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At least half of all heart attack victims suffer from depression 12 months after hospitalisation but a simple exercise regime can benefit them.  A report by Michelle Rogerson of   Victoria University  reveals the link between lack of exercise and higher levels of depression among people with coronary heart disease.   It showed that a self-devised 12-week exercise programme, including a fortnightly check-up, helped reduce depression levels.   "The less physically active people were, the more depressed they felt," Rogerson said. "But by the end of the trial we found all of the depressed participants had increased their exercise levels and felt happier. It was a simple intervention but it had a major psychological effect."   Rogerson said she was surprised by the high levels of depression found among the participants in the study.   "It was quite worrying to find about 65 per cent of participants were at least mildly depressed following a heart ...

You may like to throw your mobile phone after reading this, as a new study has found the average handset carries 18 times more potentially harmful germs than a toilet's flush handle.  An analysis of handsets by British researchers found that almost a quarter of them were so dirty that they had up to 10 times an acceptable level of TVC bacteria.   TVC, or Total Viable Count, gives a quantitative idea about the presence of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and mold in a sample.   Elevated levels of TVC indicate poor personal hygiene and act as a breeding ground for other bugs.   One of the phones in the test had such high levels of bacteria that it could have given its owner a serious stomach upset, said the researchers who carried out the study for the 'Which?' magazine.   The findings from a sample of 30 phones suggest that 14.7 million of the 63 million mobiles in use in the UK today could be potential health hazards, they said.   "The lev...

A wrong body posture can predispose people towards aches and pain, but it’s never too late to work towards correcting one’s pose and keeping the spine healthy.  Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or laying down. Good posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments.  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia’s Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Greg Thielman has now offered simple exercises and solutions to improve the posture, and keep aches and pains at bay.  "Poor posture can lead to loss of shoulder motion, chronic pain, walking deficits, neck-related headaches, the inability to exercise, and more," said Thielman.  He added: "However, aside from contributing to a good appearance, the long-term benefits of proper posture include helping to decrease abnormal wearing of joint surfaces, les...

Stress is in the air, while on the move, we stress over poor road sense of fellow drivers, in office over mounting workload, at parties over surging real estate rates, and round up as impatient listeners at home. But just who is not stressed today?  Experts blame an erratic diet as a predominant cause of stress, which usually spans into snack breaks, tea breaks and more snack breaks. Though we can do better by tweaking our diet chart to include foods that curb stress.   Here is a list of eight foods that’ll do the trick   ...  Yoghurt  : Yoghurt works well especially in summer, as it is light and digests easily. Says Dr Shikha Sharma, doctor and wellness expert, “Yoghurt or any dairy product is rich in tyrosine which increases the serotonin level in the brain.” She simplifies this for us, “Proteins increase neurohormone in the brain which eases stressed nerves and calms you down.” If plain yoghurt bores you, try the ready-to-scoop-up, fruit flavoured versi...

Is your waistline bothering you in middle age? Try regular yoga, says a new study.  The study, led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre (FHCRC), is the first of its kind to measure the effects of yoga on weight.  The study involved 15,500 healthy, middle-aged men and women who were asked to complete a written survey recalling their physical activity (including yoga) and weight history between the ages 45 and 55.  The study measured the impact of yoga with weight change, independent of other factors such as diet or other types of physical activity.  The researchers found that between the ages of 45 and 55, most people gained about half a kg a year, which is a common pattern as people age and do not trim calorie intake to their declining energy needs.  "However, men and women who were of normal weight at age 45 and regularly practised yoga gained about three fewer pounds during that 10-year period than those who didn't practise yoga,"...

Is it better to exercise in the morning, or later in the day?  Let your circadian rhythms be your guide. In the afternoon or early evening, your core temperature is warmer. A warm core makes your muscles and joints more supple, which helps you avoid strains and sprains. That makes afternoon or early evening ideal for exercises that tap your muscles, like strength training, stretching, and interval workouts.   Mornings are good too!  On the other hand, if endurance activities are more your type —long brisk walks or bike rides — morning may be better. Your body’s core is cooler early in the day, which can make endurance activities seem less tiring. And there is less risk of overheating. But a good warm-up will be key, since your muscles are likely to be stiffer in the mornings.   No-Sweat Scheduling  Tune up your muscles, lungs, and heart with these well-timed workouts:   Mornings: Get energised. Walk your way to a slimmer you — in your own home! ...

WASHINGTON: Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis have found a way to significantly reduce atherosclerosis in mice without lowering cholesterol levels or eliminating other obesity-related problems. Atherosclerosis is the process through which fatty substances, such as cholesterol and cellular waste products accumulate in the lining of arteries. Those buildups, called plaques, reduce blood flow through the artery and can contribute to heart attack, stroke and even gangrene. It is common in individuals with obesity-related problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.  In the study, researchers inhibited atherosclerosis in mice by interfering with production of a substance called fatty acid synthase. This enzyme converts dietary sugars into fatty acids in the liver, where it plays an important role in energy metabolism. But fatty acids also are involved in atherosclerosis. "The plaques that clog arteries contain large ...

London, July 18 (IANS) There is no need to spend hours on a treadmill to become fit, as the key to a longer life could be as simple as taking a gentle stroll for just half an hour a day. According to experts, a daily walk to the shops can cut the risk of early death by 20 percent, reports express.co.uk. 'Our research confirms that it is not just exercising hard that is good for you. Even moderate, everyday activities like walking and cycling can have major health benefits,' James Woodcock of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said. 'Just walking to the shops or walking the children to school can lengthen your life - as well as bringing other benefits for well-being and the environment,' he added. 'It is a very important message to get across, that small amounts of light to moderate activity on a regular basis will have quite large benefits.' The study, carried out by researchers at Cambridge University and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden a...

Washington, July 16 (ANI): Various studies have revealed that choline, which is present in eggs in abundance, is associated with decreased rate of heart defects during prenatal development. Researchers examined the offspring of mice that consumed a choline-deficient diet during pregnancy compared to the offspring of mice that consumed a diet containing the recommended amount of choline. They observed that heart defects were more prevalent among the offspring of mice consuming a choline-deficient diet. The study also found that low choline   intake was associated with increased levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood that, when elevated, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and declined cognitive function. "Choline is a complex nutrient that is intricately involved in fetal development, and this research reveals another piece of the puzzle," said Marie Caudill, of Cornell University. "Women with diets low in choline have two time...

London, July 15 (IANS) Women now have yet another reason to shed extra fats as a study shows that those having wider hips are more likely to suffer from the problem of memory loss later in life. A group of scientists in the US observed 8,745 women, aged 65-79, on the basis of marks obtained by them in a specific test. Although all the women were classified as 'cognitively normal', the results revealed differences linked to weight and body shape. Test scores dropped by a point for every one-point increase in body mass index (BMI), a standard measurement based on weight and height, Daily Mail reported citing a report published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society. Being overweight was generally associated with reduced memory and brain function. But overweight pear-shaped women were more affected than 'apples' with thick waists. The experts suspect this is because of the type of fat deposited around the hips. 'Obesity is bad, but its effects are worse depen...

Watching Angelina Jolie down a tall glass of strawberry milk, Jessica Alba relish a piece of sinful dark chocolate and closer home, size zero Kareena Kapoor lick her fingers after finishing her eighth meal of the day makes you wonder, where does the food go? Are they all blessed with a high metabolic rate? Do they invest millions in body shapers? Are they bulimic? Or do they live on their treadmills? The reality bite? They eat and they eat right. 1 Blueberries: Not only are they a rich source of antioxidants but also reduce ageing and help in keeping off abdominal fat. 2 Asparagus: Being a natural diuretic, it helps to shed water weight. Asparagus also contains phytochemical glutathione, which has antioxidants and cancer preventing properties. 3 Apples: Rich in fibre, they keep you satisfied for longer, which is the key to maintaining a healthy weight. 4 Eggs: High in proteins, eggs are good for long lustrous hair. Being a good source of Vitamin B12, they help break down fat too. 5 Yog...

GOOD OLD turmeric can cure epilepsy, too, doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have found. They have also found it effective in boosting memory and reducing stress. Research carried out on rats at the department of pharmacology at AIIMS has yielded positive results. "Epilepsy requires long-term antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy, which is advised according to symptoms. However an effective prevention or cure for epilepsy hasn't been available and many drugs in use have side-effects," said Dr K. H. Reeta, assistant professor of pharmacology at AIIMS. According to her even new classes of AEDs are not free of side- effects. Phenytoin is a commonly used AED that has been found effective against all types of seizures. But it also causes cognitive impairment (a condition in which thinking abilities are badly affected) in patients as it damages essential macromolecules of the body, including DNA. "Toxicity is common in patients ...

Hypertension  is the term used to describe high blood pressure. Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and usually given as two numbers. For example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg). The top number is your systolic pressure, the pressure created when your heart beats. It is considered high if it is consistently over 140. The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, the pressure inside blood vessels when the heart is at rest. It is considered high if it is consistently over 90. Either or both of these numbers may be too high. Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure.

London, July 25 (ANI): An anti-ageing hormone pill can significantly boost a woman's chances of becoming pregnant, according to new research. Israeli doctors have discovered that taking the pill increases the chances of conceiving by 300 percent. DHEA is produced in the brain, ovaries and testes and is the most common hormone in the human body. Its levels peak in people in their 20s and then rapidly plummet by the 30s. Scientists in Tel Aviv conducted the world's first clinical trial using DHEA after women praised it for helping with conception. It is sold worldwide and online to fight ageing. The researchers were amazed by the results of a small study carried out with their patients. "We believed that a reduction in this hormone has a part to play in older women having difficulty in conceiving when using IVF," the Daily Express quoted Dr Adrian Shulman, director of the IVF Unit at Meir Medical Center and a professor at Tel Aviv University, as saying. "The res...

London, July 23 : Experts have warned that non-dairy or wheat free fad diets could be putting young women at risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. Research has shown that nearly a third of women are so keen to shed those extra kilos that they are cutting out entire food groups.  Failure to build strong bones by the age of 35 raises the risk of osteoporosis in later life. A poll of the eating habits of 4,500 British women found that 30 per cent admitted to avoiding entire types of food when trying to slim for summer.  Some 28 per cent of these said they give up cheese and, for 11 per cent, all dairy products are taken off the menu.  More than four in ten (41 per cent) cut out bread, which is a major source of calcium.  More than a quarter of those surveyed (26 per cent) said they only pay attention to the fat and calorie content of food labels, ignoring all the other information about their nutritional content.  "This latest research ...

Washington, July 15 : Mothers who feed their   babies cow's milk in the first 15 days of life may be protecting their children from dangerous allergies later on, says a new study. "Women who regularly (daily) introduced their babies to cow milk protein early, before 15 days of life, almost completely eliminated the incidence of allergy    to cow milk protein in their babies," says Prof. Yitzhak Katz of Tel Aviv University''s Department of Pediatrics, Sackler Faculty of Medicine. Babies on a cow milk diet for 15 days were almost completely protected from developing Cows Milk Protein Allergy (CMA). CMA can cause rashes, respiratory problems, shock and even death. Although the exact amount is still unknown, the paediatrician suggests a single bottle-feed at night for those mothers who are breastfeeding. The study also reveals that three-to-five month period is the worst time to expose a baby to cow''s milk.  If not exposed ear...

Washington, July 7 : Water doesn't just quench thirst -it can keep you alert and regulate your blood pressure too, says a new study. David Robertson, and colleagues at Vanderbilt University Medical Center first observed this property about 10 years ago, in patients who had lost their baroreflexes - the system that keeps blood pressure within a normal range.  Water increases the activity of the sympathetic - fight or flight - nervous system, which raises alertness, blood pressure and energy expenditure.  American Red Cross found in a study, that drinking 16 ounces of water before blood donation reduced the fainting response by 20 percent. And because it raises sympathetic nervous system activity - and consequently energy expenditure - it does promote weightloss, Robertson said.  The study is reported in the June issue of the journal   hyper tension. --ANI