Month: February 2015

Men who use a traditional Finnish sauna may be less likely than others to die from heart disease, a new study suggests. Most doctors now recommend that heart patients stay away from saunas because of the demands they place on the heart and blood vessels. A traditional Finnish sauna is dry and very hot. The new study included 2,300 middle-aged Finnish men. Researchers asked them questions about their sauna use, among other things. Then they kept track of the men for an average of 20 years. In that time, men who used a sauna twice a week or more had lower rates of sudden death, other heart-related death or stroke than those who used a sauna only once a week. Reductions in death risk ranged from 22% to 27% for those with 2 to 3 sauna sessions. Risk was 48% to 63% lower for men who used a sauna 4 to 7 times a week. Men who used a sauna more often also had lower overall death rates.

Some common painkillers may increase the risk of second heart attacks when taken along with drugs to prevent clots, a large new study finds. The study adds to concerns about potential heart risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs are taken to reduce pain and inflammation. They include over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve). They also include the prescription drug celecoxib (Celebrex). The new study used data from a Danish registry of 61,971 people who survived a first heart attack. Everyone was taking at least 1 anti-clotting drug, such as aspirin or clopidogrel (Plavix). Researchers looked at what happened during an average follow-up period of 3½ years. About one-third of those in the study filled at least 1 prescription for an NSAID.

A little sugar and fat is OK in kids’ diets if it can encourage them to consume nutritious foods, a large group of doctors for children says. Examples might include chocolate low-fat milk or ranch dressing as a dip for vegetables. The new statement comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics. It summarizes recent changes in U.S. standards for school meals. And it focuses attention on the foods schools don’t serve — lunches brought from home, party snacks and fundraisers. The foundation of children’s diets should be vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy and healthy proteins, the statement says. When possible, foods should be whole or processed as little as possible. Sugar, fat or salt can sometimes help to make sure the kids eat and enjoy these healthy foods.