What a snore!
The real health cost of a bedmate's nighttime symphony
Talk about a wake-up call: If you're married to a snorer, you will have lost about 4 years' worth of Zzzs by your 50th wedding anniversary, found a recent British survey. Worse, people who don't get enough snooze time can develop mood and memory problems - and are more likely to be involved in car crashes. Ask your spouse to sleep on their stomach or side, or try propping up the head with an extra pillow - both tricks open the airway more and turn down the volume.
HAPPY NEWS
FOR FIT PEOPLE
YOU ALREADY KNOW That breaking a sweat can turn a stressful day into a distant memory. No, a study hints that exercise helps protect your heart from the physical damage that mental strain can cause, too.
Whenever you're emotionally taxed, your immune system churns out inflammatory chemicals that can contribute to clogged arteries. But if you're fit, you may be protected: When researchers a University College London measured mental stress in middle-age adults, the fittest volunteers had one-fifth the amount of these chemicals in their blood as those who weren't as active. "Exercise my 'tune up' the nervous system so it can take a reasonable amount of stress in stride, instead of putting your immune system on red alert:, says lead author Mark Hamer, PhD.
To get the same benefit, work out vigorously at least twice a week.-Sari Harrar
Surprise!
You're in a clinical trial!
Imagine a loved one has a heart attack, paramedics rush to the scene, and they begin to...enroll her in a study comparing a new treatment with the traditional one. That's what is happening to about 15,000 patients selected at random in 11 regions throughout the United States and Canada. It seems to be the way to test lifesaving procedures - and to eventually implement better ones - but critics worry that patients' rights are being abused.
Target high
blood pressure
If your doctor suggest medication for your high blood pressure, ask about Tekturna, a first-of-its-kind drug approved by the FDA in March. Unlike existing meds - which work at the late stages of blood pressure regulation - Tekturna tackles the condition early by inhibiting renin, a kidney enzyme that starts a cascade of chemical steps that elevate blood pressure. Six studies on more than 2,000 patients have shown that the once-daily pill lowers blood pressure for up to a year, with few side effects, and works well in conjunction with other antihypertensive medications. - Amanda MacMillan
STEP AWAY
FROM YOUR DESK
If you spend your day planted in a chair, you could increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - a condition that causes swelling , pain, and potentially fatal blood vessel damage. More often seen in passengers on long-distance plane flights, DVT can also occur in office workers who sit for at least 3 hours with-out getting up. Inactivity slows circulation, which can lead to a blood clot, typically in the lower leg or thigh. Fend it off: Take a walk every hour or so (set a reminder in your electronic calendar if you need a nudge). - Kristin Kane
Quercetin - An Immunity Booster?
THE RESEARCH Only 5% of people who took 1,000 mg of concentrated quercetin (a phytonutrient found in produce) daily took any sick days over 5 weeks, compared with 45% of people given a placebo, says a recent Appalachian State University study of cyclists. But scientists say nonathletes may not get the same results.
SHOULD I TAKE IT? You can try supplements (possible side effects include nausea and diarrhea), though studies haven't proven their usefulness. Food may be better: "Synergy with other phytonutrients could be what brings out its benefits", says Rui Hai Liu, MD, PhD, an associate professor of food science at Cornell University.
BOTTOM LINE Eat quercetin-rich berries and red apples.
EAT AWAY DRUG SIDE EFFECTS
If you're like 73% of Americans ages 55 to 64, you take at least one (possibly lifesaving) Rx drug. but do you know if it's depleting your body of essential nutrients? Here, a heads-up about four common "sappers" from Chris D. Meletis, ND, author of a recent report that detailed the risks in Alternative & Complementary Therapies.
Created by Sindy Williams
The above information was taken from an article written in Prevention Magazine August 2007
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