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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 >

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.

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 >

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 >

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 >

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 >

(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.

So-called “conversion therapy” can trigger depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal thoughts and attempts, and it should be banished in the United States, medical experts say in a new report. Conversion therapy is used in an attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, most typically to turn someone who is gay into a “straight” person. Electroshock therapy, chemical drugs, hormone administrations and surgery are among the methods that have been used in conversion therapy, noted a team of experts reporting Aug. 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine. While the use of such extreme methods has declined, other types of conversion therapy can still harm U.S. children, teens and adults, according to the report. Only 18 U.S. states have banned conversion therapy for people younger than 18, and no states have banned conversion therapy for adults. “As a result of the lack of regulation on these ‘therapies,’ many adults and children continue to be defrauded, harmed and traumatized in the U.S. every day,” said report lead author Dr. Carl Streed, Jr. He is a primary care physician at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. “In addition to the health problems associated with conversion therapies, these practices also carry serious economic burdens for LGBTQ [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning] people… read on >

If you have migraines, one or two cups of coffee a day may be okay, but three or more could raise your risk of an attack, a new study concludes. “Interestingly, despite some patients with episodic migraine thinking they need to avoid caffeine, we found that drinking one to two servings/day was not associated with higher risk of headache,” said study principal investigator Dr. Suzanne Bertisch, of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “More work is needed to confirm these findings, but it is an important first step,” she added in a news release from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In the study, Bertisch and her colleagues tracked data from 98 adult sufferers of episodic migraines. Each patient had an average of five migraines a month, 66% had one to two servings of caffeinated beverages a day, and 12% had three or more servings a day. For the purposes of the study, one serving of caffeine was defined as eight ounces (one cup) of caffeinated coffee, six ounces of tea, a 12-ounce can of soda or a 2-ounce can of an energy drink. Over the six-week study period, the participants had an average of 8.4 migraines. All reported having caffeinated beverages on at least one day during the study, with an average of 7.9 servings per week.… read on >

(HealthDay News) — The human papillomavirus (HPV) is transmitted through sexual or skin-to-skin contact. Because there may not be symptoms, both men and women can contract HPV without even knowing it, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To reduce your risk of contracting HPV, the FDA suggests: You can choose not to have sex. If you have sex, limit the number of partners you have. Choose a partner who has had no or few sex partners. The effectiveness of condoms in protecting against HPV isn’t clear, the agency says.

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Tips for Preventing Diverticulitis

Raising Legal Smoking Age to 21 Works

Personal Trainers’ Top Tips

When to Replace Athletic Shoes

Heart-Healthy Habits Good For Your Brain

Unlocking Speech for Kids With Autism

Health Tip: When to Consult a Dietician

Doctors Come Out Against Gay Conversion Therapy

How Much Coffee Is Too Much for Migraine Sufferers?

Health Tip: Reducing Your Risk of HPV