Binge eating more likely to lead to health risks in men
Obese men who binge eat are more likely to have elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure than their female counterparts, a new study has found. Binge eating disorder is defined as the repeated consumption of large quantities of food in a short period of time without some other compensatory activity, such as the vomiting seen in bulimia. People with binge eating disorder also report feeling of a loss of control over their eating. Men have generally been under-represented in studies of obesity and of binge eating disorder, said Tomoko Udo, associate research scientist in psychiatry at Yale University and lead author of the study. “People used to think binge eating was less common in men than women,” she said. The study examined 190 people (141 women and 49 men) who were seeking treatment for obesity and binge eating disorder in a primary care setting. Even after adjusting for race and body mass index, men were three times as likely to meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study group consisted of people who sought help with their weight, which may have a bearing on the higher incidence of metabolic syndrome seen in men, Udo said. Men are often less likely to seek medical help, which may mean that men who do may be suffering more from consequences of obesity and binge eating, she pointed out. (PTI)
Immune cell and breast cancer link identified
Scientists have found that specific immune cells can actually make women more susceptible to cancer at certain stages in their menstrual cycle. Researchers from University of Adelaide focused their efforts on immune cells known as macrophages in the breast, and how the role of these cells changes because of fluctuations in hormones during different times of the month. The results of laboratory studies showed that while the immune cells have a role to play in the normal function of the breast, at certain stages in the menstrual cycle they may help to make the breast more susceptible to cancer. “These cells should be protecting our body from cancer, but at certain times of the month it appears macrophages might be allowing cancerous cells to escape immune system detection,” said the lead author of the study Wendy Ingman, Head of the Breast Biology & Cancer Unit with the University of Adelaide’s School of Medicine, the Robinson Institute and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. “We think there is a window of risk that opens up around the time when women have their period. This is when levels of the hormone progesterone drop, and this affects how the breast functions,” she said. “At this time, immune defenses in the breast tissue are down and women could be more susceptible to the initiating factors that lead to breast cancer,” she added. Ingman said researchers have known for some time that there is a link between the number of years of menstrual cycling and breast cancer risk. The study was published in the journal Biology of Reproduction. (PTI)
Can’t sleep at night? Kicking the butt may help
Here is another reason to quit smoking – it can help you sleep better at night. In a new study, researchers found that for each cigarette smoked total sleep time decreased by 1.2 minutes. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death and while the numerous health problems directly caused by smoking are well documented, less is known about the effects of smoking on sleep. The study by University of Florida and Research Triangle Park is the first to look at sleep difficulty by smoking status in a large population-based, nationally representative sample. They found that 11.9 per cent of current smokers have trouble falling asleep, 10.6 per cent wake in the night and 9.5 per cent wake too early in the morning. The figures for non-smokers were much lower and significantly the study found that those who had given up smoking saw improvements in their sleep. Insufficient sleep has been associated with numerous physical and mental health problems including depression, diabetes and high blood sugar. The new research suggests that smokers may be more susceptible to the illnesses associated with poor sleep along with the more commonly recognised health problems associated with smoking such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. The research was published in journal Psychology, Health & Medicine. (PTI)
Benefits of yoga and mindful meditation revealed
Mindful meditation can help reduce stress, decrease cellular aging, and help patients cope with their illness, according to traditional medicine and eminent researchers. Researchers have found that doctors who underwent mindfulness meditation training listened better to their patients and were less judgmental at home and at work, the Huffington Post reported. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis also benefited from practicing mindfulness meditation exercises, as it helped them concentrate on their own thoughts, experiences and pain in the moment, without actively trying to avoid them or judge them, a study from Oslo”s Diakonhjemmet Hospital has revealed. Researchers found that patients who did the exercises had lower stress and fatigue measurements than people who didn”t partake in the meditation. The meditation practice which explores all aspects of the mind and body helps decrease feelings of loneliness, which is known to increase the risk for a number of other health problems, in the elderly people.
Practicing yoga for eight weeks helped stroke survivors to improve their balance, made them more flexible and stronger, and helped in endurance and strength.
The Washoe County Sheriff”s Office in Reno, Nevada, is offering yoga classes to female prisoners to help them with anger and stress issues.
Mindful meditation also helped lower anxiety and depression, and decreased cellular aging from stress. (ANI)