Monthly Archives: December 2014

Lack of Exercise Blamed in America’s Poor Health Rankings Report

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Greg Asseff

For the last 25 years, the United Health Foundation has provided a health rankings report, which aims to provide an overall snapshot of the U.S. population’s health in each state. While there is always some good news and some bad news in the health rankings, the 2014 report is anything but encouraging. Despite a decrease in obesity rates over the past few years, the obesity rate in 2014 was the highest it’s been since the health rankings began. It’s 24.9 percent – over double what it was 25 years ago. This also means that well over one in four Americans is obese. At the same time, the number of people who reported engaging in no physical activity has gone from 22.9 percent last year to 23.5 percent in 2014. Of course, some areas of the U.S. are healthier than others. For the third year in a row, Hawaii is considered the healthiest state in the nation. Southern states tended to show up near the bottom of the list.

Posted in Diet, Exercise, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Weight Loss | 5,413 Comments

Almost Half Of Americans Believe Flu Vaccines Can Cause the Flu

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Greg Asseff

Influenza is a fairly common respiratory infection that often spreads during the winter months. Unlike the common cold, however, it must always be remembered that complications from the flu can be very severe and even life-threatening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu each year, and around 200,000 of those cases require hospitalization. Young children, pregnant women and the elderly have a much higher risk of severe flu complications. Despite the CDC’s insistence that flu vaccines are the best way to prevent infection, only 42 percent of adults got a flu shot in the U.S. last year. With this season expected to be more severe, getting vaccinated will be even more important. However, a surprising new study is shedding some light on why so many people avoid getting a flu shot.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies | 16 Comments

Can a Mediterranean Diet Slow the Aging Process?

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Greg Asseff

The Mediterranean diet does not consist of a specifically defined diet plan. Instead, dieters attempt to emulate the eating habits of people who live in the various countries bordering the Mediterranean sea. The diets of people in these regions vary greatly, of course, so the Mediterranean diet ends up consisting of a few loosely defined rules. For starters, the diet is focused mainly on vegetables, fruits, bread, beans, potatoes, nuts and seeds. Red meat is consumed very rarely, and poultry and fish are eaten in low to moderate amounts. A staple of the Mediterranean diet is olive oil, which is used to replace unhealthier fats like butter. Herbs and spices replace salt, and red wine can be consumed in moderation if desired. Although the diet contains more fat than the AHA recommends, some people adopt it to prevent heart disease. Now, a new study suggests the diet could increase life expectancy.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, News, Nutrition, Studies | 2,449 Comments

Toy-Related Injuries On the Rise

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Greg Asseff

With the Christmas season officially upon us and Black Friday being just days in the past, toy sales are no doubt experiencing a year-end surge. Of course, nobody would give a child a gift that’s obviously risky, but toy-related injuries do happen. Especially engaged parents can try keeping up with the latest product recalls to make sure the products and playthings their children use do not present a risk of injury. Toy recalls in particular certainly aren’t uncommon; for example, Toys”R”Us very recently issued a complete recall for the “Just Like Home” toy toaster set due to the possibility that the toy toast could break into small, sharp pieces that present laceration and choking hazards. Obviously, however, toys don’t necessarily have to be subject to a recall to present injury risks. Now, a one-of-a-kind study shows that toy-related injuries have gone up significantly over the past two decades.