My Choices News Update

MASTER CLASS: Exercise for all, regardless of access to resources “One of my favorite aspects of health and wellness is the fact that it’s a universal concern. Every human on the planet is faced with health-related decisions each day. But there are socioeconomic factors that affect certain people more than others, ultimately resulting in poorer health outcomes for the less fortunate. This week, I’ll discuss the “Social Determinants of Health” and how they affect different populations. I’ll also introduce an exercise designed to challenge anyone — regardless of their access to health resources.” Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills: U.S. Health Care Is Causing Patient Burnout “You haven’t been feeling well lately. You’re more tired than usual, a bit sluggish. You wonder if there’s something wrong with your diet. Or maybe you’re anemic? You call your primary-­care doctor’s office to schedule an appointment. They inform you the next available appointment is in three weeks.” For healthy aging, your relationships are more important than diet or exercise “Investing in meaningful relationships isn’t just a nice-to-have, according to new research, doing so could save your life. In a new study published in General Psychiatry, researchers found that satisfying relationships with friends, loved ones, and work colleagues are linked to a lower risk of developing multiple chronic diseases in older age—at least among women. But the less satisfying the relationships were, the higher the risk of developing long-term conditions, according to the study. Influential factors, such as income, education, and health behaviors, only partially explained the findings.” Glen Dale Elementary School creates an “ecosystem of care” through mindfullness “GLEN DALE, W.Va. (WTRF) – Sometimes, we all just need to take a deep breath and the families of Glen Dale Elementary know just how to calm their stress. Glen Dale Elementary School hosted their first ever Mindfulness Family Night as an extension of their integration of mental health and self-care at school, that Principal Cain says has greatly impacted students over the past few years.” Study finds spinal cord stimulation may restore arm and hand mobility after stroke “In a small study, researchers used a device that stimulates the spinal cord to restore arm and hand mobility in two stroke patients, allowing them to perform daily life activities, such as using a fork to eat a meal. The study, published in Nature Medicine(link is external), was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies®(BRAIN) Initiative.” INTRAVENOUS MISTLETOE EXTRACT SHOWS PROMISE AS CANCER THERAPY IN SMALL STUDY “While the phase I trial was meant to evaluate the drug’s safety, Johns Hopkins researchers also documented improved quality of life and some disease control among study participants with advanced and treatment-resistant cancers.” Optimizing nutrition before surgery can help to improve outcomes for patients “The days leading up to a surgery can be unnerving, and many patients don’t know how to properly prepare, either mentally or physically. A new initiative at UCLA Health that is focused on pre-surgery nutrition aims to change that.” 10 small but impactful nutrition changes that can benefit your health, according to dietitians “If you’re interested in starting a new diet or changing up your nutrition, consider implementing a few smaller, progressive changes rather than jumping into a full-on restrictive diet. Not only will the incremental adjustments allow you to try a few different options, but you’ll have a better idea of what specifically works best for you, too.” NAP HAPPY Billions of Google users can unlock secret ‘sleepy’ feature that tired people need to try “Google has a “breathing exercise” timer also known as a meditation timer and it’s easy to access.” What kind of workspace suits you best? It may depend on your personality “Where we work has a big influence on how we work—our productivity and our fundamental well-being. But a new study emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating an ideal office space, and an employee’s personality may matter for what kind of space works best.”