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.
Cook a Peck of Peppers
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
There will be a bounty of peppers mild and hot through October. Go to a farmers' market for peppers with the most intense flavors. They are especially sweet when roasted, good grilled or boiled. These recipes mainly look to the Mediterranean for their inspiration. Peppers are low in calories and packed with nutrients.
From now on, right through October, you should be seeing an array of peppers in your farmers' markets. They're piled high at mine, all different colors, mostly sweet ones but hotter chiles as well. They are a treat, and if you're used to supermarket peppers, the intensity of the farmers' market pepper flavors will be a revelation.
~Martha Rose Shulman~
Tunisian Grilled Peppers and Tomatoes with Couscous
This spicy, juicy meal, perfect for the summer, is one of a variety of Tunisian grilled salads. The couscous can be served warm or at room temperature.
Mini Bell Peppers Stuffed with Goat Cheese http://www.nytimes.com/recipes...
This side dish is a way to take advantage of the mini sweet peppers that are showing up by the bag in supermarkets. They should be roasted briefly and not peeled.
Grilled Peppers with Garlic Yogurt
This dish is very much in the Turkish spirit of mixing warm vegetables with cool, garlicky yogurt. Various types of peppers will work.
Grilled Pepper Omelet
Roasted peppers, chopped herbs and a little bit of Parmesan make for a quick omelet in the spirit of a pipérade.
Millet and Red Pepper Polenta
Leftovers of this savory polenta - if you have any - can be reheated in a pan, grilled or eaten cold. There are two ways to make this dish.
Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines
Plums, Peaches Recall Expanded by Calif. Company
WebMD News from HealthDay
Aug. 4, 2014 -- A recall of fresh, whole peaches, nectarines, plums and pluots is being expanded by Wawona Packing Company of California due to possible listeria contamination.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, seniors, and people with weak immune systems. Listeria infection can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
WHO Declares Ebola an International Emergency
By Peter Russell, WebMD Health News
Aug. 8, 2014 - The World Health Organization (WHO) calls the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa an international emergency, and officials say the spread of the disease demands a massive, coordinated response.
The outbreak affects Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. These countries have reported 1,070 confirmed cases, 436 "probable cases," and 932 deaths through Aug. 4, according to the WHO.
CDC Raises Ebola Outbreak Response
By EJ Mundell, HealthDay
World Health Organization also mulling similar move as cases are reported in Nigeria
Aug. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday raised the level of its response to the West African Ebola outbreak to its highest alert status.
The move, to a "level 1 activation," allows the agency to expand its role in fighting the growing public health crisis, which gained new urgency as cases of the deadly infection began to be reported in populous Nigeria.
Some Home Tattoo Kits Recalled: Infection Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
FDA concerned some contaminated ink may still be used by professionals or at home
Aug. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Inks in some home tattoo kits are contaminated and could cause skin infections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
The agency issued the warning after tests confirmed bacterial contamination in unopened home tattoo kits marketed by White and Blue Lion, Inc.
"FDA has confirmed one case of skin infection involving a consumer that used this company's tattoo products, and we are aware of other reports linked to tattoo products with similar packaging," Dr. Linda Katz, director of the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, said in an agency news release.
IBS, Chronic Constipation: New Guidelines Issued
By Michael W. Smith, MD, WebMD Health News
Aug. 07, 2014 -- New guidelines offer some new approaches to treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation (CC).
It's been several years since the last treatment guideline updates for either of these conditions. "It was felt that there had been significant developments in both areas," says Eamonn M.M. Quigley, MD, who co-wrote the guidelines. He is chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Houston Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College in Houston, Texas.
Quigley and a team of researchers reviewed the available scientific evidence for IBS and chronic constipation that is not due to a known cause (known as chronic idiopathic constipation). The guidelines were released by the American College of Gastroenterology and are published in the August issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Chiropractic Manipulation of Neck: Stroke Risk?
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
American Heart Association releases statement saying risk may be increased if artery wall is torn
Aug. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Getting your neck adjusted by a chiropractor or osteopathic doctor may be associated with an increased risk of stroke, according to a scientific statement released Thursday by the American Heart Association.
The energetic thrusts and rotations sometimes used in neck manipulation may cause a small tear in the artery walls in the neck, a condition called cervical artery dissection, the statement noted.
A tear in the artery wall can result in a stroke if a blood clot forms at the site and later breaks free to block a blood vessel in the brain.
General Medicine/Family Medical
Docs May Miss Out on Recommending Aspirin Therapy
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Lack of time, uncertainty about benefits among potential reasons why, expert says
Aug. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans who might benefit from taking low-dose aspirin every day to prevent heart attack and stroke say they've never been told by their doctors to do so, a new study shows.
The findings highlight the fact that many doctors may not follow U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines that recommend aspirin as prevention therapy, according to the University of Rochester researchers.
Orbactiv Approved for Drug-Resistant Skin Infections
By Scott Roberts, HealthDay
Third such antibiotic sanctioned this year
Aug. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The antibacterial drug Orbactiv (oritavancin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat drug-resistant skin infections in adults, the agency said in a news release.
The drug is sanctioned to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other acute bacterial skin infections. It's the third such drug approved in 2014, following May approval of Dalvance (dalbavancin) and June approval of Sivextro (tedizolid), the FDA said.
Gut Bacteria May Reveal Colon Cancer, Study Finds
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Test could be used in addition to current methods to better improve detection
Aug. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Analyzing the composition of people's collection of gut bacteria -- also called the gut microbiome -- can help improve identification of those who are at risk for, or already have, colon cancer, according to a new study.
Researchers collected stool samples from 30 healthy people, 30 people with precancerous intestinal polyps and 30 people with advanced colon or rectal cancer in order to assess the composition of their gut microbiomes.
Will Kidney Stones Recur? New Test Might Tell
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Researchers devise 11-point questionnaire
Aug. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new tool appears to accurately predict whether someone who's had a kidney stone will have another one in the future, researchers report.
They said the tool could help patients and their doctors decide whether preventive steps are needed.
Daily Aspirin May Help Prevent Cancer, Study Shows
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Taking low-dose pill each day fights numerous malignancies, and benefits outweigh any risk
Aug. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Taking aspirin every day appears to reduce the odds of developing and dying from colon, stomach or esophageal cancer, a new study suggests.
Based on a review of available studies, researchers determined that the benefits of aspirin therapy for preventing cancer outweigh the risks. Millions of people already take this inexpensive drug to prevent or treat heart disease.
1 in 10 Cancer Survivors Still Smokes Years Later
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Experts say finding shows how hard it is to quit, and that doctors need to make better effort to help
Aug. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Almost 10 percent of people who survive cancer are still smoking a decade later, a new study from the American Cancer Society shows.
Experts said the findings, reported online Aug. 6 in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, show that some cancer survivors need ongoing help with kicking the smoking habit.
The study also underscores how tough it can be to quit tobacco, said Dr. Norman Edelman, senior medical advisor to the American Lung Association.
Skip the Steroids for Shoulder Pain?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Physical therapy as effective as injections, researchers say
Aug. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For relief of shoulder pain, physical therapy and steroid shots provide similar results, a new study finds.
Researchers compared the two nonsurgical approaches in a group of 100-plus adults suffering from shoulder pain caused by rotator cuff problems, tendinitis or bursitis.
"Whether you had a steroid injection or physical therapy, the improvement in each group was the same," said lead researcher Daniel Rhon, from the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Lidocaine Injection May Help Treat Fibromyalgia
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
But experts wonder how much of the benefit is due to placebo effect
Aug. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The pain of fibromyalgia might be eased with injections of the painkiller lidocaine, a new study suggests.
People with fibromyalgia complain of chronic pain throughout their body as well as an increased sensitivity to pain. Doctors often have trouble treating this pain because it's unclear what causes it, the study authors noted.
In the new study, injecting lidocaine into peripheral tissues -- such as the muscles in the shoulders or buttocks -- effectively reduced pain sensitivity, the researchers found.
Statins' Benefits Far Outweigh Side Effects: Review
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
But long-term use of statins may raise odds of diabetes among people with risk factors, experts say
Aug. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The benefits of long-term use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs greatly outweigh the risks, according to a review of research published over 20 years.
Some experts fear that statins may be overused, but these new findings could offer reassurance to the more than 200 million people worldwide who take the drugs, the review authors said. Common statin medications include Crestor, Lipitor and Zocor.
"For most at-risk patients, the cardiovascular benefits far exceed the risks," study author Dr. Chintan Desai, a clinical cardiology fellow at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, said in a Hopkins news release.
Portable Monitors OK for Spotting Sleep Apnea: Docs
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
But the devices aren't for everyone, experts advise
Aug. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For most people, portable sleep monitors are an adequate substitute for an overnight stay in a sleep laboratory for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, according to new guidelines issued by the American College of Physicians.
Obstructive sleep apnea -- a condition that causes people to stop breathing temporarily many times a night during sleep -- can be diagnosed in two basic ways. One is to send them to a sleep laboratory where they can be monitored overnight or, if a sleep lab isn't available, give them a portable sleep monitor to take home.
Could Hepatitis C Become Rare Disease in 20 Years?
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Newer medications, better screening would fuel the trend, researcher says
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The once tough-to-treat liver infection hepatitis C could become a rare disease in the United States in the next two decades, a new study estimates.
Hepatitis C, a viral infection that harms the liver, is usually passed through infected blood. For most people, the infection becomes chronic and it can eventually lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) or liver cancer.
People With HIV May Be at Lower Risk for MS
By Robert Preidtm HealthDay
Constant immune system suppression may be the reason why, researchers say
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People with HIV seem to have a much lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than those who don't have the virus, a new study finds.
This lower risk may be due to constant suppression of the immune system due to the HIV infection itself and/or the antiretroviral drugs used to treat the infection, according to the researchers.
They said their findings could prove important in finding new ways to treat MS, a degenerative nervous system disease.
Poor People With Diabetes More Likely to Lose Limb
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Most amputations are preventable with earlier treatment, researchers note
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Poor people with diabetes are much more likely to lose a limb to the disease than affluent patients are, new research suggests.
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, found the odds of having a toe, foot or leg amputated was up to 10 times higher for diabetics who live in low-income neighborhoods.
Most of these amputations are preventable if patients are diagnosed and get proper medical care sooner, the study authors noted. They added that their findings should prompt public officials to implement laws that help reduce barriers to health care.
Statins May Aid Survival From Colon Cancer
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Taking cholesterol-lowering drugs was linked to a 29 percent reduction in risk of cancer death in study
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Statins, the widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs, may also boost colorectal cancer survival, according to a new U.K. study.
Early research has found that, overall, colon cancer patients who took statins such as Lipitor and Zocor had a 29 percent lower risk of dying from the cancer compared to non-users. Taking the drugs longer than a year reduced the risk even more, said Chris Cardwell, of Queen's University Belfast, who conducted the study.
Most Cosmetic Procedures Based on Stem Cells Bogus?
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Unproven, fraudulent claims may place patients' health at risk, researchers caution
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Could stem cell injections help rejuvenate your face or body? Probably not, plastic surgery experts say, but ads for these types of bogus procedures abound on the Internet.
"Stem cells offer tremendous potential, but the marketplace is saturated with unsubstantiated and sometimes fraudulent claims that may place patients at risk," a team led by Dr. Michael Longaker, of Stanford University Medical Center, wrote in a review published in the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
The experts say consumers need to be wary of advertisements promoting the benefits of "minimally invasive, stem cell-based rejuvenation procedures." Claims for stem cell procedures for facelifts, breast augmentation and vaginal rejuvenation are not only unsubstantiated, but also risky, Longaker's team said.
Seasonal Flu/Other Epidemics/Disasters
Ebola: Are Treatments, Vaccines on the Horizon?
By Rita Rubin, WebMD Health News
Editor's note: This story was updated Aug. 8, 2014.
Aug. 5, 2014 -- An experimental serum grown in specially modified tobacco leaves made headlines this week when it was given to two Americans stricken with Ebola.
The ZMapp treatment had never before been tested in humans. Although both Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who became ill on aid missions in Liberia, are reportedly improving and have been brought back to the United States, it's unclear how much of a role the serum may be playing in their recovery.
Women's Health
Rise in Risk With New Breast Cancer Gene: Study
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
One in three women with PALB2 mutation will develop disease by age 70
Aug. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Mutated versions of a gene called PALB2 can dramatically increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, a new study has found.
Women carrying the PALB2 mutation have a one in three chance of developing breast cancer by the age of 70, British researchers report in the Aug. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The risk is even higher for women with a family history of breast cancer, the investigators found.Aug. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Mutated versions of a gene called PALB2 can dramatically increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, a new study has found.
Women carrying the PALB2 mutation have a one in three chance of developing breast cancer by the age of 70, British researchers report in the Aug. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The risk is even higher for women with a family history of breast cancer, the investigators found.
Women Over 75 May Benefit From Mammograms
Study says early-stage cancer detection is key, but another expert says it may lead to 'overtreatment'
Aug. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women 75 and older may still benefit from routine mammograms, according to new research.
However, not everyone agrees with this study's conclusions.
"Mammography detects breast cancer early, when it's more treatable and the risk of death is very low," said study researcher Judith Malmgren, an affiliate assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle.
Men's Health
Is the PSA Test Worth It?
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
While the prostate screen does seem to save lives, worries about overdiagnosis remain, experts say
Aug. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The value of the PSA test to screen men for prostate cancer has long been debated, and a new study of 162,000 men may not resolve the issue.
The European study, reported Aug. 6 in The Lancet, finds that widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests does reduce deaths from the disease by about one-fifth.
However, due to lingering doubts about whether the benefits of PSA screening outweigh the risks, the study's authors still recommend against routine use of the test at this time.
Pediatric Health
Childhood UTI May Bring Lasting Harm to Kidneys
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
But researchers report that 3 factors spot risk as well as painful catheter/X-ray does
Aug. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Urinary tract infections are the most common serious bacterial infections in young children, and almost one of every eight kids who gets one will end up with scarring on the kidneys and an increased risk of kidney failure later in life.
Identifying those kids early is critical, and researchers now report that a combination of three factors -- high fever, detection of kidney abnormalities via ultrasound and identification of the type of bacteria involved -- spots such patients as accurately as a very unpleasant catheter-based test does.
Distracted Teen Drivers Often on Phone With Parent
By Maureen Salamon, HealthDay
Survey also finds that many text mom and dad from behind the wheel
Aug. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Up to half of teens talking on cellphones while driving are speaking with their mother or father, according to new research.
"A lot of parents aren't really aware of how important it is to be a good role model and how dangerous it is for their teen to answer a cellphone while driving," said study author Noelle LaVoie, a cognitive psychologist and president of Parallel Consulting in Petaluma, Calif.Aug. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Up to half of teens talking on cellphones while driving are speaking with their mother or father, according to new research.
"A lot of parents aren't really aware of how important it is to be a good role model and how dangerous it is for their teen to answer a cellphone while driving," said study author Noelle LaVoie, a cognitive psychologist and president of Parallel Consulting in Petaluma, Calif.
Heavy Drinking in Pregnancy and Child's Brain
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study may explain why attention, behavior problems persist in kids with fetal alcohol disorders
Aug. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When a woman drinks heavily during pregnancy, the harmful effects on her child's brain development appear to continue over time, a new study indicates.
The findings point to a possible reason for the persistent attention and behavior problems experienced by children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, the researchers noted.
The investigators used functional MRI to monitor the brain activity of children with and without fetal alcohol spectrum disorders over two years. The results showed that children with the disorder had weaker brain activation while doing certain mental tasks than those without the disorder.
Preschoolers Can Suffer From Depression, Too
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Study finds that these kids may be plagued by the condition throughout childhood
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Depression can strike at any age, even among preschoolers, researchers report.
And if it does strike, the odds are that the disorder will recur throughout childhood, a new study shows.
The study found that preschoolers who are depressed are two and a half times more likely to continue to experience symptoms in elementary and middle school, a research team from Washington University in St. Louis said.
However, spotting depression in kids early on could make treatment more effective, they added.
Abuse of Rx Painkillers in High School Athletes
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Teen football players use the most illegal drugs, research shows
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Abuse of prescription painkillers is on the rise among high school athletes, and football players are among the worst offenders, a new study shows.
The finding was published online recently in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse.Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Abuse of prescription painkillers is on the rise among high school athletes, and football players are among the worst offenders, a new study shows.
The finding was published online recently in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse.
Could a Little Video Game Play Be Good for Kids?
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Study found children who played an hour or less a day were the most well-adjusted
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Kids who spend a little time playing video games each day might be more well-adjusted than those who never play, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that kids who played video games for less than one hour a day were more likely to be happy, helpful and emotionally stable than kids who never grab a controller, according to findings published online Aug. 4 in the journal Pediatrics.
Aging
Low Vitamin D Levels May Boost Alzheimer's Risk
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
But it's too soon to recommend supplements, dietary changes for prevention
Aug. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults with too little vitamin D in their blood may have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as seniors with sufficient levels of the "sunshine vitamin," a new study finds.
The research -- based on more than 1,600 adults over age 65 -- found the risk for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia increased with the severity of vitamin D deficiency.
High BP in Middle Age, Weaker Brain Later?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Study shows a link, but it's unclear if medications in midlife will ward off dementia
Aug 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Let your blood pressure get too high in midlife, and you might pay the price in mental decline later on, a new study suggests.
The study of almost 14,000 people found that high blood pressure in those aged 48 to 67 was tied to a late-life drop in mental ability. Over 20 years, people with high blood pressure in midlife experienced a modest but significant 6.5 percent decline in scores on tests of mental function, compared with people with normal blood pressure.
Mental Health
Need to Spot a Narcissist? Just Ask Them
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Study suggests that the truly self-obsessed will agree with statement, 'I am a narcissist'
Aug. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Self-absorbed narcissists can ruin your day, but a new study suggests an easy way to detect one: Just ask.
That's because truly narcissistic people don't see the character trait as a flaw and are more than willing to admit to it, say researchers from Ohio State University.
"People who are narcissists are almost proud of the fact," study co-author Brad Bushman, a professor of communication and psychology. "You can ask them directly because they don't see narcissism as a negative quality -- they believe they are superior to other people and are fine with saying that publicly."
Fitness May Help Ward Off Depression in Girls
By Tara Haelle, HealthDay
Being in good physical condition likely to help boys avoid the blues too, expert says
Aug. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The more fit middle-school girls are, the less likely they may be to develop symptoms of depression, according to a recent study.
Although the effect of fitness on depression was small, improvements in fitness may be part of an overall strategy for reducing the risk of depression in middle-schoolers, according to Camilo Ruggero, lead researcher and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of North Texas. Other strategies might include school-based or family therapy, which can both treat and help prevent depression in at-risk kids.
Pride Over Weight Loss May Help Drive Anorexia
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Researchers see need to redirect positive emotions
Aug. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa feel a sense of pride about their weight loss, and this positive emotion may play a major role in the deadly condition, according to a new study.
"What we think happens is that positive emotions become exaggerated and are rewarding these maladaptive behaviors," study author Edward Selby, an assistant professor in the psychology department at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., said in a university news release.
Young Adults, Mental Health, and 'Obamacare'
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Increase was slight, but a good sign that law is working, researchers report
Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of young American adults getting mental health treatment has risen since the rule on dependent coverage went into effect with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, a new study finds.
That key provision ensures that those aged 19 to 25 have the option of remaining on their parents' health insurance plan. It's been in effect since September 2010.
In the new study, researchers found that the move may be allowing more young adults to receive mental health care. Soon after the rule took hold, the number of 18- to 25-year-olds in mental health treatment rose nationally -- by a couple of percentage points among those who had potential symptoms of psychiatric conditions.
Nutrition/Diet/Fitness
Coffee May Keep Your Ears From Ringing
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study found women who drank more java were less likely to develop tinnitus
Aug. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Being a coffee lover may be good for your ears, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that women who consumed higher amounts of caffeine were less likely to have tinnitus, which is a steady ringing or buzzing in the ear.
The study included more than 65,000 American women, aged 30 to 44, who did not have tinnitus in 1991 and were followed for 18 years. During that time, nearly 5,300 cases of tinnitus were reported among the women.
Fast-Slow Walking May Be Better for Diabetes
By Peter Russell, WebMD Health News
Aug. 5, 2014 -- Periods of power walking mixed with strolling at a more leisurely pace may be a more effective way for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels, rather than walking at a constant speed, according to a small study.
Exercise helps people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. Although high-intensity exercise offers the prospect of better control, doctors often warn against that approach, due to the risk of injury and the likelihood someone will not stay with it.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen previously highlighted the value of interval-walking training, where the intensity of the training alternates. Their latest study analyzes how this technique helps patients.
Labeling Rules for Gluten-Free Products Take Effect
WebMD News from HealthDay
Aug. 6, 2014 -- New U.S. labeling regulations for products that claim to be gluten free are a "major milestone," according to an expert.
Under the Food and Drug Administration rules that take effect Tuesday, packaged food labeled as being gluten free cannot contain more than 20 parts per million of gluten, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The use of the gluten-free label is voluntary, and products that contain gluten are not required to declare that on the package.