Health (General) – Weekly Newsletter for December 20-27, 2010

Himachal to launch free ambulance service

SHIMLA – Himachal Pradesh will launch a free ambulance service this week to provide timely medical aid to its residents during emergencies, Health Minister Rajeev Bindal said here Monday.

The Atal Swasthya Sewa named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be launched on his birthday (Dec 25) initially in Shimla, Hamirpur, Sirmaur, Solan, … Original article on : Himachal to launch free ambulance service.

The hour-by-hour guide of combating a cold before it takes a toll on you!

WASHINGTON – Is a cold taking a toll on you and you don’t know how to get rid of it? Well, don’t panic as an expert gives you some simple steps to lessen your agony.

Holly Phillips of WCBS-TV in New York gives you an hour-by-hour cold-fighting countdown, reports CBS News.

Hour 1: … Read : The hour-by-hour guide of combating a cold before it takes a toll on you!.

Beetroot juice could energise the elderly

LONDON – Beetroot juice could energise the elderly to lead more active lives, says a new study.

In tests, they required less energy to carry out low-intensity exercises after drinking the juice. The amount of effort it took to walk was reduced by 12 percent.
This could allow the elderly to carry out tasks they … Read more >>>.

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’.

Smoking may worsen cancer patients’ pain

WASHINGTON – Cancer patients who continue to smoke despite their diagnosis experience greater pain than nonsmokers, according to a new study.

Researchers at Texas A and M University found that for a wide range of cancer types and for cancers in stages I to IV, smoking was associated with increased pain severity and the extent …. Original article  : Smoking may worsen cancer patients’ pain.

Chinese wary of kids’ mats as chemical said to cause cancer

SHANGHAI – Parents in China are being extra careful while buying play mats for their children after some products in Europe were found to contain cancer-causing chemicals.

Belgium and France have banned brightly-coloured foam mats used by kindergartens and families with toddlers, because a recent study said formamide chemicals – used to soften the foam …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chinese wary of kids’ mats as chemical said to cause cancer.

Haiti cholera toll rises to 2,591

Port-au-Prince, Dec 22 (IANS/EFE) The toll in the deadly cholera epidemic in Haiti has risen to 2,591, officials said.

Since the cholera epidemic struck the poverty-stricken Caribbean country in mid-October, 121,518 people have been affected by the outbreak – of whom 63,711 were hospitalised, according to a latest report from the health ministry released Tuesday.
… Original source on Gaea Times at : Haiti cholera toll rises to 2,591.

Cambridge University students paid 250 pounds to take rave drug ketamine

LONDON – Students from Cambridge University were paid 250 pounds to take part in a psychiatric study where they were injected with rave drug ketamine.

The research was carried out by the Department of Psychiatry to look at different treatments for schizophrenia.

People who suffer from mental illnesses …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

No Speech or Swallowing Problem after Head & Neck Cancer Therapy

NEW YORK (GaeaTimes.com) — Most head and neck cancer patients can speak and swallow after undergoing combined chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but several factors may be associated with poor outcomes, researchers have found.
The study came out as a result of three years of detection. The U.S. researchers gave a speaking score of 1 through …. Source article  : No Speech or Swallowing Problem after Head & Neck Cancer Therapy.

New weight-loss mantra for teens: ditch the diet shakes and bars

NEW YORK – If you are an obese teen looking to shed those pounds – here’s a tip – ditch those diet bars and shakes, according to a new study.

Dr. Robert L. Berkowitz of the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia tested … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : New weight-loss mantra for teens: ditch the diet shakes and bars.

Malaria-infected cells stiffen, block blood flow to brain and other organs

WASHINGTON – For the first time, scientists have shown the malaria parasite’s journeys in the body using advanced computer modeling and laboratory experiments.

Researchers at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology demonstrated how malaria parasites change red blood cells and how the infected cells impede blood flow to … Read more : Malaria-infected cells stiffen, block blood flow to brain and other organs.

Cancer-causing Chromium Detected in the Tap Water of 31 Cities in US

LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com) — A study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) revealed that tap water of nearly 31 cities contain deadly hexavalent chromium, a chemical that is believed to cause cancer.
The EWG investigated 35 cities and it stated that at least 74 million people in 42 states regularly drink chromium-tainted water, and a … Read : Cancer-causing Chromium Detected in the Tap Water of 31 Cities in US.

Connie Culp Nation’s First Full Face Transplant Patient

NEW YORK (GaeaTimes.com) — Connie Culp, recipient of first U.S. face transplant met with the family of the donor who blessed her with a new face.
Culp, a 47-year-old mother and grandmother, underwent the first full face transplant surgery in the U.S. in Dec. 2008 at the Cleveland Clinic. Before the surgery, Culp couldn’t walk … Read more >>>.

NGO files petition to ban junk food in schools

NEW DELHI – In an effort to encourage healthier eating habits in children, an NGO here has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court to ban the sale of junk food and carbonated drinks in and around schools across the country.

“On the one hand, children are taught in the classroom … Original source on Gaea Times at : NGO files petition to ban junk food in schools.

Discovery suggests new way to prevent HIV from infecting human cells

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered how HIV binds to and destroys a specific human antiviral protein called APOBEC3F.

The results suggest that a simple chemical change can convert APOBEC3F to a more effective antiviral agent and that shielding of a common feature …. Read the original article  : Discovery suggests new way to prevent HIV from infecting human cells.

Cancer-causing chemical found in tap water of 31 US cities

WASHINGTON – Hexavalent chromium, an industrial chemical and a major health risk highlighted in the movie “Erin Brockovich” in 2000, continues to haunt Americans. A national survey has found that the drinking water in 31 US cities is contaminated with the substance.

The award-winning film recounts the legal battle waged by residents of Hinkley, California …. Read the original article  : Cancer-causing chemical found in tap water of 31 US cities.

American ’stroke belt’ fuelled by too much of fried fish

WASHINGTON – Fried fish is a major reason as to why people in Alabama and across the “stroke belt” states are likelier than other Americans to die of a stroke, according to a new study.

The REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) trial led by George Howard at the University of Alabama at … Read more »»».

Arsenic-based agent shuts down hard-to-treat cancers

WASHINGTON – An arsenic-based agent already FDA-approved for a type of leukemia may be helpful in another hard-to-treat cancer, Ewing’s Sarcoma (ES), say scientists at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The research, based on animal studies, also suggests the drug might be beneficial in treating medulloblastoma, a highly malignant pediatric brain cancer.

The investigators described … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Arsenic-based agent shuts down hard-to-treat cancers.

Designer probiotics could help in the fight against obesity

WASHINGTON – Scientists from the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC), Cork, University College Cork and Teagasc, in Ireland say that specially designed probiotics can modulate the physiology of host fat cells.

According to researchers, the findings could lead to specialised probiotics that have a role in the prevention or treatment of conditions such as obesity.cientists engineered a …. Read the original article  : Designer probiotics could help in the fight against obesity.

Eating habits that ensure a longer life

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that the leading causes of death are no more infectious diseases but chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer – which may be affected by food habits.

Researchers investigated eating patterns of over 2500 adults between the ages of 70 and 79 over a ten-year period and found …. Source  : Eating habits that ensure a longer life.

Mercury makes eco-bulbs ‘a health hazard for babies and pregnant’

LONDON – The European Union is phasing out the traditional ‘incandescent bulbs’ used for more than 120 years and is forcing people to switch to low-energy alternatives to meet its climate change targets.

However, energy-saving light bulbs are at the centre of a fresh health scare after researchers claimed that these bulbs could release potentially …. Source  : Mercury makes eco-bulbs ‘a health hazard for babies and pregnant’.

Mike Huckabee defends Michelle Obama in food fight with Sarah Palin

WASHINGTON – Potential Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has defended US First Lady Michelle Obama on her push to combat childhood obesity.

He said Sarah Palin was wrong to mock the first lady’s fight against childhood obesity in the latest episode of her reality TV show ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’, reports the Politico.

“With all due respect to …. Original article  : Mike Huckabee defends Michelle Obama in food fight with Sarah Palin.

Obese people likelier to report exercise as trigger for asthma: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that obese people are likelier to report exercise as the trigger for asthma.

“Compared with normal-weight participants, patients who were overweight or obese were more likely to report ETA (exercise-induced asthma),” said Simon Bacon, a professor at the Concordia Department of Exercise Science and a researcher at the Hopital … Original source on Gaea Times at : Obese people likelier to report exercise as trigger for asthma: Study.

Nagging partners ‘can give you heartache’

WASHINGTON – Nagging from a partner significantly increases the risk of suffering angina, the precursor to coronary artery disease, according to a new study.

Dealing with worries from children and other family members also adds to the burden, researchers said.

Previous research has indicated that rewarding personal relationships are a boost for heart health, so authors wanted …. Read the original article  : here.

Alternative remedies can be fatal for children

LONDON – Using alternative remedies for children can be fatal, experts have warned.

Parents can be misled into believing that treatments such as homeopathy are more ‘natural’, with fewer side-effects than conventional allopathic drugs, a new study says.
But they may have direct dangerous effects, and even lead to death, when substituted for effective conventional … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Alternative remedies can be fatal for children.

Honey, a sweet way of getting you over hangovers

LONDON – Scientists claim that a natural sweetener like honey is a great way to deal with the toxic effects of a hangover.

The Royal Society of Chemistry claims that the fructose in the honey – which is also found in golden syrup – is essential to help the body break down alcohol into …. Original source  : Honey, a sweet way of getting you over hangovers.

Neurosurgeon Indrajit Roy will be new sheriff of Kolkata

KOLKATA – Eminent neurosurgeon Indrajit Roy will be the new sheriff of Kolkata, West Bengal government sources said here Friday.

Roy will take over from the incumbent noted journalist Utpal Chatterjee next month, Law Minister Rabilal Moitra told IANS.
“I have been hearing about this. But I am yet to see …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Neurosurgeon Indrajit Roy will be new sheriff of Kolkata.

Beware! Your partner’s nagging could invite heartache

LONDON – This could be a valid reason for your partner to stop nagging — it significantly increases your risk of suffering angina.

Angina is a pain or discomfort in the chest and is usually caused by coronary heart disease. Some might experience focused pain only in arm, neck, stomach or jaw.
While … Original source on Gaea Times at : Beware! Your partner’s nagging could invite heartache.

How physical activity grows a healthy heart

WASHINGTON – We all know that exercise comes with metabolic and cardiovascular benefits, but little is understood about how physical activity influences the heart itself.

Now, a new study offers some of the first molecular-level insights.

The studies in mice has suggested that exercise turns on a genetic program that leads the heart to …. Read the original article  : here.

Sticking to a vegetarian diet may be good for kidney disease patients

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that sticking to a vegetarian diet can help kidney disease patients avoid accumulating toxic levels of phosphorous in their bodies.

Kidney disease patients must limit their phosphorous intake, as high levels of the mineral can lead to heart disease and death.

While medical guidelines recommend low phosphorus diets for patients …. Read the original article  : Sticking to a vegetarian diet may be good for kidney disease patients.

You are what your father ate

WASHINGTON – Environmental influences, including diet, that a father experiences can be transmitted to his offspring, “reprogramming” the latter’s genes.

A study has thrown up new evidence that environmental cues influence genes in mammals from one generation to the next.
These insights, coupled with previous human studies, suggest that paternal environmental effects may play …. Read the original article  : here.

Chinese students hospitalised after eating noodles

BEIJING – Over 20 students in China’s Heilongjiang province fell sick after eating noodles in school and had to be rushed to hospital, officials said Friday.

The students of Deqiang Primary and Secondary School in Harbin began suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea at about 4 p.m. Thursday, said Wei Jinghai, a school supervisor.
The students … Read more : Chinese students hospitalised after eating noodles.

Yoga terrible for your knees, Indian doctor warns

LONDON – Performing yoga on a regular basis could hurt your knees, an Indian orthopaedic surgeon has warned.

Dr Ashok Rajgopal said that he has seen a higher incidence of joint and bone ailments among the followers of the practice and has performed knee replacement surgery on a number of leading yoga gurus.

His warning has challenged … Read more : Yoga terrible for your knees, Indian doctor warns.

Chhattisgarh improves infant mortality rate

RAIPUR – Chhattisgarh government Thursday said it had brought down the infant mortality rate and credited its health welfare schemes for the success.

“The infant mortality rate has come down to 57 per 1,000 cases while it was 79 per 1,000 cases at the time of the creation of the state in November 2000,” a …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Chhattisgarh improves infant mortality rate.

Madhya Pradesh under hazardous wastes threat

BHOPAL – If you think Union Carbide is the only hub of hazardous wastes in Madhya Pradesh, you are in for a shock. There are seven other sites where tonnes of hazardous wastes have been posing a threat to people’s health for over a decade.

The Right to Information Act (RTI) has helped reveal that …. Original source  : Madhya Pradesh under hazardous wastes threat.

Pakistani girl undergoes sex change operation

ISLAMABAD – A 13-year-old Pakistani girl underwent a successful sex change operation after doctors said her physiology was that of a male.

The teenaged girl, Aisha, was brought to the Hafizabad district headquarters hospital in Punjab province after she complained of chronic pain in her stomach.
Zahoor Ahmed, a urologist, examined her and told her … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pakistani girl undergoes sex change operation.

Risk of Angina Pain Increases with Increase in Family Stress

NEW YORK (GaeaTimes.com) — If your life is entangled with stress related to personal relationships like relation with your spouse or children then that may increase the risk of heart disease, a new study found.
Family worries and unhealthy relationships can elevate the risk for developing the severe chest pain condition known as angina. Researchers … Original source on Gaea Times at : Risk of Angina Pain Increases with Increase in Family Stress.

Buying breast milk online not safe, warn experts

NEW YORK – Experts have raised concerns over the safety of breast-milk that is being sold over the Internet.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning saying that breast milk bought via the Internet or through individual may not be wise.

Online forums like OnlytheBreast.com and EatsonFeets.org allow moms who make more breast milk than …. Source article  : Buying breast milk online not safe, warn experts.

Madhya Pradesh tops child mortality, malnutrition rates

BHOPAL – Madhya Pradesh tops the child mortality and malnutrition rates among children in the country, a central health ministry report has said.

The latest report of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) says that Madhya Pradesh has also fared poor in the mother mortality rate, remaining behind three states.
According to the NRHM, which … Read more »»».

Life-saving test developed for pregnant women

LONDON – Scientists have developed a life-saving test that can predict which woman with high blood pressure in pregnancy will go on to have complications.

Pre-eclampsia affects up to one in 10 pregnant women, causing high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Eclampsia is a condition where the mother may suffer seizures, fall …. Read the original article  : Life-saving test developed for pregnant women.

Obese People More Prone to Die in Car Accidents

NEW YORK (GaeaTimes.com) — The rise in obesity is now a major concern across the world and its already an epidemic. Now already obesity is linked with causing many chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and gallbladder disease. Adding to this dilemma a team of medical experts have found that obese … Original article on : Obese People More Prone to Die in Car Accidents.

Briton delivers baby – with internet tips on his iPhone

LONDON – A man who was stuck at his snowed-in home in Britain helped deliver his girlfriend’s baby by checking the internet on his iPhone.

Chris Corfield used his phone to look online for tips on how to deliver a baby when his girlfriend Jenni Visser went into labour at their home in Southport, Merseyside, …. Original article  : Briton delivers baby – with internet tips on his iPhone.

Coming soon, do-it-yourself kit for genetic testing

NEW DELHI – A mobile phone-like device will soon rule out a patient’s need to visit a pathological lab for detection of genetic disorders and also do away with the prolonged wait for a forensic expert’s report to find clues about criminals.

Unlike the traditional method which requires high expertise as well as complicated equipment …. Read the original article  : Coming soon, do-it-yourself kit for genetic testing.

iPods filled with music could help patients recover from ops faster

LONDON – Apple iPods loaded with patients’ favourite music could help them recover from operations faster.

A trial will be conducted to test the theory that patients allowed to listen to music feel less pain, need less medication and leave hospital sooner after surgery, reports the Daily Express.

The trial would involve about 120 patients at Barts …. Source article  : iPods filled with music could help patients recover from ops faster.

Motivational interviewing for smoking cessation may not be best option

WASHINGTON – Experts have suggested that motivational interviewing, a popular counseling technique for many addictive behaviors, might not be the ideal treatment choice for those who smoke cigarettes.
eter S. Hendricks, a University of Alabama at Birmingham researcher, says the reason might be, well – motivation.

He says that motivational interviewing produced only modest improvement for people … Read : Motivational interviewing for smoking cessation may not be best option.

Reach your ideal weight by writing what you eat

WASHINGTON – If you’re trying to shed those extra pounds and hitting the gym and dieting have failed to work, then try this.

The first step to reaching your ideal weight may be as simple as writing it down.

Putting a pen to paper and keeping a daily journal of meals and snacks is one of the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Here are 6 tips to kick start weight loss in the New Year

WASHINGTON – Now experts from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center can help you stick to that New Year’s resolution of losing weight if you just follow these six tips.

1. Keep moving each day: all it takes to see a weight-loss benefit is 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity daily.

“You don’t need to be athletic. …. Source article  : Here are 6 tips to kick start weight loss in the New Year.

Chilean woman found carrying brainless foetus

Santiago, Dec 26 (IANS/EFE) A Chilean woman, who is 36 weeks pregnant, has been found to carry a foetus which has no brain.

After learning about her baby’s condition, Claudia Pizarro, who also suffers from cancer of the uterus, has appealed to a court to let her undergo a therapeutic abortion.
Pizarro presented an appeal … Read more »».

China sets up bank to freeze eggs of women cancer patients

SHANGHAI – China will set up an egg bank for women suffering from cancer to store their ovum in freezer so they can have babies before undergoing chemotherapy or a surgery, which could damage their reproductive ability.

The authority has plans to set up the bank in three years, China Daily reported, quoting the Shanghai … Original source on Gaea Times at : China sets up bank to freeze eggs of women cancer patients.

Himachal Pradesh launches free ambulance service

SHIMLA – Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Saturday launched a free ambulance service here to provide timely medical aid to people in emergencies.

With this launch, the residents in Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una, Hamirpur, Kangra and Bilaspur districts would be able to get round-the-clock ambulance service by calling at a toll free … Original source on Gaea Times at : Himachal Pradesh launches free ambulance service.

China’s sex advice clinic shuts as shy youths go online

SHANGHAI – A health clinic in China providing free advice on sex-related problems to youngsters was closed after five years as it failed to attract enough visitors.

The clinic, which operated under the Shanghai International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital, was set up to provide free sex advice and condoms to people aged 15-24.
…. Source article on Gaea Times at  : China’s sex advice clinic shuts as shy youths go online.