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. . . And Cats
Those warm fuzzies you get from your cat might be more than just good feelings. They might actually be good for your heart. A cardiac researcher at the University of Minnesota was surprised to discover in a study of 4,435 volunteers that cat owners had a greatly reduced incidence of death due to heart attack than those who did not own a cat. Dog owners did not enjoy the same level of protection from heart disease. Reasons for the findings were unclear but could be attributed to the possibility that cat ownership leads to reduced stress levels which, in turn, lower the risk of heart disease. Another possibility is that cat owners as a group may share specific personality traits that reduce their chances of heart disease. The findings require confirmation by other studies before medical recommendations can be made.

Smoking Ban’s Benefits
The statewide smoking ban that went into effect in Minnesota in October 2007 has significantly benefited the health of hospitality workers in the state, and a researcher with the University of Minnesota Cancer Center has the numbers to prove it. The research measured the levels of a carcinogen known to cause lung cancer in the urine of 24 nonsmokers who work at bars, restaurants, and bowling alleys before and after the ban went into effect. On average, the levels of nicotine and the carcinogen dropped by more than 80 percent. Previous research has shown that nonsmoking hospitality employees have up to a 50 percent higher risk of lung cancer than nonsmokers who are not routinely exposed to secondhand smoke.

Nip Nipping in the Bud
Children need to participate in alcohol prevention programs before sixth grade, and parents need to participate with them according to a study by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the University of Florida. Previous studies have found that nearly one in six children has already used alcohol by sixth grade; the recent study found that adolescents who have already used alcohol are less receptive to prevention programs aimed at all students. Intervening between third and fifth grade, researchers say, makes it more likely that anti-alcohol messages will reach high-risk children. Involving parents helps improve parent-child communication and provides parents with better skills for monitoring their child’s alcohol use over time.

An Incontinent Truth
Women who have trouble controlling their bladders find better relief with muscle and bladder training than with drugs or mechanical devices, according to a systematic review of published studies on the ailment at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The study found that several commonly prescribed drugs and devices were inconsistent, ineffective, or actually exacerbated the problem. In contrast, pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation alone, also known as Kegel exercises, improved or resolved incontinence, though the level of effectiveness was inconsistent across studies. Furthermore, intensive lifestyle changes such as losing weight were also found to be less effective than doing Kegel exercises. About 12 million adults in the United States have urinary incontinence. It is most common among women over age 50, but younger women who have just given birth, as well as some men, are also affected.

Give Moms a Sporting Chance
A researcher at the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota has found that women, especially mothers, doubt their ability to coach youth sports teams and do not perceive that their parenting skills might be transferable to a coaching context. The result is that only about 15 percent of youth sport coaches in the United States are women. Previous analysis has shown that there are few female coaches in college and elite ranks. By analyzing the extent of women’s involvement in coaching at entry levels, researchers hope to gain insight into why there is a lack of women coaches at advanced levels. One reason for the low participation by women, the research identified, is that most coaching clinics are run by men and little attention is given to addressing the specific needs of female coaches, such as the learning how to separate the mother role from the coach role. The research suggests that youth sport leagues and others who sponsor coaching clinics need to provide women-only courses, run by women, as well as mentoring and promoting the benefits of mothers being coaches.

Chew on This
Teenagers who eat breakfast consume more calories daily but weigh on average five pounds less than their peers who skip the first meal of the day, according to research at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The study concluded that teens who start the day with breakfast tend to have healthier diets overall and more healthful habits in general. The theory behind the findings is that eating in the morning helps people better control their appetite throughout the day instead of overeating at lunch and dinner.

Pushing Malt Liquor
Alcohol, especially malt liquor, is more available and more aggressively marketed in poor African American neighborhoods than in other areas, according to a study by researchers at the University of  Minnesota School of Public Health. The study found that the neighborhoods had higher homicide rates and significantly more off-sale alcohol outlets, 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor in coolers, and storefront ads promoting malt liquor. Malt liquor is a concern in inner cities because of its cheap price, high alcohol content, and its link to aggressive behavior. The study targeted low-income neighborhoods in 10 cities in California, Minnesota, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Maryland.