Health
Poor Sleep in Elderly Increases Mental And Physical Risks
By Mamta Singh
New research has come in from the University of Rochester Medical Center suggesting that older adults who sleep poorly are at an increased risk of developing poor physical and psychological outcomes. This is due to their altered immune system response, which has resulted from the poor sleep pattern.
A particular marker of inflammation associated with poor health and even death, interleukin 6 was found significantly higher in poor sleepers compared to the good sleepers.
Interleukin 6 is a protein found in our blood secreted by T cells which are a type of immune cells that stimulate immune response, inflammation being one such response.
According to assistant professor of Psychiatry at the Medical Center, Kathi L. Heffner, Ph.D, “This study offers more evidence that better sleep not only can improve overall well-being but also may help prevent poor physiological and psychological outcomes associated with inflammation. Our study suggests that, for healthy people, it all comes down to sleep and what poor sleep may be doing to our physiological stress response, our fight or flight response.”
The research that was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Aging and published in American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry clearly suggested that though there were other factors of immune dysfunction such as depression, loneliness and perceived stress, it was poor sleep alone that caused a heightened inflammatory response to acute stress.
Close Laundry Detergent Right After Use, Expert Says
Apr. 21, 2012 8:50PM PDT
SATURDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) — A new survey finds that most Americans remember to seal laundry detergent containers immediately after use, an important part of safe laundry practices.
Only 12 percent of people sometimes, rarely or never seal laundry detergent containers after each use, according to the American Cleaning Institute poll.
Laundry detergents contain chemicals that can be poisonous if accidentally ingested by a child or pet, experts say.
Is Your Kitchen Making You Sick?
It very well could be. We called in an expert to show you how to stop breaking health-code rules at home, so you can keep your family safe.
Most of us like to think we know the basics of kitchen cleanliness, whether it’s how to handle raw chicken or that veggies should be thoroughly washed before eating. But restaurant kitchens are held to much more exacting standards than most of us ever impose on ourselves.
We decided to see what we could all learn, so we sent a kitchen-cleanliness expert, Mark Nealon, to scrutinize the kitchens of two Prevention
families as they prepared dinner on a busy weeknight. A f rmer New York City restaurant inspector, Nealon now helps restaurants institute the very best food-safety practices to avoid being slapped with health-code violations. These two moms, both of whom consider themselves quite safety conscious, were shocked, as you’ll be, to discover where their kitchen habits fell short.
Case Study #1: Stacey Glick and Jeremy Zirin, Haworth, NJ
Food preparation is often a hectic family affair for Stacey, 40, a literary agent; her husband, Jeremy Zirin, 42, an equity strategist; and their daughters, Samantha, 7; Alea, 5; and identical twins Chelsea and Talia, 3. All six of them crowd into the kitchen to help out. Under Nealon’s watchful eye, Stacey and her family put together a quick pizza, using premade crust from the supermarket, and a salad.
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Holistic Health
Rose Hip
What You Need to Know About Rose Hip
By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide
Rose hip is the fruit that develops from the blossoms of the wild rose plant. A common ingredient in herbal teas, rose hip is also available in supplement and powdered form. Rose hip contains a number of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and lycopene.
Uses for Rose Hip
Rose hip is touted as a natural remedy for a variety of health problems, including:
- arthritis
- back pain
- diabetes
- gallstones
- gout
- sciatica
- ulcers
- urinary tract infections
In addition, rose hip is purported to strengthen the immune system, stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation and help prevent heart disease.
Benefits of Rose Hip
Although research on the health effects of rose hip is fairly limited, there’s some evidence that rose hip may offer certain benefits. Here’s a look at several key study findings:
1) Rose Hip and Arthritis
A number of studies suggest that rose hip may help treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Natural Treatments for Panic Attacks
By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide
Natural treatments for panic attacks are sometimes recommended to people with panic disorder, a form of anxiety that affects about six million American adults. Marked by sudden feelings of intense fear, panic attacks typically cause symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea. When treated with the help of a mental health professional, panic disorder tends to improve. But while some mind-body approaches show promise in treatment of panic disorder, very few studies have tested the use of natural treatments for panic attacks.
Research on Natural Treatments for Panic Attacks
Although natural treatments like passionflower, kava, and St. John’s wort are said to stop panic attacks, there is limited evidence for their effectiveness in treatment of panic disorder. Here’s a look at the available findings on other complementary treatments for panic attacks:
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Pet Health
Respiratory Tract Infection in Birds
Avian Aspergillosis
Airway and respiratory tract diseases are very common in pet birds. One such disease commonly is Aspergillosis, which is a fungal infection of the bird’s respiratory tract.
Symptoms and Types
The symptoms of the disease are dependent on the form of the infection. For birds, the fungal spores lodge in the air sacs of the lungs. But, it can also involve the bronchi, trachea, and syrinx (voice box) of the bird. If not treated quickly, Aspergillus can even spread to other organs. There are two forms of Apergillosis disease found in birds.
Bird Care 101
Caring for Your Bird
There’s more to getting a bird than simply buying a cage (although more on that below). Birds are delicate and complex creatures that need lots of loving care and attention to be happy and healthy. So don’t be fooled, playing them Sesame Street to see their friend, Big Bird, or the film the Bird Cage doesn’t count for much.
Like with any pet, research the breed before bringing it home. This way there’ll be no surprises. Important things to pay attention to: genetic health risks, size, and the breed’s personality traits. Some birds, for example, require much more care than others, even special foods. Then, once you find a breed that fits your lifestyle and personality, you can move on to the nitty-gritty.
Now I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Don’t worry about designing a fanciful fun house for the bird. Your bird isn’t going to care about pretty bars and ornate details. It will, however, care about room to move.
Obviously the size of the bird dictates the size of the cage, but it’s essential the bird have enough room to spread both of its wings and move about freely. The wider, the better. The perch, meanwhile, should be at a height that suits your particular bird, preferably at a level where the bird can climb and settle on top of without too much effort. Don’t overdo the amount of perches, though. Too many perches may hinder the bird’s ability to move.
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Positivity Mind and Body
Deepak Chopra – The Happiness Prescription
Published on Mar 13, 2012 by gcbhswellness
Deepak takes us on an inspirational journey beginning with the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment. The result is a prescription for living life mindfully, joyfully, and with effortless spontaneity — a prescription that only Deepak Chopra could offer us.
[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit, for research and/or educational purposes. This constitutes 'FAIR USE' of any such copyrighted material.]
