Resolve to be better in 2008
Resolve to be better in 2008
From staff reports
The Daily News
Published January 1, 2008
We all know the tricks and traditions of New Year’s resolutions, but what do experts in health and personal finance think our resolutions should be? We asked what people should do to live longer and better, to have more wealth and help the planet. Here’s what they had to say:
Go Coastal?
A recent article in the “New England Journal of Medicine” published research that concluded people stuck in traffic are three times more likely to have heart attacks within one hour than those who aren’t. Researchers, however, weren’t sure whether the heart attacks were caused by stress or exposure to pollution.
The moral of the story?
“Try to stay on the island,” said Dr. Ken Fujise, who in November was named director of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. “Try not to go to Houston.”
Fujise, a former Houstonian, was only half kidding. “Inhaling particulate matter, small dust particles ... (is) really bad for the heart.”
And Fujise offers yet another reason to embrace a laid-back coastal lifestyle that includes plenty of reel time.“Studies have indicated that if you eat fish three times a week, your longevity increases,” he said.
Finally, be happy, Fujise advises. Angry people tend to have more heart muscle damage, he said.“The precipating factor for acute heart attack is anger,” he said. “Just jog on the beach, surrounded by the natural beauty of Galveston.”
Move Faster, But Eat Slow Food
As the the American waist grows, so goes the number of people who have Type 2 diabetes, researchers say. More than 20 million U.S. residents have diabetes, according to medical reports. Most have Type 2, a disease that occurs when the pancreas can’t make enough or the body can’t properly use insulin, which controls the level of sugar in the blood. With time, Type 2 diabetes can damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys and heart and predispose a person to hardening of the large arteries, which can cause heart attack and stroke.
Lynn A. Maarouf, diabetes nutrition educator at The Stark Diabetes Center at the island’s medical branch, would like families to resolve to exercise.
“The biggest single thing is for people to get up and get moving,” Maarouf said. “We’re seeing a Type 2 epidemic among adults and children, and it’s in a big part related to people not getting enough exercise.”
The latest recommendations for people trying to lose weight is 90 minutes of exercise a day.
“A little bit of walking goes a little way,” Maarouf said. “If you’re not getting close to the one hour mark, you’re not doing enough to achieve changes.”
Maarouf recommends people make a serious plan for more exercise.
“Some people say they don’t have enough time, but how much time do they spend watching television?”
Finally — and everyone’s heard this before — cut back on eating. Most people could cut back on calories if they cooked at home, rather than grab fast food or restaurant fare.
“I think most people do better when they prepare meals at home,” she said. “There’s a lot of literature coming out that say meals eaten away from home have about 2,000 to 3,000 calories. I don’t think people are really aware of that.”
A New Smile For A New Year
Those looking to achieve the “American dream of the white, straight teeth” in 2008 ought to add a few mouth-friendly resolutions to their New Year’s list, said Galveston County dentist Brent Patterson.
• Make an appointment with the dentist.
“A lot of people haven’t been in any dental office in five to seven or 10 years,” Patterson said. “You need a thorough examination by a dentist before you can jump into a regular routine.”
• Brush twice a day, in the morning and just before bed.
“I’m amazed by how many people just brush in the morning,” Patterson said. “You need to brush two times a day to rid bacteria before bed and to rid the bacteria that built up overnight.”
And even though your $2 toothbrush will do the job, those who can afford it should probably consider buying an electric toothbrush. Battery-powered brushes have timers forcing you to brush for a full two minutes, the American Dental Association’s “party line” on brushing, Patterson said. Patterson likes the Phillips’ Sonicare. An electronic brush costs between $30 and $100, depending on the variety.
The Sonicare acts on your teeth the way an electric jewelry cleaner acts on jewelry by vibrating all the junk from between teeth and fillings, Patterson said.
“When people have a mechanical brush, their oral hygiene level increases,” he said.
• Floss at least three times per week. Some people think you should floss every time you brush, but that’s unreasonable, Patterson said.
“Two to three nights out of the week, that’s more than adequate,” he said. “Otherwise you wouldn’t do it at all. Anything is better than nothing.”
• Stock your bathroom with fluoride rinse. Most people aren’t getting enough fluoride, and almost every American can benefit from a fluoride rinse, Patterson said. Fluoride helps strengthen teeth, making them more resistant to cavities, he said. Fluoride rinses also help reduce sensitivities after dental work, including whitening and bleaching, he said.
• Ditch the workroom candy dish.
“I’ve seen a lot of people with problems because there’s always a bowl of hard candies at work for them to suck on,” Patterson said. “You can do a great deal of damage with that.”
Aside from the hard candy, children and adults should avoid regular soda or chewing gum with sugar.
“That constant all-day-long exposure to syrups and sugars can override what you brush away and soften teeth,” Patterson said.
Instead, choose sugar-free gums and diet sodas, he said.
• Snuff the cigarettes. Oral cancer most often can be linked directly to smoking and chewing tobacco. Smokers and dippers should toss the tobacco in 2008, drastically cutting their risks of oral cancer and starting down a path to a healthy new smile, Patterson said.
• Don’t ignore the warning sings. Painful or bleeding gums, or sensitive teeth, could indicate serious gum disease. If you experience these symptoms, forget your fear of the dentist and make an appointment, Patterson said.
“These are the people that need the dentist the most,” Patterson said. “Gum disease is a silent disease. No matter how much brushing or flossing you do, you’re not going to take care of it at home. It has to be dealt with in the dental office.”
Most people aren’t getting enough fluoride, and almost every American can benefit from a fluoride rinse, Patterson said. - hasn't he heard of fluorosis?
From staff reports
The Daily News
Published January 1, 2008
We all know the tricks and traditions of New Year’s resolutions, but what do experts in health and personal finance think our resolutions should be? We asked what people should do to live longer and better, to have more wealth and help the planet. Here’s what they had to say:
Go Coastal?
A recent article in the “New England Journal of Medicine” published research that concluded people stuck in traffic are three times more likely to have heart attacks within one hour than those who aren’t. Researchers, however, weren’t sure whether the heart attacks were caused by stress or exposure to pollution.
The moral of the story?
“Try to stay on the island,” said Dr. Ken Fujise, who in November was named director of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. “Try not to go to Houston.”
Fujise, a former Houstonian, was only half kidding. “Inhaling particulate matter, small dust particles ... (is) really bad for the heart.”
And Fujise offers yet another reason to embrace a laid-back coastal lifestyle that includes plenty of reel time.“Studies have indicated that if you eat fish three times a week, your longevity increases,” he said.
Finally, be happy, Fujise advises. Angry people tend to have more heart muscle damage, he said.“The precipating factor for acute heart attack is anger,” he said. “Just jog on the beach, surrounded by the natural beauty of Galveston.”
Move Faster, But Eat Slow Food
As the the American waist grows, so goes the number of people who have Type 2 diabetes, researchers say. More than 20 million U.S. residents have diabetes, according to medical reports. Most have Type 2, a disease that occurs when the pancreas can’t make enough or the body can’t properly use insulin, which controls the level of sugar in the blood. With time, Type 2 diabetes can damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys and heart and predispose a person to hardening of the large arteries, which can cause heart attack and stroke.
Lynn A. Maarouf, diabetes nutrition educator at The Stark Diabetes Center at the island’s medical branch, would like families to resolve to exercise.
“The biggest single thing is for people to get up and get moving,” Maarouf said. “We’re seeing a Type 2 epidemic among adults and children, and it’s in a big part related to people not getting enough exercise.”
The latest recommendations for people trying to lose weight is 90 minutes of exercise a day.
“A little bit of walking goes a little way,” Maarouf said. “If you’re not getting close to the one hour mark, you’re not doing enough to achieve changes.”
Maarouf recommends people make a serious plan for more exercise.
“Some people say they don’t have enough time, but how much time do they spend watching television?”
Finally — and everyone’s heard this before — cut back on eating. Most people could cut back on calories if they cooked at home, rather than grab fast food or restaurant fare.
“I think most people do better when they prepare meals at home,” she said. “There’s a lot of literature coming out that say meals eaten away from home have about 2,000 to 3,000 calories. I don’t think people are really aware of that.”
A New Smile For A New Year
Those looking to achieve the “American dream of the white, straight teeth” in 2008 ought to add a few mouth-friendly resolutions to their New Year’s list, said Galveston County dentist Brent Patterson.
• Make an appointment with the dentist.
“A lot of people haven’t been in any dental office in five to seven or 10 years,” Patterson said. “You need a thorough examination by a dentist before you can jump into a regular routine.”
• Brush twice a day, in the morning and just before bed.
“I’m amazed by how many people just brush in the morning,” Patterson said. “You need to brush two times a day to rid bacteria before bed and to rid the bacteria that built up overnight.”
And even though your $2 toothbrush will do the job, those who can afford it should probably consider buying an electric toothbrush. Battery-powered brushes have timers forcing you to brush for a full two minutes, the American Dental Association’s “party line” on brushing, Patterson said. Patterson likes the Phillips’ Sonicare. An electronic brush costs between $30 and $100, depending on the variety.
The Sonicare acts on your teeth the way an electric jewelry cleaner acts on jewelry by vibrating all the junk from between teeth and fillings, Patterson said.
“When people have a mechanical brush, their oral hygiene level increases,” he said.
• Floss at least three times per week. Some people think you should floss every time you brush, but that’s unreasonable, Patterson said.
“Two to three nights out of the week, that’s more than adequate,” he said. “Otherwise you wouldn’t do it at all. Anything is better than nothing.”
• Stock your bathroom with fluoride rinse. Most people aren’t getting enough fluoride, and almost every American can benefit from a fluoride rinse, Patterson said. Fluoride helps strengthen teeth, making them more resistant to cavities, he said. Fluoride rinses also help reduce sensitivities after dental work, including whitening and bleaching, he said.
• Ditch the workroom candy dish.
“I’ve seen a lot of people with problems because there’s always a bowl of hard candies at work for them to suck on,” Patterson said. “You can do a great deal of damage with that.”
Aside from the hard candy, children and adults should avoid regular soda or chewing gum with sugar.
“That constant all-day-long exposure to syrups and sugars can override what you brush away and soften teeth,” Patterson said.
Instead, choose sugar-free gums and diet sodas, he said.
• Snuff the cigarettes. Oral cancer most often can be linked directly to smoking and chewing tobacco. Smokers and dippers should toss the tobacco in 2008, drastically cutting their risks of oral cancer and starting down a path to a healthy new smile, Patterson said.
• Don’t ignore the warning sings. Painful or bleeding gums, or sensitive teeth, could indicate serious gum disease. If you experience these symptoms, forget your fear of the dentist and make an appointment, Patterson said.
“These are the people that need the dentist the most,” Patterson said. “Gum disease is a silent disease. No matter how much brushing or flossing you do, you’re not going to take care of it at home. It has to be dealt with in the dental office.”
Most people aren’t getting enough fluoride, and almost every American can benefit from a fluoride rinse, Patterson said. - hasn't he heard of fluorosis?
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