I read that President Obama had a virtual colonoscopy. Is this the colon cancer screening test that everybody should be getting instead of a regular colonoscopy? I thought it was kind of experimental.
Only about 2% of men over 40 develop symptoms related to low testosterone levels, a new study finds. This condition is called late-onset hypogonadism. Some people refer to it as “male menopause.” But there has been debate about whether male menopause even exists. This study is the first to link concrete symptoms with testosterone levels. The authors concluded that the syndrome is less common than people had thought. Researchers measured testosterone levels in 3,369 men, aged 40 to 79. They also asked them about symptoms. Three sexual symptoms were most likely to be linked to low testosterone. The symptoms were a reduction in morning erections, lower sex drive and impotence (erectile dysfunction). The authors said men should have all three of these symptoms and low testosterone to be diagnosed with late-onset hypogonadism. It is treated with hormone supplements.
A Mediterranean-type diet may improve heart function by one important measure, a study suggests. Researchers looked at data from a study of twins and heart disease. Men in the study answered questions about what they ate. They also wore portable electrocardiogram machines to measure heart rate variability. This is how much the time between beats varies in everyday life. A more varied heartbeat shows better heart function. Men who ate diets closer to the Mediterranean style had greater heart rate variability. Some of the 276 men in the study were identical twins, who have all the same genes. The other twins were fraternal, with fewer of the same genes. By comparing twins, researchers were able to tie heart rate differences to diet, not just genes. The journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes published the study online. HealthDay News wrote about it June 15.
Americans get more radiation from medical tests than people of any other country, the Associated Press (AP) reported June 14. The average person’s medical radiation dose has increased sixfold in the last two decades. And an increased amount of research shows that it’s too much, AP said. The biggest source is computed tomography (CT) scans — X-rays that give very detailed images. Just a few CT scans can deliver enough radiation to possibly increase cancer risk. No one keeps track of how much radiation each patient gets over time. But that may change. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pushing industry and doctors to use standard radiation doses. It also may require record-keeping on dosage for each person. CT scans may be given too often for several reasons, AP said. They are a quick and accurate diagnosis tool.
Kids whose parents set consistent limits on screen time really do spend less time with TV and video games, a new survey finds. Researchers surveyed more than 7,400 children and their parents. The kids’ ages ranged from 9 to 15. The kids were asked about their daily screen time and what limits their parents set on it. Screen time includes TV, videos, video games and computer time not used for homework. Kids also were asked about exercise habits. The parents were asked about their screen-time rules and what they thought experts recommended. About 1 out of 4 kids had more daily screen time than the recommended limit of 1 to 2 hours. But this was less likely among children who said their parents set consistent rules on screen time. Kids who spent more time in exercise or sports also used less screen time. The journal Pediatrics published the study June 14.
The link between regular exercise and prevention of falls varies by age and gender, a new analysis of research suggests. The authors looked at data from a long-term study on exercise. The study included 10,615 people, ages 20 to 87. They also took a treadmill test and a follow-up survey. The survey included questions about exercise habits and falls. About 21% of those surveyed said they had fallen in the last year. Falls were just as common in younger adults as in older ones. However, older adults were twice as likely to fall while walking. Women were more than twice as likely as men to fall while walking. Men who were the fittest or exercised the most were less likely to fall while walking than men who were least fit or exercised the least. For women, this difference was narrower and could have been caused by chance.