Weight Loss Eases Sleep Apnea Symptoms
It’s well known that overweight adults are at greater risk for a myriad of health problems and that losing weight can reduce that risk. Just a 10 percent reduction in weight can improve heart function, lower blood pressure and levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and decrease the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. And new research shows that obese people with sleep apnea who lose 10 percent of their weight can significantly improve their symptoms and potentially rid themselves of the disorder. (more…)
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The issue of whether or not parents should spank their children has been widely debated and continues to provoke strong feelings on both sides. Advocates of spanking view it as an effective form of discipline and maintain that reasonable use of the practice is not harmful to children. Opponents argue that hitting children is not an effective deterrent for bad behavior, but a practice that plants the seeds for later violent behavior. The spanking haggle has a lengthy history in scientific research, and two new studies that suggest children who are spanked have lower IQ’s than those who aren’t is likely to reignite the debate yet again.
We all know how important it is to make sure we have a healthy diet, and now men have one more thing added to their plate. It has been found that a diet saturated with foods that have large amounts of fructose sugar, such as soft drinks, increases blood pressure in men. Also, it was found that a medication used to treat gout could block this effect.
Recently dentistry has taken on a new role in our annual lives by adding an adjective to its process: comfort. No more stiff chairs, old copies of Highlights magazine, and outdated art on the walls like my childhood dentist; these days offices have waiting room chairs so nice you want to get there early to take a nap, iPods to listen to during your visit to help drown out the ugly sounds of the tools, and the newest copies of all the hip magazines and newspapers. What is next for dentists to adopt? Eco-friendly office environments, procedures, and equipment…also called “Eco-dentistry,” a practice that is quickly gaining popularity as more people would frequent the dentist when necessary if it were safer for their bodies and easier on the Earth.
The common flu virus may raise the risk of dying from heart disease by increasing the likelihood for heart patients to suffer a heart attack. Those who have diabetes or other risk factors may also be at greater risk.
A study by the Yale School of Medicine and the Yale School of Public Health published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the majority of general surgery residents in the United States say they are satisfied with their training and confident of their ability to perform. However, a significant number believe that the hours and stress are straining their family life. In addition, many express uncertainties about future income and career prospects.
Stress seems to be the number one complaint among adults nowadays trying to juggle too many things at once: job, marriage, kids, relatives, and various social responsibilities. Although there are many natural ways to combat stress, including yoga techniques, bubble baths, burning calories at the gym, or going to the movies to take your mind off your many stressors, there’s a new technique in town. Bo-Tau (also known as Breath Optimised Transformational Unblocking) uses centuries-old Eastern tips with new-age modern science from the West.
Most people acknowledge the importance of exercise, but many who have rigid schedules, tough work hours, and family obligations find it difficult to fit workouts into their routines. Some don’t have a gym nearby or cannot afford a membership, and others just find that it takes a backseat to other life responsibilities. But for those who work in an office environment, daily exercise is easier to accomplish that one may think.
An experimental weight-loss drug produced by Vivus, Incorporated recently met U.S. guidelines in two late-stage trials. The proven effectiveness of the new obesity drug, known as Qnexa, has paved the way for Vivus to seek regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Soon, boys may also be eligible to obtain the Gardasil vaccine, which is currently given to girls and young women to help prevent infection by four types of human papillomavirus. An advisory committee from the Food and Drug Administration voted Wednesday to recommend that the vaccine be made available to boys and young men between the ages of 9 and 26 to help protect against genital warts that are caused by HPV.