Healthwise    March 2010  

Healthwise is a regular column written especially for laterlife.com members and visitors. Welcome to healthwise 120.

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 120


COPPER NOT SO GOOD

A recent study warns that an excess of copper can contribute to severe problems in the over 50s.

The report, published in Toxicology magazine, says that people over 50 lose the ability to process copper effectively. A build up of copper in the body can lead to Alzheimer’s, heart diseases and diabetes.

The report, from the American Chemical Society, said people should remove old copper pipes from their homes or install special filters. People should also avoid vitamin and mineral supplements that contain copper.

ASPIRIN CUTS RISK IN OBESE

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can cut the risk of cancer in overweight people. Obesity causes some organs to swell, doubling the risk of all cancers and almost quadrupling the chance of liver cancer.

New research at the University of California shows that taking anti-inflammatory medication can reduce and in some cases eliminate this extra risk.

ASTHMA RISKS FOR HRT USERS

According to a recent study, women who are taking oestrogen only hormone replacement therapy are more at risk of developing asthma.

A recent research project involving nearly 60,000 women by the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris showed that women on the oestrogen only HRT were 54 per cent more at risk of developing asthma than those who had never taken the medication.

LONGEVITY GENE

Scientists the world over are working on ways to help counteract the ageing process and the problems that come with age.

One development has been made at the University of Leicester where scientists say they have made a major breakthrough in identifying a longevity gene.

Further afield, scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in America have also found a longevity gene, one that helps to slow age-related decline in brain function in older adults. Drugs that mimic this gene’s effect are now under development and could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

SUGARY DRINKS

We all know that too much sugar is bad for us but now a report suggests that drinking just two cans of soft drink a week can double the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Around 7,000 people in the UK develop pancreatic cancer every year.

The news comes from the University of Minnesota in America who says the high sugar content in canned soft drinks increases the amount of insulin the pancreas produces.

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

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You can actually feel another person's pain

A brain-wave for epilepsy
Potential for new treatments for epilepsy

New hope for lung cancer sufferers
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Nanoburrs - a new word in heart disease
The hope is that nanoburrs will replace the treatment of vascular stents