It's long been known that vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and thus good for bone and teeth health. But research now also suggests a role for vitamin D in fending off such chronic diseases as diabetes, immune disorders and cancer.

But federal scientists are cautious about suddenly touting the vitamin as a cure-all that should be taken in mega-doses by people of all ages and ethnicities. (Read more about Allure and Doubt Regarding Vitamin D)

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A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people constantly worry about numerous things, and more than half feel they worry more now than five years ago. Half of the people surveyed this year, which is 6% more than in 2006, claimed they were more worried about their health and their family's health than about other concerning issues such as climate change or terrorist attacks. The survey finds that almost three quarters of people worry, but around 19% admit to worrying all the time or about a number of things. (Read more about Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There)

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A Review in The Lancet reveals the importance of healthy lifestyle choices to reduce stressors related to cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers from John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore examined records between 1990 to 2006. They observed how stress affects the sympathetic nervous system, impacts physiology, and the effect it has on the cardiovascular system. Lead author, Daniel Brotman, claims "Acute physical stressors such as sugery, trauma, and intense physical exertion are well known triggers of cardiovascular events. Emotional stressors are increasingly recognized as precipitants of such events." (Read more about Reducing Stress Lowers Risk of Cardiovascular Problems)

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A new study released at the International Conference on Prevention of Dementia on June 11th suggests that treating other health factors - like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can help slow the onset and severity of dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease.

This research further links heart and brain health. Cardiovascular problems like heart attacks or stroke may also increase the onset of dementia. Taking positive actions, like treating high blood pressure, exercising, and changing diet can all help reduce dementia. (Read more about Research Suggests Ways to Slow Alzheimer's)

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Have you ever wondered how low carb but higher fat diets actually work?

Surprisingly, one answer may lie in your liver. Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have identified a liver hormone known as FGF21 which is required to oxidize fatty acids - and thereby burn calories.

According to the senior author of the study, "When the diet is extremely low in starches and sugars, blood sugar levels drop substantially so that the muscles and brain have to turn to alternative fuels... consequently, fatty acids are broken down in the liver and converted to ketones, which then serve as a major fuel source." (Read more about Low Carb Diet For Diabetes)

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According to the American Diabetes Association, 16% of the 14.6 million people diagnosed with diabetes need daily doses of insulin. That used to mean a series of daily shots, but now some patients have an inhalable option to make the process a little easier.
But why aren't more diabetics breathing in the concept? (Read more about Inhaled Insulin Marketing Failure)

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71 year old Elizabeth Widmayer has been successful managing her diabetes, but, suddenly, Elizabeth says the disease started attacking her circulation.
“I would experience pain in the back of my legs when I walked and it would be only say maybe three blocks and then I had loss of feeling starting in my toes so I didn’t have any circulation in my toes,” says Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was suffering from chronic total occlusion. It’s one of the most significant health complications diabetics face, putting them at risk for amputation of a lower limb due to blockages in the peripheral arteries of the leg. But, two new FDA approved devices are breaking through these blockages and restoring normal blood flow.

“The front runner catheter uses what I call the pac-man type technology which actually opens and closes the mouth and actually pushes aside the plaque, the plaque being the substance that causes the blockage of the arteries, and when the plaque is pushed aside it provides us a passage way in order to pass a wire and be able to do angioplasty which is using a balloon or stent to open these passages,” explains Dr. Prakash Krishnan of Mount Sinai. (Read more about Diabetes New Treatment)

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Labor and delivery is not uncharted territory for 38 year old Karen Asar, she’s mom to six year old Ben and four year old Lucas and is due any day now with baby number three. But, unlike her prior pregnancies, Karen developed gestational diabetes this time around. “I have to monitor myself and my blood sugar 7 times a day. I have to really watch what I eat, and monitor the sugars after I eat,” says Karen.

And Karen’s vigilance has paid off, no major health issues during the pregnancy. But, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal, the risk of death and major birth defects are still high in babies born to women with diabetes, despite an international strategy to raise standards of diabetes care.

“They are at risk of the babies themselves of being big and fat. And, having obesity as children and obesity as adolescents, and certainly they’re at risk of developing diabetes later in life,” says Dr. Barak Rosenn of St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. (Read more about Diabetes and Pregnancy)

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With a push of a button, 63 year old Dolores Brown, has a comprehensive check-up, right in the comfort of her own living room. “The advantages are saving money, being at home, not troubling too many people, and ah I feel confident with it in the house.”

Dolores suffers from diabetes, C.O.P.D. and lyme disease. Battling these conditions, her doctor visits would be endless if not for the revolutionary virtual house call. “You bring the technology in, you plug it into the telephone line, and the computer talks to you. It reminds the patient that they need to take their vital signs and it allows them to have a virtual visit with the practitioner through the video cam,” says Dr. Craig Lehmann of Stony Brook University. (Read more about Telehealth)

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A new study finds that habitual snoring in women is strongly tied to body mass index—a marker of fatness-- and age.

Overall, 7.6 percent of women snore.

The frequency of snoring reaches its peak in women ages 50 to 59.

Frequent snoring was found to increase with alcohol dependence, smoking and physical inactivity.
-- (Read more about Health Wrap: Reports on Snoring, Fetuses and Pain, Forgetfulness and Baseball)

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