Health/Fitness « Weekly Gravy

(HealthDay News) –Horseback trail riding is a fun, leisure activity for many Americans. However, it is important to follow rules for trail safety, says the Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources. It encourages people to: Wear a helmet and appropriate footwear. If your horse kicks, tie a red ribbon in its tail. Do not bring unruly horses on public trails. Ride in groups. Carry a trail map and cellphone.

Almost one in five multiple sclerosis patients may be misdiagnosed with the autoimmune disease, according to a new study. Of 241 previously diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) patients referred to two major Los Angeles medical centers for treatment, nearly 18% did not actually have the autoimmune disease, the researchers found. Those patients spent an average of nearly four years being treated for MS before receiving a correct diagnosis, the study authors said. “I’ve seen patients suffering side effects from the medication they were taking for a disease they didn’t have,” said study leader Dr. Marwa Kaisey, from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “Meanwhile, they weren’t getting treatment for what they did have. The cost to the patient is huge — medically, psychologically, financially,” Kaisey said in a Cedars-Sinai news release. The most common correct diagnosis among the patients misdiagnosed with MS was migraine (16%), followed by radiologically isolated syndrome, a condition in which patients do not experience symptoms of MS even though their imaging tests look similar to those of MS patients. Other diagnoses included nerve damage and a disorder of the vertebrae called spondylopathy, the findings showed. Among the patients misdiagnosed with MS, 72% had been prescribed MS treatments. Of those, 48% received therapies that can carry the risk of a viral infection-caused disease in the white matter of the brain (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy).… read on >

Sunscreen may do double duty when you’re outside on a summer day, keeping you cool as it protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. New research suggests how: When unprotected skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, skin cells typically see a drop in levels of nitric oxide. This compound helps the skin’s small blood vessels to relax and widen. Reduced nitric oxide results in a reduction in blood flow to the skin, which can throw a person’s body temperature out of whack. But applying SPF-50 sunscreen can halt that chain of events, the researchers said. “When sunscreen was applied to the skin before ultraviolet light exposure during the current study, it completely protected against the negative effects of ultraviolet light on nitric oxide and skin blood vessel function,” explained study author S. Tony Wolf. He is a Ph.D. candidate in exercise physiology and a predoctoral research fellow at the Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State University. Wolf and his colleagues presented their findings this week at a meeting of the American Physiological Society, in Orlando, Fla. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. To test how well sunscreen protects against heat stress, investigators enlisted 13 healthy adults aged 24 and older. All were described as having light to medium skin tones. For the study, total UV… read on >

Are you neglecting or even unaware of the muscles in your back? If so, you’re putting yourself at risk. The trapezius is the diamond-shaped muscle that runs from neck to middle back and from shoulder to shoulder across the back. The latissimus dorsi — or “lats” — are the large back muscles that run from either side of the spine to your waist. Here are two strength-training exercises that will help you develop these muscles for better upper body fitness. Important: Start with a weight that allows you to complete at least eight reps with proper form, perhaps as low as 2-pound dumbbells. Build up to 10 to 15 reps for one complete set, and progress from one to three complete sets before increasing the weight. Never jerk the weights — controlled, steady movement is what brings results. Standing dumbbell rows target the trapezius muscles as well as the upper arms and shoulders. Stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, with a weight in each hand. Your elbows should be slightly bent, the dumbbells touching the fronts of your thighs, palms facing your body. As you exhale, use a slow, controlled movement to lift the weights straight up by bending the elbows up and out to bring the weights to shoulder level. Hold for a second, then inhale as you lower your arms to the starting position.… read on >

(HealthDay News) — The brain and other organs rely on vitamin B12 to function properly. For most adults, the recommended B12 dose is more than 2.4 micrograms, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in a variety of animal products and is especially high in fish like trout, salmon and tuna. Other sources of B12 include chicken, eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk and beef.

(HealthDay News) — Three primary types of thermometers are on the market for consumers. Digital thermometers record body temperature through electric heat sensors. They can be used in the rectum, mouth or under the armpit. However, armpit temperatures are typically least accurate. Digital ear thermometers use infrared scanners to measure the ear canal temperature. Earwax or an abnormal ear canal can interfere with the accuracy. Temporal artery thermometers also use infrared scanners, measuring the forehead’s temporal artery temperature. These thermometers can be used even while a child is sleeping. Digital pacifier thermometers, fever strips and mercury thermometers are not recommended, advises Mayo Clinic.

(HealthDay News) — A baby’s first fever can be scary for parents. However, most fevers are relatively harmless, says MedlinePlus. When treating your child’s fever, MedlinePlus suggests: Do not bundle up a child, even if the child has the chills. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower fever. Never give aspirin to children. Bathe your child in lukewarm water. If a newborn has a fever of more than 100.4 degrees F, contact a doctor without delay.

Mindlessly switching from your smartphone to other media devices and back again might lead to added pounds, scientists say. A small, new study found that heavy-duty media multitaskers also tended to be heavier, weight-wise. It’s possible that these devices are actually changing the brain, theorized lead author Richard Lopez, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at Rice University in Houston. In terms of weight, that could mean less self-control when fattening foods are at hand. For their study, Lopez and his colleagues had 132 students, aged 18 to 23, answer questions about how much they multitasked and how distractible they were. Certain questions — such as, do you feel the urge to check your phone while you’re talking to someone else? — were designed to detect compulsive or inappropriate cellphone use. The researchers found that study participants with higher scores on the questionnaire tended to weigh more than those with lower scores, suggesting a possible link between the two. Next, Lopez’s team had 72 of the students undergo an MRI brain scan while they were shown a serious of pictures. Images of delicious, fattening foods were mixed in with the images. When the food images were viewed, activity increased in the part of the brain linked to food temptation, the findings showed. These participants, who also tended to have more body fat, spent more time at… read on >

Vitamin D is the healthy “sunshine” vitamin, but it can have a dark side, one Canadian man discovered. A team of Toronto physicians reported on the case of a 54-year-old man who developed kidney damage after taking extremely high doses of vitamin D. It’s a cautionary tale for consumers, medical experts say. “Although vitamin D toxicity is rare owing to a large therapeutic range, its widespread availability in various over-the-counter formulations may pose a substantial risk to uninformed patients,” said study co-author Dr. Bourne Auguste. He’s a clinical fellow in home dialysis at Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto. As reported April 8 in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), the man was seen by doctors after he returned from a holiday in Southeast Asia, where he spent much of his time sunbathing. Vitamin D is naturally synthesized by the skin upon contact with sunlight. Testing showed that the man had elevated blood levels of creatinine, a marker for kidney damage or malfunction. The patient was then referred to a kidney specialist and underwent further testing. Doctors learned that the man had been prescribed high doses of vitamin D by a naturopath — even though he did not have vitamin D deficiency and no history of bone loss. Over 30 months, the man had taken eight to 12 drops of vitamin D —… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Ten infants are known to have died in the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleeper since 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns. In a joint statement with Fisher-Price, the CPSC said it voted to announce that “the health and safety of the public requires immediate notice” of the danger to babies. All of the infants died after rolling from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained. All 10 infants were aged 3 months or older. Infants typically begin to roll over at 3 months, the CPSC noted. Because of this, the agency says parents and caregivers should stop use of the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleeper when infants reach 3 months of age or when they begin rolling over. Previously, the agency had warned parents and caregivers to use restraints in infant-inclined sleep products. To provide a safe sleep environment for infants in a crib, bassinet, play yard or inclined sleeper, never add blankets, pillows, stuffed toys or other items, and always place infants to sleep on their backs, CPSC said. On its website, Fisher-Price said the company “will continue to work closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and other international regulators, to encourage the safe use of our products and find ways to keep your little ones happy, healthy and above all — safe.” More information… read on >