Our Blog
American Health. Americans have shorter life expectancy and higher rates of injury and disease than citizens of other industrialized countries. A 2011 report showed that the US ranked 50th in life expectancy. In most health issues (infant mortality, teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, heart disease, chronic lung disease, disability, obesity, diabetes, drug-related deaths, homicides, injuries,…
Read MoreNo Interruptions Please – I need to focus. Short interruptions (such as the few seconds it takes to silence that buzzing smart phone) have a surprisingly large effect on one’s ability to focus and accurately complete a task. Interruptions of just three seconds can double your chances for making errors. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General,…
Read MoreHappiness and Age? Psychological well-being is linked to important life outcomes such as career success, relationship satisfaction, and health. Well-being tends to increase with age; however, when you were born can have a lasting impact on your overall sense of well-being. For example, people who grew up during the Great Depression started off with lower…
Read MoreAlcohol On The Brain? Excessive alcohol use accounts for 4% of the global burden of disease, and binge drinking is a growing health issue. Functional signs of brain damage from alcohol misuse in young people include deficits in visual learning, memory, and functions. Structural signs of alcohol misuse in young people include shrinking of the…
Read MoreDrowsy Drivers. 4% of United States adults have fallen asleep or dozed off while behind the wheel. Sleepy driving is more common among adults who sleep less than six hours per night, snore, or fall asleep randomly during the day, compared with people who do not. Ways used to stay awake while driving, such as…
Read MoreMacro vs. Micro Trauma? Macro-trauma is an accident such as a car accident or falling down. Many people think this is the only way injury occurs. Micro-trauma is a cumulative effect from simple acts of daily living over a long period of time (weeks, months, or years) that ultimately leads to pain and dysfunction. These…
Read MoreGood Reasons. Exercise reduces blood viscosity, enhances your muscles’ abilities to extract oxygen from your blood, and increases your productivity. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Read MoreFast Food and Asthma. Children who eat three or more fast food meals a week have a 39% greater risk for severe asthma. British Medical Journal, January 2013
Read MorePrescription Drug Abuse. Prescription drug abuse is just behind marijuana as the United States’ most widespread drug issue, with 22 million people beginning use of non-medically prescribed pain alleviating drugs since 2002. Rates of abuse span from 3.6% in Iowa to 6.4% in Oregon. Addressing prescription drug misuse remains a top public health priority. The…
Read MoreDepression Risk. People who drank more than 4 sodas (sugar-sweetened or diet) per day were 30% more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those who consumed none. Those who drank 4 cans of fruit punch per day (sugar-sweetened or diet) were 38% more likely to become depressed. Consuming diet versions of soda and fruit…
Read More