What could be worse than a broken heart? The fact that you may be doing the breaking. According to the CDC, heart disease is the number one killer of Americans every yearaccounting for one in every four deathsmany of them preventable. You can make easy changes to your lifestyle to reduce your risk. Here are 40 things you've probably been doing that hurt your heartand what you can do to make it better. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these 19 Ways You're Ruining Your Body, Say Health Experts.

Most of us think stabbing chest pain is the telltale sign of a heart attack. In the movies, there's the classic scene where the man gasps, clutches his heart, and collapses. But heart attacks don't only strike menheart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. And in women, the symptoms can be much less dramatic. According to experts at the National Heart Association, women having a heart attack may feel:

The Rx: These heart attack signs may be subtle, but they're no less deadly. Man or woman, if you have any of these signs, call 911 and get to a hospital.

You're out shopping with a friend when your arm gets tingly and your words start slurring. This couldn't be a strokeyou're too young for that, right? Nope. Compared to 20 years ago, strokes are on the rise in people under the age of 45. A study in JAMA Neurology found that acute ischemic stroke hospitalization rates in women aged 18 to 34 rose nearly 32 percent. Researchers think this is linked to an increase in high cholesterol, tobacco use, high blood pressure and obesity.

The Rx: Know the signs of a stroke. This acronym is easy to remember: FAST, which stands for facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and time to call 911.

If you notice a white or gray ring around your iris, and you aren't a zombie, it might mean you have arcus senilisa potential sign of high cholesterol. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's not unusual if you're over 30 years of age. If you're younger than that, it could be cause for concern. Whitening in the cornea in younger people is a potential sign of familial hyperlipidemia, a common genetic disorder that increases blood fats and increases your risk of a heart attack.

The Rx: Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice these white rings around your cornea to check your cholesterol levels.

Taking care of your teeth isn't just about having a bright white smile. The American Heart Association's journal Hypertension says there is a link between gum disease and heart disease. Poor dental health increases the risk of a bacterial infection in your bloodstream (because it could get in through your bleeding gums). And, there is a connection between tooth loss and coronary artery disease.

The Rx: We know it's a pain but floss every night, brush your teeth at least twice daily, and go to your dentist for a cleaning.

Do you see red when a driver cuts you off in traffic, or your favorite football team fumbles the ball? Uncontrolled anger can lead to an increase in heart trouble, according to the Journal of American Medicine. When you get angry, stress hormones flood your body, which causes your face to flush, your heart to race and your blood pressure to rise. Chronically angry people have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease. And if you're a man, you're more likely to experience this rage: males reported "higher rates of anger attacks/aggression, substance abuse, and risk-taking compared with women."

The Rx: Anger is naturalwe all get ticked off sometimes. But unsuppressed anger is bad for you, and it takes a toll. You might seek anger management therapy to find ways to manage your emotions. There's no proof it will prevent a heart attack, but it can help your peace of mind.

There really is such a thing as dying of a broken heartit's not just something made up for romance novels. Broken Heart Syndrome is triggered by major stress, like the death of someone you love or an ugly breakup. It's a temporary heart condition sometimes called takotsubo cardiomyopathy that disrupts your heart's ability to pump normally. The good news is, broken heart syndrome is treatable and usually clears up within a few weeks.

The Rx: Don't try to deal with the stress of losing a loved one alone. Reach out for helpwhether to a trusted doctor, a therapist, or family and friends. No one has to go through that pain alone.

Want to get heart healthy? The American Heart Association says that owning a dog is associated with lower risk of heart disease. Not only are dogs great companions, they get more than wagging their own tailsthey get your tail moving. That's because dogs need to be walked every day, and dog owners are 54 percent more likely to get at least the recommended level of exercise.

The Rx: Consider adopting a pet from the Humane Society.

Heavy metal music gets your blood pumping, but it doesn't do much for your heart health. A study by the University of Florence found that patients who listened to classical, Celtic, or Indian music and practiced slow breathing for a half hour each day had significant improvements in blood pressure.

The Rx: Don't throw out your favorite AC/DC t-shirt. But be aware of the calming effects of classical, and add some Mozart to your musical mix.

Sleep is essential for your health. When people suffer from insomnia, they're not just exhaustedthey're at greater risk for all kinds of health problems. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep. Chronic insomnia is a sleep disturbance that happens at least three times per week and lasts for at least three months. This kind of insomnia is what puts you at greater risk. According to a report published in Hypertension, chronic insomnia is associated with a significant increase in hypertension.

The Rx: You don't have to live with insomniait is treatable. The National Sleep Foundation recommends talking with your doctor for treatment options.

There really can be too much of a good thing when it comes to sleep. According to a study conducted in the United Kingdom, sleeping more than 9 hours per night is linked to a 30% greater risk of early death. And napping during the day can be just as dangerous. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that women who take naps every day are 58% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

The Rx: Get a good night's sleep between 7 and 9 hours.

If you wake up feeling exhausted every morning, and your partner complains that you snore a lot, you may have a condition called sleep apnea. It's more than just annoyingit's dangerous. Symptoms include high blood pressure, waking up gasping for air, and the inability to concentrate. With this disorder, the muscles in the back of your throat fail to keep the airway open. Not only does this give you a terrible night's sleep and low blood oxygen levels, the National Sleep Association says it can lead to congestive heart failure, heart attack, and cardiac arrhythmia (a disturbance of your heart's rhythm).

The Rx: Snoring can be a major health problem, so ask to see a sleep specialist if you think you might have sleep apnea. They can give you a diagnosis and treatment to help you get some quality sleep.

For decades, we've been told to worry about our body mass index (BMI) when it comes to weight. But a study by the North American Menopause Society showed that it's not how much fat, but where it is on your body that matters most to your heart. Belly fat, also called visceral fat, is the most dangerous kind because it surrounds your vital organs deep inside your body. Women who carried fat mostly in their torso were three times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than women who have more fat in their legs.

The Rx: If you're having trouble keeping the weight off, talk to your doctor for advice on how to manage your risk.

Do you only go to the doctor when you want a prescription, or think you have the flu? If so, you're not alon
e26 percent of people in one recent survey said they had trouble paying for healthcare services, and 20% had canceled a visit because they couldn't afford it. (Even if you can afford it, you might be too busy to go.) If you're skipping out on your annual checkup, you could be putting your health at risk. The cuff that squeezes your arm is an important part of your screening according to the National Heart Association, because high blood pressure usually has no symptomsso you won't know if it's out of control without going to the doctor's office. You may also have your cholesterol levels checked to see if you're at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke.

The Rx: We know it can be expensive and inconvenient, but see your doctor for preventative check-ups if at all possible.

Working at a desk, driving to work, binge-watching Netflixall of that downtime has a high price. Australian researchers found that every hour spent watching TV is linked to an 18% greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease, the same as smoking two cigarettes.

The Rx: You don't have to give up watching Westworld. But take breaks every now and then to get up, stretch your muscles, or jog in place to keep your blood flowing.

Being lonely really can hurt your heartin a literal way. According to research published in the journal Heart, people who reported not having close friendships or feelings of loneliness had a 32% higher risk of stroke, and a 29% increased risk of coronary heart disease. People who have a good circle of friends have a better chance of a longer lifesocial connections can help us feel more positive, recover from illness faster, and increase immune function.

The Rx: Pick up the phone and call your friends. If you're feeling depressed, talk to a doctor or a therapist to get help.

Does the weight of the world hang on your shoulders? You might benefit from a good laugh. Research has shown that laughter is linked to chemical changes in the body that reduce stress and increase pain tolerance. According to a study in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, adults over the age of 60 who participated in weekly "group laughter sessions" had an increase in mineral bone density. Findings also show that people with a sense of humor are linked to a 73% lower risk of death from heart disease.

The Rx: The next time it's your pick on movie night, choose a comedy instead of a dark documentary.

By now you've probably heard that taking too many antibiotics isn't a good ideabecause bacteria become resistant to them and morph into "superbugs." But antibiotics can also be bad for your heart. According to European Heart Journal, long-time antibiotic use changes the microbiome in your gut and associated with significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Rx: We're not saying to stop taking your antibioticsthat can lead to other health problems. But just be aware that long-term use of any medication carries risk, and talk to your doctor about it.

Hospitals are where you go to get wellbut laying in your hospital bed for too long without moving can put you at risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). That's when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in your leg. When that clot breaks off and travels up to your lungs, it's a life-threatening condition called a pulmonary embolism. Warning signs of DVT include leg pain or tenderness, leg swelling, skin that feels warm to the touch, and red streaks on the skin.

The Rx: The American Heart Association recommends wearing compression stockings or getting out of your hospital bed quickly after surgery if possible. Talk to your doctor about how to manage your risk of deep vein thrombosis.

Oral contraceptive pills are a highly effective birth controlbut they increase risk of high blood pressure in some women. According to the American Heart Association, this is most likely in women who smoke, are overweight, have had high blood pressure during pregnancy, or have a family history of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a silent killer many adults don't even know they have it because there are often no obvious symptoms.

The Rx: Don't quit taking your medication without talking to your doctor first.

The science is clear: smoking is bad for your heart. According to the CDC, smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular diseaseand not just in the ways you might think. Lighting up can raise triglycerides (a fat in your blood), lower your "good" HDL cholesterol, make your blood stickier and more prone to clotting, cause thickening and narrowing of your blood vessels, and a whole host of other nasty side effects. The effects are significant for nonsmokers who breathe secondhand smoke at home or work, tooa 25% increased risk of heart disease and 20% greater risk of stroke.

The Rx: Quit the sticks. If you're having trouble kicking your smoking habit, talk with your doctor. And to live your happiest and healthiest life, don't miss this essential list of the Worst Things For Your HealthAccording to Doctors.

The mind-body connection is well known in the medical community. So, it comes as no surprise that mental pain can cause physical pain. Research shows that people with cardiovascular disease are more likely to have depression, and people with depression are more likely to have cardiovascular diseasethe two are linked. But they link is also proportional, which means the more severe your depression, the more likely you are to develop heart disease and die from it.

The Rx: Don't suffer from depression in silence. Seek help from a therapistthere's zero shame in taking care of your mental health.

There is debate about whether keto diets are good for your health, but the science is clear on one thing: too much LDL cholesterol is linked to heart disease. LDL causes fatty deposits to build up in your arteries, which reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart. The American Heart Association says it's vital for men and women to keep a close eye on their cholesterol.

The Rx: Start eating a heart-healthy diet and limit your red meat, saturated fats like coconut oil, and full-fat dairy. You can also increase your intake of "good" HDL cholesterol

Your mom was rightyou have to eat your vegetables if you want to be healthy. The CDC recommends 2 cups of fruit per day and 3 cups of vegetables for adults for a healthy diet because they are rich in nutrition and low in calories. And, according to an English study of 65,000 adults over more than 7 years, those who ate the most produce every day lowered their risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 31%.

The Rx: Any amount of green is good for you, so don't be scared off by a high target.

Sorry donut lovers: even if you're at a healthy weight, a diet high in sugar may increase your risk of heart disease. According to a study published in the Journal of American Medicine, people who ate more than 25% of their calories as sugar were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease as those whose diets had less than 10% sugar. Now, not all sugars are "bad"naturally occurring sugars like lactose (milk) and fructose (fruit) aren't the same as added sugars, like the ones in your large vanilla latte.

The Rx: The American Heart Association advises women to limit added sugarless than 100 calories per day, or about 6 teaspoons. For men it's about 150 calories, or 9 teaspoons.

RELATED: The #1 Cause of Obesity, According to Science

Breast cancer is one of the scariest things a woman can go through. If you're over the age of 45 and have completed your cancer treatment, you have a greater risk of heart disease. According to a Brazilian study published in Menopause, when compared with women over 45 who had not experienced breast cancer, those who underwent treatment have a much higher likelihood of cardiovascular problems.

The Rx: You can manage your risk by making heart-healthy lifestyle changes, like eating less saturated fat and exercising more.

Diabetes is a common condition in the United Statesaffecting about 1 in every 11 peo
ple. It's what happens when your body can't make enough insulin, and sugar builds up in the bloodstream. According to the CDC, women with diabetes have a 40% greater risk of developing heart disease and a 25% greater risk of stroke than men do.

The Rx: If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor about how to lower your risk of heart disease.

Some people think they can avoid the nasty side effects of cigarettes by chewing tobacco insteadbut it's not a safer option. Chewing tobacco is a smokeless tobacco that's placed in the cheek and sucked, and doing so raises your heart rate and blood pressure. According to the CDC, smokeless tobacco is linked to cancer, addiction to nicotine, and increased risk of death from stroke or heart disease.

The Rx: Just don't do it. If you're already chewing tobacco, see your doctor to get help quitting.

When you have trouble at work or an unexpected bill, can you handle it? Everyone feels and experiences stress differently. But when your stress gets out of control, you can feel it in your body because stress makes your body release adrenaline. That hormone makes your breathing and heart rate speed up temporarily as you prepare for "fight or flight." According to one study, "prolonged inflammatory response may inflict serious damage upon its host."

The Rx: If you are feeling super stressed, try doing some yoga or going for a walkor for a quick fix, watch some cat videos. Laughter really can be the best medicine.

If you feel exhausted all the time, it might be because you have anemia. This condition develops when your blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells (or hemoglobin). These cells carry oxygen. So, when you don't have enough red blood cells, your body doesn't get enough oxygen and your organs don't function properly. This can lead to an irregular heartbeat, because your heart has to pump more to make up for the lack of oxygen in the blood which can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure. According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, anemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The Rx: Eat more leafy greens (like spinach) with high levels of ironor take an iron supplementto help combat anemia.

The next time you think about skipping exercise to sleep in, think twice. As many as 250,000 deaths per year in the United States are linked to a lack of exercise. In fact, being a couch potato is one of the top five risk factors for heart disease, along with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity.

The Rx: The American Heart Association advises adults to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. You don't have to compete in the Ironmanballroom dancing, a round of tennis, or a brisk walk will do the trick.

RELATED: 9 Everyday Habits That Might Lead to Dementia, Say Experts

Love hitting the gym for hours at a time? You could be putting your heart at risk. A study in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that adults who did more than three times the recommendations150 minutes of moderate exercise per weekcould be doing cardiovascular damage. Another study from Denmark found that people who jogged a lot, and at higher intensity, were more likely to die during the course of the study than those who exercised less often. In fact, it was almost the same risk as those who did not exercise at all.

The Rx: Don't overdo it20 minutes of moderate exercise every day is the sweet spot for heart health.

Here's a scary thought: almost half of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and most of us don't even know it. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure is called a silent killer because it often doesn't show any obvious symptoms. Hypertension is what happens when the force of blood is consistently too high. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80. When left unchecked, high blood pressure can lead to damage to your circulatory system, stroke, heart attack and other health problems.

The Rx: See your doctor regularly to have your blood pressure checked. Limit salt and alcohol, and try to exercise regularly.

You might think of aspirin as a harmless over-the-counter drug, and since it's been pushed as heart-healthy, why not pop one? It might surprise you to learn that aspirin can actually cause deadly complications in some people. The FDA warns that while aspirin can help prevent a heart attack by "thinning" the blood, that could cause the unwanted side effect of bleeding in the heart or brain.

The Rx: Talk to your doctor before you start taking aspirin for your heart so you can weigh the benefits and risks.

Sorry, carnivoresthat juicy steak is bad for your heart. A recent study published in the European Heart Journal found that people who eat red meatbut not vegetarians or those who eat only white meat like porkhave increased levels of the chemical trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). This compound is made by gut bacteria to digest food, and has been found to raise the risk of heart disease and early death. Not only that, but a diet heavy in red meat can actually change kidney function. Some people in the study had a ten-fold increase in TMAO levels after only a month of eating red meat, which didn't happen in people who ate poultry, fish, or other non-meat sources of saturated fat.

The Rx: Watch your intake of red meats. The American Heart Association advises baked fish, skinless poultry, and trimmed lean meatsbut no more than 5.5 cooked ounces daily.

RELATED: Signs You're Getting One of the "Most Deadly" Cancers.

By now, you've probably seen bottles of probiotics on the pharmacy shelf. Many people reach for them to stay "regular," or help reset the system after taking antibiotics. Probiotics are "good bacteria" found in foods prepared by fermentation like kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. So, when you pick up a container of yogurt and read "active live cultures Lactobacillus"that's your probiotic. Some scientists think probiotics may help lower risk of heart disease. The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that certain yogurts decreased total cholesterol by 4% within one to two months.

The Rx: Studies on probiotics are ongoing, so more therapeutic uses are likely to come. It never hurts to eat a little yogurt (as long as it's not loaded with too much sugar).

Do you get dizzy or feel like you might pass out for no reason? You might have a low heart rate. This is sometimes a sign of a strong heartbut if it's too slow, it can be cause for concern. A normal resting heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute that means your heart isn't working too hard to pump blood. Elite athletes in top cardiovascular condition often have heart rates under 60 BPM. But if you're not training for a triathlon, it could be a sign of bradycardia, where your heart isn't pumping often enough. Left untreated long-term, this can lead to heart failure, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, and chest pain.

The Rx: A low heart rate doesn't always require treatment. If you're noticing dizzy spells or other troublesome symptoms, talk to your doctor.

RELATED: This Supplement Can Raise Your Heart Attack Risk, Experts Say

Soaking in a hot tub is one of the best ways to relax and unwindbut for some, it can be dangerous. When you spend too long immersed in hot water, you could experience blood pressure that's too low. That's because heat can make your vessels dilate, which lowers your blood pressure and makes your heart work harder, which is taxing on an unhealthy heart.

The Rx: The Mayo Clinic says it's probably ok for people with stable heart disease to use hot tubs, as long as they limit the time to 15 minutes or less.

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a natural remedy that seems to be everywhere right now. It's created by extracting only CBD from the cannabis plant. That way, you get the health-related benefits of cannabis without the "high"because CBD is not psychoactive. While the overall health benefits are still uncertain, recent research has shown a link to heart heal
th, stating "a single dose of CBD reduces resting blood pressure and the blood pressure response to stress."

The Rx: The effects of CBD oil are still being studied, so it's uncertain exactly what the risks and benefits are. If you're taking other medications, be sure to speak with your doctor or pharmacist before giving this remedy a try. And to get through life at your healthiest, Don't Take This Supplement, Which Can Raise Your Cancer Risk.

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40 Ways You're Ruining Your Heart, Say Doctors | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

As the world commemorates World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2021, South Africans are being urged to quit smoking,and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

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Speaking to Health-e News, Medical Director at Pfizer South Africa, Dr Bha Ndungane-Tlakuladescribed smoking as one of the more harmful habits for overall health. It affects most organs in the body, so much so that if you smoke tobacco products, you are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than if you do not smoke, said Ndungane-Tlakula.

According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco smoking is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing more than eight million people a year globally. Over seven million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, while 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to secondhand smoke.

Commit to quit

This year the World No Tobacco Day is being celebrated under the theme Commit to Quit. Years of documented research and studies have shown that nicotine, the chemical found in tobacco products, is addictive.

Quitting smoking can be difficult. But, if it is coupled with the adoption of a healthy lifestyle,maintaining a healthy body weight, reducing alcohol consumption and regular exercise, it may add more than a decade of life expectancy during adulthood. Speak to your healthcare professional who can advise on the best solutions to help you live a better life for tomorrow today, advised Ndungane-Tlakula.

Making healthier choices

The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa also advocates for better health choices. It cites heart disease and stroke as the second biggest killers in South Africa, after HIV. As part of its recommendations for better heart health, it discourages tobacco use.

Ndungane-Tlakuka also stressed the importance of nutrition in maintaining overall health. Many of our essential nutrients from the food we eat as our bodies cannot produce these nutrients enough on their own.

This means that most of our sources of nutrients and daily. Health-e News

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Drop your habit: Smokers urged to quit on World No Tobacco Day | Health-e - Health-e News

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Having a tough time buttoning your jeans or are you not loving the way your belly looks when you try on that bikini from last summer? Whether it is because of an uptick in eating too many bloat-inducing foods or due to your preference for binging Netflix on the couch instead of hitting the gym, there are many reasons for having a mid-section that doesn't look or feel the way that you want it to be.

And while the best ways to support a flat belly are to exercise, reduce your salt intake, maintain your gut health, and eat a well-balanced diet, there are some supplements that may help kick your "washboard abs" journey into high gear. Although they won't be a magic bullet to rock-hard abs, when combined with a healthy lifestyle, they may help the cause.

Read on to find 8 supplements that may help you button your jeans without having to lay flat on your bed to accomplish that goal. Just get the green light from your health care provider before you add any of these to your routine, as some supplements may negatively interact with your current medication or not mix with certain health conditions. And for more, check out these10 Easiest Flat Belly Hacks You Need to Try.

If you aren't a tea drinker, taking a green tea extract supplement is a great option if you want to get a dose of EGCG, or a plant compound found in this type of tea to help flatten your belly.

Burning more calories can help you lose weight, and therefore lose belly fat. And since studies suggest that taking green tea extract or EGCG supplements can help you burn more calorieseven at rest, these pills can help give your body the boost it may need. And taking it a step further, taking in this compound can result in weight loss.

Plus, green tea catechin (a natural flavonoid) intake is linked to shedding belly fat in overweight and obese adults who exercise. (For more, check outWhat Happens To Your Body When You Drink Green Tea.)

It may sound funny to take in fatty acids in order to lose weight and to support a flat belly, but consuming sources of DHA and EPA, omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood (including krill oil), may help you get that flat belly that you want.

Fish oils are linked to many benefits, including managing blood sugars. When blood sugars are elevated, your body secretes more insulin. And when insulin levels are consistently high, weight loss can be difficult to achieve, and thus, your flat belly will be out of reach.

Kori Krill Oil provides superior absorption over fish oil because it delivers Omega-3 EPA and DHA in its natural phospholipid form. This also eases digestion and eliminates the fishy burps that many people experience with fish oil.

Bonus? Krill oil also supports heart, brain, eyes, joints, skin, and immune health too!

RELATED:Side Effects of Taking Fish Oil Every Day, According to Experts

Ginger isn't just a remedy for combatting nausea. This root, which contains a digestive enzyme called zingibain, may help combat bloating and gas caused by certain foods. Since a bloated tummy is the antithesis of a flat tummy, taking ginger may help you outespecially when taken after a meal that contains protein.

RELATED: Sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox!

Your gut can be home to a variety of live bacteria. Certain bacteriathink E. coli and coliformsare gas-producing in many cases and can cause people to experience bloat.

One way to combat these bacteria is to create an environment in your gut that has a lower pH, or a more acidic environment. Why? Many of these bacteria thrive in an environment that is less acidic (more neutral).

To accomplish this, taking probiotics, or live bacteria that actually offer a benefit to our health may help. Certain strains, particularly lactobacillus strains, can help lower the pH in your gut, thus making your gut more acidic. This helps to make the environment not super friendly to some potentially gas-producing bacteria. A tummy that isn't full of gas can mean one thinga flat tummy!

Whether you are an ice cream, milk, or creamy soup lover, dairy foods are a fan favorite for a slew of reasons. But, unfortunately, the natural sugar found in many dairy foods called lactose can be challenging for people to digestespecially as we get older.

To break down the lactose sugar, an enzyme called lactase is needed. As we age, we run the risk of not having enough lactase enzyme in our body to break down the lactose sugarleaving undigested sugar in our gut and causing bloat in some cases.

If you have a lactase deficiency, supplementing with a lactase supplement (like Lactaid) when you eat dairy foods that contain lactase can help you break down the natural dairy sugars, allowing you to enjoy an ice-cold glass of milk once again.

If you are retaining too much fluid in your mid-section, hibiscus may help you rid your body of the excess without negatively affecting electrolyte levels. Although more human studies are needed, adding hibiscus to your routine may help support your flat belly goal if your challenge is water retention.

Berberine has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for years and years. And recently, it has made its way into the Western world in a powerful way.

Among its proposed benefits, berberine may help decrease insulin resistance and inhibit the development of fat stores.

Taking berberine with Oregon grape extract may help fight belly fat by combining the benefits of berberine with the digestive support benefits that Oregon grape offers.

The simple act of taking in protein can help you attain your flat belly in a few ways. Protein helps your body feel more satisfied, and in turn, can help you eat less in the long run.

And whey protein, in particular, may reduce the long and short-term appetite and, in women, improve body composition by increasing lean mass without influencing changes in fat mass. And consumption of over 500 milliliters of dairy products that consist of casein and whey can increase satiety according to results of a meta-analysis.

A whey and casein protein-based protein powder, like Quest Nutrition protein powder, is a simple addition to your everyday life. Whether you are including a scoop or two to your smoothies, your energy bites, or even your classic recipes, this addition can help you feel more satisfied and possibly reduce the risk of overeating, which may lead to bloat.

Try some protein powder in these22 High Protein Smoothie Recipes from Diet and Fitness Experts.

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Best Supplements for a Flat Belly, According to a Dietitian - Eat This, Not That

While some European cultures enjoy a daily siesta or midday nap, these types of power naps are not as common in the USA. However, there could be some health benefits if people take power naps correctly.

Potential health benefits of power naps include enhanced memory, improved cognitive performance, and stronger logical reasoning. That said, napping for too long could upset a persons circadian rhythms, which can lead to increased tiredness.

Keep reading to learn more about power naps, including the optimal duration and potential health benefits, and some further information about the importance of sleep

There isnt really a perfect time to take a power nap. The ideal time will depend more upon individual factors, such as a persons individual schedule. For example, for people on a 95 work schedule, the best time to nap might be before or during the post-lunch slump, which is usually sometime between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

For those working during the day, naps after 4 p.m. are not ideal. Taking a nap too late in the day can interfere with getting quality nighttime sleep and interrupt a persons circadian rhythms.

However, for shift workers or those who work nights, the ideal time for a power nap may be earlier or later.

There is some discrepancy among experts over what length of nap is most effective and beneficial.

Dr. Sara Mednick, a psychologist at the University of California, Riverside, states that by taking a 90-minute nap, a person can get the same benefits they would from sleeping 8 hours. However, another study suggests the ideal nap length is 10 minutes.

The science behind limiting the duration of a power nap boils down to something called sleep inertia. This term refers to the drowsiness a person may experience upon waking from a very long nap, which may significantly impair cognitive performance throughout the course of a day.

There are many health benefits associated with taking regular power naps, among them long-term memory improvement, enhanced cognitive function, and increased creativity. Research also shows that naps might be beneficial for heart health. A recent case study followed Swiss adults who took 12 naps per week. it found that over a period of 8 years, these same individuals had a lower risk of heart disease and strokes than those who didnt nap.

On the flip side, its worth noting that other research shows there may be negative long-term effects of regular napping. Research analyzed by the American Heart Association (AHA) shows that those who napped for an hour or more per day had 1.82 times the rate of cardiovascular disease than people who didnt nap. However, this is probably due to correlation rather than direct causation, as that group may have had underlying health reasons that led to them taking frequent naps.

Ultimately, if a person is able to take short naps on any given day and feels more alert upon waking, they should feel free to do so. The benefits of napping seem to outweigh any potential drawbacks. However, researchers must continue to study the overall effects of napping on health.

Though theyre quite different, napping and meditation seem to have several overlapping effects and benefits. While those who meditate are conscious and those who nap are unconscious, both groups enjoy an improved mental state afterward, accompanied by reductions in blood pressure, stress, and anxiety.

While both can be healthy habits, those who meditate reap additional benefits that nappers may not receive. A few of these include needing less sleep, an overall boost in mood, and increased melatonin levels which can promote a more restful nights sleep. Meditation also has the potential to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief.

A person who incorporates both regular or semi-regular naps and meditation into their lifestyle can expect improvements in many physiological and psychological areas.

If a person consistently fails to get enough restful nighttime sleep and naps as a result, theyre in a better position than a person who doesnt get enough sleep and doesnt nap at all. This is because napping can help reduce a persons sleep debt, or the amount of sleep theyd ideally get to make up for the amount of sleep lost each night.

The American Psychological Association states that more sleep would make most Americans happier and healthier. The average American gets well below the recommended amount of 8 hours of sleep each night. While everyones sleep needs are different, a good nights sleep of at least 7 or more hours for adults aged 18-60 helps protect the immune system and the heart, and allows optimal brain function and mental clarity throughout the day.

People who are chronically sleep-deprived those who fail to get enough sleep over a period of 2 weeks or longer exhibit brain deficits similar to those who havent slept in 3 days. They are also more prone to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and depression.

Learn more about the importance of sleep here.

Overall, power naps can be an effective way to enjoy boosted energy, heightened focus, increased attention, and mental clarity. The ideal length is around 10 minutes, according to some research.

Naps should not be used as a substitute for getting the recommended amount of sleep each night, ideally 79 hours for adults aged 18-60.

When kept to about 1020 minutes per day, power naps can make a great addition to a healthy lifestyle and promote a variety of benefits for those who take them.

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Power naps: Health benefits, how to, and more - Medical News Today

EROM's VP Euihyun Hwang (left) and T1's COO John Kim (right) commemorate the strategic partnership with T1 and EROM

*The following was sent to Inven Global as a Press release by T1*

Global esports organization T1 Entertainment & Sports announced today its new strategic partnership with EROM, a global healthcare and foods company.

Through the new partnership, T1 and EROM will work together to provide health foods and medical check-ups for its players and streamers, launch the special health food T1 Core Meal for gamers as well as create synergy to promote healthcare amongst gamers.

T1 Core Meal is developed by collaboration between Erom and T1 to provide healthy nutritious life for the professional gamers. It contains Lactium (1.14mg/bag) that is known for relieving stress and Raffinose (1.06g/bag) that is known for propagation of beneficial intestinal bacteria as well as pathogen suppression. Also, it is comprised of 55 organic materials along with two types of functional raw material.

Moreover, there are 13 types of vitamins, 3 types of minerals, zinc (8.5mg/bag) that is known for boosting immunity, selenium (55mcg/case), vitamin D for the strengthening bone density that can help professional gamers brain function and physical balance. All the above-mentioned nutritional elements are contained in one bag for simple and easy consumption.

The health of our players and streamers is our top priority at T1 and it is a great opportunity for them to learn how to manage their health and maintain the right conditions to perform well. I am also excited for both companies to promote the upcoming health food T1 Core Meal to improve the health of gamers, Joe Marsh, CEO of T1 said.

EROM VP Euihyun Hwang said, I am looking forward to our partnership with T1 since it is known to be one of the top global esports organizations in the world. T1s value of prioritizing the players health goes hand-in-hand with EROMs 23-year history and vision of people who love science. We hope that T1 Core Meal will be a leader in health foods in the esports market and that gamers all over the world will manage and enjoy maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

LIVHIM CEO Sunghye Lee explained, We hope to incorporate the values of both companies to introduce health foods and expand into the esports market. We will work together in creating synergy for the marketing strategies for the launch of T1 Core Meal in late July.

ABOUT T1 ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

T1 Entertainment & Sports is a global esports joint venture that owns and operates the ultra-successful T1 League of Legends (LoL) Champions Korea (LCK) team, along with teams in competitive gaming segments that include VALORANT, Dota 2, Rainbow Six, Fortnite, PUBG, Super Smash Bros., Hearthstone and Apex Legends. The T1 LoL LCK team, previously known as SK Telecom T1, has won three LoL World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016). T1 unites esports enthusiasts around the world through its gaming culture and lifestyle, content creation, entertainment and merchandise. SK Telecom and Comcast Spectacor launched T1 in October 2019 and have global operations based in Seoul, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. For more information on T1, please visit T1.gg.

ABOUT EROM

Erom co.,Ltd is a globally well-known healthcare company that produce health supplements as well as healthy drinks. Since the establishment of the company, Erom tirelessly invested in Research and Development to produce their products so that they can serve consumers with healthy food and beverages of highest quality. In 1999, Erom established their first global branch in United States and from that point, they have reached all continents with their health related products. Also, Erom is currently donating ten percent of their annual revenue to help those who are in need all around the world. In recognition to their CSR, in 2020, they won Gyeongido Good company award.

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T1 partners up with EROM to manage gamers' health - InvenGlobal

Americans look to the outdoors for solace and recreation. Its been true since our foundation as a nation and it became even more clear last year. For more than 50 million of us, the outdoors are where many of our happiest memories are created, and where we go in challenging times to reflect and recenter. Our lifestyles are enriched by skiing, snowboarding, climbing, trail running, mountain biking and other outdoor sports. At Protect Our Winters we call this borderless, diverse group the Outdoor State.

The future of outdoor recreation and the communities where the outdoors support a vibrant economy are completely reliant on our immediate commitment to solve the climate crisis. President BidenJoe BidenWhat you need to know about the international tax talks 9 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2022 Is Biden trying to avoid congressional review of Russia sanctions? MOREs American Jobs Plan is a put your money where your mouth is commitment to the lifestyle and livelihood of Americas outdoor recreation hubs. Initiatives within the plan make meaningful strides toward stabilizing both our climate and revitalizing job markets in the places so many of us call home. By acting now, we have a shot at protecting the powder fields we ride, the forests we hike, the flowing streams we fish and the clear skies under which we camp. You know the exhilarating parts of life.

A growing outdoor state

Outdoor recreation is more than a hobby to millions of Americans. It is a way of life and what sustains them through challenging times. In 2019, half of Americans recreated outdoors. We know from the empty shelves of camping gear and running shoes, the wait time for bicycles, and from ski and snowboard sales figures that last year inspired even more people to recreate outdoors, many for the first time. A 2021 Special Report from the Outdoor Industry Association found that millions turned to outdoor recreation to spend time with loved ones, exercise safely, stay healthy and reduce screen-time fatigue.

To protect Americans access to outdoor recreation, which is a vital component of millions of peoples physical and mental health, we must protect those spaces from shrinking winters, drought, extreme heat waves and wildfires. That means addressing climate change as an imminent threat to the American outdoor lifestyle.

In the last 15 months, people did more than pick up a new hobby outdoors. The COVID-19 pandemic and the remote work culture it forced caused enormous hardship, but also offered many people a chance to reimagine what work and life can look like. Newly untethered from their desks, people are more free to choose where they live based on lifestyle, not a job.

Many heard the mountains calling and they went. This is evident in housing data and school enrollment in regions where outdoor recreation is central to life. Mountain towns across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and New England, along with beach towns on both coasts are seeing an influx of not only visitors, but also new residents. USPS and U.S. Census Bureau numbers show that migration into the Lake Tahoe region in California is up 24 percent, while Breckenridge leads Colorado mountain towns with 19 percent and double digit increases appear throughout the Pacific Northwest, northern Arizona and New England.

People are choosing their dream way of life and for many it is rooted in the outdoors. Within the American Jobs Plan are investments in clean energy, electric vehicles, and a grid that can power a renewable future alongside efforts to provide broadband access across America to connect people wherever they choose to live and work.

Protecting and replacing jobs in one

This is our once in a lifetime shot to rebuild the countrys infrastructure in a way that meaningfully addresses climate change. The American Jobs Plan initiatives directed at rebuilding with renewables will create new jobs for the workers displaced by the market-driven shift away from fossil fuels, thousands of whom live in the same areas that are seeing an influx of new residents. And as a bonus will help to simultaneously protect the millions of climate-dependent outdoor recreation jobs across the U.S.

Outdoor recreation is a massive $887 billion industry that directly drives 7.6 million jobs. The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that real GDP for the outdoor recreation economy grew by 3.9 percent in 2017 faster than the 2.4 percent growth of the overall U.S. economy. So, while thousands of new jobs in the renewable energy economy will help address climate change (think grid upgrades, EV charging stations, solar and wind installations, etc), we must also think of protecting the 7.6 million jobs generated by outdoor recreation.

The climate is already changing, with shorter snow seasons and longer wildfire seasons that increasingly impact outdoor recreation jobs. Protect Our Winters 2018 Economic Report shows how climate change-induced swings in snowpack from year-to-year impact mountain region economies. These effects ripple far beyond the ski slopes to nearly all sectors of these communities. Outdoor recreation related jobs are in a growing industry that can thrive without any direct subsidies. But, sustaining those jobs into the future requires taking bold action on climate.

Many regions that are outdoor recreation hubs are also places where people work in fossil fuel development. The American Jobs Plan will create new, high-paying jobs to help offset inevitable continuing losses from the shift away from fossil fuels, by investing in a modern grid and constructing a clean energy infrastructure. In addition to new technology, the AJPs efforts to plug orphan gas wells that are leaking methane will help create jobs in areas where the waning fossil fuel industry is leaving workers stranded.

More than a century ago, Theodore Roosevelt foreshadowing a moment like ours when big ideas would be required posited, the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil, and the gas are exhausted, when the soils have still further impoverished and washed into the streams, polluting the rivers, denuding the fields and obstructing navigation.

We are behind the curve on Roosevelts call to act. But if we take bold action to rebuild our economy and the national infrastructure in a clean, future-forward way, Roosevelts vision can have a happy ending, driven by the spirit of American innovation.

When given a choice on how and where we live, it is clear that the outdoors are a deciding factor for many Americans. This integral part of the American way of life is completely dependent on a stable climate. The American Jobs Plan is an important step in ensuring that the outdoors can provide a healthy lifestyle and stable livelihood for generations to come.

This is the moment for the representatives and senators in Congress from regions with massive outdoor recreation economies across the Sierra, Rockies, Pacific Northwest, New England and Appalachia to put their votes where their talking points are on jobs. Support for the American Jobs Plan will help to shore up the outdoor recreation economies they represent, while also creating new, high-paying jobs for their constituents. A majority of voters support the plan.

Mario Molina is the executive director of the non-profit organization Protect Our Winters, which empowers passionate outdoor people to affect systemic solutions to climate change. Follow him and the organization on Twitter: @maedmolina and @protectwinters.

See the original post here:
Where climate, jobs and health meet: The outdoors | TheHill - The Hill

Dr. Staiano said not getting ahead of weight problems at a young age, can lead to a lifetime of health problems.

NEW ORLEANS Families in this area now have an opportunity to join a program geared to help children who are overweight.

A mother said the program is changing the way they grocery shop, cook and eat, as well as opening new doors for her teenage son.

When Collin Jackson was younger, he joined a family program at Pennington Biomedical Research Center that focused on weight and a lifetime of healthful choices.

He loved it. We went. He made new friends and it ended up being fun, Yet it was geared towards a healthy lifestyle change, not only for him but the family, said Clarencia Grimes, Collins mother.

Today at 13 years of age, it shows.

I never really noticed I was getting like taller and skinnier, until it was like pointed out to me, and then I looked in the mirror and I was like, Oh, I am getting kind of skinnier, said Collin Jackson.

We know that weight is a family issue, and that everyone needs to come on board to develop healthy habits, said Dr. Amanda Staiano, an Associate Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and a

Developmental Psychologist who specializes in childhood obesity.

Dr. Staiano said not getting ahead of weight problems at a young age, can lead to a lifetime of health problems. They range from:

So she is looking for 300 children in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas to join the Team Up program.

We know that this is really what it takes to help families to lose weight and to develop healthy habits, is to meet with their doctor, and to meet with a dietician regularly, to get the support and information that they need, said Dr. Staiano.

Team Up is for six to 15 year-olds through some of Ochsner's pediatrician clinics, but geared to full family participation.

Grimes said one of the things she learned from the program is that everyone has to be on the same menu, no matter what their weight. If you don't cook it for one, don't cook it for anybody, and if you don't buy it for one, don't buy it for anybody,

It just felt good. It was like I didn't feel singled out, Jackson said about the family eating the same meals.

Now Collin feels like he can persevere and accomplish anything, even with asthma. He is running and winning track events while laying the foundation for health and longevity.

There is a $200 compensation for those in the study.

Children will be randomly assigned to one of the 12-month programs. To qualify, children must be 6-15 and have obesity. The participants must also be current patients at one of the following locations:

The Baton Rouge Clinic AMC (Pediatrics)

The Baton Rouge Clinic Pediatrics at Industriplex

Our Lady of the Lake Childrens Health:

Greater New Orleans Area:

Ochsner Health Center Lapalco (Westside Pediatrics and Family Medicine)

Kenner Community Health Center (Access Health Louisiana)

St. Bernard Community Health Center (Access Health Louisiana)

For more information about the study or to see if your child is eligible, go toJoinTeamUp.org or call (225) 763-3194.

Many Blue Cross health plans offer a treatment benefit for children diagnosed as overweight or with obesity. To find out more about Blue Cross pediatric wellness benefits, go to bcbsla.com/healthierkids or call the number on the back of your Blue Cross ID card.

Excerpt from:
Program helps overweight children form healthy habits to lose weight and keep it off - WWLTV.com

World No Tobacco Day 2021: A high level of nicotine-containing plant Tobacco is mainly consumed as Cigarettes worldwide. Tobacco is one of the major causes of death in India. Tobacco consumption is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases like tuberculosis and lower respiratory infections, cancer, cardiovascular disease. The toxic smoke of tobacco can cause damage to the linings of the airway and lungs. Also Read - World No Tobacco Day 2021: What Harm Can Tobacco Consumption Cause on The Efficacy of The Vaccine?

Tobacco smoke suppresses the activity of different immune cells resulting in low immunity and making it harder for the body to fight off various diseases. Smokers are more vulnerable to Covid-19 as fingers come possibly in contact with lips while smoking which increases the possibility of transmission of the virus. Also Read - Smokers at 50% Higher Risk of Developing Severe Diseases, Death From COVID-19: WHO

People who consume Tobacco are more susceptible to getting Covid-19 due to weaker immune systems, saysDr. Tarun Sahni, Internal Medicine Specialist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. He says that they can also act as super-spreaders of Covid-19, affecting others life at risk. Through coughing, spitting, sneezing the infection can be transmitted to others. Also Read - 5 Yoga Asanas For Breast Cancer Patients to Heal And Recover Faster

Research suggests that the people consuming tobacco can have a recovery rate very slow from Covid-19 and the development of post-Covid fibrosis is higher. Many tobacco users had to go in for long-term oxygen therapy and can take more time to heal.

On World No Tobacco Day, Dr. Tarun Sahni talks about COVID-19 complications, breathing exercises that can help tobacco consumers, and more.

When the people consuming Tobacco have Covid-19 complications to such an extent, the only prevention for it is to just Commit to Quit. If an individual gets infected and is in a recovery period of Covid-19 then breathing exercises can be beneficial.

Do not begin exercise and consult a doctor if you have:

Stop exercise immediately, if have:

Different breathing Exercises:

Deep breathing restores lung function by using the diaphragm. Generally done in four-phase where an individual has to take deep breaths while in the back position, on stomach position, in the sitting position, and in standing position. At each position, deep breaths have to be taken for at least 1 minute.

Humming is calming and soothing exercise reducing stress and helps patients to be in restoration mode. Steps for it are:

It opens the chest to give the diaphragm space to expand. It also helps in coordination and builds strength in the arms and shoulder. Steps are:

It can be through blowing certain balloons in a day. This allows the lungs to inhale more oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. Due to more oxygen supply to the body, the person can become less fatigued and breathless.

Due to damage caused by the virus to the lungs, these exercises can be beneficial to those who are recovering. A healthy body is a source of energy that is gained by healthy lifestyle habits.

See the article here:
Dangers of COVID For Tobacco-Consuming People | Breathing Exercises And Recovery Plan | World No Tobacco Day - India.com

There has been a significant rise in the worldwide prevalence of obesity over the past 50 years. Numerous diseases, high morbidity levels, and enormous healthcare expenditures are associated with this now pandemic-level health issue.

Recently, researchers from the Obesity Research Group at the Federal University of So Paulo, Brazil, evaluated three long-term treatments designed to improve the overall quality of life for adults with obesity.

The desire to control weight is common across society, as obesity significantly affects both physical and mental health. A 2017 meta-analysis of 72 studies involving a total of more than 1 million people concluded that 42% of the general adult population were trying to lose weight while 23% were trying to maintain their current weight.

People commonly assume that obesity is linked to an imbalance between food intake and physical activity. However, many other factors contribute to weight issues. These factors include the influence of a modern lifestyle that promotes overeating and the role of fat tissue in maintaining a constant, stable, internal balance.

Earlier research has shown that the causes of obesity are multifaceted and involve genetic makeup, socioeconomic status, and cultural influences. Psychological factors contributing to obesity include depression, trauma, and emotional eating.

Healthcare practitioners commonly use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an effective intervention tool to help people with excess body weight. Focusing on behavioral modification strategies, such as taking time to savor food and chewing slowly, helps enable stimulus control and reduce the quantity of food that people consume.

The new Brazilian study, which determines the effects of different approaches to obesity treatment, appears in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition. The researchers randomly assigned a total of 98 adults with obesity to one of three groups: an education and health group, a physical exercise group, and an interdisciplinary therapy plus CBT group.

Participants in the education and health group attended lectures on health topics, while those in the physical exercise group underwent physical training. Participants in the final group received physical training, nutritional advice, and both physical and psychological therapy.

The researchers used questionnaires designed to evaluate depression and anxiety, eating behavior, and quality of life during the study. Before and after the program, the scientists also evaluated quantitative measurements, including height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), along with metabolic parameters that they obtained from blood tests.

After 30 weeks, 43 participants remained in the program. The dropout rate was lowest for the interdisciplinary group and highest for the education and health group.

The interdisciplinary group saw the greatest behavioral changes relevant to weight control. Members of this group also reported an increased quality of life and reduced symptoms of depression and emotional eating behaviors.

The authors of the study explain: [The interdisciplinary and CBT group] promoted greater behavioral changes than the other two programs in factors relevant to weight control, such as activity level and dietary intake, resulting in more weight loss. Changes in almost all the variables investigated were observed.

In addition, the authors note that [a]s expected, a positive correlation was found in all groups between changes in depression and anxiety symptoms and emotional eating behavior.

Although the study participants in the interdisciplinary plus CBT group achieved better results in perceived quality of life, quantitative body measurements, and decreased depression symptoms, the team observed no changes in hormone levels and anxiety symptoms.

Dr. Mark Hoelterhoff, a professor in clinical psychology at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, was not involved in the study. He told Medical News Today that evidence indicates that depression is not only a cause of obesity but also, possibly, a symptom of our modern diet.

Dr. Hoelterhoff agreed with the findings of the Brazilian study, saying: Exercise and healthy eating programs alone are not sufficient to manage the obesity epidemic. Successful obesity programs cannot underestimate the need to promote self-efficacy and acceptance for people trying to improve their health.

The authors of the study stress that their findings highlight the need to focus more on the roles of anxiety and inflammation in obesity. They write:

It is essential to develop more powerful strategies to address this obesity epidemic and help individuals lose weight, as well as assist them in adopting and maintain a healthy lifestyle in a toxic environment that promotes excessive food consumption.

Overall, the authors conclude that the results of the study suggest that health-related quality of life and psychological issues may be key elements in the treatment of adults with obesity, and addressing these factors may contribute to advances in clinical actions.

Continue reading here:
Tackling obesity: CBT, exercise, and education - Medical News Today

Adults who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were more than three times as likely to have an ischemic stroke later in life compared to adults who do not have OCD, according to a new research.

The research was published in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

"The results of our study should encourage people with OCD to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as quitting or not smoking, getting regular physical activity and managing a healthy weight to avoid stroke-related risk factors," said study senior author Ya-Mei Bai, M.D., PhD, a professor in the department of psychiatry at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University College of Medicine, both in Taiwan.

Worldwide, stroke is the second-leading cause of death after heart disease. Stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood and oxygen flow to the brain are interrupted, usually by a blood clot (ischemic stroke). Less common is a stroke from a burst blood vessel that causes bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).

In both types of stroke, immediate treatment is critical to prevent brain damage, disability or death. The abbreviation F.A.S.T. can help people remember the warning signs and what to do: F-face drooping, A-arm weakness, S-speech difficulty, T-time to call 9-1-1.

OCD is a common, sometimes debilitating, mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make a person feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).

The repetitive behaviours characteristic of OCD, such as hand washing, checking on things or continuously cleaning, can significantly interfere with a person's daily activities and social interactions. Previous research found that OCD often occurs after a stroke or other brain injuries. What remained unclear was whether the reverse is true: can OCD increase stroke risk?

To find out, researchers examined health records from 2001-2010 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to compare stroke risk between 28,064 adults with OCD and 28,064 adults who did not have OCD. The average age at diagnosis with OCD was 37 years, and women and men were nearly equally represented in the data. Researchers compared stroke risk between the two groups for up to 11 years.

The analysis found:

-Adults with OCD were more than three times as likely to have a stroke from a blood clot compared to adults who did not have OCD; the greatest risk was among adults ages 60 and older.

-OCD was an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke even after controlling for other factors known to increase stroke risk, including obesity, heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.

-No difference in risk was found for a hemorrhagic stroke (burst blood vessel).

Similarly, medications to treat OCD were not associated with an increased risk of stroke."For decades, studies have found a relationship between stroke first and OCD later," Bai said. "Our findings remind clinicians to closely monitor blood pressure and lipid profiles, which are known to be related to stroke in patients with OCD."

Limitations of the study were that only stroke among patients who sought health care was included, so some cases may have been missed, and information on disease severity was not included along with family medical history or environmental influences. The study also was observational, so it could only show an association between OCD and later stroke; it does not prove cause and effect.

"More research is needed to understand how the mental processes connected to OCD may increase the risk of ischemic stroke," Bai concluded.

Continued here:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder linked to high ischemic stroke risk later in life - Hindustan Times

A Survey on Digestive Health of Indian families, ahead of World Digestive Health Day today, May 29, 2021 commissioned by ITCs Aashirvaad Atta with Multigrains, on Momspresso, one of Indias leading platform for mums, revealed that 56 per cent of Indian families have reported Digestive Health issues.

The study was conducted amongst 538 mothers, aged 25-45 years across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. This sample constituted working mothers, including businesswomen, entrepreneurs, those employed, and home-makers alike.

The value-added atta variants survey results revealed consumers lifestyle and eating habits. The findings suggest that 77 per cent of Indian mothers consider digestive health to be extremely important, while 56 per cent mothers think their families suffer from digestive health issues. The study found that more than 50 per cent Indian families report suffering from 2-3 digestive health issues. Gas, acidity, and indigestion were found to be amongst the top 3 issues as more than 50 per cent respondents reported suffering from atleast one of these three.

More than 50 per cent think that digestive health has an impact on weight management, energy levels, and the experience leads to abnormal bowel movement amongst others. Forty per cent consider their family and their own gut health as Poor while husband followed by in-laws/parents and self as most affected, respectively. Factors that contribute to gut health include lifestyle and dietary choices. Irregular sleep cycle, consumption of spicy, oily, or fried food, low water intake and 1.5 times/week being the average frequency of physical exercise amongst others were reported as common lifestyle patterns. More than 70 per cent highlighted that they resorted to home remedies and improving daily eating habits as a measure to tackle digestive health issues.

Enriching ones diet with fibre rich food such as wheat-based products, cereals, fruits, leafy vegetables, etc. can aid digestion and it can also relieve bowel issues, provide energy and promote a sense of satiety, thereby enabling weight management.

Speaking about this initiative, Ganesh Kumar Sundararaman, SBU Chief Executive Staples, Snacks and Meals, Foods Division, ITC Ltd.said, Digestive health issues can impact ones quality of life. But they can be managed by introducing changes in eating habits. The World Digestive Health Day is an appropriate occasion to create awareness about the importance of digestive health. Our endeavour has been to support consumers with products such as Aashirvaad Atta with Multigrains that has a wholesome mix of six different grains wheat, soya, channa, oat, maize, and psyllium husk which makes it a source of high fibre. Including Consuming this atta as part of the daily diet could be one of the convenient ways add to ones daily fibre intake. Inclusion of other foods that are high in fibre, along with an active regimen, can support a healthy lifestyle.

More here:
56% of Indian families report Digestive Health issues, reveals survey - The Statesman

Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central

When the first Apple Watch came out, I'll admit it, I was skeptical. After all, I already had a great Fitbit at the time, and it was great, why would I want or need an Apple Watch? Foolish words, I know. A few months later, I ended up buying one because of FOMO. At that point, I understood, and honestly, I found it way more motivational than a basic Fitbit to help me get on track towards a healthier and more active lifestyle. Plus, I could get my notifications on my wrist, make calls, and other things this was the way of the future.

I may not be the healthiest person out there, but I do believe that having an Apple Watch for the last few years has certainly pushed me in the right direction. Trying to close all of your Activity Rings is addictive, and getting those awards in the Fitness app just pushes you to keep going, especially the personalized Monthly Challenges. But as I continue to strive for Perfect Months and completing my Monthly Challenges with my Series 5 (yes, I skipped out on the Apple Watch Series 6), which just get harder and harder by the way, I have to wonder why won't Apple give us a break every now and then?

As you use your best Apple Watch more and more, you'll notice that you have a Monthly Challenge to complete for the month. At first, my challenges were fairly easy and doable, but as I continued to finish them, they began to get harder and more difficult to complete. That's because the Fitness app essentially learns about your activity patterns and an algorithm comes up with a new goal every month based on your previous history. However, some of these monthly challenge goals can end up being ridiculous, and even considered a little unsafe.

For example, one of my first Monthly Challenges that I completed was burning 9,324 calories in November 2017. Or getting 195 Exercise minutes in March 2019. These are easy peasy for me to finish nowadays, but back then it was still something to work towards. Of course, these were my early challenges, which weren't long after I got an Apple Watch. I wasn't actively trying to complete them, but it would be a bonus if I did.

Nowadays, I try to complete as many Monthly Challenges as I can, and so far, I'm on a 12-month streak with these challenge goals. However, my last one was certainly a struggle, and I honestly wasn't even sure I would complete it going 113 miles in April 2021, which I barely did by the last day. For May 2021, my goal is to burn 20,700 calories, which I'm on track to do because of my workout routine (under-desk elliptical while I work for at least two hours a day, and walk the dog in the evenings for about 30 minutes or 1.5 miles).

However, while I've been able to meet these challenge goals so far, it's because I've been working my butt off from the beginning of the month to make sure they're done. It's motivating, sure, but it's also causing a bit of strain on me physically with some pain in my legs and feet, especially now that I'm over 16 weeks pregnant.

If we're not talking about the Monthly Challenges and just our daily Activity Ring goals, well, that's easier for me to manage, though it's the Move Streak that I'm most concerned about. After all, I have a current streak of 825 days I'd be devastated if I lost that. But what would happen if I've just fallen deathly ill or need major surgery (which I will in several months, technically)?

Believe it or not, more exercise isn't always better for you. It's a fact that our human bodies need to take some time off between workout days in order to recover and repair themselves. After all, any workout regime, especially the more intensive ones, can be overdone and lead to burnout and fatigue.

I'm not a medical professional, but this information can be found on a variety of health websites if you just do a quick online search. So it's surprising to me, that after six years and counting, Apple still has not implemented any kind of break system into the Apple Watch and Fitness app. If the Apple Watch was really tailored to promote a healthy lifestyle, then it should take into consideration having rest days.

And what if you need to have surgery done? Those are major procedures and you're bound to be in recovery for at least a few days or even weeks afterward. Or what if you are knocked out of commission for a few days because you happened to get sick? Lastly, being pregnant is exhausting, and as I get further along (and bigger), I feel like I won't be able to keep up with my regular routine as well how about cutting us some slack, Apple?

With WWDC 2021 approaching fast, maybe it should be something to be considered for watchOS 8. After all, my colleague Luke Filipowicz hopes for more mental health features in watchOS 8, and I think having some rest days from physical exercise kind of fits with that, in a way.

Who knows if Apple will ever implement rest days, or even a "pregnancy mode" for the Apple Watch and Fitness app. I'll be crossing my fingers for it one day, but I won't hold my breath.

In the meantime, I suppose there is one workaround that one can do on their rest days. I discovered this on Shawn Blanc's blog, and it's kind of genius. It involves using the "Mind and Body" workout type. Basically, you take 15-30 minutes in a quiet, distraction-free environment with no digital devices. Spend that time to meditate, do some stretches, reflect, read, write, or just sit in the quiet and relax.

Some may think of this as "cheating," but I don't see why. After all, taking breaks is part of a healthy lifestyle since you need to recover and rest, and doing this kind of workout on your rest days still motivates you and keeps the momentum going, especially if you don't want to lose that Move Streak.

I hope that Apple considers adding the option to have some rest days that don't count against us when it comes to streaks and monthly challenges in the future. This is one of those situations where more is not always better, and it's actually good for our health to take a day off every now and then.

What do you think? Do you have a workaround to the lack of rest days with Apple Watch and the Fitness app? Or do you want Apple to also implement a kind of resting feature as well? Let us know in the comments.

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Link:
Hey Apple Watch, can you give it a rest? - iMore

By: Jessica Marksbury May 29, 2021

Rocco Mediate is in the hunt for his second senior major.

Getty Images

Its been a long two days at the 2021 Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thursdays opening round was suspended at 3:48 p.m. local time due to dangerous weather. At 6 p.m. local time, it was officially called for the day. That meant players whose rounds were still in progress had to arrive bright and early on Friday to finish what remained of their opening rounds, and then complete their second rounds too.

Fifty-eight-year-old Rocco Mediate was one of those players. Mediate ended up playing 27 holes on Friday, and is in contention yet again at the tournaments halfway mark after firing rounds of 68-69. He was three-under overall after 36 holes, and four shots behind leader Mike Weir.

While Phil Mickelson made headlines by crediting his healthy lifestyle with helping him to become the oldest player to win a major at the PGA Championship, Mediate shared that hes also made positive lifestyle changes over the past few years and pointed to one regimen in particular that helped him succeed during Fridays marathon day of play.

Got myself in better shape over the last four, five years, Mediate said after his round. Dropped a whole bunch of weight and I spent a lot of time on the VersaClimber. And thats what made the 27 holes not a big deal.

The VersaClimber is a piece of gym equipment that engages both the arms and the legs in a climbing motion.

I wasnt very tired, Mediate continued. And I kept telling [caddie] Murph, Thats why I climb. You have days like this, its wet, windy, brutal golf course. If you get tired its going to be even worse.

Though he has six career victories on the PGA Tour, Mediate is perhaps most famous for going toe-to-toe with Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Mediate eventually lost to Woods in a playoff. Hes since gone on to a successful Champions Tour career, with four victories, including a major: the 2016 Senior PGA Championship.

Will Mediate add another major to that tally this week? That remains to be seen, but one thing seems sure: energy wont be a problem.

As a four-year member of Columbias inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where shes primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLFs inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her original interview series, A Round With, debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

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Rocco Mediate credits this piece of workout equipment with giving him the stamina he needs for 27-hole days - Golf.com

Can Nonito Donaire win his ninth world title against current champion Nordine Oubaalli, or will this be the final fight of his career?

Nonito Donaire has earned the right to be called a legend in the sport of boxing. Hes a four-division champion who has won eight world titles throughout his 20-year professional career, but could his fight against Nordine Oubaali mark the end of Donaires time in the ring?

Donaire(40-6, 26 KOs) has done the opposite of most aging veteran boxers. Instead of moving up in weight, he has actually moved down. He fought as heavy as featherweight but returned to bantamweight over the last several years in a move to extend his career.

Donaire lacked the size and power to contend as a featherweight in the twilight of his career. He gives up speed and quickness to smaller bantamweights, but his punching power is intact and continues to make him a player in the bantamweight title landscape.

Oubaali(17-0, 12 KOs) is the reigning WBC bantamweight champion. He sports an undefeated record and won the title back in 2019 againstRaushee Warren. The southpaw from France has a strong amateur background, but hes far behind Donaire in terms of professional experience.

Donaire lost a thrilling contest in his last outing againstNaoya Inoue in 2019. Donaire hurt Inoue in the early going, but Inoue started to punish the 38-year-old Donaire in the later rounds on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

Oubaali is still forging his reputation as a championship boxer, but hes a good matchup for Donaire on paper. At 5-foot-7, Donaire has a 4-inch height advantage over Oubaali and is only giving up four years in age to the 34-year-old Oubaali.

Donaire believes he has the ability to win his ninth world title.

It would be great to win the title at 38 years old and become the oldest champion at 118 pounds, but lets keep it going, said Donaire at the final pre-fight press conference. Lets make it 40. Lets make it 42. There aint no stopping me. Mentally, Im very grateful, but at the same time, Im just very ready.

Donaire insisted to FanSided that clean living and a healthy diet have helped to preserve his fitness as he gets older.

The wisdom is definitely a big part of me fighting now, but the biggest part is being healthy, Donaire told FanSided during a press conference.I could be 40 and still be fighting with anybody else at a young age. Its just my healthy lifestyle. Theres no other thing about it. Its just Im very healthy. I eat the right food. I get the right rest. Im mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy. Thats the biggest thing to me.

Donaire is still a massive boxing draw because of his past success and his action style of fighting. Hes one of the biggest stars in his home country of thePhilippines and beyond.

A win against Oubaali could jumpstart another trip to the top for Donaire. Inoue is the face of the division, but Donaire was competitive against him in their 2019 fight. Defeating Oubaali could make a case for a rematch for Donaire.

A loss against Oubaali would likely signal the end of Donaires time as a serious contender and possibly the end of his career. He could still land significant fights, but his chances of winning another title would be very low.

Donaire always gives it his best in the ring. He doesnt shy away from contact and is willing to go out on his shield. Either way, Oubaali is in for a long night, and he may well leave Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California without his title.

Just when you start to think that Donaires time as a boxer is coming to an end, he has a way of pulling out another impressive performance. Theres a good chance that he can rise to the occasion once more against Oubaali.

Watch Nordine Oubaali vs. Nonito Donaire on Saturday, May 29, on Showtime. Coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET.

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It this the last stand for Nonito Donaire or newest title run? - FanSided

Its recommended we do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day or 150 minutes a week to stay healthy. But 30 minutes accounts for just 2% of the day. And many of us spend most of the rest of the time sitting.

Research shows that sitting can be bad for our health in many ways with some even suggesting its as bad for us as smoking. And our new study has revealed that 30 minutes of daily exercise is not enough to overcome the health risks of sitting too much. But we also revealed that with the right balance of time spent exercising and moving, it may be possible to counteract the negatives of sitting.

We combined data from six different studies from the UK, US and Sweden, looking at a total of over 130,000 adults. Each of the studies used a physical activity monitor (like a Fitbit) to measure a persons movements and sitting time throughout the day. Each study then followed the participants for an average of four to 14 years to track whether any participants died.

As expected, we found that 30 minutes of daily exercise decreased the risk of early death by up to 80% for those who also spent less than seven hours a day sitting. But it didnt have the same effect for people who spent between 11 and 12 hours a day sitting. In other words, its not as simple as checking off the exercise box on the to-do list. A healthy lifestyle requires more than 30 minutes of exercise if you spend a lot of time sitting.

For those who sat a lot, 30 minutes of daily exercise would only lower risk of early death by 30% if combined with four to five hours of light movement a day (such as shopping, cooking, or yard work) spending less than 11 hours sitting total. We can think of this mixture of light activity, exercise and sitting as a cocktail. And when it comes to living an active lifestyle, there are different recipes you can choose to to get the same benefits.

For example, one person might exercise daily for 30 minutes, move throughout the day for about six hours doing activities like housework or walking to work, but spend around ten hours a day sitting. They would have the same risk of death as someone who exercised 55 minutes daily, moved throughout the day for about four hours, and sat for about 11 hours. In other words, different combinations of exercise and movement can be used to offset the harms of sitting.

Personalised recommendations

Our findings provide new insights on what constitutes a healthy and active lifestyle. For decades, scientists have studied the health benefits of exercise but this research has largely ignored the fact that how you spend the rest of the day also matters. Instead of the recommendation that everyone should strive to achieve 30 minutes of daily exercise, our results show physical activity recommendations can been more personalised. People can adopt a mixture of activity that works best for them.

For many of us, our jobs require us to sit for eight hours or more a day. But when you get home, exercising for one hour and doing light activities for a few hours in the evening (such as housework or yard work) could still yield health benefits. If youre a stay-at-home parent whos typically too busy to get to the gym, moving around throughout the day while doing essential tasks (such as playing with the kids or putting away groceries) can also improve your health.

The application of precision medicine to save and improve lives relies on good-quality, easily-accessible data on everything from our DNA to lifestyle and environmental factors. The opposite to a one-size-fits-all healthcare system, it has vast, untapped potential to transform the treatment and prediction of rare diseasesand disease in general.

But there is no global governance framework for such data and no common data portal. This is a problem that contributes to the premature deaths of hundreds of millions of rare-disease patients worldwide.

The World Economic Forums Breaking Barriers to Health Data Governance initiative is focused on creating, testing and growing a framework to support effective and responsible access across borders to sensitive health data for the treatment and diagnosis of rare diseases.

The data will be shared via a federated data system: a decentralized approach that allows different institutions to access each others data without that data ever leaving the organization it originated from. This is done via an application programming interface and strikes a balance between simply pooling data (posing security concerns) and limiting access completely.

The project is a collaboration between entities in the UK (Genomics England), Australia (Australian Genomics Health Alliance), Canada (Genomics4RD), and the US (Intermountain Healthcare).

The caveat, however, is that our study found that six minutes of light activity was equivalent to one minute of moderate to intense exercise. So you would need to do three hours of light activity to yield the same benefit as 30 minutes of exercise.

While our study adds important new insights about the ideal balance of movement, we are missing one ingredient: sleep. Its unclear if the health benefits of exercise and movement are the same if you dont get enough sleep. As well, key questions on how to spend your day like whether you should wake up 30 minutes earlier to exercise still need to be studied.

Ultimately, our findings show that a healthy and active lifestyle is more than just exercising for 30 minutes, and that there are many different ways of achieving better health and longevity. While exercise still provides the best bang for your buck in terms of the amount of time required, our findings are still good news for people who may not have the time, ability or desire to exercise. The road to an active lifestyle is more accessible and achievable than we thought and is not just for gym regulars.

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Experts answer: is 30 minutes of daily exercise enough? - World Economic Forum

Hydration is a simple but crucial concept for the human body. The importance of hydrating oneself has time and again been emphasised as a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. Some experts recommend drinking 16 cups (3.5 liters) of water for women, and 11 (2.5 liters) for men. However, probably because it is such a basic concept, we often forget to pick up that glass of water and have it frequently. This often leads to dehydration. When dehydration occurs for a prolonged period of time and an individual is in-taking less hydrating fluids as compared to the amount of water he/she is losing in a day, it leads to chronic dehydration.

Chronic dehydration is not just excessive loss of water from the body for a long period of time, but also loss of electrolytes and vital minerals. A proper balance of water, electrolytes and minerals helps our body function properly and when the consumption of it is in the deficit, it can result in common but persistent problems such as muscle cramp, fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, et al. This manifests itself in the form overexertion, diarrhea, puking, flu or even loss of consciousness. It can also adversely affect various functions like controlling body temperature, waste removal through kidneys, maintaining a healthy metabolism and regulating blood pressure.

Also Read:5 Reasons Why You Should Not Drink Chilled Water This Summer

People who are most susceptible to chronic dehydration are - the ones battling a disease such as diabetes, the active sportsmen, and the ones who are too young or old to consume fluids. Due to the excessive loss of fluid or lack of fluids, the body loses out on not only hydration, but also the required intake of electrolytes, vitamins and minerals. In order to successfully treat chronic dehydration, it is important to first recognise the signals that our body commonly gives us when it is dehydrated.

1. Dry mouth and/or bad breath:

Our salivary glands produce several antibacterial agents. However, when we are dehydrated, it stops producing saliva causing bacterial overgrowth and bad breath. The lack of saliva also results in dryness in the mouth and cracked lips.

2. Dry or flushed skin:

Dehydration results in loss of elasticity and moisture which can cause dryness or redness in the skin.

3. Hunger pangs:

Lack of hydration is often mistaken by certain organs such as liver as lack of energy and it sends us signals that we often mistake for hunger pangs. So, the next time you crave for chips or chocolate, opt for a hydrating drink filled with electrolytes instead.

4. Migraines or shooting headaches:

When we miss hydrating ourselves through the day, our brain shrinks away from the skull causing dehydration headaches or even migraine in the case of chronic dehydration.

5. Urine check:

Deep yellow coloured urine is a warning sign that your body is not receiving an adequate amount of hydration.

Also Read:How Water Can Help Boost Immunity? Expert Reveals

The most simple yet effective way to treat or even better, avoid chronic dehydration is to reverse the process and replenish the loss that the body has partaken, but quickly. This means that just drinking water will not be enough. You need to incorporate fluids in your diet that are packed with minerals, vitamins and electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium and chloride. Keeping refillable bottles to regularly sip on electrolyte rich drinks, which are preferably low on sugar, will help you keep dehydration at bay. In addition to this, swap those packets of chips and soft drinks for freshly cut fruits, smoothies, nuts and dry fruits, sprouts and other healthier options, which will recharge your body with fibre and nutrients.

The importance of hydration can never be overstated. It is the single most vital thing that keeps our life and body going efficiently, and we can avoid innumerable conditions just by ensuring we keep ourselves hydrated.

As Covid-19 ravages the world and we undertake a complete re-alignment of the systems that we have existed under so far, all of us have been starkly reminded of the adage 'Health is Wealth'. It is imperative, today than ever before that we allow our bodies the best fighting chance against the pandemic by shining the spotlight on our immunity. Incorporating healthy habits and following practices is a matter of discipline and that has gained utmost relevance. So grab that bottle of water for a healthy, goodness-filled life.

About the author:Dr. Vikram Singh Chauhan, MD(Med), DM(Endo), is a consulting endocrinologist at Dr Chauhan's Clinic and Jabalpur Hospital andResearch Center, Jabalpur

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

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What Is Chronic Dehydration? Cause, Preventive Measures And More - NDTV Food

by: Sarah Darmanjian, Mary Wilson

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)- It may be surprising to hear that strokes kill twice as many women as breast cancer. In fact, one in five women between the ages of 55-75 will have a stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Four out of five strokes can be prevented, making it important to know the risks and warning signs the CDC said.

80% of strokes are preventable and so the fact that we can prevent 80% of the strokes is really quite amazing, Dr. Alexandra Paul, a neurosurgeon at Albany Medical Center, told NEWS10s, Mary Wilson.

There are several reasons why women have a higher risk of stroke including pregnancy, birth control pills, migraine headaches, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and hypertension, said Dr. Paul.

The act of being pregnant actually puts women at a higher risk of having a stroke, oral contraceptives also increase the risk of stroke in women, he said.

High blood pressure or hypertension, is the most treatable cause of stroke. A healthy lifestyle is the best prevention, the CDC said.

Eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, dont smoke, and have your blood pressure checked, Dr. Paul said.

Being able to identify the symptoms of a stroke can not only help yourself, it can also help your loved ones.

About 66% of the time, someone other than the stroke victim makes the decision to seek treatment and so recognizing the signs and sudden symptoms of stroke could actually help save a life, Dr. Paul said.

Source: Duke Health

The most common treatment for stroke victims is a clot-busting drug but it can only be given within four and a half hours after the onset of symptoms. Getting swift treatment can make a significant difference in a patients outcome.

Some stroke symptoms are reversible and thats called a transient ischemic attack and then some strokes are much more devastating where patients are left completely pelagic on one side, unable to move the arm or the leg and no speech at all, said Dr. Paul.

A thrombectomy can also lessen the debilitating effects of a stroke and can be done in a wider time frame.

We can go inside the blood vessels up to the blood vessels of the brain and try to take out the clot and that has had a really remarkable effect on reducing the disability of stroke in the country, Dr. Paul said.

The surgery is a newer treatment which can be done at Albany Medical Center but this isnt the case for all hospitals in America. One in six patients does not have access to a thrombectomy.

Originally posted here:
Womens Health: Stroke Awareness Month - WSYR

Elected leaders should follow the science on mask-wearing

Recent bursts of sunshine, nearly cloudless skies and summer-like temperatures have got us all outside, recovering not only from the long New Hampshire winter but also from the isolation of COVID-19. It also has us wondering when we might be able to give up the masks weve worn for the past year. Local elected officials are holding public hearings, soliciting input from citizens on mask mandates. Its a controversial issue, with strong feelings on both sides.

Now is the time for strong leadership.

As elected officials, I believe we have to follow the science. This will help us with our fear. There are objective facts out there, and it is our duty to pursue them. Monica Gandhi, professor of medicine and director of AIDS research at the University of California at San Francisco, who was a strong proponent of masking, is now strongly suggesting that we take them off.

In a recent PBS interview, she draws from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as such publications as JAMA, to update us on the research. What might appear as a sudden reversal of opinion regarding mask-wearing, she explains, is not.

Study after study has shown the effectiveness of the vaccines. They are even more effective than originally thought. The vaccines, she further explains, also block transmission.

Additionally, she worries about decreasing the strength of our immune systems through continued mask-wearing. Humans simply need exposure to some pathogens in order to remain strong. (Remember our worries, eons ago, about overuse of antibacterial cleanser on our hands that it might lessen our immunity? That was a solid worry, it turns out.)

Finally and Im drawing directly from Dr. Gandhi here we should remember to be grateful. We live in the richest country in the world: The vaccines were developed in record time, and they have been dispensed with record speed. For those of us who have traveled in developing countries, we can be grateful for the resources that we have at our disposal.

I hope that this means we can be happy, and hopeful.

WENDY PIPER

Enfield

The writer is chair of the Grafton County Commissioners.

Forum contributor Margaret D. Hurley describes the cruelty to animals and the damage to our health and the health of the planet by the consumption of meat and dairy (Stop normalizing animal cruelty, May 25). She seems to be despairing of the Valley News ignoring this kind of news. But I see the printing of her letter as a sign of validation of the subject.

I believe many of us are aware of the cruelty of factory-farmed livestock. Those methods torture and exploit animals and yet, unfortunately, continue to flourish. Maybe this is due to conditioning, habit and the advertising and marketing practices of the meat and dairy industries.

Just eliminating the consumption of factory-farmed animals may not satisfy those opposed to it, but it would be a step in the right direction of living a more compassionate and healthy lifestyle.

As to our own health, studies such as Colin Campbells The China Study point to a whole-food, plant-based diet as a healthy food choice. Yet we seem to be on our own as far as learning how to go about this. I guess many health care practitioners may not feel adequately trained to include that in their wellness programs. Luckily, there are helpful resources, such as foodrevolution.org, run by John and Ocean Robbins.

To the list of documentaries on the subject of plant-based diet, a good one to add is The Game Changers. This may especially appeal to sports-oriented folks. It is gripping and convincing and may begin the process of change, namely starting with compassion for our own bodies.

Self-compassion may be a good entrance point to this ever-evolving journey of a step-by step move toward a more sustainable and compassionate future. When we learn to take care of ourselves we can really thrive and be as healthy as possible.

It may automatically lead to compassion for animals, our co-inhabitants, and to the healing of our beautiful but severely overtaxed natural world.

BINEKE PEL OORT

Wilder

My maternal grandfathers birth surname was Yerushalimsky, a Europeanized version of Yerushalmi, which means of or from Jerusalem. That itself means nothing, of course, but my grandfather was a kohen, or hereditary member of the priestly caste, and careful attribution of that lineage is taken quite seriously in Judaism. Performance of every ritual for significant life events depends on it. And my father was a hereditary member of the priestly assistants class, ditto and likewise. (Imagine the shonda when I became a Muslim and remained so for a considerable number of years!)

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaibs maiden name was Harbi, which means of or from the tribe of Harb, originating in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula. (Of course, if you boil us down, Im just a Brooklynite and shes a Detroiter.

But funny thing: A handful of my cousins were born in Mandatory Palestine, and therefore were legally of Palestinian citizenship, according to the governing British law of the time, before they acquired Israeli citizenship.

Why do ethnic groups now self-identified as Palestinian speak the non-indigenous language of Arabic? If thats your mother tongue and you call yourself a Palestinian, your people come originally from colonizers or the colonized. And invaders from practically time immemorial kept carrying my ancestral people away in chains, if they managed to survive massacres. Im glad a maternal great-aunt, and a maternal great-uncle, and my various cousins, survived all the massacres in 1929.

Both Jews and Arabs, and their governing authorities, have been perpetrating atrocities and cruelties upon each other for a very long time.

Want to stop them? Shut the money spigots pouring into the hands of fundamentalist crazies on both sides. They mirror each other in every single way. They have every bad thing in common. I promise you, as one whos been a bat mitzvah girl and an Eid celebrant, Ive got a heck of a mishigas meter.

Want the possibility of peace over there? Neuter the evil twins and let everyone else breathe.

SARAH CRYSL AKHTAR

Lebanon

The rest is here:
Forum, May 28: Elected leaders should follow the science on mask-wearing - Valley News

If you are trying to lose weight, manage your blood pressure, or just live a healthy lifestyle, figuring out how many carbs you should eat each day can be easier said than done. One person says to eat carbs all day every day, while another person will imply that this macro is one of the worst things on this earth that you can eat. Which leaves you scratching your head wondering whether eating an apple is going to save your life or if it is going to be the death of you.

Among the sea of advice surrounding how many carbs is ideal, there is one amount that is the wrong amount: zero carbs. As a registered dietitian, I always recommend that zero carbs are the wrong amount of carbs to eat every day, no matter what the diet trends on social media tells you. (Related: 30 Worst Things You Can Do If You're Trying to Lose Weight.)

Carbohydrates, affectionately known as carbs, are what our body uses primarily as fuel and energy. While it is true that the body can break down fat and protein for energy too, leaning on carbs can be a much more efficient way to fuel your body.

Foods that contain carbs are also the best sources of fiber which can help keep your bowel movements healthy, can support a healthy gut microbiome, and can promote satiety after a meal. Not eating enough fiber is linked to some unsavory outcomes, including an increased risk of colon cancer and a higher likelihood of experiencing constipation.

Carbohydrates can also help maintain muscle mass. While it is true that protein is the shining star macro in the muscle-building world, if your body is not getting any carbs, your muscles can be broken down and used as energy.

Read more: 26 Worst Habits Slowing Your Metabolism, Says Science

Even if you are following a diet that is notoriously low in carbs think keto or Atkins, as examples you will be hard-pressed to find a diet that is 100% carb-free. Even hard-core keto allows for some carbs every day, such as low-carb fruits.

Story continues

If you are eliminating carbs completely, you are inevitably eliminating entire food groups. From fruit to whole grains to even milk, eating "no carbs" means that you are essentially living off of protein and fat sources, and thus, missing out on some key nutrients (like fiber).

Eliminating food groups can be risky. As an example, eating fruit is linked to plenty of positive health benefits. From reducing the risk of depression to decreasing the changes of experiencing a heart attack or stroke, including fruit into a diet is utterly important.

Perhaps the most frightening outcome that people may experience when they eat a low amount of carbs (or no carbs) is an elevated risk of experiencing early death along with an elevated risk of developing cancer and experiencing stroke, according to data shared by the European Society of Cardiology.

In a nutshell, completely eliminating carbs from your diet is a risky move.

There are valid reasons why people may follow a low-carb diet, and studies have shown that these diets can provide people with some amazing results. But eating absolutely no carbs is a dangerous game to play. When you completely eliminate carbs from your diet, you are cutting out entire food groups, and therefore may cause you to run the risk of being deficient in some very important nutrients, or worse, cause you to experience some scary health effects.

Instead of eliminating carbohydrates altogether, consider focusing on unrefined carbs that are nutrient-rich and can help support your overall health. From berries to whole grain bread to beans and peas, the healthy carb choices are endless and each one is more satisfying than the next. For some examples, see these 24 Best Healthy Carbs To Eat For Weight Loss.

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Read more:
The Wrong Amount of Carbs to Eat Every Day, Says Dietitian - Yahoo Lifestyle

LETTER | Leave no one behind. That is our promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals and our government has been working hard to decrease the inequalities and vulnerabilities that leave people behind.

Unfortunately, we still have a significant number of people, mainly from the lower-income group, struggling to achieve socioeconomic and health equality. Socio-economic problems, and health and food insecurity are reported to be the main problems among the low-income group and amidst the pandemic, women and children, especially from the lower-income group who are the most negatively affected, require urgent attention.

Non-communicable diseases and malnutrition are some of the few health threats reported among women from the B40 group and these problems seem to be persistent among them. Studies have reported that the impact of diabetes is greater in females than in males with a worse outcome. Women with diabetes have a higher risk of heart diseases and earlier incidents of heart attack which can be fatal when compared to men.

Healthy habits are the most effective way to combat them, but, sadly, in the chaos of a woman's daily life, healthy living may take the back seat to chores, work, busy schedules, and more. To make matters worse, with the rising number of cases and the implementation of the movement control order again, these already vulnerable groups, are facing another period of social and economic uncertainties.

Why are we targetting women? Simply because women are responsible for producing and preparing food for their family and household; therefore, their knowledge or lack of it can create issues not only on womens own health but also on the health of the family members.

Ensuring the correct nutritional status is vital, especially now when we need our immune system to fight the disease.

Healthy habit is a combination of healthy eating, being physically active, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. For more information, we suggest you see your physician and the dietitian. Some steps to overcome the barriers women face to live healthily include:

Adequate knowledge on healthy lifestyle is important for women not only because it helps them to be productive members of society but also because of the direct effect on their family members and the next generation.

Our low-income families are at risk of poor nutrition and unhealthy lifestyle with the ongoing lockdown; therefore, empowering and educating them can create an environment that benefits everyone.

Nothing must be done separately; make healthy choices for the whole family. In addition, do not be afraid to seek help if it is needed. This lockdown will leave some impact on our community and all these efforts will have a greater health impact if it comes from us ourselves.

DR KALAASHINI RAMACHANDRAN is with the Department of Public Health University of Malaya Medical Council and DR HAZREEN ABDUL MAJID isHead of Centre for Population Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Universiti Malaya.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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LETTER | Encouraging women in lower-income group to live healthy amidst pandemic - Malaysiakini