Previous Medical News

2009/07/25

1.  Who's at High Risk From Swine Flu? (CDC, 7/09)
Pregnancy, lung diseases (such as asthma or COPD), and older age put adults at higher risk of swine flu complications.

Here's the rest of the list of medical conditions that make swine flu dangerous:

• Cardiovascular conditions (except high blood pressure)
• Liver problems
• Kidney problems
• Blood disorders, including sickle-cell disease
• Neurologic disorders
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Metabolic disorders, including diabetes
• Immune suppression, including HIV infection and medications that suppress the immune system
• Residency in a nursing home or other chronic-care facility

The flu also makes a person's lungs more susceptible to bacterial infection. With seasonal flu, bacterial infections are a leading cause of flu deaths. Those most vulnerable to such flu complications are adults over 65 -- especially those in nursing homes -- and kids under 2.

Kids under 5 have been at higher risk of swine flu complications. Those with asthma are, of course, at particularly high risk. So are kids with medical conditions such as diabetes. One group of children and teens faces an unusual risk: those under age 19 who must take long-term aspirin therapy. Aspirin is a dangerous drug for people who have the flu, as it raises a person's risk of a dangerous complication called Reye's syndrome.

2.  IQ may help explain disparities in heart disease (European Heart Journal, 7/15/09)
Researchers looked at the relationship between IQ and the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke among nearly 4,300 male U.S. veterans. Lower IQ increased the risk of developing heart attack or stroke.

3.  Healthy Lifestyle Halves Heart Failure Risk (Journal of the American Medical Association, 7/22//29/09)
About 550,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and 20%-50% die from the disease. Men who follow a healthy lifestyle may cut their risk of heart failure in half. Modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise, alcohol use, and smoking, can have a significant impact on the lifetime risk of congestive heart failure.

4.  Salt may be culprit for uncontrolled blood pressure (Hypertension, 9/09)
People with high blood pressure that isn't controlled by multiple medications are likely eating too much salt.

5.  Daily Glass of OJ is Heart Smart (Cardiovascular Sciences Annual Conference, 7/20-23/09)
An antioxidant in orange juice called hesperidin improves blood vessel function and helps lower a person’s risk of heart disease. Hesperidin is a plant-based compound called a flavonoid. (Grapes, red wine, green and black teas, and chocolate also contain flavonoids.) Flavonoids can improve the health of the delicate cells that line blood vessels. The way these cells work is referred to as "endothelial function." Problems with these cells can lead to the development of clogged arteries, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

6.  Many doctors feel negatively about obese patients (BMC Health Services Research, 2009)
At New York University School of Medicine, more than 40 percent of doctors have a "negative reaction" to obese patients. And most physicians felt that treating obese patients was "very frustrating."

7.  For Women, Circumcised Partner May Be Better Lover (fifth annual International AIDS Society conference, 7/20/09)
Having a male sex partner who has been circumcised doesn't hurt a woman's sexual satisfaction -- and may improve it.

8.  New York restaurants nearly all trans-fat-free (Annals of Internal Medicine, 7/21/09)
Two years after New York City declared war on artificial trans fats, nearly all city restaurants had successfully cut the artery-clogging fats from their menus.

9.  Snoozing May Help Women Shed Baby Weight (American Journal of Epidemiology, 7/09)
New mothers who sleep five or fewer hours a day six months after giving birth are three times as likely to hold onto those extra pounds as were women who get seven or more hours of sleep. Getting a good night's sleep may be just as important as diet and exercise for shedding baby weight.

10.  Long-term tea drinking may cut stroke risk (Stroke, 7/09)
Drinking tea consistently -- particularly two kinds (green and oolong teas) -- is linked to a significantly lower risk of stroke. Those who reported drinking at least one cup of tea per week for more than 30 years had a 60 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke.

11.  6 Lifestyle Steps to Cut Hypertension Risk (Journal of the American Medical Association, 7/22//29/09)
Following a healthy lifestyle could lower women's risk of high blood pressure by as much as 80%:

1. Healthy weight: body mass index (BMI) of less than 25.
2. Daily exercise: average of 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day.
3. Heart-healthy diet: following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet based on high intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains, and low intake of sodium, sweetened beverages, and red and processed meats.
4. Moderate alcohol use.
5. Use non-narcotic pain relievers less than once per week.
6. Taking a folic acid supplement of 400 micrograms

12.  Kids' lower IQ scores linked to prenatal pollution (Pediatrics, 8/09)
Researchers for the first time have linked air pollution exposure before birth with lower IQ scores in childhood, bolstering evidence that smog may harm the developing brain.

13.  Parent stress, air pollution up kids' asthma risk (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 7/20/09)
Children with stressed-out parents may be more prone to developing asthma associated with environmental "triggers" such as high levels of traffic-related pollution and tobacco smoke.

14.  Moms who were spanked more apt to spank their kids (Pediatrics, 8/09)
Moms who suffered physical abuse or other violent experiences in childhood are much more likely to spank their infants than moms who did not suffer these adverse childhood experiences.

15.  Kicking the habit in pregnancy better for babies (Obstetrics & Gynecology, 8/09)
Moms-to-be who smoke but quit early in pregnancy can sharply reduce their risk of having a premature or too-small baby.

16.  The Pill may be less effective in obese women (Contraception, 6/4/09)
Oral contraceptives behave differently in the bodies of obese women than in normal-weight women suggesting that they may not work as well in preventing pregnancy.

17.  Fatty Foods Bad for Bowel (Gut, 7/09)
Too many burgers and fries may be bad for your bowel. People who eat a diet high in linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in red meat and fried foods, may be more likely to develop a serious bowel condition known as ulcerative colitis.

18.  Prechewed infant food may transmit AIDS virus (Pediatrics, 8/09)
There is compelling evidence that three infants became infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, by eating food prechewed by their HIV-infected caregivers.

19.  Recall: Luv N' Care Recalls Certain Gel-Filled Teethers After FDA Finds Bacteria in Gel (FDA, 7/20/09)
These products have been found to contain Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus circulans in the gel. These bacteria generally do not cause illness. However, the bacteria can affect children with weakened immune systems, causing stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, if the teether is punctured and the liquid from the teether is ingested.

20.  Recall: Tanimura & Antle Fresh Foods, Inc. Recalls Romaine Lettuce: Salmonella (FDA, 7/21/09)
Tanimura & Antle Inc., Salinas, Calif., is recalling one lot of romaine lettuce after a random Wisconsin Department of Agriculture test found salmonella contamination. The cartons of bulk and wrapped lettuce have the lot code 531380, and the lettuce was harvested June 25 to July 2. The company shipped the romaine to retail, foodservice and wholesale customers.