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Showing posts from September, 2020

Identical signs of brain damage in sleep apnea and Alzheimer's

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  Identical signs of brain damage in sleep apnea and Alzheimer's New research has confirmed long-suspected links between sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease, finding identical brain damage signs in both conditions. While the cause of Alzheimer's disease remains a mystery, amyloid plaques that are toxic to brain cells are known indicators of the disease. The new research showed these plaques start in the same place and spread in the same way in the brains of people with obstructive sleep apnea, as in those with Alzheimer's. The clinical study by Australian and Icelandic researchers, led by RMIT University, is published in the journal  Sleep . Lead investigator Professor Stephen Robinson said scientists have known the two diseases are related, but what drives the connection is still unclear. "We know that if you have sleep apnea in mid-life, you're more likely to develop Alzheimer's when you're older, and if you have Alzheimer's, you are more likely t...

Getting Back Pain While Working From Home? An Ergonomics Expert Offers Advice

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  Getting Back Pain While Working From Home? An Ergonomics Expert Offers Advice IDEAS BY  ALAN HEDGE   APRIL 15, 2020 2:13 PM EDT Alan Hedge is a professor emeritus at Cornell University and president of Humanuse, a leading-edge ergonomics company. E ven before the  COVID-19 pandemic   struck, roughly 1 in 6 U.S. workers, some 26 million people,  worked either partly or fully from home . Now that number has grown significantly, as states are requiring non-essential employees to  stay home . If you’re one of these people, you may be noticing new aches and pains that you did not experience at the office. That’s because even though it isn’t mandated, many companies follow an ANSI-HFS standard in the design of their computer workstations, furnishing the office with the ergonomic furniture and accessories. However, most residential settings simply don’t have the space to accommodate today’s ergonomic office furniture, nor do most people invest in it, especi...

How much physical activity do adults need?

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  How much physical activity do adults need? Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving. According to the 2018  Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans , 2 nd  edition, adults need to do two physical activity types each week to improve their health–aerobic activity and muscle strengthening. Some Activity is Better than None We know 150 minutes each week sounds like a lot of time, but it’s not. That could be 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The good news is that you can spread your activity out during the week, so you don’t have to do it all at once. You can even break it up into smaller chunks of time during the day. Learn more about finding a balance that works for you. Move More and Sit Less Adults should move more and sit less throughout the day. Some physical activity is better than none. Adults who sit less and do any amount of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity gain some health benefits. Recommended Levels For Health Benefits Adults sh...

Losing Weight: Getting Started

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  Losing Weight: Getting Started Losing weight takes more than desire. It takes commitment and a well-thought-out plan. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started. Step 1: Make a commitment. Deciding to lose weight, change your lifestyle, and become healthier is a big step to take. Start simply by making a commitment to yourself. Many people find it helpful to sign a written contract committing to the process. This contract may include things like the amount of weight you want to lose, the date you’d like to lose the weight by, the dietary changes you’ll make to establish healthy eating habits, and a plan for getting regular physical activity. Writing down the reasons why you want to lose weight can also help. It might be because you have a family history of heart disease or want to see your kids get married, or simply because you want to feel better in your clothes. Post these reasons, where they serve as a daily reminder of why you want to make this change. Step 2: Take stock...

Adult Obesity Facts

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  Adult Obesity Facts Obesity is a common, serious, and costly disease. The prevalence of obesity was 42.4% in 2017~2018.  From 1999–2000 through 2017–2018, the prevalence of obesity increased from 30.5% to 42.4%, and the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%.  Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer that are leading causes of preventable, premature death.  The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was $147 billion in 2008 US dollars; the medical cost for people who have obesity was $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.  Obesity affects some groups more than others. Non-Hispanic blacks (49.6%) had the highest age-adjusted prevalence of obesity, followed by Hispanics (44.8%), non-Hispanic whites (42.2%), and non-Hispanic Asians (17.4%). The prevalence of obesity was 40.0% among young adults aged 20 to 39 years, 44.8% among middle-aged adults aged 40 to 5...

WEIGHT LOSS TIPS: SCIENCE-BASED

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  WEIGHT LOSS TIPS: SCIENCE-BASED The weight loss world is full of half-truths and wild advice. People are often advised to try various things, but many of these suggestions lack scientific backing. The good news: Researchers have identified several effective strategies that help people lose weight and keep it off. Below are 26 evidence-based tips to help you on your weight loss journey. Drink Water, Especially Before Meals Drinking water really can help with weight loss. It temporarily boosts your metabolism and can help you eat less if you drink it before meals. One study found that drinking about half a liter of water before eating led people to eat fewer calories and lose significantly more weight. Eat Eggs for Breakfast Eggs are filling and high in protein. Swapping your usual breakfast for eggs (or another good protein source) can help you eat less throughout the day and lose more weight. Drink Black Coffee Coffee is packed with antioxidants and can give your metabolism a sli...

Fructose made in the brain could be a mechanism driving Alzheimer's disease, researchers propose.

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  Fructose made in the brain could be a mechanism driving Alzheimer's disease, researchers propose. New research released from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus proposes that Alzheimer's disease may be driven by the overactivation of fructose made in the brain. The study was published in the  Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience  and outlined the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease is driven largely by Western culture that has resulted in excessive fructose metabolism in the brain. The paper brought together an interdisciplinary team of neurologists, neuroscientists, and experts on sugar metabolism. It presents evidence from extensive data and research conducted in Alzheimer's disease that links high fructose levels in the brain to the disease. It also helps explain associations, such as why diabetes and obesity are associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. "In essence, we propose that Alzheimer's disease is a modern disease dri...