Archives for the 'Other' Category
Obesity Increases Flu Risk
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Obesity can limit the body’s ability to develop immunity to influenza viruses by inhibiting the immune system’s ability to “remember” how it fought off previous bouts of illness, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Obesity is as much a risk factor for H1N1 strains of flu as compromised […]
Weight Loss And Atherosclerosis
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
A low-carbohydrate diet, a low-fat diet or the Mediterranean diet can aid in slowing the development of atherosclerosis in obese people, according to a new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Atherosclerosis is a progressive condition in which the arteries thicken with plaque build-up and can lead to a number of health complications. By causing […]
Sleep Improves Memory
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
Sleep benefits an individual’s ability to recall recently learned declarative memories, even when recall of these memories is challenged hours later by competing information, according to a study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Declarative memories are associated with facts and events and can be put into words, differing from procedural memories which are “how to” […]
Hypnosis For Pain Relief
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
For women with breast cancer, hypnosis can aid in alleviating the pain and discomfort associated with breast cancer treatment, according to a new Buffalo School of Social Work study.
Among 124 women with metastatic breast cancer, those assigned to a treatment group receiving instruction and practice in hypnosis and group psychotherapy were better able to moderate […]
Health Benefits Of Ginseng
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Several species of the genus Panax are referred to as ginseng. A root herb which promotes longevity and vitality, ginseng can reduce fatigue and protect against illness.
In Chinese herbal formulas, ginseng is used as a yang, or energy tonic. Chinese herbal practitioners often use ginseng to strengthen qi and increase stamina. Ginseng has been […]
Obesity Levels in U.S. Underestimated
Friday, September 18th, 2009
Obesity in the United States is significantly underestimated. A recent study analyzed data from health surveys, which are used to estimate obesity levels in states. Because people tend to provide incorrect information about their weight and height, especially in telephone surveys, the Harvard researchers concluded that estimates of obesity in individual states have been to […]
Top Three Preventable Health Hazards
Monday, September 14th, 2009
High blood pressure, smoking and being overweight are the leading preventable health risk factors in the United States, according to a recent study from the University of Toronto and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
The researchers found that high blood pressure is responsible for 395,000 premature deaths each […]
Six in Ten Americans Believe Influenza Outbreak Likely
Friday, September 11th, 2009
Approximately six in ten Americans (59 percent) believe it is likely that there will be widespread cases of influenza A (H1N1) this coming fall or winter, according to a recent Harvard survey.
“These results suggest Americans are likely to support public health officials in prioritizing preparations for the possibility of a serious H1N1 outbreak in […]
CAM Therapies for Wellness
Friday, July 31st, 2009
NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) classifies complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies into five categories:
Mind-Body Interventions: Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind’s capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past have become mainstream (for example, patient support groups […]
Health Benefits of Inositol
Friday, July 24th, 2009
Inositol is a nutrient in the vitamin B complex that the body requires to maintain healthy functioning of cell membranes. Inositol promotes hair growth, stabilizes estrogen levels and can reduce blood cholesterol.
A naturally occurring nutrient, inositol is present in the diet from various sources, such as brown rice, legumes, cereals, peas, wheat bran, nuts, […]