This
newsletter highlights the benefits of healthy living for
disease prevention and quality of life. It is published
as a resource for community health promotion leaders.
Worksite Wellness/Health Economics
 Happy
People and Success
Most
everyone assumes that people are happy because they are
successful. But, a team of researchers has found that
often, happiness is what leads to success.
More...
Higher
Healthcare Costs Forecasted
Health
spending is expected to consistently outpace gross
domestic product (GDP) over the coming decade,
accounting for 20% of GDP by 2015. Currently, its at 16%
GDP. At that pace, $1 in every $5 will be spent on
healthcare, for a total annual expenditure of more than
$4 trillion.
More...
Business
and Bird Flu
Some
experts predict Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) will reach
pandemic proportions within the year. In the event of
pandemic influenza, businesses will play a key role in
protecting employees' health and safety as well as
limiting the negative impact to the economy and society.
Planning for pandemic influenza is critical.
More...
Research Highlights
Is
a Low-Fat Diet Helpful in Preventing Cancer or Heart
Disease?
Three
research articles looking at low-fat diets and
prevention of cancer and heart disease were reported in
the Feb. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association. The studies were conducted on some 48,000
postmenopausal women. Half of the women were randomly
assigned to eat a low-fat diet and half made no change.
After 8 years of follow-up, researchers looked to see if
those on the low-fat diet had fewer cancers or heart
attacks. Their results showed no health advantage for
those women eating a low-fat diet (about 20% of calories
from fat).
More...
The
American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a new
scientific statement on blood pressure and diet. High
blood pressure is epidemic in the U.S. including one out
of every four adults. An additional 31% have
prehypertension and are already at increased risk for
heart disease and stroke.
More...
Colon
Cancer and Meat
Researchers at the Dunn Nutrition Unit in Cambridge,
England may have found the reason why eating red meat
increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Their studies
have shown a strong correlation between eating red and
processed meat and the risk of colon cancer. Red meat
raises levels of compounds (N-nitrosocompounds) in the
large bowel. These compounds stick to the DNA increasing
the risk for mutations that increase the risk for
cancer.
More...
Metabolic
Syndrome and Risk of Stroke
Diabetes has long been recognized as a risk factor for
stroke. New data from the Framingham Offspring Study now
also includes metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for
stroke. In a 14-year study including 2,097 people aged
50 or older, metabolic syndrome was found in 30% of men
and 25% of women. The prevalence of diabetes was 7%.
More...
Portion
Size and Energy Density Keys to Weight Loss
Evidence indicates that both increases in portion size
and the energy density of foods encourage over
consumption of calories leading to weight gain.
Pennsylvania State University researchers studied these
concepts and found interesting results that have good,
practical implications for lifelong weight management.
More...
Whole
Grains and Heart Health
Whole
grains have been found to protect the health against
many health problems including diabetes, stroke, and
coronary heart disease. A new study now shows that whole
grains also protect against metabolic syndrome, a
condition that increases the risk of stroke, heart
attacks, and diabetes.
More...
Abdominal
Fat Doubles Risk of Gallstones in Females
Women
with a lot of weight around their waistline are nearly
twice as likely to develop gallstones large enough to
require surgical removal. These are the findings of data
analysis from the Nurses Health Study of 42,000 women
over the course of 14 years.
More...
Undiagnosed
Heart Attacks
More
than 4 of every 10 heart attacks go undiagnosed at the
time they occur, a new European study finds. These
so-called silent heart attacks more often go undiagnosed
in women than men. In fact, researchers say that more
than 1/2 of heart attacks in women went undiagnosed
compared to 1/3 in men.
More...
Smoking
Prevalence Update
The
prevalence of smoking in the U.S. was measured in the
latest National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
Currently in the U.S., 20.9% of adults (age 18+) are
smokers. The rates are higher for men (23.4%) than for
women (18.5%). These percentages are lower than the last
survey, documenting that the number of smokers in the
Untied States is on the decline.
More...
Quick
Facts
Preventing
Meningitis
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection in the
fluid within the brain and spinal cord that usually
affects children younger than 5 years of age. However,
in recent years rates have been rising significantly in
teens in the U.S. and Britain. A study of risk factors
in teens found that intimate kissing with multiple
partners was a strong risk factor, increasing risk by
3.7 times. Interestingly, factors that predicted a low
risk were being vaccinated against the disease
(decreased risk by 88%) and attending religious services
(decreased risk by 90%). This obviously indicates that
changing personal behaviors can significantly reduce the
risk of this serious illness in teens as well as getting
the immunization.
Reference:
BMJ.
2006;332:445450. Feb. 25, 2006.
Vitamin
B-12 and Brain Function
Inadequate vitamin B-12 is much more common than
realized before. A new study in the elderly showed that
40% had low or marginal levels for good health. Another
study showed that up to 18% of 40- and 50- year old
persons had low B-12 levels. Lack of B-12 damages the
nervous system resulting in loss of feeling and balance,
and can also lead to dementia. The Institute of Medicine
recommends that all people 50 and older take a B-12
supplement or eat vitamin B-12 fortified foods. Be sure
you get adequate B-12 to keep your nerves and brain in
good health.
Reference:
Nutrition Action
Health Letter . Jan/Feb 2006.
Fatty
Acids and Prostate Cancer
If you
add a highly unsaturated fatty acid (arachidonic acid)
to a culture medium growing prostate cancer cells, the
cancer cells grow twice as fast. Other research has also
suggested that a high intake of omega-6 fatty acids may
increase the risk of prostate cancer. Choosing vegetable
oils low in omega-6 fatty acids may help prevent growth
or development of prostate cancer. Examples of low
omega-6 fats include olive and Canola oil. More research
needs to be done to give more conclusive evidence, but
this change may help, and both of these oils have been
shown to be good for the heart, so there is no risk.
Reference:
Cancer Res.
2006;66:1427-1433. Feb. 10, 2006.
Bird
Flu
Outbreaks of avian flu continue to spread to other
countries including Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey, Greece,
Iraq, and Azerbaijan. The World Health Organization
(WHO) estimates there have been 91 deaths so far from
169 cases. You can see that the mortality rate is very
high! The WHO is monitoring this deadly disease trying
to contain it. The virus is undergoing changes but has
not yet mutated to the point where it is readily spread
from person to person. Its not far away however, said
the WHO representative. One estimate by health
authorities in the U.S. is that as many as 1/2 to a
million people in the U.S. could die from this flu
should it break out into a pandemic. See Health Links
below for the latest updates on bird flu.
References:
JAMA.
2006;295:748. Feb. 15, 2006. Reuters Health. Feb.
10, 2006. .
All Quick Facts...
Health
Links
March
is Nutrition Month.
Use these links to learn more about good nutrition and
how it can help you feel your best.
This
site is an excellent resource for personalized nutrition
guidelines for you and your family.
Prepared by the USDA, this is an excellent guide for
improving your eating habits.
This
FDA-prepared site provides a good overview of how to
read and understand food labels for use in making
healthier food choices.
Learn
how to prevent food-borne illness.
Want
to know what nutrients are in any food? Use the USDA
site to look up the nutrients in nearly any food.
This
CDC site is a good resource on fitness information.
Prepare for a Pandemic.
The World Health Organization and U.S. agencies urge
businesses and individuals to prepare for a pandemic.
Use these links to learn how.
The
World Health Organization posts updates on bird flu from
around the world. This page also links to FAQs and fact
sheets on bird flu.
The
Homeland Security Council outlines how government,
business, and individuals can prepare, detect, and
respond to a pandemic.
The
Federal government offers advice for personal
preparedness. You should know both the magnitude of what
can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions
you can take to help lessen the impact of an influenza
pandemic on you and your family.
Use
this checklist from the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) and the CDC to help your business make
plans for a possible influenza pandemic.
Stop
Smoking.
Check out these health links on smoking cessation.
This
great web page shows how your health improves within
minutes and days of stopping smoking. It also helps you
know what to expect when you stop and how to make
stopping easier.
The
American Cancer Society prepared a very informative and
helpful website for those thinking about quitting.
Healthy Recipes
For
good nutrition, eat! Eat wisely, of course, but enjoy
every color and texture that Nature grows as fruit. Cut
whole fruits and vegetables into shapes according to
your purpose. Be daringthese may not be your mothers
foods! Make the end result interesting.
The
recipes that follow from VegWeb.com center on fruits,
vegetables, and grains, but the combinations are quite
unique. These are submitted recipes, not commercial
recipes. You can add your favorite recipes and rate the
ones that are already there. The comments are fun and
offer additional ideas.
A
delicious and quick salad using winter fruit
A
surprising blend of ingredients makes a zesty salsa
A
fruit eaten as a vegetable! This recipe gives is similar
to fried eggplant without the fat
This
easy-to-make bread is delicious
A
5-star pizza dough recipe thats vegan
Resources
PowerPoint®
Slides
Handouts
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A Few Facts About Nuts Nuts are protective to
the health, helping reduce your risk of coronary
heart disease and diabetes. They contain healthy
fats. Read about their nutrients and how to include
more nuts in your diet.
What's
New at Wellsource
What's
New? Successful Health Management Systems Seminar
The
Successful Health
Management Systems Seminar by
Wellsource, Inc. will teach health professionals and
others how to develop and market wellness programs or
improve an existing program. The next seminar will be
held May 8-9, 2006 at
the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The
seminar provides professionals in the healthcare and
wellness industry with the opportunity to network with
peers and share successes and challenges. The learning
experience is facilitated with interactive workshops
that encourage participation.
Program schedule and registration form
For
further information on the Wellness Marketing Seminars,
call a Director of Business Development at
1-800-533-9355, or email
mailto:well@wellsource.com.
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