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How to Avoid Deep-Vein Thrombosis on Long Flights

Sean Duffy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:20:04 +0000

By Scott McCartney New guidelines for travelers published by the American College of Chest Physicians recommend using below-knee compression stockings on long airline flights for people at higher risk for deep vein thrombosis -– but only if travelers have a risk factor for blood clotting. Those risk factors include the use of oral contraceptives, advanced age, pregnancy, severe obesity, limited mobility, recent surgery or trauma and cancer. Because it can be harder for window-seat passengers to get up and move around, the guidelines identify window seats as a risk factor and suggested sitting in an aisle seat is a wise choice for people at risk. The guidelines come from a team of physicians who studied 14 previous DVT research reports from around the world. They found no definitive evidence to support that dehydration and alcohol intake in-flight increase risk, and they recommended against the use of aspirin as a preventive measure. DVT is a serious condition that can lead to a potentially fatal blockage in the lungs known as a pulmonary embolism. DVT with symptoms is rare among travelers, but the highest frequency comes among people who sit on flights longer than eight to 10 hours. Most passengers who do develop a thrombosis or embolism after long-distance travel have one or more risk factors, said guideline co-author Mark Crowther of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. While medical literature decades ago labeled DVT as “economy-class syndrome” because cramped seating was thought to exacerbate the problem, the guidelines agree with previous studies that first-class and business-class passengers are also at risk. The issue is immobility, not tight quarters. If you don’t move and exercise legs while sitting in a big seat, you can face heightened DVT risk. As with previous DVT advice, the guidelines suggest frequent ambulation on long flights and calf-muscle exercises. Despite finding no evidence that dehydration can raise the risk of blood clots, the guidelines suggest avoiding dehydration anyway. In the arid air of an airplane cabin, drinking fluids is frequently recommended. Based on previous studies, the researchers concluded that the use of various brands of below-knee compression stockings reduced the rate of asymptomatic DVT detected by screening study participants after flights from 3.6% (47 of 1,323 control subjects) to 0.2% (three of 1,314 stocking users). The recommendations say stockings used should provide 15-30 mm Hg compression at the ankle and need to be fitted properly -– not too tight up near the knee. Researchers suggested travelers wear them around the house a few days prior to a long trip to ensure a good comfortable fit. The guidelines stressed, however, that people without risk factors shouldn’t wear compression stockings as a DVT preventive measure. (This post originally appeared on the Middle Seat Terminal blog.)

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How to Avoid Deep-Vein Thrombosis on Long Flights

Brain’s Reluctance To Function With Age

Dr Joe — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:58:21 +0000

New findings have revealed a new mechanism by which the brain of individuals might become reluctant to function as they grow older. This research was led by leading neuroscientists from the University of Bristol and it also got printed in the periodical of Neurobiology of Aging. It is still not absolutely understood as to why Related posts: Study Shows Possibility of Smell Function To Get Better Distortion in the sense of smell is a factor that… Brain foods: Best to choose and indicated to avoid The brain is one of our most precious organs as… Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Linked to Lower Sexual Function Scores Using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men scale, research, presented…

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Brain’s Reluctance To Function With Age

Overindulgence in Drinking, Its Ill Effects to the Heart

Sean Duffy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:58:19 +0000

The University of Maryland Medical Center defines alcoholism as “being characterized by craving alcohol and losing control over drinking, along with a physical dependence (meaning that the person experiences withdrawal symptoms when not drinking) and a tolerance for alcohol (meaning the person needs to drink greater amounts to feel “good”). Before entering recovery, most alcoholics Related posts: CDC expresses alarm over the rising rate of Binge Drinking The health researchers and experts at CDC, Center for Disease… Binge Drinking Of Women In College Associated With Sexual Assault Risk Drinking alcohol has already known detriments attached to it, in… According to researches light drinking causes no risk to baby According to a latest study published, light drinking during pregnancy…

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Biological Impact of Music Therapy on Aging

Martin Neumann — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:20:23 +0000

Delays related to age neural timings are not predictable and neither they can be prevented or offset with training in music, as per a research from University of Northwestern. The research is the first to present and put forward the biological evidences that the enduring musical experience has a significant impact on the aging process. Related posts: Crush Your Worries by Listening Music On the basis of the recent studies, it was concluded… Pain Can Be Relieved By Music among Those Who Are Anxious Up to this date, there are already many treatment modalities… Blocked Brain Blood Vessels May be the Cause of Signs of Aging In a study published in the Journal of American Heart…

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Biological Impact of Music Therapy on Aging

Men more probable to suffer from precise memory of unpleasant experiences

Sean Duffy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:45 +0000

A man’s memory of unpleasant and emotional experiences is more likely to be accurate than woman’s. This was reported as per a research conducted by researchers from University of Montreal at the Hospital of Louis H Lafontaine. Less research has been conducted to find how arousal and valance impact the memories independently of each other. Related posts: New Cues Linked To Elderly’s Memory Loss Memory is an essential characteristic of a person. It is… Stay Awake to Forgo Unpleasant Memories! Crisis occurs almost any time of the day, any season… 4 ways to boost your memory Many who grow older experience memory loss. Not all experience…

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Men more probable to suffer from precise memory of unpleasant experiences

Men more probable to suffer from precise memory of unpleasant experiences

Dr Joe — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:45 +0000

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Men more probable to suffer from precise memory of unpleasant experiences

High Level of exhaustion among UK family doctors

Martin Neumann — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:40 +0000

Levels of exhaustion in UK general practice are elevated, recommended a research of general practitioners in one region of South England which was published in BMJ Open. Male doctors who work in groups and if they see the similar patients every day, seem to be at noteworthy elevated level of risk. Researchers have prompted the Related posts: Great aliments for lowering high blood level of cholesterol We all have heard by now that high cholesterol can… Some Doctors Who Order MRI Screenings, Influenced by Financial Interests The general public has to rejoice because of the modern… Learn how to protect yourself and your family against flu We all know that flu is not just a simple…

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High Level of exhaustion among UK family doctors

Emigrating together is stressful than emigrating alone

Sean Duffy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:38 +0000

Generally couples are considered one soul and one heart but when it is time to take decision whether to emigrate alone or together, they become confused. A study of Victoria College of Wellington analyzed the experiences of some migrants of Britain to New Zealand. This study showed that it is general for the couples to Related posts: Feeling Stressful? There might be More Help Coming Your Way People need stress to live – that’s what gives us… 5 Female libido problems that all women must know 1. Female libido problems are usually due to some disorder…

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Emigrating together is stressful than emigrating alone

A.M. Vitals: Pfizer Believes Only a Small Number of Birth-Control Pill Packs Are Faulty

Martin Neumann — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:51:11 +0000

Birth-Control Recall: Pfizer has recalled about a million packs of birth-control pills on concerns that incorrect packaging could lead to unplanned pregnancies, but says it believes only 30 packs actually had the troublesome glitches, the WSJ reports . Pfizer has identified three production problems that could permit pills to be placed incorrectly in the packs and go undetected. It’s not clear how many pills have already been used and how many are still in medicine cabinets, the paper says. Regulating Sugar?: A commentary published in Nature calls for sugar added to foods to be regulated, using the taxes and limited availability of tobacco and alcohol as a model, WebMD reports . Commentary author Robert Lustig, of the University of California, San Francisco, says excess sugar is linked to health problems, while the Sugar Association disputes that sugar intake causes disease. The FDA says it is not reconsidering sugar’s current regulatory status as a “generally recognized as safe” product, WebMD reports. Device Pact: Medical-device firms will pay the FDA $595 million over five years under the tentative terms of a new user-fee agreement, the WSJ reports . The FDA will add more full-time employees to consider medical-device applications and will have concrete goals for approval times, the paper says. Surgery Risk Suggested: Research published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that children who undergo two or more surgeries by the age of two are more likely to develop ADHD in the future compared to children who experience one operation, possibly because of the effects of general anesthesia on the developing brain, Time’s Healthland blog reports . The study cannot prove that anesthesia causes the future problems, however, and a study author says that the benefits of surgery for infants usually outweigh any potential risk, Time says. Image: iStockphoto

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A.M. Vitals: Pfizer Believes Only a Small Number of Birth-Control Pill Packs Are Faulty

Researchers Call For a Tax on Sugar

Sean Duffy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:37:19 +0000

According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, sugar is as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco. And just like other legal vices, they think regulators should put restrictions on its sale and availability by taxing any processed foods that have added sugar , including soda, some juices, chocolate milk, and sugared cereal, as well as proposing age limits when it comes to buying sugary foods. In an article published today in the journal Nature , UCSF doctors feel the rise in obesity, diabetes, and other diseases has gone too far, and it’s time for the government to get involved. The research team also feels sugar should be removed from the FDA’s Generally Regarded as Safe list. The idea of restricting sugar isn’t a new thing. The debate on issuing a soda tax has been discussed for years , as well as limiting sugary foods when it comes to food stamp programs and availability of chocolate milk and sodas in schools. But a tax on sugar in general? Not everyone is in agreement. Since there’s no evidence that such health issues as obesity and diabetes are caused by a single food or nutrient, some nutritionists don’t believe taxing sugar will even be effective. Instead of focusing solely on sugar, cofounder of the Yale Prevention Center says, “The focus should be on the overall nutritional quality of foods, not just one nutrient.” What do you think? Would a tax on sugar deter you from eating sweets? Definitely. I’d think twice if I had to spend more. A little extra dough wouldn’t keep me from my cookie dough.

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Researchers Call For a Tax on Sugar