Health impact of soft drinks is proved again. A recent study showed excessive soda drinking increased the risk of pancreatic cancer nearly doubled.

Research carried out the Cancer Control Program at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, United States show for those who drank soda at least two times a week, 87 per cent more at risk of experiencing a fatal pancreatic cancer than those who rarely consume sodas.

“People who drink two times or more soft drinks per week had an increased risk of 87 percent or almost twice the risk of pancreatic cancer compared with individuals who do not consume soft drinks,” said the study’s lead author, Noel T Mueller MPH, a researcher at The Cancer Control Program at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, United States, as quoted by WebMD.

The study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a scientific journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Soft drinks companies respond immediately about these results. They stated that research directly disclose defects and other research that found that there was no link between soda consumption and pancreatic cancer.

In this study, Mueller and his colleagues conduct ongoing evaluation for 14 years on 60,524 men and women enrolled in the Singapore Chinese Health Study. The study began in 1993 when researchers noted what they eat and whether it will suffer from cancer.
The researchers asked the participants to tell him what he ate, including soft drinks and fruit juices. However, Mueller said, researchers did not ask specifically about their dietary consumption, but most of them drank regular soda.

In Singapore at that time, Mueller explained, looking very little intake of soda in the community. “We followed the participants for 14 years. And each time a different record the cancer, “he said. The result, researchers recorded 140 cases occurred pancreatic cancer and began to look back to see if anything to do with the consumption of soda or fruit juice.

The researchers divided consumption of soda and juice into three categories, they are, do not drink at all, less than two times per week and two times or more a week. In conclusion, those who drank soda two times or more in a week the average number of five-year-old has a 87 percent increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

However, it was found that there was no relationship between fruit juice consumption and the risk of pancreatic cancer. So why soda can relate? He admitted it needs to be studied further. “However, what we believe is the sugar in soft drinks can increase insulin levels in the body, which we consider to contribute to the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. Increased insulin may lead to cancer development, “said Mueller.

Even so, the researchers believe the risk of pancreatic cancer increases if other factors, such as advanced age, smoking, diabetes, and body mass index is associated with obesity. Pancreatic cancer risk increases as your age.

With this result, the soft drinks industry immediately launched a protest. “This study has many weaknesses in it,” said Richard Adamson, PhD, scientific consultant of the American Beverage Association in Washington, DC, United States. For example, according to Adamson, his little case of pancreatic cancer experienced by participants. He showed the 140 cases, 110 of these people do not drink soda at all, while the other 12 people eat less than twice a week and another 18 two times or more servings a week.

“This means that only a small number of cases of pancreatic cancer compared with the population studied,” he said. Other studies also, he added, did not find the relationship between soda and pancreatic cancer. The American Beverage Association points to a study in 2008 which found no such relationship. The study also only focused on the consumption of soft drinks, but did not see the overall dietary pattern. “You can be a healthy person and enjoy soft drinks without feeling anxious,” Adamson added.

Susan Mayne, PhD, Director of Yale Cancer Center and professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health, say, the results of the study is “interesting” because of small cases that found that does not prove direct causality. In fact, he included members of the editorial board of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. This study itself was funded the National Cancer Institute.

Colonel Laurence N MD, PhD, a researcher at the Cancer Research Center and professor of public health at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, said although the new study has limitations, but these findings relate to previous research. He and his colleagues say there is a relationship between added sugars in foods and the risk of pancreatic cancer. The results of this study was published in 2007. “In our study, found a positive relationship between high intake of fructose and pancreatic cancer,” he said. “Since high fructose corn syrup is the main sweetener of non-diet soft drinks, our findings and the latest study is quite consistent,” he said.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the 11 types of cancer most common in the UK. In the United States, according to the American Cancer Society, in 2009 about 42,000 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 35,240 of them died. This cancer claimed claimed 7700 lives every year.

The life expectancy of people with only 19 per cent per year. Of 100 people, patients who lived only 19 people. Meanwhile, who has a life expectancy over 5 years is only 4 percent. Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze and tenor Luciano Pavarotti is famous patient who died of pancreatic cancer.

Diabetes clearly increases the risk of one of various cardiovascular disorders, including heart attacks, hypertension, or stroke. To reduce the risk of heart disease, doctors will usually give medicine to restore the abnormal levels of blood fats.

Unfortunately, recent studies show medicine therapy to control blood pressure and lower blood sugar does not help prevent cardiovascular disease. In fact, medicine therapy in some cases cause side effects.

A decade ago, health officials in the United States conducted three studies to see whether the three types of intensive therapy to lower blood sugar, blood pressure or blood fats are effective for preventing heart attacks and strokes in diabetics (diabetes).

A study of the blood sugar was stopped two years ago when researchers look at blood sugar control treatment was not much effect. However, two studies are in progress.

In studies of blood fats (triglycerides) which is done by researchers from Columbia University and involving 5500 people with diabetes who also have the risk factors of other heart disease, namely hypertension and high cholesterol.

All the respondents received statins, cholesterol-lowering medication. Half of the respondents have triglyceride-lowering medicines and the rest a dummy medicine. Five years later the entire group of respondents known to have the same incidence of stroke and heart attack. This means that medicine therapy does not help much.

From the results of research, proven therapies that incentives by medicine-oatan is not able to reduce the incidence of heart attacks, although it is able to prevent a stroke. However, experts do not recommend people with diabetes to stop taking the medication without consulting their doctors.

So what should people with diabetes do? Stay focused on diet and healthy lifestyle and keep trying medications doctors recommended to reduce the risk of disease, according to Dr.Clyde Yancy, a cardiologist and president of the American Heart Association.

For people with diabetes,  they are advised to eat a varied diet in order to achieve a balance between carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Some have diabetes can control their blood sugar by eating only three meals a day and avoid sweet foods. While the rest need a strict diet.

To reduce the risk of heart disease, do the exercise because it increases blood flow through blood vessels smaller and increase the efficiency of heart pumping power.

Vitamin supplements not only provide nutritional needs, but also avoids the signs of aging. Several types of nutrients, like calcium and vitamin D, is not only useful for maintaining health, but also makes us stay young. What are the recommended supplements to maximize health and to keep us young?

Vitamin D
According to Michael F. Holick, MD, PhD, a professor from Boston University School of Medicine, you can reduce your risk of colon cancer, breast and esophagus by 50 percent if you get enough vitamin D.

Vitamin D will inhibit the growth of cancer cells and activate the immune system to fight infection. The best source of vitamin D are egg yolk, fish, and foods that are fortified, such as milk and cereal. Sun exposure is also good for increasing vitamin D levels in the body.

Calcium
This mineral is essential to maintain bone strength and is required for muscle and nerve function. Lack of calcium will cause bone damage occurs more quickly than construction. In addition to bones, research shows calcium supplementation can reduce the risk of polyp formation of colon cancer.

Magnesium
Studies show magnesium deficiency is more common in older people than young people. This happens because for the older people, the body’s ability to absorb magnesium from food is reduced. In addition, medicines such as antibiotics and diuretic medicines also have the same affect. In addition to preventing diabetes, magnesium may also lower blood pressure.

Vitamin B
Several studies have shown, stroke and heart disease could be prevented if we get enough vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid.  Enough of B vitamins can also help us avoid typical elder diseases, like dementia.

Human longevity is not just affected by how well your genes are, but also how well you live your life. Researchers have found a way to eat, move and manage stress that determines how long people live.

A new study conducted on 20,000 people in the UK and has been published in the British Medical Journal, shows that one can reduce the risk of stroke by 50 percent. Just by doing four things, which is active for 30 minutes a day, eating fruits and vegetables, and avoiding excessive smoking and alcohol.

People can reach the age of 100 with a healthy lifestyle. However, Thomas Perls of Boston University School of Medicine, believes that with the assumption that puts genes aside, there’s nothing stopping you living up to the age of 90 years.

Here are 10 habits Perls used to calculate how long a person can survive, as reported by USNews, Tuesday (9/3/2010).

1. Do not retire.
Although already in the retirement age does not mean you can no longer work. “Evidence shows that in a society where people suddenly stopped working, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease increases after retirement,” says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

2. Floss Teeth Every day
This can keep the arteries (blood vessels) remain healthy. Studies from New York University in 2008 showed that flossing every day can reduce the number of bacteria that cause gum disease in the mouth. These bacteria can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, and increases the risk of heart disease.

3. Always move
“Sports is the only way to stay young,” said Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Study after study has recommended that the benefits of exercise to improve mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bone. No need to exercise at the gym, just by simply walking around the neighborhood for 30 minutes a day.

4. Eat high-fiber cereal for breakfast
Whole wheat benefited especially in the morning can help maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day. According to a study conducted recently by Ferrucci and colleagues, people who do this can prevent  diabetes, which could accelerate aging.

5. Sleep at least 6 hours a day
“Sleeping is one of the most important functions for our bodies, our body regulates and heal cells when we are asleep,” Ferrucci said.

6. Consumption of whole foods, not supplements
Evidence strongly indicates that people who have blood that is rich in nutrients, like selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, has a longer life. But there is nothing to prove that taking supplements can provide anti-aging benefits.

“There are more than 200 different carotenoids and the 200 different flavonoids contained in a tomato,” Ferrucci said. This chemical is beneficial to the body other than known nutrients such as lycopene or vitamin C. Avoid white foods (nutrient-lacking white food) such as bread, flour and sugar. And switch to fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat bread.

7. Reduce the neurotic (nerve pressure)
A better way to cope with stress is yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi (take a deep breath in for a while). While in the other hand daydreaming, eating chips in front of the TV, partying and drinking to much alcoholic is bad for the body.

8. Live like Seventh Day Adventist
Americans who define themselves as the Seventh Day Adventists, have a life expectancy average of 89 years, about a decade longer than the average American.

They appreciate the body by not smoking, consume alcohol or pamper your body with sweet foods. They are usually vegetarian and eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and do many sports. They are also very focused on families and communities.

9. Being a creature that used to it
According to Olshansky, people tend to live the old days with a strict routine, eating the same food and doing the same types of activities throughout their lives. Sleep and wake at the same time each day is one good habit to keep the body in a stable equilibrium.

10. Stay socially connected
Have social relationships with friends or loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to early death, particularly common to a widow and an elderly widower.

Some psychologists even think that one of the greatest benefits to be obtained from the parents exercise a strong social interaction, a walk with friends or join a training class.

As well as infants and toddlers, adults also need immunization for the body’s endurance. Especially those who have chronic disease risk factors, disease history, and the elderly.

This adult immunization awareness among adults is not as high as the enthusiasm of the parents to provide immunization to their children. They assume the benefits of immunization in children has been believed to help prevent spread of infectious diseases.

Meanwhile, the benefits of immunization in adults is not fully known to health workers, especially by the laity. In fact, the American Society of Internal Medicine annual meeting in 2001 in Atlanta, United States reaffirms that immunization of adults may prevent the death of a hundred times more than the children.

So that in 2010 public health programs, the United States launched 60 percent of influenza vaccination in adults. So reiterated that there are great opportunities to prevent death in adults through immunization.

There are many factors that cause reverberations immunization for adults have not heard widely. In addition to its lack of effectiveness of vaccine-related information, it is also because of the less of guidelines as well as vaccination of health care access is still limited.

Many people think immunization is required only babies and children, while adults do not need to be immunized because their immune system has been formed. In fact, adults need immunizations, especially to avoid dangerous infectious diseases and infectious.

Immunization is not just a big impact for the individual and the community further, but also contributes to social and economic development such as reducing the need for medical expenses from the hospital, reducing permanent disability and reduce the incidence of unusual diseases or outbreaks.

In the world, influenza immunization has long been proclaimed. In Korea for example, provided 10 million units of influenza vaccine each year. In fact, about 90 percent of the medical and health personnel there have been injected with the vaccine. In Australia, this activity has become a government program. Similarly in New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore.

Groups that require immunization are adults who have high risk factors for a disease and its complications, including people aged over 60 years of suffering from influenza vulnerable, people with chronic diseases such as chronic lung, heart, and kidney failure, also officers frequent regular health contact with high-risk patients.

In addition, the food providers at the edges of the street, young women as well as tourists who are visiting a country are also required to undergo immunization. For an example influenza, which is estimated to cause 20,000 deaths per year, can be prevented by vaccination approximately 9800 deaths per year.

The attention to adult immunization must be improved. This can be done by increasing awareness of health workers, health service capacity, and availability of cheap vaccines and easily accessible. Therefore, necessary government and also the role of insurance in providing funding.

Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Tan, a cancer of the womb Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia who were present expressed, cervical cancer vaccination in the country has become the official government program. Since 2007, vaccination programs have been run for young women who have 12-13 years of age.

Now, he’s bright, its coverage has reached 86 percent. “We expect, these public programs can reduce cervical cancer incidence rate is decreased 16 types of HPV infection in Australia by 56 percent in 2010 and 92 percent in 2050,” said Tan.