(HealthDay News) — Hand swelling during exercise is a common issue. Exercise increases blood flow to your heart, lungs and working muscles and may reduce blood flow to your hands. Experts believe reduced blood flow may lead to widening blood vessels in the hand, and subsequent swelling, says Mayo Clinic. To ease hand swelling discomfort related to exercise, Mayo suggests: Remove rings and loosen watch bands before exercise. Perform occasional forward and backward arm circles during exercise. Stretch your fingers wide, then make fists several times during exercise.
A little about: Weekly Gravy
All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:
Health Tip: Understanding Social Anxiety
(HealthDay News) — About 7 percent of Americans are affected by social anxiety disorder, a mental illness in which a person feels uncontrollable fear during social situations. These instances may range from answering a question in class to talking to a cashier at a grocery store. Often, people with social anxiety disorder are afraid of being humiliated, judged or rejected, says the National Institute of Mental Health. Though the cause of social anxiety is not known, underdeveloped social skills and genetics are thought to contribute. The agency recommends talking with a doctor if you have symptoms of social anxiety. After a diagnosis is made, psychotherapy, medication or both may be part of a treatment plan.
Health Tip: Cold, Flu or Allergy?
(HealthDay News) — Determining if you have a cold, the flu or an allergy can be difficult when you’re having common symptoms, such as sneezing or a sore throat. The common symptoms reflect that each condition affects your respiratory system, says the National Institutes of Health. While both colds and flus can cause congestion, cough and sore throat, the flu has unique symptoms. The flu can cause high fever, headache, fatigue, and aches. These symptoms are less common in people with a cold. Allergies can cause itchy, watery eyes, which aren’t typical symptoms of a cold or flu. Usually, allergy symptoms last as long as you’re exposed to the trigger. A cold or the flu rarely lasts more than two weeks.
Can Medical Pot Ease Mental Ills? Study Says Probably Not
People struggling with anxiety, depression or other psychiatric problems shouldn’t pin their hopes on medical marijuana, a new review suggests. Dozens of studies involving more than 3,000 people did not provide compelling evidence that medical cannabis can help treat disorders of the mind, the review authors concluded. “Cannabinoids are often advocated as a treatment for various mental disorders,” said senior researcher Louisa Degenhardt, deputy director of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. “Clinicians and consumers need to be aware of the low quality and quantity of evidence for the effectiveness of medicinal cannabinoids in treating mental disorders and the potential risk of adverse events.” Medical pot might even make matters worse, the study authors said. Those adverse events can include worsening the occurrence of depression, anxiety and psychotic symptoms, the researchers found. But advocates for marijuana law reform say the real lesson to be drawn from the evidence review is that medical pot remains under-researched. “The absence of compelling evidence in favor of these cannabinoids appears to stem primarily from the absence of good research. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence,” said Mitch Earleywine. He’s a professor of psychology at the University at Albany, State University of New York, and an advisory board member of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform… read on >
Are You Accessing All Your Medical Records Online?
Surprisingly, we’re still on a learning curve when it comes to the availability of electronic health records, the digital way to access what used to be paper-only files. You have a legal right to records held by doctors, hospitals and other providers. But many people don’t know how to get them — or even that they can. Others find it onerous that their doctors aren’t in the same medical network and they have to sign up for various portals that don’t “talk” to one another. That lack of coordination means you may need to be the one to communicate test results and other reports to your health care providers. Yes, it might seem that this is just another task to put on your to-do list. But gaining access to all facets of your health information can be lifesaving in an emergency and makes it easier for each of your providers to know what the others are doing for you. Being able to access your records through your computer lets you keep track of medications and lab results, and access information about preventive care. It’s also the easy way to print reports and share them with specialists using different portals. While the system isn’t perfect, almost half of all patients say electronic records have made the doctor-patient relationship better, according to a poll earlier this year… read on >
A Lighter, Healthier Version of Baked Crab Dip
Looking for a tasty seafood dip for your next family gathering? Everyone will love this baked crab classic that’s been given a healthy makeover. Crab is a great source of protein and makes an excellent base for a dip. It’s low in calories and high in vitamin B12 and a variety of minerals. While fresh crabmeat often has the best flavor, if it’s not available or is too costly, canned crabmeat works well. This recipe also uses Greek yogurt and mozzarella for creaminess instead of traditional cream cheese. The yogurt in particular is very rich in protein, calcium and other nutrients, and a lot lower in fat and calories. And instead of using chips or crackers for dipping, serve an assortment of raw vegetables. Baked Crab Dip 2 cups plain Greek yogurt 1 cup grated part-skim mozzarella 1/2 cup olive oil-based mayonnaise 12 ounces crabmeat, fresh or canned and drained 4 scallions, thinly sliced 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt 4 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks 4 celery stalks, trimmed and cut into matchsticks 1 cucumber, cut into matchsticks Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place yogurt in a large bowl. Using a spatula, fold in the mozzarella, mayonnaise, crabmeat, scallions and seasoning salt until the scallions are well distributed. Turn the mixture into an 8-by-8-inch baking dish, smoothing over the top with the spatula. Bake for… read on >
New Database Shows ‘Rare’ Diseases Are Not So Rare Worldwide
More than 300 million people worldwide — or 4% of the population — have a rare disease, a new study finds. A disease is considered rare when it affects fewer than five in 10,000 people, according to a European definition. Until now, it’s been difficult to gauge how widespread rare diseases are. But a team led by a French research institute has analyzed the scientific literature on thousands of rare diseases and created a database that makes it possible to estimate how many people worldwide have them. Of the more than 6,000 diseases in the database, 72% are genetic, and 70% start in childhood. In addition, 149 diseases are responsible for 80% of rare disease cases identified worldwide. Rare cancers, as well as rare diseases caused by infection or poisoning, weren’t included. “Although rare diseases are individual and specific, what they have in common is their rarity, and the consequences which result from that,” said project coordinator Ana Rath, a researcher at INSERM in Paris, where the database was developed. Because of a lack of research, health provider expertise and suitable treatments for rare diseases, these illnesses cause significant suffering to many patients and families worldwide, an INSERM news release noted. Understanding how many people have rare diseases is key to identifying priorities for health and research efforts, understanding the burden these diseases place on… read on >
It May Be Even Tougher for Women to Quit Smoking Than Men
Smoking is a notoriously tough habit to quit, but a new study suggests it is far harder for women to stop than it is for men. Why? The researchers point to a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression in women, which might interfere with even the best intentions to kick the habit. And one expert noted that prior evidence has shown that women’s brains react differently to nicotine. In the latest study, involving more than 200 patients at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, the prevalence of anxiety or depression was 41% in women while it was only 21% in men. Depression and other mood disorders need to be addressed in women who smoke, especially those with heart disease and stroke, said senior study author Dr. Beth Abramson, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. “Smoking cessation is the most significant modifiable risk factor to prevent heart disease in women, but there is no one-size-fits-all,” Abramson noted. In the study, the average age of participants was 56, and almost one-third were women. Patients reported smoking an average of 18 cigarettes daily for 37 years. Two-thirds had lipid abnormalities such as dyslipidemia, in which blood levels of lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol) hit the roof. Nearly two-thirds had high blood pressure, close to half reported heart disease, and more than a quarter had depression or… read on >
For Seniors, Financial Woes Can Be Forerunner to Alzheimer’s
Unpaid bills, overdrawn accounts, dwindling investments: When seniors begin experiencing fiscal troubles, early dementia or Alzheimer’s disease could be an underlying cause, researchers say. In the early stages of the disease, people with undiagnosed Alzheimer’s are at high risk of making foolish and dangerous decisions about their finances, mostly because families may not know they need help, researchers say. “Individuals often aren’t diagnosed early enough, and it’s a perfect storm,” said study author Carole Gresenz, a professor of health systems administration at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. “They’re vulnerable to large reductions in liquid assets because they’re not making wise decisions about their finances, savings and checking accounts. This can also reduce net wealth,” added Gresenz. Ruth Drew, director of information and support services for the Alzheimer’s Association, pointed out that Alzheimer’s destroys the brain. “As the disease progresses, everyone with Alzheimer’s will reach a point where they need help with their finances and ultimately assistance with daily tasks and around-the-clock care. We have certainly spoken to people whose finances were significantly affected,” she said. In some cases, people responsible for making major financial decisions, either at work or at home, were unaware of their own mental decline, added Drew, who wasn’t involved with the study. “Others around them either did not notice or did not feel they could alert the family until there was… read on >
Too Much Salt Might Make You Gain Weight
Too much salt has long been linked to high blood pressure. In fact, one way to help control blood pressure is to reduce your salt intake. Research done at Vanderbilt University and published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation shows that salt may also be involved in weight gain. Traditional thinking has been that salty foods make people drink more water, but the scientists found that it actually reduces thirst and makes people more prone to overeating, weight gain and even metabolic syndrome, which can lead to diabetes and other serious conditions. Packaged Foods With High Salt Content Smoked and cured meats, like frankfurters Frozen dinners Canned meals Salted nuts and seeds Processed cheeses Crackers and croutons Since most Americans eat 50% more salt than recommended on a daily basis, it’s more important than ever to find ways to cut back. The National Kidney Foundation suggests limiting prepared foods with a high salt content. In addition to packaged and deli meats, some canned and frozen foods, from beans to vegetables, can have very high salt levels, so always read labels. Foods you may not associate with being salty could still have sodium in the ingredients. Look for no-salt-added brands. When that’s not possible, rinse the food under cold running water to remove as much salt as possible. When cooking and seasoning foods, replace salt —… read on >