(HealthDay News) — The chills refers to an episode of shivering, along with paleness and feeling cold. Most commonly, the chills are associated with fever, says Mount Sinai Hospital. They are the body’s way of producing heat when it feels cold. To treat the chills at home, Mount Sinai recommends: Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. Sponge with lukewarm water. Take acetaminophen to fight fever and chills. Don’t bundle up in blankets or use air conditioning. If you have a high fever or your chills are accompanied by stiffness of the neck, confusion, or pain, seek prompt medical attention.
A little about: Weekly Gravy
All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:
Depression, Alzheimer’s Might Be Part of Same Process in Some Aging Brains: Study
New research is untangling the complex relationship between symptoms of depression and losses in memory and thinking that often emerge together with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the new data suggests that “depression symptoms themselves may be among the early changes in the preclinical stages of dementia syndromes,” explained study lead author Dr. Jennifer Gatchel. She works in the division of geriatric psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. In the study, researchers examined brain scans and other data gathered over seven years from 276 older adults enrolled in the Harvard Aging Brain Study. All of the participants were still living independently in the community at the beginning of the study and were considered healthy. However, the analysis revealed a significant link between worsening depression symptoms and mental decline over two to seven years, and both of these trends seemed to be linked to a buildup of amyloid protein in brain tissue. The slow accumulation of amyloid has long been known as a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. “Our research found that even modest levels of brain amyloid deposition can impact the relationship between depression symptoms and cognitive [thinking] abilities,” Gatchel said in a hospital news release. The new insight that depression symptoms might be part of the Alzheimer’s process could further research into the prevention or treatment of the illness, she added. It “raises the possibility… read on >
Why You Should Make Family Meals Part of Your Busy Day
Family meals are a recipe for healthy eating in kids, nutritionists say. “Research shows that families who regularly dine together are more likely to eat more fruits, vegetables and fiber and are less likely to eat fried foods,” said Kristen Gradney, a dietitian nutritionist and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Eating together promotes healthy weight in children, perhaps due to more nourishing food choices, and can encourage them to try new foods,” she explained in an academy news release. Plus, families who eat together tend to be closer, because mealtime encourages conversations. It helps kids feel more at ease sharing their feelings, which, in turn, can help lessen behavioral problems and may even improve their grades, Gradney said. As part of Kids Eat Right Month in August, the academy offers this advice to help parents make and enjoy family meals after a busy day: Choose meals without a lot of ingredients. Work with your children to create a collection of go-to recipes that can be ready in less than 30 minutes. Stock up on ingredients that can be used for more than one meal. For example, grill twice as many chicken breasts as needed for one dinner and use the extras to make fajitas the next night. Try to avoid take-out food. Though convenient, it’s not as healthy as a simple, homemade… read on >
Tips for Preventing Diverticulitis
Although colonoscopy screens for cancer, it can also uncover a common condition called diverticulosis. This is when one or more pockets develop in the colon wall, often in the large bowel. These pockets occur over time, possibly from not getting enough fiber in your diet or eating too much red meat. They’re so common that about 50% of people have them by age 50, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. Problems can occur if a pocket gets infected, swollen and inflamed, which happens to about 5% of people with diverticulosis. This condition is called diverticulitis. “Attacks” of it can come with pain in the lower left abdomen, fever, chills and changes in stool. You may also experience nausea and vomiting. Treatment for diverticulitis often centers on a short-term low-fiber diet to quiet the digestive tract, and possibly antibiotics to get rid of the infection. Some people get repeated attacks. There’s also the possibility of developing a serious abscess in a pocket and needing surgery to remove the affected section of intestine if the damage is severe. But you can take steps to lower the risk for repeated attacks and complications. After — and only after — the infection clears, slowly reintroduce fiber to your diet by eating more whole grains; legumes including beans and lentils; vegetables; berries; fruits with edible skins; nuts and even popcorn.… read on >
Raising Legal Smoking Age to 21 Works
Parts of the United States that raised the legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 have seen significant reductions in cigarette smoking among young adults. Compared to other regions, those with tobacco-21 laws had a 39% decline in regular smoking among 18- to 20-year-olds who had previously experimented with cigarettes, a new study found. In that age group, the reduction was even larger (50%) among those whose close friends smoked at age 16, according to the study published recently in the journal Addiction. “This research indicates that a ‘social multiplier’ effect may amplify the impact of tobacco-21 laws,” said lead author Abigail Friedman, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Conn. “As peer smoking is a critical predictor of youth smoking, this study suggests that tobacco-21 laws may help reduce smoking among those most susceptible to tobacco use,” she said in a Society for the Study of Addiction news release. “This result supports raising the age of sale to 21 as a means to reduce young adult smoking and improve public health.” As of June, 16 states and more than 400 localities had adopted tobacco-21 laws. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on youth and tobacco.
Personal Trainers’ Top Tips
Ever wonder what top trainers tell their best clients? Personal trainers excel in mapping out individualized exercise programs. And they also offer insights that can help fitness buffs stay motivated. Here are some of their best tips: Remember the cliche “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and take a long-term view of your goals. Just as you can’t lose 10 pounds overnight, it will take time to develop muscle and get you closer to the body you desire. It’s great to have an image of more defined pecs or glutes in your mind; just give yourself time to get there. Don’t rush through your workouts. That leads to bad form, which is not only ineffective but a setup for injury. If you’re not sure how to do an exercise, don’t waste time struggling — get one-on-one instruction. Working with a personal trainer, for even just a session or two, may be worth the fee. Think of it as an investment in your long-term health. Recognize that on some days you may not be able to do your entire routine because of a time crunch or just because you’re tired. That doesn’t mean you have to forgo all exercise that day. Shorten your planned workout or find ways to get in 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there. Use apps, online videos and tried-and-true DVDs to learn… read on >
When to Replace Athletic Shoes
If you’ve made a financial commitment to athletic shoes, no doubt you want your money’s worth. But it’s important to replace them when you see specific signs of wear. Doing so will help prevent injury and allow you to work out at peak performance. According to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, there are four main shoe components that can break down or wear out. When any of the following signs of wear occur, it’s time to replace the shoes: The tough outer sole on the bottom of the shoe has worn through to the midsole or is worn down more on one side than the other. The midsole, the layer between the outer sole and the upper, has worn out and no longer provides cushioning and stability. You might see creasing or unevenness when you look at this area at eye level on a flat surface. The heel counter — a stiff piece of material at the back of the shoe above the midsole — feels flexible when pressed side to side or leans to one side. This means that it probably won’t provide essential foot and ankle support. You see signs of wear along the shank. That’s the area between the front of the sole and the heel. Check it and all parts of your shoes after every workout. Surprising as it… read on >
Heart-Healthy Habits Good For Your Brain
Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Take care of your heart. That’s the takeaway from a new study that suggests good heart health in middle age could lower your odds for problems with thinking and memory later in life. The study included nearly 7,900 British adults who did not have heart disease or dementia at age 50. Over an average 25-year followup, 347 cases of dementia were diagnosed among participants. Average age at diagnosis: 75. After taking other factors into account, researchers linked a higher score at age 50 on seven healthy habits outlined in the American Heart Association’s “Life Simple 7” with a lower risk of dementia later in life. The Life Simple 7 assesses smoking, diet, physical activity, fasting blood sugar, blood cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index (a measure of body fat based on height and weight). Dementia rates were 1.3 per 1,000 person years among participants who had high scores on heart healthy habits, compared to 3.2 per 1,000 for low-scorers, according to the study published Aug. 7 in the BMJ. A better score at age 50 was also associated with higher overall brain and gray matter volumes in MRI scans 20 years later. Though the study could not prove that heart-healthy living actually caused dementia risk to drop, the researchers said their findings support public policies to improve… read on >
Unlocking Speech for Kids With Autism
For parents of a child with autism, communication is often the No. 1 hurdle. But what if there were a simple way to help them get their youngster talking? A new study suggests there just might be. It’s called “pivotal response treatment” (PRT). And those who have tried it say it can open up a whole new verbal world for kids with limited speech and inhibited social skills. “My son was having meltdowns all the time because he couldn’t express what he wanted or needed,” said Heidi Pim, a kindergarten teacher in Palo Alto, Calif., whose son James, 8, was diagnosed as a toddler with autism and speech delays. “We would try our best to figure out what he wanted or needed, so we could give it to him, but often we couldn’t,” she said. “Because he didn’t have any vocabulary. And his frustration and aggression would just turn into situations everywhere I would take him. At shopping malls, airports, everywhere.” James was already undergoing standard “applied behavioral analysis” (ABA) treatment. Considered the gold standard among autism interventions, it aims to teach social skills through heavy monitoring, repetition and positive reinforcement of good behavior, typically in a clinical setting. PRT has roots in ABA. But it aims to keep the child in his or her usual setting, and relies on techniques that are easy for… read on >
Health Tip: When to Consult a Dietician
(HealthDay News) — A registered dietician can partner with you to develop a safe and realistic eating plan, says the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Whether you want to lose or gain weight, or to simply maintain your health, there are many reasons to seek the help of an RDN. They include: You need help managing a chronic disease, such as diabetes. You have digestive problems. You have had gastric bypass surgery. You need to gain or lose weight. You are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or a new mom.