"SMART WAYS TO STAY WELL, EAT RIGHT, GET FIT". Goodhealth: Health NewsGood Housekeeping. New York: Dec 2009. Vol. 249, Iss. 6; pg. 59 (accessed 13Nov2009)
Think Young, Stay Healthy
Holding negative stereotypes about seniors may be harmful to your health. In a long-term Yale study, younger adults whose views on aging were the most negative were almost twice as likely to later have a heart attack or other cardio problem as those with more positive attitudes on the topic (25 percent versus 13 percent, 30 years after the study's start). People who feel pessimistic about getting older take poorer care of their health, so forming unkind caricatures becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, explains study leader Becca Levy, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology. "To break the cycle, think about independent older people you know or see on TV," she says, "and ask yourself if your views would apply to them."
Retail Therapy Explained
If you grab a candy bar when you have PMS, you're likely to recognize the hormonal connection. But what if it's your credit card you're reaching for? Turns out that spending may also be influenced by hormones. When psychologists surveyed 443 British women about their spending habits over the previous week, they threw in a seemingly unrelated question -- "When was your last menstrual period?" What they found: Women were much less in control of their purchases in the 10 days before their periods than at other times of the month. Almost two-thirds bought something on impulse, with more than half going over their usual spending limit (some by hundreds of dollars). When it's that time of the month, researchers say, women may shop to relieve feelings of stress, irritability, or depression. To better deal with negative emotions, try hitting the gym or taking a walk outside, suggests study leader Karen Pine, Ph.D., of the University of Hertfordshire: "It's much cheaper and will leave you feeling more uplifted than a trip to the mall." For the holiday season, when you can't avoid shopping, you may need reinforcements during the premenstrual part of your cycle, especially if you are on a tighter budget (and who isn't?). Stick to a list, Pine advises, or deputize a friend to help you nix an impulsive purchase. Despite your good intentions, there is still a strong urge to give in to emotional spending.
HER NOSE KNOWS (BUT HIS PROBABLY DOESN'T) Men may hope their cologne will mask underarm odor, but women aren't fooled, research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia found. While six of 32 scents tested disguised the smell of male BO from other men, none of the fragrances worked for women. To the showers, guys! (And don't forget the deodorant.)
Another Reason We Love the Wii
The Nintendo Wii is cropping up on prescription pads as well as Christmas lists this season, after researchers reported "amazing" improvements in people with Parkinson's disease who used the popular video games. In a small study, 20 Parkinson's patients without serious walking impairments rotated among Wii tennis, bowling, and boxing for one hour, three times a week. After a month, participants had significantly better motor skills, more energy, and practically zero depression. They had to use it or lose it, though: When the group laid off the Wii for a subsequent month, symptoms increased and depression began creeping back. Researcher and occupational therapist Ben Herz, OTD, of the Medical College of Georgia, suspects that chemistry may underlie Wii's value. Exercise and video games both increase levels of dopamine -- a brain chemical essential for normal movement. Since Wii combines the two, it may be especially beneficial for people with Parkinson's, whose levels of dopamine are significantly depleted. Now on the research agenda: Wii for patients with gait problems. So far, it looks good. "One woman walked in with assistance and went out dancing," says Herz.
Split Decision on Pills
One way to save money on drugs is to ask your doctor to write a prescription for double-dose tablets (which often cost the same as your regular Rx). Splitting the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, for example, can save you $330 a year, reports insurer UnitedHealthcare. But only some pills lend themselves to halving -- specifically, tablets that break easily without crumbling (the ones that are scored split best), those that don't have a special enteric coating (which keeps pills from being destroyed in the stomach), and tablets designed to release medication slowly over time. If your doc gives the OK, buy a pill-splitting device -- less than $10 at drugstores -- then practice on vitamins or other inexpensive tablets to perfect your technique before doing it for real. Even pros need practice: When researchers halved 15 tablets each of six commonly divided medications, nearly a quarter of the half-pills were outside the standard allowable variation, a University of Arizona College of Pharmacy study recently reported.
ANOTHER KIND OF MAC ATTACK
If Santa delivers a new computer to your house, take extra care when you set it up. Every year, over 6,000 people end up in the ER because of broken toes from dropped laptops, bashed knees from tripping over cords, or other computer-related injuries. Such accidents have gone up eightfold, a recent survey found; add to that a seasonal hazard, holiday clutter. "You wouldn't believe how many people get hurt because they trip over something while carrying a computer," says researcher Lara B. McKenzie, Ph.D., of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH.
[Photograph]: PHOTOGRAPHS, CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: ISTOCKPHOTO (2); JUPITERIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES.
[Photograph]: PHOTOGRAPH BY DIGITAL VISION PHOTOGRAPHY/VEER
Comment: playing game can encourage people to do exercise... as it actually can be regaerd as an exercise... I rather play video game than do exercise as it has more fun and both of them are effective.. e.g. relax, improve our skill like motor and become health.
No comments:
Post a Comment