Black Smokers Less Likely to Get Lung Cancer Screening

FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Differences in smoking habits between black and white Americans may lead to lower lung cancer screening rates for blacks, new research suggests.

Researchers reviewed federal government data from 1965 to 2012. They found that blacks are less likely than whites to start smoking in their late teens, but also less likely to quit as they get older.

The study also found that black smokers use fewer cigarettes a day than white smokers.

These racial differences result in important and somewhat contradictory differences in lifetime cigarette exposure, the Yale School of Public Health team said.

While blacks tend to continue smoking into their later years, the fact that they tend to smoke fewer cigarettes means that have fewer average “pack-years,” calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by years of smoking, the researchers noted.

“Pack-years” is one of the ways to determine eligibility for lung cancer screening. But, while black smokers may have fewer pack-years, they may have a longer exposure to smoking. That means it’s possible that fewer at-risk black smokers would be targeted for lung cancer screening, the experts said.

This is a problem because black smokers face a similar, possibly even higher risk of death from tobacco-related diseases, the researchers noted.

The study was published online recently in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

“Racial differences in smoking initiation, cessation, and intensity give rise to substantial differences in risk for tobacco-related diseases,” study author Theodore Holford, a professor of public health at Yale in New Haven, Conn., said in a university news release.

More research is needed, but “this study shows that commonly used measures may give rise to disparities in access to lifesaving interventions,” added Holford, a member of Yale Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control Program.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on lung cancer screening.

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Miley Cyrus Posted Yoga Videos On Instagram and We Can’t Stop Watching

Miley Cyrus just gave us a very good reason to start doing yoga in the morning. The Wrecking Ball singer took a break from filming her new TV series to show off her impressive yoga skills on Instagram. Cyrus posted several videos of her, dressed in a red sports bra and grey sweatpants, doing the Warrior and Downward Facing Dogs poses and proceeding with even more complicated ones.

“Gotta do yoga not for my body but for my mind! DO YOGA or GO CRAZY!” she captioned one of the posts.

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To be honest, yoga seems like the perfect fit for her crazy lifestyle. Cyrus has been open about trying to eat healthy as well. She is a dedicated vegetarian and judging by her Instagram posts, she also loves green juice.

Namaste, Miley.

This article originally appeared on MIMIchatter.com.

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4 Habits the World’s Happiest People Have in Common

Photo: Getty Images

The results are in: the top three happiest countries are (drumroll, please) Denmark, Switzerland, and Iceland, according to the 2016 World Happiness Report. The U.S. doesn’t appear until farther down the list, in the no. 13 spot. So of course, we immediately wanted to know: What are the secrets to bliss in those top-ranked nations?

“None of these happy places do just one thing,” says National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner, who wrote a book about some of the world’s happiest populations called Thrive ($15; amazon.com). It’s really about their everyday mindset and activities, he says. Here, Buettner points to four joy-inducing habits we can steal from the Danes, Swiss, and Icelanders.

They focus on staying active—not exercising

Cities in Denmark and Switzerland are all very walkable and bikeable, says Buettner. In fact, in Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen, 50% of people commute by bike every day, according to the government. “In places where people are happy, they’re getting what we call non-exercise physical activity,” he says. “They don’t call it exercise. They say they’re going to the market, to work, or out with friends and hopping on their bike to get there.” While hitting the gym is great if it’s something you love, incorporating more movement into your everyday life could be key to upping your happiness quotient.

RELATED: The Best Advice From the Happiest People on the Planet

They appreciate the beauty of nature

“Green spaces and happiness are strongly linked,” says Buettner. Research shows that walking in nature can decrease anxiety and worry, as well as boost your cognitive abilities. But getting outdoors doesn’t have to mean getting in your car and driving an hour to a secluded trailhead. Simply strolling through a local park can perk you up. “These healthy everyday habits have to be easy and seamless to fit into your life, otherwise you’re not going to do them,” Buettner says.

They catch up with their friends

The Danes have a name for spending time with loved ones: hygge (pronounced “hooga”), which basically means cozy togetherness with friends and family. In our hectic lives, it can be tough to plan a regular night out with pals. But you can try to squeeze small doses of catch-up time into your existing schedule: Pick up the phone rather than log on to Facebook. Stop to chat with your colleagues by the coffee pot. Take a moment to check in with your neighbor when you bump into each other in the street. These small efforts make socializing a natural part of your day.

RELATED: 25 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be a Happier Person

They’re turning off the TV

Connecting with family, running errands by bike, eating lunch in the park—all of that leaves little time for zoning out in front of the tube. And that’s a very good thing, says Buettner. He worked with National Geographic to create the True Happiness Test, an online survey that has collected data on the habits of 150,000 people. (You can take the test for free at bluezones.com.) The results show that those who report feeling the most joy watch just 45 minutes of TV a day. “If TV comes at the expense of socializing, staying in shape, or activities like volunteering, you’re trading diamonds for rhinestones,” Buettner says. In other words, while binge watching House of Cards may feel relaxing in the moment, it won’t do you much good in the long run. Playing in the yard with your dog, or meeting a friend for tea? Those are small but vital steps toward happy.

 

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Thought Processing a Concern of Parkinson’s Patients, Study Says

FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Declines in thinking skills could have a greater impact on Parkinson’s disease patients’ ability to converse than physical problems, according to a British study.

“Around 70 percent of people with Parkinson’s have problems with speech and communication, which can really impact their quality of life,” said lead investigator Maxwell Barnish, formerly of the University of East Anglia, in England.

“Researchers and clinicians have in the past focused on the physical problems patients have with making their speech clear,” he explained in a university news release. “But patients themselves say the problems are more complex and are more to do with . . . not being able to think quickly enough to keep up with conversations or not being able to find the right words.”

Cognitive impairment is the general term for these thinking difficulties. And patients say “this has the biggest impact on their ability to communicate in everyday life,” Barnish said.

He and his colleagues reviewed 12 studies that included a total of 222 Parkinson’s disease patients. They found that both thinking and physical problems are associated with speech difficulties, but that patients with greater mental decline had more difficulty conversing.

The findings appear March 18 in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease.

Researcher Katherine Deane, of the University of East Anglia, said in the news release, “What this research tells us is that speech and language therapists need to assess the [thinking] problems of people with Parkinson’s as well as their speech clarity when trying to improve everyday communication.

“It may be that patients who are struggling with thinking quickly need different communication strategies to help them in everyday life,” Deane said.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on Parkinson’s disease.

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Women Who’ve Battled Postpartum Depression Often Limit Family Size

FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Women who’ve had postpartum depression may not have more than two children, a new study suggests.

Researchers examined data from more than 300 mothers born in the early to mid-20th century. Most of them lived in developed nations while raising their children, researchers said.

The investigators — led by Sarah Myers from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom — concluded that postpartum depression leads to lower fertility levels in women. They said this was especially true when the postpartum depression occurred after the birth of a first child. Higher levels of emotional distress after a first child reduced the likelihood of having a third child, but not a second child, researchers suggested.

Postpartum depression after both the first and second child appeared to reduce the chances of having a third child to the same extent as major birth complications, the study authors said.

However, it’s important to note that this study could only show an association between postpartum depression and the number of children a woman has. It wasn’t designed to prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

The study was published recently in the journal Evolution, Medicine and Public Health. Until now, little has been known about how postpartum depression affects the number of children a woman will have, the researchers said.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more about postpartum depression.

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Could Growing Up Poor Raise Obesity Risks Later?

FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Growing up in a poor neighborhood may put people at higher risk for obesity later in life, a new study finds.

Researchers looked at data from American students in grades 7 through 12. The kids’ health was then followed for 13 years.

The risk of future obesity increased when teens moved into poor neighborhoods and decreased when they moved out of poor areas, the investigators found.

Teens who consistently lived in poor neighborhoods had the highest risk of becoming or remaining obese in the future, the study authors said.

“The research demonstrates that the long-term residential experiences of teenagers can affect their life-long health,” study author Adam Lippert, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Colorado Denver, said in a university news release.

“It’s encouraging to see that the risk of obesity can be curtailed by moving out of a low-income area,” he added.

Possible reasons for the link between poverty and obesity include lack of exercise opportunities and access to healthy food, as well as higher levels of stress in poor neighborhoods, the researchers suggested.

However, while the study found an association between growing up in a poor neighborhood and later obesity, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

The study was published in the March issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute explains how to prevent overweight and obesity.

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Generic Gleevec Will Likely Cut Millions in Health Costs

FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Using the generic form of the cancer drug Gleevec could save patients and insurers millions of dollars, a new study suggests.

The patent on Gleevec expired in January. The generic version of the drug is called imatinib.

The drug is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia. Most people with chronic myeloid leukemia require lifelong daily medication, researchers said.

“If we start all patients on the generic form of Gleevec and it works, then they are on a generic for the rest of their lives,” study leader William Padula, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, said in a school news release. “This amounts to a huge cost savings for them and their insurers.”

The researchers calculated that if all chronic myeloid leukemia patients began receiving imatinib immediately after diagnosis, the cost of treatment per patient over five years would be nearly $100,000 less than with Gleevec.

They also concluded that the use of imatinib instead of Gleevec would save a health insurer with 100 chronic myeloid leukemia patients more than $9 million over five years.

Each year, about 6,000 Americans are diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, which starts in the bone marrow.

Up to 90 percent of patients survive five years when treated with drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as Gleevec and two other drugs called Sprycel and Tasinga. The patents on those two other drugs will not expire for many years.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more on chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Many Men Have Body Image Issues, Too

By Karen Pallarito
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Women aren’t the only ones at risk of worrying about their looks: A new study finds many men also fret about their physique, especially gay men.

Surveys on male body image found that 20 percent to 40 percent of men were unhappy with some aspect of their looks, including physical appearance, weight, and muscle size and tone.

Those feelings spilled into their health and sex lives, as well.

Many straight and gay men, for example, reported exercising (55 percent and 57 percent, respectively) and dieting (29 percent and 37 percent, respectively) to lose weight in the past year.

Twenty percent of straight men and 39 percent of gay men reported trying to hide one aspect of their bodies during sex, usually their bellies.

David Frederick, assistant professor of psychology at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and the study’s lead author, said men’s body image is an issue that gets overlooked.

“We know so many women are dissatisfied, so it kind of gets lost that there’s also a lot of men who are dissatisfied,” he said.

The study was published online by the journal Psychology of Men & Masculinity.

Gender differences in “body dissatisfaction” are shrinking, likely because of media influence, said Rick Gardner, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Colorado, Denver.

“Men are increasingly bombarded by messages related to weight and fitness,” Gardner said. “And you rarely see a very overweight man in a TV ad or in a TV program or movie, unless they are playing the role of a buffoon or a bad guy,” he observed.

Previous body image studies have shown gay men are at higher risk than straight men for developing body dissatisfaction. But those studies were based on small, biased samples that recruited participants from gay-affiliated political and support organizations, Frederick explained.

To overcome potential bias, Frederick and co-author Jamal Essayli, of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, drew data from more than 116,000 men across five national online surveys posted to general news websites.

Study participants’ average ages ranged from 35 to 50.

Not only were gay men more dissatisfied with their appearance, but they were more vulnerable to social pressures regarding their appearance, the study found. For example:

• 77 percent of gay men felt they were judged, or objectified, versus 61 percent of straight men.
• 58 percent of gay men routinely thought about how they looked, compared with 39 percent of straight men.
• 58 percent of gay men, but only 29 percent of straight men, felt pressure from the media to look attractive.
• Gay men were also more likely than straight men to report interest in cosmetic surgery (51 percent versus 23 percent).

Gay men “tend to mirror levels of body dissatisfaction found among heterosexual women,” said Aaron Blashill, assistant professor of psychology at San Diego State University. That’s likely due to both groups being attracted to men, he said.

“Men, regardless of their sexual orientation, place greater emphasis on physical appearance [of prospective mates], compared to women,” Blashill continued. As a result, he said, gay men “may be more likely to both objectify their partners and themselves.”

Being “overweight” — as defined by body mass index — did not register as a negative, but being “obese” did, the study found. Overweight men (63 percent straight, 48 percent gay) were satisfied with their weight.

“Guys generally want to be bigger, stronger, faster, and so if you have a bit more bulk to you, that’s going to make you feel more powerful and actually make you more attractive,” Frederick said.

More information

There’s more on male body image at the National Eating Disorders Association.

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7 Wedding Gifts Fit Couples Actually Want

Wedding season is upon us! And whether you’re browsing another couple’s registry or getting ready to walk down the aisle yourself, let’s face it—nobody really needs another toaster. Instead, any active couple will be psyched to receive one of these unique gifts.

Workout-friendly wedding rings

When you wear your wedding band to the gym, you run the risk of losing it, scratching it, or—worst of all—getting it caught on something and severely injuring yourself (we do not recommend Googling exactly what can happen). If you’d rather not go ringless, there’s a smart alternative: the QALO Silicone Ring, available in sizes for men ($20; amazon.com) and women ($16; amazon.com). These medical-grade silicone rings are safe to wear while working out, and if you lose yours, it’s easy to replace. Besides the gym, these rings are great for traveling or swimming—no need to fret about it slipping off.

Photo: amazon.com

Tongue-in-cheek matching activewear

Couples that sweat together stay together, research shows. Declare undying love, CrossFit style, with the Swolemates tee ($33; amazon.com) and tank ($30; amazon.com) set.

Photo: amazon.com

A splurge-worthy blender 

A great gift is often something that you really want, but you don’t want to spend the money on. A perfect example is the mother of all blenders: the professional kitchen-grade Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender ($750; amazon.com). What fitness-loving couple wouldn’t love a blender that can whip up nutrient-packed smoothies and juices in seconds? The Vitamix is so powerful that it can also blend homemade peanut butter and hot soups.

Photo: amazon.com

If $750 is too steep for you (we totally get it), there’s also the Vitamix 5200 Series Blender ($549; amazon.com), which boasts many of the same features as the professional-grade model, at a price that may be more appropriate for home chefs. You can also opt for a certified refurbished model ($359; amazon.com).

Photo: amazon.com

A camera to capture every adventure

With the waterproof, durable GoPro HERO 4 Session ($199; amazon.com), newlyweds can easily capture every SCUBA dive, snowboard run, or rock-climbing ascent they take on their honeymoon and beyond. Get inspired by watching the video below.

A date-night DIY kit

DIY kits let you try something new together, and there’s no shortage of options for couples who live the fit life. Kombucha is super-popular among yogis, and this Flavored Kombucha Brooklyn Kit ($70; williams-sonoma.com) gives you everything you need to brew three 1-gallon batches of this fermented tea drink.

Photo: williams-sonoma.com

These days, every marathon, bike race, and adventure event has at least one craft beer tent serving up fancy brews. And homebrewing is growing in popularity. The Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit ($40; amazon.com) gives budding brewers all the equipment they need to get started, plus a mix of grains, hops, and yeast to make their first batch.

Photo: amazon.com

Smart solutions to organize their gear

Whether the soon-to-be-newlyweds are already living together or are waiting until after the big day to cohabitate, getting married means having two of every bike, snowboard, sleeping bag, or whatever other activities the couple likes to do together. Get organized with smart storage, like the Delta Michelangelo Bike Rack ($80; amazon.com), which stacks two bikes against the wall, freeing up floor space in your garage or gear closet. 

Photo: amazon.com

Snow lovers will be grateful for the Rough Rack Ski and Snowboard rack ($70; amazon.com), which holds up to eight pairs of skis—including poles—or eight snowboards.

Photo: amazon.com

For those who do a little of everything, Target’s Household Essentials Triple Sports Storage Bin ($50; target.com) will help conceal clutter.

Photo: target.com

Honeymoon money

At Honeyfund.com, couples can register to receive activities for their honeymoons, such as surfing lessons, hang gliding sessions, guided hikes, and much more. If you aren’t sure where the couple plans to vacation, pick something in their hometown (think rock climbing, trampoline park, or tennis lessons).

Photo: Getty Images

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Find Out Which U.S. Cities Could Get Hit By Zika

Photo: Getty Images

Upcoming summer temperatures could make several U.S. cities favorable to the Zika-spreading Aedes aegypti mosquito, putting Americans at a higher risk for the disease, according to a new report.

Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center used computer modeling to look at the risk for Zika in 50 U.S. cities. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is not currently present in all 50 cities, but the researchers found that warm summer weather is the ideal climate for the Aedes aegypti mosquito to spread.

The researchers looked at weather patterns and the mosquitoes’ lifecycle in cities where the Aedes aegypti are currently present. They also looked at travel patterns to the 50 cities from places where Zika transmission is occurring, as well as socioeconomic conditions.

The study authors note that even if Zika does spread to places beyond the southern U.S., it’s not likely that America will see situations like those in the Caribbean and Latin America since most Americans live and work in places that are sealed and have air conditioning. That said, mosquito populations are expected to rise in the Southeast and some cities in Arizona in April, and by June almost all of the 50 cities in the study will have the potential for virus transmission. Southern and eastern cities are at a higher risk for a moderate-to-high abundance of the mosquitoes. The late summer months, July, August and September, are the most favorable for Aedes aegypti.

The cities that have both ideal climates for the Aedes aegypti and plenty of travelers from affected areas are Miami, Houston and Orlando.

“Even some cities where the Aedes aegypti mosquito has not been detected, such as St. Louis and Denver, have suitable midsummer weather conditions for the species if it were introduced via transport of used tires or by other human activities, according to the computer models,” reads a released statement about the work.

You can check out the researchers’ estimated spread in the U.S. here.

This article originally appeared on Time.com.

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