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The symptoms of heart attack in women differ from that of men as fewer females experience chest pain, a new study has claimed.

Overall men have significantly more heart attacks, but under the age of 55 women are more likely to die from one.

According to a study of more than one million people in the US, without displaying the classic chest pain symptoms of a heart attack, some women may not be getting the right kind of treatment.

The research found that among younger women, those aged under 55, the differences in symptoms with men of the same age were striking.

Overall, 42 percent of women did not experience chest pain compared with 30 percent of men.

Once admitted, the study found that women were more likely to die than men from the same age group.

The study adds to evidence that women can experience quite different symptoms to men.

"Optimal recognition and timely management of myocardial infarction (MI), especially for reducing patient delay in seeking acute medical care, is critical," the BBC quoted the authors of the study as saying.

"The presence of chest pain/discomfort is the hallmark symptom of MI.

"Patients without chest pain/discomfort tend to present later, are treated less aggressively, and have almost twice the short-term mortality compared with those presenting with more typical symptoms of MI," they said.

In fact the average age of women admitted to hospital in the study was 74, compared with 67 for men.

Cathy Ross, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said a heart attack did not necessarily mean dramatic and excruciating chest pains.

"Symptoms vary; for some the pain is severe and yet others may feel nothing more than a mild discomfort or heaviness. The most important thing to remember is if you think you're having a heart attack, call 999," Ross said.

"Younger women may need to heed that advice more than most because they appear to be less likely to have chest pains.

"Their symptoms can be overlooked by inexperienced medical staff because heart attacks in young women are rare.

"More research will hopefully identify why there are such variations in the way heart disease affects men and women," she added.

The study has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"It never even occurred to me," says the 49-year-old London-based Alka Bagri, still puzzled as to why she never went for a checkup knowing her family history of cancer. Nine years ago, Alka became the 24th person in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer. "My cockiness about my health was crushed," she says.


The Week that Was
Feeling a lump in her breast one day, she paid a visit to her GP, who advised her to consult a breast specialist. An ultrasound and a mammogram revealed a cyst and a biopsy confirmed malignancy. In addition, there were about four patches on her breast, which showed a pre-cancerous change. "Before the doctor could finish, my husband keeled over and fainted," laughs Alka. "I was shell-shocked. All I wanted was to get the cancer out of my body, right then." Mastectomy was scheduled for the following week. Wanting to be both physically and mentally prepared, she went on a fruit diet that week, and her yoga teacher from Coimbatore helped her still her straying mind by practising suryanamaskar and shavasana.

The Battle
She refused to let her body become a war zone, instead she accepted the situation with calm and thought through how to deal with it. The surgery-mastectomy and reconstruction- took seven hours. After that Alka took up meditation instead of popping painkillers. "Within five days, I was up and running about in the park," she says. But her challenges had only just begun. Alka went through six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy- because of the family history, doctors did not want to leave anything to chance. It left her nauseous and weak but she found a way to cope. "I practiced meditation and that helped me rise above my pain. It may sound terribly cliched, but I was able to experience it," she explains. As luck would have it, her mother too was diagnosed with breast cancer and Alka decided to have her second breast removed to cut further risk. It didn't end there, four years later came another blow. "When you have breast cancer, your entire reproductive system becomes susceptible," she explains. Hysterectomy and the removal of her ovaries followed. "I learnt to see the funny side of the illness. It takes the sting out of it."

The Winner
Today, Alka stands strong and radiant despite all that she has been through and she attributes it largely to her positive outlook and her support system-her friends and family. "It has made me a better person. Overnight, my husband and I grew up. One brush with mortality can teach you to value life," she says. Now, as a mom of two grown-up daughters, Alka follows a strict diet and exercise regimen. She religiously wakes up at 4:30 every morning and does a mix of yoga, cardio and martial arts until 9 am. Her passion for life is infectious. Back in London, she plans to turn her thesis on Pahadi art into a book. She also intends to continue learning Urdu, which she took up during her chemo sessions. "You know what," she confesses with a smile, "I would rather have a short but well-lived and meaningful life," By the looks of it, she is living every moment of her life.

Your body depends on water for survival.  After all, it makes up more than half of our body weight and every organ in the body needs water to function. Don’t wait for symptoms of dehydration like extreme thirst, dry mouth, and headache to act.
Heed the following tips to stay hydrated this summer season.

Don’t wait to get thirsty this summer. The fact is that by the time your mouth is dry, you’re well on your way to dehydration. As water is the best natural drink available, guzzle at least 2  litres a day.
Be sensible about the amount of water you drink. If you are exercising or going out in the hot sun you will need to drink more water.
Make drinking water a mindless habit. Let it be part of your early morning routine.  Keep a bottle within easy reach while you are relaxing in front of the television or working on the computer. Take regular sips even if you are not feeling thirsty. Drink a glass of water before every meal.
Eating water-based foods is a great way to supplement your water intake and stay hydrated. Eat fruits like watermelon and pineapple rather than drinking the juice. They are cooling and perfect for hot summer days. They have high water content and are rich in minerals. Another perfect fruit for summer months is the apricot as it is good for fluid retention. Honeydew melon, commonly known as muskmelon cools the body so gorge on it. The vitamin C and minerals present in these fruits are an added benefit.
Munch on cucumbers and tomatoes.  These foods have more than 90% of their weight in water content.
In summer we sweat more and lose essential minerals from our bodies. Cucumbers are a cool way to put the potassium back and they also contain ascorbic and caffeic acids, compounds that help us stay hydrated because of their moisture retaining properties.
Fresh citrus fruits such as orange, grapefruits, lemon and lime are excellent as they not only hydrate the body but also provide valuable nutrients.
Take a break from coffee this summer and sip the benefits of green tea. Enjoy it with lemon, as it will keep the body from retaining water. Herbal iced teas are also great thirst quenchers. Be adventurous and mix and match flavours.
Enjoy the miracle of tender coconut water. It hydrates perfectly as it has the exact proportion of electrolytes as human cells and plasma. It also contains a host of vitamins and minerals.

Conservation of water is an essential practice today, whether or not you’re having water troubles at the moment. Simple changes can help save gallons of water a day. So make these changes and help conserve water.
Washing veggies and fruits: Soak fruits and vegetables in a pot of water instead of putting them under running water to wash them.
Water plants with water used to wash them: When you’re done with soaking your fruits and veggies, don’t throw the water down the drain, instead use it to water indoor plants.
Don’t leave the tap open while brushing your teeth: Well, you’ve heard this one many times before. While brushing your teeth, wet the brush and turn off the tap. If you keep the tap running, you’re bound to waste litres of water in a week. Try and get your family to practice this too.
Conserve water while washing dishes: When you wash your dishes put a stopper to the sink drain and fill it with water. When all the dishes have been scrubbed, rinse them of in that water.
Get your toilet fixed: If you’re toilet is running, get it fixed. It’s most likely a part of the flapper that’s causing the leak, adjust it; if that doesn’t work, get a plumber.
Get any other leakage fixed, too:The same applies to any leaking tap around the house… Make sure you get them fixed. All they might need is a new washer, and that isn’t too expensive. Also, look for any leaking pipes around the house.
Soak pans before washing them: Soak pots and pans in water after use. This will save water while you’re trying to scrub off later on.
Shorten your shower: Try and reduce your showering time. One way to cut down on your water usage, is to turn of the shower while soaping your body and shampooing your hair. Ask your family to adopt this practice, too. Better still, install water-saving shower-heads. They’ll save you loads of water.
Defrost in the microwave: You don’t need to use running water to defrost frozen food. Instead stick it in the microwave for defrosting, or remove your frozen food and leave it out in advance.
Use your washing machine only for full loads: If you use a washing machine, only wash full loads of laundry at a time. Also, if you’re shopping for a washing machine, experts are of the opinion that top-loading machines use more water than front-loading ones. So you might be better off buying the latter.
Don’t use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket: Every time you flush a cigarette butt, tissue or any other piece of trash, you waster tonnes of water.
Rinse your razor in a mug: To rinse off your razor, either fill the sink with a few inches of warm water or a mug. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.
Instead of running water, use a broom to clean your driveways and corridors. You can wash them with water every once in while though.
Don’t run the hose to wash your car: To clean your car or bike, use a bucket of soapy water. After that’s done, dip a sponge in clean water and wipe off soap. This way you’ll save litres of water.

One in 10 parents think cola counts as fruit


 According to a survey of family eating habits by food company Green Giant, one in 10 parents in Britain believe that drinking cola counts towards their five recommended portions of fruit and veg. Not only that, one in 10 of those surveyed also believed that chips contributed to the 5-a-day health campaign, while one in five thought that fruit-flavoured sweets counted towards this target. Surprisingly, one in 20 of those questioned, did not however believe that oranges or bananas counted towards their portions of fruit and veg.

One in six women would rather be blind than fat

 While many of us would pay good money for the perfect body, research by Arizona State University found that a lot of women would give up a great deal more if it meant being slim – including their eyesight. According to this survey, a surprising one in six women would rather be blind than be obese. Furthermore, many women stated they would prefer alcoholism or catching herpes to being overweight, while one in four would prefer to suffer from depression.


48 per cent of women want cosmetic surgery


 Research findings published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery suggest that body satisfaction and confidence for women are at an all time low. According to this survey, a huge 48 per cent of women surveyed would be interested in having cosmetic surgery, while a further 23 per cent would possibly be interested. Although men’s interest in surgery was significantly lower, 23 per cent of men still claimed to be interested in surgery, while 17 per cent would potentially be.

One third of all cancers are preventable


 Cancer is the biggest premature killer, accounting for 40% of premature deaths. However, while experts are unclear about the causes of some forms of cancer, the World Health Organization has revealed that one third of all cancers can actually be prevented by careful lifestyle choices. Some of the main preventable causes of cancer include smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol, infection and environmental pollution.

Smokers lose one third of their everyday memory


 While there are many shocking statistics related to smoking (such as that approximately every 6 seconds, someone dies due to tobacco) perhaps a less well known one is that, on top of many of the well publicised health effects of smoking, it can also cause smokers to lose one third of their everyday memory. According to the study by Northumbria University, smokers performed significantly worse in memory tests than those who did not smoke; however, they found that kicking the habit restored their ability to recollect information.

Only six per cent of Americans exercise for 30 minutes a day


 The general recommendation for good health and fitness for adults is to get a minimum of 30 minutes daily exercise. However, according to a Cooking Light Insight survey, only six per cent of Americans meet this recommendation. Though a further 22 per cent claim to exercise three to four times per week, this still leaves a high percentage of people who are failing to exercise regularly and therefore increasing their risk of obesity and heart disease.

You could unknowingly eat 46 teaspoons of sugar a day


 You may not think that your diet is too high in sugar, but even if you steer clear of desserts and chocolate, you could still be eating well over the recommended maximum sugar intake. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, food companies have been increasing the sugar content of processed foods to make them more appetising, meaning that many are unaware of how much they are eating. The study showed that some people are unknowingly eating up to 46 teaspoons a day, increasing their risk of health conditions including heart disease.

The right beets for you

Members of the Chenopodiaceous family, beetroots are found along the coasts from India to Britain.  A versatile vegetable, if there ever was one, beetroots are hailed for their richness in minerals, vitamins and nutrients. A great source of carotenoids and lutein/zeaxanthin, beetroots are also known as sources of dietary fibre, folic acid, Vitamin C, iron, potassium, manganese, zinc, copper, and magnesium. If that isn’t enough, here’s some more: beets are low in calories and yet are the sweetest vegetables in the market. So much so, they’re even occasionally used to make refined sugar.
Beetroot and its health benefits

Stronger heart: Beet fibres reduce cholesterol and triglycerides by promoting higher levels of HDL, which aids in fighting heart diseases. Beetroots also contain betaine that helps reduce levels of homocysteine, which may increase the risk of strokes and heart diseases.

Watch Dr Devi Shetty talk about tips to prevent heart diseases.

Breathe freely: This Vitamin C-rich vegetable helps prevent symptoms of asthma.

Healthy babies: Beetroot is a great supplement during the pregnancy period. Folic acid, the most abundant nutrient in beetroots, is crucial in the proper foetal development during pregnancy, and the development of the infant’s spinal column.

Prevent anaemia: Iron in the beetroot increases the production of blood and haemoglobin levels in the body, thus preventing and curing severe anaemia.

Happier you: The betaine contained in the beetroot enhances the production of the body’s natural mood lifter, seratonin, and can help you cheer up. Really!

Stronger immune system: Beetroots pack a punch with the vitamins and nutrients stored within. They boost the body’s immune system and help fight off infection. They also aid in stimulating the reoxygenation of cells and the production of new blood cells.

Beta-carotene goodness:  The beta-carotene abundance in beets helps avoid macular degeneration and prevents age-related blindness, known as cataract.

Cure for hangover hell: The pigment that gives beetroot its rich red colour, beta-cyanin, is an oxidant that accelerates detoxification in the liver and converts alcohol into a substance that can be eliminated more easily. So the next time you’re ready to vow never to drink again after a binge session, hold off till you’re a beetroot down.

Word of caution
Though not a frequent occurrence, beetroots may cause red colour in urine or stool, known as beeturia.
Since an increased consumption of beets also means an increased intake of fibre, it may cause bloating, gas or diarrhoea.
Beets can contain up to nearly 14g of sugar in one cup, so patients with blood sugar problems may seek medical supervision.

Quite like everything else in life, even beetroots require moderation. Small concerns apart, you can’t deny all the reasons to welcome this lush vegetable into your kitchen. Use it for salads, soups, juices, dips, or even in cakes! The choices are endless, and your reasons to hold out, too few

Eating pistachios may help alter levels of potentially beneficial bacteria in the gut, according to a new study.

The preliminary 16-person study holds promise for supporting digestive health.

The research is the first study of pistachios and almonds and their modulating role on the gut microbiota composition.

"Gut microbiota, or the microbial environment in the gastrointestinal tract, provides important functions to the human host," said Volker Mai, PhD, lead study author and assistant professor at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

"Modifying microbiota towards a 'beneficial' composition is a promising approach for supporting intestinal health, with potential effects on overall health, and it appears that pistachios may play a role in this modification."

Pistachios appear to have prebiotic characteristics; they contain non-digestible food components such as dietary fibre, which remain in the gut and serve as food for naturally occurring bacteria. They also contain phytochemicals that have the potential to modify microbiota composition.

Foods with prebiotic properties may enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.

To examine this relationship between prebiotics found in pistachios and the gut, researchers conducted a feeding study at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland.

Sixteen healthy individuals were randomly assigned to eat an American-style, pre-planned diet that included either 0 ounces, 1.5 ounces or 3 ounces of pistachios or almonds per day.

Each participant's diet was calorie-controlled to ensure they neither gained nor lost weight during the intervention. Multiple stool samples were collected throughout the study and analysed for bacterial community composition.

The researchers also quantified the amounts of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria in the stool, two groups of live microorganisms that reside in the digestive tract and help break down food substances.

After controlling for age, dietary factors and other relevant variables, the researchers observed that after 19 days, people who ate up to 3 ounces of pistachios (about 147 nuts or 2 servings) per day had increased changes in levels of various gut bacteria.

According to the abstract, people who ate pistachios showed an increase in potentially beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria. Butyrate has been shown to be a preferred energy source for colonic epithelial cells and is thought to play an important role in maintaining colonic health in humans.

The difference in gut microbes was stronger in people who ate pistachios rather than almonds.

The researchers used "modern high throughput sequencing" to quantify specific gut bacterial DNA signatures before and after nut consumption.

According to the researchers, this is the first study using this method to observe that pistachios and almonds may have the ability to help change the amounts of bacteria thriving in the gut.

"Fibers and incompletely digested foods, including nuts, that reach the proximal colon provide compounds required for maintaining a diverse microbiota," said Mai.

"While still in the early stages of research, this study is a promising sign that increasing consumption of nuts, specifically pistachios, provides a novel means to modify the number of the gut's 'healthy' microbiota, with potential health benefits," Mai added.

Exercise can counteract muscle breakdown, increase strength and reduce inflammation caused by aging and heart failure, a new research has revealed.

The benefits for heart failure patients are similar to those for anyone who exercises: there's less muscle-wasting, and their bodies become conditioned to handle more exercise.

Age of the patients didn't matter, either, researchers found.

"Many physicians - and insurance companies - still believe that cardiac rehabilitation does not really help in old age. This study clearly falsifies this belief," said Stephan Gielen, M.D., lead co-author and Deputy Director of Cardiology at the University Hospital, Martin-Luther-University of Halle, Germany.

Between 2005 and 2008, researchers recruited 60 heart-failure patients and 60 healthy volunteers. Half of each group was 55 years and younger and the other half, 65 years and older, resulting in an average age difference of 20 years between the groups.

Half the participants in each age group were randomly assigned to four weeks of supervised aerobic training or no exercise. Researchers took muscle biopsies of all participants before and after the intervention.

In both age groups, four training sessions of 20 minutes of aerobic exercise per day, five days a week plus one 60-minute group exercise session was associated with increased muscle force endurance and oxygen uptake. Heart failure patients 55 and under increased their peak oxygen uptake by 25 percent, while those 65 and over increased it by 27 percent.

Using biopsy results, researchers found that levels of a muscle protein indicating muscle breakdown, known as MuRF1, were higher in participants with heart failure than in their healthier counterparts. However, exercise reduced MuRF1 and reduced muscle inflammation, measured by levels of a protein called TNF-alpha.

The strength of participants' leg muscles was measured before and after the exercise. Younger and older heart failure patients increased muscle strength after the four-week exercise regimen. Muscle size was unaffected.

These findings offer a possible treatment to the muscle breakdown and wasting associated with heart failure and suggest that exercise is therapeutic even in elderly heart failure patients. The findings also suggest an avenue for drug development to slow muscle breakdown in heart failure patients.

"Exercise switches off the muscle-wasting pathways and switches on pathways involved in muscle growth, counteracting muscle loss and exercise intolerance in heart failure patients," Gielen said.

The study was published in Circulation, an American Heart Association journal.