Are you always the unlucky one in your family or group of friends who seems to get waylaid by a cold — again and again? Why me — you ask yourself. Well, here’s an interesting article that takes a look at the various factors that make you more vulnerable to getting a cold. It’s a combination of factors, really. Your genetics, your past exposure to various cold viruses and the luck of the draw — were you in the wrong place at the wrong time and grabbed a shopping cart just used by someone with not-so-good nasal hygiene?
You might also like to take a look at a slightly older article on the link between immunity and exercise. Researchers found that people who exercised five days a week for at least 20 minutes had 40 percent fewer days of illness compared to those who only exercised one day (or less) each week. Yes exercise just keeps racking up the benefits — but keep in mind that genetics and being next to one good sneeze can still send the sniffles your way.
It’s no secret — in general, American children consume too much added sugar. Processed foods, and most notoriously soda, have plenty of added sugars. The two most common added sugars are sucrose and high fructose corn syrup (but these sugars have a variety of different names as well). Plenty of researchers are examining the connection between added sugars, obesity and diabetes II. Now, new research indicates that an abundance of added sugars in a teen’s diet can lead to heart problems in later life.
According to the report in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association,” teens who consumed the most sugar had significantly less “good” cholesterol (and more “bad” cholesterol) than those who consumed the least added sugars. This can put teens on a path for greater risk of cardiovascular disease as they age.
It’s a good idea to monitor your family’s sugar intake. However, it’s not always easy to tell how much added sugar a product contains because manufacturers have a lot of different names for those added sugars. This list of pseudonyms for added sugars, from the Harvard School of Public Health, can help. More details on the added sugars research can be found at http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/01/12/132814924/for-teens-too-much-sugar-can-be-a-heartbreaker.
Between the ages of 40 and 65? Then you’ll certainly be interested in Barbara Strauch’s new book, “The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Age Mind.” The book includes the latest research from neuroscientists and psychologists, and questions many of the myths surrounding our aging brains — decaying brain cells, empty-nest syndrome, middle-age crises, forgetfulness. The book examines all of these topics and more. And it offers some wonderful insights — that middle-aged people tend to use both sides of their brain, rather than just one side (typical of younger people), as we reorganize our brain to get the job done. That our brains become better at adapting. That challenging our frontal cortex by engaging with people and ideas that challenge us is really a “good thing.” And we’re better at problem-solving. Watch the interview. Read the book. And savor your abilities at every age.
Find yourself stuffed up, sneezing, with watery eyes and a runny nose? At this time of year, most people assume that these symptoms are indicative of a cold. But if you have a Christmas tree in your home, they could be signs that you suffer from pine tree allergies. If you are allergic, simply smelling the tree, touching the tree or even inhaling fragrant pine oils can make you have an allergic reaction.
The symptoms can be
- a red, itchy rash
- hives or blisters
- itchy and watery eyes
- sneezing
- itchy mouth and throat
- cough
- runny and/or stuffy nose
- asthmatic reaction
Do you have pine allergies? Your doctor can answer that question with a skin or blood test. Also, think back - do you typically have these symptoms each year when your Christmas tree is brought inside? Do you have similar symptoms during spring pollination?
If you find you are allergic to pine, your physician can suggest over-the-counter or prescription medications that help alleviate the symptoms. If you suffer from a rash, hives or blisters, calamine lotion or cortisone creams usually help.
An aspirin a day? Perhaps not. But a recent study offers compelling new evidence that the anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin can play a role in preventing death from cancer. The new research indicates that aspirin taken on a regular basis — especially by those in middle age — may help prevent death from non-smoker lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
According to an NPR report, “Deaths from adenomatous lung cancer were cut 30 percent, those from colorectal cancer 40 percent, and those from prostate cancer 10 percent.”
While the American Cancer Society hasn’t yet endorsed the taking of aspirin, the research is worth paying attention to. Taking aspirin regularly is not recommend for everyone, so be sure to speak to your doctor before doing so.
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