Individuals with genetic predisposition for physical activity have fewer cardiovascular risk factors
“In a study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä’s Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, it was found that individuals with a genetic predisposition for higher levels of physical activity have fewer risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and a reduced risk of developing hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes.”
Surviving the time switch: How falling back an hour impacts more than just your sleep
“VILLANOVA, Pennsylvania — The clocks changed over the weekend and even though we gained an hour of sleep, the fall time change is not a universally easy transition. “Most people adjust relatively well, but there are some that struggle with it more than others,” explained Shilpa Kauta, M.D., the medical director of the ChristianaCare Sleep Wellness Center in Newark, Delaware. “Sleep is a cornerstone to our health and our wellness, just like nutrition and exercise.””
Tips for safely exercising in the cold
“CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Whether you’re running for a good cause or just to get your body moving, doctors say there are some steps you should take to prepare for exercise in cold weather. Jeffrey Ham, a doctor of sports medicine at Atrium Health, says planning is the most important thing.”
3 Ways to Build an Organizational Culture That Supports Mental Health
“Employers and managers are increasingly focused on the mental health needs of their workers, and for good reason. In the last decade in the U.S., there has been a consistent increase in anxiety and depression, especially among young adults. According to a survey conducted by KFF/CNN in 2022, half of American adults under the age of 30 and one-third of adults overall reported that they often or always felt anxious in the last year. A 2023 Gallup poll found that one-quarter of American adults under 30 indicated that they currently have depression, a significant rise from the 13% reported in 2017. In a Business Group on Health survey of 152 large employers in the United States, 77% indicated an increase in mental health issues among their workforce during 2023.”
Brain Health Took a Hit During the COVID Pandemic
“Brain health deteriorated more rapidly for people 50 and older during the COVID-19 pandemic, data from the PROTECT study in England suggested. Across the entire cohort of 3,100 people, both executive function (effect size 0.15) and working memory (effect size 0.51) worsened during the first year of the pandemic, according to Anne Corbett, PhD, of the University of Exeter in England, and colleagues.”
What doctors wish patients knew about seasonal affective disorder
“When the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, millions of people find themselves grappling with the “winter blues.” This is known as seasonal affective disorder, which is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. Emerging primarily during the fall and winter months when sunlight exposure decreases and clocks fall back, seasonal affective disorder can take a toll on a person’s daily life. Knowing what to keep in mind and when to seek help can make all the difference during fall and winter months.”
Workplace Wellness Policies Could Soften the Effects of Workaholism, Study Suggests
“Alexandria, Va. (November 7, 2023) — Employers should consider more ways to facilitate time off for the employees who are least likely to take it — workaholics. That’s the conclusion of counseling experts who conducted a workaholism study published in Career Development Quarterly, a journal of the American Counseling Association.”
Can Mindfulness Help You Cope with Grief Initiated by Living with Chronic Conditions?
“”Mindfulness is not a cure, rather it’s a means of coping with chronic illness and bringing your body back into the present.””
SF health officials’ 5-year assessment of soda tax: sweet success
“Five years after the initiation of San Francisco’s sugary drinks tax, city leaders and medical experts are feeling bubbly. “We all know taxes are generally not a popular thing, right?” said Dr. Grant Colfax, the director of the Department of Public Health during a Tuesday presentation. “But the important thing is this happened. And it is improving public health.””
Publisher’s Platform: It is past time to vaccinate food service workers against Hep A
“The CDC has been reporting on an ongoing person to person outbreak of Hepatitis A for years. Since the outbreaks were first identified in 2016, 37 states have publicly reported the following as of October 6, 2023: Cases: 44,915, Hospitalizations: 27,445 (61%), Deaths: 423. Now, the CDC has just reported : Preventable Deaths During Widespread Community Hepatitis A Outbreaks — United States, 2016–2022 Hardly a week goes by that there is not yet another announcement of a hepatitis A positive employee putting co-workers, customers and the restaurant brand at risk. There have been illnesses, deaths, thousands of customers have had to stand in long lines to get preventative vaccines, some restaurants have shuttered and there certainly have been lawsuits. All preventable by a hepatitis A vaccination – the only foodborne illness that is vaccine preventable.”
