Monthly Archives: March 2012

CDC: Sleep Breathing Problems Multiply Depression Risk

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Greg Asseff

Early this month, we discussed how sleep apnea could lead to behavioral problems in children. A new depression and sleep problems study indicates that sleep apnea may also have a similar effect on the mental health and wellness of adults by increasing their risk of depression.

Additional health problems include elevated blood pressure, heart attach, stroke, heart failure, irregular beating of the heart, diabetes, worsening of ADHD, and poor cognitive function.

Sleep apnea can be defined as shallow or paused breathing during sleep. Typical treatments for individuals suffering from sleep apnea range from minor lifestyle changes to oral devices and even surgery depending on the severity of the case, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Common risk factors that are associated with individuals suffering from sleep apnea include being overweight, being over the age of 40, having a larger than average neck size, large tonsils and/or large tongue, a small jaw bone, a family history of sleep apnea, Gastroesophageal or acid reflux, or some form of nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies, or sinus problems.

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Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, Mental Health, News, Studies | 16 Comments

HPV Infection Boosts Skin Cancer Risk, Study Shows

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Greg Asseff

A study conducted by Swedish researchers indicates that certain strains of HPV, or the human papillomavirus, may increase your likelihood of developing nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Specifically, the researchers found that individuals with certain types of HPV in their skin cells were at a 30% greater risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma over the course of 30 years than individuals unaffected by these types of HPV. Risk factors for skin cancer commensurate with the ongoing length of the HPV infection.

HPV is the most common type of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the U.S. HPV is a virus from the papillomavirus family and affects the skin and the moist membranes that line the body, including the mouth, throat, fingers, nails, feet, anus and cervix.

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Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Skin and Beauty, Studies | 6 Comments

Childhood Bacteria Exposure Builds Immunity

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Greg Asseff

If you’re the parent of a young child, you probably worry about them contracting an infection from bacteria-ridden household surfaces like countertops, toilets and sinks, not to mention public germ receptacles like shopping carts and door handles.

You worry too much, according to a recently published study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggesting that childhood bacteria exposure is actually very important to building a strong immune system in children. The study also suggests that the rising prevalence of allergies, asthma and other autoimmune disorders may be due to our increasingly bacteria-averse lifestyles. Although the study was completed using mice as the specimen, researcher and senior physician Dennis Lee Kasper believes the findings to be valid since mice and humans have similar immune systems.

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Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Parenting, Studies | 19 Comments

Chocolate Eaters Have Lower BMIs, Study Shows

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Greg Asseff

If you like chocolate, you’ll love this: a new study shows that individuals who regularly eat chocolate have lower body mass indexes (BMI) than people who eat chocolate less frequently.

Your BMI is a comparison between your height and your weight, and is typically relied upon as a general indicator of whether you’re overweight. BMI scores matter little for athletes and strength trainers, who usually weigh more than their same-height peers due to additional muscle mass.

The researchers involved in the chocolate lower BMI study were especially surprised at their conclusions given that the participants who ate chocolate most frequently also tended to consume the most calories, and didn’t make up for these extra calories through additional exercise.

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Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, News, Nutrition, Studies, Weight Loss | 5 Comments

Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Death Risk for Elderly Women

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Greg Asseff

With summer on the not-so-distant horizon, the health and fitness news headlines are sure to be filled with advice regarding vitamin D, the nutrient produced by your body when it’s exposed to the sun. This being said, vitamin D is different than the other essential vitamins since our own bodies are able to manufacture it when it is exposed to sunlight. The primary function of vitamin D is to regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in our bones and to assist in promoting cell to cell communication throughout the entire body.

To kick things off a couple of months early, researchers from Austria’s Medical University of Graz have completed a vitamin D deficiency in elderly persons study finding that elderly women can reduce their death risk by ensuring that they maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D.

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Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Studies, Women | 3,530 Comments
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