Health News

World's highest rate of high blood pressure found in South Africa

Date: Feb-05-2014
New research reveals that South Africa has the highest rate of high blood pressure reported among people aged 50 and over for any country in the world, at any time in history.Analysis of data from a major survey found that 78 per cent of those who took part in South Africa tested positive for high blood pressure, or hypertension. Less than one in 10 people were effectively controlling their condition with medication.

Dialysis for chronic kidney disease can be delayed: new guideline recommendation

Date: Feb-05-2014
For asymptomatic adults with chronic kidney disease who will need dialysis, an intent-to-defer approach is recommended over an earlier start, according to a new guideline from the Canadian Society of Nephrology published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).The guideline panel recommends an "intent-to-defer" strategy over an "intent-to-start" early approach, in which patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 15 mL/ min per 1.73 m2 are closely monitored by a nephrologist. Dialysis is initiated when clinical indications emerge or the eGFR is 6 mL/min per 1.

First human case of new bird flu virus confirmed in China

Date: Feb-05-2014
A new report published in The Lancet details the world's first confirmed case of human infection with a new avian influenza virus that has genetically evolved from the H10N8 virus. A 73-year-old woman from Nanchang City in China died 9 days after the onset of illness from the infection.On November 30th, 2013, the woman visited a hospital with symptoms of fever and severe pneumonia. Although she was treated with antibiotics and antiviral medication, she quickly deteriorated and developed multiple organ failure before passing away.

Neonatal mortality rates an increasing trend in home birth

Date: Feb-05-2014
In a study to be presented on Feb. 7 at 2:15 p.m. CST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting ™, in New Orleans, researchers will report that patients delivered at home by midwives had a roughly four times higher risk of neonatal deaths than babies delivered in the hospital by midwives. The increased neonatal mortality risk is associated with the location of a planned birth, rather than the credentials of the person delivering the baby.The number of homebirths in the United States has grown over the last decade.

For pain management during labor, remifentanil patient controlled analgesia not as effective as epidural analgesia

Date: Feb-05-2014
In a study to be presented on Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m. CST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting™, in New Orleans, researchers will report findings which suggest remifentanil patient controlled analgesia is not equivalent to epidural analgesia for pain, pain appreciation scores, and overall satisfaction in women who request for pain relief during labor.Remifentanil patient controlled analgesia (RPCA) is a short-acting pain reliever, an opiate, similar to pethidine.

Correlation discovered between neonatal and early childhood outcomes among children delivered preterm

Date: Feb-05-2014
In a study to be presented on Feb. 6 at 3:15 p.m. CST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting ™, in New Orleans, researchers will report on a correlation between initial neonatal and early childhood outcomes among children delivered less than 34 weeks gestation.Preterm babies are at high risk for death and other serious medical complications, and some premature infants continue to experience side effects from prematurity even during later childhood.

Women 35 and older may be at decreased risk of having anatomically abnormal child

Date: Feb-05-2014
In a study to be presented on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. CST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting™, in New Orleans, researchers will report that women ages 35 and older are at a decreased risk of having a child with a major congenital malformation, after excluding chromosomal abnormalities.Advanced maternal age, traditionally defined as 35 and older, is a well-established risk factor for having a child with a chromosomal abnormality, such as Down syndrome.

Depression is 'a causal risk of coronary heart disease'

Date: Feb-05-2014
Symptoms of depression may be causally linked to the risk of coronary heart disease. This is according to new research recently published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.The research team, including Dr. Eric Brunner of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London in the UK, says the findings indicate that depressive symptoms should be considered potential risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD).

Atherosclerosis may be predicted by high blood pressure in early adulthood

Date: Feb-05-2014
According to a new study published in JAMA, people who have escalating levels of high blood pressure over a 25-year period beginning in early adulthood are more likely to develop atherosclerosis and associated heart problems in later life.Atherosclerosis is when plaque - made up of fat, cholesterol and calcium, among other things - builds up inside a person's arteries. These plaque build-ups can limit the flow of blood, leading to serious and potentially fatal problems, such as disease of the heart or arteries.

More is needed to tackle obesity than better access to healthy foods

Date: Feb-05-2014
Government initiatives to improve access to healthy foods may have a limited impact on obesity in the US, according to new research by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Penn State University.Disadvantaged neighbourhoods often lack access to low-cost healthy foods, which has led to recent US policy initiatives that focus on increasing the number of local supermarkets through grants and loans.