(HealthDay News) The inflated sense of self-importance common to narcissism can be toxic to relationships, but a new study suggests the personality trait may also harm men's health.

Researchers from the Universities of Michigan and Virginia determined that men who scored high on two destructive narcissistic traits -- entitlement and exploitativeness -- had markedly higher levels than others of cortisol, a stress hormone that can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems. While men and women are equally narcissistic, study authors said, the cortisol stress response was not noted in female participants…

[Study co-author Sara] Konrath and her colleagues administered a 40-item questionnaire to 106 college students that measured five components of narcissism, which is also characterized by self-absorption, overestimations of their uniqueness -- attractiveness or intelligence, for instance -- and a sense of grandiosity.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(CNN) Psychopaths -- narcissists guided without conscience, who mimic rather than feel real emotions -- bring to mind serial killers such as Ted Bundy or fictional murderers such as Hannibal Lecter or "Dexter," the anti-hero of the popular Showtime TV series. But psychologists say most psychopaths are not behind bars -- and at least one study shows people with psychopathic tendencies are four times more likely to be found in senior management.

"Not all psychopaths are in prison -- some are in the boardroom," said Dr. Robert Hare, a Canadian psychologist who is co-author of the book "Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go To Work." '?

And British researcher Clive Boddy [author of "Corporate Psychopaths: Organizational Destroyers"] goes further: He thinks the 2007-2008 financial crisis may have resulted in the growing proliferation of psychopathic personalities in the corner office…

They lie without remorse, steal credit for accomplishments and are adroit at transferring blame for their mistakes, psychologists said. Psychopaths are more likely to have shallow, short-term sexual relationships -- often in the workplace -- and are easily bored. They are prone to take risks without concern for the ramifications…

Psychopaths are gifted at finding the weakness and insecurities of colleagues, yet that can be dressed as "constructive criticism." Psychopaths always turn on the charm to those in power within their corporation -- and equally turn on the malice to colleagues or subordinates…

With turmoil in the markets and rapid changes across the corporate landscape, these are golden times for cold, career opportunists like psychopaths, psychologists say. But the damage done -- bad morale, poor teamwork, ineffective execution of strategy -- can be difficult to quantify on corporate bottomlines, unless the psychopath veers into actual crime.

Read more.

Community: These same dangerous people congregate in the powerful positions in politics, too. But we allow them to prosper. When we don’t condemn their behavior, we pretty much endorse them. And that encourages those who might behave better to act as though they have no conscience, either.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Science Daily) Your genes could be a strong predictor of whether you stray into a life of crime, according to a research paper co-written by UT Dallas criminologist Dr. J.C. Barnes…

Barnes said there is no gene for criminal behavior. He said crime is a learned behavior.

"But there are likely to be hundreds, if not thousands, of genes that will incrementally increase your likelihood of being involved in a crime even if it only ratchets that probability by 1 percent," he said. "It still is a genetic effect. And it's still important."

The link between genes and crime is a divisive issue in the criminology discipline, which has primarily focused on environmental and social factors that cause or influence deviant behavior.

"Honestly, I hope people when they read this, take issue and start to debate it and raise criticisms because that means people are considering it and people are thinking about it," Barnes said.

Read more.

Community: We have all kinds of genetic predispositions that we can overcome if we’re willing to work at it and are given the right examples. People behave better if society discourages anti-social behavior, rather than admiring it, as is so prevalent in the U.S. today.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(UPI) Over-controlling managers who use threats on employees hurt morale, which in turn, hurts productivity, researchers in France say…

How people feel -- well-being -- can account for more than one-quarter of the differences observed in individuals' performance at work so workplace well-being is receiving increasing attention, as it might have economic implications for the organization if workers are under-performing.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(HealthDay News) People who work overtime are at much greater risk for depression, according to a new study…

"Although occasionally working overtime may have benefits for the individual and society, it is important to recognize that working excessive hours is also associated with an increased risk of major depression," said study Dr. Marianna Virtanen.

Read more.

Community: There are other practical steps you can take to prevent or reduce depression.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

MyRecipes.com:

Mushroom-Prosciutto Pizza
This simple pizza flavored with cremini mushrooms and Italian ham can be made in just about 20 minutes.

Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Pizza

Delfina's Carbonara Pizza

Pizza Recipes Under 300 Calories

EatingWell:

Orange, Watercress & Tuna Salad
This vibrant salad recipe contrasts flavor, texture and color—the velvety tuna steak is matched with crisp, peppery watercress and the floral tart-sweetness of blood oranges and aniseed. Blood oranges make the dish especially pretty—they’re available December through March. If you can’t find them, use any oranges that look good.

Grilled Tuna, Orange & Jicama Salad with Red Onion Dressing

Tuna with Oranges & Shiitakes

Tomato, Tuna & Tarragon Salad

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Andrew Weil, M.D.) This tip is brought to you by SpontaneousHappiness.com, Dr. Weil's new online plan - visit today to learn more. 

If you are feeling anxious, consider cracking open a coconut! According to a small study at Columbia University, pleasant scents - including the scent of a coconut - may temper your "fight or flight" response, resulting in less stress and a slower heart rate. Next time you feel anxious, try the Yogurt-Lime Drink, featuring coconut!

This is a versatile beverage because you have the choice of making it with just yogurt; adding fruit and blending it just enough to transform the drink into a whipped, frothy, chunky fruit beverage; or adding frozen fruit to create a dessert drink. This drink is festive, yet the coconut milk flavored with cinnamon and cloves gives it a mellow flavor.

Read more.

Community: There are other practical ways to reduce stress, too.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Harvard School of Public Health) Dozens of studies, many from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers, have shown that low-fat diets are no better for health than moderate- or high-fat diets—and for many people, may be worse.

To combat this “low fat is best” myth, nutrition experts at HSPH and chefs and registered dietitians at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) have developed five new muffin recipes that incorporate healthy fats and whole grains, and use a lighter hand on the salt and sugar. Their goal? To “make over” the ubiquitous low-fat muffin, touted as a “better-for-you” choice when in fact low-fat muffins often have reduced amounts of heart-healthy fats, such as liquid plant oils, but boast plenty of harmful carbohydrates in the form of white flour and sugar.

Other low-fat processed foods are not much better, and are often higher in sugar, carbohydrates, or salt than their full-fat counterparts. For good health, type of fat matters more than amount. Diets high in heavily processed carbohydrates can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

“It’s time to end the low-fat myth,” said Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition and chair of the Department of Nutrition at HSPH. “Unfortunately, many well-motivated people have been led to believe that all fats are bad and that foods loaded with white flour and sugar are healthy choices. This has clearly contributed to the epidemic of diabetes we are experiencing and premature death for many. The lesson contained in these healthy muffins—that foods can be both tasty and good for you—can literally be life-saving.”…

See recipes for Blueberry Muffins, Cranberry Orange Muffins, Jalapeño Cheddar Corn Muffins, Lemon Chickpea Breakfast Muffins, and Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(RealAge.com) Want to cut your risk for diabetes by a third? Simple. Just ease up a bit on the red meat and opt for healthier alternatives. We're talking about lean protein sources, such as beans, nuts, and fish…

[E]ating a daily serving of red meat (beef, pork, lamb) or processed meat (bacon, hot dogs, sausage, many deli meats) is a big risk for type 2 diabetes. For example, a small daily serving of beef (less than a typical burger) ups your diabetes risk 19%. Think that's bad? Scarfing down a hot dog, a sausage patty, or two bacon strips every day boosts diabetes risk by 51%! There's an extra troublemaker in processed meats: preservatives. They weaken your ability to produce blood-sugar-controlling insulin. The iron in red meat, surprisingly, may do the same thing…

Swap out meat for healthier proteins: fish; skinless poultry breast; combos of beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, and whole grains; and nonfat or low-fat cheese or yogurt. Instead of increasing your diabetes risk by, say, 50%, you'll cut it by that much or more.

Read more.

Community: There are a lot more practical things we can do to prevent, delay, or reduce the effects of diabetes.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(RealAge.com) If you have unhealthy cholesterol levels (or want to prevent them), one of the first things you should examine is your diet. Are you eating foods that help reduce cholesterol? Or avoiding the ones that cause unhealthy cholesterol levels to creep higher? If not, we've got 10 cholesterol-lowering foods you should grab next time you're at the grocery store. Bonus: Lowering your bad (LDL) cholesterol can make your RealAge 3.3 years younger if you're a man, 0.6 years younger if you're a woman!

Almonds…

Orange Juice…

Olive Oil…

Steamed Asparagus…

Oatmeal…

Pinto Beans…

Blueberries…

Tomatoes…

Avocado…

Dark Chocolate

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Andrew Weil, M.D.) Too many starchy carbs seem to be associated with breast cancer recurrence.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego divided 2,651 breast cancer survivors into four groups based on their daily carbohydrate intake… Overall, the rate of breast cancer recurrence over one year was 9.7 percent among women whose starch intake dropped the most compared to a 14.2 percent recurrence rate among those whose starch intake increased the most.

The investigators suggested one possible explanation for this effect: starchy foods boost insulin levels and elevated insulin levels have been associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(UPI) The Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., began a phase I clinical trial of a dendritic cell vaccine that uses the body's immunity to fight cancer.

The NY-ESO-1 dendritic cell vaccine, developed at Roswell Park, will be manufactured in the Institute's new Therapeutic Cell Production Facility, using a unique U.S. Food and drug Administration-approved process making Roswell park the first U.S. research facility to use a custom-made barrier isolator for vaccine cell production, the institute said…

The study is the first to test a dendritic vaccine given in combination with rapamycin, a compound used to prevent rejection of solid-organ transplant, Odunsi said. The NY-ESO-1 dendritic cell vaccine is expected to show great promise in patients with bladder, brain, breast, esophageal, gastrointestinal, kidney, lung, melanoma, ovarian, prostate, sarcoma and uterine tumors, [principal investigator Dr. Kunle] Odunsi said.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Science Daily) Brachytherapy for high-risk prostate cancers patients has historically been considered a less effective modality, but a new study … suggests otherwise. A population-based analysis looking at almost 13,000 cases revealed that men who received brachytherapy alone or in combination with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) had significantly reduced mortality rates…

Brachytherapy involves the precise placement of radiation sources directly at the site of a tumor and is typically used to treat low and intermediate risk prostate cancers. However, brachytherapy treatment for high-risk patients is less common and controversial, given in part to early retrospective studies that found it to be associated with lower cure rates compared to EBRT…

"The study contradicts traditional policies of using brachytherapy in just low and intermediate risk patients by suggesting there may instead be an improvement in prostate cancer survival for high-risk patients," said co-author Timothy Showalter, M.D.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Science Daily) Patients with head and neck cancers who have been treated with newer, more sophisticated radiation therapy technology enjoy a better quality of life than those treated with older radiation therapy equipment, a study by UC Davis researchers has found…

Allen Chen … reported that the use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy, or IMRT, was associated with fewer long-term side effects, which led to a better quality of life. Standard radiation therapy to the head and neck has been known to affect a patient's ability to produce saliva, taste, and even chew food. These side effects historically have resulted in permanent disabilities.

"With the newer machines using IMRT, physicians are skillfully able to deliver higher doses of radiation to the tumor and lower doses to surrounding normal tissues than ever before," Chen said.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(HealthDay News) Doctors are more likely to use high-cost MRI scans to diagnose peripheral neuropathy than cheaper -- and more effective -- glucose tolerance tests, a new U.S. study has found.

In people with peripheral neuropathy, the nerves that carry information to and from the brain don't work properly. Symptoms of the disorder include tingling, burning or less feeling in the arms or legs, and can range from mild to severe.

Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy, which affects about 15 percent of those over age 40.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Science Daily) A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan for coronary heart disease is better than the most commonly-used alternative, a major UK trial of heart disease patients has shown.

The findings by University of Leeds researchers could change the way that people with suspected heart disease are assessed, potentially avoiding the need for tests that are invasive or use ionising radiation.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Reuters Health) Checking for clogged arteries doesn't help inveterate smokers kick the habit if they are already in a quit-smoking program, Swiss researchers have found…

Some previous research had suggested that showing people dire pictures of cholesterol buildup, or plaque, in their arteries might be the stick they need to make healthy changes to their lifestyle.

But at least for smokers, the new study slashes those hopes.

"It proves that in trying to motivate smokers to quit, this strategy is not going to be useful," said Dr. Patrick O'Malley of the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, who wrote an editorial about the findings.

Read more.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(John McDonough, Harvard School of Public Health) On a host on indicators, Massachusetts shows substantial progress on measure after measure between 2006 and 2010 -- I saw only two measures showing a slight reversal, and neither statistically significant. Remember, in 2010 we were in the depths of the economic downturn with unemployment stuck near ten percent.  About nine million Americans lost health insurance in the downturn -- and almost none of them lived in Massachusetts.  

Here are some salient details about Massachusetts adults:

·         In 2010, 6% of nonelderly adults reported spending 10% or more of family income on out-of-pocket health care costs, significantly lower than in 2006.

·         The share of nonelderly adults with a usual source of care increased between 2006 and 2010. For most, that source of care was a physician or a private clinic.  (Remember all those stories in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere on how nobody in MA could get a doctor because of our reform law?)

·         In 2010, for the first time since implementation of MA health reform, there were significant reductions in emergency department (ED) use among nonelderly adults.

·         Between 2006 and 2010 there were reductions in unmet need for care for nonelderly adults, including reductions in unmet need for doctor care; medical tests, treatment, or follow-up care; and preventive care screening. (Are you going to write about this, Wall Street Journal?)

·         The share of nonelderly adults who were spending 10% or more of family income on out-of-pocket (OOP) health care costs was lower in 2010 than 2006.

·         The share of nonelderly adults who reported unmet need for care because of costs was lower in 2010 than 2006 overall and for most of the types of care, including doctor care; specialist care; medical tests, treatment, or follow-up care; and preventive care screenings.

Here's the best one, in my opinion:

·         In 2010, 9% of nonelderly Massachusetts adults who were insured for the full year were underinsured. This is substantially lower than the national underinsurance estimate of 19% in 2010.

This is what's in store for vulnerable Americans if the Affordable Care Act gets fully implemented. More coverage, more care, better care.

It is far from perfect. Too many Massachusetts adults still are living with medical debt; costs are still too high for too many. In comparison with other advanced nations, we are backwards. In comparison with the rest of the United States, Massachusetts is a beacon of a better future. 

Read more.

Community: So why is Mitt Romney running away from these successes? Because the national Affordable Care Act, which is so much like the Massachusetts plan promoted and signed by Romney, was promoted and signed by President Obama, a Democrat. And no Republican is allowed to admit that any Democrat may have done something good.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(UPI) People can use positive thinking and self-affirmation to help make and sustain behavior change, U.S. researchers said.

Study leader Dr. Mary Charlson, executive director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, said the study involved 756 patients encouraged to think -- when they awaken and throughout their day -- of small things in their lives that make them feel good. A script, created by Charlson, now in the public domain, helps patients over obstacles to exercising or taking medication.

Read more.

Community: So watching a video of a cat playing the piano can help me stay healthy? Glad to hear it! This study may be another example of how developing and maintaining a sense of efficacy can help us remain healthy. You can read excerpts from Dr. Charlson’s script here.

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]

(Andrew Weil, M.D.) It's natural to have emotional ups and downs. What's not natural - yet all too common in the modern world - is to feel persistently sad or anxious for no obvious reason. My new website, SpontaneousHappiness.com, helps members find and sustain the emotional balance that's needed to navigate and enjoy life in this complex, fast-paced world. In just eight weeks you will:

·         Learn how ancient therapies - including specialized forms of meditation - can bring peace and serenity.

·         Discover foods and supplements that can improve emotional stability.

·         Explore the role of exercise in boosting mood.

·         Feel better physically. The practices that help you achieve emotional well-being are also good for your body!

Weekly checklists, personalized tips, in-depth articles, and videos provide a variety of ways to keep you engaged and encouraged. In addition, we have tools to track your mood, breathing, physical fitness and other aspects of your personal journey through the plan.Visit today to learn more about Spontaneous Happiness - I think you will find it a useful tool for achieving balance in the hectic world we live in today.

Source

[Click the title, above, to post a comment.]