Wellness Weekly

The Brain: I took note of a researcher’s recommendation while reading an article about the aging brain. The study was in regards to loss of attention, distraction and remembering. The science community is a bit concerned about the depth of this problem when baby boomers, as they are now, start turning 65 and older. It is expected that in the year 2050 the largest age group will be those over 65. Interesting. If they age well this could be good, though it is not expected that the majority will. My notes were that the brain can be protected if its host stimulates it with mental challenges, like learning new things or doing cross word puzzles and by exercising and eating food that is nutrient but not calorie dense. Sounds like a hell of a motivator to me.
Alcohol: Quick regurgitation here. Research states that women who have more than two drinks a day significantly increase their chance of having the type of irregular heart beat that can lead to stroke. It did not say that drinking was bad, it said that too many drinks is bad. Please recall serving sizes for alcohol. Wine is 4 ounces, beer is 12 and liquor is 1.5. Measure your drinks if you have to. Your life may depend on it. (by the way, saving your one to two drinks a day for one or two weekend days, NOT RECOMMENDED)
Tobacco and Pregnancy: I read a few things on this topic in the past week, some new, some older. First, it is a fact according to our US Surgeon General’s reports, that maternal smoking and exposure to second hand smoke can lead to low birth weight babies. It is also true by research, that low birth weight babies are 20 to 25% more likely to die in the first years of life than normal weight babies. In regards to poor birth outcomes it is also said that the mother’s weight is a factor. An overweight or obese mother has twice the chance of an adverse pregnancy outcome than an underweight mother. In regards to tobacco use again, very new research which should be tested through repetition, has shown that the adult children of mothers who smoked or who were exposed to significant amounts of second hand smoke, have artery changes indicative of heart disease. When you add that to the fact that many of those children were sedentary and overweight as well, the assertion that the generation will not live longer than the one before seems to gain credence.
Assistive Devices: The WSJ had a feature this week on devices that may make it easier for those baby boomers to age in place, in their homes, even though they may have some physical limitations as they get older. There were some interesting items and appliances in the works, however, the note I wrote regarded Moen’s special grab bars that will hold the weight of a 350 pound person. Now they would not be spending the money to make these special grab bars if they did not think there was a market for them. Pretty much I don’t know of many people who could be considered at a healthy weight if they were more than 200 pounds at any height, so that pretty much sums up a lot of our problems doesn’t it.
5210: This was explained to me in passing (ok, it wasn’t really in passing, it was while I was having my two beers and I wasn’t taking notes) so I may not get it just right. There is a right way as it is a campaign by one of our respected health and wellness agencies. The gist is that we should strive, on a daily basis, to have 5 fruits and vegetables, no more than 2 hours of screen time, at least 1 hour of physical activity and 0 sugary drinks. Pretty neat.


Happy Weekend
Don’t smoke!
Eat Well
Move more