Wellness/Prevention: Visibility Enhancement Systems May Not Improve Driver Safety.

While it’s logical that technological advances to improve roadway visibility should always reduce a driver’s risk of hitting an unseen obstacle, new research published in the Journal of Safety Research claims otherwise. In the study, drivers in cars equipped with a Visibility Enhancement System were more confident, less stressed, drove faster, and had nearly twice as many collisions with unexpected obstacles than drivers in cars without such technology. Journal of Safety Research, June 2014 Quote: “One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.” ~ Lewis Carroll

Exercise: Using a Wii May Be Helpful for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk.

Exercise videogames have been widely marketed to Americans in an attempt to increase fitness, but do they help? A new study examined the benefits of exercise video game use among individuals with hypertension. Participants completed a twelve-week program that included 36, one-hour sessions. The researchers noted significant improvement in physical activity minutes, peak heart rate, and resting systolic blood pressure at the conclusion of the study, along with improvements in general health, vitality, and emotional health. The findings support the use of exercise video games to improve both cardiovascular fitness and psychosocial health. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, February 2015

Health Alert: Cancer Survival Rates Have Improved Since the 1990s, But…

A new study finds that while survival rates have increased for individuals with breast, prostate, lung, liver, and colon cancers over the past 20 years, the improvements have been less remarkable among elderly cancer patients. Lead researcher Dr. Wei Zheng advises that further research is needed to identify reasons for the slower improvement in cancer survival among older adults in hopes of further reducing cancer mortality rates in the senior population. JAMA Oncology, February 2015

Mental Attitude: Binge Drinking Increases Suicide Risk Among Females.

Women with no history of major depression who binge drink (4 drinks < 2 hours at least once every two weeks) are 2.57 times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-binge drinking peers with no history of major depression. The authors of the study advise that efforts to reduce binge drinking among females should be incorporated in community-wide suicide prevention strategies. Addictive Behavior, April 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Eat More Carrots to Reduce Diabetes Risk!

A diet rich in alpha-carotene and beta-carotene can reduce a person’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 22%. The most common source of carotenes in the American diet is carrots; however, pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potato, spinach, and broccoli are also great food sources of alpha-carotene and/or beta-carotene. Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases, December 2014 Quote: “And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Exercise: Light Activity Good for Seniors’ Hearts.

Light physical activity appears to benefit older adults’ hearts even if they suffer from mobility issues. Research involving almost 1,200 elderly adults with limited mobility revealed that those who fit some movement into their day, such as light housework or slow walking, had a lower risk of suffering a heart attack over the following ten years. Senior researcher Dr. Thomas Buford adds, “I think this and other studies are showing us it’s never too late for people to benefit from physical activity.” Journal of the American Heart Association, February 2015

Diet: Unhealthy Foods on the Rise in Developing Nations.

While citizens in wealthier nations may be eating healthier foods, developing nations are consuming more processed meats and sugar-sweetened drinks than ever before. Senior study author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian warns, “There is a particularly urgent need to focus on improving diet quality among poorer populations. If we do nothing, under-nutrition will be rapidly eclipsed by obesity and non-communicable diseases, as is already being seen in India, China, and other middle-income countries.” The Lancet Global Health, February 2015

Health Alert: Rivers a Factor in Antibiotic Resistance.

Flushing medications down the drain may be a major contributor to antibiotic resistance. Researchers found that water and sediment samples from rivers and waterways close to certain types of wastewater treatment plants had high levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Study co-author Dr. Elizabeth Wellington writes, “Antibiotic resistance naturally occurs in the environment, but we don’t yet know how human… waste is affecting its development… We’ve found that wastewater discharges affect resistance levels, and that improvements in our treatment processes could hold the key to reducing the prevalence of resistant bacteria in the environment.” The ISME Journal, February 2015

Mental Attitude: Workplace Bullying Problematic.

New research has found that bullying at work can increase anxiety levels in victims, leaving them less able to stand up for themselves and more vulnerable to further harassment. The researchers suggest that employers crack down on workplace bullies while also helping victims gain the skills to deal with difficult situations. Study co-author Dr. Sanz Vergel adds, “We are by no means victim-blaming here. Clearly employers need to have strong policies against workplace bullying. But training programs to help victims learn coping mechanisms could help to break the vicious cycle.” Anxiety, Stress & Coping: An International Journal, February 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Lowering Diabetes Risk Among Pre-Diabetics.

University of Michigan Medical School researchers have found that healthy weight-loss strategies can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes among prediabetics by as much as 28% over a three-year period. British Medical Journal, February 2015

Quote: “Remember, darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good.” ~ P.C. Cast