Not getting a good night's sleep could be fueling marital arguments. But you might be surprised at who it seems to affect the most.
If you don't get a good night's sleep you can be irritable the following day. And that can have an impact on just about everything you do. But a new study shows that when a wife doesn't get a good night's sleep, it can affect the marriage for both partners. In other words, as the saying goes "when mama's not happy, nobody's happy".
Researchers found that when women took longer to fall asleep the night before they ended up having poorer interactions with their husbands the next day. As you can imagine, being tired can make small things that might otherwise seem a little funny become frustrating and annoying. And that can lead to a little marital conflict.
Surprisingly, when husbands got less sleep it actually made for a happier marriage. Although the researchers involved in this study aren't sure why, they think it might be because when the husband isn't getting sleep it's most likely because of nighttime interactions in bed, whereas when the wife can't sleep it's because she is worrying about work, the family or even the marriage.
So, one key to a good marriage is making sure you get a good night sleep. If your partner is keeping you awake, because of snoring or tossing and turning, talk with them about it. In some cases there might even be a medical problem, like sleep apnea that can not only affect your marriage but your spouse's life as well.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Bathroom Dangers
We all use it everyday, but it's a more dangerous place than you probably think. We're talking about your bathroom.
Why? How about over 200,000 reasons. That's how many adults go to the ER every year after getting hurt in their bathrooms. But, there are some easy fixes you might not have thought much of.
For most of us, a bathroom is a bathroom is a bathroom. However, if you think about it, there are plenty of things in your bathroom that could cause you to fall or hurt yourself. Number one, is the fact that after a shower or bath, surfaces get wet and slippery and with all the heat you can get a little dizzy. Add to that, all the hard surfaces in a bathroom that you can strike if you fall. And that's how the majority of bathroom injuries happen.
It happens to all age groups. Younger adults tend to slip and fall getting in and out of the shower or bath. Older adults tend to get hurt more using the toilet.
Simple bathroom additions can help keep these injuries to a minimum. Quick fixes like non-slip surfaces and bathmats can help keep that area safe. But, most experts say that your best bet, regardless of how young or old you are, is to install grab bars in and near the shower or bath. That way, you'll make the one place we all visit everyday as safe as possible.
Why? How about over 200,000 reasons. That's how many adults go to the ER every year after getting hurt in their bathrooms. But, there are some easy fixes you might not have thought much of.
For most of us, a bathroom is a bathroom is a bathroom. However, if you think about it, there are plenty of things in your bathroom that could cause you to fall or hurt yourself. Number one, is the fact that after a shower or bath, surfaces get wet and slippery and with all the heat you can get a little dizzy. Add to that, all the hard surfaces in a bathroom that you can strike if you fall. And that's how the majority of bathroom injuries happen.
It happens to all age groups. Younger adults tend to slip and fall getting in and out of the shower or bath. Older adults tend to get hurt more using the toilet.
Simple bathroom additions can help keep these injuries to a minimum. Quick fixes like non-slip surfaces and bathmats can help keep that area safe. But, most experts say that your best bet, regardless of how young or old you are, is to install grab bars in and near the shower or bath. That way, you'll make the one place we all visit everyday as safe as possible.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Children Too Wired?
Are children too wired into technology these days?
How about---on the average---75 hours each week? Seems like a lot, but that’s how much time children are spending using electronics, which means less time doing the things kids need to do---just run around.
According to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average 8- to 18-year-old kid spends 2 ½ hours a day listening to music, around 5 hours watching TV or movies and 3 hours on the Internet or with video games. And this doesn’t include the time they spend texting or talking on cell phones. Compare that to the 38 minutes each day they spend just doing old fashion reading.
But even smaller kids are affected. A separate study found that kids 2 to 5 are better at using computers and cell phones then they were at some of what we consider basic life skills, tying a shoe, learning to swim or knowing how to ride a bike.
So, are these kids too wired in today? Probably? But many parents and some experts agree that learning technology is important for these children’s future. However, it should be balanced with other basic life skills. Plus, disconnecting from the online world can get kids outside this summer more and that can help not only keep them fit but also allow them to socialize in an unstructured way with others during this important developmental period.
So, your best bet is to simply limit how much time they can be online, on the phone or watching TV. You might be met with protests at first but your children will have tons of fun this summer doing what children do best, just running around.
How about---on the average---75 hours each week? Seems like a lot, but that’s how much time children are spending using electronics, which means less time doing the things kids need to do---just run around.
According to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average 8- to 18-year-old kid spends 2 ½ hours a day listening to music, around 5 hours watching TV or movies and 3 hours on the Internet or with video games. And this doesn’t include the time they spend texting or talking on cell phones. Compare that to the 38 minutes each day they spend just doing old fashion reading.
But even smaller kids are affected. A separate study found that kids 2 to 5 are better at using computers and cell phones then they were at some of what we consider basic life skills, tying a shoe, learning to swim or knowing how to ride a bike.
So, are these kids too wired in today? Probably? But many parents and some experts agree that learning technology is important for these children’s future. However, it should be balanced with other basic life skills. Plus, disconnecting from the online world can get kids outside this summer more and that can help not only keep them fit but also allow them to socialize in an unstructured way with others during this important developmental period.
So, your best bet is to simply limit how much time they can be online, on the phone or watching TV. You might be met with protests at first but your children will have tons of fun this summer doing what children do best, just running around.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Cell Phones & Cancer Link
The link between cell phones and cancer has been feared for some time now. Today, the World Health Organization announced the link is possible.
5 billion cell phone subscriptions are estimated worldwide. The WHO says radiation from those phones could cause cancer. That puts cell phones in the same category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. That goes against what we've been told before.
The WHO assured consumer no adverse health effects had been established. However, a team of scientists who reviewed studies on cell phone safety, are being more cautious.
The doctor who headed the research team, said in a statement released by the WHO, "The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk."
Mobile phone use is in its relatively early stages. It's only been popular for the last 15 years. The chief of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai says it may take sever decades of exposure before we know more about potential consequences. There's a real concern here among experts. The European Environmental Agency is pushing for more studies, saying cellphones could be as big a public health risk as asbestos and smoking.
The cell phone industry maintains there is no conclusive proof of danger. For now, experts suggest using a headset or speaker phone to avoid possible health risks.
5 billion cell phone subscriptions are estimated worldwide. The WHO says radiation from those phones could cause cancer. That puts cell phones in the same category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. That goes against what we've been told before.
The WHO assured consumer no adverse health effects had been established. However, a team of scientists who reviewed studies on cell phone safety, are being more cautious.
The doctor who headed the research team, said in a statement released by the WHO, "The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk."
Mobile phone use is in its relatively early stages. It's only been popular for the last 15 years. The chief of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai says it may take sever decades of exposure before we know more about potential consequences. There's a real concern here among experts. The European Environmental Agency is pushing for more studies, saying cellphones could be as big a public health risk as asbestos and smoking.
The cell phone industry maintains there is no conclusive proof of danger. For now, experts suggest using a headset or speaker phone to avoid possible health risks.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Let Kids Be Kids To Stay Healthy
It's summertime and that means more time for the kids to find something to do. But it seems... sometimes it's just a good idea to let them hang out.
By hanging out, I mean getting outside and doing what kids to best, just running amok. That will keep them in better shape than any program around.
To fight childhood obesity, a recent study is showing that what your kids need most is "unstructured" activity. And they've even narrowed it down to how much does them good. For those between the ages of 5 and 17, they need up to 90 minutes a day.
So, for many of us parents, that also means showing your child the door. That doesn't mean going to a friend's house for video games. In this study, children that were the most active also ended up with the healthier numbers for blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin. That's not a big surprise. What might be though is that this applied to all children, whether they were obese or thin as a rail.
And again, this didn't mean having them join a guy or hop on a treadmill. They simply need to do what they do best... play... run around like you did when you were a kid.
These researchers found out that physical activity for children doesn't need to be intense, like playing soccer or tennis, but instead just small bouts of activity, like running around with friends, can do the trick.
What this and other studies are showing is that it's the little things that count, and for the young ones that means just playing like kids tend to do anyway once you pry them away from the computer or TV.
By hanging out, I mean getting outside and doing what kids to best, just running amok. That will keep them in better shape than any program around.
To fight childhood obesity, a recent study is showing that what your kids need most is "unstructured" activity. And they've even narrowed it down to how much does them good. For those between the ages of 5 and 17, they need up to 90 minutes a day.
So, for many of us parents, that also means showing your child the door. That doesn't mean going to a friend's house for video games. In this study, children that were the most active also ended up with the healthier numbers for blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin. That's not a big surprise. What might be though is that this applied to all children, whether they were obese or thin as a rail.
And again, this didn't mean having them join a guy or hop on a treadmill. They simply need to do what they do best... play... run around like you did when you were a kid.
These researchers found out that physical activity for children doesn't need to be intense, like playing soccer or tennis, but instead just small bouts of activity, like running around with friends, can do the trick.
What this and other studies are showing is that it's the little things that count, and for the young ones that means just playing like kids tend to do anyway once you pry them away from the computer or TV.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Protein Breakfast
You might have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But what you eat for breakfast can go a long way towards helping you stay slim.
Besides just "breaking the fast," breakfast, especially a high protein one, can keep you from getting over hungry during the day.
For years scientists have told us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It not only gives us a boost of energy when we need it the most, right after waking up, but has also been shown to keep you from eating too much during the day. And we've also known that skipping breakfast can lead to unhealthy snacking during the day and to overeating.
But a researcher out of the University of Missouri has found that a high protein breakfast in particular can make you feel fuller and help reduce hunger pangs throughout the day. In this study the worst offenders----"breakfast skipping" teenagers were given different types of breakfast and MRIs were taken of their brains to see how they responded. The ones eating high protein breakfast, in this case Belgian waffles, syrup and yogurt had the part of their brain activated that controls our food motivation.
So, at least according to this latest study, not only do you want to make sure you eat breakfast every day, but you'll also want to make sure it's rich in proteins---an easy way to help in the battle of the bulge.
Besides just "breaking the fast," breakfast, especially a high protein one, can keep you from getting over hungry during the day.
For years scientists have told us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It not only gives us a boost of energy when we need it the most, right after waking up, but has also been shown to keep you from eating too much during the day. And we've also known that skipping breakfast can lead to unhealthy snacking during the day and to overeating.
But a researcher out of the University of Missouri has found that a high protein breakfast in particular can make you feel fuller and help reduce hunger pangs throughout the day. In this study the worst offenders----"breakfast skipping" teenagers were given different types of breakfast and MRIs were taken of their brains to see how they responded. The ones eating high protein breakfast, in this case Belgian waffles, syrup and yogurt had the part of their brain activated that controls our food motivation.
So, at least according to this latest study, not only do you want to make sure you eat breakfast every day, but you'll also want to make sure it's rich in proteins---an easy way to help in the battle of the bulge.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Cholesterol Testing For Kids
We all know high cholesterol can be bad for you, but when is it time to start getting tested? It's probably earlier than you or your children think.
It'll probably come as a surprise to most of us but a new group of experts is now recommending that children as young as 2 get tested for cholesterol.
Many of us suffer from high cholesterol. Untreated it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Up until now it's mostly been thought of as something adults needed to worry about. But over the past years we've noticed heart attacks and strokes in younger adults and more children with high cholesterol.
And since cholesterol is one of those things that takes its toll over time, getting treatment started early on is the key to keeping it from causing problems later in life. The National Lipid Association has issued new guidelines aimed at getting children tested for cholesterol. The new guidelines call for all children to be tested for high cholesterol when they are 9 to 11. They go one step further and say that if your family has a history of early heart disease than your children should be tested as early as age 2.
Although these are just guidelines, they do point to a growing problem with obesity and high cholesterol in our young children. A problem that if not treated early on, hopefully through improved diet and exercise, can lead to cardiovascular problems in early adulthood.
It'll probably come as a surprise to most of us but a new group of experts is now recommending that children as young as 2 get tested for cholesterol.
Many of us suffer from high cholesterol. Untreated it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Up until now it's mostly been thought of as something adults needed to worry about. But over the past years we've noticed heart attacks and strokes in younger adults and more children with high cholesterol.
And since cholesterol is one of those things that takes its toll over time, getting treatment started early on is the key to keeping it from causing problems later in life. The National Lipid Association has issued new guidelines aimed at getting children tested for cholesterol. The new guidelines call for all children to be tested for high cholesterol when they are 9 to 11. They go one step further and say that if your family has a history of early heart disease than your children should be tested as early as age 2.
Although these are just guidelines, they do point to a growing problem with obesity and high cholesterol in our young children. A problem that if not treated early on, hopefully through improved diet and exercise, can lead to cardiovascular problems in early adulthood.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)