Yeshiva World News

Health: Short Cuts? Not Really (Part 2)

Last week’s column focused on the various types of surgery one can have to help achieve weight loss. We concluded that while some are definitely less invasive than others, all carry a fair to extremely high risk of serious side effects and post-surgical complications.    Some of the side effects and complications include: Infection of the incisions or of the inside of the abdomen (peritonitis, abscess) due to release of bacteria from the bowel during the operation Hemorrhage of ...

Seeing Others Scratch Can Trigger Your Own Itch

Seeing other people scratching can cause your brain to trigger your own itch, researchers suggest. The team at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center investigated the causes of what's known as "contagious itch." "It is conceivable that the neuronal networks or mechanisms underlying contagious itching may be similar to the ones involved in contagious yawning, a phenomenon that is still intensely studied, but not exactly clear," dermatologist Dr. Gil Yosipovitch said in a medical center news ...

Health: Short Cuts? Not Really (Part 1)

It is the nature of man to always look for the easy way out.  Saving time in today’s fast-paced society has become a goal in and of itself.  When it comes to our health, this is no exception.  If we could turn the clock back about 50 years or so, we all would have been naturally more active, would have consumed less food and would not have been inundated with a food and beverage industry that was trying to convince us to eat what they are selling in large amounts - when were weren’t even ...

Q&A: Radiation Risks & Potassium Iodide

Californians concerned that radiation from damaged Japanese nuclear power plants could reach the U.S. have rushed to protect themselves by stockpiling potassium iodide. LA Times reporter Molly Hennessy-Fiske talked to Dr. Glenn Braunstein, director of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s thyroid cancer center and chair of the department of medicine, about the potential risks and benefits of the drug. Question: How does potassium iodide work? A: The thyroid gland requires iodine to make thyroid ...

The Cost of Poor Health & Obesity

The two most common excuses people give for not exercising and taking care of their general health are lack of time, and finances. In previous articles, I have addressed the time issue, but I would like to add the following: If you don’t make the time to exercise, you won’t have much time to do anything. Eventually, as we age and don’t make the time to compensate for its effects, we end up with one or more debilitating condition. But what is just as shocking is how much it actually costs ...

U.S. Takes Over Three Tylenol Plants

The government is taking over three Tylenol plants following a blizzard of drug recalls and a Food and Drug Administration criminal investigation into safety issues at the factories. The FDA and the Justice Department on Thursday took action against McNeil PPC and two of its executives -- its vice president of quality and its vice president of operations for over-the-counter products -- for failing to comply with federally-mandated manufacturing practice. McNeil, a division of Johnson ...

Noninvasive Test May Identify Down Syndrome Early On

A simple blood test may one day offer a safe way to detect Down syndrome during pregnancy, researchers say. In a small study, an experimental blood test identified a gene mutation associated with Down syndrome with 100 percent accuracy, according to the Cyprus scientists. "Down syndrome is a common birth defect, with one Down syndrome birth in every 600 births in all populations," said lead researcher Philippos Patsalis, chief executive medical director of the Cyprus Institute of ...

Small Changes...Big Results! (Part 3)

Part 3:  Move it!   The Benefits The previous articles in this series have focused on the benefits of adopting a healthier lifestyle and the changes we can easily make in our daily lives to do so. But getting started can be quite challenging, particularly if you are generally sedentary. You will find this lifestyle change difficult and perhaps even somewhat uncomfortable at the beginning. However, rest assured that you will begin to feel better overall very quickly. Let’s say you ...

Research Uncovers Clue To SIDS

A new Australian study finds that babies who sleep on their stomachs -- a position thought to pose a risk for SIDS -- have lower levels of oxygen in their brains than those who sleep on their backs. The discovery suggests that a lack of oxygen could explain why babies in such a position are at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome while sleeping: Their brains may be less able to wake them up when they're in danger from not breathing. The research also backs current recommendations ...

FDA Bans Unapproved Prescription Cough, Cold and Allergy Meds

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it plans to remove about 500 unapproved prescription cough, cold, and allergy medicines from pharmacy shelves. These drugs have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety and effectiveness, and they may be riskier to take than approved over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that treat these same conditions, agency officials explained. "This action is necessary to protect consumers from the potential risks posed by unapproved drugs, because we ...

Small Changes…Big Results! (Part 2)

Practical Solutions Last week, we focused on the documented benefits of adopting a healthier lifestyle. At the same time, we acknowledged the many obstacles which prevent people from making that switch. Today’s column will offer a host of practical solutions we can apply to our daily lives, to help us get fit and stay fit. The two key words to always keep in mind are: prioritize and organize. Use your time efficiently and you will be surprised at what you can accomplish before the end ...

Cell Phone Exposure Increases Brain Cell Activity

The radiation emitted after just 50 minutes on a mobile phone increases the activity in brain cells, according to a new government-funded study. The effects of that brain activity are not known, said the researchers, who called for more study. Phones that were turned off did not create the same brain activity. The small study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association, is the first to look specifically at how electromagnetic radiation from cell phones affects glucose ...

Small Changes...Big Results! (Part 1: Baby Steps)

In the Utopian world about which we fitness professionals dream, everyone sets aside an hour or more a day for a complete workout, including aerobic, resistance and flexibility training. But in today’s society, we all know that’s not likely to happen. So, just how do we make it easier to get fit — and stay fit?  No Excuses!  Finding all the reasons in the world to not exercise is easy. “I don’t have time.” “I look ridiculous.” “It’s raining.” “It’s too hot.” ...

Study: 1 In 5 Kids With Cold Develops Middle Ear Infection

About one in five children with a cold or other respiratory viral infection develops a middle ear infection that may range from mild to severe, says a new study. U.S. researchers looked at the number of cases of middle ear infection -- acute otitis media -- among 294 children, ages 6 months to 3 years. Overall, 22 percent of the children developed a middle ear infection during the first week of respiratory infection. A diagnosis of acute otitis media was based on the presence of symptoms ...

Zinc May Curb Cold Symptoms

As everyone knows, there's no cure for the common cold. So most people simply suffer through two or more colds a year, often missing days of work or school in the process. Scientists still haven't found a cure, but a new expert review suggests that taking zinc supplements may help ease cold symptoms—and may even prevent the viral infections altogether. Nearly 30 years of research on zinc and colds has had mixed results and has been marred by iffy studies. To get a sound big-picture ...

Common Adult Diseases: Treatable with Proper Nutrition [Part II]

In the previous YWN article , we examined high cholesterol and diabetes, and the steps we can take to mitigate, and in some instances, eradicate them completely. Now let’s take a look at achieving healthy blood pressure levels, and the role exercise plays in maintaining overall good health. High Blood Pressure High Blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the “silent killer” since sometimes, there are no apparent symptoms until it’s too late.  This very treatable condition is ...

Pediatricians, Parents Warned On Energy Drink Dangers

They claim to give you that extra boost, but recent studies have shown that energy drinks containing large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, can actually cause major health problems in children, teens and young adults. In fact, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, of the 5,448 U.S. caffeine overdoses reported in 2007, 46% occurred in those younger than 19 years. Now a new report in the journal of Pediatrics warns parents, and doctors that these drinks could ...