Lifestyle « Weekly Gravy

Parents of budding teens can breathe a little easier: A new study says adolescent “sexting” is not an epidemic. On the other hand, it’s not disappearing, either, despite campaigns to curb it. “Sexting is perceived as an epidemic because the news highlights extreme cases that involve tragic outcomes, and because it goes against standards of morality and decency that are historically entrenched,” said study author Sameer Hinduja, a professor of criminology at Florida Atlantic University. But most teens have never sent or received a sex text, the new study found. It focused on about 5,600 students in American middle and high schools, ages 12 to 17. Of those, about 14% had ever sent a sexually or explicit image or had received one. For this study, researchers defined sexting as the exchange of nude or semi-nude photos or videos via text or private messaging on social media. Other researchers have included sexually suggestive or explicit texts. Hinduja said his team didn’t include those, because they can’t lead to sextortion, child pornography charges or related fallout. About 11% of the students said they had sent a sext to a boyfriend or girlfriend — and about 64% did so when asked to, the study found. But only 43% complied with a request from someone who was not a current romantic partner. Boys were much more likely to have… read on >

After vitamins and minerals, fish oil with its omega-3 fatty acids is the most widely used supplement, taken by an estimated 10% of Americans. So, when research reviews show that it doesn’t provide the health benefits for people with heart conditions that researchers thought it did, it’s hard to know what to do. One thing researchers do know is that omega-3s are essential fats — your body can’t make them. So for general good health, you need to get them from diet. The Main Types of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are found in fatty fish and some shellfish. Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, is found in vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), flax and some leafy vegetables. Omega-3s can help reduce inflammation, a factor in both artery-clogging plaque and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. There is some evidence that omega-3s offer modest rheumatoid arthritis symptom relief. Omega-3s can thin blood and may reduce the likelihood of dangerous clots, but that could also mean it will take your blood longer to clot after a simple cut, for instance. This can be dangerous if you’re also on a prescription blood thinner or take NSAIDs, which can cause bleeding ulcers. So talk to your doctor about potential drug interactions if you’re considering omega-3 supplements. One important point about the research that found little or… read on >

Binge drinking is often associated with young adults, but according to a new study, more than 10% of people over 65 do it, too. Among seniors, binges are most common in men and those who use cannabis, researchers found. Experts said the trend is troubling, because older people should actually be cutting back on alcohol. “Many organizations, such as the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], recommend lower drinking levels as people get older or have more chronic diseases,” said lead researcher Dr. Benjamin Han, an assistant professor of geriatric medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York City. Other studies have documented increasing alcohol consumption in the United States and worldwide, he said. Binge drinking is generally defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks at a time. NIAAA suggests seniors cap their alcohol intake at three drinks a day. Because the new study used the higher cutoff, it may actually underestimate how common binge drinking is among U.S. seniors. Han isn’t sure why binge drinking is on the rise among older people, but he has a theory. “It is possible,” he said, “that the increase in binge drinking is partly driven by increases by older women.” Although their male counterparts are more likely to binge, older women are catching up. Binge drinking among older men remained relatively stable between 2005… read on >

If moving is never easy, then moving while you are pregnant has got to be a grueling experience. But could it actually harm your baby? Yes, a new investigation warns. The researchers found that switching homes during the first three months of pregnancy was tied to an increased risk that a baby would be born prematurely or at a low birth weight. “Moving has been on the radar as a possible risk factor during pregnancy because it is known to be a stressful experience for many people,” explained study author Julia Bond. Bond, who is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Boston University, put the potential stress of moving on par with other major life disruptions, such as a divorce or the death of a loved one. In the study, she and her team analyzed birth outcomes among 28,000 women who had moved during their first trimester. The investigators then stacked those outcomes up against the outcomes of 112,000 women who had not moved during early pregnancy. All of the women were 18 and older and Washington state residents. All gave birth at some point between 2007 and 2014. The result? Pulling up stakes during the initial 90 days of pregnancy was associated with a 42% higher risk for delivering prematurely, meaning before 37 weeks of gestation. A first trimester move was also linked to a… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Herbs are plants or plant derivatives that can be used for their scent, flavor or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicines are sold in many forms including tablets, powders, teas, extracts and fresh plants. MedlinePlus urges people to remember that products labeled “natural” aren’t always safe and healthy. Herbal medicines do not have to go through the same rigorous testing that prescription drugs do. Herbs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Before using an herbal medicine, get information on it from reliable sources, and discuss its use with your health care provider.

Turns out that the old adage — an apple a day keeps the doctor away — may actually be true. New research suggests that the more plant foods you eat, the lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. People who ate a mostly plant-based diet reduced their risk of diabetes by 23%, the study found. The association was even stronger — a 30% drop in risk of type 2 diabetes — for people who ate healthy plant-based foods, including veggies, fruits, legumes, nuts and whole grains. These foods contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other beneficial ingredients. So, what isn’t an especially healthy plant food? Processed foods and foods with added sugar. Think foods like white bread, white pasta, breakfast cereal, chips or cookies. The researchers also didn’t include starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, in their healthy-choices list. “A plant-based diet is very healthful in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes,” said the review’s senior author, Dr. Qi Sun. He’s an associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. And the more healthy plant foods, the better, Sun said. But “you should be picky about what types of foods you count as plant-based,” he added. Sun also explained that a diet doesn’t have to be strictly vegan or vegetarian to be healthy. He said it’s a good idea to… read on >

Many older men take testosterone to boost their sex drive, but new research suggests that postmenopausal women who struggle with a sagging libido might want to follow suit. Applied topically, the hormone appears to increase women’s sexual function and satisfaction, according to a new review of 36 clinical trials involving nearly 8,500 women. Women naturally produce testosterone as well as estrogen, said lead researcher Susan Davis, a professor of women’s health at the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Melbourne, Australia. “Testosterone is a female hormone and there is consistent evidence generated over decades that postmenopausal women with loss of sexual desire or arousal may benefit from treatment with testosterone,” Davis said. The hormone appears to act directly upon sex hormone receptors in women’s brains, Davis explained. “Testosterone has also been shown to increase blood flow, including vaginal blood flow, so treatment may enhance orgasm and arousal by increasing blood flow to genital tissues,” Davis added. The idea of using testosterone to boost female sexuality has been around for decades, but has lain fallow since the mid-2000s, experts said. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shot down an effort by Procter & Gamble to sell a testosterone patch for women, said Dr. Andrea Dunaif, chief of endocrinology, diabetes and bone disease for the Mount Sinai Health System in… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment developed to help people confront their fears, says the American Psychological Association (APA). When people are fearful of things, they tend to avoid what frightens them. With exposure therapy, psychologists create an environment to expose people to the things they fear. Exposure therapy has been shown to help phobias, panic disorders, social anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, generalized anxiety disorders and others, the APA says.

The heat is on. Across two-thirds of the United States, over 115 million Americans live where some level of heat alert is already in effect, and 290 million will see temperatures soar past 90 degrees at some point in the next week, USA Today reported Wednesday. As a dome of high pressure settles over much of the eastern and mid-Atlantic states, the heat indexes (the real-feel temperatures) in many places will top 100 and approach 110 degrees or higher, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. What to do when the temperatures soar so high that heat-related illnesses start to take their toll? One expert offers some sage advice. “Weekend athletes exercising in the heat need to remember to keep ahead of their fluids. It’s vital to stay ahead of your thirst during these heat extremes, not just to drink when you are thirsty,” said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Taking breaks is essential when intensely exercising in the heat for more than one hour. This includes rest, finding shade from the sun, and drinking water mixed with sugar and electrolytes. Salty pretzels, fruit and nuts are always a good option if you don’t have access to a drink with sugar and electrolytes,” Glatter noted. If you exercise in the heat, try to do so early… read on >

Financial rewards for quitting smoking do help smokers — including pregnant women — kick the habit and remain smoke-free, a new study confirms. “Rewards, such as money or vouchers, have been used to encourage smokers to quit, and to reward them if they stay stopped. Such schemes have been used in workplaces, in clinics and hospitals, and within community programs,” said study lead author Dr. Caitlin Notley. She’s with Norwich Medical School of the University of East Anglia in England. “We wanted to know whether these schemes actually work long term, as previously it was thought that perhaps incentives only worked for the time that they were given. We found that they do help people stay smoke-free, even after the incentive scheme ends,” Notley said in a university news release. For the new study, the investigators analyzed 33 randomized controlled trials. The studies included more than 21,600 people in eight countries and looked at whether financial incentives — such as cash payments, vouchers or the return of money deposited by participants — helped people quit smoking. Ten trials focused on pregnant smokers. There was significant variation in the amount of incentives used in the trials, ranging from zero (self-deposits) to between $45 and $1,185. The researchers found that after six months or more, people who received financial rewards were about 50% more likely to have… read on >