Health Jockey

Racism, it appears is extending to diseases as well. You heard it right! A distinct study by researchers at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine shows that the risk of gestational diabetes and a C-section delivery is increased in interracial Asian-Caucasian couples.

According to researchers the race of a couple indicates the risks of pregnancy related problems like caesarean delivery and gestational diabetes. It tends to vary in Asian, Caucasian and interracial Asian-Caucasian couples. Those who come in the Asian-White couple group face a significantly higher pregnancy risk.

Co-author Yasser El-Sayed, MD, a Packard Children’s Hospital obstetrician and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the medical school mentioned, “There’s great heterogeneity in our country; there are people of many different races and backgrounds,” said “Gaining Read the rest of this story >>

Birth control pills, shots, barriers, how up front are you about your contraceptive methods? Well the reason we are asking is many women are in fact not updated about the availability of various contraceptive options. At least that’s what a new survey reveals. A Scottish survey shows that many women may not be getting the best form of contraception because of myths like weight-gain and peer pressure associated with the use of contraceptives.

Yes contraceptive methods have sure come along way, however the latest survey suggest that women may not be opting for the best type of contraception because they have many false fears and myths.

Professor Anna Glasier, from Sexual Health NHS Lothian, remarked, “We are shooting ourselves in the foot by saying they are long-acting, and we need to emphasize that they don’t impair fertility, and the majority of them don’t affect weight. Doctors tend to focus on medical Read the rest of this story >>

Now here’s some interesting piece of news. American researchers claim that keeping a fan on while the infant is asleep could significantly lower cot death risk. You heard it right! Apparently the fan improves air circulation and reduces the temperature around a baby lowering the risks of cot death by nearly 94%.

According to Professor George Haycock, scientific adviser at the FSID, “There’s no evidence published in this paper to indicate that, if you are following existing recommendations, using a fan would provide extra protection.”

Conducted by US scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, the study suggests that the risk of cot death can be dramatically reduced by keeping the baby in a room with the fan on. The research involved an analysis of nearly 185 mothers whose children had died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and 312 randomly selected mothers from California, Read the rest of this story >>

Though we all know of the health hazards caused by air pollution, especially to the respiratory system, it has never really been related to other parts of the body. Well it now appears that a high level of air pollution runs an increased appendicitis risk.

A novel research by a team at the University of Calgary suggests that air pollution may in fact increase the risk of appendicitis. Appendicitis is a condition where in the appendix swells up and fills with pus caused may be by an infection or obstruction. While in many cases there is no particular reason for this, in some cases the appendix gets inflammated and is serious as it holds the risk of bursting in the body putting the patient’s life at risk. Hence it must be surgically removed.

Dr Gilaad Kaplan, the lead researcher remarked, “If the relationship between air pollution and appendicitis is confirmed, then improving air quality may prevent the Read the rest of this story >>

In case you are an anxious mother may be calming your nerves could do more than just relaxing you. A new research by experts at the Bristol University reveals that children who are born to mothers who had a stressful pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing asthma.

The research goes on to say that the more anxious the mother, the higher is the susceptibility of the baby born to develop asthma. Scientist at the Bristol University examined nearly 5800 children and their parents. The mothers were monitored from early pregnancy until their child was 10 years old. A thorough examination of these women showed that the mothers who were very anxious had 65% more chances of giving birth to children who later developed asthma.

Lead researcher, Dr Raquel Granell asserts that maternal stress in pregnancy has a significant association with paediatric asthma.

As part of the study the pregnant women were asked about Read the rest of this story >>

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 >>