Archive for January 31st, 2010

More women will be giving birth by C-section for the foreseeable future, government scientists said Monday, releasing a study into the causes of a trend that troubles maternal health experts. Overall, cesarean deliveries account for about a third of births in the U.S. While much attention has recently focused on women having repeat C-sections, researchers [...]

Postmenopausal women who engage in regular physical activity, maintain a healthy weight and drink moderate alcohol, if at all, may face a lower risk of breast cancer, according to the study by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Even postmenopausal women with a family history of breast cancer may benefit from the three [...]

Women who closely adhere to a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, vegetable oils and fish may have a higher likelihood of becoming pregnant after infertility treatment, a new study suggests. Researchers in the Netherlands found that among 161 couples undergoing fertility treatment at their center, women whose eating habits most closely matched the traditional Mediterranean [...]

I dance the Macarena whenever I come across an article that argues against extreme healthy living. I laughed while reading research about dark chocolate firing up the happy brain. And I high-fived the doctors who warn folks against too much sunscreen because it blocks the vitamin D that all of us need. I hate that [...]

Diagnostic medical imaging refers to the process of obtaining images of parts of the human body for examination and diagnosis of illness or injury. The process may include x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or positron emission tomography (PET). The information derived from diagnostic medical imaging often allows health care professionals to [...]

Papaya leaf extract and its tea have dramatic cancer-fighting properties against a broad range of tumors, backing a belief held in a number of folk traditions. University of Florida researcher Nam Dang and colleagues in Japan, in a report published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, documented papaya’s anticancer effect against tumors of the cervix, breast, [...]

The best way to prevent gingivitis (gum disease) is to practice good dental hygiene. It’s never too early to start in life, because children as young as 6 can develop gum disease. In addition to brushing at least twice daily and flossing at least once each day, the Clinic suggests these tips to keep your [...]

Scientists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have discovered that a diet with high levels of fructose, sucrose, and of trans-fats not only increases obesity, but also leads to significant fatty liver disease with scar tissue. The study, which was conducted with scientists from the Metabolic Disease Institute at the University of Cincinnati, is published [...]

According to statistics, every third passenger has a fear of flying. This is not surprising. After all, fear is a manifestation of self-preservation instinct. Fear of air travel is as natural as fear of the dark or walks in the deserted streets at night. If you think that only those who fly frequently suffer from [...]

The results, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, add to evidence that sleep loss can promote weight gain … not just by boosting hunger but also by slowing the rate at which calories are burned. Sleep deprivation makes the day drag and appears to put a drag on metabolism too, causing the body [...]

A diet rich in olive oil, nuts, fish, poultry and certain fruits and vegetables may have a powerful effect at staving off Alzheimer’s disease. People who ate nutrients specifically selected for brain health had a 40 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared with others, Yian Gu, an Alzheimer’s disease researcher at Columbia University [...]