Daily Health News Blog

More than one-third of Americans are obese, and these individuals often experience accompanying health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. In response to the so-called "obesity epidemic," many medical professionals have suggested ways to improve the health outcomes of obese individuals through diet and exercise. Now, research conducted at the University of Missouri suggests certain exercises that benefit obese men may not have the same positive results for obese women. These findings could help health providers and researchers develop targeted exercise interventions for obese women. "Our results indicate gender may contribute to differences in cardiovascular function of obese individuals with Type 2 diabetes," said Jill Kanaley, a professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at MU. "Men saw improvement after aerobic exercise training, but the women did not experience the same benefits." Kanaley and her col...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) this week issued a warning about certain types of hip implants. Metal-on-metal implants have been found to cause soft tissue damage, leading to pain or the failure of the device. The devices, made of cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys, slide against each other when patients walk or run using them. With enough of that sliding, small bits of metal particles can wear off the cup or other parts of the implant where components connect. The particles can then cause damage to soft tissue and bone around the implant and joint. In addition to the pain caused by what doctors call an “adverse reaction to metal debris” (ARMD), the process can loosen the implant. In extreme cases this can cause the hip implant to fail, meaning more surgery would be required to replace it. The FDA also stated that metal ions can be released into the bloodstream, traveling to other parts of the body where they can cause symptoms or illnesses. However, reactions t...

The rates of type 2 diabetes are lower in countries where there is a high consumption of black tea according to a recent study. Researchers in Switzerland examined 50 countries and compared the amount of tea consumed to the rates of diabetes. The top three tea drinking countries were Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Turkey. The nations with the lowest consumption were South Korea, Brazil, China, Morocco, and Mexico. In those countries with high levels of black tea consumption, the diabetes rates were low. The researchers also looked for a link between this consumption level and the rates of cancer, respiratory, infectious and cardiovascular diseases, but there was no correlation found. It seems that tea drinking only affects diabetes risk. Drinking a cup or two of tea every day won't prevent you from developing type 2 diabetes, as the research did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. But it may reduce your risk and keep you healthy longer. So raise your teacup to better healt...

As you age, you may notice a change in your driving ability. It may become harder to look over your shoulder to change lanes or leg weakness may make it difficult to move quickly from the gas to the brake pedal. There is also a decrease in reaction times as we age. It is a challenge sometimes to know when a senior is unable to continue driving. These signs can help you to decide if there is reason for an older motorist to give up driving. -  Eyesight problems may interfere with the ability to focus, to use peripheral vision, or to see at night. If there is a reduction in functional eyesight, this should be evaluated by a doctor. -  If your hearing is decreasing, it can affect your driving ability. You should still be able to hear other cars honking, sirens, and the sound of cars accelerating next to you. -  Reflexes diminish as we age and can cause a change in our driving functions. A good driver should be able to brake and look behind very quickly. You should also be abl...

Weight loss is the most frequently discussed topic globally. A lot of people are aware of the importance to lose weight to improve their looks and to improve their health. It is of no wonder that new products are introduced everyday to help in losing weight and new researches are conducted all over the world to find new facts about weight loss. The new finding that has made coffee lovers happy is the report that drinking coffee to lose weight is a fact. Drinking coffee to lose weight - Is it possible? Some experts feel that drinking coffee to lose weight is a myth but some researchers have concluded that drinking coffee does help in shedding the extra pounds that you carry. Are you interested in knowing how drinking coffee helps in weight loss? Read further. Increasing metabolism It is a known fact that coffee is a stimulant. It stimulates the nervous system of the body. When the nervous system is stimulated, the fatty acids are pulled out of the fat cells. This helps in incre...

Every year, more than a million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer. Most people think it’s caused by sun damage, whether from the real deal or tanning beds. While that’s true in many cases, there are other risk factors for all three forms of skin cancer. Even if you’re not fair skinned or a beach bunny, you might be at risk. What’s Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)? BCC is the most common skin cancer and it originates in the basal cells, found at the bottom of the epidermis (the skin’s top layer). What’s Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)? The second most common type of skin cancer is SCC. It can be found in the squamous cells (just above the basal cells). It’s similar to BCC because it occurs mostly in areas exposed to UV light like your face, scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs. What’s Melanoma? Melanoma is the least common but the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma originates in the melanocytes (found in the lower epidermis with basal cells). Who’s at risk for skin canc...

Invisible to the naked eye, dust mites inhabit more than 80 percent of all U.S. households, no matter how clean and neat. That can be a problem if you’re allergic to them.  Dust mites are actually on the clean-up committee: they eat our discarded skin cells, as well as animal dander, pollen, fungi, bacteria, and other microscopic organic material in the domestic environment. They thrive in mattresses, pillows, carpets, and clothing. Thousands of mites can live in just one gram of dust. Fortunately, dust mites don’t carry disease and don’t bite, but they can trigger asthma, hay fever, and skin reactions in some people. In fact, dust mites are probably the most common indoor allergen, especially in warm, humid climates and for people with asthma. They are virtually nonexistent in very dry climates. There’s a surprising amount of debate about how to reduce dust mites and the symptoms they cause. In recent years, much of the conventional wisdom has been called into question, mo...