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Top Medical Stories of 2009

BP lowering drugs and prevention of heart disease and strokes.		Poor sleep in adults leads to high BP.
Reduction in BP of 10mm systolic and 5mm diastolic with any group of drugs reduces the risk of heart attacks & strokes by 22% and 41%. This was shown in a meta analysis of 147 randomized trials involving 4,64,000 patients in U.K. Reference - BMJ, May-2009.		Looks like a well known fact but proved only now. *Reference: Archives of Internal Medicine*
Risk scores to identify people at risk for diabetes who might benefit by intervention.		Anti oxidant supplements (vitamin-c, vitamin-e) blunts the effect of exercise.
Family history of diabetes, hypertension, older ages more than 55, black race, smoker, large waist circumference, short stature, rapid resting pulse and over weight. People with the above scores have 50% chance of getting diabetes in next 10 years. *Reference – Annals of internal medicine – June-2009.*		Regular exercise increases insulin sensitivity and decreases the risk of diabetes. If anti oxidant supplement are given (Vitamin-C, Vitamin-E) it blunts the benefit of exercise. Whereas diet rich in fruits and vegetable lowers the risk of diabetes. Reference –Proc Nata Aca Sci – USA May 2009.
Components of Mediterranean Diet which reduces mortality (increase life span)		Watching television in childhood leads to high chance of asthma
Lower intake of meat High consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and mono-saturated fats (Olive oil) Moderate consumption of alcohol. Reference – BMJ, June-2009.		Young children exposed to television more than 2 hours per day had twice the chance of Asthma compared to other children. *Reference: Thorax Pediatric March 2009*
Benefit of red yeast rice		Moderate alcohol consumption leads to higher cancer risk in women.
Treatment option for those patients who cannot tolerate statins (Cholesterol lowering drugs) Red yeast rice contains naturally occurring lovastatin which lower cholesterol. Reference – Annals of internal medicine – June-2009.		No level of alcohol is safe in women from the stand point of cancer. Even low to moderate consumption is associated with increased risk of several cancers Reference –Journal of National Cancer institute – Feb 2009.