Previous studies have shown a link between time spent sitting and cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and early death, even among those who regularly exercise. An analysis of 26 published studies found the most effective interventions for reducing sitting time were promoting sit-stand desks, encouraging people to keep a record of how much time they spend…

Weighing yourself regularly is an important part of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. The Obesity Action Coalition recommends weighing yourself once per week using the same scale, weighing yourself at the same time and day of the week, logging your weight each week, and avoiding weighing yourself more than once per week as weight…

An online program that encourages people to wash their hands has been found to reduce the spread of cold and flu viruses within families. The free program, called PRIMIT, offers four weekly sessions that provide simple steps to help participants avoid catching and passing on viruses, monitor users’ hand washing habits, and provide feedback. The…

Urine Test Could Catch Pancreatic Cancer Sooner. Researchers have uncovered a biomarker for pancreatic cancer that can be detected in urine samples. The discovery may pave the way for a low-cost, noninvasive test that could detect the disease in its earlier stages. Currently, early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is uncommon, with approximately 80% of patients…

Self-Monitoring of Blood Sugar Good for Diabetics. A small study reveals that personalized blood sugar self-monitoring benefits individuals with type 2 diabetes, even if they’re not taking insulin. The study included eleven type 2 diabetics who were taught to react to their blood sugar level reading in a number of ways, such as eating a…

Signs of Heat Stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body’s heat-regulating system fails to work properly due to high temperature. Potential heat stroke symptoms include having a body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) or higher, confusion, irritability, becoming red or flushed, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, headache, rapid heart rate, seizures, and becoming…

Keep Kids Safe While Outdoors. Keeping children safe while they exercise and play outside is very important. The eXtension Foundation recommends the following guidelines: never allow kids to play unsupervised; explain to children not to play near a street or driveway; tell children to ask an adult for help when any object rolls into the…

Maintain a Healthy Weight to Lower Breast Cancer Risk. Using thirteen years of data concerning 67,142 postmenopausal women, researchers note that obese women (body mass index > 35) have an 86% greater risk of being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. This news is especially troubling as two-thirds of women in the United States are either…

CPR & AED Training Mandatory For High School Graduation? Experts recommend that both a working knowledge of CPR and the use of an automated electronic defibrillator (AED) should become a graduation requirement for middle and high school students. According to physicians from the Institute of Medicine, less than 6% of the 395,000 Americans who suffer…

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D? Vitamin D is important for strong and healthy bones, making sure your muscles, heart, lungs, and brain work well and that your body can fight infection. To ensure that you’re getting enough vitamin D, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises the following: get some sun, but avoid sunburn;…