Dr Health Tips

Study Suggests Obesity-Heart Attack Link Is Independent of Other Risk Factors Such as Diabetes Obesity is a risk factor for fatal heart attacks even for people who do not have the conditions normally associated with cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, a study shows. According to researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, it appears that obesity in its own right is associated with an increased risk of fatal heart attacks. Inflammation is apparently a strong factor in fatal cardiovascular disease, the researchers say, and obesity is now increasingly being recognized as an inflammatory condition. “We already knew that being obese meant you had a higher chance of having a heart attack,” study researcher Jennifer Logue, MD, of the University of Glasgow, tells WebMD via email. “We also already knew that obese people were more likely to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.” She says it was thought that high cholesterol...

A migraine is a common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head. Some people who get migraines have warning symptoms, called an aura, before the actual headache begins. An aura is a group of symptoms, including vision disturbances, that are a warning sign that a bad headache is coming. Aromatherapy : One of the best home remedies for migraine is aromatherapy. A few aromas such as those of peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender and sandalwood, can be really good and helpful for treating migraine. Massage : Massage is also considered to be a very good home remedy for migraine. Massaging head with certain ayurvedic oils can be very effectual in treating migraine. This is not just effectual for treating migraine but is also very nourishing for all your senses. Acupressure : A lot of people suggest and have seen the benefits of acupressure in treating migrai...

Scientists have provided genetic evidence suggesting the antioxidant drugs currently used to treat lung disease, malaria and even the common cold can also help prevent and treat cancers because they fight against mitochondrial oxidative stress-a culprit in driving tumor growth. For the first time, researchers from Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center show that loss of the tumor suppressor protein Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) induces mitochondrial oxidative stress in the stromal micro-environment, a process that fuels cancer cells in most common types of breast cancer. "Now we have genetic proof that mitochondrial oxidative stress is important for driving tumor growth," said lead researcher Michael P. Lisanti. "This means we need to make anti-cancer drugs that specially target this type of oxidative stress. And there are already antioxidant drugs out there on the market as dietary supplements, like N-acetyl cysteine," he said. In the study, Jefferson researchers a...

Research discovers oncogene that may be a driving force in breast cancer Researchers have found a new gene that may be the cause of an extremely rare breast cancer that is also very difficult to treat. The new gene discovered is called ZNF703, and it is the first discovered oncogene in at least five years. Experts from Cancer Research UK explain that this discovery may pave the way for additional treatments in the future. Normal-functioning oncogenes are the driving factor behind cell division. In normal cells, the division is perfectly fine, but the oncogenes also influence cell division in tumor cells, sometimes causing unstoppable multiplication of cells. In the cases of tumors, the oncogene can be considered “out of control”. Experts explain in the EMBO Molecular Medicine journal that there is strong evidence alluding to ZNF703 being a new oncogene. For the study, nearly 1,200 samples of breast tumors were analyzed. The ZNF703 gene has been considered to be overactive in cl...

Brain hemorrhage is a kind of severe stroke that can kill the patient or can cause paralysis. This can happen inside the brain, between the brain and the membrane that covers it, and in the layers of the brain coverings. Brain hemorrhage happens because of a break in the wall of the blood vessels in the brain and the blood spreads through the tissues, killing them and other cells. People with conditions like a heavy bulge in the vessels of the brain, inherit weak blood vessels, and those who carry a mutated cystic C gene or vascular malformation should take extra caution to prevent brain hemorrhage. Some factors contribute in the development of brain hemorrhage: one of these is hypertension which is often the most common contributing factor in brain hemorrhage. Another is diabetes because it can weaken the blood vessels, especially in the eyes. Use of medications such as anti-coagulants that affect blood clotting can also contribute to brain hemorrhage. Although many cases of brain hem...