Research links flu shot in pregnant women to healthier birth weights

Feb. 21, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson A new study found that women who received flu shots had fewer underweight babies during flu season than those who didn’t get the shot. The study included 340 pregnant women in Bangladesh. The women were randomized to receive either a flu shot or a placebo....

Study finds little benefit in treating acute sinusitis with antibiotic

Feb. 17, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson In a recent study, treatment with the antibiotic amoxicillin didn’t provide any more relief from acute sinusitis than a placebo after three days of treatment. Acute rhinosinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses and nasal cavity – the swollen, painful,...

Study links poor sleep to early markers of Alzheimer’s disease

Feb. 14, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson In a recent study, disrupted sleep was linked with an increased risk for signs of amyloid plaques, a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. The study included 100 people, ages 45-80, who had no cognitive problems or outward signs of dementia. Researchers at...

Award-winning project uses mobile phones to address breast cancer care in Bangladesh

Feb. 9, 2012 By Particia Nicholson Can mobile phones help treat breast cancer? Dr. Ophira Ginsburg’s work in rural Bangladesh suggests they can, and Grand Challenges agrees: Dr. Ginsburg’s project has been awarded one of 15 Rising Stars Awards from Grand Challenges Canada. In rural...

Older breast cancer patients may have higher risk of death

Feb. 7, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Risk of dying from breast cancer may be higher among older patients. A new study found that deaths from breast cancer were significantly more common among women in older age groups, compared to those younger than 65. The study included 9,766 post-menopausal...

Triglyceride levels may predict stroke risk in older women

Feb. 3, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Triglycerides – a type of fat in the blood – may be linked to stroke risk in post-menopausal women. Results of a new study showed that although cholesterol (which is also a blood fat) did not appear to be associated with stroke risk, other specific blood...

Study links heartburn drug to risk of hip fracture in post-menopausal smokers and former smokers

Jan. 31, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Post-menopausal women who use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) – a class of drugs used to treat heartburn and acid reflux – may have greater risk of hip fracture, especially if they smoke or used to smoke. Researchers looked at data on almost 80,000...

Diabetes may affect hearing loss in women, study finds

Jan. 26, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Women with diabetes – especially those with uncontrolled blood sugar – may be at risk for greater hearing loss compared to women without diabetes, new study results show. Researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan compared hearing loss in...

Use your head: study links lifetime of brain-engaging activities to lower levels of Alzheimer’s protein

Jan. 23, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Keeping your brain busy now may help keep it healthy later. New research links a lifetime of brain-stimulating activities with lower levels of beta-amyloid protein – the main component of the brain plaque that is the defining characteristic of Alzheimer’s...

Quitting smoking may be hardest in low-income groups, study finds

Jan. 20, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson It’s tough for anybody to go smoke-free, but a new study found that it’s even tougher for people with low incomes and low education levels. Three months after finishing a quit-smoking program, the participants with low socioeconomic status were 55 per cent...

One in 10 Canadians may have trouble paying for medications, study finds

Jan. 16, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Results of a new study suggest that about 10 per cent of Canadians may not be taking their prescribed medication as directed because of the cost of treatment. Although Canada has universal health coverage, many people are not covered by an insurance plan that...

Choice of birth control pill does not affect breastfeeding, study finds

Jan. 13, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson A new study comparing birth control pills in breastfeeding women found that the type of pill they took had no effect on whether they continued breastfeeding or whether they continued taking the pill, and also had no effect on the growth of their babies. The...

Study links grief to increased risk of heart attack

Jan. 9, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Heart attack risk is 21 times higher than normal in the first 24 hours following the death of a loved one, according to results of a new study. Severe stress has been linked to a sudden rise in heart attack risk, but grieving had never been directly linked to...

Study links belly fat hormone to women’s risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s

Jan. 6, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Researchers have discovered another reason why belly fat may be bad for women’s health: it may have a role in the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in women. A study from Tufts University in Boston links women’s dementia and Alzheimer’s...

Daily text messages may boost birth control pill continuation in young women

Jan. 3, 2012 By Patricia Nicholson Young women who receive daily educational text messages about birth control pills may be more likely to continue taking them, new research shows. According to background information in the study, medication errors are very common: only about half of people...

Study links osteoporosis drug to longer performance of artificial joints

Dec. 19, 2011 By Patricia Nicholson Joint replacement patients who take bisphosphonates – medications used to treat osteoporosis – may get longer use out of their hip or knee implants than other patients. A new study found that artificial hip and knee implants lasted almost twice as long in...

Study suggests former smokers not just healthier than those who keep smoking, but also happier

Dec. 13, 2011 By Patricia Nicholson Everyone – including smokers – knows that giving up cigarettes has health benefits. What hasn’t been clear is whether former smokers are happier or have a better quality of life after quitting. Findings of a new study show that there is, indeed, life...

Post-partum psychiatric episodes may be associated with risk of developing bipolar disorder

Dec. 9, 2011 By Maria Serraino Experiencing a psychiatric episode within 30 days after childbirth may be associated with an increased risk of developing bipolar disorder, according to a study in JAMA: Archives of General Psychiatry. According to background information in the study, childbirth...

Feeling fishy? Study finds omega-3 fatty acids may reduce young women’s risk of heart disease

Dec. 5, 2011 By Maria Serraino Cod, salmon, herring and mackerel are not only delicious, but according to researchers they can also reduce your risk of heart disease. The study in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association reports that eating fish only a few times a month can have...

Antioxidant-rich foods may help reduce risk of stroke in women, according to a new study

Dec. 1, 2011 By Maria Serraino
Consumption of antioxidant-rich foods may reduce the risk of stroke in women, according to a recent study in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. According to background research in the study, eating fruits and vegetables has been associated...