Health in a Heartbeat

If you have kids who play sports like basketball, soccer and baseball, did you know these sports have a high risk of eye injury? April is Sports Eye Safety Month, which is a great time to discuss preventing eye injuries. According to the National Eye Institute, they are the leading cause of blindness in children […]

With swimsuit season approaching, many people may be tempted to crash diet to fit certain body image ideals, only to gain the weight back later. And a vicious cycle rolls on. Researchers say nearly 55 percent of women in the U.S. admit to having done this so-called yo-yo dieting, but it can have negative effects […]

More than 75 million American adults are dealing with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High blood pressure can result in an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Additionally, one in three Americans have prehypertension, defined by a systolic blood pressure between 120 and139 […]

Eating undercooked chicken is extremely dangerous and can cause infections such as salmonella poisoning. Now new evidence shows that a common bacterium found in pink poultry can also cause Guillain-Barre [GHEE-on ba-RAY] syndrome. In this disorder, the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Early symptoms include weakness and tingling in the […]

“Time flies when you’re having fun” is an age-old saying that too often seems to be true. Have you ever been excited to go on vacation only to have it end too soon? By contrast, stressful situations seem to make time stand still. Studies have shown this phenomenon is due in part to our emotions, […]

We’ve all seen the commercials of long-distance runners who seem to be gliding blissfully on cushions of air, their toned legs impervious to the constant pounding of their feet on unforgiving concrete and asphalt. Their secret? Special insoles in their shoes or orthotics that absorb the punishment so their bodies don’t have to. But a […]

To stave off memory problems, you might want to spend some time in a sauna. A recent study at the University of Finland suggests that men who sauna bathe several times a week are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with dementia. Men who spent time in a sauna four to seven times a week […]

What are the effects of racial discrimination? Entire disciplines are dedicated to studying its impact on society as a whole, how marginalizing an entire population based on their skin color minimizes their contributions and value. But what happens to a person on an individual and even genetic level when they face discrimination? This is the […]

Next to epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease is the most common neurological illness in America. The disease causes impaired balance and coordination, tremors and slowness of movement. It occurs when a person’s brain stops producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers and regulates movement. Could medical marijuana ease the suffering for […]

What do you get when you combine smartphones and snubbing? A whole lot of rocky relationships, due in part to a new habit called “phubbing.” For example, during a lull in conversation, your date pulls out his or her phone at the table. You feel snubbed, and an argument ensues. That’s phubbing, and a new […]

Sleep deprivation is linked to a loss of concentration skills and the ability to accurately complete tasks. Night owls typically work better during the late hours than those who are early risers. But a new study suggests that after a long, sleepless night, early risers are faster to act when presented with a problem but […]

Any frazzled parent knows the mantra of growing children: “I’m hungry.” And even though it’s not going to earn any parenting accolades, reaching for a fatty, salty snack can be the response guaranteed to satiate a child’s never-waning appetite. But the results of a new study suggest that a healthier snack can be not only lower in calories, but also just as likely to satisfy. A Cornell University study tested 200 elementary school students divided into several groups that were given different types of snacks. Some ate chips, some vegetables, some cheese, and some a combination of cheese and vegetables. And all the kids were invited to enjoy their snacks while watching an hour of TV. The result: The children who munched on the cheese-and-veggie combo ate 72 percent fewer calories than those who snacked on potato chips. The cheese-and-veggie kids also reported satisfaction rates as high as children who munched chips. Was it the crunch of the vegetables that made them so satisfying? The fun of eating them with the cheese? Or maybe that the veggies and cheese took longer to eat than potato chips? Perhaps. But the important message of the study is that eating healthier, low-calorie foods can satisfy a child’s craving for snacks. This study isn’t the only one trying to crack the code of how to get children to eat their vegetables. Another study found that 8- to 11-year-olds ate about one-third more vegetables when they were given creative marketing names such as “X-Ray Carrots” and “Power Punch Broccoli.” And recent research in Spain calculated that children were 80 percent more likely to eat their vegetables when allowed to choose their own. So now that we know more answers to the age-old question of how to get children to eat their vegetables, the new question is: Can parents learn how to reach for something healthy and not just something convenient?  

Shingles used to be a painful condition that only aging parents and grandparents needed to worry about. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Researchers say the number of young people who develop shingles has increased six-fold … and they’re not sure why. Shingles is a painful, blistering rash caused by the virus responsible for chicken pox. The virus, herpes zoster, becomes dormant in the body after a case of chicken pox. Shingles develops if the virus becomes active again. Anyone who ever had chicken pox can get shingles, but people usually develop the condition when they’re over the age of 60. But the number of new cases in young people, especially college kids, has got researchers alarmed. If you have your first case of shingles at 20, there’s a higher chance of recurrence over the next 60 or 70 years. In fact, some researchers actually say there’s a higher chance shingles will recur than occur in the first place. There is a vaccine to prevent shingles if you’ve had chicken pox, but it’s only recommended for people who are at least 60 years old. If you’ve had chicken pox as a child and aren’t old enough for the vaccine, managing stress may help lower the chance of shingles. Researchers say high stress combined with low immunity appears to trigger the condition. Shingles is not contagious, but you should not touch anyone’s rash or blister if they suspect they have shingles. People who come in contact with shingles and did not have chicken pox or the chicken pox vaccine as children could develop a case of chicken pox. As more people receive the chicken pox vaccine, the number of new shingles cases is expected to decrease. So if you’ve never had chicken pox, it may be time to check with your doctor about getting vaccinated.  

What was that person’s name you just met? Where are the car keys? You might just be having another senior moment … or you might be able to blame it on the air. That’s right, new research shows that air pollution could cause lapses in memory in older adults. Research has shown that pollution causes developmental delays in children, but the effect seems to span generations. The study looked at memory test results of more than 15,000 men and women over the age of 50. The researchers then compared the results with the E-P-A’s annual average level of fine air particulate matter. Every 10-point increase in air pollution exposure was connected to a one-third point drop in the memory test score. Although that doesn’t sound like a lot, it actually equates to three years in aging. Air pollution cause problems when the particles are inhaled into the lungs and even the brain. It’s especially aggravating to those with heart and lung disease, who often require hospital and emergency room visits even after just short-term exposures of 24 hours or less. Exposure of a year or more can lead to respiratory disease. The 10 most polluted cities in 2012 were Bakersfield, Hanford, Los Angeles, Visalia and Fresno in California, as well as Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville and Philadelphia. The good news is that if you live in one of these contaminated locales, there are a few things you can do to reduce your exposure. Don’t exercise outdoors and limit exertion when pollution levels are high. Drive with the air-recirculating button on when commuting. Fit your home with filters to reduce particles inside, too. Limiting the use of wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and candles can keep air cleaner, too. A little foresight and planning can keep your lungs, heart and brain pollution-free.  

Spread the word: Peanut allergies are a nut that allergy doctors may yet crack. In the world of food allergies, peanuts lead the pack, with shrimp and eggs trailing as a distant second and third. About six out of every thousand people are so sensitive to peanuts their only recourse is to avoid them altogether … or face severe reactions. Hives and itching are the least of the symptoms. At the extreme end, anaphylaxis can cause the throat to swell and blood pressure to plummet. It could kill. The problem is peanuts are used in a variety of food-processing facilities and are common ingredients in soups, sauces, cereals, salads, desserts and candy. Peanut butter allegedly tastes great with chocolate. And it is very hard to avoid. Now, in carefully supervised conditions, researchers are exposing people with peanut allergies to tiny amounts of peanut powder underneath their tongues in an effort to desensitize them. The goal of therapy is not to introduce people to the pleasures of peanuts, but to protect them from becoming deathly ill in case they are accidentally exposed. Because peanut allergies are so dangerous, great care is taken to tailor a tolerable dose. After 44 weeks of daily therapy, 14 of the 20 participants could tolerate 10 times more peanut powder than they could when they started. After 68 weeks, gains for the volunteers taking the immunotherapy were even higher, with minor side effects, such as itching inside the mouth. Doctors from National Jewish Health in Denver and the University of North Carolina led the study. But take heed, the treatment is far from being ready for prime time and definitely should not be experimented with at home because of the risks. If you are allergic, remember, peanuts are dangerous … in or out of a nutshell.