Post from: Healthbolt

This finding is based on the tests of around 11,000 people who were assessed in hand control, coordination, and clumsiness at age 7 and 11, then followed until they were 33. The result? The risk of becoming obese as adults more than doubled in the seven-year-olds who “certainly” showed poor hand control and tripled for those who were clumsy.

I have to wonder if this obesity might be caused by the adults abstaining from physical activities because of their clumsiness (kind of hard to play tennis or run as you’re tripping over your own two feet), but hey, what do I know?

For the whole article recap, read here. And a special shout-out to Marijke at Womb Within and Help My Hurt for pointing this article out to me. You can also see her take on these findings right here.

Post from: Healthbolt

See, Mr. Williams is one of only three people in the world with an extreme autobiographical memory called hyperthymestic syndrome. This condition – its name derived from the Greek words for excessive (hyper) and remembering (thymesis) – is characterized by lifetime memories forever being etched into one’s mind. Most folks, of course, have memories which fade over time.

Mr. Williams, 51, lives in Wisconsin and joins a man in Ohio and a woman in California as the only documented hyperthymestic people in the world.

Naturally, scientists are anxious to study this super-memory phenomenon, in hopes of helping those with failing memories. Researchers at the University of California-Irvine are heading up studies, quizzing Mr. Williams and the two other hyperthymestics about a series of dates and events.

Said Larry Cahill, a fellow at the university’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory:

“The speed with which they do this is part of why I find this so amazing because it seems to indicate there’s no — or not much — intentional calculation going on. It’s boom, boom, boom, there’s the answer. Remember, these are questions they had no idea what we’re going to ask them.”

Fascinating, indeed! I have a hard enough time remembering last week with any clarity, you know?

Furthermore, researchers are now using an MRI to create three-dimensional pictures of the hyperthymestic brain to see whether there are any differences in size or structure, compared with the average brain. Results are still being considered, but at this pint it seems as though some structures in the prefrontal cortex are significantly larger in hyperthymestics. This is the area of the brain that is associated with complex thinking, rather than learning or memory.

Surprisingly, Mr. Williams and the other hyperthymestics didn’t do any better than average on standard memory tests, nor did they prove to be savants, a condition where one extraordinary mental ability is accompanied by deficits in other areas.

Researchers hope others with extraordinary memories come forward so they can be learned from as well. I can tell you right now, that sure as heck isn’t going to be me. But maybe you? If you have a remarkable memory, let us know, even if you’re not quite up to hyperthymetic status.

Source: CNN.com

Post from: Healthbolt

Now let’s be clear that we are in no way, no how poking any kind of fun at these poor people. But it’s just amazing to see the different ways the body can betray itself, is it not? Of course it is.

So next up in our Weird Deformity Breakdown is Jingle Luis, a 15-year-old girl from the Philippines who was born with feet clubbed so badly they twist backwards and upside down (see a photo slideshow at MSN.com)

Today, Jingle had surgery to begin correction on her feet at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. And while clubfoot occurs in about one in 1,000 births, treatment usually begins before the condition gets anywhere near as far as Jingle’s.

The problem? Jingle also suffers from spina bifida (a birth defect that involves the incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings), leading her early physicians to believe she may not live long; therefore no treatment for her clubbed feet was ever given.

As for now, Jingle’s US surgeon says, “It’s like putting together an Erector Set,” and anticipates it taking a month to rotate the feet a few degrees at a time. And when all is said and done, what does Jingle hope to do? Wear high heels, of course. Good girl!

We sure wish Jingle all the best, but we also wonder:

What is the strangest deformity you’ve ever seen or heard of? Any idea how that patient is doing now? We’d love to hear from you and maybe even see what we can dig up on the deformities you share. Leave us a comment and let us know.

Post from: Healthbolt

Image details: Question mark with the Earth as a dot served by picapp.com

Happy Earth Day, everyone!

We’ve been reminded quite a bit today about being green and caring for our Earth. So here’s my question: Can the Earth continue to care for us?!?

Over the weekend, Edna Parker of Illinois (the oldest known currently-living person) celebrated her 115th birthday. Also recently, Barbara Walters did a special on living to be 150. While this is fascinating and the idea of living past 100 sounds intriguing, when it comes right down to it, how will our world be able to support such an aging population? Here are some issues:

1. As it is, we have a dire nursing shortage. And we all know that living long doesn’t always equal living well. We would need more health care professionals to keep our health in check.

2. Living until 150, the new retirement age would be, oh, say…130. Can you imagine working at the same job for approximately 110 years? Of course not! Furthermore, how would our employers cover our healthcare costs? Would there ever be job turnover? Would a mid-life career change happen at about 80 years of age? Really.

3. Logistically, where would we put everybody? We’d have to develop more land, thereby cutting farming space, so what would we all eat? Where would we get all the water we need? What about car and public transportation emissions? Scary.

These are just a few thoughts that come to mind as researchers conduct study after study to discover the secret to longevity. There are many more issues, of course, and these hardly scratch the surface. But on this Earth Day, they are surely thoughts to consider.

So, what do you think? Would you want to live to 150? Do you think our world would be able to handle us? Chime in…

Post from: Healthbolt

Stop the presses! The old thought behind “longer is better” when it comes to the horizontal polka is bunk. (And yes, I’m talking about sex being longer, not something else being longer. That’s a whole ‘nother post, y’all).

Anyhoo, it’s true. The word around the ‘net (and soon to be published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine) is that the optimal length of deed-doing is between 3 and 13 minutes. Yes, that’s all. And contrary to popular belief, even the ladies are getting their kicks during this time period, so it’s really all good.

It’s important to note, however, that this 3 – 13 minute window does not include foreplay. In fact, most men and women alike would lobby for longer foreplay sessions. Of course, it’s no secret that if you have great foreplay, the actual act of intercourse can often just be the proverbial icing on the cake, right?

So long story short (since this is Hump Day and all): If your bedroom sessions are generally a tad shy of marathon status, don’t sweat it. Just enjoy each other’s company without worrying about the clock. Science says so.

Post from: Healthbolt

Happy Weekend, everyone!

Don’t you just love when your favorite “bad” foods suddenly appear with a glowing halo hovering above them? Yeah, me too. Makes my day.

Like today. Suddenly that steak craving I’ve been having is validated, as is the beer I’m sure to consume throughout the weekend. Why, you ask? Why, I’m so glad you asked. Please, allow me to share:

Steak builds muscles. Okay, so you may not become the next Ah-nold (or Arnold-ette) by sidling up at the nearest steakhouse, but you’ll be happy to know that women who at 10 oz. of lean beef every day lost more weight than women who ate the same amount of calories, sans the meat. Why? Because meat contains amino acids that help maintain muscle, and we all know that the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn (y’all do know that right? Right?)

Beer lowers BMI. Hallelujah for that fabulous Nurses’ Health Study. It found that women who drink one to two glasses of liquid gold (aka beer), wine, or liquor per day had a 15% lower BMI (body mass index) than those who abstain. Why? Alcohol helps regulate insulin levels, which then regulate weight. Of course, everything in moderation, my dear friends. More than two drinks a day can actually cause weight gain and increase your risk of assorted diseases. Not cool.

So isn’t this great news, right in time for Happy Hour? You betcha! Glad I could help. Now you can enjoy your weekend – guilt free!

Want to know more about Beer with Benefits? Check out Health and Men for the skinny.

Post from: Healthbolt

Ever envision yourself crossing the finish line, scoring a promotion, or acing an exam? That’s great – you’re using visualization to help meet your goals, and you’re headed in the right direction.

New research is putting a unique spin on this theory, however. While traditional “real time” visualization is indeed beneficial, researchers suggest you try “watching” yourself complete a task as if watching a movie instead. Taking on this third-person viewpoint will allow you to see what it would actually take to achieve your goals, a method that is remarkably motivating. In fact, those who took on this third-person perspective did better completing a challenging task than those who pictured themselves from a first person viewpoint.

So the next time you face a hurdle to success, find a quiet setting, relax, and close your eyes. “Watch” the scene from the “audience”, including all the actions necessary to achieve what you wish – and don’t forget pay special attention to the part when you emerge victorious!

Post from: Healthbolt

The series was shot on location around the world, guaranteeing a visual extravaganza, something the Discovery Channel does best. What’s more, Human Body will use stunning graphics and animation to illustrate the changes our bodies and brains undergo when faced with a crisis. Here, we’ll see just how far our bodies and minds can be pushed to restore order to ourselves and others.

Here’s what we have to look forward to:

Episode One – Strength
Airs Sunday, March 2 at 9pm (ET/PT)
In this episode, we see how humans have survived being sucked up by a tornado, pinned by a half ton boulder, and swimming for 14 hours. This show will focus on muscles, ligaments, joints and bones.

Episode Two – Sight
Airs Sunday, March 2 at 10pm (ET/PT)
This episode shows how crucial sight is and that the eyes harbor hidden powers by featuring real-life stories of a policeman dodging traffic on foot, a lifeguard spotting a troubled swimmer in a sea filled with people, and a firefighter battling through thick, black smoke.

Episode Three – Sensation
Airs Sunday, March 9 at 9pm (ET/PT)
This show chronicles the body’s inner communications network (the nervous system), showing us how fingers can move faster than the speed of thought, what happens when the heat is really on, and what exactly pain is (and how some people control it).

Episode Four – Power to the People
Airs Sunday, March 9 at 10pm (ET/PT)
The final episode in the series gives us remarkable insight into the human brain. We’ll get to see how brain activity accelerates in times of danger, essentially slowing down time to save us. We’ll learn why sleep can unleash unseen powers in our mind and how our brain can compensate in times of crises such as starvation, sleep deprivation and extreme temperatures.

I cannot even tell you how excited I am for this series. Surely, it will make for great water cooler (and blog) discussion.

Have an amazing feat you’d like to share? Click this link for a Hotline number to leave your story (and then be sure to share it here!!)

Post from: Healthbolt

Soothing and relaxing? I don’t think so. But I might just be in a minority. Seems this health and beauty spa in Northern Israel is a big hit, with clients paying $70 to have six non-venomous snakes massage their aching muscles and joints. (Need To Relax? Try A Snake Massage)

A Cavity Preventing Lollipop ?

Imagine telling your kids that they have to eat a lollipop twice a day – one after breakfast and one before bed. They would probably think you’ve lost the plot. But it’s what UCLA professor Wenyuan Shi recommends everyone should do. Professor Shi looked at the top 400 herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine and tested them for anti-microbal effectiveness. Turned out that an extract of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is very effective against tooth-decaying bacteria. Using this information, Shi has developed a cavity fighting lollipop and is currently working with a candy manufacturer to produce the lollipop for public consumption. (Cavity Fighting Herbal Lollipop)

One catch – the ten days of lollipops is a once off deal. After the ten days are finished, you only need to have a lollipop 2-4 times a year.

Three Person Embryos ?

     It used to be ‘and baby makes three’. Know it seems that scientists are working on a whole new formular -’three make a baby’. British scientists have been busy creating human embryos that contain DNA from one man and two woman in a effect to find ways to prevent medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, and heart failure. Their goal is it see if there is a way of swapping bad genes for good. In this research experiment, Professor Patrick Chinnery and colleagues “…used normal embryos created from one man and one woman that had defective mitochondria in the woman’s egg. They then transplanted that embryo into an emptied egg donated from a second woman who had healthy mitochondria.” Fascinating stuff but it opens up all sorts of ethical and moral issues. (Embryos Created With DNA From 3 People)

A Lip Gloss to Slim Your Hips ?

Fuze Slenderize Guilt Free lip gloss is being marketed as a  product that “…can suppress your appetite with the same mix of minerals and ingredients found in Coca-Cola’s Fuze energy fruit drinks.” (Putting a gloss on your diet)

If only it were that easy…

And finally…

In case you haven’t already heard, double dipping at the chip and dip bowl is about the same as ‘putting your whole mouth in the dip‘.

So stop with the double dipping already…

Post from: Healthbolt