Health News

Measures Needed To Curb Alarming Increase In Malignant Melanoma On The West Coast Of Sweden

Date: Oct-24-2012
Malignant melanoma is as much as 35% more common among people who live in Gothenburg and the region's coastal municipalities than those who live inland. Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have found that the number of malignant melanoma cases in the Vastra Gotaland region has quadrupled since 1970. Malignant melanoma has become increasingly common in the Western world over the past few decades. One of the biggest factors has been excessive and unprotected sunbathing despite widespread awareness of the health risks...

Involved Parents Encourage Better Treatments In Kids With ADHD

Date: Oct-24-2012
A first-of-its kind tool has been developed geared towards helping families and children with ADHD to make better choices for their treatment by using a "shared decision-making" approach. The new three-part survey guides doctors and families in their quest for the most comprehensive treatment available for their unique ADHD cases. This new research, published in Pediatrics, and done by a team at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, focuses on shared decision-making by educated families and doctors for the best possible healthcare decisions...

TVs In Kids' Rooms Linked To Obesity And Unhealthy Lifestyles

Date: Oct-24-2012
Televisions, computers, and other electronic devices in kids' bedrooms at night are linked to worse lifestyle habits, compared with children who do not have these electronics in their bedrooms, according to researchers from the University of Alberta in a new study published in Pediatric Obesity. Survey results of Alberta fifth graders revealed that an extra hour of sleep per night lowered the chance of being overweight by 28% and obese by 30% and kids who sleep with TVs, computers, cellphones, and video games in their bedrooms have a much higher chance of being overweight or obese...

Risk For Sarcoidosis May Be Increased By Mold Exposure At Home

Date: Oct-24-2012
People who are exposed to mold in their homes could be at an increased risk for sarcoidosis, a chronic inflammatory lung disease. Researchers from Sweden and Slovenia tested 62 nonsmoking patients with sarcoidosis, 34 of whom had extrapulmonary manifestations (EPM). Patients were tested for β-glucan, an immune-modulating agent found in fungi, and accompanying inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-12. Serum samples were also obtained from 18 control subjects with no pulmonary disease or respiratory symptoms...

Women Should Receive Pap Tests Every 3 to 5 years

Date: Oct-23-2012
Women should be screened for cervical cancer every three to five years at most. This recommendation came from the new guidelines issued today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College), which also indicated that receiving the Pap test and the HPV (human papillomavirus) test at the same time is better than the Pap test alone. However, this is only suggested to females ages 30 and older and used once every five years...

New Oral Vaccines Mean No More Needles

Date: Oct-23-2012
New oral vaccines are being developed to increase immunity against Tuberculosis (TB) and influenza, and prevent C. difficle, which will mean leaving needles behind, according to researchers from Royal Holloway, University of London. The new type of vaccinations were developed using probiotic spores by Professor Simon Cutting, lead researcher of the study, from the School of Biological Sciences at Royal Holloway...

Poor Physical Performance Linked To Higher Dementia Risk In Over 90s

Date: Oct-23-2012
People aged 90 years or more who have poor physical performance have a higher risk of developing dementia, researchers from the University of California, Irvine, reported in Archives of Neurology. The authors mentioned walking, getting up from a chair, and standing with good balance as examples of a physical task. The researchers explained, as background information that not many studies have focused on people aged 90 years or more. Prior studies had already pointed towards a link between poor physical performance and a decline in cognitive skills in younger seniors...

Elevated Risk Of Suicidal Thoughts In Recent Adolescent Victims

Date: Oct-23-2012
A rising risk of suicidal or self-harming thoughts in adolescents seem to be linked to a recent event in the teens' lives where have been victimized. New research, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, says traumatizing incidents, such as sexual assault and maltreatment by peers, can lead to these negative ideas. According to researchers from the University of New Hampshire, youth suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States. From 1999 to 2006, eleven percent of all deaths among 12 to 19 year olds was due to suicide...

Legumes Help Improve Glycemic Control And Lower Heart Disease Risk

Date: Oct-23-2012
Eating plenty of beans, lentils, chickpeas and other legumes helps improve glycemic control and reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease in patients with diabetes type 2, researchers from the University of Toronto reported in Archives of Internal Medicine after carrying out a randomized, controlled trial. As background information, the authors explained that low glycemic index foods had already been linked with better glycemic control in diabetes type 2 patients. They have been included as essential foods in many nutritional guidelines for patients with diabetes...

Statins May Reduce Risk Of Esophageal Cancer

Date: Oct-23-2012
A new US review of published evidence from studies looking at the cancer prevention effects of statins, finds taking the cholesterol-bustings drugs may cut people's risk of developing esophageal cancer (cancer of the gullet). The review was conducted by Siddharth Singh, a Mayo Clinic researcher, and colleagues, and was presented this week at the American College of Gastroenterology 77th Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas...