Therapist Unlimited Blog

MEDICAL researchers has recently discovered that having their own pets at home or work offers huge health rewards to humans.
According to the study, having a four-legged, furry pet can lower blood pressure, encourages exercise, and improves psychological health.
Researchers from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) conducted the recent study to gather new evidence on the positive impact pets have in the lives of humans.
Rebecca Johnson, associate professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, the College of Veterinary Medicine and director of ReCHAI explained pets are of great importance to people, especially during hard economic times.
Johnson said pets provide unconditional love and acceptance and may be part of answers to societal problems, such as inactivity and obesity.

Having pets is beneficial to humans.

ReCHAI sponsors several projects that attempt to further the understanding and value of the relationship between humans and animals. In 2008, ReCHAI sponsored the "Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound and Stay Fit for Seniors." In the preliminary program, a group of older adults were matched with shelter dogs, while another group of older adults were partnered with a human walk buddy.
For 12 weeks, participants were encouraged to walk on an outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week. At the end of the program, researchers measured how much the older adults’ activity levels improved.
She revealed the older people who walked their dogs improved their walking capabilities by 28 percent.
She added they also had more confidence walking on the trail, and they increased their speed.
Johnson said the older people who walked with humans only had a 4 percent increase in their walking capabilities since human walking buddies tended to discourage each other and used excuses such as the weather being too hot.
Moreover,  Charlotte McKenney, assistant director of ReCHAI revealed today, pets are in more than 60 percent of American homes.
McKenney said research involving human-animal interaction can be extremely beneficial.
She said more people are incorporating pets into their leisure time, such as making them part of their exercise routines, taking them to dog parks and bringing them to family events.

The quality of a person’s social life could have an even greater impact than diet and exercise on their health and well-being. There is growing evidence that being a member of a social group can significantly reduce the risk of conditions like stroke, dementia and even the common cold.
A recent study made by the the Universities of Exeter and Queensland, Australia, shows that membership of social groups has a positive impact on health and well-being.
The work highlights the importance of belonging to a range of social groups, of hanging onto social groups, and of building new social groups in dealing with life changes such as having a stroke and being diagnosed with dementia.
Writing in Scientific American Mind, the researchers from the Universities of Exeter, Queensland and Kansas review a number of previous studies, including many of their own, which identify a link between group membership and physical and mental health. Some more recent studies which support the same conclusion were presented by the Exeter-based researchers at the British Science Festival.
Commenting on this work, Professor Alex Haslam of the University of Exeter, said: "We are social animals who live and have evolved to live in social groups. Membership of groups, from football teams to book clubs and voluntary societies, gives us a sense of social identity. This is an indispensable part of who we are and what we need to be in order to lead rich and fulfilling lives. For this reason groups are central to mental functioning, health and well-being".

Having friends keeps humans away from diseases and experience healthy living in the process.

These conclusions are based a number of recent studies which were reviewed in the article and presented at the Science Festival. These included:
A 2008 study (published in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation) of stroke sufferers. This showed that being able to maintain valued group memberships played as important a role in positive recovery as an ability to overcome cognitive difficulties (e.g., problems with memory and language). After their stroke, people’s life satisfaction increased by 12% for every group membership that they were able to retain.
A 2009 study (in press at Ageing and Society) of residents entering a new care home. This showed that those who participated as a group in decisions related to the decoration of communal areas used those areas 57% more over the next month and were far happier as a result. In contrast, the use of space by residents in a control group declined by 60%. Moreover, these differences were still apparent three months later.
Another 2009 study (under review at Psychology and Aging) looked at the impact of group interventions on the health and well-being of 73 people residing in care. After a period of six weeks the researchers found that people who took part in a reminiscence group showed a 12% increase in their memory performance, while those who received individual reminiscence or a control intervention showed no change.
Another 2009 study (in press at the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology) also studied nursing home residents and looked at the relationship between their sense of identity and well-being and the severity of their dementia.
The study’s key finding was that a strong sense of identity associated with perceived membership of social groups, was a much better predictor of residents’ well-being than their level of dementia.
Summarising this and other work in the article, Professor Jolanda Jetten from the University of Queensland commented:
"New research shows just how important groups and social identity are to well-being. This is something that people often overlook in the rush to find medical solutions to problems associated with ageing, but it is time that these factors were taken much more seriously".
Dr Catherine Haslam of the University of Exeter, another of the works’ co-authors, agrees: "On the basis of what is now a very large body of research we would urge the medical community to recognise the key role that participation in group life can play in protecting our mental and physical health. It’s much cheaper than medication, with far fewer side effects, and is also much more enjoyable."
 

Medical experts around the world are calling on the public to avoid consuming too much sodium sulfate or salt since doing so could be disastrous to your health.
According to a recent medical study, those who love to partake salt usually suffer from high blood pressure, vascular and cardiac damage, stomach cancer, osteoporosis and other diseases.
The study also revealed that higher blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Based on the latest statistics, worldwide, approximately 1 billion adults have hypertension.
It is said that about 17 to 30 percent of these cases are caused by excessive sodium consumption.
Researchers discovered that almost 80 percent of sodium intake is from processed food in developed countries.
The experts revealed the most effective change will result from regulation of the food industry by government.
However, researcher said there is a need for immediate voluntary action.

Partaking too much salt is dangerous to health.

In Canada alone, the recommended intake is 1,000 mg/day sodium for people aged 1 to 3 years and 1,500 mg/day for those aged 9 to 50 years.
Dr. Kevin Willis, from the Canadian Stroke Network explained a population-wide reduction in sodium intake could prevent a large proportion of cardiovascular events in both
normotensive and hypertensive populations.
He added a population-wide decrease of 2 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure would be estimated to lower the prevalence of hypertension by 17%, coronary artery disease by 6% and the risk of stroke by 15%, with many of the benefits occurring among patients with normal blood pressure.
 

Moreover, the experts hoped that the national public health policy should focus on:
• Reformulating processed food
• Educating consumers
• Labeling food clearly
• Setting timelines to meet these targets

They said nongovernmental groups should also lobby the food industry to change practice.
They added these groups should work in partnership with governments to initiate public education campaigns.
The experts said health care professionals should give extra attention in guiding patients about healthy choices in reducing sodium consumption.
They said training in giving those directions should be included into curricula.

The health benefits offered by drinking beetroot juice have been confirmed in a study made in the United Kingdom.
According to the research beetroot juice boosts stamina and could help you exercise for 16 per cent longer because the nitrate it contains reduces oxygen uptake which make exercise less tiring.
The researchers from the University of Exeter hopes that their finding will be of interest not only to athletes but also to elderly people and those with metabolic, respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.
Based on their study, Professor Andy Jones of the University of Exeter’s School of Sport and Health Sciences and colleagues found that drinking beetroot juice reduces oxygen uptake more than can be achieved by any other known means, including training.
Jones said their study is the first to show that nitrate-rich food can increase exercise endurance.
He said based on the result of their study they come to the conclusion that the reduced O2 cost of exercise following increased dietary nitrate intake has important implications for our understanding of the factors which regulate mitochondrial respiration and muscle contractile energetics in humans.

Drinking beetroot juice regularly offers health benefits to both men and woman.

The researchers revealed men were able to cycle for an average of 11.25 minutes or 92 seconds longer when they took beetroot juice which translates to about 2 per cent reduction in the time taken to cover a set distance.
Jones and colleagues aren’t sure how the nitrate in the beetroot juice boosts stamina, but they suspect it is because the nitrate turns into nitric oxide in the body (hence the measure for plasma nitrite), which in turn reduces the oxygen cost of exercise.
They now hope to do more tests to understand the effect of nitrate-rich foods on what happens in the body during exercise.
He said they were "amazed" by the effect of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake, especially as they know of no other means that can achieve this big a difference, even training.
He added professional and amateur athletes will be interested in the results of their research.
Jones said he is also keen to explore the relevance of the findings to those people who suffer from poor fitness and may be able to use dietary supplements to help them go about their daily lives.

Those people who have no job are most likely to get sick as well.
This was the observation of a group of researchers based in Australia.
According to the result of their study, there is a clear connection between unemployment and health.
The data gathered by researchers also shows a direct relationship between poor health and earning potential.
With their findings, the researchers hoped that the government will add more money in the health programs to help those who are unemployed.
 Dr. Andrew Pesce, the head of the researchers then renewed calls for the governments to invest in health as a national priority.
Pesce said their research highlighted the impact unemployment has on health underlining the debilitating stress and emotional impacts experienced by individuals and communities in tough economic times.

Pesce added the research also shows the other side of that coin that ill health prevents people from contributing to the economy
He said their research is a further proof that investing in health not only contributes to longer, happier and healthier lives, but that investment has a direct and lasting impact on the productivity of the workforce.
He added the report’s finding, that the financial consequences of ill health are ‘clearly great’, comes as no surprise to the medical profession, citing that they have long been urging the government to include health in stimulus investment, but to no avail.
Furthermore, Pesce hoped the piece of evidence they gather will convince governments that there is no better investment than health.
 

Medical experts revealed older adults are at higher risk of health problems if they do not take the proper precautions to protect themselves from the sweltering heat.

Based on a latest medical study it was discovered that some 200 Americans die of health problems caused by high heat and humidity every year, most of them are 50 or older.
The experts explained due to some of the physical changes that happen as we age, that older adults cannot cool down as easily as others can.
To avoid medical complications for senior citizens when temperatures are high here are safety tips they can follow.

A. Use air conditioning in the home or go where it’s air-conditioned — a shopping mall, grocery store, senior center, movie theatre, museum or library, for example. (Fans are not effective enough to adequately cool down the body during intense heat waves.)

B. Drink a lot of water and other clear beverages that do not contain alcohol or caffeine. A good way to measure if enough fluids are being ingested is to check urine color. If urine is a light yellow color, enough water is being taken into the body. If it is darker yellow, the body needs more water.

C. Take cool showers, baths, or sponge baths.

D.  Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and hats.

E. Avoid extended periods of sun exposure.

F. Avoid walking long distances, lifting heavy objects, or other strenuous activities.

G. Avoid below are the most common health problems caused by heat:

H.  Avoid dehydration: Weakness, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness, confusion and passing out.

I.  Avoid heat stroke: A body temperature of or above 103 degrees; red, hot and dry skin; a fast pulse; headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, confusion and passing out.

J.  Avoid heat exhaustion: Heavy sweating or no sweating, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, paleness, cold or clammy skin, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting and fainting.

Older adults need to cool down during the hot days to avoid any form of health concerns.

It was proven through a study that the nicotine in cigarettes can calm a person down.

According to a recent research, it was proven that cigarette had a chemical element that can calm any person puffing it.
Based on the study conducted by the University of California, they found out that nicotine might alter the activity of brain areas that are involved in the inhibition of negative emotions such as anger thus it calms a person down.
Jean Gehricke, the lead researcher of the study explained nicotine slows down the anger of any person as shown by their study.
Gehricke said participants who showed nicotine-induced changes in anger task performance also showed changes in brain metabolism.
He added nicotine-induced reductions in length of retaliation were associated with changes in brain metabolism in response to nicotine in brain areas responsible for orienting, planning and processing of emotional stimuli.
Despite this finding, it is still advisable to avoid smoking since over-all smoking is bad for the health.
The cigarette might have calming effects but the truth of the matter it could cause cancer and other health problems to persons addicted to smoking.

If you want to be healthy engage in sex regularly.
A recent study in Queens University in Belfast showed that sex a few times a week could fight the cold and flu, lengthen one’s life by promoting heart health and control cholesterol levels, provide weight loss and overall fitness, fight depression and ease joint, muscle and menstrual pain.
The Queens study suggests that the immune system has the ability of increasing when intercourse is experienced once or twice a week.
Other studies based on the Queens University study have suggested that cardiovascular health could be improved by having sex three or more times a week. Apparently, sex for men could reduce their "risk of heart attack or stroke by half.
According to the Queens study, "a vigorous bout burns some 200 calories - about the same as running 15 minutes on a treadmill or playing a spirited game of squash. The pulse rate in a person rises from about 70 beats per minute to 150, the same as that of an athlete putting forth maximum effort."

A recent study shows a regular dose of sex promotes sex.

What is Marijuana and how is it used?

Marijuana is part of a group of drugs known as hallucinogenic drugs. That is, they can cause the drug abuser to hallucinate when they are using it. It has a dried herb like appearance, and is usually smoked, often mixed with other herbs or tobacco. Marijuana is produced from the leaves of the cannabis plant. Other names for Marijuana include ‘weed’, ‘dope’, ‘blow’, and ’smoke’. The effects of the drug Marijuana. People who abuse the drug Marijuana will often say that they feel ‘chilled out’ and that it relaxes them. They may become more talkative, although they will often not make any sense. Time will often slow down for the Marijuana drug abuser, and it is not unusual for them to experience intense hunger; this is known as the munchies. The drug Marijuana is often thought by people who are less informed to be relatively harmful, or something that the user will grow out of using. However, Marijuana does carry harmful side effects, so it is wise to test anyone that you think may be using and abusing this drug. Drug testing can be easily carried out by using a drug test kit. Using a drug test kit to test for Marijuana is important because of the harmful effects this drug can have on the user. These include the user developing a psychological dependency on the drug. They may also show signs of paranoia and anxiety when they are not taking the drug. There has been links of Marijuana with schizophrenia. Drug testing for this substance using a drug testing kit is also important because the most common way to smoke Marijuana is to mix it with tobacco which also carried health risks that can lead to cancer. Increased use of the drug Marijuana can lead to a slowing down of the brain functions and make it difficult for the user to learn. If you know of a teenager showing these signs, then it is important that you use a drug testing kit to determine the facts.

What is Nicotine and how is it used?

Nicotine is the stimulant found in tobacco products, and can be smoked in cigarettes and pipes, or chewed. It is highly addictive and can cause long term damage to the user, sometimes resulting in death. Why people begin to abuse Nicotine. Many people will begin to abuse nicotine in their early teens, and most will not stop until they are much older, if they are able to stop at all. Unfortunately this drug is often seen as a social drug, and the effects of the drug abuse are not thought about. Young teens will often begin to smoke and abuse nicotine due to peer pressure. The effects of the drug Nicotine Nicotine in tobacco produces a stimulation effect when a person first begins smoking it. This continues until the drug user it addicted. When addicted, the drug user will have to take in more nicotine to fend off the feelings of irritability and anxiety that can occur when the drug is stopped. Rather than taking the drug nicotine for its stimulating effect, the user now has to take it to feel ‘normal’. Nicotine now goes from being a drug that stimulates, to one that relaxes the user. How the drug Nicotine harms the user. Nicotine harms the drug user in a variety of ways. It can increase blood pressure, and in some cases, the heart rate can be raised up to 40 per cent. There is also the risks that taking nicotine in tobacco brings with it. The tar that tobacco produces releases chemicals known to cause cancer into the bloodstream. These increase the risk of the user contracting lung cancer, which in many cases can lead to death. Smokers who obtain nicotine in this way also run the increased risk of suffering from emphysema and other bronchial conditions. Nicotine can also harm people who do not abuse the drug. Smoking in a public place can cause second hand smoke to enter the bloodstream of others. This has been found to have a detrimental effect, with some developing the same health conditions as smokers. Fortunately there is an easy to administer drug test that can detect if someone is abusing nicotine. The Nicotine Screen-Cassette is easy to use and if used as part of a program designed to help a user give up nicotine, this can be helpful and beneficial to the user, by ensuring that regular checks can monitor their progress. A simple drug kit to test for nicotine can also be helpful for people who may be worried that they are suffering the consequences of second hand smoke from nicotine abusers close to them.