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Aging helps most women feel less stressed

CHICAGO -- When a woman enters midlife, she would feel less stressed and enjoy a high quality of life during this period, a US study showed.

A recent study of the University of Michigan found that perceived stress -- a measure of confidence, control and ability to cope with life's stressors -- did indeed decrease for most women over a 15-year span.

The results came from data collected from more than 3,000 women who were recruited between the ages of 42-53 for the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

The study also found that menopausal status wasn't a factor, which challenges the notion that menopause is associated with higher stress and depression.

Women with less education and increased financial hardship consistently reported higher levels of stress compared to their peers, but this difference diminished over time.

"The results suggested that even women with less education or more financial hardship reported less perceived stress over the midlife," Elizabeth Hedgeman, one of the researchers, said. "And then there's menopause."

"Our perception of stress decreased even through the menopausal transition, which suggests that menopause isn't a great bugaboo, perhaps in relation to the other events or experiences that we're having in the midlife," she said.

Despite reporting decreased levels of stress throughout life, women who reported higher stress at the start of midlife continued to report higher stress levels than their peers as they aged. This is important because stress is a known health risk.

The study did not specifically examine the reasons for this decrease in perceived stress, but Hedgeman said that there could be both circumstantial and neurological causes -- children have moved out, professional goals are being met, or women might have hit a sweet spot before the next life challenges arise, such as chronic health conditions or aging parents. (Xinhua)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1033288

Eating dark chocolate enhances people's memory, immunity

WASHINGTON -- A new research showed that consuming dark chocolate with a high concentration of cacao had positive effects on stress levels, inflammation, mood, memory and immunity.

Presented on Tuesday at the ongoing five-day Experimental Biology 2018 meeting in San Diego, the United States, two studies revealed for the first time the impact of large amounts of cacao in doses as small as a regular-sized chocolate bar in humans over short or long periods of time.

"These studies show us that the higher the concentration of cacao, the more positive the impact on cognition, memory, mood, immunity and other beneficial effects," said Lee S. Berk, a researcher in psychoneuroimmunology and food science from Loma Linda University and principal investigator on both studies.

They focused on the impact of 70 percent cacao chocolate consumption on human immune and dendritic cell gene expression, with focus on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Cacao is a major source of flavonoids.

This study assessed the electroencephalography (EEG) response to consuming 48 gram of dark chocolate (70 percent cacao) after an acute period of time (30 minutes) and after a chronic period of time (120 minutes), on modulating brain frequencies 0-40Hz, specifically beneficial gamma frequency (25-40Hz).

Study findings showed that cacao consumption up-regulated multiple intracellular signaling pathways involved in T-cell activation, cellular immune response and genes involved in neural signaling and sensory perception, the latter potentially associated with the phenomena of brain hyperplasticity.

Berk said the studies, however, require further investigation, specifically to determine the significance of these effects for immune cells and the brain in larger study populations.

According to Berk, further research is in progress to elaborate on the mechanisms that may be involved in the cause-and-effect brain-behavior relationship with cacao at this high concentration. (Xinhua)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1033144

5 facts you need to know on Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder, passed on from mothers, which affects the blood’s ability to clot. The World Hemophilia Federation estimates that about 10,000 Filipinos have hemophilia, with about 1 million suffering from Von Willebrand disease and other bleeding disorders. As we celebrate the Hemophilia Awareness Month this April, here are five facts on hemophilia gathered from a study entitled "Hemorrhagic diseases in Filipino children” published in The Philippine Journal of Pediatrics.

There are two common types of hemophilia

Hemophilia A is the most common type of hemophilia that occurs in about 1 in 5000 males caused by missing or defective factor VIII. Hemophilia B is a less common type of hemophilia that occurs in about 1 in 25000 male births caused by missing or defective factor IX. Having a defective factor means that the body of person has no means to repair itself when there is damage in the blood vessel or injured tissue that will lead to excessive bleeding and internal hemorrhaging.

Uncontrolled bleeding occurs

A more serious concern for people suffering from hemophilia is spontaneous bleeding; any leak can cause severe bleeding and the body will not heal itself. Bleeding into different organs can be life threatening because when it occurs to a vital organ, it can cause permanent damage beyond repair.

It affects children

Hemophilia B Leyden is an extremely rare form of Hemophilia B that causes young children to bleed excessively throughout childhood but when they reach puberty, very little bleeding occurs afterward.

Women can get affected too

Hemophilia is a recessive x-linked trait which affects approximately 1 in 4500 males, but there are cases in which the mutation can cause the same disease issue to the carrier [mothers].

No cure available yet

Medical scientists haven’t found a cure yet for this condition. The only treatment available for hemophilia is replacement therapy wherein, concentrates of clotting factor VIII (for hemophilia A) and IX (for hemophilia B) are slowly dripped or injected into a vein. This helps in replacing the defective clotting factor of the blood. Out of the 10000 Filipinos that suffer from hemophilia, 3 out of every 4 people lack the resources required for proper treatments.

This research is one of the many studies on hemophilia uploaded in the Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN), an online database of PCHRD that enables online publishing, exchanging, and dissemination of quality health information in the Philippines. It is the only health research repository for published researches in the county.

In the spirit of raising awareness on Hemophilia Month, PCHRD invites universities, colleges, laboratories, and medical and research institutions to upload their published and unpublished researches to HERDIN to expand the reach of their study and foster collaboration to find research-based solutions to healthcare problems such as hemophilia.

For more information, you can visit HERDIN’s website at http://www.herdin.ph/

Source: http://pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6357-5-facts-you-need-to-know-on-hemophilia

Written by Catherine Joy C. Dimailig

Diabetes: Belly fat gene increases risk

Achieve a Healthier Body and Soul this Lent

Researches support and confirm that certain diets could offer genuine health benefits. As we celebrate the start of Lent, let us look at the health benefits that comes with the different practices we have in observing Lenten traditions.

Fasting

The practice of refraining or limiting the consumption of food or drink for a period of time is observed during Lenten season. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting, but unknown to many, the digestion process has its disadvantages for the human health. According to the Harvard Medical School, the practice of fasting provides our body a rest from taking in toxins found in food and helps in significant weight loss if practiced properly.

Fasting has two common types. Regular, also called full fast, wherein only liquids are consumed, and partial fast, wherein consumption of solids is limited. The norm during this season is the partial fasting wherein an individual decreases food intake by eating one full meal or two smaller meals that are not equal to a full meal in a day.

A word of caution from doctors, if you consider fasting this Lent, make sure that you have no preexisting conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, as fasting causes electrolyte abnormalities.

Abstinence from meat

Abstinence from eating meat such as beef, pork, and chicken is observed during Fridays and Saturdays of Lent. Instead, fish and vegetables are chosen as substitutes. Fish such as salmon and tuna, is a good source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids that promote heart health.

Research proves that eating 1-2 servings of fish per week could help cut the risk of dying from heart diseases by 36%. By cutting down the consumption of red meat and processed meat, the risk of taking in less-beneficial fats and high sodium meat is also lessened.

Another popular substitute for meat is egg. An egg contains vitamins A, B, and D and a little saturated fat, which is about 1.5 grams . Nutrients found in the egg such as lutein is good for the eyes and choline good for the brain and nerve health.

According to Harvard Medical school, consuming an egg a day is safe for people without preexisting conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. When eating scrambled eggs or omelets, opt for healthier choices to add to your eggs such as spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Always remember that the saturated fat in butter, cheese, bacon, sausage, and bread could raise your blood cholesterol much more than the cholesterol present in your eggs.

Other protein sources, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds could lack one or more fatty acids, so maintaining a proper balance and variety of alternative sources of protein is recommended.

Lenten season is not only a perfect time to take care of our spiritual health, this is also a perfect opportunity to focus on our physical health. With a positive attitude towards sacrifice and devotion, a healthier body and healthier relationship with the Almighty is within reach.