HealthOnTrack

Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

As spring comes along many kids, and a number of adults, are eager to get back into the pool for a warm season of water sports. Nothing puts a stop to these plans quite as effectively as swimmer’s ear; an infection of the ear canal that can be very painful.

The Source of the Problem

A human’s ear is composed of three main parts; the outer, middle and inner ear. An infection in the outer ear is known as Otitis externa (or swimmer’s ear) and directly affects the ear canal. According to the NHS, Otitis externa is one of the most common conditions to affect competitive swimmers.  Read more... (420 words, 1 image, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

Sleep is one of the most important elements of our everyday routine, however many of us do not make enough effort to ensure that we get a restful, undisturbed sleep. As a result, we underperform the following day. Since we all need to make the most of our waking hours, we should take steps to sleep better. Here are our top seven tips for a better night’s sleep.  Read more... (436 words, 1 image, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Source: hang_in_there

For decades the training of doctors has focused on medical knowledge and practical experience. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this approach it is lacking an essential component; teaching communication skills. Real life experience is telling; up to 40% of medical malpractice suits happen due to a break down in doctor-patient communication.

The Communication Gap

According to the Wall Street Journal research proves that doctors tend to miss important health cues and can misdiagnose illnesses when they don’t listen to their patients. Think about it; clinical symptoms can often only a physician so much – it is essential that a patient communicates their pain levels, the severity of their symptoms and related issues, and that they are heard when doing so.  Read more... (371 words, 1 image, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

Changing of the Seasons

As the weather gradually changes in the Northern Hemisphere, the buzzing of bees and blooming of flowers can mean only one thing – spring allergies! Furthermore, scientists expect allergies to worsen in the coming years, due to a combination of different factors – a longer growing season, an earlier spring, a warmer autumn, and increased humidity.

Whilst there’s not much you can do about external factors, steam cleaning your home is one of the most effective ways in which to rid your living quarters of potential allergens.  Read more... (292 words, 1 image, estimated 1:10 mins reading time)

Chewing Gum Myth Debunked

A study from Ohio State University has found that contrary to popular belief, chewing gum does not aid weight loss. Supposedly, chewing gum can prevent one from eating food at the same time, i.e. work as a distraction, in addition to burning calories (presumably from the constant chewing). However, the study found that once people spat out the gum, they ended up eating just as much as those who didn’t chew it, meaning gum fails to act as a suitable diversion.  Read more... (334 words, 1 image, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Source: Meena Kadri

Gluten free diets have become the new wellness fad. The idea has become so popular that the NPD Group found that just under one third of the 1,000 Americans they polled want to cut wheat out completely. The question remains though; are you actually gluten intolerant?

For most people the answer is no; as the majority can digest it without problems. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye and barley which can cause allergic or autoimmune reactions in certain people. They could also be intolerant of the protein leading to digestive complications.  Read more... (487 words, 1 image, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Ear-Opening News

In a recent study by the John Hopkins University in Baltimore, researchers found that those with mild hearing loss scored lower in cognitive evaluations than their peers. Indeed, Dr Lin, who wrote a report detailing the results, noted that “Compared to individuals with normal hearing, those individuals with a mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss, respectively, had a 2-, 3- and 5-fold increased risk of developing dementia over the course of the study”.  Read more... (249 words, 1 image, estimated 1:0 mins reading time)

The United Kingdom has strengthened its laws when it comes to foreign medical professionals who wish to practice in England. The new law states that foreign doctors have to prove they speak fluent English in light of the many complaints of poor care by foreign medical practitioners.

New Law

Before the law came into being many foreign doctors were afforded jobs with minimal emphasis being placed on their ability to effectively communicate the proper care required for patients. This subsequently lead to patients being incorrectly treated. As from April 2013, all foreign medical doctors are obligated to prove to the NHS that they have the necessary level of English before being allowed to treat patients at GP surgeries and in hospitals.  Read more... (308 words, 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

Source: Vegetarians in Paradise

A lot of research has been done about children’s nutritional needs and, while the emphasis is certainly on a balanced diet, the importance of protein should not be underestimated; especially if you are raising your child as a vegetarian, or they have lactose allergies.

So, how much protein do children need and do they need to eat meat to get it? They can, but there are other options like vegetables, peanut butter and health bars to name a few.  Read more... (345 words, 3 images, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

As adults we take it for granted that we can distinguish sounds so we give little thought to how the brain understands and organises phonetics. There are several auditory departments in our brains but the first and foremost that requires honing is the auditory perception. If there is a fault in that department the rest are affected.

How Do You Know?

The concern comes in when parents are not entire sure if their children are suffering with an auditory perception disorder. What’s even more daunting is the thought of it going undiagnosed and the kids suffering for it at school due to lack of understanding.  Read more... (379 words, 1 image, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)