Healthedia Daily Blog Report: Viagra improves heart failure symptoms, the benefits of zinc, work and depression strongly related

This is a selection of today’s most notable blog articles from healthedia.com where you will find the most extensive collection of health and wellness-related blogs, videos and podcasts on the web.

Viagra Improves Heart Failure Symptoms

Behind the Headlines, a widely-read health blog written by Dr. Simeon Margolis of John Hopkins Medical School, is reporting that Viagra has been recently reported to have an entirely new and unexpected therapeutic use. According to the post, “Viagra improves heart failure symptoms.” Dr. Margolis proceeds to explain that “heart failure is not the same thing as a heart attack. It means that the heart muscle has become so weak that it can no longer pump as much blood as the body needs.” According to the results from the data from the Massachusetts General Hospital, “compared with the placebo group, those receiving Viagra had lower pulmonary pressure, improved exercise capacity while walking for six minutes, better quality of life, and fewer hospitalizations during a 12-week period.”

The post noted that those taking Viagra during the study had a tendency to experience more headaches, although it was emphasized that “but no other significant side effects were reported.” Dr. Margolis' post also mentioned a recent study concluding that “a single dose of Viagra gave short-term improvement in exercise capacity in patients with heart failure.” Dr. Margolis was insistent that, in all likelihood, “larger trials are needed to prove the safety and effectiveness of Viagra in this type of heart failure.” This could unlock an entirely new market for Viagra. “Viagra, as well as the other, similar drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, may be widely applicable to treat heart failure, a disorder that affects an estimated 5 million Americans.”

Work and Depression are strongly related

According to the latest post from Anxiety Addition and Depression Treatments blog, last week the NIMH released a report that strongly correlated work and depression. The findings will be appear in next month's American Journal of Public Health. The study, conducted by Dr. Aemma Robertson Blackmore of University of Rochester Medical School has reportedly used “data from the Canadian Community Health Survey... examining information on over 24,000 individuals.” Effectively, the study concluded that “high job strain, low levels of social support in the workplace, low job security and increased psychological demands were associated with amjor depressive episodes among men.”

The post revealed that nearly 5% of participants had a major depressive episode in the course of the last year. Women were more likely to have experienced a depressive episode than men. One of the main assertions, revealed in a press release from the university was “that men and women have different risk factors for major depression associated with their workplace experience.” The post was adamant that workplace circumstances are a significant motivating factor in a persons overall likely to be victims of depression. The post declared that, for women, “lower levels of social support and lack of decision authority were associated with major depressive episodes.”

Zinc necessary for healthy lifestyle

A Dietician's View, a widely-read health blog focused on supplements and healthy eating, recently had a post discussing the health benefits of zinc. According to the post, “zinc is second only to iron as the most abundant trace mineral in our body... Zinc is important for activity of enzymes needed for regulating cell growth, helping heal wounds and promoting a healthy immune system.” The mineral is also necessary for your body to process carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Additionally, the post also declared that zinc can have many positive effects on “cognitive function and behavior.” A Dietician's View is insistent that “the recommended daily value for zinc is 11 milligrams for men and eight milligrams for women.” Vegetarians are supposedly the most likely to suffer from a zinc deficiency. The post declared that the majority of the population don't require supplements to receive the recommended daily allotment of zinc. The post also suggested that people not take too much zinc, due to the fact that “taking large amounts of zinc supplements may be toxic and cause acute gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting.” The post recommended oysters, meat liver, eggs, milk, brewers yeast, whole wheat bread, wheat germ and the ever popular black-eyed peas as significant sources of zinc.

Homeless more likely to contract West Nile

The Wall Street Journal Health Blog has recently noted an increased likelihood of contracting the West Nile Virus for those who spend a significant amount of time outside. According to the post, this includes those who “enjoy walking in the woods because you like nature — or sleeping outside in the city because you’re homeless.” A recent study from the University of Texas Health Science Center has revealed data from a study involving 397 homeless people that out of all the homeless people sleeping on the streets of Houston, “One in 14 subjects tested positive for the West Nile virus.”

Participants of the study were approached at “shelters, soup kitchens and homeless camps” and answered a series of questions in addition to submitting blood samples. Additionally, the post reports that “participants who had been homeless for more than a year, or who spent more than six hours a day outdoors, were at increased risk.” The homeless population of Houston is estimated at 10,000.

Ann Carrns, the author of the post, declared that “The findings aren’t necessarily surprising, since homeless people indeed spend a lot of time outside and are at risk for a host of ills.” While Carrns states that giving homes to homeless people would be the ideal solution, she is adamant that in warmer climates, “the study does suggest a practical step may help this vulnerable group: Giving them bug repellent.”

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