Here are some of the latest developments in the world of health and medicine:
* College Drinking Problems on the Rise. College drinking is on the rise, and with it the number of alcohol-related deaths, according to a report in the July 2009 issue of Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The researchers reported that the number of alcohol-related deaths among college-age students—mostly from automobile accidents—rose from 1,440 in 1998 to 1,825, an increase of 27%. Roughly 45 percent of students reported participating in binge drinking, defined as having five or more drinks on any occasion in the past 30 days, up from 42 percent seven years earlier. In response to this upswing, many colleges are now instituting anti-drinking campaigns, which appear to have some positive effect.
* How Stress Kills the Sex Drive, Fertility. As anyone who has had problems at home, work or school knows, stress is not sexy. Now, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley believe they can explain the chemistry behind this phenomenon. For years, scientists have known that anxiety causes the brain to release a family of stress hormones such as cortisol that inhibits the body’s main sex hormone (GnRH), and thus sexual desire and sperm count. (Cortisol also increases appetite and fat production.) Now, the Cal scientists have discovered stress also causes the release of another chemical that directly suppresses production of the essential GnRH hormone. So the next time you fail to respond to your partner’s sexual invitations, blame it on bad chemistry.
* Milk at Breakfast Leaves You Feeling Fuller all Morning. In a study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 34 overweight men and women were asked to drink either skim milk or fruit juice at breakfast. The result: Those who drank milk instead of juice felt less hungry all morning long, and were less inclined to eat a large lunch. Whey protein and casein, substances found in milk, have long been known to suppress appetites in both animal and human studies. This latest study helps confirm that link. In addition, calcium, also found in milk, has recently been found to encourage weight loss in addition to being critical to bone and colon health. Fruit juice—especially 100% juice—has its own benefits, so it should also be enjoyed regularly, although not in place of a good tall glass of morning moo juice.
* Cannabis Smoke Can Increase Cancer Risks. Think marijuana is less dangerous than tobacco? Researchers as the University of Leicester (U.K.), using advanced mass spectrometer readings, have discovered that pot smoke can seriously damage DNA and lead to lung cancer risks. The researchers discovered that, because marijuana burns less readily than tobacco, its smoke is actually denser with many of the cancer-causing chemicals (such as acetaldehyde) common to both plants. As a result, smoking just three to four cannabis cigarettes a day can pose the same cancer risk as smoking 20 traditional cigarettes over the same period. The researchers’ findings were recently published in the Journal of Chemical Research in Toxology.
Professional Medical Assisting Programs at Everest College
Interested in a career in the fast-growing and exciting health care field? Programs that help you qualify for a variety of entry-level positions are available now at Everest College. For more information, please visit Everest College today!
