Month: June 2010

Bicycling, like brisk walking, can help women to control their weight, a study finds. The study included more than 18,000 women who had not yet reached menopause. They were part of the long-running Nurses’ Health Study. The women were asked about weight and exercise habits in 1989 and again in 2005. Most women gained weight during the study. The average was 20 pounds. Women who didn’t bicycle in 1989, but started later, gained less weight than other women. Cycling especially helped overweight or obese women to gain less. The longer women biked in a typical week, the less weight they gained. But women who decreased cycling time as the years went by gained more weight. The study appeared in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine. HealthDay News and Reuters Health news service wrote about it June 28.

Statin drugs may not help people live longer unless they already have heart disease, a new study concludes. The new analysis combined the results from 11 studies. They included more than 65,000 patients. Statins reduce LDL cholesterol and inflammation. They are known to reduce deaths in people with heart disease. But the people in these 11 studies did not have known heart disease. They did have a high risk of developing the disease. People were randomly assigned to receive statin drugs to reduce cholesterol, or fake pills. Researchers looked at medical data for an average of about 3.7 years. The journal Archives of Internal Medicine published the study. The Associated Press wrote about it June 29.

Eating more fish might not help to prevent heart disease among women with type 1 diabetes, new research suggests. The long-term study began in 1986. It included 601 men and women with type 1 diabetes. During the next 18 years, more than one-quarter of them were diagnosed with heart disease. Men who took in the most omega-3 fatty acids were least likely to develop heart disease. These oils are found in fish and some plant foods. But women who consumed a lot of omega-3’s did not have a lower heart disease risk. The study was presented at a conference. HealthDay News wrote about it June 26.

An experimental drug helps to reduce blood sugar in a different way for people with type 2 diabetes, researchers report. The drug is called dapagliflozin. Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca are developing it together. The drug causes the kidneys to remove more glucose (sugar) from the body through urine. It is intended to be used along with current drugs. The study included 534 adults who were already taking metformin. They were randomly assigned to receive either the new drug or a placebo. After 24 weeks, researchers measured hemoglobin A1C levels in the blood. This is a measurement of blood sugar control over time. Compared with the people taking only metformin, those who took both drugs had better blood sugar control. They also lost about 4 more pounds, on average, than those who took metformin only. The study was presented at a conference.

Younger, unmarried men are the least likely group in the world to be aware if they have high blood pressure, a new study finds. They’re also least likely to get treatment. Rural residents of low-income countries also were less likely to know they had high blood pressure or to get treated. The study included 150,000 people. They were from 17 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. People were given blood pressure tests. Just over half of those from high-income countries who had high blood pressure were aware of it. Awareness was similar in rural and urban areas. But in low-income countries, rural residents were less aware. Fewer than half of those who had high blood pressure realized it. In high-income countries, just under half of those who had high blood pressure got treatment. In rural areas of low-income countries, only one-fourth got treatment.

Three tests combined offer a good way to predict which people with Parkinson’s disease are most likely to fall, a study finds. The study included 101 people with Parkinson’s disease. Researchers gave them tests related to symptoms, balance and movement. In the next 6 months, nearly half of the people in the study fell. Half of those who fell did so more than once. Most of those who fell had three things in common. They tended to have more severe Parkinson’s symptoms. They said they often “froze” while walking. They also did not do well in balance tests. Researchers said these three tests combined would correctly predict a strong risk of falls about 80% of the time. The study was published online by the journal Neurology. HealthDay News wrote about it June 23.

Delirium affects about 1 out of 3 hospital patients over age 70. It’s even higher for those who are in intensive care or recovering from surgery. And hospitals increasingly are trying to treat or prevent it, the New York Times reported June 20. People with delirum often have hallucinations. They may become violent or act in ways that cause them to get hurt. Nobody is sure of the causes, the Times reported. Infections, surgery or insertion of a catheter may make frail patients anxious. Some medicines also may be triggers. Changes in routine and location can be a factor, the Times said. People have their sleep interrupted for tests. They may not have their eyeglasses or dentures. Delirium can slow down recovery. About 35% to 40% of older adults with hospital dementia die within a year, a study found. Those who survive may have an increased risk of dementia.