Environmental woes for Italy

Although many Italians were enraged that the US refused to take part in the Kyoto agreement, Italy’s not doing so hot environmentally.

According to the European Urban Ecosystem classifications, Naples comes in last as Europe’s most polluted city.  Milan is second to last.  And Rome is fifth to last.

This perhaps explains why cities like Florence are busy cleaning black smog residue off their duomo 365 days a year.

Helsinki, Finland was given the prestigious title of the cleanest city.

Link (IT)

Cell phone radiation = the new caffeine?

Since Italians spend about 30% of their waking hours using cell phones, it’s not surprising that Italian neuroscientists have taken up studying the effects of serious telefonino usage on the human body. Now they find that cell signals “excite” brain cells. This stunning news apparently has no practical application whatsoever, though, since no one knows yet whether that is “good” excitement or “bad” excitement.

In the meantime, better stick to text messaging (also an Italian addiction) and keep that phone away from the little grey cells, okay?

Link

Italians wish they could have more babies

Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe.  But, according to the latest research, most Italians wish they could have more children.  The current birth rate is a low 1.3 per woman–which means there are fewer births than deaths.  The birth rate would be 2.1 if Italians could have it the way they wanted.

Almost half of those who said they wished they could have more children sited economic factors in their decision to not have more.  Other factor were size of homes or apartments (the prices of which are astronomical), lack of help of a partner, or work.

Link (It) 

Italy highest cesarean rates in Europe

The percentage of births in Italy which are completed with a cesarean section, either planned or emergency, has reached the eyebrow-raising high of 35.2%. This gives them the dubious honor of having the highest percentage in all of Europe. Holland, with the lowest, gives a shocking comparison. Only 13.5% of their births are cesarean section.

The doctors blame the patients, saying they want birth to be as painless as possible, with no complications. They also say that the age of the mother when it's her first child is a large factor. In Italy this age is rising constantly.

The women blame the doctors, claiming that c-sections are the 'easy way out' for doctors, making delivery convenient for themselves. Many women are upset that so little apparent concern is showed for the timing of the mother and baby's bodies, and much more attention is paid to the schedules of the doctors and hospitals.

America, while still lower than Italy, all is far past Holland, with 27.5% (in 2003).

The federal goal (both of America and Italy) is 15%.

Link (Italian) 

“Miracle” medicine hoax revealed

Two men in Milan were arrested for their production of ‘Biotex,’ a ‘medicine’ which they claimed could cure everything, from aids to cancer.

With a complex network of doctors they convinced many patients, including those terminally ill, to abandon traditional methods of treatment and use only Biotex–which, as it turns out, wasn’t really medicine at all.

Link (Italian)

Robot does heart surgery

We've been posting a lot of health-related stuff lately, but this one's too interesting to pass up.

MILAN, Italy, May 18 (UPI) — For the first time, a robot surgeon in Italy has carried out a long-distance heart operation by itself.

"This operation has enabled us to cross a new frontier," said Carlo Pappone, who initiated and monitored the surgery on a PC in Boston, ANSA reported. Pappone is head of Arrhythmia and Cardiac Electrophysiology at Milan's San Raffaele University.

Link (English)

AIDS: 1 person infected per hour in Italy

Not only that, but the majority of new infections are among heterosexuals. That's just a small slice of surprising stats that will be presented by prof. Mauro Moroni at an AIDS benefit event on June 9 during Fieramilanocity.

Moroni says that not many people are talking about AIDS, and that Italians have "let down their guard." Right now about 140,000 people are infected, and 50,000 are seeking treatment, which costs the Italian national health service about 8,000 euros per patient per year.

Link 

1.5 million Italians suffer from depression

A recent meeting of the American Psychological Association in Turin highlights the epidemic of depression not only in Italy, but throughout the world. Experts warn that senior citizens and women are more at risk (2/3 of those diagnosed with depression in Italy are women). The World Health Organization even states that by 2020, depression will be the world's #2 health disorder, topped only by cardiovascular diseases.

Link (La Reppublica) 

Italy second in Europe for cleanest sea

The FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) yearly chooses the cleanest and best beaches in all of Europe and awards them with a blue flag, to be flown for the year at that beach.
This year, Italy won 90 flags, putting it second only to Spain, which took 104 flags. It barely beats France (89 flags) and Greece (82 flags).
Of the regions in Italy, Tuscany won with a whopping 14 flags.
For a complete list of the best and brightest beaches in Italy, visit this link (Italian).

Italian scientist discovers the ’shopping’ gene

An Italian scientist working at Harvard recently discovered a gene which helps you chose your purchases by assigning it's true value. It seems this little gene has a lot of work to since it has to process a great deal of information.

Next time you're having trouble chosing vanilla or chocolate blame it on your DNA.  Or something.

Italy’s getting old

According to a recent census, nearly 20% of Italians are over 65, and this number is expected to rise to 34% by 2050. Only 17% of Italians are under 18, and this number is expected to drop to 15% by 2050, making the age gap even more extreme.  

There is some hope however. This year the birth rate has reached 1.34 children per woman–the highest in the last 15 years.

To put this in some perspective, only 12.4% of the United States population was 65 and over in 2000, and 25.7% were 18 and under.

In 2006 the birth rate for the United states is 14.4 per 1000.  In Italy 8.89. 

Eat like an Italian and avoid Alzheimer’s

A new study suggests that the Mediterranean diet (rich in fish, vegetables, fruits, cereals, and olive oil as opposed to saturated fats) may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. This good news only adds to many other health benefits (and taste bud treats) that this diet already offers.

According to the study, people who followed this diet were up to 40 percent less at risk of developing Alzheimer's than those who chose to eat differently.

Link