Sudden Deaths Not Caused By Exercise

Young adults, athletes and their parents should be relieved to know that the resources are not the problem of sudden cardiac arrest at sporting events.

A study found that the majority of sudden deaths occurring among young adults do not happen during exercise or on the field; they happen to people who are not exerting themselves.


More on the study.
Sudden Deaths Not Caused By Exercise

Looking Older Than One's Age-A Health Risk

Looking younger than one's age can be a sign of good health and may prevent heart disease and heart attacks. 

The risk factors that make us sick  can also make us look older than we are, with a significant difference between the two ages.

A study that highlights the difference between our  biological(real) age and our chronological age found the people who look older that their age have a greater risk of developing heart disease.

The study used signs of aging such as receding hairlines at the temples, baldness at the crown of the head, earlobe creases, yellowish fatty deposits around the eyelids, wrinkles and tallying crow's feet.

Participants were 11,000 Danish people and began in 1976; they were 40 years old and over at the start of the study.

Researchers found that the risk for heart disease and heart attacks increased with each additional sign of aging. 

When compared with those who had none of the signs of aging, those with 3-4 of the signs had a 57% greater risk for a heart attack and 39% greater risk for heart disease.

Heart disease and heart attacks are non-communicable diseases, their main risk factors are: smoking, unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, overweight, hypertension and high cholesterol.

By reducing or eliminating these risk factors early in life, one can expect not only to prevent these diseases but  to look and feel younger.

Read more on the study.

Click for a program hat prepares people to promote health and longevity

Proper Hand Washing For Your health

How often do you wash your hands, or how well do you wash your hands?

A recent survey shows that most people do not wash their hands properly and not all the time.

The survey of 1,000 people showed that they were washing their hands an average of 87% of the time after using a public washroom; 62% reported washing their hands without using soap.

Proper hand washing is a protection for our health, to maintain optimum health it is important.

Here are some hand washing tips:

• Wash between fingers and under fingernails
• Wash for 20 seconds
• Use soap, not just water.
• Dry with paper towel or let dry naturally
• Avoid using shared towels for drying
• Use hand sanitizers that are at least 60% alcohol
• Wash hands after coughing and sneezing

When to wash hands
-After using public washrooms
-After handling garbage
-After handling garbage containers
-Before preparing or handling meals
-After looking after a sick person
-During coughs and colds

Read about the survey and more on how hand washing should be done in the
TheSpec.com

HPV Not a Cause of Promoscuity-Study

A study that used medical outcomes data to examine consequences of human papillomavirus(HPV) vaccine, found that the vaccine does not cause promoscuity in girls.

The study involved 1,400 girls in a health program in Atlanta.

Researchers looked for markers of sexually activity after vaccination against HPV. They examined records of up to 3 years on whether the girls had:

• Sought birth control advice
• Tests for sexually transmitted disease
• Tests for pregnancy
• Had become pregnant

HPV vaccine is a preventative measure against cervical cancer. The Cancer society recommends that girls and women between the ages of 11 and 45 be vaccinated to reduce the risk of the disease.

The shots apparently work best when started before the person becomes sexually active, but parents raised concern that they may be a cause of promoscuity

The human papillomavirus is a leading cause of cervical cancer.

Read more on the study.

Statin Drugs Generate Survival and Health Benefits

A recent study found that the use of statin medication has large survival and health benefits

For the research, researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), from 1987 to 2008.

They assessed the relationship between statins use and LDL cholesterol levels.

They then estimated:
1-The number of avoided deaths due to statin use
2-The number of avoided  hospitalizations  due to statin use

Next they estimated how statin use affected long-term survival, for this they used data from a randomized trial of statin use for 15 years.

The study found that statin therapy reduced deaths by 40,000, hospitalizations for heart attacks by 60,000 and hospitalizations for strokes by 22,00

Based on the result of the study, the medical experts are predicting more actions to encourage their use and adherence.

Statins are FDA approved drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Read More about the study from Drug Topics.

Antibiotics Blamed For Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A recent research study found that children who were exposed to antibiotics were at greater risk for inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).

For the study researchers analyzed data of 1,072,426 children 17 years and younger from 464 practices in the UK.

The participants were either never exposed to antibiotics or  ever exposed to them; more than 1/2 of the participants were exposed to at least one antibiotic.

The study found that exposure to antianaerobic antibiotics increased overall risk for IBD by 84%.

When compared to children of the same age who had never been exposed to antibiotics, children 1 year and younger had a 5.51 times increased risk for disease.  The risk for the disease in exposed children; however, decreased with age, so by 15 years the risk is 1.57 times.

 Researchers are saying that limiting antibiotic use may help reduce the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in children.

Read more on the study.

Second-Hand Smoke Can Cause Memory Impairment

Second hand-smoke is an air pollutant , it degrades the quality of air making the persons exposed to it at risk for certain health problems.

Second hand-smoke is also a risk  factor for non-communicable diseases, the ones caused by smoking tobacco.

Recently a research study found that second-hand smoke can cause memory impairment.

For the study researchers used participants who were exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 25 hours per week.  They either lived with a smoker or fraternized regularly with smokers.

The participants were required to respond to certain controlled circumstances. Their responses were then compared to:

1. Smokers who had not been exposed to second hand-smoke
2. Non smokers

The result was that the participants who were repeatedly exposed to second-hand smoke forgot almost 20% more frequently than those who were not.

Read more about this study.

For our health program second-hand smoke, air pollution and smoking are health risk factors

By participating in the program, one can learn to eliminate or reduce these and other health risk factors that make them sick.
Click here to learn more about it.

Obese Children Identify Taste Sensations Incorrectly

A study involving 99 obese children and 94 normal weight ones found that obese children were less likely to identify individual taste sensations correctly.

For the study the participants were given taste strips with 5 different tastes and 2 blank strips.

The strips were placed on the tongue and they were asked to identiy the tastes.

The obese children identified sweet taste as much lower in intensity than other children.

It is believed that heighthened sensitivity to different tastes may help reduce food intake.

Based on the result of this study, obese children may be at risk of consuming more calories and sugar because they identify sweet as less intense.

The study didn't report whether obesity wasa cause of the taste dicrepancy or the taste discrepancy resulted in the child being obese.

Consuming too many calories and sugar are causes of obesity.

To read more on this study, Click Here

Symptoms That require the attention of a health Professonal

Being healthy takes a certain amount of care at home, care on a daily basis and all year round.

It requires self-care to promote health and prevent disease. Self care is important because it keeps us in tune with our health.

Self-care helps us to eliminate risk factors that can make us sick, thereby preventing us from needing a health professional.

When we suffer from minor aches and pains or have minor symptoms that go away in a day or two our body can be healing itself.

This requires self-care before and after.

There are times, when our health is challenge. we may feel differently, The symptoms that make us feel that way may require outside help, that means we may need medical attention to check it out.

These are some symptoms that require that we see a health professional:

-Persistent dry eyes-Dry eye syndrome is a condition common to computer users and those who spend long hours at a time on the Internet. If after using eye drops or artificial tears for dry eye the symptoms persist, it is time to have it checked out.

-Heartburn which has been around for more than two weeks, not relieved by your own medication. They could be a sign of heart disease or gastro-oesophageal reflux.

- A lesion, spot or bump on the skin that is not healing or has changed shape. If it has been around for two weeks or more, it is time to check it out to rule our cancer.

-A painful blister on the nose; they are common among people whose immune system is low. It could be the shingles virus.

-Vaginal discharge that starts to smell or changed. It could be a bacterial infection.

-Heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

-Chest pain and shortness of breath-These are symptoms of a heart attack.

There are six do-not-treat-yourself symptoms mentioned in this article, I want to share it with you.

Click here to read this article.

The best self-care is the removal of health risk factors that make us sick. Removing them will prevent disease and build the immune system.

Five of these health risk factors are covered in my health program.

Click here to read about it.

How Weight Healthy Are You?

What do you think about your weight, do you think you are too fat or too thin?

What you think my not be as important you believe.

It does matter what you think because it will determine what you do and the lifestyle you live.

What matters most is your weight health.

There has been a lot of attention paid to obese people, but underweight people have health risks that are different.

Obese people have a greater risk for non-communicable diseases.

What is important is how weight healthy you are.

Medical experts have ways to determine whether one has a healthy weight or not, they use these methods to determine whether you are too thin or too fat.

The approved and most widely used is the body mass index(BMI).

BMI Readings:- If you BMI is less than 18 you are underweight.

- If your BMI is 25-30 you are overweight -if it is 30 and over you are obese.

Those three are unhealthy weights.

You are a healthy weight if it is 18-24.9.

To caluclate your BMI you will need to know your height and your weight.

Calculate It Here.

Next measure your waist circumference.

A waist circumference of less than 35 for women and less than 40 for men are healthy.

Once you've determined how healthy your weight is start palnning to modify it.

You can manage your weight through diet and physical activity. These will have to become part of your lifestyle.

Consuming more calories than you burn will lead to weight gain; consuming less than you burn will lead to weight loss.

Our self-developed weight loss plan helps people who want to manage their weight to do so at little or no cost.

Click Here to view.

Chocolate Lovers Are Thinner Says A Study

Are you a chocolate lover and are overweight.

According to this study, you should be thinner.

The study involved 1,018 women and men. They exercised an average of 3.6 times per week and ate a healthy diet.

Those who ate chocolate 5 times per week had a body mass index( BMI)of 1 point lower than those who didn't eat chocolate regularly.

A BMI is the approved and most widely used tool for assessing weight health.

Other previous studies have linked dark chocolate to reducing heart disease.

Nutritionist and weight management personnel; on the other hand, are cautioning people about too much sugar in their diet.

The study was reported in the Spec.

You can read more about it here:

TheSpec - Chocolate lovers are thinner, study says

Shift Work Increases Heart Attack Risk

Are you a shift worker?

According to this study your risk for a heart attack is increased.

The study involved 2 million participants from 34 studies.

Working the night shift was linked to a 41% increased risk for coronary disease.

Heart disease is a non-communicable disease and the number 1 killer globally.

The study is from an article in the Spec, Read about it:

TheSpec - Shift work increases heart attack risk.

The Health Benefits of Water

Water also called H2O has a multitude of uses.

Water is useful for cooking, drinking, bathing, cleaning, for agriculture and for livestock.

Water makes the garden grow.

Did you know that water has many health benefits?

For example water quenches the thirst; water hydrates the body and keeps it functioning at its optimum.

For persons who are overweight water is a best friend.

Here is a list of health benefits of water from the USNews.

Water:

-Keeps you hydrated.

-Makes you feel full.

-Flushes your system of toxins.

-Keeps your bowel movements regular

-Helps you sweat.

-Helps with exercise.

-Helps with calorie reduction.

Click to read them in more detail.

Keeping Healthy In A HighTech Age

Technoloy and healthcare are advancing in the same direction to keep you motivated about your health.

For example:With an android phone or an iphone one has a pedometer at his finger tips. Using your Iphone or android, a pedometer apps can add grahics and charts to help you track your distances steps taken.

Using your mobile, behaviour modification is available, by receiving text messages one can change their behaviour for a healthier lifestyle.

This is epeciallly effective for smoking cessation, weight loss, unhealthy eating and lack of motivation to exercise.

There are several health apps available including apps that count calories,calculate body mass index and record your diet and activity.

Many of them are available as Facebook apps that can be shared with friends.

Read more about these new high tech health tools.

TheSpec - Plug in, work out

If you want to spend little or no money, you can do-it-yourself and develop your own health toolkit or weight loss plan. These require a subscription to receive instructions.

The Weight Loss Plan

The Personal Toolkit.

Insect Stings Can Be Deadly

Protect yourself from insect stings and mosquitoe bites when travelling or going away this summer; it is advisable especially if you are travelling to areas where they are common.

More than 1/2 million people go to emergency departments each year due to insect stings; a small number die.

Malaria is a disease caused by mosquitoe bites, 30,000 international travellers fall ill every year due to it.

Recommendations

For those persons who have known allergies to insect stings the following are key recommendations.

-Consider an allergy shots

-Avoid all stinging insects including bumblebees.

-Be aware of factors that increase the chances of a serious reaction

The symptoms of a severe allergic reaction are:

-Tightness in the chest

-Swelling of the nose, lips, tongue and throat

-Dizziness and fainting -Loss of consciousness -Hives -Itching and swelling in areas other than the site

Malaria is a serious disease caused by mosquitoes bites, The World Health Organization has an action plan to eliminate it by 2015.

If you are travelling to a tropical country, take precautions to protect yourself.

The symptoms of malaria are: fever, vomiting and headache. These are guidelines for international travellers: Click here.

Recognizing A Brain Attack

The Chances of surviving a brain attack are greater if the time between the onset and the start of treatment is minimal.

Here are symptoms for you to recognize a stroke, knowing them could reduce the likelihood of the person being severely disabled, knowing them can ensure early start of treatment.

They are:

-Confusion and trouble speaking -Difficulty moving -Severe headache -Numbness of one side of the body -Weakness of the face, an arm or a leg -Visions and perceptions problems

If anyone you know is experiencing these symptoms, get them to see a health professional for treatment immediately.

Read about these symptoms in more detail/

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD's)

Non-communicable diseases(NCD's)have become a 21st century health challenge.

Whereas diseases such as HIV, malaria,tuberculosis and the H1N1 virus have been given global attention, they have gone un-noticed.

The World Health Organization (WHO)and the United Nation Secretary General called for urgent action to solve the NCD's catastrophe.

Watch this video.

United nations Highlights threat of Non-communicable diseases.

The major NCD's take 67% of the global deaths, they are:

-Cancer -Diabetes -Cardiovascular diseases -Respiratory diseases

By taking action to reduce one or more of these risk factors you are playing a role in solving this catastrophe while promoting your health.

The risk factors are: smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating,obesity and air pollution.

Making a resolution to reduce or eliminate one of them is a way to prevent illness and premature deaths due to NCD's.

To take an active role start with our tutorial on Health Risk Factors, the program is self-directed.

You may also join the program through Facebook by becoming a Fan.

Join Here.

Tips For Staying Fit While flying

If you are flying and are 30,000 miles up, there are things to consider to keep your health and fitness level in check.

A trip of 5 or more hours could result in several hours of sedentary time.

With limited space to move and change positions this could mean added risks to health and wellbeing.

Here are some tips on how to maintain a keep fit llifestyle while flying. I want to share them with you.

They include tips on: 1-Making most of your time in line 2-Working out before you board 3-Staying hydrated 4-Doing some research 5-Moving about in your Cabin

Click this link for details on how to use the tips. TheSpec - Tips for staying fit at 30,000 feet

One-Fifth of U.S. Health Care Costs Attributed to Obesity | EHS Today

Obesity is a health risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cancer, strokes, heart disease , diabetes and respiratory disorders.

Obesity can affect the emotional health and wellbeing of the individual.

Obesity seems to be a burden on health care systems; a new study reports that obese persons' medical costs can be $2,741 higher than if they were not obese, and a 20.6 % of the national health expenditures.

Read more on the report from EHS Today

A Weighty Expense: One-Fifth of U.S. Health Care Costs Attributed to Obesity | EHS Today

Preparing For Your Race Day

The week before your race day is one of the most important. Here are "10 tips to get you to race day rested, fuelled and mentally ready."The tips are on: Wake time -fluids, breakfast, treatment, nutrition, music, support/family, post race plans, pacing and epsom salts.

Read about each in detail to get the tips and advice. TheSpec - 10 tips to get you to race day rested, fuelled and...

Dieting -How Young Is To Young

Dieting- How Young Is Too Young

Childhood obesity is on the rise and many of the children will go on to be obese adults with early onset of non-communicable diseases.

Medical experts and pediatricians are calling on parents to seek medical intervention for children that are obese. This means early intervention.

Nutrition experts are also saying that dieting in childhood can lead to physical problems that may be difficult to reverse. Experts say the use of the word dieting for weight control in children may be not a good thing because the physical and emotional consequences are to risky.

I prefer to use the term healthy eating when talking about weight control because dieting can convey a different message to those who are overweight.

For children the word dieting may mean restricting certain foods, eating less even missing meals.

How then can childhood obesity be prevented without dieting. I prefer not to use the word dieting, replacing it with healthy eating

Children and teenagers must be encouraged to keep physically active while maintaining proper nutrition. This means,healthy eating and physical activity must be included in their daily routine.

There are four food groups for healthy eating and there are recommended daily intake for children and teenagers.

Parents can follow the nutritional guidelines and the recommendations focusing on the nutritional value rather than on a weight loss diet

In this article the author identifies the health problems that are associated with dieting in childhood.

Prostate Cancer May Be Hereditary

Experts have long been looking for a link between inherited genes and prostate cancer. Until now, they couldn't find results to confirm hereditary as a cause of the disease.

In a recent research report; however, a rare inherited gene was linked to higher risk of developing the disease.

The study involved 94 families , each had multiple cases of prostate cancer among close relatives. Researchers started with samples from the youngest patients with prostate cancer.

The same mutation in the gene which plays an important role in the development of the prostate was found in 4 different families. All 18 men with prostate cancer carried the mutation.

Read more on this study.