Health/Fitness « Weekly Gravy

Many Americans believe they are likely to develop dementia — and they often turn to unproven ways to try to better their odds, a new study suggests. In a survey, researchers found that almost half of Americans in their 50s and 60s believed they were at least “somewhat likely” to develop dementia. Yet few — 5% — said they had talked to their doctor about ways to lower their risk. Instead, one-third or more were taking fish oil, vitamin E or other supplements to help ward off memory decline — even though none have been proven to have such benefits. “It certainly seems like people believe that supplements or fish oil help preserve their memory,” said lead researcher Dr. Donovan Maust, a geriatric psychiatrist at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Maust said that might reflect “excitement” over initial research suggesting that certain supplements might ward off memory decline — excitement that wasn’t tempered when later studies failed to show benefits. The findings, published online Nov. 15 in JAMA Neurology, are based on 1,019 adults aged 50 to 64 who were surveyed in 2018. They were asked whether they thought they were “somewhat likely,” “very likely” or “unlikely” to develop dementia in their lifetime. Overall, 44% believed they were somewhat likely, while 4% chose the “very likely” option. How accurate were they? It’s hard… read on >

Of all sports, football sends the most U.S. males to the emergency room, while cheerleading and gymnastics most often do the same for women and girls, a new report finds. And, overall, U.S. emergency departments see about 2.7 million patients between the ages of 5 and 24 for sports-related injuries each year, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In some cases, these injuries might even be a gateway to opioid addiction: Opioid painkillers were given to ER patients suffering from a sports injury in about one in five cases, the study found. That number rose to nearly half (46%) among young adults aged 20 to 24. “As we have learned from the opioid crisis, many patients move from appropriately prescribed opioid medications to misuse of opioids,” noted Dr. Teresa Amato, who directs emergency medicine at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, in Forest Hills, N.Y. She wasn’t involved in the new research. “I would encourage any parent with a child that has a sports-related injury who is being evaluated in an emergency department to have an open and frank discussion about pain control and if opioids are needed,” Amato said. “Of course, in some cases there will be a need for these medications, but the discussion prior to dispensing or prescribing opioids may prevent misuse later… read on >

It’s not uncommon for a woman’s sex life to slow down with age, but hormones aren’t the only reason she might not be in the mood, a new study suggests. Postmenopausal issues, such as vaginal dryness or pain during sex, definitely put a damper on a woman’s desire. But just as often, it was issues with her partner that brought sexual activity to a halt. “Low libido is common in older women — about 40% of older women have low libido,” said study author Dr. Holly Thomas. “Yet, women in our study reported that they considered sex to be an important part of their lives,” she added. “I think the biggest message from our study though, is that low libido has a lot of causes,” and treatment will vary in each case. Thomas is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. She and her colleagues interviewed 15 women. They also conducted three focus groups with a total of 21 women who were in their 60s and sexually active. Most of the women were white and heterosexual. Eighty-three percent were married or living with their partner. The most common reasons for a lack of desire included: Postmenopausal conditions: After menopause, the lack of estrogen can cause symptoms that make sex less pleasurable, and even painful. Vaginal dryness, a feeling of tightness and a… read on >

Many Americans aren’t getting a solid seven hours of sleep a night, putting them at risk for diabetes, heart disease and obesity. But it’s the brain that needs a good night’s sleep the most, according to Dr. Randall Wright, a neurologist at Houston Methodist Hospital. “When you are asleep, your brain catches up on tasks it can’t do while you are navigating your day, such as cleaning out waste, saving new information, and filing away memories,” Wright said in a hospital news release. “When you don’t get enough sleep, the brain can’t complete all of these tasks, and that can lead to memory problems and serious brain disease in the long run.” It might also cause the chronic conditions associated with lack of sleep, he said. Wright offered three tips to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. Start a nightly wind-down routine, which might include brushing your teeth, taking a warm shower, listening to relaxing music and reading a book. “Your brain will begin to recognize this pattern as signals that it is time to relax and will release hormones to help you fall asleep when you get in bed,” Wright said. Keep your electronics out of the bedroom. “This may not be practical for adults, but is a must for kids,” he said. Don’t use your phone once you’ve started winding down,… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Measuring weight is key to calculating your body mass index (BMI), says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To measure weight accurately at home, the CDC recommends: Use a digital scale. Avoid scales that are spring-loaded. Place the scale on a firm floor, rather than on carpet. Remove shoes and heavy clothing. Stand with both feet in the center of the scale. Record the weight to the nearest decimal fraction.

Speaking outside the White House on Friday, President Donald Trump said his administration plans to raise the U.S. federal legal age to buy e-cigarettes from 18 to 21. That’s just one plank in the administration’s new plan to curb youth vaping, Trump told reporters. “We have to take care of our kids, most importantly, so we’re going to have an age limit of 21 or so,” the Associated Press reported. The White House’s proposed move is not the first in the United States: About a third of states have already raised their sales age to 21. But federal law still puts the age at 18. Back in September, President Trump announced that the White House would propose a ban on all flavored e-cigarette products as well. Flavored vapes are thought to be especially attractive to kids and teens. However, the absence of such an announcement on Friday has some experts worried that Trump might not come through with that move, the AP said. Trump’s statement to reporters was somewhat vague. “We’re talking about the age, we’re talking about flavors, we’re also talking about keeping people working — there are some pretty good aspects,” he said. And in a separate White House event on Friday, Trump adviser Joe Grogan seemed to offer a softer stance on vaping. He called e-cigarettes are “a viable alternative to combustible… read on >

Taking vitamin D and fish oil supplements won’t prevent kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes, a new study finds. Many diabetics use the supplements, hoping they will have a positive effect on their kidneys and heart, the researchers said. “We wanted this study to clarify whether these supplements have any real kidney benefit in adults with diabetes. Even if it’s not the result we hoped for, closing a chapter is useful for patients and clinicians and researchers alike,” said lead author Dr. Ian de Boer. He is a professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, in Seattle. The researchers hoped the supplements would be beneficial because animal studies and lab experiments had suggested that anti-inflammatory and other properties in these supplements might prevent or slow progression of kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes. And in humans, other research has found a link between kidney problems and low levels of vitamin D and diets lacking fish. For the study, which was part of the nationwide Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL), the researchers looked at kidney function in more than 1,300 people with type 2 diabetes. Study participants were randomly assigned to get vitamin D and fish oil supplements; vitamin D and a fish oil placebo; fish oil and a vitamin D placebo; or two placebos. Over five… read on >

Being on a weight-loss diet day in and day out for months on end can be challenging and even discouraging. What’s more, following the same never-ending diet could be the reason you aren’t getting the results you’re looking for. A study in the International Journal of Obesity found an alternative that can provide better weight loss results and is easier to stick with. The “MATADOR” study recruited 51 participants, all obese men. MATADOR is short for Minimizing Adaptive Thermogenesis And Deactivating Obesity Rebound. After four weeks in which their caloric needs were calculated, participants followed either a continuous diet or a “restricted intermittent diet” of two weeks on followed by two weeks off for 16 weeks. Men who followed the restricted intermittent diet achieved greater weight loss at the conclusion of the study. This suggests that a two-week-on, two-week-off diet plan could help you shed unwanted weight and keep it off. One theory is that the breaks keep your metabolism from resetting at a lower caloric need, a reset that makes it harder to keep losing weight without more calorie cuts. There’s one caveat to trying this strategy on your own: It’s important to refrain from overindulging during your off weeks. Make sure your eating during off-weeks is balanced, with a variety of foods totaling about 500 calories a day more than you eat during… read on >

Opioid painkillers may temporarily ease the discomfort of arthritis, but they have no clear lasting benefit, a research review finds. In an analysis of 23 clinical trials, researchers found that, on average, opioid medications were somewhat effective at easing pain in patients with osteoarthritis. That’s the common form of arthritis in which cartilage cushioning the joints gradually wears down, leading to swelling, stiffness and pain. But the trials found no evidence that opioids improved patients’ quality of life or helped with their depression. And any benefits for pain seemed to wane with time. “We found that the magnitude of these effects is small and continues to decrease over time,” said lead researcher Dr. Raveendhara Bannuru. He is director of the Center for Treatment Comparison and Integrative Analysis at Tufts Medical Center, in Boston. Treatment guidelines for chronic pain, other than cancer-related pain, already say opioids should be a last resort. With osteoarthritis, Bannuru said, the drugs are only recommended if a patient has not gotten relief from other medical therapies, and if surgery — like knee or hip replacement — is not an option. Instead, patients should try to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle. As for medications, Bannuru said, topical versions of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — like ibuprofen and naproxen — are a “first choice.” These creams or ointments help people avoid… read on >

(HealthDay News) — That persistent tickle in the back of your throat may be diagnosed as post-nasal drip, says Harvard Medical School. It mentions these common treatment options for the condition: Use a humidifier, or take a hot shower. Keep well-hydrated to help keep mucus thin. Sleep on propped-up pillows. Moisten the inside of your nose with an over-the-counter product. Use an oral decongestant or antihistamine. If these approaches aren’t effective, speak with your doctor about prescription treatments.