Category: news-perspectives

Some strokes are caused by narrowed blood vessels in the brain. To reduce the risk of this type of stroke, people take blood thinners and other drugs. Doctors also often do surgery to inflate the blood vessel. But a national study has found that people who took risk-reducing drugs had fewer strokes and deaths, compared with patients who also had the surgery. The study included 451 people who had a stroke or were at high risk of a stroke in the brain. All of them took blood thinners and drugs to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Some also had surgery to insert a mesh tube called a stent. The stent keeps the blood vessel open so blood can flow through it. The study was stopped early because there were more than twice as many strokes in the stent group as there were in the drugs-only group. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Acid reflux is more common among people exposed to the 9/11 disaster site, even if they don’t have other health effects. That’s the conclusion of a new study. Researchers looked at the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Prior research found higher rates of GERD among those exposed to the disaster if they also had asthma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new study took a closer look at GERD. The source was the World Trade Center Health Registry. This database includes rescue and recovery workers at the site. It also includes those who lived or worked in the area. The study focused on 37,000 people who had no GERD symptoms before 9/11. People who had asthma, PTSD or both were the most likely to develop GERD that lingered 5 to 6 years after the attacks. But GERD symptoms occurred in many people who did not have these conditions, too.

About 38% of people in Europe have some type of mental illness, a new study estimates. That’s a total of about 165 million people. And most do not get treatment, researchers said. The study was based on data from more than 30 countries. It included common illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Alcohol and drug dependence also was part of the study. But the sweep was even broader. The study also included conditions such as attention disorders, sleep problems and dementia. The authors said only about one-third of people get treatment. The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology released the study. The Associated Press wrote about it September 6.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that all children age 6 months and older should get a new flu shot this season — even if they had one last year. The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against the same three strains of influenza as last year’s vaccine. The vaccine’s protection from the flu only lasts for about 6 to 12 months. That’s because a person’s immunity drops by as much as 50% after vaccination. So it’s important to get the flu vaccine every year to keep your protection up to date. The journal Pediatrics published the new guideline online on September 1. HealthDay News wrote about it.

A small study found that people who ate potatoes twice a day had lower blood pressure without weight gain. The 18 people in the study were all overweight. They ate 6 to 8 purple potatoes twice a day for a month. The potatoes were baked in a microwave without toppings or oil. Blood pressure dropped by about 4%. Potatoes provide vitamins, fiber and potassium. But the way they are prepared may often counteract any health benefits. Scientists from the University of Scranton did the study. They reported the results August 31 at the American Chemical Society’s annual meeting. Several online news outlets, including MSNBC.com and the Irish Times, wrote about the study September 1.

Light sleepers may be more likely to develop high blood pressure, a new study suggests. Previous research has found a link between less sleep and risk of high blood pressure. The new study found that a shortage of deep sleep may be even more important. The study included 784 men, average age 75. When the study began, they did not have high blood pressure. Researchers gave them at-home sleep tests. The tests measured their sleep patterns, including non-rapid eye movement sleep. This is also known as slow-wave or deep sleep. About 3 years later, 243 men had developed high blood pressure. Men who got the least deep sleep were 83% more likely to develop the condition than those who got the most deep sleep. The link remained even after researchers adjusted their numbers based on other things that affect high blood pressure risk. These include age, race and obesity.

A doctors’ group says that women having a baby by cesarean section should wear inflating boots to reduce the risk of a blood clot. If the clot travels to the lungs, it can be deadly. Any surgery raises the risk of a type of clot called deep vein thrombosis. Women’s risk of deep-vein clots also increases during pregnancy. The boots or stockings inflate off and on to squeeze the lower legs. This helps to keep blood flowing and prevent clots. Many hospitals use them after other types of surgery. Now the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says they should be used for a C-section as well. The guidelines also urge doctors to assess women’s risk of clots and monitor them carefully during pregnancy. The Associated Press wrote about the new guidelines August 30.

Teens and other children should not box, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. The group of children’s doctors has long opposed boxing for kids. But it released a revised policy statement August 29 because of new research. Concussion is the most common injury in boxing. And researchers now know more about the risks of that kind of brain injury. Multiple concussions can lead to permanent brain injury. Concussion also can occur in other sports, such as football. But the doctors noted that boxers actually get points for hitting opponents in the head. That’s not true in other sports. Concussion also can cause more damage to kids and teens than to adults, the doctors’ statement noted. That’s because their brains are still developing. They also take longer to heal.

Eating certain foods can lower cholesterol even for people who already follow a heart-healthy diet, a new study finds. The new study included 345 people with high LDL (“bad cholesterol”). All of them were given a heart-healthy diet to follow. The diet was low in saturated fat. It included lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Some people also were taught how to fit foods that lower LDL into their diets. The foods included nuts, soy products, and vegetables and grains that contained viscous fiber. After 24 weeks, LDL cholesterol had dropped 3% in the group that simply followed the heart-healthy diet. The group that also added cholesterol-lowering foods had a larger drop in LDL — about 13%. The Journal of the American Medical Association published the study. USA Today wrote about August 24.

Taking a daily antibiotic can reduce flare-ups of a serious lung disease, new research finds. The study included 1,142 people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This disease causes shortness of breath and declining lung function. At least 8 out of 10 cases are caused by smoking. People in the study had advanced COPD. They were inclined to have flare-ups, with worse symptoms. During flare-ups, people tend to cough and wheeze more and have more trouble breathing. Frequent flare-ups also increase the risk of death. People in the study were randomly divided into 2 groups. Everyone took a daily pill. For one group, this was azithromycin, an antibiotic. The other group received placebo (fake) pills. After a year, people taking the real drug were 27% less likely to have flare-ups than those taking the placebo pills. They had an average of 1.48 flare-ups in a year.