Healthy Living
Heavy salt use may
increase the risk of ulcers
Here's another reason to limit salt in your diet. A new report given at the recent meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Toronto indicates that diets high in salt content may increase risk of gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., discovered that high salt concentrations in the stomach can trigger a genetic tendency for the ulcer-causing H. pylori bacteria that causes it to become aggressive.
Many Americans, including half of those over the age of 60, are infected with H. pylori. But only a small percentage of these people develop ulcers.
Previous research has shown that there is an association between the bacteria and dietary patterns. The study authors conclude that this is especially true for diets that include a lot of salt.
It is widely known that consuming a high level of salt creates a risk for high blood pressure, a serious condition that must be treated throughout life after diagnosis.
WHEN SCHOOL WORK BECOMES A PAIN!
Heavy backpacks and bags have been known to cause pain and fatigue in children and adults. While these conditions should be a concern for parents and students alike, healthcare professionals increasingly are concerned about the role these bags play in the development of more serious conditions, such as chronic back pain and functional scoliosis, which is caused when the spine becomes twisted because one shoulder muscle is stronger than the other. "A load of books or materials, distributed improperly or unevenly, day after day, is indeed going to cause stress to a growing spinal column and back," said Kevin Slates, an occupational and environmental health expert at Indiana University Bloomington. "The old adage, 'As the twig is bent, so grows the tree,' comes to mind. We are seeing a growing concern about the improper use of backpacks and the relatively scarce amount of preventive information available to young people." The Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that 4,928 emergency room visits each year result from injuries related to book bags and back carriers. "Students attending primary and secondary schools are more susceptible to these disorders because their bodies are developing faster," Slates said. "Females are even more susceptible because of the physiological demands on their bodies. But body mass and the weight of the back pack plays a role. If she weighs 120 pounds and is carrying a 25-pound backpack, it places a huge burden on her musculoskeletal system."
Slates, a clinical assistant professor in IUB's Department of Applied Health Science, offers these suggestions and considerations:
Pain and fatigue are, well, a pain. In Slates' preliminary study of the relationship between backpacks and health conditions, 55.3 percent of the college-age respondents reported experiencing pain from carrying their bags, with a higher percentage of women (66.9 percent), reporting such pain.
Parents, take note. Parents should be aware of the weight of their children's backpacks and encourage them to store some of their books and belongings in lockers.
Find a locker. University students should look into the use of temporary lockers on campus so they do not have to carry books for all of their classes all day. Universities should consider placing day lockers throughout campus to facilitate this.
Lighten the load. Healthcare professionals suggest keeping backpack weight below 15 percent to 20 percent of the carrier's body weight.
Strategic loading. Waists, Slates says, are designed to carry more weight than shoulders. Waist and chest straps help keep backpack weight as close to the body as possible, minimizing problems by distributing the weight more evenly across the body.
Options. Slates does not recommend one model over another, but he said parents and students should know they have options -- backpacks come in different shapes and sizes, including backpacks with one strap and messenger bags. He encourages people to use both straps on the packs that have two straps, however, because two straps cut the physiological burden in half by distributing weight more evenly. He also suggests moving the weight around to avoid overuse on particular muscles.
Last spring, Slates and members of the American Society of Safety Engineers began collecting data for the study by weighing backpacks and talking with students at bus stops on the IU Bloomington campus. Slates plans to expand his sample through next spring. In his preliminary findings, the students who reported experiencing pain reported having it in multiple areas, including the neck, shoulders and upper and lower back. Graduate students had the heaviest packs, weighing in at 12 pounds, 2 ounces on average. Male students' bags averaged 11 pounds, 10 ounces, with female students' bags averaging 1 pound, 2 ounces less. The heaviest bag recorded weighed 25 pounds, 6 ounces. The study examines the use of traditional double-strap backpacks and the newer one-strap bags and messenger bags. The study should shed some light on whether any of these styles result in less pain.
Prevent Weight Gain During College
During the college years, it's common for students' activity levels to decrease as their waistlines increase. What's the harm of a few pounds? Habits students develop now -- and the pounds they put on -- could last a lifetime. "It's always a lot easier to prevent something than it is to address it after the problem has occurred and you see the negative health effects resulting from your behaviors," said Jeanne Johnston, assistant professor at Indiana University's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Johnston studies physical activity, health and quality of life issues facing various age groups. One study involving college freshmen found that almost half of the students already had at least two risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol. Alice Lindeman, associate professor in the School of HPER, said it can be exciting for students to try new foods and eat whenever they want. "What you eat today stays on your body and adds to what you eat tomorrow," Lindeman said. "You have to eat for today and plan for tomorrow." Johnston said little research has been done on how to help this age group become healthier. "It's particularly pertinent because this is the time when they're establishing their lifelong behaviors," Johnston said. "It's the right time -- they're out there on their own. It's a good time to talk with them about why this is important."
Johnston said these strategies could help students get their school years off to a healthy start:
- Be physically active throughout the day. Students could walk or ride a bike to class as opposed to taking a bus or car, walk or ride bikes to local places like stores, making an effort to accumulate 10,000 steps a day.
- Plan exercise. Johnston encourages students to make exercise part of their daily schedules. She says time has been cited as a major barrier to exercise. How much exercise is enough? She said 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three days a week will suffice. Students also could consider joining intramural or club sports.
- Manage stress. Stress can have a negative impact on health and well-being. It decreases immune function and contributes to weight gain, particularly around the mid-section. Physical activity has been shown to improve mood and have a positive impact on stress.
- Avoid late night snacks. When eating too late at night, you tend to select foods that are convenient (pizza, popcorn, chips) or bring comfort (cookies, pop) but are not mini meals that have variety and balance, Lindeman said. After too many late night meals or snacks, you start missing breakfast and become even hungrier later in the day.
- Remember lessons learned at home. Students can make many more choices about when and what they eat. Lindeman encourages them to stick to the healthy routines established at home.
- Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep has been shown to have a negative impact on health, contributing to weight gain, increased late-night snacking and a negative impact on focus and performance.