Caramel Apples May Not Be So Sweet—Listeria Outbreak Across US

Medicine & Technology Dec 19, 2014

This holiday season you may want to steer clear of the sweets—or at least caramel apples. Though the caramel sweets are often an Autumn/Winter treat, health officials with the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are saying that they may be the link between a multi-state Listeria outbreak that has to date led to more than four deaths, and dozens of hospitalizations. Reporting this morning, Dec. 19, on the condition of the outbreak, the CDC says that at least 28 individuals spanning the states of Arizona, Texas and Minnesota have been infected and are facing the life-threatening illness.

Sugar May Be Worse for Blood Pressure Than Salt

Dec 12, 2014

Both sugar and salt have gotten bad publicity over the years as far as healthy diet is concerned. Sugary food consumption has been linked to diabetes and obesity, while excessive intake of salt and salty foods has been associated with cardiovascular illnesses, particularly high blood pressure. However, a recent study puts sugar in a worse light as it claims that sugar may increase blood pressure more than salt does.

Will Double the Dose Just Be Twice the Trouble?—Ebola Update December 2014

Dec 12, 2014

For the past few months, researchers in the field of pharmacology and immunology have frantically struggled towards finding an effective treatment or cure to the 2014 Ebola outbreak. But it’s not entirely new research begin with in the first place. Since the original outbreak of Ebola in West Africa during the 1970’s, researchers at labs worldwide have tried unsuccessfully to study and cure the pestilent virus. So with the help of a little new knowledge, a global need knocking down the door, and a strong basis in creation of vaccines, researchers today are able to look towards a potential immunization practice that may better safe than sorry.

Hookah Leads To Increased Probability Of Smoking Cigarettes Amongst Teens

Dec 10, 2014

Waterpipe, narghile, arghila, qalyān, shisha-- all these refer to Hookah, a single or multi-stemmed instrument for vaporizing and smoking flavored tobacco called shisha. In recent years Hookah smoking has been a popular activity among college students due to its flavor, smell and sweet taste; as well as it has also been used as a tool for socialization. A new study, however, reveals that Hookah smoking may eventually increase the risk of cigarette smoking in adolescents.

Pfizer Explores Gene Therapy In Developing Treatment For Rare Diseases

Dec 09, 2014

Despite the number of mixed results in gene therapy which has had its share of setbacks, drug company giant Pfizer Inc. is pushing through with its gene therapy project. This is backed by advancement in technology and better research facilities, and for its first project, a partnership with privately-owned biotech firm Spark Therapeutics.

Smoking Linked To Loss Of Y Chromosome Amongst Men, Leading To Shorter Life Span

Dec 09, 2014

Ever wondered why men who smoke have a shorter life spans compared to female smokers? A recent study may have provided the answer for this query as it revealed an association between smoking and loss of the Y chromosome in male smokers. According to the Uppsala University (in Sweden) research which was published in the journal Science, male smokers were three times more likely to lose their Y chromosomes, compared with non-smoking men.

Recurring Negative Thoughts May Be The Effect Of Little Sleep Or Very Late-Night Sleep

Dec 08, 2014

Having negative thoughts could be the result of lack of sleep or getting to bed very late at night, a recent Binghamton University study revealed. Repetitive pessimistic thinking was linked to people who get only a few hours of sleep compared to those who get "enough" hours of slumber. And relating sleeping habits to the patterns of behavior participants exhibited, researchers found that there was a large contrast in thought patterns for those who sleep late versus early bed goers.

84 Per cent Of Vegetarians Reconvert To Being Meat Eaters In Just A Couple Of Months

Dec 08, 2014

One of the largest health trends in the 21st century that many people have subscribed to, or at least tried for a bit, is the vegetarian and/or vegan diet. The growing consciousness of a "healthier" lifestyle led to the popularity of going completely green. The shift from omnivore-carnivore to strictly herbivore has been easy for some, and a struggle for others. But a recent study found that going green isn't as easy as it's often made out to be. In fact, the gradual relapse and going back to a meaty diet was observed in more than 80 per cent of vegetarians.

Researchers Find Aspirin May Cause Stomach Bleeding In Women

Dec 06, 2014

However, a recent study found that regular dosage of aspirin could actually do more harm than good, especially amongst middle-aged women. The study investigated 30,000 women over the age of 45 years old, and participants were randomly assigned to take either 100 mg of aspirin or placebos every other day, to determine whether it lowered their risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. The result showed that those taking aspirin were at a significantly higher risk of suffering from stomach bleeding, while the protective effect of aspirin was found to be marginal.

Study Indicates Bipolar, Schizophrenics Are More Likely To Get Tested for HIV

Dec 06, 2014

While the number of HIV-infected people have gone down over the years, and massive information campaigns have been carried out all over the world to curb the spread of the cure-less disease, figures have shown that HIV-AIDs are more prevalent in mentally-ill people.

Obesity Takes Away 8 Years of One's Life, But Causes Health Problems For Decades

Dec 06, 2014

Researchers from McGill University found that obesity can shorten one's life expectancy by up to eight years for those who are very obese. The number of years that could be slashed in one's life depends on the severity of the person's obesity, according to the study. Aside from this, obesity is also linked to poor health, with constant illnesses within almost 20 years; this is attributed to diseases caused by obesity such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Mediterranean Diet Can Slow Aging, But What Else Can It Do?

Dec 03, 2014

A study published earlier yesterday, Dec. 2, in the British Medical Journal reveals that nutritional data indicates the health benefits of a so-called Mediterranean Diet high in healthy fats, boosting anti-aging in women and adding a few more years to their lifespan. But it’s not just age that the diet affects, so what else can it do?

Millions of Children Have Been Injured By Toys Since 1990

Dec 03, 2014

Toys are thought to be children's object of refuge, especially in times when parents are too busy to engage in some playful moments with them. Toys are simply the most convenient attention grabber for children to be "busy" in times when everyone in the household is busy as well. However, a study reveals that toys aren't as child-friendly as parents presumed to be.

CDC Designates 35 U.S Hospitals As Ebola Treatment Centers

Dec 03, 2014

As Ebola treatments and vaccines have been gaining ground as of late, fear and anxiety over the spread of the disease have been slowly allaying in communities around the world.

A Bit of Mediterranean Lifestyle Could Help You Live Longer

Dec 03, 2014

As if we didn’t already know that life on the Mediterranean is much better for our health, than the hectic city life and fast food of metropolises, it turns out that new research published this week in the British Medical Journal reveals that a Mediterranean Diet is amongst the healthiest out there. But while you may imagine strolls on the beach and kilos of gelato to take home, like many trips to Italy undoubtedly have, the diet that Harvard researchers investigated for the study was the trademark diet known of the Mediterranean – rich in olive oils, fish, vegetables, legumes and low in sugar. With a little added touch; a glass of wine traditional with every meal. And what the researchers found is that women who follow the strictly healthy fat diet have significantly longer life spans than women who don’t have a healthy diet – keeping them younger and in better health for years more than the global average.