SelfCare for HealthCare Blog - Nurture Your Mind, Body and Spirit

Sedentary Lifestyle Increasing

October 28, 2020

Since publication of the Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) for Americans in 2008, there has been no increase in adherence to aerobic activity guidelines, while sedentary time has increased, according to a study. The University of Iowa examined the concurrent changing trends in adherence to the PAG for aerobic activity and sedentary behavior for U.S. adults…

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Don’t Grab the Grab-and-go Foods

October 21, 2020

Grab-and-go foods are an easy option for busy lives. But if you choose ultra-processed foods, you may pick up something you don’t want — heart disease. About 55% of Americans’ daily calories come from eating ultra-processed foods. And the more calories that came from ultra-processed foods, the worse heart health was, according to a study…

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Can Your Job Determine Heart Health?

October 14, 2020

Could your chosen profession determine the health of your heart? New research suggests that it may. Scientists analyzed data from more than 65,000 postmenopausal women in the United States and found several jobs were associated with poor heart health. Compared to women with other occupations, the risk of poor heart health was: 36% higher in…

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Exercise Builds Your Body and Your Brain

October 7, 2020

Exercise does more than build body strength, it also keep brain cells in shape. According to a Mayo Clinic study, exercise helps maintain the brain’s gray matter, which is linked to various skills and thinking abilities. The study provided indirect evidence that aerobic exercise can have a positive impact on cognitive function in addition to…

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Lack of Sleep is Killing Us

September 30, 2020

More than one-third of working Americans don’t get enough sleep. A study at Ball State University in Indiana reported that inadequate sleep is associated with mild to severe physical and mental health problems, injury, loss of productivity, and premature mortality. “This is a significant finding because the U.S. is currently witnessing high rates of chronic…

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How Americans Rate their Health-related Behaviors

September 23, 2020

The good news is that 7 out of 10 Americans rate their health-related behaviors and attitudes as good or excellent. The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association, questioned 2,032 U.S. adults. Participants were asked about their work, sleep, and exercise habits as well as their concerns regarding politics,…

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Lack of Sleep Leads to Increased Diabetes Risk

September 16, 2020

Maintaining a consistent pattern of seven to eight hours of sleep during early to middle adulthood may lessen the risk for diabetes in women, according to a study published in Diabetes Care. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston identified sleep duration trajectories based on data from 60,068 women in the Nurses’ Health…

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Severe Global Nursing Shortage

September 9, 2020

A severe global shortage of nurses is putting the lives of millions of people at risk and is particularly worrisome at a time when the world is doing battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization collected data from 191 countries and found that the critical work performed by nurses in some countries is frequently…

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More Reasons to Think Positive!

September 2, 2020

A new study found that repetitive negative thinking in later life was linked to cognitive decline and greater deposits of two harmful proteins responsible for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study at University College London. Negative thinking behaviors such as rumination about the past and worry about the future were measured in over 350 people…

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Obesity Affects about 40 percent of American Adults

August 25, 2020

Obesity affects about 40 percent of American adults, an estimated 93.3 million adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a serious public health problem, increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers. One major reason people gain weight as they get older is because they gradually lose…

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