HEALTH CARE

Keeping your bones healthy (part2)

2011-06-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

Bicep curls

Hold weights with arms by your sides and palms facing forward. Bend your elbows and bring hands level with your shoulders. Slowly lower hands back to the starting position. Keep your elbows fixed at your sides throughout the exercise. Complete three sets of 12.

Tricep dips

Sit on a chair, rest your hands on either side of you, and place your fingers over the edge. Let your arms take your body weight and slide your bottom off the chair. Position your feet about a metre away from the chair, and slowly lower your body down towards the floor.

Keep your elbows in tight to your body and pointing backwards. Push with your arms and straighten your elbows. Complete three sets of 12.

Food for bones

‘Making a few dietary changes can reap dividends when it comes to helping prevent osteoporosis,’ says Antonia Adineji, Nutritionist and Lecturer in Nutrition at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine.

‘Phosphorous, found in poultry, fish, eggs and nuts is needed to aid other vitamins and minerals important for bone health, including vitamin D, zinc, magnesium and iodine. Vitamin D is very important for the absorption of calcium. As well as getting it from careful sun exposure, it can also be found in egg yolks, saltwater fish, margarine and liver,’ she says.

Bone-friendly foods include:

• dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt etc)
• fruit
• nuts
• vegetables
• seeds
• oily fish.

What to aviod

We are all told to avoid smoking and cut down on alcohol and caffeine for a number of health reasons, but these substances can also wreak havoc with your bones.

Several studies have shown smoking to be a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fracture, with fractures potentially taking longer to heal.

Excess caffeine can also contribute to bone breakdown, and alcohol interferes with the absorption of calcium and vitamin D.

Keeping your bones healthy (part1)

2011-06-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

Osteoporosis affects huge numbers of the population, with sufferers more liable to bone fractures. But it’s never too late to improve your symptoms and outlook on life. Find out what simple measures you can take to help ward off and ease the condition.

Building strong bones

One of the best ways to help prevent osteoporosis is to make your bones as strong as possible. This means maximizing peak bone density and slowing the rate of bone reduction through physical activity and exercise.

There are two types of exercises that are important: weight-bearing and resistance exercise. Weight-bearing exercises are those in which your feet and legs are bearing your weight - such as jogging, walking, stair climbing and dancing. Resistance exercises are activities that use muscular strength to improve muscle mass and strengthen bones. These include weight training and body weight exercises.

Include exercise daily

‘Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is the easiest way to make an impact on osteoporosis,’ says Physiotherapist Paula Coates. ‘You can do any type of exercise, from marching on the spot to skipping - even jumping off the bottom step each time you come down the stairs will be beneficial.’ Coates also recommends gentle bodyweight exercises, such as squats and lunges, bicep curls for the arms and stretches for the whole spine.

For those who have osteoporosis, Coates recommends 30 minutes of exercise two to three times a week to help manage pain and slow disease progression. Healthy individuals can complete the following exercises to help prevent against osteoporosis later in life. They are also suitable for people who already have the condition.

Step ups

For step ups, you need a stable object. Step up one foot at a time, placing your whole foot on the surface. Step down one foot at a time, and repeat leading with the same leg.

Continue for one minute, rest for 30 seconds and repeat leading with the opposite leg. Complete two rounds.

Lunges

Stand with feet together and hands on hips. Lunge forward with your left foot, and bend your knees. Make sure you take a big enough step forward so that your left knee doesn't come past your left foot.

Keep your body weight on the back leg as if you're going to kneel on the floor. Push back to standing, and repeat on the right side. Complete three sets of 20.

Exercise 'beneficial' for wellbeing of breast cancer patients

2011-06-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Women with breast cancer can enhance their wellbeing by taking regular exercise, an expert has claimed.

Antonia Dean, clinical nurse specialist at the charity Breast Cancer Care, revealed that many patients gain weight during treatment.

'Regular exercise and following a healthy diet after breast cancer will have a positive impact on your wellbeing,' she advised.

'Exercise can also help to increase your range of movement after surgery and help reduce fatigue.'

Ms Dean also said that, although there is no specific diet recommended for women with breast cancer, experts do suggest a diet that is 'balanced and varied and provides all the right nutrients needed for good health'.

To achieve this, people should consume at least five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, lower their salt and alcohol intake, and limit the amount of foods that are high in fat.

The nurse's comments come after a study at the University of Colorado found that the leading cause of death for older women with breast cancer is actually heart disease.

The study, which is published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, revealed that of those breast cancer patients who died during the 12-year study period, more than two-thirds died from causes other than breast cancer.

8 natural ways to relieve PMS (part2)

2011-06-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

Skin breakouts

You may experience spots at the time of your period. This is caused by the progesterone surge after ovulation. Oestrogen usually improves acne, whereas progesterone can make it worse.

Turn things around: try cutting dairy from your diet – the theory is that milk from recently pregnant cows contains progesterone, which could promote spots. But make sure you get calcium from other sources, such as almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts; broccoli, curly kale, okra, spinach and watercress.

Quick solutions: use tea tree oil to clear your spots. It's a natural antibacterial – so use a tea tree stick to dab on spots.

Headaches

Menstrual migraines are linked to a drop in oestrogen levels. It's not a low level of oestrogen that's thought to be the trigger, but the trigger is thought to be the dramatic fall in the level of oestrogen from one level to another.

Turn things around: try and keep levels stable with foods rich in plant oestrogen – such as soya, kidney beans, chickpeas, linseeds and lentils.

Quick solutions: place a hot or cold towel on the forehead to soothe aches and pains.

Menstrual cramps

Cramps and menstrual pains are caused by strong contractions in the musculature of the uterus. Around the time of your period, the body's prostaglandins – which hormones produced by the lining of the womb – are released and cause strong muscular contractions that squeeze out the blood from the womb lining.

Turn things around: a healthy lifestyle, with daily exercise, plenty of sleep and avoidance of stress, may help the severity of the cramps.

Quick solution: a warm bath with a few drops of lavender oil or a heating pad or water bottle on your lower abdomen and back is often helpful for relieving menstrual cramping.

Fatigue

Many women experience a lack of energy during their menstrual cycle. This could be due to blood being lost every month.

Turn things around: this means more iron is needed in the diet, so boost your diet with iron-rich foods such as spinach, eggs, beans, nuts and wholegrains. For many women, high-calcium foods like yoghurt and milk can help reduce the severity of PMS symptoms like fatigue.

Quick solution: lack of exercise can increase feelings of fatigue, so go for a walk in the fresh air. Eat little and often, especially low GI (glycaemic index) snacks such as oatcakes to keep your energy levels stable. But avoid sugary snacks and caffeine because this could make you 'crash' after the short-lived high and leave you feeling worse.

8 natural ways to relieve PMS (part1)

2011-06-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

by Karen Gordon, health journalist

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS/PMT) is something that is familiar to most women. Around 90 per cent of menstruating women have an advance warning of a period coming because of physical and/or psychological changes in the days before it begins.

For some women, the days before the start of a period can be a nightmare and about a third of women say PMS significantly affects their life – with 5 to 10 per cent classifying their PMS as severe.

We look at some ways you can beat PMS naturally.

Irritability/mood swings

Some of the most common symptoms that women with PMS suffer from are: stress, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, losing their temper easily, loss of confidence, aggression and crying for no reason.

Turn things around: ask your GP about cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). A therapist could help you to learn new ways of managing some of your symptoms. Exercise is a must – try and incorporate it in your daily regime. It not only reduces stress, but the endorphins released will help lift your mood.

Quick solutions: run yourself a nice bath with two drops of jasmine, geranium or camomile oil. Make sure you avoid stress. Relaxation and massage can work wonders.

Breast tenderness

Sore and tender breasts are a common symptom of PMS. This is due to fluctuations in the circulating level of hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen enlarges breast ducts, and progesterone boosts the growth of milk glands.

Turn things around: try taking evening primrose oil, which is rich in anti-inflammatory acids. And vitamin B6 is thought to relieve symptoms – good sources include beans, whole grains, oily fish, bananas and chicken.

Quick solutions: incorporate at least one portion of food that contains vitamin B6 into your daily diet. Or try a herbal supplement – black cohosh, raspberry leaf and chasteberry are some of the common herbs used to minimise symptoms.

Heavy bleeding

If you suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding, you're not alone. It's a common problem and can be a big disruption to your life. You may find yourself rearranging your plans or cancelling activities you enjoy.

Turn things around: if it's interfering with your quality of life, you should consult a GP or gynaecologist. But if you're just suffering with heavier periods than you’d like, you could try some herbal remedies – yarrow, nettles and shepherd's purse are all herbs that have been used for prolonged or heavy bleeding. Also iron deficiency is more frequent in women who have heavy periods, so you may have to take iron or folic acid supplements. In your diet, good sources of iron include liver, beef, wholemeal bread, cereals, eggs and dried fruit.

Quick solutions: stress can contribute to heavy bleeding – so learn some relaxation techniques such as mediation, or join a yoga or Pilates class.

Bloating

Fluctuations in hormonal levels can trigger water retention – you can gain between 3 and 7lbs of fluid before your period.

Turn things around: to reduce bloating, cut down on your salt intake and limit foods that are high in sodium. Eat a diet high in fibre-rich foods, such a cereals, seeds, nuts and beans. This will help your digestive system process food better and absorb more nutrients and also to regulate your blood sugar. Make sure you drink plenty of water, if you dehydrate your body will hold on to any water it can, which causes bloating.

Quick solutions: have a cup of dandelion tea. It's known for its diuretic effect (makes you urinate), which can help to reduce bloating.

Cocaine may cause hidden heart damage, scientists warn

2011-06-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

People who use cocaine heavily may cause serious damage to their heart without even realising it, a new study has found.

Scientists from Pisa in Italy assessed the heart health of 30 long-term cocaine users who were enrolled on a residential drug rehab programme.

Participants had typically been using cocaine for 12 years and consumed around 5.5g of the drug each day.

All of the patients had normal heart function, but the researchers identified abnormalities in 12 of the 30 participants and discovered that 83 per cent showed signs of structural damage.

Almost half of patients had swelling in the lower left chamber of the heart and the degree of swelling was linked to an individual's level of cocaine consumption.

The researchers also found that 73 per cent of addicts had tissue scarring, which can be caused by a silent heart attack or toxic damage.

They noted that tissue scarring is irreversible, which means that heavy cocaine users may be causing serious damage to their heart without even noticing any symptoms.

Writing in Heart journal, the study authors concluded: 'We found a high prevalence of cardiac damage in asymptomatic cocaine addicts.

'This may indicate the need for screening in long-term users, even when they are asymptomatic.'

Experimental Vaccine Seems to Cure Prostate Cancer in Mice

2011-06-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

Preliminary research shows that an experimental vaccine may cure prostate cancer in mice.

Unlike previous cancer vaccine attempts, the new prostate cancer vaccine appears to be smart enough to outfox prostate cancer tumors, but experts caution that the research is still in its infancy and has yet to be tested in humans.

The hunt for effective cancer treatment vaccines has been going on for decades with varying degrees of success early on, but the new prostate cancer vaccine takes a markedly different approach.

Instead of aiming at a few cancer-causing proteins or antigens on the tumor, the new vaccine casts a much a wider net. The goal of a cancer vaccine is to trick the body's immune system into recognizing the tumor as an invader and attacking it. This is typically done using a virus as a host.

The researchers developed a library of genetic material (DNA) from healthy human prostate tissue cells and then inserted them into a virus. The end product was intravenously injected into the mice, which recognized the antigens and launched a potent immune response, according to a report on the findings, published online June 19 in Nature Medicine.

The study reported no side effects, and none of the mice developed autoimmune diseases, which had been reported in previous cancer vaccine trials.

"Many cancer vaccines display one, two or few antigens and, although this is successful in alerting the immune system to the cancer, the tumor eventually outsmarts the vaccine and adapts," explained the study's lead author, Richard Vile, an immunologist and professor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Vile said he hopes that the new approach is smarter than the tumor. If the tumor adapts to the antigen, he explained, the vaccine launches a second wave of attacks.

The approach also makes the development easier, he said, as scientists don't have to identify specific antigens or targets. "We clone them all and let the immune system select which is most important," Vile said.

But, this may also prove to be a hurdle in getting U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to study the vaccine in humans. "The FDA requires that the active proteins be well characterized, and we don't know which the active proteins are," Vile said.

Even so, he said, "we hope to try to put this vaccine into patients within the next three to five years."
Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, said that news of the study "certainly holds out hope that this may represent a true advance."
He cautioned, though, that "we have been looking to vaccines for cancer for many decades and have not yet seen a vaccine or immune therapy make the leap from interesting concept to something effective in the clinic."

That said, the approach outlined in the new paper is "very different," Lichtenfeld said, adding that he remains cautiously optimistic about the vaccine.

"We have been excited in the past by some of these reports, and the success has not panned out," he said. "There is still a ways to go before we can get excited and say it will have benefit for patients with prostate cancer."

Willem W. Overwijk, a cancer vaccine researcher at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, agreed. "We have to wait and see if it will work in people," he said. "They are inducing a broad immune response at many targets on the tumor, which makes it harder for the tumor to escape. [If it does], they make a new vaccine targeting the recurring tumor."
But the bottom line remains: "We have to see if this works the same way in people with prostate cancer," Overwijk said. "Stay tuned."

More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on prostate cancer.

The Dukan Diet

2011-06-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

Atkins is back, this time in a beret. The Dukan Diet promises weight loss via a familiar protein-laden regimen. The plan is an all-out craze in France, where Pierre Dukan, MD, created it. But will it catch on in the United States?
18 Simple ways to lose weight—and keep it off.
The Program: The Dukan Diet is structured in stages. Stage one allows only lean proteins (think nonfat dairy, fish, chicken breast), oat bran, and water—at least 48 ounces each day. The next two stages gradually integrate other foods but in limited portions and only on certain days. And the final stage, which lasts the rest of your life, allows you to eat whatever you want 6 days a week—as long as you resume the protein-only diet on the 7th.
The Claim: Dr. Dukan believes in the power of protein. He says that his regimen isn't a low-calorie diet, and eating unlimited amounts of lean protein eliminates hunger. These foods, according to Dr. Dukan, are harder to digest, which means the body gets fewer calories from proteins than other types of food.
Your goal may be to lose 10, 20 or 30 pounds, but you can do it with these simple nutrition and recipe tips from The Biggest Loser.
The Facts: There's nothing magic about protein, and some of Dr. Dukan's theories about it are just plain wrong. Animal proteins are actually absorbed more efficiently than plant foods. Dr. Dukan's book is nothing more than a twist on a low-calorie diet, which is what you have when you eliminate categories of food, according to Andrea Giancoli, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. This diet lacks the produce and whole grains you need to ward off diseases, including cancer. Giancoli also points out that the maintenance plan doesn't add up: You can gain weight eating whatever you like 6 days each week. "The plan isn't balanced enough to give you the nutrition you need, but it will probably give you constipation, low energy, brain fog, and bad breath," says Giancoli.

Top 10 male health worries (part2)

2011-06-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

Testicular cancer

Most testicular lumps are not cancerous, but it's important to spot any changes:

a lump in either testicle
enlargement of the testicle
a heaviness or sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
growth or tenderness of the upper chest.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 44.

What can you do?

Make sure you become familiar with what is normal for you.
'Regular self-examination will help you become aware of the normal feel and size of your testicles and any changes can be spotted early on,' says Dr Elizabeth Rapley, scientific spokesperson for Everyman, a charity aiming to increase awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.
'If diagnosed early, testicular cancer can be cured in up to 99 per cent of cases. Even when the disease has spread cure rates exceed 85 per cent.'

Prostate cancer

Symptoms may include getting up and needing the toilet in the night or going more frequently.

Every year 37,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer and one man dies from it every hour.
For men, it's the most common cause of cancer in the UK.

What can you do?

Don't feel embarrassed about seeing a doctor.
'There are no specific prostate cancer symptoms, but many men are diagnosed after presenting urinary symptoms,' says John Robertson, a nurse at the Prostate Cancer Charity.
'They may be getting up and needing the toilet in the night, going more frequently or needing the toilet again after just having been. Less commonly they may notice blood in their urine or semen.'
The good news is prostate cancer is often a slow growing cancer.
'It can often be treated very successfully, so it's important to get to your GP – the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome,' adds John Robertson.
Remember there are two other common prostate problems that affect men too: an enlarged prostate and prostatitis.
For more information visit Prostate Cancer Charity.

Sexual health

Sexually transmitted infections among teenagers and young adults are reaching record levels, according to figures from the Health Protection Agency last year.
Men between the ages of 20 to 23 are most at risk, but an increase has also been reported in the over 50s in recent years.
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK, followed by genital warts.

What can you do?

Many STIs can be cleared up with treatments, such as antibiotics, so it's important to seek help from places, such as a GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic.
HIV cannot be cured, but treatments are available.

Remember STIs, such as chlamydia don't always have symptoms, so you should get a screening after unsafe sex and remember to use a condom with each new partner.

Depression

According to Mind, the mental health charity, 2.7 million men in England have a mental health problem – such as depression, stress and anxiety.
'There's good evidence to suggest many men suffer from depression and stress but don’t access services as well as women,' says Dr Daniel Smith, senior lecturer in psychiatry at Cardiff University.
'They can also have unhelpful strategies for dealing with it, such as self-medicating with alcohol, which can have a further negative impact.'

What can you do?

'Most mild to moderate cases of depression can be managed using approaches, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which can help you reassess events in your life,' says Dr Smith.
'More severe cases may need a combination of a psychological approach and medication, such as Prozac.'
Look at lifestyle factors too:

cut down on alcohol
eat a healthy diet
get enough sleep
exercise
get out in the sunlight
socialise
if out of work, try to find gainful employment as soon as possible.

Mid-life crisis

'A lot of men go through a period of anxiety in middle-age,' says Peter Baker.
'They find they're not able to do as much as when they were younger. They develop aches and pains and can have relationship issues.'

What can you do?

'Some people claim this is related to a drop in testosterone levels – but this is debatable,' says Peter Baker.
'The important thing is to have people you can talk to about your issues. You need to be open with friends and if necessary a health professional.

Top 10 male health worries (part1)

2011-06-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

Men can be shy creatures when it comes to talking about health – especially if the problem is a bit embarrassing.
We look at the top 10 body worries for men and ask male health experts what a man can do to solve them?

Man boobs (gynecomastia)

Obesity and hormonal imbalances are largely to blame, with men now exposed to greater levels of oestrogen.

According to Nick Mitchell, personal trainer and founder of Ultimate Performance in London, man boobs are becoming a huge problem in the western world, particularly in the last 3 to 4 years.
Obesity and hormonal imbalances are largely to blame, with men now exposed to greater levels of oestrogen.

What can you do?

'You have to ask whether you are too fat or whether your fat is unevenly distributed,' says Nick Mitchell.
'If it's the first, you need to exercise more and diet. The key place where testosterone is converted into oestrogen is in fat cells. So the more fat you have, the more likely you are to have the feminising enzyme aromatase.'
'However if you're one of those men with skinny arms and legs but still have a problem with man boobs, you may need to look at doing other things.
'Strength training can promote testosterone levels, and you can moderate and decrease oestrogens with foods and supplements.'
Nick Mitchell recommends eating plenty of broccoli and watercress, fibre, taking a DIM (diindolylmethane) supplement – a compound found in cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli etc) – and avoiding tap water and microwaved or processed foods.

Skin problems

Skin problems are high on the list of issues many men feel embarrassed about says Peter Baker, with acne in particular an issue for younger men and often a cause of anxiety.

What can you do?

Consult your GP.
'Young men may not feel confident about going to the doctor. But there are many drugs available that can help,' says Peter Baker.
Mild acne can be treated with topical treatments – creams and gels – such as benzoyl peroxide, while moderate cases may need a combination of topical treatments and antibiotics.
If your acne is more severe, you may be referred to a dermatologist.

Receding hairlines

Thinning hair may be natural, but it can cause much anxiety.

'Hair loss and bald patches are something that happens to most men. But some men feel pretty anxious and depressed about it,' says Peter Baker, chief executive of the Men’s Health Forum.
'They feel less attractive, and see it as a sign that things are going downhill.'

What to do?

'There are various treatments that claim to halt and reverse hair loss,' says Peter Baker.
'Finasteride and minoxidil are two over-the-counter products that can also be prescribed privately by a doctor.
'Hair surgery is also an option – although an expensive one.
'My own view is that most of us are better off coming to terms with the fact we are going bald. There are lots of famous, important, attractive men who are bald, and we should take inspiration from them.'

Erectile dysfunction

'Erectile dysfunction is not a disease in its own right, but a symptom of an underlying issue – including serious conditions such as diabetes and heart disease,' says Peter Baker.
'There's growing evidence that erectile dysfunction is an early indicator of heart disease – and might be a sign that a heart attack is on its way in three or four years.'

What can you do?

'Seek help from a doctor, and don't just lie awake and worry about it,' says Peter Baker.
'Men tend to delay visiting the doctor for as long as possible, but delaying can make a serious condition more difficult to treat.
'Other causes include depression, so you might need antidepressants or someone to talk to.
'Seeking help means the underlying condition can be treated as well as the erectile dysfunction.'

Beer bellies

Male waists above 37 inches are associated with a higher risk of health problems.

Beer bellies or pot bellies – where the belly protrudes excessively – are due to an excess of visceral fat that sits around the internal organs.
Visceral fat has been linked to serious health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, heart disease and diabetes.

What can you do?

'You need to rebalance your blood sugar levels,' says Nick Mitchell.
'Cut down on carbohydrates, processed foods and don't worry about eating fat from natural sources – such as meat, eggs and butter.
'I go along with the theory that beer bellies may also be related to gluten intolerance – and if that's the case, you should cut out gluten – which is found in wheat, and funnily enough, beer.'
Remember, male waists above 37 inches are associated with a higher risk of health problems.

Pesticides Are Dumbing Down Our Kids

2011-06-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Children born to mothers with higher levels of pesticides in their body during pregnancy go on to experience lower IQ scores in elementary school, according to three recent independent reports from different research institutions. These studies out of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, University of California-Berkeley School of Public Health, and the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University add credence to a growing body of research linking childhood developmental problems to everyday chemicals in the environment.
The details: The studies, which will appear in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, all linked a particular class of pesticides known as organophosphates—common bug killers—to IQ deficits in children. Collectively, the studies included about 800 women who lived in different parts of the country, including both agricultural and urban settings.
Researchers at Berkeley and Mount Sinai tested the pregnant mothers' urine for organophosphate pesticide breakdown components, while Columbia experts tested umbilical cord blood for a common pesticide called chlorpyrifos. (Chlorpyrifos has turned up on nonorganic apples, kale, bell peppers, and other produce, and scientists are investigating its possible ties to autism.) Researchers then followed up with elementary school-age children years after testing their mothers and found that the prenatal pesticide exposure was associated with negative effects on cognitive function. One study found a 7-point reduction in IQ in children whose mothers had harbored the highest levels of pesticides, versus the group with the lowest levels of pesticides.
What it means: This trio of studies finding pesticides messing with kids' health is just the latest in a slew of research suggesting that chemical weedkillers and bug sprays don't just harm the pests, but kids, too. The damage likely doesn't end there, either. Many pesticides are believed to be hormone disruptors, and prenatal exposure could set people up for chronic diseases like diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and obesity. Oftentimes, these ailments only surface later in life.
Some problems appear to be cropping up in childhood, too, though, as the latest three studies suggest. And last year, Harvard researchers released a study showing a connection between ingesting levels of pesticides commonly found in nonorganic food and ADHD.
Emerging research is finding that the timing of prenatal exposure to toxic chemicals matters, as well. This likely has something to do with the pivotal times in a pregnancy during which intricate systems are developing. For instance, a Penn State researcher released new data this week showing that prenatal BPA exposure was linked to wheezing babies. Like chemical pesticides, BPA is a chemical that public health experts are very concerned about. BPA leaches from most metal food cans, and is found in some No. 7 plastic bottles and serving ware.
Here's a three-pronged attack to keep pesticides out of your body:
Be a budget organic buyer.
Farmer's market season is just around the corner. If you're trying to stretch your food budget (who isn't?), restrain yourself from buying local, organic produce the first week it turns up at the market, and you can pay less for it in following weeks. Stock up when prices are low, and preserve the extra for the biggest savings.
For more tips, read "A Guide to Eating Healthy on the Cheap."
Beat back pests naturally.
There's a natural pest solution to virtually every bug problem, and many such approaches are outlined in "How to Beat Back Household Bugs."
Get a great, green lawn.
Spring is here, and while that great American green lawn is on many parents' minds, it's best to sidestep the chemical lawn services. Some of the pesticides used have been linked to the most common form of childhood cancer, so it's best to trade in chemical treatments for nontoxic ones.

6 Cancer-Fighting Superfoods (part2)

2011-06-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

Walnuts

Walnuts Their phytosterols (cholesterol-like molecules found in plants) have been shown to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, possibly slowing the cells' growth, says Elaine Hardman, PhD, associate professor at Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia.

Helps fight: breast and prostate cancers

Your Rx: Munching on an ounce of walnuts a day may yield the best benefits, Hardman's research found.

Garlic

Phytochemicals in garlic have been found to halt the formation of nitrosamines, carcinogens formed in the stomach (and in the intestines, in certain conditions) when you consume nitrates, a common food preservative, Béliveau says. In fact, the Iowa Women's Health Study found that women with the highest amounts of garlic in their diets had a 50 percent lower risk of certain colon cancers than women who ate the least.

Helps fight: breast, colon, esophageal, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: Chop a clove of fresh, crushed garlic (crushing helps release beneficial enzymes), and sprinkle it into that lycopene-rich tomato sauce while it simmers.

Beans

A study out of Michigan State University found that black and navy beans significantly reduced colon cancer incidence in rats, in part because a diet rich in the legumes increased levels of the fatty acid butyrate, which in high concentrations has protective effects against cancer growth. Another study, in the journal Crop Science, found dried beans particularly effective in preventing breast cancer in rats.

Helps fight: breast and colon cancers

Your Rx: Add a serving—a half-cup—of legumes a few times a week (either from a can or dry beans that've been soaked and cooked) to your usual rotation of greens or other veggies.

6 Cancer-Fighting Superfoods (part1)

2011-06-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

By Leslie Barrie
From Health magazine
To reduce your risk of cancer, look no further than your fridge. "All the studies on cancer and nutrition point to eating plant-based foods for their phytonutrients and other special compounds," says Richard Béliveau, PhD, chair in the prevention and treatment of cancer at the University of Québec at Montreal and author of Foods to Fight Cancer.

Aim for five to nine daily servings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables—especially these six superstars.

Broccoli

All cruciferous veggies (think cauliflower, cabbage, kale) contain cancer-fighting properties, but broccoli is the only one with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body's protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals, says Jed Fahey, ScD. A recent University of Michigan study on mice found that sulforaphane also targets cancer stem cells—those that aid in tumor growth.

Helps fight: breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder cancers

Your Rx: The more broccoli, the better, research suggests—so add it wherever you can, from salads to omelets to the top of your pizza.

Berries

All berries are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. But black raspberries, in particular, contain very high concentrations of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor), according to Gary D. Stoner, PhD, a professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Helps fight: colon, esophageal, oral, and skin cancers

Your Rx: Stoner uses a concentrated berry powder in his studies but says a half-cup serving of berries a day may help your health, too.

Tomatoes

This juicy fruit is the best dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red hue, Béliveau says. And that's good news, because lycopene was found to stop endometrial cancer cell growth in a study in Nutrition and Cancer. Endometrial cancer causes nearly 8,000 deaths a year.

Helps fight: endometrial, lung, prostate, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: The biggest benefits come from cooked tomatoes (think pasta sauce!), since the heating process increases the amount of lycopene your body is able to absorb.

6 Worst Summer-Body Desserts

2011-06-19T02:45:00.000-07:00

Here's the biggest weight-loss secret in the world: The best way to drop pounds fast is to indulge in a delicious dessert.

Whoa! Careful, don't give yourself whiplash. It may sound crazy, but it's true. Studies show that the discipline you need to resist temptation comes from the brain, in an activity fueled by glucose-blood sugar. And glucose is exactly what you get from sweet, indulgent desserts. So by passing up dessert, you actually make it harder to stick to your diet—and that's why so many of us stay on course for weeks or months, then wake up one morning face down in a box of Ho-Hos.
If you eat dessert wisely—choosing treats that give you the satisfying tastes you crave without the ridiculous calorie counts that sometimes come with them—you could put yourself back on the road to rapid weight loss. So take a good look at the six desserts on this list, compliments of the New York Times–bestselling Eat This, Not That! book series. Then make the simple swaps we recommend to start stripping away pounds—fast!

#6: Worst Pie
Perkins Peanut Butter Silk Pie (1 slice)
960 calories
68 g fat (33 g saturated, 1 g trans)
47 g sugars

Pie is the quintessential American dessert, and that doesn't bode well for any of us. Still, how Perkins manages to cram nearly 1,000 calories and a day and a half worth of saturated fat into one slice is a mystery, but the combination of icing, whipped cream, and peanut butter cups doesn't help. Save yourself 570 calories and 23 grams of saturated fat by ordering their sundae instead.

Eat This Instead!
Ice Cream Sundae
390 calories
25 g fat (10 g saturated)
32 g sugars

DROP 15 POUNDS FOR SUMMER: You can lose a couple of inches fast—and without dieting. Follow me on Twitter right here for the most effective daily weight-loss secrets ever.

#5: Worst Kids’ Dessert
Outback Steakhouse Spotted Dog Sundae
1,216 calories
94 g fat (58.5 g saturated)
89 g carbohydrates

A 2010 study found that empty calories comprise a whopping 40 percent of kids’ diets, and cutesy sounding desserts like this only fuel the problem. The sad part is that the average parent probably doesn't even realize how dangerous this dessert is. According to USDA recommendations, 20 grams is the absolute maximum amount of saturated fat a person should consume in one day. Think busy parents know that? Probably not, which means they probably wouldn't notice that this dessert has nearly three times that much! Shocking, and really irresponsible.

Eat This Instead!Carrot Cake
448 calories
10.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
86 g carbohydrates

BONUS TIP: Even foods that sound perfectly healthy can be secretly laced with dangerous amounts of fat and sodium. To prove it, we've collected the absolutely shocking 20 Salads Worse Than a Whopper. Prepare to be blown away!

#4: Worst Fruit-Based Dessert
LongHorn Steakhouse Caramel Apple Goldrush
1,640 calories
71 g fat (25 g saturated)
237 g carbohydrates

One Caramel Apple Goldrush a day keeps the doctor in business. Sure, apples are flab-fighting foods, but apple-inspired desserts—think pie, cobbler, and this monstrosity—are just the opposite. What's really strange is that Longhorn makes it clear that some of its desserts—like the 2,180-calorie Chocolate Stampede—are meant to be split, but this isn't one of them. Apparently, the chain believes 1,640 calories is suitable for one belly. The truth is, none of Langhorn's desserts is fit for one person, so partner up with someone at the table and order your safest option, the Key Lime Pie. Split this dessert two ways and you'll take in only 315 calories.

Eat This Instead!Key Lime Pie
630 calories
20 g fat (9 g saturated)
102 g carbohydrates

HOW FIT ARE YOU? Men's Health and Women's Health are looking for America's best bodies. Click through this sexy slideshow to cast your vote today for the fittest!

#3: Worst Cake
Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake
1,670 calories
49 g saturated fat
204 g carbohydrates

When a cake’s girth is so great that it can’t stand upright, it has a problem. This thing is six inches of fudge cake lined with chocolate cream, creating a fattening, sugar-bloated mammoth more calorie-dense than the Factory’s other 40-plus cheesecakes. Want proof of its potential damage to your body? Just pick it up. One slice weighs a pound and a half. Your best bet for nutritional salvation at Cheesecake Factory is to pair a scoop of ice cream with a bowl of strawberries. That will keep more than a thousand calories off your hips.

Eat This Instead! Scoop Coffee Ice Cream with a Bowl of Strawberries
400 calories
13 g saturated fat
97 g carbohydrates

HEALTH SHOCKER: Beware—Mr. Salty is running loose at your local supermarket and in your favorite restaurants! Check out our shocking list of the 30 Saltiest Foods in America. Then promise to throw them all over your shoulder for good luck!

#2: Worst Shake
Baskin Robbins Fudge Brownie 31 Degrees Below (large, 24 ounces)
1,900 calories
80 g fat (39 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)
1,350 mg sodium
225 g sugar (Eat This, Not That! translation: 56 spoonfuls worth!)

This is a 1.5 pints of ice cream, far more than you should ever consume in one sitting. That's especially true when the ice cream is blended with molten fudge and dense chunks of brownie. Eat this entire cup and you'll take in the sugar equivalent of 21 Reese Peanut Butter Cups and the Saturated Fat equivalent of nearly 60 Oreos. Gross!

Eat This Instead!Two Scoops Premium Churned Light Aloha Brownie Ice Cream in a Cake Cone
325 calories
10 g fat (6 saturated)
21 g sugar

BEST SUPPLEMENTS: Beat allergies, boost immunity, lower your cholesterol, and more—check out these natural cures for 10 common conditions. They can help you feel better fast.

#1: Worst Sundae
Friendly’s Giant Crowd Pleaser
2,480 calories
118 g fat (64 g saturated)
233 g sugars

Attempting to scale this mountain range of ice cream might put your heart in peril. Okay, Friendly’s gets some leeway because the name itself implores you to share, but even a four-way split leaves everyone with three-quarters of a day’s saturated fat! That's double what you'd find in a McDonald’s Hot Fudge Sundae. That’s what happens when you dump a dozen scoops of ice cream into a crater-sized bowl and recklessly drizzle it with six different sugared toppings. So why tempt your taste buds? Choose an individual serving and guarantee your nutritional safety.

Eat This Instead!Strawberry Shortcake Sundae
580 calories
27 g fat (16 g saturated)
63 g sugars

Family have 'strong influence' over teenage drinking

2011-06-19T02:43:00.000-07:00

Teenagers' family and friends have a major influence on their drinking patterns, according to new research conducted on behalf of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

A poll of 5,700 teenagers, carried out by Ipsos Mori, found that around seven in ten year-nine students (aged 13 to 14) had consumed alcohol, as had nine out of ten students in year 11 (aged 15 to 16).

The research revealed that teenagers who spent more than two evenings a week with friends were more than twice as likely to drink to excess as those who rarely spent evenings with friends.

Teenagers whose parents did not know where they were on Saturday evenings or allowed them to watch 18-rated films were more likely to have tried alcohol.

And the chances of a teenager repeatedly getting drunk were twice as great if they had seen their parents drunk as those who had never seen their parents in a drunken state.

Lead report author Pamela Bremner, from Ipsos Mori, said: 'For the first time in the UK, this study ranks what most influences young people's drinking behaviour.

'It found that the behaviour of friends and family is a strong influential factor in determining a young person's relationship with alcohol.'

Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said that parents' attitudes towards drinking, their rate of drinking and drunkenness are 'clear signals to children that this is acceptable and standard behaviour'.

He added that allowing children to drink without supervision can have 'harmful' consequences.

Skin-Minded Father’s Day Gift Ideas

2011-06-19T02:40:00.000-07:00

When it comes to taking care of their skin, men tend to slack off a bit. So with Father’s Day fast approaching, why not set up the man in your life with a routine that will keep his skin looking and feeling great?

The basic skincare steps for men aren’t much different than those for women. First up: He needs to know his skin type. (Get him to take our questionnaire here.) From there, the general skincare rules apply: Antioxidants, moisturizer (if he has dry skin) and sunscreen in the morning and a retinoid plus moisturizer at night.

There are skincare lines geared just for men at every price point from the drugstore to the department store, and Neutrogena Men and Clinique Skin Supplies for Men are worth checking out. He’s more likely to use a product if he thinks it was designed with him in mind (although the only difference between men’s and women’s products are fragrance and packaging).

Shaving is naturally the biggest difference, and a great razor is the best way to ensure smooth, calm skin. One to try is Schick’s Hydro 5, which has five blades, water-activated hydrating gel and skin guards that reduce irritation. And for trimming body hair, the Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer (with built-in razor) works in and out of the shower and can be used for the back of his neck, too. (It makes a fantastic gift!)

Oftentimes, shaving leads to ingrown hairs, which is a particularly pesky problem for men. I’ve found that salicylic acid goes a long way for preventing these pimple-like blemishes, and it’s easy to incorporate into any routine. You can find cleansers, scrubs and moisturizers with salicylic acid—it’s really just a matter of how he wants to work it in.

Now if you want to treat him to some high-end products this Father’s Day, there are scores to choose from. A few masculine lines that I (and my husband) like include Anthony Logistics, Kyoku for Men Elements (launching next month at Barneys New York), Molton Brown and Sigma Skin. Who knows… He might just get hooked and you’ll be competing for counter space in the bathroom!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Dr. Baumann

Study uncovers dangerous levels of salt in sausages

2011-06-19T02:37:00.000-07:00

Many of the nation's most popular sausages are worryingly high in salt, a new study has found.

Researchers at Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) surveyed 300 fresh and frozen meat, vegetarian and chipolata sausages from the UK's leading supermarkets in May 2011.

They found that one-third of products did not meet the Food Standards Agency's salt targets for 2010, and 81 per cent do not meet next year's revised target.

Just seven of the 246 meat sausages investigated by the team contained less salt than a packet of crisps.

The researchers warned that by starting the day with two sausages, Britons could be eating half of their daily recommended maximum (6g of salt) in a single meal.

Katharine Jenner, campaign director and nutritionist at Cash, revealed that sausages are the third largest contributor of salt to the UK diet.

But she advised: 'It is possible to eat much less salt by reading the label: we found enormous differences in salt content of sausages, regardless of the flavour, cost or meat content.'

Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, explained that eating too much salt can raise a person's blood pressure and damage their cardiovascular health.

She argued: 'Whether it's salty sausages, sugary sweets or fatty fast food, we need clear and consistent front-of-pack labelling so we can all make informed choices to help keep our hearts healthy.'

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Adults

2011-06-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in an adult is often not noticed because the person may maintain relationships and hold a steady job. It is not unusual for a parent to discover he or she has ADHD when his or her child is diagnosed with the disorder. The key to the diagnosis of ADHD for an adult is the presence of symptoms before he or she was 7 years old.
Hyperactivity in adults is often seen as:

Fidgeting. Typically they swing their legs, shift in their seats, or tap their fingers.
Constant motion. They feel “revved up,” on the go, and show little or no ability to relax until exhausted.
An inability to relax. They have difficulty trying to relax or to do quiet activities such as reading or watching television.

Inattention in adults is often seen as:

Difficulty completing tasks that they do not find interesting or easy. But these adults may become obsessed with activities that are interesting and enjoyable.
Difficulty maintaining relationships.
Difficulty focusing their attention on conversations, reading materials, or jobs. They may frequently move from one job to another.
Forgetfulness, misplacement, or loss of things.
Distractibility.
Impulsivity.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults may affect:

Job performance. Their work performance may be inconsistent because they have problems organizing their work, managing their time, and concentrating on one task at a time. They may be forgetful and misplace or lose things. They may quit their jobs out of boredom.
Personal relationships. Relationships may suffer for adults who have problems focusing their attention on conversations, “reading” the behavior and moods of others, and expressing their own feelings.
Temper. Becoming easily frustrated often is related to having difficulty tolerating stress. These adults may overreact and have a short, quick temper.
Problem-solving ability. Adults who have difficulty waiting for things they want may not be able to accurately foresee the consequences of their actions. As a result, they may engage in risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex, unsafe driving, alcohol and drug use, or unwise financial ventures.

9 Myths About Baldness

2011-06-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

Nearly two out of every three men will begin balding by the time they're 60. Most don't part with their part willingly--American males collectively spend $1 billion a year trying to hang onto those locks. And while there's no cure for a shiny scalp, there are a lot of supposed causes that men worry about more than they need to.

Recent research suggests that the most common type of hair loss, male pattern baldness, can be triggered by faulty hair-making progenitor cells in the scalp. Researchers long believed that men whose hair progressively thins--starting with a receding hairline, and then stretching to the crown--lacked a sufficient number of these cells. Rather, it appears that the cells are merely unable to complete their normal development and mature to a fully-functioning state. That finding, published last month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could help researchers develop a treatment that reactivates and restores the malfunctioning cells.
Other potential contributors to hair loss include illness, age, genetics, and even primping habits. Meanwhile, a flurry of myths contribute to men's anxiety, if not to baldness itself. "I get athletes who think helmets caused their hair to fall out, and men who say it's because their mothers rubbed their heads with black tar soap," says dermatologist Gary Hitzig, author of Help and Hope for Hair Loss. Neither helmets nor soap are at fault, he says. And more blame may get heaped on mothers than they deserve.
U.S. News gets to the bottom of nine common beliefs about hair loss. Here's the bald truth:
Myth: Hair loss is passed down from your mother's side.
Not entirely true. While the primary baldness gene is on the X chromosome, which men get only from their mothers, other factors are also in play. The hereditary factor is slightly more dominant on the woman's side, but research suggests that men who have a bald father are more likely to develop male pattern baldness than those who don't.
Myth: If you're balding, you're old.
On the contrary, hair loss can strike in the teens and is common among 20- and 30-year-olds. The earlier it begins, the more severe it will likely become.
Myth: Wearing a hat strains hair follicles, causing hair to fall out.
Good news for men who rely on caps to cover their shiny crowns: They're not causing any harm. Dirty hats can, however, lead to a scalp infection, which in turn accelerates hair loss, so either make sure yours is clean or rotate frequently.
Myth: Trauma can cause hair loss.
True--with a catch. Physical or emotional stress "will never cause you to lose hair you wouldn't have lost anyway," Hitzig says. "If the hair is not meant to be lost, it will grow back." That said, it can accelerate balding. Rapid shifts in weight--whether pounds are gained or lost--can also contribute to the likelihood of hair loss.
Myth: Treatments like Propecia and Rogaine can prevent hair loss.
True. "Propecia is probably the most important advance in hair loss therapy in the last several decades," says Neil Sadick, a clinical professor in the department of dermatology at the Weill Cornell Medical College. That prescription pill, which reduces levels of a hormone that shrinks hair follicles, works best in younger people whose hair is just beginning to thin. In addition to stalling the process, about one-third of men on Propecia will see some hair regrowth. But it's not the only option: Rogaine (also known as minoxidil), a topical treatment applied directly to the scalp, also helps slow hair loss. But both drugs come with drawbacks. Propecia can reduce libido, or sex drive, in men, while Rogaine must be applied twice daily and can irritate the scalp.
Myth: If you want to hang onto your hair, stay away from gel and hairspray.
No need to forgo the products--they don't cause balding, and neither does shampoo, washing your hair frequently, or dandruff. But some men tease their hair and use curling irons, which could speed up the process. "It's the over-mechanical utilization of hair that can be problematic," Sadick says.
Myth: Exposure to the sun encourages balding.
Not true. Tanning beds also don't have an effect.
Myth: Loading up on carbohydrates can lead to hair loss.
Carbohydrates and red meat provide nutrients that are helpful for maintaining a full head of hair, says Wilma Bergfeld, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Bergfeld's past research suggests that iron deficiency may be closely linked to hair loss. Treatment--like taking iron supplements--could restore growth.
Myth: The most sexually active men are the first to go bald.
This is one of the most popular myths Sadick hears from patients. Relax, he says--there's no truth to it. Research has also found that men who bald do not have more testosterone than their hairier friends.

Diet tied to lower risk of vision loss in old age

2011-06-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

For people at a higher risk of losing central vision as they age, eating sufficient levels of certain dietary nutrients could help protect their eyes.
A new study finds that among people with a genetic susceptibility to macular degeneration -- vision loss caused by erosion of the retina - those who ate higher levels of zinc, antioxidants or omega-3 fatty acids cut their risk of developing the disease by as much as a third compared with those who ate lower levels of the nutrients.
"Therefore, clinicians should provide dietary advice to young susceptible individuals to postpone or prevent the vision-disabling consequences of (age-related macular degeneration)," the researchers wrote in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology.
Age-related macular degeneration is common, accounting for half of all cases of blindness in developed countries, they note.
In the United States, the condition occurs in more than six out of every 100 adults over age 40.
Though patients can be treated with medications and surgery, none of these cures the disease.
At least two gene variations are known to raise a person's risk for developing the condition compared to the general population. One of the variations (called CFH) increases a person's odds of macular degeneration up to 11-fold and another (called LOC387715S) raises them by up to 15-fold.
To see whether these especially susceptible people might reduce their risk, the researchers, based in the Netherlands, surveyed the eating habits of more than 2,000 participants over the age of 55. All were tested for the macular degeneration susceptibility genes.
All the participants also had eye exams every three years for the next decade to determine who suffered vision loss.
Among people with the CFH variation, greater amounts of either zinc, beta carotene, omega-3 fatty acids or lutein/zeaxanthin in the diet was linked to a smaller risk of macular degeneration.
For instance, 39 out of every 100 people who ate the lowest amounts of omega-3 fats (about 22 milligrams per day) developed vision loss, whereas 28 out of every 100 people who ate the largest amounts of omega-3s (268 mg per day) had vision loss.
For those who had the LOC387715S variation, reduced risk of vision loss was seen among people who ate greater amounts of zinc or omega-3 fats.
In their case, for example, 25 percent of people who ate 11.85 mg per day of zinc developed macular degeneration, compared to 33 percent of people who ate just 7.5 mg per day.
"To achieve this benefit, it does not appear necessary to consume excessive amounts of these nutrients; the recommended dietary allowance will suffice," the authors note.
The recommended dietary allowance in the U.S. for zinc is 11 milligrams daily for men and 8 milligrams for women. Men are recommended to consume at least 1.6 grams of omega-3 fatty acids a day, and women 1.1 grams.
Good sources for zinc include oysters, red meat, nuts and beans. Oily fish are some of the best food sources for omega-3 fats, while beta carotene is found in carrots, sweet potatoes and other vegetables and fruits.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are abundant in eggs and green leafy vegetables.
The authors did not work out whether or how these nutrients are responsible for the prevention of macular degeneration.

Male weight at age 18 'linked to cancer in later life'

2011-06-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

Men who are overweight at age 18 appear to be more likely to die from cancer in later life, even if they manage to lose weight during midlife.

That is according to a new study by Medical Research Council scientists and researchers at University College London and Harvard School of Public Health.

The researchers looked at data on approximately 20,000 men, all of whom had graduated from Harvard between 1916 and 1950.

Analysis revealed that those with the highest body mass indexes (BMIs) at age 18 were 35 per cent more likely to die from cancer than those with the lowest.

Men who lost weight between early adulthood and middle age did not benefit from any reduction in their risk of dying from cancer.

Commenting on the findings, which are published in the Annals of Oncology, lead author Dr Linsay Gray said: 'This is the first time the impact of obesity in early adulthood on later risk of cancer has been so closely examined.

'The message here is really clear: keeping your weight healthy as a young adult can significantly reduce your chance of developing cancer.'

NHS figures suggest that almost a quarter of over-16s in England were classified as obese in 2009, with a further 44 per cent of men and 33 per cent of women deemed to be overweight.

10 Symptoms He Shouldn't Ignore

2011-06-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

Whenever I get sick, I have a conversation with my wife, Rachelle, that goes like this:

Her: “How are you doing?”
Me: “Fine.”
Her: “Are you sure?”

She just doesn’t trust me when I tell her nothing is wrong—a lack of faith she claims dates to an illness early in our marriage. “You wouldn’t take aspirin because you wanted to see how high your temperature could go,” she recalls. “It was the stupidest reason you ever gave me for not taking care of yourself.”

It wasn’t the last time I put off going for an exam. Recently, a blotchy growth on my hairline went unchecked until its increasing size, nudges from Rachelle and “eww”s from my teenage daughter finally compelled me to see my doctor. It turned out to be an easily treated benign lesion—but the doc made it clear to me that it could have been cancer and really should’ve been checked sooner.

Like a lot of men, I have a thing about doctors. I’m not against them— I just figure medical care is for other guys. “Men like to think they’re indestructible,” says Alan Shindel, MD, codirector of the Men’s Health Program in the department of urology at the University of California, Davis.

We’re not total idiots about health, though. For example, men are more likely than women to get screened for colorectal cancer, and we understand it’s wise to get checked for serious conditions like heart disease and prostate cancer. It’s the out-of-nowhere aches, pains and oddball growths that we tend to blow off. One survey found that a quarter of men who were sick or in pain would wait as long as possible to see a doctor, and 17 percent would wait at least a week.

I finally went to the doctor about the spot on my scalp after I did some online research to assess the odds that it was something serious—and wasn’t reassured by what I read. Men like to be rational. Giving him the facts—as scary as they may be—may turn on a logic switch that makes it difficult to defend dodging his doctor.

Experts agree that not every symptom warrants a trip to the doctor, but some seemingly minor signs shouldn’t be toyed with (in men or women). We asked physicians to tell us the most serious symptoms that often go ignored—and why they shouldn’t be.

1. Feeling Tongue-Tied
He’s thinking: I’m having a senior moment.
But it could be: A stroke. When a clot, injury, narrow blood vessel or other problem restricts blood flow to the brain, the result can be a TIA—a transient ischemic attack, which impairs brain function and can make speech difficult. It’s different from the tip-of-the-tongue reaching for an elusive word. “He might find that words can’t come out at all, or he’ll speak words that are different from the ones he intended or mumble things that don’t make sense,” says Steven Kaplan, MD, director of the Iris Cantor Men’s Health Center now under construction at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Such symptoms warrant an immediate call to the doctor or trip to the ER. Mini-strokes usually last a few minutes and symptoms typically disappear within an hour, but having a TIA means you’re at immediate risk of a more massive stroke. Men have a slightly higher risk of TIAs than women, and risks go up with age, especially after 55. Photo: Stockbyte

2. Shortness of Breath
He’s thinking: I’m really out of shape.
But it could be: An impending heart attack. Shortness of breath with exertion such as walking up a flight of stairs could be a sign that the heart muscle isn’t getting enough oxygen—a hallmark of coronary heart disease, which men age 55 and over are at an increased risk for.

“Any condition that makes breathing a struggle, including asthma and allergies, is exacerbated by exertion,” Dr. Shindel says. “But if shortness of breath seems to be getting worse each time, we worry about the heart.” Breathing that’s labored and doesn’t improve warrants a call to 911. An electrocardiogram or EKG (which measures the electrical activity of your heart), a sonogram or ultrasound of the heart, and chest X-rays can help diagnose or rule out a heart problem. Photo: Jupiterimages

3. Persistent Pain On One side of the Abdomen
He’s thinking: I probably pulled a muscle.
But it could be: A kidney stone or tumor. One-sided pain that goes away probably is a side stitch or pulled muscle and nothing to worry about. “But if a dull ache is persistent, it should be evaluated by a physician,” says Dr. Kaplan. “It could be many things, but a tumor is one of the first possibilities we consider.” An ache from a tumor won’t likely move around, and may get better if he takes an over-the-counter pain reliever—but will keep coming back. “Any abdominal pain that doesn’t resolve within three days deserves to be checked out.”

Sharp, excruciating pain that hits suddenly and doesn’t improve within an hour warrants a trip to the ER. “If it’s a kidney stone, the pain will radiate from a specific point and can be intense enough to make you vomit,” Dr. Kaplan says. “I’ve had one myself, and it’s so horrible it makes you want to die.” The problem could also be appendicitis, a perforated ulcer or a hernia, so it’s important to get checked out. Photo: Shutterstock

4. Toilet-Time Blood
He’s thinking: Must be something I ate.
But it could be: A kidney stone or bladder cancer if blood is in urine; colon cancer if blood is in stools. Bright red spots on tissue after wiping are likely from hemorrhoids. But blood in stools that have become narrower and thinner than usual (like the width of a pencil) could be a sign of cancer. Black, tarry stools might also indicate stomach bleeding from an ulcer. His doctor will likely examine the GI tract via a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy to nail down the problem.

Blood in urine may show up as a subtle pink hue, but he shouldn’t dismiss minuscule amounts or chalk it up to eating beets. “You’d have to eat a whole lot for that to happen,” says Mark Pochapin, MD, director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Assume any reddish color is blood: One drop can turn the bowl pink. “Even microscopic amounts are a warning,” says Martin Miner, MD, codirector of the Men’s Health Center at The Miriam Hospital and clinical associate professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. “If he can actually see red color, he should definitely be evaluated.” Photo: iStockphoto

5. Trouble Down Below
He’s thinking: There’s a pill for this.
But it could be: An early warning of cardiovascular disease. “The latest studies find that men in their 40s and 50s with erectile dysfunction may be two to five years away from a cardiovascular event like a heart attack,” Dr. Miner says. A recent study at the Mayo Clinic found that men who had ED in their 40s were 50 times more likely to have heart trouble down the road than men who didn’t. The artery leading to the penis is about half the diameter of the one feeding the heart, so experts think that restricted blood flow from atherosclerosis shows up early down below. An EKG or stress test can identify cardiac problems and a Doppler ultrasound (usually from a urologist) can test blood flow in penile blood vessels.

“The first sign of ED is usually trouble maintaining an erection during sex or not having normal morning erections,” Dr. Miner says. The good news is that the onset of ED, if it’s caused by cardiovascular disease, suggests your man may have a window of opportunity to treat heart disease before it becomes a serious problem. Photo: Jim Arbogast/Thinkstock

6. Daytime Fatigue
He’s thinking: I should go to sleep earlier.
But it could be: Obstructive sleep apnea. Spending more time in bed won’t help if fatigue is due to this condition, in which the airway narrows or is blocked during sleep, cutting off breathing and disrupting slumber five to 30 times an hour. “Everyone has a night here and there when he doesn’t sleep well. But if the fatigue doesn’t go away even when he can catch up on rest, sleep apnea could be putting him at risk for health problems such as heart attack, arrhythmias, stroke or even heart failure,” Dr. Shindel says. A sign he’s chronically tired: falling asleep while doing activities during waking hours. “It’s not normal to fall asleep during usual waking hours just because you’re in a dark room,” Dr. Shindel says. Sleep apnea is especially common in overweight men and heavy snorers, but can be treated with breathing devices such as a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), an apparatus that you wear at night to keep airways open. Losing weight and surgery to widen the airway can also help. Photo: Stockbyte

7. Constant Grumpiness
He’s thinking: I’m just under a lot of stress at work.
But it could be: Depression. Feeling cranky and low because of work hassles or difficult times is normal, but it should dissipate within a few days. With clinical depression, downbeat irritability lasts weeks at a time. “It’s different from run-of-the-mill blues and time for him to talk to his doctor if you’re saying to him, ‘You haven’t been acting like the person I think you really are for weeks’ or he’s lost interest in activities he used to enjoy or isn’t performing at work,” Dr. Shindel says.

Talk therapy and antidepressant medication are the options his doctor will likely suggest first. But if he has symptoms such as fatigue, low sex drive and loss of muscle mass, Dr. Shindel advises getting a blood test for low testosterone, which is sometimes the root cause of depression, especially in men over 40. Testosterone replacement in the form of gel, skin patches or injections can reverse the symptoms, but he should first talk to his doctor carefully about his medical history and the potential risks of testosterone therapy. Photo: Ditigal Vision

8. Frequent Urination
He’s thinking: I’m drinking too much coffee.
But it could be: Type 2 diabetes or an enlarged prostate. It might be the coffee—when he’s actually drinking it. But if he often gets up to go twice or more during the night, his body could be trying to get rid of excess blood sugar that’s built up because it can’t get into cells—the problem that defines diabetes. He should first try adjusting what or when he drinks at night to see if that leads to fewer wee-hour trips to the bathroom. “If he still urinates more than he did a month ago, he should get his blood sugar checked, especially if he also has increased thirst, another red flag for diabetes,” Dr. Miner says. Diabetes can usually be controlled with changes in diet and exercise, often combined with medication.

If he’s also feeling like he can’t empty his bladder completely and/or is having a slow or weak stream, dribbling and having trouble getting urine flow started, the problem may be a growing prostate. This small gland surrounds the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, so an increase in size can put the squeeze on urine flow—a common problem in middle-aged and older men. (In men under 50, symptoms could be due to a urinary tract infection.)

Though painless, an enlarged prostate can eventually get worse and lead to acute urinary retention, where he suddenly can’t urinate at all, which is an emergency that often leads to surgery. Treatment ranges from exercises to strengthen muscles in the pelvic floor to medications that relieve symptoms or shrink the prostate. Prostate cancer is also a possibility, especially for men over 50, and if the doctor suspects that, he’ll do a rectal exam and draw blood to check PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels; higher-than-normal results may indicate prostate enlargement, an infection or cancer. Photo: Thinkstock

9. Yellowish Skin
He’s thinking: What yellow skin?
But it could be: Liver trouble. Yellow skin, or jaundice, suggests the liver isn’t functioning right. Possible causes in adults include liver disease, gallstones, pancreatic cancer or a viral hepatitis infection, which causes swelling of the liver.

“Hepatitis A isn’t a disease people think of, but it’s a virus found in contaminated shellfish and can be passed on by people who prepare food and don’t wash their hands,” Dr. Pochapin says. In fact, hepatitis A is one of the most common infectious diseases that’s preventable with a vaccine— worth considering for anyone who hasn’t been inoculated. Symptoms like jaundice, fever, upset stomach and fatigue usually show up within two to six weeks of exposure and get better on their own with a few weeks of rest. (And the virus doesn’t stay in your body after that.) But have him check in with his doctor, who’ll most likely want to run some tests to figure out exactly what’s going on. Photo: Jupiterimages

10. A New Spot—Mole, Freckle, Red Patch— On the Skin
He’s thinking: It’ll go away.
But it could be: Skin cancer or seborrheic keratoses— warty, waxy benign lesions that become more common in middle age. Any time a new skin growth appears or an existing one changes in size, color or shape, he should see a doctor. Be especially concerned if a spot or mole gets darker, bleeds, itches or feels irritated—all of which are possible signs of skin cancer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The differences in appearance between a benign growth and skin cancer—especially melanoma, the deadliest type—can be subtle. So your physician may want to take a biopsy to make a definite ID.

I know all this from firsthand experience— and when I understood what the dangers may have been, I was glad I saw my doctor. After all, nobody’s indestructible forever. Photo: Jupiterimages

Why he doesn’t want to go to the doctor...and how to get him there

Every woman has that man in her life— her father, husband, brother, boyfriend, friend—who just won’t go to the doctor. Indeed, research shows that men are 24 percent less likely to have seen a physician in the past year than women.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that men are more likely to be hospitalized for a preventable condition than women. What drives their avoidance? Research shows that it has a lot to do with men wanting to feel, well, manly. A study of 1,000 men found that those who have a more traditional view of masculinity—thinking that a “real” man doesn’t complain about pain, for example—were half as likely to get preventive care as those who didn’t agree with such stereotypes.

And let me tell you what else is going on: denial. Many people use it as a coping mechanism to deal with fear. So he’s probably thinking something like: “If I ignore this, it will go away” or “I don’t like needles and being prodded, so I’d rather just skip it” or “It’s either nothing or something too scary to know about, so I don’t want to go.”

So how can you help your man see the doctor? Talk to him about it. Sit down and have a chat, telling him that getting regular checkups is the best way to catch any potential illness before it becomes harder to treat and possibly life-threatening. Emphasize how important it is for him to be there—and healthy—for his family. Research shows this is the strongest motivator for men to see the doctor, probably because it appeals to their traditional sense of what their roles are. To help him address a symptom, the best dialogue I can suggest is something along the lines of: Let’s agree to tell each other when we’re feeling or seeing something that’s unusual or new for us—no matter how embarrassing—so we can help each other figure out what to do. I’m going to tell you if I have a stomach, gynecological or other issue and get it taken care of so I can stay healthy for you, and I want you to do the same for me.

Asking him to go to the doctor, and, if need be, arranging the visit shows that you’re taking his health (and symptoms) seriously, which can propel him to as well. It also helps remove the stigma he may feel about asking for help. Beforehand, help him organize his questions and concerns in writing and, if he’d like, be there with pen and paper in hand (or send him with a tape recorder) so you can both discuss the doctor’s responses later. When people are anxious, they often don’t hear or process the information they’re given in the moment. Don’t worry about being overbearing: A little nagging can go a long way in helping him protect his health. Photo: Shutterstock

Six to nine hours sleep 'best for quality of life'

2011-06-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

People who get between six and nine hours of sleep per night tend to have the best quality of life and the lowest risk of depression, new research shows.

A team of scientists at the Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Centre in Ohio, US, analysed data on 10,654 patients between January 2008 and May 2010.

Questionnaires were used to assess participants' quality of life and risk of depression.

The researchers found that people with a 'normal' sleep duration of six to nine hours per night tended to report better quality of life and were less likely to be affected by depression.

Principal investigator Dr Charles Bae, who presented the findings at Sleep 2011, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, admitted: 'It was surprising to see that sleeping less than six hours and more than nine hours is associated with a similar decrease in quality of life and increase in depressive symptoms.

'I thought that there would be changes in quality of life and degree of depressive symptoms for short and long sleepers, but did not expect that those changes would be similar in both groups.'

Meanwhile, a separate study presented at the same meeting found that preschool-aged children who do not get enough sleep are more likely to be hyperactive and inattentive when they start school.

Tossing and Turning May Fuel Marital Discord

2011-06-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Getty Images

The snooze button on your alarm clock may not be the only casualty of a sleepless night.

A new study of married couples suggests that when wives have trouble falling asleep, the quality of their relationship with their husband suffers. The longer it took women to drift off, the study found, the more likely both partners were to report negative interactions with their spouse—such as feeling ignored or criticized—the following day.
The same wasn’t true for the men, however. The researchers found no relationship between the amount of time it took a husband to fall asleep and the couple’s interactions the following day. So why didn’t the husbands’ sleep affect next-day interactions, too?
“There is some evidence to show that women tend to be more communicative and expressive in relationships and men may be more repressive,” says the lead researcher, Wendy Troxel, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. “After a bad night of sleep, women may be more likely to express irritability or frustration, whereas men might be more likely to withhold that.”

Research on sleep problems such as insomnia has tended to focus on the individual who is directly affected, Troxel and her colleagues note. But, they add, their findings suggest that sleep problems should perhaps be viewed—and treated—in a broader context that takes into account the patient’s relationships and social interactions.
“Sleep doesn’t occur in a vacuum,” says Lauren Hale, PhD, a sleep expert and associate professor of preventive medicine at Stony Brook University, in New York. “It’s embedded in the social world, and particularly relevant to one’s romantic relationships.”
Hale, who was not involved in the new study but has researched the effect of social factors on sleep, says that the person you share your bed with each night can have a significant influence on your own sleep quality. “It may not be simply your own choices that affect your sleep,” she says. “If your partner snores or gets into bed two hours later than you and wakes you up, that will affect your sleep.”
Troxel presented preliminary results from the study at an annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Minneapolis on Monday. Unlike studies published in medical journals, the findings have not been thoroughly vetted by other experts.

By Ella Quittner (Health.com)

Sleep position 'may increase risk of late stillbirth'

2011-06-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

The position a woman sleeps in during her last night of pregnancy could affect her chances of having a stillborn baby, new research suggests.

Scientists at the University of Auckland found that women who do not sleep on their left side on their last night of pregnancy are twice as likely to have a late stillbirth as those who do sleep on their left side.

However, the researchers emphasised that the overall risk is still small, with a rate of 3.93 per 1,000 births for those who do not sleep on their left.

The study is published in the British Medical Journal and looked at 155 women who suffered a stillbirth after 28 weeks of pregnancy and 310 women who had a healthy pregnancy.

It also found that women who get a lot of daytime sleep during their final month of pregnancy may have an elevated risk of stillbirth.

Dr Tomasina Stacey and her co-authors wrote: 'If our findings are confirmed, promoting optimal sleep position in late pregnancy may have the potential to reduce the incidence of late stillbirth.'

Daghni Rajasingam, a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said that a number of factors - including obesity, maternal age, ethnicity and congenital anomalies - are linked to stillbirth.

'This small-scale study looks at another possible factor; however, more research is needed into sleep patterns before any firm conclusions over sleeping positions can be made,' she noted.

'In the meantime, women should speak to their midwives if they are concerned.'