February 14, 2015

Short and Sweet

Photo by winnond | freedigitalphotos.net

Optimistic people have healthier hearts: “Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their more pessimistic counterparts,” said the lead author of this new study. http://scienceblog.com/76313/optimistic-people-healthier-hearts-study-finds/#kYwBr2k6X1vfzJoB.99

"Do-it-yourself" blood pressure measurements and medicine changes work better than usual doctor-office care in some patients: A study of older adults in England found that those who did their own readings at home and adjusted their medicine as needed had healthier blood pressure levels after a year than those who got standard doctors' care. http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/blood-pressure-self-medication-better-than-doctors-in-study-1.2747569

Staying mentally sharp into your 90s is easier than you think: A new study challenges the long-held belief that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of aging. Danish researchers found that people in their 90s today are much more likely to stay mentally sharp than the elderly of a decade earlier. Dr. Small said that focusing on certain lifestyle behaviors leads to better brain health: mental exercise and stimulation, physical conditioning, diet, stress management. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Headline/cognitive-decline-aging-The-Mind-Health-Report-healthy-lifestyle/2013/07/16/id/515390#ixzz2ZKJ1CiE1 

A few healthy habits could reduce risk of colon cancer: This study examined how five lifestyle factors affected colon cancer risk: healthy weight; low amounts of belly fat; regular physical activity; not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption; and a well-balanced diet. This diet was high in fruits, vegetables, fish, yogurt, nuts and seeds, and foods rich in fiber, and low in red and processed meat. http://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/colon-cancer-news-96/healthy-habits-might-reduce-your-colon-cancer-riskcer-risk-bmc-med-release-batch-1419-692541.html

Obesity in adolescence linked to colon cancer later: Obesity and inflammation in late adolescence are associated with increased risk for colon and rectal cancer in adulthood, a new study of Swedish males suggests.
The 35-year study found that 16- to 20-year-olds who were obese had more than twice the risk of developing colon or rectal cancer compared to normal-weight teens.
And teens with high levels of inflammation had a 63 percent increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, compared with those with low levels of inflammation, researchers found. http://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/colon-cancer-news-96/obese-in-adolescence-colon-cancer-in-later-life-692157.html

Antibiotics linked to child obesity: Children who receive a lot of antibiotics before age 2 are slightly more likely than others to become obese, a new study shows.
Research suggests that bacteria in the gut affect how people absorb calories, says pediatrician Stephen Cook, an associate professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/29/antibiotics-child-obesity/16275489/

Is your deodorant or antiperspirant poisoning you with neurotoxins?: Deodorants work by killing the bacteria that live on the skin. Commercial deodorants also often contain hormone-disrupting chemical fragrances that absorb into the skin and disrupt the endocrine system. 
Most antiperspirants work by blocking the sweat glands’ secretion of proteins and fatty acids with aluminum salts. Antiperspirants change the physiology of the body.
Natural deodorants use plant-based essential oils as an alternative to the chemicals. Many of these essentials oils give the natural deodorant more power, because they possess antibacterial properties that help drive away the bacteria that cause the stink. http://www.naturalnews.com/046654_deodorant_aluminum_neurotoxins.html

Duke study says many lung tumors are harmless: Harmless lung cancer? A provocative study found that nearly 1 in 5 lung tumors detected on CT scans are probably so slow-growing that they would never cause problems. The analysis suggests the world's No. 1 cause of cancer deaths isn't as lethal as doctors once thought. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/09/lung-cancer/3927909/