Alliedhealthcare Headline Animator

Saturday 27 August 2011

A longtime vegetarian gets a high cholesterol count

My blood test results arrived in the mail last year -- and I was shocked. My report, with total cholesterol listed at 248, contained a handwritten note from my doctor in the margin: Come in to see me for medication.

How could I have high cholesterol? Read in full:

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-myturn-cholesterol18-2010jan18,0,1272980.story

Thursday 25 August 2011

Study Identifies Fish Oil's Impact On Cognition And Brain Structure

Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital's Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center have found positive associations between fish oil supplements and cognitive functioning as well as differences in brain structure between users and non-users of fish oil supplements. The findings suggest possible benefits of fish oil supplements on brain health and aging. The results were reported at the recent International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, in Paris, France.

The study was led by Lori Daiello, PharmD, a research scientist at the Rhode Island Hospital Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center. Data for the analyses was obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), a large multi-center, NIH-funded study that followed older adults with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's Disease for over three years with periodic memory testing and brain MRIs.Read full article:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/232952.php

Too Much Salt In Diet And Too Little Exercise Increases Risk Of Cognitive Decline In Seniors

Older adults who lead sedentary lifestyles and consume a lot of sodium in their diet may be putting themselves at risk for more than just heart disease.

A study led by researchers at Baycrest in Toronto - in collaboration with colleagues at the Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal, McGill University and the Universite de Sherbrooke - has found evidence that high-salt diets coupled with low physical activity can be detrimental to cognitive health in older adults. Read in full:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/233181.php

Friday 19 August 2011

Binge Drinking Damages Teenage Girls' Brains More Than Boys'

Teenage girls who binge-drink have a higher risk of long-term harm to the brain compared to boys of the same age who also binge drink, researchers from the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University reported inAlcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Their definition of binge-drinking is consuming at least four (for females) or five (for males) alcoholic drinks at one sitting.Read full article:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/231240.php

Rehab For Cerebral Palsy Changes The Environment, Not The Child

A successful new rehabilitation approach to treating children with cerebral palsy puts its focus on where a child lives and plays, not just improving the child's balance, posture and movement skills.

Called a "context-focused intervention", McMaster University and the University of Alberta researchers report in a new study this approach is just as beneficial as traditional child-focused therapy, offering parents an additional treatment option for their child.

The McMaster study, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Alberta Health Services in Calgary, is the first randomized trial to examine the effects of therapy focused on changing a child's task or environment, not the child. It appeared in the July issue of the medical journal Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. Read full:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/232974.php

Thursday 18 August 2011

Vitamin D Improves Exercise Outcomes In Patients With COPD


Vitamin D supplements may help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) get more from their pulmonary rehabilitation programs, according to a study conducted by researchers from Belgium.

The study results will be presented at the ATS 2011 International Conference in Denver.

"Our study shows that high doses of vitamin D supplementation on top of a standard rehabilitation program improve the outcome in terms of exercise capacity and respiratory muscle strength," said Miek Hornikx, physiotherapist and doctoral student in the department of pneumology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Leuven, Belgium......

Link:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/225386.php

'Dead' Facial Nerves Brought Back To Life By Physiotherapist

A physiotherapist based at Southampton's teaching hospitals has discovered movement in the faces of patients with 'dead' nerves - by stretching the inside of their mouths with her finger.

The finding, made by specialist neurological physiotherapist Lorraine Clapham at Southampton General Hospital, gives hope to patients who suffer from facial palsy, where damage to nerves from injury, surgery or unexplained syndromes causes muscles to weaken and droop....

Source:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/229300.php

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Why Men Are At Higher Risk For Stomach Cancer

MIT researchers show how estrogen protects women from the gastric inflammation that can lead to cancer.

Several types of cancer, including stomach, liver and colon, are far more common in men than in women. Some scientists have theorized that differences in lifestyle, such as diet and smoking, may account for the discrepancy, but growing evidence suggests that the differences are rooted in basic biological differences between men and women. Read more on:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/231079.php

What Are Pheromones? Do Humans Have Pheromones?

A pheromone is a chemical an animal produces which changes the behavior of another animal of the same species (animals include insects). Some describe pheromones as behavior-altering agents. Many people do not know that pheromones trigger other behaviors in the animal of the same species, apart from sexual behavior.

Pheromones, unlike most other hormones are ectohormones - they act outside the body of the individual that is secreting them - they impact a behavior on another individual. Hormones usually only affect the individual that is secreting them.Read more on:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232635.php

Depression Raises Female Risk Of Stroke By 29%

Adult females with clinicaldepression are 29% more likely to suffer a stroke than other women of the same age without depression, according to an article published in the journal Stroke. The authors, from Harvard Medical School added that there is a 39% higher risk for those on SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Examples of SSRIs include Prozac, Celexaand Zoloft.Read more on:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232718.php

Friday 12 August 2011

Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Seem to Lack Enough Vitamin D


However, blood levels of the vitamin don't affect disease activity, researchers say

MONDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D insufficiency is common among people with psoriatic arthritis, but levels of the vitamin in the blood do not affect disease activity, a new study finds.
People with psoriatic arthritis have the chronic skin disorder psoriasis accompanied by inflammatory arthritis.
Click here to find out more!
The study, published in the July 11 issue of the journal Arthritis Care & Research, included more than 300 patients living in Toronto and Haifa, Israel, two geographically diverse locations. Vitamin D levels in the blood -- known as 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH) D] -- were measured in the summer and winter.Read more on:

Patients With RA Or Fibromyalgia Benefit From Yoga

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who practice yoga showed statistically significant improvements in disease activity, according to a small study presented at the EULAR 2011 Annual Congress.

The results of the study conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) among 47 patients (26 yoga patients and 21 controls) demonstrate that patients who completed 12 sessions of Raj yoga** which is one of the gentler styles of yoga, combining exercise and breathing techniques showed significant improvements in disease activity scores (DAS28) of p=0.021 and health assessment questionnaire's (HAQ†) of p=0.0015. However there was no statistically significant improvement on the quality of life scale (QoL). Read more on:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/226698.php

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Head-to-Toe Solutions for Stress

Worrying about being able to pay the bills? The babysitter canceled—again? Situations like these are the modern-day equivalent of being attacked by a saber-toothed tiger, and our bodies rev up to face the threats, says Paul J. Rosch, MD, president of the American Institute of Stress. Chronic stress can lead to a whole host of physical and emotional problems. Plus, women often have stronger stress reactions than men, says David Rakel, MD, director of integrative medicine at the University of Wisconsin, maybe because the area where emotions are processed in our brains is larger. Even more of a reason to ID your stress and learn to let it go.
Source:http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306683,00.html

Best Superfoods for Weight Loss

So-called superfoods are nutritional powerhouses that help build bones, prevent chronic diseases, improve your eyesight, and even keep your mind sharp. But did you know new evidence suggests these foods can also help you get—and stay—slim?

Read on for the top superfoods for weight loss, and how to pack them into your daily diet!

Link:http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20475957,00.html

5 Quick Ways to Stop Back Pain

Roughly 8 out of 10 people suffer from back pain at some point during their lives. Women, in particular, are prone to posture and back problems—
Read more :
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306769_1,00.html

Monday 8 August 2011

12 Ways to Protect Your Joints

Want to stay limber and pain-free as you get older? Then babying your joints is a must. If you suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common degenerative joint disease, you need to protect yourself. Learn how 12 joint-smart moves help relieve pain and keep you moving. Plus, how much do you know about osteoarthritis? Take our quiz to find out...

We power-walk to keep hearts strong and lift weights to build muscle, but most of us never think about our joints until they hurt. 

Read more on: http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Arthritis/12_Ways_to_Protect_Your_Joints.aspx

5 Pain-Relieving Exercises for Arthritis

There’s no cure for arthritis, but sufferers have a powerful, cheap way to manage their aches and pains – exercise. But where do you start if you’re a beginner? We have the 5 best exercises for people with arthritis, plus easy tips to get you started. And the best part? These workouts are fun and stress-relieving, will ease symptoms and help you lose weight… 
Read more on: http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Arthritis/Got_Arthritis_5_Exercises_That_Relieve_Pain.aspx

10 Tools to Ease Joint Pain

Are your joints so sore you can’t put on clothes, stand in the shower or open doors or kitchen appliances? Arthritis can rob of you of the most basic everyday functions. But you don’t have to let the pain steal your freedom. We’ve gathered 10 handy tools and made it easy for you to find them. Plus, how much do you know about osteoarthritis? Take our quiz to find out…
In a recent New Yorker cartoon, a woman introduces her new love to a girlfriend: “This is Russell,” she says. “Russell opens all my jars.”

Read more on: http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Arthritis/10_Tools_to_Ease_Joint_Pain.aspx

Saturday 6 August 2011

Waist to hip ratio


Waist to hip ratio is increasingly being used by doctors in preference to BMI as a better measurement of the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Why does shape matter?

Increasingly, scientific study of body shape shows that whilst being overweight is certainly bad for your health, it may not matter where that weight is held. It had been thought that fat stored centrally was worse than fat distributed elsewhere, such as on the arms or hips, but recent evidence now suggests there is an increased risk if you're overweight or obese, no matter what your shape.
Being overweight or obese puts you at greater risk of many diseases, including:
  • Heart disease,Diabetes,Liver disease,Stroke,Cancer,Infertility
So, whatever your shape, if you're overweight it will affect your health.
However, there are lifestyle factors which may affect how energy is used and fat is stored, which you can change to reduce your risk of disease.

Phonological Impairment May Be Causing Dyslexia: MIT Study


Phonological Impairment May Be Causing Dyslexia: MIT Study

Children With Dyslexia May Benefit From Early Musical Games

Children with dyslexia often find it difficult to count the number of syllables in spoken words or to determine whether words rhyme. These subtle difficulties are seen across languages with different writing systems and they indicate that the dyslexic brain has trouble processing the way that sounds in spoken language are structured. In a new study published in the June issue of Elsevier's Cortex, researchers at Cambridge have shown, using a music task, that this is linked to a broader difficulty in perceiving rhythmic patterns, or metrical structure.
Read more....

Friday 5 August 2011

Another Blood Test for Alzheimer's Shows Promise


A blood test that screens for certain markers in the blood called "autoantibodies" is showing promise in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, researchers report.
The blood test correctly detected Alzheimer's disease in people already diagnosed with the devastating brain disorder with 96% accuracy, according to the researchers. The test could also distinguish who didn't have the disease from a control group of non-affected adults with 92.5% accuracy....Read in full on:

Thursday 4 August 2011

Back to Basics

 The other day in the clinic, I overheard a physical therapist instructing a patient in a home exercise program to help his neck pain.   The therapist was very clear and concise, and she had the patient perform the exercise to ensure that it was done properly.  She instructed the patient to perform ten repetitions for two sets.
After her instruction, she asked the patient if he had any questions. 
"Just one," he answered.  "What's a set?"
So often we forget that the language we use in the clinic may sound foreign to others who are not familiar with physical therapy or exercise.  We occasionally use terms that are quite familiar to ourselves, but are completely novel to someone else.


New Driving Simulator For Rehabilitation

Clemson University researchers, working with simulation technology company DriveSafety, have developed a new driving simulator designed for patient rehabilitation that now is being used at 11 Army, Navy and Veterans Affairs facilities. The program recently expanded to Europe with the addition of a driving simulator at Charite Hospital in Berlin, Germany.

New Driving Simulator For Rehabilitation Created By Clemson And Drive Safety


Source:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/231084.php

Monday 1 August 2011

8 Embarrassing Sleep Secrets


8 Embarrassing Sleep Secrets

What your body was up to while you were sleeping might make you blush.
Habit #1: Snoring

Habit #2: Drooling

Habit #3: Sleepwalking

Habit #4: Talking in Your Sleep

Habit #5: Bedwetting


Scientist Converts Human Skin Cells Into Functional Brain Cells

A scientist at the Gladstone Institutes has discovered a novel way to convert human skin cells into brain cells, advancing medicine and human health by offering new hope for regenerative medicine and personalized drug discovery and development.

In a paper published online in the scientific journal Cell Stem Cell, Sheng Ding, PhD, reveals efficient and robust methods for transforming adult skin cells into neurons that are capable of transmitting brain signals, marking one of the first documented experiments for transforming an adult human's skin cells into functioning brain cells. 

Source:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/231969.php