_ What You Need to Know About COPD By Jane Farrell article Along with lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, affects a patient’s very ability to breathe. COPD, which is also called emphysema or chronic bronchitis, is a progressive lung disease in which the airways of the lungs become damaged, making it hard to breathe. COPD is also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. According to the National Institutes of Health, COPD is a major cause of death and illness worldwide. In the U.S., it kills more than 120,000 Americans every year, or one every four minutes.
_ Slow Reaction Time Can be Deadly By Jane Farrell article Having a slow reaction time can be fatal: a new study shows that people who have that in midlife increase their risk of death 15 years later. The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE. Researchers from University College London and the University of Edinburgh looked at statistics from more than 5,000 participants (age 20 to 59). The figures were collected from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III) in the US.
Why the Next Big Frontier in Medicine is Energy Medicine By blog I first heard about Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2000 when I was writing my book The Whole Man Program: Reinvigorating Your Body, Mind, and Spirit After 40. Dr. Oz was one of the top heart surgeons in the world at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Medical Center. I wanted to find someone with the best scientific credentials to help me better understand heart disease so I could help other men. Dr. Oz was a wonderful resource. He is still one of the best surgeons in the world but he has since expanded his view of what constitutes good medicine.
_ Possible New Parkinson's Therapy By article When properly manipulated, a population of support cells found in the brain called astrocytes could provide a new and promising approach to treat Parkinson's disease. That’s the finding of a study done at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York and published on January 28th 2014 in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.
_ The High Cost of "Free" Foods By Jane Farrell article Think twice before reaching for that fat-free cookie or sugar-free ice cream bar as an afternoon snack. In most cases, you’re better off having the real thing in moderate portions, says Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD, wellness manager at Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute. The issue, Kirkpatrick says, is that choosing heavily processed foods over natural foods often means taking in too many additives and refined ingredients with questionable nutritional value. Substitutions — but no substitute for the real thing.
_ Why Inflammation Impairs Memory as We Age By article Inflammation has long been linked to disorders of memory such as Alzheimer's disease. Severe infections can also impair cognitive function in healthy elderly individuals. Now new research done at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK and published in the journal Biological Psychiatry not only helps explain why inflammation impairs memory but could spur the development of new drugs targeting the immune system to treat dementia.
_ Chocolate, Tea & Berries May Prevent Diabetes By article Chow down on chocolate, sip some tea, and eat lots of berries if you’re hoping to avoid being diabetic. That’s the advice of researchers at the University of East Anglia and King's College London who found that high intakes of phytochemicals called flavonoids and pigments called anthocyanins are associated with lower insulin resistance and better blood glucose regulation.
6 Menopause Warning Signs You ShouldnΓÇÖt Ignore (And How to Treat Them) By article By Soriyya Bawa, Executive Content Editor at Agein.com Everyone has heard of menopause and everything that comes with it, like the hot flashes and mood swings. But it seems not many women, or men for that matter, know about perimenopause, the change in hormones that signal the onset of menopause.
Sex 7 Libido-Boosting Foods By article When it comes to getting in the mood, there's more at play than just Victoria's Secret and Viagra. Sex experts say one of the most important keys to having a healthy sex drive is the right diet. A balanced diet will not only help you look better and feel more confident, but will deliver key nutrients to keep your libido high. A poor diet could be causing you toxicity, inflammation, and sluggishness, none of which will help stir your passion.
_ Aging Well Enjoy Life and Be Healthier By Jane Farrell article When it comes to a positive attitude and the quality of life in older age, there really is a connection, according to a new study. Researchers whose findings were published in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) found that the benefits of enjoying life include faster walking speeds and better physical function in daily activities. The investigators looked at 3,199 men and women aged 60 or over who were residents of England.
Blood Type Diet Theory Debunked By article The diet theory that claims our nutritional needs vary by blood type is not valid, according to researchers at the University of Toronto. The team found that the associations they observed between each of the four blood type (A, B, AB, O) diets and the markers of health are independent of the person’s blood type. The study was published in January 2014 in the journal PLoS One.
Aging Well Sun Exposure May Help Lower Blood Pressure By Jane Farrell article Exposure to sunlight has a newly found health benefit: reducing blood pressure and cutting the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new study. The findings, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, indicate that sunlight alters the level of nitric oxide (NO), a small messenger molecule, in skin and blood. Martin Feelisch, Professor of Experimental Medicine and Integrative Biology at the University of Southampton, UK, comments: “NO along with its breakdown products, known to
_ Winterizing Diabetic Feet By article Cold winters can be a challenge for all of us who want to stay active. For people who have diabetes mellitus, facing the elements can be especially challenging and should be approached with caution. Georgeanne Botek, DPM Medical Director of Cleveland Clinic’s diabetic foot clinic suggests the following tips to keep feet healthy:
_ The 7 Hidden Causes of Fatigue By Jane Farrell article From the Cleveland Clinic Fatigue can signal anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism or hepatitis C. But once your doctor rules out major medical causes of fatigue, it’s time to consider hidden ones. "We look for the less obvious roots of fatigue — that’s our job,” says Tanya Edwards, MD, Medical Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine. Hidden causes include: 1. A junk food diet
_ When Your Doctor Shames You By Jane Farrell article New research has found that while 50 percent of patients leave their doctor’s office feeling ashamed or guilty, those feelings may have positive results depending on a number of factors. Researchers from the University of California San Diego said that investigating the issue of patient shame – and consequent avoidance of treatment – is crucial. "More than one third of all deaths in the United States are still essentially preventable and largely due to unhealthy patient behavior,” the researchers wrote.
_ Coffee Improves Your Memory By Jane Farrell article Drinking coffee doesn’t just provide an energy boost, it may also improve your memory.
_ Mechanism Affecting Risk of Prostate Ca By article A research group at Biocenter Oulu in Finland has identified a mechanism that initiates a genetic program that ups the risk of prostate cancer metastasis. The study was published in the journal Nature Genetics in January 2014. A release from the Academy of Finland notes that prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men worldwide.