Health News

Tai Chi helps improve balance in stroke survivors

Tai Chi helps improve balance in stroke survivorsWashington, Mar 24: Chinese martial art of Tai Chi can help stroke survivors increase balance, reducing fall risk, says a new study.

Stroke can impair balance, heightening the risk of a debilitating fall. However, according to Christina Hui-Chan, professor and head of physical therapy at University of Illinois, stroke survivors can improve their balance by practicing tai chi.

Tai chi consists of constant coordinated movement of the head, trunk and limbs requiring tremendous concentration and balance control.

Red meat ''ups death risk, while white lowers it''

Red meat ''ups death risk, while white lowers it''Washington, Mar 24: People who eat red meat and processed meat have a higher risk of dying from cancer or heart disease, says a new study.

However, according to a report in the March 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, a higher intake of white meat is associated with a slightly decreased risk for overall death and cancer death.

Malaysian army wives urged to join slimming programme

Malaysian army wives urged to join slimming programme Kuala Lumpur - The wives in Malaysian Armed Forces' officers were urged to join a slimming programme to draw the attention of their husbands, a news report said Tuesday.

The recently launched programme, which roughly translates to "From fat, frumpy and lumpy to slim, fashionable and glamorous," was aimed at giving make-overs to the women, organizer Rositah Mohamad Mawi was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Eating carrots to boost night-vision is world's ‘greatest food myth’

Eating carrots to boost night-vision is world's ‘greatest food myth’Sydney, Mar 23: Are you among those who vouch for grandma’s rule eating carrots to boost night vision? Well, then you certainly need a reality check, for an eye specialist has called it the “greatest food myth”.

Paul Beaumont has said that eating carrots does more harm to you than good, as beta carotene rich food can actually increase the risk of blindness.

Beaumont, who has been studying human retinas since 1976, has said that the carrot myth, started in World War II, is a "complete fabrication".

Air pollution increases heart attack risk

Air pollution increases heart attack riskWashington, Mar 23: Heart disease is not only a product of genetic factors or lifestyle choices, air pollution also puts people at an increased heart attack risk, suggests a study led by Aruni Bhatnagar of the University of Louisville.

Evidence has shown that increase in particulate air pollution is also associated with an increase in heart attacks and deaths.

During the study, Bhatnagar found that risk of heart attack increases in parallel with time spent in traffic.

WHO calls for intensified campaign against TB in Asia-Pacific

WHO calls for intensified campaign against TB in Asia-Pacific Manila - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday urged governments in Asia and the Pacific to boost their national health systems, which are vital in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), especially drug-resistant cases.

The Manila-based WHO Western Pacific Office said that effective TB control has been hampered by weaknesses in national health systems, such as chronic staff shortages and inadequate financial resources.

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