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All the hype around genetic testing has doctors worried they’ve overlooked the most basic — and for now, the most effective — genomic tool at their disposal: A few questions about their patients’ families. As the WSJ reports today , British researchers showed that by systematically collecting detailed family history from patients, they boosted the number of patients at high risk for heart disease detected by standard assessment tools from 12% to 18%. Catching more high-risk patients would mean doctors could better steer preventive care that could avert heart attacks. “In the genomic revolution, we’ve forgotten basic family history as a tool,” says Donna Arnett, a genetic epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the president-elect of the American Heart Association. “I practice genetic epidemiology and look for genetic markers, but by far, the most important thing we can do in the prevention of heart disease is to identify family history,” says Arnett, who was not involved in the latest research. The study , published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine, pushed patients to fill out detailed questionnaires — which asked, for instance, the age relatives suffered heart disease — and went far beyond the checked boxes most patients would recognize from doctors’ waiting-room forms. Other research has verified that certain types of family history, such as a parent who had a heart attack before reaching age 60, increases a patient’s heart disease risk by as much as 50%. Probability remains the best tool most doctors have to work with. “Genetics was supposed to solve all that,” says Alfred Berg, professor of family medicine at the University of Washington. “You were supposed to do a test, and be able to say, ‘I know for sure’” whether a patient will have a heart attack, he says. Yet, routine family history collect continues to show “at least as much promise as all this high-tech testing,” adds Berg, who until last year chaired a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel that examined genomic-testing products. Of eight genetic tests developed in recent years by seven companies, none is so far backed by sufficient evidence that it can accurately predict heart disease, according to a recommendation on the latest heart disease screening technologies issued in late 2010 by the independent CDC panel. (The same is true for most of the diseases and testing products the group has analyzed.) That high-tech genetics has so far been disappointing in the exam room is in part what’s inspiring researchers to revisit family history — a tool researchers already know works well. The current research “began with the premise that there’s been a great hike in genetic testing,” says Nadeem Qureshi, the lead author of the NEW? study and a University of Nottingham researcher specializing in applied genetics. “But, family history is a great proxy for both genetics and environment, and it’s not being used in clinical practice.” Image: iStockphoto

Three Days in March: The Supreme Court said it will hear five and a half hours of arguments concerning the health-care overhaul law over three days, starting Monday, March 26, the WSJ reports . There will be two hours of argument covering the individual mandate — which requires most Americans to purchase insurance or pay a penalty — scheduled for March 27. Readmission Penalties: A Medicare policy that will penalize hospitals for too many readmissions that could have been prevented could disproportionately affect facilities that care for the poorest patients, Kaiser Health News reports , in conjunction with the Washington Post. Hospitals with more low-income patients were more likely to have high readmission rates for heart failure, a KHN analysis found, and penalties could tighten their budgets even further. Doggy Flu Blues: The flu can be a problem for dogs, too, with active outbreaks of highly infectious canine influenza reported in New Jersey and New York over the last few months, the WSJ reports . Merck and Pfizer make vaccines against the virus, and immunization is sometimes recommended by boarding facilities and vets, in the case of elective procedures requiring hospital admission, the paper says. Neti Pot Warning: Doctors are warning people who use neti pots or squeeze bottles to irrigate their nasal passages to avoid using tap water for that purpose, NPR’s Shots blog reports . Two Louisiana residents have died from a deadly brain infection after using neti pots. Doctors advise following the instructions that accompany the devices, which advise using distilled, boiled or filtered water, NPR reports. Image: iStockphoto

It’s hard to know exactly when your body is trying to communicate it’s too tired to sweat it out vs. when you are making a lame excuse to avoid a gym session. The other day, my trainer sent me home, because I had the telltale signs of being too tired to handle a strength training session. I was shocked that she could tell just by looking at me walk around the gym for a few minutes. It seems pretty obvious that the brain tries to shut down the body when it’s fatigued so that you’re forced to rest. However, we often ignore our body when it’s trying to tell us something. Take this short quiz to see if you’re showing signs that your body is too tired to workout. You find yourself carelessly bumping into walls or furniture. Yes No Your eyes are droopy rather than appearing active and engaged. Yes No You drag your feet when you walk. Yes No You are clumsier than normal, unable to grasp onto items, and you drop them easily. Yes No You lack the strength to complete exercises or cardiovascular activities that you can normally perform with ease. Yes No You got six hours of sleep or less. Yes No You are lightheaded, because you forgot to drink water or eat enough protein throughout the day. Yes No

Swearing in television programs and video games can lead adolescents to adopt the coarse language and can also influence aggressive behavior according to a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. "We didn't know this before and I was really surprised because we've got all these ratings for television, film and video games for profanity," said study author Sarah Coyne, Ph.D., assistant professor of family life at Brigham Young University and researcher of media and human development. She added that a lot of the time, the ratings are incorrect. "I think as a society we've gotten really lax concerning profanity," she added. "I think it's in part because we hear it all over the media." Researchers surveyed more 222 children ages 11 to 15  from a large Midwestern middle school.  135 of the participants were girls. The students were asked about their favorite shows and games, including how often they watch television and play the games.  They were asked how much profanity they thought they were exposed to and about their feelings about profanity. Researchers determined that exposure and their stance on profanity were significantly related. Coyne said the statistics point to a "trickle-down effect." "So maybe you watch television, play video games with a lot of profanity and kind of you get more used to it," she said. "You get more desensitized to it, you become more accepting of it, then you kind of start using it in your own life and then kind of show the lack of respect for people." The study found aggression could be presented physically –  hitting, kicking or punching. However, it could also show in the form of relational aggression like gossiping or spreading rumors about someone. "I think that parents should be a little bit more aware of what's out there in the programs our kids are watching, and the video games they're playing," Coyne added. "They could be a little more vigilant in terms of profanity exposure. She adds that television and video games need to be more accurately labeled for profanity.

Jennifer Hudson lets Oprah’s camera crew in on one of her daily workouts: a game of hoops. Jennifer reveals she grew up playing basketball and loves that it allows you to lose weight while having fun - check out her moves! If you want a great basketball workout, go behind the scenes with us as we played Nike Field Reporter for a day and worked with WNBA star Renee Montgomery .

Sometimes knowing too many details can be maddening. If you’ve seen newspaper or television exposes about the astronomical number of germs found on everyday objects (doorknobs, money, restaurant menus, telephones, TV remote controls, etc.) you probably know what I mean. Or perhaps you’ve stumbled across science programs that provide a microscopic view of what’s actually Related posts: Vitamin K and Heart Disease Dietary Fiber and Heart Disease Best of Dietary Fiber and Heart Disease Laughter and Heart Disease Kiwi Fruit and Heart Disease

Do you even know how to tell if your partner has herpes? Today more and more people are affected by herpes without them knowing it. Statistically 1 out 5 people worldwide has herpes type II. There are actually two types of herpes: Herpes Simplex Virus I (HSV I) is also known as the oral herpes and commonly affects children, and Herpes Simplex Virus II (HSV II) or otherwise known as genital herpes that affects adults, which is also classified as a sexually transmitted disease. HSV II spreads through the body fluids like the saliva, semen or vaginal fluid, and since this is a viral infection, it is self-limiting and has no cure. This means only your immune system can fight and kill the virus. For people with weak immune system, painful sores and blisters can be found within 2 to 10 days after being infected by the virus, but, with people with stronger immune system, they may not present any symptoms at all. This does not mean however, they are safe because the virus can remain dormant in their body, therefore; they can infect you without you knowing it. The only way you can suspect if your partner has it is, if you are aware that they have other sexual partners. Some people may think HSV type II is not a serious disease, this is a wrong mindset, because HSV II can be as serious as any viral disease when they are left untreated and begin to spread in other areas like the eyes, ears and even the brain and spine. So what can you do to protect yourself? The future trend for herpes is the new vaccine being developed by BioVex in Massachusetts. This new vaccine, unlike the first one that failed will modify and delete 5 of the genes from the virus of HSV II. If this becomes successful in stimulating HSV II antibodies without compromising the host’s immune system, it will be the best protection for herpes ever. Clinical trials in London will now be made by BioVex and if a success it is expected to be out sooner than you think. But, until then the traditional method of protection will be best for you like: Practicing monogamous sexual relationships Strengthening your immune system by having enough rest and sleep, healthy diet, exercise and avoiding too much stress Practicing safe sex Once affected, prevent spread of the virus through: Wearing loose clothing to prevent further irritation of the sores Always performing hand washing when in contact with the sores and blisters Drinking lots of water Having a healthy lifestyle Avoiding touching the affected areas Taking analgesics for pain Avoiding over exposure to sunlight Applying warm compress to affected area to soothe discomfort Avoiding kissing and sexual contact when outbreaks are visible Taking antiviral drugs like: Valtrex, Abrevia, Blistex Valaclovir, Acyclovir Famcyclovir or Zovirax, these drugs are not meant to cure, but to prevent reproduction of the virus. Digg this! Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on del.icio.us Tweet This! Share this on Facebook Share this on Blinklist Buzz up! Post on Google Buzz

Summer may have came late to San Francisco this year, but Sugar HQ is all smiles about it. Lately the office uniform is sundresses and sandals, and we’ve brought our workouts outside. Look for us running through the park, cycling across the bridge, or catching a few waves at Ocean Beach. And, boy, are we happy! The weather definitely affects my mood, and when the sun is shining and I’m boosting up my vitamin D , I’m a happy gal. And even though I wish it could be sunny all of the time, I’m pretty OK bundling in a scarf when need be. But with Winter just around the corner, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may be a real concern to many of you. So tell me, sunny days, rainy nights, or snowy afternoons – does the weather hold any power over the smile on your face? Does the Weather Affect Your Mood? Yes! No!

All my cardio involves mostly forward motion. Running, biking, and swimming are all about moving quickly and straight ahead. Only working in this movement plane (aka the sagittal plane) can make you susceptible to injury. Strength training with lateral motion works the stabilizing muscles of the lower body – the glute meds , on the outside of the pelvis, and the inner thighs – and the more stable you are the less prone you are to overuse injuries in your ankles, knees, hips, and low back. Get out of your fitness rut and work some sideways moves (aka the coronal plane) into your workout. Here are a few suggestions: Side lunges Side squats with theraband Side lunge to curtsy Side plank with leg lift Jumping jacks with shoulder press Glider side lunges How do you fit lateral moves into your workout?