Constipation common in pregnancy, study confirmsHalf of all pregnant women will suffer from constipation at some time during their pregnancy, says a new report in Obstetrics & Gynecology. There, however, is no relationship between constipation risk and the amount of exercise women got or the amount of fibre they consumed, reported researchers from the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. Breast-feeding and other postpartum factors could affect bowel function after pregnancy, the researchers suggest.ZERO TO 20Some temper tantrums can be red flagsChildren who have long, frequent or aggressive temper tantrums may be at risk of depression or disruptive disorders, researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis reported in Journal of Pediatrics. Tantrums were often the sign of a sick, hungry or overstimulated child. For most parents, they are a normal part of development and should be viewed as a teaching opportunity. But parents of children who hurt themselves or those who cannot calm themselves without help should seek medical help. Healthy children tended to have less aggressive, and generally shorter tantrums. The researchers devised five high-risk tantrum styles: Tantrums marked by self injury; tantrums marked by violence to others or objects; tantrums in which children cannot calm themselves without help; tantrums lasting more than 25 minutes; and tantrums occurring more than 5 times a day, or between 10 and 20 times a month. Of those, tantrums in which children harm themselves were most often associated with depression and should be considered very serious.20 TO 60High dairy in childhood linked with cancer riskChildren who consume high levels of diary products may have a greater risk of developing colorectal cancer in adulthood. Among nearly 5,000 individuals followed by the researchers from University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, for 65 years, those who grew up in families reporting the highest levels of dairy consumption — nearly 2 cups per day —had nearly to three-times the risk of colorectal cancer compared with those reporting the lowest intake. The research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.60 AND Above Moderate exercise may stall vascular dementiaOlder adults who regularly walk for exercise may help lower their risk of vascular dementia, the second-most common form of this disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. Compared with their sedentary counterparts, active adults had a one-fourth risk of developing vascular dementia, found Italian researchers. Vascular dementia is caused by an impaired blood flow to the brain. Blockages that narrow the blood vessels supplying the brain or complete blockages that cause a stroke, may also lead to it. People with conditions that damage blood vessels throughout the body — such as high blood pressure or diabetes — are also at increased risk. The new findings from the University Hospital S Orsola-Malpighi in Bologna, published in the online edition of Neurology, build on evidence that lifestyle habits are important in dementia risk.
