn’t work. We were disappointed, in that it would be nice to have a safe and effective treatment for hot flashes in women.”

Hormone replacement therapy did reduce symptoms. But other studies have linked forms of hormone replacement therapy with higher risks of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 30 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - Lead hurts
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step:General Lead Information: Questions and Answers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Evidence of the damage that lead can do to a kid keeps growing. One study finds kids who had higher blood-lead levels during childhood seem to have more accidental injuries.

Amit Bhattacharya of the University of Cincinnati surveyed teens. The work in the Journal of Adolescent Health was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

Bhattacharya says injuries were more common among teens who had higher blood lead levels as kids. Falls, for instance:

“Falls – loss of balance – as the leading event to the injury was significantly related to historical blood lead levels. That accounted for 46 percent of the injuries.”

Bhattacharya says these teens will have to be careful, but everyone should be wary of the risks of lead.

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 30 2007

Health Tip – Audio Version - Growing toward trouble

Health Tip – Healthy Next Step: Helping Your Overweight Child (National Institutes of Health)

Too
much weight, out-of-balance cholesterol and blood sugar, and
above-normal blood pressure – a menu of troubles known as metabolic
syndrome – is a sign an adult could develop diabetes or heart disease.
But a study indicates even youngsters could risk metabolic syndrome.

Penn State researcher Alison Ventura says girls with signs of
metabolic syndrome at 13 had shown hints of trouble as young as five.

“Those girls with profiles indicating they are at higher risk for
developing metabolic syndrome had a greater change in their weight
status and accelerated fat gain across ages five to 13.”

Ventura says parents need to watch their kids for excess or
above-normal weight gain, and limit intakes of high-calorie food and
drinks.

The study in the journal Pediatrics was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: February, 02 2007