Health Jockey

Many take to smoking for making a style statement and getting in the loop of the so called cool people who smoke. Slowly they get addicted to it and no amount of pressure can help them kick the habit. How and why this addiction occurs has always been an intriguing question and worrisome for the smoker’s family members and for the ones who care.

However, researchers now have an answer to the question. A new research by the The University of Western Ontario has revealed how the addictive properties of the nicotine present in cigarette works.

“Nicotine interacts with a variety of neurochemical pathways within the brain to produce its rewarding and addictive effects,” explains Steven Laviolette, the lead researchers, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. “However, during the early phase of tobacco exposure, many individuals find nicotine highly unpleasant and aversive, whereas others may Read the rest of this story >>

The health consciousness is rising amongst the general population, now-a-days. However, the daily mundane office routine does not leave time for many to exercise and take care of their health. So, its about time the environment in offices change for better as a research has shown some good results from the change.

A research conducted by the Mayo Clinic endocrinologist James Levine, M.D., Ph.D., on environment-changing innovations has shown how 18 individuals lost a total of 156 pounds and 143 of body fat. The office goers had lost 8.8 pounds on average out of which 90 percent was fat. The triglycerides had reduced by 37 percent on average. Also, nine participants who had lost an average of 15.4 pounds wanted to lose more weight.

One of the significant findings shows that that there was no loss in the productivity due to the new environment. Instead, the productivity actually rose by 10 percent and highest ever monthly revenue was recorded by Read the rest of this story >>

This breastfeeding week, mothers in England were encouraged to give breastfeeding a go. Presently, England is among countries with the lowest rate of breastfeeding mothers in Europe. Only mothers in France, Germany and Ireland were found to have lower rates than England whereas nearly all mothers in Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and Austria had a comparatively higher rate of breastfeeding.

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo announced this World Breastfeeding Week that an additional £2 million will be invested to urge mothers breastfeed their babies in England. He asserted, “By international standards not enough women breastfeed in England. This money will help more mums - particularly those in more deprived areas - to breastfeed and to do so for longer. We want to ensure women know the importance of breastfeeding and the benefits to themselves and their baby.”

Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson mentioned Read the rest of this story >>

Fishes have been known as a good source of nutrients since ages and have been hogging the credit for a good life since lately. A recently published study in the journal Neurology explains that eating fish can help prevent memory loss and chances of stroke in later stages of life.

Fishes like tuna and others have shown 26 percent of lowered risk of silent brain lesions that cause dementia in 3,660 study participants aged 65. The sexagenarians underwent brain scans every five years and a regime of filling up questionnaires that inquired about the inclusion of fish in their diets.

“While eating tuna and other types of fish seems to help protect against memory loss and stroke, these results were not found in people who regularly ate fried fish,” said Jyrki Virtanen, PhD, RD, with the University of Kuopio in Finland. “More research is needed as to why these types of fish may have protective effects, but the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA would Read the rest of this story >>

If you think men suffer from just a single type of ED, think again. As unbelievable as it may sound, young men are dangerously affected by a more serious ED-an eating disorder which they find even harder to discuss. Anorexia nervosa, a term associated with loss of appetite commonly called as anorexia is more frequent among teenage girls. The serious disorder however, is widely spreading among young men in search of a perfect body.

A report in the Daily Mail has revealed the results of a recent survey in Britain based on data provided by the British government. The survey suggests that the past five years has seen a rapid increase in the number of men undergoing treatment for anorexia with the figures going up by 67 %. Experts say that there could be more to this, though official figures show that 1,700 men or 32 % have received treatment for this lifestyle disease in the past year.

Susan Ringwood, the chief executive of eating disorder charity Beat, remarked, Read the rest of this story >>

Can’t stop those hunger pangs? Here’s some really great news for you, especially if you’ve been trying to shed those extra pounds. Scientists have found that a breakfast comprising of two eggs help adults lose 65 % more weight. In addition to weight loss, the egg breakfast is also more energetic than a bagel breakfast of equal calories.

Nikhil Dhurandhar, lead researcher, commented, “People have a hard time adhering to diets and our research shows that choosing eggs for breakfast can dramatically improve the success of a weight loss plan.”

“Eggs are a good source of all-natural, high-quality protein, so they can help keep you satisfied longer, making it easier to resist tempting snacks. Nearly half of an egg’s protein, and many of the other nutrients, are found in the yolk, so make sure to eat the whole egg for maximum benefits. Apparently, the increased satiety and energy due to eggs helps people better Read the rest of this story >>

Malaria, AIDS and cancer does remain threatening diseases of the millennium. However, what seems to be the most common cause of death in most parts of the world is heart disease. So to keep oneself away from becoming yet another number in the statistics of death due to heart disease, the best time to start keeping fit is childhood.
A review article published in the journal Circulation from American Heart Association by retired lipid researcher Daniel Steinberg, M.D., Ph.D. and colleagues Christopher Glass, M.D., Ph.D. and Joseph Witztum, M.D., calls in for an earlier approach towards healthy heart to prevent heart disease later in life. “…Our long-term goal should be to alter our lifestyle accordingly, beginning in infancy or early childhood” and that “…instituting a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet in infancy (7 months) is perfectly safe, without adverse effects…,” the authors suggest.

“Our review of the literature convinces us Read the rest of this story >>

Researchers from the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle discovered that pneumonia, a common and sometimes fatal complication of the flu could attack vaccinated seniors just as much as other elderly people who didn’t get vaccinated. They revealed that the ineffectiveness of the flu vaccine to prevent the flu could lead to the development of certain complications due to the flu including pneumonia.

Michael Jackson, lead author of the study published in The Lancet, and former postdoctoral fellow at Seattle’s Group Health Center for Health Studies, remarked, “Basically, it’s been taken for granted for a decade that this vaccine is effective in all seniors. We’re starting to find out maybe that’s not the case.”

Senior investigator at the Group Health Center for Health Studies, Lisa Jackson, mentioned, “It does suggest we’re not achieving the public health benefit Read the rest of this story >>

If you aren’t hitched and have been single for a long time, this news may baffle you. A recent survey by Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute has revealed that middle aged unmarried individuals or those without a partner are twice as likely to develop dementia as compared to individuals in a relationship.The study suggested that divorcees who remained single had three times more risk of dementia. An even greater problem could lie ahead for young widows who stayed single as they are six times more likely to suffer from dementia.

Krister Hakansson from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, author of the study commented, “Cognitive and intellectual stimulation has been reported to be protective against dementia in general. Living in, a couple means that you are confronted with other ideas, perspectives and needs. You have to compromise, make decisions and solve problems together with someone else, which is more complicated and Read the rest of this story >>

The most rapid progress in the field of healthcare is in terms of technology. From X-rays to CT scans and from elaborate testing apparatus to sleek diagnostic kits, healthcare technology is progressing faster than doctors can catch up and the general public can comprehend.

All innovation; off course arises from need. And the need has always been the basic reduction of mortality and morbidity. Although at the cutting edge of technology are innovations like the complete artificial heart, the first logical step in combating any illness is early and correct diagnosis.

Misleading or false diagnosis can cost a patient’s life. Subtle differences in the countless variations in disease conditions imply different prescription of medication and different treatment. To add to the confusion, there is patient history and contraindications to consider.

Although there is no substitute for a physician’s experience and judgment, modern technology is aiding in ways no experience Read the rest of this story >>