NewsTalk 1290 News & Talk of Texoma » Health Check

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.

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

Shauna Wright — Thu, 22 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.

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Is Happiness on the Decline? Let's Look to Twitter — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:47:26 +0000

Whether you love or hate Twitter, the microblogging site has revolutionized online communication and some scientists are even using it to ascertain worldwide mood. Though, what they’ve found is kind of a bummer.

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Nurture Your Baby Now for Better Relationships Later — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:33:24 +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.

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Why Is Christmas the Perfect Time for Telling People They're Overweight? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:29:06 +0000

Who says the holidays have to be all warm and fuzzy? According to some health groups in the UK, Christmas can be the perfect time to tell a loved one he or she is overweight.

It may sound rude, but experts insist the health risks involved with obesity, including diabetes, heart disease and stroke, make it worth the uncomfortable conversation.

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

Shauna Wright — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:11:33 +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.

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Can You Stop Future Heart Attacks by Checking Your Blood Pressure? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:38:49 +0000

Getting your blood pressure taken isn’t the most fun activity in the world, but now it looks like we have a better reason to get it measured than simply “because we have to.”

Sorry to freak you out, but scientists discovered blood pressure fluctuations in middle age may be a precursor to both heart attacks and strokes.

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

Shauna Wright — Mon, 19 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.

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Ex-Smokers Are Not Just Healthier, They're Happier Too — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:23:51 +0000

If you’ve decided to greet the New Year with a resolution to quit smoking, you may be dreading the stress and jitters often associated with nicotine withdrawal. But take heart! A new study says you’ll be healthier and happier.

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

Shauna Wright — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:12:58 +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.

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'Obesity May Run in the Family,' Say Researchers — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:04:09 +0000

Is obesity contagious? A study back in 2007 seemed to indicate that, saying we get it from our friends. To back that up, researchers highlighted data showing members of social groups were likely to have similar rates of obesity. New research, however, seems to be changing all this by finding that social interactions may have little impact on body weight.

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Good News for New Year's Resolutions States 'Nibbling' Is OK — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:28:01 +0000

As you start to think about your New Year’s diet (really, don’t we all have one planned?), a small Norwegian study has found a little eating between meals won’t necessarily torpedo your weight-loss goals.

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Could Shaving Your Chest Increase Your Risk of Getting Bedbugs? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:29:11 +0000

This year saw a rash of bedbug infestations worldwide, but scientists are now saying there might be a way of defending against the vermin. While no one seems immune, the more body hair you have, the less attractive you may be to the bloodsucking little critters. Looks like all the men out waxing their chests may have acted a little too hastily.

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

Shauna Wright — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:23:23 +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.

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

Shauna Wright — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:00:22 +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.

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

Shauna Wright — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:03:27 +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.

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Are Working Moms Healthier Moms? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:30:15 +0000

Many new mothers grapple with whether or not they should work while their children are still young.

But if a new study is to be believed, it can actually benefit a woman’s health to collect a paycheck between changing diapers.

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

Shauna Wright — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:28:08 +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.

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

Shauna Wright — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:47:29 +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.

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

Shauna Wright — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:11:23 +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.

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