According to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 10% of high school students eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables. The 2009 report was based on a 2007 national survey of approximately 100,000 high school students. The report found 32% had the recommended 2 servings of fruit and 13% had the recommended 3 servings of vegetables. Adults did only moderately better. A survey of adults found 33% met the fruit requirement and 27% met the vegetable requirement. Potato chips are America’s favorite snack, but unfortunately they don’t count as a vegetable.
According to 2 studies using similar data, smoking bans reduce heart attacks. Inhaling smoke causes blood clotting, which causes heart attacks. Non-smokers who inhale smoke at home or work have a 25%-30% higher risk of heart attacks. American, Canadian and European cities that have imposed smoking bans averaged 17% fewer heart attacks in the first year and averaged 26% fewer in the third year. In 2005 there were 1.26 million heart attacks in the U.S., causing approximately 445,687 deaths. These studies suggest a nationwide smoking ban in public and workplaces could prevent 100,000-225,000 heart attacks yearly and keep peoples’ lives from going up in smoke.
According to a study published in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”, a bad economy can be good for health. Between the years of 1920 and 1940, mortality decreased and life expectancy increased only during the recessions of 1921 and 1938 and during the Great Depression (1929-1933). Heart and kidney disease, as well as traffic accidents, also decreased during those 7 years. During the recessions of the 1980’s and 1990’s – both in the U.S. and other countries – mortality also decreased. This study should at least reassure people who say that recession is killing them.
According to research done at the University of Rochester in 2009, nature makes us nicer. In 3 experiments volunteers were shown pictures on a 19-inch computer screen – half were shown pictures of buildings, roads and cityscapes and half were shown pictures of landscapes, lakes and deserts. In a fourth experiment some volunteers worked in a room with houseplants and some worked in a room without houseplants. In all experiments, those of the 370 volunteers who were exposed to nature rated close relationships and community more important than they had before the study. It seems niceness can be a “natural resource”.
According to 2 studies published in the journal “Pediatrics”, Americans don’t get enough vitamin D; and that deficiency could cause cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain cancers. One study looked at federal health statistics for children 1 to 21 and found nearly 8 million children deficient and 50.8 million insufficient in vitamin D, increasing their risk of osteoporosis. The second study found teenagers with the lowest levels of vitamin D had 2 times the risk of high blood pressure and hypoglycemia and 4 times the risk of cardiovascular disease. Doctors recommend children eat vitamin-D-fortified cereals, milk and orange juice because there’s and even higher risk they won’t eat vitamin-D-rich sardines.
According to dentists, however, we shouldn’t drink citric fruit juices – including orange juice –or sports drinks, carbonated beverages and teas because they erode teeth. The acid in these drinks strips teeth of enamel, causing hypersensitivity, discoloration and cracks. Sports drinks are the worst, especially if citric acid has been added. Soft drinks are second worst because of carbonation and fruit juices are third. Teas cause the least erosion. Teeth soaked in black tea didn’t completely erode for 16 weeks. It’s true saliva reduces acid’s effects, but it is not the spitting image of a cure.
According to a Swedish study, girls in more educated families are at higher risk for eating disorders. The study followed more than 13,000 females born between 1952 and 1989, tracking their hospitalizations for eating disorders through 2002. Overall, girls whose parents went to college had about twice the risk as those whose parents had elementary-school educations. The risk was 6 times greater if the maternal grandmother went to college. Similarly, girls with the highest grades at age 15 had twice the risk as girls with the lowest grades. It seems anorexia and bulimia are educated mistakes.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, tanning beds have a high risk for cancer. Most tanning bed lights primarily give off ultraviolet radiation – causing both skin and eye cancer. A new analysis of approximately 20 studies concludes that the risk of skin cancer jumps 75% when used by people under age 30. When younger people use tanning beds regularly, they are 8 times more likely to develop melanoma, which is the deadliest skin cancer. In Britain melanoma is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in their twenties. When will we learn beauty isn’t just skin deep?
Colorado researchers have found high levels of micro-organisms capable of causing disease growing in mats called biofilms inside showerheads. The most worrisome of these pathogens are the non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. Unfortunately, chlorinated water doesn’t kill these bacteria. In tests of 45 showerheads in 6 locations across the United States, 20% contained mycobacterium avium. Because these bacteria can attach themselves to the aerosol droplets in shower spray, they can get deep into peoples’ lungs. This especially affects people with weak immune systems, which includes pregnant women. When it comes to staying healthy, this is a showerhead – ache.
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have found that living near noisy traffic can raise blood pressure. Among 24,238 people interviewed, exposure above 60 decibels was associated with high blood pressure in the young and middle-aged. Middle-aged adults exposed to 64 decibels - just louder than ordinary conversation – were twice as likely to have high blood pressure. Of those adults 40 to 59, 28% had high blood pressure compared with 17% who lived in quieter areas. However, a similar pattern wasn’t seen among the elderly. The elderly have multiple risk factors for high blood pressure – and many can turn a deaf ear to noise.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have found that palmitic acid – a saturated fatty acid found in beef, butter, cheese and milk - suppresses appetite control signals. Palmitic acid molecules cause the brain to send messages to the body’s cells to ignore signals from both leptin and insulin – hormones involved in weight control. As a result, the brain won’t say to stop eating for up to 3 days. Because palmitic acid is very high in foods rich in saturated fat and because 67% of Americans are supposedly overweight, saturated fat seems to have us “in-fat-uated”.
Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Department of Medicine have discovered that not getting enough sleep causes metabolic changes in the body, which can lead to weight gain. Volunteers who slept only 4 hours for 2 nights had an 18% decrease in leptin – a hormone that signals the brain that the body has had enough to eat – and a 28% increase in ghrelin – a hormone that triggers hunger. As a result, the sleep-deprived volunteers experienced a 24% increase in appetite. Sleep experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep nightly in a dark, quiet bedroom that is used only as a bedroom – but maybe they’re dreaming.
According to research done at Copenhagen University Hospital, which included more than 2,800 middle-aged men and women, people with skinny thighs had a 50%-100% higher risk of heart disease or premature death during the 12-year study. Those with thighs measuring less than 23.6 inches were at risk. Those with thighs measuring less than 18 inches were at the greatest risk. It’s thought skinny thighs mean a lack of muscle mass and lower body bulk, which are necessary for proper glucose and lipid metabolism, which are key factors for maintaining health. For those without super model bodies this research brings “thighs” of relief.
According to research published in the journal “Science”, it may be possible to erase fearful memories from the brain – a procedure that could help thousands with post-traumatic stress disorder. Fear comes from the amygdala - part of the brain that isn’t logical. It just reacts. When the molecular sheath protecting the amygdada in rats was chemically dissolved, the rats forgot fear of a sound they’d been conditioned to associate with being electrically shocked. Because human brain cells have similar sheaths, similar results could be expected. For those suffering with PTSD, panic disorders or phobias, finding a cure is a rat race.
According to a study done at Catholic University in Campobasso Italy, the polyphenols and tannins in red wine limit the toxic effects of radiation for women after breast cancer surgery. The protective effects of varying levels of self-reported, red wine consumption by 348 women were evaluated. The incidence of radiation-induced skin toxicity was 38.4% with non-drinkers, 31.8% with half a glass daily and 13.6% with 1 glass daily. The good news is red wine may be beneficial with other types of radiated tumors. The bad news is 2 glasses of red wine provided little benefit – not twice the benefit.
According to a study done at Stamford University School of Medicine, fat cells removed by liposuction can be turned into induced pluripotent stem cells. Like stem cells from embryos, iPS cells can be turned into cells to regenerate organ tissue and repair damage – but without controversy. The first iPS cells were developed in 2007 from skin, but making stem cells from fat takes 2 weeks instead of 8 and less than 6 ounces is needed. Among other things, iPS cells could be used to help heart attack patients and repair skeletal defects – putting new love in love handles.
According to an August 2009 announcement by the American Heart Association, sugar – including high fructose corn syrup – is bad for the heart. Women should have no more than 100 calories daily from sugar that’s added to foods and drinks. Men should have no more than 150 of these calories daily. Unfortunately, the average American consumes 375 calories from added sugar daily. In fact, about half the increase in calories in the past 30 years comes from beverages. Twelve ounces of regular cola have about 130 calories of sugar. Is seems Americans aren’t drinking to their health.
According to a study in the journal “Neurology”, people as young as 45 who have high diastolic blood pressure are more likely to have problems with memory. The diastolic number is the bottom number on a blood pressure reading. Blood pressure readings of 140/90 or above are considered high and every 10-point increase in the diastolic number increases the likelihood of memory problems 7%. Thus it’s thought preventing or treating high blood pressure could help prevent memory loss. Considering 1 out of 3 Americans have high blood pressure, 1 out of 3 could have difficulty remembering this.
According to a study published in the journal “Social Science & Medicine”, worry about losing a job is worse for peoples’ health than not having a job. In fact, chronic job insecurity was a stronger predictor of poor health than smoking or hypertension. It’s not just the loss of income that causes this stress; it’s also the loss of health insurance, retirement benefits and peace of mind. Previous research has shown that stress leads to a range of poor health conditions that can shorten life. Of course, other research has shown that job security in a stressful job can shorten life too.
According to Dr. Martin Wiseman of the American Institute for Cancer Research/World Cancer Research Fund, nearly 40% of breast cancer in the U.S. could be prevented. The report, which reviewed 81 new studies on the links between lifestyle and cancer, showed that 70,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented a year if women maintained a healthy weight, drank only 1 alcoholic drink a day, exercised at least 30 minutes a day and breastfed their babies. Breast cancer kills 400,000 women worldwide every year, with 40,000 dying in the U.S. While the government struggles with health care, women can help care for their own health.
According to a study published in “Psychosomatic Medicine”, feeling lonely – even when surrounded by family and friends – is linked to an increase in the risk of heart disease. The study covered more than 3,000 people over 19 years. After having a physical and an extensive personal interview, all participants’ heart health was tracked. The women who were loneliest at the beginning of the study were 76% more likely to develop heart disease. Researchers hypothesize that loneliness affects only women in this way because women are more concerned about relationships. It seems men can have fulfilling relationships with remote controls.
According to a recent study, high and borderline-high cholesterol levels in midlife increase the risk of Alzheimer’s 30 years later. The cholesterol levels of 9,844 people ages 40-45 were determined between 1964 and 1973. When their medical records were reviewed between 1994 and 2007, the risk of Alzheimer’s was 57% higher for people who had cholesterol levels of 240 and above in midlife. Their risk of vascular dementia also increased. Even those who had borderline-high cholesterol levels of 200-239 in midlife had an increased risk of 50%. Considering nearly 100 million Americans have high or borderline-high cholesterol levels, it’s time to level off.
According to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, severe sleep apnea increases the risk of early death by 46%. Severe sleep apnea causes sleepers’ airways to be blocked for 20-30 seconds, waking them about every 2 minutes. Of the 6,400 people in the 8-year study, 8.2% of the men had severe cases and 3% of the women. The NHLBI estimates that 12 million adult Americans have sleep apnea and recommends weight loss as the best treatment. Unfortunately, most people aren’t diagnosed or treated – in spite of their losing sleep over the problem nightly.
Nevertheless, in spite of all the bad health news, the National Center for Statistics reports that U.S. life expectancy has reached a new high. The average life expectancy for a baby born in 2007 is nearly 78. That’s almost 3 months more than for babies born in 2006. This increase is primarily due to the decreasing death rates in almost all leading causes of death. However, about 30 countries have longer estimated life spans, with Japan having the longest. The average life expectancy for Japanese babies born in 2007 is 83. Products made in Japan do seem to last longer.
A 5-year study of deaths across the U.S. found 25% of suicides occur on Wednesdays, as compared to 14% on Mondays and Saturdays, the 2 days tied for the second-highest suicide rate. The study also showed that if one makes it through Wednesday, the risk plummets to less than half on Thursday. Researchers suggest the prevalence of Wednesday suicides may be job-stress-related. Contrary to earlier studies, the new data showed almost no seasonal effect on suicides. This is attributed to cell phones and the Internet preventing people from feeling isolated. Help is just a call or an Internet connection away.
Studies show that women have a harder time quitting smoking than men. Researchers speculate that women are more sensitive to sudden emotional upsets and smoke cigarettes to calm down. Although data from federal household surveys show that men and women have approximately equal success in ultimately quitting, women have a 25% lower success rate overall on any one attempt to quit. This may be because cigarettes fill many roles for women – reducing negative moods, enhancing positive moods, as well as managing stress, appetite and weight gain. For women cigarettes seem to lighten their lives - emotionally.
A 20-year study found cutting calories by 30% slowed the aging process in rhesus monkeys. Half the monkeys were put on a reduced calorie diet. As of July 2009, 37% of the regular-diet monkeys had died of age-related diseases compared with 13% of the calorie-cut monkeys. The calorie-cut monkeys had less than half the incidence of cancerous tumors and heart disease. Also their brain scans showed less age-related shrinkage and they retained more muscle mass. Scientists believe calorie restriction reprograms metabolism to slow aging. However, don’t try this at home. You might monkey around with the wrong diets.
Finally, a study of the world’s population of centenarians predicts that the number will reach nearly 6 million by mid-century. From an estimated few thousand in 1950, there are more than 340,000 centenarians worldwide in 2009 - the majority being in Japan and in the U.S. By 2050 centenarians will be the fastest growing segment of the population. By 2050 Japan is expected to have 627,000 – equaling nearly 1% of its population. By 2050 the U.S. is expected to go from 75,000 to more than 600,000 centenarians. Demographers attribute this increase to medical advances, better diets and improved lifestyles. Soon 100 will be the new 80.
