Tag Archives: health news

Obesity causes Hearing Loss

Myth or Medical Miracle?

True!  It is a real risk. A recent study in Laryngoscope, referenced in The New York Times, showed that there is a clear connection between obesity and hearing loss in adolescents.   What doesn’t obesity cause?  Obesity affects 18.5% of American teens and is responsible for $117 billion in medical care yearly in the US alone.

But with well-known connections between obesity and heart disease, diabetes and premature death, this connection to hearing loss is a new bothersome but less life-threatening concern.  Researchers believe that inflammation in the hearing system is the cause for hearing loss.  This inflammation is associated with obesity.  They suggest that as time goes on, hearing loss may progress. Don’t lose hope though! They also believe that early weight loss can prevent the progression.

Dr. Yagoda, an otolarynologist, can evaluate you if you think you are experiencing hearing loss. She can help musicians and others protect their hearing as well.  Come in for a consultation and fuel your body with knowledge to continue hearing life’s music!

Drinking Coffee Not Only Keeps You Awake Longer, But May Also Keep You Alive Longer!

If sipping on a hot cup of coffee in the morning is one of your simple pleasures, you’ll be happy to learn that coffee may also add years to your life. People who live on the Greek Island of Ikaria are known for their long life expectancies, and researchers have been studying the islanders to learn the reason why.

According to a recent reportpublished in the New York Times, one explanation may be the coffee they drink. This boiled coffee appears to produce antioxidants and they found that the older islanders who drank the boiled coffee had better functioning endothelial cells (cells line the interior surface of blood vessels throughout the circulatory system).

However, it is important to note that coffee is only one factor that may be contributing to the islanders’ longevity. Researchers plan to conduct further studies to discover how the island’s water, minerals and air quality might also be playing a role.

Are you a “less is more” or “more is more” person?

Sugar-sweetened beverages may be the number one cause of adult-onset diabetes. Do you think ‘gallon-sized $1 drinks’ give you more or less for your money? How does a diet that includes sugary drinks affect your overall health? How does a diet that includes sugary drinks affect your overall health?  Read this New York Times article and let us know what you think:  In Fight Against Obesity, Drink Sizes Matter.

Photo Credit: ioneglobalgrind

What happens when toenails age?

Have you ever noticed that people’s toenails thicken with age, even though fingernails don’t? Why is that?  If you thought it was all caused by toe fungus, you’d be wrong! Read what Dr. Richard K. Scher, head of the nail section at Weill Cornell Medical College, has to say about the changes that happen to toenails over time in this interesting NY Times article, Toenails and Time, long-term trauma, impaired circulation, stress are the culprits!

The Surprising Cause of Hearing Loss in Women

There are many different factors that can cause hearing loss, but you may be surprised to learn that the medication you’re taking could be contributing to the problem.

According to a recent study, researchers found that the more often a woman took ibuprofen or acetaminophen, the higher her risk for hearing loss.

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