Have a cold? Grab some honey

Catherine O’Hara,

Mammography is a valuable tool for finding breast cancer when it is still confined to the breast and highly amenable to cure.

Yet even though 1 woman in 8 will eventually receive a breast cancer diagnosis, only a minority currently take advantage of the well-established lifestyle measures for reducing chances of developing the disease, and far fewer take medications that can help prevent it in women at higher than average risk.

Part of the problem may well be the confusion wrought by periodic reports of conflicting evidence for what raises — or lowers — a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer, ranging from the drugs she uses to the foods and beverages she consumes.

In the latest report published in JAMA, experts at the University of California, San Francisco, reviewed compelling evidence for two classes of drugs normally prescribed following breast cancer treatment that can also help prevent cancer in some women not yet affected by this disease. One class consists of two drugs, tamoxifen and raloxifene, that inhibit the action of estrogen in selective tissues. The other consists of three aromatase inhibitors, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole, that reduce the levels of circulating estrogen that could stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive breast cancers.

Whether a woman might consider such drugs depends in part on lifestyle measures and medical history. Although some women may choose to ignore existing evidence and continue to do what they enjoy regardless of the associated risk, experts say women should at least be able to weigh their chosen behaviors against a raised breast cancer risk.

Consumption of alcohol is a classic example. Even a small amount of alcohol — less than one drink a day — can raise breast cancer risk, and the more a woman drinks, the greater her chances of developing this disease.

On the other hand, moderate consumption of alcohol, and wine in particular, is associated with a reduced cardiovascular risk, so if heart disease figures more prominently than cancer in your family, you may decide to have that daily glass of wine.

Another modifiable breast cancer hazard is being overweight, especially after menopause, when body fat becomes the major source of cancer-promoting hormones. The good news here is that the two measures that can help you lose excess weight — a healthy diet and regular physical activity — also protect against breast cancer and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Strive for a mostly plant-based diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts; healthy sources of fats like olive and canola oil; and fish in lieu of red meat. And include a weekly minimum of 2½ hours of moderate physical activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus strength training twice a week.

c.2020

You may want to have honey on hand the next time you catch a cold.

That’s because honey has been shown to provide better cough relief than some overthe-counter drugs, Oxford University researchers said in findings published in August in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

“Honey is more effective than usual care alternatives for improving (upper respiratory tract infection) symptoms, particularly cough frequency and cough severity,” according to the scientists.

Researchers said they reviewed 14 past studies about upper respiratory tract infections, also known as common colds. Symptoms can include runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat and coughing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Four of the studies examined comparisons between honey and diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that can be used to relieve coughs, according to the U.S. government.

In their findings, Oxford scientists said honey was “significantly better than” diphenhydramine at improving coughing. The results came from studies that included 385 participants, data show.

But honey was “not significantly better” at cough relief when compared to another class of medicines, called dextromethorphan, according to a review of two studies with a combined 137 patients. Dextromethorphan is used to suppress coughs and can be found on pharmacy shelves in products such as Robitussin and Mucinex, the U.S. National Library of Medicine said.

‘I think we all are totally oblivious to the impression we’re making on others. The internet and social networking is all about trying to control the impression you make, and we have no control.’

Medication, lifestyle may lower breast cancer risk

Contact lenses may slow myopia in children

Wearing bifocal contact lenses may slow the progression of nearsightedness in children, a new study in JAMA suggests.

Researchers randomly assigned 294 myopic children, average age 10, to one of three groups: The first wore highpower bifocal contact lenses, the second medium-power bifocal lenses and the third regular single-vision contacts.

In myopia, the eyeball gradually grows longer, front to back, and this results in blurry vision at a distance. Children who wore the strong bifocals had the least lengthening of the eyeball, and those who wore the regular contacts had the most.

The lead author, Jeffrey J. Walline, associate dean for research at the Ohio State College of Optometry, said that the more nearsighted children are, the more likely they are to have sight-threatening complications in adulthood like glaucoma, detached retina and cataracts.

GRACIA LAM / NEW YORK TIMES Experts reviewed evidence for two classes of drugs normally prescribed after breast cancer treatment that can also help prevent cancer in some women not yet affected.

DREAMSTIME Honey may treat your cough better than some medicines, researchers say. Oxford scientists said honey was “significantly better than” diphenhydramine at improving coughing.