Healthwise    April 2010  

Healthwise is a regular column written especially for laterlife.com members and visitors. Welcome to healthwise 121.

For previous articles in the healthwise series visit 'More Healthwise'

NEWS AND VIEWS

We should all be delighted at the advances now being made by scientists, researchers and the medical profession. For 2010 we will continue to highlight some of the latest developments in health and medicine. 

Healthwise 121

EASIER FOR DIABETICS

Details have been released of a fast acting insulin that instead of being injected, can be inhaled orally for absorption via the lung.

Ms Andrea Leone-Bay, Ph D at the MannKind Corporation in America said the new insulin powder product uses Technosphere® technology that could also be applicable to a wide variety of other drugs that are currently injected.

The insulin product is now awaiting approval from the US’s Food and Drug Administration.

TWO STRONG BENEFITS FROM AGAVE

The agave plant may have more benefits than just bringing us the popular drink tequila. Researchers in Mexico say they have found a chemical in the plant helps lift the body’s absorption of calcium. This might help protect people against osteoporosis.

But before we all take to the bottle – the benefits are lost during the drink’s production process!

HELP FROM ASPIRIN

There has been some controversy over whether a regular intake of aspirin should be recommended for older people.

However, a team at Harvard University has found that regular intake of the painkiller can help reduce the levels of the female hormone oestrogen, which can fuel certain forms of cancer.

The results refer to post–menopausal women only and further trials are underway.

VIRTUAL EXAMINATION

News from the Mayo Clinic in Florida says there is a new device that may be able to determine whether a colon polyp is benign.

At the moment all colon polyps are extracted during a colonoscopy procedure and sent to a pathologist for examination to determine if they are cancerous or not. Now a new generation of “virtual biopsy” colonoscopy probes are being tested at the Clinic to see if this can negate the need for a surgical procedure.

CURRYING FAVOUR

A new study has found that curcumin, the bright yellow colour in the spice turmeric, might slow the progress of liver disease.

The study was a joint venture undertaken in Austria and America and indicated that damage to the liver caused by inflammatory illness can be reduced by curcumin. An intake of the chemical led to fewer blockages of the bile duct and less damage and scarring to the liver cells.

GOOD NEWS FOR NON-ASPIRIN ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES

The UCLA School of Public Health in Los Angeles has reported that non aspirin anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can reduce a person’s risk of Parkinson’s disease.

This follows a study of 579 men and women, half of whom had Parkinson’s disease. The results from this specific study showed that regular users of non-aspirin anti-inflammatories reduced their risk of Parkinson’s by as much as 60 per cent.

If in any doubt about any of the information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP.

IN THE PREVIOUS EDITION

Copper not so good
A recent study warns that an excess of copper can contribute to severe problems in the over 50s

Aspirin cuts risk in obese
Aspirin and Ibuprofen can cut the risk of cancer in overweight people

Asthma risks for HRT users
Women taking oestrogen only HRT therapy are more at risk of developing asthma.

Longevity gene
A major breakthrough in identifying a longevity gene

Sugary drinks
High sugar content in canned soft drinks increases the amount of insulin the pancreas produces.