The announcement follows the death of Oliver McGowan with autism, who was given a drug he was allergic to.

Only about half of all American adults meet the national guidelines for aerobic activity and only about one-fifth meet the combined aerobic and strength-training goals. One reason is that some people just don’t find it enjoyable, so they don’t stick with it.

Changing your mindset can lead not only to increases in exercise time, but also feeling good about working out.

Slow and steady approach

A study in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise looked at overweight women and their reaction to 15-minute high-intensity interval workouts designed to get faster results compared to continuous and longer-lasting exercise.

The researchers found that the slow and steady approach was met more positively, and left participants looking forward to another workout rather than tired and discouraged. In another test, they found that starting out at an intense pace and tapering off to a very low intensity was also more pleasurable than the other way around.

A separate study in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that many influences are at work when it comes to developing a fondness for exercise, including mental engagement. It helps to choose an activity that you’re confident about. For instance, if you’re a poor swimmer, you won’t feel comfortable in a water class. If you are self-conscious about how you look in exercise clothes, group classes may not be for you right now.

Changing the way you view exercise can also help. Rather than a chore, see it as a way to reach other goals, like being able to enjoy a nature walk without getting winded. One mind-over-matter technique is to picture yourself enjoying the exercise before you start moving.

Focus on each milestone you reach, like being able to complete a mile walk in less and less time, or being able to increase the tension on an exercise bike.

Positive feelings come from reaching a goal, even a simple one, so set a timer on your watch and let the countdown motivate you.

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HealthDay

Analysing people’s tweets could reveal if they’re lonely, researchers say.

Loneliness – which has been linked with depression, heart disease, dementia and other health problems – affects about one in five adults in the United States.

Anger, depression and anxiety

Researchers analysed public accounts of Twitter users in Pennsylvania and identified more than 6 200 who used words like “lonely” or “alone” more than five times from 2012 to 2016.

The lonely users tweeted nearly twice as much as others and were more likely to do so at night.

Lonely users’ language showed more anger, depression and anxiety than that of other users, according to the team from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

They also reported that lonely users often tweeted about relationship problems, substance use and difficulty controlling their emotions.

The study was published in the journal BMJ Open.

“Loneliness can be a slow killer, as some of the medical problems associated with it can take decades to manifest,” said lead author Sharath Chandra Guntuku, a research scientist at Penn’s Center for Digital Health.

Reliable and accurate tool

“If we are able to identify lonely individuals and intervene before the health conditions associated with the themes we found begin to unfold, we have a change to help those much earlier in their lives,” he added in a university news release. “This could be very powerful and have long-lasting effects on public health.”

Study co-author Rachelle Schneider, a research coordinator at the centre, said social media could be a valuable tool.

“Social media has the potential to allow researchers and clinicians to passively measure loneliness over time,” she said in the news release. “Through validating our data, we can develop a reliable and accurate tool to do this monitoring.”

Once lonely people are identified, they can be helped in several ways, according to study senior author Dr Raina Merchant, director of the Center for Digital Health.

“It’s clear that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all model,” she said in the news release. “Some interventions include buddy systems, peer-to-peer networks, therapy, and skill development for navigating day-to-day interactions with others.”

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HealthDay

Self-testing kits could help more women get checked for cervical cancer risk, researchers say.

Few families remain untouched by the reality of dementia. It not only affects those who have dementia themselves, but can have a profound effect on loved ones as well as caregivers.

In South Africa alone, there are approximately 2.2 million people who have some form of dementia, according to Alzheimer’s South Africa. That is just over one in every twenty people.

Facts and tips

Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that up to 50 million people could be living with dementia, and that this number is likely to increase sharply in the next 30 years.

Here are some facts and tips for all individuals, carers and families who are dealing with dementia:

• Alzheimer’s disease affects 90% of people with dementia, but that is by no means the only form. Other medical conditions, such as cognitive damage from head injuries or a stroke can also cause dementia.

• Dementia affects the way in which the brain works and affects a person’s memory, the working of the body, emotional capacity, behaviour and their way of thinking. This can be distressing for families, as memory loss may make someone forget those closest to them, and it can make someone’s behaviour unpredictable.

• Dementia is a condition with a slow onset, and the first signs can be a bit of forgetfulness and confusion, with most recent events, such as the last meal or the previous day’s shopping trip not being recalled. Many of the symptoms of the condition can be mistaken for normal signs of ageing. Other symptoms include getting lost in places that should be familiar, missing appointments, repeating questions, forgetting conversations and misplacing possessions.

• Dementia does not only affect older people. Early onset dementia is when it is diagnosed in those under the age of 65 – it can occur as early as ones 30’s, 40’s or 50’s. Whilst an early diagnosis can be difficult to come to terms with, it does provide the benefit of more time, so families can plan in advance to minimise impact. For an individual diagnosed with early onset dementia, the key areas to consider in forward planning include maximising health and long-term care options as well as legal aspects and financial planning.

• Scientists do not know what exactly causes dementia, but they do know what effect it has on the brain. The causes are thought to be environmental, genetic and lifestyle-related. There is no cure, and treatment consists of medication that can help to improve memory function. Research studies are ongoing, but it certainly appears as if mentally challenging the brain can delay the onset of dementia. Cognitive stimulation by means of activities, such as board games, puzzles and group activities, help with preserving memory, and keeping people socially engaged.

• Caregivers are encouraged to create a peaceful and calm atmosphere and  predictable routine in which the dementia patient will feel safe. Experienced caregivers recommend that you respond to the patient’s reality instead of forcing your own on them. Don’t argue – it’s pointless, as it will only agitate the person in your care, and won’t solve anything. Distract their attention rather than confronting the patient. The patient cannot control or change their behaviour and their anger is not directed at you. When the person becomes agitated, take a break and switch to another activity, or leave the room quietly. They might very well have calmed down a few minutes later. Participate in activities that they enjoy or enjoyed in the past. Just because someone has dementia, it doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings. Visits from loved ones can also help to fulfil social needs.

• Families need to make long-term plans for care of the family member with dementia. Alterations to the home might be needed, and carers might need to be engaged. There might come a time when it is no longer possible to care for the person at home, and specialised dementia care facilities need to be considered. There are also major financial considerations for the family, and decisions must be made in advance with regards to who will manage this person’s finances and medical decisions when they will  no longer be able to do so themselves.

Ivan Oosthuizen is CEO of Livewell Villages, specialists in dementia and memory care facilities.

^Sources:

^{1. Alzheimer’s Disease International}

^{2. Alzheimer’s South Africa}

^{3. World Health Organization}

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Ivan Oosthuizen

The NHS will be at the centre of the major parties election campaigns, but why is it so important?

Some men over 40 would benefit from annual blood tests, researchers say.

Double-sided tape that quickly binds tissues shows promise in animal tests and may eventually offer an alternative to surgical sutures, researchers report.

“There are over 230 million major surgeries all around the world per year, and many of them require sutures to close the wound, which can actually cause stress on the tissues and can cause infections, pain and scars,” explained study senior author Xuanhe Zhao. He is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and of civil and environmental engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Tight seal for tissues

“We are proposing a fundamentally different approach to sealing tissue,” Zhao said in an MIT news release.

The tape was inspired by the sticky material spiders use to capture prey in wet conditions, according to the MIT engineers.

Tests with rats and pig tissues showed that the tape can tightly seal tissues, such as the lungs and intestines, within five seconds, according to the study published in the journal Nature.

Surgical sutures don’t work well in all tissues and can cause complications in some patients, the researchers noted. Their tape could eventually be used in place of sutures, they suggested.

Additional potential uses

The researchers also said the tape works much faster than tissue glues, which typically require several minutes to form a tight bond and can drip onto other parts of the body.

In addition, the new study also showed that the double-sided tape can be used to attach implantable medical devices to tissues, including the heart.

According to study co-lead author Hyunwoo Yuk, a graduate student, “This provides a more elegant, more straightforward and more universally applicable way of introducing an implantable monitor or drug delivery device, because we can adhere to many different sites without causing damage or secondary complications.”

The team is conducting more tests in animals and working with doctors to identify additional potential uses for the double-sided tape. However, research in animals doesn’t always pan out in humans.

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Politicians are urged not to make “empty promises” and tell “outright lies” about health funding.

For too long, we have associated strokes with the older generation, but time and time again we’re reminded that it is not an old woman’s disease. While it’s true that a majority of strokes still happen to people who are over the age of 65, it doesn’t happen to them only.

Let’s quickly take a look at the stats. Almost 224 people will have a stroke daily, meaning that nearly 10 people in the country will have a stroke every hour. And 110 people die from strokes every day (in SA). Sounds a bit like the end of the world, but the good news is that almost 80% of all heart attacks and strokes are preventable (we’ll get to that in a minute).

What is a stroke?

At its core, a stroke happens when the brain’s blood supply has been interrupted and there are many different types of strokes. According to the Heart And Stroke Foundation, parts of the brain stop receiving oxygen and nutrients because one of the arteries carrying these becomes blocked or bursts.

“During a stroke, parts of the brain may be temporarily or permanently damaged, causing the person to experience the symptoms of stroke,” The Heart and Stroke Foundation writes. “It is very similar to what happens in a heart attack, which is why it’s often referred to as a ‘brain attack’.”

Younger people and strokes

Strokes can actually happen to anyone of any age. This includes young adults, teenagers, children, newborns and in some instances – even unborn babies! But let’s talk about strokes that happen in adults under the age of 45 for now.

A 2017 study published in the JAMA Neurology Journal found that, in the United States, stroke hospitalisation rates for acute ischemic strokes in individuals aged between 35 and 44 years had gone up exponentially between 2003 and 2012.

READ MORE: 7 Serious Stroke Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

The study found that the rates among men went up by 41,5% and by 30% for women.

“The identification of increasing hospitalisation rates for acute ischemic stroke in young adults coexistent with the increasing prevalence of traditional stroke risk factors confirms the importance of focusing on prevention in younger adults,” the study concluded.

The risk factors for stroke include smoking cigarettes, hypertension, excess body weight, high cholesterol, diabetes, low intake of vegetables and fruit, being physically inactive and drinking alcohol.

Why are more young people having strokes?

A 2019 research essay published in the South African Medical Journal notes that the overall rate of stroke-related mortality is on the decline, globally. But it also notes that while this is the case, the absolute number of people with stroke, stroke survivors and people with stroke-related disabilities are ‘high and increasing’.

“Men have a higher incidence of stroke than women at younger but not older ages, with the incidence reversed and higher for women at ages above 75 years,” the paper says.

While mounting evidence has pointed to the fact that more and more young people are having strokes (more than before), it’s still not extremely clear why this is the case – but most of it points back to the risk factors.

In an interview with science magazine Scientific American, Ralph Sacco, president of the American Academy of Neurology, outlined the key risk factors that are probably affecting young people the most.

“There are concerns about obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity having a greater impact on younger stroke victims,” he said. “Drug use may also be another factor.”

But younger people recover better, apparently

According to a paper published by Stanford Medicine, younger people tend to recover better from strokes than people over 65 years. This is often the case if the young person doesn’t have any other health conditions that could interfere with stroke recovery.

“Doctors believe that improved recovery may be connected to the younger brain’s natural ability to use undamaged brain circuits to take over the functions of damaged circuits,” the paper says.

READ MORE: “I Survived A Stroke — And It Scared Me Enough To Change My Lifestyle”

“In older patients, that brain plasticity may be reduced, but recovery does continue.”

Reducing your risk of getting a stroke all leads back to the risk factors. So things like increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption and becoming physically active all go a long way in reducing your risk.

How to tell if someone is having a stroke

Being able to identify if someone is having a stroke can literally save that person’s life. Literally! When it comes to a stroke, every second counts. Even 15 minutes can be too long in some cases. The more time that goes by without medical attention, the higher the chances of permanent disability, brain damage and in some instances, death.

Here’s the universal way of remembering the symptoms of a stroke and responding accordingly.

F. A. S. T

F = Face drooping (ask the person to smile, if the smile is uneven or lopsided – it could be a stroke).
A = Arm weakness (ask the person to raise both arms, if the one arm drifts downwards – it could be a stroke).
S = Speech difficulty (ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, if the speech is slurred – it could be a stroke).
T = Time to call for medical help and keep a note on the exact you noticed the symptoms happening. (If any one of the symptoms mentioned above is present, even if they go away, call for medical help and get them to a hospital as quickly as you can.)

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Yamkela Mdaka