Women who have major heart attack fare worse than men

Data from 420 hospitals show women are 12% more likely to die of a major heart attack in a hospital than men. Overall survival rates for women who suffer heart attacks are about the same as men when under hospital care, but a gender gap remains for treatment of the most severe type of attack, caused by a total blockage of an artery. Researchers say women also are less likely to get the recommended aspirin within 24 hours of an attack or to receive timely treatment to restore blood flow. More...

Obese children risk thyroid damage

Obesity may cause inflammation that damages the thyroid, which secretes hormones to regulate metabolism and other important functions, Dr. Giorgio Radetti of the Regional Hospital of Bolzano in Italy and colleagues said. More...

The 20 Worst Mall Foods in America

It's that time of year again: Chances are you'll be logging some serious hours at the mall in the upcoming days. Blame stress, blame shopping fatigue, or blame the irresistible smell of food court treats slamming your senses from the minute you walk in the door—whatever the reason, you'll probably end up chowing down at the mall during your shopping trip. More...

America's Worst Breakfast Foods

According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity, basing your breakfast on the wrong nutrients can sabotage your weight-loss efforts. People who began their day with high-quality protein over refined carbohydrates were able to lose 65 percent more weight, and also reported higher levels of energy throughout the day. More...

How to Dispose of Unused Medication

If you've decided to clear out that museum of unused medication in your medicine cabinet, how do you get rid of all the stuff responsibly? You don't want to contaminate the water supply, nor do you want medication to fall into the wrong hands. Here are some guidelines. More...

CDC: Many Americans don't comply with exercise guidelines

CDC researchers found fewer than 65% of Americans met HHS 2008 exercise guidelines for 150 minutes a week of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. Only 49% of people surveyed met the government's Healthy People 2010 recommendations that call for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week or 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days weekly. More...

Obesity, chronic disease threaten U.S. health gains

The 2008 America's Health Rankings show the nation's health improved by 18% from 1990 to 2000 but progress has stalled over the past four years. Health experts worry that obesity, tobacco addiction and an increase in chronic disease could threaten U.S. health gains. The new rankings, based on 22 health care measures, show Vermont as the healthiest state and Louisiana as the least healthy state. more...

Ground flaxseed: Better than whole?

Flaxseed is high in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and phytochemicals called lignans. Flaxseed can help reduce total blood cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels — and, as a result, may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Flaxseed oil also contains omega-3 fatty acids, but it doesn't have the beneficial fiber that the seeds have. More...

Economy raising stress levels, putting health at risk

The 2008 Stress in America survey found finances, jobs and the economy have significantly increased stress levels in America over the past two years, which health experts say can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses. Stress also can make people more susceptible to infections and increase inflammation that contributes to stroke, arthritis, diabetes and frailty. More...

Counseling programs help dieters keep off lost pounds

A University of Florida study of obese women who participated in a weight-loss program found those who continued to get in-person or telephone counseling were better able to keep the pounds from returning a year later, compared with those who received dieting tips from a newsletter. Researchers say the findings offer an inexpensive way to maintain weight loss, especially for people in remote areas. More...

Elderly cancer survivors do better with home diet, exercise programs

A study of 641 elderly cancer survivors found those receiving telephone counseling, a specialized workbook and newsletters on diet and exercise had half the functional decline when compared to those who didn't participate in the program. The intervention group lost more weight and increased their ability to do moderate to vigorous activity by 44.9 minutes a week compared with 29.7 minutes a week in the control group. More...

Study: Most Americans don't control blood pressure

A study stated that 70% of people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, aren't taking measures to control it. Out of those taking care of it, 71% changed their eating habits, 80% limited or eliminated their salt use, 69% exercised and 73% took medication for hypertension. More...

Study: Banning fast food ads could slash obesity rate

A study funded in part by the federal government found a ban on fast-food ads aimed at children could slash the national obesity rate by 18%. "We have known for some time that childhood obesity has gripped our culture, but little empirical research has been done that identifies television advertising as a possible cause," said a study author. More...

U.S. adults have lower LDL cholesterol, higher triglycerides

Researchers say that while U.S. adults have reduced their levels of bad LDL cholesterol since 1980, their levels of harmful triglycerides have almost quintupled. The gains may be due to increased awareness about heart disease, healthier diets and the use of statins, while the elevated triglyceride levels may be attributed to the growing obesity epidemic, researchers said. More..

Family history carries breast cancer risk without gene mutations

A study of 1,500 women with a family history of breast cancer who tested negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations found the women still had a fourfold increased risk of developing breast cancer. The women did not have an increased risk for ovarian cancer, the study found. More...

Group therapy improves survival for breast cancer patients

A study including 227 women with breast cancer found that those who took part in one year of psychological group therapy were 56% less likely to die of breast cancer and 45% less likely to experience recurrence than patients who did not undergo therapy. Researchers said stress reduction may have boosted the women's immune function and contributed to the improved survival. More...

Too little sleep linked to higher risk of heart disease

Researchers studied 1,225 seniors with a history of hypertension and found a 33% higher incidence of cardiovascular events among people who got less than seven and a half hours of sleep each night and had elevated overnight blood pressure, compared with those who slept longer. More...

The 20 Unhealthiest Drinks in America

A study from the University of North Carolina found that we consume 450 calories a day from beverages, nearly twice as many as 30 years ago! This increase amounts to an extra 23 pounds a year that we're forced to work off—or carry around with us. More...

Google tool provides early warning for flu outbreaks

Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, has developed a Web tool that can detect regional flu outbreaks seven to 10 days ahead of CDC reports. Google Flu Trends works by monitoring trends in flu-related search terms on its search engine. Google plans to expand the service, which currently only covers the U.S., to track influenza and other diseases globally. More...

Heart-failure patients can exercise

Heart failure patients can safely work out at the gym, ride bikes and do other exercises once deemed too strenuous, although the activity was not linked to a reduction in hospitalizations or death, according to new research from Duke University. The findings could spark an effort to change public policy on treating heart failure and prompt Medicare and private insurers to cover physician-guided exercise programs for these patients. More..

The 10 healthiest grocery stores in the U.S.

Whole Foods, Safeway and Harris Teeter top the list of the freshest and healthiest grocers in the U.S., according to Health magazine. The stores offer wide selections of produce and organic products, as well as clear nutritional labeling and healthful prepared meals. More..

Lack of Potassium Linked to High Blood Pressure

Consuming too little potassium may pose as much of a risk for high blood pressure as too much sodium, particularly for blacks, new research says. The link between high blood pressure and low potassium was strong even when age, race and other cardiovascular risk factors were taken into account. More..

Aspirin Doesn't Guard Diabetics Against Heart Disease

Two studies show low-dose aspirin and vitamins E and C don't significantly protect certain patients from cardiac events. A study of more than 2,500 Japanese diabetics shows a daily aspirin regimen resulted in only a slight reduction in risk but did reduce combined fatal coronary and cerebrovascular events. A separate, eight-year study of more than 14,000 U.S. male physicians found vitamins E and C had no affect on the incidence of major cardiovascular events or death. more...

CDC: Too many Americans unaware of pre-diabetes

A CDC analysis of data on 24,000 U.S. adults found that more than 25% of Americans have pre-diabetes but only 4% were aware of their condition. Researchers said more awareness about pre-diabetes could help people make healthier lifestyle choices and reduce their risk of developing diabetes. More...

Research shows no cancer risk reduction with vitamin B

U.S. researchers say women who took vitamin B supplements for more than seven years were no more or less likely to develop or die from cancer than were women who took a placebo. The study included 5,442 women who were health care professionals and who had cardiovascular disease or risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. More..

Poll shows few people concerned about diabetes risk

An online Harris Interactive poll of more than 2,400 adults found getting cancer is the biggest health fear for 49% of respondents, while only 3% said they worry about getting diabetes. Each disease has about the same number of expected new cases each year. The CDC commissioned the poll to try to find out why people don't take diabetes as seriously as they should. More...

CDC: Diabetes rate doubled in last 10 years; obesity to blame

The rate of new diabetes cases nearly doubled in the U.S. in the past 10 years, and roughly 90% are Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, CDC researchers say. Nationally, the rate of new cases climbed from about five per 1,000 in the mid-1990s to 9 per 1,000 in the middle of this decade, with the highest rates in the South. More..

Tough economic times could lead to more obesity

Public health officials fear the economic downturn could mean an upswing in obesity, as people turn to cheaper packaged and high-fat fast food instead of healthy fresh fare. University of Washington professor Adam Drewnowski says people spend less money but eat more with inexpensive calorie-rich and nutrient-poor foods. More..

Vigorous exercise protects against breast cancer

A study of more than 30,000 postmenopausal women found those who were at normal weight and exercised vigorously reduced their breast cancer risk by 30%. Overall, the women who exercised the most were 13% less likely to develop breast cancer. More...

Maintaining Weight Loss

One of the challenges in weight loss is weight regain during the next 1-2 years. Research has found that regular physical activity is one good way to maintain weight loss over time but the question remains, how much activity is needed? Current exercise recommendations encourage about 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity or 150 minutes per week. But it this adequate for maintaining weight loss? More...

Exercise Helps Resolve Depression Long Term

Depression is a very common and serious health problem in the United States. This is verified by the fact that the medication that is most prescribed in the U.S. is an anti-depressant. The National Institutes of Health sponsored a study by Duke University to study the effects of regular exercise on depression. Their first study was on a group of people with clinical depression. Half were randomly assigned to normal medical therapy and medication for depression. The other half were assigned to a regular physical activity program. After 16 weeks, both groups were evaluated. The exercisers improved just as much as those receiving medication. In addition, the exercisers saw improvements in mental function that those on medication didn’t experience. More...

Fruits and Vegetables Decrease the Risk of Getting Diabetes

Would you like to decrease your risk of getting type 2 diabetes? A new study from Europe (EPIC-Norfolk Study) looked at eating habits in a large group of people (21,831 healthy men and women with no diabetes). Researchers found that those who ate the most fruits and vegetables had a 74% decreased risk of getting diabetes during the 12-year study compared to those eating the least. That is a remarkable difference and gives good evidence of the value of healthy eating in preventing one or our nation’s most serious and costly health problems. More...

What Should Your Blood Sugar Level Be?

Are you at risk for diabetes? Even if your doctor told you your blood glucose is “normal” you may still be at risk. New research indicates that the upper limit of “normal” blood sugar has a greater influence on risk of developing diabetes than realized before. A few years ago, the blood sugar level for pre-diabetes was lowered to 100 mg/dL. This gives the impression that blood sugar levels less than 100 are “normal” with little risk. More...

Western diet increases heart attack risk

Researchers looked at dietary habits in 52 countries and found that people who ate a typically Western diet of meats, fried foods and salty snacks were 35% more likely to have heart attacks compared with people who ate little meat or fried foods. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables was tied to a 30% lower risk of heart attacks, and an Oriental diet -- rich in tofu, soy and other sauces -- neither increased or decreased risk, the study found. More...

Online tools help patients manage health

New Web-connected tools are in development that patients will use as reminders to take pills, to keep track of disease information, and to chart data from heart rate and glucose tests. Many applications allow patients to share health data with physicians and nurses through programs like HealthVault, which uploads information from a variety of devices to an online account. More...

More Americans have high blood pressure

The number of Americans with hypertension and prehypertension has increased significantly in recent years, mainly due to the rise in obesity, researchers from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute said. They urged a focus on preventing obesity and improving diagnosis and treatment for patients who have hypertension. More...

Obesity tied to early heart attack

Obesity raises the risk of having a heart attack at a younger age -- up to 12 years before a normal-weight person, according to Michigan researchers who reviewed records of more than 111,000 patients who had experienced a heart attack. They found the leanest patients had a first heart attack at the average age of 74.6 years, compared to 58.7 years for the most obese. Women were at the greatest risk at both weight endpoints...more

20 Worst Food in America

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