Your Pet is Not Actually Making You Healthier

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a recent study suggests that Spot isn't actually making you any healthier.

Since the 1980s, we've heard that having a pet leads to better health, whether it's higher survival rates from myocardial infarction, a lower number of GP visits, reduced risk of asthma, or better physical and psychological well-being, particularly in the elderly. And there's no question that having a pet provides companionship—and the opportunity to get more human interaction (just visit any dog park for evidence of this!).

Trouble is, there are so many factors that go into determining the correlation between having a pet and being healthy, it's hard to know if one can really cause the other.

The most recent study, courtesy of RAND and run by Harvard-trained biostatician Layla Parast, found that it's less about the pets and more about what they signify: namely, that families with pets tend to be better off financially, which means they can afford bigger homes and better healthcare.

The study looked at more than 5,000 households and analyzed children's health, comparing kids in homes with cats versus children in homes without cats. (Don't worry, dog-lovers: portions of the study included dogs as well.) While researchers found that children from cat-owning homes did tend to have "better general health" and parents who were less concerned about their mood, behavior, or learning abilities, there was no direct evidence that the pets had anything to do with it.

"I think there are many other positive benefits to owning a pet besides thinking that it will improve your health," said Parast. "Obviously having a pet brings joy and companionship and a multitude of other things." 

She added that, as a pet owner herself, she'd be very pleased to see future research supporting the idea that pets can have a positive influence on their owners' health. "It would be great to have a reason to hand out cuddly puppies to everyone who needs better health," she was quick to add. "I would be completely in favor of that. But there's no scientific evidence right now that shows that."

Study Finds Moderate Drinking Can Improve Cognitive Health

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Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla have found a link between modest alcohol consumption and prolonged cognitive health. Dr. Linda McEvoy, senior study author, believes that the finding is groundbreaking. Indeed, it does appear to be the first study of its kind to take into account the effect of alcohol on an older population.

"This study is unique because we considered men and women's cognitive health at late age and found that alcohol consumption is not only associated with reduced mortality, but with greater chances of remaining cognitively healthy into older age," Dr. McEvoy stated.

The research is based off data gathered from 1,344 adults—728 of which were women and 616 of which were men. However, as Medical News Today points out, almost all participants were white (99.4 percent) and belonged to the middle or upper-middle class.

Information was collected over a period of 29 years. Participants’ cognitive health was analyzed at baseline, and again every four years.

It’s also important to know that “moderate alcohol consumption” was defined as one standard drink per day for women of all ages and men aged 65 or older. Men under the age of 65 were afforded two standard drinks per day. 

"This study shows that moderate drinking may be part of a healthy lifestyle to maintain cognitive fitness in aging,” said Erin Richard, lead author of the study. “However, it is not a recommendation for everyone to drink. Some people have health problems that are made worse by alcohol, and others cannot limit their drinking to only a glass or two per day. For these people, drinking can have negative consequences."

In other words, great news for those of us that enjoy an alcoholic beverage here and there! Here’s to better cognitive health! Cheers!

A Brief Introduction to Sleepwalking

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Following along last week’s theme of sleep disorders, this week I want to talk about sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism. Even though somnambulism is mostly associated with children, readers should know that adults sleepwalk, too.

While researchers still aren’t sure exactly what causes somnambulism, a recent study points towards genetics as a possible culprit. The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found that children who had one parent with a history of sleepwalking were three times more likely to have the disorder. Even more revealing is that children whose parents both had a history of sleepwalking were seven times more likely to have the disorder.

But whatever the cause, there are things you should know about the disorder that can make living with it that much easier. Namely, you should know that it can be incredibly dangerous and/or embarrassing, depending on the situation.

For example, young children often wander outside during this state. Older children and adults may attempt to cook in their sleep. In rare cases, some adults even get into their cars and drive.

On the more embarrassing side of things, some sleepwalkers may expose themselves or act out sexual activities. It’s also quite common for those afflicted with the disorder to mistakenly use the bathroom in the wrong place (ex: urinating into a trashcan).

But readers should also know that despite urban legend, waking up a sleepwalker will not kill them. However, those who do attempt to wake a sleepwalker should exercise caution. Upon waking, many sleepwalkers are highly confused and may become violent.

That’s why those who have the condition should take proper precautions to protect themselves. For example, setting an alarm or bell on the door can help wake the sleepwalker should he/she wander outside. Additionally, keeping locks on all windows and doors is an absolute must. Lastly, it’s always a good idea to store any and all sharp/dangerous objects in a safe place.

As always, I’m no expert in this field and I encourage you to visit the National Sleep Foundation's website for more information. I personally find the disorder quite fascinating and I’d love to hear about your experiences with it!

Stay Positive this Holiday Season: Stop Lurking!

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Holidays got you down? If you’ve found yourself spending hours scrolling through the endless feeds of Facebook and Twitter, social media could be one culprit behind your misery.

The BBC reports that a new University of Copenhagen suggests that seeing an abundance of “perfect” families, faces, and holiday festivities could trigger envy and feelings of isolation. It makes sense that when you’re feeling low and alone, seeing so much togetherness from a distance could make you feel even worse.

The study, which had more than 1,000 participants, particularly noted this effect when users are “lurking” on social media – simply taking all the information in without interacting or connecting with anyone.

The conclusion? “[R]egular use of social networking such as Facebook can negatively affect your emotional well-being and satisfaction with life.”

But these days, everyone is so plugged into social media that not partaking at all might also make people feel isolated. The researchers suggest some simple solutions: being more of an “active” user and engaging with others; and unplugging from social media when possible.

In fact, the study suggests that actively engaging with others will create a much more positive experience for users; so, if you’re not ready to take a break, consider changing your usage habits instead.

If limiting your time on social media seems like the best solution, consider taking an entire week off. Alternatively, try uninstalling social media apps from your phone and only checking Facebook once per day for a limited period. Not only could this help your mood, but it also might help you be more productive and less distracted at work or school!

It’s also important to note that many social media users tend to share only their happiest moments, best pictures, and envy-inducing events. Comparing your everyday life with someone else’s top highlights is an unrealistic comparison to make—it’s enough to make anyone envious! Remember that no one’s life is quite the same as it looks on the outside.

Have you ever experienced the “deterioration of mood” that this new study suggests? What have you found to be the best solution?

Fight Wrinkles With Exercise

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Research has shown that exercise can delay (and even reverse!) the signs of aging. A study conducted by McMaster University revealed that sedentary lifestyles contribute to balding, grey hair, saggy skin, and wrinkles.

Researchers used mice for the first portion of their experiment. The rodents were split into two groups: one group had an exercise wheel and the other did not. Results revealed that the sedentary mice quickly became frail and ill. Their fur also began to grey and fall out.

Meanwhile, the mice that exercised never got grey fur at all. Although their fur did fall out, it was in much smaller percentages than in the sedentary group. But most importantly, the active mice maintained healthy organs.

After examining the results of the study, the researchers decided to see if the same results would occur with people. Again, two groups: one group exercised for three sessions a week, the other didn’t exercise at all. Participants ranged in age from 20 to 84.

Researchers found that those who exercised had dramatically better skin. But researchers also acknowledge the fact that some of the differences could be attributed to diet, genes, environmental factors, and other lifestyle choices.

The only true way to examine the effect then, would be to take the sedentary group and have them start exercising. So that's what researchers did. After just three months, researchers found improvement in the tone, appearance, and texture of their skin.

Scientists still haven't pinpointed an exact reason as to why exercise makes for young-looking skin. Some researchers theorize it’s because of the increased blood circulation. Others believe it’s because exercise relieves stress, which can be a major contributor to skin problems. And yet others think it’s because exercise helps the body get rid of toxins. Either way, there’s substantial evidence that points to the fact that exercise gives people a more youthful, radiant glow.

Lack of Sleep May Be Responsible for Weight Gain

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Have you been getting your recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night? If not, here’s a new reason to catch up on those z’s: a study published by the University of Colorado at Boulder shows that sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain.

In all fairness, the study was conducted on preschoolers (ages 3 and 4). But that doesn’t mean the results aren’t relevant to older age groups. The study revealed that sleep-deprived preschoolers ingested about 20% more calories than normal. The preschoolers also consumed 25% more sugar and 26% more carbohydrates.

The next day, the children were granted as much sleep as they wanted. Researchers found that on this “recovery day” the preschoolers’ sugar and carbohydrate consumption returned to normal. However, they still ingested 14% more calories and 23% more fat than usual.

Assistant Professor Monique LeBourgeois, lead author of the study, hopes that her latest research will provide answers to the obesity epidemic plaguing the United States.

"We found that sleep loss increased the dietary intake of preschoolers on both the day of and the day after restricted sleep," said LeBourgeois. “We think one of the beauties of this study is that parents were given no instructions regarding the kind or amount of food or beverages to provide their children."

The latest study comes at a time when the CDC estimates that more than a third of U.S. children and adults are either overweight or obese. While similar studies have been conducted in the past, this will be the first study to examine the effect that sleep has on eating habits in preschool children.

That’s not to say there aren’t issues with the study. For example, only five boys and five girls were studied—an incredibly small number to draw conclusions from. Additionally, since parents were in charge of tracking their children’s eating habits while they were at home, there’s no real way to verify the accuracy of those recordings.

With that being said, the study still reinforces the importance of sleep. Whether it’s for weight loss purposes or not, getting enough sleep is a cornerstone to good health.

New Study Illustrates the Health Effects of Hookah

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Researchers from New York University’s College of Global Public Health and The Departments of Pediatrics and Population Health of the New York University School of Medicine have published a study on the health effects of hookah use. The study, let by Dr. Michael Weitzman, specifically focuses on youth and young adults.  

"We believe that our research adds to the understanding of the geographic and socio-demographic factors underlying hookah use," said Dr. Weitzman.

Statistics show that nearly 20% of young adults (ages 18-24 years) currently use hookah, which is nearly equivalent to statistics on cigarette use. Dr. Weitzman and his team tracked hookah smoking across the U.S. and examined the effects of long-term usage.
 
The findings were astonishing. Researchers found that hookah smoking has almost doubled among American adults within a very short time period. Researchers believe the recent increase is due to the societal belief that hookah is a healthier alternative to smoking. But Dr. Weitzman and his co-authors warn that hookah is just as addictive, poses similar risks as cigarettes, and actually results in larger quantities of smoke inhaled.

Interestingly enough, researchers also found that hookah smoking is more popular among single men with a higher education and income status. On the contrary, cigarette smoking is more common among poorer people with a lower level of education.

The team hopes that the new findings will result in stricter regulations when it comes to hookah smoking. They’re also hoping that new anti-hookah campaigns will be launched, much like anti-cigarette campaigns. But more than anything, the researchers want to protect the health of children and young adults who may not know any better when it comes to the risks they’re taking.

One thing the study doesn’t cover is the second-hand smoke effect of hookah. However, Dr. Weitzman and his team stated that this is a factor they would like to look into in the future.

More Coffee Could Mean a Longer Life

Coffee is warm, delicious, and perfectly healthy to enjoy.

Happy Monday! Good news for coffee drinkers: the most recent studies suggest that drinking coffee can actually reduce the risk of premature death. Researchers collected data from 200,000 women and 50,000 men about their diets and coffee consumption, and the statistics suggest that people who drank less than three cups of coffee per day had between a 5% and 9% lower risk of dying prematurely than those who drank no coffee.

One to three cups reduced risk by 8% and three to five cups saw a 15% decrease in risk of death. Drinking coffee was linked to reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, neurological disease, and even suicide—but only for people who also did not smoke.  When they began the study, researchers didn’t see an apparent connection between drinking coffee and dying prematurely. But when they only looked at participants who said that they did not smoke, that relationship became clearer, and the percentage of early-death risk was significantly lower.

Ming Ding, a doctoral student at Harvard who worked on the study, suggested that the “lower risk of mortality is consistent with our hypothesis that coffee consumption could be good for you because we have published papers showing that coffee consumption is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.” Of course, this study likely studied coffee that was either black or taken with milk—sorry, those delicious, seasonal Starbucks lattes still aren’t good for you!

The study does point to an interesting correlation, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other factors to consider. It’s possible that people who drink more coffee lead healthy lives in other areas—more exercise, less soda, even though coffee drinkers are more likely to drink alcohol and eat red meat. But coffee’s ingredients could be helping, too: chemicals like lignans and chlorogenic acid can help reduce inflammation and control blood sugar.

So for now, it seems like drinking coffee is a good thing for your health—cheers to that!