Ca2+/calmodulin/MLCK pathway initiates, and RhoA/ROCK maintains, the internal anal sphincter smooth muscle tone

From: Rattan, S. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/312/1/G63?rss=1

Your New Year’s resolution: A gym membership?

If getting in shape tops your list of New Year’s resolutions, you’re in good company. During the first few months of the year, signups at fitness centers and health clubs tend to trend upward. While these memberships can be costly, you may be able to find more affordable options or take advantage of certain discounts. But no matter what you pay, shelling out a monthly fee may be an incentive to use the gym regularly to get your money’s worth.

Gyms offer a variety of options

If you do, your heart (and the rest of your body) will likely reap the rewards. “The main advantage to joining a gym is to have access to a wide variety of exercise equipment,” says Alex Petruska, a senior physical therapist at the Sports Medicine Center of Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. That includes machines for a cardiovascular workout, such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, and stair-steppers, as well as a range of different weight machines.

Access to all these diverse choices means you’re less likely to get bored, since you can try different machines and routines. In addition, you’ll likely find it easier to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, which include aerobic exercise as well as strength training.

If you’re among the many people with ankle, knee, hip, or back problems, exercising on an elliptical machine or stationary bike is a better choice than walking because it’s much easier on your joints. Likewise, using weight machines rather than free weights (dumbbells) offers greater control and is less likely to lead to injuries.

If these advantages resonate for you, a gym membership may be a worthwhile investment. To find the right one, pay attention to safety, and consider your specific needs and budget.

Your gym should have well-trained staff

Make sure the gym you choose has staff with expertise in teaching people how to use all the available equipment. Many gyms have personal trainers — exercise professionals who can teach you to work out safely and maintain good form, introduce you to new equipment, and design and update an exercise program to keep you motivated. For an additional fee, you can hire them for a series of one-on-one appointments or short-term overhauls of your routine.

Always ask about credentials and experience. Certification from the American College of Sports Medicine is a good sign. Find out how often the person works with people of your age, abilities, and overall health. Also, ask whether staff members can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary. Is a defibrillator available, and do staff members know how to use it?

Make sure the membership meets your needs and budget

At least one nationwide fitness center chain offers monthly memberships as low as $10 per month. More pricey clubs typically offer more amenities, such as group classes, swimming pools, sports courts, and even indoor running tracks. Other possible perks include saunas, steam rooms, and whirlpools that can serve as a nice post-workout reward.

Take advantage of the fact that many commercial gyms will let you try their facilities for a few days or a week before making a commitment. Look for a gym in a convenient location and make sure you feel comfortable exercising there during the hours you would normally go. Some facilities offer discounts if you work out only during non-peak hours (usually during the middle of the day). Also, some health insurance plans offer members discounted rates at specific gyms.

“The important thing is finding a place that you’ll feel comfortable going to consistently and will meet your needs over the long haul,” says Petruska.

The post Your New Year’s resolution: A gym membership? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Julie Corliss http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-years-resolution-gym-membership-2017011110991

3 things you can do when your child’s eczema gets bad

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

It’s winter, and in many parts of the country that means cold, windy weather — and dry, chapped skin. For all of us that can be a problem, but for people who have eczema it can be miserable.

As a pediatrician, I have lots of patients with eczema. Each one of them is different, of course, with different triggers for their eczema and different therapies that help. But when eczema gets bad — when parts of the skin get very irritated and scaly — there are three things that help just about everybody.

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! This may seem obvious, but I can’t overstate its importance — and helpfulness. When it comes to picking a moisturizer, think greasy when eczema gets tough. This kind of moisturizer is called an emollient. Even just petroleum jelly, or hydrated petrolatum, which are both widely available, can really help dry, irritated skin. And while they feel greasy when you put them on, usually the skin soaks them right up. Applying emollients two or three times a day can really help when things get tough — and can also help prevent eczema from flaring.

2. Bleach baths. This doesn’t mean sitting a child in a tub of bleach, which would be a bad idea. What it means is making the water in the tub kind of like the chlorinated water in a swimming pool. The bleach helps to kill bacteria on the skin, and also helps with inflammation. Add half a cup of bleach (regular household bleach, not concentrated) for a full tub of water, or a quarter cup for half a tub. The water should be warm but not hot, as hot water can dry out the skin. Soak for about 10 minutes, rinse off, and pat dry, not rub dry. Two or three times a week is usually plenty. Check with your doctor before you get started, to be sure it’s a good idea for your child and to decide how often you should do it.

Right after the bath you want to put on any steroids or moisturizers. And then, you might want to consider…

3. Wet wraps. You wouldn’t normally think of putting your child to bed with wet pajamas, but sometimes doing just that can help eczema by keeping the skin moist. Use long underwear or other close-fitting pajamas. You want to cover the area that is most affected. If the eczema is just on the arms, using tube socks with the feet cut off can also work — and for babies, a damp onesie can do the trick too. Dampen the pajamas with warm water and wring them out so that they aren’t dripping, and then put them on (after applying creams and moisturizer), with dry pajamas over them. You can put a towel on the bed to keep it from getting damp while the moisture evaporates and the pajamas dry.

As with any chronic medical condition, eczema is best managed when you work together with your doctor and come up with a plan both for treating flares and for preventing them in the first place.

To learn more about eczema and how to care for it, visit the websites of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The post 3 things you can do when your child’s eczema gets bad appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/3-things-you-can-do-when-your-childs-eczema-gets-bad-2017011010996

'Chemo Brain' and Breast Cancer Survivors

Altered thinking must be acknowledged as 'one of the difficulties of treatment,' specialist says

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20170111/chemo-brain-lasts-for-months-in-many-breast-cancer-survivors?src=RSS_PUBLIC

African worm disease from dirty water nearly eradicated, says Jimmy Carter

When the Carter Center joined the battle to eliminate Guinea worm disease in the mid-1980s, there were 3.5 million cases in 21 countries, now only 25 cases have been reported worldwide

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/guinea-worm-disease-nearly-eradicated-jimmy-carter-says/

Men who eat lots of red meat at risk for painful gut disorder

The disorder causes severe abdominal pain, nausea and constipation

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/men-who-eat-lots-of-red-meat-at-risk-for-painful-gut-disorder-diverticulitis/

Meat-Linked Chemical Levels Tied to Heart Risks

Produced when meat, eggs and dairy are digested, TMAO may trigger plaque buildup in vessels, researchers explain

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20170111/blood-levels-of-meat-linked-chemical-tied-to-odds-of-heart-trouble?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Chain Restaurant Kids' Menus Haven't Improved

A 2011 initiative to lower calories, sugar and salt hasn't yielded results, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20170111/despite-pledges-no-improvement-in-chain-restaurant-kids-menus-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Your New Year’s resolution: A gym membership?

If getting in shape tops your list of New Year’s resolutions, you’re in good company. During the first few months of the year, signups at fitness centers and health clubs tend to trend upward. While these memberships can be costly, you may be able to find more affordable options or take advantage of certain discounts. But no matter what you pay, shelling out a monthly fee may be an incentive to use the gym regularly to get your money’s worth.

Gyms offer a variety of options

If you do, your heart (and the rest of your body) will likely reap the rewards. “The main advantage to joining a gym is to have access to a wide variety of exercise equipment,” says Alex Petruska, a senior physical therapist at the Sports Medicine Center of Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. That includes machines for a cardiovascular workout, such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, and stair-steppers, as well as a range of different weight machines.

Access to all these diverse choices means you’re less likely to get bored, since you can try different machines and routines. In addition, you’ll likely find it easier to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, which include aerobic exercise as well as strength training.

If you’re among the many people with ankle, knee, hip, or back problems, exercising on an elliptical machine or stationary bike is a better choice than walking because it’s much easier on your joints. Likewise, using weight machines rather than free weights (dumbbells) offers greater control and is less likely to lead to injuries.

If these advantages resonate for you, a gym membership may be a worthwhile investment. To find the right one, pay attention to safety, and consider your specific needs and budget.

Your gym should have well-trained staff

Make sure the gym you choose has staff with expertise in teaching people how to use all the available equipment. Many gyms have personal trainers — exercise professionals who can teach you to work out safely and maintain good form, introduce you to new equipment, and design and update an exercise program to keep you motivated. For an additional fee, you can hire them for a series of one-on-one appointments or short-term overhauls of your routine.

Always ask about credentials and experience. Certification from the American College of Sports Medicine is a good sign. Find out how often the person works with people of your age, abilities, and overall health. Also, ask whether staff members can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary. Is a defibrillator available, and do staff members know how to use it?

Make sure the membership meets your needs and budget

At least one nationwide fitness center chain offers monthly memberships as low as $10 per month. More pricey clubs typically offer more amenities, such as group classes, swimming pools, sports courts, and even indoor running tracks. Other possible perks include saunas, steam rooms, and whirlpools that can serve as a nice post-workout reward.

Take advantage of the fact that many commercial gyms will let you try their facilities for a few days or a week before making a commitment. Look for a gym in a convenient location and make sure you feel comfortable exercising there during the hours you would normally go. Some facilities offer discounts if you work out only during non-peak hours (usually during the middle of the day). Also, some health insurance plans offer members discounted rates at specific gyms.

“The important thing is finding a place that you’ll feel comfortable going to consistently and will meet your needs over the long haul,” says Petruska.

The post Your New Year’s resolution: A gym membership? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Julie Corliss http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-years-resolution-gym-membership-2017011110991

3 things you can do when your child’s eczema gets bad

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

It’s winter, and in many parts of the country that means cold, windy weather — and dry, chapped skin. For all of us that can be a problem, but for people who have eczema it can be miserable.

As a pediatrician, I have lots of patients with eczema. Each one of them is different, of course, with different triggers for their eczema and different therapies that help. But when eczema gets bad — when parts of the skin get very irritated and scaly — there are three things that help just about everybody.

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! This may seem obvious, but I can’t overstate its importance — and helpfulness. When it comes to picking a moisturizer, think greasy when eczema gets tough. This kind of moisturizer is called an emollient. Even just petroleum jelly, or hydrated petrolatum, which are both widely available, can really help dry, irritated skin. And while they feel greasy when you put them on, usually the skin soaks them right up. Applying emollients two or three times a day can really help when things get tough — and can also help prevent eczema from flaring.

2. Bleach baths. This doesn’t mean sitting a child in a tub of bleach, which would be a bad idea. What it means is making the water in the tub kind of like the chlorinated water in a swimming pool. The bleach helps to kill bacteria on the skin, and also helps with inflammation. Add half a cup of bleach (regular household bleach, not concentrated) for a full tub of water, or a quarter cup for half a tub. The water should be warm but not hot, as hot water can dry out the skin. Soak for about 10 minutes, rinse off, and pat dry, not rub dry. Two or three times a week is usually plenty. Check with your doctor before you get started, to be sure it’s a good idea for your child and to decide how often you should do it.

Right after the bath you want to put on any steroids or moisturizers. And then, you might want to consider…

3. Wet wraps. You wouldn’t normally think of putting your child to bed with wet pajamas, but sometimes doing just that can help eczema by keeping the skin moist. Use long underwear or other close-fitting pajamas. You want to cover the area that is most affected. If the eczema is just on the arms, using tube socks with the feet cut off can also work — and for babies, a damp onesie can do the trick too. Dampen the pajamas with warm water and wring them out so that they aren’t dripping, and then put them on (after applying creams and moisturizer), with dry pajamas over them. You can put a towel on the bed to keep it from getting damp while the moisture evaporates and the pajamas dry.

As with any chronic medical condition, eczema is best managed when you work together with your doctor and come up with a plan both for treating flares and for preventing them in the first place.

To learn more about eczema and how to care for it, visit the websites of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The post 3 things you can do when your child’s eczema gets bad appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/3-things-you-can-do-when-your-childs-eczema-gets-bad-2017011010996

Government-Backed Salt Reduction Efforts Could Deliver Big Health Pay Day

Researchers estimate a 10 percent cut in salt could save millions worldwide from heart disease

From: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20170110/government-backed-salt-reduction-efforts-could-deliver-big-health-pay-day?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Joints Achy? Don't Blame Mother Nature

Study disputes weather's role in knee and back pain

From: http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/news/20170110/joints-achy-dont-blame-mother-nature?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Trump's proposed commission on vaccine safety alarms doctors

President-elect Donald Trump is reviving long debunked attempts to link vaccines to autism​, meeting with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss chairing a commission on vaccination safety

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-proposed-commission-on-vaccine-safety-alarms-doctors/

Influenza approaching epidemic status

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-kcNhUp1-g

Mayo Clinic Minute: Female athletes may need more iron

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axHkyUHz6C8

High Deductibles Take Toll on Family Finances

Studies suggest significant out-of-pocket costs may harm low-income and chronically ill patients

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20170110/high-health-care-deductibles-take-toll-on-family-finances?src=RSS_PUBLIC

High Blood Pressure Increasing Worldwide

And health risks may appear even at levels once considered safe, researchers contend

From: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20170110/high-blood-pressure-increasing-worldwide?src=RSS_PUBLIC

3 things you can do when your child’s eczema gets bad

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

It’s winter, and in many parts of the country that means cold, windy weather — and dry, chapped skin. For all of us that can be a problem, but for people who have eczema it can be miserable.

As a pediatrician, I have lots of patients with eczema. Each one of them is different, of course, with different triggers for their eczema and different therapies that help. But when eczema gets bad — when parts of the skin get very irritated and scaly — there are three things that help just about everybody.

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! This may seem obvious, but I can’t overstate its importance — and helpfulness. When it comes to picking a moisturizer, think greasy when eczema gets tough. This kind of moisturizer is called an emollient. Even just petroleum jelly, or hydrated petrolatum, which are both widely available, can really help dry, irritated skin. And while they feel greasy when you put them on, usually the skin soaks them right up. Applying emollients two or three times a day can really help when things get tough — and can also help prevent eczema from flaring.

2. Bleach baths. This doesn’t mean sitting a child in a tub of bleach, which would be a bad idea. What it means is making the water in the tub kind of like the chlorinated water in a swimming pool. The bleach helps to kill bacteria on the skin, and also helps with inflammation. Add half a cup of bleach (regular household bleach, not concentrated) for a full tub of water, or a quarter cup for half a tub. The water should be warm but not hot, as hot water can dry out the skin. Soak for about 10 minutes, rinse off, and pat dry, not rub dry. Two or three times a week is usually plenty. Check with your doctor before you get started, to be sure it’s a good idea for your child and to decide how often you should do it.

Right after the bath you want to put on any steroids or moisturizers. And then, you might want to consider…

3. Wet wraps. You wouldn’t normally think of putting your child to bed with wet pajamas, but sometimes doing just that can help eczema by keeping the skin moist. Use long underwear or other close-fitting pajamas. You want to cover the area that is most affected. If the eczema is just on the arms, using tube socks with the feet cut off can also work — and for babies, a damp onesie can do the trick too. Dampen the pajamas with warm water and wring them out so that they aren’t dripping, and then put them on (after applying creams and moisturizer), with dry pajamas over them. You can put a towel on the bed to keep it from getting damp while the moisture evaporates and the pajamas dry.

As with any chronic medical condition, eczema is best managed when you work together with your doctor and come up with a plan both for treating flares and for preventing them in the first place.

To learn more about eczema and how to care for it, visit the websites of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The post 3 things you can do when your child’s eczema gets bad appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/3-things-you-can-do-when-your-childs-eczema-gets-bad-2017011010996