Category Archives: Health Facts

Massage Amplifies Benefits of Exercise

If you’ve ever received a high quality professional massage after a long, grueling exercise session, you know how relaxing and soothing it can be. A newly published study is indicating that the health benefits of regularly receiving a sports massage aren’t just restricted to relaxation.

According to the Ontario based study, the results indicated that individuals who received a massage after 70 minutes of exercise experienced significant increases in energy production within the cells of their muscles.

Inflammation in the same cells was reduced as well. The results of the study reveals the benefits of receiving a sports massage that should tempt many exercisers and strength trainers to receive massages more frequently.

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Posted in Body Building, Exercise, Health, Health Facts, News, Studies, Weight Training | 1 Comment

FDA Approves New Advanced Skin Cancer Drug

There are literally over a hundred types of cancer that have been identified by the American Cancer Society to date. In addition, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, right behind heart disease, and accounts for roughly 575,000 deaths per year.

Just a couple of days ago, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of a new drug designed to fight advanced cases of basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. Erivedge (generic name: vismodegib) is intended to treat cases of basal cell carcinoma where the cancer has already spread throughout the body, or metastasized, and are unable to be surgically removed. Erivedge is the first advanced skin cancer drug to ever pass the stringent FDA approval process.

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Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Skin and Beauty, Studies | 1,591 Comments

Double-Arm Blood Pressure Checks Detect Hidden Disease

The next time you’re in for a regular medical check-up, it may be an excellent idea to request a blood pressure check in both arms instead of just one.

A recent peripheral arterial disease screening study conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter in the U.K. indicates that doing so may help to detect an otherwise-silent condition known as peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Peripheral arterial disease is defined as a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to the head, organs, and limbs. Peripheral arterial disease typically affects the arteries in the legs, however, it also can affect the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the kidneys, stomach, head, and arms as well.

Individuals who suffer from peripheral arterial disease commonly display symptoms that include painful cramping in the hip, thigh or calf muscles after performing an activity, such as walking or climbing stairs, numbness or weakness in the legs, coldness in the lower legs or feet, especially when one leg is compared to the other, and a change in the color and tone of the skin of the leg that is affected when compared to the other, to name a few.

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Losing Weight? Watch Calories, not Carbs or Fat, Study Says

Over the years, countless fad weight loss diets of all kinds have touted the weight loss benefits and effectiveness of restricting all carbohydrates while consuming a diet high that is only high in protein, or restricting fat and allowing carbohydrates, or cutting out all sugar while allowing anything else.

However, a newly published clinical study is indicating that the real (and only) variable related to safely and effectively losing weight is counting the total number of calories consumed, regardless of their source. In other words, the study concluded that a 1,500-calorie-per-day diet will result in roughly the same amount of weight loss whether those 1,500 calories were derived from protein, carbohydrates or fat. (Caveat: consuming too much fat will still raise your risk of certain diseases, including heart disease.)

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Undergoing Surgery? Avoid Tryptophan, Study Says

A new study that was conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health is indicating that if you’re about to go under the knife, foods to avoid before surgery include any with tryptophan, the amino acid that was once believed to cause tiredness after eating a large portion of turkey.

In the study, mice that abstained from consuming any form of tryptophan for one to two weeks prior to surgery experienced better survival odds and less kidney damage than mice that consumed their regular diets.

According to Dr. James R. Mitchell, a professor of complex diseases and genetics and one of the lead researchers behind the study, the findings could have a big impact on pre-surgical protocol and procedures.

However, it is not yet known whether the results, which have so far only been achieved in mice, will translate directly to humans. Mitchell said that the ultimate goal of the research is to determine the most optimal diet for those about to endure the physical and mental stress of surgery.

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Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Studies | 3,434 Comments