Thursday, December 28, 2017

Whites More Likely Than Others to Seek Help for Psoriasis

An analysis of federal government health survey data from 2001 to 2013 found that black, Asian and other minorities are less likely than white people in the United States to see a doctor for treatment of the chronic inflammatory disease.



From: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/news/20171228/whites-more-likely-to-seek-help-for-psoriasis?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Air Pollution May Kill Hundreds Of Seniors A Year

Even levels of air pollution deemed "safe" by U.S. government standards may shorten the life spans of seniors, new research suggests.



From: https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20171228/air-pollution-may-kill-hundreds-of-seniors-a-year?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Returning to an old exercise routine? Here’s what you need to know

My ancient workout clothes are folded neatly (and squished) beneath a pile of sweaters on a shelf in my closet. They were cute — from the ‘90s — when I cared very much about how I looked at the gym. Decades later, I skip the gym and instead walk most days and do body weight exercises, all while clad in a sweatshirt and yoga pants. But whenever I see my old gym outfit (blue leotard “overalls” with a cropped tee shirt built in), I wonder if maybe I’d get more from a gym workout. It wouldn’t be hard to jump back in, would it?

Just a second

It turns out, it’s smarter to ease back into a gym workout when we’re older, even if we’ve been active. And if you’ve been sedentary for a long time, it’s even more important. Why? Because our bodies change as we age. “We lose muscle mass and strength as we get older, and the muscles become less flexible and less hydrated,” says Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, clinical supervisor of rehabilitation services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

There can be are other changes, too: arthritis that weakens joints, and vision changes, neurological disease, joint pain, or inner ear problems that can throw off balance. There may also be underlying conditions we aren’t aware of, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, that can increase the risk for severe health consequences if we try to exercise today with the vigor of our youth.

The downside of jumping right back in

If you’ve been sedentary for a long time, jumping back into a workout sets you up for injury. “Lifting weights that are too heavy or taking an exercise class that’s too strenuous often causes trouble, and it’s usually a muscle tear or a strain,” says Dr. Safran-Norton.

Other risks include

  • rotator cuff tears, from arthritic shoulders with bone spurs that can rub on a tendon
  • falls that result from poor balance, and broken bones from the falls
  • heart attack or stroke from an intense workout, particularly if you have undiagnosed high blood pressure or heart problems.

You might also fail to recognize symptoms of heart disease if you are taking medications that mask them, such as beta blockers. If you are taking beta blockers and start exercising again, you should stop if you experience any symptoms that could indicate heart disease.

A new routine

Before beginning any kind of exercise program after being sedentary, get the all-clear from your doctor, especially if you have heart disease, risk factors for heart disease, or lung problems. Ask if you need to monitor your heart rate during exercise.

Once you have the green light, think about what type of exercise routine appeals to you, such as taking a tai chi or yoga class, doing a gym or home workout, or going for a brisk daily walk. Make it something you’ll want to do, so you’ll stick with the program.

Think of your current abilities as you consider your options. “If it’s a yoga, cycling, or tai chi class, you’ll need adequate strength and flexibility. You need to be able to do the basics, like raise your arms over your head and lift your legs easily,” Dr. Safran-Norton says.

Then, ease into exercise. “Start with a low-intensity workout for 20 or 30 minutes. Increase the intensity and length over time,” suggests Dr. Safran-Norton. “It’s the same for working with weights. Try a slight resistance at first, and then moderate.”

The wiser workout

To avoid injury, warm up your muscles before exercising, particularly if you are out of shape. Dr. Safran-Norton recommends five minutes of brisk walking or time on an elliptical machine to get blood flowing to the muscles to make them pliable. You’ll need to stretch afterward and repeat the whole process two or three times a week.

Don’t feel self-conscious if you’re not the fittest person in the room, if you need to modify a particular exercise, or if you need to take breaks. And don’t feel funny about your gym attire. We’re all older and wiser about health. And we know now that it’s more important to feel good than to look good.

The post Returning to an old exercise routine? Here’s what you need to know appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.



From: Heidi Godman https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/returning-old-exercise-routine-not-fast-2017122812952

#AsktheMayoMom about Safety and Prevention of Injuries in Children



From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrQ1KBvI8v8

Video Q&A: Why is it so difficult to lose weight?



From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gImI_3M76k

Women's Heart Health: Mayo Clinic Radio



From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ax-qbOSWQk

Altruistic Kidney Donation: Mayo Clinic Radio



From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA_4BPOw0oE

Flu Season and Vaccine Hot Topics: Mayo Clinic Radio



From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY7MArZ9aHI

Viola Davis Works to End Childhood Hunger

viola davis

The Oscar-winning actor knows personally the stigma and stress that go with not having enough to eat.



From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/viola-davis-childhood-hunger?src=RSS_PUBLIC

10 Questions for Shaun White

shaun white

Snowboarder and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White shares how growing up with a heart condition influences his advocacy for children’s health.



From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/10-questions-shaun-white?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Top Health Story of 2017: Opioid Abuse Epidemic

The scourge is now so widespread that, just last week, research suggested that deaths from opioid overdoses may be the biggest factor driving a decline in overall U.S. life expectancy.



From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20171228/top-health-story-of-2017-opioid-abuse-epidemic?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Experts: Getting Active Could Help Boost Memory

A new recommendation from the American Academy of Neurology suggests that exercise is indeed helpful for people with mild cognitive impairment.



From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20171228/experts-getting-active-could-help-boost-memory?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Epilepsy Drug Could Raise Birth Defect Risks

Researchers found that pregnant women with epilepsy who take the drug topiramate during their first trimester  may boost the risk that their child will be born with a cleft lip or cleft palate.



From: https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/news/20171227/epilepsy-drug-could-raise-birth-defect-risks?src=RSS_PUBLIC

MRIs Safe With Older Pacemakers, Study Finds

Powerful magnetic fields created during an MRI scan were thought to play havoc with some pacemakers, but a new study says these scans are safe for people with the heart devices.



From: https://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20171227/mris-safe-with-older-pacemakers-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Make a New Year’s resolution to move more in 2018



From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_h__R1ttJE

Women's Wellness: Looking forward to a healthier new year



From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVK4wb5C3GU

New guideline: Try exercise to improve memory, thinking



From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhHxu5dacPI