Page 272 - Health Medical Pharma

Heart patients should take walk breaks every 20 minutes: Study

Heart patients should engage in light physical activities such as standing up or walking at casual pace for about seven minutes after every 20 minutes of sitting at a computer or watching television, suggests new research.

New sensor to detect unborn baby's heart

Scientists have developed an effective sensor that can allow pregnant women to measure the heartbeat of their unborn baby from the comfort of their homes. The tool developed by researchers at the University of Sussex in the UK could help detect heart-related congenital disorders during pregnancy or highlight the need for medical interventions due to complications such as premature delivery or umbilical cord compression. The technology would also greatly benefit women experiencing high-risk pregnancy factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, preeclampsia and gestational high blood pressure, who require regular monitoring to ensure the wellbeing of their baby. "Currently expectant mothers with health concerns about their babies have to go through the stress of going to hospital to check on the heartbeat of their child," said Elizabeth Rendon-Morales, a lecturer at the University of Sussex. "With this new technology, they will be able to do this from the comfort of their own home, .

Hackers breach govt health insurance system in US

Hackers have got access to personal data belonging to 75,000 people in a breach of government health insurance system used by insurance agents and brokers to help customers sign up for healthcare plans in the US, the media reported.

Immunotherapy plus chemo extends life of breast cancer patients

A treatment regime combining immunotherapy and chemotherapy can help tune the body's immune system to attack an aggressive type of breast cancer, extending survival by up to 10 months, show results of an immunotherapy trial in Britain.

Walnuts a boon for reigning lifestyle ailments: Studies

Walnuts can help in keeping many lifestyle diseases at bay, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular problems which are on the rise in India, according to studies. "According to different studies and human trials done in 11 countries by nearly 60 universities, incorporating walnuts into meals can ensure adequate protein intake, especially among vegetarians, as it contains numerous vitamins and minerals including protein, unsaturated fat, magnesium, phosphorus and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) the plant-based form of Omega-3, necessary for overall wellness," California Walnut Commission Health Research Director Carol Berg Sloan told PTI here. According to a research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, one ounce of walnuts provides four grams of protein and two grams of fibre. This fibre, found solely in plant foods, helps make one feel full, control overeating and can assist in lowering cholesterol and regulating blood glucose levels, the study ...

Health Ministry asks states to set up mental health authority, review boards

The Union Health Ministry has asked all the states to set up State Mental Health Authority and District Mental Health Review Board to ensure effective implementation of the Mental Health Care Act, 2017. The Act got the assent of the president on April 7 last year. The State Mental Health Authority which will comprise officials of the state government and other members working in the mental health sector is supposed to oversee the effective implementation of the provisions of the Act, an official statement said. While, the District Mental Health Review Boards will address public grievances related to violation of the provisions of the Act. "As per the provisions of the Act, the state governments are required to take certain actions like establishment of State Mental Health Authorities, creation of State Mental Health Authorities Funds and setting up of Mental Health Review Boards," said a letter written to chief secretaries and principal secretaries (health). "The state government ...

Preventable heart disease may cause early death

According to a study, four out of five adults are at risk of early death due to preventable heart disease."Heart disease is a largely self-inflicted disease," Fox News quoted the statement of Sheila Caldwell, a heart attack survivor. "Hopefully, knowing the 'heart age' is a wake-up call and, for some of our participants, it has been."Experts found that most people thought they were in ideal health, and the reality is that most people are no. 99 percent of the U.S. adult population has at least one of the seven cardiovascular health risks.Those risks are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood glucose, unhealthy weight, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor diet.According to experts, the easiest thing for people to manage is improving diet, reducing weight, and improving exercise because those things, generally, we can all do it.

IVF kids may suffer from high BP

Turns out, kids born through in vitro fertilization may be more likely to develop high blood pressure.A research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found a higher average blood pressure among teens born through IVF than in children conceived naturally.For the study, researchers compared 54 teens conceived through IVF with 43 of their friends who had been conceived naturally. The teens' average age was 17.In adults, a blood pressure above 120/80 is considered high. But in children and adolescents, a normal blood pressure depends on age and height. If a youngster has a higher blood pressure than 90 percent to 95 percent of other males or females his or her age and height, then the child may have high blood pressure.The IVF teens had higher blood pressure, on average than their friends (119/71 versus 115/69). Eight of the IVF teens were diagnosed with hypertension, compared to one in the control group.Moreover, teens born through IVF were more likely to have ..

Not exercising worse for your health than smoking: Study

We have all heard that exercise helps you live longer. But a new study goes one step further, finding that a sedentary lifestyle is worse for health than smoking, diabetes and heart disease.Researchers and author of the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open called the results as "extremely surprising.""Being unfit on a treadmill or in an exercise stress test has a worse prognosis, as far as death, than being hypertensive, being diabetic or being a current smoker," Wael Jaber, senior author of the study told CNN. "We've never seen something as pronounced as this and as objective as this."Researchers retrospectively studied 122,007 patients who underwent exercise treadmill testing to measure all-cause mortality relating to the benefits of exercise and fitness. Those with the lowest exercise rate accounted for 12% of the participants.Jaber said the other big revelation from the research is that fitness leads to a longer life, with no limit to the benefit of aerobic exercise. ..

Short interrupted breaths in sleep apnea deadlier: Study

People with sleep apnea who have short interruptions in breathing while they sleep are at higher risk of death than those with longer interruptions, according to a new study.

Better cardiorespiratory fitness linked to longer life: Study

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in the US have found that better cardiorespiratory fitness leads to better longevity, regardless of age, with no limit on the positive effects of aerobic fitness.

Father's nicotine exposure linked to child's poor cognition: Study

While women have long been warned about the dangers of smoking during pregnancy, nicotine exposure in men could lead to cognitive deficits in their children and grandchildren, researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have found in their study on mice.

Your income may impact your stroke level

Ever wondered why are low-and-middle-income countries so hard hit by a stroke and what can be done about it? A new study has the answer to this vital question.According to a new study at the World Stroke Congress, low- and-middle-income countries bear over 80 per cent of the global burden of stroke, but have less than 20 per cent of the global resources to combat it.The ageing population and the increases in risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are driving up stroke rates. Strokes occur, on average, 15 years earlier in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.Also, while building momentum to address sex differences in stroke, researchers found that women bear a greater burden of stroke than men.Leading stroke experts looked at incidence and mortality rates, the impact of traditional risk factors on women versus men, the quality of care women receive compared to men, and international efforts to address the challenges.

This drug could sustain oxygen-starved hearts

Running low on oxygen is a major danger for body tissues, but the heart is particularly sensitive to such hypoxic conditions, which can lead to long-term tissue damage or even heart attacks.In new studies conducted at UC San Francisco, a novel oxygen-delivery therapeutic restored the function of oxygen-starved heart tissue in an animal model of global hypoxia. The findings appeared in the Journal of PLOS Biology.Unlike its experimental predecessors, the new drug, called OMX-CV, does not appear to cause systemic side effects or overcorrect with excessive blood oxygenation, which can itself be toxic. Instead, the new drug delivered its precious oxygen cargo only to the tissues that need it most."Any tissue with compromised blood flow, whether due to trauma, stroke, or heart disease, could potentially be targeted by a treatment like this," said Emin Maltepe, co-senior author of the paper.Cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease can starve the heart of oxygen, triggering ...

Mother-daughter conflict ups suicide risk in abused teen girls: Study

Teenage girls who were maltreated during their childhood are more likely to entertain suicidal thoughts if the relationship with their mother is poor and the degree of conflict between the two is high.

Sleep apnea may predict mortality rate

Turns out, the duration of abnormal breathing events may be a better predictor of mortality risk in both women and men.Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the temporary cessation of breathing during sleep.According to new research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, participants who had short apneas and hypopneas (stopped breaths and shallow breaths, respectively) were at greater risk of dying over a decade of follow up."This result seems counter-intuitive because you might expect longer periods of not breathing to be more severe," said study's lead author, Dr. Matthew P. Butler. "On the other hand, shorter periods of disturbed breathing indicate a low arousal threshold, which would associate with sleep fragmentation, elevated sympathetic tone and greater risk for hypertension."Previous studies have shown that the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the most widely used measure of sleep apnea severity, is linked to mortality and heart disease. However, ...

Cycling, walking in nature may improve your mental health

People who commute -- walking or cycling -- through natural environments are more likely to develop better mental health than those who commute less, according to a new study.

How school support may help ADHD children

One-to-one support and a focus on self-regulation may improve academic outcomes of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a new study suggests.

My family taught me about failure: Deepshikha Deshmukh

Producer-entrepreneur Deepshikha Deshmukh has produced critically acclaimed movies like "Sarbjit" and "Madaari". She also owns skin nutrition brand, but the daughter of veteran film producer Vashu Bhagnani believes that failure is important in life as it helps people in growing as individuals.

Hackers breach HealthCare.gov system, get data on 75,000

A government computer system that interacts with HealthCare.gov was hacked earlier this month, compromising the sensitive personal data of some 75,000 people, officials said Friday. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made the announcement late in the afternoon ahead of a weekend, a time slot agencies often use to release unfavorable developments. Officials said the hacked system was shut down and technicians are working to restore it before sign-up season starts Nov. 1 for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. About 10 million people currently have private coverage under former President Barack Obama's health care law. Consumers applying for subsidized coverage have to provide extensive personal information, including Social Security numbers, income, and citizenship or legal immigration status. The system that was hacked is used by insurance agents and brokers to directly enroll customers. All other sign-up systems are working. CMS spokesman Johnathan Monroe .