The recent discovery of a substance that can block sperm production without changing a mans testosterone levels could mean a new contraceptive male Pill available in the next few years -- one without the emotional and physical side effects experienced by the millions of women taking birth control pills everyday.

It works like this: a sustance called adherin blocks immature sperm from bonding with the tissue in the testes which prevents their development into mature, fertilization-capable sperm. In effect, it renders the male infertile -- although once the contraceptives use is discontinued, sperm production returns to normal in as little as three months.

After extensive testing, scientists found the male contraceptive had no adverse side effects on any vital organ, including the heart. For women over 35 taking hormonal contraceptives, they run the risk of heart attack from the formation of blood clots. A survey from the 2000 British Medical Journal found that only 2 percent of women wouldn't trust their partner to take a contraceptive pill.

Starting in September, 2006, all hotels owned by Marriott International, Inc. in the U.S. and Canada will be officially smoke-free. Currently, more than 90 percent of Marriotts guest rooms are designated non-smoking. The customer demand for non-smoking rooms has been on the rise, says the hotel chain. The change is likely due to the growing awareness of the damaging impact cigarette smoke, including second-hand smoke, has on health-- doubling the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Based in Maryland, Marriott, Inc. owns 2,800 accommodations in 68 countries. Properties in the U.S. and Canada include Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn and Courtyard, as well as its name-sake. The change in policy is the hotel industrys biggest in history, affecting 400,000 rooms in 2,300 hotels.

Austrailian cardiologists are conducting unique stem cell research to find new ways to treat heart disease. The study utilizes high purity stem cells, to be sampled from the patients own bone marrow, to repair and grow new heart tissues. This treatment will be a new alternative for heart failure patients who do not recover using standard management, such as surgery and medication.

During an earlier phase of this study, now six-months-old, human cells were injected into heart attack surviving rats. The damages suffered by the rats were fully reversed and new blood vessels began growing in their hearts. The researchers plan to test the treatment on larger subjects, such as sheep, before moving on to clinical trials in humans. They estimate that if the study is a success, worldwide stem cell treatment will become available in 5 to 10 years.
 

There is no substitute for a healthy lifestyle to protect the heart, a new U.S. study reports. Even patients prescribed high blood pressure or cholesterol reducing medication fare better if they adopt healthy habits-- proving that drugs alone are not enough to protect the heart from disease.

It is never too late to improve heart health-- even in mid-life, the study found. By eating well, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and drinking only moderately, middle-aged men on heart medication reduced their heart risk by 57 percent. Men in the study who were not on medication prevented their risk of heart disease 87 percent more with these lifestyle choices. The researchers note that while the men who practiced all five healthy habits had the lowest incidence of heart disease, the risk is cut 50 percent by not smoking alone.

An interesting study released recently in the Journal of Physiology and Behaviour reports a genetic link to like and dislike of foods in children, in addition to socialized taste. For example, children like to eat meat and fish because of inherited genes. A taste for fruits, vegetables, and sweets, however, is determined by parental influence. The study was initiated with the intent of discovering how some people end up with poor nutritional skills in an effort to prevent obesity, which is linked to increased occurrence of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

Researchers studied over 200 pairs of same-sex twins, comparing 103 identical sets and 111 non-identical sets. The idea behind studying twins was that identical pairs share the same genes, so any difference in their individual tastes would have to be linked to environmental influence and not their biology. Researchers then asked the mothers to identify their childrens like or dislike of 77 different foods in the categories of meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, and sweets.

The results were that genetics played a large role in deciding whether the children liked or disliked meat and fish. However, genes did not have much say in whether or not the children liked certain fruits, vegetables or sweets-- suggesting that a taste for any of these foods is attributed to how they are regarded in the home environment. One way parents can ensure early healthy dietary choices is to show their children a preference for fruits and vegetables with enthusiasm, always keeping them plentifully stocked at home. Making good future diet choices is also supported by limiting exposure to sweet treats, as well as not highlighting them as something coveted and desirable.

A polypill was designed in 2003, containing numerous drugs known to help prevent heart disease and combined into one dosage that would cut risk by 80 percent. Shortly thereafter, research began seeking a non-pharmaceutical alternative with the same level of risk reducing effect.

UK scientists designed the polymeal, a diet consisting of several foods known to prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. This alternative is more natural and safer due to the lack of side effects. The polymeal daily menu features wine, dark chocolate, fish (only four times a week), fruits, vegetables, almonds and garlic. The study found that men who prescribed to the polymeal diet were projected to live almost 7 years longer than those not on the diet, and 9 years longer without any incidence of heart disease. Those that do end up with heart disease tend to recover much faster. For women on the polymeal, the onset of heart disease is put off for an additional eight years, and they live an average of five years longer than women who were not on the diet.

A simple test can now detect heart conditions before problems arise. It's called a carotid ultrasound. It's just like an ultrasound for pregnant women, except for your heart. A carotid ultrasound uses sound waves to examine the condition of your arteries. It is an effective way to check for atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries-- which causes both heart attacks and strokes.

"What we do is take a little microphone and bounce sound waves off of the carotid artery to get a picture of the inside of the artery," said Doctor Jerrold Glassman. Then doctors can tell if you have plaque build up or any blockages. The procedure is non-invasive, takes about 15 minutes, and is usually covered by insurance. It is strongly recommended for anyone at risk for heart disease.

A recent study in the British Medical Journal warned that long-term, high dosage use of ibuprofen doubles the risk of a heart attack -- even in those with no prior history of heart disease.

The popular over-the-counter pain medication, ibuprofen, was found to increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular disease when taken in the highest doctor recommended dosage of 800mg three times daily. There was not enough evidence in the study to determine if the standard dose of 200mg to 400mg three times daily for general pain relief would have the same cardiovascular effects. However, researchers claim short-term use is still safe.

Coffee is the second most widely consumed drink in the world, and is a rich source of antioxidants. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that drinking one to three cups of the delicious elixir a day could prevent heart disease-related death in post-menopausal women.

The 15-year study documented 24 percent fewer deaths from heart disease and other non-cancerous inflammatory diseases among post-menopausal women who drank 1-3 cups of coffee daily, compared to those who drank no coffee at all. Researchers say the study doesn't prove that coffee is the exact cause for preventing heart-related deaths in these women, but does show a risk-reducing effect.