Category: news-perspectives

Exercise may help older women to avoid an abnormal heart rhythm, a new study suggests. The study focused on atrial fibrillation. In people with this irregular rhythm, the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of contracting in a regular pattern. This can increase the risk of blood clots and stroke. The new study included more than 80,000 women. When the study began, the women were 50 to 79 years old. Researchers asked them how often they walked outside or exercised enough to sweat. Eleven years later, the most active women had a 10% lower rate of atrial fibrillation than those who walked less than 10 minutes a week. The most active women did exercise equal to 3 hours of brisk walking or 2 hours of slow cycling each week. The reduction in risk was similar for women who got more strenuous exercise — about 2 hours of running a week.

Walking, biking or even riding public transit to work can help with weight control, a new study suggests. The study was based on a survey of about 7,500 people in the United Kingdom. Nearly 74% commuted by car. About 10% of men and 11% of women used public transit. About 14% of men and 17% of women walked or biked to work. A nurse visited people and measured their height, weight and percentage of body fat. Researchers adjusted the numbers to account for factors that may affect weight. These included age, medical conditions, income, social class and other exercise. They found that BMI was lower for those who did not drive to work. Effects were similar whether people commuted by foot, bicycle or public transit. For example, men in these groups had BMI scores between 0.9 and 1.1 points lower than the men who drove themselves.

Many older adults who are unlikely to live more than 10 years still are given routine screening tests for cancer, new studies show. But those tests are unlikely to help them and may have risks, the authors say. One study used 10 years of data from a U.S. government health survey. It included 27,000 men and women ages 65 and older. Based on their health history, the authors estimated their risk of dying in less than 10 years. Among men at the highest risk of near-term death, 31% to 55% received screening tests for various types of cancer. A second story focused on screening for colon cancer in adults 65 or older. It was based on Medicare records. About 1 in 5 of those who had a colonoscopy that found no problems ended up having another colonoscopy 5 years later. This test is recommended every 10 years.

A vaccine appears to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) for 8 years, a new study finds. Human papillomavirus causes most cases of cervical cancer. This was a long-term follow-up to an earlier study. In the original study, more than 1,700 boys and girls were randomly assigned to receive the vaccine or placebo shots. Those who received the placebo were given the actual vaccine 2½ years later. Researchers called this the catch-up group. In the first group, the average child was 12 when vaccinated. In the catch-up group, the average age was 15. Each person received 3 doses. Researchers were able to keep track of more than 1,600 of the original study group. This included 1,100 from the first vaccination group. After up to 8 years (average 6.8), the vast majority of this group had blood antibodies against HPV.

The nasal flu vaccine is more effective for young children, and the high-dose flu shot may be better for older adults, two new reports say. The advice on flu vaccines for children comes from a committee that advises the U.S. government. The Flu-Mist vaccine is preferred for healthy children ages 2 through 8, the committee said. This vaccine is given as a nasal mist. It contains live flu virus that has been altered so it cannot cause flu. Children can also receive standard flu shots. The new information about the high-dose vaccine comes from a study published August 15. Nearly 32,000 adults, ages 65 or older, were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received standard flu shots. The other group got high-dose flu shots. Those who got the high-dose shots were 24% less likely to develop flu than those who got the standard shots.

Two new studies add to the discussion about salt and its role in high blood pressure and heart disease. In one study, researchers used data from 66 countries to estimate sodium consumption by age, sex and country. They concluded that the average person consumed about 4,000 milligrams (mg) or 4 grams of sodium daily. They also put together results of more than 100 prior studies. These studies looked at the effects of sodium on blood pressure, and blood pressure on heart disease, stroke and death. Researchers also looked at causes of death in these countries. They concluded that cutting average sodium intake in half would reduce deaths by 1.65 million per year. In the other study, researchers obtained first morning urine samples from 101,945 people. They were from 17 countries. The samples were used to estimate 24-hour sodium levels in urine. The average was nearly 5,000 mg.

U.S. regulators have approved a new home test that detects more than 90% of colorectal cancers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Cologuard test August 11. Like the older fecal occult test, Cologuard checks for microscopic amounts of blood in stool. But the new test also looks for abnormal DNA. This helps to find cancers that don’t bleed. The test is done at home. The person collects a stool sample and mails it to a laboratory for analysis. In a study, nearly 10,000 men and women were given 3 types of tests: a fecal occult test, the Cologuard test and a colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is considered the most accurate test for colorectal cancer. It uses an instrument to look inside the colon. Cologuard detected 92% of the cancers that colonoscopy found. The fecal occult test detected 74%.

Comedian and actor Robin Williams, who had fought substance abuse and depression, was found dead in his California home August 11. The Marin County sheriff’s office said the cause of death was suspected to be “suicide due to asphyxia.” Mr. Williams, 63, had been “battling severe depression,” his publicist said in a statement. After starring in the TV show “Mork and Mindy” in the 1970s, Mr. Williams had an honored film career. He created memorable characters in “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “Aladdin,” “Dead Poets’ Society” and “Mrs. Doubtfire,” among others. He won an Oscar in 1998 for playing a therapist in “Good Will Hunting.”  Mr. Williams struggled at times with addictions to cocaine and alcohol. In 2006, he checked himself into a rehab center to be treated for alcohol addiction. He said at the time that he had fallen off the wagon after 20 years of sobriety.

Older adults who have low blood levels of vitamin D may be more likely to develop dementia, a study suggests. The analysis is based on data from a study of heart health. Researchers gave tests of mental function to more than 1,600 adults age 65 or older. They also measured vitamin D levels in the blood. They repeated the tests of mental function 6 years later. The new study analyzed the links between vitamin D levels and dementia risk in this group. People with low levels of vitamin D were 70% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as those with normal levels. Those with very low vitamin D levels were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Results were similar for the risk of dementia from all causes. People with low levels of vitamin D had a 53% higher risk of dementia.

Home testing can help to diagnose sleep apnea just as well as an overnight stay in a sleep lab, new guidelines from a major group of doctors say. People with sleep apnea stop breathing, briefly, many times each night. This can cause daytime sleepiness. The condition also has been linked with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Sleep apnea is usually diagnosed after overnight monitoring in a sleep lab. But home monitors have been used increasingly because they cost less and can be used by people who are not near a sleep lab. And research suggests the home monitors do the job, the American College of Physicians (ACP) says. ACP doctors provide primary care for adults. The new AAP guidelines say these home studies are fine for diagnosis of sleep apnea in most people.