Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.
A Rainbow of Root Vegetables
Since root vegetables and tubers keep well and can be cooked up into something delicious even after they have begun to go limp in the refrigerator, this week's Recipes for Health should be useful. Root vegetables, tubers (potatoes and sweet potatoes, which are called yams by most vendors - I mean the ones with dark orange flesh), winter squash and cabbages are the only local vegetables available during the winter months in colder regions, so these recipes will be timely for many readers. [..]
Sweet winter vegetables also pair well with spicy seasonings. I like to combine sweet potatoes and chipotle peppers, and this time in a hearty lentil stew that we enjoyed all week.
Martha Rose Shulman
Leek Quiche
A lighter version of a Flemish classic.
Spicy Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew With Chipotles
The combination of sweet potatoes and spicy chipotles with savory lentils is a winner.
Roasted Carrots and Scallions With Thyme and Hazelnuts
Toasted hazelnuts add a crunchy texture and nutty finish to this dish.
Carrot Wraps
A vegetarian sandwich that satisfies like a full meal.
Rainbow Potato Roast
A multicolored mix that can be vegan, or not.
General Medicine/Family Medical
Primary Care Doctors Can Make the Wrong Call
by Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- In one case documented in a new study, an elderly patient was misdiagnosed with bronchitis but actually had full-blown pneumonia and ended up being admitted to the hospital.
Although that patient recovered, other symptoms that aren't properly diagnosed could be even more serious: numbness, tingling and dizziness that aren't recognized as the first signs of a stroke, for instance.
According to the new study, published online Feb. 25 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, primary care physicians can make diagnostic errors across a wide range of conditions, many of them common conditions such as urinary tract infections and anemia.
Asthma Drug Takes the Itch Out of Chronic Hives
by Kate Johnson, Medscape Medical News
Feb. 25, 2013 (San Antonio, Texas) -- The asthma drug Xolair appears to be a safe and effective treatment for chronic hives, a new study shows.
The results of the study were presented at a news conference here at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) meeting. The results were simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Xolair is approved for allergic asthma.
Heart Failure Drug May Not Ease Symptoms in Some
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 26 (HealthDay News) -- A drug often used to treat chronic heart failure may not ease symptoms in people with one form of the disease, a new study suggests.
The medication, called spironolactone (Aldactone), failed to improve symptoms or quality of life among 422 patients with diastolic heart failure -- a form of the disease that affects about half of all people with heart failure.
The drug did, however, benefit the structure and function of patients' hearts. And experts said it's too early to know what to make of the results, which appear in the Feb. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Sibling's Death May Boost Your Risk of Heart Attack
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- When a brother or sister dies -- especially from a heart attack -- the risk of a surviving sibling also dying from a heart attack increases sharply in the following years, a large new study from Sweden suggests.
Chronic stress or lifestyle choices like drinking, smoking, unhealthy diet and lack of exercise may follow the loss of a sibling, increasing the risk of a heart attack over time, the researchers said.
Artificial Pancreas Beats Insulin Pump in Test
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- The artificial pancreas -- a treatment that's been called the closest thing to a possible cure for type 1 diabetes -- may be another step closer to becoming a reality.
Israeli researchers just released the findings from an overnight trial of their artificial pancreas system at three different camps for youngsters with type 1 diabetes. The artificial pancreas system was able to maintain better blood sugar levels, and helped prevent dangerous overnight drops in blood sugar levels, compared to an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor, according to the study.
What Federal Budget Cuts Could Mean to Health Care
by Barbara Bronson Gray,HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) -- "Sequestration" is Washington-speak for the approximately $85 billion in annual federal spending cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011. Those cuts were originally set to take effect on Jan. 1, but were delayed in the deal to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff" of tax increases and budget reductions.
But those cuts are set to kick in Friday, with spending reductions coming to a wide range of areas and programs, including health care, defense, education, air travel and agriculture.
1 in 8 Adults May Have Sensitive Teeth
by Carina Storrs, HealthDay Reporter
March 1 (HealthDay News) -- If you sometimes get a jolt of pain in your mouth when you drink or eat something hot or cold, you're not alone: A new survey of U.S. dental offices finds that one in eight people has over-sensitive teeth.
Sensitive teeth were most common in young adults, women and people who had receding gums or did at-home tooth whitening.
Celiac Disease, IBD May Raise Migraine Risk
by Sue Hughes, Medscape Medical News
People with celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease appear to have more migraine headaches than people without the conditions, a new study shows.
Researcher Peter H. Green, MD, of Columbia University in New York, says he was expecting to see a higher rate of migraines in celiac patients, but the increased migraine rate in the inflammatory bowel disease patients was a "complete surprise."
Gel Manicures Can Cause Lasting Problems
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Many women like gel manicures because they are durable and long-lasting, but frequent use can cause nail thinning, brittleness, peeling and cracking, and also hide nail disease, an expert warns.
"In general, any manicure left in place for an extended period of time is not a good idea because you are not seeing what is going on underneath the nail polish," Dr. Chris Adigun, an assistant professor of dermatology at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City, said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release.
Lack of Sleep Disrupts Genes
by Peter Russell, WebMD Health News
March 1, 2013 -- Sleeping fewer than six hours for several nights in a row affects hundreds of genes responsible for keeping us in good health, says a new study.
Research led by the U.K.'s Surrey Sleep Research Centre found that people who were subjected to sleep deprivation for a week underwent changes at a molecular level that could affect their well-being.
Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines
Salmonella Risk Prompts Easter Candy Recall
by Lisa Habib, WebMD Health News
March 1, 2013 -- A candy company is recalling some chocolate-covered marshmallow eggs because of possible salmonella contamination.
Zachary Confections, Inc., says its Zachary Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Eggs should be thrown out or returned to the store.
The affected candy was shipped to stores in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Look for this information on the side panel of the product packaging next to the Unit UPC bar code label: [..]
Tattoos Can Pose Health Hazards, Doctor Warns
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Tattoos have become increasingly popular in the United States in recent years, but along with that comes a rise in problems such as allergic reactions and infections, an expert says.
More than one-third of Americans aged 18 to 25 report getting a tattoo, according to the Pew Research Center. But if you're thinking about getting "inked," there are some things to consider before you head to the tattoo parlor.
Seasonal Flu/Other Epidemics/Disasters
Higher Indoor Humidity Levels Might Slow Flu
by Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) -- As the flu season continues to pack a punch for some Americans, new research suggests there might be a simple way to reduce the risk for infection in an indoor setting: hike up humidity levels.
By raising indoor relative humidity levels to 43 percent or above, investigators reported that they were able to quickly render 86 percent of airborne virus particles powerless.
Women's Health
FDA OK's Drug for Painful Sex in Older Women
by Megan Brooks, Medscape Medical News
Feb. 27, 2013 -- The FDA has approved Osphena for treating moderate-to-severe pain during sex in postmenopausal women.
The condition, called dyspareunia, is associated with declining levels of estrogen during menopause, which leads to atrophy of the vulva and vagina, often resulting in pain during sexual intercourse.
Osphena makes vaginal tissue thicker and less fragile, resulting in less pain for women during sex. It is a pill taken with food once daily.
Hot Flashes Can Affect Work and Health
by Lara C. Pullen, Medscape Medical News
March 1, 2013 -- Severe hot flashes from menopause are associated with lower work productivity, lower levels of feeling healthy, and greater use of health care resources, a new study shows.
The researchers looked at data from more than 3,200 women aged 40-75. To be part of the study, the women had to have no period or spotting for one year.
Q&A: Breast Cancer in Young Women
by Kathleen Doheny, WebMD Health News
Feb. 28, 2013 -- Young women found the news surprising and more than a little scary: Cases of advanced breast cancer have been rising in women 25 to 39 over the past three decades, researchers reported this week.
From 1976 to 2009, the number of cases of advanced breast cancer in younger women at the time of diagnosis increased, the researchers found, from 250 a year to 850 a year.
1 in 4 Breast Cancer Diagnoses May Spur PTSD
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly one in four breast cancer patients has symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder shortly after they receive their cancer diagnosis, and the risk is highest in black and Asian patients, a new study reveals.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur when a person has experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event.
Mother's Drinking May Raise Risk of Infant's Death
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Children of women who are diagnosed with an alcohol disorder during pregnancy or within a year after giving birth have a three-fold higher risk of dying from SIDS -- sudden infant death syndrome -- compared to babies whose mothers do not have alcohol issues, according to a new Australian study.
In the study, a mother's problem drinking was implicated in about one out of every six SIDS deaths, according to the researchers. Alcohol abuse by the mothers was also linked with about 3 percent of the deaths caused by something other than SIDS, the researchers found.
Iron-Rich Diet Might Ease PMS Misery
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Millions of American women know the pain and emotional tumult of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. But a new study finds that diets full of iron from plant-based sources might help ease the condition.
Women who ate in this way were about one-third less likely to develop PMS than women who consumed less iron, the researchers found. Non-meat sources of iron include dried beans and green leafy vegetables.
Healthy Older Women Advised Against Taking Calcium
by Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy older women should not take calcium and vitamin D supplements to prevent fractures, according to a final recommendation issued Monday by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
In healthy adults, lower doses of calcium and vitamin D seem to be ineffective. As for higher doses, it's still up in the air, the government group said.
The new recommendations do not apply to people who are known to be vitamin D-deficient or who already have osteoporosis, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) noted.
Pediatric Health
Kids' Ear Infections: New Guidelines for Treatment
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines for identifying and treating a common childhood ailment that can cause a lot of misery -- the ear infection.
In the guidelines released Monday, the pediatrics group more clearly defines the signs and symptoms that indicate an infection that might need treatment. They also encourage observation with close follow-up instead of antibiotic treatment for many children, including some under the age of 2 years. And, for parents of children with recurrent infections, the new guidelines advise physicians and parents when it's time to see a specialist.
Video Games May Boost Focus in Kids With Dyslexia
by Randy Dotinga, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Here's one possible treatment for dyslexia that kids won't complain about: video games.
Italian researchers report that they found that children with the reading disability scored better on tests after they played an action video game for hours, possibly because their minds temporarily became more focused.
Can Therapy Dogs Help Kids With Autism?
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 26 (HealthDay News) -- For children with autism, trained dogs may offer not only a furry friend, but some therapeutic benefits, too, a new research review finds.
There is a "substantial body of evidence" that dogs act as "social catalysts," even encouraging adults to be a little friendlier to each other, said senior researcher Francesca Cirulli, of the National Institute of Health in Rome, Italy. And the few studies that have focused on kids with autism suggest the same is true for them.
Many Unregulated Tanning Salons Would Admit Kids
by Jenni Laidman, Medscape Medical News
Feb. 25, 2013 -- Nearly two-thirds of Missouri tanning salons included in a new survey would allow children as young as 10 to use their tanning beds.
There is clear evidence that ultraviolet radiation exposure from tanning beds is associated with a higher risk of skin cancer. Even so, 65% of 243 Missouri tanning salons said they would allow children as young as 10 or 12 to use tanning beds.
The survey results are published in the journal Pediatrics.
Mental Health
How Deep Brain Stimulation Eases OCD
by Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Deep brain stimulation has helped people with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, and new research begins to explain why.
A Dutch study appearing in the Feb. 24 online issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience found the procedure essentially restored normal function in a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens.
Internet Addiction May Be as Hard to Kick as Drugs
by Deborah Brauser, Medscape Medical News
Feb. 26, 2013 -- Between computers, tablets, smartphones, and 24-hour news, many of us may make light of it, saying we're technology addicts.
But now, medical professionals are starting to take it seriously, with new research suggesting that so-called "Internet addiction" is associated with increased depression and even drug-like withdrawal symptoms.
Shared Genes May Link ADHD, Autism, and Depression
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may all share common genetic risk factors, a new study says.
In this largest study of its kind, researchers spotted gene variations governing brain function that may raise the risk for these often devastating mental woes. In the future, these gene variants might become key targets for prevention or treatment, the scientists said.
Nutrition/Diet/Fitness
Another Study Says Mediterranean Diet Good for the Heart
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Score another heart-health win for the Mediterranean diet.
Eating a diet rich in olive oil, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with red wine, helped those at high risk for cardiovascular problems avoid heart trouble better than those eating a low-fat diet, a new Spanish study has found.
Avoiding Chemicals in Foods Proves Difficult
by Carina Storrs, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, two types of chemicals in plastics that have been linked to a number of health effects, could still find their way into your body even if you avoid foods that are shipped, stored or cooked using plastic materials, new research suggests.
The findings are based on a small study that followed 10 families for five days. Half of the families got catered meals made with fresh, local ingredients that were not stored or prepared with plastics.
Do Vitamin Supplements Make Sense?
by Brenda Goodman, MA, WebMD Health News
For years, women have been told to take extra calcium to guard against osteoporosis.
But doctors just reversed that advice. After looking at scores of studies, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that common doses of calcium and vitamin D don't prevent fractures in women past menopause who have healthy bones, and they may raise the risk of kidney stones.
More Sugar in Food Supply = More Diabetes
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- It's a common belief that type 2 diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar. While it's not nearly that simple, a new study bolsters the connection between the disorder and sugar consumption.
The study found that even when researchers factored obesity out, an association still remained between the amount of sugar in the food supply and a country's rate of diabetes.
When Kids Exercise More, Their Grades Might Rise
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) -- One key to better grades in the classroom may lie in the gym or on the playground, a new study finds.
The research, to be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, found that elementary and middle school students who don't get enough exercise are more likely to fail math and reading tests.