Daily Health News Blog

People who spend hours each day without getting up and moving around should take heed: A new study suggests that the more people sit each day, the greater their risk for chronic health problems, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Researchers from Australia and Kansas State University said their findings have implications for office workers, truck drivers and other people who regularly sit for long periods of time. To reduce the risk of chronic disease, the study authors concluded that people should sit less, and move more. "We know that with very high confidence that more physically active people do better with regard to chronic disease compared with less physically active people, but we should also be looking at reducing sitting," Richard Rosenkranz, assistant professor of human nutrition at Kansas State University, said in a university news release. "A lot of office jobs that require long periods of sitting may be hazardous to your health because of i

Early in the 20th century, only one in seven women were employed outside the home. Today, most women work, with women constituting 47% of the labor force. A consequence of this is that women are now exposed to many workplace hazards, including occupational stress. Occupational (or job) stress is a prevalent problem in the United States, with between a third to nearly a half of workers routinely reporting high levels of job stress. Certain job conditions have been well-established as stressors. These include heavy workload demands, little control over work, unclear or conflicting job roles, poor relationships with coworkers and supervisors, and unchallenging, repetitive, or monotonous work. Women experience additional job stressors that may affect men to a lesser degree. Since women often have primary responsibility for children and household chores, achieving an acceptable work-family balance can be challenging.  In some jobs in which women predominate, such as nursing and customer

Most people have heard of shingles, but many do not have a firm idea of what it actually is. I’ve diagnosed patients with shingles who knew little more than that it is rash, which is most likely to strike older adults. Although shingles can be painful, this viral infection is not life-threatening and is unlikely to lead to serious complications. Gaining a better understanding of this virus, however, will help you manage this surprisingly common condition. How Shingles Strikes Shingles is characterized by a often painful, blistering rash. It is usually located near the middle of your back and wraps around one side of your chest. It can also occur on the neck, scalp and face. As I noted above, shingles is a viral rash. So, how do you catch this unpleasant virus? People diagnosed with shingles are usually shocked to hear that they have probably had the virus since childhood. In fact, it is the same virus which causes chicken pox. Once you’ve had chicken pox, your body’s immune s

Many seniors who smoke feel like it is too late to quit. If you’ve been smoking almost your whole life, it may seem that it is not worth it to quit later in life. But there are some real benefits to quitting, even if you are older. First, you will find that your senses of taste and smell will improve. As you age, these senses naturally begin to decline. Smoking intensifies that effect. But quitting smoking will improve your sense of taste and smell, letting you enjoy your food and environment much more. You also will benefit from an immediate reduction in your heart rate and blood pressure. There is improved lung function in ex-smokers. If you deal with a chronic or nagging cough, giving up smoking will improve that. This is a gradual improvement, but research by the American Cancer Society shows that the cilia in your lungs regains normal function within about six months. After a year of quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half. After five years, your risk o

A reader asks, "I spend many hours on my computer every day and I'm worried about developing carpal tunnel syndrome. What can I do to prevent it?" Here are two exercises that may help. Carpal tunnel syndrome is known for pain, tingling and numbness in the hand and wrist. The condition is caused by compression of the median nerve, which enters your hand through the carpal tunnel -- a narrow passageway formed by bones and ligaments. If tendons in the carpal tunnel become inflamed and swell, they can squeeze the nerve and produce the typical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Early recognition of carpal tunnel syndrome is important because prompt treatment can help you avoid potential long-term problems such as loss of feeling in some fingers and permanent weakness of the thumb. To keep your wrists flexible and ease strain on tired wrists, you can try these easy hand and wrist exercises (but don't do these movements if you already have pain or numbness):

Think about protecting your vision, one of the vital five senses. Most Americans are health conscious when it comes to choosing foods, watching their calories and exercising, but few think about their eye health. That?s why the American Optometric Association started Save Your Vision Month way back in 1927. Professional eye care, through regular exams, they say is important at every age. * Foods. While shopping, think consciously about foods that are rich in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin (fatty acids essential for eye health, also available as supplements), vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc. Such foods include eggs, dark-colored greens, broccoli, corn, peas and brussels sprouts. * Family history. Be aware of any eye disease that runs in your family, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and others. Learn to recognize their symptoms, but don?t diagnose yourself if you experience any of them, because symptoms can be shared by seve

Did you know that at least half of the grains in your diet should be whole grains? For many adults, this means three to five servings of whole grains daily. (For children, make that two to three servings daily.) And yet the average American eats less than one serving of whole grains a day. In fact, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans reports that: Most Americans eat enough total grains, but the majority are refined rather than whole. And refined-grain foods tend to have more solid fats and added sugars. Less than 5 percent of Americans get the recommended minimum of three servings a day of whole grains. A serving is 1 slice bread; 1/2 cup cooked rice, pasta or cereal; 1 tortilla (6-inch diameter); 1 pancake (5-inch diameter) or 1 cup cereal flakes. This month is Whole Grains Month and the theme is "Whole grains at every meal." If you follow this theme, you'll meet the minimum recommendations. The best way to increase whole-grain intake is by replacing refin

I often tout the benefits of exercise. From reducing your risk of diabetes to helping you sleep better, exercise improves a wide array of medical conditions. Today, I am going to add one more thing to the already long list of ways exercise improves health. Many of my patients are surprised to learn that exercise can positively affect blood pressure in some surprising ways. If you currently have high blood pressure, or you are predisposed to this condition, you can use exercise to reduce or even eliminate your need for medication. The Connection Between Exercise and Blood Pressure Many people relate exercise solely to weight loss, but that is hardly its only benefit. When you are physically active, your muscles are trained to work more efficiently and become stronger. Your heart is a muscle, so as it grows stronger, it is able to pump blood with less effort. This reduces the force exerted on your arteries and lowers your blood pressure. Exercise also has a positive impact

In September, a widely publicized study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that organic foods are not more nutritious than conventional foods. This was not actually news, but rather reconfirms what we’ve said before about organic foods. The study—actually a review of more than 200 studies—is the most comprehensive to date. But there are other reasons to still buy organic foods, at least some of the time. The Stanford University researchers who conducted the review found no significant overall differences in nutrients between organic and conventional fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and grains—or in people consuming them, such as in blood vitamin levels or immune markers. A few studies reported higher omega-3 fats in organic milk and chicken (minor sources, anyway, compared to fatty fish) and phenols in organic produce (what difference this makes to health is debatable). The study also confirmed that organic foods are not safer from bacterial c

Sleep is a foundation of good health. When I treat patients, I always emphasize the importance of sleep whether one is recovering from a common cold or from major surgery. Why is sleep so important? Your body requires 7 to 9 hours of rest every night in order to repair and renew all its systems. When you don’t get enough sleep, you feel irritable, lack energy and are less able to cope with stressors. You may have tried lifestyle modifications like spending an hour before bed relaxing and unwinding, getting more exercise, or giving up caffeine after 4 p.m. If sleep is still a problem, you might turn to sleep aids. While these prescription and over-the-counter medications can be helpful to many, there is the possibility of becoming dependent on these substances. What Sleep Aids Do Various sleep aids may be obtained by prescription from your doctor. They work by helping you fall asleep or by helping you stay asleep. The most popular brand name drugs like Lunesta, Rozerem, Sonata

Your feet take a pounding every day. With every step you take, they bear the weight of your whole body. Yet people are often shy about problems they have with their feet and toes. I see it all the time in my practice. For whatever reason, people think they should be embarrassed by their feet. In some cases, this might cause you to delay getting help with a problem you’re having with your feet. For example, many people silently suffer through  ingrown toenail  pain, unsure what they can do about it and reluctant to ask for help. If you find yourself living with an ingrown toenail, or if you get recurrent ingrown nails, there are things you can do that will help your feet. Imagine being able to slip your feet into your shoes without wincing. Imagine being able to go on a long walk with your spouse without that throbbing ache in your toe when you’re done. You can put an end to ingrown toenails. But first, let’s look at what causes them to start with. Understanding Why Ingrown To

Alzheimer’s disease affects over 13 million people worldwide. Many of my patients fear this most common form of dementia, and with good reason. The disease is not completely understood, and it is not possible to predict who will fall victim. With treatment costs for Alzheimer’s topping 100 billion dollars in the United States alone, the medical community is eager to unlock the mysteries of this disease. In my review of recent studies on Alzheimer’s, I found plenty of promising news. A handful of studies show that your eating habits in middle age can have an effect on your Alzheimer’s risk. Some of you may already be consuming the foods that researchers believe can ward off the disease, particularly antioxidant-rich fruits. Fruit: The Proven Alzheimer’s Foe Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease of the brain. Many scientists believe that plaque build up causes nerve cell damage from oxidative stress. This leads to the decrease in cognitive function that characterizes Alzheimer’

(BPT) - Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions across the United States. More than 6 million Americans abuse prescription drugs and much of the abuse begins at home, according to a national survey on drug use and health. In fact, more than 70 percent of those who illegally use prescription pain relievers obtained them through friends or family, including surreptitiously raiding the home medicine cabinet. However, a recent study revealed that only 19 percent of parents are concerned about the misuse of narcotic pain medicines in their own families, showing that many do not recognize the severity of the problem. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids or narcotic pain medications. When used along with other prescription medications like benzodiazepines and muscle relaxers, they deliver a cocaine-like high. Abuse accounts for 84 percent of patient-related prescription drug fraud, according to research by Express Scripts, the nation's largest phar

There’s good news for people with prediabetes.  Research published in  The Lancet  (Volume 379, page 2243) shows that people with prediabetes who achieve a normal glucose level through exercise or use of medication may reduce the likelihood of progressing to diabetes -- even if they achieve it just once. These findings are based on follow-up data from 1,990 adults with prediabetes who had previously enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). In the DPP, participants were randomly assigned to lifestyle interventions, the diabetes medication metformin or placebo for an average of three years. Those chosen for this analysis still had prediabetes or had reverted to normal blood glucose levels during an average follow-up period of nearly six years after the initial study ended. People who had already developed diabetes were excluded. Compared with people who continued to have prediabetes and never achieved normal glucose levels, those who did so at least once during the study

If I suggested to you that a glass of grapefruit or orange juice in the morning might be harming your health, you’d probably think I’d lost my mind. Everybody knows that citrus juice is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants. You also know that juice is an easy way to boost your fruit and vegetable intake, so it can be part of a healthy diet. But if you take prescription drugs, you need to think twice before you reach for a glass of  juice . New research shows that many different kinds of juices change the affects of prescription drugs. For a long time, doctors and scientists have known that grapefruit juice and many drugs don’t mix, but it turns out grapefruit juice isn’t the only juice you need to worry about. It is one of the most dangerous, though, so let’s start by looking at why if you take prescriptions, you should avoid  grapefruit juice . How Grapefruit Juice Can Turn Your Prescription Into a Killer Among juice and drug interactions, grapefruit juice is unique. A

If you’ve stopped exercising due to illness, injury, or any personal setback, these six simple steps will help you get back to being fit. I have a friend who spent much of last spring training for a half marathon. She printed out a training schedule and gathered a group of friends to run with in the early morning before her kids woke up. She spent 12 weeks building her endurance, experimenting with running at different speeds, and getting mentally ready. Three days before race day she developed a deep cough. She tried to run the race but had to drop out after two miles due to the pain in her chest. Eventually the cough morphed into pneumonia. All told, she stopped exercising for 29 days, which meant that when her body was finally healed, she was sorely out of shape -- and demoralized to boot. Sound familiar? I'll bet you've thought at some point, "I'll never get in shape again.” Maybe your exercise plans got derailed by an injury. Or maybe it was work demands, f

The stress of a colon cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, so it's very important to have a support system of family and friends to help you with the questions and decisions you face. In this Health Alert, Johns Hopkins provides practical advice to help you cope. Q. My doctor just told me that I have colon cancer and will need to undergo colon cancer surgery. Should I get a second opinion? A. It is common for people to request a second opinion, especially before surgery or other involved treatment. Indeed, many insurance companies require a second opinion. Ask your insurance company what your policy covers and if it requires you to see a doctor within that plan. Also tell your doctor you would like to have a second opinion. Most doctors are accustomed to this and will be supportive. Ask for a referral and for copies of your medical records, including all test results, x-rays, and other imaging tests to take with you to the next doctor. You may have to sign a release a