Less Sleep Linked to Cancer

Common chemical styrene added to suspected category

(NEWSER) - The government has declared formaldehyde to be a carcinogen, and it says the common chemical styrene—used in everything from plastic cups to bathroom stalls and boats—is on the list of suspected cancer triggers, reports Bloomberg . Consumers should do what they can to steer clear, but the risks are far greater for those who work with the materials on an industrial scale, say in manufacturing plants, notes the New York Times . Six other agents also made the list of known or suspected carcinogens, and the government report lays out fact sheets on them here . The Washington Post offers a quick summary. More»

Too much time in the chair increases risk of just about everything

(NEWSER) - Hey you, reading this at your computer: You might want to get up and stretch. A new study shows that every hour per day spent in front of that monitor raises your risk of early death from heart disease by a whopping 18%—ie, someone who spends an average of two hours a day is 36% more susceptible than someone who spends none, even if they're not obese and exercise. It also raises the risk of dying from cancer by 8%, and all causes 11%. The Australian study actually looked at more than 8,000 people who watched more than four hours of TV a day, but the problem isn't the tube, it's sitting down for long periods, the Independent reports. More»

Moderate, regular activity is like a 'drug' that boosts immune system

(NEWSER) - Some benefits of exercise are less visible than weight loss and muscle mass, but no less tangible. In fact, the most awesome effects of physical activity are measured by what doesn’t happen: A brisk walk five times a week has been shown to ward off respiratory infections, and regular exercise appears to lower the risk of breast cancer in some women. “If there were a drug with the same benefits as exercise,” a doctor tells the Wall Street Journal , “it would instantly be the standard of care.” More»

Billionaire, 56, given diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

(NEWSER) - Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has been given a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the immune and lymphatic systems. Allen, the 56-year-old billionaire entrepreneur who owns the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, overcame Hodgkin's disease in the 1980s—a victory his sister mentioned in today's email to employees, Tech Flash reports. More»

South Beach Diet guru shares his secrets

(NEWSER) - Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who cooked up the South Beach Diet, takes no medications and embraces a philosophy of moderation—he's not starving himself or downing dozens of vitamins. He clues Prevention magazine in on his advice for keeping your heart in tip-top shape:

• Eat four times a day: Three meals plus a snack—"a mozzarella stick, fruit, wasabi-coated soy nuts, other nuts, or a high-fiber bar"—but not much starch.