12/12 Yahoo! News: Health News

Novel drug combo improves breast cancer survival (AP) December 11, 2009 at 8:36 pm AP - Some women with very advanced breast cancer may have a new treatment option. A combination of two drugs that more precisely target tumors significantly extended the lives of women who had stopped responding to other medicines, doctors reported Friday. Senate Democrats seek compromise on drug imports (Reuters) December 11, 2009 at 7:56 pm Reuters - Democrats scrambled on Friday to resolve a stalemate over whether to permit imports of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and elsewhere as part of a larger effort to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system. Women Aren't Waiting to Seek Infertility Help (HealthDay) December 11, 2009 at 7:04 pm HealthDay - FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Most American women know that age is an important factor in the success of fertility treatments, finds a new survey of 763 women, aged 18 and older, including 125 women who've had fertility treatment. Spice Compounds May Stem Tumor Growth (HealthDay) December 11, 2009 at 7:04 pm HealthDay - FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Compounds derived from two spices -- pepper and turmeric -- could help prevent breast cancer by limiting the growth of stem cells that promote tumor growth, a new study shows. Clinical Trials Update: Dec. 11, 2009 (HealthDay) December 11, 2009 at 5:03 pm HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com: Women Aren't Waiting to Seek Infertility Help (HealthDay) December 11, 2009 at 5:03 pm HealthDay - FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Most American women know that age is an important factor in the success of fertility treatments, finds a new survey of 763 women, aged 18 and older, including 125 women who've had fertility treatment. New Drugs, New Combinations Fight Breast Cancer (HealthDay) December 11, 2009 at 5:03 pm HealthDay - FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- New therapies and new spins on existing treatments are offering hope for patients with breast cancer, especially those with metastatic disease, according to research being presented this week at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, Texas. Novel drug combo improves breast cancer survival (AP) December 11, 2009 at 3:53 pm AP - Some women with very advanced breast cancer may have a new treatment option. A combination of two drugs that more precisely target tumors significantly extended the lives of women who had stopped responding to other medicines, doctors reported Friday. Soldiers get mass swine flu shots before holidays (AP) December 11, 2009 at 3:12 pm AP - Thousands of Army recruits in training must line up at least once more before heading home for the holidays, this time for mass inoculations by the hundreds against swine flu. Uganda parliament outlaws female genital mutilation (AFP) December 11, 2009 at 12:15 pm AFP - Uganda's parliament has unanimously voted to outlaw female genital mutilation, imposing a 10-year penalty on anyone who conducts the procedure and life in prison for those who physically force a woman to submit to the act, one of the bill's main sponsors told AFP Friday. CDC: Fewer states seeing widespread swine flu (AP) December 11, 2009 at 12:05 pm AP - Health officials say winter flu is just starting to show up in the U.S. while swine flu infections continue to wane. FDA confirms benefits of Crestor in more patients (AP) December 11, 2009 at 11:28 am AP - Federal scientists say AstraZeneca's cholesterol pill Crestor lowers the risk of heart attack, death and stroke in patients without a history of heart disease, though some safety concerns remain. FDA to weigh safety of AstraZeneca's Crestor (Reuters) December 11, 2009 at 11:13 am Reuters - U.S. regulators will ask an advisory panel to consider findings of diabetes and other safety issues as they weigh wider use of AstraZeneca Plc's AZN.L cholesterol-lowering pill Crestor, documents released on Friday said. Chemotherapy boosts breast cancer survival: study (Reuters) December 11, 2009 at 10:35 am Reuters - Chemotherapy helps improve breast cancer survival in post-menopausal women, adding to a long-standing debate about how best to treat these women, U.S. researchers said Thursday. Spice Compounds May Stem Tumor Growth (HealthDay) December 11, 2009 at 9:03 am HealthDay - FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Compounds derived from two spices -- pepper and turmeric -- could help prevent breast cancer by limiting the growth of stem cells that promote tumor growth, a new study shows. Uganda government outlaws female circumcision (AP) December 11, 2009 at 8:22 am AP - Uganda's parliament has approved a bill banning female genital mutilation. Chinese health officials step up flu prevention (AP) December 11, 2009 at 4:25 am AP - China's Health Ministry warned Friday that the swine flu outbreak in the country could peak over the next several months, especially as hundreds of millions of people return home for the traditional Chinese New Year. Health care loophole would allow coverage limits (AP) December 11, 2009 at 3:33 am AP - A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurers place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer, prompting a rebuke from patient advocates. Too Much Drinking, Eating Tied to Breast Cancer Recurrence (HealthDay) December 10, 2009 at 11:49 pm HealthDay - THURSDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Overeating and drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol may be bad news for women with breast cancer, new research suggests.

11/17 Yahoo! News: Health News

New advice: Skip mammograms in 40s, start at 50 (AP) November 16, 2009 at 9:32 pm AP - Most women don't need a mammogram in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50, a government task force said Monday. It's a major reversal that conflicts with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position. As US health care reform looms, cost of medications climbs (AFP) November 16, 2009 at 7:48 pm AFP - With US health care reform at a critical stage, non-generic prescription drug prices have risen sharply in the past year even as other consumer prices generally eased. Study Touts Success With 'Female Viagra' Drug (HealthDay) November 16, 2009 at 7:04 pm HealthDay - MONDAY, Nov. 16 (HealthDay News) -- New industry-funded research suggests that the antidepressant flibanserin, which has been touted as a female version of Viagra, can enhance libido in women with low sex drives. Child Food Allergies on the Rise in U.S. (HealthDay) November 16, 2009 at 7:04 pm HealthDay - MONDAY, Nov. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Pediatric food allergies, which can sometimes be life-threatening, are increasing at a dramatic rate in the United States, new research shows. Research Sheds Light on Causes of Parkinson's (HealthDay) November 16, 2009 at 7:04 pm HealthDay - SUNDAY, Nov. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Gene mutations linked to inherited Parkinson's disease also appear to be connected to the more common form of the disease that strikes people whose relatives don't have it, researchers now say. Gene Linked to Breast Cancer Might Boost Heart Health (HealthDay) November 16, 2009 at 7:04 pm HealthDay - SUNDAY, Nov. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The over-activity of a gene known to boost a woman's risk for breast cancer may have a good side, making arteries healthier, a new study suggests. New advice: Skip mammograms in 40s, start at 50 (AP) November 16, 2009 at 5:22 pm AP - Most women don't need a mammogram in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50, a government task force said Monday. It's a major reversal that conflicts with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position. Clinical Trials Update: Nov. 16, 2009 (HealthDay) November 16, 2009 at 5:04 pm HealthDay - (HealthDayNews) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com: Study: Injured uninsured more likely to die in ER (AP) November 16, 2009 at 4:00 pm AP - Uninsured patients with traumatic injuries, such as car crashes, falls and gunshot wounds, were almost twice as likely to die in the hospital as similarly injured patients with health insurance, according to a troubling new study. Going high-tech to track Alzheimer's patients (AP) November 16, 2009 at 3:16 pm AP - Tom Dougherty jokes that he takes "get-lost walks." To his wife, Cleo, it's a constant fear: When will his Alzheimer's get bad enough that she has to end his 4-mile daily strolls? FDA reviews update to Pfizer vaccine for kids (AP) November 16, 2009 at 3:03 pm AP - Federal health officials on Monday questioned whether to approve an updated version of Pfizer's best-selling anti-infection vaccine for children, despite company studies that failed to meet certain goals. Potential for criminal behavior evident at age 3 (Reuters) November 16, 2009 at 2:19 pm Reuters - Children who don't show normal fear responses to loud, unpleasant sounds at the age of 3 may be more likely to commit crimes as adults, according to a new study. Study Touts Success With 'Female Viagra' Drug (HealthDay) November 16, 2009 at 12:04 pm HealthDay - MONDAY, Nov. 16 (HealthDay News) -- New industry-funded research suggests that the antidepressant flibanserin, which has been touted as a female version of Viagra, can enhance libido in women with low sex drives. Child Food Allergies on the Rise in U.S. (HealthDay) November 16, 2009 at 12:04 pm HealthDay - MONDAY, Nov. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Pediatric food allergies, which can sometimes be life-threatening, are increasing at a dramatic rate in the United States, new research shows. Sexually spread diseases up, better testing cited (AP) November 16, 2009 at 10:23 am AP - Sexually spread diseases continue to rise, with reported chlamydia cases setting yet another record in 2008, government health officials said Monday. Australian doctors operate on conjoined twins (AP) November 16, 2009 at 3:22 am AP - A team of Australian surgeons were working Monday on a delicate and complicated surgery to separate twin sisters who are joined at the top of the head. Sex infections still growing in U.S., says CDC (Reuters) November 16, 2009 at 1:38 am Reuters - American squeamishness about talking about sex has helped keep common sexually transmitted infections far too common, especially among vulnerable teens, U.S. researchers reported Monday.

Prepackaged Food Programs Help Lose Weight

You've probably heard of most of them like Jenny Craig, promoted by
Valerie Bertinelli or Nutrisystem with Marie Osmond. The major
difference between the two programs is that Jenny Craig requires a
contract for a membership as well as payment for the food.
Counseling is provided by Jenny Craig. There is no contract with
Nutrisystem and no counseling. Here's how to lose weight with
prepackaged food programs.

You will receive prepackaged foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Some programs also include snacks. You add fresh diary and
produce. The meals are balanced to provide all the nutrients you
need and are low fat and low calorie so you lose weight as long as
you stay on the program and don't cheat.

A variation of the prepackaged food program are the meal
replacement programs. You consume a prepared drink or snack bar to
replace breakfast and lunch and consume a normal low fat dinner.

The advantages of the prepackaged food programs is that you don't
have to think. You know what you can have. There are no decisions
to be made. No carb counting. No calorie counting. The products
have simplified diet programs. If you live a busy life and don't
particularly like to cook these programs may be for you.

The disadvantages include the expense of the program. The
prepackaged meals are not cheap. Another disadvantage, at least
in the beginning, is the shock of the small portions. Some
participants recommend adding additional steamed veggies and salads
to bulk up the menu. That's somewhat counter productive as one of
the program's benefits is to train yourself to recognize what a
portion is.

If you prepare the meals for your family you might find it
tempting to make dinner for them and then you have only your
prepackaged dinner. The reality is that you will most likely eat
your packaged dinner and a portion of your family's dinner. Of
course if your significant other needs to lose weight as well and
is willing to join you on your weight loss program, you could both
have the prepackaged foods.

A final disadvantage is that once you go off the program you may
quickly return to your old eating habits because you aren't used to
making healthy eating choices. All the choices were made for you.

You can learn how to lose weight when you jump start your weight
loss program with prepackaged foods.


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Disclaimer:
This is not intended to be medical advice.
See your doctor before starting any weight loss program
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