Healthy Heart Tips for a Bad Economy

(HealthDay News) -- The economic news is enough to weaken anyone's heart, and it sometimes does with people feeling stressed, eating poorly and cutting out workouts while trying to make ends meet.

"We've seen an increase in patients complaining about heart palpitations, anxiety and stress over the past months," Karol Watson, an associate professor of cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, said in a news release issued by the school. "Much of heart disease can be prevented. That's why it is so important to follow a healthy lifestyle and to control your cardiovascular risk factors."

UCLA cardiologists offer these tips for adults and children in these tough economic times:

• Eat better; exercise more. Eat a healthy diet, including five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. By cooking simple fresh foods at home, rather than indulging in restaurant fare or fast foods, you can save money and your health. Maintaining a good diet and exercise program -- even if it's just 30 minutes of walking around the neighborhood -- helps you prevent obesity, which adds to the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and diabetes.
• Don't skimp on health care. Putting off doctor visits, especially when you have symptoms, hurts your health more in the long run, as does skipping medications or splitting pills to cut costs. Maintain regular checkups. Look at pharmaceutical company prescription programs if medication costs are a concern for you.
• Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking is an expensive habit that greatly increases your risk of cardiovascular problems. Quitting smoking quickly reduces the risk to your heart.
• Reduce stress. Find a positive outlet -- such as exercise, meditation or the company of others -- to ease stress and improve your health.
• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Get your levels checked and talk to your physician about the best plan of action to keep your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels low and your HDL ("good") cholesterol levels high.
• Check your blood pressure. Hypertension is called the "silent killer," because it exhibits few warning signs. Today, several effective treatments are available for high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is normal, maintain it with a healthy lifestyle.

More information
The American Heart Association has more about maintaining a heart healthy lifestyle.

Database Helps Assess Your Breast Cancer Risk

(HealthDay News) -- If you want to learn more about the key risk factors for breast cancer, such as obesity, pollutants or smoking, a database can guide you to the available evidence that confirms or quells an association.

"Breast cancer is multifactorial. It would be rare for there to be a single environmental chemical that alone would be sufficient to cause an increase in breast cancer," said Dr. Robert Schneider, co-director of breast cancer research at New York University School of Medicine in New York City.

"In many cases, an increased risk of breast cancer is quite small, and we don't yet know how each factor affects the risk of breast cancer," he said, explaining that it's similar to a puzzle. "We need to know how all of the pieces fit together, and this database begins to help us start assessing some of that."

The database, a joint project of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Environmental Factors and Breast Cancer Science Review project led by the Silent Spring Institute, includes information on 216 chemicals, diet, smoking, physical activity and weight that may play a role in the development of breast cancer.

Fewer than 100 chemical compounds have been identified as human carcinogens by the International Agency of Research on Cancer. However, that doesn't mean that all other chemicals are safe, just that they haven't been tested. And, an estimated 80,000 chemicals have been registered for commercial use in the United States, according to the database study, which was published in a recent issue of the journal Cancer.

Although many factors have been associated with breast cancer, Schneider said his top three would include the chemical bisphenol A, radiation exposure from CT scans and delayed first pregnancy.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic chemical found in many products made of polycarbonate plastic (clear, hard plastic), such as baby bottles, reusable water bottles, food storage containers, food cans and water supply pipes, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Although no human studies have confirmed an association with breast cancer, a study done in mice suggests there may be a link. However, the U.S Food and Drug Administration recently said the agency felt there were "adequate margins of safety" for the chemical in the amounts commonly consumed.

"We don't know what constitutes an unacceptable level," said Schneider who would prefer to err on the side of caution and limit BPA exposure, especially in infants and young girls.

Schneider said another concerning risk factor is the amount of radiation people are exposed to for routine health problems, particularly from CT scans.

Although the last risk factor from Schneider's top three -- delayed first pregnancy -- isn't one people are likely to change, he said it's important to be aware of it. "In a modern society, it's exceedingly difficult to have a pregnancy before 20 when it would be quite protective," said Schneider.

Dr. Jay Brooks is chair of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. He said, "When you look at environmental and chemical risk factors, you have to remember that we live in a sea of chemicals, and those chemicals have made our lives so much nicer, and it's hard to know exactly what each one does to an individual's risk.

"I advise my patients to try to control the things you have good control over. Weight is a huge issue in breast cancer, as is the use of combined estrogen/progesterone after menopause," he added.

Brooks said extra weight is a risk factor that many women underestimate, but being overweight clearly increases risk. And, he said, estrogen therapy alone used to ease menopausal symptoms doesn't seem to increase risk the way the estrogen/progesterone combination does.

More information
To learn more about breast cancer risk factors, check the searchable database from the Silent Spring Institute.

ADHD Might Raise Kids' Obesity Risk

(HealthDay News) -- Children with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at a 50 percent higher risk for being overweight if they are not taking medication for the condition, a new study finds.

On the other hand, youngsters who were medicated for ADHD had a raised risk of being underweight, the same researchers found.

"In light of these findings, children and adolescents with ADD/ADHD should be monitored for overweight and underweight/weight loss. By monitoring weight status of these youth, clinicians will be better prepared to prevent the development of childhood obesity and the negative physical health and psychosocial consequences," the researchers concluded.

The report is published in the July issue of Pediatrics.

In the study, researchers Molly E. Waring and Kate L. Lapane, from the department of community health at Brown Medical School in Providence, R.I., collected data on almost 63,000 children and adolescents, aged 5 to 17. The data came from the 2003-2004 U.S. National Survey of Children's Health.

The researchers found that children with ADHD who were not taking medication for the condition had a 1.5 times higher risk of being overweight, compared with children, who did not have ADHD. Conversely, children with ADHD who were on medication for the condition had a 1.6 times greater risk of being underweight, the study found.

But some experts don't find the ADHD-weight connection all that convincing.

Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine, notes that because childhood obesity and ADHD are both widespread, it is to be expected that some ADHD children will be obese.

"Both ADHD and obesity are highly prevalent among children and adolescent in the U.S. One would expect considerable overlap between the two conditions, even if they had little to do with one another," Katz said.

As for Ritalin and other medications used for ADHD, their association with weight is well-established, Katz said. "The answer here is to identify root causes of ADHD, so fewer children wind up needing medical treatment in the first place," he said.

Dr. David W. Goodman, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, agreed that, "the study confirms what has been known before."

Goodman contends that there is an association between obesity and ADHD, but whether it's one of cause-and-effect is unclear. "You don't have any causal link, but you can say it's a strong statistical correlation," he said.

That about one in five ADHD children are overweight is interesting but not necessarily clinically relevant, Goodman added. "We are talking about a 1.5 [times] increased risk. That's eyebrow-raising but not heart-stopping," he said.

However, Goodman believes that parents of children with ADHD should be concerned about their diet and understand that these youngsters are at higher risk of becoming obese.

"Pediatricians of newly diagnosed children with ADHD should advise parents of the risk factors for weight gain and obesity," Goodman said. "This is not simply an educational disorder, this is a disorder that affects a broad range of domains in one's life."

More information
For more information on ADHD, visit the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.

Book Offers Novel Approach to Weight Loss

(HealthDay News) -- Could a novel with an embedded message about good health help overweight girls develop the motivation to lose a few pounds? New research suggests that it just might, but the results weren't dramatic.

Duke University researchers found that obese girls who read a book featuring a weight-management storyline were slightly more likely to control their weight than two comparison groups.

The research is the first "to show a relationship between reading and making positive, healthy lifestyle changes," said study author Alexandra C. Russell, a fourth-year medical student at Duke University School of Medicine.

The findings were expected to be presented Oct. 4 at the Obesity Society's annual meeting, in Phoenix.

According to federal statistics, 16 percent of American children ages 6 to 19 are either obese or overweight.

"Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic problem in this country," Russell said. "We need to find ways to appeal to a large population in an effective way."

In the study, the researchers assigned 31 severely overweight girls in a weight-management program to read a book called Lake Rescue, part of a series called Beacon Street Girls. The girls were all aged 9 to 13.

The book deals with an overweight girl who worries about going on an outdoor school trip. She ends up making friends, improving her self-esteem and learning about appropriate levels of physical activity, Russell said.

"Kids really enjoyed the book, I think, because the message doesn't hit them over the head," Russell said. "Because there are so many female characters, I think every girl reading it has someone to identify with if they didn't identify with the overweight character. We got only positive feedback."

Another 33 girls in the weight-management program read another book that had no storyline about being overweight; instead it told the story of a girl who searches for a missing cat in Paris. A third group of 17 girls in the weight-management program wasn't assigned to read any books, Russell said.

The researchers then compared the body mass indexes of girls in the three groups up to six months later. On average, the girls who read Lake Rescue gained better control of their weight, moving from the 98th to the 97th percentile in a range of weights, Russell said.

"The book helped," she said. "It either helped them stay at the same weight while they were growing or even helped them lose their weight."

While the difference in percentiles was statistically significant, it's hard to know if it meant much to the girls from a health perspective, Russell said. "These girls need to be followed up to see if there's a difference over a long term, compared to just one to three months," she said.

Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale University School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, said embedding weight-management messages in a book is a "very promising idea," but more research is needed.

"Could a cottage industry sprout up in publishing for novels that are ostensibly about some diverting plot, but really about eating well, being active, or losing weight?" he asked. "It's too soon to tell. We don't know how strongly, consistently, or enduringly such books might contribute to weight loss and control, or other health benefits."

More information
Learn more about childhood obesity from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health Tip: Help Prevent a Herniated Disk

(HealthDay News) -- A herniated (sometimes called "ruptured") disk in the back or neck can cause severe pain and numbness.

Disks are the soft, rubbery pads found between the spine's vertebrae. When stressed or overused from wear-and-tear, the center of the disk can push through its outer edge, putting pressure on nearby sensitive nerves.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons lists these common risk factors for herniated disks:

• Lifting objects the wrong way.


• Smoking.


• Being overweight, which causes stress on the spine.


• Applying sudden pressure, even slight, on the spine.


• Engaging in repetitive strenuous activities.

Former half-ton man struggles, uses humor to cope

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Times are tough for the Nebraska man who once weighed more than 1,000 pounds, but Patrick Deuel says he's trying to keep a positive outlook.

"Oh, I'm still breathing," the 46-year-old Deuel sighed before suddenly letting out a hearty laugh.

Deuel weighed 1,072 pounds in 2004, and in order for him to have lifesaving gastric bypass surgery, a bedroom wall had to be cut out so he could be extracted from his home in Valentine.

After getting down to 370 pounds in late 2006, he was up to 540 in May, the last time he stepped on a scale.

"As far as being able to go out and do the things he wants to do, he's been able to do that," said his wife, Edie. "That's so much better than a number on a scale." Continue Reading >>

Are You a Candidate for Obesity Surgery? Part 1

The option of surgery to treat obesity has gained in popularity over the past several years. As the techniques and knowledge regarding the subject have improved, so too have the results. However, not everyone is... Read more

New HIV/AIDS Guidelines Suggest Earlier Treatment

(HealthDay News) -- New guidelines for treating HIV and AIDS patients with treatments known as antiretrovirals suggest earlier therapy might be effective.

The findings were slated to be presented at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City Sunday. They will also appear in the Aug. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The new guidelines were written by the International AIDS Society-USA Panel, and recommend starting therapy before immune-system CD4 cell counts decline to less than 350 cells per microliter. Additional factors should be considered when starting therapy at higher CD4 levels.

"As we now have developed treatments that are easier to take in terms of number of pills, number of doses in the day and potential adverse effects, and we now know there seem to be additional benefits with starting earlier, the pendulum is swinging back to starting [treatment] earlier," noted Dr. Michael Horberg, director of HIV/AIDS policy at Kaiser Permanente Health Plan in Santa Clara, Calif. "Also, importantly, is the recognition of comorbidities that should prompt you to start treatment earlier, including hepatitis B or C, cardiovascular risk, and HIV-associated necropathy."

The authors of the guidelines also recommended that frontline regimens be individualized, and that certain drugs such as Sustiva (efavirenz) be given high consideration.

Patient plasma HIV-1 RNA levels should be monitored regularly, and genotypic testing for drug resistance also should be performed for certain patients.

The guidelines also addressed changing therapies and when to introduce new drugs.

In other news from the AIDS conference:

• Patients taking rifampicin-based therapy for tuberculosis were more likely to experience virological failure (failure to keep viral levels low) when they start nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy as opposed to efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy. Nevirapine-based therapy costs less and is used more often in developing areas of the world.


• HIV-infected patients with abdominal obesity and growth hormone deficiency related to their treatment regimens who received low-dose growth hormone showed improvements in fat and blood pressure measurements but worse glucose levels.


• The survival rate between HIV-infected intravenous drug users and non-drug users appears similar after four to five years of active antiretroviral therapy. This is in contrast to previous reports.

"The take-home message is 'prevention is always better than treatment,' which seems to be possible through the utilization of the latest diagnostic techniques," said Srikanth Kolluru, an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Texas A&M Health Science Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy in Kingsville.

More information
There's much more on HIV/AIDS at the U.S. government's AIDS.gov Web site.

Low-Fat vs. Low-Carb: New Research Uncovers Which Diet Will Help You Lose Weight

By Ross Weale

Should you go low-carb, cut out the fat, or follow the Mediterranean approach?

Health.com’s executive editor Amy O’Connor visited the Fox News Channel on July 22 and weighed in on a new diet study from The New England Journal of Medicine. Watch the clip to learn which diet will help you lose weight.

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