Daily Health News Blog

Soda, Sugary Drinks Increase Blood Pressure, Experts Suggest Water With Lemon, Lime New research may suggest a potential link between  blood pressure  increases and drinks containing loads of sugar, like soda. These findings were determined by researchers at the School of Public Health at Imperial College London. What they found was that for each drink that participants consumed that contained a lot of sugar, both systolic and diastolic  blood pressure  increased. High fructose corn syrup, the beverage industry’s favorite sweetener, contains both glucose and fructose. Both of those sweeteners were directly linked to higher blood pressure figures. Additionally, researchers noticed that individuals who consumed higher levels of sodium and sugar experienced greater risks of hypertension. Another finding during the study showed that while  diet soda  showed no link to increased blood pressure,  diet soda  drinkers typically had lower activity levels and also had  body mass i

Money talks, particularly when it comes to losing weight. In an effort to cut their expenses, companies have launched wellness programs that pay workers to lose weight and hopefully lower their health risks and time and money spent on care. “Weight loss is more fun and more successful if you offer individuals cash,” says David Roddenberry, CEO of wellness program HealthyWage.com. The obesity epidemic plaguing the country not only adds billions of dollars in costs to the nation’s health-care system, it also weighs on employees’ productivity. According to HealthyWage, workers dealing with obesity and other chronic health issues cost more than $153 billion a year in lost productivity due to absenteeism. Reduced productivity and the rising costs associated with health insurance, employers are increasingly looking for programs that will get workers fit and drive down health-care costs. Some programs offered by HealthyWage have the employees putting in the money to lose wei

Women who ate at least three servings of blueberries and strawberries per week had fewer heart attacks. Blueberries and strawberries contain high levels of compounds that have cardiovascular benefits. Eating three or more servings of blueberries and strawberries per week may help women reduce their risk of a heart attack by as much as one-third, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association . Blueberries and strawberries contain high levels of naturally occurring compounds called dietary flavonoids, also found in grapes and wine, blackberries, eggplant, and other fruits and vegetables. A specific sub-class of flavonoids, called anthocyanins, may help dilate arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and provide other cardiovascular benefits, according to the study. "Blueberries and strawberries can easily be incorporated into what women eat every week," said Eric Rimm D.Sc., senior author and Associate Professor of Nutrition and Epidemi

Typically marketed as dietary supplements, “energy drinks”—such as Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, and Wired—are a fast-growing billion-dollar industry. Before you get buzzed, read on. Energy drinks contain or claim to contain a variety of “energy boosters,” such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, taurine, and other chemicals. Many boast of antioxidants, “green-tea based energy,” and megadoses of B vitamins, as well as ginseng and other herbs. Some energy drinks are sugary, some peppery, some sugar-free. Some are sold as “shots” or “vials” to add some phony swagger. But the only ingredient in energy drinks guaranteed to make you feel energetic or “wired” is the hefty dose of caffeine (or caffeine-containing ingredients such as yerba maté). Some supply two or three times as much caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee. A few are simply herbal cocktails, with the same claims but no caffeine. These products are pitched at the young, who are consuming them in increasing amounts worldwide. They promis

Research has linked gum disease and  cardiovascular disease. Will treating one help prevent or reverse the other? Ads for Colgate Total say that maintaining healthy teeth and gums may be important for overall health. They strongly imply that antibacterial toothpaste can help prevent “heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.” Some studies do suggest there’s a link between periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular disease. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that gum disease  causes  heart disease and strokes. Periodontal disease may merely indicate that you are at increased risk. The theory is that periodontal disease, a bacterial infection of the gums, can trigger inflammation elsewhere in the body, and chronic inflammation is now thought to contribute to atherosclerosis—that is, plaque formation in the arteries that leads to coronary artery disease and stroke. A simpler explanation may be that people who take good care of their teeth and gums tend to have a better diet and bett

According to herbal folklore, plants that resemble human body parts have healing effects on those parts. And since ginseng’s root resembles a human figure, it’s said to be good for the whole body. Proponents claim that ginseng acts as an “adaptogen,” boosting the body’s resistance to physical and mental stress, increasing energy, and enhancing general well-being. The herb is said to help prevent or treat everything from colds, diabetes, digestive problems, and menopause symptoms to poor circulation, asthma, memory prob­­lems, and even HIV infection and can­­cer. It’s also touted as an aphrodisiac. There are several types, including Asian ginseng ( Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, often sold as Korean, Chinese, or Panax ginseng) and American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius ). It also comes as red or white ginseng, depending on how it’s processed. Siberian ginseng ( Eleutherococcus senticosus ) is often said to have the same effects as Panax ginseng, but it is not a true ginseng. It and oth

After the common cold, back pain is the problem that most frequently brings people to a doctor's office. Fortunately, most episodes of back pain -- about 90 percent -- will clear up with little or no treatment in approximately six weeks. However, back pain that that lasts longer than six to eight weeks is usually due to spinal column changes and merits a visit to a physician. To rule out the possibility of a dangerous condition, doctors ask certain routine questions -- for example, whether you can relieve the back pain by changing your position and whether you feel back pain when you're not moving. Some of the best clues to the cause of your back pain will come from your description of the pain. Questions your doctor will ask include: Where is the pain located?  Is it confined to the lower back or does it radiate to the buttocks or legs? (These questions check for sciatica.) How severe is the pain?  For example, is the pain so excruciating that any movement is diffic