MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'activity'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:51:56 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181804&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthree-common-ailments-that-can-be-treated-with-regular-exercise%2F2011.08.31 It’s Wednesday, so I would like to tell you about some cool things I learned this past week about the science of how exercise can be used as a treatment for three common ailments. First, some background about exercise: The great thing about exercising every day that you eat is that this magic potion is not a shot or a pill. It does not involve a doctor burning or squishing anything in your body. There are no HIPAA forms, no insurance pre-certifications, and not even a co-pay. It’s as we say, easy and free. And drum roll please…exercise is active—not passive. Here’s the Mandrola take on how exercise might treat three specific medical conditions: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr John M* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181804 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:00:42 +0100 5181804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169551&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fweight-gain-associated-with-years-following-marriage-and-divorce%2F2011.08.26 Women gain weight after marriage and men after divorce, especially among those over 30, likely the result of “weight shock” to people’s routines in physical activity and diet, sociologists reported. The research, led by a sociology doctoral student at The Ohio State University, was presented at a roundtable on Marriage and Family at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. They used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth ’79, a nationally representative sample of men and women ages 14 to 22 in 1979. The same people were surveyed every year up to 1994 and every other year since then, reported a press release. Data on more than 10,000 people surveyed from 1986 to 2008 was used to determine (more…) *This blog post was or... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169551 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5169551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130652&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fstart-active-stay-active-a-report-on-physical-activity-from-the-four-home-countries%25e2%2580%2599-chief-medical-officers%2F Title:Start active, stay active: a report on physical activity from the four home countries’ Chief Medical Officers Click or Scan to download 'Start active, stay active: a report on physical activity from the four home countries' Chief Medical Officers' The Skinny: UK-wide document that presenting guidelines on the volume, duration, frequency and type of physical activity required across the lifecourse to achieve general health benefits. Aimed at the NHS, local authorities and a range of other organisations designing services to promote physical activity. Publisher: DH Published: 11/07/11 Size: 62p. Additional Documents   Fact sheet 1 Early years (under 5s) Fact sheet 2 Early years (under 5s capable of walking) Fact sheet 3 Children and young people (5-18 years) Fa... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130652 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:48:43 +0100 5130652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077677&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FALvR_OSUX_w%2F The following is a guest post from blogger and writer Amanda Kidd. She is a regular follower of healthy living her health guide includes all the health related topics. Amongst all she likes to write on sexual health a lot: Sexual urge or the libido is a natural phenomenon in men and women alike. It is widely believed and understood that couples enjoy intimacy more in their young age rather than in matured stage of their lives. Though apparently this may be a well accepted notion and may also look very true, the research indicates otherwise. Sexual urge in older women, or middle aged women, is a subject of immense interest and research amongst the scientists and researchers all over the world. What happens to the sexual drive of a woman when she crosses the threshold of 30 and enters into t... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077677 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:50:58 +0100 5077677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050722&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2F9-tips-to-keep-reality-tv-from-ruining-your-life%2F At lunch today, I was part of a spirited conversation on the pros and cons of reality TV. That’s a broad category, of course, covering a wide range of shows from The Real Housewives to American Idol to Jersey Shore to Project Runway. My older daughter loves that show where they do fancy cake decorations — what’s it called? TV is significant for happiness — if for no other reason, because of the time involved. In terms of hours, watching TV is probably the world’s most popular pastime. Among Americans, it’s the most common free-time activity — for an average of about five hours a day. It’s a source of relaxing fun. But while television is a good servant, it’s a bad master. It can swallow up huge quantities of our lives, without much happiness bang for t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050722 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:15:55 +0100 5050722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008669&cid=t_101915_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2F12-12th-step-activities%2F Service to Others in Sobriety This twelth step work activity list was developed by talking to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous members for a research project. They seem to apply to all 12 Step Fellowships. Took calls or spent time with a sponsee Guided an alcoholic/addict through the 12-Steps Held a service position in a 12-Step program (Within meetings; coffee maker, door greeter, chairperson, secretary, treasurer) (Outside of meetings: service delegate, public outreach organizer (i.e. jails, etc.), literature delegate). Say something positive to an alcoholic/addict Listened to an alcoholic/addict for at least 10 minutes at meetings, on the phone or face-to-face Say hello to a newcomer Reached out to an alcoholic/addict having a hard time Shared personal story wi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008669 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:42:00 +0100 5008669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968581&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-june-24-2011%2F To tell you the truth, memories of my early school days are a mixed range of slightly traumatic to idiotic. In some ways, I had more drama in my life at age 8 than I did at age 28. These are the tales I love to tell new friends and laugh with old ones about how crazy our public and private school experiences were. Besides batting away cockroaches in our filthy gum-filled desks, I was always crying from mean teachers who scolded us for putting hands in our pockets or not getting math. The teachers were so strict that one of my classmates peed in his pants because he took our teacher’s warning that, “no one can leave this room until you’re finished with your assignment” literally. Did I mention this was private school? Public school ended up being a lot better for me.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968581 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:38:15 +0100 4968581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960002&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fjournal-of-public-health-2011-vol-33-no-2%2F This article considers the impact of the use of private cars on people’s health and what measures could be initiated to reduce car dependence. (Print subscription held at Fade Library) Filed under: Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Climate Change, Ecology, Environment, Obesity, Physical Activity, Pollution, Public Health, Transport (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960002 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:32:43 +0100 4960002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820825&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FswyzFX-ekUk%2F By Ilya ShapiroThe challenge to the constitutionality of the individual mandate — Obamacare’s central feature, without which the whole regulatory scheme collapses (practically speaking, though I agree with Judge Vinson that it also can’t be severed as a matter of law) – boils down to whether, under modern constitutional doctrine regarding what Congress can do under the guise of regulating interstate commerce, the government can force “inactive” people into a particular action, namely buying health insurance. That is, while cases like Wickard  (Congress can force farmer to meet quota and bring crops to market) and Raich (Congress can stop wholly intrastate growth and consumption of marijuana) — moving from wheat to weed — are disconcertin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820825 Thu, 12 May 2011 19:46:19 +0100 4820825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813209&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F11%2Fageing-society-2010-vol-30-no-8%2F This article looks at the risk factors that influence physical activity levels among a representative sample of older people in England and their awareness of the recommended level of physical activity (Print subscription held at Fade Library) Filed under: Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Older People, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813209 Wed, 11 May 2011 12:26:48 +0100 4813209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762891&cid=t_101915_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FM3gc8PuJPjw%2F A study published in Psychological Science earlier this year suggested that bladder control equals better mind control: When offered several choices (between receiving $16 tomorrow or $30 in 35 days, for example), subjects who had a full bladder made better overall decisions. The study begs jokes about gulping down coffee before heading to the mall, but there are more practical implications than just knowing that you’ll do better if you have to pee. Instead of assuming that the mind always controls the body, the research flips traditional thinking on its head: What we do with our body — everything from physical posture to what we eat — can also go to our head. Oliver Burkeman, author of This Column Will Change Your Life at The Guardian, recently mused about other such studies tha... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762891 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:56:13 +0100 4762891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4759058&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fwe-need-wellness-policies-to-create-healthy-communities%2F By: Hannah Barker, Dietetic Intern, with assistance from Rebecca This week I participated in a webinar called, “Looking Upstream: How Income, Education and Racial Disparities Shape Health.” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was the host. The expert panel included: Dr. James Marks from the Health Group at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Paula Braverman from the University of California in San Francisco, David Williams from the Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard University, and Steven Woolf from the Virginia Commonwealth University. We Spend a Lot on Healthcare for Such a Sick Country I learned that the United States spends so much on health care, yet ranks poorly in terms of several health indicators, like infant mortality and life expectancy.  However, the cause of the Unite... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4759058 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:00:44 +0100 4759058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753985&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F26%2Fa-new-way-of-looking-at-coping-maybe%2F One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it. ~Sidney Howard Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal. ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche There are few topics closer to my heart than goals.  This is partly because of my background in occupational therapy, where goals are seen as part of how we live purposeful, meaningful lives – but it’s also because they’re incredibly difficult to help others to do, yet goal setting is seen as integral to therapy. I’ve also been considering the whole topic of coping recently.  What is coping? Which coping strategies are helpful? Is it possible to view coping efforts without also looking at the context in which they’re being used? My current concl... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753985 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:33:35 +0100 4753985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734699&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F20%2Festablishing-routines-and-baselines-recording-daily-schedules%2F I don’t know about you, but I’m not the world’s best at noting down every activity I do during a day.  I get engrossed in the thing I’m doing and I often get interrupted, so it’s not very easy to record my activity moment-by-moment.  Yet, for many of us, this is something we ask for from the people we’re working with. Luckily, there is some research on daily diary methods.  Unluckily for most of us, the best ones (ie most accurate and least intrusive) are electronic!  Useful if you’re funded for some research, less helpful if you’re trying to do this in your everyday clinical setting!  Basically, the research findings show that an electronic, automated and usually random alarm that reminds the participant to record their activity (and us... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734699 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:23:47 +0100 4734699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734700&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F19%2Festablishing-routines-and-baselines-baseline-recording%2F One of the problems novice clinicians often complain about is that journals and research papers rarely examine or provide practical approaches to daily problems that are encountered when working with people who have chronic pain. It can take a lot of work to locate suitable approaches to things like: ways to help a person who is not accepting that a cure for chronic pain is unavailable ‘motivating’ a person to engage in activities that are anticipated to increase pain how to develop a baseline and establish an appropriate rate of progression how to establish a daily routine It’s tempting to think that in the absence of evidence-based approaches, the clinical skills are artistic rather than scientific, but I’m not so sure about that.  Maybe it’s more a case ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734700 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:11:03 +0100 4734700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714827&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F14%2Fcatherine-zeta-jones-bipolar-i-vs-bipolar-ii%2F Although I wouldn’t wish the pain of bipolar disorder on anyone, I am sort of glad to find out another accomplished, beautiful movie star has joined our manic-depressive group. After spending five days in a mental health facility, Catherine Zeta Jones has been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. I like to call bipolar II the “Diet Coke” of bipolar, if you recall the scene from “Austin Powers” when Dr. Evil says to his son, Scott: “You’re quasi-evil. You’re semi-evil. You’re the margarine of evil. You’re the Diet Coke of evil. Just one calorie, not evil enough.” That’s how I view bipolar II: one calorie short of bipolar I. Those with bipolar II experience the same symptoms as persons with Bipolar II, just not to the extreme. For example, when I get manic,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714827 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:37:29 +0100 4714827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709258&cid=t_101915_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fpremature-ejculation-sexual-self-esteem.html Most infertile men have poor sexual self-esteem. As it is , they feel inadequate because they cannot get their wife pregnant. On top of this, if they cannot perform in the bedroom, this makes a bad situation even worse.Sexual problems are as common in infertile men as they are in fertile men. Premature ejaculation is the commonest male sexual problem. It is very distressing , because it makes the man feel inadequate and inferior.Remember that there is an evolutionary advantage to being a premature ejaculator and this seems to be hard-wired in our genes ! in the past ,wen who could have sex quickly could get lots of women pregnant quickly, and spread their genes far and wide !This is primarily a psychological problem ; and in many men is the result of behaviour which is learned as a teenage... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709258 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:03:00 +0100 4709258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670112&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysical-activity-versus-physical-fitness-it-could-mean-the-difference-between-life-and-death%2F2011.04.01 My neighbor Ed was a thin man all his life. He maintained an ideal body weight by combining regular physical activity with a modest intake of calories. He was a “young” seventy year-old who looked the picture of heart health. Ed regularly read the newspaper while walking on his treadmill, he hit a golf ball straighter and longer than his peers, and he wore the same size jeans now than he did in college 50 years ago. What’s more, he bragged about his low blood pressure, normal cholesterol level and perfect blood chemistries. He took no pills. I think he went to his primary care doctor each year just to show off his health. The morning he woke with crushing chest pressure and shortness of air stunned him. “This couldn’t be a heart attack?” he thought. An hour later, minutes after... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670112 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 20:00:20 +0100 4670112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615450&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F21%2Fmaking-self-help-more-helpful%2F In this study, Varley, Webb and Sheeran contacted (via email) the students and staff at a university in the UK.  People who were already being treated for anxiety were excluded, and the remaining participants (251 of them) were randomised into three groups.  All of them completed baseline Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, developed by Zigmond and Snaith, 1983) and the state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg, and Jacobs, 1983). One group received no input, while the other two groups were asked to go to a web page where they downloaded a self-help booklet.  Both of the booklets were the same eight-page booklet containing psychoeducation, diary sheets for self-monitoring triggers and feelings, and two relaxation techniques &#... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615450 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:20:16 +0100 4615450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592394&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-new-treatment-for-lupus%2F2011.03.15 Lupus, an autoimmune disease, [recently] turned up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). It cropped up, also, on the first page of the New York Times business section, and elsewhere. Scientific American published a nice online review just now. The reason is that the FDA has approved a new monoclonal antibody for treatment of this condition. The drug belimumab (Benlysta), targets a molecule called BlyS (B-lymphocyte Stimulator). The newspapers uniformly emphasize that this drug marks some sort of triumph for Human Genome Sciences, a biotech company that first reported on BlyS in the journal Science way back in 1999. BlyS triggers B cells to produce antibodies that in patients with lupus tend to bind and destroy their own cells’ needed machinery, causing various joint, lung... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592394 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:36 +0100 4592394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4554805&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F07%2Fafter-quake-aftermath%2F Once again I’m lead to pondering the different ways my situation has affected me, and what might be helpful to mitigate some of the less frequently mentioned aspects of coping in a disaster. Like many people, I’m still managing with quite limited power, water that is a trickle (not enough pressure to fill a toilet cistern let alone the hot water cylinder!), and the hassles of finding a supermarket and shops that are open, a petrol station before I run out of gas, and ways to dispose of human waste matter safely. I posted before about the loss of cues that usually help me to maintain my normal routine.  With the loss of these cues, and changes to my usual routine, as well as the inevitable anxiety that comes with repeated aftershocks (Is that a truck going by or an aftershock? ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4554805 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:16:10 +0100 4554805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549738&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FamnxoVJRyRA%2F By Michael F. CannonThe latest federal judge to declare ObamaCare constitutional claimed that Congress can regulate "mental activity," like the mental activity of choosing not to purchase health insurance.  Or shoes and ships and sealing wax.  Or my book. National Review editor Rich Lowry has an excellent column explaining why this latest, ahem, legal victory for ObamaCare "delivered a more telling blow against the law in the course of ruling it constitutional than critics have in assailing it as a travesty...It's the most self-undermining defense of the constitutionality of a dubious statute since then–solicitor general Elena Kagan told the Supreme Court that under campaign-finance reform, the government could ban certain pamphlets." I’m Not So Sure I Like Your Mental Activity i... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549738 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:32:51 +0100 4549738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549802&cid=t_101915_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2Fif4wLMHT2oE%2F I recently read an article (which I can’t find now) that said, We don’t log in to check our health data as much as we do our financial data. This was a pretty interesting statement considering a few days back I posted this tweet about PHR and being an active patient: #bbpBox_41380840890048512 a { text-decoration:none; color:#0084B4 !important; } #bbpBox_41380840890048512 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; } I want to spend some time thinking about the motivation for a healthy individual to become an active patient. #PHR #ePatient February 26, 2011 6:15 am via HootSuite @techguy John Lynn Figuring out the right motivation for someone to use a PHR has been something that’s been on my mind for quite a while. You may remember my post about requ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549802 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:24:24 +0100 4549802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4527888&cid=t_101915_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-books%2Fthe-gift-of-adhd-activity-book-101-ways-to-turn-your-childs-problems-into-strengths-companion.php Price 8.58 Listprice $14.95 Description The chapters of the book are organized by strengths that can be developed in a child. There is a short discussion of the importance of each strength, and then the book offers simple activities that parents do with their child-often in just a few minutes-to help develop them. Throughout the book strikes a positive note, stressing things that parents can do themselves to encourage and support their child rather than things they should discourage or avoid.….more info Read More (Source: Life With ADHD) Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4527888 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4527888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525031&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoes-cell-phone-use-stimulate-brain-activity%2F2011.02.26 We all know that using a cell phone can stimulate the brain to work a bit harder. “Mr. Skerrett? This is Dr. LeWine’s office. Do you have a minute to talk about your test results?” or “Dad, a bunch of kids are going to Casey’s house after the dance. Can I go?” But a new study published in JAMA is making me wonder what the energy emitted by the phone itself — not just the information it delivers — is doing to my brain. Here’s the study in a nutshell. Dr. Nora Volkow and her colleagues recruited 47 volunteers to have their brain activity measured twice by a PET scanner. Both times the volunteer had a cell phone strapped to each ear. During one measurement, both phones were turned off. During the other, one phone was turned on but muted so the volunteer didn’t know... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525031 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 22:00:29 +0100 4525031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512429&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F23%2Fcellphone-use-may-increase-brain-activity%2F Brain studies get more interest in the media, because the brain is truly one of the last great unknowns of the human body. While our understanding of the brain has made great strides in the past few decades, we still have only very basic and rudimentary knowledge of this important organ. Honestly, researchers still aren’t quite sure how the brain even works. When you consider where we are with our understanding of the brain’s basic functions, you have to take studies that use brain imagery with a healthy grain of salt. The consumption of sugar by the brain is thought to indicate important brain activity, but it’s a correlational association that researchers have documented. The latest “gee whiz!” brain study showed that when you put a muted cell phone next to ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512429 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:28:44 +0100 4512429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470412&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgender-differences-in-exercise%2F2011.02.12 Obesity levels are at an all-time high among men, women, and children in the United States. The need for good nutrition and regular exercise is paramount for maintaining proper health and for keeping those extra pounds at bay, especially for women. Beginning in her late 20s and 30s, a woman’s average body weight climbs steadily each year. This increase usually continues into her 60s. For many women, the weight gain is between one to two pounds per year with some women gaining more, and others less. Aside from weight loss, women who incorporate regular exercise into their daily schedules may lower the risks of certain diseases and conditions. A recent study presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference revealed that women who exercised for at least ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470412 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4470412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399522&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fexercise-now-weigh-less-later%2F2011.01.26 People know it’s important to avoid excessive weight gain as they get older, and that exercise is a key to success in this regard. But until recently, scientists had published surprisingly few studies purporting to quantify the impact of habitual exercise on weight gain over the long haul. Dr. Arlene Hankinson and her colleagues at Northwestern University set out to do just that. Using data from a prospective follow-up study, Hankinson’s group showed that men who were able to maintain high activity levels over an extended period gained six fewer pounds, and five fewer centimeters of waist circumference than those in the lowest activity group. Women in the highest activity group gained 13 fewer pounds and nearly seven centimeters less around their waists. To reach these conclusions... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399522 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:00:20 +0100 4399522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394753&cid=t_101915_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdance-for-recovery%2F Image via WikipediaThe Workout You’ll Look Forward to DoingAlcoholics, addicts and co-dependents in early recovery may be out of condition, unfit. Here is one fun way to lose weight and get fit.If dancing is a rare activity for you, one you take part in only at the occasional wedding reception (if then!), then it’s time to get in touch with your inner Debbie Allen.Dancing, like walking or cycling, is a great no-cost or low-cost way to build aerobic fitness, improve balance and strengthen your muscles at any age. And you don’t have to wait for a special event or find a partner to enjoy dance’s benefits.You can even pick dance as your main physical activity. Research presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine showed that dancing gi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394753 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:10:00 +0100 4394753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4386273&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbig-breakfast-big-calories-rethink-your-morning-fuel-up%2F2011.01.22 Haven’t we all learned that breakfast should be our biggest meal? ”Start the day with ‘fuel’ and you can burn it off as the day goes on.” “Eat a big breakfast and you’ll eat fewer calories all day long.” This advice is probably not true, and in fact a new study published in the January 17th issue Nutrition Journal shows that people ate the same at lunch and dinner regardless of what they had at breakfast. If a person ate 1,000 calories at breakfast (which is easy to do with bacon, eggs, toast, hashbrowns, and juice), he or she had a total increase in calories eaten throughout the day by 1,000 calories. This doesn’t mean we should be skipping breakfast. The problem may be what we historically think of as an “American&#8221... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4386273 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:00:00 +0100 4386273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377801&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F21%2Ffriday-funnies-46%2F No further comment required. Filed under: Humour, Pain, Resilience/Health, Wellness Tagged: activity, coping, Friday funnies, funny, Health, Humour (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377801 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:49:16 +0100 4377801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361141&cid=t_101915_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FZ-URJT5BSII%2F The media regularly reports on findings based on neuroimaging studies, but rarely do they explain exactly what these techniques are, their benefits or what it’s like to actually participate in these types of studies. Today I’ll describe what a participant goes through when they volunteer for a cognitive neuroscience experiment using a neuroimaging technique called electroencephalography (EEG). Unfortunately, it is exceedingly common for participants to not understand how these techniques benefit previous behavioral findings. Simply stated, if I were a participant, I’d like to know why I needed to wear a weird swim cap and how it benefits the research being done. EEG is a tool regularly used to view and record the changes in brain activity involved in the various types of cognitive fu... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361141 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:08:40 +0100 4361141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305127&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F03%2F2010-in-review%2F The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health: The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow. Crunchy numbers The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 210,000 times in 2010. If it were an exhibit at The Louvre Museum, it would take 9 days for that many people to see it.   In 2010, there were 194 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 828 posts. There were 157 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 38mb. That’s about 3 pictures per week. The busiest day of the year was April 28th with 1,097 views. The most popular post that day was If you’re not asleep, get out of bed!. Where did they come from? The top referring sites in 2010 we... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305127 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:34:50 +0100 4305127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265601&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F12%2F16%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2010-vol-304-no-23%2F Contents Fade fave: Maintaining a High Physical Activity Level Over 20 Years and Weight Gain Fade skinny: This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between habitual activity levels and changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference over 20 years. A prospective longitudinal study with 20 years of follow-up was carried out 1985-1986 to 2005-2006 of average annual changes in BMI and waist circumference of 3554 men and women aged 18 to 30 years at baseline. The article concludes that maintaining high activity levels through young adulthood may lessen weight gain as young adults transition to middle age, particularly in women. An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online, alternatively contact the Library for a copy. &nbs... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265601 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:44:42 +0100 4265601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219748&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-simplified-formula-for-good-health%2F2010.12.01 You can’t do anything about your genes, but here’s a formula for good health — simplified: 0          Cigarettes 5          Servings of fruits and vegetables a day 10        Minutes of silence or relaxation a day 30        Body mass index (BMI) below 150      Minutes of exercise a week     You knew this already, but are you really doing it? *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219748 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:00:00 +0100 4219748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134291&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F02%2Fresilience-catastrophising-and-positive-emotions%2F Catastrophising, or thinking the worst, is one of those psychological factors that we know influences distress and disability in people with chronic pain. It’s quite a common phenomenon, and sometimes can stand us in good stead – after all, if we can think of the worst things that can happen, then plan to avert those possible disasters, then life will be sweet, yes? ermmmm – no, as a matter of fact.  Catastrophising can actually function to narrow our thinking down, reducing the range of options we can come up with to manage situations, and it can also function to focus us on things that haven’t worked out while at the same time minimising our appreciation of things that are working well. In chronic pain, catastrophising is often an outcome to measure – the t... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134291 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:49:36 +0100 4134291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119760&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F28%2Fwhats-missing-from-pain-assessment%2F I am stumped. Here is a common clinical quandary – one of the most important outcomes from pain management is to increase participation in daily activity (occupation), yet the measures we use just don’t quite cut it for me. Here’s a couple of examples: in the IMMPACT recommendations from 2008 (in the paper I’ve cited below and from the one I cited earlier this week) two ‘disability’ measures are suggested as a way to assess disability.  One is the ‘Interference’ subscale from the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, and the other is the Pain Disability Index.  Both of these have sound psychometric properties, have been used for a long time in pain management research and clinical use – but both of them have problems. The problems are abou... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119760 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:39:19 +0100 4119760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118787&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F27%2Fmental-health-in-family-medicine-2010-vol-7-no-2%2F Title: Physical healthcare of people with severe mental illness: everybody’s business! Skinny:  People with severe mental illness are at higher risk of physical health problems. An audit cycle was completed on individuals with severe mental illness under the care of an early interventions in psychosis (EIP) service to evaluate and improve physical health monitoring practice. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Mental Health, Physical Activity, Schizophrenia Tagged: Audit, Mental Health, Physical, Schizophrenia, Wellbeing (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118787 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:54:10 +0100 4118787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082024&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F19%2Farchives-of-pediatrics-and-adolescent-medicine-2010-vol-164-no-10%2F content page Fade Fave: The Effect of Perceived and Structural Neighborhood Conditions on Adolescents’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors Fade Skinny: Obesity continues to be a growing public health concern in the United States. Physical activity and sedentary behaviors are among the key behavioral targets of efforts to address this public health concern. Owing to a recognition of the multifaceted causes of the obesity epidemic, there has been an increased focus on understanding contextual effects on obesity, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors among children and adolescents. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: adolescents, Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Ne... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082024 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:04:07 +0100 4082024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082344&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F19%2Fworking-and-chronic-pain%2F If there is one aspect of chronic pain management that has received more attention than returning to work, I don’t know it! In 1995 when I started working at my current workplace, work was almost a dirty word. I was accused at one time of being a ‘Siberian workcamp’ Commandante because some people thought it was cruel to ‘force’ people with chronic pain into the workplace. Thankfully this attitude has changed over the years, and most people recognise that working when you have chronic pain, while difficult, is achievable and good for health. At the same time, returning to work with pain has never been especially easy and there are numerous issues to work through. Today is the first day I will discuss the practical aspects of returning to work with the current ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082344 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:37:07 +0100 4082344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040515&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F07%2Fevidence-based-mental-health-2010-vol-13-no-3%2F Title: Moderate or high physical activity lowers the risk of cognitive impairment in older people Skinny: Physical activity is associated with a variety of beneficial health outcomes, including the prevention of cognitive impairment among older adults, which this article concentrates on. Filed under: Evidence Based Practice, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Older People, Physical Activity Tagged: Cognitive Impairment, Evidence Based Practice, Exercise, Mental Health, Older People, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040515 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:05:42 +0100 4040515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018188&cid=t_101915_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffreeemergencytalks.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F05%2F2010-04-15-1100-Ten-Things-to-Consider-in-the-Crashing-Patient-Amal-Mattu-Temple_32.mp3 A 60 year-old man is brought into the emergency department because he has felt unwell the past 5 hours. He is awake, diaphoretic and ‘looks sick’. He is mildly tachycardic, mildly tachypneic and afebrile with a blood pressure of 100/60 mmHg. His blood glucose is normal. There is no history of trauma. Clearly this man needs a bit of work --- he looks sick with abnormal vital signs. So... Now what? (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018188 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:52 +0100 4018188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013622&cid=t_101915_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FTP0P_xE2kA4%2F It’s so easy to put off exercising. Long work hours, chores to do at home, friends and family to see … hitting the gym ends up being yet another forgotten item on an overwhelming to-do list. After all, “I don’t have time” seems like a decent enough excuse. You’ve got other priorities. You might not even like exercise much. And those folks who do spend an hour or two every day walking, cycling or working out? They’re clearly not very focused on their work or the other “should do”s in their life. The thing is, if you’re busy, you can’t afford not to exercise. Exercise Gives You More Energy Maybe you’re put off exercising because you’re worried about being tired. If you hit the gym at lunch, you’ll be exhauste... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013622 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:38:44 +0100 4013622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013604&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F29%2Fgo-on-expose-yourself%2F …er, maybe not that way OK?! Graded exposure in vivo (with response prevention) is a specific treatment for pain-related anxiety/fear and avoidance.  More specifically, it’s for people who are avoiding activities that are not going to harm them, but may increase their pain.  Their beliefs as to why they ‘shouldn’t do’ these activities or movements differ widely – some people recognise that while they’re not going to harm themselves, they don’t want to or feel overwhelmed when they experience increases in pain, while others are definitely concerned that their pain means some damage is likely to occur, or more often, ‘might’ occur. Simple reassurance doesn’t help people in this situation.  Just telling someone that ’... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013604 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:56:33 +0100 4013604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993907&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftoxins-can-you-sweat-them-out%2F2010.09.22 Can you sweat out toxins? The guy next to me on the bike yesterday morning was working like Lance Armstrong in training: He had laid towels on the floor to absorb the impressive perspiration he was generating. He shouted over to me: “I’m hitting it hard to cleanse out the toxins from last night. Too much Captain Morgan and buffalo wings, ya know?” “Really,” I said. “Actually, I’m a dermatologist, and sweat does not contain any toxins,” I said to myself so that he could not hear. (Gym decorum dictates men do not correct men in the middle of a workout — especially if prefaced by “Actually, I’m a dermatologist.”) I left him to his aerobics and wrote this post in my head while I finished mine. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at The Dermato... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993907 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:00:06 +0100 3993907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987237&cid=t_101915_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2F5dXx1V5gJLo%2Feffect-of-digital-on-patients-physician.html In 2010, researching health information online is a mainstream activity among U.S. consumers, with over two-thirds of adults doing so. In earlier days of eHealth, online health info-seeking was generally sporadic, usually in response to a new symptom or health concern. But access to broadband has dramatically increased and now more consumers rely on the Internet for health-related resources at multiple points throughout the treatment continuum, including during post-diagnosis and condition management stages. Adoption of online pharmaceutical content in particular has grown at a fast clip over recent years. Over 100 million U.S. adults now use the Internet to research prescription drug information - a population that has been boosted by an increase in the share of older consumers using the ... ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987237 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:58:00 +0100 3987237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3921093&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F01%2Fmeasuring-changes-during-graded-exposure-acceptance-treatment%2F I have been pondering about the best way to monitor ‘Matt’s progress during graded exposure therapy for his avoidance of activities involving back movement. I introduced you to Matt yesterday. He’s a ‘man’s man’, a real bloke who, for the past four years since he had surgery for a prolapsed disc, has avoided things like mowing the lawns, making the bed, fishing and whitebaiting and even golf. Yesterday I described how we went through 100 photographs of activities of daily living, and of these, Matt identified 67 of the photographs as things he wouldn’t do because of his concern about both the impact on his pain and the ‘strain’ on his back. I have used a simple count of the number of photographs a person decides is in the ‘avoided... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3921093 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:35:59 +0100 3921093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3915307&cid=t_101915_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F262%2Fwrinkle-prevention-is-smarter-than-fighting-wrinkles-after-theyve-formed%2F A better way than trying to get rid of lines and skin slackening once they have taken hold is practicing ongoing wrinkle prevention. The problem that people have with both stopping wrinkles from forming and eliminating them once they have already made their appearance is the lack of effective anti aging formulas.  Most of these products are made very cheaply, and therefore don’t contain what it is you need. The cosmetic industry is known for using the lowest quality ingredients possible in order to develop their formulas, so that they can maximize their profit margin.  This means that the formula they provide will primarily feature synthetics as ingredients, as the all natural compounds that a person needs in order to look younger require extensive processing. Only a few companies are ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3915307 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:43:07 +0100 3915307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913152&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F28%2Fwalking-yoga-helps-your-brain%2F Two studies out last week demonstrate connections between practicing yoga and simple walking may work to help improve your brain health. Previous research has linked exercise to helping keep our brains healthy. The two latest studies independently found that walking and yoga may help our brain health in different ways. To study the effects of walking on brain health, researchers followed a group of older adult “couch potatoes” — ages 59 to 80 — who joined a walking group, or stretching and toning group for a year… Researchers followed a group of “professional couch potatoes,” composed of 65 adults ages 59 to 80, who joined a walking group or stretching and toning group for a year. All of the participants were sedentary before the study, reporting less th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913152 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:10:47 +0100 3913152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3890474&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-frank-ryans-death-what-we-can-learn-from-it%2F2010.08.21 I’ll be honest — I’d never heard of Dr. Frank Ryan, a Hollywood plastic surgeon, until his tragic motor vehicle accident recently. Clients included actress Heidi Montag and boxer Oscar De La Hoya. Although the California Highway Patrol investigation isn’t complete, rumors have suggested that Dr. Ryan may have been text messaging when driving. If this is true and an intelligent, well-trained doctor can fall prey to the allure of technology, then what does it mean for the rest of us? First, realize that we can’t multitask. You have one brain. You can focus at one task at a time. Though laws allow hands-free cellphone calls, the issue isn’t trying to dial the phone but rather that the mind is engaged in the conversation and not on the road. Yes, we ar... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3890474 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3890474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876912&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F18%2Fexercise-questions%2F If there is one finding that has remained pretty solid over the past 10 – 15 years, it’s the one that says being active is a good thing for managing chronic pain.  I’m not sure how many papers I’ve read where ‘exercise’ and some form of cognitive behavioural approach have been found to produce improvements in disability, mood and even pain – and the benefits are often maintained for 12 months or more.  But we have a problem, Houston.  The problem is this – many of these studies treat ‘exercise’ in much the same way as ‘interdisciplinary pain management’ – a black box that no-one really knows exactly what goes on in there, but hey it works. This is a real problem when we come to put the research findings to wor... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876912 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:36:07 +0100 3876912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3872755&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F17%2Fvalues-informing-goals%2F Unusually for me, this post is not associated with a piece of published research.  I have been mulling over ways to help people set goals that are really meaningful to them rather than superficial ones that are all too easily forgotten or avoided, and being informed by ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) I’ve been looking at values clarification as one way of tapping in to this.  At the same time as doing this I’ve been doing a little reading around the occupational therapy Kawa model which uses the river metaphor to describe ‘life flow’, or words to that effect. I’m not a strong advocate of descriptive models really, because I am more concerned about models that help to explain or predict phenomena in the world, but at the same time I use metaphors a lo... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3872755 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:35:54 +0100 3872755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862010&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdevice-shows-concussion-effects-linger-off-the-field%2F2010.08.12 It’s an August tradition: Football training camps open, and we’re treated to warnings about working out in the heat. In the past few years, however, when it comes to football, there’s been a new emphasis on traumatic brain injury (TBI). This has caught our eyes here at MedGadget. We’ve covered innovative impact-sensing helmet technology before (as well as smart helmets for temperature monitoring). But for the athlete with a concussion, what happens off the field? Unless a neurologist is involved, it’s up to the players and trainers to follow guidelines or make guesses about when to return to play. Hopefully that will change, and a device like BrainScope will lead the way. When we first covered BrainScope, they were positioning their new device, based on contro... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862010 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:00:29 +0100 3862010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3816372&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwere-forever-blowing-bubbles-photo-of-the-day%2F We never got quite this many bubbles out of that little plastic loop on a stick when we were kids. Maybe because we focused too much on making one big super-bubble. Live and learn. Photo by Flickr user ajari Post from: BlissTree We're Forever Blowing Bubbles: Photo of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3816372 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:30:35 +0100 3816372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3758123&cid=t_101915_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F221%2Fthe-best-anti-aging-products-contain-coenzymeq10%2F The best anti aging products contain an ingredient that surprises many people.  It’s called coenzyme Q10. It surprises people, because they have been taking it as a supplement for heart health.  Who knew it was good for your skin, too? To be honest, the form included in lotions and creams is not the same as what we take orally. The particles must be reduced in size in order to penetrate the skin’s surface. But, other than that, it is the same antioxidant that helps keep the heart and muscles healthy. What does coenzyme Q10 do for the skin’s appearance? It is being recommended for everyone in order to help prevent wrinkles and other signs of age. It is recommended for people with sun damage, because it has been shown to reverse sun damage and wrinkling. Why does it work? COQ10 has u... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3758123 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:32:45 +0100 3758123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3743735&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F12%2Fself-report-or-really-doing-it-or-both%2F In this study, a group of women with widespread pain, some reaching threshold for fibromyalgia, who had been referred for a pain management programme had their activities of daily living performance assessed in two ways: one was the typical pen and paper questionnaire, this time the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (Burckhardt, Clark, and Bennett, 1991); and the other an occupational therapy specific measure AMPS, or Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (Fisher, 1993). All participants were assessed prior to participating in the outpatient interdisciplinary pain management programme, and once a completion of the programme and again at follow-up. AMPS requires that the person carry out two of 85 standardised personal ADL and domestic ADL tasks, calibrated to be at the level appropriate f... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3743735 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:36:56 +0100 3743735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737318&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F07%2F09%2Fsedentary-behaviour-does-not-lead-to-weight-gain-its-the-other-way-round%2F I think it’s true that our preconceived ideas about something can make us somewhat rigid in our thinking and generally unable to consider other possibilities. By way of example, I’d like to recount an experience I had shortly after delivering a presentation in Edam in the Netherlands. During the presentation, I had been detailing some of [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737318 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:27:30 +0100 3737318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714145&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fshould-aghanistan-be-allowed-to-put-women-in-prison-for-moral-crimes%2F When you think of prison inmates, you probably imagine people who’ve been accused of heinous crimes like murder, armed robbery, or embezzlement, but in Afghanistan, women are jailed for being accused of much less. At the only women’s prison in Afghanistan, at least half the women there are incarcerated under accusations of bad character, and other “moral crimes.” Women are often falsely accused of crimes and jailed because of grudges or vendettas, or merely because their husbands are the ones who accuse them. When one woman’s husband claimed she was an adulteress, she was thrown in prison – all while she was three months pregnant with his child. Putting their wives in jail certainly seems like an easy way for Afghan men to get out of being married and keep w... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714145 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:50:17 +0100 3714145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3703114&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F28%2Fhi-ho-hi-ho-its-off-to-work-we-go%2F I know, it’s Monday and such cheer about work should be reserved for people with no life – but helping people return to work has been and still is one of my favourite parts of pain management. A pity that work rehabilitation has become somewhat far removed from pain management as it is practiced in New Zealand. This paper by a group of Canadian researchers takes the basic steps to returning to work, and maps them onto relevant theory associated with both managing low back pain and changing behaviour. It is one of a very few papers I’ve read that demonstrate the reasoning behind how an effective work rehabilitation programme is established. The focus of this paper is on describing how a work rehabilitation programme can work by “having trained personnel coordinate th... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3703114 Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:37:17 +0100 3703114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678528&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fweight-loss-scolded-by-wii%2F2010.06.19 I finished a post-abdominoplasty check, with drains and sutures removed. I then began to tell the patient how to slowly increase her activities and exercise. She smiled and said: “I have to tell you. I got back on the Wii just to walk yesterday. It told me I had lost weight too quickly and that I need to slow down.” *This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678528 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3678528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662638&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Forigami-hang-glider-video-of-the-day%2F If you’re looking for your next rainy day activity (and you need a break from your Netflix Instant queue), look no further. We’re not even kids and we think this is awesome: Post from: BlissTree Origami Hang Glider: Video of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662638 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:00:43 +0100 3662638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3656811&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-stuttering-be-contagious%2F2010.06.12 Recently I was seeing a patient who was left with somewhat of a stutter after a prior stroke. It was a long history and probably longer for the patient, who had to work very hard to be understood through an unwanted speech impediment. Inexplicably, when I walked out of the room I started to stutter, too – I wasn’t trying to make light of the patient’s problem, and I had to stop talking for a few moments before I could speak in my normal cadence.  It was super-strange, like my brain heard the new cadence and said “Oh, that’s how you do it.”  Awful. It was embarrassing and weird. Fortunately the patient didn’t hear it, and I apologized to the staff who did. I have no idea why my mouth-brain connection picked that anomaly to repeat. Strange. Anyone el... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3656811 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:00:38 +0100 3656811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644709&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F09%2Fjournal-of-nursing-research-2010-vol-18-no-1%2F Journal of Nursing Research 2010 (Vol. 18 No. 1) contents page Fade Fave: Effects of Yoga on Sleep Quality and Depression in Elders in Assisted Living Facilities Fade Skinny: Article that recommends that yoga exercise be incorporated as an activity program in assisted living facilities or in other long-term care facilities to improve sleep quality and decrease depression in institutionalized elders. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Older People, Physical Activity, Residential Care, Sleep, Yoga (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644709 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:00:28 +0100 3644709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644743&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fkeeping-your-boyfriend-while-in-prison-piper-kerman-author-of-orange-is-the-new-black-opens-up%2F Watch the previous installment of our exclusive video chat with Piper Kerman, where she opens up about spending six years in limbo before she was locked up in prison. When Piper Kerman was 34, she was sent to federal prison for a ten-year-old drug smuggling and money laundering offense. She spent 13 months in a minimum-security correctional facility for women in Danbury, CT, which isn’t necessarily what you’d expect from a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Smith graduate and Red Sox fan from a nice, New England family. Piper’s excellent memoir about her prison experience, Orange Is the New Black, was just published by Random House – with back cover blurbs by Dave Eggers and Elizabeth Gilbert (not too shabby for a first-time writer). Piper sat down with Blisstree for the af... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644743 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:42:58 +0100 3644743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635693&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F07%2Fheart-2010-vol-96-no-11%2F Contents page Fade Fave: Cardiorespiratory and immune response to physical activity following exposure to a typical smoking environment Fade Skinny: Randomised single-blind crossover experiment to assess the cardiorespiratory and immune response to physical activity following passive smoking (PS). Concludes that 1 hour of PS at bar/restaurant levels adversely affects the response to moderate physical activity in healthy non-smokers for at least 3 hours following PS. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Current Awareness, E-Journals, Passive Smoking, Physical Activity, Smoking (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635693 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:25:09 +0100 3635693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629581&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F04%2Fheart-2010-vol-96-no-5%2F Contents page Fade Fave: Walking speed and subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy older adults: the Whitehall II study Fade Skinny: Short-distance walking speed is associated with metabolic risk and subclinical atherosclerosis in older adults without overt CVD. These data suggest that a non-aerobically challenging walking test reflects the presence of underlying vascular disease. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Cardiovascular Disease, Current Awareness, Diagnosis, E-Journals, Older People, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629581 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:51:41 +0100 3629581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629582&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F04%2Fheart-2010-vol-96-no-4%2F Heart 2010 (Vol. 96 No. 4) Contents page Fade Fave: Prevention of cardiovascular disease: why do we neglect the most potent intervention? Fade Skinny: Article questioning why physical activity is not a serious prescription option for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. This despite a large volume of evidence supporting its cardioprotective properties and its other numerous established health benefits. Ulimately it suggests the collateral health benefits of physical activity prescription support its use as standard option in preventive health care. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Heart, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629582 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:42:34 +0100 3629582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3617800&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ffitness-and-sleep-whats-the-real-connection%2F photo: Thinkstock If you complain about having trouble sleeping, one of the first things most people will tell you is to get more exercise. The more we ramp up our fitness routine, the more our bodies will tire, and we’ll sleep more soundly, right? Not necessarily. The thing that may eliminate the hour you spend staring at the ceiling every night may just be thinking that you get enough exercise. In a study by the American College of Sports Medicine in Switzerland, 862 college students were asked to record how much they exercise, how physically fit they think they are, and how well they sleep. There was no correlation between a large amount of exercise and a good night’s sleep, but there was a correlation between how fit students perceive themselves to be and a good night&#8217... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3617800 Wed, 26 May 2010 21:26:20 +0100 3617800 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595931&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2F25%2Fresearch-unearths-another-reason-why-exercise-is-not-particularly-effective-for-the-purposes-of-weight-loss%2F Despite repeated calls for us to be more active in order to counter rising rates of overweight and obesity, the evidence suggests that activity has, generally speaking, very modest effects on body weight. I wrote quite recently about this here and here. Generally, two main reasons for why exercise does not promote significant weight loss [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595931 Tue, 25 May 2010 15:09:53 +0100 3595931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577338&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F19%2Fon-the-state-of-the-public-health-annual-report-of-the-chief-medical-officer-2009%2F Title: On the State of the Public Health: Annual report of the Chief Medical Officer 2009 Skinny: Annual report of the Chief Medical Officer identifies the need and value of: Physical activity Impact of winter on mortality Rare diseases Value of grandparents in parenting Climate change and health Regional reports of good practice Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 81p. Published: 15/03/2010 Filed under: Environment, Grey Literature, NHS, Public Health Tagged: Climate, Grandparents, Grey Literature, Parenting, Physical Activity, Public Health, Rare Diseases, Winter Planning (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577338 Wed, 19 May 2010 10:57:22 +0100 3577338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3566589&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fmental-health-give-your-brain-a-workout%2F photo: Thinkstock Sometimes it just feels good to give your brain a rest – to lie back, flip on whatever reruns are playing on TBS, and stop thinking for an hour or two. But after a few days of prime vegging-out time, we need to stretch our brain, just like we do our bodies. And we found some great ideas on how to do just that from iVillage. If you’ve scorned yoga in the past, it might be time to reconsider. Regularly practicing yoga and meditating improve cognitive functions, as well as emotional processing, by increasing cortical thickness, which can happen in just eight weeks. Yoga can also positively affect the parts of your brain that deal with stress, sensory awareness, self-awareness, and judgment. Yoga isn’t the only physical activity you can do that will help your br... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3566589 Fri, 14 May 2010 22:30:39 +0100 3566589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3564147&cid=t_101915_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fdiabetes-blog-week-move-it-move-it.html Today’s topic for Diabetes Blog Week: Let’s get moving. “Exercise . . . love it or hate it? Do you have a regular exercise routine? Or do you have trouble finding your exercise motivation? How do you manage your insulin and food to avoid bottoming out during your workout?” I’m extremely [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3564147 Fri, 14 May 2010 13:00:26 +0100 3564147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3549592&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F10%2Fact-ing-well-living-well%2F For some time I’ve been learning more about ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (normally pronounced ‘act’, not A – C – T).  While I have to admit that I have been flummoxed by relational frame theory, a behavioural theory of human language and cognitionthat underpins ACT (go here for a tutorial that may enlighten somewhat), there are some very simple principles that ACT employs that I’ve found useful in my own life – and in the lives of people I work with. Over the next few days I want to outline a bit more about ACT and how I use it within pain management – I’ll be referring to journal papers that explore the use of ACT in pain management, but a lot of what I’ll cover comes more from my own experiences with moving fro... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3549592 Sun, 09 May 2010 23:33:21 +0100 3549592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542906&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2F07%2Fhigher-protein-diet-with-resistance-exercise-best-for-fat-loss%2F There are a myriad of ways to lose weight, but I lean generally towards diets relatively low in carbohydrate and rich in fat. This is on the basis that such diets consistently out-perform diets explicitly low in fat in terms of weight loss. Also, such diets tend to, generally speaking, bring about desirable changes in [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542906 Fri, 07 May 2010 16:12:50 +0100 3542906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538150&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F06%2Fcan-fmri-tell-if-youre-lying%2F The simple answer is, no. You can now go back to work, content in that little tidbit of brain knowledge. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a fancy name for a brain scan that purportedly measures “brain activity.” What is actually measures is simply changes in blood oxygenation and flow in your brain, which we believe to be directly related to brain activity — but this is an indirect measure at best. It’s not actually measuring “brain activity.” fMRI scans are most often used in research to try and better understand our brains and how other things affect our brains (like mental illness or a specific cognitive activity). So you can imagine the challenges that might be faced when you connect this kind of brain measurement to a legal proceeding... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538150 Thu, 06 May 2010 12:16:21 +0100 3538150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538060&cid=t_101915_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F177298%2F Got Water? To us, summer means pool parties, beach weekends, BBQs, and…13 Steps to Droughtproofing Your Home (via Good) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538060 Wed, 05 May 2010 20:05:24 +0100 3538060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463878&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F04%2F13%2Fjust-doing-it-behavioural-activation%2F This post is sparked by a pre-print paper I read yesterday, but follows a long time cogitating about the use and value of “just doing it”. Behavioural reactivation is a set of techniques often used for mood management.  It usually incorporates activity monitoring, assessment of life goals and values, activity scheduling, skills training and problem solving, effective communication training, relaxation training, contingency management, and managing things like avoidance. Fellow occupational therapists will probably feel a tad superior here because these are core aspects of the ways in which occupational therapists work with people, but beware troops! The research from psychology is vast, and it’s rapidly gaining recognition as a psychological approach to reactivation. Beh... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463878 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:31:38 +0100 3463878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3433192&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2F02%2Fmore-evidence-that-exercise-has-relatively-little-impact-on-weight%2F I’m a fan of exercise: it has links with various benefits for the body and brain. One thing that exercise is said to be beneficial for is weight loss. But as I have pointed out before, it generally doesn’t work very well for this. You can read more about this here. Exercise may not, generally [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3433192 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:23:55 +0100 3433192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3425152&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2F31%2Fcould-advising-people-to-eat-less-and-exercise-more-increase-their-risk-of-getting-fatter%2F Some time ago one of my blogs focused on the thoughts of Dr Andrew Wadge - Chief Scientist at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the UK. The blog specifically focused on his broadside at ‘detox’ regimes. I can understand that someone may be a bit sceptical of such regimes. However, if Dr Wadge [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3425152 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:02:22 +0100 3425152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3424908&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F31%2Fthe-mental-power-prague-film-festival%2F Our friends organizing the mental POWER Prague film festival wanted me to let you know that they’ve extended the submission deadline for films. What is this film festival? (Keep in mind that mental disorders are thought of differently in different cultures, and are referred to with different terminology, so please don’t take offense at the specific language used below.) [It] is an international film festival of (non-)actors with a mental or combined handicap organized by HENDAVER, o.s. The festival shows feature films in which exclusively people with a mental and combined handicap act. The main idea of the festival is to create the conditions for artistic self-fulfillment of handicapped people and thus to take part in their mental development. In addition to that, this activit... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3424908 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:55:46 +0100 3424908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3390710&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F22%2Farchives-of-pediatrics-and-adolescent-medicine-2010-vol-164-no-2%2F content page Fade Fave: Effectiveness of a School-Based Physical Activity Injury Prevention Program Fade Skinny: The health benefits of regular physical activity (PA) in children are widely known and include a decrease in cardiovascular risk factors, enhanced bone health, and reduction of the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus Participation in PA, however, also increases the risk of adverse effects, such as injuries, and with the current focus on a physically active lifestyle, increasing numbers of PA injuries can be expected. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Athletic Injuries, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3390710 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:27:42 +0100 3390710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3391016&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F22%2Faccepting-chronic-pain%2F How willing are you to have persistent pain? Can you accept pain without fighting against it? If you were told your pain was going to be there forever, would you avoid important activities or would you start to get back into life again? Recently I reviewed about 200 questionnaires completed by people attending the Pain Management Centre where I work. I was looking especially at what they’d written down as goals for coming to the Centre, and unsurprisingly, most of them were to ‘reduce my pain’ – to tolerable levels, to manageable levels, or so the person could begin ‘living a normal life’. I hate to break it to you – even the most effective medication seems to only reduce pain by about 30%, and most people wanting pain reduction are after at least ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3391016 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:21:45 +0100 3391016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366452&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F15%2Fmaintaining-change%2F This study by Christiansen, Oettingen, Dahme and Klinger, shows an extension of the motivational approaches based on Motivational Interviewing, integrates it with traditional problem solving, drags in a bit of goal achievement theory and ties it all together in two half hour sessions – and produces a significant change in functional outcome.  How so? Importance and confidence The two important drivers of action seem to be how important an activity is and how confident a person is to achieve it.  In this study, a group of patients was asked to rate the importance and confidence to ‘improve physical capacity’.  They were then asked to list four positive aspects associated with making this change – eg getting in shape, having fun, distraction from pain.  They were ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366452 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:20:24 +0100 3366452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3335586&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2F05%2Fmy-personal-fat-loss-experience-and-forthcoming-book%2F I have since last June been undertaking a bit of a personal experiment. Over couple of years I’d found I’d somehow managed to accumulate some added fat to my midriff. At 43, I suppose ‘middle-aged’ spread might have had something to do with it. But also when I looked at my diet with as much [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3335586 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:39:42 +0100 3335586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3335587&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2F04%2Frye-bread-helps-relieve-constipation-and-other-tips-for-bowel-regularity%2F I eat a relatively low-carb diet, and as a result, eat very little bread indeed. I literally cannot remember the last time I ate a sandwich, for instance. And when I do eat bread, I tend to opt for a thin slice or two of dark rye bread. I prefer rye to wheat bread partly [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3335587 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:52:32 +0100 3335587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298637&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2F23%2Fwalking-and-glucosamine-helps-people-with-osteoarthritis%2F Osteoarthritis is a condition characterised by degeneration of cartilage in joints. I commonly affects joints such as the hips and knees, and when it does, it can make walking (and other movements) difficult and painful. Those with osteoarthritis are often recommended to engage in exercise which, in theory, does not put the joints as further [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298637 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:50:29 +0100 3298637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3292035&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F21%2Fwhy-do-i-spend-so-much-energy-time-on-chronic-pain%2F Someone said recently that they’d like a job where they come in, do the job, then go home and have a life.  Later that day I spent an hour or so after work talking to another clinician who, like me, has occasionally been accused of ‘not having a life’ – oh and breaking a few rules to get a good outcome for someone.  We both thought that in health care, at least in New Zealand, there are more people who live and breathe their passion for their work than those who don’t, and that our work is more enjoyable and more exciting than when we’ve ever been working in a job that needs less energy.  I can also say that I’d rather be seen by someone who loves their job than someone who is simply waiting to go home… There’s a saying I put on the ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3292035 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:01:34 +0100 3292035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3276115&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2F16%2Fhigher-protein-diet-plus-resistance-exercise-aids-weight-and-fat-loss-in-type-2-diabetics%2F Where weight and fat loss is concerned, I favour a relatively low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet on the basis that such diets generally outperform low-fat, carb-rich diets traditionally advocated for weight loss. A lower-carb diet I think may have particular advantages for diabetics because, well, they have difficulty handling carbohydrate as a result of impaired insulin function [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3276115 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:12:51 +0100 3276115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3273083&cid=t_101915_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fp8bs4QOTL6Y%2F Sex goes on Many people in recovery are in the older age groups. Either starting recovery or well along the road sexual activity and responses can be different to what they remember or may have a different spiritual meaning. By understanding age changes one can accommodate new experiences rather than be confused or disheartened. Sexual Desire May Never Stop Women and men have the capacity for sexual desire and sexual activity throughout their lives. There is no reason why one cannot express one’s sexuality well beyond the “reproductive years” (the ages during which men and women are fertile). In fact, women and men who have been sexually active throughout their adult lives seem to be more sexually responsive in old age than those who have not. The key to maintaining sexual function ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3273083 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:48:00 +0100 3273083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3273085&cid=t_101915_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FI7z4bxsaj_k%2F Twenty Questions to help identify sexually compulsive actions Sexual addiction can be a problem for people in recovery from alcoholism, gambling, addiction or co-dependency. This can be so whether one is gay, lesbian or straight. These questions may help identify or dismiss the problem. The Twenty Questions Do you frequently experience remorse, depression, or guilt about your sexual activity? Do you feel your sexual drive and activity is getting out of control? Have you repeatedly tried to stop or reduce certain sexual behaviors, but inevitably you could not? Are you unable to resist sexual advances, or turn down sexual propositions when offered? Do you use sex to escape from uncomfortable feelings such as anxiety, fear, anger, resentment, guilt, etc. which seem to disappear when th... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3273085 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:35:00 +0100 3273085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3246857&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F06%2Fheart-2009-vol-96-no-2-2%2F Heart 2010 (Vol. 96 No. 2) Contents page Fade Fave: Preoperative 6-minute walk test adds prognostic information to Euroscore in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement Fade Skinny: Investigates the additive prognostic value of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) to Euroscore in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). It finds that the 6MWT is safe and feasible to carry out in patients with severe aortic stenosis before AVR, and provides potentially important functional and prognostic information to clinical assessment and the Euroscore risk score. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Cardiology, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Physical Activity, Prognosis, Surgery (S... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3246857 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:57:50 +0100 3246857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3208446&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F26%2Fptsd-brain-scan-hype%2F Last week, we noted along with many news outlets that a biomarker had been apparently discovered for PTSD. The researchers claimed they had a new tool to help make a differential diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The tool is a brain scanning technology that, like EEG, measures the brain’s electrical activity. But instead of directly measuring such activity, it measures magnetic fluctuations in the electrical activity. The technique is called MEG. There are certain technical benefits to this method as compared to a traditional EEG, so some researchers are exploring its greater use. Mind Hacks has a very good analysis of why the researchers’ claims were overreaching and a bit ridiculous: Crucially, the scan didn’t pick out cases of PTSD among people with ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3208446 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:00:08 +0100 3208446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3175822&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F15%2Fbritish-journal-of-healthcare-assistants-2009-vol-3-no-12%2F British Journal of Healthcare Assistants 2009 (Vol. 3 No. 12) Title: Type 2 diabetes: why risk it? Skinny: Explores how to identify those adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Around 90% of new cases of type 2 diabetes are avoidable, and prevention is crucial. Article explains how to reduce risk factors such as obesity, inactivity and poor diet, emphasising the important role healthcare assistants play in educating patients. (Print subscription available in Fade Library) Posted in Adults, Diabetes, Diet, Journals, Obesity, Physical Activity Tagged: Healthcare Assistants, Obesity, Prevention, Risk Factors, Type 2 Diabetes (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3175822 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:07:20 +0100 3175822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3176154&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F13%2Fmore-evidence-comes-in-which-suggestds-exercise-does-not-do-much-in-the-weight-loss-stakes%2F It’s mid-January, and no doubt quite a lot of people will be persisting with New Year resolutions that have something to do with their health, with ‘losing weight’ being generally high on their list of priorities. Exercise is usually thrown into the mix here, and while walking my dog this morning I witnessed a distinct [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3176154 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:55:21 +0100 3176154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3167481&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F13%2Fmore-evidence-comes-in-which-suggestds-exercise-does-not-do-much-in-the-weight-loss-stakes%2F It’s mid-January, and no doubt quite a lot of people will be persisting with New Year resolutions that have something to do with their health, with ‘losing weight’ being generally high on their list of priorities. Exercise is usually thrown into the mix here, and while walking my dog this morning I witnessed a distinct [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3167481 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:55:21 +0100 3167481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142866&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F05%2Fmore-evidence-links-pedometer-use-with-increased-activity-and-potential-benefits-for-health%2F I came across this on-line news story. It concerns a study done in individuals with ‘impaired glucose tolerance’ (essentially, individuals who do not handle glucose well in the body but are not impaired enough to be classed a diabetic. The report (and other reports) say the study was published today (4th January) in the journal [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142866 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:04:50 +0100 3142866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3133824&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F12%2F31%2F10-realistic-and-achievable-new-year-resolutions-worth-considering%2F I read a report in the last week regarding New Year resolutions, the thrust of which was that setting the bar too high is more likely to lead to us not keeping to whatever resolutions we have made. In other words, opting for smaller, more manageable changes might be a better long-term strategy. I agree [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3133824 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:47:22 +0100 3133824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108446&cid=t_101915_115_f&fid=38592&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radiolopolis.com%2Findex.php%2Fmy-profile%2Fmy-blog%2Fnew-update-comments-and-like-activities-on-radiology-community-social-network.html A new feature has been just implemented into Radiolopolis: Comment and like activities!One centerpiece of Radiolopolis is the activity stream where members can see what is new in the world of Radiology publications and news media, if new cases and videos have been uploaded and what other members are saying and sharing - basically what is going on in Radiolopolis.Members expressd their desire to be able to interact even more and to be able to comment on these activiRead More... (Source: Radiolopolis Blogs) Radiolopolis Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108446 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:42:41 +0100 3108446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067337&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F12%2F07%2Fexcess-weight-is-not-always-the-result-of-eating-too-much-or-not-exercising-enough%2F I had the radio on in the car this morning and was listening to a discussion involving a 32 stone (450 lb/200 kg) man who was complaining that he was not getting the medical care he needed (surgery, basically) to allow him to lose significant quantities of weight. Inevitably there was a backlash from listeners [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067337 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:27:47 +0100 3067337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048060&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F02%2Fnursing-times-2009-vol-105-no-46%2F Fade Fave: Adult obesity 2: Treatment and management options for weight loss and management. Fade Skinny: The second part of a 2 part unit discussing the various management options to treat people who are overweight or obese, including dietary change, physical activity, pharmacotherapy and surgery. The issue of how to maintain weight once lost is examined. Contact the library for a copy of this article Posted in Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Adults, Bariatric Surgery, Diet, Obesity, Obesity Surgery, Pharmacotherapy, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048060 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:58:20 +0100 3048060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3012662&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F11%2F20%2Fdo-regular-exercisers-really-benefit-by-eating-a-load-of-bread-and-pasta%2F I have been doing some lecturing this week, and part of the information I imparted concerned the potential advantages of eating a diet relatively low in carbohydrate. It’s not uncommon for individuals to ask about the potential effect of low-carb eating on sporting performance. This question is usually rooted in the notion that those engaging [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3012662 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:57:40 +0100 3012662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2989434&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F11%2F13%2Ffaster-walking-associated-with-reduced-risk-of-death%2F Exercise is generally good for health, and one form of exercise that I advocate strongly is walking. Regular walking has been associated with protection from chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It also is an activity that tends to take people outdoors. This may have spin-off benefits in terms of, say, [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2989434 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:49:24 +0100 2989434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981393&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F11%2Fwhat-do-i-do-when-ive-had-enough-the-effect-of-emotions-on-self-regulation-chronic-pain%2F As soon as read the first paragraph of the paper I’ve used as the basis for this post, I knew I was onto something that resonated with my original occupational therapy values. It says this: ‘Living with chronic pain is a balancing act. People with chronic pain are required to make daily decisions about how best to cope with illness-related demands while managing other role-related obligations. Although some people become overwhelmed by the demands of illness and daily life, many, if not most, remain focused and well-adjusted, and do not require the services of a mental health professional. … Why do some redouble their coping efforts following a health set back, whereas others become demoralised?’ I concur with the idea that ‘most remain focused and well-adjust... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981393 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:15:44 +0100 2981393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2967419&cid=t_101915_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FIyJ1ZqXFUE8%2F This study aims to improve these and other related cognitive skills by using a driving game in which players practice paying attention to relevant information, such as traffic signs, and ignoring irrelevant information, such as billboards. The study monitors brain activity with electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and observes eye position and game performance in younger adults (ages 18 to 30) and older adults (ages 60 to 80) before and after six weeks of game play. The study assesses changes in cognitive ability, brain activity and transfer of game-related skills to similar cognitive operations and activities that take place in daily life. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) Reward Circuitry, Autism and Games that Teach Social Perceptual Skills – tests effe... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2967419 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:35:40 +0100 2967419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2924766&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F25%2Foccupational-and-environmental-medicine-2009-volume-66-number-11%2F This study provides evidence that working in passive jobs may encourage a passive lifestyle in men. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Occupational Health, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2924766 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:04:46 +0100 2924766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912563&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F10%2F21%2Fare-we-really-becoming-steadily-more-sedentary%2F Body weight, and specifically fatness, is determined by a complex interplay of factors including diet, exercise and sleep habits. In some posts, I have highlighted the effect that one hormone – insulin – has in this piece. In short, insulin stimulates the manufacture of fat in the body, while impairing it’s breakdown. It also facilitates [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912563 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:15:26 +0100 2912563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890575&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F14%2Farchives-of-internal-medicine-2009-vol-169-no-18%2F contents page Fade Fave: Neighborhood Resources for Physical Activity and Healthy Foods and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Fade Skinny: Tests the hypothesis that neighborhood resources supporting physical activity and healthy diets are associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes. It suggests that improving environmental features may be a viable population-level strategy for addressing this disease. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, Diabetes, E-Journals, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890575 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:16:44 +0100 2890575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2872091&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F10%2F07%2Fexercise-associated-with-reduced-levels-of-fat-in-the-liver-and-abdomen%2F A couple of months ago I wrote a blog which reviewed the evidence which suggests that exercise is not particularly effective for weight loss, and why this might be. That is not to say, however, that exercise is a fruitless endeavour. It is linked, for instance, with improved measures of health as well as reduced [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2872091 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:32:16 +0100 2872091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842458&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Flet%25e2%2580%2599s-get-moving-feasibility-study%2F Title: Let’s Get Moving feasibility study (Executive Summary) The Skinny: Feasibility study undertaken in 14 surgeries by the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Loughborough University.  The results of the trial demonstrated that LGM is feasible for delivery in primary care, and subject to recommendations is suitable for wide-scale implementation. LGM is now available to the NHS for commissioning. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 162p (6p) Published: 24/09/2009 Posted in Commissioning, Grey Literature, NHS, Physical Activity, Primary Care Tagged: Grey Literature, NHS, Physical Activity, Primary Care (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842458 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:07:41 +0100 2842458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842459&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Flet%25e2%2580%2599s-get-moving-a-new-physical-activity-care-pathway-for-the-nhs-commissioning-guidance%2F Title: Let’s Get Moving – A new physical activity care pathway for the NHS: Commissioning guidance The Skinny: Commissioning guidance establishing an evidence-based behaviour charter model for Let’s Get Moving encouraging local commissioning of physical activity interventions in primary care. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 86p Published: 25/09/2009 Additional Material: Physical activity matters to the health of our nation Posted in Commissioning, Grey Literature, NHS, Physical Activity, Primary Care Tagged: Commissioning, Grey Literature, Heart Diseases, Obesity, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842459 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:06:05 +0100 2842459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842460&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Flets-get-moving-patient-resource%2F Title: Let’s Get Moving – patient resource The Skinny: Patient pack designed to support patients in their efforts to become more active and contains helpful hints, practical examples, simple visual tools and personal planning exercises (practitioners might also wish to use the resource to guide patients towards becoming more active). Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 3p Published: 25/09/2009 Additional Materials: Patient activity diary Keeping a healthy weight Local activities instructions for template completion Local Indoor activities insert template Local outdoor activities insert template Posted in Grey Literature, Physical Activity, Primary Care, Public Health Tagged: Grey Literature, NHS, Obesity, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842460 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:05:06 +0100 2842460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807909&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F09%2F18%2Fstudy-suggests-its-never-to-late-to-be-active%2F In this study, almost 2000 elderly individuals aged 70 were enrolled [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807909 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:16:23 +0100 2807909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804255&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F17%2Fgoal-setting-again%2F This post is most definitely an opinion piece, because once again I’m struggling with the practicalities of goal setting with people experiencing chronic pain. There is no doubt at all that goal setting is an integral part of pain management – it’s designed to focus the input, make sure the underlying reasons for using pain management are relevant to the person, and it helps the person monitor their own progress (not to mention help the therapists measure outcomes!). The problems are that goal setting is a really complex activity, and to make goals patient-centred rather than therapist-driven involves time, and great communication skills. Here are some of my observations about what makes goal setting difficult, at least in my experience in pain management: many patients ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804255 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:27:21 +0100 2804255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800305&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F16%2Farchives-of-internal-medicine-2009-vol-169-no-16%2F contents page Fade Fave: Physical Activity, Function, and Longevity Among the Very Old Fade Skinny: Examines the effects of continuing, increasing, or decreasing physical activity (PA) levels on survival, function, and health status among the very old. It finds both continuing and also initiating PA was associated with better survival and function, supporting the encouragement of PA into advanced old age. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Access from Home, Access from Work, Access in the Library, Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Older People, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800305 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:01:23 +0100 2800305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793448&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F09%2F14%2Fexercise-shown-to-produce-benefits-in-the-absence-of-weight-loss%2F Last month one of my blogs focused on the evidence which shows that exercise is, generally speaking, really quite ineffective for the purposes of weight loss. That is not to say that there’s nothing to be said for exercise. It is, for example, linked with a reduced risk of chronic and potentially fatal conditions such [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793448 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:14:37 +0100 2793448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2790299&cid=t_101915_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F13%2Ftest-predicts-depression-medication-response%2F Did you know that as much as some doctors and researchers like to think that medicine is a science, it is very much an art too? You can see that no more clearly than in the decision process doctors use to prescribe a specific psychiatric medication. Ask a psychiatrist what their usual depression treatment regimen is, and they’ll usually talk to you about using one or two different antidepressants they are most familiar and comfortable with prescribing — not which medication is best for the patient. Why is that? Wouldn’t you like to prescribe the most effective medication for a particular patient based upon their brain’s chemical structure and likely reaction to it? We sure would, but until recently, we had few ways to determine how a person might react to particular... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2790299 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:35:31 +0100 2790299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772731&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Fpacing-and-avoidance-in-fibromyalgia%2F The recent emergence of study into ‘pacing’ or activity regulation in pain management is a welcome addition to our knowledge of this coping strategy. Although pacing has been described and included in many self-help books as well as clinical texts as an effective strategy for people with chronic pain to use, the research base for its use is pretty skinny (see Gill and Brown, 2009). McCracken and Samuels (2007) found that increased use of pacing was associated with higher disability and less acceptance, while Nielson and Jensen (2004) found that it was associated with lower disability in people with fibromyalgia. The study I’m looking at today, by Karsdorp and Vlaeyen, looked in whether pacing specifically was different from ‘other behavioural strategies assessed wit... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772731 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:32:30 +0100 2772731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2730384&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F25%2Fsafety-behaviours-do-they-maintain-kinesiophobia%2F Let me start by saying this post is conjecture, but based both on observing patients, and after reading an interesting paper on ’subtle avoidance and safety behaviours relevant to social anxiety’. First some definitions: I hope you’re all familiar with the term ‘kinesiophobia’, or ‘fear of movement’ – it’s the fear and avoidance of movements that an individual believes will hurt or harm them. Safety behaviours: are strategies that may be used to reduce the anxiety of carrying out a behaviour – and are usually ‘logically’ linked to the underlying belief about the movement.  For example, using ’safe lifting techniques’ can be a safety behaviour in someone who is fearful of bending; taking a deep breath in an... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2730384 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:29:17 +0100 2730384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715893&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F19%2Finternational-journal-of-epidemiology-2009-vol-38-no-4%2F Fade Fave: Ethnic and gender differences in physical activity levels among 9–10-year-old children of white European, South Asian and African–Caribbean origin: the Child Heart Health Study in England (CHASE Study) Fade Skinny:The article examines ethnic differences in physical activity in children aged 9-10 in the UK. The article concludes that british south asian children have a lower objectively physical activity levels than European whites and black African–Caribbeans. Free full-text access is available by clicking on the article title above. Posted in Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Children, Ethnic Groups, Ethnicity, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715893 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:11:15 +0100 2715893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715894&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F19%2Fnhs-health-and-well-being-review-interim-report%2F Title: NHS Health and Well-being Review: Interim Report The Skinny: Interim report from the Boorman review of Health and Wesslbing in the NHS which identifies the following key components required of NHS organisations: board commitment, top management leadership and staff engagement embedding staff health and well-being in the core business of the organisation as part of what it means to be a good employer proper resourcing for staff health and wellbeing services, with a clear understanding that this represents investment that will deliver both long-term savings and improved patient care agreed and consistent measures of the effectiveness of staff health and well-being programmes, which can be used for board and national reporting. Key priorities are identified as: contributing to gett... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715894 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:03:54 +0100 2715894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2709084&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F18%2Fheart-2009-vol-95-no-16%2F Contents page Fade Fave: Effects of exercise intervention on myocardial function in type 2 diabetes Fade Skinny:Aims to identify the effects of a 1-year exercise intervention on myocardial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Finds current exercise recommendations show an improvement in metabolic function, but fail to improve myocardial function in the overall group. Patients with greater increases in both moderate and vigorous activity showed improvements in myocardial function, glycaemic control and cardiorespiratory fitness. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Access from Home, Access from Work, Access in the Library, Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Electronic Resources Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, Dia... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2709084 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:03:52 +0100 2709084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2709087&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F18%2Farchives-of-internal-medicine-2009-vol-169-no-15%2F contents page Fade Fave: Healthy Living Is the Best Revenge: Findings From the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition–Potsdam Study Fade Skinny:Aims to describe the reduction in relative risk of developing major chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer associated with 4 healthy lifestyle factors among German adults. Finds adhering to 4 simple healthy lifestyle factors can have a strong impact on the prevention of chronic diseases. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Access from Home, Access from Work, Access in the Library, Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, Current Awareness, Diabetes, Diet, E-Journals, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Obesity, Phys... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2709087 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:00:40 +0100 2709087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2691791&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F08%2F12%2Fdoes-exercise-promote-weight-loss-no%2F On Monday, a friend sent me this link to an article about the role of exercise is weight loss. Basically, the article says it doesn’t work. I agree. I’m sure it may work for the odd individual, but overall, it’s a pretty hopeless. I mentioned this to a patient yesterday who was seeking to shed [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2691791 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:30:46 +0100 2691791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688943&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F11%2Fhow-do-you-decide-when-to-stop-doing-something%2F This study by Karsdorp and colleagues, based at the Maastricht University, The Netherlands, manipulates mood and stop rules on task performance. Participants were people with upper limb pain, and were asked to carry out two physical tasks consisting of moving a weighted handle – one with their painful upper limb, and one with their nonpainful lower limb. Just prior to carrying out this task, pariticpants were asked to remember and give a detailed description of a positive or a negative event they had experienced in their life. Their experience was heightened by the interviewer asking for emotion-laden comments and descriptions, and lighting and music were also used to augment emotions. The stop rules were (1) ‘perform the task and ask yourself ‘have I made as many movemen... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688943 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:00:08 +0100 2688943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2674468&cid=t_101915_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2Fb2u49NzURm4%2Fexercising-brain-delays-onset-of.html Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that persons who engage in mentally stimulating leisure activities every day, delay the onset of dementia by about two months.The cognitive activities include: reading, writing, crossword puzzles, board or card games, group discussions, or playing music."The study shows that it is important for older people to engage in cognitively stimulating activities, and to do them frequently," said study senior author Joe Verghese, M.B.B.S., associate professor of neurology and director of the division of cognitive & motor aging at Einstein. "We found that the more activities you do and the more often you do them, the better off you are."To read more about this study go hereOr read this Reuters Health article --Exercising the mind could... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2674468 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:11:31 +0100 2674468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602202&cid=t_101915_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FyeRYQ2U8OyQ%2Fmaintaining-or-increasing-activity.html "We found that older adults who were sedentary throughout the study had the lowest levels of cognitive function at the beginning and experienced the fastest rate of cognitive decline," Barnes said. "Cognitive decline also was faster in those whose physical activity levels consistently declined during the study period."For more Insight into Alzheimer's DiseaseSubscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading RoomMaintaining or Increasing Activity Levels May Slow Cognitive Decline in ElderlyStudies have found that older adults who are physically active may experience slower rates of cognitive decline. Less is known about the impact of changes in physical activity levels on rate of cognitive decline.Deborah E. Barnes, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francis... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602202 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:25:55 +0100 2602202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602201&cid=t_101915_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FQquVM3_o-cE%2Fmoderate-long-term-physical-activity.html "Our results suggest that long-term strenuous activity may increase the risk of cognitive impairment in recently postmenopausal women," Tierney said. "On the other hand, moderate long-term physical activity may improve later life cognition. These preliminary findings have important implications for women's health and support the need for large-scale studies including both women and men."For more Insight into Alzheimer's DiseaseSubscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading RoomModerate Long-Term Physical Activity May Improve Late Life Cognition; Long-Term Strenuous Activity May Increase Risk of Cognitive Impairment Long-term strenuous physical activity has been shown to decrease lifetime exposure to ovarian hormones in women and has been found to play a protective role against breast cancer. However... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602201 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:25:28 +0100 2602201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2601938&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F14%2Farchives-of-internal-medicine-2009-volume-169-no-13%2F This article finds it positively associated with fitness in men and women and inversely associated with BMI, obesity, triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and insulin level in men. Active commuting should be investigated as a modality for maintaining or improving health. (Requires NHS Athens Password) Posted in Access from Home, Access from Work, Access in the Library, Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Electronic Resources Tagged: Athens Password, Cardiovascular Diseases, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Lifestyle, Physical Activity (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2601938 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:30:26 +0100 2601938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598158&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F14%2Fwe%25e2%2580%2599re-all-in-this-together-improving-the-long-term-health-of-the-nation%2F Title: We’re all in this together: improving the long-term health of the nation The Skinny: Report that considers role of diet, physical activity and responsible drinking in supporting good health from a group established by Andrew Lansley which aims to outline a practical and achievable Responsibility Deal between business and Government which, when implemented, will produce a measurable improvement in public health, based on a clear understanding of consumer wants and needs. Publisher: Public Health Commission Size of Document: 36p. Published: 01/07/2009 Posted in Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Public Health Tagged: Diet, Grey Literature, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Politics, Private Sector, Public Health (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598158 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:50:16 +0100 2598158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576508&cid=t_101915_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F07%2Findicators-of-children-and-adults%25e2%2580%2599-healthy-weight-in-north-west-local-authorities%2F Title: Indicators of Children and Adults’ Healthy Weight in North West Local Authorities The Skinny: Details of performance indicators used to develop an online tool from the North West Public Health Observatory to measure healthy weight and obesity in North West Local Authorities. 4 domains are measured by the tool: Obese and overweight (5 indicators for children and adults). Physical activity (7 indicators including exercise for children and adults and mode of travel to school for children). Eating (2 indicators: healthy eating adults and benefits claimed due to eating related conditions). Other (3 indicators: two for dental health in children and one for schools achieving Healthy Schools Status). Size of document: 14p. Published: 17/06/2009 Posted in Adults, Children, Diet, Lifestyl... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576508 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:36:22 +0100 2576508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512508&cid=t_101915_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FFMYOtGLwJ6E%2F Sometimes it seems like Alex’s most obvious characteristic — or maybe it’s autism’s most obvious characteristic — is lack of focus. When he was just three or so, a neighbor watched him careen around her apartment examining things and wandering around without stopping. “My, he’s BUSY!” she observed. At the time I thought it was positive: he’s doing things, I thought, thinking about things, looking at things. Photo courtesy of JunCTionS (flickr.com) But he’s 11 now, and when the rest of us are sitting around watching a movie or eating dinner, Alex is still busy. Still wandering. Standing up in front of the TV blocking our view. Restlessly picking up toys and putting them down and looking for other toys. I searched photos that were t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512508 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:27:23 +0100 2512508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458390&cid=t_101915_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FMbBtIFlpnYM%2F While I’m sitting on the couch watching TV with the sound off I suddenly realize that the house is very quiet. The sound of squabbling - like the sound of the television - an almost ever-present sound that we practically don’t hear - is gone. Alex and Ned are at the dining room table, and they’re both engrossed in an activity. The same activity. Beading. Photo by terren in Virginia (flickr.com) They’re both using straightened-out paperclips that Jeff has given them. Ned is creating a patriotic red-white-blue sequence; Alex has sorted through the beads to find shapes like teddy bears, trucks and airplanes, and he’s placing them onto his own piece of clip wire. Even though it lasts just about 10 minutes (both of them beading, that is) it’s a sweet moment o... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458390 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:21:27 +0100 2458390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453267&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Fwalking-may-be-ideal-exercise-as-we-age%2F I was talking to someone yesterday regarding some changes in his biochemistry that suggest his adrenal glands are not functioning as well as they might. This is important, because the adrenal glands (which sit on top of the kidneys) have a multitude of roles, including the secretion of hormones in response to stress. For many [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453267 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:47:16 +0100 2453267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2448211&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Fphysical-activity-found-to-reduce-iron-levels-in-women-and-why-its-important-to-correct-this%2F Nutritional needs can vary a bit between men and women, and this does certainly seem to be generally so for iron. Women who menstruate are at risk of iron deficiency because of the iron lost in menstrual blood each month. In my experience, a very significant proportion of such women have low or suboptimal iron [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2448211 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:41:52 +0100 2448211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442937&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F05%2F23%2Fcould-sitting-in-the-sun-make-you-fitter%2F For a while now I have been interested in the role that vitamin D plays in health. My interest was recently heightened when I discovered earlier this year that my own vitamin D levels were very deficient. As I revealed here, I since commenced on a programme of supplementation (3000 IU per day). I’ve also [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442937 Sat, 23 May 2009 07:51:34 +0100 2442937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2417174&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F05%2F18%2Fcoconut-oil-supplementation-found-to-have-benefits-for-health%2F The poor reputation that saturated fat has led many to avoid consuming not just animal foods such as red meat and cheese, but certain plant foods that are rich in this brand of fat, notably coconut. However, the fact that there is no evidence that saturated fat causes heart disease (see here), not that fat [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2417174 Mon, 18 May 2009 21:11:17 +0100 2417174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2408700&cid=t_101915_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FJRv2GdngmoI%2Fmental-activity-and-exercise-trial-for.html This study indirectly addresses an issue that is on the mind of many on this list, and the growing number of people related to someone suffering from Alzheimer's -- what can I do to ward off dementia or Alzheimer's.The test are designed to see if exercise and mental activity improve memory in older people. Right now, the only testing location is in San Francisco, Ca (University of California, San Francisco).The researchers are seeking additional funds to lengthen the research period and expand the study. Detailed Description:SPECIFIC AIMS AND HYPOTHESESAim 1: To determine whether a 12-week, computer-based mental activity program improves cognitive function in non-demented, inactive elders.We hypothesize that this mental activity program will improve cognitive function—especially visuosp... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2408700 Fri, 15 May 2009 14:13:25 +0100 2408700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405975&cid=t_101915_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F14%2Fhusbands-love-for-wife-inspires-a-9000-mile-bike-trek-to-raise-money-for-ovarian-cancer-awareness-cancer-prevention%2F On May 15, 2009, Craig Broeder Ph.D., FACSM, FNAASO will embark upon a 100-day bike trek that will take him to 32 U.S. cities as part of  a 9,000 mile circumnavigation of the U.S.  Since July 2008, Craig has been planning this trip to honor his wife, Kay, in her 20th year of surviving clear [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405975 Thu, 14 May 2009 23:13:35 +0100 2405975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2406279&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F05%2F12%2Fstudy-suggests-the-burgeoning-rates-of-obesity-are-due-to-people-eating-more-not-exercising-less%2F When an individual is aiming to lose weight, the popular wisdom dictates they need to eat less and/or exercise more. Of these two main options, my general belief is that dietary change gets generally more rapid and significant results than exercise in this respect. The evidence suggests that exercise (say walking, running or swimming) is [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2406279 Tue, 12 May 2009 00:19:44 +0100 2406279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2654071&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2009%2F05%2F11%2Fthe-woman-challenge%2F The Woman Challenge is a new a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) also known as WomensHealth.gov. Woman Challenge is a part of the Office on Women’s Health year-long Woman Activity Tracker program. The challenge runs from May 10 through July 4, 2009. It is a way to get women involved, thinking about their health. The Challenge kicks off the 10th annual National Women’s Health Week (May 10-16, 2009). Goals of The Woman Challenge – 8 Weeks for Better Health The Woman Challenge encourages women to Get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. Including muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days of each week. What Does the Women Challenge Include? Ac... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2654071 Mon, 11 May 2009 17:56:10 +0100 2654071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2406286&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2009%2F05%2F11%2Fthe-woman-challenge%2F The Woman Challenge is a new a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) also known as WomensHealth.gov. Woman Challenge is a part of the Office on Women’s Health year-long Woman Activity Tracker program. The challenge runs from May 10 through July 4, 2009. It is a way to get women involved, thinking about their health. The Challenge kicks off the 10th annual National Women’s Health Week (May 10-16, 2009). Goals of The Woman Challenge - 8 Weeks for Better Health The Woman Challenge encourages women to Get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. Including muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days of each week. What Does the Women Challenge Include? Accordin... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2406286 Mon, 11 May 2009 17:56:10 +0100 2406286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398950&cid=t_101915_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fpreventable-causes-of-death%2F While the media fans the flames of mass hysteria over swine flu, which has infected only a small number of people and killed almost none, they routinely ignore the more common, if not widespread, causes of death, many of which are completely, or nearly completely, preventable if only people were educated and motivated enough to make changes to their lifestyles. Imagine if just a fraction of the energy that people are putting into avoiding swine flu were put into efforts to reduce smoking, high blood pressure and obesity, which together are responsible for over one million premature deaths every year. “To have hundreds of thousands of premature deaths caused by these modifiable risk factors is shocking and should motivate a serious look at whether our public health system has sufficie... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398950 Thu, 07 May 2009 21:27:04 +0100 2398950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349866&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F21%2Fthe-walking-accident-zone%2F Luke (not his real name - you know I disguise details to protect confidentiality) is a man in his mid-20’s who is a walking accident zone.  He tells me he’s broken ‘every bone’ in his body - and while it’s not exactly true, he has certainly broken a few of them!  The reason he came to see me was because he has neck and shoulder pain.  He describes it as burning, tingling, deep and aching pain over his neck and down the back of his arms to his elbow.  Sometimes he has tingling in his fingers, and sometimes he has headaches. The story is that he loves high risk sports - rock climbing, sky diving, mountain-biking, snow-boarding, the lot.  And the problem is that he falls down a lot.  And not slowly either!  He also seems to fall from heights - twice at lea... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349866 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:22:00 +0100 2349866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313765&cid=t_101915_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fx5zJki_4cpU%2F Times have changed in how patients who are potential donors are considered to be dead and therefore able to be organ donors. It used to be that you had to be brain dead, with no signs of brain activity, cardiac - heart - death wasn’t in the equation. This has changed an now those who are heart dead can be organ donors but the teams have to move fast for the organs to be viable. I came across this story this morning of two families, two infants, and two sad stories. In a nutshell, one baby can’t live. She goes into cardiac arrest when she sleeps and needs to be brought back to life each time. Because of this, 2-month-old Kaylee Wallace lives on a respirator in the province of Ontario. Many miles away, is another infant, 1-month-old Lily O’Connor who desperately needs a hea... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313765 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:46:53 +0100 2313765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313771&cid=t_101915_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F9AVywfNO_jM%2F I have a really hard time wrapping my head around this, but a new study says that almost “one-fifth of American 4-year-olds are obese.” The study also says that children of color are more likely to be obese as well. The thing about this study was that it was before the kids even got into school! This has to do with less physical activity and eating more foods that are bad for you. As a kid, the only TV programs I watched were Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers. I didn’t watch them every day or even back to back. As a kid, I didn’t have the patience to do that! I can’t imagine that we ate that much better when we were younger. I think the key issue here is physical activity. Are children really that much less active? Or is it a different issue? What’s your op... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313771 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:13:27 +0100 2313771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302540&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F01%2Ffeeling-the-fear-and-not-even-thinking-about-doing-it%2F Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is basically the fear of feeling anxious, or feeling anxiety-related symptoms. Typically, when people are fearful of their own symptoms of anxiety, they’ll work to avoid getting into situations where they may experience these symptoms.  AS has been shown to be a predisposing factor in some anxiety-related disorders such as panic attacks.   Lance McCracken and others at the University of Bath have been studying AS in pain, as well as producing a substantial amount of research relating to acceptance of pain, and contextual cognitive behavioural therapy. This paper examines various measures of acceptance, mindfulness and values-based action, along with distress, disability and a measure of anxiety sensitivity in a group of patients with chronic pain. I’... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302540 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:33:49 +0100 2302540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382870&cid=t_101915_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F03%2F30%2Flower-gi-carbs-compared-to-higher-gi-ones-found-to-improve-satiety-and-fat-burning-in-women%2F I think conventional nutritional advice (as dispensed by our Governments and health professionals) puts generally too much emphasis on carbohydrate, including forms of this that tend to cause considerable disruption in blood sugar and insulin levels. The consumption of so-called ‘high glycaemic index’ (high GI) carbohydrates have been linked with an increase in risk of [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382870 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:24:21 +0100 2382870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302542&cid=t_101915_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F30%2Foccupational-therapists-in-new-zealand-survey-and-a-prize%2F A collegue of mine, Blair Cross, is conducting a survey on beliefs and attitudes about back pain in occupational therapists.  Here is his introduction to the survey: Invitation to Complete an OT Internet Survey BE IN TO WIN!! ‘The Back Pain Revolution’ - a textbook by G. Waddell ($220) Dear fellow OT’s I have developed an on-line survey about beliefs regarding chronic low back pain. You are invited to complete this survey if you have assessed someone, in the last year, who reported having low back pain for 3 months or longer. NB. Pain does not have to be their primary problem. The survey takes 10 -15 minutes to fill out. More information is given in the survey introduction. You do not have to put your name on the survey. If you are unable to fill the survey out at this moment, y... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302542 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:13:04 +0100 2302542