Medical News: Happy People May Have Better Heart Health - in Cardiovascular, Atherosclerosis from MedPage Today

Medical News: Happy People May Have Better Heart Health - in Cardiovascular, Atherosclerosis from MedPage Today:

"Individuals who find joy, excitement, and contentment in their daily lives may be protected from cardiovascular disease, researchers found.

Higher levels of positive affect, a measure of happiness, were associated with a significantly lower risk of having a cardiovascular event over a 10-year period (P=0.02), according to Karina Davidson, PhD, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, and colleagues."

Area counties get low rankings in health study : Home: The Buffalo News

Area counties get low rankings in health study : Home: The Buffalo News:

"The results placed Niagara, Cattaraugus, Erie and Allegany counties among the bottom 11 counties. Ontario ranked fifth. Putnam County was first, and the Bronx was last.

The report also combined a set of 23 factors that affect health. These included smoking, diet, exercise, alcohol use, access to health care, employment, income, air quality and number of liquor stores."

Aspirin boosts breast cancer survival rate

From Physorg: Aspirin boosts breast cancer survival rate:

"An observational study of 4,164 women diagnosed with breast cancer showed those taking aspirin in the period after diagnosis had a much lower rate of recurrence, and a much higher survival rate than those who did not."

Gee, what won't aspirin do?

Soft Drinks Could Boost Pancreatic Cancer Risk - US News and World Report

Soft Drinks Could Boost Pancreatic Cancer Risk - US News and World Report:

"'Soft drinks are linked with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer,' said Noel Mueller, lead author of a study appearing in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 'We can't speculate too much on the mechanism because this is an observational study, but the increased risk may be working through effects of the hormone insulin.'

Still, the report should not cause undue alarm, some say.

'The study was well designed but smaller than some previous studies that did not find a link between sugar-sweetened soft drinks and pancreatic cancer,' noted Eric Jacobs, strategic director of pharmacoepidemiology at the American Cancer Society. 'Direct evidence linking sugar-sweetened soft drinks to pancreatic cancer remains limited.'"