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‘Inflammatory’ diet linked to higher risk of colon cancer
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5 things pediatricians want parents to know about the flu epidemic
eople who consume lots of foods linked to chronic inflammation, such as red meat and refined grains, may be more likely to develop colorectal cancer than individuals who tend to avoid these foods, a U.S. study suggests.
he deadly flu epidemic sweeping the nation has closed schools in states from Alabama to Texas and killed at least 30 children since its official start on Oct. 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Researchers examined more than two decades of U.S. survey data on eating habits and cancer diagnoses for 74,246 female nurses and 46,804 male health professionals. They sorted participants into five groups based on how likely it was that their daily diets could contribute to inflammation.
The outbreak has left parents wondering what they can do to protect their families against the flu and what to do once their child is diagnosed.
Compared to people with diets that had the least potential to cause inflammation, individuals with diets that were most likely to cause inflammation were 32 percent more likely to develop colorectal cancer during the study, researchers report in JAMA Oncology.
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inflammatory diets were 44 percent more likely to develop colorectal cancer than men with diets that were least likely to cause inflammation, the study found. Women with the most pro-inflammatory diets were 22 percent more likely to get colorectal tumors.
“A dietary pattern that is associated with higher levels of inflammation will chronically stimulate the bowels, leading to the production of a constantly higher level of circulating inflammation mediators that may contribute to the development of cancer,” said lead study author Fred Tabung, a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
In both men and women, the connection between a pro-inflammatory diet and colorectal cancer risk persisted across all anatomical sites where these tumors can develop, except for the rectum for women.
“Such a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern has a high intake of red meat, processed meat, organ meat, refined grains, and sugary beverages and a low intake of tea, coffee, dark yellow vegetables and green leafy vegetables,” Tabung said by email.
Some of the most important risk factors for colorectal cancer are family history, personal history of polyps or cancer, certain diseases such as ulcerative colitis, and not getting screened, previous research has found. Not smoking, maintaining a normal weight and taking
Men with the most pro-
The risk of developing colorectal cancer was even higher among overweight or obese men and lean women, and also among men and women who didn’t consume alcohol.
aspirin are associated with a lower risk of colon cancer. Limitations of the current study include its reliance on survey participants to accurately recall and report what they ate and drank. The study also wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how certain dietary habits might directly influence the chances of developing colorectal cancer. Even so, the findings offer fresh evidence that a typical Western diet full of pro-inflammatory foods like meat and processed grains and low in fruits and vegetables can lead to health problems, said Ursula Schwab, a nutrition researcher at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio who wasn’t involved in the study. “This study adds to the previous evidence that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with several types of diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,” Schwab said by email. (-Reuters)
Young women skip pap tests ‘due to body shame’ ONDON - More than a third of young women say they are too embarrassed to attend Pap test appointments because they are ashamed of their body shape, says a UK cancer charity.
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Top concerns include the appearance of their vulva and worries over whether they smell ‘normal’. Almost a third of the women admit they would not have a Pap test unless they waxed or shaved their bikini area. The poll also reveals that 16% would rather miss their Pap test than a gym class. The charity says it is concerned that body image issues could be putting women’s lives at risk. - Life-Saving Test Robert Music, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, says in a statement: “Smear tests prevent 75% of cervical cancers so it is a big worry that so many young women, those who are most at risk of the disease, are unaware of the importance of attending. It is of further concern that
ABC News spoke to pediatricians across the country to find out what they want parents to know about the flu epidemic. We also had the doctors answer questions from ABC News’ viewers about the flu. Here is the information pediatricians want parents to know about this flu season. 1.The flu shot really works. Each doctor ABC News spoke with said getting your child a flu shot is the number one way to make sure your child is safe from the flu. This year’s influenza vaccine is not as effective as officials would like for influenza H3N2, the most common strain in this cycle, but doctors say it will still ease your child’s symptoms if not prevent them entirely. “If you’re talking about protection and issues about how you try to keep your loved ones as healthy as possible, the number one is still getting the flu vaccine,” said Dr. Randy Bergen, a pediatrician and the clinical lead of Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s Flu Vaccine Program. “Some protection is better than no protection.” It’s also not too late to get a flu shot for your child if they have not yet received one, experts say. “The flu shot cannot make a child sick,” said Dr. Don Schaffer, managing partner of Pediatrics of Greater Houston. “There’s no reason to not give it and give your child every advantage they can.” 2. You know your child better than anyone else. Dr. Joshua Schaffzin, pediatric infectious diseases physician and director of infection, prevention and control at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, said parents should listen to their gut instincts if their child becomes ill.
One in 4 women aged 25 to 64 in the UK who are eligible for cervical screening do not take up their invitation to be tested. However, among 25 to 29 year olds the figure is 1 in 3, and even as high as 1 in 2 in some parts of the country. A survey carried out by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust found that 35% of 2,017 women aged between 25 and 35 say body shame caused them to delay attending. This rose to 50% when women who had never had a Pap test were included.
FRIDAY, January 26, 2018
“Classic flu feels like you’ve been hit by a truck because it’s abrupt onset, high fever, cough, sore throat and all over body aches,” he said. “It’s very striking for parents because their body worries are contributing to non-attendance. “Please don’t let unhappiness or uncertainty about your body stop you from attending what could be a life-saving test. Nurses are professionals who carry out millions of tests every year; they can play a big part in ensuring women are comfortable.” Cervical cancer is the 13th most common cancer among UK women but the most common among women under the age of 35. “Worryingly high numbers” do not understand that Pap tests can prevent cervical cancer, according to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. Its survey showed that 61% of young women aged 25 to 35 are unaware they are in the most high-risk age group for the disease. - ‘I Didn’t Want to Get Naked in Front of a Stranger’ Lindsay, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer aged 29,
told the charity: “I had my first ever smear at 29 because I had ignored all my previous invitations. I was too busy with a baby and a small child, working and I didn’t like the thought of having to get naked in front of anyone I didn’t know. “I don’t want other women to have to go through what I experienced. Diagnosis and treatment was awful. I needed a radical hysterectomy and still struggle with some side effects of treatment today.” Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is also concerned that not enough is being done to increase access to cervical screening. In a report, it says 34% of clinical commissioning groups and 32% of local authorities in England had not undertaken any activities to boost Pap test take-up between August 2016 and August 2017. The charity is releasing its new data at the start of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. (-Mediaite)
Doctor giving a child a checkup in an undated stock photo. kid is running around and all of a sudden they don’t want to get out of bed.” He added, “If a child comes home with a fever and isn’t feeling well, it’s not necessarily a time to panic. You do what you normally do. Parents take great care of their kids and [pediatricians] trust in that ability and knowledge and your keen sense of what’s normal and not. If parents have a gut sense that something is not quite right, it is perfectly reasonable to call your doctor. If the parents feel comfortable managing it at home, then that’s great.” 3. Your child’s illness may not be the flu. The flu season overlaps with seasons for other illnesses -from RSV to the common cold -- that could also infect children, the doctors said. “In pediatrics there tends to be a little bit of a difference in that very young children are more frequently affected by another respiratory virus called RSV,” Bergen said. “We’re seeing the flu peak right now – cough, cold, high fevers, body aches and pains and children tend to have more stomachrelated issues with influenza -- but we haven’t seen quite the peak of RSV season.” Doctors advised parents to stay alert and treat their child as needed, but not to panic that the first sign of illness means their child has the flu. 4.It’s important to take care of yourself. “If you’re a parent you still have to care for your child,” said Bergen, who advises parents to be proactive about washing their hands and staying away from sick people to avoid getting sick themselves. Good hygiene -- using soap and water, cleaning toys, using hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes on grocery carts and gym machines -- was also
recommended for parents by Schaffzin. If a parent does become sick, the best approach is to stay home and quarantine yourself as much as possible from family members. “The earlier you are in the illness, the more contagious you are in general,” said Bergen. “The critical thing is the fever. Most doctors will say if you’ve been without a fever for 24 hours you’re safe to return [to work or school].” 5. Your pediatrician is ready to make a plan. Schaffzin recommends making a plan with your child’s pediatrician now, and again before the start of flu season next year, for what to do if your child becomes ill. This is critically important, according to Schaffzin, for parents of children who are higher risk for complications due to flu, including kids younger than two, or with congenital heart issues or lung issues. “Treatment is most effective when started early,” he said. “So it’s good to have a conversation beforehand, ‘If the child becomes ill, what should our plan be?’” For instance, if your child has a pre-existing medical condition, such as asthma, a pediatrician would likely want to administer Tamiflu, an antiviral medication, right away. Medication could help prevent other complications, like pneumonia, from occurring and could help shorten the duration of the flu. “It works best if you start it as early as possible, at the first sign of symptoms,” Schaffzin said. Not everyone, though, needs Tamiflu to recover. In some kids, Tamiflu can cause vomiting and dehydration so knowing ahead of time what your doctor advises for your individual child can help. (ABC News)
Virginity pills and surgery: Iran’s fake hymen industry EHRAN, AFP - In Iran, many people believe that it is important for women to be virgins on their wedding day. Even so, many women do have sex before marriage. As a result, a real industry has grown up around hymen reconstruction and “virginity pills.” More and more ads for these kind of products and services are popping up on Iranian social media.
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For many years, women have been turning to surgery to mask the fact that they’ve had sex before marriage. The surgical procedure involves closing up, sometimes almost completely, the vaginal opening so that the woman will bleed when she has intercourse with her new husband. This bleeding is supposedly proof of the young
woman’s purity, as most will assume that the bleeding comes from the tearing of her hymen. A woman’s hymen, however, doesn’t necessarily tear the first time she has sex and, even if it does, it might not bleed. Secondly, a hymen can be torn outside of sex. But the myth that a woman must bleed during her first experience of vaginal penetration is widely believed in Iran and around the world. The result is that these operations have been common in Iran since the 1970s (as well as in many other countries, including France.) Starting in the 1990s, another option appeared for women wanting to fake their virginity: pills that are supposed to make it seem as if a woman has an intact hymen. The price of these
pills vary widely, but most seem to work in the same way. About an hour before having sex, the woman is supposed to put a pill in her vagina. When the pill becomes damp, its exterior softens. During penetration, the exterior breaks and releases a red liquid, which is supposed to trick the husband. In recent years, more and more ads for these pills have been popping up on both Telegram, an encrypted instant messaging service that is extremely popular in Iran, and Instagram, which is also widely used. Women can order these pills to whichever postal address they want in just a few clicks. The ads promise to deliver the pills in plain packaging so as not to arouse suspicion.