(HealthDay News) — Calluses are thick, hardened layers of skin. For healthy people, treatment is only necessary if a callus causes discomfort, says Mayo Clinic. Mayo suggests how to treat calluses at home: Use over-the-counter pads. Soak the area in water. Moisturize your skin. Wear comfortable socks and shoes. For most people, removing sources of friction causes calluses to shrink and ultimately disappear.
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Anger a Threat to Health in Old Age
The loss of loved ones can hit the elderly particularly hard, but a new study suggests it’s anger, and not sadness, that may damage the aging body more. Anger can increase inflammation, which is linked with conditions such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis, the researchers said. “As most people age, they simply cannot do the activities they once did, or they may experience the loss of a spouse or a decline in their physical mobility and they can become angry,” explained lead author Meaghan Barlow, of Concordia University in Montreal. “Our study showed that anger can lead to the development of chronic illnesses, whereas sadness did not,” she added. For the study, the investigators looked at 226 adults, aged 59 to 93, in Montreal, who completed questionnaires about how angry or sad they felt. The participants were also asked if they had any chronic illnesses, and blood samples were collected from them to measure inflammation. According to study co-author Carsten Wrosch, of Concordia University, the findings showed that “experiencing anger daily was related to higher levels of inflammation and chronic illness for people 80 years old and older, but not for younger seniors.” However, sadness was “not related to inflammation or chronic illness,” Wrosch added in an American Psychological Association news release. Barlow suggested that sadness may help older seniors adjust to challenges such… read on >
Weight-Loss Procedure Works Long-Term, Without Surgery
(HealthDay News) — Could people struggling with obesity make headway in their efforts to shed pounds without having to go under the knife? New preliminary research suggests it’s possible: A non-surgical procedure may help moderately obese people lose weight — and keep it off. Unlike standard weight-loss surgery, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) requires no incision and no hospital stay. Instead, doctors thread a scope down the throat and into the stomach, then use a suturing device attached to the scope to cinch the stomach in — ultimately shrinking it to a banana-sized pouch. The result is, “you eat less, you feel full and you lose weight,” said study author Dr. Reem Sharaiha. Sharaiha and her colleagues at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, in New York City, were among the first to start performing ESG, back in 2013. She said they offer it mainly to patients with a body mass index (BMI) of between 30 and 40 — which puts them in the mildly to moderately obese category. Standard obesity surgeries — like gastric bypass — are generally reserved for two groups of people: Those with a BMI of at least 40 (more than 100 pounds overweight); and those with a BMI of 35 or more, plus an obesity-related condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Studies have shown that, in the short term,… read on >
Crunch-Free Work for Well-Defined Abs
You don’t have to do hundreds of sit-ups and all manner of crunches to see abdominal muscle definition. The following moves are done standing and holding a weight, such as a 5-pound ball with an easy-to-grip handle. For the standing twist, feet are hip-width apart, toes turned slightly out to the sides for better balance. Holding the weight with both hands, extend your arms straight out in front of you, just below shoulder level. Squeeze your glutes to steady your hips and visualize pressing your abs into your spine as you twist your upper body to the right, then all the way to the left and finally back to center for one rep. Repeat up to 15 times per set. Gradually progress until you can complete three sets. For the overhead lean, stand in the same starting position, holding the weight, then straighten your arms all the way up toward the ceiling. With control, lean your upper body to the right, then all the way to the left and back to center for one rep. Repeat up to 15 times per set. Gradually progress until you can complete three sets. For side bends, hold the weight in your right hand. Place your left hand behind your head or on your waist for better balance. Keeping your hips, back and head aligned, slowly lean to the… read on >
Health Tip: Drink Enough Water
(HealthDay News) — Without enough water, your body can’t function properly, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy people typically meet their fluid needs by drinking with meals and when thirsty. The CDC suggests: Carry a water bottle with you. Choose water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages. Choose water when eating out. Add a wedge of lime or lemon to your water to improve its taste.
Airport Scanners OK for People with Implanted Heart Devices: Study
It appears to be safe for people with implantable heart devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators to go through body scanners at airport security checkpoints, researchers say. Body scanners are becoming increasingly common worldwide. But some people are concerned that they may be a source of electromagnetic interference (EMI) that could disrupt implantable devices used to treat abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Patients with these devices are advised to limit their exposure to certain technologies, including metal detectors, magnets and MRI scans. The study authors surveyed 1,000 patients with pacemakers, defibrillators and other cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Eighty percent expressed concern about passing through airport body scanners. Researchers then analyzed more than 1,000 body scans of people with CIEDs. The scans did not affect functioning of the heart devices, and no CIEDs were detected by the scanners. The study, to be presented this Friday at the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco, is the first to examine body scanners’ impact on CIEDs. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. “We were surprised to learn that so many patients expressed concerns about the functionality of their devices while traveling. We wanted to help put their minds at ease by testing the potential interference body scanners could have on common devices like pacemakers and defibrillators,” lead author Dr.… read on >
Americans’ Prescription Med Use Is Declining
Bucking a longstanding upward trend, new data shows that the percentage of Americans taking any prescription drug has fallen slightly over the past decade. Still, nearly half — 45.8% — of Americans said they took at least one prescription medicine over the past month, according to a national survey conducted in 2015-2016. That’s a slight dip from the 48.3% of Americans — children and adults — who reported taking a prescribed drug in the same survey conducted in 2007-2008, according to a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The drop in prescription use reverses a trend that had persisted since the 1990s, the study authors said. It’s not clear why fewer Americans are taking prescription meds now than a decade before, although the researchers cite a possible “decline in the use of inappropriate or ineffective therapies.” The new statistics showed that males were less likely to be taking prescription meds than females (41.5% versus 50%, respectively). But the gender divide varied greatly, depending on age group. For example, among children under the age of 12, boys (22%) were more likely to take a prescription drug than girls (nearly 14%), a trend driven largely by use of drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But by the time people reached adulthood (ages 20 to 59), women were more… read on >
Weight-Loss Surgery Boosts Success of Procedure to Fix A-Fib
Profoundly obese people are prone to an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, but new research suggests that weight-loss surgery can improve the odds that a procedure to restore a normal heart rhythm will work. When atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, cannot be controlled by medications, a procedure called ablation can help. It targets the nerves in the heart where atrial fibrillation occurs. By electrically burning these areas, the heartbeat may return to normal. “Bariatric [weight-loss] surgery before ablation was associated with a threefold reduction in atrial fibrillation recurrence rates,” said researcher Dr. Eoin Donnellan, a fellow in cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. Both obesity and a-fib are at epidemic proportions in the United States, and both can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the researchers said. As many as one in five cases of a-fib are related to obesity, and obesity has been identified as a risk factor for the heart condition, the researchers noted. Some patients who have weight-loss surgery may see their a-fib stop on its own or can have it controlled with medication, Donnellan said. But for many, ablation may be the best way to cure it. Although ablation has become a common procedure to treat a-fib, obese patients are more likely to have their abnormal heartbeat return after the procedure, he said. “While previously, morbidly obese patients with atrial fibrillation that… read on >
Health Tip: When to Seek Medical Attention For a Cut
(HealthDay News) — Cuts are openings in the skin and can be deep, smooth or jagged. Minor cuts may be treated at home, says MedlinePlus. However, in some instances you should contact a medical professional. Call 911 if: Bleeding is severe or cannot be stopped. The person cannot feel the injured area. The person is seriously injured. Call your doctor if: The wound is large or deep. The person has been bitten by a person or animal. The cut was caused by a rusty object. The wound shows signs of infection.
Can Social Media Lead to Eating Disorders?
Traditional media, including TV and magazine ads, tend to portray ideals of physical perfection that can fuel worries about body image and eating disorders. A study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that spending hours on social media is linked to these issues, too. In particular, people in the top 25% of high-volume social media users were more than twice as likely to have an eating disorder. Among the social media sites included in the study were Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as Pinterest, Snapchat and LinkedIn. What the researchers still don’t know is which comes first — whether social media creates an environment that can lead to body image concerns and eating disorders, or whether people with these issues connect with others like them through social media and, in turn, find support to continue their unhealthy eating. These are the most common types of eating disorders: Anorexia — eating so little you’re at a dangerously low weight, which can lead to cardiac arrest and potentially fatal electrolyte imbalances. Bulimia — eating huge amounts of food and then intentionally vomiting to prevent what you’ve eaten from being digested, or misusing laxatives. Binge-eating — consuming large quantities of food. It’s important to recognize signs of an eating disorder in yourself or a loved one and get help before it affects quality of… read on >