eHealthandWellness

Poor Sleep Linked to High Blood Pressure in Teens

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:49:15 +0000

Teens who don’t get enough sleep or have poor-quality sleep run the risk of elevated blood pressure, a new study finds.It’s the first study to make such a connection, said study senior author Dr. Susan Redline, director of the University Hospitals Sleep Center at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. (more…)

Older Patients Less Likely to Be Taken to Trauma Centers

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:49:13 +0000

Older trauma patients are less likely to be transported to an official trauma center for immediate care than younger patients, a new study found.The finding was based on a review of a decade’s worth of Maryland’s statewide emergency medical services (EMS) records. And it suggests that the difference in care first comes into play as patients reach age 50 and worsens again at age 70. (more…)

Asthma’s Course Differs by Gender

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:31:20 +0000

Boys may be more likely to have childhood asthma than girls, but they are also more likely to grow out of it, a new study says.

The report, published in the second August issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found that boys also have fewer asthma occurrences in the post-pubertal years. (more…)

Obesity Linked to Ear Infections

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:31:18 +0000

Damage caused by chronic ear infections in children may alter their sense of taste, making fatty and sweet foods more desirable and increasing the risk of obesity.

That’s the conclusion of four new studies presented Thursday at the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting in Boston.

In the first study, Kathleen Daly, a professor of otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota, found that “middle ear nerve damage may play a role in affecting taste in children with recurrent ear infections or chronic ear disease who get [drainage] tubes. This damage may increase intake of fattening foods.” (more…)

Gene Variant May Predispose Some to Anxiety

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:32:49 +0000

A gene variation may explain why some people are more prone to anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress, a new study says.

People carrying two copies of the Met158 variation of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene showed greater anxiety on a standard personality test and also were significantly more startled than others when shown a series of unpleasant pictures, according to findings published in the August issue of Behavioral Neuroscience. (more…)

Scientists Create Mice Resistant to Obesity

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:32:47 +0000

Researchers have developed a strain of mice resistant to diet-induced obesity. The findings could one day lead to possible drug treatments for obesity in people. They also shed light on the brain circuitry that controls energy homeostasis — the balance between how much energy (i.e., food) an animal takes in and how quickly it burns that energy. (more…)

Blood Sugar Test May Also Aid Diabetes Detection

admin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:00:22 +0000

A widely used test to monitor blood sugar levels in people with diabetes could help identify millions of people with undetected diabetes, according to a consensus statement released by a team of experts.

The hemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c) shows how much glucose red blood cells have been exposed to in the previous 120 days, the average life span of the cells. (more…)

Many Miss Out on Stroke Treatment

admin — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:00:20 +0000

Most people who have strokes don’t act quickly enough to get the clot-dissolving treatment that can limit brain damage, a new study finds.“One of the problems is that a lot of people don’t realize that they are having a stroke,” said Kathryn M. Rose, a research associate professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina, and author of a report in the Aug. 8 online issue of Stroke. “There still needs to be a lot of education in the community for people to recognize these symptoms, and when you recognize them, call 911.” (more…)

Interrupted Night Sleep Worse for Cognitive Function

admin — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:59:48 +0000

People are groggier and think less clearly when woken up during their night-time sleep than during than an afternoon nap, a new study shows.

The findings, published in the August issue of the Journal of Biological Rhythms, have implications for anyone who needs to be alert upon awakening in the middle of the night, such as on-call physicians, emergency personnel and even parents. (more…)

Excessive Drinking Boosts Risk for Metabolic Syndrome

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:01:39 +0000

People who drink too much have increased odds of developing metabolic syndrome, a series of risk factors and conditions that are strongly related to cardiovascular disease, a new study says.

The study, expected to be published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, defines excess drinking as more than two drinks per day for men or one drink a day for women. Binge drinkers are also considered to be at an increased risk. (more…)