Exercise Controls Weight in White Girls Better Than in Black Girls: Study

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1 in 5 White Women Smoked While Pregnant

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One in five white woman have smoked cigarettes while pregnant, according to a new government study released today.

The report, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, showed that 21.8 percent of pregnant white women ages 15 to 44 had smoked a cigarette within 30 days of when the survey was conducted.

Those numbers contrasted with 14.2 percent of black women and 6.5 percent of Hispanic women of the same age.

“When pregnant women use alcohol, tobacco, or illicit substances they are risking health problems for themselves and poor birth outcomes for their babies,” SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in a statement. “Pregnant women of different races and ethnicities may have diverse patterns of substance abuse. It is essential that we use the findings from this report to develop better ways of getting this key message out to every segment of our community so that no woman or child is endangered by substance use and abuse.”

The rate of alcohol use during pregnancy among black and white women was about the same: 12.8 percent and 12.2 percent respectively. Only about 7.4 percent of Hispanic women reported drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Black pregnant women were more likely to use illegal drugs than white and Hispanic pregnant women: about 7.7 percent of blacks, 4.4 percent of whites and 3.1 percent of Hispanics reported using drugs at least once in 30 days prior to the survey.

A mother’s smoking habit is one of the key risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), according to Dr. Ari Brown, author of the book “Baby 411.”

“A mom who smokes has less circulating oxygen in her body and thus, so does her unborn baby,” Brown wrote in the book. “This is called fetal hypoxia. There is also less blood flow to the uterus and placenta, and therefore to the baby. Lastly, nicotine goes right through the placenta and circulates in the bloodstream of the fetus.”

Smoking increases the risk of a small fetus who doesn’t grow properly, a placenta that implants in the cervix, a placenta that pulls from the uterine wall prematurely, preterm birth and low birth weight.

As for alcohol, Brown wrote in her book that the latest research shows that much smaller amounts (one to two drinks a day) may adversely affect a child’s birth weight, attention, behavior and IQ. And fetal alcohol syndrome is the number one preventable cause of intellectual disability in children.

“Bottom line: don’t drink. Good news: most women actually lose their taste for alcohol during pregnancy, so most pregnant women won’t be craving a margarita with Mexican food anyway,” he said.

 

 

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White Women Make Up Bulk of Assisted-Living Residents

HealthDay – 57 mins ago WEDNESDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- White women accounted for the majority of the 733,000 people in the United States who lived in state-regulated residential care facilities in 2010, according to a new federal report.

People who live in residential care facilities, also known as assisted-living communities, receive housing and supportive services because they can't live independently but generally don't require the level of care provided in a nursing home.

The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) researchers analyzed 2010 nationwide data from residential care facilities with four or more beds, and found that 91 percent of residents were white and 70 percent were female. They also found that more than half of all residents were 85 and older.

Nearly 20 percent of residents had Medicaid, which serves people who are low-income or disabled, and nearly 60 percent under age 65 were Medicaid beneficiaries, the report said.

About 40 percent of residents received assistance with three or more activities of daily living, such as help with bathing and dressing.

More than 75 percent of residents had at least two of the 10 most common health conditions, such as high blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease, the investigators found.

The complete report, by Christine Caffrey of the NCHS division of health care statistics, and colleagues, was published in the April issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's NCHS Data Brief.

More information

The American Geriatric Society Foundation for Health in Aging has more about assisted living.

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After game-changing run, Santorum quits White House race

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After game-changing run, Santorum quits White House race

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Obese White Women Shying Away From Colon Cancer Screening

HealthDay – 2 hrs 26 mins ago WEDNESDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- Obese white women are less likely than normal-weight white women or blacks of any weight or gender to seek potentially life-saving colon cancer screenings, according to a new study.

This reluctance is especially serious because obesity is associated with a higher risk for colon cancer and an increased risk of death from the disease, noted study leader Dr. Nisa Maruthur, an assistant professor in the general internal medicine division at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

"Being concerned about your weight usually is good, but here it appears to be keeping people from a test we know saves lives," Maruthur said in a Hopkins news release. "Obese white women may avoid screening because they feel stigmatized and embarrassed to disrobe for the tests."

Colonoscopy and fecal occult blood tests are two methods of colon cancer screening. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults aged 50 to 75 undergo colonoscopy on a periodic basis, but only 20 percent of women and 24 percent of men over age 50 do so, the study authors pointed out in background information in the news release.

For the new study, the researchers reviewed the findings of 23 published studies that included information on body mass index (BMI) and colon cancer screening. BMI is a measurement that takes into account height and weight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal weight, between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight and 30 or more is considered obese.

Overall, the Hopkins team found no link between higher BMI and lower rates of colon cancer screening. They did find such a link in obese white women, however.

Compared to normal-weight white women, those with a BMI between 30 and 34.9 were 13 percent less likely to be screened, and those with a BMI of 40 or higher were 27 percent less likely to be screened.

There was some indication that obese white men also are reluctant to undergo colon cancer screening, but further research is needed to confirm that data.

The study is published in the April 4 online issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Previous research by the same Johns Hopkins team found that obese white women are also less likely to seek mammography breast cancer screening and Pap smear screening for cervical cancer.

In addition to feeling reluctant to disrobe, another reason obese women may avoid the screening is because they may be dealing with other higher-priority health concerns, the researchers suggested.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about colorectal cancer screening.

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Quoted: Idris Elba on his trip to the White House state dinner

Bully’ debate comes to Washington as Chris Dodd and Harvey Weinstein debate at MPAAGeorge Clooney to get arrested at Sudan embassyState Dinner leftovers: Samantha Cameron’s peekaboo; White House wines; John Boehner, AWOLEntries By CategoryCelebvocateFirst FamilyHeyIn other news...LovePartiesPoliticsQuotedRead ThisSurreal EstateUpdateWhite House Correspondents' Association DinnerWhite House State DinnerStories By DateFull Monthly Archive Posted at 03:45 PM ET, 03/16/2012TheWashingtonPostBy The Reliable Source

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Fashion at the White House state dinner for Britain (photos)

Who’s at the head table for the White House state dinner for Britain?Michelle Obama’s dress for British state dinner at White House (video)VIPs at the British State Dinner: George Clooney, Warren Buffett, and Carey MulliganBritish State Dinner guest listEntries By CategoryCelebvocateFirst FamilyHeyIn other news...LovePartiesPoliticsQuotedRead ThisSurreal EstateUpdateWhite House Correspondents' Association DinnerWhite House State DinnerStories By DateFull Monthly Archive Posted at 09:25 PM ET, 03/14/2012TheWashingtonPostBy The Reliable Source

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White House dinner for David Cameron: An ‘official dinner,’ not ‘state dinner’

Game Change’: Stars offer their campaign suggestions at the premiereWashington billionaires: Who are they, and how do they spend it?Entries By CategoryCelebvocateFirst FamilyHeyIn other news...LovePartiesPoliticsQuotedRead ThisSurreal EstateUpdateWhite House Correspondents' Association DinnerWhite House State DinnerStories By DateFull Monthly Archive Posted at 03:46 PM ET, 03/11/2012By The Reliable Source

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