Informative Health Tidbits, Part 2

High Blood Pressure? Blame Your Parents!
While your genetic heritage put you at risk for some health problems, scientists are learning that learned behaviors have an important role too.

In a study that measured heart rate, blood pressure and behavioral responses to stress, 32 college students who had one or both parents with hypertension were compared with 32 whose parents did not have high blood pressure. When put into stressful situations, those with a family history of hypertension had an increase in blood pressure. They also tended to roll their eyes, sigh, and make more disagreeing statements than the control group of students.

The West Virginia University researchers believe that that the way a person learns to respond to stress can influence whether they will have high blood pressure, just like mom or dad.

(from the Health and Fitness News Service)

 

Don't Worry, Live Longer
Worried about getting older? Well, new research shows that having positive thoughts about aging can add years to your life.

Researchers at Yale University interviewed more than 600 people aged 50 and over about their attitudes on getting older. They study's participants were then followed for 23 years. Individuals with positive thoughts about aging lived an average 7.5 years longer than those with negative thoughts about old age. And this advantage remained even after researchers controlled for age, gender, socioeconomic status, loneliness and overall health.

While researchers warn that the relationship between attitudes about aging and longer life is not a simple one, the effect is still important.

Looking forward to the aging process has as much influence on long term survival as better known factors such as low blood pressure and cholesterol, the tendency to exercise, or well controlled weight.

(from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology)

 

Caffeine's Jolts Continue All Day
People who consume caffeine are more likely to have increased blood pressure, feel more stressed, and produce more stress hormones than on days when they take in no caffeine.

Participants in a Duke University study consumed either placebo pills or 500 miligrams of caffeine (about the amount in four cups of coffee) in the form of two pills, with the second pill taken no later than 1 p.m. At no time did the individuals know whether what they were taking contained caffeine or a placebo.

Researchers found that on days that participants took caffeine pills, they had slightly higher blood pressure, an everage of 32 percent more of the stress hormone epinephrine, and higher stress levels. They also found that caffeine's effects were undiminished until bedtime.

(from Psychosomatic Medicine)

 

Phsycial Activity Contributes to Academic Success
Physical education programs can introduce children to a variety of exercises and healthful activities, but that all could be for naught if kids come home and plop down in front of the TV or play video games.

Parental involvement is key not only in a child's academic development, but in their physical development as well. In fact, children who engage in regular physical activity demonstrate increased alertness and attention spans, which can lead to improved academic performance.

So what can parents do to get their children away from the TV and video games and more involved in healthy activities?

Try:

* Moving with them! Taking a family walk or bike ride is an excellent way to spend some family time and stay active at the same time. If your kids see that you don't mind sweating a bit, they won't mind either.

* Contacting your friends who have children and getting together with them on a regular basis. Kids are more likely to be sedentary when they are alone or in the confines of their own home, so get them out of the house.

* Checking out the parks and recreation facilities in your area. Many have hiking trails, bike paths, and lakes for canoeing or swimming. Time spent out of the house is more likely to be active time.

(from the University of Arkansas)

 

Cell Phone Users See Focus Narrow
An analysis of automobile drivers using cell phones while driving found measurably reduced fields of view - tunnel vision. And the researchers found driver's tunnel vision continues well after the phone calls end, perhaps because the drivers are still thinking about the conversation.

Previous research in cell phone usage while driving has centered on the question of whether the user should be holding onto a phone versus using the hands-free types of phones. This new study suggests that the driver's concentration level is the greater issue.

In states where using a cell phone on the road is not illegal, researchers suggest that drivers still avoid phone usage during times requiring high alertness, such as in congested traffic, in poor weather, and on winding roads.

(from the University of Rhode Island)

 

A Tomato a Day
Tomatoes have a growing reputation for their importance in helping men reduce their risk of prostate cancer. And now there's new research that confirms this reputation.

Researchers fed one serving of pasta with tomato sauce every day for three weeks to men who were scheduled to have prostate surgery. At the end of the feeding period, the patient's prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels had dropped an average of 20 percent. And when their prostate tissues were examined after the surgeries, the tomato sauce eater's tissue had less DNA damage than a similar group of men who were not part of the pasta program.

While it's too early to tell if tomato sauce can prevent or slow the growth of existing prostate cancer, men who have the disease should eat tomato sauce often. And even healthy men should consider consuming tomato sauce two to four times per week.

(from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute)

 

Sleep Problems Can Cause Other Health Problems
A seven-year study has demonstrated that middle-aged men with obstructive sleep apnea are at nearly five times more risk of heart disease. And sleep apnea's effect is independent of the man's age, weight, blood pressure or smoking status.

The men ranged in age from 30-69 years, and were free of heart disease, diabetes, psychiatric disorders and other health issues at the start of the seven-year period.

And according to researchers, the most significant predictor of the development of cardiovascular disease was whether or not the man had sleep apnea at the beginning of the study.

(from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine)

 

Last one...

No E for Your Knee
New research from Australia concludes that vitamin E is not effective for relieving arthritis symptoms in your knee.

A group of sufferers were given either 500 international units of vitamin E a day or a look-alike placebo. After six months, neither group reported significant improvement in pain, stiffness or knee functioning.

(from the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases)

 

turbo, this is an excellent thread!!!!

you are such a fountain of information!!!

more great info, please....

 

Great info, Thanks.