The Korea Herald

How to lower cholesterol ― Five facts and misunderstandings

Feb 9, 2012

While performing medical check-ups, I commonly notice an overflow of people who have higher cholesterol than normal. A study was conducted on 50,000 people who took regular medical check-ups at Samsung Seoul Hospital in 2010. It showed that approximately 40 percent of them had higher cholesterol than normal. This means that the level of serum cholesterol is higher than normal in about half of people who have consulted me. But it takes a very short time to find an answer to my question of how Kor
Contraception mandate outrages religious groups

Feb 9, 2012

The Obama administration‘s decision requiring church-affiliated employers to cover birth control was bound to cause an uproar among Roman Catholics and members of other faiths, no matter their beliefs on contraception.The regulation, finalized a week ago, raises a complex and sensitive legal question: Which institutions qualify as religious and can be exempt from the mandate?For a church, mosque or synagogue, the answer is mostly straightforward. But for the massive network of religious-run soci
Latest illnesses point to raw milk‘s popularity

Feb 9, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An outbreak of bacterial infections on the East Coast illustrates the popularity of raw, unpasteurized milk despite strong warnings from public health officials about the potential danger.Even presidential candidate Ron Paul has joined the cause of consumers looking to buy unprocessed “real foods” straight from the farm, saying government shouldn’t deny them that choice.An outbreak of campylobacter illness is a reminder of the potential hazards, however. Raw milk from a dairy
Drug firms sign up to new tropical disease fight

Feb 9, 2012

GENEVA (AFP) - Key players in the pharmaceutical industry pledged on Monday to donate 14 billion drug treatments as part of a new, global push to eradicate tropical diseases.Thirteen companies including Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline have committed to the programme being led by the United States, Britain and United Arab Emirates governments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank.The drugs will target sufferers of so-called Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as leprosy and sle
Anti-cancer drug for women weakens bone density

Feb 9, 2012

PARIS (AFP) - A drug tipped for widespread use to prevent breast cancer in post-menopausal women also accelerates loss of bone density, thus potentially boosting the risk of fractures, a study published on Tuesdaysaid.Exemestane -- brand name Aromasin -- is part of a drug class called aromatase inhibitors, which lower levels of the oestrogen that some breast cancers need in order to grow.Canadian bone specialists took a look at a group of patients who had taken part in a study into the effective
Too many kids breathe others‘ smoke in cars: CDC

Feb 9, 2012

CHICAGO (AP) -- Texting while driving, speeding and back-seat hanky-panky aren’t all that parents need to worry about when their kids are in cars: Add secondhand smoke to the list.In the first national estimate of its kind, a report from government researchers says more than 1 in 5 high school students and middle schoolers ride in cars while others are smoking.This kind of secondhand smoke exposure has been linked with breathing problems and allergy symptoms, and more restrictions are needed to
Birth control mandate irks religious organizations

Feb 9, 2012

The Obama administration’s decision requiring church-affiliated employers to cover birth control was bound to cause an uproar among Roman Catholics and members of other faiths, no matter their beliefs on contraception.The regulation, finalized a week ago, raises a complex and sensitive legal question: Which institutions qualify as religious and can be exempt from the mandate?For a church, mosque or synagogue, the answer is mostly straightforward. But for the massive network of religious-run soci
How long can you keep your food?

Feb 9, 2012

Expired produce can be safe for some time if unsealed and well storedEveryone has had the experience of throwing away a half-eaten block of cheese or half-empty carton of milk because it has exceeded its expiration date.But the Korea Consumer Agency on Tuesday said most foods are safe even a few days after their expiration date.“The expiration dates written on the cover of the products are usually for distribution. That is, they mean dates when the shop managers begin to take them off the shelve
How long can you keep your food?

Feb 9, 2012

Expired produce can be safe for some time if unsealed and well storedEveryone has had the experience of throwing away a half-eaten block of cheese or half-empty carton of milk because it has exceeded its expiration date.But the Korea Consumer Agency on Tuesday said most foods are safe even a few days after their expiration date.“The expiration dates written on the cover of the products are usually for distribution. That is, they mean dates when the shop managers begin to take them off the shelve
Study on mice shows fasting weakens cancer

Feb 9, 2012

Early research on mice with cancer shows that fasting may weaken tumors and help chemotherapy work better, scientists said on Wednesday.While it remains unknown if the same approach could work in humans, or if it would even be safe, researchers said the findings suggest a promising new route of stud
Smoking linked to mental decline in men: study

Feb 7, 2012

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Men who smoke experience greater mental declines over time than men who never smoked, but the same link does not appear among women, said a British study published in the United States on Monday.The research suggested that the effects of long-term cigarette smoking show up terms o
Valentine's Day may be worst day to kiss

Feb 3, 2012

Valentine's Day falls smack dab in the middle of flu and cold season, so kissing may not be such a good idea, a U.S. infectious disease expert suggests.Dr. Jorge Parada, medical director, infectious disease at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Ill., said changing weather or temperatures ar
Blood test detects depressed patients

Feb 3, 2012

A blood test analyzing levels of nine biomarkers accurately distinguished patients diagnosed with depression from others, U.S. researchers said.MCTLead author Dr. George Papakostas of the Massachusetts General Hospital said previous efforts to develop tests based on a single blood or urinary biomark
Varied diet reduces risk of metabolic syndrome

Feb 2, 2012

Not being too choosy about food provides a better chance of preventing metabolic syndrome, the Korea Food and Drug Administration said Friday. According to the U.S. National Health, Lung and Blood Institute, metabolic syndrome refers to a group of risk factors that raise the risk of heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.A research team at the organization conducted a cohort study of 6,640 adults living in the Ansan and Anseong regions of Gyeonggi Province from 2001
More veggies, whole grains at school

Feb 2, 2012

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (AP) ― The first major nutritional overhaul of school meals in more than 15 years means most offerings ― including the always popular pizza ― will come with less sodium, more whole grains and a wider selection of fruits and vegetables on the side.First lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the new guidelines during a visit Wednesday with elementary students. Mrs. Obama, also joined by celebrity chef Rachael Ray, said youngsters will learn better