Olive oil can help prevent strokes in people over 65, a study suggests.

Researchers followed around 7,000 people aged 65 and over living in three French cities, for at least five years.

They found those who used a lot of olive oil in cooking or as a dressing or dip had a lower risk of stroke than those who never used it.

The researchers say older people should be given new dietary advice regarding olive oil, based on the findings, which are published in the journal Neurology.

Lead author, Dr Cecilia Samieri, of the University of Bordeaux, said: "Our research suggests that a new set of dietary recommendations should be issued to prevent stroke in people 65 and older.

"Stroke is so common in older people, and olive oil would be an inexpensive and easy way to help prevent it."

“Start Quote

A lot more research needs to be carried out to scientifically test the effectiveness of olive oil as an ingredient that can protect against stroke”

End Quote Sharlin Ahmed The Stroke Association

The researchers studied the medical records of 7,625 people aged 65 and older living in Bordeaux, Dijon and Montpelier.

They were asked whether they used olive oil in cooking, on salads or with bread intensively, moderately or never.

Most used extra virgin olive oil, which is common in France.

After around five years, 148 of the men and women had had a stroke.

The study found the stroke risk was 41% lower in those who regularly used olive oil compared with those who abstained, once other factors such as diet, exercise and weight were taken into account.

This works out as a 1.5% risk over six years, compared with 2.6%.

Protective function

Commenting on the study, published in Neurology, Sharlin Ahmed of the Stroke Association, said: "Olive oil has long been known to have potential health benefits.

"It is believed that it could protect against conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease and so it's promising to see that it could have a similar protective function against stroke.

"However, it's important to note that a person's risk of stroke would only be reduced through consuming olive oil as an alternative to other cooking fats and as part of a healthy balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and salt.

"This is also a study based on responses from the public and not a clinical trial. A lot more research therefore needs to be carried out to scientifically test the effectiveness of olive oil as an ingredient that can protect against stroke."

Have a happy, healthy holiday

Like many Singaporeans, I usually plan an overseas vacation during the kid-friendly June and December school holidays season.

Unfortunately for me, it is also a time when the dreadful flu visits while I'm scrambling to pack my luggage. More often than not, I end up being so ill that I sometimes regret my holiday trip.

"Aiyah, why do I always spend so much money on a holiday to hang out with a sick goose," the spouse would grumble.

Apparently, I'm not alone. Doctors TODAY spoke to said falling ill before or during a vacation is a common phenomenon among Singaporeans.

Rather than relax and look forward to a vacation, stress levels of Singaporeans tend to spike - from squeezing in as much work as possible just before the trip to jam-packing too many activities into one holiday.

Said Dr Mohamed Faizal, a family physician at Raffles Medical: "They also do so much last-minute packing that they do not get sufficient sleep before their trip, which puts a lot of strain on their bodies."

Another explanation, he added, is that Singaporeans tend to travel during the school holidays, which usually coincides with the flu season in June and Dec.

And there's also the whole stress of going through airport security, making flight connections, ground transfers, and prepping kids for travel, added Associate Professor Helen Oh, a senior consultant at the department of medicine (infectious diseases) at Changi General Hospital.

According to the experts, a little clever travel planning is essential for a happy, healthy vacation. Find out how.



Before you jet off

1. Read up on your travel destination

Keep up-to-date on the health risks within the country you are visiting. For instance, in light of the current E coli outbreak in Europe, travellers to Germany should following certain precautionary measures while vacationing there (see next story).

2. Visit your doctor or travel clinic to get pre-travel health advice

Do so at least four to six weeks before you depart to check if you need any vaccinations or anti-malaria medications, advised Assoc Prof Oh. Some vaccines require multiple doses and a long period to take effect, so it is wise to visit your doctor early. Be sure to also keep your kids' vaccinations up-to-date, added Dr Faizal.

3. If you have chronic diseases, check with your doctor before travelling

This includes those with conditions such as chronic obstructive lung disease, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic renal failure and hepatic disease. Your doctor will advise you if you're fit to travel and how to manage your condition while overseas, said Assoc Prof Oh.

In addition, don't forget to prepare a travel medical kit, your medications, a letter from your doctor and comprehensive travel insurance.



During your vacation

1. Be practical about your travel itinerary, if you're travelling with kids

Consider the age of your child. Dr Faizal cited an example: If you're travelling with your four-year-old, forget about a jungle hike and settle for Disneyland instead.

Factor in jet lag and include rest time.

2. Avoid taking unnecessary risks

Traveller's diarrhoea (TD) is one of the most common ailments for vacationers. According to Assoc Prof Oh, travellers contract TD by consuming contaminated food or water. Risky foods include undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, raw fruits and vegetables. Tap water, ice and unpasteurized milk are also associated with an increased risk of TD, she said.

In countries where tap water is unsafe, use bottled water to brush your teeth and avoid putting ice into your drinks.

3. Don't forget your meds

If you are on regular medication, don't forget to pop your pills.

Separate your medications between your luggages, in case bags go missing.

Cell phone use 'possibly carcinogenic to humans', say WHO

The use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices are "possibly carcinogenic to humans", the World Health Organisation's cancer research agency said on Tuesday.

The radio frequency electromagnetic fields generated by such devices are possibly cancer-causing "based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer," the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said in a statement.

A group of 31 experts meeting in the French city of Lyon over the past eight days "reached this classification based on its review of the human evidence coming from epidemiological studies," said Jonathan Samet, president of the work group.

Two studies in particular, the largest conducted over the last decade, provided evidence that cell phone use was associated with higher rates of glioma, "particularly in those that had the most intensive use of such phones," Samet said.

A number of individuals tracked in the studies had used their phones for 10 to 15 years.

"We simply don't know what might happen as people use their phones over longer time periods, possible over a lifetime," he said.

There are about five billion mobile phones registered in the world.

Both the number of phones in circulation, and the average time spent using them, have climbed steadily in recent years, the working group found.

The IARC cautioned that their review of scientific evidence showed only a possible link, not a proven one, between wireless devices and cancers.

"There is some evidence of increased risk of glioma" and another form of brain cancer called acoustic neuroma, said Kurt Straif, the scientist in charge of editing the IARC reports on potentially carcinogenic agents.

"But it is not at the moment clearly established that the use of mobile phones does in fact cause cancer in humans," he said in a telephone press conference.

The IARC does not issue formal recommendations, but pointed to a number of ways consumers can reduce risk.

"What probably entails some of the highest exposure is using your mobile for voice calls," Straif said.

"If you use it for texting, or as a hands-free set for voice calls, this is clearly lowering the exposure by at least an order of magnitude," or by ten-fold, he said.

A year ago the IARC concluded in a major report that there was no link between cell phones and brain cancer, but the review was widely criticised as based on out-of-date data that did not correspond to current usage levels.

The new review, conducted by a panel of 31 scientists from 14 countries, was based on a "full consensus," said Robert Baan, in charge of the written report, yet to be released.

Exposure data, studies of cancer in humans, experiments on animals and other data were all evaluated in establishing the new classification.

The IARC ranks potentially cancer-causing elements as either carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic or "probably not carcinogenic." It can also determine that a material is "not classifiable".

Cigarettes and sunbeds, for examples, are rated as "group 1", the top threat category.