Exercise and Mental Stimulation Can Improve Memory

Your computer has plenty of memory. Now, a Mayo Clinic study suggests you too may as well if you combine moderate exercise and mental stimulation such as computer use. In the study, people over 70 who engaged in both types of activity had less cognitive decline than those who took part in either exercise or mental stimulation alone. “A sound mind is a sound body” is a statement that’s been around for years, and essentially what this is saying is the truth. Exercise is important as well as diet and also mental stimulation.

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Rebound Headaches

It is called rebound headache.  What happens in rebound headaches is someone takes medications to treat headache and, essentially, they become so used to that medication that when they don't have it, they actually get a headache going through withdrawal without that medicine.  Rebound headache is a common problem, but it is one that is not diagnosed that often for the very reason that many people are not aware that this is an issue.  So, rebound headache is something that doctors often look at and know that it can be a serious issue.

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Long Flights Increase the Risk of Blood Clots

This is the time of year when families are traveling, and with flights to faraway places like Europe and Asia discounted, it’s more affordable than ever to travel the world. That’s why a recommendation by the World Health Organization is so important. They have recommended that passengers on long flights exercise their legs and resist taking sleeping pills. That’s to reduce the risk of potentially fatal blood clots. Although the danger of developing deep vein thrombosis, or DVT’s, in the form of a blood clot in the calves is small, it increases if people are immobile for long periods. The risk is one in 6,000, but that’s one in every 15 sold-out jumbo jets. When you think about it, that’s quite a risk. The important thing is to make sure you get up and walk around and, obviously, talk with your doctor to see if you’re at greater risk.

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Allergies May Be Linked to Depression

There is disturbing news from the University of Maryland.  Researchers have found that seasonal allergies might be associated with mood disorders, including depression.  We've long recognized the association between seasonal allergies and fatigue.  The latest report echoes what scientists found in 1999.  Back then, a study of 7,000 patients found people with hay fever were twice as likely to be diagnosed with major depression.  Why’s this the case?  Well, the latest theory is very technical.  According to researchers at the Association of Allergies and Scientific Analysis of Allergies, chemicals called cytokines are released in the nose during an allergic reaction.  This activates a chemical called indolamine 2, 3-dioxygenase that slows down serotonin production.  It's a chemical in the brain that is linked to depression. 

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Reducing Symptoms of Heartburn

Heartburn can be very difficult to treat. One of the problems with heartburn is the fact it is repetitive and it really can become annoying. Many people find that they ignore the symptoms. They try to change their foods. Doctors can tell you this much…there are several things that will make heartburn worse, including aspirin, alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. They clearly have an effect on heartburn. There are certain things to help reduce heartburn like raising the head of your bed because when you lay down heartburn can be worse.

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Preventing Muscle Mass Loss

You have probably noticed that as we get older we lose some of the muscle mass in our bodies. Over time, we can lose muscle mass in places like our arms, shoulders and legs. This is definitely true of many women and it’s a natural part of the aging process. But like most aspects of aging, you can do certain things to slow down the process. The most effective way to do this is with exercise and strength training. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have looked at this. They support the claims that strength training can have benefits for everyone.

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Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Rates

Diabetes is becoming a huge health issue in this country and the biggest reason is because of the problem of childhood obesity. Young children are more overweight, and as a result, diabetes is going to occur more commonly in them, and the problems associated with diabetes, at younger ages, and that is a key concern. One of the big issues we have is that people will have heart disease, obesity, and other related problems, including kidney problems, at earlier ages. It’s critical that we look into it and make changes.

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