Health/Fitness « Weekly Gravy

The health risks that spring from poor posture while using mobile devices don’t concern many Americans, a new survey finds. But maybe it should. Poor posture can lead to health issues such as chronic pain in the back, neck and knees, circulation problems, heartburn and digestive problems, according to researchers from the Orlando Health system in Florida. American adults spend an average more than 3.5 hours on their smartphones every day, meaning they may be looking down or slouching for long periods of time, they noted. Their national survey, published Oct. 9, asked respondents their level of concern about eye strain, carpal tunnel and other potential health consequences of mobile device use. Only 47% said they were concerned about poor posture and how it affected their health. “It’s not just when you’re scrolling on your phone, but any time you put your body in a less-than-optimal position, whether that’s reading a book, working at a desk or lounging on the couch,” said Nathaniel Melendez, an exercise physiologist at Orlando Health’s National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. “People don’t realize the strain they’re putting on their body when it is not aligned correctly, or just how far corrective exercises and daily adjustments can go toward improving pain and postural issues,” he added in a health system news release. “I see a lot of people compensating for… read on >

Chronic migraine headaches plagued Adam Pressley from childhood, and by his 30s they had become a near-daily occurrence. Pressley, 31, had tried everything to stop them: blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, seizure medications, and even quarterly injections of Botox. Then his doctor suggested something surprising, saying plastic surgery could potentially relieve nerve pressure that was contributing to the headaches. “I kind of thought it was crazy, a plastic surgery procedure that could help people with their migraines,” said Pressley, who lives in Clarksville, Tenn. “I was both skeptical and happy at the same time.” The use of nerve-releasing plastic surgery to treat migraine has been around for a couple of decades, and the procedure is becoming more common and more effective, said Dr. Salam Kassis, a plastic surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. Clinical research now indicates that about half of the people who undergo surgery to release entrapped nerves will experience complete relief from migraines, and another 40% will have fewer and less severe headaches, he said. “Over the last 20 years, our percentages have improved dramatically. The success rate is even better than it was a decade ago,” Kassis said. Not all headache experts are sold on the procedure, however. “Certainly, there are some cases where this might be helpful, but it’s not something I generally recommend in my practice,” said… read on >

In recent years, the number of U.S. adults getting total hip replacements — meaning both a new ball and joint socket — following a hip fracture has soared to an estimated 500,000 annually. That’s nearly three times the rate at which these adults undergo a partial hip replacement, which only replaces the ball of the hip joint. But a new Canadian study that compared the short-term outcomes of both surgeries showed somewhat surprising conclusions. “What we now know is that within two years of having either a total or partial hip replacement, there’s no difference, and possibly more harm, with total replacements,” said lead author Dr. Mohit Bhandari, academic head of orthopedic surgery at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. The global study randomly assigned an estimated 1,500 patients — all of whom were 50 or older with a hip fracture but able to walk independently — to receive either a total or partial hip replacement. Researchers wanted to learn, first and foremost, which group would be more likely to need a secondary hip procedure within two years of follow-up. They also analyzed differences between the two groups with regard to function and quality of life, as well as the development of serious adverse effects. Most differences proved negligible. About 8% of patients in both groups needed to undergo a second hip procedure within 24 months… read on >

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is in the news a lot, and now newer research has prompted a leading pediatricians’ group to update its guidelines for diagnosing and treating the disorder for the first time since 2011. Dr. Mark Wolraich, lead author of the guidelines, noted that there weren’t any dramatic differences between these and previous guidelines. But, he said, these latest updates keep the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines in sync with the same diagnostic and treatment criteria used by child and adolescent psychiatrists. ADHD “is not a ‘new’ diagnosis. It’s a real diagnosis that needs treatment,” said Wolraich. “There are two forms of treatment effective for ADHD: medications, especially stimulant medications; and behavioral treatments. Neither treatment is curative,” he said, but they can help manage the symptoms. Wolraich is an emeritus professor at the University of Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City. More than 9% of U.S. children between the ages of 2 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the guideline authors. Boys are more than twice as likely as girls to be diagnosed with the disorder. Kids with ADHD often have symptoms of another mental disorder, such as depression or anxiety, and they may also have learning and language problems. Updates to the guidelines include: Changing the age at which symptoms need to have first started. Previously, symptoms needed to begin before age… read on >

A tuberculosis vaccine commonly used in other parts of the world might reduce a person’s risk of developing lung cancer if given early in childhood, a six-decade-long study reports. The Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is the only vaccine approved for preventing tuberculosis (TB) — a potentially fatal infectious disease that typically attacks the lungs. Because TB risk is low in the United States, the vaccine isn’t often given to American children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the new study suggests the vaccine may have some positive side effects. “BCG-vaccinated participants had a significant 2.5-fold lower rate of lung cancer,” said study senior author Dr. Naomi Aronson, director of infectious diseases at Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Md. She said lower lung cancer rates persisted in those who received the vaccine no matter where they lived, and whether they smoked, drank alcohol or had tuberculosis. Aronson said BCG affects the immune system somehow and may provide even more benefit in the lungs. The initial study was conducted in 3,000 American Indian and Alaska Native children in the 1930s. If the findings are confirmed in different groups, Aronson said the use of BCG vaccine in childhood “might be considered for risk reduction for lung cancer over a lifetime.” Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, interim chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, reviewed… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Backpacks are a practical way for people to carry books and other supplies. They are designed to distribute the weight of these items among the body’s muscles, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. But when used incorrectly, backpacks can harm muscles and joints. To prevent injury when using a backpack, the academy suggests: Always use both shoulder straps. Tighten the straps to keep the load closer to the back. Organize items so that heavy things are low and toward the bag’s center. Only carry items that are required for the day. Lift properly by bending at the knees when picking up a backpack. Consider using a crossbody bag as an alternative.

Here’s a compelling reason to keep those dreaded appointments with your dentist: New research suggests that red, tender or bleeding gums could trigger high blood pressure. In a review of 81 studies that included more than 250,000 people, U.K. scientists found that those who had moderate to severe gum disease (periodontitis) had a 22% increased risk for high blood pressure, and those with severe gum disease had a 49% higher risk. “Oral health is closely linked to general health,” explained researcher Dr. Francesco D’Aiuto, head of the periodontology unit at University College London’s Eastman Dental Institute. “Looking after your teeth and gums is often neglected, but [it] should be as important as managing other general health risks,” he added. Among people with periodontitis, systolic pressure (top number) was 4.5 mm Hg higher and diastolic pressure (bottom number) was 2 mm Hg higher, on average, than people without gum disease, the researchers found. In five of the studies analyzed, researchers found that blood pressure dropped when periodontitis was treated. Blood pressure also dropped in patients treated for gum disease who didn’t have hypertension, they added. But whether treating periodontitis really is the cause of a drop in blood pressure isn’t certain, D’Aiuto said, since the study did not prove a cause-and-effect link. “Bad brushing and bacteria accumulation around teeth causes gum bleeding and disease, but also… read on >

Here’s a good reason to encourage your teenager to play more than one sport: New research finds kids who concentrate on only one sport may be at risk for stress fractures, tendinitis and knee injuries. “It’s wonderful for a child to love a sport and to want to engage in it, but we must keep in mind the number of hours spent playing,” said study author Alison Field, a professor of epidemiology and pediatrics at Brown University. “They add up pretty quickly.” The findings are a result of following more than 10,000 older children throughout the United States. The bottom line is that kids who do the most hours of intense activity per week, and that happens to be those focusing on a single sport, are the most likely to be injured. Field hopes that coaches, parents and doctors urge children to engage in less intense, less specialized training. The best advice is that kids should spend only a moderate amount of time in vigorous physical activity. If they have to specialize, they should replace some training with different types of exercise, such as yoga and conditioning, she suggested. The risk for injury differed for girls and boys. For girls, no sport stood out as being extra risky. Specializing, however, increased girls’ risk of injury by about 30%. Specialization did not significantly increase boys’ risk… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and death, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An annual seasonal flu shot is the best way to protect against the disease. The CDC offers these facts on the seasonal flu vaccine: Seasonal flu vaccine protects against the type of flu that’s predicted to be most common. Any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine is recommended. Everyone 6 months or older should get a flu vaccine, with few exceptions. People with severe, life-threatening allergies to the vaccine should not be given the shot. The vaccine takes about two weeks to begin working. It is possible, although less likely, to get the flu despite receiving the vaccine.

(HealthDay News) — Eyestrain occurs when your eyes get tired from intense use, says Mayo Clinic. Usually, eyestrain is not serious and goes away once you rest your eyes or make lifestyle changes. To reduce eyestrain, Mayo suggests: Blink often to refresh your eyes. Take breaks. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Adjust lighting to reduce glare on your computer monitor. Enlarge type on your screen for easier reading. Adjust the contrast and brightness of electronics to a comfortable level.