Many repetitive strain injuries are caused by excessive extension of the wrists, like when you type on a computer keyboard for hours on end. One of the difficulties caused by carpal tunnel syndrome or other RSIs is that you have to avoid gripping objects tightly as well as avoiding flexing and extending your wrist. This makes it almost impossible to do any work with free weights and most weight machines. Here’s a checklist of what to do if you have such an injury.
First, consult your doctor if it's OK to try some resistance work as long as you don't grip a dumbbell or the handle of a weight machine tightly. For example, you should be able to use an upright weight machine with pads (called a pec deck) without holding on to anything, just by pushing with your forearms and elbows against the pads. That will allow you to get some chest work done. On some pec decks you can reverse your position, facing away from the pads. If you can get into that position, you can hold your arms horizontally, with your elbows bent, and push backwards on the pads with your elbows. You can work your rear deltoids and upper back in this manner.
You can put ankle or wrist weights around your wrists and do lateral raises for your shoulders. You can also do triceps extensions or kickbacks with the wrist weights and curls. The important points to remember are to keep your fingers open withyour palm relaxed and to keep your wrist in a neutral position, neither flexed nor extended. You can also try using elastic bands for some resistance exercises.
Since your wrist needs rest, for now you will have to avoid all pulling and pressing exercises like rowing and bench pressing. A good approach would be to work with a trainer who can give you manual resistance with the proper precautions. Swimming may be OK, but again consult your doctor first. The great thing about swimming is that you can work your upper body muscles and get an aerobic workout at the same time without putting undue strain on your joints.
Many people try to forget about calories, others are obsessed with counting them, but where did the unit come from and why is food measured in calories?
Originally, a calorie is a measure of the amount of energy required to heat 1 kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius. It was first used in engineering and physics, but eventually found its niche in nutrition, where it is used to measure the amount of energy food contains.
German physician Julius Mayer is credited for beginning a dialogue about food as an energy source. Before Mayer's time, people thought energy was God-given; they made no concrete connections between the food they ate and the energy on which their bodies ran.
A popular early nutrition text published in 1918 by Lulu Hunt Peters outlined 100-calorie portions of many foodstuffs and preached counting calories as a way to regulate weight.
Junk food ads during children's television programming in Britain will be banned under new rules announced by the country's broadcasting regulator.
The Office of Communication's rule affects commercials for food and drink products high in fat, salt and sugar. Officials said the measures, designed to help address Britain's obesity crisis, will reduce children's exposure to junk food ads by 41 percent, and cost broadcasters up to £40 million.
The rule, pending final approval, bans junk food advertising during children's programs and on children's television channels.
It also affects programs not normally considered child's fare -- "The Simpsons," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Friends" -- because they are watched by a large number of under-16 viewers. The package would curb the content of ads targeted at primary school children.
Characters belonging to the food brands, such as Tony the Tiger, would not be affected, regulators said. Also the rules exempt brand advertising, as long as no "unhealthy" food is show.
The rule would be come into force at the end of January 2007.
Psoriasis affects an estimated 1.2 million people in the UK, but many people know very little about it and what they think they know about it is often based on myth and misunderstanding.
The condition of psoriasis occurs when skin replaces itself too quickly. Normally, skin cells turnover is around twent eight days. However, when someone has psoriasis new skin cells appear in just four days. It's this rapid turnover of cells that causes the characteristic red scaly patches, topped with slivery scales to form on the skin. Most often the patches appear on the elbow, knees and scalp but they can appear anywhere on the body.
Itching and discomfort are a common problem for those with psoriasis. The word psoriasis comes from the Greek word psora meaning "itch". Many are embarassed about how their skin looks so will not expose it.
It's not clear what causes psoriasis. It can run in families and often follows infections, periods of stress or anything that damages the skin. Although it can't be cured psoriasis can be kept under control with creams or ointments.
Certain myths exist about psoriasis which are simply not true. For example, it is not contagious, it is not caused by poor hygiene and is actually very common.
Some people keep their psoriasis under control with acupuncture, homeopathy or herbal therapy. Zinc and essential fatty acids can also help.
LSD HELPED ALCOHOLISM A University of Alberta researcher has found records that a single dose of the hallucinogenic drug LSD can be an effective treatment for alcoholism.
Dr. Erika Dyck has been unearthing some facts related to a group of pioneering psychiatrists who worked in Saskatchewan in the 1950s and 1960s.
One study conducted in 1962 and published in the Quarterly Journal for Studies on Alcohol resulted in 65 percent of the alcoholics in the experiment stopped drinking for at least 1.5 years after taking one dose of LSD in a clinical, nurturing environment.
"The LSD somehow gave these people experiences that psychologically took them outside of themselves and allowed them to see their own unhealthy behavior more objectively, and then determine to change it," said Dyck.
"Even interviewing the patients 40 years after their experience, I was surprised at how loyal they were to the doctors who treated them, and how powerful they said the experience was for them -- some even felt the experience saved their lives."
To help keep your memory strong as you age, consider supporting it through your diet. The following can help keep your brain healthy.
Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help counter oxidative stress, a process which can damage cells and may accelerate ageing. Fresh, organic vegetables and fruits, such as blueberries and foods rich in vitamins C and E, are the best dietary sources of antioxidants, although tea, especially green tea and dark chocolate can contribute as well.
Blueberries deserve special mention. Research has found that blueberries appear to improve motor skills and reverse age-related short-term memory loss, and may also protect the brain from stroke damage. The active components in blueberries are anthocyanin pigments - the protective compounds that make the berries blue and are responsible for their antioxidant potency. Add them to your cereal, salads, or eat as a snack.
Foods rich in vitamins C and E. These two vitamins have been shown to have protective effects against inflammation, which is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Good sources of vitamin C include beans, oatmeal, citrus fruits, enriched pastas, fresh peas, rice bran and wheat germ. For vitamin E, increase your intake of spinach, sunflower seeds, wheat germ and whole grains.
IMPROVING YOUR HEART RATE A moderate amount of exercise for 30 minutes on most days is good for your heart and your overall health. Your watch may remind you how long you've been working out, and a calendar can confirm how many days you've been to the gym. But, how do you know if you're exercising at a moderate pace? That's why knowing your target heart rate is so important.
Your target heart rate zone is 50 to 75 percent of your maximum heart rate, or how much work your heart can handle. It's a good way to gauge how fit you are and whether you're working out at a moderate pace.
Exercise makes your heart stronger, so it doesn't need to beat as often. When you need to exercise more intensely to reach your target heart rate, it's a sign that you're becoming more fit.
If you exercise at your target heart rate for at least 30 minutes on most days, you may reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.It's important to check with your doctor if you're considering an exercise program. Your doctor may want to modify your target heart rate based on your situation. And, some medications, such as those for high blood pressure, may affect your heart rate.
If you're not currently active, start with a few minutes of activity every day. Then, increase the amount of time that you exercise and pick up the pace -- but don't overdo it. If you hit a plateau, increase the intensity or length of your workouts. The lower the intensity of the exercise, the longer you'll need to do it to get results.
Appropriate exercises can be walking briskly, bicycling, yoga, dancing and swimming are all moderate-intensity activities. But, doing any exercise that gets your heart pumping is a good place to start.
You can do a basic calculation to work out your heart rate. Your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. So, if you're age 40, for instance, your maximum heart rate would be 180 beats per minute.
Your target heart rate is calculated by multiplying your maximum heart rate by the desired exercise intensity. For someone who is age 40 this would be - 180 X 50 % = 90 bpm 180 X 75 % = 135 bpm So, your target heart rate zone is between 90 and 135 bpm.
To check your heart rate, stop exercising and find your pulse on your neck or wrist. Then count the number of times your heart beats for 10 seconds-starting at 0, not 1. Multiply that number by six to get the beats per minute. Or, try the talk test. A good rule-of-thumb is to stay within an intensity level that allows you to hold a conversation while exercising.
British scientists say they are moving closer to finding a blood test that can detect the existence of Alzheimer's disease before it becomes symptomatic.
Scientists at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry report finding levels of two types of protein found in the blood can indicate an increased risk of having the disease.Tests found an increased level of those proteins was present only with patients suffering from the disease.
The researchers say their discovery might eventually lead to a blood test to diagnose the likelihood of developing the disease in later life.
