News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms March 18, 2009

News to know:

Unwed birth rate reaches all-time high

More than 4.3 million babies were born in in the United States in 2007, federal researchers reported Wednesday. This is a record number of births--topping the birth rate of any year in the nation's history.

The birth rate rose slightly for women of all ages, and births to unwed mothers reached an all-time high of about 40 percent, continuing a trend begun years ago.


Migraine in pregnancy tied to stroke, heart attack

Women who suffer from migraines while they are pregnant are at increased risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or other vascular disorders, according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal.

Researchers found that 185 out of every 100,000 women had migraines during pregnancy. Women with migraines had a 15-fold higher risk of having a stroke and twice the risk of a heart attack compared to women without migraines. Migraines were also associated with increased risks of developing high blood pressure or a blood clot in the lungs.


Hassled teens may face high heart risk later

Teenagers who experience a lot of daily interpersonal stress have increased blood levels of a protein linked to chronic inflammation. The finding in a small study published in Psychosomatic Medicine might indicate a greater risk of heart disease later in life.

Researchers had 69 high school seniors kept daily records for two weeks of negative interpersonal interactions, such as conflict with family, harassment by peers, or reprimands from teachers. The teens' blood levels of C-reactive protein were measured about 8 months later. Previous research has linked higher blood levels of C-reactive protein, a marker for body-wide inflammation, with increased risk for cardiovascular disease in adults.


Sustained exercise seen best for kids' weight

Longer bouts of exercise may help children maintain a healthy weight better than sporadic activity throughout the day, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The study of 2500 youngsters 8 to 17 years old found the more moderate-to-vigorous exercise they got, the less likely they were to be overweight.

Lack of vitamin D tied to teen health problems

Low levels of vitamin D in teens has been linked to high blood pressure and high blood sugar, which can lead to ominous early health problems, according to a study presented at an American Heart Association conference.

Teens in the study with the lowest levels of vitamin D were four times more likely to have metabolic syndrome -- defined as have three of more conditions that contribute to heart disease and diabetes -- including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, big waists and high cholesterol.