Health/Fitness « Weekly Gravy

How highly you rate your health could predict how likely you are to catch a cold — and, even more important, how healthy you’ll be in later years. Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh asked 360 healthy adults to rate their health as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor — and then exposed them to a virus that causes the common cold. Overall, about one-third developed colds. While none said “poor” and only a few said “fair,” those who rated their health as “fair,” “good” or even “very good” were more than twice as likely to develop a cold as those who described it as “excellent.” What makes people give themselves a high health rating independent of indicators like their medical records or a doctor evaluation? Such factors include following positive lifestyle habits like regular exercise, having a strong social network and feeling a high level of emotional well-being. People who fit the bill are less likely to get sick and more likely to live longer, the researchers found. Conversely, people who think of their health as poor tend to have a poor health trajectory as they age. On the subject of warding off the common cold, a separate study done at Carnegie Mellon along with researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that just one extra hour of sleep can… read on >

(HealthDay News) — A change in your nails may be no cause for concern, but certain changes should be taken seriously, the American Academy of Dermatology says. The academy suggests visiting a dermatologist at the first sign of: A dark streak. This could be a sign of melanoma skin cancer. A nail lifting up. This could be a sign of a fungal infection, psoriasis, injury from an aggressive manicure or injury from cleaning under your nails. Redness and swelling around a nail. You probably have an infection. Greenish black color. You probably have an infection. Pitting nails. These may be triggered by psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or alopecia. Yellow nails. These could be a sign of lung disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Deep grooves or gaps. These could be triggered by chemotherapy, an injury or major stress. Curved nails. These can be hereditary or a sign of lung, heart, liver or stomach disease.

One of your New Year’s resolutions should be to be good to your skin, and dermatologists have 10 ways to help. “All the stresses and excesses of the holidays can leave your skin in bad shape, which makes you feel low, too,” said Dr. Megan Rogge, an assistant professor of dermatology the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “At the start of a new year, we all want to look great,” she added in a university news release. “The good news is that with a little extra time and effort, or sometimes just breaking bad habits, you can change your skin condition for the better.” Here’s how: Chill out: Stress can cause many skin problems and make some worse. So try to relax. “Acne, psoriasis, eczema, and certain types of hair loss all get worse when you’re feeling stressed. Unfortunately, these are the four most common complaints of my patients,” Rogge said. Yoga or meditation can help you decompress, but even simple breathing exercises can make a difference, she said.” Give your diet a makeover: A healthy diet not only helps control weight, it also will make your skin look better. Dr. Rajani Katta, a clinical professor of dermatology at UT, urges her patients “to eat more foods rich in antioxidants, especially fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, since they’ve been shown to help… read on >

Alcohol. It’s a fixture at New Year’s parties, but it’s also is a calorie guzzler — one drink can eat up 10 percent or more of a dieter’s daily allotment, depending on how fanciful the beverage is. And there are other ways booze can undermine your wellness efforts. The calories in every gram of alcohol have no nutritional value, so you’re also missing out on the vitamins and minerals you get from food calories. What’s more, heavy drinking can affect your metabolism and lead your body to store fat, hampering muscle development, the American Council on Exercise reports. Despite its initial feel-good effect, alcohol is actually a depressant, negatively affecting brain function, balance and hand-eye coordination. It can leave you feeling sluggish while ramping up your appetite, causing you to eat hundreds of unwanted calories, often unhealthful “bar food.” But the news isn’t all bad. As with most consumption, it comes down to moderation — that’s a max of one drink a day for women and two for men. To avoid overdoing it on booze: Know the standard drink sizes so you can account for the correct number of calories. Never drink on an empty stomach — food helps to slow down alcohol’s effects. Have a sip of water between sips of alcohol to make the drink last longer. Set daily and weekly goals for… read on >

(HealthDay News) — PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy is a relatively new treatment for pain, the American Association of Orthopaedic Medicine says. It has shown promise, the association says, for treating ailments including osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip and spine; rotator cuff tears; chronic plantar fasciitis; and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The association explains how the therapy works: Doctors draw a sample of the patient’s blood and place it in a centrifuge where it will be spun at high speeds to separate the platelets from other blood components. The concentrated platelets are then injected back into the point of injury to jump-start the healing process. The platelets initiate repair and attract the critical assistance of stem cells. The injections take about 2 hours and can be done in a doctor’s office. Up to three PRP injections may be given within six months. Improvement may be seen within a few weeks. Ultrasound and MRI images have shown tissue repair after PRP therapy.

Being in tune with the present moment — called mindfulness — can relieve stress and make you an actor rather than a reactor, a wellness expert says. Focusing on what’s happening right now allows people to notice things they might otherwise miss, said Dr. Timothy Riley. He is an assistant professor in the family and community medicine department at Penn State Health. That might sound simple enough. But being engaged in the present moment, on purpose and non-judgmentally, can be a challenge, he said. “Being aware of physical sensations, thoughts and emotions — both pleasant and unpleasant — can help us choose how to respond, rather than simply react,” Riley said in a Penn State news release. Each individual’s upbringing and genes have programmed how they approach situations, he explained. A person’s automatic reactions can be spot on — or not. “You walk by Starbucks, see a cookie and you have an emotional response,” he said. “You want the cookie. Then may come guilt for wanting a cookie.” If you’re mindful, you see the cookie, are aware of your emotional response, and you can let it be without judgment, Riley added. “It puts you in this observer stance where we can witness what is happening without getting wrapped up in it,” he said. “It gives you a bit of space.” That moment can help you… read on >

For many, the start of the new year signals the start of a new diet. But what’s the best way to eat if you want to lose weight? For overall healthy eating, the best diet plan is the Mediterranean diet, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual diet review. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet was ranked second on the magazine’s overall Best Diets 2019 list, followed by the Flexitarian plan. All three plans focus on eating a mostly plant-based diet (veggies, fruits and whole grains), healthy fats and lean protein sources. “I hope these rankings steer people in the direction of doing something healthful,” said nutritionist Samantha Heller of NYU Langone Health in New York City. “I wish though, that we weren’t so obsessed with weight loss and diets, per se. I wish the focus was on adopting a healthy lifestyle, like eating a more plant-based diet, getting regular exercise, getting enough sleep and managing stress, all of which help us live a better quality of life,” Heller said. To that end, she said the top three diets are all similar in their food content, and all can be healthy eating regimens. The Mediterranean diet has been linked to increased longevity and a decreased risk of chronic illnesses, the report said. The Mediterranean diet was also ranked high in multiple categories… read on >

Dry, itchy eyes are a common problem in the winter and low humidity is a major reason, one ophthalmologist says. “On average, the humidity drops in the winter with the colder weather,” said Marissa Locy, an instructor in the department of ophthalmology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “In addition, most people turn on the heat in their homes or offices to combat the cold. So, what you end up having is lower humidity outside, and even lower humidity inside, making for warm, dry conditions where moisture can evaporate from the eye faster than normal,” she explained in a university news release. If you spend time in heated locations, use a humidifier to add some moisture back into the air. Drink lots of fluids. Keeping your body hydrated will help maintain moisture in your eyes. Don’t blow heat directly onto your face, because this can dry up moisture in your eyes. In your car, direct heat vents towards your lower body. When outdoors, wear eye protection or a hat with a visor to keep particles and wind from getting into your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, be sure to keep them clean. In cold weather, your eyes could dry even more with contacts. Always wearing clean contacts reduces the risk of infection and itching, Locy said. And talk to your doctor. Occasional bouts… read on >

It’s not just a sign of the holiday season. Food servings have been getting supersized everywhere, from restaurants to grocery shelves. So it can be hard to know what a recommended portion size actually looks like anymore. Whether it’s a scoop of ice cream or a serving of vegetables, it’s probably a lot more than you think. However, everyday items as well as your own hand can serve as visual guides. For a one-cup measure of foods like cereal, fruit chunks or vegetables, picture a baseball, tennis ball or your own clenched fist. For a half-cup, picture that baseball cut in half or the front part of your fist. Other common portion sizes may be even smaller than you realize. For instance, one tablespoon is about the size of your thumb tip. One teaspoon is the size of the tip of your index finger. And a teaspoon of a liquid, like olive oil, is the surface of a postage stamp. Here’s some holiday help for measuring other small amounts: One-and-a-half ounces of cheese is about the size of a 9-volt battery. A one-ounce piece of bread is the size of a 3″ by 5″ index card. One ounce of nuts should fit snuggly within the cup of your hand. Three ounces of meat should fit into the flat square of your palm — it’s about… read on >