According to a nine-year study, women are nearly three times more likely than men to seek medical treatment for
their headaches. Stress, poor posture and
diet are among the top reasons for the pain. The study, conducted by researchers at the King's College London,
found that 6.4 percent of consultations were for headaches for women, compared with just 2.5 percent for men. Women
aged 45 to 54 were more likely to request prescription drugs for headaches than men, and women ages 15 to 24 were more
likely to seek medical attention than older women or men. Being a chronic migraine sufferer for over twenty
years, I have to concur with these results. Stooped posture from the weight of stress, as well as the comfort offered
by a nice glass of red wine with a wedge of cheese is often how I cope with the tensions of the day. How do men
cope with their headaches?Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!
Women and headaches
According to a nine-year study, women are nearly three times more likely than men to seek medical treatment for
their headaches. Stress, poor posture and
diet are among the top reasons for the pain. The study, conducted by researchers at the King's College London,
found that 6.4 percent of consultations were for headaches for women, compared with just 2.5 percent for men. Women
aged 45 to 54 were more likely to request prescription drugs for headaches than men, and women ages 15 to 24 were more
likely to seek medical attention than older women or men. Being a chronic migraine sufferer for over twenty
years, I have to concur with these results. Stooped posture from the weight of stress, as well as the comfort offered
by a nice glass of red wine with a wedge of cheese is often how I cope with the tensions of the day. How do men
cope with their headaches?Miracle of transplant technology
That transplant technology is getting more
advanced every year is not a surprise. But hearing the human side of that technology never fails to bore readers.
In a recent cardiac miracle in Edmonton, Canada, doctors were able to perform a complete heart transplant on a newborn
infant just a few hours post partum. The medical team had a donor heart ready and waiting for young Xander Dolski when
he was born by Cesarean in December 2005. The defect appeared to be a minor hole when initially discovered in the 20th
week of pregnancy, but by delivery the hole had become so life threatening that little Xander would not have survived
for more than a few hours after his birth. Xander was lucky enough to receive a heart with the same blood type as his
own; however, technology has made it possible that this is no longer a requirement for the success of the surgery.
Xander faces a life of anti-rejection medications to ensure the success of his transplant, and it is unknown whether or
not he will need any future transplants. But for right now his prognosis is a good one.
New weight loss pill shows promise
There may be exciting news on the diet pill
front. According to a new study published in the most recent edition of Journal of the American Medical Association, a
new weight loss dug, Acomplia, has
shown promise in helping obese people lose weight. The pill focuses on the body's cannabinoid receptors and behaves like
an anti-marijuana substance. These receptors are thought to govern mood and feeding. Acomplia has the opposite effect of
marijuana, which is sluggishness and the need to munch, and in animals it has been shown to induce weight loss.
Patients who have taken the drug have also shown lower levels of triglycerides, lower levels of cholesterol and
decreased glucose levels. Currently the drug is awaiting approval in the United States.Test helps predict death
For the doctors and
families of people over the age of 50, researchers have devised a test that will help predict mortality. The test is
designed to help families plan for the future while getting a firmer understanding about overall health. Points are
accrued for physical conditions such a diabetes, habits like smoking, gender and age. More points means fewer years.
Researchers believe the test to have an 81 percent accuracy rate. However, the results are not set in stone. Improving
health by quitting smoking, losing a few pounds and exercising can boost a score. The test is intended to be
administered by a physician, the results can then be studied and any needed changes can be implemented to improve
quality of life.
Alarming mercury levels present in women
In a recent study of hair samples from
women of child bearing age, nearly 20 percent of females surveyed showed mercury
levels above those accepted by the federal government. Of the over 6,000 women studied, women who ate fish at least
two times per week had the highest levels of mercury. Fish consumption appears to be the number one source of Mercury
exposure. Multiple studies have supported the benefits of eating fish. The omega-3 fatty acids present in many fish are beneficial for
curbing cholesterol build up in arteries. Fish is low in fat and high in protein. Fish is also low in sodium and high
in potassium and other vitamins and minerals. Seafood industry representatives deny that the mercury levels are
troublesome, stating the benefits far outweigh any negativity. Others are not so sure. There is a growing trend
in women who are interested in having children to discontinue fish consumption while trying to become
pregnant.Cancer sniffing dogs
Biological detection tools have recently been in the headlines for a
variety of uses. Giant, African rats have been trained to sniff out tuberculosis in humans and land mines in
fields. In England, dogs have identified
bladder cancer. In Georgia, wasps have detected bombs. Last month, a little closer to home, a research team in
California trained dogs to detect lung and breast cancer in breath samples from people with 88 to 99 percent accuracy
results. According to the study, cancer cells emit chemicals that are different from those in normal cells. Not
much is known about the chemicals that the canines are able to detect . A study will be published in the March issue of
Integrative Cancer Therapies, it is the first to test whether dogs can detect cancer by sniffing samples of
exhaled breath collected in tubes. In a test of over 12,000 tubes, the dogs were able to detect lung cancer with 99%
accuracy and breast cancer with a 88% success rate.Corn may be cause of birth defects
For over a decade scientists have been searching for the cause of a surge
in rare brain defects in babies born along the Mexico-United States border of the Rio Grande
Valley. The neural tube defects, abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord that arise in the first weeks of
pregnancy, may be linked to corn mold.
Previously it was believed that pollution from a nearby General Motors plant was the culprit. The manufacturer settled
a $17-million-dollar lawsuit without admitting guilt. However, because of no scientific data supporting the pollution
theory, researchers have been mulling over other ideas. The most recent one, and likely the the cause, is fumonisin, a
toxin in corn mold. A study recently published in the February edition of Environmental Health Perspectives
looks at the correlation between tortilla consumption, fumonisin and neural tube defects. The study found that
pregnant women who consumed more than 300 tortillas a month during the first trimester were
almost twice as likely to give birth to babies with the defects than women who ate fewer than 100 tortillas. In
addition, blood samples indicated that the higher the level of fumonisin, the greater the risk of neural tube defects.
More research is needed to support the theory, however since tortillas are an inexpensive dietary staple along the
Texas-Mexico border, and studies suggest that the average young Mexican-American woman along the border eats
approximately 110 a month, it is vital to determine the birth defect cause.
Facial transplant recipient wants normal life
Isabelle Dinoire, the 38-year-old French woman who received the first ever facial transplant
several months ago, has expressed her desire to lead a normal, quiet life. She began this effort by holding a press
conference to state her thoughts. Her speech is very slurred and her mouth often hangs open, but she is able to
communicate and take small sips of water. Although it is too early to determine if she will regain full nerve function,
she does claim to be experiencing some sensation of feeling around her mouth. Dinoire, who was mauled by her dog
last spring, first became aware of the seriousness of her injuries when, after the mauling, she attempted to light
a cigarette. Discovering she was unable to do so because she hadn't any lips was an absolutely horrifying experience for
her. Now she has a fine scar encircling her mouth, nose and chin where her new facial features were attached.
Rotavirus vaccine could eliminate illness
Rotavirus,
a common form of diarrhea, kills nearly half a million infants worldwide every year. All children are affected by
the illness at one time or another, but for babies the sickness can quickly become life threatening. Crying from
the discomfort of diarrhea and vomiting causes babies to become lethargic, they stop eating and drinking. A regimen of
I.V. liquids can quickly save a baby, but such treatment is not readily available in developing countries where so many
infants die from the illness. A new vaccine, RotaTeq, is now available for use on the open market. The oral vaccine can
be administered over three sessions; however, at $187.50 the price tag will make it virtually unattainable for the
impoverished nations most in need of the aid. While health officials acknowledge the vaccine as a marvelous
breakthrough, they are saddened by the inflated price. Merk, the manufacturer of the vaccine, has expressed some hope
to make the medication available at a substantial discount, but has said it will take years to do so.California rates secondhand smoke as an air pollutant
Yesterday the California
State Air Resources Board declared secondhand
smoke to be an air pollutant. A bold step, the state now rates secondhand smoke as toxic as diesel exhaust, arsenic,
and benzene because of its reported link to breast cancer. Not only does the smoke increase a woman's chance of breast
cancer by 68 percent and 120 percent, it also links drifting smoke to premature births, asthma, and heart disease, as
well as other cancers and a wide variety of childhood illnesses. A study conducted by scientists at California's Office
of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment blames the fumes for 4,000 deaths each year in California from lung cancer or
heart disease alone. This is definitely an exciting decision for those of us who appreciate clean air, I hope other
states will soon follow suit.Green tea good for the teeth
The benefits of green tea have been touted
for everything from battling cancer to rejuvenating a pasty complexion. But new studies reveal that green tea may also
fight cavities, help prevent gum disease and fight bad breath. Yes, when combined with a spot of fluoride and a
sprinkling of baking soda green tea helps the chompers. In 2001 researchers at both the University of Illinois in
Chicago and Pace University discovered that flavorids in green tea, when combined with germ killers in toothpaste and
mouthwash, are effective at fighting viruses and preventing cavities. There are numerous dental products on the market
that can do everything from whiten a dull smile to freshen breath, however, the green tea paste is a great option for
anybody looking for an organic tooth treat.Ground zero workers die from breathing debris laden air
Workers who helped with clean up at Ground
Zero after the 9/11 attacks are being plagued with health problems ranging from respiratory disease to heart
failure. James Zadroga, Timothy Keller and Felix Hernandez all worked at the site in various capacities. They all began
to cough up bits of gravel after toiling in the debris soaked air. And within the past seven months all three men have
died from respiratory related illnesses. Keller was working at the towers on September 11 and barely escaped
the South Tower collapse. He later developed emphysema and died in June 2005 from heart disease complicated by
bronchitis and emphysema. None of the above individuals smoked or lead lives that would put them at risk for
respiratory complications. Health care officials are unclear about just how many workers may be affected by these
symptoms, it could take decades to unravel the many details.Tissue transplant business not all good
The
tissue transplant industry has an ugly under belly. There have long been rumors about deserving, needy people
languishing on donor waiting lists while affluent patients use their influences to receive organs intended for others.
Illegal tissue harvesting is another issue to recently surface. In the last few years, the demand for bone and tissue
transplants has grown: skin for wounds or burns; corneas to help prevent blindness; heart valves to repair heart
defects; and parts of bone, cartilage and tendons used in hip replacements, knee replacements and ankle surgeries. And
while the technology is a boon for the medical fields and a gift for many thousands of tissue recipients, the torrid
stories of loved ones being mangled in funeral homes are growing. Wendy Kogut of
Brooklyn, who lost her sister, Danette, to ovarian cancer in November 2003 is reeling from the revelation that the
funeral home where Danette was to be cremated actually removed body parts and sold them to hospitals. Danette's family
had not given consent for any tissue harvesting.
Tissue transplants are part of a billion dollar industry that is expected to grow every year. While the organ donor industry is tightly monitored, the tissue donor business does not have many regulations in place to prevent stories like Wendy Krogut's. Tissue, unlike organs, can be collected, stored and reprocessed long after death. The lucrative nature of the business is attractive to many individuals who are willing to cut corners and ignore the law, leaving some families burdened with grief.
Gender bender fish cause a stir
Scientists at the University of California, Riverside have discovered that the hornyhead turbot fish population near Huntington
Beach are growing ovary tissue in their testes. This feminization of the fish has been linked to the accumulation of
sunblock cream residues washed into the water from beachgoers. Oxybenzone, used to protect the skin from the
ultraviolet component of sunlight, mimics oestrogen's chemical make-up and is responsible for creating the gender
bender fish. While the fish trauma is upsetting, some disturbing questions are being raised by consumers. Humans are
subjected to the oxybenzone several times over by applying the creams, ingesting the affected fish and drinking tainted
water. Sunblock manufacturers assure the general public not to worry, that hysteria could start sunblock phobias and
encourage sun cancer. All the same, I think I'll keep my sons off the beach and provide tofu burgers instead of fish
sticks for lunch.Tobacco company to help fight cancer
A tobacco company is using funds in a most unusual manner, the company is raising millions of
dollars to pursue cancer treatment using tobacco plants. The St.
Louis, Missouri-based firm, Chlorogen, has discovered a way to get
tobacco plants to produce a protein that kills cancer cells. By genetically manipulating the plant's chloroplasts, the
tobacco plant then begins producing proteins which are used to fight cancer. The one hitch is that extracting the
proteins is extremely expensive and the process yields only very small amounts of the proteins. The company has been
steadily building patents for this innovative process and is hoping to someday help cancer patients
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