You may have heard of BlackBerry thumb, well how about iPad shoulder?
It sounds painful and it can be, especially if you've been using an iPad or other tablet computer for a while.
These new conditions are a byproduct of our increasingly convenient technologies. BlackBerry thumb refers to the pain someone gets from texting too much. It's a repetitive type of injury. But now doctors are seeing more patients complain of shoulder and neck pain and finding out it's probably related to their tablet computer, or more specifically how they use that tablet.
Most of us hold the tablet either flat on a table or our laps, or vertically up in the air. Both of these positions can force you to use a poor posture and that can put a strain on your neck and shoulders. The longer you use the tablet the more that strain can grow.
Some things you can do to avoid this problem are to switch positions during the day when you're using the tablet. This will allow body areas to get a break every now and then. Also, when using a tablet, put it down every now and then and stretch out your neck and shoulder muscles. And although this might defeat some of the benefits of a tablet, using a keyboard can help as well. The main thing is to make sure your technology is helping you and not hurting you.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Chocking Game
You may not have heard of it, but chances are your kids have. And it's a game that can be deadly.
It's called the "choking game" or sometimes just "the game" and is exactly like it sounds. Someone chokes themselves, or has someone do it for them, to try and get a buzz. But that "game" has led to deaths. And unfortunately, according to a new study, more students are doing it than we thought.
Researchers from the Sam Houston State University found that almost 1 out of every 7 students surveyed had played this deadly game at one time or another. And on the average, most of them started when they were only 14.
What essentially happens is someone will try and choke themselves with their hands, or have someone else do it. That cuts off the blood supply to the brain and causes a very brief buzz. That buzz comes from brain cells not getting the oxygen they need. Unfortunately, this also led to fainting, seizures and convulsions and in some instances death. Sometimes, something wrapped around the neck or plastic bags over the head are used for the same reason.
What the survey did show was that oftentimes the main reason for playing this game was simply curiosity. Most had heard about it from their friends. So, talking to your kids about this game and its dangers is one key to making sure they don't end up getting hurt because of it.
It's called the "choking game" or sometimes just "the game" and is exactly like it sounds. Someone chokes themselves, or has someone do it for them, to try and get a buzz. But that "game" has led to deaths. And unfortunately, according to a new study, more students are doing it than we thought.
Researchers from the Sam Houston State University found that almost 1 out of every 7 students surveyed had played this deadly game at one time or another. And on the average, most of them started when they were only 14.
What essentially happens is someone will try and choke themselves with their hands, or have someone else do it. That cuts off the blood supply to the brain and causes a very brief buzz. That buzz comes from brain cells not getting the oxygen they need. Unfortunately, this also led to fainting, seizures and convulsions and in some instances death. Sometimes, something wrapped around the neck or plastic bags over the head are used for the same reason.
What the survey did show was that oftentimes the main reason for playing this game was simply curiosity. Most had heard about it from their friends. So, talking to your kids about this game and its dangers is one key to making sure they don't end up getting hurt because of it.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Allergic To Cold Weather
You've heard of people being allergic to all sorts of things. But can they actually be allergic to cold weather?
As odd as it sounds, people can truly be allergic to the cold.
Every now and then doctors see patients with allergic hives and can't quite figure out what is causing the obvious allergic reaction. After testing for the usual offenders, things like detergent, shellfish, nuts and animal dander, the doctor scratches his or her head and ends up treating the symptoms without being able to figure out the cause. And although the strangest things can seemingly cause an allergic reaction, including cold weather, it's been hard to pin down if this is a true phenomenon or not. Until now.
A new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine found a genetic mutation in people with this kind of allergy. In other words, they've found out it really does happen and now they know why.
Usually what happens is after being out in the cold weather for a few minutes, someone with this type of allergy will start getting itchy hives. In extreme cases they might even develop life-threatening reactions. The treatment is to warm up. To be safe, taking an antihistamine before going out in the cold weather can help. And keeping an Epipen, used to treat severe reactions, on hand when out in the cold is a potentially life-saving step.
As odd as it sounds, people can truly be allergic to the cold.
Every now and then doctors see patients with allergic hives and can't quite figure out what is causing the obvious allergic reaction. After testing for the usual offenders, things like detergent, shellfish, nuts and animal dander, the doctor scratches his or her head and ends up treating the symptoms without being able to figure out the cause. And although the strangest things can seemingly cause an allergic reaction, including cold weather, it's been hard to pin down if this is a true phenomenon or not. Until now.
A new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine found a genetic mutation in people with this kind of allergy. In other words, they've found out it really does happen and now they know why.
Usually what happens is after being out in the cold weather for a few minutes, someone with this type of allergy will start getting itchy hives. In extreme cases they might even develop life-threatening reactions. The treatment is to warm up. To be safe, taking an antihistamine before going out in the cold weather can help. And keeping an Epipen, used to treat severe reactions, on hand when out in the cold is a potentially life-saving step.
Playing Games Help Fight Alzheimer's
Playing games might be just what the doctor ordered. At least when it comes to avoiding Alzheimer's.
We are talking about mind games, things like Sudoku and chess. But even games like Angry Birds, that smartphone APP, might help keep you from getting Alzheimer's.
We've known for some time that both mind games and physical activity worked to keep the mind sharp as we get older. But now we know that the same things might also help keep the bigger problem of Alzheimer's at bay.
Research, just published in the Journal Archives of Neurology, found that those study participants that played more mind games also had less of the protein build up in the brain thought to cause Alzheimer's Disease.
According to these researchers, it didn't matter what types of games or mind activities someone used, just that they did them early and often. As a matter of fact, starting them in early and middle life seemed to offer the most protection from this protein buildup.
But no matter how young or old you are, it is really never too late to start picking up the game habit. So grab a puzzle or a smartphone game and start playing away. That might be one big step towards keeping your mind sharp.
We are talking about mind games, things like Sudoku and chess. But even games like Angry Birds, that smartphone APP, might help keep you from getting Alzheimer's.
We've known for some time that both mind games and physical activity worked to keep the mind sharp as we get older. But now we know that the same things might also help keep the bigger problem of Alzheimer's at bay.
Research, just published in the Journal Archives of Neurology, found that those study participants that played more mind games also had less of the protein build up in the brain thought to cause Alzheimer's Disease.
According to these researchers, it didn't matter what types of games or mind activities someone used, just that they did them early and often. As a matter of fact, starting them in early and middle life seemed to offer the most protection from this protein buildup.
But no matter how young or old you are, it is really never too late to start picking up the game habit. So grab a puzzle or a smartphone game and start playing away. That might be one big step towards keeping your mind sharp.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Acne & Overweight Girls
Acne is one of the tough parts of the teenage years. But overweight teen girls seem to have a higher risk of this than other teens.
Most of us can think back to our teen years and remember that acne breakout right before a big event, like the prom or school photos. And today's teens still have to work through this tough skin time period in their lives. But for overweight or obese teen girls, acne might be an even tougher issue.
Researchers recently questioned teenagers about their health and lifestyle habits. They found a connection between acne and weight for girls, but surprisingly not for boys. These researchers found that girls who were overweight or obese also reported more overall problems with acne.
But what the researchers didn't know was what was causing this connection. It's possible that overweight and obese girls have more self image issues, so pay closer attention to their skin issues as well. But it's also possible that being overweight causes hormonal issues that can make acne worse. Either way, getting weight under control, for both teenage boys and girls can go a long way towards improving their health. And it might also help improve their skin as well.
Most of us can think back to our teen years and remember that acne breakout right before a big event, like the prom or school photos. And today's teens still have to work through this tough skin time period in their lives. But for overweight or obese teen girls, acne might be an even tougher issue.
Researchers recently questioned teenagers about their health and lifestyle habits. They found a connection between acne and weight for girls, but surprisingly not for boys. These researchers found that girls who were overweight or obese also reported more overall problems with acne.
But what the researchers didn't know was what was causing this connection. It's possible that overweight and obese girls have more self image issues, so pay closer attention to their skin issues as well. But it's also possible that being overweight causes hormonal issues that can make acne worse. Either way, getting weight under control, for both teenage boys and girls can go a long way towards improving their health. And it might also help improve their skin as well.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Sitting & Depression
We tend to sit most of our days. But can sitting too much lead to depression?
It turns out that sitting, especially if you do it most of the day, can be bad for your health in more ways than one.
We've known for a few years that sitting too much during the day raises your chances of being overweight. And although exercise is important, it's the little fidgeting we do while standing during the day that really helps keep those extra pounds away. So, spending house sitting at work can lead to a bigger waistline.
But new research is showing that same long sitting time can also take its toll on your mental health. Scientists looked at more than 1,000 workers and compared how long they sat to how healthy they were and how well they felt. Turns out on average most of us sit more than 5.5 hours at our desks every day. And this study found the more people sat, the more they weighed. But surprisingly researchers also found the more people sat, the more problems they had with their mental well being. And the more people sat at work, the more they tended to sit at home as well, adding to the amount of "down" time they had, which can take an even bigger toll on their health.
But the solution is simple. If you can get a standing desk, great. But if not, taking breaks a few times every hour just to stand up and stretch can help. And instead of sending an e-mail or talking to an office worker on the phone, get up and make it a face-to-face conversation. That little step could help you look and feel better.
It turns out that sitting, especially if you do it most of the day, can be bad for your health in more ways than one.
We've known for a few years that sitting too much during the day raises your chances of being overweight. And although exercise is important, it's the little fidgeting we do while standing during the day that really helps keep those extra pounds away. So, spending house sitting at work can lead to a bigger waistline.
But new research is showing that same long sitting time can also take its toll on your mental health. Scientists looked at more than 1,000 workers and compared how long they sat to how healthy they were and how well they felt. Turns out on average most of us sit more than 5.5 hours at our desks every day. And this study found the more people sat, the more they weighed. But surprisingly researchers also found the more people sat, the more problems they had with their mental well being. And the more people sat at work, the more they tended to sit at home as well, adding to the amount of "down" time they had, which can take an even bigger toll on their health.
But the solution is simple. If you can get a standing desk, great. But if not, taking breaks a few times every hour just to stand up and stretch can help. And instead of sending an e-mail or talking to an office worker on the phone, get up and make it a face-to-face conversation. That little step could help you look and feel better.
Distracted Walking
You see them just about everywhere these days, earbuds and headphones. But wearing them might increase your chances of getting run over.
We are talking about the small buds or even larger headphones people use to listen to music. They fit nicely inside the ear and give you a great sound, but they also tend to block out any outside noise and that's where the problem comes in.
It's basically distracted walking and it's taking a bigger toll around the country than you'd probably think. A new study has found that the number of pedestrians seriously injured or killed while walking near roads or railways while wearing headphones or earbuds has tripled in the last 6 years alone. Although the numbers are still small, with only 47 deaths happening this way last year, that's still a big increase for the 16 occurring back in 2004 and 2005. This study, published in the Journal Prevention found that in some cases horns or even sirens were used before the pedestrian was struck.
We've heard recently about the issues with distracted driving, but now it looks like we need to concentrate a bit more on avoiding distracted walking. Something that unfortunately could prove fatal. But the solution is simple, turn down the volume and pay attention to what's going on around you, especially if crossing a street.
We are talking about the small buds or even larger headphones people use to listen to music. They fit nicely inside the ear and give you a great sound, but they also tend to block out any outside noise and that's where the problem comes in.
It's basically distracted walking and it's taking a bigger toll around the country than you'd probably think. A new study has found that the number of pedestrians seriously injured or killed while walking near roads or railways while wearing headphones or earbuds has tripled in the last 6 years alone. Although the numbers are still small, with only 47 deaths happening this way last year, that's still a big increase for the 16 occurring back in 2004 and 2005. This study, published in the Journal Prevention found that in some cases horns or even sirens were used before the pedestrian was struck.
We've heard recently about the issues with distracted driving, but now it looks like we need to concentrate a bit more on avoiding distracted walking. Something that unfortunately could prove fatal. But the solution is simple, turn down the volume and pay attention to what's going on around you, especially if crossing a street.
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