The Most Alarming Health Stories of 2007
With a new year full of it's own surprises soon to be underway, now is a good time to reflect on the most shocking medical stories of 2007.
5. For Older Men Low Levels of Testosterone Can Be.. Fatal?
We don't usually associate testosterone levels in men with matters of life and death. However, research revealed that older men with low levels of testosterone were 40 percent more likely to die during an 18 year period. It's not certain if testosterone supplements are safe or effective at reducing mortality. Researchers recommend lifestyle changes to prevent or decrease incidence of obesity.
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Overweight Children Improve Learning With Vigorous Exercise
A recent study from the Medical College of Georgia finds that three months of daily, vigorous physical activity in overweight children improves thinking ability, in addition to lowering diabetes risk, reducing body fat, and strengthening bones. The research team looked at 200 overweight, inactive children, ages 7 to 11 who were taught the importance of healthy nutrition and benefits of healthy activity. A third of the children exercised 20 minutes a day and another third exercised for 40 minutes. The children played games that increased their heart rate to 79 percent of maximum, achieving a vigorous level of exercise.
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Omega 3 Fats Appear to Aid Against Child Allergies
According to a study from Linkoping University in Sweden, Omega-3 fatty acids have a protective effect on allergies in children. For one year olds whose mothers had ingested fish oil during pregnancy and beastfeeding, there were considerably fewer incidences of allergic reactions compared with children whose mothers did not take the supplement. Since starting in 2005, the study comprised of 145 pregnant mothers with families at heightened risk of developing asthma and allergy. From the 25th week of pregnancy through the third month of nursing, they were asked to take nine capsules of fish oil every day. Half of them were given fish oil with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids while the other half were given a placebo in the form of a soybean pill.
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American Children Are Not Consuming Enough Milk
A recent study from Penn State has found that American children are drinking insufficient amounts of milk and the dairy they are choosing to consume are very high in fat. The study examined a children's daily dairy intake and compared it with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid dairy recommendations. The findings revealed that only 2 to 3 year olds met the MyPyramid dairy recommendations. It was also observed that most children choose to eat more of the highest fat varieties of cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and dairy based toppings.
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Crib Bumpers Are Deemed Unsafe by Experts
A recent study in the current issue of the Journal of Pediatrics has found hidden dangers in using soft cushioned bumpers around cribs and bassinets. These bumpers supposedly stop babies from banging or trapping their heads against the bars of the crib, but researchers say they can lead to suffocation for the infant. Pediatric researchers found that 27 babies and toddlers up to age 2 were accidentally strangled or suffocated by bumper pads and another 25 children were injured.
The research team examined database reviews from three U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions on deaths related to crib bumpers and other crib-related injuries from 1985 to 2005. According to lead author of the study, Dr. Bradley Thach, many babies lack the motor coordination to free themselves when they become wedged between the bumper and another surface. In some instances, if the bumper is too soft the baby's face can get pressed up against it, leading to suffocation. If the bumper is too firm the baby can climb up the pads and fall out of the crib.
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No Kidding, Let's Get Active
Childhood obesity has become a major health problem in America. About 16% of children ages 11-17 are overweight, which can have a lifelong effect on health and self-image. The focus on childhood obesity tends to point to school activities and school lunches, but a recent study at Ohio State University found that the time when kids can gain the most weight is over the summer break.
One of the best ways to keep kids healthy is to keep them active, but it isn't always easy to come up with new ways to get them moving - here are some starters:
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Cleanlier Lifestyles Potentially Linked to an Increase in Children's Allergies
Staying clean and germ-free can prevent the spread of disease and infections, but this type of lifestyle may be responsible for an increase in allergies among children. Pediatric allergist at the University of Michigan Health System, Marc McMorris claims that with the advent of vaccines and antibiotics, the immune system is no longer burdened to the extent it was in the past. As a result, the immune system has turned away from fighting constant infection to developing allergic tendencies.
The immune system is designed to battle infectious bacteria, viruses, and parasites but it can also recognize foreign substances as allergens. Allergies are the body's immune reaction to foreign substances such as pollen, mold, animal dander, dust, insect stings and certain foods that it deems harmful. Inside our homes, air tight doors and windows have increased the concentration of certain indoor allergens.
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Fish Oil May Improve Behavior for Children With ADHD
A study published in the Nutrition Journal reveals that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can improve their behavior with daily supplements of purified fish oils. The eight-week study demonstrated that children who received between 8 and 16 grams of the long chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils per day were observed to have significant behavioral improvements.
Parents and psychiatrists observed the children to have a statistically noticeable improvement in inattention, hyperactivity, oppositional/defiant behavior and conduct disorders as fish oil supplements were introduced to their diet. The findings also remained consistent for children taking optimal doses of medication to manage ADHD as well as children who had stopped taking drugs during the study.
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Prenatal Multivitamins May Reduce Risk of Pediatric Cancers
Moms-to-be, take your multi-vitamins.
It's become widely accepted that mothers taking folic acid during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of several birth defects. But a new study at the University of Toronto finds a correlation between pre-natal multivitamins containing folic acid and the decreased risk of several pediatric cancers: leukemia, brain tumors, and neuroblastoma (a malignant tumor in nerve tissue).
This report in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics found that taking a multivitamin with folic acid before and during early pregnancy could reduce the risk of leukemia by 36%, childhood brain tumors by 27%, and neuroblastoma by 47%.
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Children of Smokers Are Less Healthy Than They Seem
Children with smoking parents may not be as healthy as they appear.
A study presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference shows that although children of smokers may not exhibit respiratory problems, they may still be suffering from damage to their airways. Some researchers claim that children of smokers are more likely to have respiratory problems such as puffing, wheezing, and cases of pneumonia. However it is unclear if there is impairment in children who have no respiratory complaints or diagnosed problems.
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