Health and life magazine August 2016

LATEST NEWS AND RESEARCH
GET YOUR
GYM
SHOES ON
A 45-year study published in the
European Journal of Preventative
Cardiology in July 2016 finds that
low physical activity is second only
to smoking as the highest death risk.
The study was designed to examine
the risk factors of cardiovascular
disease and mortality. Dr. Lavendall,
the study’s lead author, said “Low
physical capacity is a greater risk to
death than high blood pressure and
high cholesterol.” He added “We
have come a long way in reducing
smoking. The next major challenge is
to keep us physically active and also
reduce physical inactivity, such as
prolonged sitting.”
31 HARMFUL
CHEMICALS
FOUND IN
E-CIGARETTES
Researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory have found that e-cigarettes emit toxic
chemicals like acrolein and formaldehyde. Both are
eye and lung irritants, and formaldehyde is a known
carcinogen. These harmful emissions come from the
combination of propylene glycol and glycerin, which are
present in almost all e-liquids.
In total, researchers identified significant levels of 31 harmful chemicals,
two of which had never previously been found: propylene oxide and
glycidol, both of which are classed as probable carcinogens.
"Advocates of e-cigarettes say emissions are much lower than from
conventional cigarettes, so you're better off using e-cigarettes," said
the study author Hugo Destaillats. "I would say, that may be true for
certain users—for example, long time smokers that cannot quit—but the
problem is, it doesn't mean that they're healthy. Regular cigarettes are
super unhealthy. E-cigarettes are just unhealthy."
NEW HOPE FOR
LUNG CANCER AND
EMPHYSEMA PATIENTS
Researchers from Melbourne’s Hudson Institute of Medical Science have
made a breakthrough in detecting lung cancer before it spreads through
the body. This discovery could save many lives, as lung cancer is one of the
leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. An experimental drug known as
sgp130FC is being tested, which appears to shut
down the signaling system responsible for lung
cancer development and cell growth. The drug
is designed to attach to the II-6 molecule which
would block the signal, not allowing the cell to
grow or self-destruct.