Is Cardiac Health All in Your Genes?

The good news: Healthy behaviour appears to slash the risk of coronary disease in people at high genetic risk for events. The bad news: Folks with “good genes” cant expect their genetic makeup to offset bad habits, warns a senior cardiologist here. Basically, it means that the foundation for prevention has to be lifestyle, because it makes a difference regardless of your genetic risk factor. If you were at high genetic risk, you are not fated to have the problem. Lifestyle is important regardless of whether your genetic risk is…

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Just a small cut in saturated fats ‘reduces heart disease risk’

“Swapping butter and meat for olive oil and fish does cut the risk of heart disease,” The Times reports. The headline is prompted by the findings from a US study involving data from over 100,000 men and women, followed for more than 20 years. The results showed that consumption of different types of saturated fats was associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. The researchers also found that replacing just 1% of energy consumed in the form of saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, wholegrain carbohydrates or plant…

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Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time, but is especially vital if you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Eating healthily during pregnancy will help your baby to develop and grow. You can read through this article, or go directly to the sections you want by clicking these links: Fruit and vegetables Starchy foods (carbohydrates) Protein Dairy Foods that are high in sugar or fat Healthy snacks Preparing food safely Healthy Start vouchers You don’t need to go on a special diet, but it’s important to eat…

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How does sugar in our diet affect our health?

Most adults and children in the UK eat too much sugar. Cut down by eating fewer sugary foods, such as sweets, cakes and biscuits, and drinking fewer sugary drinks. The kind of sugar we eat too much of is known as “free sugars”. Free sugars are any sugars added to food or drinks, or found naturally in honey, syrups and unsweetened fruit juices. Many foods and drinks that contain added sugars can be high in energy (measured in either kilojoules/kJ or calories/kcal) and often have few other nutrients. Eating these foods too…

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New HIV infections down, but AIDS deaths rise 35% in 3 yrs

Deaths due to full blown AIDSin the city have jumped by nearly 35% over the last three years though the number of fresh HIV infections has shown a decline, shows figures collated by the Mumbai District Aids Control Society. They suggest that a majority of the HIV cases are detected in the 35-49 age group, indicating that awareness campaigns are probably not making early inroads. AIDS deaths rose from 945 in 2013-14 to 1,270 in 2015-16 (see box). Activists are alarmed that the year-on-year increase in fatalities has ranged from…

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Electro-acupuncture may improve sleep in breast cancer patients

Electro-acupuncture may be an effective method in improving sleep quality in patients suffering from breast cancer, a study has shown. Electro-acupuncture is a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles. Compared with women who undergo natural menopause, nearly 30 to 40 per cent of women with breast cancer are at a greater risk of experiencing hot flashes, partially as a result of the premature menopause that results from chemotherapy and surgery, as well as estrogen deficiency caused by the use of breast…

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