Peripheral artery disease (PAD) narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to your limbs. Among the other reasons not to start smoking, here’s one more. Research has found that “among initially healthy women, smoking is a potent risk factor for symptomatic PAD and was associated with subclinical inflammation. Smoking cessation substantially reduces risk for...
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Archive for February, 2012
Smoking Increases Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease for Women
DASH Diet Effective for Healthier Weight in Girls
The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a diet consisting of grains, veggies, fruits, some low-fat dairy, nuts/seed, some lean meats and fish. A study looking at weight gain in girls from age 9 through age 19 found that “adolescent girls whose diet more closely resembled the DASH eating pattern had smaller...
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TV Increases Risks of Diabetes, Cardio Vascular Disease & Death
The evils of television watching include more than just obesity. A new study found that “prolonged TV viewing (two hours per day or more) was associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality.” TV viewing for three hours or more is associated with an even greater risk of all-cause...
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Early Pet Exposure May Reduce Pollen Sensitivity
As research into asthma and allergies continues, a newly released study looked at the effect of having pets currently or early in life. Researchers found that owning a pet in the first two years of life “seemed to offer some protection against sensitization to pollen.” Read the Abstract
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Active Video Games Better
A study of overweight and obese children found that “active video game intervention has a small but definite effect on BMI (Body Mass Index) and body composition in overweight and obese children” over a 24 week period. As sedentary behavior is thought contribute to obesity, the more you can get kids moving, the better....
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Bake/Broiled Fish Not Fried for Older Women
Eating broiled or baked fish five times a week was found to reduce the risk of heart failure in older (50+) women by as much as 30%. Likewise, eating fried fish just once a week increased the risk of heart failure by almost 50%. While most of us don’t even eat fish once a...
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Sedentary = Death?
A study cosponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found that “People with higher levels of sedentary behavior, such as prolonged watching television, have higher mortality rates than more active individuals — even when they participate in the recommended minimal levels of moderate physical activity.” Minimal exercise...
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Vitamin D Deficiency Reduces Lung Volume
Lack of vitamin D is associated with a long list of ailments including skeletal conditions, several types of cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, upper respiratory tract infections and even all-cause mortality. This study found that “vitamin D deficiency causes deficits in lung function that are primarily explained by differences in lung volume.” The message is...
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