Study Defends Mammography Screening Benefits
A new study suggests that the benefits of regular mammography screening outweigh its risks of potential overtreatment, Reuters reports. British researchers studied data on 80,000 women and found that for every 28 breast cancer diagnoses, two lives were saved while one case was diagnosed and then treated unnecessarily, meaning it never would have threatened the woman's health. The results, published in the Journal of Medical Screening, contradict findings of a recently published study that found screening had no effect on breast cancer deaths, according to Reuters.
[Slide Show: 11 Screening Tests You Should (or Shouldn't) Consider. Read Cancer Death Rates Are Down, but Watch Out if Breast Cancer Screening Falls Off.]
6 Simple Ways to Improve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia affects about 2 percent of the U.S. population—more women than men—and often, those who have the condition are afraid to exercise because they fear worsening their symptoms. But experts say that regular physical activity actually helps fibromyalgia sufferers, U.S. News's January Payne writes.
The problem? The condition's hallmarks—widespread body pain and fatigue—make it tough to work out. So how can people with fibromyalgia be encouraged to exercise without fear of making their pain and fatigue worse? A new study shows that taking small steps can help improve pain and functioning of those with fibromyalgia, as long as it's done in moderation.
The goal of the new study, published Monday in Arthritis Research & Therapy, was to "see if we can get [people with fibromyalgia] to be more active throughout the day," says Kevin Fontaine, associate professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "The goal is to get them to accumulate 30 minutes of activity most days of the week," which can be accomplished in two-to-three-minute increments over the course of the day. The study's 84 participants were randomized to a "lifestyle physical activity" group or to a control group. Those in the lifestyle group—who, for example, were encouraged to walk more and take the steps instead of the elevator—increased their average daily steps by 54 percent by the end of the study and reported improvements in physical functioning and less pain. Read more.
[Read Finding Effective Treatment for Your Chronic Pain and Origin of Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women Can Be Elusive.]
Chocolate and Other Surprisingly Helpful Foods
A new study suggests that eating a bit of chocolate daily could protect your heart, HealthDay reports. German researchers studied more than 19,000 people over 10 years and found that those who ate about six grams of chocolate each day reduced their chance of having a heart attack by nearly 40 percent when compared to those who ate very little chocolate. The six gram amount is about one square of a 100 gram chocolate bar, the team noted; those who ate more chocolate also had lower blood pressure. (The researchers cautioned that the extra calories must be subtracted from elsewhere in the diet to prevent weight gain.)
Garden peas are another surprisingly helpful food that scientists found may reduce blood pressure. In a recent study, hypertensive rats with kidney disease who munched daily on a mixture made from proteins found in yellow garden peas saw a significant reduction in their blood pressure and an improvement in kidney function, compared with sick rats on a normal diet. Read more.
[Read Turn Your Kitchen Into a Clinic and 5 Food Package Claims That Deserve a Double Take.]
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