Health (General) – Newsletter for January 11, 2011

Condom vending unit for Kerala Technopark

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Over 30,000 employees at the Technopark campus here will have a condom vending unit at their disposal in a week’s time, with healthcare firm HLL Lifecare Ltd set to install one there.

It was not too long ago that plumbers had a nightmare on the campus as toilet drains were found clogged … Original source on Gaea Times at : Condom vending unit for Kerala Technopark.

Two new drugs can slash stroke risk

LONDON – Two new drugs could slash stroke risk and blood clots for those with atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm problem, a study suggests.

Blood-thinning drugs rivaroxaban and dabigatran have proved more effective in combating the condition than the conventional treatment warfarin.
Atrial fibrillation – a fast, erratic heartbeat – affects 800,000 people in … Read more »»».

Laughter boosts chances of IVF success

LONDON – Bouts of laughter could really boost the chances of IVF success, a study says.

Professor Shevach Friedler of the Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre in Israel who led the study believes laughter helps clear stress.
He based his findings on a study of about 200 women going through fertility treatment, the journals American …. Original source  : Laughter boosts chances of IVF success.

High-sugar diets in teens ‘increase heart disease risk later in life’

WASHINGTON – Teenagers who consume high sugar foods in their diets may be at an increased risk of heart disease later in life, says a new study.

The study showed that teens who consume elevated amounts of added sugars in drinks and foods are more likely to have poor cholesterol and triglyceride profiles, making them susceptible … Read : High-sugar diets in teens ‘increase heart disease risk later in life’.

Risks linked to secondhand smoke in cars carrying kids

WASHINGTON – A new study has determined the risks associated with secondhand smoke in cars carrying children.

The authors first looked at the mixture of chemicals that make up second-hand smoke and its concentration in cars under different conditions such as volume, speed and ventilation.

Second, they looked at how long a person would be in the …. Source  : Risks linked to secondhand smoke in cars carrying kids.

Ugg boots ‘can cause fungal infections’

NEW YORK – Uggs-the trendy, flat-booted suede boots which are popular among celebs and comfort-craving pedestrians-can increase your chances of getting fungal, infection especially if you wear them without socks.

A fungal infection can result from any shoe that doesn’t “breathe,” said Mitchell Greenbaum, chief of podiatry at St. Francis Hospital.

“There are a lot of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Ugg boots ‘can cause fungal infections’.

Excess sugar may cause heart attacks later

WASHINGTON – Teenagers fond of too much of sugar in their diet are likely to face a higher heart attack risk as adults.

A study found that teens who consume elevated amounts of added sugars in drinks and foods are more likely to have poor cholesterol and triglyceride profiles which may lead to heart … Original article on : Excess sugar may cause heart attacks later.

4 hours of TV a day ‘raises heart risk’

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that spending too much leisure time in front of a TV or computer screen dramatically increases the risk for heart disease and premature death from any cause, perhaps regardless of how much exercise one gets.
Study data show that people who devote more than 4 hours each day on screen-based entertainment …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Now, a ’sports cord’ that burns 400 calories in just 20 minutes!

LONDON – Do you hate spending hours at the gym? Here’s a new exercise machine that claims to give your body a full workout in just 20 minutes and burns up to 400 calories.

The Ripcore FX is a 12-foot long ’sports cord’ which can be attached to any fixed pole, reports the Daily Mail.

To use …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Now, a ’sports cord’ that burns 400 calories in just 20 minutes!.

Anti-epileptic drugs ‘increase risk of fracture in older adults’

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that most anti-epileptic drugs are associated with an increased risk of non-traumatic fracture in individuals 50 years of age and older.

Nathalie Jette, of the University of Calgary, Foothills Hospital, Alberta, Canada, and colleagues studied medical records of 15,792 individuals who experienced non-traumatic fractures between April 1996 and March … Read more >>.