Online CPR Certification Blog
Benefits of coffee include protection from skin cancer
Date: October 1st, 2012
Over recent years numerous health benefits have been attributed to drinking black coffee. Now, a recent study has revealed that coffee can protect people from skin cancer which causes growths on sufferers’ skin that vary in degrees of malignancy.
The study looked at people who drank both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and found that women who drink over 3 cups of caffeinated coffee each day were 21% less likely to develop a condition known as BCC (basal cell carcinoma) than women who consumed less than a cup of caffeinated coffee each month. Men who drink three or more cups of caffeinated coffee saw a risk reduction of about 10%. The researchers did not find the same correlations in people who drink decaffeinated coffee, suggesting that the protective effect to the skin is likely due to caffeine consumption.
Researchers were quick to note that drinking coffee is no replacement for sunscreen. While caffeine appears to have a protective effect on the skin, it does not compare to the protection offered by a quality sunscreen and ample shade.
Moderate exercise can improve overweight teens’ self-esteem
Date: October 1st, 2012
With the normal perception of how people should look and the name calling that is associated with teenagers, the psychological effect of obesity is usually felt more vividly than the actual physical effects. There is hope. New study shows that just a little bit of exercise can greatly boost the self-esteem of teenagers who are overweight.
Questions to consider before buying and consuming vitamin supplements
Date: September 30th, 2012
Many people believe that taking supplements is important to their health and can only do them good. While having an appropriate intake of vitamins and minerals is essential to a healthy body and mind, supplements are not always the answer. Here are a few questions you should ask before buying your next supplement.
Vitamin D linked to higher survival rates in breast cancer patients
Date: September 28th, 2012
A study out of Belgium shows a direct correlation between vitamin D levels and survival rates in women diagnosed with breast cancer. The study looked at women’s levels of vitamin D when they found out that they had breast cancer and discovered that women with higher levels of the vitamin were more likely to survive.
Heart attack risk associated with serious dental procedures
Date: September 27th, 2012
Research from a recent study has shown that patients on Medicare who had a heart attack or suffered a stroke over the course of five years were one and a half times more likely to suffer a cardiovascular event within four weeks of having a serious dental procedure or invasive treatment performed.
Eliminate diet soda and sodium to reduce your chance of stroke
Date: September 26th, 2012
You may think that reaching for a diet soda is a good choice for your heart, but you may want to think again. One study has shown that people who drink diet soda have a 61% greater risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack compared to people who don’t drink any soda at all. A separate study has also found that people with high sodium diets are at greater risk for suffering a stroke.
Low vitamin B12 levels linked to dementia amongst seniors
Date: September 25th, 2012
According to PubMed Health (U.S. National Library of Medicine) a deficiency of vitamin B12 may be linked to dementia in elderly people. A study of 121 people found that participants with lower vitamin B12 levels did worse on cognitive tests and had smaller brain volumes, as shown by MRI scans. Other studies have shown that decreased brain volume is linked to dementia.
Limited access to sugary drinks in schools: A strong first step
Date: September 24th, 2012
Improving the food and drink options that our nation’s children have access to in school is an important step towards reducing the obesity epidemic throughout the country. New reports show that major headway has been made on this front over the last several years in terms of sugary beverages.
Nearly half of autism spectrum disorder teens are victims of bullying
Date: September 22nd, 2012
In the general population, about 11% of children are bullied. Being bullied is linked to higher levels of depression, loneliness, anxiety, and decreased academic performance. Unfortunately, a survey of parents suggests that nearly half of all teenagers with an autism spectrum disorder are harassed at school.
Metabolic syndrome in teens linked to poor academic performance
Date: September 21st, 2012
Researchers have found that teenagers who suffer from metabolic syndrome do not perform as well academically. A study looked at 111 teenagers, 49 of whom had metabolic syndrome and 62 who did not, and found that the teens with metabolic syndrome performed 5 to 15% worse on academic tests than their healthy counterparts.