Strenuous exercise for just half an hour a day can reduce a person's risk of dying from cancer

Laborious exercise for just half an hour a day can shrink a person’s risk of dying from cancer, says a new Brisk exercise ‘cuts cancer death risk’.

Jogging, swimming, rowing and games like squash or football all show the way to a lesser threat of increasing cancer and dying from it.

Yet, the study originate common people should exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to add any benefit according to some magazine.

According to the study concluded by the universities of Kuopio and Oulu in Finland, consider that energetic physical activity is best for lowering the risk of cancer, and mainly of lung and gastrointestinal cancers.

Sources say “The intensity of leisure-time physical activity had a strong and independent association with cancer mortality.“It should be at least moderate so the beneficial effect of physical activity for reducing overall cancer mortality can be achieved.”

They concluded, researchers go along 2,560 men aged from 42 to 61 from eastern Finland with no history of cancer and experienced them to compute the influence of their exercise.

The study has been published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

British man has a unique type of sensitivity allergy to Wi-Fi Internet

Steve Miller has a condition. He proclaims, quite strongly, that he is allergic to wireless internet. That’s right, that invisible field of radiation that surrounds us at every hotel, motel, restaurant, coffee shop, place of business, home, and gas stations. His only respite, he claims, is his bungalow home with 18-inch-thick concrete walls.

The wi-fi allergy also cost Miller, also known as Afterlife, his posh job as the DJ at Ibiza nightspot Pacha.

There has been much discussion of weird medical conditions at PopFi, specifically things like fir trees in lungs. An allergy to wi-fi must be miserable.

Of course, doctors say that he’s just agoraphobic because if he is truly allergic to wi-fi he must also be allergic to mobile phones, microwaves, televisions, and basically everything else with an electronic signal.

He probably is simply an agoraphobe, or perhaps a bit of a hypochondriac. Maybe he’s just looking for an interesting disability claim. Maybe it’s legitimate and he’s the first person to have it? May be many more!

Acute stress can produce a beneficial effect on learning and memory

New York: Even as being stressed out is harmful to ones health, a fascinating new research has suggested that acute stress actually helps to perform better.

Researchers in the United States at the University at Buffalo showed that acute stress -- a short stressful incident -- may enhance learning and memory by increasing transmission of the neurotransmitter glutamate.

The study identifies a novel mechanism that underlies the impact of acute stress on working memory, "a cognitive process depending on glutamate receptor-mediated excitatory signals in prefrontal cortex circuits," said Zhen Yan, professor of physiology and biophysics at the premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York.

Yan said stress hormones "have both protective and damaging effects on the body". "This paper and others we have in the pipeline explain why we need stress to perform better, but don't want to be stressed out," said Yan, the senior author on the study, which appeared in the latest edition of the online Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers underlined that "these studies should bring new insights into the complex actions of stress in different circumstances that may be applicable to humans in the future".

Parents, especially mothers, favour their ''precious first borns'' (PFBs) over the children they have later, concludes a new study

Mothers favour their first-born over their younger children, new research shows today.

Eldest children receive more attention when they are babies than their siblings.

According to research, for their "precious first borns" mothers will go as far as rubbing shampoo into their own eyes to test it doesn't sting, pulling prams backwards to avoid sunlight and even sterilising the steriliser.

In comparison, "neglected subsequent children" are left to scream for attention and play with toys that have been licked by the dog, says parenting website Mumsnet. It has collected 100 "confessions" from over-protective mothers about special treatment they give to first-borns.

One admitted to drying her baby's bottom with a hairdryer after changing her nappy, while some confessed to spending half an hour just bathing their baby's head.

One mother wrote: "First child, suckable items must be sterilised in Milton or steam after they've dropped on the floor. Second child: items must be wiped over with a clean damp cloth. Third child: give them to the dog to lick clean."

Justine Roberts, the co-founder of the site, said: "Precious first born syndrome is something we can all relate to."

Eating disorders involve extreme disturbances in one's food habits

Eating disorders continue to increase in today's society. It is a common misconception that only teenage girls suffer from the problem, but they form only part of the population.

Adult women are as obsessed with the desire to be thin. More women in their 30s, 40s and 50s are developing eating disorders. The onset of anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating can occur at any time in a person's life.

Eating disorders involve extreme disturbances in one's food habits--following rigid diets, gorging on food in secret, throwing up after meals, obsessively counting calories. There's more to the problem than just unhealthy dietary habits.

Dr Sanjay Phutane, senior dietician, Homeo Clinic and Dietic Centre, Koramangala, says, "Cases of extreme obesity are common. Eating disorders mostly occur when a person eats at odd hours. The time between dinner and sleep is very less which results in the accumulation of fat. Little exercise and lack of knowledge about food are also major contributors to eating disorders."

Eating disorders also make the human body prone to many diseases which weaken its normal functioning. Dr Phutane points out, "Eating disorders result in hormonal changes.
The estrogen level decreases, thereby weakening the bones. The body then develops symptoms of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis." According to him, a calcium-rich diet and exercises like cycling and walking would be advantageous in preventing such diseases.

The development of an eating disorder may vary with feelings of self-hate, worthlessness and the need to be thin in order to be happy. Some may feel their lives are out of control and so turn to the one area of their lives that they can control - their weight. Others believe that once they attain the "ideal" body image, their lives will become perfect.

Depression, frustration, stress and the environment at home are some of the major reasons for the development of various eating disorders. Dr Phutane also says, "Unhealthy eating habits and lack of a nutritious diet result in anaemia in women causing physical and mental weakness."

Eating disorders are a lot different in teenagers compared to those in middle-aged women. Teenagers face peer pressure; they are influenced by different kinds of media like newspapers, magazines and television.

Dr Phutane points out, "An unbalanced diet causes nutritional disorders. Living on junk food and eating outside hampers growth, causes obesity, menstrual disorders, acne, hair loss, premature greying of hair, lack of concentration and sleep."

Eating disorders can be treated by way of counselling and awareness programmes. Women need be guided on the right lifestyle and eating habits. Dr Phutane says the right kind of food and regular exercise avoids illnesses. Meditation can also be advantageous." Severe cases of eating disorders are, however, dealt with by medication.

Dimple Naresh of Kirtana consultancy, a deitic centre in the city says, "Eating disorders can be of many kinds - Anorexia Nervosa which involves limited amount of eating, Bulimia where a person binges on food, and severe weight loss and obesity are other problems." She also says that mothers with eating disorders have children, who by the age of five, are more prone to becoming whiny and poor eaters."

A clinical eating disorder is sometimes present in the genes, making it likely that moms with eating disorders will have children who suffer from similar problems. Anamika Saran, 35, is seeing a totally different world after a series of counseling sessions and overcoming her eating disorder: "It is a real sense of empowerment. Now I can do what I want and fit into my clothes better."

Sharbani Mukherjee is rejoicing her win too, "I was embarrassed to socialise as I was overweight. The frustration hampered my self-confidence. I had hypothyroid which made me look extremely out of shape, but with regular medication and certain restrictions in my diet, I achieved good health and feel great."

Studies show that since 1996, the mortality rates have increased among women between the age group of 40 and 45 years due to Anorexia Nervosa.

Life stressors in mid-life may predispose middle-aged women to erratic food habits. Professional help, psychotherapeutic support groups and support from their loved ones would give a new lease of life.

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Aloe vera tooth gel serves the same function as toothpaste

Properly handled aloe vera used as a tooth cleaner may help fight germs, a researcher in India says.

The study, published in General Dentistry, finds the aloe vera tooth gel just as effective as -- and in some cases, more effective than -- two popular commercial non-aloe tooth cleaners.

The researchers say aloe latex contains anthraquinones -- chemical compounds used in healing and arresting pain because they are anti-inflammatory in nature. Since aloe vera tooth gel tends to be less harsh on teeth because it does not contain the abrasive elements typically found in commercial toothpaste, the researchers say it may a great alternative for people with sensitive teeth or gums.

However, they say, buyers must beware. Products must contain the stabilized gel that is located in the center of the aloe vera plant in order to be effective. Products must also adhere to certain manufacturing standards.

"Aloe must not be treated with excessive heat or filtered during the manufacturing process, as this destroys or reduces the effects of certain essential compounds, such as enzymes and polysaccharides," study co-author Dilip George of Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Tiruvallam, India, says in a statement.

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Breakthrough in curing Children suffering from lethal nut allergies

Doctors have developed a potential cure for peanut allergies in a breakthrough that could help tens of thousands of children.

The pioneering therapy uses carefully controlled doses of peanut flour to 'retrain' a child's faulty immune system and bring it back to normal.

In early trials, doctors successfully treated 20 children suffering from severe peanut allergies.

By the end of the six-month experiment, some of the youngsters could eat up to 12 nuts every day without suffering a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Researchers at Cambridge now want to see whether the same technique can be used to tackle the increase in other types of food allergies such as milk, kiwi fruit and gluten.

Around one child in 50 is thought to suffer from peanut allergy in Britain. In total around 450,000 adults and children have the condition.

Reactions to peanuts can range from mild itching and rashes to potentially dangerous swelling of the airways, breathing problems and severe asthma.

It is the most common serious allergic reaction and appears to be on the rise.

On average, seven children are thought to die from peanut allergies each year.

Dr Pamela Ewan, a consultant allergist at Addenbrooke's hospital and lead researcher in the study, stressed that the treatment was not yet a 'cure'.

'We are essentially retraining the immune system by presenting it with a very low dose to begin with and gradually increasing it,' she said.

'For some, they were getting reactions when they had just one 400th of a peanut. We give them less than that to start with and build up from there.

'It is still early days, and we still need to work out how long term the desensitisation is.'

She added: 'The patients have told us that it has been a massive, life-changing experience.

'The mothers and the children say it has taken away a huge fear that had been looming over them.'

She warned parents not to attempt the technique at home. Giving children with a nut allergy doses of peanut flour could be extremely dangerous.

'We have to increase their dose in hospital in case they take an adverse reaction,' she said.

The researchers gave 20 children with severe peanut allergy small daily doses of peanut flour over six months.

The doses were initially lower than the amount needed to trigger an allergic reaction and were increased every two weeks until the youngsters could eat the equivalent of six peanuts a day.

After 16 weeks, the children were eating peanuts every day to keep their immune system desensitised.

According to the doctors, 20 patients aged between five and 17 years old can now eat up to 12 peanuts a day. Results from the first part of the trial were published in the journal Allergy earlier this year.

The children will be followed for the next three or four years to monitor their tolerance levels. Other studies will see if the peanut flour can be given as a tablet.

Allergy UK welcomed the study. 'This gives tremendous hope for food allergy sufferers,' said chief executive Jules Payne.

'Food allergies can make life so miserable. But we wouldn't want people to try this treatment themselves as they need to be in a clinically controlled environment.'

Doctors are baffled by the rise in peanut allergies.

Some experts believe the obsession with cleanliness in homes - and the fact that children spend little time outside exposed to dirt and germs - means young immune systems are not being properly developed, leaving them vulnerable to allergic reactions.

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Physicians providing palliative care should cultivate the art of listening, exuding empathy and providing pain relief : Adyar Cancer Institute

Physicians providing palliative care should cultivate the art of listening, exuding empathy and providing pain relief, said V. Shanta, chairman of Adyar Cancer Institute, on Saturday.

Inaugurating a palliative care workshop here, she urged physicians not to depend on the knowledge about advances in symptomatic care alone. The mindset that cancer pain cannot be relieved must be dispelled.

The workshop was organised by the Institute’s Department of Psycho-Oncology, Pallium India, Thiruvananthapuram, and Cancer Aid Society.

Dr. Shanta said little was done to relieve a patient of pain as there was unfounded fear of addiction in doctors and families who tend to under-prescribe and under-dose pain-relieving drugs. “Symptom relief is vital. Doctors and families must be educated to say pain is treatable and suffering should be relieved at any cost.”

Dr. Shanta said a palliative care programme could successfully be used to create awareness of cancer and early detection among family members and friends.

She advised doctors to make “an experienced multi-disciplinary decision,” while providing treatment. This included taking into consideration symptom control, complications associated with the proposed treatment, anticipated period of survival with or without intervention, quality of living and cost-effectiveness, Dr. Shanta told the gathering of medicare providers and palliative care professionals.

M. Bhaskaran, director (in-charge) of Drug Control Administration, spoke about regulations and the standard of procedure to be followed for setting up a recognised medical institution that could provide palliative care.

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World’s largest cancer hospital, a 1400-bed Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre (MSCC) in Bangalore

Bangalore: Cardiac-care chain Narayana Hrudayalaya launched the world’s largest cancer hospital, a 1400-bed Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre (MSCC), in the Narayana Hrudayalaya health city on Friday. The 5 lakh-sq ft hospital will be focusing on curing on head and neck, breast and cervical cancer.

MSCC aims to extend the idea of affordability from cardiac care to cancer as well. Speaking at the launch of MSCC, Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, said: “There is no concept of standard cancer care as there are huge variations in cancer treatment across India. We also need facilities that provide comprehensive care, through a bespoke model with treatment that is unique to every patient.”

Ms Shaw has a small stake in the holding company, Narayana Hrudayalaya, in her personal capacity.

Article Published in The Economic Times

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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) speeds up healing of diabetic wounds and thus prevents amputation

Researchers say on a daily basis around 275 Australians develop type 2 diabetes and worldwide, every 30 seconds a person somewhere has a lower limb amputated because of diabetic foot disease.

Scientists at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) say new research they have conducted suggests that oxygen treatment could prevent this from happening as the oxygen may help diabetics heal.

An international team of researchers led by mathematicians at QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Kelvin Grove, modelled the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) - HBOT is when the body is intermittently exposed to pure oxygen under pressure in order to heal the chronic wounds that lead to the need for amputation.

QUT mathematician Jennifer Flegg says a small cut on the foot of a diabetic can have catastrophic effects because their wounds do not heal the same way as normal wounds because of many factors including reduced blood flow.

Mrs Flegg says their modelling showed that HBOT applied intermittently under pressure to a diabetic wound speeds up the healing but only HBOT, and not oxygen applied with no extra pressure, stimulates healing of these chronic wounds.

She says they also found that HBOT must be continued until the wound has completely healed in order for it to be effective and individual wounds need to be treated differently.

Mrs Flegg says each patient has different healing capacities with HBOT and their modelling shows that there should be a research focus on individual treatment protocols in order to optimize the outcome for each patient.

An article on the research by Mrs Flegg, Professor Ian Turner and Emeritus Professor Sean McElwain from QUT and Professor Helen Byrne from the Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology at the University of Nottingham will be published in the Public Library of Science (PLoS): Computational Biology.

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Most children who suffer from chronic daily headaches in their early teens, about 88 percent will outgrow them before their early 20s

Most children who suffer from chronic headaches are likely to outgrow the disabling condition over time, says a new study.

"Our results suggest there is hope for children who experience these headaches and for their parents, who also deal with the frustration and considerable disability that this condition can bring," said study author Dr Shuu-Jiun Wang, of the Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine in Taipei, Taiwan.

"Over time, most of these children get better, eventually having less frequent migraine headaches as young adults," Wang added.

During the study, the researchers examined 122 children in middle school with chronic daily headache between the ages of 12 and 14 years old.

They found that 60 percent of the children no longer had chronic daily headache after one year and 75 percent no longer had the symptoms after two years.

Furthermore, after eight years, only 12 percent of the 103 children tested still experienced symptoms of chronic daily headache.

The study also showed that 75 percent of the children had episodic migraine or probable migraine, while 11 percent became headache free after eight years.

"Parents and children should be prepared for the possibility that while chronic daily headache may get better over time, headaches in general may never fully go away, but for most children the headaches are much less frequent when they become young adults," said Wang.

The research is published in issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Intelligence appears to be one reason why poor people are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease

Greater intelligence may in part partially explain why people from a high socio-economic background live longer than those of lower social status, researchers have suggested.

A study of former soldiers in the United States has indicated that differences in IQ may explain almost a quarter of the differences in mortality between people of higher and lower social classes.

It has long been accepted that social status affects mortality, with a particular influence on death from cardiovascular events such as strokes and heart attacks. Many of these differences have been ascribed to stress, to income, and to behavioural factors such as smoking and diet — but these cannot explain the whole gap in longevity between the highest socio-economic groups and the lowest ones.

The new study, from a team led by David Batty, of the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow, compared outcomes from a group of 4,289 former American soldiers drawn from diverse social backgrounds.

It found that variations in IQ explain about 23 per cent of the survival differences between different social groups. Details of the study are published in European Heart Journal.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot, of University College, London, who leads the Whitehall II study of civil servants, which has uncovered many of the effects of social class on mortality, and his colleague Mika Kivimaki, offered three possible explanations for the effect in a commentary for the journal.

“Intelligence might lead to greater knowledge about how to pursue healthy behaviours,” he wrote. Intelligence may “cause” socio-economic position; that is, more intelligence leads to more education, and greater income and occupational prestige. “Intelligence may be a marker for something else, and it is that something else, early life exposures, for example, that leads to mortality,” Dr Batty said.

“We already know that socio-economically disadvantaged people have worse health and tend to die earlier from conditions such as heart disease, cancer and accidents. Environmental exposures and health-related behaviours, such as smoking, diet and physical activity, can explain some of this difference, but not all of it. This raises the possibility that as-yet-unmeasured psychological factors need to be considered. One of these is intelligence or cognitive function, commonly referred to as IQ. This measures a person’s ability to reason and problem-solve. IQ is strongly related to socio-economic status.

“IQ wasn’t a magic bullet in this study, but this psychological variable had additional explanatory power on top of the classic variables such as smoking, high blood pressure, high blood glucose and obesity. It has partially explained the differences in death from heart disease and all causes.”

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Oral contraceptives may be less effective at preventing pregnancy in obese women

An Indian American researcher has identified a potential bio-mechanism that could explain why oral contraceptives seem to fail in preventing pregnancy among obese women.

Although oral contraceptives appear to reach the required blood level concentrations to prevent pregnancy in such women, they may take twice as long to do so, leaving a "window of opportunity" for pregnancy every month.

The findings are of particular importance, researchers noted, because about 30 percent of all US adults are obese and the birth control pill is one of the most popular forms of contraception in the nation.

"We don't have enough data yet to recommend that physicians change their clinical practice for use of oral contraceptives with patients who are very overweight," said Ganesh Cherala, assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy at Oregon State University (OSU).

Cherala, who did his Bachelor of Pharmacy from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, in 1999, said: "Until more studies are done, women may wish to consult their physicians about this issue and consider a backup method of contraception."

The underlying problem, Cherala said, is that oral contraceptives, like most drugs, are initially tested in "healthy" people, which rarely includes people who are more than 130 percent of their ideal body weight
.

"When we first test drugs for safety and efficacy, we generally do not include people with a high body mass index," Cherala said.

"But body weight and amounts of fat can seriously change the pharmacokinetics, or way drugs act and are processed in the body. There's a growing awareness that we need to more carefully consider obesity and other factors that affect drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and other factors."

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Late marriages and tight pants lower fertility in women and men, respectively

India’s health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad thinks late marriages are the answer to the country’s population problem. He may want to add an advice for men, too – wear tight pants. A Malaysian expert has said that late marriages and tight pants lower fertility in women and men, respectively.

Interestingly, Malaysia’s problem is the exact opposite of India’s. As population explodes in India, Malaysia has seen the number of babies being born per year decline since 1990.

Dr V Jeyabalan, a fertility expert attached to Malaysian healthcare group Pantai Hospitals, blamed late marriages among women for the problem. Throw in junk food full of meats treated with chemicals, smoking, casual sex, sexually transmitted diseases and repeated abortions and a healthy pregnancy becomes a distant dream for women, he told The New Straits Times.

As many as 10-15 per cent of Malaysians between the ages of 30 and 40 years are reported to be facing infertility issues. Jeyabalan told The New Straits Times, “The changing role of women is the main reason for their infertility. They are getting married late now as they have to build a career alongside men to become equal breadwinners.”

Due to their hectic work schedules, career women tend to turn to fast foods, which contain chemicals that affect their hormonal makeup. Besides, casual sex has also become commonplace as have multiple abortions, he said. “Venereal diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis, combined with previous abortions and smoking, which has gradually become increasingly common among women, can prevent conception and sometimes cause miscarriages,” the expert added.

In men, the tighter the pants, the higher the risk of infertility. In addition, exposure to petrol and chemical fumes also plays a part in lowering a man’s ability to impregnate a woman.

Jeyabalan said government intervention was required to prevent a decline in the country’s population. One way could be offering health coverage for fertility treatments or subsidizing them so childless couples could afford them, he said.

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Middle-aged men at greater risk of Diabetes

A report from the health charity Diabetes UK found 2.4 per cent of men in England aged between 35 and 54 have the condition compared to 1.2 per cent of women of the same age.

The statistics also show six per cent of men aged between 45 and 54 have diabetes compared to 3.6 per cent of women.

Figures show the number of diabetes cases has risen four times faster in men aged 35 and 44 over the last 12 years, compared to women of the same age.

Approximately 90 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which is strongly linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity levels.

The condition can be genetic, but many people are overweight when they are diagnosed, health experts claim.

Simon O'Neill, director of care, information and advocacy at Diabetes UK, said: "It's very worrying that men of this age are developing diabetes at such an alarming rate compared to their female counterparts.

"Most of them will have Type 2 diabetes which is strongly linked to lifestyle and can be prevented in many cases by eating a healthy balanced diet and doing regular physical activity.

"Women should not rest on their laurels, either. They may tend to develop the condition later in life, but the risk of death from heart disease associated with Type 2 diabetes is about 50 per cent greater in women than it is in men - not a statistic to be ignored."

Diabetes UK has called on people to live healthier lifestyles and watch their weight in a way of reducing the number of cases.

Research shows that losing weight can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes in those at high risk by 58 per cent and physical activity can reduce the risk by 64 per cent.

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Alleviate the pain of tennis elbow with A simple exercise to strengthen the wrist, U.S. researchers

A simple exercise to strengthen the wrist may help alleviate the pain of tennis elbow, U.S. researchers said on Saturday.

The exercise involved using an inexpensive rubber bar to perform isolated eccentric wrist extensors strengthening to treat the painful condition in the elbow or forearm that affects 3 percent of the general population, not just those who play tennis.

The researchers said in a statement that they randomized 21 patients with tennis elbow into two groups. Both received the wrist extensor stretching, ultrasound, cross-friction massage, heat and ice for treatment, but one of them also received the bar and strengthening exercise and did three sets of 15 repetitions daily.

Patients using the rubber bar had vastly better results on all scales, including pain, movement and especially, strength, while the other group saw little improvement, they said.

"Compared to other treatments for tennis elbow such as cortisone injections or topical nitric oxide which require direct medical supervision and often side effects, this treatment is not only cost effective but dosage is not limited by the patient having to come to a clinic," said lead author Timothy Tyler from the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York.

The findings were present at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's annual meeting in Keystone, Colorado.

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Uttering expletives when you hurt yourself is a sensible policy, according to scientists who have shown swearing can help reduce pain.

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Cut your finger? Hurt your leg? Start swearing. It might lessen the pain.

Researchers from the school of psychology at Britain's Keele University have found swearing can make you feel better as it can have a "pain-lessening effect," according to a study published in the journal NeuroReport.

Colleagues Richard Stephens, John Atkins and Andrew Kingston, set out to establish if there was any link between swearing and physical pain.

"Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon," says Stephens.

"It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain. Our research shows one potential reason why swearing developed and why it persists."

Their study involved 64 volunteers who were each asked to put their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice.

They then repeated the experiment using a more commonplace word that they would use to describe a table.

The researchers found the volunteers were able to keep their hands in the ice water for a longer when swearing, establishing a link between swearing and an increase in pain tolerance.

Stephens said it was not clear how or why this link existed but it could be because swearing may increase aggression.

"What is clear is that swearing triggers not only an emotional response, but a physical one too, which may explain why the centuries-old practice of cursing developed and still persists today," he said.

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Obese or Overweight be warned: You have a high risk of contracting Type-2 diabetes

JEDDAH – Saudis who are obese or overweight be warned: You have a high risk of contracting Type-2 diabetes, a new study says.

The study that appears in the journal Cell Metabolism cites scientists as saying they may have uncovered a key reason why obese people have a raised risk of health complications such as type 2 diabetes.

A team led by Matthew Watt, Associate Professor at Monash University in Sydney, discovered that fat cells release a protein called PEDF (pigment epithelium-derived factor) which triggers a chain of events and interactions that lead to development of Type-2 (T-2) diabetes.

“When PEDF is released into the bloodstream, it causes the muscle and liver to become desensitised to insulin. The pancreas then produces more insulin to counteract these negative effects,” said Watt.

“This insulin release causes the pancreas to become overworked, eventually slowing or stopping insulin release from the pancreas leading to T-2 diabetes. It appears that the more fat tissue a person has the less sensitive they become to insulin. Therefore a greater amount of insulin is required to maintain the body’s regulation of blood-glucose,” Watt added.

“Our research was able to show that increasing PEDF not only causes T-2 diabetes like complications but that blocking PEDF reverses these effects. The body again returned to being insulin-sensitive and therefore did not need excess insulin to remain regulated.”

Watt said previous research had suggested that PEDF also protects against furring of the arteries and excessive blood vessel growth and helps keep the nervous system healthy. But he said new drugs could be at least five years away.

The study was carried out in mice but there has been signs from other studies that higher levels of this protein found in overweight people with Type 2 diabetes could indicate that a similar process is occurring in humans. – Agencies

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Orthorexia is obsession of a person to eat healthy food. It can lead to malnutrition, underlying health problems and sometimes even death.

The old saying 'everything is good in limit' is applicable to intake of healthy food also. Too much focus on eating healthy foods can be an eating disorder.

Orthorexia is the recent addition to list of food disorders. The term Orthorexia coined Steven Bratman. Orthorexia has been derived from two Greek words, orthos means "correct or right", and orexis means "appetite" hence Orthorexia stands for "correct Appetite."

The obsession of a person to eat healthy food is called Orthorexia. It can lead to malnutrition, underlying health problems and sometimes even death.

Steve Bratman says that "Obsession with healthy food can progress to the point where it crowds out other activities and interests, impairs relationships, and even becomes physically dangerous. When this happens, orthorexia takes on the dimensions of a true eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa or bulimia".

Orthorexia can lead to unhealthy food pattern putting severe dietary restrictions leading to health problems like lack of energy, headaches, nausea, extreme weight loss and loss of muscle tone. The extreme urge to eat healthy food can lead to avoidance of several food items which provide necessary nutrients for proper function of body like certain fats and foods with preservatives.

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Vinegar may help control blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and fat accumulation.

The vinegar used to garnish salad dressings, pickles and other foods, may live up to its folk reputation as a fat buster and health promoter.

Japanese researchers Tomoo Kondo and colleagues noted that vinegar has also been used as a folk medicine since ancient times, for a range of illnesses.

Modern research suggests that acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, may help control blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and fat accumulation.

Their new study showed that lab mice fed a high-fat diet and given acetic acid developed significantly less body fat (up to 10 percent less) than other mice, said an American Chemical Society (ACS) release.

Importantly, the new research bolsters evidence that acetic acid fights fat by turning on genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes.

The genes churn out proteins involved in breaking down fats, thus suppressing body fat accumulation in the body.

These findings were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

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