ScienceDaily: Living Well News

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• Food packaging chemicals may be harmful to human health over long term
• Nothing so sweet as a voice like your own, study finds
• Does more stress equal more headaches?
• Smellizing — Imagining a Product's Smell — Increases Consumer Desire
• LGBT youth face greater cancer risks, study shows
• Reasons for becoming self-employed in later life vary by gender, culture
• Managing chronic bone, joint pain
• Dangers of ... sitting? Regardless of exercise, too much sedentary time is linked to major disability after 60
• Couples, pay attention to your relationship work ethic, experts urge
• Fresh air: Special air filter blocks small particles called UFPs from getting inside cars
• People tend to blame fate when faced with a hard decision
• Addicted to tanning? People keep tanning despite known risks
• Most of us have made best memories by age 25
• Dreams, déjà vu and delusions caused by faulty 'reality testing,' research shows
• Could metabolism play a role in epilepsy?
• Antibiotics don't prevent complications of kids' respiratory infections
• In fight against teen prescription drug abuse, home and school-based programs work in combination
• Medicaid's 'tube-tying' polices create roadblocks for low-income women
• Garlic counteracts virulent bacteria
• Fight against Medicare, Medicaid fraud could benefit your health
• Perception of job insecurity results in lower use of workplace programs
• Program launched to help mothers of severely disabled children cope
• Daily walk of just 3km can reduce risk of hospitalization for respiratory problems
• Magnesium may protect against hip fractures
• Why tackling appetite could hold the key to preventing childhood obesity
• Female athlete triad syndrome a growing concern, sports medicine experts say
• Bullying: Negative impact on a child's health may remain for years
• Gender, genes play important role in delayed language development

Food packaging chemicals may be harmful to human health over long term Posted: 19 Feb 2014 05:52 PM PST The synthetic chemicals used in the packaging, storage, and processing of foodstuffs might be harmful to human health over the long term, warn environmental scientists. This is because most of these substances are not inert and can leach into the foods we eat, they say. Despite the fact that some of these chemicals are regulated, people who eat packaged or processed foods are likely to be chronically exposed to low levels of these substances throughout their lives. And far too little is known about their long term impact.

Nothing so sweet as a voice like your own, study finds Posted: 19 Feb 2014 02:48 PM PST Have you ever noticed that your best friends speak the same way? A new study finds we prefer voices that are similar to our own because they convey a soothing sense of community and social belongingness.

Does more stress equal more headaches? Posted: 19 Feb 2014 01:27 PM PST A new study provides evidence for what many people who experience headache have long suspected—having more stress in your life leads to more headaches.

Smellizing — Imagining a Product's Smell — Increases Consumer Desire Posted: 19 Feb 2014 01:03 PM PST Seeing is believing, but smellizing – a new term for prompting consumers to imagine the smell of a product – could be the next step toward more effective advertising. Researchers came to this conclusion through four studies of products most of us would like to smellize: cookies and cake. The researchers found that imagining what a tasty food smells like increases these types of responses only when the consumer also sees a picture of the advertised product.

LGBT youth face greater cancer risks, study shows Posted: 19 Feb 2014 11:26 AM PST A new study has found that youths of same-sex orientation are more likely to engage in behaviors associated with cancer risk than heterosexuals. 12 cancer-risk behaviors included tobacco use, drinking alcohol, early sex, multiple sexual partners, higher body mass index (BMI) and lack of exercise were all studied in a group of young people. The report found that for all 12, sexual minorities were more likely than heterosexuals to engage in the risky behavior.

Reasons for becoming self-employed in later life vary by gender, culture Posted: 19 Feb 2014 11:26 AM PST Self-employment can allow older workers to stay in the labor market longer and earn additional income, yet little research has addressed if reasons for self-employment vary across gender and culture. Now, researchers have studied factors that contribute to self-employment and found these factors differ for men and women in the United States and New Zealand.

Managing chronic bone, joint pain Posted: 19 Feb 2014 10:33 AM PST Musculoskeletal pain of the bone, joint and muscles is one of the most common reasons for primary care visits in the United States. Chronic pain, or pain that persists beyond an expected period of healing, is estimated to affect 100 million Americans. The majority of chronic pain complaints concern the musculoskeletal system, but they also include headaches and abdominal pain. A new article outlines some ways for people to manage this wide-spread problem.

Dangers of ... sitting? Regardless of exercise, too much sedentary time is linked to major disability after 60 Posted: 19 Feb 2014 09:47 AM PST If you're 60 and older, every additional hour a day you spend sitting is linked to doubling the risk of being disabled -- regardless of how much exercise you get, reports a new study. The study is the first to show sedentary behavior is its own risk factor for disability, separate from lack of moderate vigorous physical activity. In fact, sedentary behavior is almost as strong a risk factor for disability as lack of exercise.

Couples, pay attention to your relationship work ethic, experts urge Posted: 19 Feb 2014 09:46 AM PST Is a date with your partner as important to you as a meeting at work? A study recommends that couples develop a relationship work ethic that rivals -- or at least equals -- their professional work ethic.

Fresh air: Special air filter blocks small particles called UFPs from getting inside cars Posted: 19 Feb 2014 08:34 AM PST While taking in the scenery during long road trips, passengers also may be taking in potentially harmful ultrafine particles that come into the car through outdoor air vents. Closing the vents reduces ultrafine particles, but causes exhaled carbon dioxide to build up. Now, scientists report that installing a newly developed high-efficiency cabin air filter could reduce ultrafine particle exposure by 93 percent and keep carbon dioxide levels low.

People tend to blame fate when faced with a hard decision Posted: 19 Feb 2014 07:23 AM PST We tend to deal with difficult decisions by shifting responsibility for the decision to fate, according to new research. Life is full of decisions. Some, like what to eat for breakfast, are relatively easy. Others, like whether to move cities for a new job, are quite a bit more difficult. Difficult decisions tend to make us feel stressed and uncomfortable -- we don't want to feel responsible if the outcome is less than desirable. New research suggests that we deal with such difficult decisions by shifting responsibility for the decision to fate.

Addicted to tanning? People keep tanning despite known risks Posted: 19 Feb 2014 07:22 AM PST Some people keep tanning, even after turning a deep brown and experiencing some of the negative consequences. Skin cancer is among the most common, preventable types of the disease, yet many continue to tan to excess. New research shows that some who engage in excessive tanning may also be suffering from obsessive-compulsive (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorders (BDD). Researchers also looked at whether tanning should be classified as an addiction.

Most of us have made best memories by age 25 Posted: 19 Feb 2014 06:53 AM PST By the time most people are 25, they have made the most important memories of their lives, according to new research.

Dreams, déjà vu and delusions caused by faulty 'reality testing,' research shows Posted: 19 Feb 2014 06:53 AM PST New research has delved into the reasons why some people are unable to break free of their delusions, despite overwhelming evidence explaining the delusion isn't real.

Could metabolism play a role in epilepsy? Posted: 19 Feb 2014 06:53 AM PST Researchers are exploring a possible link between metabolic defects and seizures. They determined that diet could influence susceptibility to seizures, and they have identified a common diabetes drug that could be useful in treating disorders such as epilepsy. This connection was made in the lab by measuring fruit fly movement with inexpensive web-cams. While there is no known trigger behind seizures in people with epilepsy, the researchers are using their drug-screening technique to investigate potential metabolic causes—using genetically modified, seizure-prone flies.

Antibiotics don't prevent complications of kids' respiratory infections Posted: 18 Feb 2014 12:37 PM PST Antibiotics are often prescribed for young children who have upper respiratory tract infections, however, a new evidence review found no evidence to support this practice. The researchers explained that children's immature immune systems leave them vulnerable to many infections. URIs, which are mostly caused by viruses and typically run their course in 2-14 days, usually manifest themselves as coughs, but may also be accompanied by infections of the ears, sinuses or lungs. With this in mind, the researchers suggest that there is no evidence to support the use of antibiotics to prevent bacterial complications from most upper respiratory infections.

In fight against teen prescription drug abuse, home and school-based programs work in combination Posted: 18 Feb 2014 11:34 AM PST Programs that aim to curb teen prescription drug abuse have vastly differing success rates, ranging from big drops in drug abuse to no measurable effect, says a new study. The best results came from pairing a school-based program with a home-based intervention, resulting in a 10 percent decrease in abuse rates. Most school-based programs were ineffective when used by themselves. The six-year study is among the first to measure the success and cost-effectiveness of prescription drug abuse prevention efforts.

Medicaid's 'tube-tying' polices create roadblocks for low-income women Posted: 18 Feb 2014 09:48 AM PST Tubal ligation -- or having one's "tubes tied" -- is widely used to prevent unintended pregnancies. However, current Medicaid policies create roadblocks for low-income and minority women trying to obtain the procedure in the United States, according to a new study. Under a Medicaid rule enacted in 1978, women must currently wait 30 days after signing a written consent form to obtain a tubal ligation. This requirement is prohibitive for many women who want to receive the procedure after giving birth, the researchers write, and creates a "two-tiered system of access" as women with private insurance are not subject to the same limitation. With the upcoming expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, even more women could be affected by these restrictions.

Garlic counteracts virulent bacteria Posted: 18 Feb 2014 09:45 AM PST Aggressive multi-resistant infections constitute an increasing health problem all over the world. Bacteria are developing resistance at an alarming pace, so new pharmaceuticals that can combat this threat are in great demand. Garlic contains a substance that is particularly effective in encounters with even the hardiest bacterial strains. A young researcher will soon be defending his Ph.D. thesis on the positive properties of the malodorous plant.

Fight against Medicare, Medicaid fraud could benefit your health Posted: 18 Feb 2014 08:43 AM PST Advances in data analysis technology are proving to be effective weapons for controlling the billions of dollars lost to Medicare and Medicaid fraud, research shows. Medicare loses billions of dollars to fraudulent claims every year, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice. Some examples of Medicare fraud provided by these departments include: a health care provider bills Medicare for services you never received; a supplier bills Medicare for equipment you never got; and a company uses false information to mislead you into joining a Medicare plan. Ultimately, the fraud raises health care costs for everyone.

Perception of job insecurity results in lower use of workplace programs Posted: 18 Feb 2014 08:43 AM PST Efforts to increase the use of workplace support programs for employees may be hindered by the impression that doing so undermines job security, a new study suggests. A new study examined the relationship between job insecurity and employees' use of workplace support programs. It also studied work and nonwork "boundary permeance" as well as the mediating roles of those responses on work-life conflict and emotional exhaustion.

Program launched to help mothers of severely disabled children cope Posted: 18 Feb 2014 07:12 AM PST Many mothers with children on life-sustaining medical devices, such as ventilators and breathing or feeding tubes, suffer physical and psychological distress from the stress of juggling treatments, appointments, therapies and daily family pressures. But researchers have found that an intervention, called "Resourcefulness," which teaches moms how to better cope, bolsters the mother's wellbeing and, in turn, benefits the whole family.

Daily walk of just 3km can reduce risk of hospitalization for respiratory problems Posted: 18 Feb 2014 07:07 AM PST New research shows that suffers of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can reduce their risk of being hospitalized with severe attacks, by maintaining an exercise regime of walking between three to six kilometers a day. COPD, a term which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, results in breathing difficulties due to long-term lung damage. Severe symptoms (eCOPD), caused by a sudden loss of lung function, can be life threatening.

Magnesium may protect against hip fractures Posted: 18 Feb 2014 07:07 AM PST Drinking water with a relatively high concentration of magnesium protects against hip fractures, according to results of a new study. The researchers studied variations in magnesium and calcium levels in drinking water between different areas, as these are assumed to have a role in the development of bone strength. They wanted to examine whether there was a correlation between magnesium and calcium concentrations in drinking water and the incidence of hip fracture. The study results show that magnesium protects against hip fracture for both men and women. The researchers found no independent protective effect of calcium.

Why tackling appetite could hold the key to preventing childhood obesity Posted: 17 Feb 2014 01:10 PM PST A heartier appetite is linked to more rapid infant growth and to genetic predisposition to obesity, according to two new papers. The studies investigated how weight gain is linked to two key aspects of appetite, namely lower satiety responsiveness (a reduced urge to eat in response to internal 'fullness' signals) and higher food responsiveness (an increased urge to eat in response to the sight or smell of nice food). The research suggests that satiety sensitivity could be targeted for pharmacological and behavioural interventions, to prevent or treat obesity, the authors state.

Female athlete triad syndrome a growing concern, sports medicine experts say Posted: 17 Feb 2014 07:24 AM PST Female athlete triad syndrome is more prevalent than previously realized, a sports medicine physician notes. Female athlete triad has three interrelated components: disordered eating low energy availability (often caused by not eating appropriately), dysmenorrhea (change in a girl's period), and low bone mineral density. The consequences can be serious. The athletes become more prone to various injuries, the time to recovery may be prolonged, bone mineral density can start to decline and they may begin to experience early stages of vascular disease. However, the short term solution is simple: eat healthfully.

Bullying: Negative impact on a child's health may remain for years Posted: 17 Feb 2014 05:59 AM PST The longer the period of time a child is bullied, the more severe and lasting the impact is on a child's health, according to a new study. The study is the first to examine the compounding effects of bullying from elementary school to high school. The team collected data for the study by following a group of 4,297 children and adolescents from fifth to tenth grade. Results showed that bullying at any age was associated with worse mental and physical health, increased depressive symptoms and lower self-worth. Participants who experienced chronic bullying also reported increased difficulties in physical activities like walking, running or participating in sports.

Gender, genes play important role in delayed language development Posted: 17 Feb 2014 05:52 AM PST Boys are at greater risk for delayed language development than girls according to a new study using data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. The researchers also found that reading and writing difficulties in the family gave an increased risk. The researchers of this study believe that children with delayed language development must be identified as early as possible. Parents, health care workers and child care staff should be aware of the language development of children and encourage an enabling language environment, in some cases with specially adapted measures.

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