Category: Health Risks
Scientists uncover genetic risks for stroke
Thursday, 16 April, 2009 06:06 Written by admin
Scientists have found important genetic differences that significantly raise the risk of stroke, and they are found in millions of people.
The study is the first to identify common genetic variants influencing stroke risk in the United States and may lead to better treatments, they reported on Wednesday.
While other stroke-related genes have been discovered, none involved such a wide portion of the population, said Eric Boerwinkle of The University of Texas Health Science Center.
China approves food safety law: state media
Saturday, 28 February, 2009 05:49 Written by admin
China on Saturday approved a long-awaited food safety law, state media reported, in a bid to end repeated scandals involving dangerous food products in the country.
The law has been in the works since October last year after a huge scandal erupted over contaminated milk which killed at least six children and sickened nearly 300,000 others in China.
“The law will see the establishment of a monitoring and supervision system, a set of national standards on food safety, a recall system, and severe punishment for offenders,” the official Xinhua news agency said.
Alcohol’s Effect on the Brain
Thursday, 16 October, 2008 15:20 Written by admin
The human brain is a truly amazing organ. Roughly the size of a small head of cauliflower, the brain contains all our thoughts, actions, emotions, perceptions, desires and dreams. Although housed inside the skull for protection, the brain is extremely vulnerable to damage and degeneration from poor nutrition, lack of oxygen, toxic overload and chemical deposits, including drugs. Both smoking and drinking has been shown to affect the brain, damaging cells and synapses (neural connections) and high alcohol consumption is known to result in shrinking of the brain and cognitive deficit. However, researchers have discovered that even modest amounts of alcohol have the same negative effect.