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POPSWomen Hit Hardest By Economic Stress Data from the American Psychological Association's new 2008 Stress in America Survey shows that, compared to men, women are more stressed about money (83 percent vs. 78 percent), the economy (84 percent vs. 75 percent), job stability (57 percent vs. 55 percent), housing costs (66 percent vs. 58 percent) and health problems affecting their families (70 percent vs. 63 percent). Women ages 44 and up are most likely to report the economy as a major source of stress. Experts say that if Americans continue experiencing these high levels of stress for extended periods of time it could up their risk of developing serious illnesses. In other words, stress begets stress!
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POPSQuestioning the Executive Physical's Value All of the big hospitals these days offer executive physicals -- comprehensive medical exams geared toward keeping companies' C-suiters in tip top shape. But ,in an article in The New England Journal of Medicine this week, Dr. Brian Rank with HealthPartners Medical Group and Clinics of Minnesota argues that they're bad for health care. As the Chicago Tribune's Judith Graham highlights in her blog (the article itself is not open to the public online), Rank points out that more, costlier exams are not necessarily better for people. Given how many Americans are uninsured or struggling to afford basic health-care expenses, these extravagant physicals are also a waste of resources that could be spent on much-needed preventive services. I wonder how far this argument will go with top executives, though, who can opt for one of these physicals annually, usually at no cost to them?
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POPSNestle Drinks Hit The Beauty Counter Nestle has begun selling a beauty drink alongside cosmetics at Neiman Marcus stores, according to BeverageDaily.com. The site reports that the company is going after consumers who have beauty on the brain with the product, a low-calorie nutraceutical containing vitamins, botanical and fruit extracts. It claims to fight the signs of aging from the inside. On its Web site, Glowelle.com, Nestle claims that after 30 days of use, 89% of 45 women said their skin looked younger. Additionally, 94% felt happier and more beautiful. If the product takes off, you can expect to see some changes in the offerings of the cosmetic section of your local department store in the near future.
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POPSWhat Fish Are You Really Eating? Detective work by two sushi-loving high school students has shown that New York sushi restaurants and seafood markets are mislabeling their products - often selling cheaper species as more expensive varieties. The duo used a simplified genetic fingerprinting technique to look at the fish DNA and uncover the truth. The study was small, involving just 60 samples, but it's likely that these few restaurants and grocery stores aren't the only ones in on the game. Considering how many people are turning to fish these days for its health benefits, and the fact that those can vary from species to species, this should raise concern.
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POPSObese Alabama State Employees Will Pay Alabama's State Employees' Insurance Board has approved a plan to charge state workers starting in January if they don't have free health screenings, according to the AP. Should the screenings turn up serious blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose or weight problems the employees have a year to turn things around or start paying $25 for insurance that's otherwise free. Alabama already charges workers who smoke but obesity is an even bigger problem for the state, which is ranked second in terms of national obesity rates. To be fair, the state will offer employees access to a wellness program to help them. But you have to wonder - is an extra bill of $25 a month really going to get people to change their bad habits and/or start paying attention to their health? It'll be interesting to find out.
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POPSHospitals, Clinic Win Healthcare Beauty Pageant If you're headed to the hospital or another healthcare setting, you probably aren't thinking much about the building's design. Leave that to the American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture for Health, which announced the recipients of its design awards this week. Among the winners are a hospital in South Korea that lets in lots of natural light; a cancer clinic in Arizona that uses its natural landscape to promote healing; a hospital in China that locates infectious patients downwind and offers them serene garden views' and a New York facility with design features reflective of nature that create a calm patient experience.
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POPSNutritionists Frosty to Phelps Much has been said in the past couple of weeks about Olympian Michael Phelps' calorie-packed, fat-laden diet. Now, news has come out that instead of endorsing Wheaties, like so many Olympians in the past, Phelps will be promoting Frosted Flakes, a cereal containing three times as much sugar. Nutritionists aren't happy about the idea, considering that the message isn't a great one for a nation of kids with weight problems. Talk of Phelps' diet is also confusing a lot of adults, who don't understand why it's ok for him to down so many egg sandwiches, no matter how much he swims. For a good explanation, check out nutrition expert Andy Bellatti's blog, Small Bites: http://smallbitesnutrition.blogspot.com/2008/08/you-ask-i-answer-michael-phelps.html
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POPSEat Organic - But Not For Better Nutrition Go ahead and buy that organic apple if you want. Just don't think you're getting more nutrients out of it than an apple grown with the aid of pesticides. According to a new study by researchers out of the University of Copenhagen organic foods aren't any more nutritious. That may come as a surprise to shoppers worldwide who have grown the organic food and beverage market into a multi-billion dollar industry. Of course, if it's pesticides you're trying to avoid, organic food is the smart way to go. For help determining which foods tend to carry the highest pesticide loads and are your best bets for buying in the organic version, check out the Environmental Working Group's wallet friendly food list: http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php
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POPSA Cafe To Grow Old In QSR's Web site is highlighting a unique concept that's popped up in Chicago - a chain of cafes that caters to the elderly by basically offering day-long early bird specials, among other options, as well as health and wellness resources. Developed by the Chicago-based nonprofit Mather LifeWays, Mather's - More Than a Cafe has a Starbucks-like environment that aims to be hip and engaging -- exactly what health experts say the aging population needs to keep their minds in shape. Customers of all ages also can play Nintendo Wii, take a yoga class or learn how to take care of their finances. The best part? No Bingo!
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POPSNew Data Shows U.S. Fertility Trends The Census Bureau released a new report on fertility in America this morning, showing some interesting results. First off, the data says that 20% of women in their early 40s were childless in 2006, twice the percentage reported in the 1970s. It also suggests that the majority of new moms have or had careers and many of them graduate or professional degrees -though it doesn't detail how many women returned to work or quit to be stay-at-home moms. In terms of state-by-state comparisons, the numbers also show that moms in D.C., Mississippi and North Carolina were the most likely to have never married.
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POPSNortheast States Praised for Allergy Policies The Asthma and Allergy Foundation has given top marks to Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey for having policies that support kids with asthma and allergies in school. The group estimates that more than 5 million children in the U.S. have asthma and 2.2 million have a food allergy. States were graded based on their efforts to institute 18 policies, including those that protect students' access to their medications, promote the development of emergency protocols for dealing with asthma and anaphylaxis episodes and ban tobacco use in schools. Those states with the lowest rankings include South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming and Oklahoma.
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POPSThe 'Healthy' Office Of The Future In recent years companies have been putting a lot of time, effort and money into encouraging their employees to get fit and, more important, cut health care costs. But does the next step include a re-engineering of the typical office? It could happen sooner than you think. Dr. James Levine, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, is reporting that after six months, 18 employees in an office with walking tracks, desks attached to treadmills and games lost 156 pounds - an average of eight pounds each. Perhaps even more interesting - despite the lack of traditional desks and seating - no productivity was lost and revenue, in fact, rose.
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POPSSynthetic Turf Declared Safe for Play The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has given the green light for children to play on synthetic athletic fields after evaluating the risks of potential lead exposure. The group noted that while lead was detected on some older fields - confirming parents' fears - it didn't reach levels that would cause harm to kids. But take note: CPSC still recommends that children wash their hands after playing outside, especially before eating. Just in case.
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POPSBenefits of Longer Doctor Visits Questioned We've heard over and over again that doctors today are spending an average of 7 to 11 minutes with patients. And it's always implied that this is a bad thing. But a review of studies in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library shows that patients don't necessarily get a whole lot more out of slightly longer consultations with their physicians. The patients didn't even feel more satisfied following the longer visits, according to the research.
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POPSSales Workers Top Employees in Distress Workers in sales, those putting in 60 hours or more per week and those with jobs considered untraditional for their genders had the highest rates of psychological distress, according to a new study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The study, which surveyed more than 60,000 Australian workers at 58 different companies, measured distress by asking questions about how often people felt sad, nervous, hopeless etc. Overall, the study shows that there's a high rate of psychological distress among workers. It's hard to know if this is a growing problem or one we've just become more recently aware of but it shows that a lot more people than you might expect aren't coping well with the daily grind.
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POPSCarbs Are Back, Again Just when you thought that the craze over carbs was over, the LA Tiimes is reporting that the food industry may have found a new angle to dwell on: the health benefits of carbs with 'resistant starches'. Found in navy beans, green bananas and whole-grain breads, these starches contribute to the production of fatty acids and colon health. They may also help lower cholesterol levels and aid in weight loss. The only problem is you may have to eat a lot of these foods to get the health benefits. Pass the bread!
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POPSPresidential Strokes Interesting factoid: Almost a quarter of the nation's presidents suffered strokes, according to Loyola University Hospital neurologist Dr. Jose Biller. It makes a lot of sense considering that strokes are more common in men and, according to the American Heart Association, your chances of having a stroke doubles for every decade of life beyond age 55. A poor diet and physical inactivity can also play roles. Check out my article examining the negative health effects of running for president, too: http://www.forbes.com/health/2008/02/25/health-hazardous-campaign-forbeslife-cx_avd_0225prezhealth.html
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POPSHeart Healthiest Places To Live... The American Heart Association says Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco are the three most heart healthy U.S. metros for women. Down at the bottom of the list are Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis and Detroit. The comprehensive ranking took into account 22 different factors that affect women's heart health, ranging from exercise to high blood pressure. So what does this mean for you? In terms of trends, the list shows that if you're a woman living in the South or Midwest you may have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. The experts say the problem in these regions is due to all too many fast-food joints, a tendency to drive rather than walk and high smoking rates. Do you live in one of these cities? What do you think - is this an accurate description? Are you particularly worried about heart disease?
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POPSThe New Side Effect Of Watching TV Researchers at Boston University's School of Public Health have determined that the dust on our TVs is the largest source of chemical flame retardants, traces of which are found in most Americans. Scientists are concerned about the synthetic chemical because it's been shown to harm the nervous system and alter the hormones and development of reproductive organs of animals. The most common type has also been linked to cancer in lab rats. While it's always a leap to apply findings from animal studies to humans, this is an interesting finding and one most people probably never considered. If it's got you worried, researchers suggest frequently washing your hands and dusting your house to combat the problem. If you're tempted to get rid of your TV, consider that the move will likely lead to environmental contamination and that flame retardants can travel lengthy distances in the air and water.
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POPSYour Energy Expenditure... The EPA wants to know why you are or aren't biking to work on its blog. It's a decent question. Personally, I'm terrible on a bike and probably wouldn't make it to work in one piece- not to mention I'd be a sweaty mess. But it would be a great way to fit in a workout without taking extra time away from my family and would relieve me of the stress of running to catch the latest possible subway train. Plus, I could stop worrying about fare hikes. But, unfortunately, I don't see myself making the change any time soon. What's your excuse? http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2008/05/12/qotwbikingtowork/
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POPSIn Sickness And In Health This is how you know the country is really facing a health-care crisis. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey is showing that 7% of Americans have themselves or know someone who has gotten married in the last year to get health insurance. I know that health insurance obviously can play a big role in whether people leave or keep their jobs but I had no idea that benefits were affecting major life decisions, like when to get married. Hopefully these insurance carriers also cover the cost of marital counseling.
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POPSEyeing A Recession The latest way to tell we're in a recession, according to the NYTimes article, is a drop in the number of Lasik eye surgeries being performed. Apparently the surgery's stats also took a dip during the last recession. With the procedure still costing up to $3,000 an eye, it's easy to see why people might back off during tough economic times. Interestingly, though, the ASPS recently reported that the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in 2007 was up 7% over 2006. Why would people still want a face lift but not Lasik?
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POPSSugary Breakfasts Boost Boy Births I thought the idea that you could do anything to influence the sex of your child was just a myth. But AFP is reporting on a study today that shows women on low-energy diets are more likely to give birth to girls. Want a boy? Eat at least one bowl of breakfast cereal a week, as well as a wide range of nutrients, according to researchers from the University of Exeter in Britain. I'm very curious about just how big a role diet can play here. Anybody have any anecdotal evidence that supports or shoots down this theory? Do you think women will really start eating more cereal just to up their odds of having a boy?
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POPSCancer Survivors=Couch Potatoes? What does it take to get people to adopt healthy lifestyles? According to this HealthDay article, surviving cancer is not the wake up call you might think. While research has shown that eating well, exercising and generally watching your weight can prevent the recurrence of cancer, a new study to be published in the journal, Cancer, found that less than a quarter of cancer survivors are regularly physically active. I don't know about you but I'm consistently amazed at how much people dislike exercise/physical activity... These people have faced life-threatening illnesses and most of them still don't want to get up off of the couch.
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POPSNo, Not Fat-Free, BPA-Free It's been a day since the US Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program released a draft evaluation of bisphenol A, acknowledging that the chemical may pose a health threat to infants and children. And as the NY Times reported yesterday, the Canadian government is likely about to declare the chemical, commonly used in plastic baby bottles and cans (food and soda), toxic. Not surprisingly, I'm already getting pitches about BPA-free products, which are sure to see a boost in sales in the coming months. As a new mom and a health reporter, I became aware about many researchers' concerns about BPA last year while working on a story. I have to admit that it frightened me. Whatever the truth is about how big a threat BPA poses, I'm guessing few parents want to risk their babies' health while waiting for further study results. These days, a BPA-free label means a whole lot more to me than most nutrition labels.
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POPSThe New Stroke Predictor Older women who walk slowly are not only likely to be in worse shape than their faster counterparts - they're also apparently at a greater risk of stroke, according to this Reuters report. Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York found that the higher stroke risk remained even after excluding women with health conditions that would have slowed them down. Experts suggest that a slow walking pace may signal that a person has small areas of brain tissue damage, indicating blood flow impairment - but not quite at the level involved during a stroke. Of course more studies will need to be done to confirm this link but what an interesting find. It could make for a simple test that might show women their risks and help them make necessary lifestyle changes. I wonder if it would work for men, too?
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POPSThe Upside to Rising Food Prices It turns out there may just be an upside to the rising cost of food, according to this NYTimes articles. Not only do higher prices have the potential to make people realize fast food isn't such a bargain -- but they also could help turn the public onto organic and locally grown foods. These items apparently aren't experiencing the same kinds of price hikes. I guess if you're standing in the grocery store staring at three types of milk and they're all expensive, buying the organic, DHA-fortified variety won't feel like such a splurge.
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POPSWho's The Daddy? Ever thought your child looks a little too much like the mailman? Confirming your child's paternity is now as easy as taking a trip to your local Rite Aid - and, according to this Philly Inquirer article, they've been flying off the shelves. To use the kit customers have to scrape cells from the cheek of the child, mother and father in question and send it to a lab for analysis, which takes about a week. I was surprised to find out last year just how many different kinds of home-use health tests are available today. You can check everything from the alcohol content in your breast milk to whether you might have colon cancer. Check out the piece I wrote on the topic last year: http://www.forbes.com/health/2007/05/11/health-home-test-forbeslife-cx_avd_0514health.html
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POPSWhat Recession? Despite all of the financial gloom and doom, the average American still had some money to spend on plastic surgery in 2007, according to a new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In total, the ASPS says almost 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, although the highest demand coming for less invasive, hence less expensive, procedures. People may be worried about a recession but this data suggest you might not be able to tell just by looking at them.
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POPSQuick To Temper, Slow To Heal A fascinating study from Ohio State University shows that people who have trouble controlling their tempers may be slower to heal from injuries due to interference from the stress hormone cortisol. Hotheads, it turns out, were four times as likely as others to take more than four days to heal small blisters on their forearms. Makes you wonder what else stress is doing to hinder our bodies' recovery from daily wear and tear.
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POPSThe Winter Health Threat The studies on the importance of vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin - just keep coming. This Seattle Times article highlights, among others, a recent study of 1,700 Boston-area residents, which showed that the rates of heart attack, stroke and heart failure were about 50 percent higher in those with low levels of vitamin D. But are you convinced that it's time to start taking a vitamin D supplement?
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POPSDiscrimination In The Bedroom Yet another study has proven what most of us probably guessed - putting on weight is bad for your sex life. If you want to have a good Valentine's Day, consider sneaking in an extra workout or two and eating light this week...
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POPSAnother Downside To Obesity If you've never struggled with your weight, you've probably never thought about trying to fit into booths at restaurants or car seat belts. But these are real everyday problems for the obese. This AP article highlights a study by a Vanderbilt psychologist showing that only 70% of extremely obese people reported always wearing seat belts, compared to 83% of people with normal weights. Since a host of other factors were controlled for, it appears that discomfort or difficulties using seat belts are the big reasons behind this deadly habit. The good news is that, apparently, a number of car manufacturers make seat belts that are longer than what the NHTSA requires and some even offer free extensions. Here's hoping more people battling weight issues take advantage of what's out there.
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POPSThe Tattoo Health Review It's hard to believe but apparently the FDA has never studied tattoo ink, how it breaks down in the body and whether the skin designs pose a health threat. The Newhouse News Service reports that the agency has just launched its first study, which could lead to regulations aimed at protecting consumers. Better late than never.
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POPSDonor Disclosure Here's an interesting find by The Globe - that almost half the parents who used egg donors don't want to share the information with their children. It appears that some moms are worried that the knowledge may diminish their roles or invite children to look for their "second mom". I personally can't imagine how difficult it would be to sit a child down and explain this, but I have to agree with psychologists who say children have a right to know their medical histories. And haven't we all seen a few too many Lifetime movies in which hiding this kind of information ends badly?
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POPSYour Most Important Health Document To me it's kind of ridiculous to even question whether having constant access to your personal health records could make a difference in your health. First off, people move, change jobs and doctors pretty frequently today. New patient intake forms are supposed to fill docs in on people's medical histories, but which would you trust more - a document containing all of your health details or your memory? Second, having access to a document listing details like your blood pressure and cholesterol levels should make you at least slightly more aware of your health problems and might even change your behavior. While I'm sure there would be downsides, including security concerns, I'd bet the positives end up outweighing the negatives here.
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POPSAnother Shot in the Arm for Vaccines Another study, just published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, has shown that the MMR vaccine doesn't raise the risk of developing autism. The study, the largest to examine a possible link between the two, should provide some relief to worried parents, myself included. (My little girl gets another round of shots on Thursday.) But until someone comes up with a definitive reason to explain the rise in reported cases of autism over the past decade, I'm sure vaccines will still be a source of concern for lots of moms and dads.
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POPSHeart-Rate-Zone Training: Off Target? The editor of strengthcoach.com says target-heart-rate zone training isn't all it's cracked up to be because the formula used to calculate the zone won't be accurate for people with unusually fast or slow heart rates. This type of training could actually end up pushing people with unusually low maximum heart rates too hard, he says. It makes sense to me that the formula won't work for everyone, but I'm surprised at how few people it reportedly does apply to. Anyone have a good or bad experience with this type of training?
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POPSSick At The Gym? We'd all probably prefer if gym goers feeling under the weather kept themselves and their germs far from the treadmill and shared yoga mats. The sniffly and sick, however, often can't stay away. But are they doing more harm to their bodies than good? This Cox News Service article, written by a certified trainer, says if you have a fever, symptoms below the neck or a hacking cough, exercise could further stress your immune system. If the trainer says to skip a workout, you've got a pretty good excuse for staying home.
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POPSThe Science of Matchmaking The NYTimes takes a look in this article at matchmaking Web sites that use surveys/personality tests to choose a partner for you. It's interesting to note that while many people are successfully using these sites - ie: getting married - the algorithms being used remain top secret and haven't been published for peer review. When it comes to looking for love, people obviously have a lot of blind faith.
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