the Health Age

Long term use of bone drugs could cause oesophageal cancer

Rajan — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:50:10 +0000

The new research from Oxford University proposed that long term use of bone strengthening medicines which are used to treat fractures can increase the risk of esophageal cancer. The study over three thousand people who take bisphosphonates which is prescribed for preventing bone fractures, for five years, increased the risk of cancer from one in one thousand for aged sixty to eighty.

The risk seemed to be small but consistent information on risks and benefits was required. The cases of taking the bisphosphonates drug would be strong for many, explained study experts. It is not known why the risk may be increased, though the drugs are known to infuriate the oesophagus, explained Dr Laura Bell from Cancer Research UK.

Thousands of cases of colorectal and stomach cancer were also premeditated but there was not found any increased risk. Anybody taking these drugs and is anxious about their risk of cancer should talk to their doctor, added Dr Laura Bell.

Even if results were confirmed by other studies, a small number of people taking bisphosphonates would ever develop the cancer. Bisphosphonates are being progressively more prescribed to prevent fracture and what is deficient is consistent information on the benefits and risks of their use in the long term, explained lead researcher Dr Jane Green.

Approximately more than six lakh people in UK are presently taking the drugs that include a tenth of all women over the age of seventy. It is a case of harmonizing the abridged danger of fractures against the side effects of the treatment, said The National Osteoporosis Society.

How organic strawberries are more nourishing

Rajan — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:12:20 +0000

A research shows that organic strawberries contain high levels of anti-cancer nutrients in comparison to fruits that are sprayed with chemical pesticides. The high cost of this organic fruit is worth paying. According to researchers naturally produces strawberries have longer shelf life and they are rich and fruitier flavor.

Their results add to an emergent proof that organic food is healthier than that of traditional fruit and vegetables. In a study trail researchers examined the taste, nutrition and quality of strawberries of three verities that were grown on thirteen organic and traditional farms in California plus thirty-one chemical and biological characteristics of the soil where they were grown.

It was found that organic fruit had considerably greater levels of antioxidants nutrients which wipe up potentially hazardous and cancer causing free radicals in the body and also last for longer periods. In blind taste test, participants told that they found organic strawberries more sweet and flavorsome.

When the participants saw the fruit they found strawberries from organic farms have better colour. It was also found by researchers that the soil of organic farms was healthier and surrounded with more bacteria and insect life. They show you can have high quality and healthy produce devoid of an armory of pesticides, explained lead author Dr John Reganold from Washington State University in U.S.

Their findings have universal insinuations and proceed what they know about the maintainability profits of organic systems, added Dr. Reganold. The levels of vitamins and antioxidants were greater in organic harvests, whereas the levels of poisonous chemicals and metals were lower found a major EU-funded study involving 31 universities and research institutes last year.

Fish oil could save lives by preventing heart failure deaths

Rajan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:32:37 +0000

The capsules of fish oil given to heart patients could save more than ten thousand lives every year, claimed researchers. A study review revealed that providing omega-3 supplements can prevent the death of approximately one in ten patients of heart attack. The regular use of omega-3 supplements can also prevent the hospital admission due to breathlessness and fluid retention.

According study statists approximately seven lakh Britons suffer heart failure and more than sixty-eight thousand new cases of cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed each year and it is thought to kill more than one lakh people every year. The survival rates are shoddier than for breast and prostate cancer. The study review is published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine.

In a study survey, researcher monitored seven thousand heart failure patients over the period of four and half year, those took part in larger Italian study. The results showed that there was nine percent fall in death rate of those taking purified fish oil and there was reduce by eight percent in hospitalization rates.

Omega-3 fatty acids are natural polyunsaturated found in oily fish, flaxseed, walnuts, soya beans, pumpkin seeds and rapeseed oil. These fats are significant throughout adult life for mental wellbeing but particularly help heart patients and arthritis patients by blocking the body’s reaction to cutting blood fats, inflammation, blocking dangerous heart rhythms and reducing the chances of blood fats, inflammation, blocking dangerous heart rhythms and reducing the chances of blood clotting.

If five lakh heart patients took omega-3 supplements regularly then ten thousands lives a year might ultimately be saved, said Professor Martin Cowie, speaking at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Stockholm. He anticipated ESC guidelines to recommend the use of omega-3 supplements in heart failure in near future.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence suggests supplements on the NHS to prevent a second heart attack. The most recent evidence would persuade NICE that heart patients should also get them explained Professor Cowie from Imperial College London and the Royal Brompton Hospital.

Mother’s embrace eases baby’s pain without sugary dose

Rajan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:05:48 +0000

Newborn babies are often given sugary dose before they have injection or given a blood sample. But according to latest research giving sugar dose to babies do not relieve the pain of an injection but an embrace from mother could do the job better.

The team of researchers from Briton believes that sugar simply provides as a disruption and the mother’s hug would work just as well. The research focused on the heel prick test, in which blood sample is taken from the foot in the first few days of life.

The blood samples are used to screen a wide range of life threatening diseases including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. In the study trail involving fifty-nine newborns, among them half were given a drop of sugar solution ahead of the test, others were given plain water.

The results of the trail showed that faces of those infants given sugary water relaxed quickly but test showed their brains seemed to be registering just as much pain, reported the study published in the Lancet journal. Their findings pint out that sucrose is not an effective pain easing drug.

This is particularly significant in view of the increasing evidence that pain may cause short and long term adverse effect on babies’ neurodevelopment. The outcomes of the study show that there is an imperative need for better painkiller for infants, explained Dr Rebecca Slater from University College London.

There was also a need to downsize the amount of painful methods for young babies, explained Dr Judith Meek.

Brisk walking can prevent cancers

Rajan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:27:37 +0000

In new study researchers claimed that more than ten thousand cases of breast and bowel can be prevented each year if people regularly did brisk walking. The team of researchers from The World Cancer Research Fund said that moderate activity which makes the heart beat faster should attain the same results.

Earlier study data proposed that forty-five minutes of moderate exercise a day could prevent more than five thousand cases of breast cancer. It was the total time spent being active was the most important, stressed the WCRF team in their report. Short session of activity will be as beneficial as long because they add up to the same.

Together with brisk walking, other activities like cycling, swimming, dancing, gardening and other household works would also be counted. By making few changes to their daily routine people could attain significant health benefits, explained Dr Rachel Thompson the head of science from WCRF.

He added that there is strong evidence that show being active is significant for preventing cancer. You need not to go to the gym every to attain benefits. You can decrease your risk of cancer, just by making small changes to your lifestyle.

People should take walking as hobby, they should even walk to shop instead of taking car or bus and they can really make difference to their health. You do not have to be an athlete to reduce your cancer risk.

There are strong evidences that certain cancer like breast cancer and bowel cancer are less common in people who do regular moderate exercise like brisk walking, explained Henry Scowcroft, science information manager at Cancer Research UK.

A cup of coffee holds secret of long life

Rajan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:15:21 +0000

Researchers have revealed through new study that drinking a cup of coffee daily could be the secret behind long life. The coffee helps improve elasticity of the arteries that can fend off heart disease. A distinctive study into what makes people to live up to hundred shows that even those with high blood pressure are recovered for a daily cup of coffee.

In a study survey that included the subjects aged between sixty-five and hundred and long term residents of Greek island of Ikaria. This land is known as land of longevity and a third person reach the age of ninety. These people suffer twenty percent less cancer and half the rate of heart disease as compared to western population.

The latest experts claim that Mediterranean diet supplemented with locally made honey and herbal teas that play key role. Researchers examined more than four hundred people with hypertension. By raising the load on the heart, high blood pressure results in rigidity of arteries and decreased elasticity that in order raises the chances of heart attack and stroke.

There was inconsistent proof about the effect of coffee drinking on heart health with several studies showing it provoked high blood pressure, explained the lead researcher Dr Christina Chrysohoou. But drinking coffee is a deeply rooted social tradition in Greek culture which made it essential to examine on this island of high life-expectancy, she added.

All subjected were evaluated for elasticity. It was found that fifty-six percent moderate drinkers of coffee who drink one and two cups a day had best arterial health and their blood vessels behave like young people. Moreover arteries of coffee drinkers were more elastic than others.

New non-invasive treatment of spine problems

Rajan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:28:54 +0000

In a novel study an orthopedic surgeon from Canada has claimed to develop a technique that uses sound waves for an effective, non-invasive and painless treatment of spinal diseases including injuries. The treatment developed by Dr. Aslam Khan will help in mild relocation of vertebrae and useful reinstatement of the central nervous system.

It will also help in cellular biosynthesis that is accountable for reinstating and restarting worn or damaged disks. The new treatment known as KKT (Khan Kinetic Treatment) will permit people with spine injuries caused by sports, sudden falls, postural abnormalities, stress, repetitive activity related injuries and genetic tendency to entirely eradicate their pain.

The new treatment using sound waves stimulate muscles, blood vessels and neural communication and activate cellular biosynthesis that will instigate the body’s self healing process. Dr. Khan has developed the technology after twenty years of continuous research and special technology device for treatment has been approved by USFDA.

In Asia fifty percent of population suffers from backache at some pint of time in their life with frequency being high as seventy percent in the aged population. Degenerative alteration in the lower back constitutes a regular trait of ageing and in young people. Back pain is caused more frequently due to distortion of gel like disc packed in between the vertebrae.

The chairman and CEP of KKT International Centre for Spine has opened its first centre recently. The research papers have published in peer appraisal Journals like Journal of Musculoskeletal pain and American Journal of pain management.

Test could reveal if breast cancer drug works

Rajan — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:57:09 +0000

Researchers have developed a revolutionary twenty-four hour test that will tell more rapidly if the most frequently used chemotherapy medicine will provide benefit to breast cancer patients. The test could recognize tens of thousands women who will only suffer incapacitating side effects from using anthracycline chemotherapy relatively than beat the condition.

Through new patients could find out within twenty-four if anthracycline will help them or not. The new test is being developed at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research. The research team has tested sixty-eight breast cancer patients.

Researchers looked at protein RAD51 that is engaged in DNA repair. It was found that if it did not work in breast cancer cells, patients were prone to react to anthracycline. Many of those patients had an absolute respond with the tumour vanishing from the breast.

If the repair procedure of DNA was functioning in the tumours, they would possibly not react to the treatment. This device has been shown for the first time in clinical environs and could have significant insinuations for the patients, according to findings published in the journal, Clinical Cancer Research.

The test can decrease the time taken to determine whether breast cancer patients are not going to have a good reaction to a chemotherapy from three months to just twenty-four hours, explained lead researcher Dr Nicholas Turner. It would make a big disparity to patients who could be stirred onto other treatment substitutes, added Dr Turner.

Breastfeeding lowers mothers’ risk of diabetes

Rajan — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:48:54 +0000

According to a new study mothers who do not breastfeed have doubled their risk of developing Type 2 debates in their later life. Researchers explained that breastfeeding budges fat lingering around the abdomen after pregnancy, which is the significant factor that causes the condition. Declining the rate of breastfeeding among mothers, causes rise in cases of type 2 diabetes among middle aged women.

Diet and exercise are known extensively to brunt the risk of diabetes. But a small number of people comprehend that breastfeeding also decreases mother’s risk of developing the condition in later life by reducing maternal belly fat, explained lead researcher Dr Eleanor Schwarz, from the University of Pittsburgh.

The outcome of study that involved more than two thousand women aged forty to seventy eight showed that a quarter of mothers who did not breastfeed developed diabetes and were more than double prone to get it in comparison to women who had breastfed or never given birth.

Earlier study had also found that breastfeeding could protect mothers from heart attack and stroke in their later life. The latest study claims that just one month of breastfeeding escorts to ten percent lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and high level of cholesterol as compared to women who had never breastfed.

Their study gives an additional good cause to encourage women to breastfeed their babies at least for baby’s first month of life. Health experts require considering women’s pregnancy and lactation history when advising women about their risk for developing Type 2 diabetes’ added Dr Schwarz. Breastfeeding provides infants all nutrients they require for first six months of life, said NHS experts.

Garlic breath can be fend off with milk

Rajan — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:37:21 +0000

People who are fond of eating foods containing good amount of garlic often worried about the breath of garlic. New study has revealed that to combat the unsocial after effects of fragrant continental cooking, sipping milk with meal is an effectual counter gauge to garlic’s remaining aroma.

Milk was shown to considerably reduce the concentration of composites which provide garlic the strong enduring smell, shown the test done with raw and cooked cloves. One of the composites AMS (allyl methyl sulphide) cannot be broken down in digestion process. This chemical is released from the body in the breath and sweat.

The garlic is an exceptional source of minerals and vitamins and helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The infamous strong flavor of garlic defers many people from including it in their meal. Earlier studies have revealed that even brushing teeth after fragrant continental meal failed to solve the problem.

But now it seems that people fond of garlic can breathe a fresh smelling sigh of relief. Drinking a small glass of milk can decrease the presence of AMS on the breath by up to fifty percent found food researchers from Ohio State University.

Full fat milk provides better outcomes than skimmed milk and it was also better to drank with meal rather than after the meal, reported the study published in the Journal of Food Science.