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Finasteride, best known as the enlarged-prostate medicine Proscar, is a safe, effective way to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, according to long-term findings from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT). The trial was funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute and enrolled nearly 19,000 men between 1993 and 1997. Initially it found that finasteride — a hormone-blocking drug — cut the risk of prostate cancer by 25 percent. Those results were published in 2003. The newly released long-term data show that the reduction of prostate cancer risk has continued and that fewer than 100 men in the trial died from prostate cancer in more than two decades of follow-up, according to a research team led by Dr. Ian Thompson. The updated results also showed no statistically significant increased risk of death from prostate cancer among men taking finasteride. This removes concerns over early findings of a possible risk of more aggressive cancers among patients who take the drug. “Finasteride is safe, inexpensive and effective as a preventive strategy for prostate cancer,” said Thompson, who is principal investigator of the PCPT for the SWOG Cancer Research Network. The SWOG Cancer Research Network is an international cancer clinical trials group. “Doctors should share these results with men who get regular prostate-specific antigen [PSA] tests that screen for the presence of prostate cancer,” Thompson said in a… read on >

Fried chicken, french fries and chicken-fried steak might be delicious, but treating yourself to such fare regularly could be deadly, a new study warns. Women who eat more than one serving a week of fried chicken or fried fish have an increased risk of heart disease and death, researchers report. “Overall, we found that total fried food consumption is related to higher risk of all-cause death, and also death from cardiovascular disease,” said senior researcher Dr. Wei Bao. He’s an assistant professor of epidemiology with the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health. The results are not surprising “given the association of fried food to weight gain and obesity, as well as elevation of cholesterol and triglycerides,” said Dr. Guy Mintz, who was not part of the study. He directs cardiovascular health and lipidology at Northwell Health’s Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. “Poor decisions lead to poor outcomes. We have the opportunity to help ourselves live healthier and longer with lifestyle changes,” Mintz said. “It is time we own what we eat and realize our dietary choices have consequences.” For the study, Bao and his colleagues relied on data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-running federally funded study focused on heart disease, cancer and other health problems in postmenopausal women. Nearly 107,000 women between ages 50 and 79 were quizzed on… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Germs may thrive at the gym, creating a perfect breeding ground for skin infections. Bacteria, viruses and fungi thrive in warm and moist places, such as the locker room or sweaty gym equipment, the American Academy of Dermatology says. The academy mentions these preventive tips: Wear loose-fitting, moisture-wicking clothing. Always wear shoes around the locker room and pools. Keep flip flops in your gym bag to use in a public shower. Keep any cuts clean and covered. Disinfect equipment before and after using it. Wash hands just after working out. Shower soon after exercising, and dress in clean clothes.

Making soup is an easy way to get your veggies while having a warming, low-calorie meal. Soups can also double as easy lunches that just need re-heating. Here are two to try: Creamy Asparagus Soup 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 pounds asparagus, chopped 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then add the onions and garlic. Cook at medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent, but don’t let them darken in color. Add the asparagus, broth, salt and pepper and simmer for about 20 minutes. Let the mixture cool enough to handle and then puree with an immersion or standard blender until smooth. Yield: 4 to 6 servings. Sweet and Satisfying Corn Chowder 2 slices bacon, minced 1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed 1 small white onion, chopped 2 cups broccoli florets 1 tablespoon whole-wheat flour 1/4 teaspoon paprika or cayenne pepper 2 large baking potatoes (about 1-1/2 pounds), peeled and cubed 2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels (defrost under hot running water for 30 seconds) 4 cups chicken broth 1 cup nonfat milk 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 1/2 cup chopped chives Render the bacon in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, adding the olive oil if the bacon doesn’t… read on >

For many, a microwave is indispensable, but questions remain about the safety of containers used to cook and reheat food in it. Most of the controversy surrounds the chemicals used to make plastic containers soft or clear, like BPA and phthalates. These chemicals are called endocrine disrupters, because they can mimic hormones such as estrogen in a bad way. The chemicals can leach into your food, especially when containers are heated. According to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, other chemicals, even replacements for BPA, haven’t been tested enough to know if they’re truly safe. Some experts recommend not using any plastic container in the microwave, even if it is stamped “microwave safe.” Microwaves heat unevenly and can create hot spots where plastic is more likely to break down. Instead, use ceramics or glass labeled microwaveable. Also, rather than covering even a glass dish with plastic wrap, place wax paper, a plain white paper towel or parchment paper over the container before microwaving. If you must use plastic, the Environmental Working Group suggests choosing containers marked with the number 1, 2, 4 or 5. These don’t contain BPA and may be better choices. Avoid polycarbonate containers, which are sometimes stamped with the number 7 or “PC.” If you must wash any plastic in the dishwasher (where high heat can break down the plastic), put them on… read on >

An artificial intelligence (AI) system can analyze chest X-rays and spot patients who should receive immediate care, researchers report. The system could also reduce backlogs in hospitals someday. Chest X-rays account for 40 percent of all diagnostic imaging worldwide, and there can be large backlogs, according to the researchers. “Currently, there are no systematic and automated ways to triage chest X-rays and bring those with critical and urgent findings to the top of the reporting pile,” explained study co-author Giovanni Montana. He is formerly of King’s College London and is now at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. Montana and his colleagues used more than 470,300 adult chest X-rays to develop an AI system that could identify unusual results. The system’s performance in prioritizing X-rays was assessed in a simulation using a separate set of 15,887 chest X-rays. All identifying information was removed from the X-rays to protect patient privacy. The system was highly accurate in distinguished abnormal from normal chest X-rays, researchers said. Simulations showed that with the AI system, critical findings received an expert radiologist opinion within an average of 2.7 days, compared with an average of 11.2 days in actual practice. The study results were published Jan. 22 in the journal Radiology. “The initial results reported here are exciting as they demonstrate that an AI system can be successfully trained using… read on >

To strengthen your back — the most commonly injured part of the body — it’s important to condition both the muscles in it and the ones that support it, notably the abs. Here are four moves to boost back fitness: For the bird dog, start on your hands and knees. Tighten your abs and simultaneously lift your right arm and your left leg until they’re in line with your back. Keep them straight as you hold for 15 seconds, then gently return to the start position. Do 10 reps, then switch sides and repeat. The plank works your back, abs and glutes. Lying on your stomach, bend your elbows to support your upper body on your forearms. Tighten your abs and glutes and turn your toes under, then lift your body off the ground. Keeping your back straight, hold for a count of 10. Slowly return to the start position, rest 30 seconds, and repeat. Side planks are a great variation. Lie on your left side, with your left elbow bent, forearm on the floor for support. Tighten your abs and glutes and lift hips off the ground, so that your body forms a 45-degree angle with the floor. Keep your back straight and avoid scrunching your shoulders as you hold for a count of 10. Work up to a total of 10 reps, then… read on >

Leaky blood vessels in the brain may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers say. They followed 161 older adults for five years and found that those with the most severe memory declines had the greatest leakage in their brain’s blood vessels, regardless of whether the Alzheimer’s-related proteins amyloid and tau were present. The findings could help with earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and suggest a new drug target for slowing down or preventing the disease, according to the researchers from the University of Southern California. “The fact that we’re seeing the blood vessels leaking, independent of tau and independent of amyloid, when people have cognitive [mental] impairment on a mild level, suggests it could be a totally separate process or a very early process,” said study senior author Dr. Berislav Zlokovic. He is director of the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the university’s Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles. “That was surprising, that this blood-brain barrier breakdown is occurring independently,” Zlokovic added in a university news release. The blood-brain barrier prevents harmful substances from reaching brain tissue. In some people, this barrier weakens with age. “If the blood-brain barrier is not working properly, then there is the potential for damage,” explained study co-author Arthur Toga, who is director of the Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute at Keck. “It suggests the vessels aren’t properly providing… read on >

MONDAY, Jan. 21, 2019 There’s no doubt that an unhealthy diet and couch potato lifestyle put your health at risk, but when considering improvements, should you change one at a time or both at once? Northwestern University researchers found that it’s not only doable, but also more effective, to change unhealthy behaviors simultaneously. Different groups of study participants were given a pair of changes to make. One involved diet — either lowering saturated fat or increasing fruit and vegetables. The other involved activity — either increasing exercise or reducing screen time. All participants received remote coaching to help them with motivation, but those assigned to eat more produce and spend less time with their gadgets were most successful at making healthy changes stick. The researchers followed up with another study that looked at making all the changes simultaneously — increasing produce while reducing saturated fat, and exercising more while decreasing screen time. They added a smartphone component along with the coaching and found that participants who stuck with the program were able to reach all goals over the nine-month study. A separate study at Stanford University found that participants who boosted exercise and diet together improved in both areas. They also reached the goals of completing 150 minutes a week of physical activity, getting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and limiting… read on >

You know about the value of exercise for heart health and for staying strong and independent as you age. There’s also proof that exercise keeps your body young physically as well as mentally. A British study involving cycling enthusiasts between the ages of 55 and 79 found that their physical shape and abilities rivaled those of people much younger. Being physically active affects muscle strength, lung power and exercise capacity, and the sooner you start and the longer you keep it up, the longer benefits last. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a sedentary lifestyle can hasten the physical changes associated with aging and aggravate health problems. Cycling outdoors has many advantages, because it keeps you mentally alert as well as using your muscles, heart and lungs. Still, walking and virtually any type of moderate or vigorous exercise can yield benefits. You don’t have to exercise to extremes to stay youthful. Data from numerous ongoing health studies show that working out in line with national recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week can lower the risk of early death by 31 percent compared to people who don’t exercise. Note that if you’re gung-ho about exercise, there doesn’t appear to be any downside to doing even more, but there may not be any further increase in lowering mortality. More information The American… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Prostate Drug Finasteride Can Safely Lower Cancer Risk, Study Says

Too Much Fried Food May Shorten Your Life

Health Tip: Prevent Skin Problems at the Gym

Soup’s On: Quick, Nutritious, Figure-Friendly Recipes

How to Safely Use Plastic Containers in Your Microwave

Can Artificial Intelligence Read X-Rays?

4 Exercises for a Better Back

Blood Test Might Yield Early Warning of Alzheimer’s

Diet or Exercise — or Both?

A Prescription for Feeling Young Forever