March 29, 2024

Exercise & Diabetes, Low Back Pain, Alabama’s Top Health Issues, More…

Posted on July 2, 2015 by in NewsUCanUse

Exercise & DiabetesJuly2015SrMaleExerciseW

Even without showing cardio benefits, diabetics who exercise can better control blood glucose levels, according to new research by U. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center cardiologists.

Researchers found that waist circumference, percentage of body fat, and hemoglobin A1c levels − a test of long-term blood sugar − all improved in diabetic participants who exercised compared to those who did not. These benefits were seen whether the exercise was aerobic, resistance training, or a combination.

“What we observed is that exercise improves diabetes control regardless of improvement in exercise capacity,” said study co-author Dr. Jarett Berry, UTSW Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences.

The study proposes that exercise-training programs for people with Type 2 diabetes should measure improvements in glycemic control, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat, rather than cardio-vascular improvements.

– UT Southwestern Medical Center via Science Daily, www.sciencedaily.com

Low Back Pain Relief StrategyBackPainW

If you suffer from back pain, you’re not alone. A lifetime of walking, standing, lifting and twisting causes significant low back pain in 80 percent of all adults. The good news is acute low back pain usually goes away on its own, with little or no intervention. But if you’re looking for ways to ease your pain in the interim, try the following to aid in symptom relief and recovery:

Rest up, but not too much! No longer than a day or two after your injury if pain is severe, as long periods of bed rest can weaken muscles and do more harm than good.

Get back on track, but start slowly, returning to regular activity as soon as you’re able in order to get your back conditioned and help prevent a relapse.

Take short walks throughout the day, and wear athletic shoes while walking.

Pull your stomach in slightly as you walk to support your back and limit the length of your steps to minimize tension on the back.

Try to walk on asphalt instead of cement, as cement is harder and can stress your back.

Use a heat wrap (safer than a heating pad; available in drugstores) or a heating blanket for temporary relief of muscle spasms and pain.

Pain relievers such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin® or naproxen Aleve®) can provide short-term relief when taken as directed by your doctor. Limit the use of these drugs to no longer than one or two weeks. Excessive/long-term use can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding (NSAIDs) or liver damage (acetaminophen), especially in older adults. Don’t use them at all if you’re at risk for these adverse effects. – Scientific American, www.healthafter50.com

Dementia & Aluminum: No ConnectionJuly2015SoftDrinkCansW

The discovery of larger-than-expected amounts of aluminum in the brains of some people who died of Alzheimer’s generated a great deal of publicity a number of years ago. Worried that aluminum might somehow promote the disease, many people threw away cans, cookware, cosmetics, antacids, antiperspirants and other items containing the metal.

However, studies of people exposed to large quantities of aluminum did not reveal an increased risk of dementia. Most likely, aluminum deposits in brain tissue are a result — not a cause — of the underlying abnormalities associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Incidentally, more aluminum leaches into soft drinks from glass bottles — which contain approximately 1 percent aluminum —than from aluminum cans, which are coated with a thin layer of plastic. – Scientific American, www.healthafter50.com.

Alabama’s Top 13 Health Issues: Your Input SoughtJuly2015ALCommHealthMapW

A draft of the 2015 Alabama Community Health Assessment (CHA) is available on-line for public review and comment. The final document will provide information that can be used for local community health improvement initiatives. The top 13 health issues were derived from a survey involving diverse agencies, organizations, community groups, health care providers and citizens across Alabama. The top 13 issues, in order of importance, were determined to be:

— Access to Care

— Mental Health and Substance Abuse

— Poor Pregnancy Outcomes

— Nutrition and Physical Activity

— Cardiovascular Diseases

— Sexually Transmitted Infections

— Cancer

— Child Abuse and Neglect

— Diabetes

— Geriatrics

— Injury and Violence Prevention

— Oral Health

— Cigarette Smoking

“We appreciate the assistance and support of our stakeholders in providing useful information,” State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson said. “We are hopeful that the information collected in this document will be a helpful resource that will be used in shaping healthier communities.”

The public is invited to view the document on-line and submit comments before the CHA is finalized. The draft can be seen at www.adph.org/accreditation. E-mail comments to carrie.allison@adph.state.al.us.

Simple Strategy for Weight LossScalesTapeMeasureW

For those wishing to lose weight and keep it off, here’s a simple strategy that works: step on a scale each day and track the results. A two-year Cornell U. study, recently published in the Journal of Obesity, found that frequent self-weighing and tracking results on a chart were effective for both losing weight and keeping it off, especially for men.

Subjects who lost weight the first year in the program were able to maintain that lost weight throughout the second year. This is important because studies show that about 40 percent of weight lost with any dietary treatment is regained in one year, and almost 100 percent of weight loss is regained at the end of five years.

“You just need a bathroom scale and an excel spreadsheet or even a piece of graph paper,” said David Levitsky, professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell and the paper’s senior author. “It seems to work better for men than women, for reasons we cannot figure out yet.”

Researchers believe stepping on a scale and tracking one’s weight acts as a reinforcement for behaviors such as eating less, and strengthens others such as going for a walk.

The method “forces you to be aware of the connection between your eating and your weight,” said Levitsky. “It used to be taught that you shouldn’t weigh yourself daily, and this is just the reverse.”

– Information from Cornell U. via Science Daily, www.sciencedaily.com.

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease: First StepJuly2015BrainPuzzlePieceW

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease involves a careful accumulation of information to confirm the presence of cognitive impairment and rule out other possible causes, such as depression, hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency or an undetected stroke.

The process begins with a detailed medical history, a short test or interview to probe mental status and a physical and neurologic examination. Interviews with close friends or family members also can provide crucial information. Laboratory tests and, in certain cases, imaging scans of the brain may be performed.

If you suspect you or a family member may have Alzheimer’s disease, the best first step is to consult a family doctor whom you know well. Many general practitioners are quite expert in evaluating patients for Alzheimer’s disease. Those who are not, or who feel that symptoms are atypical and should be evaluated by a specialist, can refer you to a neurologist, geriatrician or geriatric psychiatrist.

If Alzheimer’s disease is in fact present, patients may benefit from a class of medications known as cholinesterase inhibitors. These drugs may result in slight improvements in memory and reasoning, slow cognitive decline and lessen psychological and behavioral problems. However, they don’t halt progression of the disease.

– Scientific Americanwww.healthafter50.com

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