Mental Health American is a stress website that promotes "living your life well". You may want to share this website with your clients. Although there is a "store" with publications for sale, the
website has a lot of good information available at no cost. The web address is: http://www.liveyourlifewell.org
Schoolyard
taunts of any type can potentially damage a child's sense of self-confidence.
But a new study suggests that a particular kind of teasing -- about weight --
can have distinctive and significant effects on how pre-teens perceive their
bodies. The research, among the first to
specifically examine the impact of weight-based criticism on pre-adolescents,
also hints that the practice can cause other health and emotional issues for
its victims. Read more: http://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2010/09/13/Study%3A+Teasing+about+weight+can+have+big+effects+on+pre-teens
Smoking during pregnancy may harm the
child's motor control and coordination
Women who
smoke during pregnancy run the risk of adversely affecting their children's
coordination and physical control according to a new study from Orebro
University, Sweden, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community
Health. "Moreover, we discovered
that boys' abilities may be affected to a greater extent than those of
girls," says Professor Scott Montgomery at Orebro University. Read more:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100922081758.htm
Heart disease along with depression more lethal than either alone
The combination of depression and heart disease seems to be far more
lethal than having either one of these conditions in isolation, suggests
research published online in Heart.
All the study participants were taking part in the British Whitehall II
study, which is evaluating the impact of social and economic factors on
the long term health of around 10,000 civil servants, aged between 35
and 55 in 1985. The authors base their findings on just under 6,000 middle aged adults,
whose mental and physical health were tracked for an average of five and
a half years. Those who were both depressed and had heart disease were almost five
times as likely to die as their mentally and physically healthy peers.
Even the lowest possible dose of aspirin (75 mg) can ward off bowel
cancer, if taken regularly, finds research published online in the
journal Gut. This protective effect is apparent after just one year and in the
general population, not just those considered to be at risk of
developing the disease, which is the second most common cause of cancer
death in the world, killing almost half a million people every year.
A Very Brief Introduction to Open Access by Peter Suber
Open-access (OA) literature is digital, online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions. What makes it possible is the internet and the consent of the author or copyright-holder.
In most fields, scholarly journals do not pay authors, who can therefore consent to OA without losing revenue. In this respect scholars and scientists are very differently situated from most musicians and movie-makers, and controversies about OA to music and movies do not carry over to research literature.
OA is entirely compatible with peer review, and all the major OA initiatives for scientific and scholarly literature insist on its importance. Just as authors of journal articles donate their labor, so do most journal editors and referees participating in peer review.
Gossiping has some positive benefits - at least for the person doing the gossiping. "Gossiping is usually seen as a bad thing. Our findings suggest some forms of gossiping- particularly of the type where people praise others- could be linked with some desirable outcomes for the gossiper despite the fact that gossipers are not generally approved of."
Scientists Determine How Water Can Raise BP and Help with Weight Loss
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have shown that
ordinary water - without any additives - does more than just quench
thirst. It has some other unexpected, physiological effects. It
increases the activity of the sympathetic - fight or flight - nervous
system, which raises alertness, blood pressure and energy expenditure. These findings prompted the American Red Cross to conduct a study of
water drinking as a method for reducing fainting responses. The study
found that drinking 16 ounces of water before blood donation reduced the
fainting response by 20 percent. Because it raises sympathetic nervous system activity - and consequently
energy expenditure - it does promote weight loss, Robertson said.
Some Meds Lead to Long-Term Cognitive Impairment of Aging Brain
Drugs commonly taken for a variety of common medical conditions
including insomnia, allergies, or incontinence negatively affect the
brain causing long term cognitive impairment in older African-Americans,
according to a study appearing in the July 13, 2010 print issue of Neurology,
the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. These drugs, called anticholinergics, block acetylcholine, a nervous
system neurotransmitter, and are widely-used medical therapies. They are
sold over the counter under various brand names such as Benadryl,
Dramamine, Excedrin PM, Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM, and Unisom.
Other anticholinergic drugs, such as Paxil, Detrol, Demerol and
Elavil are available only by prescription. Older adults most commonly
use drugs with anticholinergic effects as sleep aids and to relieve
bladder leakage problems.
Insight into Why a Low-Calorie Diet Can Extend Lifespan Even if Adopted Later in Life
Research is giving scientists new insight into why a restricted diet can
lead to a longer lifespan and reduced incidence of age-related diseases
for a wide variety of animals. Scientists have known for some time that
a restricted diet can extend the lifespan of certain animals but this
work shows how it affects ageing mechanisms -- and significantly has
also shown that the effects occur even if the restricted diet is adopted
later in life.
Larger Waist Size and High Triglycerides Indicate Risk of CHD
People with a larger waistline and high triglyceride levels are at
increased risk of coronary heart disease, according to a research study
published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). In both men and women, increased waist circumference (even without
higher triglyceride levels) and increased triglyceride levels (even
without higher waist circumference) increased the risk of developing
coronary heart disease. However, the key finding of the study was that
the combined presence of increased waist circumference and increased
triglyceride levels was associated with the highest risk of coronary
heart disease.
Summer Travel Safety Tips from the American College of Emergency Physicians
Millions of Americans
are hitting the highways this summer. No matter where you and your
family are going or how you will get there, the American College of
Emergency Physicians (ACEP) wants to remind you to keep safety in mind.
A little time spent familiarizing yourself with the contents of your
First Aid Kit may go a long way in keeping your family healthy and safe.
Athens, Ga. - For centuries, ginger root has been used as a folk remedy
for a variety of ailments such as colds and upset stomachs. But now,
researchers at the University of Georgia have found that daily ginger
consumption also reduces muscle pain caused by exercise.
Study finds yogurt-like drink DanActive reduced rate of common infections in daycare children
Washington, DC - The probiotic yogurt-like drink
DanActive reduced the rate of common sicknesses such as ear infections,
sinusitis, the flu and diarrhea in daycare children, say researchers who
studied the drink in the largest known probiotic clinical trial to be
conducted in the United States. An additional finding, however, showed
no reduction in the number school days missed. The study led by
Daniel Merenstein, MD, of Georgetown
University School of Medicine (GUSOM), was funded by The Dannon
Company, Inc., and published today online in the European Journal of
Clinical Nutrition.
K-STATE STUDY FINDS OLDER DRIVERS OFTEN INVOLVED IN DAYTIME
CRASHES MORE SEVERE THAN YOUNGER DRIVERS' CRASHES; LARGER SIGN FONTS,
LEFT-TURN ARROWS COULD HELP
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University researchers are
discovering the challenges aging creates for drivers.
To help improve traffic safety, K-State engineers
identified the characteristics of older drivers in Kansas and the types
of crashes they are involved in. Their research found most car accidents
involving older drivers occur during the daytime and are more severe,
often ending in injury or fatality, than those for younger populations.
With this knowledge, the researchers will follow up with a
study to learn what changes can be made to improve these difficulties
for older drivers. The focus will be on countermeasures to reduce the
number of crashes involving older drivers and the severity of the
crashes.
How Dark Chocolate May Guard Against
Brain Injury from Stroke
ScienceDaily (May 5, 2010)
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered that a compound in dark
chocolate may protect the brain after a stroke by increasing cellular
signals already known to shield nerve cells from damage.
Those Living Near Highway and Railroad Intersections More Likely to Develop Asthma, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2010) Mayo Clinic researchers recently released study data showing children who lived near major highway or railroad intersections have higher diagnoses of asthma. The researchers used this study to show how neighborhood environment is a risk factor in understanding the development of pediatric asthma.
Pure Maple Syrup Contains Medicinally Beneficial Compounds,
Pharmacy Researcher Finds
ScienceDaily (Mar. 25, 2010)Before you dig in to your next stack of French toast or waffles, you
might want to pour on pure maple syrup.New research has uncovered more than 20 compounds in maple syrup from
Canada that have been linked to human health. Read more: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100321182924.htm
Alcohol in Moderation Is Good for Sick Hearts Too, Italian
Study Suggests
ScienceDaily (Mar. 23, 2010)A study by the Catholic University of Campobasso, Italy, shows that
regular and moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial for people who had a
previous heart attack or other ischemic vascular events.Read the study synopsis:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322182014.htm
Marathon runners should pick cherries for
speedy recovery
Runners can boost their recovery time by drinking tart cherry juice
before and after the race, according to a researcher at Northumbria University.
Dr Glyn Howatson, exercise
physiologist and Laboratory Director in the School of Psychology and Sports
Sciences, examined the properties of Montmorency cherries in a study that found
that athletes who drank the juice recovered faster after Marathon running than
a placebo controlled group.
Bacon
or Bagels? Higher Fat at Breakfast May Be Healthier Than You Think, Says UAB
Research
March
30, 2010 BIRMINGHAM,
Ala. The
age-old maxim "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner
like a pauper" may in fact be the best advice to follow to prevent
metabolic syndrome, according to a new University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
study.
Study Shows Genital Herpes Virus Reactivates Widely Throughout Genital Tract
Genital herpes caused by a reactivation of herpes simplex virus type
2 (HSV-2) is generally treated as a lesion in one specific area of the
genital region. A new study, however, finds that the virus can
frequently reactivate throughout the genital tract, an important new
concept that could help guide both HSV-2 treatment and prevention. Now
available online, the study appears in the Feb. 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
In
the study, Christine Johnston, MD, MPH, and colleagues at the
University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
in Seattle collected daily samples during a 30-day period from seven
separate genital sites in four women infected with HSV-2. HSV-2 was
detected from more than one anatomic site on 56 percent of days when
there was viral shedding-and on genital surfaces on both sides of the
participants' bodies on most days when virus was detected at more than
one site.
Using a detailed sampling method and a sensitive assay,
the authors showed that both symptomatic and asymptomatic HSV-2
reactivations often occurred at widely spaced regions throughout the
genital tract. These reactivations were often on both sides of the
body, even though clinical lesions typically emanate from one anatomic
spot. The study's findings illustrate an important new concept in HSV-2
pathogenesis, the authors wrote, and may help in developing
comprehensive treatment that both suppresses and limits the
transmission of HSV-2 infection.
Double trouble: Bacterial super-infection after the flu
San Diego, CA - Current research
suggests that the flu may predispose to secondary bacterial infections,
which account for a significant proportion of mortality during flu
pandemics. The related report by Lee et al, "A mouse model of lethal
synergism between influenza virus and Haemophilus influenzae," appears in the February 2010 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
A common
complication of flu infection is a secondary "super-infection" by
bacteria, which greatly increases the morbidity and mortality of the
disease. The most common bacterial agents found following flu pandemics
have been Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Group A Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, reports of infection with antibiotic-resistant strains have been increasing in recent years.
To
explore the mechanisms governing the increased pathogenesis of flu upon
super-infection, a group led by Dr. Sally R. Sarawar of the Torrey
Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, San Diego, California confirmed
that otherwise nonlethal influenza and H. influenzae infections cause high mortality rates in mice when flu infection precedes H. influenzae
infection. Their data confirm a restricted time period for this
heightened susceptibility and highlight that excessive bacterial, and
not viral, growth is associated with increased lethality. The fact that
this increased mortality was observed in both immunocompromised and
immunocompetent mice suggests that even normal healthy people are at
increased risk for complications following bacterial super-infection.
Driven to distraction: New study shows driving hinders talking
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - It is well known that having a conversation (for example on a cell phone) impairs one's driving. A new study indicates the reverse is also true: Driving reduces one's ability to comprehend and use language.
The findings, from researchers at the University of Illinois, appear in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review.
This is the first study to find that driving impairs language skills, said Gary Dell, a psycholinguist in the department of psychology at Illinois and corresponding author on the study. Two previous studies had reported that driving did not impair the accuracy and comprehension of speech.
"The previous findings made no sense to those of us who have studied language," Dell said. "You might think that talking is an easy thing to do and that comprehending language is easy. But it's not. Speech production and speech comprehension are attention-demanding activities, and so they ought to compete with other tasks that require your attention - like driving."
The new study was conducted in a driving simulator at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at Illinois. The participants worked in pairs - one as a driver and the other as a conversation partner who was either in the simulator with the driver or talking with the driver via a hands-free cell phone from a remote location. Half of the 96 participants were adults over the age of 65 and half were in their late teens and early 20s.
Participants either sat in an unmoving vehicle or navigated through busy urban traffic while listening to, and then retelling, a brief story that they had never heard before. Using a headphone and a microphone, each participant heard and retold four stories. After leaving the simulator, all participants were asked to recall everything that they remembered about the stories.
As the researchers expected, a participant's ability to remember and retell a story declined significantly if he or she was also driving during the exercise. The older subjects performed more poorly on these tasks to begin with, and their ability to retain and retell the stories worsened as much as that of their younger peers.
In contrast to their performance while sitting still, Dell said, "the drivers remembered 20 percent less of what was told to them when they were driving." Declines in the accuracy of retelling the stories were most pronounced while drivers navigated through intersections or encountered more demanding traffic conditions.
"This study shows that various aspects of language go to hell when you're driving," said psychology professor Art Kramer, who collaborated on the study.
The study reflects the tradeoffs that occur when people try to communicate while performing other tasks, Dell said. "The relative balance of attention to any two tasks is going to vary," he said. "And perhaps we don't understand one another as well as we should because of this. With modern technology, we're talking more and more while we are doing other things, but we may be understanding one another less and less."
A researcher from Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting also contributed to the study. The National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health supported this research.
This Flu I.Q. widget is an interactive quiz to test your flu knowledge.
Don't worry if you don't know all the answers at first, the Flu I.Q. widget is an easy and fun
way to learn what's true about flu.
BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and
is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health
problems. This calculator provides BMI and the corresponding BMI weight
status category. Use this calculator for adults, 20 years old and
older.
Graphic Video Illustrating Dangers of Texting while Driving
This video from Wales was created to educate students on the dangers of texting while driving. Thankfully this film uses actors, but it is very graphic and compelling. We hope you share this video with school nurse colleagues and educators.
