TUESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) ― Poor sleep during the teen years may be linked to an increased risk of heart disease later in life, a new study suggests.
Canadian researchers looked at more than 4,100 adolescents and found that they slept an average of 7.9 hours per night on weeknights and 9.4 hours per night on weekends. Nearly 20 percent of them reported poor quality sleep during the week and 10 percent reported poor sleep on the weekends.
About 6 percent of the kids said they used medications to help them sleep, according to the study published in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Sleep disturbance, which was described as frequently waking up during the night, early wakening, difficulty falling asleep, restlessness and bad dreams, was related to certain factors. These factors included consumption of more fried foods, soft drinks, replica unisex ballon bleu cartier watches sweets and caffeinated drinks; low levels of exercise; and greater amounts of “screen” time (playing video games, using computers cartier pasha c replica and watching television).
In turn, a higher sleep disturbance score was associated with a higher cholesterol level, higher blood pressure, higher body mass index (a measurement of body fat based on height and weight) and a larger waist size ― all potential risk factors for heart disease.
“In addition to these health risks, previous studies have shown that poor sleep also negatively impacts school performance. Parents should monitor caffeine intake, bedtimes and bedrooms overloaded with media,” study senior author Dr. Brian McCrindle, a cardiologist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, said in a journal news release.
According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Indra Narang, a respirologist and director of sleep medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children, “these findings are important, given that sleep disturbance is highly prevalent in adolescence and that cardiovascular disease risk factors track from childhood into adulthood.”
Efforts to improve sleep habits early in life could be an important way to prevent heart disease later in life, the researchers suggested.
While the study found an association between poor sleep quality in adolescence and cardiovascular risk in adulthood, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about .
� Robert Preidt
SOURCE: CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), news release, Oct. 1, 2012
Last Updated: Oct. 02, 2012
Copyright ? 2012 . All rights reserved.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Top Search Terms of 2012 Hemorrhoids, Herpes, and Heartburn - Health News and Views - Health.co
What ails you? If the 2012 trending health issues is any indication, it’s your bum.
Yes, “hemorrhoids” tops the list this year. Why? “I don’t know, but hemorrhoids are definitely a pain in the butt,” says Satish Rattan, DVM, a professor of medicine in the department of gastroenterology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He’s doing pioneering research on molecular causes of hemorrhoids. “It’s a matter of dignity,” he explains.
Moving up the GI track, the second biggest trending term is gastroesophageal reflux, a.k.a., . Other trending GI issues include heartburn (#8) and celiac disease (#9).
The third biggest trending term, though, is “sexually transmitted diseases.” (Also, herpes is #5 among most searched terms.) Here it gets interesting: How often you search for STDs depends on what device you’re using – a phone or a computer.
“STDs are much higher on the list of searches for mobile devices,” says Susannah Fox, associate director at the , who runs the health research. One possible reason: “Mobile users are more likely to be younger.” Internet, versus mobile, health searchers are most likely to be in the 30-to-54 age range, she says–perhaps past the peak ages for STD worry.
Why do we love these lists? “The web is so big, and overwhelming, there’s always a wonder if you’re really connected to what’s really going on,” says Amy Tenderich, who runs the popular (about Type 1 diabetes), and works for the company that runs , a community and ask-the-expert site. “You want to know what’s hot, what everyone is talking about, so you don’t miss anything.”
, it turns out, is hot. It shows up as number two on two other lists: most searched terms, and most searched symptoms. However, once people find out the basics through search, they may dive deeper through social networking sites.
“People are asking if social networks are replacing search replica ballon bleu medium as a source of information,” says Pew’s Susannah Fox. “We looked at that in our 2012 survey, which will be released in a couple of weeks. We found that, in general, search is still king. When looking for health information in 2012, 77% still started with a search engine like Google, Bing or Yahoo, 13% started with a special site like WebMD, and 2% started at a site like Wikipedia. Only 1% started with a social site like Facebook or Twitter.”
But that changes for people who have chronic conditions. “We’re finding that social networking sites and blogs are common sources for people who are living with chronic conditions. They’re looking for http://www.topcartierhk.com/ practical tips.”
What’s next? How will we be getting our digital health information in the future? While Google search terms aren’t likely to change–cancer, diabetes, and depression have been top search terms for years – some trends are emerging:
Peer-to-peer crowdsourcing
On blogs like Diabetes Mine or sites like Diabetes Connect, people can ask questions and get answers from others living with exactly those conditions. (One post about a new drug now has 2,000 comments.) “About 1 in 5 Internet users have gone online to find others who have similar health concerns,” says Susannah Fox.
Mobile, slowly
Of course it’s growing, but when it comes to health, perhaps slower than the hype. “In 2012, 85% of U.S. adults owned a cell phone, but only 31% used it to search for health info online.” Mobile apps for exercise and dieting are popular, but we’re not yet using our phones as a primary source of health info–or to get text health alerts. By contrast, while the same percentage of Americans have access to the Internet, 84% have used it to search health information.
Participatory medicine
Once, perhaps, your doctor was the main source of health info. Now many people go online before they see their docs. Some physicians welcome that, a movement call Participatory Medicine. Some even “prescribe” websites for certain patients.
“The mindset is changing,” says Daniel Sands, MD, MPH, assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of the . “Doctors may direct patients to health care websites, rather than just prescribing drugs.” At the same time, doctors who subscribe to participatory medicine–they can actually get a seal from the website–welcome patients who learn about health online.
“We should ask every single patient, ‘Do you go online? What sites do you find useful?,” says Dr. Sands. “We need to let them know that they can share information with us. It’s a very important part of our relationship with our patients.” Over the next few years, more and more patients will be able to view their health records online, download and transmit it to someone else, and communicate with their doctors, he says. “The era of medicine as a spectator sport – ‘I’m sick, doctor, fix me’ – is over. The new model is participatory medicine.”
Here are the 2012 Google Zeitgeist lists. Let the 2013 searching begin!
United States Trending Health Issues 2012
1.Hemorrhoid
2.Gastroesophageal reflux disease
3.Sexually Transmitted Disease
4.Diaper Rash
5.Diarrhea
6.Urinary tract infection
7.Miscarriage
8.Heartburn
9.Celiac disease
10.PTSD
United States Most-Searched Health Issues 2012
1.Cancer
2.Diabetes
3.Depression
4.Acne
5.Herpes
6.Back pain
7.Burns
8.Breast cancer
9.Autism
10.Diarrhea
United States Most-Searched Symptoms 2012
1.Pregnancy symptoms
2.Diabetes symptoms
3.Flu symptoms
4.UTI symptoms
5.Mono symptoms
6.Strep Throat symptoms
7.HIV symptoms
8.Lupus symptoms
9.Heart Attack symptoms
10.Lyme Disease symptoms
Yes, “hemorrhoids” tops the list this year. Why? “I don’t know, but hemorrhoids are definitely a pain in the butt,” says Satish Rattan, DVM, a professor of medicine in the department of gastroenterology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He’s doing pioneering research on molecular causes of hemorrhoids. “It’s a matter of dignity,” he explains.
Moving up the GI track, the second biggest trending term is gastroesophageal reflux, a.k.a., . Other trending GI issues include heartburn (#8) and celiac disease (#9).
The third biggest trending term, though, is “sexually transmitted diseases.” (Also, herpes is #5 among most searched terms.) Here it gets interesting: How often you search for STDs depends on what device you’re using – a phone or a computer.
“STDs are much higher on the list of searches for mobile devices,” says Susannah Fox, associate director at the , who runs the health research. One possible reason: “Mobile users are more likely to be younger.” Internet, versus mobile, health searchers are most likely to be in the 30-to-54 age range, she says–perhaps past the peak ages for STD worry.
Why do we love these lists? “The web is so big, and overwhelming, there’s always a wonder if you’re really connected to what’s really going on,” says Amy Tenderich, who runs the popular (about Type 1 diabetes), and works for the company that runs , a community and ask-the-expert site. “You want to know what’s hot, what everyone is talking about, so you don’t miss anything.”
, it turns out, is hot. It shows up as number two on two other lists: most searched terms, and most searched symptoms. However, once people find out the basics through search, they may dive deeper through social networking sites.
“People are asking if social networks are replacing search replica ballon bleu medium as a source of information,” says Pew’s Susannah Fox. “We looked at that in our 2012 survey, which will be released in a couple of weeks. We found that, in general, search is still king. When looking for health information in 2012, 77% still started with a search engine like Google, Bing or Yahoo, 13% started with a special site like WebMD, and 2% started at a site like Wikipedia. Only 1% started with a social site like Facebook or Twitter.”
But that changes for people who have chronic conditions. “We’re finding that social networking sites and blogs are common sources for people who are living with chronic conditions. They’re looking for http://www.topcartierhk.com/ practical tips.”
What’s next? How will we be getting our digital health information in the future? While Google search terms aren’t likely to change–cancer, diabetes, and depression have been top search terms for years – some trends are emerging:
Peer-to-peer crowdsourcing
On blogs like Diabetes Mine or sites like Diabetes Connect, people can ask questions and get answers from others living with exactly those conditions. (One post about a new drug now has 2,000 comments.) “About 1 in 5 Internet users have gone online to find others who have similar health concerns,” says Susannah Fox.
Mobile, slowly
Of course it’s growing, but when it comes to health, perhaps slower than the hype. “In 2012, 85% of U.S. adults owned a cell phone, but only 31% used it to search for health info online.” Mobile apps for exercise and dieting are popular, but we’re not yet using our phones as a primary source of health info–or to get text health alerts. By contrast, while the same percentage of Americans have access to the Internet, 84% have used it to search health information.
Participatory medicine
Once, perhaps, your doctor was the main source of health info. Now many people go online before they see their docs. Some physicians welcome that, a movement call Participatory Medicine. Some even “prescribe” websites for certain patients.
“The mindset is changing,” says Daniel Sands, MD, MPH, assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of the . “Doctors may direct patients to health care websites, rather than just prescribing drugs.” At the same time, doctors who subscribe to participatory medicine–they can actually get a seal from the website–welcome patients who learn about health online.
“We should ask every single patient, ‘Do you go online? What sites do you find useful?,” says Dr. Sands. “We need to let them know that they can share information with us. It’s a very important part of our relationship with our patients.” Over the next few years, more and more patients will be able to view their health records online, download and transmit it to someone else, and communicate with their doctors, he says. “The era of medicine as a spectator sport – ‘I’m sick, doctor, fix me’ – is over. The new model is participatory medicine.”
Here are the 2012 Google Zeitgeist lists. Let the 2013 searching begin!
United States Trending Health Issues 2012
1.Hemorrhoid
2.Gastroesophageal reflux disease
3.Sexually Transmitted Disease
4.Diaper Rash
5.Diarrhea
6.Urinary tract infection
7.Miscarriage
8.Heartburn
9.Celiac disease
10.PTSD
United States Most-Searched Health Issues 2012
1.Cancer
2.Diabetes
3.Depression
4.Acne
5.Herpes
6.Back pain
7.Burns
8.Breast cancer
9.Autism
10.Diarrhea
United States Most-Searched Symptoms 2012
1.Pregnancy symptoms
2.Diabetes symptoms
3.Flu symptoms
4.UTI symptoms
5.Mono symptoms
6.Strep Throat symptoms
7.HIV symptoms
8.Lupus symptoms
9.Heart Attack symptoms
10.Lyme Disease symptoms
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Stop Fat Talk Why I'm Ditching the Four-Letter Words of Dieting - Health News and Views - Health.c
Here’s a challenge for the week, and it won’t involve counting calories or pushing yourself to physical extremes. How about changing how you think and talk about your body? And, for that matter, what you say about others?
This is (October 19–23). It’s a positive body image campaign that started with sororities at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a resident eating disorders expert, Caroline Becker. has taken the campaign to the world, with support from groups like the and the . All of us can think of things that eating disorder experts consider fat talk: “I am so fat!” is obvious. And: “Does this make my butt look big?” “She really is too fat to wear that…” or “You’d be so pretty cartier bracelet mens if you lost weight!”
All of these are probably on the “Not Nice Things To Say” list that your mother gave you. But more than that, just three minutes of fat talk is enough to change how we feel about our bodies, for the worse. When we’re not fake cartier gold tone bracelet watch happy with our bodies (aka, experiencing “body dissatisfaction,”) we’re actually less likely to do the good things we need to do to take care of ourselves: People who are dissatisfied with how they look are more likely to skip the gym, skimp on fruits and vegetables, and go on extreme, unhealthy diets. As Becker says, “If you hate your body, you are likely to treat it as badly as anything else you hate.”
Here’s the interesting thing: We know this, but we don’t do a lot about it. Many women agree there’s too much obsession with a thin ideal in society, and many women support the idea of a positive body image, according to . Their study shows we like and admire women who aren’t afraid to say they’re happy with their bodies. (A recent example: Glamour readers raved about the magazine’s , who has a tummy pooch.) But what we do isn’t always in sync with what we think; it’s hard for many women to actually be happy with the skin they’re in. The researchers at Appalachian State have two possible explanations.
Explanation No. 1: In real life, it’s hard to shake negative thoughts about our own bodies. When we’re out on the town, or shopping for clothes, or otherwise reminded about how we look, it’s much easier to think about what we don’t like about ourselves than it is to turn on positive thoughts.
“I had no idea how much I fat-talked myself,” says Christie Yerks, a 25-year-old woman who went through Tri Delta’s Reflections body image and fat-talk workshop as a collegiate member. Christie says changing her internal dialogue was, and remains, her biggest challenge. “In the past, when I went out with friends and someone was dressed cuter… I could ruin my own good mood, I could ruin my own night being out with friends I love, just by what I’d say to myself because of how someone else looked,” she says.
During the Reflections workshop, the women were asked to talk to themselves in front of a mirror, explaining what they love about their appearances. Yerks struggled. “I couldn’t even come up with a handful of items. But going through that with other women, I eventually learned to think about my body in a different way, to build a healthy ideal instead of a thin ideal, and to think about how grateful I am for all the things my body does for me. I have practiced that mirror exercise over and over, until now I’m comfortable.”
But Yerks says everyday experiences, like looking at images of models in the media, make self-talk an important daily ritual. “Changing internal dialogue is ongoing, but I have the tools to change, and the number-one tool is I tell myself, ‘I’m going to be a better friend to myself.’ And if you don’t make an effort to tell yourself that, you find yourself comparing your situation to something that’s not realistic. Or something that’s computer enhanced.”
Yerks also tries to pass on what she’s learned, in subtle ways. “I try to give meaningful compliments,” she says. “‘You look so cute in that outfit’—to me, that’s not the best compliment I can give to someone, because it focuses on her body image.”
This is (October 19–23). It’s a positive body image campaign that started with sororities at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a resident eating disorders expert, Caroline Becker. has taken the campaign to the world, with support from groups like the and the . All of us can think of things that eating disorder experts consider fat talk: “I am so fat!” is obvious. And: “Does this make my butt look big?” “She really is too fat to wear that…” or “You’d be so pretty cartier bracelet mens if you lost weight!”
All of these are probably on the “Not Nice Things To Say” list that your mother gave you. But more than that, just three minutes of fat talk is enough to change how we feel about our bodies, for the worse. When we’re not fake cartier gold tone bracelet watch happy with our bodies (aka, experiencing “body dissatisfaction,”) we’re actually less likely to do the good things we need to do to take care of ourselves: People who are dissatisfied with how they look are more likely to skip the gym, skimp on fruits and vegetables, and go on extreme, unhealthy diets. As Becker says, “If you hate your body, you are likely to treat it as badly as anything else you hate.”
Here’s the interesting thing: We know this, but we don’t do a lot about it. Many women agree there’s too much obsession with a thin ideal in society, and many women support the idea of a positive body image, according to . Their study shows we like and admire women who aren’t afraid to say they’re happy with their bodies. (A recent example: Glamour readers raved about the magazine’s , who has a tummy pooch.) But what we do isn’t always in sync with what we think; it’s hard for many women to actually be happy with the skin they’re in. The researchers at Appalachian State have two possible explanations.
Explanation No. 1: In real life, it’s hard to shake negative thoughts about our own bodies. When we’re out on the town, or shopping for clothes, or otherwise reminded about how we look, it’s much easier to think about what we don’t like about ourselves than it is to turn on positive thoughts.
“I had no idea how much I fat-talked myself,” says Christie Yerks, a 25-year-old woman who went through Tri Delta’s Reflections body image and fat-talk workshop as a collegiate member. Christie says changing her internal dialogue was, and remains, her biggest challenge. “In the past, when I went out with friends and someone was dressed cuter… I could ruin my own good mood, I could ruin my own night being out with friends I love, just by what I’d say to myself because of how someone else looked,” she says.
During the Reflections workshop, the women were asked to talk to themselves in front of a mirror, explaining what they love about their appearances. Yerks struggled. “I couldn’t even come up with a handful of items. But going through that with other women, I eventually learned to think about my body in a different way, to build a healthy ideal instead of a thin ideal, and to think about how grateful I am for all the things my body does for me. I have practiced that mirror exercise over and over, until now I’m comfortable.”
But Yerks says everyday experiences, like looking at images of models in the media, make self-talk an important daily ritual. “Changing internal dialogue is ongoing, but I have the tools to change, and the number-one tool is I tell myself, ‘I’m going to be a better friend to myself.’ And if you don’t make an effort to tell yourself that, you find yourself comparing your situation to something that’s not realistic. Or something that’s computer enhanced.”
Yerks also tries to pass on what she’s learned, in subtle ways. “I try to give meaningful compliments,” she says. “‘You look so cute in that outfit’—to me, that’s not the best compliment I can give to someone, because it focuses on her body image.”
Friday, May 17, 2013
Scientists Find 24 New Genes Linked to Nearsightedness - Health News and Views - Health.com
MONDAY, Feb. 11 (HealthDay News) — Scientists who identified 24 new genes linked to nearsightedness say their discovery could lead to improved treatments or ways to prevent the condition.
Nearsightedness (myopia) is replica cartier jewelry a major cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Thirty percent of people in Western nations and up to 80 percent of Asians have this problem (also called shortsightedness). best cartier replicas The condition can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery, but there is no known cure.
In this study, an international team of researchers analyzed genetic data from more than 45,000 people in 32 studies. They pinpointed 24 new genes associated with nearsightedness and confirmed two other genes linked with the condition.
The newly identified genes include those involved in brain and eye-tissue signaling, eye structure and eye development. The genes are associated with a high risk of nearsightedness and people with the high-risk genes have a 10-fold increased risk of having the condition.
The study was published Feb. 10 in the journal Nature Genetics.
“We already knew that myopia tends to run in families, but until now we knew little about the genetic causes,” study lead author Chris Hammond, a professor at King’s College London, in England, said in a college news release. “This study reveals for the first time a group of new genes that are associated with myopia and that carriers of some of these genes have a 10-fold increased risk of developing the condition.”
“Currently, myopia is corrected with glasses or contact lenses, but now that we understand more about the genetic triggers for the condition we can begin to explore other ways to correct it or prevent progression,” he said. “It is an extremely exciting step forward which could potentially lead to better treatments or prevention in the future for millions around the world.”
Other known risk factors for nearsightedness include reading, lack of outdoor exposure and a higher level of education, according to the news release. The condition is more common in people who live in cities.
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about .
Nearsightedness (myopia) is replica cartier jewelry a major cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Thirty percent of people in Western nations and up to 80 percent of Asians have this problem (also called shortsightedness). best cartier replicas The condition can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery, but there is no known cure.
In this study, an international team of researchers analyzed genetic data from more than 45,000 people in 32 studies. They pinpointed 24 new genes associated with nearsightedness and confirmed two other genes linked with the condition.
The newly identified genes include those involved in brain and eye-tissue signaling, eye structure and eye development. The genes are associated with a high risk of nearsightedness and people with the high-risk genes have a 10-fold increased risk of having the condition.
The study was published Feb. 10 in the journal Nature Genetics.
“We already knew that myopia tends to run in families, but until now we knew little about the genetic causes,” study lead author Chris Hammond, a professor at King’s College London, in England, said in a college news release. “This study reveals for the first time a group of new genes that are associated with myopia and that carriers of some of these genes have a 10-fold increased risk of developing the condition.”
“Currently, myopia is corrected with glasses or contact lenses, but now that we understand more about the genetic triggers for the condition we can begin to explore other ways to correct it or prevent progression,” he said. “It is an extremely exciting step forward which could potentially lead to better treatments or prevention in the future for millions around the world.”
Other known risk factors for nearsightedness include reading, lack of outdoor exposure and a higher level of education, according to the news release. The condition is more common in people who live in cities.
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about .
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Popular Health Foods Healthy or Just Hype - Health News and Views - Health.com
Popular Health Foods: Healthy or JustHype?
March 30, 2010 By Health Editor
What it’s good for: The syrup is roughly 1.5 times sweeter than sugar, without being cloying, and it works well in drinks and baked goods. It has a lower glycemic index than sugar, so it doesn’t cause blood sugar levels to spike as sharply. And agave is a natural source of inulin, a fiber additive that promotes the growth of stomach-protecting probiotics.
Worth a try? If you’re looking for a less-processed sweetener, agave is a good choice. But it’s not calorie-free: 1 tablespoon has 60 calories. You’ll pay more, too: a 23.5-ounce bottle of organic agave is $8, while a 5-pound bag of sugar (which has more servings) costs about $4.
Rooibos (roy-i-bus)
What it is: A caffeine-free South African plant that is brewed as a tea; also known as red tea.
Where you’ll find it: In the tea and spice aisles, and where bottled iced tea is sold. You can even get a rooibos latte at Starbucks.
What it’s good for: Rooibos is naturally sweet, so it’s perfect iced with a little fresh mint or lemon for cartier ballon bleu replicas a low-calorie drink, and cartier pasha seatimer white replica it delivers a nice hit of antioxidants. Rooibos also has been used for centuries to combat allergies and skin problems, although these benefits have not been documented.
Worth a try? If you enjoy the flavor of this tea, sure.
March 30, 2010 By Health Editor
What it’s good for: The syrup is roughly 1.5 times sweeter than sugar, without being cloying, and it works well in drinks and baked goods. It has a lower glycemic index than sugar, so it doesn’t cause blood sugar levels to spike as sharply. And agave is a natural source of inulin, a fiber additive that promotes the growth of stomach-protecting probiotics.
Worth a try? If you’re looking for a less-processed sweetener, agave is a good choice. But it’s not calorie-free: 1 tablespoon has 60 calories. You’ll pay more, too: a 23.5-ounce bottle of organic agave is $8, while a 5-pound bag of sugar (which has more servings) costs about $4.
Rooibos (roy-i-bus)
What it is: A caffeine-free South African plant that is brewed as a tea; also known as red tea.
Where you’ll find it: In the tea and spice aisles, and where bottled iced tea is sold. You can even get a rooibos latte at Starbucks.
What it’s good for: Rooibos is naturally sweet, so it’s perfect iced with a little fresh mint or lemon for cartier ballon bleu replicas a low-calorie drink, and cartier pasha seatimer white replica it delivers a nice hit of antioxidants. Rooibos also has been used for centuries to combat allergies and skin problems, although these benefits have not been documented.
Worth a try? If you enjoy the flavor of this tea, sure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)