Neck Circumference Associated With Heart Disease Risk

When a doctor determines your risk for heart disease, he or she might look at your weight, cholesterol level and blood pressure. But soon, they may also look at your neck. Independent of other factors, the width of your neck may play a role in determining your heart disease risk, according to researchers with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, who presented their data Wednesday at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Fla. "It's very interesting that neck circumference was associated with [higher measures of] heart disease risk," said Dr. Vijay Nambi, a cardiologist at the Baylor College of Medicine, who was not involved with the research.

He noted that if the results of the preliminary research hold up after further study, it could provide a novel approach in determining a patient's risk. "We normally end up struggling with trying to find out what are the best measures of obesity and fat?" said Nambi. Since this is the first presentation of the data, Sarah Rosner Preis, a postdoctoral fellow with NHLBI and the study's lead author, noted that the findings are preliminary. Her findings were that a wider neck was associated with riskier levels of other measurements for heart disease -- such as higher systolic blood pressure and lower "good" HDL cholesterol -- but not heart disease itself.

Still, the connection could be an important one if the finding is borne out in future research. And if true, heart disease would join a list of other diseases linked to a thicker neck. "To our knowledge, there has been no study that has specifically examined the association between neck circumference and risk of heart disease," she said. "Prior studies have suggested that neck circumference may be associated with diabetes, insulin resistance and hypertension."

'Superpill' - To Reduce Heart Disease By 60 % & Stroke By 50 %

Healthy people could cut their risk of heart disease in half with a new "super pill" that combines low doses of aspirin and drugs that lower blood pressure and cholesterol, a study said. "We believe that the polypill probably has the potential to reduce heart disease by 60 percent and stroke by 50 percent," lead investigator Salim Yusuf told reporters at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting, where the study was presented. "The thought that people might be able to take a single pill to reduce multiple cardiovascular risk factors has generated a lot of excitement. It could revolutionize heart disease prevention as we know it," Yusuf said. In the three-month study cardiologists compared the impact on blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rate of the combination "polypill" and the medications that make it up, taken individually or together.

The study involved 2,053 patients, recruited from heart centers around India between March 2007 and August 2008. The polypill contains low doses of three medications against high blood pressure; simvastatin, which lowers LDL or bad cholesterol and aspirin, a known blood-thinner. "Before this study, there were no data about whether it was even possible to put five active ingredients into a single pill," the study said. "We found that it works," the researchers said. Participants in the study were divided into groups and given either the polypill or aspirin, the cholesterol-lowering medication, or one of the three blood pressure medications on their own; different combinations of blood pressure medications, or all three blood pressure treatments with or without aspirin. The researchers found that blood pressure in participants in the polypill group was lowered as much as in the group taking the three blood pressure medications together, with or without aspirin.

Those blood pressure reductions "could theoretically lead to about a 24-percent risk reduction in congestive heart disease and 33 percent risk reduction in strokes in those with average blood pressure levels," the study said. The polypill reduced LDL cholesterol significantly more than in all other groups except the one in which simvastatin was taken alone. The simvastatin group's LDL levels fell only slightly more than the polypill group, the study found. Heart rates in the polypill group and the group taking one of the blood-pressure medications, atenolol, fell by seven beats a minute -- significantly more than in the other study groups. Side-effects in patients taking the polypill were the same as when taking one or two medications, the study found. The study was "a critical first step to inform the design of larger, more definitive studies, as well as further development of appropriate combinations of blood-pressure lowering drugs with statins and aspirin," said Yusuf.

Dr Christopher Cannon, a cardiologist from Harvard University, said the polypill took the medical world a step closer to beating heart disease, a leading cause of death worldwide. Some 80 percent of heart disease cases are thought to occur in developing countries. "The concept is simple. Several different drugs are available (generically and thus inexpensively) to treat many of the cardiac risk factors. So, combining them in one pill could reduce heart disease by 80 percent," Cannon said in a comment piece in The Lancet, in which the results of the study were published. "This approach has obvious appeal and vast implications for global health, because heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide," he wrote. Still, some said the pill was unlikely to provide panacea for all heart patients.

Dr. Robert Bonow, a former president of the American Heart Association and co-director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at NorthwesternUniversity in Chicago, told ABC News that while the pill might be better than nothing for many who would otherwise receive no care, a one-size-fits-all approach makes individualized treatment difficult. "This is not a tailored treatment, and it's low doses," he told the television network. "So maybe in people with high blood pressure, it is not enough to lower their blood pressure. Or in people with high cholesterol, it is not enough to get them to the target cholesterol levels that their physicians would like to see."

Chickenpox: Rising Seasonal Illnesses

With the change of season, chicken pox has spread its tentacles all round. A viral infection, which spreads very easily, it has mothers of adolescents a worried lot these days. A disease that mainly infects children in the age group of 3 years to 15 years, it is recognized by the red rashes in the central part of the body like abdomen, chest, back, legs and face. Though a self limiting disease (a disease that is not harmful if given proper attention), it leads to complications due to secondary infections when proper treatment is not followed. Chicken pox requires only a symptomatic treatment which involves antipyretic medicines for fever and antibiotics which would counter possible respiratory infections, informs Dr SK Sinha, chief medical officer, Allahabad. Unfortunately in some rural areas even today it is believed that 'mata chad gayi hai' and they resort to jhaad-phoonk. In such cases chicken pox becomes fatal as it leads to secondary infections such as broncho-pneumonia and goes untreated."We have trained ASHA workers as also ANMs to educate, inform and provide basic treatment for chicken pox in villages. As required we are also sending teams in some areas. A team headed by Dr Asha Bhargav has just returned from Arjun Patti village in Handia tehsil after check-ups," said the CMO.

Assistant CMO Dr VK Srivastava provided the numbers of cases of chicken pox reported in the past few years. The previous year 2008 witnessed 142 cases and one case of death. Year 2007 saw 137 cases and no death. "This year, we have recorded six cases and one death so far. The numbers increase drastically during the months from May to October," he said. Sources claim that these figures are abysmally low and rather incorrect as the rural populace usually does not come to the hospitals for diagnosis and treatment of chicken pox and on the other hand comprehensive figures are not available in urban scenario. The symptoms of chicken pox include mild fever, itching in eyes, pain in body, cough, running nose, headache, nausea and red spots with fluid secretions. The number of spots increase from the third day to eighth day and then start drying. From the 10th day the disease starts declining, taking about 15 days in all to subside completely.

The infected child should be kept in isolation in a room with fresh air. He should not be allowed to go out. His clothes, handkerchief, towel and bed sheet should be changed regularly and washed separately using an antiseptic. It is beneficial to place neem leaves around the bed. It is very normal for the child to scratch the spots. But this should not be allowed as it leads to scarring. 'Iske liye neem ke patto se un dano ko sehla de' (use neem leaves to touch those spots gently). "Any soothing lotion like calamine lotion or coconut oil can be applied on these spots for further relief," said Dr Deepak Aggarwal, a paediatrician here. The infected child should be encouraged to drink plenty of water and fresh juices. Fried and chilly foods should be avoided. Fast food too is a big no-no as these increase itching. "Instead take nutritious food such as green vegetables and seasonal fruits like pomegranate, oranges, grapes. As the child suffers from loss of appetite, he has to be prodded lovingly to eat after definite intervals. Also keep the other children of the house away from the infected child," said the doctor.

Also known as rubella, though inoculation is provided at young age with MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), Dr Srivastava explained that the efficacy was limited to 85 per cent of the total children inoculated; 15 per cent remained susceptible even after inoculation. "Also with age, immunity to a disease decreases as the production of antibodies (responsible for fighting the disease) reduces drastically. Hence we witness certain cases of chickenpox in adults too," he said. If a young girl is infected with chicken pox, her body undergoes tartogenic changes which means that her uterus and ovary would undergo changes. These changes would adversely affect her ability to conceive a child. Conception of a child can be delayed by about five years or even more. If a pregnant lady gets infected then the child faces a high probability of being born with congenital defects. Hence in case of an infection in the family, other children as also the adults should follow the advised precautions, added Dr Singh.

A Slow & Painful Death From Cancer

Cancers are difficult to treat. They are caused by rogue cells that exhibit destructive behaviour inside the body and if not checked can – and do – kill the body that hosts them. Radio and chemotherapy sometimes alleviate the symptoms but for all our skill and advancement in the medical sciences we have yet to find a cure for cancer. We can operate on it, cut it out, or create a therapeutic environment in which it goes into remission but an actual cure eludes us. Curing the cancer described by President Obama as he detailed the new Af-Pak strategy is going to be extremely difficult. The difficulty lies in the fact that the disease is already widely disseminated and does not have a single locus. It is also not a single type of cancer, but several. Taking Al Qaeda first – it is a global entity not confined only to the region we live in, and it as much a set of loosely defined ideals rooted in an equally loosely defined idea of a global caliphate as it is a corporate body. It is not an organization which holds annual board meetings and presents its accounts to shareholders in any conventional sense. Neither is it an organization that is susceptible to traditional military intervention – ideas respond poorly to missile strikes. Identifying those parts of it which may be treated (or cut out) is not easy either – there is now an 'old' Al Qaeda and a 'young' – Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar are increasingly yesterday's men, with Mehsud, Haqqani and Al Libi as the new generation; a reality acknowledged in the bounty-attached hit list issued by the US this week. Cutting out the primary tumours still leaves you with the secondaries.

Turning now to the tangible – civilian aid – Obama has talked about there being 'no blank cheque' for Pakistan which implies a process of accountability. As every donor nation that has ever given a rupee to Pakistan has discovered, this is a vast black hole into which money may be poured for eons without having any discernible effect. It is corrupt at every level and those who stand to gain from the latest windfall of ready cash will already be devising ways in which it can be diverted to their personal use. This is an entirely different form of cancer, more akin to leukaemia than a localized tumour. This is the cancer in the blood of the nation that has never been susceptible to treatment and which has always debilitated us. We will be delighted to have your money Mr Obama but if it is going to do what you want it to do – strengthen civil institutions and parliamentary democracy - then it needs to come hedged about with the most stringent of safeguards. We are entering a period of transactional relationship with which the bureaucratic establishment is unlikely to be cooperative, particularly if oversight is part of the transaction.

The third cancerous element that the Af-Pak strategy seeks to address is that of the polity of both nations. One is a narco-state nominally ruled by the mayor of Kabul and the other is a feudal autocracy with a cosmetic parliament attached for reasons of modesty. Neither is exactly healthy ground for the regeneration of civil institutions. As consolation, the Af-Pak strategy has moved on from the fruitless quest for the Holy Grail of democracy in AfghanistanPakistan does at least have some semblance of civil institutions that could, with a fair wind and the development of a new cadre of younger politicals not tied to the feudal tradition; begin to push back the cancer that currently eats away at it. Prime Minister Gilani has recently acknowledged the problems we face because successive governments had concentrated on combating external threats at the cost of ignoring the internal threat – the cancer – that was spreading meanwhile inside. President Obama has talked of one cancer where there are many. Everybody is agreed in recognizing the disease and its symptoms, but treatment is going to have to be multi-disciplinary and may require what doctors call 'heroic' surgery. In general terms we can but welcome the Obama plans. It really is a way of 'doing it differently', it really is the 'change' that he spoke of during his campaign for the worlds top job. For it to work we have to do it differently as well. Not something we have ever excelled at in the past. For Obama constant change is here to stay, whereas for us real change, the change that leads to growth and maturity, has always been avoided – a consequence of which may be a slow and painful death from cancer. and recognized it for what it is – eternally quarrelsome with itself and unimpressed with western democratic models that get in the way of time-honoured traditions such as the blood feud and wholesale brigandry.

North Korea Readies Missile For April Lunch

North Korea's positioning of a rocket on its east coast launch pad ratcheted up tensions Thursday with Washington, which warned that pushing ahead with the April launch would violate a United Nations ban and have serious consequences. Pyongyang says the rocket is designed to carry a satellite into orbit, an accomplishment timed for the eve of the inaugural session of North Korea's new parliament and for late founder Kim Il-Sung's April 15 birthday. But regional powers suspect the North will use the launch to test the delivery technology for a long-range missile, one capable of striking Alaska, or may even test-fire the intercontinental Taepodong-2 missile itself. Keeping speculation about the payload alive, North Korea reportedly has kept the top of the rocket covered.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Thursday reiterated comments made a day earlier by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that any rocket launch would be "provocative" and violate Security Council resolutions. Clinton warned that the launch could jeopardize the stalled talks on supplying North Korea with aid and other concessions in exchange for dismantling its nuclear program. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities have not yet determined whether the rocket is intended to carry a satellite or a missile because the top is concealed with a cover, the Yonhap news agency said.

The U.N. Security Council in 2006 banned North Korea from any ballistic activity. The diplomatic tussle puts North Korea right where it wants to be: at the center of Washington's attention, analysts said. "This action is something that cannot be ignored. . . . This is a way to get attention from the U.S. and the Obama administration," said Daniel Pinkston, a Seoul-based analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank. "The North Korean leadership probably believes this will help achieve their objective of engaging the U.S." Analysts say Pyongyang is angling to establish direct relations with President Barack Obama's White House in hopes of circumventing the international disarmament talks that require the North to dismantle its nuclear program in exchange for much needed aid.

Complicating the diplomacy is the detention of two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling of former Vice President Al Gore's online media venture Current TV, for allegedly crossing into North KoreaChina last week. North Korea could use the Americans as bargaining chips, said North Korea expert Koh Yu-Hwan of Dongguk University. He called their detention an "unexpected gift" for Pyongyang, giving the regime added leverage in its push for direct talks with Washington.

Russian Spaceship

A cosmonaut, an astronaut and a billionaire are scheduled to travel Thursday to the International Space Station, 350 kilometers above the Earth. The trio will blast off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. U.S. billionaire Charles Simonyi, who made his fortune developing software for Microsoft, will make the two-day journey with Russian Gennady Padalka and American Michael Barratt. This is the 60-year-old, Hungarian-born Simonyi's second venture in outer space. He paid $35 million for Thursday's trip, a sharp increase from the $25 million he paid for his first. While Barratt and Padalka will join the space station's crew, Simonyi will return to Earth on April 7 with departing ISS crew members.

F1's Red Bull Threatens Protest

Red Bull says it will lodge a protest at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix if the cars from rival teams Toyota, Brawn and Williams pass tests Thursday amid concerns over the legality of their bodywork. The three teams are at the center of a dispute over their rear diffusers, the part of the bodywork that comes up from the under tray to disperse air from under the car. Strict new regulations limit the size of the diffusers. The three teams have found a potential loophole in the law by designing their rear bodywork to effectively act as part of the diffuser, increasing its size.

Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko said a protest will be lodged if those teams are passed to compete following Thursday's assessments by officials from the sport's governing body FIA. "We'll make a protest on Thursday if the component isn't modified to conform to the regulations, because that diffuser guarantees a five-tenths (of a second) advantage per lap," Marko told Sky Sports on Tuesday. "Seven teams are certain it's illegal." Renault team principal Flavio Briatore had previously remarked that he would consider a protest if the Williams, Toyota and Brawn bodywork get the thumbs up.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali believes the bodywork breaks the rules, but wants a pre-race resolution, hoping to prevent the dispute blemishing the opening race of the season on Sunday. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone believed the teams should have solved the problem before the start of the season. "These regulations they've already agreed between them, so they can't disagree on them now,"

Early Soy Diet May Protect Women Against Breast Cancer Risk

Women who consumed high amounts of soy during childhood may have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, says a new study on Asian-American females. "Historically, breast cancer incidence rates have been four to seven times higher among white women in the U.S. than in women in China or Japan. However, when an Asian woman migrates to the U.S., their breast cancer risk rises over several generations and reaches that of U.S. white women, suggesting that modifiable factors, rather than genetics, are responsible for the international differences. These lifestyle or environmental factors remain elusive; our study was designed to identify them," said Regina Ziegler, Ph.D., M.P.H., a senior investigator in the NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG).

The current study focused on women of Chinese, Japanese and Filipino descent who were living in San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles or Hawaii. Researchers interviewed 597 women with breast cancer and 966 healthy women. If the women had mothers living in the United States, researchers interviewed those mothers to determine the frequency of soy consumption in childhood. The research team divided soy intake into thirds and compared the highest and lowest groups. High intake of soy in childhood was associated with a 58 per cent reduction in breast cancer. A high level of soy intake in the adolescent and adult years was associated with a 20 to 25 per cent reduction.

The childhood relationship held in all three races and all three study sites and in women with and without a family history of breast cancer. "Since the effects of childhood soy intake could not be explained by measures other than Asian lifestyle during childhood or adult life, early soy intake might itself be protective," said the study's lead investigator, Larissa Korde, M.D., M.P.H., a staff clinician at the NCI's Clinical Genetics Branch. "Childhood soy intake was significantly associated with reduced breast cancer risk in our study, suggesting that the timing of soy intake may be especially critical," said Korde. The underlying mechanism is not known. Korde said her study suggests that early soy intake may have a biological role in breast cancer prevention."Soy isoflavones have estrogenic properties that may cause changes in breast tissue. Animal models suggest that ingestion of soy may result in earlier maturation of breast tissue and increased resistance to carcinogens," the expert said.

Jumpstart Your Way To Weight Loss & Better Health

Spring is here and it's time again to do some spring cleaning. In addition this year to spring cleaning your home, jump start your way to weight loss and better health by cleaning up your diet. Here are a few ways to start eating healthier.

Don't skip breakfast - Numerous studies have shown that not only is eating breakfast important when trying to lose weight, but also for better brain functioning, controlling blood sugar, and helps us to avoid overindulging at lunch. If food doesn't sound appealing for breakfast, try a smoothie or protein shake.

Opt for water instead of sugary drinks - While there is conflicting information on just how much water is needed for optimum health, the jury is definitely in on the importance of drinking water. Water is, of course, calorie free and helps flush our system. Drinking water about a half an hour before eating a meal also helps curb hunger and makes it less likely that you'll overeat.

Eat more fruits and veggies - Adding vegetables to some of your favorite dishes is a good way to get in some extra servings of veggies every day. Add chopped vegetables to soups, sandwiches, omelets, and of course try to eat more salads in general. Eating more fruit is simple when you throw together a fruit smoothie or add chopped fruit to plain yogurt or breakfast cereal. Of course fruit always makes a great snack by itself.

Choose healthy fats - At this point it's clear that trans fat should definitely be avoided, but since the body does need fat, choose healthy fat sources such as almonds, peanuts, walnuts, avocados, olives and olive oil.

Eating the "right" carbs - Choosing complex carbohydrates instead of refined carbs (think cookies and candy) not only helps us shed unwanted pounds, but also provides the body with much-needed energy and most complex carbs are high in fiber, which helps ward off hunger and overeating.

Attractive Destinations For British Tourists

The Philippines can still offer more attractive destinations for British tourists especially for bird watching and scuba diving, British Ambassador Peter Beckingham said. “You have wonderful resorts, wonderful tourist spots. There's still room for tourism growth,” Beckingham said in a press conference on Sunday at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel. The Ambassador said 700,000 to 800,000 British tourists come to Thailand every year while only 170,000 come to the Philippines. Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are top countries visited by British backpackers. But the Philippines tourist spots can still attract more British backpackers, Beckingham said. Beckingham cited the efforts of Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano to promote in London bird watching and scuba diving areas in the Philippines. Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City and Nug-as Forest in the southern town of Alcoy are known bird-watching sites in Cebu that were featured with 11 other sites in the first volume of the book “Birdwatching in the Philippines.” The book was published by the Department of Tourism, Asian outdoor store Recreational Outdoor Exchange and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.

Cebu is also known for its dive sites which include Moalboal, Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan and Sumilon Island in Oslob. Beckingham also noted pristine beaches and good food as the country's positive tourist attractions. Meanwhile, Beckingham said British companies will continue to invest in renewable energy and business process outsourcing (BPO) in the country despite global economic downturn. He said investors from the United Kingdom had a recent meeting with Trade Secretary Peter Favila to discuss areas of cooperation on renewable energy. “Overall, we gave him (Favila) a positive picture. There is still confidence (from British investors) that the economy can develop,” Beckingham said. He said a total of $100 million will be poured in by these investors to fund renewable energy projects in the next two years.

He said Bronzeoak Philippines, a unit of Bronzeoak Ltd. of the UK, has developed the integrated bioethanol plant in Negros Occidental. Ethanol is a high-octane, water-free alcohol produced from sugar cane and other crops such as corn and cassava. It is used as a blending component in gasoline. According to Beckingham, BPO companies such as the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) and Shell are expanding services in the country. HSBC has 6,000 workers employed for BPO work, while Shell has 3,000 workers in Manila. Smaller BPO companies are also opening offices in the country. These include Strategic Backoffice Solutions, which employs 2,000 people. Beckingham said he will also give a presentation to 200 companies from the UK by the end of this month detailing possible investment areas they can enter. Beckingham said business confidence of UKCebu. These companies include HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Prulife UK, Body Shop, Marks and Spencer and Speedo which have branches in Cebu.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Follow a healthful diet with plenty of vegetables and fish. Don't smoke. Consider whether taking vitamins is right for you. And don't skip check-ups. If that sounds like good advice for protecting your overall health, it is. But it is especially good advice for protecting your vision. In fact, a few good habits might prevent or stall the most common cause of blindness in old age, a condition called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It affects the macula, the central part of the retina. It can progress slowly or quickly and cause blurred vision or a blind spot in the center of vision. And it can be devastating, says George Williams, an ophthalmologist in Royal Oak, Mich.: "This can happen in people who are otherwise healthy and active. But they are no longer able to drive. … They can't sit down with a good book or watch TV."

Nearly 2 million people in the nation have AMD, and 7 million more have retina changes that could lead to it, said a study published in 2004 in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Researchers expect those numbers to double by 2020 as the population ages. AMD was in the news recently because a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that women over 40 who took supplements of folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12 were less likely than those who took placebos to report a diagnosis of AMD after seven years. More research on the supplements is needed, says Emily Chew, a researcher at the National Eye Institute. She helped conduct the study. It depended on women reporting eye problems; a follow-up study, she says, should include eye exams.

In the meantime, eye experts say they can help adults avoid AMD or at least ward off the worst effects. Some of the known risk factors are things you can't change: your gender (women may be at higher risk), your race (whites are most affected) and your genes (AMD runs in families, and researchers are looking for telltale genetic patterns).

But you can change:

• Smoking. The most important thing you can do to prevent AMD is to never smoke or to quit, because smokers are at greatly increased risk, says J. Timothy Stout, associate professor of ophthalmology at the Casey Eye Institute in Portland, Ore.

• Diet. People who eat lots of dark green vegetables and foods rich in omega-3 fats, such as fish, are less likely to develop AMD, Chew says.

• Weight. People who are overweight appear to be at higher risk, Stout says.

• Early detection. If you get regular, comprehensive eye exams, your eye doctor can spot early signs of AMD, even if your vision is still good. Get an exam at least every two to three years in your 40s and 50s and yearly after age 65, Chew advises.

For people with signs of moderate AMD — including a buildup of yellow deposits called drusen under their retinas — doctors recommend a supplement cocktail shown in a landmark 2001 study to slow vision loss. It includes vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc and copper. Studies to test different versions of the combination and additional substances, including omega-3, are underway. The supplements are not recommended for people with healthy eyes or earlier signs of AMD because they have not been shown to help and " we do not know the potential long-term effects," Williams says.

Traffic Prompts An Even More Serious & Immediate Consequence

Forget road rage. A new study out of Germany has uncovered evidence that prompts an even more serious and immediate consequence — a much higher risk for suffering a heart attack. The finding does not isolate which particular virtue of road congestion — stress, pollution, car exhaust or noise — might be the driving force behind the apparent cardiovascular threat. However, after a four-year analysis of nearly 1,500 heart attack cases, the authors came to the conclusion that making one’s way through traffic — whether as a driver, a rider of public transport, or even a bicyclist — seems to more than triple the chances for experiencing a heart attack in the first hour immediately following exposure. “We found that when people are participating in traffic, they have a threefold increased risk to experience a heart attack one hour later,” said study author Annette Peters, head of the research unit at the Institute of Epidemiology in Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, Germany, and an adjunct associate professor in Harvard’s School of Public Health. “For someone with a very low risk for a heart attack, this doesn’t mean much,” Peters noted. “But for someone already at a higher risk for a heart attack — because of lifestyle issues such as smoking or being overweight, or perhaps because of genetic makeup — then traffic might be an additional stressor that could cause a heart attack to occur at this time.”

The finding was expected to be presented Thursday at the American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention annual conference, in Palm Harbor, Fla. To explore the issue, the German team focused on a pool of heart patients in the southern German town of Augsburg. One-quarter of the patients were women, and the average age was 60. All had suffered a heart attack between 1999 and 2003, and all were subsequently interviewed to recall experiences in the four days leading up to the event that might have triggered the first symptoms. The researchers found that 8 percent of the heart attacks were specifically attributable to having been in traffic — the kind which Peters described as “local, everyday life commuting.” In addition to identifying a 3.2 times higher risk for suffering a heart attack within the first hour after traffic exposure, the research team found that even six hours after exposure, there remained a significant — though small — increase in risk. Being the driver of a car was the most common form of traffic exposure, followed by being a rider of public transportation and/or bicycling. Patients who had a prior history of angina — as well as women, elderly men and the unemployed — appeared to be particularly sensitive to the observed increase in risk. Women, in fact, were found to have a five times greater risk for a heart attack following such exposure — a gender bump the researchers suggested might be rooted in physiological differences or simply a reflection of the smaller number of women included in the study.

Going forward, Peters and her associates have embarked on further studies to try to determine exactly what aspects of traffic could account for the connection. Meanwhile, two experts point out that a number of recent studies have already specifically and strongly tied traffic-related exhaust and air pollution exposure to health problems. “This data is very consistent with reports that this kind of exposure leads to inflammation, cholesterol build-up in the arteries and heart attacks, although there’s also a lot of data about stress and its connections to heart attacks,” said Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. “So, probably both of these factors are working synergistically to raise the cardiovascular risk.” For his part, Dr. Bertram Pitt, a professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor, agrees “there’s enough basic evidence to suggest that air pollution of this kind increases oxidative stress, and could lead to vascular trauma.” “So I’m not surprised by this finding at all,” added Pitt. “It’s very plausible and very worthy of further exploration.” “But,” noted Fonarow, “ I think it’s important to keep in perspective that although the relative risk for heart attack was high following traffic exposure, the absolute risk was actually very, very small. Meaning, that given the number of times individuals are exposed to traffic and do not have heart attacks, these findings should not alarm the average person, because in absolute terms, the risk that being exposed to traffic every day will provoke a heart attack is exceptionally low.”

A Shout Of Triumph

Astronauts successfully unfurled the newly installed solar wings at the international space station Friday, a nerve-racking procedure that went exceedingly well and brought the orbiting outpost to full power. To NASA's relief, both wings went out smoothly, one at a time. Nothing hung up, and none of the panels stuck together like they had on previous panels. The wings stretched more than 240 feet, a glistening golden hue in the sunlight and a dazzling sight for the astronauts and everyone else involved. "It's just really amazing," said Mike Fincke, the space station's skipper. He said there was "a shout of triumph" aboard the linked station-shuttle complex once the two wings were fully extended.

At Mission Control, flight controllers burst into applause. Some engineers were in tears. "It was just really like a great weight had lifted," said flight director Kwatsi Alibaruho. The work was a highlight of shuttle Discovery's mission. Completed 220 miles above Earth, the new panels are the final pair of electricity-generating wings and should boost the amount of science research at the orbiting outpost. The drama unfolded the day after these last two solar wings were hooked up to the orbiting complex. Right on cue, astronaut John Phillips pushed the button that commanded the first wing to start unfurling. It slowly stretched out like a folded-up map. When the wing was halfway open, Phillips stopped the motion for nearly an hour so the panels could soak up sunlight and be less likely to stick.

The second wing, which had been boxed up for eight years, opened just as easily. A slight crinkle was spotted near the bottom, but flattened when the wing was stretched out. Most if not all the astronauts watched the wings unfold, peering out windows and through camera lenses, ready to hit the "abort" button in case of trouble. Flight controllers as well as managers anxiously monitored everything, given the past problems. The last time a solar wing was unfurled in 2007, it caught on a guide wire and ripped. Emergency spacewalking repairs were needed to fix it. "We learned from that and made it very smoothly," Fincke said. After 10 years of assembly, the space station now has eight full wings. Altogether, the wings will be capable of generating enough electrical power for about 42 large houses, according to NASA.

On Thursday, a pair of spacewalking astronauts hooked up the $300 million framework that holds the wings. This last major American-made addition increased the mass of the space station to 670,000 pounds; it is now 81 percent complete. Construction is scheduled to wrap up next year with the retirement of NASA's shuttles. The second of three planned spacewalks will take place Saturday. Also, astronauts inside will test a new processor that converts urine into drinking water. The processor was delivered by the shuttle to replace a broken one and was being installed Friday evening. Discovery is due to leave the space station Wednesday, carrying back five months' worth of science samples. The hatches between the spacecraft will remain open longer than planned to keep those samples in the station freezer as long as possible. Landing remains scheduled for March 28.

Drinking With Friends: Lower Rates of Heart Disease, Stroke

The study of Japanese men years found that moderate to light alcohol consumption, coupled with high levels of social support, were linked to lower rates of heart disease and stroke. "But remember," Dr. Hiroyasu Iso from Osaka University noted in a statement, "this beneficial effect of social support is confined to light-to-moderate drinking. Heavy drinking is risky irrespective of social support level." In a report in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, the researchers note that light to moderate drinking has been shown to help protect against stroke and heart disease. Being surrounded by lots of family and friends is also known to be good for the heart and may even help people live longer.

The new study, Iso and colleagues say, shows that high levels of social support may enhance the heart-healthy effects of light to moderate alcohol consumption. Iso's team examined drinking patterns, social support and cardiovascular health of 19,356 men in their 40s, 50s and 60s who were enrolled in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. Their alcohol consumption was classified into seven categories: never, past, occasional, 1 to 149, 150 to 299, 300 to 449, or 450 or more grams of alcohol per week. During an average follow up of more than 9 years, 629 strokes and 207 coronary heart diseases were documented in the men. Confirming past studies, heavier drinking (i.e., 300 grams per week or more) was associated with an increased risk of stroke. This may be explained at least partly by alcohol-induced high blood pressure, the researchers say.

In contrast to heavy drinking, light to moderate drinking — up to 299 grams of alcohol per week — was associated with reduced risks of stroke and heart disease, and the effect was more pronounced in men with high levels of social support, "probably due to avoidance of unhealthy behaviors and enhancement of stress buffering," Iso surmised. Compared with light to moderate drinkers with high social support, those with low social support had unhealthier lifestyle behaviors; they were more apt to be sedentary and had fewer opportunities for medical checkups. They were also more likely to have high stress levels, no job, and no spouse. The researchers speculate that low levels of social support may cause mental stress, which is hard on the heart. Mental stress activates components of the body's neuro-endocrine system, "which lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease," Iso explained.

HIV Rate Reaches Epidemic Proportion

A staggering 3% of Washington residents are living with HIV and AIDS, surpassing the 1% level that constitutes a severe epidemic, according to a government report released yesterday. UNAIDS, the joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have defined an HIV epidemic as generalized and severe when the percentage of disease among residents of a specific geographic area exceeds 1%. The US capital has the highest HIV prevalence in United States, according to the 2008 epidemiology report by the city Health Department. "Our rates are higher than West Africa," Dr Shannon Hader, director of the HIV/AIDS administration of the city Health Department, was quoted as saying by the Washington Post.” They’re on par with Uganda and some parts of Kenya."

The study found that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is transmitted through every possible mode in the city: Men who have sex with men, heterosexuals, injection drug use and from pregnant mothers to their children. "Because our epidemic in DC (District of Columbia, as the city is also known) is both large and complex, with every mode of transmission represented, we often say we can’t afford to do just one thing, we have to do it all," Hader said yesterday. About 3,000 of every 100,000 people older than 12 years, or 15,120 people, are HIV positive in Washington, according to the study. Researchers found a 22% increase in HIV/AIDS cases in Washington from 2006. This is data gleaned from the number of people tested; the actual figures of HIV-positive residents might be substantially higher. "This is very, very depressing news, especially considering HIV’s profound impact on minority communities," Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Health’s programme for infectious diseases, told the Post. The study said the increase in HIV prevalence has impacted all racial groups - 4,3% of African-Americans, 1,9% of Hispanics and 1,4% of whites. According to the CDC, more than 1,1 million Americans are currently living with HIV/AIDS, and every nine and a half minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV

Bolster Female Rights In Afghanistan

As the 100th anniversary of International Woman's Day is celebrated around the world a group of Canadian women continue to do their part to bolster female rights in Afghanistan. International Women's Day is a global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. In a land where women are often treated like property and second class citizens it's a challenge for Canadian soldiers providing assistance and security.

Corporal Nicole Bucci is a military police officer in the Zhari district and says she hopes she's viewed as a role model for young Afghan women. Corporal Nanette Black works at a medic in KandaharAfghanistan - Lara Romaniuc from the Canadian International Development Agency works with district leaders but says ironically it is women she sees the least and who are most often forgotten. city and says it's the plight of the children that tugs at her heartstrings. Soldiers aren't the only Canadian women doing active duty in

Sleep Apnea Affects More Than 12 Million Americans

Trouble sleeping can lead to trouble with everyday activities and worse, a sleep disorder called sleep apnea can have serious health implications, least of which is daytime fatigue. Literally translated from the Greek, "apnea" means "without breath." Those who have sleep apnea literally stop breathing - sometimes for as long as a minute, and sometimes as frequently as a hundreds of times during the night - while sleeping. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sleep apnea is as common as adult diabetes - and like diabetes it often goes undiagnosed, putting sufferers at risk for greater health issues such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, headaches, memory problems, weight gain, and impotency. Those with undiagnosed sleep apnea are also at heightened risk for serious injury, which could occur as a result of an accident because their bodies and minds are exhausted from interrupted sleep. The NIH estimates that sleep apnea affects more than 12 million Americans, most of whom are men, overweight, and/or over the age of 40. Despite those risk factors being common, sleep apnea can affect anyone.

Sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, which forces the tissue in the back of one's throat to close during sleep. While the apnea sufferer may not realize that he or she is waking up and having trouble breathing continuously, often it is a bed partner who notices sleep apnea in a patient. It is not possible to completely prevent sleep apnea from developing; however there are several risk factors, some of which can be impacted by adopting healthy lifestyles. Statistics reveal that men are more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than women before age 50. After age 50, the risk is the same in men and women. Among obese patients, 70 percent have obstructive sleep apnea. The apnea worsens as weight gain continues. Among cardiac patients, 30-50 percent develop sleep apnea, and among patients who have had strokes, 60 percent have obstructive sleep apnea.

‘I’ll Beat Manny At His Own Game’: Hatton

Ricky Hatton believes he has a distinct advantage when he tangles with Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hatton, who is staking his International Boxing Organization light welterweight crown, claims he is completely familiar with the way Pacquiao moves and fights. He said he has watched all of Pacquiao’s previous bouts, including the Filipino ring icon’s two defeats to unheralded foes in his younger years and his eighth-round stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya last December.

Hatton told Fightnews.com on Wednesday that he had watched videos of Pacquiao’s fights until the wee hours of the morning. He said the Gen. Santos City lefty is one of his “absolute favorites” in action. For all of Pacquiao’s brilliant fluid style, immense stamina and ferocity, however, Hatton thinks he’s got the flair and style to topple the Filipino superstar from his perch as the world’s greatest pound-for-pound fighter. On fight night, the Briton said, he would cease to be a fan. “I am in the ring to do a job and that job is to beat Manny at his own game,” he said in Fightnews.com.

The 30-year-old Hatton, unbeaten at 140 pounds, was particularly impressed with Pacquiao’s “clinical demolition” of De La Hoya. “He cut him (De La Hoya) down and barely got touched on the whiskers,” noted Hatton, adding he’s willing to pay just to watch Pacquiao. “Great fighters can punch and land and not get punched.” Like Pacquiao, Hatton said he loves to spar and train hard for every fight. He would be in the best shape of his career when he battles Pacquiao, he added.

Have A Variety Of Health Benefits

What do vitamin D, fish and sunscreen have in common? They're good for your skin and have a variety of health benefits. Supplementing our diets with vitamin D is highly recommended by the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Dermatology Association. When we don't get enough vitamin D from diet or sunlight the body becomes deficient, affecting calcium absorption, immune function and hormone regulation. This is why we've heard about vitamin D ad nauseam lately. Deficiency is linked to diseases like multiple sclerosis, cancer (including skin cancer), type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis and depression.

Known as the "sunshine vitamin", the sun often produces our daily dose through the conversion of the sun's UVB rays to vitamin D. However, due to Canada's northern latitude we do not get UVB rays October through March. Just when you thought the Canadian winter couldn't get any worse. A study published this fall showed that 93% of the healthy young Canadian adults assessed last winter had low vitamin D levels. Individuals of non-European ancestry were more likely to have lower levels of the vitamin. These findings are logical since fair skinned individuals need less sun exposure to produce vitamin D than darker skinned people.

Fear not, there is a magic pill to solve our problems. Vitamin D experts, like Dr. Vieth from the University of Toronto and Mount Sinai Hospital, agree that one 1000IU tablet of vitamin D daily is appropriate for children over 5 yrs through to adulthood. Wondering if your vitamin D levels need to be checked before taking a supplement? Dr. Vieth says that most people are deficient and many are disappointed when they get their blood results back. "So what's the point of the test if you already know the answer? Inspiration or motivation?" You can obtain some vitamin D from foods, but very little. Major dietary sources of vitamin D like fatty fish alone do not produce enough of the vitamin (approximately 350 IU per 3.5oz serving) but they are a source of another important nutrient, omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, mackarel and fish oils offer health benefits including reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, eczema and it may protect the skin from UV ray damage.

These dietary choices in addition to a healthy skin care regime will make for great skin this winter. Dr. Paul Cohen of the Rosedale Dermatology Centre recommends washing the face with a gentle cleanser, like Cetaphil, twice a day and moisturize with a product that contains SPF. Canadians aren't exposed to UVB rays in the winter, but we still absorb harmful UVA rays. "You don't have to slather on the 60, but people should use a daily moisturizer that has at least an SPF 15 for the winter months," Dr. Cohen advises. In short, add vitamin D, fatty fish and sunscreen to the grocery list.

Foods That Bolster Immunity

The flu is now widespread and besides that, it seems everyone is walking around with the upper respiratory infection. There are a few things we can all do to increase our chances of avoiding "the plague". Frequent hand washing, getting enough rest, a little extra disinfectant cleaning around the house can help to avoid sickness. In the gym, it's a good idea to clean equipment before you use it as well as after. It is really important to clean those spinning class cycles before and after class. You never know if the person before you cleaned it well or at all! Another way to avoid illness is to boost the immune system with foods that have natural immune bolstering properties.
Following is a list of 9 resistance boosting super-foods:

1. Oats and Barley: contains beta-glucan, a type of fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties more than echinacea.

2. Garlic: contains allicin which fights infection and bacteria.

3. Fish and Shellfish: the selenium in seafood increases immune cell production.

4. Mushrooms: increases production of white blood cell and makes them more aggressive.

5. Beef: contains zinc which is important for development of white blood cells.

6. Chicken Soup: Yes! We all knew there was something to that chicken soup thing! It contains the amino acid cysteine which blocks the migration of inflammatory white cells into the upper respiratory system. It mimics the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine.

7. Tea: builds the immune system T cells and the result is that they pump out 10 x more interferon which fights infections and viruses.

8. Sweet Potatoes: Your skin is the ultimate fortress against the invasion of unwanted bacteria and viruses. The vitamins A (beta carotene) in sweet potatoes keep skin healthy and strong.

9. Yogurt: probiotics in yogurt keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease fighting germs.

These foods can't guarantee you won't ever get sick, but they will certainly help you fight these infections if you do indeed get sick.

Enticing Vegetarian Virgins

As big meat eaters are dwindling, vegetarianism is on the rise, moving from the days of alfalfa sprouts and wheat germ to diet staples of wholegrain, complex carbohydrates, legumes, nuts and seeds. It is becoming more acceptable to be vegetarian.

Persons who switch to a vegetarian lifestyle do so out of some form of enlightenment that consuming animal products is unhealthy, anti-religious, against animal rights or to save the planet, Earth.

Besides religion, some persons choose to become vegetarian because of concern for the environment or for their own health issues. To impressionable young minds, vegetarianism sounds sensible, ethical and 'cool'. Children can get hooked to a vegetarian lifestyle and so care must be taken when feeding children a vegetarian diet, especially if dairy and egg products are not included.

Younger children are usually part of a family practice such as Seventh-day Adventists or vegan parents. It is best to discuss with young children the importance of having vegetarian diets and how to maintain them.

Vitamin deficiency

Since vegetarians do not eat meat, it means that they will miss out on vitamin B12, naturally available in animal products - meat, poultry, fish, eggs and milk. Vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells.

It is also needed to help make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Signs of deficiency associated with B12 include anemia, fatigue, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Deficiency also can lead to neurological changes, such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Additional symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are difficulty in maintaining balance, depression, confusion, dementia, poor memory, and soreness of the mouth or tongue.

To prevent such deficiency, vegetarians are advised to eat fortified cereals which are one of the few sources of vitamin B12 from plant sources, and are an important dietary source of vitamin B12 for strict vegetarians and vegans. Strict vegetarians who do not consume foods that come from plants fortified with vitamin B12 need to take a dietary supplement that contains vitamin B12.

Tofu curd and whey

One of the main ingredients of vegetarian diets is tofu. As cheese is to milk, so tofu is to soybean. As a cow gives milk, so does soybean give soy milk. As animal milk is separated into curd and whey in the production of cheese, so is soy milk separated into curd and whey to from tofu. Soy milk is twice as rich in protein as dairy milk and protein from soy milk is complete protein with the eight essential amino acids.

Tofu comes in two broad categories - firm and soft or silken. The more versatile of the two is firm tofu, which can be likened to a potato in terms of its utility. Silken tofu will not stir-fry well and it is difficult to absorb all the flavors added to imitate meat and other animal-based dishes. Tofu is available in supermarkets. Like any dairy product, it must be refrigerated to protect its short shelf life.

8 Million People Die From Cancer Each Year

Healthier living could prevent about a third of the most common cancers in rich countries and about a quarter in poorer ones, international researchers said on Thursday. Better diets, more exercise and controlling weight could also prevent more than 40 percent of colon and breast cancer cases in some countries, according to the study which urged governments and individuals to do more to cut the number of global cancer deaths each year. "At the time of publication, roughly 11 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer and nearly eight million people die from cancer each year," said Michael Marmot, who led the study from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research. "However, cancer is mostly preventable."

The study involved 23 experts who analyzed both the incidence of 12 common cancers across the world and data on diet, exercise and weight to see how these factors contributed to kidney, mouth, lung, gallbladder and the other cancers. The researchers found that healthier living would prevent 43 percent of colon cancer cases and 42 percent of breast cancer cases in Britain, and 45 percent of bowel cancer and 38 percent of breast cancer cases in the United States. The findings follow the same groups' study in 2007 that showed how quickly people grow and what they eat are both significant causes of cancer. They recommended - in line with what health experts, including governments and the UN World Health Organization, have long been advising - that people follow diets based on fruits, vegetables and whole grains and go easy on red meats, dairy products and fats.

The team also looked at China, Brazil as representatives of low- and middle-income countries, respectively. Overall improving diet, exercise and weight would in the United States prevent more than a third of the 12 most common cancers -- which also included stomach, womb (uterus), prostate, pancreas and esophagus tumors. This amounted to 39 percent of the cancers in Britain, 30 percent in Brazil and 27 percent in China. "This report shows that by making relatively straightforward changes, we could significantly reduce the number of cancer cases around the world," Marmot said in a statement. "On a global level every year, there are millions of cancer cases that could have been prevented and this is why we need to act now before the situation gets even worse."

Change Your Lifestyle & Thwart Cancer

Regular exercise and dietary control can play a vital role in fighting cancer and other chronic diseases, says Dr. Amer Radwi, consultant medical oncologist and head of the Oncology Data and Research Unit at Princess Nora Oncology Center of King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah. “Exercise is advised as a protection against cancer,” Radwi told Arab News. A sedentary lifestyle, on the other hand, can endanger a person’s health and make him a victim of various diseases, including cancer, he added. Radwi said cancer cases are low in the Kingdom compared to Western countries. “The ratio is 80-100 per 100,000 population in the West against 20 in the Kingdom,” he pointed out. But, according to Radwi, the gap is narrowing and modern lifestyle is the main reason. “Rapid changes have taken place in the lifestyle of Saudis over the last two decades. The pattern of cancer in the Kingdom is changing because of the change in lifestyle. Before the 1990s there were few cases of colon cancer in our country.

Now it’s No. 1. It’s a lifestyle-related cancer,” he said. Radwi said cancer diagnosis and treatment in the Kingdom has witnessed remarkable progress with the opening of specialized hospitals and centers in almost all parts of the country. Radwi said most hospitals in the Kingdom, including Princess Nora Center and King Faisal Specialist Hospitals in Jeddah and Riyadh, have world-class oncology departments with advanced facilities. Radwi warned against unscientific use of herbal cure for cancer and other diseases. “Most herbalists have no medical background,” he said, adding that those who promote herbal medicine do not know about the harmful side effects of the medicines, which have not been clinically tested. He however pointed out that research into herbal medicines is in progress in some Western countries. Radwi spoke about the dangerous effects of smoking, saying it could cause different types of cancer. “Smoking is the single biggest cause of cancer in the world.

It causes nine out of 10 cases of lung cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of over a dozen other cancers, including that of mouth, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bladder and cervix, as well as some types of leukemia.” Tobacco smoke contains about 70 different cancer-causing substances, Radwi said. When a person inhales smoke, these chemicals enter his lungs and spread around his body. “Stress is another important reason for the spread of cancer as it affects our immune system,” Radwi said, adding that a strong faith in God could help a person resist and overcome the disease. More recent research suggests that the body’s neuroendocrine response (release of hormones into the blood in response to stimulation of the nervous system) can directly alter important processes in cells that help protect against the formation of cancer.

Warm Touch Enhancement

Couples may be able to enhance one another's health by being more physically affectionate with one another, new research in Psychosomatic Medicine shows. Couples who underwent training in "warm touch enhancement" and practiced the technique at home had higher levels of oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone" and the "cuddle chemical," while their levels of alpha amylase, a stress indicator, were reduced, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City, Utah, and her colleagues found. Emotional and social support is key to both mental and physical health, Holt-Lunstad and her team note, while support between spouses may be particularly vital. One important but little-studied way that people express this support, they add, is through "non-sexual, caring physical touch, such as hand-holding, hugs, and sitting or lying 'cuddled up.'"

To investigate how this caring touch might affect stress levels, the researchers 36 married couples who were assigned to a Couple Contact Enhancement group or to a "monitoring only" comparison group. The contact-enhancement subjects received training in "listening touch" -- which involves increasing awareness of the partner's mood by touching his or her neck, shoulders, and hands -- and training in neck and shoulder massage. Couples were instructed to practice the techniques together for 30 minutes three times a week for four weeks. The people in the control group kept a record of their physical affection and mood, but were asked not to change their normal behavior. All study participants had their blood pressure, amylase and oxytocin levels checked before, during and after the intervention. The researchers also tested their blood levels of cortisol, a hormone key to the body's stress response.

During the first week, the researchers found, the couples in the warm touch group had more oxytocin in their saliva than the control couples, and their levels remained significantly higher in the last week of the study. The men and women in the intervention group also had significantly lower levels of salivary amylase than those in the control group by the end of the study. Among men in the intervention group, blood pressure was reduced after the four weeks. There were no differences between the two groups in cortisol levels. "Our data suggest that warm partner contact may be particularly cardioprotective for men," the researchers write. They conclude: "These findings may help us better understand the protective mechanisms of positive marital interactions in the prevention of stress-related diseases."