Forget counting sheep - therapy could help chronic pain sufferers get a good night’s sleep
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1jZQZpk
Tumor RNA in platelets may diagnose and classify cancer, identify treatment strategies
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1PWV5eA
Why Certain People Are More Likely to Cheat, According to Science
Blame it on the a-a-a-alcohol? Even better: Blame it on your alleles. (If you can't remember biology class, we're talking about your genes here.) As this new video from AsapSCIENCE reveals, one study found that 50 percent of people with the long allele version of the dopamine-receptor gene cheated on their partner, compared to 22 percent of people with the short allele.
Likewise, the gene controlling the release of vasopressin, a hormone affecting trust, empathy, and social bonding, also factors in. And so does your earning potential relative to your partner's—plus a whole host of other things. So while some risky business inclinations may stem from your DNA, it's usually not the only thing at play.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1PV3LlP
Reasons to Give Perfume As a Gift
from Health and Fitness:Beauty Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1KL022k
Practical 7 Day Diet Meal Plan
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1PUVJtg
You Are Losing Time And Cash On Doctor Visits
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1OdNw37
Computer-based modeling improves outcomes for infants in drug withdrawal
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1NFYSts
Achilles tendon ruptures missed in one of four cases, but surgery not needed for most
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1SdukkF
New imaging technique reduces risk in gallbladder surgery
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1RiHBHU
The right to say No: Compulsory treatment in psychiatric wards
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1Sdukkv
How I Lost 20 Pounds on a 2,500 Calorie Diet
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1GBQEmS
The Number One Diet Myth and How To Avoid It
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1PagjUL
Pregnancy antibiotics no cause for concern, study says
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1RivTgf
Self-injury: Raising the profile of a dangerous behavior
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1PZQreU
New thyroid cancer gene discovered
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1KKPmAV
Obese pregnant women who lose weight save money, have healthier newborns, study shows
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/20gbb6I
Researchers discover simple, affordable diagnostic kit for chikungunya
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1Pa4PAD
Treatment of severe acne hampered by antibiotic overuse, delays in prescribing more potent medication
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1MxHbz9
This Unexpected Combo Helps You Wake Up Fast
We know coffee naps sound like an oxymoron, but there’s actually science that says combining the two can make you more alert in the long run. As this Vox video explains, caffeine takes about 20 minutes to get to work, so if you can spend that time napping, you'll wake up feeling pretty fantastic. Even if you're a slow-to-get-to-sleep skeptic, no qualms: Just a few minutes of rest will help you feel more attentive when the coffee kicks in. Which is our way of saying, we'll be right back.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1PZIQgF
The 30-Minute Pilates Workout to Strengthen Your Core
Whenever you hit the gym, we bet you tack on a few extra minutes for some quick moves that target your core. It's a nice cool-down—and who doesn't want a strong stomach? But doing continuous crunches (and throwing in a plank or two) gets old fast.
That's why we're psyched about the latest Grokker video, which spends nearly 30 minutes focusing on building core strength through slow, controlled moves. You'll follow Pilates instructor Elaine Hayes through a routine that's intended for beginners, but easy to level up if you're looking for a challenge. The moves, such as slow sit-ups, glute bridges, cat-cows, and bird dogs, will make you feel the burn—and provide an awesome stretch for your entire body.
You don't need a thing for this workout, though a yoga mat might make it more comfortable. After you've done a warm-up, press play below to get started.
Interested in more short and effective at-home workouts? We have thousands waiting for you on Grokker, the one-stop shop online resource for wellness. Join Grokker today and get 14 days of FREE unlimited at-home workout classes.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1P1AHZG
'Tummy tuck' complications: Study looks at rates and risk factors
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1Od1Zwe
Tackling Dehydration - 3 Useful Remedies To Consider And 3 Basic Mistakes To Avoid
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1NF8yVa
To scratch an itch is a hairy problem
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1NEWQKn
100+ Healthy Meals Made in 15 Minutes or Less
After a long day at work, school, or really anywhere, just deciding what to eat for dinner can be challenging enough, so the last thing we want to do is spend an hour or so slicing, dicing, and waiting for a meal to cook. But grabbing takeout or tossing a frozen dinner in the microwave is hardly a better option (and definitely a less healthy one). The good news among all this doom and gloom? It is possible to throw together a satisfying, healthy (and even Instagram-worthy!) meal in no more than 15 minutes. And we've rounded up more than 100 easy recipes to prove it to you. Ready, set, eat!
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1NEWxPz
New guidelines aim to enhance accuracy of medical tests
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1ipCOrS
Styling Your Brazilian Hair Extension To Suit Your Face
from Health and Fitness:Beauty Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1P1hyHi
Top Things You Should Do To Achieve Healthier Living
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1Mm8d6j
The Least Disgusting Way to Use a Public Toilet, According to Experts
Picture this: You’re in a public restroom. You carefully lay down a strip of toilet paper, forming a protective shield between you and all the germs of the world. You’re a centimeter from sitting down... when the paper slips into the bowl.
Blergh, right? Well, there's good and bad news. First, the good: Public toilet seats are actually one of the cleanest places in the entire restroom. The bad news: Everything else can be pretty nasty.
The Germy Truth
“One of the cleanest spots is usually the toilet seat. A lot of people will wipe it all day, and [cleaners] tend to use disinfectants on it,” says Chuck Gerba, Ph.D., a professor of microbiology and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona.
So no worries if you make contact. Even if the person before you didn’t wipe it down, there’s no huge risk: Very few germs transmitted that way can make you sick, says Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health also at the University of Arizona. And even if they could, the porous toilet paper would basically do nothing to prevent it. (Comforting.)
The real threat lies beneath, Gerba says. “The germiest spot in restrooms is always the floor.” According to Gerba’s research, when the toilet flushes, it sends a spray of droplets into the air, which then settle onto any surfaces within six feet of the flush.1 Those droplets can be carrying bacteria from any fecal-borne diseases, like E. coli, norovirus, salmonella, or shigella.
All that can be avoided by closing the lid. The only problem: Public restrooms have by and large eliminated lids, Reynolds says. Which means the handle, the toilet paper dispenser, and even the little purse shelf are hotspots for bacteria to linger.
Your Action Plan
With all this horrifying news in mind, what’s the best way to avoid contracting a cold, flu, or fecal-borne disease next time you do your business?
1. Rely on paper towels.
Do what you need to do, then focus on the exit strategy, says Daniel Park, M.D., a pediatric emergency medicine physician at the Medical University of South Carolina. “I use a paper towel to turn on the faucet, I wash my hands with soap and water, I take another paper towel, and then I use that to turn off the faucet and open up the handles of the door.”
Yep, doorknobs and faucet handles are danger zones too, Reynolds says. They’re the first things we touch before washing our hands, and ironically, turning them off contaminates our hands all over again. So while paper towel-handling everything in the vicinity may look a little Michael Jackson-esque, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
2. Beware the flush.
If you see someone walking out of a stall, Reynolds recommends steering clear—the germs from their flush will probably still be in the air. When you're done doing the deed, get fully clothed and ready to go right before you flush. Your germs can't hurt you, but there could be residual germs in the bowl from the person who was there before you.
3. Sit, don't squat.
Reynolds says that even though paper toilet protectors serve no real purpose, she continues to use them. People are just more likely to sit (rather than hover) with a shield in the mix, which keeps actually-not-sterile urine where it should be, improving environmental hygiene and helping keep things clean.2
4. Protect your personal items.
Ever put your phone on the floor—just for a second? We have. But never again: As soon as your cell or purse hits that surface, it potentially becomes a carrier for that bacteria and spreads it wherever you put it down next, Gerba says.
As for your purse or bag, avoid placing it on the floor or the shelf, which accumulate the most germs, Reynolds says. Instead, hang it on the hook on the back of the door, which is better than having them in contact with the floor.
5. Wash your hands.
Of course, standard hygiene rules all, so make sure you're washing your hands for the recommended 20 seconds, Park says (one round of "Happy Birthday"). And if you're using your phone on the toilet—don't forget to disinfect.
The Takeaway
All in all, public restrooms aren't going to be the death of you. While the ick factor is definitely present, if you keep your hands clean (and avoid skin-on-fluid contact with an open wound, hopefully a given), you'll be fine. If you're still worried, invest in a pack of antibacterial wipes—for yourself, for your faucets, and most of all, for the bottom of your purse.
Works Cited
- Microbiological hazards of household toilets: droplet production and the fate of residual organisms. Gerba CP, Wallis C, Melnick JL. Applied microbiology, 1975, Nov.;30(2):0003-6919. Viral contamination of aerosol and surfaces through toilet use in health care and other settings. Verani M, Bigazzi R, Carducci A. American journal of infection control, 2014, May.;42(7):1527-3296.
- Urine is not sterile: use of enhanced urine culture techniques to detect resident bacterial flora in the adult female bladder. Hilt EE, McKinley K, Pearce MM. Journal of clinical microbiology, 2013, Dec.;52(3):1098-660X.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1M4zZso
Greatist Workout of the Day: Friday, October 30th
This series of GWODs was designed exclusively for Greatist by Bodeefit. For more information about the exercises in this workout, or to see video demos of each movement, follow the links below the graphic. Be sure to note the results of your workout so you can track your progress as you go.
Before you tackle this workout, try this quick and effective full-body warm-up. It's just five simple moves but hits every major muscle group and gets your heart pumping.
Furious 10
Complete as many rounds of the following as fast as is safely possible in 10 minutes.
10 Burpees
10 Lunges
10 Box Jumps
Want to kick up the intensity? Hold light kettlebells or dumbbells in both hands on the lunges. And don't forget to check back on Monday for a totally new (but equally awesome) GWOD!
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1PY7ZrU
Elements That Play a Role In Boosting Good Health
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1NbnCvv
Marital status linked to better functional outcomes following surgery, study finds
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1PTdpFy
Taking cholesterol medication before aneurysm repair improves outcomes
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1kWlOeK
No need to stop antidepressants before plastic surgery, evidence suggests
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1OaAqUa
New study sheds light on racial differences in trust of physicians
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1Gz14DC
Using The Law of Attraction To Lose Weight
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1M00SKA
Detection of proteins: We know how to build better locks for chemical keys
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1OaoeCZ
Single-agent phototherapy system offers significant new tool to fight cancer
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1jUyqCO
Greater support needed for pregnant transgender men
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1MkQmN9
Do hospitals tell patients about charity care options? Study finds room for improvement
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1LErvGU
Makeup Artist And One Thought On The Services Of The Artist
from Health and Fitness:Beauty Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1Oa3dsa
How to Avoid Weight Gain After Weight Loss Surgery?
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1Wl2IKO
Targeted therapy for gastric cancer possible
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1ke0wbN
How to Shed Off Weight in Easy Steps
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1M3joVL
Weight Loss - How To Cure A Night Of Overeating
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1WkcKvz
The Super Versatile (and Cheap) Skillet That Makes Cooking a Breeze
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
If you spend any time watching late-night infomercials, you’ve surely come across some product claiming to be the most versatile kitchen gadget out there. But nothing beats the good old cast iron skillet. You can use it to sauté, sear, fry, bake, or stir-fry on any cooking surface imaginable: Stick it in the oven and on stove tops, grills, and even campfires.
We’ve wanted to invest in one for years but struggled to find one that met all of our needs: reasonably priced, easy to clean, and big enough to cook for a crowd (even though we know most of the time we’d be using it to cook meals for one). The 10.25-inch skillet from Lodge Cast Iron checks all the boxes. At $25, it’s a steal—especially considering it’s impeccably seasoned and made from high-quality material in the U.S.A. Plus, cleaning the skillet is a cinch. Just wash, dry, and season with a little cooking oil. Best of all, we’ve used it to make everything from stir-fry for friends to personal pan pizzas. We’re starting to wonder whether we actually need all of those other pots and pans.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1SaPCPM
Greatist Workout of the Day: Thursday, October 29th
This series of GWODs was designed exclusively for Greatist by Bodeefit. For more information about the exercises in this workout, or to see video demos of each movement, follow the links below the graphic. Be sure to note the results of your workout so you can track your progress as you go.
Before you tackle this workout, try this quick and effective full-body warm-up. It's just five simple moves but hits every major muscle group and gets your heart pumping.
Squat, Sit, Dip
Complete 8 rounds of the following as fast as safely possible.
15 Air Squats
10 Bicycle Sit-Ups (per side)
5 Dips
Want to kick up the intensity? Hold a light kettlebell or dumbbell in front of your chest on the air squats. And don't forget to check back tomorrow for a totally new (but equally awesome) GWOD!
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1Wk1SxS
Opioid overdoses linked to higher prescription rates in British Columbia
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1P6rpdA
An Insight Into Weight Reduction Surgery
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/20aMY1Q
New growth charts developed for US children with Down syndrome
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1jRUu17
3-D pancreatic cancer organoid may help predict clinical responses, personalize treatments
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1LCrEKV
Gradually Change Your Life The Paleo Way
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1GxrJAK
Biodegradable implant could help heal broken bones
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1MiSzbY
Drug for digestive problem can extend survival for many advanced cancer patients
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1Xz4zyc
Diabetes identified as a risk factor for surgical site infections
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1PRcxRR
Heart CT scans outperform stress tests in spotting clogged arteries
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1NAYgW0
HIV care could save lives and billions of dollars, computer model predicts
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1MTXLn7
8 Reasons For Weight Gain
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1Hbl5uF
Association between breastfeeding, reduced risk of aggressive breast cancer
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1kaEwP3
Treatments offer hope for chronic fatigue syndrome
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1P52mY6
Brain imaging can predict success of large public health campaigns
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1kRJcdg
Great Weight Loss Tips for You
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1WiF3e0
Twitter offers valuable insights into the experience of MRI patients
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1HaU0YC
Radiotherapeutic bandage shows potential as treatment for skin cancer
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1GJ0hjh
How Daylight Saving Time Actually Affects You
The end of Daylight Saving Time is just on the horizon, along with our annual panic over which clocks switch automatically and which are manual (how much do you know, microwave?). But beyond that low-level stress, it turns out Daylight Saving Time can impact our health in both positive and negative ways.
Falling Back
The extra hour of sleep we get when Daylight Saving Time ends in the fall is a major boon for our chronically sleep-deprived society, says Wayne Andersen, M.D., co-founder and medical director of Take Shape For Life.
But it's only great if you can actually sleep that extra hour. Those of us with less-than-stellar sleep habits (like taking long late-afternoon naps or scrolling through Instagram in bed) won't reap the same benefits, says Teofilo L. Lee-Chiong, Jr., M.D., a sleep expert and professor of medicine at the University of Denver. "In fact, many people don’t—or can’t—take advantage of the extra hour due to the body’s circadian clock, and may wake up earlier than usual," Lee-Chiong says.
If you're one of those people, you can blame the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which acts as our central clock and regulates our body temperature, digestion, hormone release, and sleep-wake cycles. The SCN is programmed to work around daylight, so when we try and artificially override it, we're not always successful.
Falling back also means we have fewer daylight hours, which can lead to an uptick in the number of people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), Andersen says. "Research has shown that people with SAD feel better after exposure to bright light and greatly benefit from sunlight in the morning," Lee-Chiong says. "So during the fall and winter months, when we get less exposure to sunlight, it can be helpful for people with SAD to counteract the effects of lost sunlight with bright artificial light therapy."
Springing Forward
We're big fans of sleep (us and the rest of the world), so we've always struggled to see the benefits of losing an hour in early March. But the added sunlight does have its perks. "If there are more daylight hours, people are more likely to be out and moving around more, so their fitness levels may actually be enhanced," Andersen says.
The switch, however, comes at a cost. Studies have shown that losing an hour of sleep makes people tired and stressed out, which leads to a 24 percent increase in the number of heart attacks the Monday after Daylight Savings Time starts.1 And with more tired people, there are more car accidents on the road and decreased concentration and productivity at the office—a phenomeon aptly named "cyberloafing."2
The Takeaway
As with most things, Daylight Saving Time comes with benefits and drawbacks. Falling back can mean an extra hour of blissful sleep—if you can actually get the shut-eye. But it also means saying hello to darkness, our old friend, which can cut down our Vitamin D levels and usher in the season of SAD.
Come spring, losing an hour is hard on everyone. With one less hour of sleep, your body has less time to deal with stress and all of its implications.3 But with more daylight hours comes more time for physical activity and its health benefits (again, if you take advantage of it).
In general, it's not easy to hit reset on your circadian rhythm—or your microwave (but that's slightly less important).
Works Cited
- Daylight savings time and myocardial infarction. Sandhu A, Seth M, Gurm HS. Open heart, 2014, Mar.;1(1):2053-3624. Daylight saving time shifts and incidence of acute myocardial infarction--Swedish Register of Information and Knowledge About Swedish Heart Intensive Care Admissions (RIKS-HIA). Janszky I, Ahnve S, Ljung R. Sleep medicine, 2012, Jan.;13(3):1878-5506.
- The effects of daylight and daylight saving time on US pedestrian fatalities and motor vehicle occupant fatalities. Coate D, Markowitz S. Accident; analysis and prevention, 2004, Jul.;36(3):0001-4575.
Lost sleep and cyberloafing: Evidence from the laboratory and a daylight saving time quasi-experiment. Wagner DT, Barnes CM, Lim VK. The Journal of applied psychology, 2012, Feb.;97(5):1939-1854. - Associations between sleep and cortisol responses to stress in children and adolescents: a pilot study. Capaldi Ii VF, Handwerger K, Richardson E. Behavioral sleep medicine, 2006, Feb.;3(4):1540-2002.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1OYnyAO
Lose Weight in 7 Days on the Raw Food Diet Plan - Tips and Tricks to Succeed
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1RBiLmg
What To Do With Leftover Pumpkin
from Health and Fitness:Beauty Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/20a1CX6
5 Tips to Weigh the Same in January As You Did in September
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1P4HRuP
Greatist Workout of the Day: Wednesday, October 28th
This series of GWODs was designed exclusively for Greatist by Bodeefit. For more information about the exercises in this workout, or to see video demos of each movement, follow the links below the graphic. Be sure to note the results of your workout so you can track your progress as you go.
Before you tackle this workout, try this quick and effective full-body warm-up. It's just five simple moves but hits every major muscle group and gets your heart pumping.
The 7s Workout
Complete 7 rounds of the following as fast as safely possible.
7 Explosive Push-Ups
7 Lateral Burpees
7 V-Ups
Want to kick up the intensity? Just move faster. And don't forget to check back tomorrow for a totally new (but equally awesome) GWOD!
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/1k8SrFs
Medication dose needed for general anesthesia varies widely: Some patients may require less anesthesia
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1N6y2fC
Soothing words do more than pills to calm anxious patients
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1H9gnNW
Surgical patients should stay on cholesterol medications to reduce risk of death
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1N62JBF
Qualities To Look Out For In A Beauty Salon
from Health and Fitness:Beauty Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1Wg5EOf
Weight Loss Methods That Can Be Effective
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/1N5D8c1
Limited use of general anesthesia with an infant does not cause developmental problems for the child, study shows
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1LVMAKK
Standard phenotypes will aid in genetic research on neuropathic pain
from Today's Healthcare News -- ScienceDaily http://ift.tt/1LVRRCe