on July 25th, 2008
Cold weather may cause dangerous changes in blood pressure, say Veterans Affairs researchers in the US. Their study of 443,632 former armed forces personnel with high blood pressure found that we’re more likely to have high readings during colder months, probably because of winter weight gain & inactivity. Study author Dr Ross Fletcher, advises, “People who are borderline, with a reading of 130/80 in the summer, should be checked again in winter.”
What blood pressure should you aim for? For heart health, experts agree: in general, the lower, the better. A group of US researchers found that only patients who got their pressure below 120/80 showed signs of reversal of coronary disease. Those with higher numbers saw no change or an increase in arterial plaque.
on July 24th, 2008
Obesity contributes to global warming and food shortages. Obese people consume 18 per cent more calories than lean people, and require more fuel for transportation, which contributes to demand for food and fuel, according to researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. This in turn drives up prices and leads to shortages and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
on July 23rd, 2008
Lifestyle changes like having more vegetables, avoiding alcohol, and exercising regularly can delay onset of diabetes for years, reports journal Lancet. Researchers in China divided 577 people with high risk of diabetes into four groups: one group focused on diet, another on exercise and the third on both; the fourth did not make any lifestyle changes. Continue reading »
on July 22nd, 2008
Fasting during a long flight could help beat jet lag. The body’s primary functions are regulated by a biological circadian clock, which responds to daylight, but a study on mice published in journal Science notes that a second ‘feeding clock’, which responds to mealtime patterns, may take over in the absence of food, keeping the person awake till he finds food. Continue reading »
on July 21st, 2008
Fruit juices have better effect against atherosclerosis (clogged arteries, which can cause heart attack or stroke), than the fruits themselves. To study the effect of juicing on beneficial phenolic compounds (antioxidants) in fruits, researchers in France fed rodents grapes, apples and their juices, or water, along with a high cholesterol diet. Continue reading »
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