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Author db1595 Categories Women's Health Articles Leave a comment

Only 8% of Women Know When To Start Getting Heart Screenings

BY JENAE SITZES

The American Heart Association recommends that women begin getting screened at age 20, but most women don’t consider going until decades later.

Considering that heart disease is the number one killer of women, you’d think we’d be talking about it a lot more. But women aren’t just avoiding the conversation—they’re avoiding heart screenings until it may be too late.

A new national survey by Orlando Health found that 60 percent of women thought heart screenings don’t need to begin until after age 30; the average age women believed they should start is 41. That’s two full decades later than the age the American Heart Association recommends women start getting screened: 20 years old. Only 8 percent of women knew screenings should begin in their 20s, although very few realized it was at age 20.

“This is a wake up call that there needs to be more education on heart health and more aggressive screenings to prevent a small issue from developing into life-threatening conditions,” Dr. Carolina Demori, a cardiologist who leads the Women’s Cardiac Center at the Orlando Health Heart Institute, told Science Daily. “Women can begin developing atherosclerosis, plaque in their arteries, in their teens and early twenties. Therefore, it is vital to understand risk factors and make appropriate life changes as early as possible.”

Beginning at age 20, women should get screenings that include weight and body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol levels, glucose levels, and waist measurement, all of which can be hidden signs of heart disease, according to the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center. Women should talk to their doctors about an electrocardiogram (EKG) to uncover any existing heart conditions. And a knowledge of your family’s history of heart disease and diabetes is also helpful for prevention—you can do genetic testing for this if you’re not sure.

“Often women are too busy taking care of others that they don’t take control of their own health,” Demori said. “It’s extremely important to work on your health so you can be present for the ones you love.”

She emphasized that expanding educational efforts to children and young women is key. “Young people need to know what heart disease is and how they can prevent it, so they grow up with this knowledge and understand the preventative steps they need to take. Women cannot wait until they’re 40 to start paying attention to their risk factors,” Demori said.

In addition to heart screenings, Demori reminded people that a healthy diet and regular exercise is always a winning combination. Even walking is proven to help prevent heart disease.

“You don’t have to participate in vigorous exercise. You can start by just walking, but it’s extremely important to get into a routine of being active at least 30 minutes a day, at least 5 times a week,” Demori said. “The more you do, the more benefit for your heart.”

http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/womens-health/a58380/women-age-heart-screenings/

 

Author db1595 Categories Health Stories, Men's Health Articles, Women's Health Articles Leave a comment

Lack of Exercise Kills 5 Million People Every Year


Published by: Collin Image

ACT NOW: Don’t be one of them. Experts recommend an hour of exercise every day, especially if you sit 8+ hours a day.

A study of one million people has found that physical inactivity costs the global economy $67.5 billion a year in healthcare and productivity losses, and that an hour a day of exercise could eliminate most of that.

Sedentary lifestyles are linked to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes and cancer, researchers found, but activity – such as brisk walking – could counter the higher likelihood of early death linked with sitting for eight or more hours a day. Such inactivity is estimated to cause more than 5 million deaths a year – not much less smoking which kills 6 million a year – according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Money and economy aside, imagine the toll it must take on individuals and families – both emotional and physical.

Giving details of their findings at a briefing in London, the international team of researchers warned there has been too little progress in tackling a “pandemic of physical inactivity.”

Ulf Ekelund, a professor at the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences and Cambridge University, said that WHO recommendations for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week was probably not enough. (A quarter of adults worldwide do not meet even the WHO’s recommendations.)

“You don’t need to do sport or go to the gym … but you do need to do at least one hour a day,” – said Ulf Ekelund, professor at the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences and Cambridge University – giving “walking at 5.6 km an hour (km/h)” or “cycling at 16 km/h” as examples of what was needed.

People who sat for eight hours a day but were otherwise active had a lower risk of premature death than people who spent fewer hours sitting but were also less active.

The greatest risk of premature death was for people who sat for long periods of time and did not exercise, according to the findings, published in The Lancet on Wednesday.

In another of the series of four studies, researchers estimated healthcare costs and productivity losses for five major diseases linked to lack of exercise – heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast cancer and colon cancer – cost $67.5 billion globally in 2013.

Melody Ding of the University of Sydney, who led this part of the research, said the costs occur largely in wealthier countries, but as poorer countries develop, so too will the economic burden of chronic diseases linked to inactivity.

Author db1595 Categories Men's Health Articles Leave a comment

Poverty Takes Bigger Toll on a Man’s Health If He’s Black: Study

MONDAY, July 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) —

While being poor raises the odds of dying early for American black males, it doesn’t seem to have the

FAC066MH same impact for white males, a new study suggests.

One expert who’s long researched health disparities wasn’t surprised by the finding.

“The fact that poverty in African Americans can be considered a life-threatening ‘disease’ emphasizes the urgent need for society to increase their health care access opportunities,” said Dr. Liron Sinvani. She is an investigator at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y.

Sinvani was not involved in the new study, which was led by Dr. Alan Zonderman of the U.S. National Institute on Aging.

In its research, Zonderman’s team tracked data on more than 3,700 black and white men and women aged 30 to 64. All of the participants were involved in a major national study on “healthy aging,” conducted between 2004 and 2013.

The investigators found that the risk of dying during the study period was more than twice as high for black men living at low incomes — at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level — compared to black men living above the poverty level.

However, this income-linked difference was much less significant for white men, the researchers found. Among white males, those living below the poverty line had roughly the same risk of dying over the study period as those living above that income level.

Why would race make a difference in the relationship between income and life span? Zonderman’s group speculated that having less education, lower income and poorer job prospects might all play a role in this racial disparity.

For her part, Sinvani called the impact that race and poverty has on black men’s health “a critical issue, not only for health care providers but also for our society.”

The study was published online July 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

SOURCES: Liron Sinvani, M.D., geriatric hospitalist, North Shore University Hospital and investigator, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, N.Y.; U.S. National Institute on Aging, news release, July 18, 2016

HealthDay
Copyright (c) 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
News stories are provided by HealthDay and do not reflect the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or federal policy.
Author db1595 Categories Men's Health Articles Leave a comment

Leading Causes of Death Among Men Can Be Prevented

Many of the leading causes of death among men can be prevented. Here’s what you need to know to live a longer, healthier life.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Do you know the greatest threats to men’s health? The list is surprisingly short. The top causes of death among adult men in the U.S. are heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is that a few lifestyle changes can significantly lower your risk of these common killers.

Take charge of your health by making healthier lifestyle choices. For example:

  • Don’t smoke. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit. It’s also important to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution and exposure to chemicals (such as in the workplace).
  • Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods and lean sources of protein, such as fish. Limit foods high in saturated fat and sodium.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Losing excess pounds — and keeping them off — can lower your risk of heart disease as well as various types of cancer.
  • Get moving. Include physical activity in your daily routine. You know exercise can help you control your weight and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. But did you know that it may also lower your risk of certain types of cancer? Choose sports or other activities you enjoy, from basketball to brisk walking.
  • Limit alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. For men, that means up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger and one drink a day for men older than age 65. The risk of various types of cancer, such as liver cancer, appears to increase with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you’ve been drinking regularly. Too much alcohol can also raise your blood pressure.
  • Manage stress. If you feel constantly on edge or under assault, your lifestyle habits may suffer — and so might your immune system. Take steps to reduce stress — or learn to deal with stress in healthy ways.

Don’t wait to visit the doctor until something is seriously wrong. Your doctor can be your best ally for preventing health problems. Be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations if you have health issues, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes. Also, be sure to ask your doctor about when you should have cancer screenings and other health evaluations.

Another common cause of death among men are motor vehicle accidents. To stay safe on the road, use common sense. Wear your seat belt. Follow the speed limit. Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or any other substances, and don’t drive while sleepy.

Suicide is another leading men’s health risk. An important risk factor for suicide among men is depression. If you have signs and symptoms of depression — such as feelings of sadness or unhappiness and loss of interest in normal activities — consult your doctor. Treatment is available. If you’re contemplating suicide, call for emergency medical help or go the nearest emergency room.

Understanding health risks is one thing. Taking action to reduce your risks is another. Start with healthy lifestyle choices — eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, quitting smoking and getting recommended health screenings. The impact may be greater than you’ll ever know.

Aug. 17, 2013

Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/mens-health/ART-20047764

Author db1595 Categories Women's Health Articles Leave a comment

5 Ways to Build Each Other Up

June 23, 2016 • By Dr. Nancy C. Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health — Women’s Health and Director, Office on Women’s Health

We make decisions that affect our health all day long — when to go to bed, how many drinks to have, whether or not to exercise, and so on. Our choices are often influenced by the people around us. For example, if your partner wants to skip the gym, you might want to follow suit. Think about how much easier it would be to make the healthy decision if the people around you were making that choice, too. When it comes to our health, a little support can go a long way!

A man and woman exercising togetherIt’s Men’s Health Month — the perfect time to team up with a man in your life to make healthy choices together. Grab your partner, roommate, friend, or father and commit to building each other up. So often our health rises and falls with those around us, so try these five tips to help you make smarter choices together:

  • Sync up your workouts. Physical activity has so many health benefits, including improving sleep, reducing stress, and lowering your risk for some serious diseases. It can be easier to stick to your workouts if someone is holding you accountable. You can walk, run, hike, or bike together. If you like different activities, set aside time on both of your calendars so that you do them at the same time. You can even start a friendly competition to see who can log more steps, miles, or minutes. And if you can do some of your workouts together, that can have the additional benefit of togetherness.
  • Cut back on alcohol. You know that if you drink, you should do it in moderation. But did you know that theDietary Guidelines for Americans defines moderate drinking as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men? To put that in perspective, a regular bottle of wine has five glasses in it. It can be easy to get carried away, especially if the other person is indulging, so decide to cut back together. Plan for alcohol-free nights and, when you do drink, savor it and sip slowly. It’ll save you a lot of added calories.
  • Say “no” to tobacco — together. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Quitting is the best thing you can do for your health. But there’s no denying that it’s hard work. It’s even tougher for those trying to quit around someone else who smokes. Find your reasons for quitting together, whether it’s wanting to be healthier, saving money, or protecting those around you. Then come up with a plan for quitting. What works for one of you may not work for the other, and that’s okay. The key is to support each other and to hold each other to your shared goal of being smoke-free.
  • Snack smarter. It’s easy to forget about the snack you munch on in front of the TV or the cracker-and-cheese appetizer you eat while making dinner. But those calories add up, and they often don’t offer many nutrients. Come up with ways to snack healthier together. Instead of eating snacks right out of the bag or box, put them in a small bowl. You can also try swapping sugary or salty snacks with healthier, lower calorie options like fruits and vegetables. Cut up your vegetables ahead of time so that they’re ready to go when you need a pick-me-up. Don’t have time to prep? That’s okay — buying a premade vegetable tray is always a good option. Get more healthy eating tips.
  • Talk about your health. Talk openly and honestly about your goals so you can help each other reach them. It’s also important to talk about any health concerns you may have. Encourage the man in your life to take his symptoms seriously and to get regular care — even if he feels fine. If one of you hates going to the doctor, schedule your checkups for the same day and go together. Preventive care helps you stay healthy for the long run and catches problems early when they’re easiest to treat.

These are just a few ways that you and an important man in your life can inspire each other to improve your health together. Start small and set realistic goals. Remember, every day is a new opportunity to make healthier choices than you did the day before, so start today. Team up for a longer, healthier life!

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