Weekly health news roundup – Jan 3rd-9th, Chagas disease, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease and more

Our weeks can be quite hectic from running errands to attending social obligations; we often don’t have the time to check in with weekly health news. This is why we have included our top news stories of the week so you can catch up with to make sure you’re still in the know.

Below are this week’s new stories which outline what you may have missed to keep you informed with the ever-changing world of health.

Chagas disease vaccine potential after study identifies how it evades immune system

A Chagas disease vaccine may be possible after a study identified how the disease evades the immune system. Chagas disease is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). It is primarily found in Latin American but affects over eight million people worldwide. Chagas disease is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with feces of triatomine bugs – “kissing bug.”

New research from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health I collaboration with the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine found a molecule in T. cruzi which may reveal how the disease invades the immune system. Continue reading…

Severe fibromyalgia symptoms linked to obesity, weight gain

Severe fibromyalgia symptoms have been shown to be linked to obesity and weight gain; furthermore obesity can worsen symptoms associated with fibromyalgia (FM). Previous research has found a link between severe fibromyalgia symptoms and obesity and also suggests that being obese increases a person’s risk of fibromyalgia.

The findings further suggest that fibromyalgia treatment should include weight management in order to reduce symptom severity.

Study author Dr. Terry Oh said, “We see an association between body mass index with symptom severity and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. This was the first study to look at distinct groups of obese patients and determine how weight correlates with levels of symptoms and quality of life.” Continue reading…

Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis tied to anxiety and depression

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – both gastrointestinal diseases – have been tied to anxiety and depression. In a previous study researchers found that not only is Crohn’s disease tied to depression but that depression can increase inflammatory flare-ups related to Crohn’s.

The study involved 3,150 Crohn’s patients who completed online questionnaires in regards to their disease, treatment and its affect on their daily lives. Patients were also asked how often they felt sad, hopeless, or worthless.

Patients with high depressions scores were 50 percent more likely to experience a Crohn’s flare-up after 12 months compared to those with the lowest depression scores. Continue reading…

Scientists discover link between shingles and asthma

According to a new study, the risk of developing the painful skin condition shingles, is higher in people suffering with asthma than it is in non-asthmatic people.
The findings of the new study build on previous studies which suggest a link between the risk of shingles and asthma.

Nearly 1 million Americans, especially older adults get affected by shingles every year.
According to Dr. Young Juhn, an asthma epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic Children’s Research Center in Rochester, and the author of the new study, “Asthma represents one of the five most burdensome chronic diseases in the U.S., affecting up to 17 percent of the population.” Continue reading…

Sugar increases risk for breast cancer tumors, spread to lungs

A recent study done by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals that the high amounts of sugar in the typical Western diet could not only increases the risk of breast cancer but also increases the chances of the tumor spreading to the lungs.
The full details of the study are published online in the Jan. 1, 2016 issue of Cancer Research.

In earlier studies which showed that sugar intake has an impact on breast cancer, the researchers concluded that the cause could have been because sugar helps increase inflammation. While that is not being disputed, the scientists feel that the inflammatory cascade may be an alternative route of cancer caused by sugar intake. Continue reading…