Common Talk Weeklyshuang yu zhou kan
issue date

Health News
December 10, 2003

Flu could hit hard
流感横行
Public health officials in America say this year's flu season is off to an early and deadly start. At least 11 children have already died from influenza in the USA.

Fatty foods can have benefit
吃鱼长寿
Australian researchers have just released the results of a study linking longevity with the fatty acid composition of cell membranes. They discovered animals with more saturated fatty acids in their cells have a slower metabolism and live far longer than other animals. The key fatty acid is one found predominantly in fish oils.

Electric blankets increase cancer risk
电毯有害
A study involving 304 African-American women diagnosed with breast cancer and 305 controls has concluded that the use of an electric blanket or mattress pad is associated with a 50% increase in the risk of breast cancer. The risk increases the more often the heating device is used and with the number of years it is used. Risk was substantially reduced when the heating device was only used to warm the bed and was then turned off.

Drinkers have smaller brains
酒精缩脑
You may want to go easy on the holiday tipples. A recent study says moderate alcohol use may reduce the size of your brain and - contrary to previous studies - may not reduce the risk of a stroke. Researches have found moderate drinkers have smaller brains than those who abstain.

Source: International Health News