May 2005 Newsletter from Valley: Healthy Bytes...

Parent Talk Can Affect Teen Smoking Research shows how parents talk to their adolescent children can affect whether the teens quit smoking. Co-author Glen Cameron of the University of Missouri, Columbia, says the study of 620 adolescents, ages 11 to 15, and their parents showed when a parent talked about smoking in an authoritative style, it had little effect on the child's views about the unhealthy habit. However, he says, there was a decreased likelihood a teen would smoke or intended to smoke in the near future when the discussion was coupled with a parenting style that encouraged children to develop ideas and opinions. Copyright 2005 UPI. All rights reserved. Best Mattress for Back Pain If you have low back pain, a very firm mattress might not be best for you. A study published in Lancet shows that medium-firm mattresses soothed backs more than those that are firm or extra-firm. Study participants who used medium-firm mattresses for three months reported less pain while in bed, when rising, and during the day. Doctors conclude that the medium-firm mattress puts less pressure on the shoulders and hips, making it easier to lie in the fetal position, which can benefit the back. Lying with knees bent, either on your side or your back is considered a correct sleeping posture. Copyright 2005 Article City.com All rights reserved Active in Mid-Life, Fit for Life Being physically active in middle age helps people maintain higher physical function later in life, scientists say. "Participation in a physically active lifestyle appears to be critical to preserving high physical function in relatively fit, healthy, middle-age men and women," says Dr. Melvyn Hillsdon of University College London. Previous studies have shown an active lifestyle can reduce the risk of low physical function among the elderly. The scientists set out to show the value of physical activity earlier in life by studying 6,398 adults ages 39 to 63, Hillsdon reports in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Copyright 2005 UPI. All rights reserved. Light & Easy: People Trust Similar Faces A study by Aberdeen University in Scotland has suggested people are more likely to trust others who look like themselves, the BBC reported. Psychologists showed photographs to 144 students and asked them to select the faces they found to be the most trustworthy. The researchers found most subjects selected faces that looked the most like their own to be the most trustworthy. "This supports the idea that people -- perhaps unwittingly -- detect facial resemblance," said researcher Lisa DeBruine. "It means to them, on some level, that this person is `family' and they are more trusting of them." However, when it came to sexual attraction, most subjects chose faces with different facial characteristics than their own. Copyright 2005 UPI. All rights reserved.

Mom Was Right – Stand Up Straight From migraine headache and neck pain to lower back, knee, and foot problems, chiropractors say many complaints are posture-related. Poor posture when sitting, standing, or walking causes tiny structural changes and shifts throughout the body that can have painful consequences. The person begins to push the shoulders, neck, and head forward, tilt the pelvis, and shift the spine. This puts added pressure on muscles and joints. When working at your computer one should take five-second breaks, stand up, stretch, and take a few deep breaths. Yoga and Pilates-based exercises that emphasize stretching and strengthening muscles can improve posture problems. And for your overall well-being, see your chiropractor on a regular basis.   Copyright 2005 eContent Matters All rights reserved Exercise Builds Kids' Bones Research at the University School of Medicine in Indianapolis indicates exercise not only builds muscle, it builds bones. Charles Turner, professor of orthopedic surgery, said running or jumping, as opposed to swimming or biking, are especially good at building bones in children. What he called "serious weight-lifting," however, is not recommended, because, he said, it can overload joints and stunt longitudinal bone growth. Turner reported his findings at American Physiological Society's 2004 Intersociety Meeting in Austin, Texas. Copyright 2005 Article City.com All rights reserved Kitchen Safety  §         Keep pot handles turned to the back of the stove and use the back burners. §         Keep flammable items away from the stove. §         Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. §         Store harmful products (such as cleaning supplies) in their original containers and make sure all harmful products have safety packaging. §         Store household cleaning products, knives, matches, and plastic bags away from children. §         Install safety latches for drawers and cabinets. §         Use child resistant trash cans or store trash can in a cabinet with a safety latch. §          Do not leave child unattended when using a highchair.