Strong Legs Linked to Strong Mind

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Having powerful legs might empower your brain as you grow older, researchers report.

A 10-year British study concluded that leg strength is strongly linked with healthier brain aging. Also, the King’s College London team said the findings suggest that simply walking more to improve leg force and speed could help maintain brain function as you age.

The study included 324 healthy female twins, aged 43 to 73, in the United Kingdom. Their thinking, learning and memory were tested at the start and end of the study.

The researchers found that leg strength was a better predictor of brain health than any other lifestyle factor looked at in the study. Generally, the twin with more leg strength at the start of the study maintained her mental abilities better and had fewer age-related brain changes than the twin with weaker legs, the study found.

“Everyone wants to know how best to keep their brain fit as they age. Identical twins are a useful comparison, as they share many factors, such as genetics and early life, which we can’t change in adulthood,” study lead author Claire Steves, a senior lecturer in twin research, said in a college news release.

“It’s compelling to see such differences in cognition [thinking] and brain structure in identical twins, who had different leg power 10 years before,” Steves added. “It suggests that simple lifestyle changes to boost our physical activity may help to keep us both mentally and physically healthy.”

The results were published Nov. 9 in the journal Gerontology.

Previous research has shown that physical activity can help brain health as people get older. And, animal studies have found that exercise releases hormones that can encourage nerve cell growth, the study authors noted.

The mechanisms behind this association aren’t clear and could involve other factors such as age-related changes in immune function, blood circulation or nerve signaling, the researchers said.

Also, the research did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between leg strength and brain health.

Further studies are needed to learn more about the potential link between leg strength and healthy brain aging, and to determine if the findings also apply to men, Steves said.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more on brain health.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1NKgUwx

Childhood Cancer Tied to Raised Risk for Other Ills in Adult Life

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk for diabetes and other autoimmune diseases, a new study suggests.

“Cure is no longer a sufficient goal in childhood cancer care,” the researchers wrote. “As the vast majority of these patients survive, attention must be paid to their long-term quality of life and health challenges.”

In the study, the investigators analyzed data from more than 20,000 adults in Denmark, Iceland and Sweden, who had cancer before the age of 20 and survived for at least one year, and compared them to nearly 126,000 adults who did not have childhood cancer.

Over an average follow-up of 15 to 19 years, 3.6 percent of childhood cancer survivors were treated in a hospital at least once for an autoimmune disease. That rate is 40 percent higher than among the adults who did not have childhood cancer, according to Dr. Anna Sallfors Holmqvist, of pediatric oncology and hematology at Skane University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, and colleagues.

Diabetes and Addison’s disease accounted for nearly half of the excess cases of autoimmune diseases among childhood cancer survivors, the findings showed. Addison’s is a condition in which the adrenal gland doesn’t work properly. Autoimmune diseases involving the thyroid gland were also more prevalent in this group.

The greatest risk of developing an autoimmune disorder was seen among adult survivors of childhood leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney cancer and central nervous system tumors. Their risk was up to 60 percent higher than those who did not have childhood cancer, according to the report published online Nov. 10 in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

The increased risk for autoimmune disorders peaked during the first five years after cancer diagnosis. But the risk persisted for up to 30 years for most conditions, and up to 50 years for some conditions, the study authors said in a journal news release.

The researchers suggested that the increased risk of autoimmune disorders may be the result of cancer, and chemotherapy and radiation treatments altering the immune system.

However, the association seen in the study does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about cancer in children and teens.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1SiCozK

Gentle Yoga Safe in Late Pregnancy, Small Study Suggests

By Amy Norton
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Yoga, even late into pregnancy, appears to be safe for expectant moms, according to a small new study.

The research found that yoga poses don’t seem to place undue stress on mom or baby. Using real-time measurements, researchers showed that various yoga postures had no ill effects on heart rate, blood pressure or other vital signs — for the mother-to-be or the fetus.

Researchers said the findings, reported in the December issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, offer reassurance that the sometimes exotic-looking poses in a yoga class are generally safe for pregnant women.

The caveat is that modifications are often needed, said lead researcher Dr. Rachael Polis, who conducted the study while an obstetrics and gynecology resident at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, in Neptune, N.J.

The women in the study used blocks, chairs and the wall for support and balance. And no one is suggesting that a woman in her third trimester step into an advanced yoga class where people are kicking into handstands, Polis said.

But a prenatal yoga class, or a basic-level class that moves at a moderate pace, are good ways for pregnant women to exercise and de-stress, said Dr. Fahimeh Sasan, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine, in New York City.

“In a healthy pregnancy, we encourage all kinds of moderate activity,” said Sasan, who was not involved with the new study. “I think these findings help validate what we’ve been telling women.”

Yoga is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, Polis pointed out. One recent survey found that in 2012, over 20 million Americans were practicing yoga, the researchers said. And that includes pregnant women.

“But there’s been limited research on the safety of yoga during pregnancy,” said Polis, who is now a gynecology specialist at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Ky.

To dig a little deeper, she and her colleagues recruited 25 healthy women who were between the 35th and 38th weeks of pregnancy. Some regularly practiced yoga, some had a little experience, and some were novices.

The researchers had each woman take a one-on-one session with a yoga teacher, where they practiced 26 different postures. All the while, monitors kept track of the women’s vitals, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels and uterine contractions.

The postures ranged from standing poses (including one-legged balances), to downward-facing dog, to seated and reclined poses. In the end, none of the postures caused worrisome changes in any of the women’s vital signs. Fetal heart rates also stayed in the normal range.

A few of the women had sore muscles the next day, Polis said. But there were no falls or injuries.

Still, both Polis and Sasan said, pregnant women who are new to yoga should be aware that there are different forms of the practice — some of which may not be appropriate for them.

“No ‘hot yoga’ during pregnancy,” Sasan said, referring to a form of yoga where the practice rooms are heated to anywhere from 90 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

“It’s OK for pregnant women to break a sweat,” Sasan noted. “But you want to avoid becoming overheated. Pregnancy is not the time to push yourself.”

That said, Sasan added, moderate exercise can help women avoid excessive weight gain as their pregnancy progresses. And if yoga helps them find some calmness, that’s also a good thing.

“Anything that helps you reduce your stress levels is good,” she said.

Pregnant women should consult their physician before beginning any exercise routine.

More information

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has advice on exercise during pregnancy.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1NKgRkB

Here’s the Workout Playlist Lindsey Vonn Uses to Get Pumped Up

Photo: James White

Lindsey Vonn opened up to Health this month about everything from body image struggles to how she’s handling her recent breakup from Tiger Woods. But it’s her work, as an athlete and philanthropist, that’s most important to her, she says. And to get it all done she’s got to be in her best shape.

Her healthy living philosophy: “Eat what your body wants, and try to be as active as you can. Get into a routine, and the more you can stick to that routine, the easier it’ll be to stay fit and healthy,” she advises.

Getting into an exercise routine is even easier when you have an awesome playlist to dive into while you sweat. Luckily, Lindsey’s got your back. She hand-picked these songs for Health readers.

RELATED: The Ultimate Beyoncé Workout Playlist

Enjoy!

 

RELATED: Why You Need to Update Your Workout Playlist, STAT

 

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1L95IU2

Use of E-Cigarettes, Hookahs Rising Among Hispanics, Study Says

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of electronic cigarettes and water pipes (hookahs) is rising among Hispanics in the United States, a new study finds.

Researchers asked 180 Hispanics, aged 18 to 64, across the country about their use of tobacco products. They found “substantial use” of e-cigarettes and/or hookahs.

Spanish-speaking immigrants aged 36 to 64 were least likely to use e-cigarettes or hookahs. Hispanic smokers aged 18 to 35 reported much higher use, said researcher Aida Giachello of Northwestern University, in Chicago, and colleagues.

The results were to be presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Reasons for the popularity of e-cigarettes and hookahs among Hispanics included easy access, the taste and smell of flavored tobacco products, few restrictions on public use, and their connection with socializing, the researchers said in a heart association news release.

Until peer-reviewed for publication in a medical journal, research presented at meetings is usually considered preliminary.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about electronic cigarettes.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1WQ7Zds

Bystander CPR Helps Some Kids Survive Cardiac Arrest

TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More American children who suffer cardiac arrest at home or in public places are getting CPR from bystanders, a new study finds.

Kids who receive bystander CPR have better survival rates, the researchers said.

But, the study didn’t find an impact on infant survival rates.

“This lack of impact on infants suggests the need for a public health strategy to improve the use of bystander CPR,” study lead author Dr. Maryam Naim said in an American Heart Association news release.

Naim is an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania.

Cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of heart function in someone who may or may not have diagnosed heart disease.
Each year, more than 420,000 emergency medical services-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States, according to the heart association.

The researchers behind the new study looked at data from nearly 2,200 youngsters (infants to age 18) who had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 29 large cities between January 2013 and December 2014.

About half (49 percent) of the children received bystander CPR, which is higher than in previous studies. Those who received bystander CPR had an 11 percent chance of surviving with little or no brain damage. Youngsters who didn’t receive bystander CPR had only a 7 percent chance of survival with little or no brain damage, the study found.

Eighty-six percent of the cardiac arrests occurred at home. And, most bystander CPR was performed by a family member. Bystander CPR was more common for white children (60 percent) than for Hispanic children (44 percent) or black children (42 percent), the study revealed.

Most cases of cardiac arrest occurred in infants — 62 percent. But, bystander CPR had no effect on survival in those cases, the study showed.

The findings were to be presented Tueday at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting, in Orlando. Fla. Study results presented at meetings are usually viewed as preliminary until they’ve been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about cardiac arrest.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1WQ7YXa

Many Americans 30 and Older Find Happiness Elusive

By Amy Norton
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Americans 30 and older are less happy than generations past, while teens and 20-somethings seem more satisfied with their lives than ever, a new study finds.

Researchers said the pattern marks a striking reversal of what studies have traditionally shown — that, on average, people become happier as they mature.

It looks like that age advantage has disappeared. The average happiness rating among Americans aged 30 and older now matches that of younger Americans.

“A lot of the change has happened in just the past five years,” said lead researcher Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University.

The reasons are not clear, said Twenge. But she speculated on some possible explanations.

Other research has shown that in recent decades, young Americans’ expectations about their future — their jobs, income, relationships — keep growing. But reality isn’t keeping up, Twenge pointed out.

“Around the age of 30 or so, you start to figure that out,” she said.

It’s also likely that recent cultural shifts are playing a major role, added Twenge.

She said social media — and the technology that keeps it at our fingertips 24 hours a day — may feed young people’s need for stimulation, attention or a sense of belonging to a large group of “friends.”

“Once you’re a little older, though, that doesn’t cut it,” Twenge said. “You may want to settle down, have more-stable relationships, and have a sense that you’re part of a community.”

James Maddux, a researcher who wasn’t involved in the study, agreed.

“Technology may be feeding a need for younger folks, but it’s just not enough for ‘older’ people,” said Maddux, a senior scholar at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Compared with past generations, Maddux said, many more Americans live alone — owing to delays in marriage and a high divorce rate. And some traditional ways of connecting to community, such as going to church, are also on the wane.

Although other types of community groups abound, Maddux added, many Americans might not take advantage of them.

The findings — published Nov. 5 in Social Psychological and Personality Science — are based on surveys of 1.3 million Americans, aged 13 to 96, taken between 1972 and 2014.

In the early 1970s, about 38 percent of adults aged 30 and older considered themselves “very happy.” Between 2010 and 2014, that figure was down to 32 percent, the findings showed.

In contrast, the ranks of the “very happy” grew among 18- to 29-year-olds — from 28 percent in the early 1970s to 30 percent in the past few years. Teenagers’ happiness also increased, from 19 percent saying they’re “very happy” in the 1970s, to 23 percent in the 2010s, the researchers said.

On average, the happiness rating among people age 30 and up dropped to the same level as younger Americans’.

There were differences based on race and ethnicity, however. Among blacks of all ages, happiness ratings rose over the years. That, said Twenge, could be related to declines in racial prejudice — though it’s not clear why Asian and Hispanic Americans, like whites, showed an overall decline in happiness ratings.

Maddux said it would be interesting to see how education levels fit into the picture.

He pointed to a study published last week that found a recent rise in death rates among middle-aged white Americans with no more than a high school education. Those researchers found that much of the blame rested on “diseases of despair” — drug and alcohol overdoses, suicide and liver disease (which is often related to alcoholism).

In contrast, overall death rates were stable or on the decline among white middle-aged Americans with more education, according to the findings.

So it’s possible, Maddux said, that the happiness decline is especially acute among less-educated Americans older than 30.

The news is not all bad, though. Based on other research, Twenge said, people can try simple steps to boost their satisfaction with life.

If you tend to dwell on what you think you lack, she said try directing your attention to what you have.

“Some people suggest keeping a gratitude journal, where you write down something you’re grateful for every day,” Twenge said. “Or write a gratitude letter to someone in your life.”

Taking a walk and getting some sunshine every day, getting enough sleep, and spending time with people you like are all simple measures that can improve your sense of well-being, Twenge added.

More information

The Berkeley Greater Good Science Center has more on cultivating happiness.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1OCzKat

Side Effects Cause Some to Stop Taking Blood Thinner Brilinta

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Side effects like bleeding or shortness of breath cause some heart attack survivors to stop taking a potentially lifesaving new blood thinner during clinical trials, researchers report.

About one in five people assigned to take the highest dose of the blood thinner Brilinta (ticagrelor) during clinical trials stopped taking the drug due to side effects, the new research found.

Even a lower dose of Brilinta caused one in six patients to stop using the drugs because of side effects.

Researchers classified the majority of side effects as minor, and urged doctors to counsel patients to stay on the medication.

“You can tell a patient that this side effect is not harmful, and if you can tolerate it you will receive benefit from this drug,” said lead researcher Dr. Marc Bonaca, a cardiovascular medicine specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

However, Bonaca admitted that patients may have a hard time seeing these side effects as minor, even if they aren’t life-threatening.

“As doctors, we have to realize bruising and nosebleeds may be a big deal for patients, and we need to make the effort to explain the benefits of the drug,” he said.

The clinical trial and follow-up research was funded in part by the maker of Brilinta, AstraZeneca.

In the study, the researchers found that heart attack survivors who kept taking Brilinta along with aspirin for three years had a 15 percent reduced risk of a second heart attack, stroke or heart-related death.

But researchers also found that a significant number of patients dropped out during the trial due to side effects — 19 percent of those taking 90 milligrams (mg) of Brilinta and 16 percent of those taking 60 mg of the drug, compared with just 9 percent of those assigned a placebo.

The study aimed to examine more closely why people dropped out, Bonaca said.

Most of the patients who stopped taking Brilinta did so during the first year of treatment, researchers found. Those who got through the first year were less likely to drop out.

Nearly 8 percent of high-dose patients dropped out of the trial due to bleeding, and 6.5 percent due to shortness of breath, the study found.

For low-dose patients, 6 percent quit the drug over bleeding and 4.6 percent for shortness of breath, the research showed.

About 85 percent of the shortness-of-breath cases were not serious, the researchers judged. Most of the bleeding cases were either minimal or prompted a person to call their doctor for advice, but did not require medical care, Bonaca said.

Since the drug is effective in preventing future heart problems, Bonaca and his colleagues recommend counseling and education to help patients understand the benefits of Brilinta and tough out the side effects.

That might be a tough sell for some patients, said Dr. Marco Costa, director of the Interventional Cardiovascular Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland.

“If you have a bleed from your nose every morning, that’s a serious event for a patient even if we would consider it non-life-threatening,” Costa said.

If a patient is adamant about quitting Brilinta, Bonaca said he probably would recommend they switch to another blood thinner such as Plavix (clopidogrel).

Costa urged that future studies look more closely at the reasons why patients stop taking a drug, so doctors can better address the problem and help keep people on their medications.

“We need to understand human behavior, and it’s not just patient counseling, it’s understanding why patients discontinue a therapy,” Costa said.

Costa also raised the question of whether bleeding would subside if people quit taking the aspirin they were assigned alongside Brilinta. Bonaca called that a “critical question,” and said it’s being studied.

The researchers were scheduled to present the findings from the study Tuesday at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Data and conclusions presented at meetings are generally viewed as preliminary until they’ve been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

For more information on blood thinners, visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1Pnex4g

Knee Arthritis: Steroid Shots May Not Help Long-Term, Ozone Injections Promising

TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Millions of aging Americans are plagued by arthritic knees, and two new studies offer insight into what might — or might not — help curb the condition.

Both studies were presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting in San Francisco.

One study found that a popular therapy, steroid drug injections, do nothing to slow progression of osteoarthritis in the knee. This type of treatment is common, but has never been specifically tested, and there are concerns about its safety, according to a team led by Dr. Tim McAlindon, chief of rheumatology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

His team tracked outcomes for 140 people — mainly overweight white women — with knee arthritis who averaged 58 years of age. The patients received either injections of the steroid triamcinolone hexacetonide, or placebo injections of saline, every three months for two years.

While the steroid injections were deemed to be safe, they did not improve long-term outcomes of pain, mobility or joint damage compared to the placebo, the Boston researchers reported.

But two experts who reviewed the findings said that steroid shots may still have a place in knee arthritis care.

“It is widely accepted that these injections do not alter the natural progression of knee osteoarthritis, but are used for symptom reduction,” noted Dr. Neil Roth, an orthopedic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

In fact, he said, there is no injection that halts progression of knee osteoarthritis. Presently, however, steroid shots “are helpful in alleviating the pain associated with arthritis inflammation,” Roth said.

Dr. Calin Moucha is chief of adult reconstruction and joint replacement surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He agreed with Roth that “steroid injections should continue to be used for temporary symptom relief in patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis who are trying to postpone knee replacement surgery.”

Moucha also believes that healthy weight loss and “low-impact aerobic physical activity” can help ease the discomfort of knee arthritis.

The Boston researchers agreed that steroid shots may have a place as a short-term method of pain relief. “Additionally, the dose was fairly small [40 milligrams], and we might have seen greater effects with a higher strength formulation,” McAlindon said in a meeting news release.

Other treatments for arthritic knees may be on the horizon, however. A second, small study found that injections of ozone gas into the joint reduced pain and improved movement for people with knee osteoarthritis.

The Brazilian trial included 63 patients who received injections of ozone gas into the knee and a control group of 35 who received injections of air. Previous research has suggested that ozone, a naturally occurring gas, may help reduce inflammation.

The patients who received the ozone gas showed significant improvements in pain, physical function, overall health and quality of life, compared to those in the control group, the researchers said. However, there were no major differences between the two groups in the amount of time it took them to stand up, walk, return and sit.

Researchers Carlos Cesar Lopes de Jesus and Virginia Fernandes Moca Trevisani, of Federal University of Sao Paulo’s Paulista School of Medicine, believe that the ozone injections may ease pain for patients and delay the need for joint replacement surgery.

However, they added that further research is need to confirm these findings and to determine whether ozone could offer an alternative treatment.

Roth agreed that the research is promising but preliminary.

The use of ozone injections is “interesting in concept,” he said, but the study did have some flaws.

“The authors do not differentiate the levels of osteoarthritis for these patients and it is difficult to know if they are testing predominantly lower levels of arthritis,” Roth said. The therapy “certainly needs further study to see what type of patients, if any, would truly benefit from the injection of ozone gas into the knee,” he said.

Experts note that data and conclusions presented at medical meetings are typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about treating knee osteoarthritis.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1Pnezcw

Some Kids With Heart Defects Struggle in School

TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children born with heart defects often do worse in school than their peers, a new study finds.

Researchers led by Dr. Matthew Oster of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta analyzed end-of-grade test results for third-grade students in North Carolina public schools between 1998 and 2003.

Compared to other children, those with a congenital heart defect were 40 percent less likely to meet reading proficiency standards, 20 percent less likely to meet math standards, and 50 percent less likely to meet standards in both subjects, the study found.

The researchers also found that 2.8 percent of children with heart defects were held back in third-grade, compared with 1.9 percent of other children.

Two experts in pediatric care who reviewed the new findings weren’t surprised.

“Children with congenital heart disease have long been known to be at increased risk for later problems in school with attention and academic performance,” said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York.

He said that the extent of academic difficulty is often in proportion to the severity of the child’s heart defect. “Fortunately, the risks for later developmental problems are lowest for children with the least complicated and most common forms of congenital heart disease,” Adesman said.

So, “most children with congenital heart disease will not have major academic struggles,” Adesman said, but “parents and clinicians need to be vigilant for academic difficulties in children with a history of complex congenital heart defects.”

Another expert stressed that more must be done to find out the causes of academic performance issues in these kids.

One question: “How much of the associated neurodevelopmental delays derive from side effects of necessary care — such as use of the heart-lung machine during heart surgery — versus resulting from defect-causing genetic issues that can also affect the brain?” said Dr. Bruce Gelb.

“Answers to that will direct physicians as to what strategies to try in order to achieve the best outcomes for children with congenital heart defects,” said Gelb, who directs the Mindich Child Health and Developmental Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

The study was scheduled to be presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando. Findings presented at medical meetings are typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about congenital heart defects.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1Mmx3Ut