HPV linked to throat cancer?

According to the Chicago Tribune, many researchers blame HPV for the rise in throat cancer. Some researchers even go as far as to say that the HPV throat cancers could overtake HPV cervical cancer in the next decade. According to Dr. Erza Cohen of the University of Chicago Medical Center, "It's (HPV throat cancer) now becoming a dominant sub-type of the disease that we see in our clinic."

Studies show that people who have come of age since the 1950's are more likely to have engaged in oral sex than those that were born earlier. Experts say that oral sex is a known risk factor for HPV related throat cancers and this is why we are seeing an increase of HPV-throat cancers in women and men in their 50's.

The HPV linked cancer appears somewhat less deadly than throat cancers linked to heavy drinking and smoking however it is still a very serious disease. Dr. Marshall Posner of the Harvard Cancer Center in Boston notes: "They may have better prognosis, but these are still very aggressive cancers."

Now it is more important than ever to get tested for HPV, communicate with your partner and wear a condom.

Bad news for Gardasil (for now)

Merck and Company are the makers of Gardasil, the vaccine that protects girls and women ages 9-26 against the human papillomavirus (commonly called HPV). Merck recently submitted the drug again to the FDA, attempting to use the vaccine for women ages 27-45 who had not yet contracted the cervical cancer causing virus, HPV.

According to Bloomberg.com, the FDA has "issues" and "questions" about the use of the HPV vaccine in the "older" age group and Merck plans to respond to those "issues" (Merck declined to indicate what the FDA's issues were) by next month. The FDA's concerns for the 27-45 age group do not affect the Gardasil approved for use by girls and women ages 9-26. Beverly Lybrand, senior vice president at Merck stated: "We will continue to persue this and other supplemental approvals to extend the use of this vaccine to others. "

In a study sponsored by Merck last year, results indicated that Gardasil prevented 91% of cases of precancers and genital lesions in women ages 24-45. With cervical cancer killing over 250,000 women a year (according to the World Health Organization) Merck should move fast to work out the kinks of the vaccine and eliminate FDA concerns for this age group.

Health Freedom Expo June 27-29

If you are in the Chicago area and are interested in alternative and natural health care products, check out the Health Freedom Expo this weekend. The expo will include seminars, workshops and a wide variety of informed speakers.

Just a few exhibitors that might interest women include: The Healthy Gourmet, Magnets and More, Young Living Essential Oils, Relaxation International, Reflexology and Dahn Yoga. Choose from over 30 lectures ranging from spiritual balance to vaccine and antibiotic alternatives.

The best part - $15 a day, $35 for the weekend and free stuff.

You can register when you arrive at the event.

Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center
1551 Thoreau Drive
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Hours
Friday & Saturday - 10am to 7pm
Sunday - 10am to 6pm
(Exhibit Hall opens at 11am each day)

Lack of sleep hinders women's health

According to HealthDay.com, women that are sleep deprived often suffer from obesity, cardiovascular problems and psychiatric issues.

Joyce Walsleben, associate professor at the New York University Sleep Disorders Center urges women to "turn off the worry." She suggests writing in a "worry book" for 15 minutes every night. "Use one side of a piece of paper to list everything that worries you. On the other side, write a solution."

I would add that next to that list of solutions, you indicate which worries you cannot solve. Sometimes we worry about things that we have no control over - and if we cannot change something - if we have no control over the situation, it is pointless (and exhausting) to worry about it.

Lose weight and keep it off with a big breakfast?

According to msnbc.com, Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz, her colleagues and scientists from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond conducted a study comparing a high carbohydrate, high protein 'big breakfast' diet with a strict low-carb diet.

46 women participated in the low-carb diet and consumed 1,085 calories a day, 17g of carbs, 12g protein and 78g fat. Breakfast was the groups smallest meal. On the 'big breakfast' diet in which 48 women participated, they consumed 1,240 calories a day, 97g of carbs, 93g protein and 46g fat. Dinner for this group, was their smallest meal.

Results indicated that at 4 months, there was no significant weight loss difference - the low-carb group shed 28lbs and the 'big breakfast' group shed 23.

However, at 8 months, low-carb dieters regained an average of 18lbs, while the 'big breakfast' group continued to lose weight, shedding another 16.5lbs. Women on the 'big breakfast' diet also reported feeling less hungry and having less cravings than the women on the low-carb diet.

Throw away your diet books and eat your breakfast ladies. Don't starve yourself and then eat a big dinner expecting to fit into your 'skinny' jeans the next day. It makes sense - if you eat more in the morning, you burn fuel throughout the day - and also have enough fuel to get through the day without being groggy or irritable.