Spirit of Women National

WIN 2016

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

Issue link: https://spiritofwomen.epubxp.com/i/617181

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 4 of 31

5 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m W I N T E R 2 016 S P I R I T O F W O M E N SHUTTERSTOCK H E A L T H C E N T R A L N E W S Pump it up–in moderation Exercise for the ages Getting into an exercise habit at an early age can pay off throughout a woman's life, suggests a new study published online in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Teenage girls who get regular exercise—at least once a week for three continuous months—are less likely to die of all causes during middle-age and later in life, according to the research. Investigators using data from close to 75,000 Chinese women found that their participation in exercise as adolescents was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, regardless of their adult exercise habits. And continuing to exercise as adults provided even greater health benefits for the women. • Shaking up diabetes screening Analyzing your potential for diabetes could start with a handshake: Researchers are studying whether grip strength could be another tool for finding at-risk adults who might otherwise be overlooked, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. People who have high blood pressure and diabetes tend to have weaker grip strength than healthy- weight people who don't have those conditions. Although the cause of weak grip strength isn't clear, it could be reduced muscle quality or a diabetic condition that limits finger movement, according to researchers. More studies are needed, however, before grip strength is added to the battery of tests at the doctor's office. • I f the man in your life is taking over-the-counter bodybuilding supplements, keep an eye on him for more than his newly enhanced biceps. Although these products are legal, extreme reliance on them could be a sign of an emerging eating disorder, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association's annual convention recently. Psychologists recruited 195 men, ages 18 to 65, who had consumed legal appearance- or performance-enhancing supplements in the past 30 days and who worked out for fitness or appearance's sake a minimum of two times a week. More than 40 percent indicated that their use of supplements had increased over time, 29 percent were concerned about it, and 8 percent revealed that their physicians had cautioned them to reduce or stop using supplements due to health concerns. Men who misuse legal workout supplements may suffer from dissatisfaction with their body and low self-esteem, according to researchers, which can lead to eating disorders. • Weight-loss surgery and alcohol Gastric bypass surgery could help you develop healthier eating habits and lose weight, but be aware of the heightened effect of alcohol on your system after surgery, say researchers. A small study of 17 women, published in the journal JAMA Surgery, indicates that alcohol is metabolized differently after gastric bypass surgery and speeds into the bloodstream sooner. Women who drank the equivalent of two drinks in a short period of time had blood-alcohol content levels similar to those of women who had consumed four drinks but had not had bypass surgery. The research participants reported that alcohol's effects came sooner and lasted longer, according to the study. •

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Spirit of Women National - WIN 2016