PositiveTip for
Another Step in the Right Direction
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Healthier food choices now mandated for school lunch programs.
For the first time 15 years the U.S. National School Lunch Program has been modified to require more fruits and vegetables and whole grains. It is a step in the right direction! Sure, critics wish it had gone farther by eliminating french fries and pizza as a vegetable (must have at least 2 tablespoons of tomato paste to qualify). However, the new regulations are the best ever, as they lower the amount of saturated fat, transfat, sodium, and address portion control (see sample menu). The new regulations will be phased in over a three year period.
PositiveTip: Is your lunch at least as healthy as a school lunch is required to be now? Come on, look at it objectively!
PositiveTip for
Depression Risks Increase with Long Work Hours
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Long work hours increase the risk of depression.
European researchers have found the risk of depression more than doubled (OR=2.43, P=0.26) for British civil servants who worked more than 11 hours per day compared with those working 7-8 hours. When data was adjusted for factors like job strain and social support the risk still persisted. Interestingly, the greatest significance was seen when adjusted for socioeconomic status. Those with higher socioeconomic status were at lower risk for depression--even though they worked long hours. Perhaps this is because they have more opportunity to focus on tasks they choose and enjoy? More research is needed in this area.
PositiveTip: A balance in life is necessary for good health. How are you doing?
Breast Cancer
Posted by Max Hammonds on
“The incidence of breast cancer is decreasing in the United States.” This was the lead sentence in a recent newspaper article, only one of many that have been written recently. With the recent release of cancer statistics showing a decrease in breast cancer, the nation-wide fund raiser walk-a-thons for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an entire issue of Time Magazine given to a discussion of the topic and a diplomatic trip through four Middle East countries by First Lady Laura Bush, breast cancer is the hot topic of the day.
The good news is that breast cancer is on the decline in the United States, so much so that many are wanting to share the prevention, diagnosis and treatment information with those in other parts of the world where breast cancer is steeply on the rise and where diagnosis and treatment are severely delayed or non-existent.
PositiveTip for
Poverty, Disease and Opportunity
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Do you take all your blessings for granted? Think again.
Many people in this world face challenges those in the economically blessed parts have never dreamed of facing. Poverty, disease, and minimal education impact people for their entire lives. This short video will raise your awareness of some of the issues girls and women face.
PositiveTip: Be grateful for all your blessings today--and help someone not so fortunate!
Beware of Excessive Computer Use by Your Chrildren
Posted by Gary Hopkins on
Over the past year I have been conducting statistical analysis on many different items that are related to the health of youth. One area of interest to me has been whether excessive internet use might be associated with the mental health of young people.
I obtained a database from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey of Idaho, 2009. In that questionnaire there were several different items that interested me such as how much high school students use the internet for three hours or more on school days for activities other than school use. We found that when students use the internet in such excessive amounts they are 1.5 times more likely to feel sad or hopeless, 1.6 times more likely to consider suicide, 1.8 times more likely to attempt suicide, twice as likely to purposefully hurt themselves by cutting or otherwise injuring themselves, and half as likely to talk to a parent or teacher when they are feeling low or having problem.
PositiveTip for
No Safe Threshold for Prenatal Alcohol Consumption
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Any alcohol consumption during pregnancy puts infants at risk for multiple risks.
A prospective study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego has found that for each additional drink of alcohol a day on average, during the early months of pregnancy, there were significant increases in the risks for microcephaly (abnormally small brains) reduced birth weight and length. Any alcohol consumption, especially during the second half of the the first trimester raised the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome significantly.
PositiveTip: Women of childbearing age should avoid all alcohol consumption.
TV, Exercise and Depression
Posted by Elvin Adams on
There are many studies that have demonstrated that the more you exercise the less likely you are to be depressed. A large study recently took a look at TV viewing and exercise in relationship to depression.
The study followed nearly 50,000 nurses, ages 30-55, for a period of ten years. During this time they were periodically questioned regarding exercise levels, TV viewing, and the presence or absence of clinical depression. No one in this group was depressed at the beginning of the study.
Depression was documented by a physician’s diagnosis of depression, the taking of anti-depressant medication, or depression diagnosed on a standardized questionnaire designed to pick up severe clinical depression.
PositiveTip for
Has Obesity Plateaued in the U.S.?
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
A glimmer of hope: U.S. obesity may have reached a plateau.
Centers for Disease control investigators found that during 2009-2010 the prevalance of obesity among adult women and men did not significantly change when compared to 2003-2008. On an equally hopeful note, the prevalance of obesity among children and adolescents remained about the same during 2003-2010. All is not well, though. Almost 36% of adults and 17% of children and adolescents in the U.S. are obese--not just overweight. Sadly, there is no indication that obesity is declining.
PositiveTip: Regular physical activity along with consistent healthful dietary choices empowered by God's Grace are the best weapons against this epidemic.
PositiveTip for
Avoid the CCU: Be Active!
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Owning a car and TV may raise your risk of a heart attack.
Leisure time and on-the-job physical activity is associated with less likelihood of a hearrt attack. A 52 country case-control study involving more than 10,000 individuals has revealed, after controlling for confounding factors, that both light and moderate activity reduced the risk of acute mycardial infarction (MI) compared to sedentary individuals. Researchers also found that owning a car, a radio/stero and a TV were associated with higher MI rates.
PostiveTip: Put a stop to sedentary living--become active and avoid the coronary care unit!
PositiveTip for
Exercise Moderates Genetic Risk of Alzheimer's.
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Physical activity may ward off Alzheimer's.
Encouraging results from brain researchers at Washington University reveal that physical activity may delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's in individuals who are genetically predisposed to it. In a small, obeservational study (does not prove cause and effect) of people at a single study center who carried a specific genetic risk (APOE epsilon-4) were able to wipe out their excess risk by meeting the American Heart Association excercise recommendations, even after adjusting for confounding factors.