Health Doctor

No need to fast before blood cholesterol tests

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:02:00 -0800

By Lilian Anekwe

The common practice of avoiding food before having a test to measure fats, like cholesterol, in your blood may be largely unnecessary, a study suggests.

What do we know already?

Fats in the blood are called lipids. All the fats you eat are changed into cholesterol or another group of lipids called triglycerides.

If you have too much of some kinds of cholesterol in your blood, this puts you at higher risk of heart diseases. The only way to diagnose high cholesterol is to have a blood test.

Doctors usually recommend that you don’t eat anything for several hours before the test, so that all your food has had time to be digested and won't affect the results. This is because after a meal the level of fats in your blood is higher than normal.

This type of test is called a fasting lipid (or lipoprotein) profile. You can sometimes arrange to have it done first thing in the morning, before you have breakfast. But this can often be inconvenient and seem like a hassle, both for the people having the test and their doctors. It can also mean that tests and appointments have to be rearranged if, for example, you forget and eat something in the hours before a test.

Researchers have started to look at whether this recommendation is strictly necessary, and if it’s possible to have a fasting lipid profile without avoiding food in the hours leading up to the test.

In this study, researchers looked at the blood samples given by people who had lipid profile tests during a six-month period in 2011 in Canada. They divided the tests according to how long the person who gave the blood sample had fasted for, ranging from fasting for one hour before the test, to avoiding food for 16 hours. They then looked to see whether the length of time people had fasted for made any difference to their lipid levels and the results of their tests.

What does the new study say?

A total of 209,180 people were included in the study. Regardless of how long people had fasted before having the test, there was little difference in the average levels of total cholesterol and a type of cholesterol called high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

The average level of a type of cholesterol called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol varied a little more. There was around a 10 percent difference in LDL cholesterol levels between people who fasted for different lengths of time. There was also a 20 percent difference in average triglyceride levels between people who fasted for different lengths of time.

Belviq Is First New Prescription Weight Loss Drug in 13 Years

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:59:00 -0800

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

June 27, 2012 -- For the first time in more than a decade, the FDA has approved a new drug to help people lose weight.

Today, Arena Pharmaceuticals' Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) became the firstprescription weight loss drug approved by federal regulators in 13 years.

The FDA approved Belviq as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, for use in chronic weight control.

The approval is specifically for use in adults with a BMI above 30 (considered obese), and for adults with a BMI of 27 (considered overweight) or above if they also have at least one weight-related medical condition, such as high blood pressure,type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Belviq should not be used during pregnancy.

Today's move comes almost two years after the FDA refused to approve the drug, citing concerns about its safety and effectiveness.

But last May, an FDA advisory committee overwhelmingly endorsed making the drug available to people who are obese and those with health issues related to being overweight.

The drug's manufacturer will be required to conduct six post-marketing studies, including a long-term trial to look for heart attack and stroke risks, the FDA announced today.

Weight Loss Drug Targets Hunger Center

Belviq works by targeting a key area of the brain that regulates appetite, known as the serotonin 2C receptor.

This is the same appetite-controlling hormone targeted by fenfluramine, the "fen" component of the notorious 1990s diet drug combo fen-phen. Fen-phen was linked to potentially life-threatening heart valve problems in as many as one in three users.

But Belviq is much more selective than fenfluramine and much safer, its manufacturer says, because it specifically targets serotonin receptors associated with hunger.

In a study published two years ago in the New England Journal of Medicine, about half of obese people who took the drug for a year lost at least 5% of their body weight, compared to 20% of dieters who took a placebo pill, while about 1 in 5 Belviq users lost 10% or more of their body weight, compared to 1 in 14 placebo users.

People who continued on the drug for two years were able to maintain their weight loss better than those who switched to placebo after one year.

Study participants were monitored closely for heart valve irregularities, and no difference was seen in the two groups.

Poor sleep may lead to heart disease and obesity

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:07:00 -0800

Washington, Jan 20 : People who suffer from sleep disturbance three nights per week or more are at a major risk for obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease, say researchers.

A new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, analyzing the data of over 130,000 people, also indicates that general sleep disturbance (difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and/or sleeping too much) may play a role in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.

The researchers examined associations between sleep disturbances and other health conditions, focusing on perceived sleep quality, rather than just sleep duration.

Patients with sleep disturbances at least three nights per week on average were 35 percent more likely to be obese, 54 percent more likely to have diabetes, 98 percent more likely to have coronary artery disease, 80 percent more likely to have had a heart attack, and 102 percent more likely to have had a stroke.

"Previous studies have demonstrated that those who get less sleep are more likely to also be obese, have diabetes or cardiovascular disease, and are more likely to die sooner, but this new analysis has revealed that other sleep problems, such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or even too much sleep, are also associated with cardiovascular and metabolic health issues," Michael A Grandner, PhD, research associate at the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at Penn and lead author of the study, was quoted as saying.

Grandner and colleagues analyzed data of 138,201 people from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is an annual, state-based, random digit-dialed telephone interview survey of adults aged 18 years and older from all over the US. Read more...

More US women having twins; rate at 1 in 30 babies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 8 Jan 2012 10:54:00 -0800

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer – Wed Jan 4, 5:13 pm ET

ATLANTA – The number of twins born in the U.S. soared over the last three decades, mostly the result of test-tube babies and women waiting to have children until their 30s, when the chances of twins increase.

In 2009, 1 in every 30 babies born in the U.S. was a twin, an astounding increase over the 1 in 53 rate in 1980, according to a government report issued Wednesday.

"When people say it seems like you see more twins nowadays, they're right," said Joyce Martin, an epidemiologist who co-authored the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

Some increase was expected as more women are delaying starting a family until they are over 30. For some unknown reason, mothers in their 30s are more likely to have twins than younger or older women. As much as a third of the increase can be attributed to that, Martin said.

The rest of the rise is due to fertility drugs and treatments.

"You have a double whammy going on. There are more older moms and more widespread use of fertility-enhancing therapies," Martin said.

Starting in the early 1980s, couples who had trouble conceiving began to benefit from medical advances like fertility drugs and in vitro fertilization and other procedures. These treatments became fairly widespread in the 1990s but are expensive, and availability and insurance coverage varies.

The twin birth rate rose by more than 2 percent a year, on average, from 1980 through 2004. It leveled off to less than 1 percent annually although the rise from 2008 to 2009 was nearly 2 percent.

In 2009, twin rates increased in all 50 states, though the jumps were highest in lower New England, New Jersey and Hawaii. In Connecticut, twins now account for nearly 5 percent of births. Read more...

Personality Disorder Test

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 10:56:00 -0700

This test, sponsored by 4degreez.com, is meant to help determine whether or not you have a personality disorder. It is not meant to be used as a diagnostic tool, but rather as a tool to give you insight into a potential disorder that may be having a negative impact on your life. If you believe you may be suffering from a personality disorder or any other disorder, you should ask your family doctor to recommend a therapist in your area to meet with.

GO TO TEST

Diet and depression: can food help fight the blues?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 1 Oct 2011 09:48:00 -0700

A healthy diet can help reduce your risk of a range of chronic diseases, but could it also help ward off depression?
by Claudine Ryan

Most of us already know that a healthy diet can help ward off is a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.

Now a growing body of research suggests it might also boost the health of our minds – although we're only just beginning to understand why.

"Intuitively we know that our physical health has an impact on our mental health and vice versa, but it's really been only since the end of 2009 that good scientific studies have looked at the link between diet and mental health properly," says Dr Felice Jacka, a researcher at the Barwon Psychiatric Research Unit at Deakin University.

And it's raising some exciting prospects.

Food and mood

Jacka herself recently looked at the dietary habits and mental health of more than of 3000 adolescents, who had their diet and mental health measured in 2005 and then again in 2007.

As expected, the biggest predictor of a participant's mental health in 2007 was their mental health in 2005; but the researchers also found that diet quality in 2005 – either healthy or unhealthy – often predicted mental health in 2007.

Jacka says this relationship was clear, even after taking into account other variables known to affect someone's mental health, such as age, gender, level of physical activity, weight and socio-economic status.

"What we found with this study, which was very important, is that adolescents whose diet improved over that period, their mental health also improved on average," Jacka said.

She made similar findings in an earlier study, which examined the diets of more than 1000 women.

In other words it seems what you eat really matters to your mental wellbeing and might even provide a way of fighting the epidemic of depression.

"It doesn't have to be a perfect diet ... but you should try to make sure you are getting the recommended two [serves of] fruits and five [serves of] vegetables every day. You should also aim to eat your lean red meat, fish twice a week and the whole grains," she says.

Jacka admits it's hard to be 100 per cent certain that it's diet affecting your mental health and not the other way around. But the evidence is pointing that way.

"I think the burden of evidence now supports the hypothesis that the quality of your diet matters in terms of the risk for mental health problems," Jacka says.

Omega-3 fatty acids

While Jacka's interest is your whole diet, Dr Bronwyn Hegarty, a physiologist and researcher from the Black Dog Institute at the University of New South Wales, is particularly interested in the role of omega-3 fatty acids and mental health.

Omega-3s play a crucial role in healthy brain function and research has shown that people with depression have lower levels of some omega-3s in certain parts of their brain.

Omega-3s are associated with several biological processes that are linked to depression, such as growth of brain cells, your brain cells' ability to communicate with each other, gene expression and inflammation.

Omega-3s are essential fatty acids found mainly in seafood, but also in certain plants and red meat. And while most of us are no longer consuming enough omega-3s, our increased consumption of another type of fat known as omega-6s might be relevant too. (Omega-6s are found in red meat, especially grain-fed beef, and certain plant oils used in making processed foods.)

"One of the theories is that the problem that is leading to depression and other chronic diseases – especially associated with inflammation – is that there is an imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3s," Hegarty says.

Inflammation is your body's defence against external pathogens, such as microbes or bacteria. But it's believed that inflammation can also play a role in depression and other chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease.

"We're now realising that diet may be very important in determining whether you have this low inflammatory state, which seems to be, not necessarily underlying, but definitely associated with a lot of the chronic diseases as diverse as cardiovascular disease to depression and diabetes."

More Olive Oil in Diet Could Cut Stroke Risk: Study

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:57:00 -0700

By Ellin Holohan
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 15 (HealthDay News) -- Adding olive oil to your diet may reduce your risk of stroke, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that older people who used olive oil intensively -- meaning they regularly cooked with it and used it in salad dressing -- were 41 percent less likely to have a stroke than those who rarely consumed it.

The lead author of the six-year study, Cecilia Samieri of the University of Bordeaux in France, said why olive oil might help reduce the risk of strokes was unclear. But it might result from people replacing less healthful saturated fats with mono-unsaturated olive oil, she added.

"We can't infer from our study which aspects of olive oil prevent stroke," Samieri said. But "it may be a substitution effect." Thus, eating fewer saturated fats improves the health of olive oil users. Prior research had documented olive oil's anti-inflammatory benefit, she added.

Properties of the oil itself, including oleic acid or polyphenols, could also hold the secret to the oil's protective effect, said Samieri, a post-doctoral faculty member in the university's department of nutritional epidemiology. Polyphenols are antioxidant nutrients that reduce inflammation in the vascular system, according to the study. Oleic acid, a fatty acid, makes up 80 percent of olive oil.

The study is published in the June 15 online edition of Neurology.

Stroke, an outcome of poor vascular health, is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.

Strokes result from vascular bleeding or, more frequently, a blockage of blood flow to the brain. Diets high in foods containing saturated fat, such as meat and butter, have been linked to stroke.

In the study, researchers looked at how much olive oil 7,625 French people aged 65 years and over routinely used, ranging from none (23 percent) to moderate use in cooking or dressing (40 percent), to intensive use in cooking and dressing (37 percent). The participants primarily used extra-virgin olive oil, and the study controlled for stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, exercise, smoking and alcohol use.

After nearly six years, 148 strokes occurred. But those who used olive oil the most had a 41 percent lower risk of stroke, compared to those who used none. The overall stroke rate was 1.5 percent for the olive oil users compared to 2.6 percent for the others, according to the report.

A second study sample had some contradictory findings, the research noted. Oleic acid was measured in the blood of 1,245 participants. Among that group, 27 strokes occurred, with a 73 percent reduced risk of stroke found in people with higher levels of oleic acid, the study found. But the higher level was also linked to higher consumption of butter and goose or duck fat, which "may explain the unfavorable pattern of risk factors associated with higher plasma oleic acid," according to the findings.

A nutrition expert cautioned that people should not overuse olive oil in an effort to improve health because it is a high-calorie fat.

"The takeaway from the study is that a diet high in olive oil does have a protective benefit, but we need to look further to find out how much is beneficial while still maintaining a low-fat diet," said Heather Davis, a clinical dietitian at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

She said that the American diet is rarely lacking in fat, which is needed for healthy skin and hair, and for processing certain vitamins.

"We need to look further to establish an upper limit," said Davis. While the researchers were unsuccessful in establishing a numerical value for optimal oleic acid, "it's good that the idea is out there," she said.

She said it is important to continue the research. "We know olive oil is beneficial, but it would be advantageous to be able to determine a protective range in a patient's blood," Davis noted.

Funding for the research came from the French government and Lipids for Industry, Safety and Health, an alliance of academia and industry.

More information

Stop Hair Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 05:36:00 -0700

Hair loss paves the way to a immense drop in confidence ; it induces embarrassments and irritations. Even if that is the case, do not ever go for inexpensive and instantaneous remedies for hair loss. This problem should be handled with patience and one will surely succeed with time.

Natural and chemical hair loss cure products have flooded the market. The power to obstruct DHT is the first and foremost feature of any product that assures to fight hair loss. If you are wanting to know how to stop hair loss, you have a lot of choices that will also enhance your overall health.

Starting with the proper diet, a protein rich diet with fish, eggs and beans is an effective way to stop hair loss. High-fat diets escalate testosterone levels, which are linked to hair loss, therefore confine your red meat and eat thin protein foods like chicken, almonds, yogurt and beans. Bean sprouts, bell peppers, potatoes and cucumbers are rich in Silica. Silica assists the body digest vitamins.

Apart from diet, go natural with Saw Palmetto. Saw Palmetto blocks DHT, a metabolite of testosterone that is responsible for both hair loss and prostate cancer. It has been used for centuries by American Indians as a way of maintaining their skin and hair healthy. Nettle root also obstructs DHT and has been known to even give new hair growth.

One can avoid hair loss and improve hair growth by massaging the scalp at least one time a day to help improve healthy circulation and maintain follicles alive. Besides massage, if hair loss stems from physical or emotional strain, meditation can help you stop hair loss. If these natural cures do not work, there are chemical treatments that have been testified efficient, but these come with soft or severe side effects.

Chemical hair loss cure products include Minoxidil (Rogaine), which is a popular solution to hair loss. This does not need a prescription and by merely using it on the scalp and adopting the instructions, one could stop hair loss in a matter of weeks. Usual disadvantages of minoxidil include burning or soreness of the eye, itching, redness or irritation at the treated area, undesirable hair growth elsewhere on the body.
Read more....

Beyonce?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:59:00 -0700

Beyonce? No Estonian idol 2011

Simple, Fast, Effective! Weight Loss Tips!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 May 2011 07:28:00 -0700

These are just a few changes you can make to your everyday life to help you shift a few pounds. They’re easy to make, won’t break the bank, and you will soon notice a difference when you start to look and feel good!

1. Get out of the house!

Firstly, there is nothing worse for your diet or exercise regime than being stuck in the house all day. Being near that fridge is only going to make you want to snack on something. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve had is to go out somewhere. After breakfast you could take a stroll into town (avoid driving or getting public transport) and go shopping or visit some friends, or if you have kids, take them out somewhere. It’s bound to help you lose some weight and can burn a lot of calories. Also, being out of the house helps you feel better about yourself because you’re getting exercise and some fresh air, also keeping you busy so you don’t feel like eating much. When you return you’re less likely to eat a big meal for lunch because of how much better you should feel.

2. Drink, drink, drink!

I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no! Not alcohol! But water. Drinking more water is the best way to lose weight, as it flushes through your system allowing food to digest better. It also keeps you hydrated which can make you feel more awake, energised and make you feel good about yourself. It’s also good for clearing up your complexion!

3. The 3 hour rule!
After not eating for three hours, your body goes into “starvation” mode. Which doesn’t mean you’re going to starve, but it just means that your body starts craving and needing more food, even if you don’t feel hungry. Another good tip would be to eat reasonably portioned meals (not too much) every three hours to stop you becoming so hungry you start to binge. This also keeps your metabolism at a reasonable level so that your body can take in the right amounts of food and burn it healthily.

4. Don’t be too hard on yourself!

Too many people fail diets because they ban themselves from eating certain foods. Don’t do this, because you’re setting yourself up to fail. Allow yourself a little bit of the things you enjoy or you will crave it too much and binge! Nothing is bad for you in small amounts as part of a balanced diet, so just cut down on the things you feel are bad for you and increase your intake of fruit and vegetables. Easy!

5. Soups and smoothies!

Soups and smoothies are a great way to lose weight as each is low in calories, high in fruit or vegetable content and very, very filling. Eating these foods mean you won’t snack as much and will get your 5-a-day! They’re especially good if you make them yourself, so you know what’s going in them, you know you will like them and your cooking skills are bound to improve. Making food yourself is another tip, as this keeps you busy, meaning you’re less likely to snack if you can’t wait for meal times.

Stay away from energy drinks, doctors say

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 May 2011 01:59:00 -0700

In a new report, a large group of American doctors urge kids and teens to avoid energy drinks and only consume sports drinks in limited amount.The recommendations come in the wake of a national debate over energy drinks, which experts fear may have side effects.
"Children never need energy drinks," said Dr. Holly Benjamin, of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who worked on the new report. "They contain caffeine and other stimulant substances that aren't nutritional, so you don't need them."
And kids might be more vulnerable to the contents of energy drinks than grownups.
"If you drink them on a regular basis, it stresses the body," Benjamin told Reuters Health. "You don't really want to stress the body of a person that's growing."
For the new recommendations, published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers went through earlier studies and reports on both energy drinks and sports drinks, which don't contain any stimulants.
They note that energy drinks contain a jumble of ingredients -- including vitamins and herbal extracts -- with possible side effects that aren't always well understood.
While there aren't many documented cases of harm directly linked to the beverages, stimulants can disturb the heart's rhythm and may lead to seizures in very rare cases, Benjamin said.
Recently, she saw a 15-year-old boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who came into the hospital with a seizure after having drunk two 24-ounce bottles of Mountain Dew, a soft drink that contains caffeine.
The boy was already taking stimulant ADHD medication, and the extra caffeine in principle might have pushed him over the edge, according to Benjamin.
"You just never know," she said. "It's definitely a concern."
Earlier this year, Pediatrics published another review of the literature on energy drinks.
In it, Florida pediatricians described cases of seizures, delusions, heart problems and kidney or liver damage in people who had drunk one or more non-alcoholic energy drinks -- including brands like Red Bull, Spike Shooter and Redline.
While they acknowledged that such cases are very rare, and can't be conclusively linked to the drinks, they urged caution, especially in kids with medical conditions (see Reuters story of February 14, 2011).
U.S. sales of non-alcoholic energy drinks are expected to hit $9 billion this year, with children and young adults accounting for half the market.
Manufacturers claim their products will enhance both mental and physical performance, and were quick to downplay the February report.
"The effects of caffeine are well-known and as an 8.4 oz can of Red Bull contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee (80 mg), it should be treated accordingly," Red Bull said in an emailed statement to Reuters Health.
Benjamin said that for most kids, water is the best thing to quench their thirst. If they happen to be young athletes training hard, a sports drink might be helpful, too, because it contains sugar.
Read more...

Vitamins won't prevent pregnancy complication

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 May 2011 09:20:00 -0700

Alison McCook Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Despite hopes that high doses of vitamins C and E might lower a woman's risk of developing a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure, a new analysis of the evidence to date finds no benefit.

After reviewing nine studies including nearly 20,000 women, researchers found that women taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E - much higher doses than in most prenatal multivitamins - were no less likely to develop the potentially deadly pregnancy complication known as preeclampsia. Instead, they saw that women given extra doses of C and E had a higher risk of certain other pregnancy complications.

Most doctors do not suggest women concerned about their risk of preeclampsia take these vitamins, and with good reason, study author Dr. Sonia S. Hassan of Wayne State University told Reuters Health. "We are not routinely recommending the use of vitamin C and E, due to the findings of this systematic analysis," she said.

Indeed, this is not the first study to cast doubt on vitamins' ability to curb preeclampsia. Last year, a 4-1/2-year study of nearly 5,000 women found those taking very high doses of vitamins C and E were 10 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy than volunteers taking placebo pills.

Preeclampsia, which is characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine and swelling, occurs in about 5 percent of American pregnancies every year. If left untreated, it can lead to severe - and sometimes fatal - complications for the woman and baby.

Some past studies have found a connection between vitamin C deficiency and an elevated risk of preterm birth, including those caused by what's known as premature rupture of membranes -- where a woman's "water breaks" before the pregnancy has reached full-term and labor has begun.

Vitamin C has been thought to play a role in maintaining the placenta and the membranes that surround the fetus during pregnancy, possibly by limiting so-called oxidative stress -- vitamins C and E are both "antioxidants."

So researchers have been studying whether they might help lower the risk of not only preterm birth but also preeclampsia.

However, the current study - in which Hassan and her colleagues combined results from nine studies including 19,810 pregnant women - found that 9.6 percent of women overall developed preeclampsia, regardless of whether they received extra doses of C and E or a placebo drug.

It's not clear why taking antioxidants doesn't reduce women's risk, said Hassan, who is also based at the Perinatology Research Branch at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, along with her co-authors Dr. AgustÃn Conde-Agudelo and Dr. Roberto Romero. "It is likely that although oxidative stress seems to play a major role in the disease of preeclampsia, it may not play a major role in the pathway that leads to preeclampsia."

In addition, those taking higher doses of vitamins C and E were more likely to develop high blood pressure without the protein in urine and other hallmarks of preeclampsia, and to experience a premature rupture of membranes.

Women given extra C and E did, however, have a lower risk of abruptio placentae, in which the placenta detaches from the uterine wall, the authors report in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

This is an interesting result, Hassan said in an email. "The finding of the decreased risk of abruptio placentae in women receiving vitamins C and E certainly may provide some insight into potential causes of abruptio placentae and can guide areas of future research."

More than 10 years ago, Dr. Lucy Chappell at King's College London co-authored a study suggesting extra vitamin C and E could help prevent preeclampsia, but large studies conducted since have convinced her otherwise, Chappell told Reuters Health. "These findings should persuade women that they should not take vitamins C and E at these high doses."

Chappell explained in an email that her study was small, and therefore the results may have been due to a "chance statistical finding." Since the results fit all the biological theories, however, they were "jumped on with gusto," she said. However, "many initial promising studies turn out to be less so when repeated in larger numbers."
See more...

Scientists Discover 'Ultra-Bad' Cholesterol

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:08:00 -0700

FRIDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- A new, "ultra-bad" form of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol has been discovered in people with a high risk for heart disease, according to British researchers.

They found that the cholesterol, called MGmin-LDL, is super-sticky, making it more likely to attach to the walls of arteries and form fatty plaques, which could lead to heart attacks and stroke.

The discovery provides a possible explanation for the increased risk of coronary heart disease in diabetics and could help researchers develop new anti-cholesterol treatments, the researchers suggested.

In the study, which was funded by the British Heart Foundation, University of Warwick researchers created MGmin-LDL in a lab through glycation, which is the adding of sugar groups to normal LDL cholesterol, commonly referred to as "bad" cholesterol. The process changed the cholesterol's shape, making it stickier and more likely to build fatty plaques, narrow arteries and reduce blood flow and turning it into what they called "ultra-bad" cholesterol.

The findings, released online May 26 in Diabetes, could have significant implications for the treatment of coronary heart disease, particularly in older people and those with type 2 diabetes. Specifically, the researchers said, the results of their study shed light on how a common type 2 diabetes drug, metformin, fights heart disease by blocking the transformation of normal LDL into the super-sticky LDL.

"We're excited to see our research leading to a greater understanding of this type of cholesterol, which seems to contribute to heart disease in diabetics and elderly people," the study's lead researcher, Naila Rabbani, an associate professor of experimental systems biology at Warwick Medical School, said in a university news release.

5 Websites About Healthy Eat

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:22:00 -0700

We all know we should be eating healthy food ... but we all also know that it's easier said than done. Before you give up on good eating and head for the drive-through, check out these awesome websites that'll help you eat healthy.

EatBetterAmerica.com
This site "healthifies" recipes to make them lower in fat, sugar and calories. They also have weight management tips, 30-minute meals, coupons and a community where you can connect with other people to share your healthy eating tips and goals.
MyPyramid.gov
Remember that old food pyramid you learned about in school? Fugetaboutit! Today you can customize your own food pyramid with the interactive tools on this official government website. They offer daily food plans for adults, kids and new moms and lay out how much of each food group you should be eating based on your age, weight and activity level.
Self Nutrition Data.com
This user-friendly nutrition website has tons of tools to help you eat better, including an awesome nutrient search calculator where you can get nutritional 411 on just about any food, personalized recipe lists, food comparison charts and a customized daily needs calculator where you can figure out your daily nutrient requirements.
SparkRecipes.com
This site lets you input a recipe and calculates the nutritional value for you, so you can create a healthy eating plan for yourself. It also offers healthy recipes, a thriving community and fun food facts to help you make smart choices and learn how to eat healthier.
FatBurgr.com
If there's anything that'll make you think twice about hitting your fave fast food joint, this site is it. They give you the low-down on the nutritional value and calories in restaurant meals so you can make healthier food choices. (And we hate to break it to you, but that "healthy" Chicken Caesar salad you love? It's got 1010 calories! Yikes!)

51 Healthy Living Cheat Sheets to Improve Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 May 2011 07:59:00 -0700

No matter your salary, you can always take steps to improve your life and health. You don’t have to be a health care professional to learn how to live healthy. If you want to improve your life, creating a better situation for yourself, you can do so. There are plenty of resources available for you. Here are 51 healthy living cheat sheets that can help you improve your life:

Fitness

One of the best things you can do to enhance your life is to get proper exercise. Physical activity can help you feel better, and help you reduce your chance of some diseases.

Training Cheat Sheet: This cheat sheet from Men’s Fitness is designed to help you get back to strength training and get in shape if you are just starting at (or going back to) the gym.
Wii Fitness for Dummies: This cheat sheet is a great way to learn how to use Wii Fit to increase your fitness. Maximize the efficiency of your Wii Fit program.
Exercise Cheat Sheet: Shape magazine offers an exercise cheat sheet full of quick, effective exercises you can do yourself to help you get into shape.
A Time Crunched Mama’s Exercise Cheat Sheet: This are quick exercise you can do to maximize your efforts to get into shape — even if you are short on time.
Exercise for weight loss: Calories burned in 1 hour: The Mayo Clinic offers this helpful cheat sheet that lists how many calories different exercises burn.
20 Daily Activities You Can Do That Burn Calories: You can cheat on your exercise program by doing something a little more fun than just straight exercising. This list includes gardening, house cleaning, car repairs and kissing.
Calories Burned: Don’t want to do one activity for an hour? This cheat sheet will help you figure out how to burn calories the fastest, with counts for what you burn in 10 minutes running, playing volleyball, gardening or dancing.
8 Ways to Exercise While You Commute: Tone up during your commute. Here are some exercises to do while you are on your way to work.
Pregnancy Exercise – 5 Things You Must Know: Before you start exercising while pregnant, use this cheat sheet to help you do so without putting your baby at risk.

Nutrition

Eating right can help you feel better and fight disease. Live healthier with little tweaks to your diet.

Chew the Right Thing: A Nutrition Cheat Sheet: A great sheet offering an at-a-glance look at the official dietary guidelines from the USDA.
Eating Healthy One Step At A Time: Use this cheat sheet to help you make diet changes gradually so that they become long-term habits.
Cheat sheet: do what the pros do: eat more in order to lose more: This cheat sheet takes a look at what you can do to fine tune your diet so that you can still eat and stay in shape.
Diet Cheat Sheet: This basic sheet breaks it down so that you can see exactly how what you eat affects your weight.
Carb-Counters Cheat Sheet for Fruits and Vegetables: No, you shouldn’t cut fruits and veggies out of your diet. But if you are interested, here is a cheat sheet of carbs amounts for fruits and vegetables.
List of High-Protein Foods and Amount of Protein in Each: If you are interested in your protein intake, this cheat sheet can help you figure out what is in each type of food.
List of High Carbohydrate Foods: Learn about carbs, how they can benefit you, and which foods have a higher amount of carbs.
Ten Worst and Best Foods: A quick cheat sheet of some of the worst foods you can eat for your health — and some of the best foods that you can eat.
The Nutrition Cheat Sheet: A quick reference to different vitamins and minerals, where they come from, and how they benefit your body.
Dietary Fiber Cheat Sheet: Learn about different types of fiber, what they do to help you, and how you can get what you need.

Mind and Spirit

You need rest, relaxation, and refreshment. Here are some ways that you can rejuvenate yourself in order to live a better and feel healthier.

Meditation for Dummies Cheat Sheet: A cheat sheet designed to help you prepare for meditation, and use meditation to your benefit.
A Cheat Sheet for New Meditators: Use this cheat sheet to help you begin a meditation practice, or to remind you of sound meditation techniques.
Sleeping Smart Cheat Sheet: This sheet is provided by the National Sleep Foundation and offers tips to help you refresh yourself through quality sleep.
Cheat Sheet for Power Naps: Learn the art of the power nap with this helpful cheat sheet.
Bite-sized wisdom: 25 super inspiring quotes to memorize: When your spirit is in need of a lift, these quotes can help you find inspiration.
Win the Mind Games: This helpful cheat sheet provides tips for improving your brain power and staying sharp.
120 Ways to Boost Your Brain Power: Condition your mind with these helpful hints.
Tai Chi for Beginners: Get the basics of this mind/body exercise that can help rejuvenate you and help you feel a better sense of well-being.

Relationships

Good relationships are part of a happy, full life. Here are some ways to help your relationships work a little bit better.

Divorce for Dummies Cheat Sheet: Get through that divorce, with help from this cheat sheet to help you know what needs to be decided.
Relationship Cheat Sheet: Understand what it means to cheat on your significant other.
Improving Your Relationship for Dummies: This cheat sheet helps you find ways to improve your relationships with others.
The Happy Couple Cheat Sheet: Get 15 steps to help you improve your time together as a couple.
9 Marriage Rules You Should Break: You’ve heard about the “rules” of a good marriage. Here is a cheat sheet for nine that you should break.
10 Tips for Raising Children of Character: Improve your relationship with your children, and learn how to raise good kids.
Things That Make Talking About Sex to Teens Tough and What to Do About Them: Have “the talk” in a constructive manner.
Top 10 In-Laws Coping Tips: This cheat sheet can help you keep your relationship with your in-laws — and your spouse — on better ground.
How to Network Like a Pro: Use professional relationships to help you advance through networking.

Green Living

Many people feel better and healthier when they are engaged in greener practices.

15 Reasons to Eat Organic Food: A cheat sheet offering compelling reasons to eat organic food.
Organic Food Buying Cheat Sheet: Lifehacker presents this helpful cheat sheet to for reading organic food labels.
Plastic Recycling Cheat Sheet: Helpful hints to ensure that you are recycling properly.
What to Recycle Quick List: A cheat sheet that can help you see what items you should be recycling.
Going back to school? Here’s a green cheat sheet: When your kids go back to school, these tips can help make the experience a little greener.
Cheat sheet of non-toxic tips and eco-wisdom: Quick look at keeping your home free of toxins with different products.
Energy Efficiency Tips: Increase the energy efficiency of your home, with a variety of different improvement ideas, from no cost to expensive.
7 Cheap and Green Landscaping Tips: A handy cheat sheet to help you green the outside of your home.
7 Tips fro Growing a Health Organic Garden: Go green by growing your own food in an organic garden.

Disease

Are you managing a disease? Here are some ways to improve your life, even though you may be challenged in your health.

Diabetes for Dummies Cheat Sheet: This sheet looks at ways to more effectively get your diabetes under control — and maybe improve your situation.
Prediabetes for Dummies: Do your best to avoid dull-blown diabetes with this helpful cheat sheet.
Multiple Sclerosis for Dummies: Learn to live a full life, even with MS.
Living Gluten-Free For Dummies: This helpful cheat sheet can help you if you are living gluten-free for any reason (including Celiac disease).
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cheat Sheet: A look at risk factors and tips about beating this cancer.
STD Cheat Sheet: Learn about STDs, how they are spread, and treatments for them.

25 Scientifically Proven Ways to Make Yourself Smarter

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:44:00 -0700

By Tara Miller
Almost everyone would love to take advantage of ways to boost their brain power and become smarter, no matter how smart they already are. Below are 25 scientifically proven ways you can do just this. From surprising activities such as watching TV or riding a motorcycle to brain-healthy nutrition choices, try a few of these ideas and see if you notice any improvement in your intelligence.
What You Can Do
These activities all offer ways to improve your cognitive abilities, so pick up a crossword puzzle, drink some water, and listen to some music to make yourself smarter.

Watch specific types of TV shows. Outlined in the book Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter by Steven Johnson, TV shows that include certain elements such as many overlapping plot strands, a relatively large number of primary characters, moral ambiguity, and no narrative hand-holding produce benefits for the views that build intelligence. Some examples of these types of shows include E.R., Alias, The West Wing, Six Feet Under, and 24.
Play video games. Not all video games may qualify for this, but researchers showed that 9 and 10 year-olds who played Dr Kawashima’s More Brain Training on the Nintendo DS displayed "dramatic" results when looking at math improvement and classroom behavior. The number challenges, problem-solving, and memory puzzles are likely what makes this game different from some others.
Social networking. According to a study reported in Discover Magazine, social interaction boosts synaptic activity, then sleep helps eliminate any unnecessary synapses, thereby boosting the positive ones. Granted, this study was done on fruit flies, but the idea is that by interacting socially, humans are creating more synapses, therefore increasing brain power.
Ride a motorcycle. The developer of Nintendo’s Brain Training software, Ryuta Kawashima, conducted an experiment on Japanese men in their 40s and 50s who had motorcycle licenses but hadn’t ridden in years. The men were split into two groups–one riding a motorcycle to work every day and one not. The motorcycle riders showed improved cognitive functioning and they also indicated that they made fewer mistakes at work and felt happier.
Age. Researchers have discovered that as the human brain ages, several processes begin to occur to improve the way the brain functions. Older brains have learned more, use more complex modes of processing, and the two hemispheres of these brains begin to work together more efficiently. The result is that when people reach their 40s and well beyond that, their brains are just beginning to work at peak efficiency, resulting in more wisdom and intelligence.
Drink water throughout the day. Just about everyone has heard that drinking water is good for your body, but some researchers say that drinking water throughout the day keeps your body hydrated more effectively, thereby providing more of the benefits of drinking water–including carrying nutrients and oxygen to your brain.
Get enough sleep. Getting the right amount of sleep (generally between 7 to 8 hours a night) allows your brain time to process the day by strengthening memories, and the connection between neurons, resulting in better recall. Find out your optimal amount of sleep, then engage in healthy sleep-promoting behaviors such as getting exercise and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed to help boost your intelligence.
Listen to music. Several studies have shown a connection between listening to music can improve memory and boost skills in math and science. Listening to music also works to improve listening skills and focus as well as promotes relaxation.
Practice dual n-back exercises. These exercises were created by psychologist Susanne Jaeggi specifically to improve intelligence and are now available in several games, such as the open source version from Brain Workshop or a paid version for the iPhone called IQ boost.
Learn a foreign language. While most research focuses on teaching languages to young students, learning a new language at any age will provide your brain the opportunity to make new neural connections, which increases intelligence.
Practice Transcendental Meditation. This form of meditation requires practitioners to sit quietly with eyes closed while chanting a mantra. Studies have shown that Transcendental Meditation can improve the performance of high school and post-secondary students.
Stretch your memory. Learn from London taxi drivers, who must memorize all the streets in the city before taking on their job. Researchers have learned that these taxi drivers have a larger than normal hippocampus, suggesting a strong link between using memory and growing intelligence.
Work crossword puzzles. Working crossword puzzles on a regular basis keeps the mind sharp and holds dementia at bay as well. Don’t worry if you think you aren’t good at them, start easy and work your way up to more difficult ones.
Play chess. If you don’t already know how, learn how to play chess to help boost your intelligence. While many studies look at teaching students the game in order to help raise intelligence and problem-solving, it is also an excellent way for adults to do the same.

What You Can Eat ..... See more...

Sacred Heart Diet – Quick fast weight loss

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 May 2011 06:36:00 -0700

Okay, before i go into this diet in detail, be aware it IS a fad diet, however its one of the more healthy ones, and its VERY effective. I used this to kick my plateau.I would never reccomend this unless you absolutly had to kick a plateau, or need to loose weight for surgery etc (which is why i did it).
Its very hard to stick to, and i had been happily sticking to a 1200 calorie a day diet for 8 months at the time of doing this, and i STILL found it excessivly hard to stick too. On the bright side, im on day 6 now and ive lost 4.5kg/10lb.
It generally seems to deny you:
* All fats
* All Starches
* All Wheat based products
* All Processed foods

If correctly followed, it will clean out your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. After only 7 days of this process, you will begin to feel lighter by at least 10 pounds (4.5kg) and possibly 17 pounds(7.7kg), and experience an abundance of energy. (though i felt tired for the first couple days on this diet)

SOUP:

1 or 2 cans of stewed tomatoes
3 plus large green onions
1 large can of beef broth (no fat)
1 pkg. Lipton Soup mix (chicken noodle)
1 bunch of celery
2 cans green beans
2 lbs. Carrots
2 Green Peppers

Season with salt, pepper curry, parsley, if desired, or bouillon, hot or Worcestershire sauce. Cut veggies in small to medium pieces. Cover with water. Boil fast for 10 minutes. Reduce to simmer and continue to cook until veggies are tender.

This soup can be eaten anytime you are hungry during the week. Eat as much as you want, whenever you want. This soup will not add calories. The more you eat, the more you will lose. You may want to fill a thermos in the morning if you will be away during the day.

DRINKS:

Unsweetened juices
Tea (also herbal)
Coffee
Cranberry juice
Skim milk
Water, water, water

DAY ONE

Any fruit (except bananas). Cantaloupes and watermelon are lower in calories than most other fruits. Eat only soup and fruit today.

DAY TWO

All vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed with fresh raw, cooked or canned veggies. Try to eat green leafy veggies and stay away from dry beans, peas or corn. Eat veggies along with the soup. At dinnertime tonight reward yourself with a big baked potato and butter. Don’t eat any fruits through today.

DAY THREE

Eat all the soup, fruit and veggies you want. Do not have a baked potato. If you have eaten as above for three days and not cheated, you should find that you have lost 5-7 pounds.

25 Item To-Do List EVERYONE Should Be Doing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 May 2011 04:27:00 -0700

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day, and while you walk, smile.
It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God (or to your higher power or meditate) about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,
' My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________ '

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,
issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life is not fair, but it is still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don ' t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it will not spoil the present.

14. Don ' t compare your life to others. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ' In five
years, will this matter? '

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD (depending on your beliefs) heals everything - but you have to ask Him (translate to your religion).

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night, before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
You will be smiling before you know it.
Read more...

Blood test for Alzheimer’s in development

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:58:00 -0700

Testing blood samples for a natural, brain-protecting steroid could help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research.

What do we know already?

Around 750,000 people in the UK have dementia, a condition that damages memory and the ability to think. For about half of these people, their dementia is caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Although Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, it’s difficult to diagnose. It usually develops gradually, and early symptoms can be mistaken for the mild memory problems that lots of people get as they grow older.

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s at an early stage can make it easier to plan the person’s care – for example by providing support that helps them stay independent for as long as possible. Researchers are looking for new tests that can help diagnose Alzheimer’s reliably. A new study shows that a blood test may be useful in finding out whether someone has Alzheimer’s disease.

What does the new study say?

After a process called oxidation, blood samples from Alzheimer’s patients were lower in a natural steroid called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA helps the brain work and protects it from damage.

The difference in DHEA levels between Alzheimer’s patients and healthy people means that a simple blood test could be used to help diagnose the disease, the researchers say.

In blood taken from healthy people, oxidation led to a 53 percent increase in DHEA. However, when the test was repeated on blood from people with Alzheimer’s, there was a much smaller increase in DHEA – around 14 percent for people with mild Alzheimer’s, and just 4 percent for severe Alzheimer’s.

The researchers think the test works because, in people with Alzheimer’s, the body has used up the chemicals needed to produce DHEA in an effort to protect the brain. So, when treated in a lab, blood from healthy people can produce more DHEA, but not blood from Alzheimer’s patients.

How reliable are the findings?

The study looked at just 86 people. It’s not clear yet exactly how reliable the test would be in practice. The differences in DHEA between healthy people and those with the early May 12, 2011 - page 1 of 2 stages of Alzheimer’s may not be big enough for the test to accurately identify Alzheimer’s until the more advanced stages, which would limit its usefulness.

There were also signs that the test could give different results for men and women, although with the relatively small number of people in the study it’s hard to be sure.

Where does the study come from?

The researchers were based in the United States and Canada. Their study appeared in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, published by IOS Press.

What does this mean for me?

The test is still experimental, and isn’t likely to be used by doctors without more research. However, it raises the possibility of new tests for Alzheimer’s that could be used alongside the current methods of diagnosis, which include a medical history and tests of memory.

There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, although drugs can slow the disease’s progression slightly, and help the person live independently for longer without needing care in a nursing home. Getting the right care and support can also make a difference to both the patient and those caring for them..... Read more....

Is your weight a health risk?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:22:00 -0700

According to a new study from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 9 out of every 10 Australian adults are living with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Among these risk factors, obesity ranks very highly among tobacco smoking, physical inactivity, low fruit consumption, low vegetable consumption, risky alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes.

Obesity related health risks

Obesity is a serious medical condition, and in addition to increasing our risk of cardiovascular disease is also associated with a wide range of chronic and life-threatening conditions and severe health complications.

In fact, Obesity has been linked with all of the following diseases and conditions:

Heart Disease

Certain cancers (post-menopausal breast, colon and endometrial cancer)

Type 2 diabetes

High Blood Pressure

Breathlessness

Gallbladder disease

Reproductive hormone abnormalities

Sleep apnoea

Osteoarthritis (knees)

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Insulin resistance

High uric acid levels and gout

Impaired fertility

Low back pain

Increased anaesthetic risk

Foetal defects associated with maternal obesity

Abnormal lipid / body fat profile

Techniques for assessing our weight related health risk.

According to the American National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) the assessment of risk associated with being overweight involves using three key measures:

Body mass index (BMI)
Waist circumference, and
Risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity.

The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height and waist circumference measures abdominal fat. Combining these with information about your additional risk factors yields your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases.

What is Your Risk?

1. Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits. These limits include:

Potentially overestimating the body fat in athletes and those with muscular builds.

Potentially underestimating body fat in older people and others who have lost muscle mass.

Not taking into consideration weight gain during pregnancy. Pregnant women should contact a health professional to assure appropriate weight gain during pregnancy.

For your convenience, a BMI calculator is available for you to use free of charge on this website.

The BMI calculator is very easy to use and there are full instructions listed on the BMI Calculator page.

To navigate to and use this calculator simply click on this link: BMI Calculator or go to the main menu and you'll find a direct link to the BMI calculator under Weight Loss > Tools > BMI Calculator.

2. Waist Circumference

Waist circumference is a good indicator of your abdominal fat which is another predictor of your risk for developing heart disease and other serious medical conditions.

To correctly determine your waist circumference, place a measuring tape snugly around your waist at the level of your belly button.

As a general guide, health risks are said to increases with a waist measurement of over:

102 centimetres or 40 inches in men and

88 centimetres or 35 inches in women.

The table below, Risks of Obesity-Associated Diseases by BMI and Waist Circumference, provides you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference increases your risk for developing obesity associated diseases or conditions.

Classification of Overweight and Obesity by BMI, Waist Circumference, and Associated Disease Risks
			Disease Risk*
	BMI	Obesity Class	Men <102cm Women <88cm	Men >102cm Women >88cm
Underweight	<18.5	-	-	-
Normal	18.5 - 24.9	-	-	-
Overweight	25.0 - 29.9	-	Increased	High
Obesity	30.0 - 34.9	I	High	Very High
	35.0 - 39.9	II	Very High	Very High
Extreme Obesity	40.0+	III	Extremely High	Extremely High

Source: NHLBI.
* Disease risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and CVD.
+ Increased waist circumference can also be a marker for increased risk even in persons of normal weight.

3. Other Risk Factors

Besides being overweight or obese, there are additional risk factors to consider, namely:

high blood pressure (hypertension)

high LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)

low HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)

high triglycerides

high blood glucose (sugar)

family history of premature heart disease

physical inactivity

cigarette smoking

Overall assessment and NHLBI recommendations.

If you fall into the obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or overweight categories (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more of the other risk factors listed above, the NHLBI recommends weight loss.

Even a small weight loss (just 10 percent of your current weight) can help to lower your risk of developing diseases associated with obesity.

Overweight people who do not have a high waist measurement, and have less than 2 risk factors may need to prevent further weight gain rather than lose weight.

To be sure about your particular situation, talk to your doctor to see if you are at an increased risk and if you should lose weight.

Conclusion.

According to a new study from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 9 out of every 10 Australian adults are living with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

For a growing number of us, this risk factor is, or includes obesity.

Obesity is a serious medical condition that is associated with a wide range of chronic and life-threatening conditions and severe health complications.

If you think that your current weight may be putting your health at risk, you now know how to assess that risk yourself using the information and tools provided above.

As always though, in addition to conducting an initial self-assessment, we encourage you to speak with your doctor and get professional advice on the status of your most valuable asset - your health.

Thanks for visiting weightloss.com.au.

© Copyright Ultimate Weightloss.

Reproduction of this article is permitted free of charge provided that it is reproduced unchanged and in its entirety, it is accompanied by a website link back to www.weightloss.com.au and is properly credited to Weightloss.com.au.

What is pregnancy?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 15 May 2011 22:25:00 -0700

Pregnancy is the term used to describe when a woman has a growing fetus inside of her. In most cases, the fetus grows in the uterus.

Human pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, or just more than 9 months, from the start of the last menstrual period to childbirth

What are the signs of pregnancy?

The primary sign of pregnancy is missing one or more consecutive menstrual periods. However, because many women experience menstrual irregularities that may cause missed periods, women who miss a period should see their health care provider to find out whether they are pregnant or whether there is another health problem.
Others signs and symptoms of pregnancy may include:

Nausea or vomiting, morning sickness
Sore breasts or nipples
Fatigue
Headaches
Food cravings or aversions
Mood swings
Frequent urination

How do I know I’m pregnant?

A pregnancy test is the best way to determine if you are pregnant. Home pregnancy test kits are available over-the-counter and are considered highly accurate. A health care provider can also do a pregnancy test.
NICHD research in the 1970s found that high levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadatropin (HCG) in the urine were associated with pregnancy. This research led to the development of the home pregnancy test that is commercially available today.
If you think you may be pregnant, or have a positive home pregnancy test, see a health care provider.

What is prenatal care and why is it important?

Prenatal care is the care woman gets during a pregnancy. Getting early and regular prenatal care is important for the health of both mother and the developing baby.
In addition, health care providers are now recommending a woman see a health care provider for preconception care, before she is even trying to get pregnant.
Health care providers recommend women take the following steps to ensure the best health outcome for mother and baby:

Getting at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day to help prevent many types of neural tube defects. Health care providers recommend taking folic acid both before and during pregnancy.
Being properly vaccinated for certain diseases (such as chicken pox and rubella) that could harm a developing fetus—it is important to have the vaccinations before becoming pregnant
Maintaining a healthy weight and diet and getting regular physical activity before, during, and after pregnancy
Avoiding smoking, alcohol, or drug use before, during, and after pregnancy

What is a high-risk pregnancy?

All pregnancies involve a certain degree of risk to both mother and baby. But, factors present before pregnancy or that develop during pregnancy can place the mother and baby at higher risk for problems. Women with high-risk pregnancies may need care from specialists or a team of health care providers to help promote healthy pregnancy and birth...... Read more...

The nose knows: Allergy season here with vengeance

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 15 May 2011 01:04:00 -0700

By CAROLYN THOMPSON, Associated Press Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press– Sat May 14, 2:34 am ET

There may be a whiff of truth to claims by allergy sufferers who sniffle that this season is, well, a bigger headache than years past.
And now, more bad news: It's also lasting longer, prolonging the misery of the millions of people for whom spring is a punishment, not a pleasure.
Heavy snow and rain in some parts of the country have nourished a profusion of tree pollen, while a sudden shift to warm, sunny weather has made its release more robust. The deluges and, in some places, flooding have pumped up the volume on mold. Add in the wind, and the suffering skyrockets.
Warnings about the difficult season have come from allergy specialists from New York to Atlanta, Chicago to California.
"This past week has been one of the worst ever," rasped Lynne Ritchie, 70, as she bought allergy medicine this week at a Manhattan drugstore.
Dr. Stanley Schwartz hears that from patients all the time — every year, in fact, he noted with a wry smile.
"Literally, every year is the worst year," said Schwartz, chief of allergy and rheumatology for Kaleida Health and the University at Buffalo. "Now it may actually be, but when it's there and you're feeling it, you don't remember what last year was like."
What is certain is that allergy seasons in general have been getting longer and more challenging, said Angel Waldron, spokeswoman for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation.
"We do know that climate change and warmer temperatures are allowing trees to pollinate longer than usual," she said. "Although people feel things are worse than ever before, it's actually because of the longer season. It's a longer time to endure."
Pollen counts and allergy attacks vary widely from region to region, locality to locality and day to day, and no one entity tracks the full complexity of their ups and downs across the country. But everything is ripe this year for a historic season.
It's been an exceptionally rainy spring in much of the country, with several states east of the Mississippi River setting records for the wettest April since 1895. That means luxuriously blooming trees and a similar effect on mold.
"The mold will grow under the fallen leaves from last season," Schwartz said. "So if it's very wet, it isn't just the blooming plants but it's also the mold, and many people are allergic to multiple airborne allergens."
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation lists Knoxville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; Charlotte, N.C.; Jackson, Miss.; and Chattanooga, Tenn.; as its "2011 spring allergy capitals," using a scoring system that measures airborne grass, tree and weed pollen; mold spores; the number of allergy medications used per patient; and the number of allergy specialists per capita...... Read more...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:28:00 -0700

If you can not find the necessary information, use the google search on right side or see the links below:
All About Health
Best Articles
MSN Health