Statins tied to lowered liver cancer risk with hepatitis C

Statins tied to lowered liver cancer risk with hepatitis C - People infected with chronic hepatitis C are less likely to develop liver cancer if they are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, new research from Taiwan suggests.

The report doesn't prove statins ward off cancer, and one researcher not involved in the study says it's not reason enough to recommend using the popular medications solely for liver cancer prevention.

Previous studies have come to ambiguous and conflicting conclusions on the question of statins' cancer-preventing abilities, researchers noted.

"Observational studies do suggest a significant, modest reduction in the risk of (liver cancer) among patients with chronic liver disease who take statins," said Dr. Hashem El-Serag, a liver disease researcher from the Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston.

Those trials, which follow different groups of patients to see who develops cancer over time, can't prove cause-and-effect.

"The downside to the observational studies, including this study, is because they are non-randomized, the decision to give statins to a patient with hepatitis C may or not may depend on factors that have a lot to do with severity of liver disease," El-Serag told Reuters Health.

For their study, Dr. Pau-Chung Chen from the National Taiwan University College of Public Health in Taipei and his colleagues used nationwide data to track about 261,000 people with hepatitis C from 1999 through 2010.

During that span, about 13 percent of them filled a prescription for statins.

A total of 28,000 people were diagnosed with liver cancer by 2011 - or about one percent of those with hepatitis C each year. After the researchers accounted for patients' age, gender and other diseases, they found those who took statins were about half as likely to get cancer as non-statin users.

Higher doses of statins, as well as longer-term use, were linked to a further drop in cancer risk, according to the findings published this week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The researchers said statins may prevent the hepatitis C virus from replicating or slow the growth of malignant cells. But they can't prove the drugs stopped people from getting cancer.

One limitation, they noted, is that they weren't able to measure other health and lifestyle factors that influence people's risk of liver cancer, including their weight and whether they smoked or drank heavily.

Chen said a large study in which people with hepatitis C are assigned to take statins or not, known as a randomized clinical trial, is needed to clarify the drugs' effects in those patients.

In the United States, about 3.2 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C, which is spread through blood. Having hepatitis C increases a person's chance of liver cancer up to 20-fold, Chen's team wrote.

The National Cancer Institute estimates 30,640 Americans will be diagnosed with liver cancer in 2013 and 21,670 will die of the disease.

The researchers did not find a link between statins and any serious complications.

"We feel more confident that statins do not cause harm in patients with liver disease," Chen told Reuters Health in an email.

Until recently, El-Serag said, many doctors feared prescribing statins to people with liver disease, believing they might cause liver-related complications. He agreed that the new study should allay those concerns.

"Do not avoid statins because of underlying liver disease, because you may help the statin-related indication, such as cholesterol and heart disease, but you may still get additional benefit for reducing the risk of liver cancer," he advised.

Still, El-Serag said, "I would stop shy of recommending it just to (prevent) liver cancer." ( Reuters Health )

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Statins often prescribed without good evidence

Statins often prescribed without good evidence - Many doctors prescribe statins to people who have little chance of benefiting from the cholesterol-lowering drugs, a new study suggests.

In a survey of 202 primary care doctors and cardiologists, more than 70 percent said they would prescribe a statin to patients who have a very low chance of developing heart disease during the next decade, based on their cholesterol and blood pressure levels and other risk factors.

"With patients who don't have heart disease, talking to their doctor about the risks and benefits of (statins) as well as alternative treatments and ways to change lifestyle is going to be important," said Dr. Michael Johansen, who led the new study at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

He and his colleagues sent anonymous surveys to 750 randomly-selected doctors across the country who treat people with high cholesterol. Those surveys included six clinical vignettes describing hypothetical patients of different ages - from 40 to 75 - and genders.

None of those made-up patients had heart disease. They varied in their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and whether they had high blood pressure or diabetes or smoked.

Of the less than one-third of doctors who responded to the survey, the proportion who said they would prescribe a statin to each hypothetical patient varied from 40 percent to 94 percent.

‘TRIGGER HAPPY'

Among the three people who were deemed to have a very low risk of heart disease - for example, a 40-year-old man with high cholesterol and well-controlled hypertension - doctors said they would prescribe statins 73 to 89 percent of the time.

"We have to consider that the downside in the minds of the physicians is usually fairly low," said Dr. Franz Messerli, who runs the hypertension program at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City.

"Many physicians are trigger happy, and do just prescribe a statin, which obviously is not necessarily correct," Messerli, who was not involved in the new research, told Reuters Health.

The one patient for whom less than half of doctors said they would prescribe a statin - a 55-year-old woman with diabetes and low LDL - would likely benefit from the drugs due to her diabetes alone, the researchers wrote Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

About one-quarter of adults age 45 and older in the U.S. take statins. The drugs run anywhere from $11 to more than $200 per month. Possible side effects include muscle pain, nausea and gas and liver dysfunction.

Johansen and his colleagues say their findings suggest doctors aren't doing a good enough job of considering a patient's heart risks when deciding whether to prescribe a statin.

Although the survey didn't ask participants why they would make a particular treatment decision, Johansen told Reuters Health doctors may get caught up focusing on a patient's LDL levels.

"It seems like people could be treating more of a number than a patient's risk," he said.

Messerli also pointed to the heavy direct-to-consumer advertising around statins and how some of those ads are quite misleading about the medications' benefits.

"Physicians are under pressure from their patients," he said.

Some people who don't really need a statin may want one they saw on television. Others with diabetes and low cholesterol may not see the point of a statin or may want to avoid taking another drug, Messerli added.

"The whole issue is not a simple one," he said. (Reuters Health)

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Dietary Fat: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly - There was a time, not long ago, when all dietary fat was bad for our health. It was not truly bad, of course, but we talked ourselves into believing it was. How we responded behaviorally to that belief never made any sense, but that's a topic for other columns, past and future. For now, it suffices to note that we labeled all fat bad, and we were wrong.

One would think, and certainly hope, that having engendered years of public policy and massive shifts in the food supply and prevailing behavior with a misguided boondoggle, we would be extremely cautious about doing it again. But not so! Repeating the follies of dietary history has become something of an honored vocation, if not a national pastime.

Even in the aftermath of having been wrong about dietary fat in general, competing views about specific members of that large and diverse nutrient class are asserted with undiminished conviction.

The case has been made by one research group, for example, that dietary cholesterol (and therefore eggs) is as harmful as tobacco. This would be astounding, if true, because tobacco has long been recognized as an even more important cause of disease and premature death than poor diet. So, in other words, if this assertion about cholesterol were true, it would leave almost no room for any other aspect of diet to account for any harm, because all dietary harm would be accounted for already. Figuring this out is not rocket science.

The assertion about cholesterol is almost certainly wrong for this reason alone. But there are others. The study was led by an ardent proponent of vegan eating, and cholesterol, of course, is only found in animal foods. The study methods were extremely vulnerable to bias. And, there is a large body of evidence that, in the aggregate, all but eggsonerates the egg. Let's move on.

When we began to recognize that all fat wasn't evil, we needed a new villain. We chose saturated fat, and not unreasonably so. Around the world, diets high in saturated fats are associated with high rates of heart disease. But, of course, diets that derive lots of their calories (and, consequently, saturated fat) from meats, dairy, fried foods and so on, must derive less of their calories from alternatives--such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils and so on.

One of the perennial blind spots in nutrition epidemiology is that eating more of A either just means eating more altogether, which brings ills of its own--or eating less of B. And thus, the harms of A may be partly explained by losing the benefits of B. In our perennial rush to judgment, such subtleties are routinely trampled.

Simple reflections of this sort begin to suggest how we might have exaggerated the harms of saturated fat. Switching saturated fat to starch or sugar or trans fat could well be trading sideways, or even down.

But that would not necessarily fully absolve saturated fat, as many voices are now suggesting with unfounded zeal. The evidence we have about saturated fat is not limited to population studies. It includes mechanistic studies showing that certain prevalent saturated fatty acids found in dairy and meat--palmitic acid and myristic acid--induce inflammation and atherogenesis (the process that gums up our arteries).

But the same kind of evidence indicates that other saturated fatty acids such as stearic acid, found prominently in dark chocolate but also in meat, and lauric acid, found in coconut, may be innocuous. All saturated fat is not created equal. We once applied this mistaken "can't differentiate baby from bath water" appraisal to all dietary fat. Instead of learning from it, we now apply the same broken method to classes of fat.

And that now extends to polyunsaturated fat of the omega-6 class. Among my more adamant and persistent of my correspondents are those trying to convince me that what we once thought true of saturated fat--namely, that it's bad--is actually true of omega-6 fat. I am told several times a week that it's this bad polyunsaturated fat that is the REAL cause of heart disease, cancer and our various other prevailing woes. Such thinking has even been distorted to the point of recommending bacon over tilapia.

But this is just the same old misguided nonsense, tossed in a new direction. Omega-6 polyunsaturated fat is, in fact, essential for normal human function. Along with polyunsaturated fat of the omega-3 class, these groups make up the "essential fatty acids."

It's true that omega-6s induce inflammation. Omega-3s, in contrast, tend to be anti-inflammatory. Neither is good nor bad. They are nutritional yin and yang. We need them in balance, and both in balance with other nutrients.

Paleoanthropologists tell us that our native intake of omega-6 and omega-3 was in a ratio of between 1-to-1 and 4-to-1. In modern diets, we eat 11 to 20 times as much omega-6 as omega-3. Is that a problem? Yes. Does it make omega-6 bad? No. Being out of balance is bad.

This situation can likely be improved by eating more omega-3, and/or eating less omega-6, along with eating more monounsaturated fat. But we have no evidence that it would be improved by eating more saturated fat, as many now argue based on next to nothing.

For those preoccupied with omega-6s, cutting them is the one true answer. For those preoccupied with saturated fat or cholesterol, those remain the real problems. Those focused on omega-3s argue that increasing those should be the priority.

Even as factions skirmish over competing views of dietary fats, others see a basis for battle on a different war front altogether. Some contend that the only thing meaningfully wrong with our diets is the sugar, while others argue it's the dairy, and still others, the gluten. Others still argue it's all about carbs, or animal foods, or animal protein, or glycemic load, or lecithin. Some argue it is salt, others calories--while others still seek to exonerate both salt and calories entirely. And everyone, it seems, is sure they're right.

For the most part, those vindicating this or vilifying that are smart and well-intentioned people. The only thing I seem to have latched hold of that they have missed is this: If any one of them is right, then all the others are wrong.

Let that sink in. All of the world's major (and probably minor) religions count among their congregations devout, pious people who believe their group knows the true nature and intentions of the almighty. If any one of those groups is right, then all of the others are wrong. And, so, alas for the equally pious, devout people who happen to be seeking the wrong truth in the wrong temple!

In the parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant, John Godfrey Saxe allows for all of the competing religious views to be a little right, but mostly wrong. What's mostly wrong, of course, is that they don't allow for the possibility that others are at least as right.

For what it's worth, I have the same concerns about privileged claims to absolute truth in the realm of religion. Look at the hatred and troubles competing versions of absolute truth bring us. But religion is not my professional realm, and I will let others wrestle with theology. Epidemiology keeps me plenty busy--particularly as the same problem overtakes us.

It is a mistake--a grave mistake--to infuse the imperfections of an ever-evolving science with religious zeal. Let me state the obvious: No one has claim to absolute nutrition truth, or complete knowledge. No one. And be reminded that the wise and thoughtful and cautious allow for doubt, while hucksters and the deluded have a constant monopoly on certainty.

Renouncing claim to absolute knowledge of every tree does not leave us lost in the woods. We know what diets are associated with the best health outcomes. What do these diets tell us? Is it all fat, or saturated fat? Fructose or carbs? Cholesterol or omega-6s?

None of the above. The problem is imbalance. Bad combinations of questionable foods.

We know that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits; beans and legumes; nuts and seeds; whole, unrefined grains; fish; eggs; with or without seafood, lean meats, and dairy--and variations on such a theme--promotes health. Such a diet is relatively low in saturated fat, but not fixated on it. Such a diet is virtually devoid of trans fat, as that is found preferentially in processed junk.

Such a diet provides a balance of omega-6s (from nuts, seeds, grains and oils) and omega-3s (from nuts, seeds, fish and seafood). It provides monounsaturated oil from nuts, seeds, olives and avocado. It provides little added sugar, because most foods are close to nature. It provides for moderate sodium intake, because most sodium is added during food processing.

Focus on the forest of foods, in other words, and the trees will sort themselves out. Climb a tree, barking mad--and enjoy the show as the forest burns down.

The best way to choose the best fats is to choose the best foods in the right proportions. If you are expecting to find your way to better eating and health by selecting a single villain or savior, well--fat chance.

Some dietary fats are good for us. Balance and proportion are good for us. Some dietary fats are bad for us. Deficiencies, excesses and imbalances are bad for us.

Sweeping generalizations, exaggerated claims and a silly sequence of vindications and vilifications are downright ugly. It's far past time to chew the fat accordingly, and spit out what history abundantly proves is indigestible nonsense. ( U.S.News and World Report LP )

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Yoga Could Help Breast Cancer Survivors Fight Fatigue

Yoga Could Help Breast Cancer Survivors Fight Fatigue -- About one third of breast cancer survivors experience fatigue that can affect their quality of life, but a small new study finds that doing yoga might help restore some lost vitality.

After three months of twice-weekly yoga classes, a group of breast cancer survivors in California reported significantly diminished fatigue and increased "vigor." A control group of women who took classes in post-cancer health issues, but didn't do yoga, had no changes in their fatigue or depression levels.

Dr. Maira Campos, a research scholar at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine who was not involved in the study, said the findings echo similar results from past studies that looked at yoga and cancer patients.

Persistent fatigue lasting years after cancer treatment is a common problem whose origin is unknown, and for which there are no validated treatments.

Some studies have shown that stress-reduction techniques or exercise classes can help reduce fatigue among cancer patients and survivors in general. But none of them has specifically targeted cancer survivors experiencing fatigue to see if a potential therapy reverses the problem, according to Julienne Bower, an associate professor in the psychology department of the University of California, Los Angeles, and her colleagues.

They recruited 31 breast cancer survivors to undergo "treatment" for their fatigue over 12 weeks at the UCLA Medical Center. Each woman was randomly assigned to participate in either two 90-minute yoga classes every week or a two-hour health class once a week.

At the start of the study, each group of women had similar scores on a questionnaire that gauges fatigue levels.

The group taking the educational classes experienced about the same amount of fatigue and energy throughout the initial study period. However, the group taking the yoga class reported about a 26 percent drop in fatigue and a 55 percent increase in energy after the 12-week yoga regimen.

The women in the yoga group also continued to report significant improvements in fatigue levels three months after the classes stopped.

The findings, published in the journal Cancer, do not prove that yoga caused the improvements in fatigue levels. The researchers note, however, that both groups of women had similar expectations that their assigned "treatment" would help them, so a placebo effect is not a likely explanation for the benefits seen in the yoga group.

Jacquelyn Banasik, an associate professor in the College of Nursing at Washington State University, also noted improvements in cancer fatigue after yoga classes in a study she published in the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in 2010.

"I can't say that yoga is the only way to achieve the results seen in ours and other studies," Banasik told Reuters Health in an email. "A beginning ballet class -- with (its) emphasis on form and positioning -- might have similar effects. Gaining a sense of control over one's physical body, when one has a disease like breast cancer, might be an important part of the benefit."

Both of the studies by Bower and Banasik used Inyengar yoga, which, according to Banasik, emphasizes taking poses slowly and paying close attention to maintaining correct form.

Campos told Reuters Health that acupuncture, exercise and physical therapy are sometimes used to treat cancer survivors suffering from fatigue, without a prescription if their symptoms are mild.

She added that she would not prescribe yoga based just on the new study, however.

She said it would be better to compare yoga to another exercise instead of a health- class setting.

Campos also emphasized that it's important for patients to talk to their doctors about fatigue during and after cancer treatments.

"The patient should not be suffering or impaired just because they had cancer," Campos said. ( Reuters Health )

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Indonesia confirms second bird flu death this year

Indonesia confirms second bird flu death this year - A five-year-old toddler has died from the bird flu virus in Jakarta, Indonesia, officials said on Thursday.

The H5N1 virus also claimed the lives of a man in Vietnam and of a toddler in Cambodia this week.

The three deaths bring the total number of avian influenza fatalities in the region to five in the last three weeks.

A man diagnosed with China's first case of bird flu in more than a year died in Shenzhen on 31 December. A man died in Jakarta, Indonesia on 7 January.

It is believed that the 23-year-old was a family member of the toddler, and they were both in contact with sick pigeons.

The H5N1 bird flu strain has killed almost 350 people since 2003, the WHO says

In Vietnam tests confirmed that the 18-year-old man, who died on Monday, had contracted the disease, health officials said. This was the country's first bird flu death since April 2010.

He was working at a duck farm in Can Tho City in the Mekong delta. He came down with a high fever and developed problems.

Officials said that his house had been disinfected and people who were in contact with him placed under surveillance.

BIRD FLU BASICS

• There have been more than 581 cases of human infection with the H5N1 virus since 2003
• According to WHO figures updated in January 2012, 342 people have died of the virus
• Most cases have been in South East Asia and associated with close contact with diseased birds
• Birds shed the virus in their faeces so close contact with their environment can spread disease
• The virus could potentially spread from person to person

The two-year-old Cambodian boy from the northwestern Banteay Meanchey province fell ill on 3 January and was believed to have been in contact with sick poultry.

'Flu season'

The World Health Organization says the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus has killed 342 people since 2003.

The majority of human cases of H5N1 infection have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry.

In South East Asia Vietnam has seen one of the highest numbers of deaths, with 59 fatalities since 2003, according to WHO data.

The winter months, also the flu season, is when outbreaks happen among poultry stocks, leading to possible human infection.

The 39-year-old Shenzhen bus driver, however, was believed to neither have been in contact with poultry or travelled recently. ( bbc.co.uk )

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Older first-time moms not at higher depression risk

Older first-time moms not at higher depression risk - Women who have their first baby at an older age aren't at greater risk of postpartum depression, according to a new report that contradicts earlier concerns.

In a study of more than 500 first-time mothers, Australian researchers found that moms age 37 or older were no more likely to get postpartum depression than their younger counterparts -- whether they conceived naturally or had infertility treatment.

Overall, eight percent of the women had major depression symptoms four months after giving birth. That's at the lower end of what's seen among new mothers in general, the researchers say.

And they found no evidence that age itself affected a woman's risk of developing postpartum depression.

The idea that older first-time mothers might face a higher depression risk has been largely based on speculation and "popular culture anecdote," according to study leader Catherine A. McMahon, an associate professor of psychology at Macquarie University in Australia.

"Older mothers are frequently discussed in the media," McMahon noted in an email. "There are a lot of myths, and limited empirical data."

There's been some speculation, for instance, that older mothers might have a tougher time adjusting to motherhood -- after, presumably, being in the workforce for a long time. Or they might be more "set in their ways" than younger women, and have more difficulty dealing with the lifestyle changes that a baby brings.

But, McMahon said, "there is no research evidence to support these speculations."

On the other hand, it is known that older mothers have a higher risk of pregnancy complications, like high blood pressure and diabetes. And pregnancy complications, in turn, have been linked to postpartum depression risk.

For their study, reported in the journal Fertility and Sterility, McMahon's team followed 266 women who had conceived naturally and 275 who'd undergone fertility treatment. All of the women answered questionnaires during their third trimester, and had a diagnostic interview for depression when their babies were four months old.

Overall, 180 women were age 37 or older when they gave birth. And they were no more likely to develop postpartum depression than younger women were, the study found.

"The findings suggest that older first-time mothers are not at greater risk of postpartum depression, at least in the first four months after birth," McMahon said.

That, she added, highlights the importance of not "labeling" older moms as high-risk for depression -- something that, itself, could stress out a new mother.

Still, McMahon said that there are questions for future studies. One is whether going through menopause while caring for a young child presents challenges.

"There is considerable evidence that vulnerability to depression is greatest in mid-life for women," McMahon noted.

She said it would also be interesting to see how older mothers fare when they go back to work, since they may be more "emotionally committed" to their careers compared with younger mothers.

McMahon also pointed out that this study looked only at depression among women who successfully had a baby. She said there's a need for studies that look at the psychological well-being of women who put off having a baby, and then are unable to conceive. ( Reuters Health )

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Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak Is The Deadliest In A Decade; 16 Dead So Far

Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak Is The Deadliest In A Decade; 16 Dead So Far - Health officials say as many as 16 people have died from possible listeria illnesses traced to Colorado cantaloupes, the deadliest food outbreak in more than a decade.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that 72 illnesses, including 13 deaths, are linked to the tainted fruit. State and local officials say they are investigating three additional deaths that may be connected.

The death toll released by the CDC Tuesday – including newly confirmed deaths in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas – surpassed the number of deaths linked to an outbreak of salmonella in peanuts almost three years ago. Nine people died in that outbreak.

The CDC said Tuesday that they have confirmed two deaths in Texas and one death each in in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Last week the CDC reported two deaths in Colorado, four deaths in New Mexico, one in Oklahoma and one in Maryland.

New Mexico officials said Tuesday they are investigating a fifth death, while health authorities in Kansas and Wyoming said they too are investigating additional deaths possibly linked to the tainted fruit.

Listeria is more deadly than well-known pathogens like salmonella and E. coli, though those outbreaks generally cause many more illnesses. Twenty-one people died in an outbreak of listeria poisoning in 1998 traced to contaminated hot dogs and possibly deli meats made by Bil Mar Foods, a subsidiary of Sara Lee Corp. Another large listeria outbreak in 1985 killed 52 people and was linked to Mexican-style soft cheese.

Listeria generally only sickens the elderly, pregnant women and others with compromised immune systems. The CDC said the median age of those sickened is 78 and that one in five who contract the disease can die.

Dr. Robert Tauxe of the CDC says the number of illnesses and deaths will probably grow in coming weeks because the symptoms of listeria don't always show up right away. It can take four weeks or more for a person to fall ill after eating food contaminated with listeria.

"That long incubation period is a real problem," Tauxe said. "People who ate a contaminated food two weeks ago or even a week ago could still be falling sick weeks later."

CDC reported the 72 illnesses and deaths in 18 states. Cases of listeria were reported in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The most illnesses were reported in Colorado, which has seen 15 sickened. Fourteen illnesses were reported in Texas, 10 in New Mexico and eight in Oklahoma.

The outbreak has been traced to Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo., which recalled the tainted cantaloupes earlier this month. The Food and Drug Administration said state health officials had found listeria in cantaloupes taken from grocery stores in the state and from a victim's home that were grown at Jensen Farms. Matching strains of the disease were found on equipment and cantaloupe samples at Jensen Farms' packing facility in Granada, Colo.

FDA, which investigates the cause of foodborne outbreaks, has not released any additional details on how the contamination may have happened. The agency says its investigation is ongoing.

The Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes from Jensen Farms were shipped from July 29 through Sept. 10 to Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

The recalled cantaloupe may be labeled "Colorado Grown," `'Distributed by Frontera Produce," `'Jensenfarms.com" or "Sweet Rocky Fords." Not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker, the FDA said.

Unlike many pathogens, listeria bacteria can grow at room temperatures and even refrigerator temperatures. The FDA and CDC recommend anyone who may have one of the contaminated cantaloupes throw it out immediately and clean and sanitize any surfaces it may have touched.

About 800 cases of listeria are found in the United States each year, according to CDC, and there usually are three or four outbreaks. Most of these are traced to deli meat and soft cheeses, where listeria is most common.

Produce has rarely been the culprit, but federal investigators say they have seen more produce-related listeria illnesses in the past two years. It was found in sprouts in 2009 and celery in 2010.

While most healthy adults can consume listeria with no ill effects, it can kill the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. It is also dangerous to pregnant women because it easily passes through to the fetus. Dr. Tauxe of the CDC said the type of listeria linked to the cantaloupes is not one that is commonly associated with pregnancy-associated illnesses, however. State and federal health authorities have not definitively linked any miscarriages, stillbirths or infant illnesses to the current outbreak.

Symptoms of listeria include fever and muscle aches, often with other gastrointestinal symptoms. Victims often become incapacitated and unable to speak.

Debbie Frederick said her mother knew something was wrong when her father, 87-year-old William Thomas Beach, collapsed at his home in Mustang, Okla. and couldn't get up. He died a few days later, on Sept. 1. The family later learned his death was linked to eating the cantaloupe and sued Jensen Farms.

"First you just kind of go into shock," said Frederick. "Then it settles in that he would still be alive if this hadn't happened. It's a life, for what?" ( Associated Press )

READ MORE - Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak Is The Deadliest In A Decade; 16 Dead So Far

Obese Ohio Man Found Fused to Chair He Sat in for 2 Years

Obese Ohio Man Found Fused to Chair He Sat in for 2 Years - A morbidly obese Ohio man was in the hospital Tuesday after police found him fused to a chair he had not moved from in two years and were forced to cut a hole in the wall of his house just to get him out, WTRF-TV reported.

The unnamed man lived with two able-bodied roommates -- including his girlfriend, who officials said fed him since he never got up -- in a home in Bellaire, Ohio. The roommates called police upon finding the man unresponsive on Sunday.

Officers who responded to the scene said that the man's skin was fused to the fabric of chair and that he was sitting in his own feces and urine with maggots visible.

One officer said it was the worst thing he had ever responded to. Another told the local TV station he had to throw away his uniform after helping remove the man from the chair.

"The living room where the man lived in his chair was very filthy, very deplorable. It's unbelievable that somebody lives in conditions like that," Jim Chase, a local city code enforcer, told WTRF.

"I instructed the landlord this [Monday] morning and the two people, the tenants at the house, they had to get it cleaned, there's no way they can live in something like that, and so they are working on it," he added.

The landlord told WTRF that the man used to be an active person and said she had no idea how bad his condition was since he covered himself with a blanket every time she came to visit. ( foxnews.com )

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Dreaming about a good night's

Dreaming about a good night's sleep? - Not getting enough quality sleep because you snore? You could be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - Depending on who you talk to, snoring can either be comic or tragic. For those who suffer it silently, it is a menace.

For those who use examples of snorers to tell funny stories, it’s priceless comic relief. And for those who snore, it’s an alarming health problem. This sleep interruption is not taken as seriously as it should be in society. From little snorts and grunts to roaring, thundering bellows, snoring moves through various decibel levels but no matter where it’s at, it is a sign of an underlying health problem.

Two of the most common symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are loud and chronic snoring and fighting sleepiness during the day.

Two of the most common symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are loud and chronic snoring and fighting sleepiness during the day. OSA not only robs an individual of deep, restful sleep, in its extreme form, it can lead to asphyxiation.

Take the case of W.A., a 35-year-old expatriate, who kept dozing off at work due to lack of proper sleep thanks to OSA. When he went out for lunch with his colleagues, he would often doze off in the back seat of his colleague’s car. Many a time his sleep would be accompanied by loud snores. In his own car, he would doze off at the wheel while waiting for the lights to turn green. His wife found her sleep repeatedly disrupted by his snoring cycles. His married life was fraught with tension and his work life a matter of ridicule.

In the case of 43-year-old S.T., snoring also destroyed his marriage. Obese and neglecting his health, he snored throughout the night. His wife’s pleas to seek medical advice fell on deaf ears. Often she would wake up with fear as his breathing grew strangled in his sleep.

Over a period of time, to her horror, she discovered that she too was putting on weight as her lack of sleep began to play havoc with her hormones. This miserable marital situation lasted for almost ten years until she decided to seek a divorce as she realised that living with her husband was damaging her mental and physical health.

“In the case of S.T.” says Dr Anil Chowdhery, ENT Specialist, Jebel Ali Hospital, “snoring turned out to be a very serious problem as it damaged the partner’s psychological and physical well-being. S.T. actually had a severely deviated nasal septum - the bone dividing the two nasal cavities was not straight, thus leading to an imbalanced flow of air through his nose. This led him to suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea [OSA.]

“W.A. too was suffering from OSA. While it is unfortunate that his wife left him, it is a highly probable occurrence in marriages where the husband does not seek medical help for his acute condition.”

What is OSA?

According to Dr Chowdhery, “OSA is a disorder which occurs due to the tongue and the soft palate partially or completely obstructing the pharynx [throat] which sends the air to the larynx. This results in a partial or complete blockage in air flow for a few seconds at a time which leads to recurrent episodes of cessation of ‘apnea’ or breathing.

In the event of either condition, sleep gets interrupted. Typically, the pattern of sleep in such cases is fitful and deep by turns. During the fitful phase, breathing is laboured and insufficient and in the deep phase, it returns to normal. If the cessation or stoppage of breathing lasts for more than ten seconds in adults and six seconds in children, it is classified as ‘apneic episodes’. Individuals with OSA may have such episodes many times during the hours of sleep.”

In OSA, there is a narrowing of the upper respiratory tract during sleep. The muscles of the tract are in a dilated state when awake and upright and therefore, breathing is normal. During sleep, especially in a supine position, the muscles relax thus narrowing the air passage.

“This narrowing leads to an increase in the carbon dioxide levels in the blood causing awakening from sleep,” says Dr Chowdhery.

The primary cause of OSA is obesity. “Obesity,’’ says Dr Chowdhery, “is a leading cause of OSA. Obesity leads to fat deposits in the throat and pharynx which thicken making the airway passages narrower. The fat deposits also render muscles in these areas lax, which means that the tongue and jaw then tend to fall back when an obese person is asleep in a supine position. This also obstructs the already narrow airway passage and leads to snoring.”

The height and the neck size of an individual is a good indicator of the propensity for snoring, says Dr Chowdhery. “Individuals with a short, broad neck with a lot of fat around it and with a circumference of more than 43cm may be more prone to the condition as compared to an individual with the ideal height-weight ratio.”

It has been incontrovertibly established by medical experts that a disruptive sleep pattern can wreak havoc with health. Research has established numerous times that lack of quality sleep on a continual basis could lead to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), impairment of cognitive functions and a diminished quality of life. What is disturbing also is that our current lifestyles increase the chances of sleep deprivation.

How can one identify OSA?

OSA can be diagnosed after assessing patient history, conducting a physical examination and polysomnography, also known as multi-parametric sleep studies (many parameters such as shallow breathing episodes, apneic episodes and oxygen levels are marked, recorded and analysed).

These studies are carried out while a person is sleeping to measure the apneic episodes. A sensor is used to track the breathing pattern through the night to measure the AHI (a numeric measure used to diagnose OSA and its severity). In this parameter, the ‘apneic’ or no-breathing episodes are measured over a period and an average per hour of such episodes is calculated to assess whether the person has OSA or not. Mild OSA is 5-15 apneic events per hour of sleep, moderate is 15-30 apneic events per hour of sleep and severe is more than 30 apneic events per hour of sleep.

Can one have asthma and not sleep apnea?

“Though OSA is pathologically related to upper airway obstruction,” he says, “and bronchial asthma is related to the lower airway, there is a fair chance that asthmatics are more prone to developing it.”

Says Dr Chowdhery, “Typically, someone suffering from OSA will display all of or some of the following symptoms depending on the severity: during sleep, a loud, cyclic snoring; snorting; choking/gasping; repetitive awakenings; thrashing body movements; reduction in heart beats; and apnea.” The typical apneic episodes occur more when the individual is lying on his back, that is, when he is supine.”

Other signs of OSA include EDS, systemic or pulmonary hypertension, lethargy, morning headaches and nocturia (frequent nocturnal urination). Children with OSA may be hyperactive and exhibit poor school performance.

Consequences if OSA is left untreated

As explained above, due to less oxygen in the blood as a result of improper breathing, various complications can arise in OSA. “Recurrent deficiency in oxygen in body tissue resulting from OSA may lead to changes in blood circulation, neurological conditions, metabolic and inflammatory changes,” says Dr Chowdhery.

“Various studies have also indicated that irregularities in heart beats called cardiac arrhythmias may lead to low blood-oxygen pressure, high blood-carbon dioxide pressure or pulmonary arteries constriction in patients with OSA. This in turn exerts pressure or stress on the heart and its pumping capacity, leading to a further risk of cardio-vascular diseases and stroke.”

Who is likely to have OSA?

“Studies have indicated that people over the age of 40 are more likely to suffer from OSA,” says Dr Chowdhery.

“The risk increases with age and the disorder occurs more often in men than in women [2:1 ratio]. Other risk factors for OSA include smoking, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and the consumption of alcohol or the use of sedatives before bedtime.”

Treatment

The current best form of treatment for OSA is through the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) contraption the patient wears on his face during sleep. “The CPAP machine is recognised as the gold standard for treatment of moderate-to-severe OSA in adults.

It is a mask which covers the nose and has a set of tubes which are attached to a pressure monitor. The machine automatically detects sleep apnea and immediately blows the appropriate volume of air into the respiratory tract through a ‘pneumatic splint’ that sits on the nose. The downside is that a patient has to wear it for six to eight hours each night during sleep and on a long-term basis.”

Apart from CPAP, there are other supportive treatments like the use of a nasal splint to dilate the nose, or wearing supporters on the jaws to prevent them from falling back during sleep.

By the way …

• A primary cause of OSA is obesity.
• All snorers do not suffer from OSA.
• Those with OSA are at risk of other health complications.
• OSA could lead to a heart attack/stroke.

Inside info

There is plenty of evidence that shorter attention span, lethargy, sleepiness and irritability can lead to road mishaps. ( gulfnews.com)

READ MORE - Dreaming about a good night's

Even for the blind ... there is light at the end of the tunnel

Even for the blind ... there is light at the end of the tunnel - Eighty percent of diseases leading to blindness are either preventable or curable. This was the message given by Saudi Arabia’s health care sector on the World Sight Day that was observed on Oct. 14. “As we celebrate the World Sight Day, the solution to blindness lies with spreading awareness,” say Saudi doctors.

While the blindness rate across the world is about 0.3 percent, the figure more or less is the same for Saudi Arabia. However, about 80 percent of the diseases that lead to blindness are curable or preventable, one of them at the International Medical Center, says.

The World Sight Day, along with advocating prevention of blindness, also promoted “Vision 2020: The Right to Sight,” a global effort by World health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

“However, we are aiming to get 100 percent of our target populations tested, diagnosed and treated and that is why we need to continue to raise public awareness as we countdown to 2020,” he said.

Organizations dedicated to both curing people who have reversible eye conditions and preventing people from becoming needlessly blind are continuing their effort. One of the key ways of doing this is by training local eye care experts and volunteers.

Restoration of sight and blindness prevention strategies are among the most cost-effective interventions in health care. “But how much have we succeeded in taking it to the people is the question that everyone should ask,” he says.

Although the number of cases of blindness is evenly distributed among the urban and rural population, much of the rural population is yet to make use of technology available to treat diseases. “The facility to perform an eye surgery is rarely available in rural areas. We are witnessing new technological developments in the area. It is high time we reach both the urban and rural population equally,” he added.

Infectious causes of blindness are decreasing the world over as a result of public health interventions and socio-economic development. Blinding trachoma today affects fewer than 80 million people as compared to the 360 million in 1985.

The number of blind people worldwide has been projected to increase to 76 million by 2020. “A big ageing population and lifestyle changes mean that chronic blinding conditions such as diabetic retinopathy are projected to rise exponentially. Without effective major interventions, this problem will continue to prevail,” a doctor said.

What is the solution then? Educating the people about the availability of medical facilities to treat and prevent blindness and awareness campaigns is the way out. “We need to spread awareness through educative films and the media. People should also talk about it with their families. Many more eye screening camps should be held,” an eye specialist at El Maghrabi Hospital said.

There are 314 million visually impaired persons, 45 million blind people and more than 200 million persons have moderate or severe visual impairment in the world, according to the “Blindness and Visual Impairment: Global Facts”, document.

It indicated that 153 million people were visually impaired because of uncorrected refractive errors such as uncorrected nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, the report indicated. However, in most cases, normal vision could be restored with eyeglasses.

It said up to 80 percent of blindness and up to 85 percent of moderate or severe visual impairment could be avoided through prevention, treatment or cure and almost 90 percent of blind people live in low-income countries.

The restoration of sight through cataract surgery was one of the most cost-effective health interventions, Global Facts explained.

The document said infectious causes of blindness were decreasing as a result of public health interventions and socio-economic development.

It, however, revealed that ageing populations and changes in lifestyle could considerably increase the magnitude of visual impairment due to chronic conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, unless appropriate eye care services are provided.

It said cataract, which was curable by surgery, was the leading cause of avoidable blindness and it was estimated that 110,000 people had cataract blindness increasing by 20,000 annually.

Prevention and cure

Organizations have been working to both cure people who have reversible eye conditions and prevent people from becoming needlessly blind. One of the key ways of doing this is by training local eye care experts and volunteers.

Curing blindness

Although cataract is found all over the world, getting treatment for it is much more difficult in developing countries, and it affects children as well as adults.

Preventing blindness

Millions of people are still going needlessly blind in the developing world from preventable diseases such as river blindness and trachoma, and in children, Vitamin A deficiency.

Training eye care workers

One of the most challenging aspects of eye care is the severe shortage of trained staff. Since the 1980s, efforts are continuing to tackle the shortage of eye care workers in cooperation with local partners to train staff at all levels. ( arabnews.com )

READ MORE - Even for the blind ... there is light at the end of the tunnel

Eating carrots and plums 'makes you more attractive'

Eating carrots and plums 'makes you more attractive' - Eating heavily pigmented fruits such as carrots and plums could make you more attractive, experts claim.

People with a yellow skin hue appear particularly healthy and attractive, according to researchers at St Andrews and Bristol universities studying the relationship between skin colour and attractiveness.

They also established for the first time that yellow pigments, or carotenoids, from certain fruit and vegetables played a key role in producing yellowness in skin, The Grocer magazine reported.

Carrots improve people's skin and make them more attractive, experts claim

As part of the study, 40 volunteers rated 51 Scottish Caucasian faces for healthiness and attractiveness.

The results will be published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior in March, the magazine said.

Ian Stephen, one of the scientists involved in the project, said the link between yellowness and carotenoids opened up new strategies for encouraging young people to eat more fruit and vegetables, especially as it took just two months of increased consumption to produce visible results.

He said: ''Telling people they might have a heart attack in 40 years' time if they don't eat more healthily is one thing. What we can do is say, 'This is what you could look in a couple of months if you increased your fruit and veg intake'.'' ( telegraph.co.uk )

READ MORE - Eating carrots and plums 'makes you more attractive'

New Year resolutions to be funded under public health drive

New Year resolutions to be funded under public health drive - Millions of people will be given help to stick to their New Year resolution to get fit with free vouchers to attend the gym, go swimming and eat healthy food.

Ministers will today launch a Public Health White Paper which is designed to “nudge” people to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

In contrast to Labour’s “nanny state” approach, the Government wants to provide people with incentives to change their behaviour, with the entire country benefiting as a result of the lower costs of caring for a healthier population.

Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary said that the Government's strategy was intended to improve the health of the nation and reduce health inequalities.

Five million chequebooks will each contain 20 healthy lifestyle vouchers including offers for half-price swimming sessions and reduced-rate gym taster packages

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "We have got to arrive at a point where politicians stop just telling people how to be healthy but actually help them to do it, which is about positive steps on supporting people on things like physical activity as well as necessary interventions."

Among a raft of measures to be unveiled by Mr Lansley are plans for a £250 million scheme to be called “The Great Swapathon,” which will see members of the public trade their lifestyle for a healthier one.

Vouchers will be given out in supermarkets and doctors’ surgeries, as well as being printed in newspapers, which the public will be able to exchange for free gym membership, swimming sessions, and healthy food and drink.

Launched just after the New Year, the Great Swapathon will be funded by the private sector, with firms wishing to offer food vouchers required to pay for the scheme.

Vouchers will be given in chequebook form. Five million chequebooks will each contain 20 healthy lifestyle vouchers including offers for half-price swimming sessions and reduced-rate gym taster packages.

To redeem them, consumers will be directed to a website where they will be able to search for their nearest participating venue, and type in a code to access an e-ticket.

Three million of the voucher chequebooks, containing discounts of around £5 each, will be available in Asda supermarkets, a million more will be obtained through a Sunday newspaper, and another million from GP surgeries, schools and other bodies run by the state.

The White Paper will also include plans for a new contract for dentists, amid complaints that the current one negotiated by Labour removes incentives to improve oral health.

There will be more emphasis on health visitors, who are said to have been “withering on the vine” under the last Government, with funding for 4,200 extra staff.

The Conservatives had pledged before the election to recruit 3,000 more midwives but ministers have recently failed to commit to the promise saying that the latest figures showed the rising birth rate was now stabilising.

Mr Lansley is also expected to announce moves to stop sales of cheap alcohol, to launch a consultation on the introduction on plain tobacco packaging, and draw up measures to encourage businesses to do more to allow women to breastfeed at work.

Local authority funding will be reformed, so that areas with the highest rates of chronic diseases will receive proportionately more money.

Ministers are understood to be content that many of the measures being drawn up now may not see results of decades to come.

A source said: “The Government's tack on public health will switch from 'nannying' under Labour to 'nudging' under the Coalition, with the idea of encouraging people to make healthy decisions on their own without lots of regulation and pressure from Whitehall.

“The aim is to entrench a healthy lifestyle from an early age for the long-term.

“Business will be a lead role in the new persuasive society and have been promised there will not be draconian regulation on things like food formulations, labelling and prices but they will have to play their part and be 'socially responsible’.” ( telegraph.co.uk )

READ MORE - New Year resolutions to be funded under public health drive

Negative Side Effects Of Masturbation

Negative Side Effects Of Masturbation - My penis is mad at me. How could I write an article on the negative side effects of masturbation? He thinks I’m a traitor and switched teams. I hope he doesn’t take it out on me and be a passive-aggressive limp noodle for my next sexcapade. But how much do we really know about masturbation and its side effects? Sure, we know masturbation feels good -- that’s a gimme.

But what else can it do to us? Playing with ourselves can help us fall asleep, reduces headaches and stress, anxiety and tension, it’s great for immune functioning, increasing endorphin production, and is so good for our prostates. But is there anything else we should be looking out for besides Kim Kardashian’s next Carl’s Jr. commercial?


The negative side effects of masturbation your parents believed


There’s a lot of history behind the negative side effects of masturbation. Since man could grab his pecker and stroke it, people have been coming up with myths that it’s bad for you. Will masturbating cause acne? If it did, 95% of guys would be walking around with a face full of zits. Masturbation must cause sterility, right? While it’s true that having consecutive ejaculations will reduce your sperm count and the volume of semen compared to the first ejaculation, your testes are a factory for sperm production and masturbation isn’t going to close this factory down. Does masturbation cause hairy palms? I don’t even understand this one; is semen Miracle-Gro? The same can be said for blindness, insanity and a whole host of other myths that have been proved false by medical science.


So there have to be some negatives, right? Masturbation itself is harmless and there are no proven long-term physical issues with moderate masturbation habits. However, we can all experience some side effects, whether they are short-term, long-term or related to chronic masturbation habits.


Touching breeds unwanted familiarity


One side effect of masturbation is that subsequent ejaculations will take longer. If you masturbate a few times before a date and, hopefully, proceed to have sex, you’ll probably find more difficulty reaching climax. Thankfully, giving our penis a day or two to recharge should do the trick. In addition, we each know the secrets to getting ourselves off. Masturbating can sometimes create an individual orgasm effect where we train our bodies to respond to our own familiar touch and have a reduced response to other people’s touch, resulting in a tougher time reaching climax with others. A lot of guys can relate to this.

Our hard-ons may also be affected by masturbation as well. After each ejaculation, you’ll notice the firmness of the next erection may get slightly softer and spongier, depending on how close apart the erections are. There’s little evidence that too many erections or masturbation will have an effect on your erection in the future. There’s a wealth of evidence that points to age, diet, smoking, and cardiovascular health as factors that affect your beat-meat getting stiff. Another side effect of masturbation is abrasions or swelling of the penis. Some people have rough hands, calluses, use vigorous strokes, or don’t use lube. Ouch!


Masturbation and guilt


Masturbation can also have a negative psychological impact on a person. Many people feel shame and guilt because of their masturbation habits. Whether it’s a cultural, religious or moral issue, people can be very hard on themselves. The tug of war between what feels natural and pleasurable versus what they were told to refrain from can have lasting harmful effects on a person’s self-esteem, confidence and self-love. Psychosomatic effects can also occur, where physical symptoms are the result of psychological factors (feeling shame, guilt, anxiety can manifest into things like headaches, back pain, chronic pain, etc).


The problems with chronic masturbation


Biologically, chronic masturbating can affect our brain and body chemistry because it can overproduce sex hormones and neurotransmitters. This overproduction impacts each person differently, and can range from fatigue, pelvic pain, vision changes, lower back pain, testicular pain, or hair loss. There is current research that states increased testosterone production is linked to DHT production, which is associated with male pattern hair loss.


However, we have to be careful of the conclusions we extrapolate from research. I still need more evidence to believe hair loss because correlation doesn’t imply causation. Did you know large consumptions of alcohol reduce testosterone production? So does this imply that drinking booze will reduce my testosterone levels, subsequently DHT levels, and stop my hair from falling out? Doubtful -- I’d just be bald and drunk. If you notice any of these effects, try cutting back on your masturbation habits for a few months and see if it helps alleviate your symptoms. If the symptoms are still there, you might as well keep tugging away and see a doctor for a medical checkup.


Compulsive masturbation can also negatively affect a person. What’s compulsive masturbating? There’s no set number of times; it’s associated with a person having difficulties in his life resulting from his masturbation habits. One guy masturbates six times a day and feels productive and great while the other feels the exact opposite. Compulsive masturbation can negatively affect your work, relationships, self-esteem, finances, social support, and have legal problems if you’re not able to find a balance between being responsible in life and satisfying your pleasures and desires. ( askman.com )

READ MORE - Negative Side Effects Of Masturbation

Supplements May Help Women Conceive

Supplements May Help Women Conceive. Of course, women struggling to have a baby should consult a fertility doctor too. Female fertility can be a mysterious business. No matter how carefully a woman tracks her ovulation or times her romantic encounters, there's no guarantee that a baby will be on the way.

Women who have trouble conceiving get lots of free advice: Relax, take a cruise, try different intercourse positions, etc. But could the solution lie in a supplement? Two companies promise to boost female fertility through blends of herbs, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

The ingredient list for FertilityBlend for Women, manufactured by Daily Wellness Inc., includes the herb chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) along with the amino acid L-arginine, green tea, B vitamins, vitamin E, folic acid, iron and zinc. Women are instructed to take three capsules daily for three to six months. A three-month supply costs $74.99 through the company website; a six-month supply can be had for $129.99.

FertilAid for Women, a supplement from Fairhaven Health, also contains chasteberry and every nutrient found in FertilityBlend except for L-arginine. It also throws in extras such as ginkgo, ginseng and vitamins C and D. Users are instructed to take three capsules a day for at least three months. The company's website sells a three-month supply for $77.95

FertilityBlend and FertilAid both offer different formulations for men.

The claims: FertilityBlend's website says the supplements have "helped hundreds of thousands of couples safely and naturally improve their fertility health." It also claims to be "clinically validated by a study done at Stanford University School of Medicine."

FertilAid's website says that supplement "promotes reproductive wellness, supports fertility and optimizes your chances to conceive." The site goes on to say that the product for women will "restore female hormonal balance" and "promote regular ovulation."

The bottom line: There's no doubt that good nutrition can help boost fertility, and there's also good reason to believe that fertility supplements could help some woman conceive, says Dr. Lynn Westphal, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Westphal was the lead author of a 2006 study of FertilityBlend. (A researcher with Daily Wellness co-authored the study, but Westphal herself has no ties to the company.) The study included 93 women who had previously tried to conceive for at least six months without success.

Fifty-three of the women took three capsules of FertilityBlend every day, and the rest took a placebo. After three months, 14 of the 53 women taking FertilityBlend had become pregnant, a success rate of 26%. Meanwhile four out of 40 -- only 10% -- of the women taking a placebo conceived.

The study also found that women who took FertilityBlend produced more progesterone, a hormone that encourages fertilization and prepares the uterus for pregnancy.

According to Westphal, FertilityBlend might be worth a try, especially for younger women with irregular periods. "You could take it in place of a prenatal vitamin," she says.

Still, the baby-making powers of fertility supplements are far from certain, says Cathi Dennehy, an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine. The FertilityBlend study was relatively small, she says, and there just isn't a whole lot of other evidence that it really does the job. And since there have been no published studies of FertilAid, its effectiveness is even more of an open question, she adds.

According to Dennehy, the extra vitamin C in FertilAid could theoretically be helpful for some women. At least one study has suggested that the antioxidant vitamin can improve fertility in women with luteal phase defect, a type of mistimed cycle that's a common cause of infertility.

Westphal suspects chasteberry is the key ingredient in FertilityBlend. European studies suggest that the herb can help encourage a baby-friendly blend of hormones without serious side effects.

Clearly, many couples will need more serious help than can ever come from a supplement, Westphal says. "Women who are over 35 and have been trying for at least six months should not try this in place of seeing a physician," she explains.

Somewhat surprisingly, the president of Daily Wellness, Denny Kwok, completely agrees. Women in their late 30s or 40s should definitely see a doctor before trying his product, he says. "It would be disingenuous of us to say that it works for everyone," he explains. "The clock is ticking, and we don't want anyone to miss their chance." ( The Los Angeles Times )

READ MORE - Supplements May Help Women Conceive

Green Tea Side Effects During Pregnancy

Green Tea Side Effects During Pregnancy. The problem of green tea during pregnancy is that the EGCG molecules are structurally similar to a compound called methotrexate.

Methotrexate is able to kill cancer cells by chemically bonding with an enzyme in the body called enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Healthy people have this enzyme also - it is part of what is called the folate pathway, which is the pathway, or steps, the body takes to transform nutrients like folate into something that can be used to support its normal functions.

But this chemical similarity means that the EGCG in green tea also binds with the enzyme DHFR, and when it does this, it inactivates this enzyme. When this enzyme is inactivated, the ability of the body to use folate is going to be affected.

How much green tea is able to be consumed, or precisely how much folate absorption is affected, is unclear. Though the research article did say that drinking 2 cups of green tea a day can stop cancer cells (which is what methotrexate is targeting) from growing.

The good news on caffeine drank during pregnancy, from coffee and tea, is that a moderate amount is fine. Two studies, one by Danish scientists who interviewed more than 88,000 pregnant women, and the other by the Yale University School of Medicine, had similar findings on caffeine during pregnancy.

The concerns over caffeine were that it would lead to low birth weight or miscarriage. And this is still true of a very high daily intake of coffee. The Yale team found that drinking about 600mg of caffeine a day, which is about 6 cups of coffee, would reduce birth weight to levels that were clinically significant.

The rate at which birth weight was reduced was established at being 28 grams per 100 mg, or 1 cup, of coffee per day. But they emphasized that this would not be significant for moderate caffeine consumption.

The Danish study found that drinking 8 cups or more of coffee per day (this would be about 16 cups or more of tea), would increase the chances of miscarriage, or stillbirth, by 60% compared to women who did not drink caffeine.

They also found that moderate coffee or tea drinking did not pose significant risks. For those drinking half a cup to 3 cups of coffee a day, the risk of fetal death was 3% higher compared to non-caffeine drinkers. And for those drinking 4 to 7 cups of coffee a day, the risk increases to 33%. One cup of coffee equals about 2 cups of tea when comparing caffeine levels. The recommended amount of coffee drunk is up to 3 cups daily, or 6 cups of tea, by the UK food agency. ( articlealley.com )

READ MORE - Green Tea Side Effects During Pregnancy