Health Jockey

A recent research by doctors at the American Heart Association suggests that patients with heart problems should undergo regular screening for depression. According to the researchers heart patients have such high chances of depression that they may need immediate medical attention.

A committee of the heart group reveals that individuals who have survived a heart attack or have been hospitalized for coronary diseases are at a three times higher risk of developing depression. This in turn could prove fatal for these patients as major depression may make them oversee their medicines, diet or any other medical advice. It could also make these patients cynical towards life, destroying their inner will to get better.

Erika Froelicher, an author of the new guidelines and a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, commented, “If depression occurs, and an individual feels like they can barely get Read the rest of this story >>

‘A library is a hospital for the mind’ goes a quote. It could have a literal meaning especially if your child is overweight. In case your kid needs help in shedding those extra pounds; a book with a subtle message of good health could be of great benefit. At least that’s what a new study reveals.

In a rather unique study led by Alexandra C. Russell, MD, a fourth-year medical student at Duke University, experts found that obese girls who read books with a weight management storyline as the backdrop had better chances of controlling their weight as compared to those who did not.

“This is the first prospective interventional study that found literature can have a positive impact on healthy lifestyle changes in young girls. The two most effective obesity medications on the market, (Orlistat and Meridia) are not approved for children under age 15, and surgical treatments such as gastric bypass are often too risky for Read the rest of this story >>

A number of studies in the past have associated obesity with serious conditions. A new study now reveals that overweight men have higher chances of dying of prostate cancer. Along with excessive weight, an increased level of insulin also puts prostate cancer patients at a higher death risk.

A joint work of researchers at the Harvard University and McGill University, the study included an analysis of nearly 2,546 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 24 year health study goes on to reveal that for prostate cancer patients who are overweight, the risks of dying from the condition are four times compared to their slimmer counterparts.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Michael Pollak mentioned, “Previous studies have suggested a relationship between prostate cancer progression and being overweight. This study strongly confirms those earlier findings and in fact points to a leading culprit which appears to be an excess Read the rest of this story >>

Here’s an eye opener for women who smoke. A novel Australian research reveals that women who smoke are at a greater risk of developing depression. So instead of calming your nerves, smoking could be doing just the opposite – it may increase your susceptibility of a depression disorder.

Led by researchers at the University of Melbourne, the study discovered that women who were heavy smokers namely smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day have a two fold risk of developing depression disorder in comparison to non smokers.

Study leader Professor Julie Pasco, mentioned, “It was at this point we were able to determine if depression had developed and investigate whether or not smoking pre-dated the onset of depression.”

The researchers examined a group of women in Australia who were part of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study and who had been followed up for nearly a decade. Subjecting these women to psychiatric Read the rest of this story >>

A recent report reveals the chances of radioactive scorpion venom being used as a treatment for brain cancer. Researchers have apparently found a unique brain cancer therapy that uses the radioactive form of a protein found in scorpion venom.

According to researchers from the US Company TransMolecular in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the sting of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus gives out a mixture of neurotoxins. These neurotoxins comprise of molecules called peptides that can supposedly bind to certain tumour cells while leaving out healthy cells.

Two or more amino acids which are considered to be the building blocks of proteins are joined together by the peptides.

Michael Egan of the company TransMolecular, remarked, “It’s as if the tumours collect it.”

New Scientist magazine also quoted researchers from the University of Chicago as saying, “The latest trial will allow the Read the rest of this story >>

This could really leave you aghast! In case you are one those people who take long term sick leaves for psychiatric conditions are twice as likely to die of cancer as against their healthier counterparts. That’s right!

Conducted by a team of researchers at the University College London, the new British study reveals that employees who are in the habit of taking long-term sick leaves die much earlier than their healthier counterparts. Apparently scientists claim that the number of sick leaves a worker takes can actually help in predicting his risks of an early death.

Jenny Head, lead researcher of the study, commented, “We didn’t study the reason, but it might be people that tend to be depressed might be less likely to seek help from a doctor or being prone to depression could affect your cancer prognosis or depression might affect adherence to treatment. It would be useful for this information to be collected because we could Read the rest of this story >>

Many a times we find ourselves creating illusions and superstitions naturally. Believe it or not stress can be blamed for this. A new study has led scientists to believe that stress may be making us more superstitious and could also be making us see things which in fact may not exist at all.

The researchers claim that a lack of control over our lives may be igniting our desires to bring order and structure in the world. As a result people not only believe in rituals but also in conspiracy theories that are mostly made up and not actually true. Some common superstitions including lucky clothes, counting magpies, insisting that the moon landings were fake etc.

According to lead researcher, Adam Galinsky, a Professor from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, “The less control people have over their lives, the more likely they are to try and regain control through mental gymnastics. Feelings of control are so important Read the rest of this story >>

Dieting has become a fad these days. Women especially are obsessed with different ways of shedding those extra pounds-one of them following a strict diet. A new study however finds that women who have a history of dieting or other restricted eating habits are highly susceptible to gaining weight during their pregnancy.

The work of researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the study indicates that though surprising, it is in fact true that women who have a history of restrained eating patterns are actually those who experience excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

The Institute Of Medicine recommends a weight gain of 28 to 40 pounds if women are underweight, 25 to 35 pounds if normal weight, 15 to 25 pounds if overweight, and at least 15 pounds if obese.

Co-author Anna Maria Siega-Riz, PhD, RD, mentioned, “During pregnancy, it would be useful to target these women with similar nutritional Read the rest of this story >>

You think an extramarital affair could cost you just your marriage. Think again! It could just be more fatal than that. A novel Italian research reveals that illicit affairs can leave you with crippling migraines, especially for people who already suffer from regular headaches. This could be so serious that it can even kill you.

According to the researchers, a person who is cheating in marriage undergoes the stress of shuffling both married life and a secret lover. This may cause the cheating partner to suffer from serious migraines which in turn may lead to ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain. Called as aneurysm, the condition could be potentially fatal.

The study was conducted by Lorenzo Pinessi and colleagues, a neuroscientist at Turin’s Molinette Hospital who is also president of the Italian Migraine Society. The lead author remarked, “What we found is that it was mostly men who suffered worst from this Read the rest of this story >>

A new study makes a shocking revelation- the blood thinning drug warfarin may actually be increasing your vulnerability of brain haemorrhage. The study goes on to reveal that people who are on the drug may be doing more harm than good to themselves.

Warfarin is a drug administered to patients who are at risk of blood clot. Earlier studies have found the drug to help in the prevention of an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. However the current study conducted a team of scientist at the University of Cincinnati suggests that the blood thinning drug may in fact make the blood too thin increasing the risk of a haemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

“Warfarin is very effective for preventing ischemic strokes among people with atrial fibrillation and for most patients with this condition it is the right choice. However, people who have bleeding into the brain while taking warfarin are at greater risk of dying than other Read the rest of this story >>