Health bites
Breastfeeding children may lead to lower risk of stroke for mums
Breastfeeding may protect a woman from stroke later in life, and the benefit appears to increase with the length of time she nurses, a US study suggests.
Postmenopausal women who said they breastfed at least one child had a 23 per cent lower risk of stroke in middle and old age compared with women who had children but didn't breastfeed, researchers found.
"The take-home advice to new mums is they should include breastfeeding as part of their birthing plan and try to continue for at least six months so they and their baby can share the optimal benefits of breastfeeding," said study leader Lisette Jacobson of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita.
Women who breastfeed tend to live healthier lives in general. That may explain at least some of the apparent protection against stroke linked to breastfeeding. - REUTERS
Higher COPD risk for asthmatic women
More than 40 per cent of women with asthma go on to develop more severe lung disease, a Canadian study suggests. However, most of the risk factors for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, can be reduced with lifestyle changes.
Patients with asthma have bouts of trouble breathing. Patients with COPD have conditions that cause constricted breathing all the time. Asthma and COPD overlap syndrome, or Acos, describes people who have both diseases.
"Research and studies in recent years have found an alarming rise in Acos, particularly in women," said lead study author Teresa To, a researcher at the University of Toronto. "Patients with ACOS suffer more exacerbations, are hospitalised more often and have a lower quality of life compared to those who have asthma or COPD alone. Not everyone who has asthma will progress to develop COPD, but those who do are more likely to have lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity and low socioeconomic status." - REUTERS
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