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AHA extols blood pressure benefits of yogurt
Date: 2012-09-20 00:00:00

Consuming just six ounces of reduced-fat yogurt every three days could lessen the chances of ever developing high blood pressure, according to recently released findings from the American Heart Association (AHA).

Blood test results indicating that an individual has hypertension put that person at greater risk for many conditions, including heart failure, stroke and kidney disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 15-year survey from the AHA monitored more than 2,000 subjects whose blood pressure levels were normal at the start of the study. At three points during this period, subjects were asked to fill out questionnaires about the frequency and quantity of their yogurt intake. The results show that if yogurt makes up 2 percent of an individual's daily calorie intake - the equivalent of six ounces per three days - the probability of that person receiving an unfavorable blood test for hypertension is reduced by 30 percent.

Though she suspects calcium in yogurt and some dairy foods could be the reason why certain products may lead to lower blood pressure, University of Texas dietitian Lona Sandon told ABC News this seems to only be true with foods that naturally contain the substance. Calcium supplements, she said, don't have the same effect.

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September marks Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month
Date: 2012-08-29 00:00:00

Medical experts from the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) are reminding the public that September is Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. People who are at risk for this disorder may find out their status with help from a blood test.

Between 90,000 and 100,000 individuals in the U.S. have sickle cell disease, according to experts from the CINJ. This condition causes the production of defective red blood cells that tend to become hard and sticky, taking on the shape of the letter "C." These cells die more quickly and may clog the blood vessels, potentially leading to anemia, organ damage, infections and severe pain.

Individuals at highest risk of the disease include those who are descended from Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Saudi Arabia, India and the Mediterranean. In the U.S., one in 500 African Americans has sickle cell disease.

However, experts from the CINJ point out that having this disorder does not necessarily mean that patients cannot live active and healthy lives. These individuals can be functional with the help of regular medical checkups.

A blood test to measure levels of the abnormal protein hemoglobin S can diagnose sickle cell disease and inform patients of their risks in passing the disorder to their descendants.

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Cloaking device discovered in malaria parasite may lead to cure
Date: 2012-12-11 00:00:00

Researchers at the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada and those from the Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School have discovered a cloaking device in malaria parasites, which may lead to the development of a vaccine.... Full Story

Antidepressant medication may have clinical applications for diabetes
Date: 2012-12-14 00:00:00

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have found that the antidepressant medication paroxetine may help treat cardiovascular complications that can result from diabetes.... Full Story

Study gives insight into hepatitis C's cell hijacking
Date: 2012-12-31 00:00:00

For the last 20 years, researchers have known that the hepatitis C virus spreads by invading cells and using the body's RNA to create viral proteins, but recently, scientists from the University of Colorado (CU) School of Medicine have discovered the method by which the virus takes over and manipulates cells.... Full Story