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As more young American adults struggle with extra weight, they are paying an even steeper price as the rates of obesity-related cancers rise in this age group. Obesity has already been linked to rising rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and knee replacements. Now, new research suggests cancer can be added to that list, and the rate of obesity-related cancers is certain to keep climbing among those aged 25 to 49, researchers report. “The fact that increases were mostly in obesity-related cancers is due to the obesity epidemic, and we would expect that the incidence would increase as this younger population ages,” said lead researcher Dr. Ahmedin Jemal. He is scientific vice president for surveillance and health services research at the American Cancer Society. In fact, these cancers are rising faster among younger adults than older folks, and that could stall or reverse years of progress in reducing cancer deaths, the study authors said. To try to curb the trend of rising cancers among the obese, Jemal thinks that primary care doctors need to screen all their patients for obesity. Family doctors also need to counsel patients to lose weight. Although screening for most of these cancers isn’t available or useful for younger patients, colon cancer is an exception, Jemal said. Last year, the American Cancer Society lowered the age to start colon cancer… read on >

Mammogram? Check. Pap test? Check. Blood pressure? Check. Hearing and vision? Check. Screenings are an important part of maintaining women’s health. They can detect disease when it’s most treatable and prevent serious problems, according to Dr. Lili Lustig. She is a family medicine specialist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio. To get the right screenings, talk to your doctor, who will take into consideration your age, overall health, family history and current health concerns. “Each test has its own time and place,” Lustig said in a medical center news release. “Generally, the sooner your doctor can identify and treat a medical condition, the better the outcome.” In their 20s, women should have Pap and HPV screenings to check for pre- or early cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer. (The American Cancer Society recommends women get a Pap test every three years starting at age 21.) “Women ages 30 to 65 who have a normal Pap test and a negative HPV only need to be re-screened every five years,” Lustig added. It’s also important to get screened for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They may not cause symptoms, meaning you can pass them to your partner or, if pregnant, to an unborn child. “All women who are sexually active from age 13 to 65 should be regularly screened for STDs,”… read on >

(HealthDay News) — A newborn’s vision isn’t as developed as an older child’s, although significant progress is made during the initial months of life, the American Optometric Association says. Although rare at this early age, signs of vision problems among newborns and young infants include: Excessive tearing – this may indicate blocked tear ducts Red or encrusted eye lids – this could signal an eye infection Constant eye turning – this may signal a problem with eye muscle control. Extreme sensitivity to light – this may indicate elevated pressure in the eye. Appearance of a white pupil – this may indicate an eye tumor that could be cancerous.

Chips, dips, wings and other fatty and salty things — Super Bowl parties can be a challenge for people with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, an expert warns. “For people with diabetes, the goal is to keep the carbohydrates down — and encourage more of the protein-rich foods — to enhance satiety,” said Jo Ann Carson, dietician-nutritionist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. If you have diabetes and are going to a Super Bowl party, find out if it’s going to be a high-carb affair. If so, take your own dishes or coordinate with others to make sure there are healthier food choices, Carson suggested in a medical center news release. People with diabetes should eat slowly in order to limit how much they consume, and should get up and walk around during each commercial break, she advised. People with high blood pressure, meanwhile, should focus on fruits and vegetables and avoid salty snacks, dips and sauces. If you’re hosting or attending a party, your healthiest bets are: Salad fixings, such as greens, sprouts, mushrooms, onions, peppers, radishes and tomatoes, with sugar-free and low-calorie dressings. Crunchy vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and cucumbers. Drinks such as water, unsweetened tea, coffee and calorie-free diet sodas. Proteins such as grilled fish, skinless chicken or turkey, and/or soy-based “veggie” burgers. And low/nonfat dairy products, including… read on >

Cholesterol-lowering statins are already known to help cut heart risks for seniors and the middle-aged. Now, research confirms the meds can also help people aged 75 and older. “Statin therapy has been shown to prevent cardiovascular disease in a wide range of people, but there has been uncertainty about its efficacy and safety among older people,” said lead investigator Anthony Keech. He’s a professor of medicine, cardiology and epidemiology at the University of Sydney in Australia. He and colleagues at the University of Oxford in England analyzed the findings of 28 large clinical trials of statins. The trials involved nearly 187,000 people in six age groups: younger than 55; 55 to 60; 60 to 65; 65 to 70; 70 to 75; and older than 75. “Our study summarized all the available evidence from major trials to help clarify this issue. We found that there were significant reductions in major vascular events in each of the six age groups considered, including patients [who were] aged over 75 at the start of treatment,” Keech said in an Oxford news release. Major vascular events included heart attack, stroke and procedures to clear clogged arteries. “Statin therapy appears to be just as effective in people aged over 75 years as it is in younger people,” study co-investigator Jordan Fulcher said in the news release. Fulcher is a cardiovascular research… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Dry eye occurs when the amount of tears you produce fails to keep the surface of the eye adequately lubricated, the National Eye Institute says. The risk of developing dry eye increases with age, and more women than men have the condition. Dry eye can create scratchy or stinging feelings, dryness, discharge, pain and redness. The institute mentions these common causes of dry eye: Medications including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, and medications for anxiety, Parkinson’s disease and high blood pressure. Advancing age. Rosacea (an inflammatory skin disease) and blepharitis (an inflammatory eyelid disease). Windy, smoky or dry environments. Seasonal allergies. Prolonged periods of screen time.

(HealthDay News) — Cold, dry winter weather can wreak havoc on your hands, triggering rashes, dry patches and irritation. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests how to prevent a rash on your hands: Wear task-appropriate gloves to protect your hands from harsh chemicals, such as dyes and detergents. Wear insulated gloves or mittens in cold weather. Wash your hands without irritating them by using warm water and a mild cleanser, such as a beauty bar or moisturizing liquid. Apply moisturizer to your hands often and generously.

Guarding against injury means increasing both flexibility and strength. Target the muscles that support your ankles to protect your joints by strength-training two or three times a week on alternating days and always after you’ve warmed up. Start by using a resistance band to work calf muscles. Sit on the floor, with legs straight. Wrap the center of the band around your right foot and hold the ends taut in both hands. Flex toes, hold and return to start. Complete your reps. Next, point your toes, hold and return to start, adjusting the tautness of the bands in your hands as needed. Complete reps, then repeat the entire sequence with your left foot. Now move to calf raises using your own body weight for resistance. Hold the back of a chair or face a wall and place your hands against it for balance. Lift your left foot behind you, heel toward your butt, placing all your weight on your right leg. Now lift just your right heel off the floor. Hold for three seconds, then lower. Complete your reps, then switch legs and repeat. For both exercises, start with one set of eight reps and build to three sets of 10 to 12 reps. To avoid injury, always build up endurance gradually, no matter what the activity, and get instruction if needed so that you… read on >

When it comes to allergies, allergic rhinitis with its congested, itchy nose gets a lot of attention. But for some, allergic conjunctivitis with itchy, watery eyes is the greater nuisance. You might even have both reactions. Allergic conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva — the layer of tissue lining the eyelids and covering the whites of the eyes. It’s caused by contact with a substance you’re allergic to, such as outdoor pollen or indoor pet dander or dust spores. Blood vessels in the eye swell, and eyes become itchy and red, and start to tear. People with seasonal allergies typically have a stronger reaction when outdoors on hot, dry days when the pollen count is high. Symptoms tend to be less severe for people with indoor allergies, though these can occur any time of the year and flare anytime you stir up dust, from vacuuming to grooming your dog. The symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include itchy, burning, red eyes; puffy, swollen eyelids; watery eyes and/or stringy discharge; and sensitivity to light. Though the best way to avoid symptoms is to avoid the substances that trigger your allergy, this isn’t always possible. Try treating symptoms with lubricating eye drops and by applying cool compresses. Antihistamine medications may help, but they can make watery eyes too dry, so use with caution. How to Reduce Indoor Allergy Exposure… read on >

Minus 29 Fahrenheit in Fargo, minus 28 in Minneapolis, minus 13 in Des Moines. With potential record-setting low temperatures ahead for much of the nation, one expert warns that frostbite can quickly strike exposed skin. “With wind chills approaching the single digits and below zero, it is possible to develop ‘frostnip’ with progression to frostbite in exposed areas in as little as 20 to 30 minutes,” said emergency medicine physician Dr. Robert Glatter. Frostnip is the first stage of frostbite. At this point, skin turns red and irritated, but there’s no permanent damage, said Glatter, who practices at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “You can treat mild cases of frostnip with simple re-warming of the skin with warm water,” he said. However, “severe frostbite requires immediate medical attention, because it can cause permanent damage to skin, underlying tissue, as well as bones and muscle, and may lead to complications including infection, and nerve damage,” Glatter warned. With full-blown frostbite, the skin and tissue just beneath it freezes. According to the Mayo Clinic, frostbite first leaves the skin feeling warm, but as it progresses numbness sets in, and joints and muscles stop working. In severe cases, frostbitten tissue turns hard and black, and dies. Frostnip and frostbite tend to affect smaller and more exposed areas of the body, such as the nose, fingers, toes,… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Obesity-Linked Cancers On the Rise Among Young Americans

Health Screenings Every Woman Needs

Health Tip: Signs of Vision Problems in Infants

Make a Healthy Game Plan for Super Bowl Partying

Statins Help the Heart, No Matter What Your Age

Health Tip: Understanding Dry Eye

Health Tip: Avoid Winter Skin Rashes

Exercise Injury Prevention: Protecting Your Ankles

How to Prevent and Treat Eye Allergies

Polar Vortex Brings Frostbite Danger: Protect Yourself