102.3 Blake FM » Health Check

Love Salt? You Probably Did As a Kid, Too — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:28:31 +0000

If salty foods are your weakness, blame your childhood. Research has found that babies given such foods can develop a preference for them that carries over into adulthood. In fact, some kids in the study who were exposed to sodium early on even became bona fide salt fanatics, going so far as to lick salt [...]

Can Maggots Heal Wounds Faster Than a Doctor? — Health Check

Kathy Landin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:08:04 +0000

Hold on to your lunch. Maggots have been approved for use in wound care in the US since 2004, but new studies are raising questions about whether or not they actually help the wounds heal or just do quick work while seeming kind of gross.

Nurture Your Baby Now for Better Relationships Later — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:33:24 +0000

Want to make sure your new baby will have healthy relationships later in life? Nurture the bond you have with him or her now.

A new study with 75 kids over a 20-year period found those with secure emotional attachments to their mothers were later better at resolving and recovering from relationship conflicts and enjoyed more stable, satisfying ties with romantic partners in early adulthood.

Obesity Isn't Just Bad for Your Body, It's Bad for Your Wallet, Too — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:11:33 +0000

The health risks of obesity are well-documented, but there’s a financial downside, too — data shows obese people also earn less money, especially women. How much less? George Washington University researchers found that in 2004, overall average annual incomes were about $9,000 less for obese women and almost $5,000 less for obese men compared with [...]

Walking May Make You Thinner, But Will It Also Make You Stronger? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:16:52 +0000

In recent years, health advocacy groups have recommended walking a minimum of 10,000 steps a day to stay fit.

And although all that pavement-pounding does help keep your weight down, researchers have found it doesn’t make people stronger or improve their balance and agility.

Forget Calorie Counting, It's Now All About Counting Gym Time — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:12:58 +0000

When it comes to food, would you rather know how many calories you’re ingesting or how much treadmill time it’ll take to burn off the calories?

Think carefully because some now believe displaying the amount of jogging time needed to burn off the calories from a sugary drink — instead of just showing a calorie count — may be more effective in dissuading you from drinking those beverages.

US Government Agency Begs to End Cell Phone Use While Driving — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:23:23 +0000

Studies about the dangers of using a cell device while driving have produced mixed results — some say talking or texting behind the wheel can increase the odds of a crash exponentially, while others say the perils are few.

Regardless, the National Transportation Safety Board is so convinced of the dangers of “distracted driving” that it’s now called for a nationwide ban on non-emergency cell phone use while driving. Even hands-free devices are not excluded.

Could the Dangers of Driving and Using a Cell Phone Be a Bunch of Baloney? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:03:27 +0000

In recent years, study after study has raised the alarm about the dangers of talking on the phone while driving, with some saying you could be four times as likely to have a crash if you’re using a phone behind the wheel.

But new research indicates it may have been much ado about nothing.

Have Scientists Found a Way for People to Live Forever? — Health Check [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:00:22 +0000

A 100th birthday is so rare these days that it’s cause for serious celebration. But scientists say that someday in the very near future, people could live well beyond that. “I don’t think there’s any limit,” said Aubrey de Grey, a leading longevity researcher and scientist at Cambridge University. “Certainly, there’s nothing that would stop [...]

Can You Avoid the Stench of Bad Grades by Studying with Pleasant Smells? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:47:29 +0000

Hey students, want higher test scores? Try studying with a little potpourri or the scent of fresh-baked cookies. Scientists have discovered that our ability to learn actually decreases when the information is paired with a nasty smell. To test the theory, neurobiologist Rony Paz of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and his [...]

Put Down the Raw Cookie Dough and You Won't Get E. Coli — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:28:08 +0000

Arguably the best part about making cookies during the holidays is getting a sneak spoonful of the raw dough before it goes in the oven. Like with tons of other great-tasting grub, however, it’s so not good for us. In fact, two years ago, 77 people in 30 states became ill from doing just that.

Should Nuns Be Offered the Pill to Reduce Cancer Risks? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:11:23 +0000

If you were going to choose a segment of society least likely to need birth control pills, no one could fault you for putting nuns at the top of the list. Researchers, however, say the notoriously contraceptive-averse Catholic Church should make the pills available to those women to reduce their risk of cancer.

Thank You, Cavemen, For Teaching Us How to Yawn — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:41:08 +0000

The mystery of why yawning is contagious may finally have been solved: an Italian study says it’s linked to empathy. Suggesting yawning may show the closeness of your relationships rather than simply how tired you are, scientists discovered people were more likely to yawn in response to a close relative rather than just a friend. [...]

Working the Night Shift May Literally Increase Your Risk of Diabetes — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:05:11 +0000

All you ladies out there now have an excuse for getting out of working night shifts. A new study indicates women who work these hours could be increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Who knew? Data from almost 200,000 female nurses over two decades found this risk to increase between 5 and 58 [...]

Older Women Are in Luck! Mammograms Work Better for Them — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:15:39 +0000

Are mammograms actually effective? Several conflicting studies have come out in the past few years, leading some to pose this question. Don’t fear though ladies. An even newer study from Dutch researchers indicates that they do work, but older women might be getting more out of them.

Careful How You Smell, You May Be Sending the Wrong Message — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:21:02 +0000

Hygiene isn’t the only thing you have to worry about when it comes to how you smell. Your unique odors may be giving away what your personality is like, too. Researchers at the University of Wroclaw, Poland conducted a study in which 30 men and 30 women were given personality tests and asked to forego [...]

Need an Energy Boost? Skip the Coffee, Take a Nap — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:33:04 +0000

If you find yourself dragging in the middle of the day, don’t reach for the coffee pot — reach for a pillow instead. Experts say naps may be a good way to make up for the sleep deficit many of us have from not getting enough shut-eye at night.

Can Chewing Gum Help Control Your Appetite? — Health Check

Kathy Landin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:00:55 +0000

Smokers have a gum that helps them quit smoking, so it’s only fair that overeaters have a gum to help them quit eating. Thankfully, scientists are getting close to making a safe appetite suppressant gum a reality. Appetite suppressants aren’t new. There are plenty of drugs on the market that claim to reduce hunger. But [...]

Dreaming Away Your Stress May Actually Work — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:58:37 +0000

While brain activity during sleep is still largely a mystery, scientists have discovered that dreaming not only consolidates our memories and helps us learn, it may also soothe stressful reactions to bad experiences. Study subjects who were shown emotionally-stimulating images in the evening and then again the next morning after sleeping reported a significant decrease [...]

Is Your Coffee Fix Getting in the Way of Medication? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:12:31 +0000

The average American adult drinks about three cups of coffee a day, and while many can’t imagine a morning without it, people taking certain drugs may want to think twice.

Studies show that more than a dozen medications — antidepressants, estrogen, and thyroid and osteoporosis drugs, for example — can be affected by coffee, which can block absorption or enhance the effects of the drugs.