HealthNews RoundUp - 4th Week of July 2020

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Running Better By Rubber Banding Your Feet - Reprise 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ozRY5Fj2CMw

 

Endurance running with a resistance band connecting your shoes can increase your running efficiency by over 9%.  Mechanical engineers at UC-Santa Barbara clocked runners with and without latex surgical tubing connecting their feet.

 

The tubing stores kinetic energy as the legs move past one another, and that energy helps power the next cycle.  The result: shorter, quicker steps jacking up the average stride from 90 steps/min to 100.  

 

The tubing also reduces the effort to bounce on the feet, and these band-powered runners feel light and fast.  Their average running efficiency increased about 6%. 

 

Buy the surgical tubing online and cut it to 25% of leg length.  Then give it a try.

 

Cole S. Simpson, Cara G. Welker, Scott D. Uhlrich, Sean M. Sketch, Rachel W. Jackson, Scott L. Delp, Steve H. Collins, Jessica C. Selinger, Elliot W. Hawkes. Connecting the legs with a spring improves human running economy. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 2019; 222 (17): jeb202895 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.202895

 

#Running #resistanceband

Running, resistanceband

 

RunningWith RubberBands.mp4

 

 

Tomato Pigment Heals Sperm - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/KuYVhqfWbnw

 

The red pigment in tomatoes, lycopene, seems to heal “sick” sperm, the cause of infertility in up to 50% of couples. Britain’s University of Sheffield researchers announce this phenomenon after a double blind study of 60 volunteers.  

 

Half of them received lycopene in the form of LactoLycopene, a commercially available supplement that improves gi lycopene absorption.  After 12 weeks, the sperm from the lycopene users were healthier and more robust.  

 

Lots more testing must be done in men with known infertility to see if the same phenomenon  occurs.  Meanwhile, men known to have sperm issues can eat cooked tomatoes or buy the LactoLycopene online from the British source.

 

Elizabeth A. Williams, Madeleine Parker, Aisling Robinson, Sophie Pitt, Allan A. Pacey. A randomized placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of lactolycopene on semen quality in healthy males. European Journal of Nutrition, 2019; DOI: 10.1007/s00394-019-02091-5

 

#Sperm #infertility, lycopene #LactoLycopene

Sperm, infertility, lycopene, lactolycopene

 

TomatoHealsSperm.mp4

 

 

Overeating When Young Triggers Cancer - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/E81hPNLni9k

 

Wolfing down those beers and donuts under the age of 40 can increase your risk of mid-life cancer by as much as 70%.  That conclusion and others from a large European study was just published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

 

Data from 220,000 subjects showed that overweight women had a 70% greater risk of uterine cancer and overweight men a 58% higher risk of kidney cancer but also a 29 percent greater risk of colon cancer.  

 

Moderate your eating throughout life to keep medical disasters like cancer, heart disease, and stroke from your door.  Overindulgence when you’re young can not be undone.

 

Tone Bjørge, Christel Häggström, Sara Ghaderi, Gabriele Nagel, Jonas Manjer, Steinar Tretli, Hanno Ulmer, Sophia Harlid, Ann H Rosendahl, Alois Lang, Pär Stattin, Tanja Stocks, Anders Engeland. BMI and weight changes and risk of obesity-related cancers: a pooled European cohort study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyz188

 

#Overweight #obese #cancer

Overweight, obese, cancer

 

OvereatingYoungTriggersCancer.mp4

 

 

Stress Triggers Lying - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/jTLu0SqTsrw

 

If you’re pressured to answer a question, you will answer with a response designed to please the questioner even if its a lie.  UC-Santa Barbara psychologists draw this conclusion after testing a total of 3,000 participants.

 

Research shows that the human mind has two processing components: the higher functioning, rational section and the more instinctive, animalistic section.  Time pressure and stress spark visceral brain output which is often irrational and downright false.

 

We should all be aware that our human impulse to answer quickly can get us in deep trouble with our families as well as the law.  When in doubt, the 5 most important words you can use are “let me think about it!”

 

John Protzko, Claire M. Zedelius, Jonathan W. Schooler. Rushing to Appear Virtuous: Time Pressure Increases Socially Desirable Responding. Psychological Science, 2019; 095679761986793 DOI: 10.1177/0956797619867939

 

#Impulsivity #lying #stress

Impulsivity, lying, stress

 

StressTriggersLying.mp4

 

 

More School, Fewer Alcoholics - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/fCEfcgUYoww

 

Nearly 4 extra years of education cuts a risk of alcohol dependence by 50%.  National Institutes of Health investigators draw this conclusion from their study of 780,000 participants.

 

The genetic markers linked to more education were not associated with less alcohol consumption but rather with less binge drinking, fewer memory gaps due to drinking, fewer drinks on average per drinking day, and a lower weekly intake of beer or hard cider.  Added education did link to more alcohol with meals and more wine consumption.

 

Our politicians now talk about extending public education to include 4 years of college or vocational training.  One benefit of these additional years after high school may be fewer Americans with alcohol addiction.

 

Rosoff et al. Educational attainment impacts drinking behaviors and risk for alcohol dependence: results from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study with ~780,000 participants. Molecular Psychiatry, 2019 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0535-9

 

#Highereducation #college #trades #alcoholism

Higher education, college, trades, alcoholism

 

More EducationLessAlcoholism.mp4

 

 

Breast Milk Crowd-Sourcing Can Be Risky - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Xf9BlYSw2zM

 

Breast milk is the best milk for your baby.  If you supplement your own with some from a friend, neighbor, or a co-op, you could be dangerously exposing your child to viruses, disease, dangerous drugs, or inappropriate medications.

 

Researchers at New York’s Northwell Children’s Medical Center surveyed 650 mothers.  Half of them had no concerns about the safety of informally donated breast milk, and 80% of those who did give it to their babies never medically screened the donors.

 

Mothers needing supplemental breast milk can obtain it from registered milk banks that do screen donors carefully. Failing that, formula is second best, but using it will not sicken or poison your infant.

 

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/Informal-Sharing-of-Breast-Milk-Gains-Popularity-Among-Women-Despite-Safety-Risks.aspx 

 

https://www.northwell.edu/news/banking-the-benefits-of-breast-milk

 

#Breastfeeding #milkbanks #breastmilk #crowdsourcing

Breastfeeding, milk banks, breastmilk, crowdsourcing

 

CrowdsourcingBreastMilkRisky.mp4

 

 

At What Age May A Child Be Left Home Alone? - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/m6M2lU9hcs8

 

A full 80% of child and family social workers would consider it parental neglect if a child under the age of 10 is left home alone.   Most considered it criminal neglect if a child under 12 left alone becomes injured.  

 

University of Iowa researchers report this conclusion after polling 485 pediatric social workers.  They remind us that more than 40% of pediatric injury-driven deaths are due to lack of adult supervision

 

Given these standards, the “Home Alone” parents would likely face criminal charges for accidentally leaving little Kevin behind.  He might even end up in a foster home if the relentless but inept home invaders actually harmed him.

 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191025075904.htm

 

#Homealone #parenting  #neglect

Homealone, parenting, neglect

 

HomeAloneAge.mp4

 

 

 

TVs and Cellphones Trigger More Sugar and Caffeine Consumption - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/gFWiaBxLy2k

 

Adding just one hour of TV or cell use each day bumps teen sugar and caffeine intake beyond World Health Organization guidelines.  Pediatricians at Canada’s McMaster University studied more than 32,000 US students from 8th through 10th grade.

 

The additional hour of TV bumped the risk of exceeding WHO sugar guidelines by 32% and caffeine guidelines by 28%.  The hour of cell use raised the risk of exceeding both sugar and caffeine limits by 14%.

 

Watching TV or talking on the cell distracts teens from what they put into their mouths.  Replace the soda and snacks on the side table with abundant ice cold water and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.

 

Kelly M. Bradbury, Ofir Turel, Katherine M. Morrison. Electronic device use and beverage related sugar and caffeine intake in US adolescents. PLOS ONE, 2019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223912

 

#TV #Cellphone #snacks #sugar #caffeine

TV, Cellphone, snacks, sugar, caffeine

 

TVCellUseUnhealthyEating.mp4

 

 

How To Problem Solve As You Sleep - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/lBODKtNNKqM

 

A happy tune is THE secret to unmasking solutions to your dilemmas as you get some ZZZs.  This remarkable discovery comes to us from Northwestern University psychologists.

 

Investigators tested 57 subjects presenting them with tricky puzzles the evening before sleep. Each puzzle was accompanied by a unique sound.  Then, as they slept, they heard the unique sounds of half the brain teasers.  The next morning, the participants were able to solve those puzzles whose sounds they heard while sleeping some 55% more efficiently.

 

If you have an nagging issue, try associating a tune with it.  Then play the song at low levels as you sleep.  You might just wake up with a brighter idea.

 

Kristin E. G. Sanders, Samuel Osburn, Ken A. Paller, etal.  Targeted Memory Reactivation During Sleep Improves Next-Day Problem Solving.  Psychological Science, 10/19; https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797619873344

 

#Sleep #problemsolving #creativity

Sleep, problemsolving, creativity

 

 

 ProblemSolveWhileSleeping.mp4

 

 

Online Gamers’ Health At Risk - Reprise

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/41B3FV_b1V4

 

Competitive electronic gamers risk eye, neck and back, wrist, and hand overuse disorders.  E-Sports medicine investigators at the New York Institute of Technology review current knowledge about the risks.

 

Esport athletes practice upwards of 10 hours a day.  Their eyes and hands make more than 10 moves a second.  

 

Some 56% of gamers develop blurry vision, low back pain, and muscle tension headaches.  Pain in the hand and wrist due to carpal tunnel inflammation and tendinitis develop in 30% of pro players.

 

Professional gaming and the devices used for practice and play must limit the frequency and duration of sitting, gazing, and hand motions.  Otherwise, players will face disability retirements at very young ages.

 

Hallie Zwibel, Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, Amanda DeFeo, Sheldon Yao. An Osteopathic Physician's Approach to the Esports Athlete. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2019; 119 (11): 756 DOI: 10.7556/jaoa.2019.125

 

#Egaming #blurryvision #backpain #headaches

egaming, blurryvision, backpain, headaches

 

EGamersHealth.mp4