Prevention
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Prevention
General Information
NEWS:
10 surprising places where germs lurk
Bad Lyme Bug Spreading: Virulent Strain of Lyme Disease Spreading in U.S., Europe“Qiu and Luft note that the rise of a more virulent Lyme spirochete isn't the whole story. People get the infection from the bite of a deer tick. As suburbs encroach on rural areas, and as more homes are built near forests, more people are at risk of tick bites. Increased exposure to ticks accounts for most of the increase in Lyme disease. Qiu and colleagues found that the ospC type A strain is the most widespread strain in the U.S. It's also widespread in Europe. That was a surprise, as Lyme disease spirochetes in Europe are spread by different ticks and harbored by different animal hosts than in the U.S.“
Calcium May Improve Bone Mineral Density in Men
Carbon Monoxide: A Winter Killer “The mystery poison: carbon monoxide or CO. It's a gas given off by gas furnaces, cars, charcoal grills, propane stoves, and portable generators. Every year, the CDC says, it sends at least 15,000 Americans to the emergency room. At least 439 people die of unintentional, nonfire-related carbon monoxide poisoning every year, new CDC statistics show. But that's very likely an undercount.“
Carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane Found in Leading "Organic" Brand Personal Care Products
CDC to Young Women: Take Folic Acid “The CDC today urged all women -- and particularly young women -- to make sure they get enough folic acid. "All women, especially younger women ages 18-24 years, need to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily through supplements, fortified foods, or both in addition to a folate-rich diet to prevent serious birth defects" called neural tube defects, which affect the brain and spinal cord, states a CDC news release. That recommendation goes for any woman of childbearing age, even if she's not trying to conceive, since many pregnancies aren't planned. “
Cranberries May Help Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in Elderly Women “Cranberries are effective in preventing urinary tract infections in elderly women, but evidence is less clear in the long-term for most populations, according to the results of a Cochrane systematic review published in the January 23 issue of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.”
Double Dipping Spreads Germs “Dipping the same chip into a bowl of dip more than once has always been a questionable practice. Now, a study done at Clemson University shows that double dipping does spread germs.”
Eat Oily Fish At Least Once A Week To Protect Your Eyesight In Old Age “The findings show that people who habitually consume oily fish at least once a week compared with less than once a week are 50% less likely to have wet AMD. There was no benefit from consumption of non oily white fish. There was a strong inverse association between levels of DHA and EPA and wet AMD. People in the top 25% of DHA and EPA levels (300 mg per day and above) were 70% less likely to have wet AMD.”
Eat Your Leafy Vegetables To Decrease Your Risk Of Cataracts “Women who have higher dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin--compounds found in yellow or dark, leafy vegetables--as well as more vitamin E from food and supplements appear to have a lower risk for developing cataracts, according to a new article.”
Eww! Double dipping just gross, study confirms: ‘It’s like kissing everybody at the party,’ researcher says “Last year the food microbiologist’s undergraduate students examined the effects of double dipping using volunteers, wheat crackers and several sample dips. They found that three to six double dips transferred about 10,000 bacteria from an eater’s mouth to the remaining dip sample.”
Exercise Cuts Cancer Death In Men “Men who exercise often are less likely to die from cancer than those who don't exercise, according to a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet.”
Exercise To Avoid Gallstones, New Research Suggests “Previous observational studies have suggested that people who are physically fit have fewer gallstones and lower cholesterol, but laboratory studies had not confirmed the link.”
FDA Alert - Fluoroquinolone Antimicrobial Drugs “Fluoroquinolones are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture. This risk is further increased in those over age 60, in kidney, heart, and lung transplant recipients, and with use of concomitant steroid therapy. Physicians should advise patients, at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or inflammation, to stop taking the fluoroquinolone, to avoid exercise and use of the affected area, and to promptly contact their doctor about changing to a non-fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drug.“
Getting Forgetful? Then Blueberries May Hold The Key “They have found that phytochemical-rich foods, such as blueberries, are effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory, according to a study soon to be published in the science journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine. The researchers working at the Schools of Food Biosciences and Psychology in Reading and the Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter supplemented a regular diet with blueberries over a 12-week period, and found that improvements in spatial working memory tasks emerged within three weeks and continued throughout the period of the study. Blueberries are a major source of flavonoids, in particular anthocyanins and flavanols. Although the precise mechanisms by which these plant-derived molecules affect the brain are unknown, they have been shown to cross the blood brain barrier after dietary intake. It is believed that they exert their effects on learning and memory by enhancing existing neuronal (brain cell) connections, improving cellular communications and stimulating neuronal regeneration. The enhancement of both short-term and long-term memory is controlled at the molecular level in neurons. The research team was able to show that the ability of flavonoids to induce memory improvements are mediated by the activation of signalling proteins via a specific pathway in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls learning and memory.“
Good Oral Hygiene May Protect Against Heart Infections: Daily care of teeth, gums keeps risk of bacterial disease in valves at bay “Taking good care of teeth and gums may be crucial in preventing heart valve infection, a U.S. study finds. Researchers examined whether daily dental activities such as brushing were as likely as major dental procedures such as tooth extraction to cause infective endocarditis (IE), a dangerous infection of the lining of the heart or heart valve that can occur when bacteria enter the bloodstream.“
Health moves 'halve early deaths' “By avoiding cigarettes, exercising regularly, eating healthily and keeping weight in check, 55% of early deaths from chronic diseases could be avoided. Following all four lifestyle tips could cut 44% of cancer deaths and 72% of cardiovascular deaths, the study of nearly 80,000 nurses suggests.“
Healthy living 'can add 14 years'“Taking exercise, not drinking too much alcohol, eating enough fruit and vegetables and not smoking can add up to 14 years to your life, a study says.”
How Cranberry Juice Can Prevent Urinary Tract Infections “A new study by researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) reveals that the juice changes the thermodynamic properties of bacteria in the urinary tract, creating an energy barrier that prevents the microorganisms from getting close enough to latch onto cells and initiate an infection.”
Marijuana Use May Shrink the Brain “Long-term marijuana use may actually shrink certain parts of the brain and have lasting effects on mental health. A new study shows heavy marijuana use over several years was associated with structural differences in at least two different regions of the brain, the hippocampus and amygdala. Researchers found that the hippocampus, which is thought to regulate memory, was an average of 12% smaller among marijuana users, compared with people who didn't smoke pot. The amygdala, involved in emotion and memory, was an average of 7% smaller.“
Masks, Hand Washing, Prevent Spread Of Flu-like Symptoms By Up To 50 Percent “Non-pharmaceutical interventions such as hand washing and masks---especially in a pandemic flu outbreak---are critical to study because pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccinations and antivirals may not be available in sufficient quantity for preventing and controlling pandemic influenza outbreaks.”
MRSA 'Superbug' Becoming More Resistant
NFL stars no match for bacteria “Experts say Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a form of staph resistant to common antibiotics, has become a more prevalent problem in settings such as contact sports that involve skin-to-skin touching. Most MRSA infections acquired in community settings present themselves as sores or boils and often appear red, swollen, painful or with drainage such as pus, the CDC says. Infections often occur in cuts and abrasions but also on body parts covered in hair, such as the back of the neck, armpit or groin. Schools, prisons and other crowded environments are particularly known for transmitting MRSA, said. Elaine Larson, professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.“
Oily fish 'cuts eye disease risk' “The Annals of Ophthalmology review suggests omega-3 may cut the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by a third. However, the Australian researchers stop short of encouraging everyone to eat more omega-3 for this reason alone.“
Say no to antibacterial soaps “The main ingredient in most of the liquid soaps lining store shelves is triclosan, a pesticide that kills bacteria. Turns out you just need to banish germs from your hands, not kill them. Studies show that antibacterial soaps aren't more effective at preventing illness or at removing germs than good old-fashioned soap and water. In fact, antibacterial soaps may do more harm than good. There are concerns that triclosan may contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It's also present in human bodies and breast milk as well as in streams. The Environmental Working Group says triclosan has been linked to developmental defects, liver toxicity, and cancer in lab studies. It also may affect thyroid and other hormones that are crucial to normal development. “
Seven common symptoms you should never ignore
Small Lifestyle Changes Can Boost Longevity “People with four healthy lifestyle behaviors -- not smoking, physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption, and eating five servings of fruit or vegetables a day -- live an average of 14 years longer than people with none of those behaviors, a new British study contends.”
Smoking link to hearing loss risk “Smoking and obesity could both cause permanent hearing damage, say scientists. Either could threaten blood flow to the ear, they say, with damage levels clearly linked to the level of obesity or the length of a smoking habit. However, the Antwerp University-led study found that high levels of work noise remained the biggest risk. “
Smoking ups aneurysm risk in women “Women who smoke are significantly more likely to experience serious problems related to abdominal aortic aneurysms compared to those who do not smoke or have quit the habit, the results of a new study indicate.”
Spices May Protect Against Consequences Of High Blood Sugar “Hargrove explained that when blood sugar levels are high, a process known as protein glycation occurs in which the sugar bonds with proteins to eventually form what are known as advanced glycation end products, also known as AGE compounds. The acronym is fitting because these compounds activate the immune system, resulting in the inflammation and tissue damage associated with aging and diabetes. The researchers found a strong and direct correlation between the phenol content of common herbs and spices and their ability to inhibit the formation of AGE compounds. Spices such as cloves and cinnamon had phenol levels that were 30 percent and 18 percent of dry weight, respectively, while herbs such as oregano and sage were eight and six percent phenol by dry weight, respectively. For comparison, blueberries – which are widely touted for their antioxidant capabilities – contain roughly five percent phenol by dry weight. … “If you set up a good herb and spice cabinet and season your food liberally, you could double or even triple the medicinal value of your meal without increasing the caloric content,” she said. She added that controlling blood sugar and the formation of AGE compounds can also decrease the risk of cardiovascular damage associated with diabetes and aging. She explained that high blood sugar accelerates heart disease partly because AGE compounds form in the blood and in the walls of blood vessels. The AGE compounds aggravate atherosclerosis, which produces cholesterol plaques.“
Study: Women Lead Men in Bacteria, Hands Down “The researchers aren't sure why women harbored a greater variety of bacteria than men, but Fierer suggested it may have to so with the acidity of the skin. Knight said men generally have more acidic skin than women. Other possibilities are differences in sweat and oil gland production between men and women, the frequency of moisturizer or cosmetics applications, skin thickness or hormone production, he said. Women also may have more bacteria living under the surface of the skin where they are not accessible to washing, Knight added. “
Symptoms -- Location, Location, Location
To Stretch or Not to Stretch? The Answer Is Elastic “The truth is that after dozens of studies and years of debate, no one really knows whether stretching helps, harms, or does anything in particular for performance or injury rates. Yet most athletes remain convinced that stretching helps, and recently more and more have felt a sort of social pressure to show that they are limber, in part due to the popularity of yoga. Flexibility has become another area where many athletes want to excel. … If your goal is to prevent injury, Dr. Gilchrist said, stretching does not seem to be enough. Warming up, though, can help. If you start out by moving through a range of motions that you’ll use during activity, you are less likely to be injured. … Some athletes — gymnasts, hurdlers and swimmers among them — may need to stretch to gain the flexibility they need for their sport, Dr. McHugh said. But distance runners do not benefit from being flexible, he found. The most efficient runners, those who exerted the least effort to maintain a pace, were the stiffest. … “Runners don’t need to stretch,” she insists. Dr. Charles Kenny, an orthopedist in private practice in Stockbridge, Mass., is even more adamantly opposed to stretching. The practice, he said, weakens performance and makes an injury more likely. “If stretching was a drug, it would be recalled,” Dr. Kenny said. Stretching the hamstring muscle, for example, teaches the muscle to relax when the knee is fully extended, Dr. Kenny said. But that is not what a runner needs. Instead, runners need to have their hamstrings stiff and activated when the knees are extended. Of course, one test of how passionate researchers are about stretching is to ask them whether they themselves stretch. Many say they do. “
Toxin Found in 'Natural,' 'Organic' Items “Some major brands of shampoo, shower gel and dish soap marketed as "natural" or "organic" contain small amounts of a potentially dangerous chemical, according to a report released yesterday by the Organic Consumers Association. The OCA, which represents consumers and manufacturers in the natural and organic foods industry, said an independent lab's tests of more than 100 personal-care products sold in natural-food stores found trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane in 46 products. The petroleum-based solvent, which causes cancer in animals, is not added to the items but appears as a byproduct of manufacturing. Some of the products tested had the U.S. Department of Agriculture organic seal, and none of those contained 1,4-dioxane. “
Vascular benefits of stopping smoking are rapid “People who quit smoking will see a rapid decline in the risk of death from coronary heart disease (CHD) and other vascular disorders, a new analysis of the Nurses' Health Study shows [1]. And although the study participants were all women, lead author Dr Stacey Kenfield (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA) told heartwire: "We feel that we can generalize our findings to men who have a similar smoking profile."”
Vitamins Help Prevent Vision Loss From AMD -- If Used Correctly
ARTICLES:
A practical "ABCDE" approach to the metabolic syndrome. (Mayo Clin Proc. 2008) A comprehensive management plan can be assembled through an "ABCDE" approach: "A" for assessment of cardiovascular risk and aspirin therapy, "B" for blood pressure control, "C" for cholesterol management, "D" for diabetes prevention and diet therapy, and "E" for exercise therapy. This ABCDE approach provides a practical and systematic framework for encouraging metabolic syndrome recognition and for implementing a comprehensive, evidence-based management plan for the reduction of cardiovascular risk.”
Association of Serum -Tocopherol, Retinol and Ascorbic Acid with the Risk of Cataract Development (Ann Nutr Metab 2008) “Conclusion: While this is a small-scale case study it can nonetheless be viewed as presenting support to help narrow the possibility that antioxidative agents may play a role in delaying cataract formation.”
Hand washing: An easy way to prevent infection
Handwashing: Hand Hygiene Saves Lives
Ice or Heat - "Which Should I Apply?"
Inflammation“ … persistent inflammation is associated with many chronic human conditions and diseases, including allergy, atherosclerosis, cancer, arthritis and autoimmune diseases.”
MRSA: Understand your risk and how to prevent infection
The Fruit That Fights the Flu “Apples (and red onions, broccoli, and tea) are great sources of quercetin -- a flavonoid that may stave off the influenza virus when the body is under stress.”
Think twice about cold remedies
Wipe Out: Buying Safer Sponges
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
A Longitudinal Study of Vaginal Douching and Bacterial Vaginosis—A Marginal Structural Modeling Analysis (American Journal of Epidemiology 2008) “These findings indicate that douching confers increased risk of disruption of vaginal flora. In the absence of a large randomized trial, these findings provide the best evidence to date for a risk of bacterial vaginosis associated with douching.”
Abdominal Obesity and the Risk of All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer Mortality. Sixteen Years of Follow-Up in US Women (Circulation 2008) “Conclusions—Anthropometric measures of abdominal adiposity were strongly and positively associated with all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality independently of body mass index. Elevated waist circumference was associated with significantly increased CVD mortality even among normal-weight women.”
Beneficial effects of potassium on human health. (Physiol Plant. 2008) “Until recently, humans consumed a diet high in potassium. However, with the increasing consumption of processed food, which has potassium removed, combined with a reduction in the consumption of fruits and vegetables, there has been a large decrease in potassium intake which now, in most developed countries, averages around 70 mmol day-1, i.e. only one third of our evolutionary intake. Much evidence shows that increasing potassium intake has beneficial effects on human health. Epidemiological and clinical studies show that a high-potassium diet lowers blood pressure in individuals with both raised blood pressure and average population blood pressure. Prospective cohort studies and outcome trials show that increasing potassium intake reduces cardiovascular disease mortality. This is mainly attributable to the blood pressure-lowering effect and may also be partially because of the direct effects of potassium on the cardiovascular system. A high-potassium diet may also prevent or at least slow the progression of renal disease. An increased potassium intake lowers urinary calcium excretion and plays an important role in the management of hypercalciuria and kidney stones and is likely to decrease the risk of osteoporosis. Low serum potassium is strongly related to glucose intolerance, and increasing potassium intake may prevent the development of diabetes that occurs with prolonged treatment with thiazide diuretics.”
Consumption of trans-Fatty Acid and Its Association with Colorectal Adenomas (American Journal of Epidemiology 2008) “These results suggest that consumption of high amounts of trans-fatty acid may increase the risk of colorectal neoplasia, and they provide additional support to recommendations to limit trans-fatty acid consumption.”
Dietary carotenoids, vitamins C and e, and risk of cataract in women: a prospective study. (Arch Ophthalmol. 2008) “CONCLUSION: In these prospective observational data from a large cohort of female health professionals, higher dietary intakes of lutein/zeaxanthin and vitamin E from food and supplements were associated with significantly decreased risks of cataract.”
Female high-school varsity athletics: An opportunity to improve bone mineral density. (J Sci Med Sport. 2008)
Nut, Corn, and Popcorn Consumption and the Incidence of Diverticular Disease (JAMA. 2008) “Conclusions In this large, prospective study of men without known diverticular disease, nut, corn, and popcorn consumption did not increase the risk of diverticulosis or diverticular complications. The recommendation to avoid these foods to prevent diverticular complications should be reconsidered.”
Oily fish consumption, dietary docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid intakes, and associations with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008) “Conclusions: Eating oily fish at least once per week compared with less than once per week was associated with a halving of the OR for NV-AMD.”
Physical Activity and Insulin Sensitivity. The RISC Study. (Diabetes. 2008) “Conclusions: Accumulated daily physical activity is a major determinant of insulin sensitivity. Neither time spent sedentary, in light-activity, nor bouts of moderate or vigorous activity impacted on insulin sensitivity independently of total activity.”
Physical Activity during Adulthood and Adolescence in Relation to Renal Cell Cancer (American Journal of Epidemiology 2008) “The authors conclude that increased physical activity, including activity during adolescence, is associated with reduced risk of renal cell cancer.”
Physical Activity Is Associated with Risk Factors for Chronic Disease across Adult Women's Life Cycle. (J Am Diet Assoc. 2008) “CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results indicate that younger age and greater physical activity, despite age, are associated with fewer risk factors for chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.”
Relationship Between BMI and All-cause Mortality in Japan: NIPPON DATA80. (Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008) “We found a U-shaped relationship between BMI and fatal events. Risk of total mortality was highest in participants with BMI <18.5 kg/m(2) and lowest in participants with BMI 23.0-24.9 kg/m(2).”
The association between ultraviolet B irradiance, vitamin D status and incidence rates of type 1 diabetes in 51 regions worldwide. (Diabetologia. 2008) “CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: An association was found between low UVB irradiance and high incidence rates of type 1 childhood diabetes after controlling for per capita health expenditure. Incidence rates of type 1 diabetes approached zero in regions worldwide with high UVB irradiance, adding new support to the concept of a role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of the disease.”
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