Research from around the world
Jean Hailes research update

Research from around the world

Experts from the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health comment on recent world research.

Loneliness bad for health

A recent study from the University of Chicago looked at the effect of loneliness over time. Psychologists found lonely older people identified more sources of chronic stress, recalled more childhood adversity, appeared more helpless and threatened, were less apt to seek help when stressed and differed in how  they perceived their life experiences.

Physically, lonely older people showed more of the hormone epinephrine in their bodies, which is one of the body’s ‘fight or flight’ chemicals. High levels indicate that lonely people go through life in a heightened state of arousal. “Many factors may make a person feel lonely,” says Jean Hailes psychologist Gillian Needleman. “Being isolated geographically, losing a partner, illness or disability are just some reasons for someone feeling lonely. It’s important for communities, friends and families to check in with older people for their health and wellbeing.”

Moderate exercise enough to reduce blood pressure

Good news for anyone overwhelmed with beginning an active lifestyle program. A recent randomised-controlled trial reveals that even low-level regular walking is enough to drive down blood pressure and boost overall fitness.

Results of the 12 week trial show that blood pressure, as well as waist and hip girth, fell significantly in people aged 40 to 60, walking three times a week. “While guidelines recommend 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week,” says Jean Hailes dietitian Cate Lombard, “this study is great news for people who have not been able to meet the recommendations for various reasons, such as illness or disability. It shows that even a small, regular commitment to being active can make a difference to your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. A big bonus for your overall health.”

Never too late for a change of heart

Recent research shows that people between 45 and 65 who add four healthy behaviour changes to their lifestyle could substantially reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease by 35 per cent and their risk of death by 40 per cent. Healthy changes include eating at least five fruits and vegetables daily, exercising at least 2.5 hours a week, maintaining a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2 (weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared), and not smoking. “At a time in our life where we can start to focus more on our own health, this study shows that it takes only modest change, even for older adults, to make a significant difference to their health,” says research director Professor Helena Teede. “Small, sustainable changes mean we have the best chance of staying well in our later years – but we need to start as early as possible, not just once disease onset has occurred.”

Jean Hailes research update

Women and medical research

For many years, researchers did not include women in medical research studies. It was assumed that if a treatment worked for men, it would work the same way for women. Now researchers know that women and men can react differently to the same treatment, and act differently when it comes to their health. There are also many diseases, conditions or lifestages that only affect women, such as cancer of the uterus or ovaries, pregnancy and menopause.

Volunteering for a study

Most studies rely on the goodwill of volunteers. Researchers need to study the differences between people with a particular condition and people who are healthy. The healthy people in the study are called ‘controls’.

According to psychologist and researcher Dr Mandy Deeks many women say: “I would really like to be a volunteer for something but I don’t have much time” or “I don’t know where to go to participate”. Volunteering to be a control offers the opportunity to contribute to both medicine and science in a meaningful, simple and time-efficient way.

“For example, in the polycystic ovary syndrome study we have found more women experienced intense anxiety and we would like to compare that finding to women in the general population,” says Dr Deeks.

Studies needing healthy women to take part

Lifestyle-related diseases including diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy) in women are increasing alarmingly. Greater insight into these preventable diseases is needed to explore what stops people from being healthy and what would help them make healthier choices.

The Foundation has a number of studies that require a range of generally healthy women from all around Australia to be controls:

• Women aged 20-41 as controls for our premature menopause study
• Women aged 18-70 as controls for our polycystic ovary syndrome study, diabetes study or cardiovascular disease study
• Healthy, pregnant women (over 26 weeks) who do not have diabetes in pregnancy

To take part in these studies all you will need to do is anonymously fill out a range of questionnaires in the privacy of your own home and mail them back, reply paid.

To find out more

If you would like to know more about these and other current studies please click on the research page at www.jeanhailes.org.au or contact Melanie Gibson-Helm on 03 9594 7527 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Your phone call and all information will remain confidential.

For information on our other studies on cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk, and hypoactive sexual desire disorder (Melbourne-based) please go to the Current Research page at www.jeanhailes.org.au

© 2008 The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health

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Content Updated May 31, 2008