Here’s some straight talk about the value of “the talk.” Fathers who talk with their teenage sons about condom use can help prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies, researchers say. Condoms are the only contraceptive method that can prevent pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Yet, recent U.S. government data showed that condom use among teens steadily declined over the last decade. And as condom use dropped, the number of sexually transmitted infections increased, researchers found. In 2017, the number of STIs reached an all-time high for the fourth year in a row, with teens and young adults accounting for about half of the cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two out of three new HIV infections in young people are among black and Hispanic males, and more than 200,000 births a year are to teens and young adults, the study authors noted. For the new study, researchers interviewed 25 black and Hispanic fathers and sons (aged 15 to 19) from New York City. The research was led by Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, a professor at New York University and a nurse practitioner specializing in adolescent sexual and reproductive health at the Adolescent AIDS Program of Montefiore Medical Center, in New York City. The interviews made it clear that fathers talking to their sons about using…  read on >

You’ve no doubt heard the expression “patience is a virtue.” Now researchers are learning that this virtue can be good for your health and well-being. Any given day can be filled with a series of frustrations that cause you to lose your patience, like waiting for your assistant to finish a report you need or for your kids to clean up their rooms. Or you might be impatient due to a serious life event, like needing to find a new job or managing a slow recovery after an illness. Experts say that by handling these situations with patience, you’ll replace frustration with tranquility and be happier for it. Baylor University psychologist Sarah Schnitker, who has been studying patience for more than a decade, found that people who are more patient also tend to be more hopeful and satisfied with their lives. And they’re less likely to be stressed or depressed or experience health issues, like headaches and ulcers. Studies on patience training show that patience is a skill you can learn, often by making changes to how you react to frustrating situations. Many people get impatient because they see waiting as time lost, so your first strategy is to redeploy that time. If you’re stuck on a line or standing idle because your kid’s soccer practice is running late, use your smartphone to read and…  read on >

If you’ve ever come home from a brisk walk feeling reinvigorated, you’re not alone. Research shows that this is just one of many benefits of exercising outdoors. Working out in a natural environment can also be more physically challenging, making your body work harder and bringing greater fitness results. This happens when, for instance, you’re walking, hiking or running on natural terrain, which can vary in evenness and require more exertion than on a flat surface, such as a treadmill. According to the American Council on Exercise, other outdoor factors, like wind resistance, actually enable you to burn more calories. If, on the other hand, the wind is at your back, pushing you along a bit, you engage certain muscle fibers needed to develop strength and definition. One study found that people get a variety of psychological boosts from building up a sweat outdoors. Participants were in a better mood and had more energy and less stress afterwards. They simply liked doing the same form of exercise more when they did it outdoors, in nature. There are also benefits from the social interaction of exercising outside with a friend or in a group — the enjoyment you feel makes it more likely that you’ll plan more outdoor workouts. If you have children, exercise with them to show them that fitness activities are fun. Family hikes…  read on >

Eating protein every day is important for good health. While it can come from animal and/or plant sources, the amount of protein we need is rather small — just 5 to 7 “ounce equivalents,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An ounce equivalent can be one ounce of meat, poultry or seafood; one large egg; a quarter-cup of cooked legumes like beans or lentils; a half ounce of nuts or seeds; or one tablespoon of nut butter. In terms of volume, 5 to 7 ounces isn’t much and could leave you feeling unsatisfied. So, when you’re restricting calories, it’s important to maximize your protein choices. For instance, as tasty as peanut butter is, one tablespoon is barely more than one good-sized bite. For the same 100 calories, you can have a large egg plus two large egg whites — that’s a lot of filling protein. Ounce for ounce, lean fish fillets, like cod and flounder, and shellfish, like shrimp, have about half the calories of even lean cuts of beef and one-third fewer than skinless chicken. And don’t overlook thick and rich Greek yogurt. A full cup of the fat-free plain variety has about 130 calories, 17 grams of protein and a boost of calcium. When dieting, you may want to trade some fat calories for protein, again because of the added volume. In…  read on >

(HealthDay News) — A panic attack is the sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America says. The association says since symptoms of a panic attack are so intense, they may mimic those of heart disease, thyroid problems, breathing disorders and other illnesses. The ADAA says having four of more of these symptoms indicates a panic attack: Palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate. Sweating. Trembling or shaking. Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering. Feelings of choking. Chest pain or discomfort. Nausea or abdominal distress. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed or faint. Chills or heat sensations. Numbness or tingling sensations. Fear of losing control or “going crazy.” Fear of dying.

If you have high blood pressure, hitting the gym may be as helpful as taking drugs to lower your numbers, researchers say. There’s “compelling evidence that combining endurance and dynamic resistance training was effective in reducing [blood pressure],” according to the authors of a new report. The British researchers stressed that it’s still too early to recommend that people toss their antihypertensive meds, and exercise instead — there’s not yet been a head-to-head trial of drugs versus exercise for blood pressure. But comparing the numbers from hundreds of blood pressure trials involving either exercise or medication suggests they have the same benefit, said the team led by Huseyin Naci. He’s a health policy researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science. For now, one U.S. expert said, exercise should be considered an “and” rather than an “or” when it comes to treating high blood pressure. “Exercise is a pillar in the foundation of treatment for hypertension, but for those patients that require drug therapy, exercise is not a replacement for medication,” said Dr. Guy Mintz. He directs cardiovascular health at the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. The new research was published online Dec. 18 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. In the study, Naci’s team analyzed data from 197 clinical trials that assessed the effects of structured workouts on…  read on >

People seeking more satisfaction in their later years might find sex is the spice of life, new research suggests. For the study, researchers analyzed survey data from nearly 6,900 older adults, average age 65, in England. The investigators found that those who said they’d had any type of sexual activity in the previous 12 months had higher life enjoyment scores than those who weren’t sexually active. Among women, kissing, petting and fondling more often, as well as feeling emotionally close to their partner during sex, was associated with a higher enjoyment of life. But there was not a significant association between sexual intercourse and enjoyment of life. Among men, satisfaction with their sex life and how often they had sexual intercourse was associated with greater enjoyment of life. “The findings of our study suggest that it may be beneficial for physicians to query geriatric patients about their sexual activity and offer help for sexual difficulties, such as problems with erections, as sexual activity helps older people live more fulfilling lives,” said study co-leader Lee Smith. He is a reader in exercise medicine at Anglia Ruskin University in England. “Previous research has suggested that frequent sexual intercourse is associated with a range of benefits for psychological and physiological well-being, such as improved quality of life and mental health, and lower risk of certain cancers and fatal…  read on >

Calcium is best known as a building block of strong bones, and studies show that getting it from the source — milk — is more effective than supplements. Nutritionists also are learning that it has another important role that’s especially beneficial for dieters. Research has found that calcium can help suppress appetite and even lower your intake at the next meal, as well as help you retain muscle mass while losing fat. While other research has found that whole milk has health benefits after all, if you’re trying to cut calories to lose weight, reach for low-fat and non-fat milk. There are many ways besides drinking a glass of milk to get this rich store of calcium into your diet. Try using low-fat milk instead of water when making hot cereals such as oatmeal. Add low-fat milk to soups, vegetable purees and casseroles to make them creamy and flavorful without actual cream. Mix up your own chocolate milk by vigorously stirring unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar substitute and a dash of cayenne for spiciness into non-fat milk. Microwave for 30 seconds for hot chocolate. Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Have a non-fat hot or iced latte. For a nightcap, add a dash of vanilla and cinnamon to hot non-fat milk for a silky alternative to herbal tea. Of course, milk makes a great base for many smoothie…  read on >

You’d think vitamin deficiencies would be rare in the United States, but many people are running low on vitamin D, and it’s a serious health threat. Being short on vitamin D not only affects bone density, it’s also been linked to conditions such as heart disease, mental decline, some types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and type 2 diabetes. The problem is twofold: Not knowing how much vitamin D you really need, and how to get it. While 600 to 800 International Units (IUs) is the recommended daily amount, it can take more than that to bring you up to a healthy level and maintain it once you have a deficit. The body can make vitamin D through sun exposure, but there are many variables, from time of day and the season to your location and your skin color. People with pale skin make vitamin D more quickly than those with darker skin. While there is concern about skin cancer risk, under the right conditions, exposing arms and legs (and your torso when possible) for only a few minutes two to three times a week allows the skin to produce enough vitamin D. Very few foods naturally contain D. Many others are fortified with it, but it’s usually only 100 IUs per serving, making it unlikely that you’ll get even the daily minimum just…  read on >

Whether it’s the stress of choosing the right gift, drinking and eating too much, or fighting with relatives about politics, the holidays can be hard on your heart. In fact, new research from Sweden found the odds of a heart attack jump nearly 40 percent on Christmas Eve. “Traditional holidays were associated with increased risk of heart attack. The risk overall during Christmas/New Year’s was 15 percent higher than a regular December day,” said study senior author Dr. David Erlinge. He’s the head of the office of cardiology at Skane University Hospital in Lund. Erlinge noted that the 15-year study of more than 300,000 heart attack patients suggested that the risk was highest at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. But the study did not prove that the holiday actually caused heart attack risk to rise, only that there seemed to be an association. In Sweden, Christmas Eve is the most important day of the holidays, and is typically celebrated with immediate family, the researchers noted. The festivities continue on Christmas Day and again on Boxing Day, Dec. 26. New Year’s Eve in Sweden is usually spent with friends. As in the United States, the holiday generally involves eating heavily and drinking alcohol to excess. The study found that the risk of heart attack wasn’t higher on New Year’s Eve, but it did go up by…  read on >