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Health

Health line

By Times Staff and Wire Reports
Published March 28, 2006

With the number of overweight Americans rising, some experts have argued that being unfit is actually worse than being fat, and that fat people can be healthy as long as they are fit. A large new study undermines that argument, concluding that although both fitness and fatness must be considered, no amount of physical activity can counteract the risks of being overweight. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston measured a variety of risk factors for heart disease among more than 27,000 healthy middle-aged women participating in the ongoing Women's Health Study. Being overweight or inactive each raised risk factors for heart disease, the researchers found. While women at any weight reduced their risks by exercising, being overweight appeared to more dangerous than being inactive. The researchers warned: Thin women who do not exercise still face an increased risk of heart disease - the leading killer of women.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, on a barrier island 30 minutes' drive from Charleston, S,C., will become a smoke-free property beginning April 17. The Sanctuary has 255 rooms and suites, all of which have balconies where guests may smoke, though they'll need to request ashtrays. The Sanctuary thus joins hundreds of North American hotels, as well as many B&Bs, that prohibit smoking in any indoor areas. The Sanctuary also operates more than 600 villas and private homes where smoking is not permitted, nor will it be allowed at any of the five golf course clubhouses. For more information, visit www.kiawahgolf.com or call (843) 768-2121.

Be kind to your ears

Mobile digital music players are too new a phenomenon, and hearing damage too slow a process, for researchers to say that the devices are causing hearing loss. Both volume and length of exposure contribute to hearing damage. Some experts say to limit portable listening to an hour a day at no more than 60 percent of maximum volume. However, ambient noise may make it difficult to keep volume down to that level. Upgraded headphones or ear buds permit listening at lower volumes. Other things being equal, headphones are less likely to do damage than ear buds. Two tests suggested by experts: Your player is too loud if (1) someone 3 feet away in an elevator can hear the music, or (2) you have to turn your music down to hear someone talking directly to you.

Don't sneeze at french fries

You might want to reconsider that fast food order if you have trouble digesting wheat or milk products. McDonald's, which used to describe its french fries as safe for people with allergies, has announced that they actually contain "wheat and milk ingredients" that could produce an allergic reaction. The recipe is still the same, said the company, but the allergy statement was revised to conform to new federal food labeling guidelines. A company spokesman said wheat and dairy extracts in the fries are processed to remove proteins generally responsible for allergic reactions.

Depressed and heartbroken

As if being severely depressed weren't bad enough, a Swedish study has found that people hospitalized with depression were 50 percent more likely than others to develop coronary heart disease later in life. Those diagnosed with depression between ages 25 and 39 were up to three times more likely to develop heart disease than were healthy people in a control group.

- Compiled from Times wires and staff reports

[Last modified March 28, 2006, 09:17:17]