Health updates.

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HERE are some nuggets of health information from the articles in the Health & Lifestyle magazine.

Tips to avoid drug interactions

Taking more than one medication may put one at risk for possible drug interactions, which may result in dangerous side effects, among others.

Here are some tips to reduce drug interaction risks:

* Inform (or remind) your doctor of all prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, supplements and vitamins you're taking.

* Read drug labels carefully, follow medicine indications and know the possible side effects of the medicines you are taking.

* Keep a list of all the medications you take.

* If you are taking a prescription medicine, check with your doctor before taking an OTC drug or supplement.

* Tell your doctor if you experience symptoms of a possible drug interaction such as skin rashes, easy bruising, heartburn, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, sedation or confusion, or any new or unexplained symptoms.

Weight and breast cancer

Exercise and less weight gain lower breast cancer risk

Exercise and less weight gain considerably reduce the likelihood of contracting breast cancer, according to a large epidemiological study.

The study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, showed that women with low levels of physical activity and higher body mass index levels have more than twice the risk of developing breast cancer than women who undertake 45 minutes of brisk walking or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise per day.

Lingering effects of child abuse and neglect

Childhood trauma and loss can upset the brain's regulation of stress responses which, in turn, cause prolonged hypersensitivity to stress, reports the Harvard Mental Health Letter.

Researchers looked for ways to prevent and reverse the effects of childhood trauma. They concluded that choice of treatment may depend on the nature of the childhood experience as mistreatment does not cause the same brain changes in all. In addition, individual genetic characteristics and the kind of stress-parental loss, neglect, or abuse-should be taken into consideration.

The researchers said learning more about the biological consequences of child mistreatment through brain imaging and molecular genetic studies will help scientists define the causes and nature of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Alcohol

Heavy drinking raises mental health risk

Women who drink in excess-more than six drinks per week-are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, says a new study published in the journal Addiction.

Researchers from The University of Queensland and the University of Bristol found that women who have more than 15 drinks a week have an increased risk of experiencing mental illness.

The study also shows that light drinking-up to five drinks per week-is associated with the lowest rates of anxiety and depression for women in their early 30s. However, for women in their 20s and 40s, those who don't drink any alcohol have the lowest rates of symptoms.

Reduced lung function increases CV risk

Reduced lung function may increase risk of developing cardiovascular disease, shows a new study published in CHEST.

Researchers studied 1,861 patients (from the first National Health and Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study) and found that those with the most reduced lung function as measured by FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) have five times the risk of ischemic heart disease when compared with patients having strong lung function.

Depression after heart attack

One in five hospitalized heart attack patients experiences a major depression, finds researchers at Johns Hopkins' Evidenced-Based Practice Center.

What's more, these depressed patients are 50 percent more likely than other heart attack patients to be hospitalized with another heart problem within a year and three times as likely to die from a future attack or other heart-related conditions.

But who among the heart attack patients are more likely to get depressed is hard to tell, according to researchers, because the average patient recuperates and is ready to go home from the hospital after 72 hours, and many symptoms of depression develop later.

Source Citation
"Health updates." Asia Africa Intelligence Wire 8 July 2005. Popular Magazines. Web. 17 Jan. 2010. .

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