Research Finds Link Between Sleep Apnea And Cholesterol
The findings suggest that cholesterol-lowering statins could limit the cardiovascular damage sleep apnea causes. In other news, the Obama administration's new dietary guidelines back off earlier sodium rules, say lean meats are OK and still recommend cutting out added sugars.
NPR:
Cholesterol Provides A Clue About Heart Risks From Sleep Apnea
Soon after many people fall asleep, they have trouble breathing. Their upper airway constricts and chokes them. They wake, startled, take a deep breath, and fall back to sleep. This condition, obstructive sleep apnea, affects about a fifth of American adults and triples the risk for cardiovascular disease. How exactly has been unclear. Research published Wednesday suggests that cholesterol, a common culprit in heart disease, plays a special role in raising risk for people with sleep apnea. (Chen, 1/6)
The Associated Press:
New Dietary Guidelines: Lean Meat OK, Cut the Added Sugars
Some Americans may not have to cut back on eggs and salt as much as they once thought. And eating lean meat is still OK. But watch the added sugars — especially the sugary drinks. The Obama administration's new dietary guidelines, released Thursday, back off the strictest sodium rules included in the last version, while still asserting that Americans consume too much salt. The guidelines reverse previous guidance on the dangers of dietary cholesterol and add strict new advice on sugars. (Jalonick, 1/7)
NPR:
How A Simple Bump Can Cause An Insidious Brain Injury
It's not just football players or troops who fought in the wars who suffer from brain injuries. Researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in the U.S. get potentially serious brain injuries every year, too. Yet they and even their doctors often don't know it. One such doctor is Bryan Arling, an internist in Washington, D.C. His peers often vote to put him on those lists of "top doctors," published by glossy magazines. So it's ironic that the brain injury he failed to diagnose was his own. And he could have died from it. (Zwerdling, 1/6)
Reuters:
Does Cancer Screening Saves Lives? Unclear, Researchers Say
Bigger studies are needed to tell whether cancer screening really saves lives, according to a new analysis. While cancer screening may be linked to fewer deaths from tumors, finding cancers doesn't necessarily save lives when fatalities from all causes are taken into account, the authors point out. (Rapaport, 1/6)