|
Each month we feature one full
article from the current issue of the WELLNESS LETTER, plus our
Ask the Experts column, in addition to brief summaries of the
other articles, listed below.
Who Needs Alzheimer’s
Testing?
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America holds a “memory-screening day” each
November. Many community groups now offer tests for memory problems. Some doctors
already routinely test people over 65, usually with questionnaires. There are
also tests to help you diagnose yourself. People have a wide range of memory
problems, not all of them leading to Alzheimer’s, and tests may detect
some of them. The drum is beating in the media and among some researchers for
universal screening, beginning as early as age 50. Would you—and the world
you live in—be better off if Alzheimer’s could be diagnosed early,
and if you and your relatives were tested? Full
Story
Fats in the Balance
Most people know about omega-3 fatty acids, the polyunsaturated fats in fish
(and some plants) that help protect the heart and may have other benefits.
Some research suggests, however, that it isn’t just the amount of omega-3s
that’s important, but also their pro-portion to omega-6 fatty acids.
These are another type of polyunsaturated fat, found in many vegetable oils
(notably corn, soybean, sunflower, and safflower) and foods that contain
these oils, such as margarines, salad dressings, baked goods, and processed
snacks. It’s hard enough to sort out “good” from “bad” fats.
Do you also need to focus on the ratio between fats?
The U-Shaped Curve of Happiness
The pursuit of happiness is an inalienable right, according to the Declaration
of Independence. Happiness, good health, and wealth are often partners—which
is just one reason economists, physicians, and statisticians study happiness.
But pursuing happiness is different from having it. Investigators from the
University of Warwick in England and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire now
tell us that the road is likely to get rocky in midlife—whatever your
circumstances and wherever you live.
Not for Women Only
Osteoporosis, characterized by thinning bones and increased risk of fractures,
is not just a woman’s disease. It’s estimated that 2 million
American men have it (compared to 8 million women), and another 12 million
are at elevated risk. In fact, up to one-third of all hip fractures in the
U.S. occur in men. And as life expectancy for men increases, more men will
develop it. Here is what men need to know about bone health.
Sorry, Charlie
Tuna sushi, popular in Japanese restaurants and some food markets, recently
made nationwide headlines when tests done for the New York Times found very
high levels of mercury in it. We put the story in perspective.
The Well-Tempered Canine
Several million Americans are bitten by dogs every year, causing hundreds of
thousands of them to go to the emergency room or seek other medical attention.
Many more bites go unreported. A dog you know, including your own, is as
likely to be the culprit as a stray, and young children are more often the
victims. Here are some basic rules, plus advice on how to live stay safe.
Tee Time
We discuss the benefits of golf, and provide basic advice on how to get started.
A Hands-on Lifesaver
If you don’t know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), should you learn
it? Yes. Each year, as many as 400,000 Americans go into cardiac arrest—that
is, the heart stops suddenly due to an electrical problem triggered most often
by a heart attack, but also possibly by other heart conditions, stroke, near-drowning,
or severe electrical shock. You never know when it will happen. It’s
especially important to learn this lifesaving technique if you have a family
member with heart disease. After all, about 80% of cardiac arrests occur at
home.
ASK
THE EXPERTS
Our readers ask: Does
decaf have the same benefits and risks as regular coffee? Are self-tanning
lotions safe? Is Greek yogurt different nutritionally from regular
yogurt? Is inversion therapy good for my back? Full
Story
WELL & INFORMED
Tips, Short Takes, and Other News You Can Use
Music and exercise . . . unusual injuries.
WELLNESS TIPS
• Combining
certain antidepressants and pain relievers increases your risk
for gastrointestinal bleeding. The antidepressants include Prozac
(fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), and other
so-called SSRIs.
If you have diarrhea after consuming “sugar-free” foods, check
for sorbitol in the ingredient lists. This sweetener, often used in “diet” candy,
gum, or ice cream, can cause gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea in large
doses.
• Another reason
why women should maintain a healthy weight: The more body fat
they have, the more likely they are to have hot flashes and night
sweats during menopause, according to a new study of middle-aged
women.
• Strengthening
your neck and shoulder muscles may help reduce chronic neck pain,
concludes a new study. Women office workers who had pain in the
muscles that move the shoulders and arms and started to do neck
and shoulder exercises (20 minutes, 3 times a week, for 10 weeks)
had marked reductions in pain even weeks after they stopped exercising.
• Adding lemon
helps preserve tea’s antioxidants, according to a study
from Purdue University. Tea—particularly green tea—is
rich in catechins, antioxidants linked to reduced risk of heart
disease and cancer.
• Temporary
henna tattoos are not always harmless. Some can cause allergic
skin reactions, even scarring, according to several reports in
medical journals and complaints filed with the FDA. The culprit
is rarely the henna itself, but rather para-phenylenediamine
(PPD, also known as coal tar), another ingredient in tattoos.
|
