Losing sleep increases the risk of becoming obese, according to a Swedish study. Researchers from Uppsala University say a lack of sleep affects energy metabolism by disrupting sleep patterns and affecting the body’s response to food and exercise.
Although several studies have found a connection between sleep deprivation and weight gain, the cause has been unclear.
Dr. Christian Benedict and his colleagues have conducted a number of human studies to investigate how sleep loss may affect energy metabolism. These studies have measured and imaged behavioral, physiological, and biochemical responses to food following acute sleep deprivation.
The behavioral data reveal that metabolically healthy, sleep-deprived human subjects prefer larger portions of food, seek more calories, show signs of increased impulsivity related to food, and expend less energy.
The group’s physiological studies indicate that sleep loss shifts the hormonal balance from hormones that promote fullness (satiety), such as GLP-1, to those that promote hunger, such as ghrelin. Sleep restriction also increased levels of endocannabinoids, which are known to stimulate appetite.
In addition, their research showed that acute sleep loss alters the balance of gut bacteria, which has been widely implicated as key for maintaining a healthy metabolism. The same study also found reduced sensitivity to insulin after sleep loss.
“Since perturbed sleep is such a common feature of modern life, these studies show it is no surprise that metabolic disorders, such as obesity are also on the rise,” said Benedict.
“My studies suggest that sleep loss favors weight gain in humans,” he said. “It may also be concluded that improving sleep could be a promising lifestyle intervention to reduce the risk of future weight gain.”
Not only is a lack of sleep adding pounds, other research has discovered that too much light while you sleep can also increase your risk for obesity. A British study of 113,000 women found that the more light they were exposed to during sleeping hours, the greater their risk of being fat. Light disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, which affects sleep and wake patterns, and also affects metabolism.
But getting exposure to light in the early waking hours might help keep weight in check. A study from Northwestern University found that people who got most of their exposure to sunlight, even if it’s overcast, early in the day had a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who got their sun exposure later in the day, regardless of physical activity, caloric intake, or age.
The herb ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, a form of natural Indian folk medicine. It has been used for more than 3,000 years to boost energy and ease stress. And modern research is discovering that this ancient herb can treat a host of modern illnesses.
Ashwagandha’s Latin name, somnifera, means sleep-inducing, and a new Japanese study found that the herb truly does improve sleep.
Researchers at the University of Tsukumba used a neurological test (EEG) to record activity in the brains of mice that were given ashwagandha. They found that an extract of ashwagandha leaf, which was rich in the component triethylene glycol (TEG), significantly increased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.
The sleep induced by TEG was similar to normal sleep, and researchers believe that ashwagandha could revolutionize the natural plant-based therapies for insomnia and sleep-related disorders, producing natural sleep without side effects.
An earlier study published in Alternative Medicine Review found that volunteers reported an improvement of 66.9 percent in sleep quality. Participants also reported a 42 percent improvement in emotional health and a 45.8 percent improvement in their social life and activities.
In addition to inducing sleep, ashwagandha also provides the following health benefits:
Inhibits Alzheimer’s. Herbal doctors have been using ashwagandha for centuries as a remedy for memory loss, and scientists at the U.K.’s Newcastle University may have discovered why it is effective. They found that ashwagandha inhibits the formation of the beta-amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s victims.
The study, which was published in Phytotherapy Research examined the effects of water-based ashwagandha extracts on beta-amyloid peptides in test tubes, and found that the herb prevented them from forming clumps, a main characteristic of Alzheimer’s.
In a study conducted at India’s National Brain Research Center on mice with Alzheimer’s, their brain function returned to normal after 30 days of treatment, and the amyloid plaques in their brains decreased.
Another study published in the Chemical Pharmacy Bulletin found that ashwagandha inhibits acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. (Neurotransmitters are chemicals made by nerve cells that send signals to other cells.) Current drugs prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s disease target this mechanism.
Reduces stress. A 2012 Indian study of people with chronic stress found that taking ashwagandha supplements for two months lowered stress by 44 percent and eased depression and anxiety by 72 percent. Tests showed that blood levels of cortisol — the stress hormone — were reduced substantially.
The study, which was published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine concluded that the herb was safe and “effectively improves an individual’s resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life.”
Aids weight loss. A 2016 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of stressed volunteers found that ashwagandha reduced stress and food cravings and also helped subjects lose weight. The eight-week study was published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
Fights cancer. Studies show that ashwagandha slows the growth of many types of cancer cells. It works in multiple ways to prevent or slow cancer. In a study published in PLoS One, mice with ovarian cancer that were treated with ashwagandha either alone or with an anti-cancer pharmaceutical reduced tumor growth by 70 to 80 percent and also prevented the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
A 2011 study published in Biochemical Pharmacology found that ashwagandha was effective against four types of cancer — lung, colon, breast, and central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma — and a steroidal component of the herb called withaferin A showed a stronger effect on breast and colon cancer cell lines than the chemotherapy drug Adriamycin.
Other studies have found that ashwagandha also protects normal cells against cancer, shelters normal cells from being harmed by chemotherapy, and stops the growth of new blood vessels that help cancer grow and spread.
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Whiplash is a common injury, affecting about 2 million individuals in the United States annually. Ordinarily a consequence of an automobile accident, whiplash may also result from falling, participating in sports, or from other causes, including being shaken or hit.
Whiplash is the common term for a neck sprain or strain resulting from hyperextension (see picture below) and hyperflexion (see image below). It often doesn’t cause symptoms that are immediate: in fact, it could grow over time. Since whiplash may cause long lasting effects on the spinal column, it is essential to determine your doctor for those who have been injured, even in the event you don�t have pain immediately later.
The cervical spine (neck) is a complex structure composed of vertebrae (spinal bones), intervertebral discs (act as shock absorbers), muscles, ligaments, and nerves. The neck is is flexible and may transfer it different ways (nod, rotate) while supporting the entire weight of the head. However, that flexibility can make the neck exposed to injury. Within a whiplash event, your neck goes quickly and powerfully forward and backward. Pain can continue even following the injury itself has recovered.
Whiplash can lead to possibly high medical expenses, reduced productivity, and temporary impairment.
Contents
Symptoms of Whiplash
The primary complaint of a person who has whiplash is neck and upper back pain. Other symptoms may include:
Tenderness
Stiffness
Pain in the arm and shoulder that may radiate down into the hand(s).
Paresthesias (like numbness or tingling) and weakness that will extend into the hand(s).
Headache
You might even experience dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, fatigue, jaw pain, or blurred vision.
Causes of Whiplash
The most common reason for whiplash is an automobile accident when the man�s vehicle (typically stopped) is rear-ended by another car or truck. As a consequence of the impact, the cervical back�s lower vertebrae of the neck are forced into a position that is hyperextended, while the upper vertebrae are bend, resulting in an unusual S shaped curve. This chain of events often damages the soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles) of the neck.
Understanding Whiplash
Your doctor carefully reviews your medical history and performs a physical and neurological examination. Since xrays don�t reveal injuries to soft tissues, a CT (computerized tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be performed.
What are the Treatments for Whiplash?
Treatment depends upon degree and the severity of the whiplash, and thought is provided to general health and your age. Initial treatment may include:
Short-term rest (a day or two)
Ice, for two* or the very first day; then alternative heat and ice
Gentle range-of-motion exercises
Anti inflammatory medications (over the counter or prescription)
Muscle relaxants
*When using ice, make sure that the cold source is wrapped in a towel to protect the skin place. Don’t apply ice.
If your pain does not go away within a fair period of time, or when it is serious, your physician may recommend trigger point injections, physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, and/or use of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device.
Soft collars, although once widely used for whiplash, are not used so frequently since the muscles can be weakened by immobilizing the neck to get a long time and delay healing.
Operation is seldom warranted by whiplash. If your pain persists even once you have gotten nonsurgical treatment, surgery may be recommended by your healthcare provider, depending on how severe the harm is and what constructions have been injured. It’s important to understand that risks are consistently carried by surgery. Therefore, you need to truly have a comprehensive talk with your doctor.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Neck Pain and Auto Injury
After being involved in an automobile accident, the sheer force of the impact can often cause whiplash, a common type of neck injury resulting from the sudden, back-and-forth motion of the head against the body due to a car wreck, or other incident. Because of this, many of the complex structures found within the neck, including the spine, ligaments and muscles, can be stretched beyond their normal range, causing injury and painful symptoms.
New US research has found evidence that including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet can help to promote healthy brain aging.
Led by Marta Zamroziewicz from the University of Illinois, the research team carried out two studies which looked at omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood of adults ages 65 to 75, and a possible relationship between these fatty acids and the participants’ brain structure and cognitive performance.
As the brain is made up of interconnected parts which age at their own pace, some brain structures and their function deteriorate earlier than others.
The first study, published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience, focused on the frontoparietal network. This part of the brain plays an important role in fluid intelligence, which is the ability to solve new problems that have not been encountered before.
The team looked for a link between the size of this network, performance on tests of fluid intelligence, and the levels of several omega-3 fatty acids in the blood.
The results showed those with higher blood levels of three omega-3 fatty acids — ALA, stearidonic acid and ecosatrienoic acid — also tended to have a larger frontoparietal cortex, which predicted the subjects’ performance on tests of fluid intelligence.
The second study, published in the journal Aging & Disease, looked at the white matter structure of the fornix, which is found at the center of the brain and is important for memory. Previous research has also found that the fornix is one of the first brain regions to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease.
In the new research the team also found that the size of the fornix was associated with a balanced level of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the blood, and that a larger fornix was linked with better memory in older adults.
Although the team noted that further research is needed to test their hypothesis, Zamroziewicz added that “These findings have important implications for the Western diet, which tends to be misbalanced with high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids and low amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.”
“A lot of research tells us that people need to be eating fish and fish oil to get neuroprotective effects from these particular fats, but this new finding suggests that even the fats that we get from nuts, seeds and oils can also make a difference in the brain,” she added.
For men experiencing emotional distress like depression, anxiety or thoughts of suicide, having high cardiorespiratory fitness may cut the risk of death in half compared to those in poor condition, researchers say.
“The prevalence of mental health issues is growing in the U.S. and globally,” said lead study author Mei Sui of the University of South Carolina in Columbia. “People are facing many stressors in their daily lives linked to depression, anxiety and other mental disorders.
“Medication to treat these mental problems is not only expensive but also comes with significant side effects such as weight gain,” she told Reuters Health. “Identifying modifiable factors that are beneficial to those with emotional distress has important clinical and public health applications.”
Mental health conditions cost the U.S. about $2.5 trillion in 2010 and are projected to cost the country $6 trillion by 2030, the authors write in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
To see how cardiovascular fitness might affect healthcare costs and outcomes for people with mental health disorders, Sui and colleagues analyzed data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, which conducted preventive health exams on more than 43,000 men between 1987 and 2002.
The researchers focused on 5,240 participants who reported a history of emotional distress, including 2,229 who reported more than one emotional distress condition. To measure cardiorespiratory fitness, participants ran on a treadmill until they were exhausted.
Among men who experienced emotional distress, 46 percent reported depression, 58 percent had anxiety, 51 percent had a history of mental counseling, and 8 percent reported ever having thoughts of suicide.
By the end of the follow up period, there were 128 deaths from any cause.
The researchers found that men with the lowest cardiovascular fitness tended to have higher weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels and were more likely to smoke and to be sedentary.
In addition, men who reported more than one type of emotional distress were more common in the low-fitness group.
Compared to the lowest-fitness group, men with moderate cardiovascular fitness were 46 percent less likely to die of any cause during the study, and those in the high fitness group were 53 percent less likely to die.
“This significant strong inverse association between high levels of fitness and longevity in men with emotional distress is particularly interesting,” Sui said. “Clearly lifestyle behavior interventions to increase fitness levels could help those with emotional distress.”
Even moderate levels of fitness were associated with a 46 percent lower risk of dying, she noted. This moderate level of fitness means 30 minutes per day of activity such as swimming, jogging or biking, and is the current level recommended under American sports medicine guidelines.
The study mostly included non-Hispanic whites, and Sui would like to see more research about fitness in women and minority groups.
“This was the missing piece of the puzzle. We know now that assessing fitness and treating it should be at the center of mental health care,” said Davy Vancampfort of the University of Leuven Psychiatric Center in Belgium. He wasn’t involved in the current study but recently published an analysis that found people with severe mental illness are at heightened risk for heart disease
“This adds to our call to include assessment of physical activity and treatment to the standard mental health care package,” he told Reuters Health by email. “Mental health care settings and primary care settings should work closely together on this.”
Future research could also look at older populations, follow people for a longer period of time and account for medication such as psychotropic prescriptions in particular, said Brandon Stubbs of King’s College London in the UK.
“One in four of us will at some point experience a common mental illness in our lives,” Stubbs, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Reuters Health by email. “We can no longer view mental health and physical health separately given that they are so inextricably linked.”
The deadline to register for one of several 2017 UTEP Volleyball Summer Camps is just around the corner.
Interested players will have until 11:30 p.m. on May 31 to do so and registration can be done through the website. The camp is open to youth in grades 3-12 as well as college-age students. Prices for each camp range from $90.10 to $159.00.
The first schedule of camps will begin June 7 and the second slate will start July 11, with morning and evening options available.
The 2017 UTEP Volleyball Summer Camp will be adding a new overnight position camp as well as four different beach volleyball camps. The UTEP Student Recreation Center will host the beach camps and the position camp will take place at Memorial Gym and Miner Village. Incoming, current, and former UTEP volleyball athletes and staff will be on hand assisting and coaching during the camp.
Beach volleyball was added by the NCAA at the collegiate level in 2012 as a result of the sport’s growing popularity. At the beach volleyball camp, participants will learn all aspects of the game and help become a more well-rounded player.
UTEP volleyball assistant coach Paty Figueiredo and her staff will conduct the camp geared toward individual instruction and overall competition.
The indoor volleyball camps will look to improve participants’ volleyball skills by teaching and building fundamentals, using drills, and playing games that allow players to learn and strengthen their volleyball skills. Campers will receive both group and one-on-one attention.
A full list of the camp schedule, as well as prices, are below.
SAMMAMISH, Wa.– The incredible run that was the UTEP men’s golf team’s season came to an end at the 2017 NCAA Washington Regional in Sammamish, Washington on Wednesday.
The Miners shot 32-over 884 (297-294-293) at the Aldarra Golf Club to finish in ninth place, four spots out of the desired fifth place and the opportunity to punch their ticket to the national championships. Top-seeded Southern California, also the no. 1 team in the nation, remained under par to finish first in the regional with 3-under 849 (280-283-286).
Kent State, Florida State, Alabama and Penn State will join Southern California at the NCAA National Championships in Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. on May 26-31.
Four Miners finished in the top-50 of the field. Charles Corner, who spearheaded the Orange and Blue’s run all tournament, finished in a tie for 22nd with 5-over 218 (70-74-74). Corner collected four birdies in the final round on holes no. 9, no. 10, no. 12, and no. 17 and tied for seventh overall in par-4 scoring (4.11, +3). The junior also shot the team’s lone eagle during round two.
Senior Frederik Dreier made his last appearance as a Miner, shooting 7-over 220 (76-68-76) to finish in a tie for 27th. The two-time C-USA Golfer of the Year led his squad in par-5 scoring (4.75, -3), pars (34) and held the lowest round of any UTEP participant in his second round score of 68. One stroke behind Dreier, Aaron Terrazas finished with a share of 29th after firing 8-over 221 (73-77-71).
The sophomore carded four birdies and tied for fifth overall in par-3 scoring (3.07, +1). Terrazas also tied with Corner for a team-leading eight birdies while collecting 30 total pars.
Andreas Sorensen shot his best round of the tournament to total his 14-over 227 (79-75-73) score, breaking into the top-50 with a tie for 47th place finish. Sorensen collected his tournament-high three birdies in the third round while matching Dreier’s 34 pars to contribute to the teams’ 162 total pars.
Nicklas Pihl shot his lowest score of the three rounds on Wednesday and completed the Miners’ run with a share of 62nd after shooting 18-over 231 (78-78-75). The junior had six total birdies in the tournament.
The Miners, who made their first NCAA Regional appearance as a team since 2004, ended their season with four tournament titles, including the Conference USA Championship. The C-USA title was the first since 1985 and the second conference title ever in program history.
Kids of all ages are invited to sign up for the 2017 edition of the UTEP Miners Summer Camps. Officials say this year’s camps are offered for cheerleading, men’s basketball, football, soccer, track & field and volleyball.
The cheer camp is slated for July 5-8 at the Don Haskins Center. Men’s basketball has two sessions – June 19-21 (Miner Basketball Camp) and June 26-29 (Boys and Girls Camp), both at the Don Haskins Center.
Football will hold its annual Youth Camp on June 10 in the Sun Bowl. Soccer has two Advanced Camps and two Soccer & Splash Camps, both June 19-22 and July 17-20.
Track & Field will conduct a Speed and Agility Camp June 15-16 at Kidd Field. Volleyball has two Li’l Miners Indoor Camps (June 7-9 and July 13-15), two Miners Indoor Camps (June 7-9 and July 13-14), two Miner Position Camps (July 11 and July 12), and four Miners Beach Volleyball Camps (June 7–10 am and pm and July 12-15 am and pm).
Visit the UTEP Athletics Website for full details on all the camps or to sign up. Inquiries will also be accepted by phone (747-6065) or via e-mail (minercamps@utep.edu).
The UTEP track and field team will be sending 16 student-athletes to compete in the NCAA West Preliminaries next weekend (May 25-27) in Austin, Texas.
In order to advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., an athlete or relay team must finish in the top 12 at the preliminaries.
The Orange and Blue will have four athletes running the 800m race. Lilian Koech (2:04.68) and Linda Cheruiyot (4:23.60) will be representing the women’s side on Thursday starting at 7:10 p.m. CT. All-American Emmanuel Korir (1:43.73) and Michael Saruni (1:45.82) will on Thursday scheduled to start at 7:35 p.m.
Last year’s runner up in the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan (12.67) will compete in the 100m hurdles on Friday at 3:30 p.m.She goes in ranked second in the west region. Senior duo, Ada Benjamin (52.87) and Florence Uwakwe (53.29) will compete in the 400m on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Senior Yanique Bennett (58.57) and sophomore Dreshanae Rolle (1:00.19) will take the track in the 400m hurdles, when Bennett took silver at the C-USA Championships. Distance runner, Winny Koech (33:51.31) will compete in the 10,000m run. Last week, she claimed gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the conference meet.
Samantha Hall (55.17m) will compete in the discus throw. Hall claimed gold in this event at the conference meet last week.
On the men’s side, Jonah Koech (3:41.22) and Cosmas Boit (3:45.97) will take part in the 1,500m run on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Asa Guevara (46.92) will race in the 400m at 6:45 p.m.
Karol Koncos (64.29m) will be heaving the hammer throw on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Koncos heads into his first NCAA West Prelims ranked 18th.
Lucia Mokrasova will not be competing in the NCAA Prelims, but she has earned a spot in the NCAA Championships in the heptathlon. For the heptathlon, there is no qualifying round. The top 24 marks automatically advance to the NCAA Championships. Mokrasova (5,671 points) is the 12th best mark in the nation.
UTEP also will be sending three relay teams to the preliminaries. The women’s 4x100m (44.81) relay, the women’s 4x400m relay (3:38.56) and the men’s 4x400m relay team. The men’s team (3:06.35) heads to Austin ranked in the top 10 in the west region.
For live updates and breaking news be sure to follow @UTEPTrack on Twitter and uteptrack on Instagram.
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