Health Headlines - July 7

Study: Slow Walking May Be Best for Obese

Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder have good news for walkers: Strolling can help obese adults burn more calories per mile than brisk walking and might even lower the risk of arthritis and injuries to the joints than picking up the pace.

In U.N.'s Bird Flu Fight, Farming a Focus

A team of U.N. experts unveiled a master plan to fight bird flu Wednesday, calling for educating backyard farmers and vaccinating poultry to prevent the disease from becoming a human pandemic.

Acupuncture May Not Help Fibromyalgia

Acupuncture proved no more effective than sham treatments for treating pain from a common chronic condition, according to a new study.

Studies Show Contrast on Aspirin, Cancer

Men who took aspirin over five years slightly lowered their risk for prostate cancer, but women who took low doses over 10 years didn't reduce their risk of cancer, two separate studies indicate.

AP: Review Finds AIDS Agency 'Troubled'

The government's AIDS research agency "is a troubled organization" and its managers have engaged in unnecessary feuding, sexually explicit language and other inappropriate conduct that hampers its global fight against the disease, an internal review found.

Panel: BMI Doesn't Tell Whole Story

A respected medical panel is urging pediatricians not to focus only on height and weight in determining whether a child is too fat.

AIDS Patient's Speech Stirs Asia Summit

After five days of hearing figures and seeing charts about the increasing spread of AIDS in the Asia-Pacific, Maura Elaripe Mea said Tuesday it's time for those living with the disease to rise up and demand what's needed to keep them alive.

Halt to 'Dr. Death' Inquiry Sought

Two hospital administrators said Tuesday they will go to court to halt an inquiry that has heard testimony they failed to act on complaints about a foreign surgeon blamed for the deaths of at least eight patients in a rural hospital.

U.N. Agencies Urge Aid in Bird Flu Fight

Asian countries struggling with bird flu need US$102 million (euro86 million) from international donors as soon as possible to bring the disease under control and stave off the threat of a human pandemic, U.N. officials said.

Food Fact:
Why drink water?

Your body is 60% water -- and not drinking enough can wreak havoc from head to toe. Up to half of all Americans suffer chronic mild dehydration that can cause fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, dry eyes and mouth. As we age, thirst becomes a less sensitive indicator of dehydration, so don't wait until you're thirsty to grab a glass. If you work out, drink more during intense physical activity, when dehydration is a real threat -- your body rapidly loses water through sweat and vapor in exhaled air. A rapid water loss of 5% of body weight can reduce muscular work by 20 - 30%.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Walk it off.

Who needs special training or fancy gear to tone up your body and perk up your frame of mind? All it takes is your own two feet. Research shows that just 20 minutes a day of brisk walking will lower your risk of serious diseases -- that's just four five-minute walks a day! A half-hour a day is even healthier. Walk 45 minutes a day, and watch your waistline shrink.

FAQ of the day:
What is "good" and "bad" cholesterol?

There are two kinds of cholesterol carriers in the blood: HDLs (high-density lipoproteins) and LDLs (low-density lipoproteins). They are also commonly referred to as "good" and "bad" cholesterol -- to remember which is which, think "H" for Healthy and "L" for Lousy. Another tip: Keep the bad LDLs "Low," because their cholesterol ends up in arterial plaques, while you want the good HDLs "High," because they carry cholesterol away from arteries. A desirable level for LDL cholesterol is less than 130 mg/dL. For HDL, a level below 40 mg/dL increases risk, while 60 mg/dL or higher protects against heart disease.