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Why a stiff neck could leave you blind – Express.co.uk
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Yet very soon, everyday life became almost impossible to manage for the 59-year-old child care development adviser from Ruislip, west London.
Her neck became so stiff that she could not turn her head, which affected her ability to drive safely.
I had to park away from other cars as I had so much difficulty getting in and out of the car, says Janice, who is married to Steve, also 59.
She struggled getting in and out of bed and says she came to dread going to sleep at night because of the pain she would suffer.
The swiftness and severity of her physical deterioration eventually forced Janice to take early retirement from her job.
The final straw was when I couldnt even bend down to put my shoes on and my husband had to do it for me. He said that I needed to go to the doctor as something wasnt right.
When she sought help, Janice was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a rheumatic condition that causes pain, the tenderness and stiffness in large muscles around the shoulders, hips and back.
It can cause disability and severely affect quality of life.
I had a bit of a meltdown as I thought I was never going to get better
Janice Maddock
PMR is linked to another rheumatic condition called giant cell arteritis (GCA), which causes the arteries in the head and neck to become inflamed.
It is called giant cell because abnormally large cells accumulate in the artery walls.
One of the arteries that is commonly affected provides blood to the optic nerve and if the optic nerve is starved of blood it can lead to irreversible sight loss.
Both are autoimmune illnesses and with GCA the main symptoms are headaches and tenderness which can lead to blindness if untreated.
PICASA
Both conditions usually affect the over-50s but it is most common in those over the age of 75.
Consultant rheumatologist Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta, who is an expert in the illnesses, says: In many ways PMR and GCA should really be seen as the same condition, we do see a significant number of patients who have PMR symptoms but also have giant cell arteritis.
An estimated 250,000 people in the UK have PMR and GCA, although there may be many undiagnosed sufferers as awareness among GPs and the public is so low.
Each year, about 3,000 people are thought to lose sight as a result of late diagnosis of GCA.
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Janice says: I was lucky that I had a doctor who knew what PMR was but Ive heard many stories of people who have been misdiagnosed or when they have eventually been diagnosed, theyve just been left to get on with it.
More GPs need to know about these conditions so quicker diagnosis can be made.
For both PMR and GCA, the main treatment is steroids, which can be associated with serious side effects such as diabetes and osteoporosis.
Janice, who is stepmother to Lauren, 28, and Paul, 24, says: When I was diagnosed I was put on a high dose of steroids which reduced the pain and stiffness but they had side effects. I was very tired and put on weight because they made me so hungry.
I reduced my steroids but did it too quickly and my symptoms started to come back. I had a bit of a meltdown as I thought I was never going to get better.
Janice then discovered the charity Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis UK (PMRGCAuk), which was able to offer advice and support on managing the condition.
Many PMR sufferers reduce their steroids too quickly without listening to their body and end up with the symptoms returning, she says.
However new effective treatments that have fewer side effects are being developed including tocilizumab, a common arthritis drug.
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An international trial involving more than 250 patients in 14 countries, including the UK, found that 56 per cent achieved steroid-free remission after a year on tocilizumab.
Professor Dasgupta says: About 40-50 per cent of patients in the tocilizumab study had PMR as well as GCA and their PMR symptoms improved as a result or taking the drug. Tocilizumab is a significant breakthrough in the treatment of PMR and GCA.
It is particularly effective in those patients who do not respond well to steroids, which often fail to control the disease in the long term.
It is hoped that the drug will become available to patients later this year.
Visit pmrgca.org.uk to find out more about PMR and GCA
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Why a stiff neck could leave you blind - Express.co.uk
Why Mediterranean-based eating is trendyagain – Well+Good
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Photo: Stocksy/Nadine Greeff
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In the wellness world, the Mediterranean diet is as acclaimed as it gets, with research touting itscardiovascularand longevity-boosting benefits. The diets bursting with omega-3s and healthy fats (from fish, eggs, nuts, and olive oil), probiotics (hello, Greek yogurt), and lots of grains, legumes, fruits, and veggies.
But in recent years, the Mediterranean way of eating has been eclipsed by sexier nutrition trends, like the gluten-free craze and countless buzzy celebrity diets(hello, Adele). But the pendulum is swinging back to the sun-dappled side.
It pulls a lot of people in because there arent many parts of the diet that people are going to object to.
Why? Partly its because so many people are quitting sugar and getting wise to the idea that unsaturated fatsare a very a good thing, explainsLauren Slayton, MS, RD. Not to mention the fact thatthe eating regimenis so full of flavorits always going to find new fans. It pulls a lot of people in because there arent many parts of the diet that people are going to object to, Slayton says.
But the biggest proofthat whats old is new again just might be supermarket shelves. Beyond the piles of tomatoes and peppers in the produce aisle are an influx of products elevating some of the diets core foods (think olives, fennel, and theaforementionedyogurt).
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The number-oneitem that must (must!) be in every Mediterranean-inspired pantry? Olive oil, obviously. It has tremendous cardiovascular benefits and also helps with digestion, Slayton says. It does have a low smoke point, so you dont want to cook it at super-high heats, but its perfect for, say, drizzling on saladsand the more flavorful it is, the less you have to use. Inside each Gaea bottle is the juice from about 2,300 olives, all of which have been harvested by handwhich makes this fresh-pressed, extra virgin variety extra tasty.
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Olive trees have been beloved for centuries for their medicinal benefits, and these teas tap into that time-honored tradition. The leaves have the compoundoleuropeinitsalso in the olives themselveswhich wards off infection, says Steep Echo founder Kimberly Branum. They have double the antioxidants as green tea, and also a good dose of vitamin C. Plus, the tea incorporates spices like rosemary (which has been linked to circulatory and nervoussystem benefits), making it a true Mediterranean powerhouse.
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Artichokes, a Mediterranean diet staple, are awesome sources of the antioxidants silymarin and cynarin, which are said tofight free radicals, aid in detoxification, and improve cardiovascular health. (If you havent caught on yet, the Med dietalways comes back to the heart.) The idea of gulping this new drink down may not sound all that appealing, but its surprisingly light and sweetand way easier than wrangling the real thing.
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Most people get their fix of Greek yogurt in the morning, maybe with a little healthy granola and a few berries sprinkled on top. But Chobani found a savory way (with just one gram of sugar per serving) for people to get their daily probiotics in, with a line of spicy Mez Dips released earlier this year. The flavors all contain live bacteria strains, the details of which are listed right on the label next to the other all-natural ingredientsyummy and transparent.
This new-to-the-marketline of water-soluble powder formulas (from Israeli supplement makerFrutarom Health) was specifically created to tap into the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, incorporating ingredients like olives, antioxidant-rich artichokes, and lemon balm (which is said to be calming and helps with digestion).
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Yep, you can even get your Mediterranean fix between meals with this gum made with fennel and fennel oil. Sure, the nutritional value isnt going to be as high as chowing down on fennel directly, but its still got vitamin Cmaking it a way-healthier breath freshener than a stick of Extra.
Beyond the Mediterranean diet, nutritionists wish everyone ate more of these 10 foods. And have you studied up onthe new fruit pyramid? Its key for cutting back on sugar.
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Why Mediterranean-based eating is trendyagain - Well+Good
Regular eye exams, diet and other lifestyle changes can help protect and preserve eye health – INFORUM
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The most common vision problem in older adults is "presbyopia" which affects the eye's ability to focus on near objects, said Dr. Mark Sczepanski, an ophthalmologist at the North Dakota Eye Clinic in Grand Forks. This is because "the lens gets larger and less pliable."
Next comes the loss of "intermediate vision," such as the ability to see computer images clearly, he said.
The second most common problem is "dry eye," otherwise known as "tear film insufficiency, which affects people especially in this area and especially during the winter," Sczepanski said.
"We hear over and over from our older patients that at first when they're reading, everything's OK. But the longer they read, words get blurry and they have to stop."
Computers worsen the problem.
"If we're just sitting and chatting, we blink about 16 times a minute," he said, "but at a computer, we're staring at the screen and blink about four times a minute."
Another common complaint is seeing "floaters and flashes" in one's vision, caused by a vitreous membrane detaching from the retina in the back of the eye.
"It's more of a nuisance than anything," Sczepanski said. People with diabetes who experience this should maximize their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol control.
Those with diabetes are at risk for serious eye diseases, including retinopathy, which can lead to poor vision and even blindness.
"The longer the time you've had diabetes and the older you are, the higher the chance that you're going to have diabetic retinopathy," he said.
'Big three'
Other vision troubles that require medical intervention by an ophthalmologist are cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration conditions Sczepanski calls "the big three."
Cataracts cloud the lens in the eye, causing blurry or dim vision, he said.
"Cataracts are like gray hair and wrinkles; they're inevitable. Chances are you will get them the longer you live."
Treatment involves replacing the lens with an artificial lens.
Unlike cataracts, glaucoma is far less common, he said. "About 2 percent of people over 55 years old will develop true glaucoma."
With glaucoma, pressure on the optic nerve in the eye causes loss of peripheral vision or even blindness.
"It happens so slowly that you don't realize it," he said. "Most people are treated with eye drops." Age-related macular degeneration is often detected in an eye exam, before symptoms are noticeable, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
"Prevention is key," Sczepanski said of this disease.
"Wear sunglasses, don't smoke, control your blood pressure and take a vitamin supplement (as recommended by your doctor) that slows progression by 25 percent."
Sunglasses protect the eyes from damaging effects of UVA and UVB rays, he said. "Wear them 100 percent of the time."
Regular exams
The American College of Ophthalmology recommends getting an eye exam at age 40, Sczepanski said. "If the exam shows your vision is good, then, after that, get an exam every two to four years.
"Starting in your mid-fifties, you should get an exam every one to three years. When you hit 65, get an exam every year or two."
Such increased surveillance is needed because the older you get, the higher your risk is for problems to develop, he said.
Diet plays a role in eye health, too. Green leafy vegetables and foods that contain vitamins C and E are good choices, he recommends.
The old adage that carrots are good for eyesight "is true to some degree, especially for macular degeneration," Sczepanski said.
"We know that (Americans) don't get enough omega 3 fatty acids. There's not enough fish in our diets.
"A daily multivitamin, like Centrum Silver, is probably all most people need," he said.
Symptoms that should send you to an eye doctor include blurred vision, seeing halos around lights, and intermittent eye pain.
African-Americans are at four times greater risk for developing glaucoma than the general population, he said. Hispanics have a one to two percent higher risk.
Read More..Diet of "good luck" coins becomes a curse for Omsin the sea turtle – TRT World
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Thai veterinarians remove close to 1,000 coins from 25-year-old marine reptile in emergency surgery. Tourists and locals throw coins for good fortune and longevity in Omsin's pond at the conservation centre in Sriracha, Thailand.
Photo by: Reuters
After a successful seven-hour surgery, Ms Piggy Bank the English meaning of Omsin needs six months to recover completely.
Omsin had been finding it hard to swim of late. The female green sea turtle's diet of "good luck" coins was not bringing her any joy.
Omsin Piggy Bank in Thai lives in a conservation centre inSriracha, east of Bangkok, Thailand. Locals and tourists would come and throw coins, hoping to be blessed with good fortune and longevity. Unaware of the hopes and dreams tossed in with the metal, Omsin had been quietly swallowing the coins tossed into her pond.
Veterinariansat the Faculty of Veterinary Science,ChulalongkornUniversity in Bangkok removeda nearly one thousand coins from her stomach on Monday. Their weight was causing the turtle's shell to crack, making it very difficult for her to swim.
The coins and other objects removed from the turtle weighed 5 kilogrammes (11 pounds). The turtle herselfweighed 59 kg (130 lb).
After theseven-hour-long operation, the turtle was free of the 915 coins and other objects stuck in her belly. She needs up to six months of physical therapy to recover.
The surgeons believed the seven-hour surgery might well be a first.
TRT World has more on Ms Piggy Bank's epic surgery.
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Diet of "good luck" coins becomes a curse for Omsin the sea turtle - TRT World
Sheriff’s office takes age, gender into account for new fitness test – Police News
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Email Print The new tests are scientifically proven to assess the applicants overall physical fitness
By PoliceOne Staff
SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. The Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office is implementing a new fitness test for applicants that takes age and gender into consideration.
According to KSN, the new tests are scientifically proven to assess the applicants overall physical fitness. The old fitness test required applicants to complete an obstacle course, a 1.5 mile run and pull a weighted dummy.
If your departments training staff is not at least acknowledging gender differences, they are doing a huge disservice to their officers
Our past tests for either deputy sheriff or the detention involved some obstacle courses where we had no real scientific basis as to what we were measuring, Sgt. David Hein said.
The applicants score is based on the specific persons results, age and gender. Applicants must score a 20 percent or above to pass and become eligible for the police academy.
The test is broken up into the number of push-ups completed in a minute, the number of sit-ups completed in a minute, a timed agility test and a test to measure the applicants cardiovascular endurance. The test is more inclusive of what an officer would do on the streets if they change directions and maybe continue running, Hein told the station.
A female has to work harder than a male in some capacity. Their hearts not as big, their lungs arent as big and so we are able to adjust for that in the calculations, Lt. Brad Hoch said.
Hoch said the department will use the results to design specific exercises to help applicants increase their fitness levels and strength.
I just think it will give you a good measurement on the people at the fitness level that we need to be able to train them and do the job properly, Hoch said.
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Sheriff's office takes age, gender into account for new fitness test - Police News
Check out Houston’s new fitness reality show – Chron.com
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Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff
>>Keep clicking for a look at what to expect from the new show, as well as a look at the best fitness instructors in Houston.
>>Keep clicking for a look at what
Trainer Meoka McBride, right, works with Marie Moreno.
Trainer Meoka McBride, right, works with Marie Moreno.
"Houston Fit Reality" trainer David T. Nguyen, center, works with Jennifer Heflin, and her husband, Eric Heflin.
"Houston Fit Reality" trainer David T. Nguyen, center, works with Jennifer Heflin, and her husband, Eric Heflin.
"Houston Fit Reality" trainer Renee Rivellini, right, works with Sharon Attra, left, and Tray Smith.
"Houston Fit Reality" trainer Renee Rivellini, right, works with Sharon Attra, left, and Tray Smith.
Trainer Edrina Newman, center, works with Dominic Hernandez, left, and Marie Moreno, at The One Fitness.
Trainer Edrina Newman, center, works with Dominic Hernandez, left, and Marie Moreno, at The One Fitness.
Antanique Landry, fitness trainer at Level One Fitness (Courtesy photo)
Antanique Landry, fitness trainer at Level One Fitness (Courtesy photo)
Ingrid Kessler, Zumba instructor (Courtesy photo)
Ingrid Kessler, Zumba instructor (Courtesy photo)
Abdul Foster, owner of Nine Innovations gym (Houston Chronicle)
Abdul Foster, owner of Nine Innovations gym (Houston Chronicle)
Cari Shoemate, owner of Bombshell Bootcamp (Houston Chronicle)
Cari Shoemate, owner of Bombshell Bootcamp (Houston Chronicle)
Renee Rivellini, trainer with Camp Gladiator (Courtesy photo)
Renee Rivellini, trainer with Camp Gladiator (Courtesy photo)
Eddie Jackson Jr., owns Fit Chef Gym in Cypress
Eddie Jackson Jr., owns Fit Chef Gym in Cypress
Ashley Gooch,co-owner and trainer at RYDE in River Oaks (Courtesy photo)
Ashley Gooch,co-owner and trainer at RYDE in River Oaks (Courtesy photo)
Kim Kilway, director of the Pilates/GYROTONIC Studio at The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa (Courtesy photo)
Kim Kilway, director of the Pilates/GYROTONIC Studio at The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa (Courtesy photo)
Crystal Wall, owns a fitness studio, MixFitz, in the Heights where she teaches her own version of Zumba and dance fitness
Crystal Wall, owns a fitness studio, MixFitz, in the Heights where she teaches her own version of Zumba and dance fitness
Former TV report Sonia Azad, yoga instructor at Cherry Blossom Yoga; Kahanu Yoga & Meditation Spa in Spring and West Houston Yoga (Courtesy photo)
Former TV report Sonia Azad, yoga instructor at Cherry Blossom Yoga; Kahanu Yoga & Meditation Spa in Spring and West Houston Yoga (Courtesy photo)
Tammy Robicheaux Harris, Soul Grooves Connection instructor and founder (Houston Chronicle)
Tammy Robicheaux Harris, Soul Grooves Connection instructor and founder (Houston Chronicle)
Denitra Bruer-Robinson, U-JAM instructor (Houston Chronicle)
Denitra Bruer-Robinson, U-JAM instructor (Houston Chronicle)
Wayne Davis, owner of HardCore Pilates (Houston Chronicle)
Wayne Davis, owner of HardCore Pilates (Houston Chronicle)
Hannah Wilson, co-owner of Paper Street CrossFit (Courtesy photo)
Hannah Wilson, co-owner of Paper Street CrossFit (Courtesy photo)
Henry Richardson, owner of Define Body and Mind (Houston Chronicle)
Henry Richardson, owner of Define Body and Mind (Houston Chronicle)
Crystal Hadnott, Pilates instructor and owner of Synergy Total Holistic & Wellness (Courtesy photo)
Crystal Hadnott, Pilates instructor and owner of Synergy Total Holistic & Wellness (Courtesy photo)
Jason Leung, owner of USA Tai Chi Academy (Courtesy photo)
Jason Leung, owner of USA Tai Chi Academy (Courtesy photo)
Kim Syma, co-owner of Revolution Studio and indoor cycling instructor (Houston Chronicle)
Kim Syma, co-owner of Revolution Studio and indoor cycling instructor (Houston Chronicle)
Nicole Haageson of Aerial Yoga Houston (Houston Chronicle)
Nicole Haageson of Aerial Yoga Houston (Houston Chronicle)
Shadson Pittman, fitness director for the City of Houston Parks and Recreation and fitness trainer (Courtesy photo)
Shadson Pittman, fitness director for the City of Houston Parks and Recreation and fitness trainer (Courtesy photo)
Mia Trevillion, instructor and founder of Groove Bounce Fun using Kangoo Jump boots. (Courtesy photo)
Mia Trevillion, instructor and founder of Groove Bounce Fun using Kangoo Jump boots. (Courtesy photo)
Brady Roberts, trainer at Studio Fitness (Courtesy photo)
Brady Roberts, trainer at Studio Fitness (Courtesy photo)
Kat Bigbee, Pilates instructor and owner of Movement Therapy (Courtesy photo)
Kat Bigbee, Pilates instructor and owner of Movement Therapy (Courtesy photo)
Mitzi Henderson, yoga instructor (Courtesy photo)
Mitzi Henderson, yoga instructor (Courtesy photo)
Chris Boykins, cycling instructor and owner of Glory Training (Houston Chronicle)
Chris Boykins, cycling instructor and owner of Glory Training (Houston Chronicle)
Pat Michell, Jazzercise instructor (Houston Chronicle)
Pat Michell, Jazzercise instructor (Houston Chronicle)
Dean Theriot at Timberline Fitness (Courtesy photo)
Dean Theriot at Timberline Fitness (Courtesy photo)
DeWayne Malone, co-owner of the Next Level Fitness (Courtesy photo)
DeWayne Malone, co-owner of the Next Level Fitness (Courtesy photo)
Diana Hare Grantchev, instructor at Pure Barre (Houston Chronicle)
Diana Hare Grantchev, instructor at Pure Barre (Houston Chronicle)
Terry Williams, owner of the League: Elite Training Facility (Courtesy photo)
Terry Williams, owner of the League: Elite Training Facility (Courtesy photo)
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Check out Houston's new fitness reality show - Chron.com
Fitness: Make most out of personal training sessions – The News-Press
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Angie Ferguson, Special to The News-Press 10:00 a.m. ET March 6, 2017
Do yourself a favor and head into your next training session with a positive attitude and be game face ready.(Photo: jacoblund, Getty Images/iStockphoto)
When you invest your time and money in personal training sessions, you expect results. To maximize those results, practice a few good habits and youre ROI (return on investment) will pay huge dividends.
No. 1: Make no excuses. Personal trainers work with a variety of clients, from all different backgrounds, and fitness abilities, but one constant that remains the same across all backgrounds is the EXCUSES. One of the biggest and most over used excuses being, I have no time! In todays fast paced, multitasking world, we are all busy, everyone is crunched and time is a challenge we all face, no matter what we do for a living. However, if you dont have time to exercise three times a week, you better make time to be sick, go to the doctor and possibly the hospital.
Instead of making the excuse, change the vocabulary and say I dont have time to be sick. When you stop making excuses and change your vocabulary, it is no longer I should exercise, it now becomes I must. Remember, excuses dont burn calories!
No. 2: Never withhold information. Are you on any medications? Did you injure your knee or have back surgery five years ago? Even if your health care provider has cleared you to exercise, your trainer needs to know these important health facts to keep you safe. Some medications can affect your heart rate; and prior injuries or surgeries can also affect your workout prescription. Even if your trainer hasn't asked, it's up to you to be forthcoming and tell all when it comes to your health.
Exercising when ill is counter-productive process
No. 3: No complaining! Everyone has challenging training sessions, thats the point. We push ourselves within safe limits so we can challenge the body and experience adaptations in our fitness. Do yourself a favor and head into your next training session with a positive attitude and be game face ready. Dont walk into your session complaining about the work ahead otherwise your session can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think it will be poor or hard, it will be. If you go in ready to work and crush it, you will.
No. 4: Finally, follow your training plan. When you hire a personal trainer, you are investing time and money to improve your health and reach your fitness goals. While this is a GREAT investment, theonly way you can reap the greatest benefits from your trainer and exercise sessionsis by listening to their advice. Do your best to stick to your training plan as prescribed to get the most out of each session, each week, and each month.
-- Angie Ferguson is an exercise physiologist from Fort Myers. She is a USA Triathlon Advanced Level 2 coach, Ironman Certified coach, Slowtwitch Certified coach, USA Cycling coach and has a Specialty in Sports Nutrition certification. For more training tips, read her blog at http://www.triathlontrainingisfun.com or contact her at http://www.gearedup.biz.
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Fitness: Make most out of personal training sessions - The News-Press
The Sleep Science Behind Fitbit’s New Alta HR Fitness Tracker – Fast Company
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By Sean Captain 03.06.17 | 9:00 am
If youre nodding off while reading this, it might not be because of my writing. You may not have had enough sleepeither the overall duration or the right mix of light, deep, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Lots of fitness trackers measure the duration of slumber and periods of restlessness, using accelerometers to register movement. Now Fitbit says it can break sleep down by stage using the optical heart rate monitor in some of its fitness bands to measure slight fluctuations. The capability, called Sleep Stages, debuts in Fitbits slim new Alta HR band (available in April, starting at $150) and through a software update for its current Blaze and Charge 2 bands.
Fitbit was a way to really address a broad consumer need, says Conor Heneghan, the companys director of research. An entrepreneur and former professor at University College Dublin, Heneghan joined Fitbit two years ago with the goal of bringing some of the capabilities of a sleep lab to a consumer device that people could wear all the time, not just when wired up for study.
The Alta HR is a subtle upgrade to the original Alta (introduced in 2016) that adds continuous heart-rate monitoringthe most-requested feature, according to Fitbit. The optical sensor lays almost flush on the underside of the band, unlike the prominent bump under the larger Charge 2, which sometimes presses a slight dent into my wrist. I got to wear the new Alta HR for just a few minutes, but it felt less likely to do that.
Fitbits updated app will show the breakdown of sleep stages measured by the new Alta HR band and two current models.
The new band comes in 10 styles ranging from basic black to 22-karat rose gold. Four colors are available in the floppy, entry-level elastomer bands. I found the leather bands, in three colors for $60 extra, a bit more comfortable. The top Alta HR model costs $250 and is mounted in a stainless-steel bracelet. (Bands are interchangeable, so you can always upgrade.)
With the Alta HR, Fitbit is upping the value of heart-rate monitoring to include sophisticated sleep tracking. Fitbit isnt the first company to claim the ability to distinguish sleep stages. Intels now-defunct Basis brand used an optical heart-rate monitor in its Basis Peak model back in 2014 to do something similar. Rival Jawbone began distinguishing sleep stages in 2015 with skin sensors in its Up3 band that measure factors including heart rate, respiration rate, and body temperature.
Colin Espie, a professor of sleep medicine and the University of Oxford (who isnt affiliated with Fitbit), hasnt been impressed with any of these past attempts. In short I havent seen a wearable that accurately measures sleep architecture (stages of sleep), he told me in an email.
Regardless of what came before, Fitbits entry into sleep-stage tracking could have a big effect on raising awareness. Fitbit is the Kleenex of fitness trackers, the dominant brand with over 20% market share among all wearable devices, according to IDC. Its bringing sleep-stage tracking not only to a new product but to existing ones, including its biggest-selling model, the Charge 2, which tops several reviewers lists of best fitness trackers.
Fitbit is also bringing another feature, called Sleep Insights, to all seven of its devices that track the duration of sleep. Insights are simple tips, based on data peoples devices collect, to help them get better sleep. An example, provided by Fitbit:
There seems to be a strong correlation between your sleep and your runs. The last 10 weeknight logs show that you had 20 mins more restful sleep on days you ran vs. days you didnt.
With Stages and Insights, Fitbit is making the case that fitness depends not just on being active, but on relaxing. Were beginning to understand that sleep is as important to health as diet and exercise, says Dr. Nathaniel Watson, a University of Washington professor and president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, who is also not affiliated with Fitbit. These consumer sleep technologies, I think, are playing a role in getting people to understand that.
Its about time. More than a third of Americans dont get enough sleep, according to U.S. government research, and the resulting tiredness trims $411 billion worth of productivity off the U.S. economy every year, according to research by the Rand Corporation. (Its not just America: Japan loses $138 billion due to sleepiness.) The list of possible ailments caused by poor sleep is long and troubling, including hypertension, diabetes, depression, obesity, and even cancer. We are stealing time not only from slumber but from longevity.
Can Fitbits new technology really judge sleep stage accurately and provide enough insight to help users get healthy? Sleep science experts from the University of Arizona, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University consulted on the development of Sleep Stages, and Heneghan has a good track record in the field. But they wont present their research until the SLEEP 2017 conference in Boston in June. Even where companies try to get the edge on their competitors by publishing studies they have undertaken, most of these studies dont even get published in the first place because they are not of good enough scientific quality, and are rejected by journals, says Espie. (He is also CMO of Big Health, a company that provides online sleep quality assessment and guidance.)
The updated Fitbit app for Android, iOS, and Windowswhich the company says will be available in the springwasnt ready for me to try. With neither published findings nor anecdotal experience, I could ask outside experts only if a fitness bands optical heart-rate monitor, with help from its accelerometer, would be enough to distinguish sleep stages accurately. In principle it would be, says Watson.
The new Alta HRs optical heart-rate sensor lays almost flat on the underside.
The conventional way to measure sleep stages would involve a trip to a sleep lab and wiring the patient up to a number of devices, most notably an electroencephalogram (EEG). Wakefulness and the different stages of sleep, as well as transitions between them all, have distinctive brainwave patterns that the EEG can measure. For instance, the transition from light to deep sleep (called N3) is marked by the appearance of high-voltage, low-frequency delta brainwaves. Newer research shows that cardiovascular changes provide similar signals. Deep sleep is also marked by minimal heart rate and blood pressure, for instance. A 2013 paper by researchers in Austria, Brazil, and the Czech Republic pulls together studies in the field to show these parallels between brain wave and cardiovascular signals.
Its plausible that sleep can be assessed using heart rate variability, says Watson. Sleep involves interplay of control by the bodys fight-or-flight (sympathetic) and resting (parasympathetic) nervous systems. And the role of each varies with sleep stage. This interplay also affects heart-rate variability. It makes sense from those perspectives, Watson says. The only obvious concern is, you have to prove it.
Fitbits Heneghan says that the company has done that. Fitbit did two years of research and development on Sleep Stages. It recorded people sleeping for hundreds of nights outfitted with both Fitbits heart-rate sensor and sleep-lab gear like EEGs and devices that measure blood oxygen levels, muscle activity, and heart rate. Fitbit used machine learning technology to distinguish patterns in heart-rate variability (HRV) from the sensor that correspond to changes in sleep stage as measured by the full suite of sleep lab devices.
This is familiar territory for Heneghan, who cofounded a company, BiancaMed, that measures respiration rate to monitor sleep. Stanford professor Allison Siebern, who consulted with Fitbit, has used optical heart rate sensors in her research.
The new app will show the distribution of sleep stages, the amount of time spent in each stage, and how the users numbers compare to others.
Sleep Stages is based on the variability of heart rate: how steady it is over time. Heneghan sketched out a rough example for someone with an average resting heart rate of 60 beats per minute. In deep sleep, youre maybe going to see plus/minus four beats-per-minute variation over a few minutes, so its really pretty regular, he says. When a person is in dreaming or REM sleep, Id expect to see much more like plus/minus 10 or 15 beats per minute.
Espie isnt fully convinced about the value of measuring heart rate and heart-rate variability. There is some evidence in the literature that this may be done scientifically, he says. But its not a well-developed procedure, its not a substitute for measuring [in a sleep lab]. (Fitbit doesnt claim that Sleep Stages matches what a lab can do.)
Angela McIntyre, who tracks wearable technologies at market research firm Gartner, is skeptical about how accurate a fitness band can be. Chest-strap monitors are good at measuring heart-rate variability, she says. They produce those pointy up-and-down lines seen on a hospital monitor. The kind of data thats being measured from your wriststhe peaks arent so sharp, says McIntyre. Theyre kind of rounded, so it takes a lot of calculating to figure out where is the right peak.
Sleep is about more than quantity. A person doesnt need just seven or eight hours of sleep, but the right mixture of sleep types. Deep Sleep (stage N3) promotes the immune system and muscle growth, for instance; and should make up 10-25 percent of sleep time. REM sleep helps memories form and should be around 20-25 of sack time.
Sleep Insights provide bite-sized tips.
With devices that support Sleep Stages, the updated Fitbit app will show a breakdown of the different sleep types: how they are distributed over the night, the total amount of each type, and how those totals compare to averages among people of the same age and gender. Assuming Fitbit gets the numbers right, how helpful will that information be? Sleep staging and the amount of different stages that you get is something thats hard for an individual to necessarily influence, says Watson.
Fitbit says that it will make the data it collects more useful by translating it into tailor-made Sleep Insights for each user. This feature was also not available for me to try, so I can only go on a few examples the company provided, such as:
You slept an average of 9hrs 30min this weekend, which is substantially higher than your weekday sleep duration of 5hrs 40min. That swing may be a sign that youre not getting enough sleep during the week.
Its no shocker that people who dont get enough sleep during the workweek might be prone to binge on the weekend. The exact numbers do bring home the magnitude of the problem. However this tipand other examples that Fitbit shared with medont show how, say, a deficit of REM sleep vs. light sleep would influence the insights.
Overall, its good to get people thinking more about sleep, says Watson. If they see it as a key part of health, people can make lifestyle changes to foster a healthy sleep environment. But he warns of the risk in overthinking it. Sleep is what happens when the mind goes clear at night, he says. If youre constantly trying to hack your sleep, you may ultimately be having the opposite effect.
Sean Captain is a technology journalist and editor.Follow him on Twitter @seancaptain.
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The Sleep Science Behind Fitbit's New Alta HR Fitness Tracker - Fast Company
Exercise, nutrition, stress management are key to coping with MS – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Exercise Programs Comments Off on Exercise, nutrition, stress management are key to coping with MS – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Milena Kaplan had just finished a spin class at Las Vegas Athletic Club in October 2012 when she knew something wasnt right.
My legs felt like they were so weak and fatigued even going downstairs was kind of hard, said Kaplan, a Las Vegas resident for the past 28 years.
I started to go to my car and I was like, Im not going to make it to my car, Im going to go down, and so I turned around and there was a gentleman coming out of the gym and I asked him, Could you help me get back in? I just did spin class and I dont know whats going on but I feel really bad. So we start to go in, and I cant walk anymore, and I went down. I didnt know what was going on.
Kaplan, who had spent most of her life being active, would soon be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Thinking that exercise would make her symptoms worse, she stopped.
But medical professionals at the Cleveland Clinic Luo Ruvo Center for Brain Health, where Kaplan is a patient, are showing her and others diagnosed with MS that exercise can actually relieve symptoms. They have created a 30-minute workout video and are helping their patients get into this good habit.
Patients will ask what can I do, and I will recommend exercise and they may or may not do it, said Dr. Le Hua, director of the Mellen Program for Multiple Sclerosis at Lou Ruvo. But if I have a great exercise program, then not only am I recommending it, Im saying I can help get you started.
BALANCED
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease that occurs when a portion of the nerves in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. The autoimmune disorder, which has no known cause, roughly affects 0.1 percent of the population, translating to around 2,500 Las Vegas Valley residents diagnosed mostly during their 20s to 40s, Hua said.
Hua and physical therapist Jen Nash, manager of rehabilitation services, created the workout video, which includes sections on upper- and lower-body weight training as well as balance and flexibility work.
MS patients have days that are good and some that arent as good, said Nash, co-creator and host of the workout program. When theyre not feeling as strong, hopefully the workout video gives them reminders of things that they can still do even though what they normally do doesnt feel so good that day.
Plans for distribution of the video are currently limited to events such as this months MS Health and Wellness Seminar series, a four-part event created to mark MS Awareness Month under the coordination of Dr. Carrie Hersh, a neurologist at Lou Ruvo. The series is designed to provide helpful tools for MS sufferers in areas such as nutrition, mental and spiritual wellness, as well as exercise.
The vast majority of the time our patients feel lost they feel like they have no control over their disease, and I feel that by participating in these health and wellness maneuvers, they can get a sense of that control back, Hersh said. Each of the programs is meant to focus on different aspects of the health and wellness umbrella.
Kaplan, 51, knows what its like to feel out of control.
We may look like were fine on the outside, but on the inside our body is fighting itself, she said. So our mind might be telling our body to do something, but our body is resisting.
FOOD AS MEDICINE
During the free seminar series, attendees will learn a holistic approach to managing their illness and their lives. Wesley Holton, executive chef at Aria on the Strip, will provide a cooking demonstration as well as recipes that work well within MS guidelines for the last seminar in the series.
I designed the recipes very carefully, Holton said. All the recipes that Im trying to show participants are easy things that you can do at home, things that you can buy in the grocery store and that are easily applicable to any kind of food that you like.
Holtons seminar focus will be the basics of a Mediterranean diet cutting out trigger food such as sugar, red meat and processed foods and emphasizing fresh and simple ingredients including fruits and vegetables cut fresh in the kitchen.
Holton, who has worked with the Cleveland Clinic in the past, is excited to share his knowledge and passion for food in a setting that brings awareness to the MS community.
I know a few people who suffer from this, so it is kind of near and dear to my heart and anything that I can do to help, Id be more than happy to, he said.
Through the combination of the workout video and the seminars, Hua and the staff of Lou Ruvo are dedicated to changing the conversation on what MS patients can and cant do, she said.
It can be a devastating disease, it doesnt have to be, Hua said. Thats really the message we are trying to highlight with our MS health and wellness program. It doesnt have to disrupt you. If you work it in to who you are, it becomes powerful.
Read more from Anna Williams at reviewjournal.com. Contact her at awilliams@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AnnaWilliamsRJ on Twitter.
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Exercise, nutrition, stress management are key to coping with MS - Las Vegas Review-Journal
Premier Retro Fitness Locations in Brooklyn are Now Participating in … – PR Web (press release)
Exercise Programs Comments Off on Premier Retro Fitness Locations in Brooklyn are Now Participating in … – PR Web (press release)
By offering a truly affordable program like the Silver&Fit program, we can attract a larger number of older adults and help them maintain a regular schedule of exercise. -Benjamin Peker, Senior General Manager, Retro Fitness
BROOKLYN, NY (PRWEB) March 06, 2017
Retro Fitness is pleased to announce that it is now participating in the Silver&Fit programs network of fitness facilities, providing Silver&Fit to our members with no-cost access to two fitness centers in Brooklyn. Retro Fitness of Church Avenue located at 2244 Church Avenue and Retro Fitness of Williamsburg located at 203 Berry Street are now proudly accepting Silver&Fit members.
The Silver&Fit program is one of the nations leading exercise and healthy aging programs for Medicare Advantage members. The program contracts with top-name national fitness chains, as well as smaller, local exercise centers, offering members a broad choice of fitness options. Silver&Fit's national network includes more than 12,000 fitness centers nationwide.
Silver&Fit is one of the fastest-growing fitness programs serving the Medicare market, said ASH Fitness Vice President Brett Hanson, MBA, MBF, DFSS, NASM-SFS. Were pleased to be able to provide our members with access to Retro Fitness in the Brooklyn area. Through the Silver&Fit program, Retro Fitness can better encourage maturing members to maintain a regular schedule of exercise to improve their overall quality of life.
Silver&Fit members have access to all of the standard fitness facility amenities, including weight training and cardiovascular equipment, classes, pools, saunas and whirlpools*, where available. Select fitness facilities also offer exercise classes especially tailored for older adults.
The Silver&Fit Connected!TM Program provides members with the ability to track activity and exercise on one of 150+ wearable fitness devices, mobile apps and exercise equipment. Members can then view their activity results on SilverandFit.com. Activity tracking enables members to earn points and rewards for exercising routinely. Using these tracking tools, members can challenge themselves or engage in competitive challenges with other members who are tracking their exercise. Social networking, text/email motivational reminders and fun health tips make challenges more exciting.
We are thrilled to become part of the Silver&Fit national fitness center network, said Benjamin Peker, Senior General Manager of the two Brooklyn Retro Fitness clubs. At Retro Fitness, were dedicated to helping people of all ages and health levels improve their fitness. By offering a truly affordable program like the Silver&Fit program, we can attract a larger number of older adults and help them maintain a regular schedule of exercise. We invite our senior community to join us and experience fitness, disease prevention, social opportunities and fun at our Retro Fitness locations.
For information about the health centers, call the Church Avenue Retro Fitness at 718-483-9501 or call the Williamsburg (Berry Avenue) club at 718-384-5367. For more information about whether your Medicare plan includes the Silver&Fit program, please contact your health plan or 1-800-MEDICARE.
About the Silver&Fit Exercise & Healthy Aging Program
The Silver&Fit program is an exercise and healthy aging program providing unique, evidence-based fitness and health education activities for Medicare beneficiaries and group retirees. Silver&Fit members have access to: no-cost or low-cost memberships at a participating, contracted fitness club or exercise center, or to the Silver&Fit Home Fitness program for those who prefer or need to work out at home; SilverandFit.com, a website providing health tools and resources specifically designed for older adults; The Silver Slate newsletter; and a toll-free customer service hotline. For more information, visit http://www.ASHCompanies.com or call 800-848-3555. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SilverandFit, YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/silverandfit, Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/silverandfit, Twitter at @SilverandFit and Instagram at @SilverandFit.
The Silver&Fit program is a product of American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH).
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Premier Retro Fitness Locations in Brooklyn are Now Participating in ... - PR Web (press release)