Health ShortsJuly 2003BP Linked to Sex Problems in Women
A major cause of erectile dysfunction in men, high blood pressure has also been linked to sexual problems in women. A self-administered questionnaire given to 224 premenopausal women found that those diagnosed with hypertension had lower scores on questions related to vaginal lubrication, ease of achieving orgasm and pain during intercourse. The study found no evidence that hypertension medications (ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics) had any negative effect on sexual function.
[SOURCE: Louis Kuritzky, "HBP and Sexual Function in Women," Neurology Alert, November, 2000] High Pulse Pressure Ups Risk
High blood pressure is a major risk for the development of congestive heart failure, and a high pulse pressure elevates the risk even more, according to a study based on data from the Framingham Heart Study. Pulse pressure is the difference between the top and bottom numbers, and a large difference usually indicates that arteries have become stiff and inflexible. A reading of 140/80 is a pulse pressure of 60 and may confer a higher risk than 140/85, a pulse pressure of 55. The study also indicated that systolic pressure (the top number) was more predictive of risk than diastolic pressure (the bottom number).
[SOURCE: Agha W. Haider, Martin G. Larson, Stanley S. Franklin and Daniel Levy, "Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure and Pulse Pressure as Predictors of Risk for Congestive Heart Failure in the Framingham Heart Study," Annals of Internal Medicine, January 7, 2003] New BP Guidelines Lower Target
New guidelines issued by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program set lower targets for the treatment of hypertension. Under the new guidelines any reading from 120/80 to 139/89 is defined as "prehypertension," requiring lifestyle changes. The DASH diet (high in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products) is recommended along with salt restriction, weight loss and exercise. The authors recommend diuretics as first-line therapy for uncomplicated hypertension, along with another type of medication if necessary.
[SOURCE: National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, "Guidelines: Hypertension Prevention and Management-JNC 7," Journal Watch Cardiology, June 13, 2003] Most BP Patients Don't Have a Clue
A telephone survey of 683 hypertension patients in the Detroit area found that most didn't take their condition very seriously. Nearly 40 percent of subjects didn't know what their blood pressure was, and only 14 percent were aware that the top number was more important as a risk factor than the bottom number, at least for persons over age 50. About 34 percent of respondents said they felt that hypertension was "not at all serious" as a health concern.
[SOURCE: Susan A. Olivieria, Sc.D., American College of Cardiology annual meeting, "Hypertensive Patients Unaware of Dangers," Family Practice News, May 1, 2002] Meat, Chicken or Fish?
Lean meat, lean chicken or lean fish-which is recommended for a heart-healthy diet? A small Canadian study gave men with high cholesterol diets deriving protein from one of these three sources. The result: all three diets lowered LDL and total cholesterol, but only the fish diet increased HDL, the good cholesterol. Other studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish contribute to their ability to increase HDL. Fatty fish such as salmon and sardines have even greater amounts of omega-3 fatty acids than lean fish such as sole and haddock.
[SOURCE: "More Research Supports Eating Fish," Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, July, 2003] Vegetarian Diet Lowers Cholesterol
Subjects eating a vegetarian diet that included soy milk, soy burgers, oats, almonds and bean soup for one month had a 29 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol, according to a small Canadian study. The decrease is similar to what can be expected from the use of cholesterol-lowering medications of the statin class.
[SOURCE: "Eating a Vegetarian Diet That Includes Cholesterol-Lowering Food May Lower Lipid Levels as Much as Some Medications," Environmental Nutrition, March, 2003] Consecutive Workouts Better for Heart
Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to increase HDL, the "good" cholesterol, and the author of a recent study believes that working out three or four days in a row increases the benefit. In the study conducted at Auburn University, men who worked out 30 to 45 minutes a session for four consecutive days increased their HDL four to six points while lowering harmful triglycerides, and effects were detected up to three days later. According to Peter Grandjean, Ph.D., author of the study, the benefits of exercise are cumulative and wear off more quickly after a single session.
[SOURCE: Mark Anders, "The Save-Your-Heart Workout: Triple Your Cholesterol-Busting Benefits," Prevention, February, 2002] Purple Grape Juice Packs Punch
Drinking two to three cups of purple grape juice a day can lower LDL cholesterol and increase the production of nitric oxide, an anti-clotting substance that is associated with healthy blood vessels, according to several recent studies. These are benefits similar to those conferred by red wine. A 180-pound male requires 24 ounces daily of grape juice-about 450 calories worth-for maximum benefits, so the benefits must be weighed against the possibility of weight gain, which can have a negative effect on cardiovascular health.
[SOURCE: "Get Juiced, Get Healthy," Men's Fitness, January, 2002] If It Smells Safe...It May Not Be
You may think you can tell if food has gone "off" by smelling it or looking at the color or texture, but harmful bacteria can grow without any detectable sign. Even cooked food left at room temperature for more than two hours can develop dangerous levels of bacteria. While refrigeration slows the bacterial growth, re-cooking is needed to make the food safe. When food is frozen, any microbes already present will be reactivated once the food is thawed. Only thorough cooking can destroy them.
[SOURCE: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, pamphlet, April 1, 2001] Unusual Transmission for Norwalk Virus
Norwalk-like viruses have been responsible for a number of outbreaks of food-borne illness on cruise ships and among university students. While infection typically comes from eating infected food, these viruses can also be passed along through personal contact. In one 1998 incident, football players picked up the virus from residue of vomit on the jerseys of infected players on the opposing team.
[SOURCE: Melissa Abramovitz, "Food Poisoning: Here's How To Protect Yourself from Foodborne Illness," Current Health 2, October, 2002] Baby Talk, Baby Thought
Can babies think before they can talk? Scientists have in fact produced reliable studies that demonstrate thought in babies. Pet owners know that although they can't speak, animals are capable of relatively sophisticated thought that demonstrates anticipation, correlation and deduction. Infants who have not yet learned to master words may think in a symbolic language made up of images (such as of the mother's face), sounds, colors, movements, smells and tastes. Adults still think in all these symbolic modes, they just add the words as well.
[SOURCE: "The Last Word," New Scientist, July 6, 2002] 'Parentese' May Help Bonding
Some researchers believe that "parentese," the high-pitched, slowed, infant-directed speech that is used by parents around the world evolved as part of the relationship governing the parent-child attachment, a crucial factor for infant survival. Infant-directed speech regulates the baby's emotional state and attracts the baby's attention. At the same time, it sends a message about the mother's emotional state to the baby, facilitating bonding, a key factor in the mother-child relationship.
[SOURCE: David Bjorklund and Anthony Pellegrini, "Child Development and Evolutionary Psychology," Child Development, November, 2000] DEET Keeps Bugs Off
The lazy days of summer conjure up visions of long hours lazing by the lake or nights camping under the stars. Add sound to this idyllic picture, and you might hear the buzzing of mosquitoes. The spread of West Nile Virus has made mosquito bites more than an annoyance. Insect repellants containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) have been available for decades, but many consumers worry about the use of synthetic chemicals and the small chance of an adverse reaction. New studies show that DEET is far more effective in repelling mosquitoes than natural products. In a controlled study, OFF! Deep Woods repelled insects for an average of 301 minutes compared with Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus that protected for an average of 23 minutes. DEET works by evaporating off the skin and confusing the mosquito so it doesn't land.
[SOURCE: "DEET Is Hard To Beat," Harvard Health Letter, July, 2003] Adult Onset Now Occurring in Youth
American children and teens are fast forwarding to a disease formerly associated with adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A combination of rising obesity levels and inactivity is fueling an explosion of type 2 diabetes among the young. Experts say that if current trends continue, one in three American children born in 2000 will develop diabetes.
[SOURCE: Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press, June, 2003] | 
