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Year: 2018

2019 Health

Not a fever dream: There’s a reason why your cold lasts longer than everyone else’s

2 min read

September 28, 2018 at 05:52AM Once someone in the office starts coughing, you know it’s time to dig into your stash of immunity-boosters. But even after upping your zinc intake and sipping ginger tea non-stop, you still get sick with symptoms that come on way stronger—and last much longer—than everyone else’s around you. So what gives? According to new research, it might have to do with the bacteria in your nose. In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers tested the nasal microbiomes of 152 participants before and after they were given a cold from the same virus strain. After getting sick, there were six different patterns people fell into, and the types of bacteria in those patterns resulted in different levels of cold severity. The one that stood out the most was staphylococcus: The people with the highest amounts in their noses also had the most severe symptoms. The bacteria that stood out the most was staphylococcus: The people with the highest amounts in their noses also had the most severe symptoms. “What we’re reporting is an association, so it’s entirely possible that the fact that you have staph in your nose and you have more symptoms is not directly related,” said study author Ronald Turner, MD, in a press release. “It may well be that there’s some underlying host characteristic that makes you likely to have staph in your nose and also makes you more likely to become ill.” Whatever the case, it could be an explanation for why you’re

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2019 Health

Is walking with weights good for you? Inquiring mall walkers need to know

6 min read

September 28, 2018 at 05:12AM Sure, incorporating ankle and wrist weights into moves you do in a standing or stationary position, or during mat work can offer benefits far beyond toning your body. Hey, even the chicest of boutique fitness classes are utilizing the old-school accessories, which were formerly reserved for gracing the appendages of power walkers in the mall. But their notable comeback sparks an important question: Is it even safe to safe to use them in their classic function—while walking? Even though people have been walking with weights for years (hello, have you seen those ’80s aerobics videos?), the mode of movement might not be the best option for your health. I know, I know, you’re thinking, How could strapping a few extra pounds to your ankles or wrists present any real drawbacks? Well, experts tend to be way more against the prop than for it—especially since by merely following all the proper guidelines for using the weights presents potential detriments to your bod. Why to think twice before walking with weights According to the Harvard Medical School, it’s tempting to use wrist weights to amp up your cardio workouts, but there are a few different reasons why doing so is really kind of a no-no. First of all, swinging your arms back and forth can lead to muscle imbalance. Muscle balance, in turn, can allow for easier injury to both the joints and tendons in your wrists, elbows, shoulders, and neck. Yikes, right? On top of that, the American Council on Exercise (ACE)

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2019 Health

One hour of exercise per week can ward off depression—here’s how

2 min read

September 28, 2018 at 04:51AM There are wide-ranging treatments for depression—including meditation and medication—but, according to science, your weekly sweat sesh might be able to help you fight the disorder, too. It’s already well known that there’s a major link between exercise and depression: Past research has shown that active people have a significantly lower risk of developing the condition and that working out is an effective treatment for it. Now, for the first time ever, a study has shed light on the amount of physical activity required each week to optimally fight depression—and it’s way lower than you’d probably guess. After monitoring both the exercise levels and depression and anxiety symptoms of 33,908 Norwegian adults during an 11-year period, researchers found 12 percent of depression cases could be prevented completely with only one hour of exercise each week. That’s right: one hour. And, though a 12 percent success rate doesn’t reflect an overwhelming majority, it’s totally enough evidence to support spending an hour a week at the gym (in case you needed another reason to do so). “These findings are exciting because they show that even relatively small amounts of exercise—from one hour per week—can deliver significant protection against depression.” “This is the first time we have been able to quantify the preventative potential of physical activity in terms of reducing future levels of depression,” said lead author Samuel Harvey, PhD, in a press release. “These findings are exciting because they show that even relatively small amounts of exercise—from one hour per week—can deliver significant protection against depression.” Although researchers still aren’t

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2019 Health

OMG, why does my belly button smell so bad?

6 min read

September 28, 2018 at 04:09AM The belly button is the last frontier of wellness. I cannot think of a body part that gets brushed aside more often—even the “gross” ones seem deserving of a little TLC. Feet get soaked then stroked, armpits get swathed in coconut-oil-arrowroot concoctions, and vaginas, well, consider them the Queen of the Nile. But if memory serves, the last time I checked in on my belly button, I found that it stank so badly that the only way to cope was to go back to pretending I didn’t have one in the first place. So, it should come as no surprise to hear that when I turned to my soon-to-be husband and asked him to have a look, things got ugly. And I’m not just talking about the appearance of the body part in question (which is ugly, IMHO). If he couldn’t deign to take a peek—in the name of love!—could I at least pay someone to pamper my navel? But no belly-button equivalent of the 24-karat gold pedicure that I’m sure someone somewhere is offering (found it!) seemed to exist. If I wanted to invest in my innie, I’d have to take things into my own hands. So I did…for a week…on assignment. I started a belly button self-care routine, forcing myself to deal with the fact that in its current state, I’m not pleased with my belly button. My goal? To make it nice. To make it the navel version of Fixer Upper. I would whip this

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