(HealthDay News) — When a person in his or her teens is depressed, there may be different warning signs than those shown by people older or younger, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. Here is the academy’s list of depression symptoms that typically affect teens: Trouble focusing, or showing signs of anxiousness. Anger, and frequent loss of temper. Changes in appetite. Not wanting to go to school or participate in social activities. Complaints of feeling sick. Showing less confidence, or feeling that they can’t do anything correctly.
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Update Dietary Guidelines for a Healthier You
Every five years, the U.S. government updates its dietary guidelines based in part on new research, but always with the goal of disease prevention. The 2015-2020 guidelines stress the need to shift to healthier foods and beverages. Although research links vegetables and fruits to a lower risk of many chronic illnesses and suggests they may protect against some cancers, roughly 3 out of 4 Americans still don’t get enough. While more than half of Americans eat the recommended amounts (or more) of grains and protein, not enough are making healthier choices like whole rather than refined grains, a step that may reduce heart disease risk and help with weight control. What to Eat: A variety of vegetables: dark green, red and orange, legumes and some starchy ones. Fruits, especially eaten whole. Grains, with at least half whole grains. No-fat or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese and/or fortified soy beverages. A variety of protein, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds and soy products. Plant-based oils. Most people eat too many added sugars, saturated fats and salt, and need to cut back. The prior guideline to limit cholesterol to 300 milligrams a day has been left out, because dietary cholesterol, found in animal-based foods, is no longer seen as affecting blood cholesterol. But foods that are higher in cholesterol, like fatty meat and… read on >
Rethinking Blood Pressure Readings
“140/90” had long been the line in the sand for getting high blood pressure under control. But in 2017, leading medical organizations lowered the definitions of normal, elevated and high blood pressure with the idea that starting treatment at lower “high” levels can better reduce heart attacks and strokes. This dramatically added to the number of people diagnosed with high blood pressure and redefined goals for those with the condition. Blood Pressure by the Numbers: Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg on both numbers. (The top number is the systolic pressure, which measures pressure when your heart beats; the bottom number is the diastolic pressure, which is when your heart is at rest, between beats.) Elevated: A systolic reading of 120-129 and a diastolic reading of less than 80 mm Hg. High blood pressure stage 1: A systolic reading of 130-139 or a diastolic reading of 80-89 mm Hg. High blood pressure stage 2: A systolic reading of 140 or higher, or a diastolic reading of 90 or higher mm Hg. Crisis level needing immediate attention: A systolic reading above 180 and/or a diastolic reading above 120 mm Hg. As part of the new guidelines, the target measurement for high blood pressure patients with existing heart disease was trimmed to less than 130/80 mm Hg. That guideline also applies to people with a 10 percent… read on >
Bouncing From ‘Jump Park’ Trampolines Into the ER
Bouncing around at a trampoline park can be great fun, but a new study warns it can also be an invitation to sprains, strains and broken bones. Nationwide, more than 100,000 emergency room visits were related to trampoline injuries in 2014, according to the latest data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Injuries that occur at a jump park are typically more severe than those that happen on a home trampoline. “Emergency room visits, hospitalizations and surgical interventions are not uncommon in children and adults due to jump park-related injuries,” said lead researcher Dr. Ryan Voskuil, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Tennessee Health Center in Chattanooga. Several factors contribute to the danger, Voskuil said. Jump park trampolines have a stronger bounce than home ones, he noted, and parks place obstacles around the trampolines to make the experience more exciting. Trampolines at parks also are interconnected and can have different slopes. Finally, many people jumping at the same time increases the chance of collisions. “Similar to a skateboard park or bicycle park, these parks incorporate games, obstacles and various geometric configurations,” Voskuil said. “It’s just like any sport you participate in, except I think, it’s substantially more dangerous.” For the study, his team looked at 439 trampoline injuries reported over two years. While more injuries occurred on home trampolines (66 percent), more than… read on >
Exercise Your Right to Fight Disease
Research consistently tells you just how important exercise is for health. It can help head off heart disease, stroke, diabetes and many types of cancer, including breast and colon cancers. A report published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that another important prevention factor for an even wider group of cancers is having a body mass index (BMI) below 25. BMI is a measure of body fat that takes into account a person’s height and weight. A low BMI means you have less fat on your body. The report also showed that health risks can be up to 50 percent higher if you’re overweight (with a BMI between 25 and 29.9) — and up to 80 percent higher if you’re obese (with a BMI of 30 and over). Indeed, a high BMI may be to blame for nearly 4 percent of all cancer cases, according to another study, published in The Lancet Oncology. There’s no doubt that diet and exercise work together to lower BMI. Besides cutting calories, to lose weight you need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, and 60 to 90 minutes a day to maintain a loss. But don’t stop there. Other research has found that the more exercise you do, the more you can reduce your risk for many diseases. Indeed, people… read on >
Frozen Berries: Just as Flavorful at a Better Price
For nutrient-dense foods that are low in calories, it’s hard to beat berries. But it’s also hard to pay what they cost out of season. Frozen berries are a healthy freezer staple that taste as good as fresh, and are a lot more budget-friendly. Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and cranberries (they’re not just for cranberry sauce) are all superfoods — low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins and powerful antioxidants, which give them their brilliant colors. Berries defrost in minutes and make a great topping for yogurt and oatmeal, and the perfect base for smoothies (toss them into the blender without defrosting). They’re also excellent for making sweet treats, like these fast raspberry chocolate fudge pops, a lower-sugar version of the frosty indulgence. If you don’t have a set of ice-pop molds, almost any shape of silicone mold with a half-cup capacity will work. Or simply use small paper cups. Raspberry Fudge Pops 2 cups water 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup Stevia or other sugar-free sweetener 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup frozen raspberries, divided 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, optional In a large saucepan, combine water, cocoa powder and both sweeteners. Stir with a large whisk to dissolve the cocoa as you bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer two to three minutes until smooth… read on >
Health Tip: Exfoliate at Home
(HealthDay News) — Exfoliation is the process of removing dead cells from the outer layer of the skin. People typically exfoliate because it may improve the skin’s appearance. But according to the American Academy of Dermatology, if it is not done properly, exfoliation can do more harm than good. The academy suggests how to prevent skin damage while exfoliating: Chose an exfoliation method that suits your skin. People with dry, oily and darker skin may all need to use different methods. Be gentle when you exfoliate. Follow with a good moisturizer. Exfoliate according to a schedule that works best for your skin.
Patients With Primary Care Docs May Get Better Health Care
One way to get better medical care and more value for your health care dollars is to find yourself a primary care provider, researchers say. For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 70,000 U.S. adults who took part in a Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Of those, more than 49,000 had a primary care doctor and about 21,000 did not. Adults with primary care were more likely to receive high-value cancer screenings, such as colonoscopy or mammography (78 percent with primary care versus 67 percent without). They also received more diagnostic and preventive tests, such as flu vaccination and blood pressure checks. Patients with primary care were also more likely to receive counseling, especially to help them quit smoking, the investigators found. “If you have a primary care relationship, you have a better experience with care, better access to care, and a 10 percent increase in things like high-value cancer screening, diabetes care and counseling,” said the study’s corresponding author, Dr. David Levine. He’s a physician investigator in the division of general internal medicine and primary care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston. The study findings suggest that a primary care-first approach could improve U.S. health care, Levine said in a hospital news release. However, the researchers also found that both groups of patients had similar rates of low-value care. For example, inappropriate… read on >
Obesity-Linked Cancers On the Rise Among Young Americans
As more young American adults struggle with extra weight, they are paying an even steeper price as the rates of obesity-related cancers rise in this age group. Obesity has already been linked to rising rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and knee replacements. Now, new research suggests cancer can be added to that list, and the rate of obesity-related cancers is certain to keep climbing among those aged 25 to 49, researchers report. “The fact that increases were mostly in obesity-related cancers is due to the obesity epidemic, and we would expect that the incidence would increase as this younger population ages,” said lead researcher Dr. Ahmedin Jemal. He is scientific vice president for surveillance and health services research at the American Cancer Society. In fact, these cancers are rising faster among younger adults than older folks, and that could stall or reverse years of progress in reducing cancer deaths, the study authors said. To try to curb the trend of rising cancers among the obese, Jemal thinks that primary care doctors need to screen all their patients for obesity. Family doctors also need to counsel patients to lose weight. Although screening for most of these cancers isn’t available or useful for younger patients, colon cancer is an exception, Jemal said. Last year, the American Cancer Society lowered the age to start colon cancer… read on >
Health Screenings Every Woman Needs
Mammogram? Check. Pap test? Check. Blood pressure? Check. Hearing and vision? Check. Screenings are an important part of maintaining women’s health. They can detect disease when it’s most treatable and prevent serious problems, according to Dr. Lili Lustig. She is a family medicine specialist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio. To get the right screenings, talk to your doctor, who will take into consideration your age, overall health, family history and current health concerns. “Each test has its own time and place,” Lustig said in a medical center news release. “Generally, the sooner your doctor can identify and treat a medical condition, the better the outcome.” In their 20s, women should have Pap and HPV screenings to check for pre- or early cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer. (The American Cancer Society recommends women get a Pap test every three years starting at age 21.) “Women ages 30 to 65 who have a normal Pap test and a negative HPV only need to be re-screened every five years,” Lustig added. It’s also important to get screened for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They may not cause symptoms, meaning you can pass them to your partner or, if pregnant, to an unborn child. “All women who are sexually active from age 13 to 65 should be regularly screened for STDs,”… read on >