Our weekly roundup of the latest developments in the world of health. This week we learn that just a little moderate exercise could help you quit smoking, that beta carotene may not prevent age-related vision loss, and that office workers may face a risk of forming blood clots. We also look at a rare but serious complication of obesity surgery and a rare but dangerous side effect of sleep medications.
Stay well.
This Issue:
Walking Quiets Smokers' Cravings Beta Carotene and AMD Desk Jobs and Clot Risk New Complication From Obesity Surgery Sleeping Pills and Sleep Driving In The News: Walking Quiets Smokers' Cravings Just a small amount of exercise may be all it takes to reduce nicotine cravings. A study published in the journal Addiction suggests that five minutes of moderate exercise could help smokers quit. The researchers reviewed 12 studies on the connection between exercise and nicotine deprivation. When asked to rate their need for a cigarette, people who had just done some type of moderate physical exercise such as walking or flexing and tensing muscles reported a reduced desire to smoke. The Associated Press quotes other experts who warn that it's not clear how long the effects of exercise would last; it may not be enough over the long term, and would have to be combined with other anti-smoking strategies.
Beta Carotene and AMD
Beta carotene may not protect your eyes from age-related vision loss. A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology found that beta carotene supplements offered no protection against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in people 65 and older. The study looked at data on more than 21,000 male doctors who were randomly assigned to take either 50 milligrams of beta carotene every other day or a placebo. After an average of 12 years of follow-up, roughly the same number of men in each group developed AMD. Earlier studies had suggested beta carotene combined with some other vitamins and zinc might lower the risk of AMD, and the researchers say it's possible but not likely that beta carotene is helpful in such a combination, The Associated Press reports. The researchers say it's not clear whether the findings could also apply to women.
Desk Jobs and Clot Risk
Sitting at a desk all day could but you at risk for dangerous blood clots. A study to be published in the New Zealand Medical Journal found that office workers could be at greater risk than long-distance air travelers for deep-vein thrombosis, a condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins of the leg. The study looked at 62 people aged 62 to 65 who were hospitalized with blood clots from DVT. The researchers found that 34% of the patients had been sitting down at work for long periods, The Associated Press reports. By contrast, only 1.4% of blood clot patients are airplane passengers with so-called "economy class syndrome," the AP says.
New Complication From Obesity Surgery
Weight-loss surgery can lead to a serious neurological condition. A study published in the journal Neurology found that some obesity surgery patients developed a condition called Wernicke's encephalopathy. The condition is linked to a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine), and is usually associated with alcoholism or malnutrition, The Associated Press reports. Researchers say it can also occur in people who've had bariatric surgery for weight loss and who stop taking vitamin supplements or vomit frequently. In the study, the researchers looked at case histories on obesity surgery dating back 20 years or so. They identified 32 cases of Wernicke's encephalopathy, which occurred four to 12 weeks after surgery. Most of the patients recovered after being treated with intravenous thiamine, the researchers found. They expected the number of cases to rise with the rise in the number of surgeries performed. The researchers say their findings suggest that obesity surgery patients who experience symptoms such as confusion, lack of coordination and rapid rhythmic eye movement should see a doctor immediately. They also called for more research to find out how often the condition occurs after bariatric surgery and the best treatment for it, the AP says.
Sleeping Pills and Sleep Driving
People who take sleeping pills could be at risk for "sleep-driving." That's what the Food and Drug Administration is warning everyone who takes prescription sleep medication. Sleep-driving is similar to sleep walking; sufferers get up in the middle of the night and go for a drive, with no memory of doing so later on, The Associated Press reports. The FDA says the problem is rare, but the AP quotes officials who say more than a dozen cases have been identified among people taking insomnia drugs, and there could be more unreported cases. The FDA now is requiring manufacturers of sleep medications to include warnings on the drug labels about sleep-driving and other "complex sleep-related behaviors" and about potential allergic reactions and facial swelling. The drugs are in question include Ambien Butisol sodium, Carbrital, Dalmane, Doral, Halcion, Lunesta, Placidyl, Prosom, Restoril, Rozerem, Seconal and Sonata. The FDA says that to reduce the risk of sleep-driving, patients taking prescription insomnia drugs should avoid alcohol or any other sedating drug. They also should not take higher-than-recommended doses of the sleeping pills.
Used with the permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. The above summaries are not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor are they intended to be a substitute for consultation with a physician.
