14. November 2016 Health & Life Magazine

LATEST NEWS AND RESEARCH
FLU VACCINE
CUTS HEART
FAILURE
RISK FOR
DIABETICS
New research has discovered
that flu vaccination may reduce
the likelihood of Type 2 diabetics
being hospitalized with stroke or
heart failure. The research showed
that patients who received the flu
vaccine had a 24% lower death rate
compared to patients who had not
received it. “This study suggests
the vaccine may have substantial
benefits for patients with long-term
conditions. Not only might it help
reduce serious illness such as stroke,
and possibly heart attack, in high
risk individuals, it may also reduce
the risk of death in the flu season,”
explains study lead author Eszter
Vamos from Imperial College
London. Type 2 diabetes goes hand
in hand with uncontrolled blood
sugar levels; these cause high blood
pressure, putting patients at high risk
of cardiovascular disease.
The study examined 124,503
British adults with Type 2 diabetes
between 2003 and 2010. Around
65% of these patients received the
flu vaccine. The research team
found that in patients who
were vaccinated there
were 30% fewer hospital
admission and 15%
fewer admissions
for influenza or
pneumonia.
SAFER GREENER
FOOD PACKAGING
Plastic is used in almost all food packaging. And it harms your health. This fact makes a
new invention by Australia’s Most Innovative Engineers of 2016 particularly important.
Professor Fariba Dehghani, of the University of Sydney, and Director of ARC Food
Processing Training Center, has invented a new technology that is a ‘greener’ approach
to food packaging. Advanced Active Food Packaging prolongs food’s shelf life by
allowing less oxygen and water-vapor from penetrating the polymer used to package
food. While some polymers may be biodegradable, they also contain harmful toxins,
like polypropylene carbonate. By removing the impurities from plastic food packaging
Prof. Dehghani obtained a naturally antibacterial surface. Good news for the health
conscious—let’s hope this new greener plastic makes it to our shelves soon!
INCREASED RISK OF
MENTAL ILLNESS FOR
DIABETIC TEENAGERS
Being a teenager and trying to figure out where you fit in and belong is already
hard enough, without the added stress of a medical condition that sets you apart
from the rest. A recent study has shown that young people with diabetes are four
times more likely to be hospitalized for mental health treatment than those without
the disease. “Depression is two to three times more common among young people
with diabetes than those that don’t have the disease”, says Tina Drossos, a clinical
psychologist at the University of Chicago Medicine.
Managing the disease is tough at any age, but teenagers may find it particularly
challenging to constantly test their blood, monitor their carbohydrates and manage
their insulin levels. These tasks get in the way of normal teenage life, and this can
turn into mental issues like anxiety and depression.
“It was definitely not something that we were expecting,” says Amanda Frost, a
senior researcher at HCCI, who worked on the study. “HCCI researchers will
examine the trend more closely in future work.”
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NOVEMBER 2016