High blood pressure patients advised to use home monitors

High blood pressure is notoriously difficult to treat to goal ? many patients fail to reach target levels despite treatment, and studies show home monitoring can help. – People with hypertension should routinely monitor their blood pressure at home to help manage the disease, according to a new joint scientific statement from the American Heart Association, American Society of Hypertension and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses’ Association.

Purple passion fruit peel reduces asthma symptoms

Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma – Passion fruit peel can significantly improve the symptoms of asthma. Patients given an extract from the Purple passion fruit’s peel had reduced wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath, due to anti-oxidant, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties of Purple passion fruit.

Mothers less likely to vaccinate daughters against HPV

U.S. mothers report they are less likely to vaccinate daughters under age 13 against human papillomavirus virus (HPV), even though the vaccine is recommended for girls at age 11 and 12. – U.S. mothers report they are less likely to vaccinate daughters under age 13 against human papillomavirus virus (HPV), even though the vaccine is recommended for girls at age 11 and 12, it’s incumbent upon the healthcare community to work to improve mom’s acceptance of the vaccination for younger daughters, say researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center who conducted the study.

Alarming rates of STDs among teenage girls

A US study found that one in four teenage girls aged 14 to 19 has a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Nearly half the African-Americans in the study were infected by one of the diseases. – A US study found that one in four teenage girls aged 14 to 19 has a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Nearly half the African-Americans in the study were infected by one of the diseases. The survey, part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, did not ask about syphilis or gonorrhea, so it is likely the STD rates are actually higher.

Gardasil HPV vaccine reduces abnormal pap test results

In testing GARDASIL reduced abnormal Pap test results by 43 percent compared to women not given the vaccine, according new research. The findings show the approved anti-HPV agent appears to prevent the development of cell changes that lead to cervical disease. – A significant drop in abnormal Pap test results happened after girls and women were given Gardasil vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, according to a researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Does ginkgo biloba affect memory?

People who reliably took the ginkgo biloba supplement had a 68 percent lower risk of developing mild memory problems. – Taking the supplement ginkgo biloba had no clear-cut benefit on the risk of developing memory problems, according to a study published in the February 27, 2008, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Vitamin supplements may increase lung cancer risk

Supplemental multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folate are unlikely to decrease the risk of developing lung cancer. Use of supplemental vitamin E at high doses for a prolonged period of time may slightly increase this risk. – Vitamin supplements do not protect against lung cancer, according to a study of more than 77,000 vitamin users. In fact, some supplements may even increase the risk of developing it. The findings were published in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Stress may increase cervical cancer risk

A woman’s daily stress can reduce her ability to fight off a common sexually transmitted disease and increase her risk of developing the cancer it can cause. – A woman’s daily stress can reduce her ability to fight off a common sexually transmitted disease and increase her risk of developing the cancer it can cause, according to a new study. No such association is seen, however, between past major life events, such as divorce or job loss, and the body’s response to the infection.

Tattooing improves DNA vaccine response

DNA-vaccination via tattooing induces stronger humoral and cellular immune responses than intramuscular delivery supported by molecular adjuvants. – Tattooing is a more effective way of delivering DNA vaccines; a tattoo can be more than just a fashion statement ? it has potential medical value, according to an article published in the online open access journal, Genetic Vaccines and Therapy.

Study examines effectiveness of antiviral drug to treat mononucleosis

University of Minnesota researchers have begun studying a new drug to treat infectious mononucleosis, commonly known as mono. – University of Minnesota researchers have begun studying a new drug to treat infectious mononucleosis, commonly known as mono. The goal of the study is to find out if people who take the antiviral drug valomaciclovir recover from mono faster.

Health Newstrack