4.25 (4 votes)
Young American women of childbearing age have borderline levels of iodine, that is only just above what would be regarded as iodine deficiency, according to a new report released this week by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This age group (20 to 39 years of age) also had the lowest iodine levels of any age group of women, according to the CDC's Second National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition.
Iodine is an essential nutrient that the body needs for healthy functioning of the thyroid, whose hormones help regulate growth and development.
Women of childbearing age need a good supply of iodine for the healthy development of the fetus during pregnancy.
Insufficient iodine leads to mental retardation, goiter (swelling in the thyroid gland), cretinism (stunted physical and mental growth), hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormone) and other growth and development disorders.
Dietary salt is one of the major sources of iodine in over 70 countries, including the US and Canada, that have salt iodization programs.
Seaweed (eg kelp, nori, kombu, and wakame) is one of the richest food sources of dietary iodine. Other good food sources include seafood, dairy products, grains and eggs.
Fruits and vegetables also contain iodine, but the amount varies according to the iodine content of the soil they grow in, and how they are fertilized and irrigated.
Dairy products, especially milk, and grain products are the major contributors of iodine to the American diet.
Pregnant women who do not consume enough dairy products may be particularly at risk of iodine deficiency, according to information from the Office of Dietary Supplements, part of the National Institutes of Health.
A study published in 2010 by researchers at Central Michigan University suggests that iodine deficiency might be more likely among women who restrict their dietary salt intake than among women who don't.
Overall, the CDC report finds that the US population has good levels of some essential vitamins and nutrients, but higher deficiency rates in some groups are a cause for concern.
As well as highlighting the borderline iodine levels in childbearing age women, the report says Vitamin D deficiency is much higher in black Americans, and iron deficiency is higher among preschool Mexican-American children and non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American women of childbearing age.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Pokazywanie postów oznaczonych etykietą Women. Pokaż wszystkie posty
Pokazywanie postów oznaczonych etykietą Women. Pokaż wszystkie posty
poniedziałek, 23 kwietnia 2012
Embarrassment, Social Stigma May Discourage Obese White Women From Seeking Colon Cancer Screening
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers shows that obese white women may be less likely than normal-weight counterparts and African-Americans of any weight or gender to seek potentially lifesaving colon cancer screening tests.
Results of this study follow the same Johns Hopkins group's previous research suggesting that obese white women also are less likely to arrange for mammograms, which screen for breast cancer, and Pap smears, which search for early signs of cervical cancer.
"No group is perfect when it comes to screening, and overall rates of colonoscopy are low, but if you're obese, female and white, our data show you're probably even less likely to be screened," says study leader Nisa M. Maruthur, M.D., M.H.S., an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Maruthur notes that the reluctance to be screened is especially serious in this group because obesity is linked to higher risk for colon cancer and an increased risk of death from the disease.
"Being concerned about your weight usually is good, but here it appears to be keeping people from a test we know saves lives," she says. "Obese white women may avoid screening because they feel stigmatized and embarrassed to disrobe for the tests."
Despite evidence of the value of colonoscopy - a procedure that sends a flexible tube with a camera into the bowel to search for and guide removal of precancerous polyps and other tumors - only 20 percent of women and 24 percent of men over the age of 50 undergo the test, which is recommended by the United States Preventative Services Task Force for everyone between the ages of 50 and 75 on a periodic basis.
Another suggested test, fecal occult blood testing, which searches the stool for hidden blood that can be another sign of colon cancer, is also underused, with just 12 percent of American men and women using it.
Preventive care researchers have long tried to better understand barriers to colon cancer screening. Preparatory laxatives, anesthesia, fear of discomfort and embarrassment are known to discourage many.
In the new study, described in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, the Johns Hopkins researchers added evidence that for white women, obesity appears to have a negative impact on screening rates. There was a hint in the data that the same may be true for obese white men, but Maruthur said research is needed to verify the suggestion.
Negative body image among obese white people may explain this association, which seems to be fostered particularly in white women, where the pressure to be thin appears to be more intense, Maruthur says. In an unrelated study she cited, for example, white and African-American women rated magazine images of "thin, average-weight and large" African-American and white women. White women rated large white women lower in interpersonal and career domains, while African-American women did not stigmatize large African-American women in this way.
Maruthur says if further studies confirm the negative relationship between obesity and screening in white women, outreach and education programs can be shaped to overcome it.
Maruthur says another barrier to screening among obese people may be their tendency to have higher rates of pressing health concerns, leading physicians to delay or put off discussions of preventive screening. However, the rates of those medical conditions are not likely higher for obese whites.
In the new study, Maruthur and her colleagues reviewed the medical literature and delved into data from 23 published studies that included information on body mass index (BMI) and colon cancer screening rates. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal weight, between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight and 30 or greater is considered obese.
While overall, the researchers found no link between higher BMI and lower rates of colon cancer screening, they did find the association in a subgroup of white women with a BMI between 30 and 34.9. They were 13 percent less likely to be screened when compared with normal-weight counterparts. Women who were the most obese - with a BMI of 40 or higher - were 27 percent less likely to be screened.
Should More Women Take A Daily Aspirin To Prevent Heart Disease?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and evidence-based national guidelines promote the use of daily aspirin for women at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. However, less than half of the women who could benefit from aspirin are taking it, according to an article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The article is available free online at the Journal of Women's Health website
Women Cannot Rewind The 'Biological Clock'
Additional References Citations Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our fertility section for the latest news on this subject. Other authors on the study include Nichole Wyndham, and Paula Gabriela Marin Figueira, M.D.
Citation: Fertility and Sterility doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.02.015
Yale University Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
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Women Risk Metabolic Syndrome Through Lack Of Exercise
5 (2 votes)Article Opinions: 1 posts
The results of a national US study suggest that women are at greater risk for developing metabolic syndrome than men because they are less likely to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. It found that although regular physical activity is linked to better health in both sexes, it appears to make a bigger difference for women.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of poor health indicators, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and too much weight around the middle, that increases the risk for chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, Oregon, write about their findings in an study published online on 31 March in the journal Preventive Medicine.
Bradley Cardinal, professor of social psychology of physical activity at OSU and Paul Loprinzi, a student in his lab, initially set out to investigate links between physical activity, depression and metabolic syndrome, and found a difference between the sexes.
Loprinzi, who is now assistant professor of exercise science at Bellarmine University, in Louisville, Kentucky, told the media this week:
"The results indicate that regular physical activity participation was associated with positive health outcomes for both men and women; however, there was a greater strength of association for women."
Loprinzi said 30 minutes of exercise a day reduces a person's risk for depression, high cholesterol and developing metabolic syndrome.
Cardinal said:
"It's pretty striking what happens to you if you don't meet that 30 minutes a day of activity."
"Women in our sample had better health behavior - they were much less likely to smoke for instance, but the lack of activity still puts them at risk," he added.
For their study, Loprinzi and Cardinal looked at nationally representative data from 1,146 men and women who took part in the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
To record their daily physical activity, the men and women had been fitted with accelerometers. This is considered to be a more accurate and objective measure of daily exercise than for example self-reports via questionnaires.
The results showed that women on average were getting only about 18 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per day, whereas men were on average getting 30 minutes.
They showed that just over one in three women had metabolic syndrome, and one in five had symptoms of depression.
Depression is not just about mental health, it is also linked to physical health. Cardinal said there is evidence that depression can put people at higher risk of accumulating abdominal fat and developing insulin resistance, both risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
But doing exercise reduces depression, said Cardinal:
"So the key message here is to get that 30 minutes of exercise every day because it reduces a great deal of risk factors," he urged.
The study did not look into the reasons why women aren't getting enough daily physical activity, but the authors said previous studies have pointed to habits that begin quite early in life.
Cardinal said there is evidence that when their children are around the age of 5 or 6, parents tend to let boys play and be outdoors more than girls, out of concern for their safety.
Loprinzi said this behavior extends into adulthood, and also overall confidence could play a part, adding that studies suggest compared to men, women are not so sure they can overcome their barriers to exercise, and for example, often cite child-rearing as a reason they don't have enough time to exercise.
Loprinzi and Cardinal are about to publish a study that may help women with these difficulties. It shows that you don't have to do all your 30 minutes in one go, you can do short spurts of activity, that add up to 30 minutes over the day. Even taking the stairs instead of the elevator can make a difference, or walking up and down while talking on the phone.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
The results of a national US study suggest that women are at greater risk for developing metabolic syndrome than men because they are less likely to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. It found that although regular physical activity is linked to better health in both sexes, it appears to make a bigger difference for women.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of poor health indicators, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and too much weight around the middle, that increases the risk for chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, Oregon, write about their findings in an study published online on 31 March in the journal Preventive Medicine.
Bradley Cardinal, professor of social psychology of physical activity at OSU and Paul Loprinzi, a student in his lab, initially set out to investigate links between physical activity, depression and metabolic syndrome, and found a difference between the sexes.
Loprinzi, who is now assistant professor of exercise science at Bellarmine University, in Louisville, Kentucky, told the media this week:
"The results indicate that regular physical activity participation was associated with positive health outcomes for both men and women; however, there was a greater strength of association for women."
Loprinzi said 30 minutes of exercise a day reduces a person's risk for depression, high cholesterol and developing metabolic syndrome.
Cardinal said:
"It's pretty striking what happens to you if you don't meet that 30 minutes a day of activity."
"Women in our sample had better health behavior - they were much less likely to smoke for instance, but the lack of activity still puts them at risk," he added.
For their study, Loprinzi and Cardinal looked at nationally representative data from 1,146 men and women who took part in the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
To record their daily physical activity, the men and women had been fitted with accelerometers. This is considered to be a more accurate and objective measure of daily exercise than for example self-reports via questionnaires.
The results showed that women on average were getting only about 18 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per day, whereas men were on average getting 30 minutes.
They showed that just over one in three women had metabolic syndrome, and one in five had symptoms of depression.
Depression is not just about mental health, it is also linked to physical health. Cardinal said there is evidence that depression can put people at higher risk of accumulating abdominal fat and developing insulin resistance, both risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
But doing exercise reduces depression, said Cardinal:
"So the key message here is to get that 30 minutes of exercise every day because it reduces a great deal of risk factors," he urged.
The study did not look into the reasons why women aren't getting enough daily physical activity, but the authors said previous studies have pointed to habits that begin quite early in life.
Cardinal said there is evidence that when their children are around the age of 5 or 6, parents tend to let boys play and be outdoors more than girls, out of concern for their safety.
Loprinzi said this behavior extends into adulthood, and also overall confidence could play a part, adding that studies suggest compared to men, women are not so sure they can overcome their barriers to exercise, and for example, often cite child-rearing as a reason they don't have enough time to exercise.
Loprinzi and Cardinal are about to publish a study that may help women with these difficulties. It shows that you don't have to do all your 30 minutes in one go, you can do short spurts of activity, that add up to 30 minutes over the day. Even taking the stairs instead of the elevator can make a difference, or walking up and down while talking on the phone.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Supplement Use Predicts Folate Status In Canadian Women
Researchers have gained new insight into why 22% of Canadian women of childbearing age are still not achieving a folate concentration considered optimal for reducing the risk of having babies with neural tube defects, despite a virtual absence of folate deficiency in the general Canadian population.
When the authors examined a nation-wide study, they found a main reason why some women are not achieving levels optimal for reducing risk is many do not take the supplemental folic acid recommended for this population.
This article appears in the April issue of the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.
"This segment of the population is the target of fortification and supplementation policies and clarifying the factors associated with achieving optimal folate status is essential to refining interventions," Cynthia Colapinto, lead author. "The importance of folic acid supplementation for women of childbearing age must be distinguished from the needs of the general population."
The study found folic acid supplement intake was the most significant predictor of optimal RBC (red blood cell) folate concentration for this subgroup. Supplement intake, in turn, was significantly related to income, with a greater percentage of folic acid supplement users in the highest income group. Furthermore, only 25% of Canadian women of childbearing age reported taking a folic acid supplement. According to the report, these data indicate a need for targeted strategies to improve compliance with folic acid supplement recommendations to assist women of childbearing age in achieving desired folate concentrations.
Women Who Lack Exercise At Greater Risk Of Developing Metabolic Syndrome
4.5 (2 votes)
A national study shows that women are less likely than men to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, resulting in greater odds of developing metabolic syndrome - a risky and increasingly prevalent condition related to obesity.
Metabolic syndrome is a name for a group of risk factors - including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and extra weight around the middle part of the body - which occur together and increase the risk for coronary disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. The researchers initially were interested in the correlation between physical activity, depression and metabolic syndrome, and ended up finding a gender difference.
The study, now online in the journal Preventive Medicine, was conducted at Oregon State University by Paul Loprinzi and Bradley Cardinal, professor of social psychology of physical activity at OSU. Loprinzi is now an assistant professor of exercise science at Bellarmine University. He conducted the research when he was a student in Cardinal's lab at OSU.
"The results indicate that regular physical activity participation was associated with positive health outcomes for both men and women; however, there was a greater strength of association for women," Loprinzi said.
Looking at more than 1,000 men and women from a nationally represented sample, the researchers found that women were getting only about 18 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily, compared to men who, on average, were getting 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily.
"Those who get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day are less likely to be depressed, less likely to have high cholesterol and less likely to have metabolic syndrome," Loprinzi said.
Loprinzi and Cardinal's study is unique in part because it is the first to use an "objective" measure of physical activity - in this case participants were outfitted with accelerometers that measured daily activity. In their study, slightly more than one in three women had metabolic syndrome, and one in five had symptoms of depression.
"It's pretty striking what happens to you if you don't meet that 30 minutes a day of activity," Cardinal said. "Women in our sample had better health behavior - they were much less likely to smoke for instance, but the lack of activity still puts them at risk."
Cardinal said depression puts people at more risk of abdominal fat and insulin resistance, and both are risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
"Physical activity has been shown to reduce depression," he said. "So the key message here is to get that 30 minutes of exercise every day because it reduces a great deal of risk factors."
While their study does not address why women were not getting enough exercise, the authors said research shows that physical activity patterns often begin in childhood.
"Research has shown that around ages 5 or 6 these patterns begin," Cardinal said. "Parents tend to be more concerned with the safety of girls, and have more restrictive practices around outdoor time and playtime than with boys."
Loprinzi said this pattern tends to continue into adulthood, and that overall confidence may be a factor.
"Some evidence indicates that women, compared to men, have less confidence in their ability to overcome their exercise-related barriers," Loprinzi said, adding that women also often cite a lack of time to exercise due to child-rearing.
The researchers have a study coming out that may help those time-challenged women. Loprinzi said he and Cardinal found that adults can still enhance their health by accumulating physical activity in short periods throughout the day, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or pacing while talking on the phone.
A national study shows that women are less likely than men to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, resulting in greater odds of developing metabolic syndrome - a risky and increasingly prevalent condition related to obesity.
Metabolic syndrome is a name for a group of risk factors - including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and extra weight around the middle part of the body - which occur together and increase the risk for coronary disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. The researchers initially were interested in the correlation between physical activity, depression and metabolic syndrome, and ended up finding a gender difference.
The study, now online in the journal Preventive Medicine, was conducted at Oregon State University by Paul Loprinzi and Bradley Cardinal, professor of social psychology of physical activity at OSU. Loprinzi is now an assistant professor of exercise science at Bellarmine University. He conducted the research when he was a student in Cardinal's lab at OSU.
"The results indicate that regular physical activity participation was associated with positive health outcomes for both men and women; however, there was a greater strength of association for women," Loprinzi said.
Looking at more than 1,000 men and women from a nationally represented sample, the researchers found that women were getting only about 18 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily, compared to men who, on average, were getting 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily.
"Those who get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day are less likely to be depressed, less likely to have high cholesterol and less likely to have metabolic syndrome," Loprinzi said.
Loprinzi and Cardinal's study is unique in part because it is the first to use an "objective" measure of physical activity - in this case participants were outfitted with accelerometers that measured daily activity. In their study, slightly more than one in three women had metabolic syndrome, and one in five had symptoms of depression.
"It's pretty striking what happens to you if you don't meet that 30 minutes a day of activity," Cardinal said. "Women in our sample had better health behavior - they were much less likely to smoke for instance, but the lack of activity still puts them at risk."
Cardinal said depression puts people at more risk of abdominal fat and insulin resistance, and both are risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
"Physical activity has been shown to reduce depression," he said. "So the key message here is to get that 30 minutes of exercise every day because it reduces a great deal of risk factors."
While their study does not address why women were not getting enough exercise, the authors said research shows that physical activity patterns often begin in childhood.
"Research has shown that around ages 5 or 6 these patterns begin," Cardinal said. "Parents tend to be more concerned with the safety of girls, and have more restrictive practices around outdoor time and playtime than with boys."
Loprinzi said this pattern tends to continue into adulthood, and that overall confidence may be a factor.
"Some evidence indicates that women, compared to men, have less confidence in their ability to overcome their exercise-related barriers," Loprinzi said, adding that women also often cite a lack of time to exercise due to child-rearing.
The researchers have a study coming out that may help those time-challenged women. Loprinzi said he and Cardinal found that adults can still enhance their health by accumulating physical activity in short periods throughout the day, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or pacing while talking on the phone.
Lung Cancer Among Women Still Rising, UK
2 (1 votes)
Cases of lung cancer among women in the UK continue to rise, according to new figures released by Cancer Research UK on Friday.
The leading charity says the rate of lung cancer among women in the UK has risen from 22.2 in every 100,000 women in 1975, to 39.3 today.
In 1975 there were fewer than 8,000 cases of lung cancer diagnosed among UK women, in 2009 this figure was more than 18,000.
The disease is still more common among men in the UK, where there were more than 23,000 cases in 2009.
But unlike women, rates of lung cancer among men in the UK have been falling steeply. In 1975 the rate of lung cancer among men in the UK was 110 per 100,000, whereas now it is 58.8.
The figures also show nearly 35,000 people (19,410 men and 15,449 women) died from lung cancer in the UK in 2010.
The charity says the difference in lung cancer cases for men and women mirrors their different smoking patterns in previous two to three decades.
In the 1960s, around 45% of UK women were smokers; a prevalence that is clearly portrayed in today's popular American TV series "Mad Men", which is set in that era. Nowadays the prevalence of smoking among UK women is 20%.
During World War II and the rest of the 1940s, 65% of UK men were smokers, nowadays that figure has fallen to 22%.
Lung cancer was the most common cancer in the UK until the mid-1990s when it was overtaken by breast cancer. However, it still accounts for 11% of all new cancer cases among women, and 14% among men.
Anti-smoking measures, such as banning tobacco advertising and smoking in public places, has reduced the number of smokers in the UK. New measures recently introduced include banning large shops and supermarkets from displaying tobacco products. Smaller shops have to follow from 2015.
The UK government is about to consult on package branding. If this goes ahead, it would mean the colourful packaging of cigarettes, with unique company branding, would be replaced by a uniform colour, size and shape.
The EU is also considering introducing large picture warnings on both sides of the pack.
Cancer Research UK says these measures should reduce one of the remaining ways that tobacco is marketed to children.
Jean King, director of tobacco control at Cancer Research UK told the press it was crucial to end the "packet racket", and put all cigarettes in plain packs with large health warnings:
"It's vital that the UK closes one of the last remaining loopholes that portrays smoking as something glamorous and normal, rather than the lethal product it truly is."
She said no one wants children to take up smoking, and putting cigarettes in plain packs will give them one less reason to do so.
Cancer Research UK's information director, Sarah Hiom, said:
"... it's never too late to give up smoking - you will reduce your risk of developing lung cancer and other serious diseases. Your GP or local pharmacy can advise you where to find your local NHS support services."
Hiom said for every five cases of lung cancer, four are a direct result of smoking. But, she added, this also means one out of five is not, so if you have a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, or a long-standing cough that gets worse, go and get it checked out.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Cases of lung cancer among women in the UK continue to rise, according to new figures released by Cancer Research UK on Friday.
The leading charity says the rate of lung cancer among women in the UK has risen from 22.2 in every 100,000 women in 1975, to 39.3 today.
In 1975 there were fewer than 8,000 cases of lung cancer diagnosed among UK women, in 2009 this figure was more than 18,000.
The disease is still more common among men in the UK, where there were more than 23,000 cases in 2009.
But unlike women, rates of lung cancer among men in the UK have been falling steeply. In 1975 the rate of lung cancer among men in the UK was 110 per 100,000, whereas now it is 58.8.
The figures also show nearly 35,000 people (19,410 men and 15,449 women) died from lung cancer in the UK in 2010.
The charity says the difference in lung cancer cases for men and women mirrors their different smoking patterns in previous two to three decades.
In the 1960s, around 45% of UK women were smokers; a prevalence that is clearly portrayed in today's popular American TV series "Mad Men", which is set in that era. Nowadays the prevalence of smoking among UK women is 20%.
During World War II and the rest of the 1940s, 65% of UK men were smokers, nowadays that figure has fallen to 22%.
Lung cancer was the most common cancer in the UK until the mid-1990s when it was overtaken by breast cancer. However, it still accounts for 11% of all new cancer cases among women, and 14% among men.
Anti-smoking measures, such as banning tobacco advertising and smoking in public places, has reduced the number of smokers in the UK. New measures recently introduced include banning large shops and supermarkets from displaying tobacco products. Smaller shops have to follow from 2015.
The UK government is about to consult on package branding. If this goes ahead, it would mean the colourful packaging of cigarettes, with unique company branding, would be replaced by a uniform colour, size and shape.
The EU is also considering introducing large picture warnings on both sides of the pack.
Cancer Research UK says these measures should reduce one of the remaining ways that tobacco is marketed to children.
Jean King, director of tobacco control at Cancer Research UK told the press it was crucial to end the "packet racket", and put all cigarettes in plain packs with large health warnings:
"It's vital that the UK closes one of the last remaining loopholes that portrays smoking as something glamorous and normal, rather than the lethal product it truly is."
She said no one wants children to take up smoking, and putting cigarettes in plain packs will give them one less reason to do so.
Cancer Research UK's information director, Sarah Hiom, said:
"... it's never too late to give up smoking - you will reduce your risk of developing lung cancer and other serious diseases. Your GP or local pharmacy can advise you where to find your local NHS support services."
Hiom said for every five cases of lung cancer, four are a direct result of smoking. But, she added, this also means one out of five is not, so if you have a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, or a long-standing cough that gets worse, go and get it checked out.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
The Protective Effect Of Fiber For Cardiovascular Health, Especially In Women
Foods high in fibre provide good protection against cardiovascular disease, and the effect is particularly marked in women. This is shown in a new study from Lund University in Sweden.
The study, which was recently published in the scientific journal PLOS One, involved the study of the eating habits of over 20 000 residents of the Swedish city of Malmö, with a focus on the risk of cardiovascular disease. The importance of 13 different nutrient variables (aspects of fibre, fats, proteins and carbohydrates) was analysed.
"Women who ate a diet high in fibre had an almost 25 per cent lower risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease compared with women who ate a low-fibre diet. In men the effect was less pronounced. However, the results confirmed that a high-fibre diet does at least protect men from stroke", says Peter Wallström, a researcher at Lund University and the primary author of the article.
The exact reason for the difference between the sexes is unclear. However, a probable explanation is that women consume fibre from healthier food sources than men do. Women ate a lot of fibre in the form of fruit and vegetables, whereas the most important source of fibre for men was bread.
"The difference in the results for men and women shows that we need to pay more attention to gender when we conduct research on diet", says Peter Wallström.
However, the researchers did not identify any definite links between the other nutrients in the study and cardiovascular disease, for example the proportion of saturated fat or sugar in the diet.
"These results should be interpreted with a certain amount of caution. Almost everyone eats more saturated fat than recommended, including the participants in many other population studies. It is therefore difficult to compare recommended and high fat intake. Other types of study that have been carried out have shown that those who limit their fat and sugar intake are at lower risk of cardiovascular disease", says Peter Wallström.
Peter Wallström is sceptical of 'extreme' diets and says that the dietary recommendations from the National Food Administration are good, despite having received criticism:
"The National Food Administration's dietary advice, which is based on extensive research, is well balanced. In the short term, most weight-loss diets achieve their aim as long as you follow them. However, we know too little about the long-term effects to be able to recommend more drastic changes to one's diet", says Peter Wallström.
Data for the study has been taken from the Malmö Diet and Cancer population study, which has involved 30 000 Malmö residents since the start of the 1990s. The participants have given blood samples and detailed information about their diet.
Care Home Admission More Likely For Women Due To Their Partner's Age
New research published in the journal Age and Aging has investigated why women are 40% more likely to be admitted in to a care home than men. The study found that women were often married to older partners who cannot provide care for them due to their age-related frailty. The study, entitled 'Gender differences in care home admission risk: Partner's age explains the higher risk for women', used data from the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS) derived from the Northern Ireland Health Card registration system, to which the 2001 Census return is linked. The research focused on NILS members aged 65 or over at the time, and living in a household with two people as a couple.
A total of 20,830 people aged 65 and over were living with a partner in a two person household. This represents 37.8% of all non-institutionalised people at the time of the census. Of this group, 45% (9,367) were female, 31% were aged 75 or over, and 47% of the group reported having limiting long term illness (LLTI). A Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the relationship between the risk of admission and the cohort member and partner's characteristics over a period of 6 years.
The data showed that women do tend to have partners who are on average older than them and the average age difference between male and female partners is approximately 5 years. The prevalence of ill health increased with age in both sexes but at all ages women had sicker partners, except for the 85 year or older group. In the period studied, 415 people were admitted to care homes. The risk of admission for married women compared to married men was assessed controlling for both the age and health status of the individual. After adjusting the results to consider participant's age, there is a 40% excess risk for female admittance to care home. Once the age of their partner is taken into account, women are no more likely than men to be admitted to care homes.
Mark McCann, author of the study, comments that "the higher admission risk for women in comparison to men appears to be due primarily to the differences in the age and frailty of their partners. This research has gone some way to debunking the myth that older men do not want to care for their partners. The findings clearly show that the main reason more women are admitted to care homes is that their partners are unable to provide sufficient support. Age differences between partners are evident in most societies so it is important that issues raised in this paper are considered in future health planning. The projected narrowing of the gap in life expectancy between men and women may mean that there are more men around to provide such support in future years."
Keypoints: Women have a higher risk of care home admission Analyses suggests that age-related frailty, not unwillingness to undertake a caring role, explains the increased admission risk
niedziela, 22 kwietnia 2012
Women At Greater Risk Of Knee Injuries
5 (1 votes)
Women are more prone to knee injuries than men, and the findings of a new study suggest this may involve more than just differences in muscular and skeletal structure - it shows that males and females also differ in the way they transmit the nerve impulses that control muscle force.
Scientists at Oregon State University found that men control nerve impulses similar to individuals trained for explosive muscle usage - like those of a sprinter - while the nerve impulses of women are more similar to those of an endurance-trained athlete, like a distance runner.
In particular, the research may help to explain why women tend to suffer ruptures more often than men in the anterior cruciate ligament of their knees during non-contact activities. These ACL injuries are fairly common, can be debilitating, and even when repaired can lead to osteoarthritis later in life.
More study of these differences in nervous system processing may lead to improved types of training that individuals could use to help address this issue, scientists said.
"It's clear that women move differently than men, but it's not as obvious why that is," said Sam Johnson, a clinical assistant professor in the OSU School of Biological and Population Health Sciences.
"There are some muscular and skeletal differences between men and women, but that doesn't explain differences in injury rates as much as you might think," Johnson said. "No one has really studied the role of the nervous system the way we have in explaining these differences, specifically the way sensory information is processed and integrated with motor function in the spinal cord."
In this study, just published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, the scientists found that most aspects of spinal motor control and rapid activation of muscles were similar in 17 men and 17 women that were examined - with one exception. Men had a higher level of "recurrent inhibition," which is a process in the spinal cord that helps select the appropriate muscle response.
Even a process as simple as walking is surprisingly complicated, as people process large amounts of information and use varying forces to move around obstacles, change direction or simply climb up a step. And when you slip on an icy patch, the need for extremely rapid and accurate muscle response might be all that stands between you and a broken hip.
For some reason, women tend to have knee motions that make them more susceptible to injury. Among other things, when landing from a jump their knees tend to collapse inward more than that of most men. They suffer significantly more ACL injuries during physical activity.
"We're finding differences in nervous system processing that we believe are related to this," Johnson said. "The causes for those differences are unclear, but it may be due either to a biological difference, such as hormones, or a cultural difference such as different exercise and training patterns."
This research was supported by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Research and Education Foundation. Researchers at Marquette University collaborated on the work.
While researchers continue to study what might help address this, Johnson said it's already possible for women to be more aware of these common differences and do exercises that should reduce problems.
Many ACL injury prevention programs incorporate strength, balance, flexibility, and jump training. However, based on these and other findings, women - especially athletes - should consider training with motions more similar to those of their sport, such as squatting, lunging, jumping or cutting side-to-side.
Use of heavy weights may not really be necessary, Johnson said, so much as mimicking the motions that often cause this injury.
Women are more prone to knee injuries than men, and the findings of a new study suggest this may involve more than just differences in muscular and skeletal structure - it shows that males and females also differ in the way they transmit the nerve impulses that control muscle force.
Scientists at Oregon State University found that men control nerve impulses similar to individuals trained for explosive muscle usage - like those of a sprinter - while the nerve impulses of women are more similar to those of an endurance-trained athlete, like a distance runner.
In particular, the research may help to explain why women tend to suffer ruptures more often than men in the anterior cruciate ligament of their knees during non-contact activities. These ACL injuries are fairly common, can be debilitating, and even when repaired can lead to osteoarthritis later in life.
More study of these differences in nervous system processing may lead to improved types of training that individuals could use to help address this issue, scientists said.
"It's clear that women move differently than men, but it's not as obvious why that is," said Sam Johnson, a clinical assistant professor in the OSU School of Biological and Population Health Sciences.
"There are some muscular and skeletal differences between men and women, but that doesn't explain differences in injury rates as much as you might think," Johnson said. "No one has really studied the role of the nervous system the way we have in explaining these differences, specifically the way sensory information is processed and integrated with motor function in the spinal cord."
In this study, just published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, the scientists found that most aspects of spinal motor control and rapid activation of muscles were similar in 17 men and 17 women that were examined - with one exception. Men had a higher level of "recurrent inhibition," which is a process in the spinal cord that helps select the appropriate muscle response.
Even a process as simple as walking is surprisingly complicated, as people process large amounts of information and use varying forces to move around obstacles, change direction or simply climb up a step. And when you slip on an icy patch, the need for extremely rapid and accurate muscle response might be all that stands between you and a broken hip.
For some reason, women tend to have knee motions that make them more susceptible to injury. Among other things, when landing from a jump their knees tend to collapse inward more than that of most men. They suffer significantly more ACL injuries during physical activity.
"We're finding differences in nervous system processing that we believe are related to this," Johnson said. "The causes for those differences are unclear, but it may be due either to a biological difference, such as hormones, or a cultural difference such as different exercise and training patterns."
This research was supported by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Research and Education Foundation. Researchers at Marquette University collaborated on the work.
While researchers continue to study what might help address this, Johnson said it's already possible for women to be more aware of these common differences and do exercises that should reduce problems.
Many ACL injury prevention programs incorporate strength, balance, flexibility, and jump training. However, based on these and other findings, women - especially athletes - should consider training with motions more similar to those of their sport, such as squatting, lunging, jumping or cutting side-to-side.
Use of heavy weights may not really be necessary, Johnson said, so much as mimicking the motions that often cause this injury.
In IVF Preconception Study, 96 Percent Of Women Faced Multiple Lifestyle Issues And Health Risks
Ninety-six per cent of women who attended a preconception clinic before undergoing IVF had three or more lifestyle problems and risk factors, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Half of the obese women lost weight and nearly a third of the smokers decided to quit after receiving advice at the clinic. But the nurses were surprised that some women had no motivation to lead healthier lifestyles, even though they were prepared to go through IVF to get pregnant. For example 30% of the smokers refused to quit and 16% of the obese women weren't prepared to lose weight.
Researchers from the University Medical Center in Utrecht, The Netherlands, analysed the results of questionnaires completed by 101 women who had received preconception care before IVF, together with the seven nurses who advised them.
"Medical professionals are increasingly recognising that there are important links between preconception health and positive IVF outcomes, both in terms of the success of the procedure and the health of the baby" says nurse researcher Henrietta Ockhuijsen from the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology at the Center. "Despite this, preconception care is rarely offered to couples undergoing IVF."
A total of 130 women, aged from 25 to 42 years, completed an internet-based preconception questionnaire developed by the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam and 101 of those completed a further questionnaire after they had received lifestyle advice from one of the seven nurses. The obese patients and smokers were then followed up for a further year. The registered nurses ranged from 42 to 51 years-of-age and had all worked in the fertility clinic for more than five years.
Key findings of the study included: The vast majority of the 130 women who completed the lifestyle problems and risks questionnaire faced three or more risks (96%), with only 4% facing two. These lifestyle problems and risks included bacterial and parasitic infections, alcohol use, smoking, obesity and using medication without a prescription. All of the women were satisfied with the time spent with them by the nurse providing preconception advice and 96% were satisfied with the verbal information provided. The women were also asked for their views on the preconception site run by the Erasmus Medical Center. The overall written information scored a satisfaction rate of 94%, the information and advice about lifestyle problems scored 91% and 89% respectively and the strategies to improve lifestyles scored 75%. Women valued the personal contact and approach from their nurse and the time allocated for preconception advice. But women with lower risk factors felt the clinic was unnecessary and that a better selection procedure would increase the efficiency and value of the service. Half of the 30 women who were obese lost weight. They had an average BMI of 34.3, weighed an average of 101.3kg and lost an average of 6.1kg. Ten further women said they were motivated to lose weight, but declined to be followed up, and the remaining five said they didn't feel motivated to lose weight. Seven of the 23 patients counselled for smoking quit, six reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked, three wanted to quit but declined follow up and seven were not motivated to quit. The nurses were sceptical about the clinic to start with, but became more confident about the value of the programme and their role, scoring it an average of 4.3 out of ten at the start and 6.3 at the end. More than half (57%) were happy with the training they received, 86% with the coaching, 86% with the internet-based questionnaire used, 72% with the evidence-based manual and 57% with the organisation of the clinic. However only 42% were satisfied with the fact that all the women were referred to the preconception clinic, arguing that it was more important for women who were obese, smoked, lacked knowledge and had multiple lifestyle problems to attend. Less than half (42%) were satisfied with the knowledge and skills they had to counsel women with obesity. The nurses also felt awkward about talking about issues such as weight loss and smoking cessation with women who were already facing the stress of IVF."The results of our study show that preconception care was well received by the patients and that it motivated some women to lose weight and quit smoking" concludes Henrietta Ockhuijsen. "We feel that such care should be incorporate into IVF programmes and that nurses could play a key role in running special clinics, as long as they were provided with additional education and clear protocols."
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