How Climate Change Could Affect Seasonal Allergies

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The changing climate could prove to be very troublesome for allergy sufferers.  Here are some of the possible effects:

Attack of Potent Pollen

In the past 53 years, carbon dioxide levels have risen globally, approximately 22 percent.  Much has been written about how the rise in greenhouse gases and that it's bad for the environment, but less has been said about how these gases can help some plants flourish.

Unfortunately for humans, these plants -- like poison ivy and ragweed -- tend to be irritating or even harmful to our health.  A 2005 study found that when ragweed plants, a prime cause of hay fever symptoms in late summer and fall, were exposed to higher carbon dioxide levels they not only produced more pollen, but the grains of pollen were covered with increased numbers of nose-irritating proteins, supercharging the pollen's allergic properties.

The study subjected ragweed plants in a lab setting to different carbon dioxide levels from three eras -- the preindustrial age, the present day and even the end of the 21st century.  The study found that the allergen concentrations increased 20 percent from the preindustrial age to today.  But they were projected to rise a startling 60 percent by the end of the century.

So the plants might be flourishing in 90 years, but anyone with a ragweed allergy will be miserable.

"They're growing faster, they're producing more flowers," said Dr. Lewis Ziska, a research plant physiologist at the United States Department of Agriculture and one of the study's authors.  "It's a two-edged sword...the [plants] that are responding have implications for public health."

Double Whammy Allergy Season

Traditionally, allergists break up the year into three distinct seasons.  In spring, it's the trees that cause the most problems; summer brings flowering grasses that induce sneezing; and in fall, ragweed pollen afflicts allergy sufferers with itchy, watery eyes.  

But as temperatures more common for July start showing up in April and May in certain areas of the country, plants react to the weather and not the calendar date.  

Increased overlap between allergy seasons means more pollen in the air and little relief for people hoping for a break between seasons.  However, even when there are multiple allergy seasons happening at once, allergists say there are things people can do to stave off the worst symptoms.

To keep pollen out of the home, experts recommend washing your face and changing your clothes after you arrive home and using a neti pot daily to help flush out irritating pollen grains.

A Milder Winter Might Mean a Miserable Spring

When the weather is warmer and seasons are milder, some plants will be releasing allergy-inducing pollen for longer periods of time.

A 2011 study looked at the length of the ragweed seasons in cities along different latitudes from Georgetown, Texas, to Saskatoon, Canada, over a 14-year period.  During that time, nearly all the cities experienced fewer days with frost and longer ragweed seasons.

Cities further north also had statistically larger increases to their ragweed allergy seasons.  The population of Saskatoon had to contend with a ragweed season 27 days longer in 2009 than in 1995.

Marooned on an 'Urban Heat Island' Means More Sneezing

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 80 percent of Americans currently reside in urban areas.

While cities that lack greenery may seem like a safe place for people with pollen allergies, experts say they won't offer much sanctuary during allergy season.  That is partly because cities often become what scientists call "urban heat islands," where concrete and pavement soak up heat, resulting in consistently higher temperatures compared with surrounding rural areas.

With warmer temperatures and higher levels of carbon dioxide, some allergen-inducing plants can produce more pollen than the same plants located in rural areas.  

A 2003 study on allergen levels in Baltimore found more than three times the amount of ragweed pollen in the city compared with the surrounding rural areas.

Also, densely packed urban areas have higher levels of diesel and car exhaust, which can irritate the nose and throat, making allergy symptoms worse.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

New Details: Angelina Jolie’s Doctor Speaks Out About Her Care

ABC/Lorenzo Bevilaqua/iStockphoto/Thinkstock(LOS ANGELES) -- Earlier this week, Angelina Jolie revealed that she’d had a preventive double mastectomy, and her doctor credits the actress’s positive attitude and strength for her quick recovery.

“To a large extent, I believe recovery reflects expectation,” Dr. Kristi Funk writes in an essay on the Pink Lotus Breast Center’s website. “Angelina expected to feel well, to be active.”

In the essay, Funk details Jolie’s treatment, including her initial BRCA gene diagnosis, surgeries and recovery.

“On day four after her mastectomies, I was pleased to find her not only in good spirits with bountiful energy, but with two walls of her house covered with freshly assembled storyboards for the next project she is directing,” Funk reveals.

Funk also credits Brad Pitt for standing by Jolie’s side throughout the three-month ordeal. After Jolie’s first operation, which took place at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, an outpatient facility in Beverly Hills, California, Funk says Pitt “was on hand to greet her as soon as she came around from the anesthetic, as he was during each of the operations.”

Funk also details which medications she prescribed to Jolie, as well as a rundown of the actress’ medical history.  She writes that Jolie’s mother, who died of ovarian cancer in 2007, also battled breast cancer, and that Jolie’s grandmother had ovarian cancer as well. As a result, Jolie will ultimately have her ovaries removed too, according to People magazine.

“Many women, unfortunately, do not know that BRCA gene mutations exist and could affect them,” Funk writes.  ”Like Angelina, I urge women who feel they may have a reason to be at risk for a BRCA gene mutation — perhaps because of a strong family history of cancer — to seek medical advice and to take control of their futures.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Airport Wheelchair Abuse Hurts the Truly Disabled

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(HOUSTON) -- Are able-bodied people gaming a system set up for people with limited mobility, and thus taking resources away from those in need?

An increasing number of air travelers are requesting wheelchairs at Houston-area airports, ABC Houston affiliate KTRK reports. An airport manager was quoted as telling the station, "We've handled maybe a hundred wheelchairs a year. Now there are some certain times we can handle a hundred wheelchairs in a day."

American Airlines told ABC News that while they haven't seen a noticeable uptick in wheelchair requests in Houston, the number of requests at New York's John F. Kennedy airport -- now about 600 per day -- has increased recently.

Anecdotal evidence from frequent fliers and advocates for people with disabilities suggests, however, that more people are taking advantage of the system. CEO of FareCompare.com and frequent flier Rick Seaney said he's seen an increase in the number of wheelchairs at the airport.

"I would put it on par with a variety of issues like abusing handicap status for parking, disability," he said. "There are always going to be a few that game the system potentially ruining it for the truly needy."

And that's really the heart of the matter: Not whether an able-bodied person has to wait a little longer in a security line at the airport for a person with a wheelchair to go ahead of them, but the fact that people who abuse the system limit resources for people who actually need them. What's worse, there's the potential that abuse of the system could become so rampant that lawmakers may actually dial back accommodations overall, hurting the people who actually need them.

"We've tried to be very careful about disability policy rights with lawmakers and have tried to find a balance," said Curt Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network. "There should be reasonable service provided to people with disabilities so they can participate in society, but those services shouldn't be a burden to the rest of the community.

"When the system is exploited it raises questions about how services should be restricted [for people who truly need them]."

Travelers request wheelchair services and other special accommodations directly from the airline. For example, the American Airlines website has several pages dedicated to assisting travelers who need special accommodation. But there's no one-size-fits-all policy, which leaves room for people inclined to take advantage to do just that.

"Every person with a challenge or disability is different, and you are the best judge of the service you require," the website reads.

Decker said the airlines don't want to get too deep into their customer's personal lives, which may prevent them from asking probing questions regarding the person's claims about a disability. Plus, "there are a lot of hidden disabilities, sometimes you just don't know."

In other words, don't assume the person in the wheelchair cutting the security line doesn't truly need the assistance, even if they look perfectly capable to stand in line like everyone else.

But if you're tempted to game the system, keep in mind it's not a victimless crime. "If people who don't need the services use them, they take up resources and people who actually do need them won't have them available," said Decker.

"Whenever I'm at the airport I see airline personnel scrambling to find wheelchairs for all the people who need them. Especially on the flights to Florida."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Healthy ‘Balanced’ Pizza: Is It Possible?

Jupiterimages/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- In the constant battle of the bulge, pizza would seem to be off-limits. But one British professor of nutrition is aiming to change that with a pizza designed to provide all essential nutrients.

Dr. Mike Lean, professor of nutrition at the University of Glasgow and working physician, designed the Eat Balanced brand pizzas to offer the correct balance of all the nutrients recommended throughout the day. According to Lean, in theory three pizzas a day would give the exact daily recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals based on United Kingdom guidelines.

Lean was inspired to make the pizzas after even he had difficulty putting together meals that had the right mix of vitamins and nutrients.

“We want to make nutritionally balanced meals, we want to eat balanced,” said Lean. “[But] It’s jolly difficult.”

To get the right nutrients in the right amount, Lean worked with the Eat Balanced founder Donnie Maclean and others to figure out how to get the recommended nutrients including vitamin C, iron and zinc into the pizza without losing the pizza taste. The team ended up putting unusual ingredients like seaweed in to the crust and red peppers in the tomato sauce to get all the nutrients. However they made it a priority that the pizza would still taste like pizza.

“[Seaweed is] in the bread mix, the upshot is it had all these nutrients,” said Lean. “People say, ‘Oh it tastes and looks and smells like pizza.’ It’s made by an Italian [chef] with a round tummy who knows who to make pizzas.”

This week the pizza went on sale in the United Kingdom, but Lean has bigger plans.

“I’m going to recommend to NASA [that the astronauts going to Mars] should eat three pizzas every day,” said Lean. “They are going to get all the nutrients [they need].”

However, some nutritionists are skeptical of the “healthy” pizza label. Susan Levin, a registered dietitian and director of nutrition at the food watchdog group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said the pizzas should not replace actual proven healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

“In fact, these percentages [of total and saturated fat] are not so different than what an American consumes on average,” said Levin, who pointed out that the use of processed meat is linked to other diseases like heart disease and cancer. “I appreciate the niche this company is trying to target. But I wish it did it with really high-fiber, low-fat, cholesterol free offerings.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Locks of Love Tangled in $6 Million Dispute

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Locks of Love, a charity that makes wigs for children with alopecia and cancer, has become entangled in a dispute with a self-appointed watchdog that claims the charity is wasting millions of dollars worth of donated hair.

Nonprofit Investor claims it has tried to comb through the records of Locks of Love, but has found few documents.

It therefore estimated that the charity accepts 104,000 hair donations per year, enough for more than 2,000 hairpieces, but made only 317 custom wigs in 2011. Nonprofit Investor calculated that a hair-raising $6 million worth of donations were wasted or not being used.

"I have no idea where that number came from," Locks founder Madonna Coffman said referring to the estimate that she receives 104,000 hair donations a year. "We never in 15 years have counted hair donations, and I explained that to him."

"When hair donations come in, they're opened and put in color bins, and we don't count them," said Coffman, who founded the group in 1997 after her daughter lost her hair to alopecia. "I don't have the staff for that. I don't know what the purpose would be to count hair donations."

"We made 317 that year because we had 317 requests," Coffman said. Some of the donated hair is sold to finance the making of its custom wigs. It sold $500,000 worth in 2011, Coffman said. The unused hair stays in inventory until a request comes in, she said.

Nonprofit Investor used a line from a 2004 USA Today article that said Locks of Love received "2,000-3,000 donations a week." Nonprofit Investor used the lower of the two numbers -- 2,000 -- and multiplied it by 52 weeks in a year to conclude that Locks of Love receives 104,000 hair donations a year.

Nonprofit Investor is a 2-year-old group attempting to find its niche among nonprofit evaluators like Guidestar and Charity Navigator. Nonprofit Investor has evaluated about 60 nonprofits under founder Kent Chao, who graduated from the University of Texas in 2006. This is the organization's first negative evaluation.

Chao said he was comfortable relying on the 2004 USA Today article, and called the fact that Locks of Love doesn't count its hair donations "troubling."

Coffman also said that Nonprofit Investor disregarded her explanation.

Coffman said she didn't hear from Chao's organization until February when it emailed an early copy of the report to info@locksoflove.org, a mailbox Coffman said is so full that it's lucky anyone saw it. She offered to answer questions, but said Chao only asked her two: how much hair Locks of Love receives and how many wigs it made in each year from 2004 forward.

"The information I gave him was truthful and accurate, but it did not support the report he hoped to release so he elected to ignore it," she said.

Chao, however, said he reached out to Locks of Love many times, but never heard from anyone from the organization until a lawyer threatened to sue if they published their report.

Fraud investigator Gerald Zach reviewed Locks of Love IRS 990 Form and told ABC News that the rules for gifts like hair "aren't as clear as they could be."

Zack said he doubts the organization has $6 million worth of unaccounted hair, but said its IRS Form 990 was "a bit messy."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

For Legally Blind Pole Vaulter, the Sky’s the Limit

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(EMORY, Texas) -- At just 15 years old, Charlotte Brown has learned to fly — with a pink pole vault.

She’s not just the best pole vaulter Emory Rains High School, in Emory, Texas, has ever had, Charlotte is one of the best in the nation. She’s cleared 11 feet, 6 inches. And at the Texas state championships last week, the sophomore took eighth place — to a standing ovation.

What’s most amazing, however, is that Charlotte is legally blind. She said her vision was like looking down the inside of little black straws.

“I can’t really make up a blur even,” she told ABC News. “It just blends in for me.”

She frightened her parents, Ian and Stori Brown, when she told them that she’d like to try to jump.

“I said, ‘I have some concerns,’” Ian said.

“We never told her no,” Stori said. “We never told her she couldn’t do something, that we weren’t going to sign her up for an activity or a sport.”

At 16 weeks old, Charlotte started losing her sight. Doctors didn’t know why. She endured several surgeries. Doctors removed cataracts and tried artificial lenses. Nothing seemed to help.

Charlotte now reads and writes in Braille, uses large magnifying glasses and projectors, and has learned to read handwritten letters by feeling the ink.

When it comes to pole vaulting, Charlotte has a system. Her coach lays artificial turf next to her lane — she can see the difference between light and dark — and that helps her run the lane. She counts her steps and then goes for the jump.

She said she’s losing what little sight she has but she’s not letting it hinder her dreams.

“I think a disability is something that stops you or limits you from being able to do the things that you want to do,” Charlotte said. “This story isn’t about me. It’s about all people that struggle with something. I think everyone struggles with something in life. This was my something."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Fecal Germs in Public Pools: Should You Worry?

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- A new study, which found DNA fragments from the fecal germ E. coli in 58 percent of public pools, might have you thinking twice about taking a dip this summer.

But experts say there’s no cause for alarm.

“The study did not test for living bacteria,” said ABC News’ chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser. “It’s possible and likely that many of these germs were dead. That’s why we put disinfectants in swimming pools in the first place. Our bodies are covered with bacteria, some harmful and some not.”

For the study, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention performed genetic testing on samples scraped from the filters of 161 Atlanta-area public pools. Ninety-three of the samples came back positive for E. coli DNA, which could have come from living germs or germs killed off by chlorine and other disinfecting chemicals.

Either way, the DNA came from bacteria that probably came from human poop -- a fact that might be unsettling for some. Nevertheless, Michele Hlavsa, chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program, stressed that swimming is still a great way to get exercise and stay healthy.

“However, pool users should be aware of how to prevent infections while swimming,” she said in a statement. “That’s why it’s important for swimmers to protect themselves by not swallowing the water they swim in and to protect others by keeping feces and germs out of the pool by taking a pre-swim shower and not swimming when ill with diarrhea.”

E. coli wasn’t the only germ floating around in the tested pools. Ninety-five of the pools tested contained DNA belonging to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bug that can cause skin rashes and ear infections. Sixty-seven of the pools contained DNA from both bacteria, according to the study, but none of the pools were the source of a disease outbreak.

“Although this sounds alarming, we need to be careful here,” said Besser, explaining how the findings should come as no surprise considering that the average swimmer, according to the CDC, has 0.14 grams of fecal material on his or her body that could rinse off into the water. “The only way to remove this is with a vigorous shower using soap and water. And most public pools only provide outdoor showers that let people rinse off while keeping their bathing suits on.”

To make a splash safely this summer, the CDC offers the following tips:

• Shower with soap before you jump in
• Take bathroom breaks every 60 minutes
• Wash your hands with soap after using the toilet
• Check diapers every 30-60 minutes
• Wash your hands with soap after changing diapers in a dedicated changing area
• Take a rinse shower before you get back in the pool
• Do not swim if you have diarrhea
• Don’t swallow pool water

Swimmers can also check the chlorine and pH levels before getting into the water. Chlorine levels should be in the range of 1 to 3 milligrams per liter or parts per million, and the pH of the water should be between 7.2 and 7.8 to maximize germ-killing power, according to the CDC.

“The rules for safely using swimming pools that the CDC lays out make a lot of sense, but it is no surprise that this study found evidence of bacteria,” said Besser. “After all," he added, “our bodies contain more bacteria than human cells.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"Wonder Years" Star on Why She Breastfed Son Until He Was 2

ABC News(NEW YORK) -- You may remember Danica McKellar from her role as Winnie Cooper on the 1980s hit show, The Wonder Years. Now, she is all grown up and a mother with strong views on parenting, some of which may be deemed unconventional.

McKellar is a proponent of attachment parenting, a style of child-rearing that focuses on forming nurturing bonds through, among other things, extended breastfeeding, co-sleeping (allowing child to sleep in the same bed with parents), positive discipline and constantly being physically close to the child.

“I breastfed my child until he was two and a half,” McKellar, 38, said in an interview with ABC News’ Abbie Boudreau.  “That was just, like, a few weeks ago that we stopped.  Big transition.”

McKellar said it was a bigger transition for her than for her son, Draco.

“I just sensed that it was time that he needed to be a little more independent,” she said.

McKellar is one of many Hollywood mothers who practice attachment parenting.  Others include singer Alanis Morissette and Blossom actress Mayim Bialik.

Boudreau asked McKellar how people perceived her when she was breastfeeding her son.

McKellar said she would “get looks sometimes, from some of the older patrons” in restaurants, but said she didn’t let it get to her.

“I … bring him into the bed with me sometimes at night and we snuggle and go to sleep together which is,  the cutest thing in the world.  I love being close with him,” she said.

She said she and Draco are so close that they share their own language.  Generally, when infants are hungry, they cry.  Her older son, she said, asks.

“So he would say, ‘Nam nams?’  Just because I remember seeing some kitten video and they’d put, like, ‘Nam, nam, nam,’ like it was a yummy thing the kitten was eating.  It was so cute that I was like, ‘I’m going to call it ‘Nam nam,’” McKellar said.

McKellar, a bestselling author who writes math books for children, said she would take breaks from writing to breastfeed her baby.

“When he was young, I had it mastered where I -- learned to type with one hand for a while...I like to say that the only type of formula I use is in a math book,” she said, laughing.

Although critics warn that extreme attachment parenting can lead to behavioral problems, McKellar isn’t worried.

“Cuddling, being close, you know, sleeping in the same bed sometimes, wearing him in a sling, long-term breastfeeding, all have to have this closeness.  On the other hand, doing everything your child wants you to do right when they want you to do it is another thing.  Spoiling them is completely different,” she said.

She encourages other mothers to follow their instincts and take cues from their child.

“You can breastfeed as long as it works for both you and your child, you know?” McKellar said.  “For me it was two and a half and for you it might be three and a half or three months or whatever it is that works.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Zoe Saldana's Weight Reveal on "Allure" Cover Stirs Uproar

Tom Munro for Allure(NEW YORK) -- Actress Zoe Saldana may have bared it all on the new cover of Allure magazine, but it’s the headline emblazoned on the magazine’s cover announcing the actress’ weight that is causing a controversy. It's now leading to a backlash among readers, who are questioning the editors’ decision.

The headline next to the Avatar beauty reads: “Zoe Saldana: 115 Pounds of Grit and Heartache.”  While some say it was meant to be positive, many women are now questioning whether a magazine would ever publish a man’s weight.

“This is absolutely ridiculous," one reader told ABC News.  “I don’t know what they were thinking.  It must have been just for the shock value, because stars never reveal their weight.”

Late Wednesday, the controversy rocketed across the Internet.  One person tweeted “Zoe Saldana’s weight revealed on Allure cover. For every step forward, mags take 3 back!”  Another posting on a message board read, “I don’t think putting the weight on a magazine cover for a celebrity is a good idea, we have too many young girls with body images already.”

Child and teen development expert body image expert Dr. Robyn Silverman said that reaction among young people may be mixed.

“For some girls, they’ll have very little reaction.  For other girls, who may be more susceptible to eating disorder behavior, this may serve as a trigger, making them feel that they need to lose weight,” she said.

Allure magazine is asking for reader comments on Facebook. 

”Some people have said citing her weight on the cover was a mistake,” the magazine wrote.  “Here’s your chance to sound off: tell us what you think!”

In the post, the magazine wrote: “The girl is a powerhouse.  And we were so impressed by what a tough, confident woman Saldana is (on-screen, in her action-movie roles, and off) that we wanted to capture that.  But some people have said citing her weight on the cover was a mistake.”

Bonnie Fuller, editor at The Hollywood Life, said Allure may not have intended to cause a media frenzy.

“I really think the editors were setting out to be complimentary,” she said.  “They wanted to show that a woman could be small in size, but powerful in spirit.”

Saldana, the star of Star Trek Into Darkness, hasn’t weighed in on the controversial headline, but has said she’s happy with how the photo shoot turned out.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Breast Surgery Patients Can Benefit from Exercise

Jupiterimages/Goodshot/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- One of the most common problems that can plague those who have undergone mastectomies -- such as actress Angelina Jolie -- is lymphedema, a painful swelling of the arm. 

Between 5 percent and 20 percent of women develop this chronic and debilitating condition in the first three years after surgery, according to the American College of Surgeons.

Not so long ago, patients with lymphedema were told to lay low.  Doctors worried that even something as simple as holding a purse or pushing open a door would overuse the afflicted arm and worsen the swelling.

But the thousands of post-mastectomy patients who've take up the ancient Chinese sport of dragon boat racing -- paddling a large, long canoe with a dragon head at the front and a dragon tail at the back -- have helped change that thinking.  Many swear by the sport as a way to help manage their hand and arm swelling.

"When I heard about dragon boat racing, I thought, Oh sure, that's for me," said Kathy Christiansen, a 58-year-old nurse who took up dragon boating in 2006 a few years after undergoing a partial mastectomy in her right breast.  "I was told about all these restrictions, but I have always been an athletic person, and I couldn't see following them."

Christiansen said she rarely had lymphedema symptoms and believed it was because of all her physical activity since having surgery, not least of all dragon boat racing.  At her last checkup, the doctor noticed her right arm was actually smaller than her unaffected left arm.

Dragon boating was first used for breast cancer recovery in 1996 by a physician trying to test his theory that more, not less, upper-body exercise could help reduce lymphedema.  His subsequent studies found that paddlers had less swelling and fewer physical limitations compared with breast cancer survivors who did not exercise.

Since that first boat took to the water, more than a hundred breast-cancer survivor dragon boat teams have formed worldwide.  The boats hold up to 20 paddlers plus a caller who sits near the head and someone in the back to steer the boat.  In competitions, the caller also beats a ceremonial drum to help paddlers keep to the same rhythm.

Christiansen's team, Pink Paddling Power, was started as a support group by Wheaton Franciscan Cancer Care of the All Saints Hospital in Racine, Wis., and is supported by various grants and donations.  There are currently more than 40 women on its active roster. 

In 2006, 29 team members, ages 46 to 71, competed in the Club Crew World Championships of Dragon Boat Racing in Hong Kong, in the breast cancer survivors division.

But even with all the potential benefits dragon boating might offer a woman with lymphedema, Katherine Schmitz, an associate professor of epidemiology who studies breast cancer at the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, advises caution.

"With any type of exercise, all breast cancer survivors need to start slow, progress low and let the symptoms be their guide," Schmitz said.  "I'm just not sure how you do this with dragon boat racing."

While Schmitz is fan of dragon boat racing -- and any activity that gets breast cancer patients up and moving -- she said a supervised weight-training program in which the weight is increased gradually over time might be a more judicious approach for many.

In a one-year study of more than 150 women led by Schmitz, weight lifters slashed their risk of developing arm swelling by 35 percent.  Only 11 percent of the group developed lymphedema, compared with 17 percent of those in the nonexercising group. 

The women who'd had the most lymph nodes removed -- five or more -- experienced a nearly 70 percent risk reduction, with 22 percent of inactive participants developing lymphedema, compared with 7 percent in the exercising group.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio