A survey conducted by the U.S. Center of Disease Control (CDC) reports that most American adults are sleep-deprived. Nearly 70 percent of respondents report having at least one day of insufficient sleep monthly and 11 percent of respondents report never getting sufficient sleep. Sleep experts recommend that adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night for good health and optimum performance, yet many get considerably less. The survey, published in the...Read More
Expert Daily Advice from:
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Dr. Christina Gutierrez
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Dr. Jennifer Stagg
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Elaine Gavalas
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Kris Foster
A survey conducted by the U.S. Center of Disease Control (CDC) reports that most American adults are sleep-deprived. Nearly 70 percent of respondents report having at least one day of insufficient sleep monthly and 11 percent of respondents report never getting sufficient sleep. Sleep experts recommend that adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night for good health and optimum performance, yet many get considerably less. The survey, published in the...Read More
Updating its recommendations, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend that women have breast cancer mammography screenings every two years between ages 50 to 74. In 2002, the USPSTF recommended that women have mammograms every one to two years at age 40. Now they warn that the risks of mammography may outweigh the benefit for many women. Women ages 40 to 49 at high risk for breast cancer should talk to their physicians about...Read More
There are some concerns that soy isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein, contain phytoestrogens that may stimulate breast cell growth and increase the risk of breast cancer. Research now reports that soy isoflavones do not stimulate breast or uterine cell growth and other markers for cancer risk.Read More
Dutch authorities have banned the use of Pfizer's Prevenar vaccine after three infants died shortly after vaccination. Prevenar offers protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae which can cause pneumonia, meningitis, blood poisoning and ear infections. Prevenar is part of the chidlhood immunization schedule given as three doses. The Dutch stopped the distribution of a batch of Prevenar following three cases of death in a short period. "On average about 5 to 10 deaths are reported annually after...Read More
The protein ghrelin and other gut hormones help regulate body weight and appetite. Ghrelin is known to produce feelings of hunger, and increases during fasting and decreases after a meal. The hormones leptin, peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide are known to produce feelings of satiety (fullness). However, the concentrations of gut hormones have not been studied during different rates of eating. Now research reports that eating too fast blocks hormones that curb appetite and satiety....Read More
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. These diseases cause chronic inflammation and weakness of the gastrointestinal tract. IBD is different than irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which does not involve intestinal inflammation or damage. Now research reports that skin cancer may be linked to medications used to treat IBD. The study, presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 74th Annual Scientific meeting in San Diego, investigated the association of IBD...Read More
A study published in the British Medical Journal (2005;330(7490):503) demonstrates that an extract of St. John's Wort is just as effective as a commonly prescribed medication, paroxetine (an SSRI).Read More
More than 25 million Americans visit their doctor every year for treatment of depression. Antidepressant medications are prescribed for most cases of depression. However, less than half of people taking antidepressants get relief. The current dogma is that stress is a major cause of depression. Now research reports that antidepressant drugs have been targeted at the wrong cause. The study, presented at the 2009 Neuroscience Conference in Chicago, investigated the molecular changes associated with chronic...Read More
An article published in Alternative Medicine Review (2005;10(2):94-111) reviewed the requirements and benefits of vitamin D throughout life, in terms of promotion of optimal health.Read More
Homocysteine is a toxic amino acid that can damage blood vessels. Homocysteine is a biomarker for cardiovascular disease when elevated in the blood. Alzheimer's disease occurs in older adults and causes memory loss, confusion and eventually death. Now a study reports that high blood levels of homocysteine in middle-aged women is linked with twice the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The 35 year long-term follow-up study is the longest study associating homocysteine with dementia. Researchers from...Read More
A pilot study published in Alternative Medicine Review (2005;10(2):123-127) showed that a topical cream containing lysine, zinc and botanicals can be effective in treating oral herpes outbreaks.Read More
Scientists have been searching for natural antibiotics, since disease-causing microbes are becoming resistant to conventional antibiotics. Pumpkin has a long history of being used in Korea and other Asian countries as a folk medicine. Now research reports that pumpkin rinds contain a potent antifungal protein that may fight yeast infections. The study, published in American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, investigated the effects of pumpkin rind proteins on microbes. Researchers from Chosun...Read More
On November 5, 2009 the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) held a news conference at the Annual Research Conference on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer in Washington, DC. AICR researchers presented new estimates linking obesity to higher cancer risk and lower cancer survival. According to the AICR report, obesity causes over 100,000 cancer cases yearly in the U.S. The report combined the latest US cancer incidence data with conclusions of the recent American...Read More
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that has no cure. The symptoms include tremors, a shuffling walk, muscle stiffness, stooped posture, and a mask-like, expressionless face. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring antioxidant that boosts cellular energy production in the mitochondria, the cell's energy powerhouse. CoQ10 levels decrease with age and chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Now a large clinical study will determine if CoQ10 can slow the progression of Parkinson's Disease....Read More
Canadian physicians in urban Toronto noticed the prevalence of symptoms of B12 deficiency in patients of South Asian descent (from India or Pakistan) and lactovegetarians.Read More
The swine flu H1N1 virus appeared during the spring of 2009, spreading into the U.S. and then worldwide. Now research reports that the majority of patients hospitalized with H1N1 influenza in the U.S. had underlying medical conditions. The underlying conditions included asthma, diabetes, pregnancy, and heart, lung and neurologic diseases. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, examined data from 24 states of patients hospitalized with H1N1 influenza from April to June...Read More
On October 13, 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to employees at the Department of Health and Human Services about healthy living. Mrs. Obama's visit to the health agency was to thank employees for their service and to urge all Americans to live healthier, more active lives. The first lady noted that $373 million from the economic stimulus package has been allocated for communities who have programs to reduce obesity. Mrs. Obama expressed concern that...Read More
Diabetes and metabolic syndrome have been rapidly increasing in the U.S. and Europe. The symptoms of metabolic syndrome include obesity (especially around the waist), high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance. Millions of people are at risk for developing diabetes due to obesity and impaired blood sugar control. Now research reports that lifestyle changes resulting in long-term weight loss is twice as effective as drugs for preventing diabetes. The long-term follow-up study is...Read More
The mechanism by which the flu virus damages the lungs has not been fully understood. Plants contain potent antioxidants that counteract free-radicals (unstable molecules that cause damage to cells) and protect against inflammation and chronic disease. Now research reports that antioxidants may help prevent lung damage caused by the flu. "The recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza and the rapid spread of this strain across the world highlights the need to better understand how this virus...Read More
A review article published in Canadian Family Physician (2004;50:993-997) summarized the importance of Vitamin K in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures.Read More
