May Archives - Page 41 of 62

Fathers’ Smoking May Up Asthma-Risk In Kids

September 30, 2016 SrijitaAsthma-Risk, Fathers, In, Kids, May, Smoking, Up

Men who indulge in smoking since their adolescence may put their future children at more than three times higher risk of an early-onset of asthma, a finding suggests. In the study, the researchers included more than 24,000 children and showed that both a father’s early smoking debut and a father’s longer smoking duration before conception increased non-allergic early-onset asthma in kids. “The greatest increased risk for their children having asthma was found for fathers having their smoking debut before age 15. Interestingly, time of quitting before conception was not independently…

Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Increase Risk Of Atrial Fibrillation

September 30, 2016 SrijitaAlcohol, Atrial, Consumption, Fibrillation, Increase, May, Moderate, of, Risk

Moderate alcohol consumption may change the structure of the heart in ways that increases the risk of atrial fibrillation leading to a stroke, a study suggests. Atrial fibrillation is a known risk factor for stroke and the irregular pumping of blood can lead to clots, which may travel to the brain and cause a stroke. “There is growing evidence that moderate alcohol intake may be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disturbance in the world, but the mechanism by which alcohol may lead to atrial…

Belly Fat May Increase Risk Of Heart Diseases

September 28, 2016 Srijitabelly, diseases, fat, Heart, Increase, May, of, Risk

Increasing stomach fat — also known as the “hidden fat” in abdomen — can lead to worsening heart disease risk factors, according to a study. The study adds to the growing evidence that regional fat deposits are harmful and further suggested that the density of the stomach fat (measured by CT scan) is important. Previous studies have shown that people who carry excess abdominal fat around their midsection tend to face higher risks of heart disease compared to people who have fat elsewhere. In general, the higher the fat content,…

Unknown Exposure To Second-Hand Smoke May Cause Early Death

September 27, 2016 Srijitacause, death, Early, Exposure, May, Second-Hand, Smoke, to, Unknown

US researchers have identified a new biomarker which revealed that known and unknown exposure to second-hand smoke may lead to an increased risk of mortality in non-smokers. Serum cotinine — a metabolite of nicotine — when used as a biological marker of exposure to second-hand smoke was found to have associations to overall and cause-specific mortality in non-smokers. Increased levels of serum cotinine in blood were significantly also associated with all types of cancers, and heart disease, the researchers said. “The study found that non-smokers are exposed to second-hand smoke…

Loneliness May Run In Families

September 24, 2016 Srijitafamilies, In, Loneliness, May, run

Loneliness is linked to poor physical and mental health, and a new study of more than 10,000 people has found that the risk for feeling lonely is at least partially due to genetics. Genetic risk for loneliness is also associated with neuroticism — long-term negative emotional state — and depressive symptoms, said the study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. “For two people with the same number of close friends and family, one might see their social structure as adequate while the other doesn’t,” said lead researcher Abraham Palmer, Professor of…

New Gene Therapy May Check Spread of Breast Cancer

September 24, 2016 SrijitaBreast, Cancer, check, gene, May, New, of, spread, Therapy

Researchers are in the process of developing a new gene therapy technique that could be used alongside chemotherapy to treat early-stage breast cancer tumours before they spread. The new technique uses microRNAs — small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression — to control metastasis or the spread of the disease, which is the leading cause of mortality in women with breast cancer. “If cancer is diagnosed early enough, then in addition to treating the primary tumour (with chemotherapy), one could also treat with specific microRNAs, in order to prevent…