30 August, 2018

Did you know? Father’s close ties may help daughter beat loneliness

Dear fathers, your close bond with your young daughter may help them overcome their loneliness. “The bond between fathers and daughters is very important. We found that closeness between fathers and daughters tends to protect daughters and help them transition out of loneliness faster,” said co-author Xin Feng, Associate Professor at The Ohio State University.

For the study, published in the Journal of Family Psychology, the research team studied 695 families who participated in the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development.

Mothers and fathers rated their relationships (both closeness and conflict) with their child when the child was in grades one, three, four and five. In grades one, three and five the children rated their levels of loneliness.

The results showed that levels of closeness tended to decline over this time period, while conflict increased. That’s not surprising, said lead author Julia Yan from the varsity.

“This is a time when children are becoming more independent, developing relationships with friends and spending more time outside the home,” Yan said.

“So they become less close with their parents and have more conflict as their need for autonomy increases,” Yan added.

Loneliness also tended to decrease as the kids developed relationships with their peers and felt more comfortable with their social skills.

But the study showed that kids didn’t shed their loneliness at the same rate. Daughters did better when they had closer relationships with their fathers.

Mothers’ relationships didn’t have an effect in this study, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important, the researcher said.

The results affirm that fathers should nurture their relationships with their children, particularly their daughters, the researchers noted.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

30.08.2018

Attitude is the little thing that makes a big difference

Winston Churchill

27 August, 2018

Hypertensive patients prefer medication to cutting salt

“Lack of adherence to recommended lifestyle changes is leading to higher salt intake for hypertensive patients, more medications needed to treat their condition and more side effects from those medications,” said Dr. Kazuto Ohno, the lead author of the study which was recently presented at a meeting in Germany.

Excess salt intake is one of the most important causes of hypertension, which makes salt restriction a key strategy to manage it, but few studies have been done on the relationship between salt intake and blood pressure in hypertensive patients undergoing antihypertensive drug treatment.

Dr. Ohno explained, “Patients may be able to improve this vicious cycle by restricting salt intake. In consequence, they may avoid diseases caused by hypertension, such as heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure. Moreover, they may be able to avoid side effects from antihypertensive drugs, such as dizziness and fainting.”

The observational study in hypertensive patients with antihypertensive drugs found two comparative facts: an improvement of blood pressure levels and an increase in salt intake. In particular, in hypertensive patients with multiple antihypertensive drugs, salt intake was higher than those taking only one antihypertensive drug.

Dr. Ohno said future research should consider whether nutritional guidance can improve the accomplishment rate of the target blood pressure and decrease the number of antihypertensive drug prescriptions. The full findings were presented in the meeting at European Society of Cardiology, (ESC) Congress 2018.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

27.08.2018

When the wrong people leave your life, the right things start happening

24 August, 2018

Coming soon: A more effective, hassle-free and long-lasting universal flu vaccine

Very soon, a universal flu vaccine that has to be injected a few times over the course of a lifetime can be reality. Thanks to a group of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine that recently announced that by reversing how a few flu strains attacked a flu virus’ protein structure, they have been able to safeguard mice, rabbits and ferrets from these flu strains, stated a latest media report. This study has been published in Nature Communications.

“If it works in humans even half as well as it does in mice, then the sky’s the limit—it could be something that everyone uses in the future to protect themselves from the flu,” reportedly said Scott Hensley, co-senior author and an associate professor of microbiology.

The latest vaccine called Penn’s vaccine would lessen the physical pain and trouble of visiting a clinic frequently for getting a flu shot and would also work efficiently in protecting against flu. Also, the vaccine that we are used to at present is basically based on the guesses and predictions of the early researchers, suggest the experts under which the patients get injected with the best-guess vaccine that creates antibodies over a couple of weeks and strengthens the body immune system to tackle the particular virus.

However, here is a challenge with the present vaccine. As the protective ability of this vaccine depends completely on the researchers’ ability to predict, its efficacy rate drops down. Also, the issue of mutation can make the vaccine less effective. This is where the latest vaccine comes to your rescue. Its responses were much enhanced compared to the existing vaccine. The antibody response was strong as well as long-lasting. It lasted for about 30 weeks following the experiment.

“When we first started testing this vaccine, we were blown away by the magnitude of the antibody response,” Hensley reportedly said.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

24.08.2018

No one can motivate you… Until you MOTIVATE YOURSELF…..

20 August, 2018

Patients experience emotional response to diagnosis, finds study

HAIs are infections that patients get healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions, and many HAIs are preventable. However, some healthcare providers (HCP) distance themselves from affected patients. HAIs also affect the patient’s physical health, relationships, etc.

According to the Hindustan Times report, researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University looking at 17 studies from five different countries and addressing five common types of HAIs conducted a meta-synthesis of qualitative research, focusing on patient experiences of both infection and colonization from bacteria that commonly cause HAIs. According to the ANI report, the findings appeared in the American Journal of Infection Control.

As per as the analysis, many patients described ‘feeling dirty and experienced an emotional response to their diagnosis. Even HAIs patients reported a fear of transmitting their infection to others. Few patients reported receiving constructive information and feeling reassured about their condition, whereas on the other hand, few patients reported feeling dismissed by staff members.

The lead author of the study, Kay Currie reportedly explained “Having an HAI is a significant event in the patient’s care journey and subsequent life that is influenced by biology, society, and context. Understanding the patient experience can help HCP to interact and respond in a constructive way, providing more effective support during this challenging time in a patient’s healthcare experience.”

This qualitative review provides valuable insights on how healthcare professionals can more effectively interact with their patients to enhance recovery in all areas of their lives.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

20.08.2018

The past cannot be changed; the future is yet in your power

Mary Pickford

13 August, 2018

Sweating it out: Is high-intensity interval training really helpful?

Going in for a really tough workout can be very satisfying. One, you can walk your way to glory thinking that you are right on the track of fitness and two, you can surely be glad that there is more hopes from yourself. But with all of this being said and done, according to a new research people who do go in for HIIT don’t really maintain consistency. Don’t get puzzled, we’ll break this down for you.

What does the research say?

According to a study named, ‘HIIT in the Real World: Outcomes from a 12-Month Intervention in Overweight Adults’, published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, “HIIT was well-accepted by overweight adults and opting for HIIT as an alternative to standard exercise recommendations led to no difference in health outcomes after 12 months. While regular participation in unsupervised HIIT declined rapidly, those apparently adherent to regular HIIT demonstrated beneficial weight loss and visceral fat reduction.”

A lot of studies have earlier proven that HIIT is very effective for weight loss however, the lacunae in those were that these studies were done on college students. The real life problems of going to office post these strenuous sessions haven’t been explored fully.

While it is still not clear whether hitting the gym to sweat it all out is proven to be helpful, the researchers in this study concluded that those who do attend these session fall out of gyms eventually- mainly because of the aftermath of such strenuous training.

According to a 2015 study published in the American Journal of Medicine a medical condition called rhabdomyolysis, was seen to be prevalent among newcomers who did HIIT. The condition is associated with military training camps- due to vigorous activities. Those who suffer from  rhabdomyolysis generally experience excruciating pain due to the to intracellular muscle constituents breaking down and leaking into their blood stream.

What is the way out now?

Simply put, practice all your sessions under expert supervision. And don’t hurry into anything without knowing about it fully. Also while you go in for a HIIT, make sure to give yourself enough rest.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

13.08.2018

It’s not about who is real to your face, It’s about who stay real behind your back

8 August, 2018

Limit screen time for kids, says American Heart Association to parents

Parents, please take note: If your child spends more than one to two hours on screen-based devices such as computers, phones, tablets, video games or TV, they may be at a higher risk of developing obesity, warns American Heart Association in an advisory. The new scientific statement, published in the journal Circulation, says that screen-based devices are associated with an increased amount of sedentary behaviour in children and teenagers.

“Although the mechanisms linking screen time to obesity are not entirely clear, there are real concerns that screens influence eating behaviours, possibly because children ‘tune out’ and do not notice when they are full when eating in front of a screen,” said Tracie A. Barnett from the INRS-Institut Armand Frappier in Canada.

“There is also evidence that screens are disrupting sleep quality, which can also increase the risk of obesity,” Barnett added. The statements are developed by a panel of experts who review existing scientific literature and evidence to provide an overview of a topic related to cardiovascular disease or stroke.

In this review, the group found that the available scientific literature is based almost entirely on self-reported screen time, with very few breaking down the type of device or the context in which it is used, which means that the studies are not designed to prove cause and effect.

The writing group determined that over the last 20 years, TV viewing by children and adolescents has declined but the recreational use of other screen-based devices, such as smart phones, tablet computers and others has resulted in a net increase in screen time overall. Current estimates are that eight to 18-year-olds spend more than seven hours using screens daily.

The recommended interventions to minimise screen time emphasise the importance of involving parents, the researchers said. Parents can help their children reduce screen time by setting a good example with their own screen use and by establishing screen time regulations, they noted.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

08.08.2018

Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach

Anthony Robbins

6 August, 2018

All you need to know about irregular heartbeat + natural ways to deal with it

If your heart beats too fast, too slow or with an irregular rhythm it is known as an irregular heartbeat. The most common type of arrhythmia is premature or extra beats which are a fluttering in the chest or a feeling of a skipped heartbeat. The most common type of heart arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation. When the normal beating in the upper chambers of the heart is irregular it can cause atrial fibrillation. From the atria (upper chambers) to the lower chambers of the heart, the blood supply is not proper. One can suffer from tachycardia if his/ her heartbeat is too fast. You can suffer from bradycardia when your heartbeat is slow. And if the arrhythmias last for a longer time, one may experience symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, chest pain and so on.

This, in turn, may also hamper your quality of life and you may find it difficult to carry out your daily chores with ease. The heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body, during arrhythmia. Due to which the other organs including the brain and heart can get damaged. So, to deal with eat one should make a few lifestyle alterations.

Stay healthy and hearty by following these guidelines

·         Inculcate healthy eating habits: One should eat anti-inflammatory foods which are loaded with antioxidants and phytonutrients. To manage your cholesterol levels, eat healthy fats. Include fruits and veggies in your diet. You should up your intake of legumes and beans.

·         Exercise daily: To keep your heart healthy, make sure that you take up some physical activity. If you are already suffering from arrhythmia, take to your expert about which exercise you can do.

·         Cut down on alcohol and smoking which can affect your cardiovascular health.

·         Maintain a healthy weight and eliminate stress by doing yoga or meditation.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

06.08.2018

Only someone who is well prepared has the opportunity to improvise

Ingmar Bergma

3 August, 2018

Sharing parenting responsibilities could keep your baby healthy

Parents who share their responsibilities of childcare end up feeling more satisfied. According to a new study of insects, animals who share the task of parenting do a better job than parents who do so on their own. Thus, offsprings raised by both parents grow to a healthier weight and are more likely to reach adulthood than those raised by one parent.

According to ANI reports, the research has been done on beetles and it is proved that being raised by two parents has benefits for offspring. It could help explain why many species including birds, mammals, fish, and insects have evolved to share the burden of nurturing their young.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh set out to examine whether care from two parents is greater than the sum of its parts, or if a conflict between parents over their shared workload has a negative impact on their young.

In an experiment with burying beetles, scientists examined how well pairs of adults compared with sole parents. Dozens of pairs of parents and single adult beetles were each given a brood to raise to adulthood, with single beetles given half as many young compared with the pairs. The researchers eventually found that offsprings who were raised by both parents were better off despite male beetles being seen to do less when working alongside their female partners.

Scientists said their finding supports the idea that co-parenting may help ensure animals can pass on their genes, in a trade-off against producing more young. In addition, both parents may pass on good bacteria to their young through close contact.

Dr. Natalie Pilakouta of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences, who led the study, said: “We’ve shown that offspring grow better and are more likely to survive if reared by both parents. This might help explain why shared parenting has evolved in so many species of animals.”

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

03.08.2018

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them

Walter Elias Disney