People who get less than six hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, researchers said on Wednesday.
Those who slumbered for less than that amount of time were 12 per cent more likely to die early, though researchers also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours and premature death.
"If you sleep little, you can develop diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol," Francesco Cappuccio, who led research on the subject at Britain's University of Warwick, told AFP.
The study, conducted with the Federico II University in Naples, Italy, aggregated decade-long studies from around the world involving more than 1.3 million people and found "unequivocal evidence of the direct link" between lack of sleep and premature death.
"We think that the relation between little sleep and illness is due to a series of hormonal and metabolical mechanisms," Cappuccio said.
The findings of the study were published in the Sleep journal.
Cappuccio believes the duration of sleep is a public health issue and should be considered as a behavioural risk factor by doctors.
"Society pushes us to sleep less and less," Cappuccio said, adding that about 20 percent of the population in the United States and Britain sleeps less than five hours.
Sleeping less than six hours is "more common amongst full-time workers, suggesting that it may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours and more shift work"
The study also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours per night and premature death, but Cappuccio said oversleeping is more likely to be an effect of illness, rather than a cause.
"Doctors never ask how much one sleeps, but that could be an indicator that something is wrong," said Cappuccio, who heads the Sleep, Health and Society Programme at the University of Warwick.
Research showed no adverse effects for those sleeping between six and eight hours per day.
- AFP/rs
WE ARE ALL ONE FAMILY.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Happy reading .
A young man goes into a pharmacy and says to the pharmacist. "Hello, could you give me condom ......I'm going to my girlfriend's for dinner and I think I may be in with a chance!"
The pharmacist gives him the condom and as the young man is going out, he returns and says, "Give me another condom because my girlfriend's sister is very cute too. She always crosses her legs in a provocative manner when she sees me and I think I might strike it lucky there too." The pharmacist gives him a second condom and as the boy is leaving he turns back and says. "Go on, give me one more condom because my girlfriend's mum is still pretty cute and when she sees me she always makes eyes and, since She invited me for dinner I think she is expecting me to make a move!
During dinner, the young man is sitting with his girlfriend on his left, the sister on his right and the mum facing him. When the dad gets there, the boy lowers his head and starts praying, "Dear Lord, bless this dinner and thank you for all you give us". A minute later the boy is still praying; "Thank you Lord for your kindness."
Ten minutes go by and the boy is still praying, keeping his head down. The others look at each other surprised and his girlfriend is even more surprised than the others. She gets close to the boy and says in his ear, "I didn't know you were so religious." The boy replies, "I didn't know your dad is a pharmacist!"
The pharmacist gives him the condom and as the young man is going out, he returns and says, "Give me another condom because my girlfriend's sister is very cute too. She always crosses her legs in a provocative manner when she sees me and I think I might strike it lucky there too." The pharmacist gives him a second condom and as the boy is leaving he turns back and says. "Go on, give me one more condom because my girlfriend's mum is still pretty cute and when she sees me she always makes eyes and, since She invited me for dinner I think she is expecting me to make a move!
During dinner, the young man is sitting with his girlfriend on his left, the sister on his right and the mum facing him. When the dad gets there, the boy lowers his head and starts praying, "Dear Lord, bless this dinner and thank you for all you give us". A minute later the boy is still praying; "Thank you Lord for your kindness."
Ten minutes go by and the boy is still praying, keeping his head down. The others look at each other surprised and his girlfriend is even more surprised than the others. She gets close to the boy and says in his ear, "I didn't know you were so religious." The boy replies, "I didn't know your dad is a pharmacist!"
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Singapore can look forward to good year
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has declared this year a "good year", with Singapore emerging from the financial storm in a strong position.
In his May Day message, he urged Singaporeans to take the opportunity to push forward with improving productivity and transforming the economy.
Prime Minister Lee's optimism comes on the back of a revised growth forecast of 7 to 9 per cent for Singapore economy this year.
But he cautioned Singaporeans to see the remarkable performance in perspective.
The first-quarter growth of 13 per cent year on-year reflects the volatility of a small open economy.
And Mr Lee said some sectors like electronics and biomedical sciences expanded sharply but others had not done quite as well.
Prime Minister Lee believes that with everyone's concerted effort, Singapore can maintain its lead.
While firms push on with the productivity effort, workers need to improve and achieve greater mastery at their jobs.
Workers' upgrading is a marathon without a finish line, said Prime Minister Lee.
He noted that during the downturn last year, workers had taken the opportunity to upgrade their skills.
Mr Lee said this momentum must continue even as the economy has improved.
He noted that with the strong pickup, many companies are restoring the wage cuts while others are awarding bonuses and increments, depending on their improved performances.
He said these companies have remembered the sacrifices made by workers during the crisis.
These actions are strengthening the trust between workers and employers, said Prime Minister Lee.
He urged companies to work with unions to build up variable bonuses, and structure their wage systems to be more flexible over the longer term.
Mr Lee credited tripartism as a key competitive advantage in Singapore, and promised to continue to pay special attention to low-wage workers.
"Singapore has successfully tackled past challenges because of our strong tripartite partnership. Unions work with employers and the government to enlarge the pie so that all will have more to share," he said.
"Investors and businesses value highly our collaborative spirit, facing difficulties and solving problems together. Our track record of tripartism is a key competitive advantage that wins investments and brings in jobs for Singaporeans," added Mr Lee.
"Our union leaders understand what Singapore's prosperity, and our workers' well-being, depend upon. They know that there is no substitute for hard work, ingenuity and enterprise. They have done much to help workers understand the economic trends affecting them, and encourage them to go for retraining and upgrading," said Mr Lee.
In his May Day message, he urged Singaporeans to take the opportunity to push forward with improving productivity and transforming the economy.
Prime Minister Lee's optimism comes on the back of a revised growth forecast of 7 to 9 per cent for Singapore economy this year.
But he cautioned Singaporeans to see the remarkable performance in perspective.
The first-quarter growth of 13 per cent year on-year reflects the volatility of a small open economy.
And Mr Lee said some sectors like electronics and biomedical sciences expanded sharply but others had not done quite as well.
Prime Minister Lee believes that with everyone's concerted effort, Singapore can maintain its lead.
While firms push on with the productivity effort, workers need to improve and achieve greater mastery at their jobs.
Workers' upgrading is a marathon without a finish line, said Prime Minister Lee.
He noted that during the downturn last year, workers had taken the opportunity to upgrade their skills.
Mr Lee said this momentum must continue even as the economy has improved.
He noted that with the strong pickup, many companies are restoring the wage cuts while others are awarding bonuses and increments, depending on their improved performances.
He said these companies have remembered the sacrifices made by workers during the crisis.
These actions are strengthening the trust between workers and employers, said Prime Minister Lee.
He urged companies to work with unions to build up variable bonuses, and structure their wage systems to be more flexible over the longer term.
Mr Lee credited tripartism as a key competitive advantage in Singapore, and promised to continue to pay special attention to low-wage workers.
"Singapore has successfully tackled past challenges because of our strong tripartite partnership. Unions work with employers and the government to enlarge the pie so that all will have more to share," he said.
"Investors and businesses value highly our collaborative spirit, facing difficulties and solving problems together. Our track record of tripartism is a key competitive advantage that wins investments and brings in jobs for Singaporeans," added Mr Lee.
"Our union leaders understand what Singapore's prosperity, and our workers' well-being, depend upon. They know that there is no substitute for hard work, ingenuity and enterprise. They have done much to help workers understand the economic trends affecting them, and encourage them to go for retraining and upgrading," said Mr Lee.
Colon exam could 'massively' cut cancer rates
A single exam of the rectum and lower colon between the age of 55 and 64 slashes colon cancer mortality by more than 40 percent, according to research published Wednesday.
The 16-year study of more than 170,000 people in Britain also found that the one-time procedure cut incidence of the disease by a third compared to a control group that did not undergo the examination.
The relatively simple test "could massively reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality," the British medical journal The Lancet, which published the study, said in a press release.
The most effective and cost-efficient way to screen for various cancers -- including of the breast, prostate and colon -- has been hotly debated in recent years.
Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed form of the disease worldwide, accounting for more than one million cases and 600,000 deaths annually.
The large majority of colon cancers arise from adenomas, a type of pre-malignant polyp that occurs in 20 to 30 percent of the population. Most people who develop the disease will have adenomas by the age of 60.
The new study provides the strongest evidence to date that a procedure known as a sigmoidoscopy, when performed in late-middle age, provides significant protection against the deadly cancer.
Generally performed without anaesthesia, flexible signoidoscopy allows a physician to examine the rectum and lower colon, called the signoid. Two-thirds of colorectal cancers develop in this region.
Growths, whether benign or cancerous, can be removed during the procedure.
The examination is less invasive -- and less costly -- than a full colonoscopy, in which the entire large intestine is looked at while the patient is under anaesthesia.
Many health systems currently screen for colon cancer by testing stool samples for the presence of blood, a procedure which has been shown to reduce mortality by 15 percent.
In the study, 170,432 men and women recruited between 1994 and 1999 were divided into two groups.
Nearly 113,200 were assigned to the control group, and 57,237 to the intervention group.
During the screening period and an 11-year follow up, 2,524 participants were diagnosed with colon cancer, 1,816 in the control group and 706 in the intervention group.
Incidence of the disease in people who were screened was cut by 33 percent, and mortality by 43 percent.
When results were confined to the rectum and lower colon, incidence was reduced by half.
"Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a safe and practical test and, when offered only once to people between ages 55 and 64, confers a substantial and long-lasting protection from colon cancer," the authors concluded.
The exam, while far more expensive that checking for blood in the stool, may also be cost effective "largely because of the avoided costs of treatment resulting from the reduction in incidence", they added.
The researchers, led by Wendy Atkin of Imperial College London, speculate that the decrease in cancer rates and deaths in the test group will become even greater over time.
"If incidence in the screened participants remains low during further follow up, the magnitude of the reduction will continue to increase," they said.
The 16-year study of more than 170,000 people in Britain also found that the one-time procedure cut incidence of the disease by a third compared to a control group that did not undergo the examination.
The relatively simple test "could massively reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality," the British medical journal The Lancet, which published the study, said in a press release.
The most effective and cost-efficient way to screen for various cancers -- including of the breast, prostate and colon -- has been hotly debated in recent years.
Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed form of the disease worldwide, accounting for more than one million cases and 600,000 deaths annually.
The large majority of colon cancers arise from adenomas, a type of pre-malignant polyp that occurs in 20 to 30 percent of the population. Most people who develop the disease will have adenomas by the age of 60.
The new study provides the strongest evidence to date that a procedure known as a sigmoidoscopy, when performed in late-middle age, provides significant protection against the deadly cancer.
Generally performed without anaesthesia, flexible signoidoscopy allows a physician to examine the rectum and lower colon, called the signoid. Two-thirds of colorectal cancers develop in this region.
Growths, whether benign or cancerous, can be removed during the procedure.
The examination is less invasive -- and less costly -- than a full colonoscopy, in which the entire large intestine is looked at while the patient is under anaesthesia.
Many health systems currently screen for colon cancer by testing stool samples for the presence of blood, a procedure which has been shown to reduce mortality by 15 percent.
In the study, 170,432 men and women recruited between 1994 and 1999 were divided into two groups.
Nearly 113,200 were assigned to the control group, and 57,237 to the intervention group.
During the screening period and an 11-year follow up, 2,524 participants were diagnosed with colon cancer, 1,816 in the control group and 706 in the intervention group.
Incidence of the disease in people who were screened was cut by 33 percent, and mortality by 43 percent.
When results were confined to the rectum and lower colon, incidence was reduced by half.
"Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a safe and practical test and, when offered only once to people between ages 55 and 64, confers a substantial and long-lasting protection from colon cancer," the authors concluded.
The exam, while far more expensive that checking for blood in the stool, may also be cost effective "largely because of the avoided costs of treatment resulting from the reduction in incidence", they added.
The researchers, led by Wendy Atkin of Imperial College London, speculate that the decrease in cancer rates and deaths in the test group will become even greater over time.
"If incidence in the screened participants remains low during further follow up, the magnitude of the reduction will continue to increase," they said.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Higher temperature, sea level due to global warming
Malaysia's average temperature has risen by 1.1 degree Celsius in the past 50 years, consistent with the warming of global temperature, the Dewan Negara was told today.
This resulted in changes in the rainfall patterns, causing more floods, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah Embas said.
The latest finding also showed that the sea level was also on the increase, at the rate of 1.25mm a year, he added.
"Based on the climate modelling for the next 100 years, the temperature is expected to rise between 0.7 degree and 2.6 degrees Celsius," he said in reply to Dr Syed Husin Ali in the Dewan Negara.
Syed Husin wanted to know the effects of global warming to Malaysia.
Uggah said during the period rainfall was expected to fluctuate within the range of between minus 30 and 30 per cent.
More sex for healthy living
ONE of the best ways Brazilians can stave off chronic illness is to engage regularly in physical exercise, especially sex, Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao said on Monday.
'People need to be active. A weekend football game must not be the only physical activity for a Brazilian. Adults need to do exercise: walk, dance and have safe sex,' he said.
The minister gave the advice as he launched a campaign to prevent high blood pressure, which afflicts a quarter of Brazil's 190-million strong population.
After making his comments, Mr Temporao reinforced the sex message with journalists, according to the G1 news website. 'It's not a joke. It's serious. Having regular physical exercises also means sex, always with protection of course,' he said.
'Dancing, having sex, keeping weight under control, changing dietary habits, doing physical exercise' all help keep blood pressure down, he said.
He added that he believed there was a health 'time bomb' ticking in Brazil, which within 20 years could see a 'gigantic percentage' of the population suffering chronic illnesses, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.Bad habits can age you 12 years
FOUR common bad habits combined - smoking, drinking too much, inactivity and poor diet - can age you by 12 years, sobering new research suggests.
The findings are from a study that tracked nearly 5,000 British adults for 20 years, and they highlight yet another reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Overall, 314 people studied had all four unhealthy behaviors.
Among them, 91 died during the study, or 29 per cent. Among the 387 healthiest people with none of the four habits, only 32 died, or about 8 per cent.
The risky behaviors were: smoking tobacco; downing more than three alcoholic drinks per day for men and more than two daily for women; getting less than two hours of physical activity per week; and eating fruits and vegetables fewer than three times daily.
These habits combined substantially increased the risk of death and made people who engaged in them seem 12 years older than people in the healthiest group, said lead researcher Elisabeth Kvaavik of the University of Oslo.
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