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Here's the latest stories you've heard on WZID's "For You" segment, aired weekday mornings at 6:35am & 8:35am:
Eye study for kids: A study says as many as one of every 20 students have a common eye problem that isn't being caught by standard vision screenings administered by schools and pediatricians. Eye doctors call it "convergence insufficiency," or CI. That's when eyes don't turn together properly to read, causing eye muscles to work harder to focus up-close. When symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, double vision or reading problems trigger the right diagnosis, doctors prescribe any of a hodgepodge of exercises designed to strengthen eye coordination. Now, a major government study finally offers evidence for the best approach: Eye training performed in a doctor's office for 12 weeks. Diagnosis requires seeing an ophthalmologist or optometrist trained to treat children who can measure convergence with some simple tests.
Honey for allergies: A new study suggests honey is effective in killing bacteria that cause chronic sinusitis. When it's not allergies --and the antibiotics aren't working-- you might think about pulling out a jar of honey.
According to WebMD, two types of honey were tested --manuka and sidr. Manuka honey comes from the manuka bush in New Zealand. Sidr honey is one of the most expensive honeys in the world, and comes from an ancient and sacred tree in Yemen.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa tested the honey on three strains of bacteria --two strains of staph and one called pseudomonas aeriginosa (PA). Both types of honey were effective in killing the bacteria. In fact, researchers noted the honey was more effective than antibiotics against the staph bacteria MSSA and MRSA.
A warning about using honey to treat sinusitis: never give honey to an infant one year old or younger. It could prove to be toxic, leading to illness or even death.
Dogging the kids for screwing up might be really counter-productive. Science Daily reports that childrens' brains aren't wired for "negative feedback" http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080925104309.htm until about 12-years-old. Up until then, positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools. When kids reach the teen years, their brains start to help them learn from their own mistakes. As we get older, we get even better at finding lessons in our screw-ups. At the same time, researchers say people of all ages respond well to positive reinforcement. (Couchman)
Carrots are supposed to be good for your eyesight, right? Turns out that corn and lettuce may be even better.
Nutritionist JULIE UPTON tells Health.com that foods with green and yellow hues are more effective at reducing risk for macular degeneration and cataracts. Fruits and veggies of these colors have more lutein (loo'-tee-ihn) and zea-zanthin --nutrients that protect the retina against oxi-da-tive damage.
Our eyes are damaged from the sun, smoking and every day environmental contaminants. That's why antioxidants are so important.
Some of the best foods for your eyes include egg yolks, pistachios and avocados. You should also enjoy plenty of corn, spinach, squash, collard greens, kale, tomato products and lettuce.
A piece of dark chocolate a day -- a very small piece -- keeps the doctor away.
An Italian study shows that dark chocolate can significantly reduce the inflammation that leads to cardiovascular disease. The ideal amount is 6.7 grams per day (0.23 ounces). So what does that translate to? A typical Hershey chocolate bar weighs about 43 grams. That means eating one dark chocolate bar over the course of 6 1/2 days to get 6.7 grams per day. Chronic inflammation can lead to heart disease so keeping inflammation under control is a major part of preventive treatment. Research has shown that patients who have a low amount of C-reactive protein in their blood have lower levels of inflammation. People who eat dark chocolate regularly, in small servings, have significantly lower levels of C reactive protein, according to the study.
Acupuncture as effective as Effexor: Some women use the drug Effexor to treat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms that often go along with breast cancer treatment. But new findings suggest acupuncture may be more beneficial.
According to WebMD, women who take the drug often experience troubling side effects like nausea, headache, dizziness and fatigue. But those using acupuncture get the same benefits of Effexor without the side effects. And since most women who deal with hot flashes aren't taking breast cancer drugs --but are undergoing menopause-- acupuncture will work for them too.
Watch what you eat before bed: What you eat before you go to bed can affect your quality of sleep. What you may not realize is what your spouse eats before bedtime can also influence your sleep. Well, your dreams anyway. Research presented at the annual meeting of the Head and Neck Surgery Foundation reveals that what you smell while sleeping plays a role in the types of dreams you have. German researchers found people who went to sleep with the smell of rotten eggs mostly had bad dreams. Those who went to bed smelling roses had good dreams overall.
Second-hand smoke levels lower
Secondhand smoke isn't getting into as many lungs now. A government study finds the percentage of nonsmoking Americans who breathe in cigarette fumes has declined dramatically since the early 1990s. It was down to 46 percent in blood tests done from 1999 through 2004. That's a steep drop from 84 percent found in similar tests during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say a main reason for the decline is the growing number of laws and policies that ban smoking in workplaces, bars, restaurants and public places. Another factor is a drop in the number of adults who smoke. CDC data from last year put it below 20 percent.
Lipstick lead
When too much lead is discovered in toys, they're quickly recalled. But recent testing by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics finds lead in 61-percent of lipsticks tested --including many popular brand name lipsticks.
The Campaign found L'Oreal, Cover Girl and Christian Dior lipsticks all contain some level of lead. Not all the lipsticks tested had detectable levels of lead, though, which proves it's not needed. Even small amounts of lead can be dangerous because the amount of neurotoxin accumulates in our bodies over time.
There's no limit for lead in lipstick, but the U-S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does have one for candy. One-third of the lipsticks tested exceeded that limit.
TO LOSE WEIGHT, RIGHT DOWN EVERYTHING YOU CONSUME
Wanna lose weight? Break out the pencil and paper. Researchers say keeping a food diary -- a detailed account of what you eat and drink and the calories it packs -- is a powerful tool in helping people lose weight. Their study involving 1,685 middle-aged men and women over six months found those who kept such a diary just about every day lost about twice as much weight as those who did not. The findings back up earlier research that endorsed the value of food diaries in helping people lose weight.
Smiling babies boosts moms' mood
New research shows looking at their smiling baby can trigger the reward centers of a mother's brain, giving her a natural high. Scientists asked 28 first-time mothers with to look at photos of their own and other young babies and monitored them with an MRI scanner as they did so. The machine measured blood flow in the brain, giving researchers a clue as to where and when brain activity takes place. They found that seeing and image of their own child triggered a response in mothers and noted this was heightened if the baby was smiling.
Obesity drugs for kids?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says some children as young as eight should be given cholesterol-fighting drugs to help ward off future heart problems. That's a significant change from the group's previous policy, which said cholesterol-reducing drugs should only be considered in children older than 10 who have weight problems. But the academy's nutrition committee says mounting evidence shows that damage
leading to heart disease begins early in life. The committee also notes there's research showing cholesterol drugs are generally safe for children. Under the new guidelines, the drugs would be given to children as young as eight who have too much so-called "bad" cholesterol. The academy is also recommending cholesterol testing for
children as young as two. And, for the first time, it's recommending that even
one-year-olds should be given low-fat milk, in cases where overweight or obesity "is a concern." One doctor on the panel acknowledges that could include virtually all children.
ANOTHER REASON TO EAT A BIG BREAKFAST
New research shows breakfast really could be the most important meal of the day when it comes to losing weight. Over several months, obese women who ate half their daily calories first thing fared better than those eating a much smaller amount. In fact, the research showed having a small breakfast could actually boost food cravings.
High lead levels in artificial turf
An environmental watchdog group says it has found excessive amounts of lead in several brands of artificial turf. It's warning some of the biggest manufacturers and sellers that it will sue unless they recall or reformulate their products. The report from the Center for Environmental Health comes after New Jersey officials found unacceptably high lead levels in some synthetic surfaces and federal authorities recommended lead testing on fraying sports fields. The group says it had tests performed on about 50 products, and at least 15 were found to have high lead levels. The center says it tested and found excessive lead in indoor/outdoor carpeting, artificial lawns and playground grass.
Skip the flip-flops at work
You might consider ditching the flip-flops and cargo pants if you want to get promoted this summer, particularly if you work in financial services, according to a workplace survey on office attire. Around 41% of U.S. employers surveyed said professionally-dressed employees tend to be promoted more than others. Sixty-four percent of employers surveyed have banned flip flops from work; 49 percent have banned mini-skirts; and 28 percent have said no to jeans.
New treatment for skin cancer
A new experimental treatment offers hope that even late-stage skin cancers might be cured. A man given less than a year to live because of advanced melanoma was tumor-free in two months, and had no symptoms two years later. Researchers used immunotherapy -- drawing a specific immune system cell from his body, growing more of them, and then infusing them into his body. It proved not only effective, but there were no side effects. Yet the researchers are cautious because the man was the only success among nine patients. They're not sure why, and they haven't examined him lately because he's fallen out of touch. Still, the dramatic turnaround increases interest in the approach. The study appears in tomorrow's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Office stress
A bad day at the office has little to do with the number of hours you put in working. Workplace stress, research has found, is not linked to clocking in more hours. Rather, the culprit for stress in the office is workplace environment. A researcher at the University of Arkansas found Less stressed workers had more autonomy in their daily routine and had supervisors who were supportive of their work. They also enjoyed less family-work conflict and had more fringe benefits from their job. The research showed that to nurture less stress among employees, managers should try to improve their work environment by providing such options as flexible hours.
Adolescent exercise decreases cancer risk
Here's another good reason to get your kids off the couch; especially girls. Studies show regular exercise when you're young may help cut your risk of developing cancer later. Writings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute explain girls who exercise regularly as adolescents or young adults may help cut their risk of developing breast cancer before menopause. In the study, women who reported being the most physically active were 23-percent less likely to be diagnosed with premenopausal breast cancer than those who exercised the least. Getting a lot of exercise between the ages of 12 through 22 did the most to protect against cancer. Researchers say this is the largest and most detailed information so far of the impact of exercise on early breast cancer risk.
Internal alarm clocks?
Why is it we sometimes wake up 5 minutes BEFORE our alarms go off? This mysterious phenomenon isn't just bizarre coincidence. We are all equipped with our own internal alarm clocks and, best of all, they even have snooze buttons. According to some new research out of Germany, anticipating the time you want to rise seems to trigger the release of hormones normally secreted by the body in times of stress. About an hour before you've planned to get out of bed, these secretions increase in preparation for the "stress" of waking. Our bodies, in other words, note the time we hope to begin our day and gradually prepare us for consciousness, not unlike a snooze button. But how can we set our own wake up calls? Don't throw away the alarm clock just yet, but researchers are confident that one day they'll figure out the psychology behind setting your own "internal clock."
Herbal alternative for kids with ADHD?
A government study suggests that St. John's wort
provides no apparent benefit to children and teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
It's another blow to herbal supplements and to parents who want to avoid stimulants like Ritalin and other drugs used to help children control their behavior. The study focused on St. John's wort because studies in rats found it increases brain chemicals that are thought to help focus attention. The researchers thought St. John's wort might work the same way as the prescription drug Strattera that makes those chemicals more available in the brain. The study involved more than 50 children and teens with ADHD. And after eight weeks, there appeared to be no difference in symptoms or side effects between those who took St. John's wort
capsules and those who took placebos.
Debt stresses out the body, too
For a growing number of Americans, debts aren't just rough on their wallets, but also on their bodies. When people are dealing with mountains of debt, they're much more likely to report health problems, too, according to an Associated Press-AOL Health poll. Those problems include ulcers, severe depression, even heart attacks. A psychologist who analyzed the survey for the AP says millions of Americans are "suffering terribly" due to their debts. Those are people reporting high levels of debt stress and at least three stress-related illnesses. Medical research has linked chronic stress to a wide range of ailments. And the current tough economic times and rising costs of living seem to be leading to increasing debt stress. An index tied to the AP-AOL survey says it's 14 percent higher this year than in 2004.
Medical mix-ups
Medicine mix-ups, accidental overdoses and bad drug reactions harm roughly one out of 15 hospitalized children. That's according to the first scientific test involving a new detection method developed for the study. The number is far higher than earlier estimates and supports concerns that have already been heightened by well-publicized cases like the accidental drug overdose of actor Dennis Quaid's newborn twins last November. Researchers found a rate of 11 drug-related harmful incidents for every 100 hospitalized children. That compares with an earlier estimate of two incidents per 100 hospitalized children, based on traditional detection methods that simply relied on hospital staffers to report such problems. The new estimate translates to about one in 15 hospitalized children, or about 540,000 kids each year, a calculation based on government data. The study is being released Monday in the April issue of the journal Pediatrics.
YOUR ACHING KNEES MAY BE TELLING YOU ABOUT THE WEATHER
If your grandmother says her aching knees are proof rain is coming, you'd better listen. A group of Pennsylvania doctors say our joints know a lot about the weather. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Javad Parvizi says joints have sensory nerves called baro-receptors which respond to changes in atmospheric pressure. Like when the barometer moves from dry to rain. Dr. Parvizi says, "When the pressure in the environment changes, either the amount of fluid in the joint or the pressure inside the joint fluctuates with the environment." Arthritic joints feel it more because they have less cartilage, which cushions the joint.
More benefits of red wine
A group of scientists at the University of Wisconsin at Madison says there is a new reason to toast to the benefits of red wine. Scientists have long thought a natural compound called resveratrol, which is found in some red wines, could help slow the aging process by helping to protect tissues inside the body. The question has been whether just a glass or two of wine could really make a difference. The Wisconsin researchers announced today that it doesn't take as much red wine as many researchers had previously thought. Scientists at Harvard Medical School who have studied the impact of resveratrol on mice showed ABC News images of two rodents. Both were the same age, but the one on resveratrol was much more agile and running much more quickly than the other. As the research continues, some scientists are already popping corks, wondering if it is possible to put resveratrol in a pill. David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School is trying, and just this week, his start-up company was sold to a pharmaceutical giant for $720 million. Still, many in the medical community say "not so fast," and warn that there is plenty of research to come. Even so, red wine lovers have already been given another reason to toast.
Charge your iPod with the sun
Everyone's jumping on the go-green bandwagon, and high-tech is not being left out. Owners of Apple devices such as iPods and iPhones may soon be able to charge them up by leaving them out in the sun. Apple has filed a patent for a technology which would enable a layer of solar cells to be inserted under a touch-sensitive screen of the sort used in the iPhone. The patent, should it be awarded, has the potential to make the iPhone a truly portable device, dispensing with the need for it to be connected to a power supply by wires.
Docs texting teens
They may not make house calls anymore but doctors do send text messages and that may encourage young people to take their meds. The Cincinnati Enquirer says doctors there are experimenting with texting messages such as "Forget your meds?" to help teens and tweens do a better job of controlling chronic illnesses like asthma, diabetes and kidney disease. Research shows fewer than a third of teens take their asthma medication correctly. Doctors figure they can at least get their attention by texting.
Kids cancer rates higher in Northeast
A new study is surprising some experts by suggesting that childhood cancer rates are higher in the Northeast than anywhere else in the country. But some specialists say it could just reflect differences in reporting. The pediatric cancer rate in the Northeast is 179 cases per million children. The South has the lowest with 159 cases per million children. Some say the differences arise because cases get under-reported in the South, and over-reported elsewhere. The Northeast alsogenerally has better access to cancer centers. Despite having the highest rate, researchers say fewer children die of cancer in the Northeast than in any other region. Experts say the study has important information to bolster smaller studies, confirming that cancer is rare in children, but also more common in older kids, especially among white boys.
Drug use during pregnancy
Doctors may soon get a new way to tell which medications are safe for women to use during pregnancy and when
they breastfeed. Currently, prescription drugs carry a code in the fine print of their labels that ranks their pregnancy safety. Category A means it's deemed safe; Category X means it's known to harm human fetuses. Drugs given the remaining B, C or D codes have varying levels of evidence one way or the other. The FDA says that's too confusing. It's proposing stripping away the codes and replacing them with clearly marked sections in the drug's label describing what research shows about fetal risk. The agency says there are 6 million pregnancies a year in the U.S. and that pregnant women take an average of three to five prescription drugs during their pregnancy.
TV cable boxes may go away
The TV cable box may be on the way out. The National Cable and telecommunications Association has struck a deal with Sony to use the cable industry's technology in Sony sets as soon as possible. That would mean advanced "two-way" services without the need for a set-top box or, in most cases, a separate remote. The cable association says it hopes other electronics manufacturers will follow Sony's lead. Under the new system, customers will get a "cable card" from their provider that will fit into their set and unscramble the signal. Cable cards have been around for a while, but have been troublesome and never popular. It's hoped the new agreement will clear-up the technical glitches.
New mosquito repellents studied
New mosquito repellents on the horizon could last more than four times longer than the best now available. Researchers for the Pentagon say they've tested chemicals on clothing that kept mosquitoes away for up to 73 days. Currently, the best repellent on the market -- known as DEET -- averages 17.5 days. One scientist says some of the new chemicals are "just phenomenal." The researchers focused on what the most powerful mosquito repellents have in common chemically. The search was narrowed to seven possible repellents which will be tested this summer for safety. It's expected to be a few years before any are available commercially.
Most benefits from taking aspirin at nite:
If you're taking a daily aspirin to help control your blood pressure, you'll get more out of it by taking the pill at bedtime. It's true your blood pressure tends to drop at night, but an article in the New York Times explains night time is when our bodies are setting everything up in motion for the pressure to go up the next day. It takes about four hours for the aspirin to be effective in reducing blood pressure. So taking it in the morning doesn't really do you any good.
Ex-smokers help others to quit
Researchers say a smoker is more likely to quit if that person has a spouse, family member, friend, or co-worker who have quit or are quitting at the same time. A Harvard Medical School sociologist and a University of California-San Diego colleague poured over the Framingham Heart Study, a 30-year tracking of the health of more than 12,000 residents of the Boston suburb. By checking the social lives of those study participants, the research team found that two thirds of the participants were less likely to smoke if a spouse stopped smoking. The odds are nearly as high if a friend, co-worker or brother or sister of the study member was quitting. The researchers, in their report published in Thursday's New
England Journal of Medicine, also found that whole groups became nonsmokers over time. And the people who still smoked were pushed to the fringe of their social circles.
1 IN 4 OF US WILL WORK ON VACATION
While the economic downturn is prompting many U.S. workers to scrap summer holiday plans, a growing number are planning to bring the office with them on vacation. According to a survey of nearly 7,000 employees nationwide, up to a fourth of U.S. workers will maintain contact with their employers over this year's summer holidays, up from 20 percent last year. While some said they felt guilty skipping out on co-workers, others feared losing their jobs. The survey (by CareerBuilder) also found that some 15 percent of employees didn't use all of their days off last year. Sales reps were the most likely to check in during a vacation, followed by financial services and IT workers, the survey found.
BEING REQUIRED TO SMILE MAY BE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH :)
A German scientist has proved that people forced to smile and take on-the-job insults suffer more and longer-lasting stress that may harm their health. The researcher studied 4,000 volunteers working in a fake call center. Half were allowed to respond as they wanted to abuse on the other end of the line while the other half had to suck it up. He found that those able to answer back had a brief increase in heart rate. Those who could not had stress symptoms that lasted much longer.
Presidential Fitness for Adults
If you didn't get a Presidential Physical Fitness Award in school, the government is giving you another chance to prove you're in shape. An adult version of the test is being introduced today by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. It's for people over 18 and in good health. The test involves three basic components: aerobic fitness, muscular strength and flexibility. It was inspired by scores of baby boomers who kept asking council members whether there was a fitness test available today that was similar to the ones they took as students. Unfortunately, there's no certificate, but the results will then show where you rank among people of the same age.
Broccoli's benefits!
The hot new ingredient in sunscreens may be --broccoli. Inflammation and redness are key measures of future skin cancer risk. Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine are finding out that not only is broccoli a potent cancer-fighter when you eat it, applying a smear of an extract found in broccoli sprouts to skin reduced inflammation by nearly 40%. The antioxidants in the compound apparently activate skin's own cancer-fighting ability by boosting production of protective enzymes and it works for days, even after it's washed off. (Kaye)
A GOOD HANDSHAKE COULD HELP YOU LAND A JOB
If you're seeking employment, get a grip. A firm handshake is key to landing a job. In a new study, scientists put 98 students through mock job interviews with businesspeople. The students also met with trained handshake raters who, unbeknownst to the students, rated their grips. Separately, the businesspeople graded each student's overall performance and hireability. The two group's scores were then compared. Students who got high handshake marks were also rated most hireable. Researchers found those with strong handshakes scored better with the interviewers in part because they also exhibited greater ease with small talk, eye contact and other social skills.
Bulk buying payoff?
The Food Marketing Institute finds that with gas prices soaring, one in five Americans is pinching pennies by stocking up on bargains. But bulk buying may not be the best way to save money in this current recession, because of people's innate behaviors. People tend to eat half of the food they bring home within the first week regardless of how much they bought, says Cornell University food psychologist BRIAN WANSINK, PhD, writing in Prevention magazine. His research indicates bigger packages prompt people to gobble up to 42% more than they would from sensible sizes. And, he says one in three people binges when snacks like nuts or chips are kept in plain sight.
Smoking bans may help teens
A Massachusetts study suggests that restaurant smoking bans may play a big role in persuading teens not to become smokers. The study's lead author -- Dr. Michael Siegel of Boston University -- says the findings back up the idea that smoking bans discourage tobacco use in teens by sending the message that smoking is frowned upon in the community. He says the bans also reduce their exposure to smokers in public places. Siegel and his colleagues tracked 2,791 children between ages 12 and 17 who lived throughout Massachusetts. There were no statewide restrictions when the study began in 2001 but about 100 cities and towns had enacted some laws restricting smoking in workplaces, bars or restaurants. Overall, about 9 percent became smokers, which was defined as smoking more than 100 cigarettes. The report appears in this month's issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
YES, IT'S HARDER FOR WOMEN TO LOSE WEIGHT
New research confirms what many frustrated women have long suspected: women have a harder time losing weight with exercise compared to men. When it comes to exercise there are a lot of differences between the sexes. The study (from the American College of Sports Medicine) says men have a distinct advantage because they don't have to work out as long or as hard as a woman to get in shape. And while exercise in men speeds metabolism right off the bat, a woman's body reacts to exercise like a short term starvation and metabolism slows down to preserve weight, but only for about two to three weeks. That means women have to start exercise and stick with it. Stopping and starting is not good.
Active and fit or Active and fat?
A new study is challenging the idea that you can be fat and fit. The study tracked nearly 39,000 women for more than a decade and found that while being active can lower the risks of heart disease in heavy women, it doesn't eliminate them. When compared with active, normal-weight women, the risk of developing heart disease was more than 50 percent higher in active but overweight women. But for inactive overweight women it was nearly 90 percent higher. The study's lead author calls it "reassuring to see that physical activity does make an impact." But Dr. Amy Weinstein adds, if a person is overweight, physical activity alone isn't enough. Previous research has gone back and forth on whether weight or exercise has more influence on the risk of heart disease. The study is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Diabetes on the rise in pregnant women. A California study suggests the number of pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes has more than doubled in seven years, while the number of diabetic teenagers giving birth has rocketed fivefold. An expert on diabetes and pregnancy says the women represent "high-risk" pregnancies. Expectant mothers who don't control their diabetes face an increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth and their babies have a higher chance of being born with birth defects. The study, compiled by researchers at health care provider Kaiser Permanente and funded by the American Diabetes Association, looked at the records of more than 175,000 women who gave birth from 1999 to 2005. The number of pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes was small. In 1999, there were 245 such women; by 2005, there were 537. The rise of diabetes among women of childbearing age mirrors the prevalence of the disease in the general population.
Lasik surgery questions
Not everyone is a good candidate for Lasik eye surgery and the government plans to take a closer look at complaints including lost vision, dry eye and night-vision problems. A decade after Lasik hit the market, unhappy patients will air their grievances before the Food and Drug Administration today. The FDA thinks about 5 percent of patients are dissatisfied, and is pairing with eye surgeons for a major study involving hundreds of Lasik patients. About 7.6 million Americans have undergone some form of laser vision correction, including the $2000-per-eye Lasik. Advocates say as many as 95 percent are well satisfied, with some achieving better than 20/20 vision. And though opthalmologist Doctor Robert Cykiert says the FDA has received 140 complaints from unhappy patients, he's still a believer and recommends it for those who are a good fit.
PEOPLE WHO ARE TREATED FAIRLY ARE HAPPIER
Did you know that the human brain responds to being treated fairly in exactly the same way as it responds to winning money and eating your favorite food? Researchers conducted brain imaging experiments to arrive at this conclusion. They found out that when a person is treated fairly, the area in the brain that is tied to happiness gets activated. For many people, being treated fairly is more important than monetary reward and those who are treated fairly tend to be happier.
New alcoholic drink labels
Consumer advocates say the government needs to add more details to labels being planned for alcoholic drinks. The National Consumers League says the Treasury Department's proposal should include the amount of alcohol per serving, the definition of a standard drink and U.S. dietary guidelines on drinking. A proposed label rule released by the department last July includes the amount of alcohol by volume, calories, carbohydrates,fat and protein contained in a standard serving size. Alcohol trade groups are split over expanding the label information. The Distilled Spirits Council favors two of the additions while both beer and wine groups say the labels could mislead consumers.
AHA: Screen kids for heart conditions
The American Heart Association is recommending that children undergo a heart exam before they're prescribed ADHD drugs. Stimulant drugs like Ritalin that are used to treat hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder can increase blood pressure and heart rate. For kids with heart conditions, the drugs could make them more vulnerable to a heart attack and other problems.The heart group now wants children to have a thorough exam,including a family history and an EKG, before they're put on the drugs to make sure that they don't have any undiagnosed heartissues. The government estimates about 2.5 million American children and 1.5 million adults take medication for ADHD. A screening of about 1,100 children found that about 2 percent of them had some kind of heart problem.
Eco-friendly tips
As we ramp up to Earth Day (tomorrow), the Nielsen Company research finds U-S households are making an effort to be eco-conscious:
--More than half of U-S consumers claim to recycle cans, bottles and /or newspapers all the time, with 20 percent doing so "most of the time."
--Nearly 80 percent of consumers make a point of combining shopping trips to save gas most, if not all of the time
--Approximately two-thirds turn down their thermostats to conserve fuel most or all of the time.
There are a few things you do in the kitchen can help save energy and reduce environmental waste.
ALLISON FISHMAN
--the cooking expert from TLC's "Home Made Simple"-- offers a couple of tips.
First, buy items with less packaging. There's less to throw away.
Another suggestion: rather than bottled water, invest in a water filtration system.
You can also help the environment by purchasing locally-grown produce and organically grown products. They use fewer harmful chemicals and require less carbon emissions to transport than items that are grown and shipped from across the country.
Men's hormones linked to economy --study
The economy is all messed up because of our hormones, not any of that sub prime credit crisis stuff. A Cambridge University study shared by the BBC claims that men's testosterone levels are "directly linked to the profit they make." When stock traders have a good day, their testosterone increases. On a bad day, the level goes down. And when stock traders have too many good days in a row, those high testosterone levels hold many men back from making reasonable decisions. They take bigger and bigger risks, which can lead to bubbles. Those bubbles, as you've seen, eventually get popped.
On the other side of the coin, too many bad days in a row can lower testosterone levels so much that traders feel helpless and clueless about what to do. That's not good for the economy either.
Good news for airline passengers
The news has been consistently lousy for airline passengers lately. But there's some good news for those who get bumped from airline flights. They'll be eligible to get twice as much compensation from U.S. airlines. A new Transportation Department rule set to take effect next month covers travelers forced onto another flight that takes them to their U.S. destination more than two hours after their original arrival time. They'll be paid the full price of their fare up to $800. The government also unveiled several more initiatives intended to decrease air travel delays, including a plan to reroute planes through Canadian air space to avoid summer storms.
Plastic bottle warning
A chemical used to make water bottles, baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic containers could be linked to a range of hormonal problems, according to a preliminary government study. The federal National Toxicology Program says researchers found precancerous prostate tumors, urinary system problems and early puberty in rats that were given low doses of the chemical, bisephenol-A. Researchers say the studies only provide "limited evidence" of the chemical's risks, but add that the results can't be ignored. The findings echo research by the National Institutes of Health. But a group that represents manufacturers says the study shows that there aren't any "serious" concerns about the effect of the chemical on humans. The FDA says there's not reason to ban or restrict the use of the chemical right now. But at least one lawmaker wants the agency to reconsider that.
New study shows diet does matter
A large study offers the strongest evidence yet that a diet the government recommends for lowering blood pressure can save people from heart attack and stroke. Researchers followed more than 88,000 healthy women for almost 25 years. They examined their food choices and looked at how many had heart attacks and strokes. Those who fared best had eating habits similar to those recommended by the government to stop high blood pressure. The study's lead author was Simmons College researcher Teresa Fung. She says the results suggest that even healthy people should follow the diet. About 15,000 women in the study had diets that closely resembled the low blood pressure diet. They ate about twice as many fruits, vegetables and grains as the estimated 18,000 women whose diets more closely resembled typical American eating habits. Here are examples of food choices made by healthy women in a 24-year study. They had fewer heart attacks and strokes than women with less healthy eating habits. The choices listed below are similar to the government's DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). -More than eight total servings of fruits and vegetables daily. A serving is a half-cup of cooked vegetables or one cup raw, or a small piece of fruit. -One total serving daily of nuts and legumes, about a handful of peanuts or a half- cup legumes, including lentils, kidney beans and split peas. -At least two servings daily of whole grains. A serving is a slice of whole-grain bread or a half-cup cooked whole-grain pasta or rice, or about a cup of dry cereal. -Almost two daily servings of low-fat dairy products. A serving equals eight ounces of milk or one cup of yogurt. -A half serving daily of red or processed meats, including bacon and hot dogs. A full serving is about the size of a deck of cards. (The DASH diet does not recommend those high-fat meats. It calls for no more than two servings daily of lean meat, fish or poultry.)
Tampering with Mother Nature
Spring flowers are blooming, but they may not be packing the potent floral smell you'd expect. LiveScience.com claims that flowers are losing their smell. Chalk it up to pollution. A flower's smell molecules have to fight all the nasty chemicals in the air, which shortens how far they go and weakens their scent. The world's mysterious bee shortage isn't helping much either.
Young hyperactive girls face problems later in life
If you're waiting for your young daughter to outgrow her hyperactivity, maybe you should step in now. There's growing evidence that girls who exhibit signs of hyperactivity during childhood grow up to experience major problems later in life.
According to an article in Archives of General Psychiatry, girls between 6-and-12-years old who show signs of restlessness, fidgeting and physical aggression are more likely to report teenage pregnancy, abusive relationships and welfare dependence. There's a lot of research available about the long-term impact of childhood hyperactivity on boys. It's much less common in girls, but researchers are finding that those girls who do suffer from this kind of behavior end up hurting themselves in the long run. Researchers say hyperactive young girls should be dealt with early in life to help them do better in school. It literally could change their lives. (Page)
Estrogen linked to benign breast lumps
Researchers are linking estrogen therapy to benign breast lumps in women. It's the latest risk connected to hormone therapy after menopause. Another type of hormone therapy -- estrogen plus progestin -- is already known to raise the risk of breast cancer. Now researchers are finding that women using estrogen alone may double their chances of getting non-cancerous breast lumps. That raises concerns beyond the extra biopsies and worries such lumps can lead to. That's because one type of benign growth is suspected of being a first step toward developing cancer 10 years or so later. The study is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Afraid of losing your cell-phone?
It's pretty easy to test your self for nomophobia. Just find your cell phone. If you can't and that freaks you out, you might have nomophobia. It's simply "the fear of being out of mobile phone contact," according to the London Evening Standard. Millions of us have nomophobia. Even simply misplacing your cell phone can bring on an episode of anxiety, stress, and loneliness. Experts think 53-percent of us have nomophobia in some form, while 58-percent of men and 48-percent of women admit that life doesn't seem as easy when their phone is missing, or low on battery juice and signal coverage. Aside from getting a grip, researchers say you can prevent nomophobia by carrying a charger at all times, keeping your phone attached to your body, and having access to a pre-paid calling card.
Sleep deprived kids
A new Harvard study finds that babies and toddlers who sleep fewer than 12 hours a day are at greater risk for being overweight in preschool. It's startling evidence that the link between sleep and obesity may affect even very young children. TV viewing heightened the effect. The children who slept the least and watched the most television had the greatest chance of becoming obese. The findings are published in April's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. They're based on mothers' reports of their babies' sleep habits and TV viewing, and direct measures of the children's height, weight and skinfold thickness. Among the long sleepers, 7 percent were obese at age 3. The short sleepers fared worse. Twelve percent of them became obese 3-year-olds. The families in the new study lived in Massachusetts.
Going vocational
For years there'd been a big push to send kids to college. Result: We now have a shortage of people in vocational trades such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, stone masons, cabinet makers, welders and more. Many of these are high paying union jobs with health benefits. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that pipe fitters in the region are making an average of $57.34 an hour. The shortage of workers means higher demand, which means higher pay scales, but interest among young people is going down.
Genetic link for tobacco addiction?
Researchers say they've found a genetic link that makes people more likely to get hooked on tobacco -- and more likely to get lung cancer. The discovery by three separate teams of scientists makes the strongest case so far for the biology behind the addiction. It also may shed light on how genetics and cigarettes join forces to cause cancer. The research shows a smoker who inherits the genetic variation from both parents has an 80 percent greater chance of getting lung cancer than a smoker without the variants. That same smoker on average lights up two extra cigarettes a day and has a much harder time quitting than smokers who don't have these genetic differences. The author of one study describes the variation as a "double whammy gene." The three studies are funded by governments in the U.S. and Europe. They're being published tomorrow in the journals Nature and Nature Genetics.
Baby products could alter hormones:
A chemical found in many baby products could be altering your infant's hormones. Problem is, the chemical isn't listed on ingredient labels, so it's hard to tell if you're using it or not. Findings printed in the journal, Pediatrics, explain early exposure to this chemical could result in lower testosterone levels. This could affect reproduction organs, especially in male children.Researchers examined 163 children between two and 28 months old. In each case, the parents used topical products like baby lotions, shampoos and powders. After testing urine samples, researchers found at least one type of phthalates --a chemical used in many fragrances. In at least 80-percent of the infants, researchers found seven or more types of phthalates. As expected, the chemical industry, fragrance industry, and anyone else who could have to deal with repercussions has stated there isn't enough evidence or that the study is scientifically flawed. Researchers say they may not know the long-term effects just yet, but believe their findings should sound an alarm to parents and physicians.
Botox warnings
Botox warning: You might want to think twice about using Botox on those wrinkles. A new study says Botox --in lab rats-- can move from its injection site and eventually make it to the brain. The Journal of Neuroscience reports that scientists injected rats' whisker muscles with botulism toxin. Tests of the rodents' brain tissue later found that botulism had been transported to their brain stems. However, mouse and human physiology is quite different, so the results may not predict what happens in people. Maybe.
New CPR Guidelines
You can skip the mouth-to-mouth breathing and just press on the chest to save a life. The American Heart Association is promoting a major change in dealing with sudden cardiac arrest in adults. It says that hands-only CPR works just as well as standard CPR in those cases. You should use rapid, deep presses on the victim's chest until help arrives. Experts hope bystanders will now be more willing to jump in and help if they see someone suddenly collapse. Hands-only CPR is simpler and easier to remember. And it removes a big barrier for people skittish about administering mouth-to-mouth to strangers. Mouth-to-mouth breathing should still be used on children, since a child who collapses is more likely to have breathing problems.
CDC: All kids should get flu shot
A federal advisory panel is recommending that all children get flu shots.
The panel voted yesterday in Atlanta to expand annual flu shots
to all children except infants younger than six months.
That means about 30 million more children could be getting
vaccinated.
The panel's advice is routinely adopted by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC issues vaccination
guidelines to doctors and hospitals
Flu shots are now recommended for people considered to be at
highest risk of death or serious illness from the flu. That list
includes children ages 6 months to 5 years, adults 50 and older,
and people with weakened immune systems
The panel says that should be expanded to include children up to
age 18.
Grieving spouses
You've may not have heard of the "widow" or "widower" effect, but you may know someone who has experienced it. A husband or wife dies, and then the surviving spouse passes away soon afterward. Researchers are starting to understand why that happens.
Findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine say the phenomenon usually begins with the hospitalization of a spouse. When a man or woman is admitted to the hospital for a serious illness, the stress and upheaval experienced by the spouse can pose serious health risks.
A recent study finds that on average, when a woman is hospitalized, her husband's death risk is increased by 22-percent. When a man is hospitalized, the risk is 16-percent for a wife. The death risk is highest for a spouse when their partner is hospitalized for dementia.
At least 44 million American adults are caregivers. Yet research shows few of these people are adequately prepared to deal with what it takes to give someone full-time care, or the toll it can take on their own health. Experts say their new findings should make caregivers realize their own health is the most important thing to consider.
Organic foods
If you buy the idea that antioxidants are the key to a long, healthy life, then you should also buy organic foods. A new study reveals they contain 40-percent more antioxidants than non-organic foods. Antioxidants are said to prevent cancer and heart diseases. The most expensive study ever done on the subject matter also reveals that organic food has more beneficial minerals like iron and zinc. According to All Headline News, the four-year European-Union study cost $24-million-dollars, and employed researchers growing fruits and vegetables on neighboring organic and non-organic areas covering 725 acres. Scientists discovered antioxidants in milk from organic herds were 90-percent higher than the milk taken from non-organic cows. The results of the study are useful because it could help increase the intake of nutrients of people who are not eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables a day. Researchers say in other words, if you are eating organic foods with higher concentrations of antioxidants, you can get away with eating just four servings of fruits and vegetables a day versus the recommended five.
Food poisoning's effects may last for years
It's a dirty little secret of food poisoning.
E. coli and certain other foodborne illnesses can sometimes
trigger serious health problems months or years after patients
survived that initial bout.
In interviews with The Associated Press, scientists describe
high blood pressure, kidney damage, even full kidney failure
striking 10 to 20 years later in people who survived severe E. coli
infection as children.
They've also found a mysterious paralysis that can attack people
who just had mild symptoms.
While these conditions strike a small fraction of the millions
of people who get food poisoning each year, experts say no one
knows just how many people are at risk.
A consumer group called STOP -- Safe Tables Our Priority -- is
beginning the first national registry of food-poisoning survivors
with long-term health problems. It's seeking people willing to
share their medical histories with scientists in hopes of boosting
research.
Researchers identify genetic glitch that increases risk of autism
A new large study finds that a rare genetic
variation dramatically raises the risk of developing autism.
And experts say that could open new research targets for better
understanding the disorder and for treating it.
Research into the causes of autism has focused on genetic causes
because so many families have multiple children with the disorder.
Thus far, only about 10 percent of autism cases have a known
genetic cause.
But Boston-area researchers estimate the gene glitch they've
identified accounts for another 1 percent of cases.
They found a segment of a chromosome which has genes linked to
brain development and various developmental disorders was either
missing or duplicated far more often in autistic people.
The defect was inherited in some cases, but more often the
result of a random genetic accident.
Virus lives on keyboard, mouse
Here's something to think about as you log onto your computer and use your mouse this morning...A new report says the stomach flu can be passed from one person to another through contact with commonly shared items such as computer keyboards and computer mice. The virus, which is common in winter and is the most frequent cause of outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhea in the United States, is often contracted in schools, at work and on cruise ships. And because the virus can live on surfaces for several days, people should wash their hands after using shared objects, and computer keyboards and mice should be disinfected regularly .
Charitable giving
The holiday season always brings out a call for charitable donations. Between now and Christmas, Americans will donate $100 million to charitable causes. How do you know where your money goes? Most solicits for a contribution come by telephone, but most of us aren't sure the telephone callers represented the organizations they claimed to, and how many of us ask how our donations will be spent? Solution: Go to CharityNavigator.org to get an evaluation. Find out who's legit and which ones spend more on operating expenses than dollars donated. Remember, the good charities are happy to provide a behind-the-scenes look at their operations. The Charles Schwab brokerage house says Americans are the most generous people on the planet. Some 70 percent of us give to charity --more of us than vote.
Crib recall
The government is announcing a fix for a crib that's proven to be deadly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says Simplicity Incorporated is providing a free repair kit for Simplicity and Graco-brand cribs that were recalled after three children became
entrapped and suffocated. The repair kit immobilizes the crib's drop side, which can
detach and create a gap in the crib that children can get caught in. The free repair kit will be sent to crib owners who have pre-registered or who register now on Simplicity's Web site at
www.simplicityforchildren.com or the company's hot line at 888-593-9274. Simplicity recalled about 1 million cribs after reports of the three deaths as well as reports that seven infants became entrapped in the cribs.
Identity theft: Not always on-line!
Worried your identity will be stolen off the Internet? Not likely. A new study says identity thieves are typically young, work solo and rely on the Internet for fewer than one-fifth of their crimes. The Center for Identity Management and Information Protection also found that "insider" employees were the offenders in one-third of the cases. The most frequently used non-technological method was the rerouting of mail through change of address cards. Other prevalent non-technological methods were mail theft and dumpster diving. Of the 933 offenders studied, 609 said they initiated their crime by stealing fragments of personal identifying information, as opposed to stealing entire documents, such as bank cards or driver's licenses.so one man's trash can really be one thief's treasure!
Autism videos on the web
CHICAGO (AP) - Video clips debuting on the Internet could be a
guide to parents worried about their children showing signs of
autism.
A new Web site offers dozens of video clips of autistic kids
contrasted with the behavior of those who are unaffected by it.
The new site is sponsored by two nonprofit advocacy groups:
Autism Speaks and First Signs. They hope it will promote early
diagnosis and treatment, which can help young children with autism
lead more normal lives.
Specialists call it a useful tool for parents and doctors,
though the sponsors of the site note that not all children who
display unusual behavior are autistic.
One pediatrician cautions the site might lead some parents to
needlessly fret, and he says they shouldn't use it to try to
diagnose their own kids. http://www.autismspeaks.org
The craving for chocolate may come from deep down in your gut. A small study links the type of bacteria living in people's digestive system to a desire for chocolate. Everyone has a vast community of microbes in their guts. But people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure. The author of the study says the idea could eventually lead to treating some types of obesity by changing the composition of the trillions of bacteria occupying the intestines and stomach.
Keeping grudges unhealthy --study:
Feel like you hold onto grudges for too long? LiveScience.com thinks it might not be your fault.
New studies about our memory suggest that we naturally let bad experiences soak deep into our brains, where they remain for much longer periods than some of our happy memories. It would explain why bad breakups or even abuse can change someone's personality.
And in some cases, too many tragic memories can cause memory gaps. The only way you might salvage things in the future is to try keeping your emotions in check.
More kids on heartburn drugs
The number of young children on prescription drugs for heartburn and other digestive problems has jumped about
56 percent in recent years. Researchers say obesity and overuse may be contributing to the surprising increase. The study suggests more than 2 million American children
age 18 and under used drugs for digestive or gastrointestinal
complaints last year. That includes more than a half-million
infants and children up to age 4. The Medco Health Solutions study covers prescription data for 2002 through 2006. The president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics says heartburn is a common complication of being overweight, and
the increase came during the nation's rising obesity rate. She adds that, while some children require treatment that includes prescription drugs, many get better with lifestyle changes, such as smaller meals or cutting down on fatty foods.
MEN ARE GENERALLY HAPPIER THAN WOMEN
According to the New York Times, there's a growing happiness gap between men and women. The paper cites two researches studies. One tracked traditional happiness data by asking people how satisfied they are with their lives. It found that women, who in the early 1970s reported being slightly happier than men, are now slightly less happy. The other analyzed time-use studies over the past four decades to determine how much time men and women spent doing things they found unpleasant. Since the 1960s, men have gradually cut back on tasks they dislike. They now work less and relax more. Meanwhile, women have replaced housework with paid work, and as a result are spending more time doing things they don't enjoy. According to the Times, women aren't actually working more today than they were 30 or 40 years ago - they're just spending more time on paid work and less on cooking and cleaning.
Fake acupuncture effective against pain
If the lower back hurts, a new study
suggests fake acupuncture works nearly as well as the real thing.
A co-author of the study says it was not designed to
determine how acupuncture works but the findings are in line with
a theory that pain messages to the brain can be blocked by
competing stimuli.
Even fake acupuncture worked better than conventional care,
leading researchers to wonder whether pain relief came from the
body's reactions to any thin needle pricks or, possibly, the
placebo effect.
Almost half the patients treated with either real or fake
acupuncture felt relief that lasted months. About a quarter of
the patients receiving medications and other Western medical
treatments felt better.
The study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
It's not always sugar's fault
If your kids are bouncing off the walls it may have something to do with all the additives in their food. A new study shows the artificial food colorings and other additives can make young children more hyperactive.
A study printed in the medical journal Lancet explains researchers noticed differences in kids between three and nine-years-old when they drank fruit juices made with food preservatives and coloring. And it wasn't just kids with extreme hyperactivity or ADHD --but kids in the general population as well.
Researchers say sunset yellow coloring --also known as E110-- and carmoisine, tartazine, ponceau and the preservative sodium benzoate have proven to cause significant changes in children's behavior. (Page)
EXERCISE HELPS THOSE WITH DEPRESSION
Researchers have found that regular exercise may work as well as medication in improving symptoms of major depression. In a study of 202 depressed adults, investigators found that those who went through group-based exercise therapy did as well as those treated with an antidepressant drug. A third group that performed home-based exercise also improved, though to a lesser degree. Importantly, the researchers found, all three groups did better than a fourth group given a placebo -- an inactive pill identical to the antidepressant.
Friends for life!
Want to live longer? Don't be a loner. Newsweek magazine reports that "social isolation" boosts your risk of contracting all kinds of serious diseases.
Going through life alone can alter your immune system at the genetic level, making you more prone to heart disease, a variety of viruses, and the common cold.
Even if you seem to have a lot of friends, it's how you feel about your connection to them that could be trouble. If you aren't tight with at least a few of them, your body will stop trying to defend you from all kinds of ills.
Experts from Harvard Medical School suggest that anyone who feels lonely in life, regardless of how many friends they have or people they know, seek out therapy and work hard at increasing genuine social interaction.
New benefit of Reclast
Researchers say an osteoporosis drug holds the promise of reducing deaths and preventing new fractures in elderly patients with broken hips. That's considered a first. And some experts are calling the drop in deaths "striking." That translates to 28 percent fewer deaths and 35 percent fewer fractures in the group that got a once-a-year infusion of the bone drug Reclast. The comparison was
to subjects who got a dummy treatment. The lead author of the study, at Duke University, says no other osteoporosis drug study published in at least 15 years has
shown such a pronounced reduction in deaths. But researches say other drugs could also have a similar effect. And, the research was funded by Novartis, which makes Reclast.
FCC orders changes to cable industry
Sometime in the not-too-distant future, your tv set will undergo some changes. The FCC has approved rules it says will ensure that millions of cable subscribers will still be able to watch broadcast programming after the transition to digital television.
Beginning in February 2009, broadcaster will stop transmitting the old analog signals. Over-the-air customers will
have to buy a converter box. As for analog-only cable subscribers, the cable operators will either have to convert the digital signal they send or supply customers with a device that converts it at their TV sets. The FCC ruling will require cable operators guarantee that analog-only customers will receive broadcast channels until 2012. The commission says approximately 40 million households are analog-only cable subscribers. The cable industry has pledged to do this voluntarily. But the new FCC rules make compliance mandatory.
JUST ONE BAD SNACK CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR BODY
How bad can it be to indulge in an occasional meal or snack loaded with saturated fat? How about bad enough to diminish your body's ability to defend itself against heart disease. A recent study by researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia found just that reaction after 14 trial participants, all healthy and between the ages of 18 and 40, ate just one piece of high-fat carrot cake and drank a milkshake. That fat-laden feast compromised the ability of the participants' arteries to expand to increased blood flow, the researchers found. The sudden boost in what's known as saturated fat hampered the effects of so-called "good" cholesterol, HDL, from doing its job -- to protect the inner lining of the arteries from inflammatory agents that promote the build-up of fatty plaques. It's this plaque that, over time, clogs blood vessels and causes heart disease.
Breast cancer more dead | 
