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Taking your blood pressure may become as easy as taking a video selfie if a new smartphone app proves itself. High blood pressure can be a warning sign of a heart attack or stroke, but half of those with hypertension don’t know it. Developing an easy at-home blood pressure screen could potentially save lives. A new technology called transdermal optical imaging gives a picture of the blood flow in your face, which reveals your blood pressure, researchers say. “We found, using a smartphone, we can accurately measure blood pressure within 30 seconds,” said lead researcher Kang Lee. Lee is research chair of developmental neuroscience at the University of Toronto. “We want to use this technology to help us to make people aware of their blood pressure and monitor it,” he said. Lee doesn’t intend this technology to replace standard “cuff” blood pressure measuring, but rather to make blood pressure easy to take at home. So how does it work? The technology uses light to penetrate the skin and optical sensors in smartphones to create an image of blood flow patterns. These patterns are then used to predict blood pressure, Lee explained. “Once you know how blood concentration changes in different parts of your face, then we can learn a lot of things about your physiology, such as your heart rate, your stress and your blood… read on >

Thinking of picking up an electric fan to help keep you cool and protect your health during the next heat wave? You might want to think again. Electric fans might make you feel cooler, but they can actually increase your risk of becoming heat sick and even dying from a heat stroke, the evidence shows. Electric fans could contribute to a potentially dangerous increase in a person’s core heat if outdoor temperatures exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit, a recent Cochrane evidence review says. “The fan actually will be blowing air that is hotter than our body at us,” said co-author Mike Clarke, director of the Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit at Queen’s University Belfast. It’s like switching on an electric oven’s convection fan to speed up the cooking process, the researchers said. Meanwhile, another new study found that electric fans are particularly dangerous during very hot and dry conditions, but can help lower core temperatures and heart strain in hot, humid weather. That study appears in the Aug. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Electric fans are seen as a cheap way to help people cope with the several days of high temperatures that make up a heat wave, researchers for the Cochrane review said. Global warming means heat waves will become more frequent, and they can have terrible health consequences. As many as… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Walking is a versatile form of exercise that can be done most anywhere. The American Heart Association suggests that adults spend at least 30 minutes each day doing a moderate intensity activity. Fitting brisk walking into your daily schedule is one way to meet that goal. To fit walking into your schedule, the AHA suggests: Park or get off at the bus/train station 10 minutes away from your job. Schedule a lunchtime walk in your work calendar. Keep everything at work that you’ll need for walking. Listen to music while walking, or recruit friends to walk with you. Before going to bed, lay out your walking clothes and shoes. If you decide to walk at night, the AHA reminds you to wear reflective clothing or carry a light.

(HealthDay News) — From chilly temperatures to the flu or allergies, a runny nose has a variety of causes. A prescription antibiotic usually is not needed to treat a runny nose, says Cleveland Clinic. To get rid of a runny nose, Cleveland Clinic suggests: Rest as much as possible. Drink lots of fluids, especially water. Use saline nasal spray to relieve symptoms. A runny nose will typically go away on its own. However, if symptoms persist for more than 10 days, or seem severe, visit your doctor.

A small electric “tickle” to the ear may affect the body’s nervous system, and British researchers claim this can promote overall well-being and may potentially slow down some effects of aging. The tickle treatment is called transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS). The procedure involves placing custom-made clips containing electrodes on the part of your ear called the tragus; that’s the small, pointed tip above your ear lobe. A small electrical current is delivered through the clips to affect the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is part of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for body functions you don’t think about, like blood pressure, temperature and heart rhythm. The study authors suggest that the device may help balance the autonomic system. “We saw that just two weeks of daily tVNS helped to re-balance the levels of activity in the two branches of the autonomic nervous system,” said Susan Deuchars, one of the study’s authors. She’s director of research in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds in England. “These branches normally work in balance to allow healthy levels of activity. As we age — and also in certain clinical conditions — this balance changes so that the sympathetic branch predominates and this can be detrimental for health. tVNS daily seems to redress the balance of this activity towards that associated with healthy… read on >

As kids head back to school, it’s important for parents to keep potential asthma and allergy challenges in mind. “In the fall, allergists see an increase in kids’ visits for allergies and asthma because of a combination of factors,” said Dr. Todd Mahr, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “And hospitals see what’s known as the ‘September Spike’ because kids who have been off asthma controller medications for the summer start experiencing flare-ups in the fall.” As a new school year begins, kids are exposed to allergens in the classroom, on playing fields and in the cafeteria that many probably haven’t run into all summer, he said in an ACAAI news release. On top of that, it’s ragweed season — a terrible time of year for kids who are allergic. Mahr suggests parents meet with their child’s allergist this month to create an allergy action plan. Parents should also try to identify potential asthma and allergy triggers that their children may encounter at school. These may include chemical compounds from new carpeting, pollen drifting into classrooms through open windows, or mold in bathrooms. Parents should discuss potential triggers with teachers and school administrators to help ease symptoms. Children with asthma or allergies should still be able to play any sport as long as they follow their allergist’s advice, according to… read on >

If you’re a runner, the wrong running shoe could sideline you, a foot expert says. Choose carefully, or you risk discomfort, pain and injuries such as shin splints, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, irritated nerves or the loss of a toenail, warned Dr. Christina Rowe-Bauer, a podiatrist with Penn State Health Sports Medicine. If you’re new to running or an experienced runner with foot or leg pain, see a doctor to learn about your general health, foot type and running style. “Bring old athletic shoes; the wear patterns can give the doctor clues about things like foot overpronation (rolling inward) or supination (rolling outward),” Rowe-Bauer said in a Penn State news release. “Be honest about any pain experienced during or after running.” When it comes time to buy shoes, there are certain factors you should consider, such as foot type, running style and terrain, she suggested. Are your feet high-arched, flat or neutral? What is your running style? Some runners strike the ground first with the heel and roll through to push off the toes to their next stride, while others strike first with the forefoot and push immediately into the next stride. And, finally, what type of surface are you running on? Shoe tread and cushioning should be appropriate for the surface, whether it’s treadmills, asphalt or dirt trails, Rowe-Bauer said. When buying shoes, do… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar is too low, says the Hormone Health Network. People with diabetes often develop hypoglycemia, but it is possible for people without diabetes to become hypoglycemic, as well. It’s a good idea to discuss your diet with a doctor or dietician, who may suggest limiting high-sugar foods, eating every three hours and varying the type of foods eaten. Eating or drinking carbohydrates in the form of juice, tablets or hard candy may be a quick, effective treatment. Be sure to check with your doctor.

(HealthDay News) — A bruise typically forms when small blood vessels near the skin’s surface break from an injury, says Mayo Clinic. Blood then leaks from the vessels, appearing as a black-and-blue mark. Some people are more prone to bruising than others. Bruising easily may be triggered by: Gender and age-related factors. Aspirin and other medications that affect clotting. Use of corticosteroid medication. Dietary supplements, such as ginkgo. Sometimes, bruising easily can indicate a serious blood-clotting condition. Mayo Clinic urges people to see a doctor if bruising is frequent or sudden, or if there is a family history of bruising easily.

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can lead to unhealthy post-pregnancy weight for moms, and a higher risk of obesity and related conditions in their children. But not gaining enough weight has consequences, too. Historical studies on children born during times of famine show they have twice the risk as the general population of developing schizophrenia and other mental illnesses involving psychotic episodes. Recent research done in Sweden found that extremely inadequate weight gain carries the same elevated risk even in well-fed populations. Other risks include babies who are born premature or underweight. So just how much weight gain in pregnancy is “just right”? Current recommendations are based on a woman’s pre-pregnancy weight and tend to be higher for women at a lower body mass index (or BMI), an indicator of body fat. The Institute of Medicine recommends that underweight women gain between 27 and 40 pounds, and that overweight women only gain between 15 and 25 pounds during pregnancy. Keeping weight gain in these suggested ranges should also help limit the amount of “baby weight” a woman will need to lose after delivery to get back to a healthy weight. Work with your doctor on the right amount for you to gain and the best food sources to ensure a healthy diet that benefits you and your baby. Keep in mind that mom’s weight… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

‘Selfies’ Might Someday Track Your Blood Pressure

In Heat Waves, Fans May Do More Harm Than Good

Health Tip: Fit Walking into Your Schedule

Health Tip: Getting Rid of a Runny Nose

Could a ‘Tickle’ a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

For Kids With Asthma, Allergies, New School Year Can Bring Flare-Ups

Choose Your Running Shoes Carefully

Health Tip: Living With Hypoglycemia

Health Tip: If You Bruise Easily

Pregnancy Weight Gain: What’s Right for You?