MedNews — General Health
Treatments for Excessive Sweating of Underarms, Feet or Hands
A sweaty handshake can be an uncomfortable situation for many, particularly in business settings. Called focal hyperhidrosis, the condition is characterized by excessive sweating of the palms, underarms and the soles of the feet. Focal hyperhidrosis usually starts by the end of the teenage years, and is often hereditary.
Treatment options for focal hyperhidrosis include: More »
Why Are Optimists Healthier than Pessimists?
According to a series of studies, optimists enjoy better health than pessimists. The May issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch explores possible reasons for this connection.
Many studies have reported that optimism influences health. Among the findings: More »
Exercise Habits Strongly Influenced by Neighborhood
The quality of a neighborhood can encourage—or discourage—people to stay physically active and exercise regularly, says a Chicago study led by Christopher Browning, associate professor of sociology at Ohio State University. Such factors as levels of poverty, lower education, and more families headed up by women can actively discourage exercise habits. The study found that individual income was less important in determining exercise levels as the type of neighborhood involved. More »
Epileptic Seizures May Lead to Reduced Medication Entry to the Brain, Say Researchers
Researchers have found that one of the body’s own neurotransmitters released during epileptic seizures, glutamate, could lead to reduced medication entry into the brain. This may explain why approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy do not respond to anti-epileptic medications.
The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) using a rodent model of epilepsy. More »
Research Shows Promise for Cystic Fibrosis and HIV Therapies
Innovative therapies against cystic fibrosis have shown promise for increasing the effectiveness of antibiotics in the treatment of chronic and acute bacterial respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis patients, and may also provide a model for potential HIV therapies in the future.
A number of compounds that block a key protein (exoenzymeS or ExoS) have been identified by Professor Igor Stagljar of the University of Toronto, with one—exosin—inhibiting infections in mammalian cells. More »
Appendix Removed Via the Mouth in First of its Kind Surgery in US
Surgeons have performed one of the first removals of an appendix via the mouth in the United States. The surgery was part of a clinical trial designed to test techniques for minimally invasive surgery. More »
Insulin Research May Lead to Longer, Healthier Life
Insulin can affect aging and lifespan, a previously unknown outcome which could provide a means of gene manipulation capable of lengthening lives and making people healthier. More »
Many Gulf War Veterans' Health Problems Traceable to Toxic Chemicals
The high incidence of illness in Persian Gulf War veterans can be traced to their exposure to toxic chemicals such as nerve agents and pesticides, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
Symptoms reported by deployed personnel include fatigue, muscle pain, memory problems, trouble sleeping, rash and breathing problems. These personnel had a higher rate of chronic, multi-symptom health problems than non-deployed personnel, or those deployed elsewhere. More »
Ayuverdic Natural Medicine Balances Health And Life
Comprising yoga, massage, meditation and much more, Ayuverdic medicine is among the world's oldest, and reputedly balances life and health. It originated in India more than 5,000 years ago, and is still practiced there alongside Western medicine. More »
Is the Information We Have About Pharmaceutical Drugs Really Reliable?
A report in the current issue of the British Medical Journal questions the reliability of what we know about the latest drugs, such as antidepressants or statins. More »
