If you or anyone you care about takes meds for anemia, pay close attention – because the news on these things keeps getting worse.

A new study – the largest of its kind – found that the anemia drug Aranesp may significantly increase the risk of stroke in diabetics who suffer from kidney problems.

Ironic, since the goal of the study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was to find out if this med could prevent those strokes, as well as heart disease and heart attacks.

The researchers also found that patients on the drug noticed only a slight improvement in fatigue, one of the hallmarks of anemia. With benefits like that, who needs side effects?

But the most remarkable thing about this study isn’t the results… it’s the fact that it was sponsored by Amgen, the drug’s maker. The study’s leader has consulted for the company, and two of its authors actually work for it.

It must have seemed like a safe bet at the time.

Bravo to this team for being unafraid to bite the hand that’s feeding it. The drug maker, for its part, says it will update the label to reflect this new risk.

That’s nothing new for them. For two years now, Amgen has had to put stronger and stronger warnings on the labels of three anemia drugs. It makes you think that a skull and crossbones might be better at this point.

If you’re anemic, go over your alternatives with your doctor. It’s entirely possible that careful management of your diet and nutrition can help reduce your need for meds – or even allow you to skip the pills altogether.

Don’t be tempted by an iron supplement as a quick solution – you’ll want to get your iron largely from natural dietary sources, including leafy green vegetables and red meat. Beef and chicken livers also have plenty of iron, along with pork, chicken and fish.

But all that iron in your food won’t help much if you’re not getting enough vitamin C. Believe it or not, C is just as important here because it helps your body to absorb all that dietary iron.

The B vitamins – including folic acid – and magnesium may also help your body fight off anemia.

As always, bring your doctor in on this one, because it’s difficult to find the right amounts and combinations on your own… and to know when its safe to consider getting off these meds before they do you some real harm.

Some great news for women who already love their cuppa joe – your daily caffeine boost can also slash your risk for one of the most common cancers.

A new study finds that women who drink at least two cups of caffeinated coffee per day may have a dramatically lower risk for endometrial cancer.

Researchers surveyed more than 60,000 Swedish women over 17 years and found that 1 percent of them ultimately developed endometrial cancer – which affects the cells lining the uterus.

Since this cancer tends to disproportionately affect older women, the average age of the diagnosis was 67.

But the researchers found that women who drank at least two cups of caffeinated coffee each day had a lower risk of getting that cancer – sometimes significantly so, depending on how much they drank and how much they weighed.

On average, each additional daily cup of coffee lowered the risk for this cancer by 10 percent, according to the study published in the International Journal of Cancer.

The researchers found that heavier women got the biggest benefits. Overweight women got a 12 percent reduction in risk for each additional cup of coffee, while obese women were able to slash their risk by 20 percent for each cup.

But since previous studies have found a strong link between obesity and this cancer, I don’t think it’s a good idea to remain overweight and simply drink coffee to reduce your risk.

To get the best of all worlds, lose the weight and keep sipping that joe. You’ll lower the risk for endometrial cancer, but you’ll also get so many other benefits.

Coffee alone has been linked to a decreased risk of Parkinson’s disease, colon cancer, cirrhosis of the liver and even gallstones. Caffeine has also been shown to help prevent headaches – in fact, it’s the secret ingredient in a couple of common over-the-counter headache pills.

In some people, however, caffeine can make certain headaches worse – so know your body on this one.

Losing weight will also give you a health boost far beyond a lower risk for endometrial cancer. You’ll look better, feel better, lower your risk for heart disease and have a much lower chance of joining the growing ranks of America’s diabetics.

And if that’s not good enough for you – then it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Tai chi is one of those things that can look awfully funny to outsiders: A group of people, standing in rows, moving slowly and silently as if fighting in a low-speed martial- arts tournament.

But did you know that those slow, deliberate movements could bring some serious pain relief? Maybe these folks are the ones getting the last laugh… because a new study finds that tai chi can help people cope with knee osteoarthritis.

Tufts University researchers looked at 40 OA sufferers. Half of them did 60 minutes of tai chi twice a week for 12 weeks. The other half served as a control group – they were given two 60-minute classes twice a week that went over OA information, diet, education and discussions of more traditional therapies.

In the end, the patients in the tai chi group reported significantly less pain than those who sat through the classes.

The research is promising and it certainly won’t hurt to try. My concern is that tai chi exercises don’t appear to do anything to the underlying condition behind knee osteoarthritis, specifically the loss of cartilage in your knees.

But pain relief is pain relief – and simple exercises are a much better option than painkillers that can destroy your stomach and lead to other problems.

If you’re willing to give tai chi a shot, I’d suggest doing it in concert with something else, like a glucosamine supplement. Many people add chondroitin to this, but I’d suggest seeing if you can get by without it. Some studies have linked chondroitin to prostate cancer, and while the research is early there’s no reason to take the chance when so many people get relief without it.

It’s pretty easy to find a tai chi group if you live in a big urban area. Elsewhere, it may be a bit trickier – but you can start by asking the workers at your local park. Since many tai chi groups meet in parks in the morning, the staff here might be able to point you in the right direction.

You can also try local martial arts schools – even if they don’t offer tai chi, they may know someone who does.

And even if tai chi doesn’t deliver on the promise of pain relief, it’s still a great way to get outside, get moving and socialize.

Not everyone has gotten the message: We can’t afford to sit on our butts all day.

Our bodies need exercise, and two new studies show just how big a boost you’ll get from that sweat.

One of these studies, published in the American Journal of Medicine, finds that just 30 minutes of light exercise like jogging or bicycling three times a week can significantly reduce the risk of early death in people with heart problems.

I know people who spend more time in the bathroom than that – so surely most of us can find that half hour a day.

Researchers tracked 522 people with heart conditions, including high stress, over six years. They were given 12 weeks of exercises classes, then sent on their way.

Those who stuck with it were 60 percent less likely to die over the six-year follow-up period.

The routine they were given was consistent, but not taxing: 10 minutes of warm-ups followed by 30 to 40 minutes of light aerobics – like walking, rowing or jogging. Then, they capped the workout off with 10 minutes of stretching.

Exercise also helped reduce stress levels, a significant factor for heart problems. Prior to the program, one in 10 patients had high stress levels. Afterward, just one in 20 were still fighting that battle.

Another study finds that exercise can make stiff arteries more elastic. In plain English, that means it can significantly lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Canadian researchers found that diabetics who got an hour of vigorous aerobic exercise three times a week saw a 15 percent to 20 percent reduction in arterial stiffness. What’s more, they got this boost in just three months.

These subjects were working out relatively hard – reaching 70 percent of their maximum heart rate.

But they started out small with some light exercise and worked their way up – and so can you, even if you never reach that 70 percent level. Any exercise is better than nothing at all.

I know a few seniors who start out using soup cans (unopened, of course) as light weights. And let’s face it – that’s a much better use for these things than eating what’s inside.

Open the can, and you have an unhealthy meal packed in salt and preservatives. Keep it sealed, and you have a dumbbell that only costs a buck or two and is the perfect size for many people in the 65+ crowd.

Just don’t throw the can opener away… you might still need the food in that can in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster. But that’s about the only time you should consider eating it.

And of course, talk to your doctor before adding new exercises to your daily routine.