THE MAGIC PILL- live longer

A Harvard Medical School professor believes that the day is not far when just popping a pill could make you live longer and healthier.Associate Professor of Pathology David Sinclair said his work to activate the sirtuin genes, which control ageing "could expand lifespan by five to 10 healthy years."It wouldn't stop you getting old, he said, but instead would push back the point at which you become...

Lifestyle changes curb overnight bathroom trips

If you're frequently bothered by waking in the middle of the night to empty your bladder, there may be some simple and drug-free lifestyle adjustments that can help, a small study suggests. So-called "nocturia" is the complaint of getting up at least once a night to urinate -- either due to a heightened production of urine or the inability of the bladder to hold it, sometimes as a result of an underlying...

Quitting smoking helps after serious heart attack damage

It's never too late for smokers to do their hearts good by kicking the habit -- even after a heart attack has left them with significant damage to the organ's main pumping chamber, a new study suggests. Past studies have found that smokers who kick the habit after suffering a heart attack have a lower rate of repeat heart attacks and live longer than their counterparts who continue to smoke. But...

allergies and heart disease

Common allergies that bring on wheezing, sneezing and watery eyes could be next to join the list of factors linked to heart disease, suggests a large new study. However, the researchers stress that the findings do not prove that allergies actually cause heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. To look for ties between common allergic symptoms and heart disease, Dr. Jongoh Kim of Albert...

Young Parents May Be Especially Prone to Depression

Many parents experience depression during the first 12 years of their children's lives and the risk is highest during the first year after birth, a new study has found. Researchers in the United Kingdom examined data from 86,957 families seen in primary-care clinics between 1993 and 2007 in order to identify parents with depression. They found that more than one-third of mothers and about one-fifth...

Statins May Guard Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

Statins, lauded for their ability to lower cholesterol and prevent heart attacks and strokes, may also reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, Israeli researchers report. "We found that statin users who purchased their medication persistently were less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis over a long follow-up period," said lead researcher Gabriel Chodick, from Maccabi Healthcare Services...

Dementia Warning Signs Identified in Type 2 Diabetics: Study

Three factors linked to cognitive deficits in older adults with type 2 diabetes have been identified in a new study. Canadian researchers looked at 41 adults, ageds 55 to 81, with type 2 diabetes and found that those who had high blood pressure, walked slowly or had balance problems, or believed they were in bad health were much more likely to have poorer memory and slower, more rigid cognitive processing...

B vitamins found to halve brain shrinkage in old

Daily tablets of large doses of B vitamins can halve the rate of brain shrinkage in elderly people with memory problems and may slow their progression toward dementia, data from a British trial showed on Wednesday, Scientists from Oxford University said their two-year clinical trial was the largest to date into the effect of B vitamins on so-called "mild cognitive impairment" -- a major risk factor...

Air/Gas Embolisms with Pressurized Spray Devices

FDA is advising operating room personnel about the importance of using gas or air-pressurized sprayers properly. These products are used to deliver hemostatic agents, including fibrin and non-fibrin sealants. FDA has reports in which gas and air embolisms occurred during or immediately after using the sprayers to apply a hemostatic agent. The adverse events appear to be associated with not using...

First Test to Detect Both HIV Antigen and Antibodies

FDA recently approved the first diagnostic test that simultaneously detects HIV antigen and antibodies. The test, called the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay, is made by Abbott Laboratories. Most tests that are presently used in diagnostic settings only detect antibodies to HIV. The new test is more sensitive in detecting HIV infection, because it actually detects the p24 antigen of the virus. That...

Working Overtime Adds to Heart Risk

Out-of-shape men who work long hours more than double their risk of dying from heart disease compared to non-fit men working fewer hours, researchers report. The study also found that when men are fit, working long hours doesn't boost heart risk at all. The new study included 5,000 Danish men, aged 40 to 59 years, who worked at 14 different companies. Their fitness levels were assessed at the start...

Smoking Could Harm Sperm

Two new studies provide evidence that smoking can harm sperm - both in smoking men who may become fathers, and in sons born to women who smoked during pregnancy. The research also suggests that both men and women who hope to conceive should kick the habit. "The results of the present study suggest a negative biological effect of smoking on spermatozoa DNA integrity," said the lead author of one...

Dealing With Lower Back Pain

Suggestions to help ease the discomfort The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this list of potential remedies to help ease the discomfort: 1) Hot or cold therapy. 2) Exercises to help relieve muscle spasms and strengthen the muscles. 3) A brace worn around the lower back to provide support and stability. 4) Chiropractic therapy. (manipulation of the spine, other joints, and soft tissues;...

Factors That May Aggravate Acne in Women

Acne, the most common skin disease, is not a dangerous condition. But it can lead to permanent scarring. Womenshealth.gov says these factors can trigger bouts of acne in women: 1) Changes in hormone levels during puberty. 2) Changes in hormone levels during menstruation, or after discontinuing birth control pills. 3) Taking certain medications, including some antidepressants and epilepsy drugs. 4)...

In Elderly, Risks Differ for Indoor Versus Outdoor Falls

Different risk factors contribute to indoor and outdoor falls among the elderly and these differences need to be incorporated into fall prevention programs, a new study suggests. U.S. researchers studied 765 people, aged 70 and older, in the Boston area. Over two years, the participants reported 598 indoor falls and 524 outdoors falls. After someone suffered a fall, they were interviewed about the...

Obesity Worsens Brain Damage of Heavy Drinking

 Obesity caused by heavy drinking can add to brain damage caused by drinking itself, says a new study. Researchers examined the findings of different types of brain scans conducted on 54 men in an alcohol treatment program and compared them with each man's body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measurement that takes into account a person's height and weight. The study findings appear online and in...

10% of 2010 Winter Olympians Suffered Injuries

About one in 10 athletes who competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics suffered an injury and about one in 14 became ill, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed reports from the 82 national team doctors who looked after a total of 2,567 athletes and found that there were 287 reported injuries and 185 illnesses. That works out to 111.8 injuries (11 percent) and 72.1 illnesses (7 percent) per 1,000...

Winter Sports Tourists at Higher Risk of Heart Attack

Too little conditioning, cold and high altitude all contribute to hazard, researchers say. Skiers and other winter sports tourists who visit the Alps are at increased risk for heart attack due to low temperatures, high altitude and inadequate conditioning for intense physical exertion, finds a new study. The risk is greatest during the first two days of vacation, said a research team of cardiologists...

Obesity May Up Death Risk in Older Women With Colon Cancer

Women past menopause with a high BMI and large waists had increased risk of dying, study finds. Here's yet another reason to avoid obesity throughout your life: Doing so may improve your chances of survival if you're diagnosed with colon cancer. Women past menopause who are obese and diagnosed with colon cancer appear to face a greater risk of dying from all causes than those who are at a healthy...

Room Air Sometimes as Good as Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy may be unnecessary for some terminally ill people who have trouble breathing, and could be replaced by treatment with ordinary room air, a new study suggests. People who are near death often experience breathlessness, and the condition is common in terminally ill patients with conditions such as heart failure, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the study authors...

Sugary beverages and Gout

Women who drink fructose-rich beverages such as sugar-sweetened sodas and orange juice are at increased risk for gout, a new study finds.The incidence of gout -- a painful type of inflammatory arthritis -- in the United States increased from 16 per 100,000 people in 1977 to 42 per 100,000 in 1996. That rise coincided with a large increase in soda and fructose consumption, the study authors noted.Fructose-rich...

rapid testing tool for dimentia

-- In an effort to improve screening for dementia and mild cognitive impairment among seniors, a team of researchers has developed a test designed to spot problems in thinking, learning and memory skills in under three minutes.Dubbed "The Sweet 16" for its 16-point scale, the test appears to quickly uncover telltale signs of dementia through a cognition ranking system that grades mental skills from...

helping women through menopause- Positive thinking and planning

-- A positive attitude and a little preparation can help women deal with menopause, according to an expert.Women should start preparing when they experience perimenopause, the stage before menopause. Perimenopause typically begins in the 40s, but can start as early as the 30s, according to Dr. Karen Deighan, chair of obstetrics/gynecology at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Loyola University Health System."I...

pregnancy after 45- Unsafe for both mother and child

For the few women who manage to get pregnant after age 45, both they and their babies have a higher risk of complications, Israeli researchers have found.For instance, they are about three times more likely than younger women to experience diabetes and high blood pressure during their pregnancies, the researchers report in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.Older women also have higher...

bracing helps reduce pain in osteoarthritis

Wearing a brace can help people with osteoarthritis better manage their pain, the Arthritis Foundation says.The foundation mentions these possible benefits of bracing, which can improve pain and mobility:·         Improve stability in weakened joints.·         Improve distribution of weight and joint alignment.·        ...

cholesterol and dimentia

For years, doctors have been saying that keeping your cholesterol levels in check as you age is good for your brain as well as your heart, but a new study suggests the connection between cholesterol and dementia later in life isn't quite so clear-cut. After more than 1,400 Swedish women followed for 32 years, Johns Hopkins researchers found that those with high cholesterol at mid-life were at no greater...