My son is a picky eater. He?s a little underweight for his age, and also allergic to milk. He likes hot dogs, so I buy him the 98% fat-free turkey dogs. My husband thinks he should get regular hot dogs because he is a still a young child with no health problems ? and he needs the fat for energy. He also thinks he doesn?t need fiber. What should my son be eating?
A common liver disease does not increase the risk of death, a new study concludes. The results surprised researchers. The condition, called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is found most often among people who are obese. Researchers looked at records for 11,000 Americans, ages 20 to 74. Their health was tracked for up to 18 years as part of a large national survey. About 1 out of 5 people had non-alcoholic fatty liver. But they did not have a higher risk of death than others surveyed. Researchers said they didn’t know why fatty liver does not seem to affect death rates. They suggested that fatty liver may protect the body from some of the effects of obesity and diabetes. The journal BMJ published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it November 28.
I know that there is a health benefit to eating “healthy fats” like olive oil. But I’ve heard that these are only unsaturated fats when raw; when you cook them, they become saturated fats. Is there any truth to this?
Can coronary bypass surgery cause erectile dysfunction?
Both high and relatively low levels of sodium may be bad for some people, a new study suggests. It’s one of a few studies published recently that question whether a low-sodium diet is best for everyone. The new study included 30,000 people. Some had heart or artery disease. Others had a high risk of developing it. Researchers measured their total output of sodium in urine in a 24-hour period. This was used to estimate how much sodium they took in per day. Researchers kept track of them for the next 4 years. The most heart-related deaths and hospital stays for heart failure occurred among people with the highest and lowest levels of sodium in their urine. People with high sodium also had more heart attacks and strokes. People with a mid-range level of sodium had the fewest problems. But many of those in the lower-sodium group still consumed more sodium than recommended.
Statin drugs that lower LDL cholesterol are safe long term, an 11-year study concludes. The study found that the drugs lowered the risk of heart attack and strokes 23%. And they didn’t increase the risk of cancer or other diseases. More than 20,000 people were part of the study. All had an above average risk of heart disease and other blood vessel problems. They were randomly assigned to take either simvastatin (Zocor) or placebo (fake) pills. The original study lasted 5 years. After that, people who got the placebo at first could take the statin if a doctor prescribed it. Researchers kept track of people for another 6 years. They found no difference between the two groups in their rates of cancer or deaths from non-heart diseases. The journal Lancet published the study online. HealthDay News wrote about it November 22.
How often should I get a pneumonia vaccination?
Exposure to ionizing radiation through medical testing is generally safe, but there are risks that patients and caregivers need to be aware of. Cumulative exposure should be tracked if possible, and unnecessary tests should be avoided.
Should I have my magnesium level checked regularly to make sure I’m getting enough for my bones?