Health (General) – Newsletter for December 21, 2010

Features of metabolic syndrome prevalent in people with psoriasis

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that people with psoriasis have a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.

The features that make up metabolic syndrome include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and high total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, according to background information in the … Read more : Features of metabolic syndrome prevalent in people with psoriasis.

Antibiotic used in meat, dairy industry slows prostate cancer growth

WASHINGTON – Finnish researchers have found that an antibiotic called ‘monensin’, used in the meat and dairy industry, could slow the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Evidence pointing to the effects of monensin emerged in a project investigating the effects of nearly … Read more >>.

Why a whole orange is better for you

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the Brigham Young University are squeezing all the healthy compounds out of oranges to find the right mixture responsible for their age-old health benefits.

The popular stocking stuffer is known for its vitamin C and blood-protecting antioxidants, but researchers wanted to learn why a whole orange is better for you than …. Original article  : Why a whole orange is better for you.

Cholesterol busting drugs might be bad for you

LONDON – Millions of people worldwide take cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins to prevent heart attacks and strokes but a new study questions whether they actually work.

Hailed as ‘wonder pills’ by doctors and drug companies, other new evidence has linked statins with severe depression and suicide.
Statins are prescribed to anyone who …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Carcinogen in ‘Erin Brockovich’ found across 31 US cities

LONDON – The domestic tap water of 31 out of 35 US cities, which were surveyed, contains hexavalent chromium — the probable carcinogen made famous by the film “Erin Brockovich”.

The chemical has been linked to leukaemia in animals as well as liver and kidney damage.
The first nationwide analysis of the chemical … Read more »»».

Burning brown fat could be the key to tackling obesity

WASHINGTON – A new discovery may pave way for treating obesity not just by diet and exercise, but simply by burning the right kind of fat – brown fat.

Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified progenitor cells in mouse white fat tissue and skeletal muscle that can be transformed into brown fat cells.

“It’s particularly exciting … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Burning brown fat could be the key to tackling obesity.

High Spirited People have Higher Risk of Obesity & Depression

KOLKATA, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com) — You are a chilledout person with high spirits and no stress can or tensions can let your spirits down but beware of the fact that your health cab be let down by the risk of obesity and depression. It’s surprising but true that people who are cheerful and underreacts to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Nasal congestion ‘can be a sign of severe asthma’

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that nasal congestion can be a sign of severe asthma.

This means that healthcare professionals should be extra vigilant when it comes to nasal complaints.

Furthermore, more severe asthma appears to be more common than previously thought, reveals a study …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Acid suppressive drugs may increase pneumonia risk

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that using acid suppressive medications, such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine2 receptor antagonists, may increase the risk of pneumonia.

Acid suppressive drugs are the second leading medication worldwide, totaling over US 26 billion dollars in sales in 2005.

The systematic review incorporated all relevant studies on the association of …. Read the original article  : Acid suppressive drugs may increase pneumonia risk.

Echinacea ‘does not ward off common cold’

WASHINGTON – Echinacea has been used by many as a common cold remedy for years, but a new study has revealed that the herbal treatment has minimal effect in relieving the symptoms or shortening the duration of the illness.

Echinacea, a wild flower (also known as the purple coneflower), is …. Source article  : Echinacea ‘does not ward off common cold’.