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MERCY MEDICAL CENTER-CENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org 2 healthbeat Keeping You Up to Date on the Latest Health News THE POWER OF TWO Recent research is giving couples another cause for collaboration. Results from a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that adults are more likely to stick to healthy lifestyle changes if their partners also modify their behavior. Among the positive findings observed: Nearly 50 percent of smokers quit when their partners also kicked the habit. LONGER WALKS, LONGER LIFE? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults exercise moderately for two and a half hours each week — but is this enough to maximize a person's length of life? A study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine indicates more exercise is ideal for extending your years. The study found that 150 minutes of weekly exercise does boost the chances of living longer, reducing your likelihood of dying early by 31 percent. However, fitness devotees who get triple this amount — logging seven and a half hours of moderate exercise weekly — hit the sweet spot for longevity benefits, exhibiting a 39 percent reduction in the likelihood of premature death. STUDY DEBUNKS MYTH THAT INDUCING LABOR RAISES C-SECTION RISK Expectant moms who have their labors induced are traditionally considered to have a higher cesarean section risk. But a recent analysis suggests this belief is not based on facts. According to a report published in The American Journal of Gynecology, women whose labors are induced at 39 weeks have similar C-section rates to women whose labors start naturally — and these women experience less blood loss after birth. TEA LINKED TO LOWER OVARIAN CANCER RISK A team of researchers from the United Kingdom has discovered that women who drink two cups of black tea daily are 31 percent less likely to develop ovarian epithelial cancer, a type of cancer that begins in the tissue covering the ovary. Black tea's protective benefits likely come from substances known as flavonols. Related types of antioxidants known as flavanones, which are found in citrus fruits, may also produce similar benefits, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition-published study. Stay up to date on the latest health and wellness programs offered at Mercy Medical Center-Centerville! For news about upcoming community events and screenings, visit www.mercycenterville.org/health-wellness.