During the summer, many of us participate in outdoor sporting events - Marathons, charity runs/walks, cross-country bike rides. In rare cases, people unused to exercise - or even well-trained athletes participating in a grueling endurance event - can experience rhabdomyolysis, a serious syndrome that results when muscle fibers break down and are released into the bloodstream. In these cases, rhabdomyolysis is caused by extreme muscle strain.
Waking up with a “Charlie Horse” in the middle of the night can certainly be unpleasant. And it’s something that is often more frequently seen in the warmer months. Why? Because for some people leg cramps are a result of dehydration that can be caused by hot days, sun, exercise and a lack of liquids. When your body’s electrolytes are depleted, the result can be cramps - more commonly in the legs and feet.
Other causes of muscles cramping include:
- Diuretic drugs that can result in dehydration or a depletion of sodium or potassium.
- Overusing muscles that you haven’t exercised in a while.
- Prolonged sitting.
- Imbalance in calcium levels caused by parathyroid disease. This usually causes cramping in the hands or arms.
- Medications taken to reduce cholesterol or stomach acid. Birth control pills, antipsychotics and steroids can lead to cramping as well.
- Flat feet.
If you experience muscle cramping regularly, it’s a good idea to visit your physician. In most cases, your health care provider will examine your medication history and run blood tests to check your potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium levels. A thyroid function test may be run as well.
To prevent cramping stay well-hydrated, exercise often, and stretch your muscles often. Also avoid drinks with caffeine, as well as alcoholic beverages that tend to dehyrdrate your body. It’s a good idea to eat foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium as well. Some people find that milk (for the calcium) or a daily vitamin B complex can help prevent cramping.
The obesity epidemic that currently plagues American youth has many far-reaching repercussions. Not only is it leading to an increased risk and rate of diabetes and kidney disease, but it’s also associated with arthritis. New research shows that 1 in 5 young adult Americans (ages 24-32) has high blood pressure — and many of them don’t even realize they do. That complicates things because if the youth is unaware of the condition, they can’t take steps to improve their health. The new survey that revealed these results followed a group of kids ages 12 - 19 starting in 1995. When these youngsters were first being tracked, 11% of them were obese. Just five years later, 22% of them were obese. By 2008, 37% of them were obese and another 30% were overweight — for a total of 67% of this group. It is an alarming trend — and they’re only in their early 20s.
It’s up to parents and children to reverse this trend. Limit computer and video game time. Encourage outdoor recreation that gets your kids moving. Eliminate soda and limit sweetened drinks. Eliminate fast food, or cut back severely. Remember parents, you are the role model for your child. And while it may be difficult to make fresh meals and get kids to eat their fruits and veggies, consider the consequences on your child’s long-term well-being if you do not. Hypertension. Diabetes. Arthritis. Kidney disease. The list goes on and on. And researchers are seeing these conditions in youth who are only in their early 20s.
According to new research, caffeinated and non-caffeinated coffee can help prevent the most deadly form of prostate cancer. The results from Harvard University’s research are pretty impressive. Researchers followed 50,000 men for 20 years. Of those numbers, 5,000 men got prostate cancer and over 600 got the most deadly form of it. What the researchers found is that the men who drank the most coffee were most likely to get the deadly form of prostate cancer — their risk was 60% less than men who didn’t drink coffee. Men who drank at least 6 cups of coffee daily had a 60% risk reduction; those who drank 3 cups had a 30% reduction.
Researchers also noted that they saw the same results whether the coffee was caffeinated or decaffeinated. Thus, caffeine is not the beneficial ingredient. Other research has shown that coffee can help prevent Parkinsons’ Disease, diabetes and liver disease. Coffee is an anti-oxidant that can help lower insulin levels.
Of note, the study also found that weekly exercise (walking 2-3 times a week was sufficient) also reduced the risk of dying from prostate cancer — by 50%.
Yes, kids are full of energy - it’s one of the benefits of being young. Yet today children are increasingly consuming so-called “energy” drinks. It’s estimated that 77% of children regularly ingest caffeine-laden soda, energy drinks and other products with “hidden” caffeine - such as hot chocolate, coffee ice cream, certain teas/iced teas and dark chocolate. The problem is, most parents and children are not aware that caffeine can have detrimental side effects on youth and children.
According to the Caffeine Awareness Association, children who consume caffeine regularly can suffer academically because they’re unable to focus and are more fidgety. If they consume too much caffeine, children can exhibit ADHD-like symptoms, feel nauseas, have difficulty sleeping and even experience heart arrhythmias.
Follow Us
