Article Archive

Let It Out

News Note

Hostility, repressed anger and self-consciousness in social situations were listed as types of emotional turmoil that appear to increase the risk of coronary heart disease. As reported in Consumer Reports on Health, a University of Pittsburgh study of 200 middle-aged women found those who tested high for these emotional issues “showed greater signs of early arteriosclerosis, or clogged arteries.” Consumer Reports notes that other studies have also shown repressing negative emotions is harmful to women and men.

Watch the Moles

News Note

Half of all cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, develops from moles. The average Caucasian American adult has 24 moles. A 1998 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirmed that the number, size and appearance of moles all affect the risk of melanoma. Any mole that changes shape, color or size; any sore that doesn’t heal; any persistent patch of irritated skin; or any new growth, may be a sign of cancer and require professional attention.

Ergonomy Economy

News Note

Proposed new Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards would require employers to protect workers from repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis and back pain. Musculoskeletal problems have been identified as the most expensive and preventable work-related disorders on the job site. Opposed by some business leaders and praised by labor leaders, the regulations call for identification of ergonomic hazards and correction of any injury-causing conditions.

Help From the Sea

News Note

A European research study presented at the American College of Rheumatology confirms what many alternative health consumers already know. Glucosamine sulfate, a supplement made of crustacean shells, scientifically qualifies as a viable treatment for arthritis. In a study of 212 patients with osteoarthritis, those taking glucosamine over a period of three years experienced improved physical function with less pain and stiffness, while members of a placebo group showed deterioration of their condition.

Losing Sleep

News Note

Being a natural woman is of no benefit when it comes to getting enough sleep. Surveying 1,012 women aged 30 to 60, the National Sleep Foundation discovered that American women only sleep an average of six hours and 41 minutes each night. The survey, reported in Delicious (May 1999), identified reproductive cycles, pregnancy and menopausal symptoms as a major interference in sleep. Two-thirds of the women complained of losing sleep due to headaches, menstrual cramping and pregnancy, while another one-third blamed hot flashes for their insomnia.

Women More Susceptible

News Note

The number of female athletes is growing and these women are more susceptible than men to knee injuries because of their skeletal structure, according to Dr. Peter Simonian of the Sports Medicine Center at University of Washington, Seattle. In the Sept./Oct. 1999 issue of Spa, Dr. Simonian states that women are more knock-kneed than men, putting them at a higher risk for ligament tears. Estrogen levels may also be to blame, causing a looseness in muscular tissues.

Dying to Work

News Note

We all know work is often the most stressful thing in a client’s life. Now, Japan has taken steps to help prevent “karoshi,” otherwise known as death from overwork. The Japan Labor Ministry’s plan is to identify likely candidates of karoshi (those exhibiting obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood lipids) and offer them free medical examinations that could prevent a fatal outcome due to overwork. In 1998, approximately 90 people succumbed to karoshi in Japan, up from 32 in 1994. After parliamentary approval, the plan could be in place early next year.

Sunscreen’s Hidden Risk

News Note

A mismatch of expectation and realization. That is said to be a reason why sunscreen use is a risk factor in melanoma. Researcher Brian Diffey, of the UK’s Newcastle General Hospital, said the SPF numbering system on sunscreens is misleading people into believing the numbers actually indicate how much longer it takes the skin to burn than unprotected skin. His comments find merit as Americans went from spending $18 million on sunscreen products in 1972 to $500 million in 1996, while risk of melanoma has gone from 1 in 1,500 people in 1930 to an expected 1 in 75 this year.

The Point

News Note

Rest between performances and not going “on pointe” at such early ages may help ballerinas lengthen their careers and avoid problematic arthritic ankles, according to a study released at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. The University of Toronto study detailed the use of magnetic resonance imaging on 11 female dancers at the National Ballet of Canada. Researchers found all 11 had some degree of arthritis in their ankles.

No More Excuses

News Note

Lack of time may no longer be a valid excuse when it comes to exercise, at least for women. Researchers at the University of Arkansas studied 59 women (ages 45–60) who went on an eight-week exercise program. Some of the women worked out two days, some three. In the end, both sets of women had cut body fat by 2 percent-3 percent and had increased their strength by at least 15 percent. The trick? Women in the two-day group had increased repetitions using slightly lighter weights.

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