News/Events
Think Healthy | August - September 2009
Health Briefs
Men with Muscle May Live Longer
Got muscles? Almost 9,000 healthy men ages 20 to 82 had their strength tested. Upper- and lower-body strength was assessed by supine bench press and seated leg press. The men were then followed for 19 years on average. With greater baseline muscle strength came better survival odds for younger and older men alike. Those in the top third for muscular strength were 20 percent more likely to live longer than those in the bottom third.
Vitamin B12 Preserves Brain Health
Vitamin B12 may play a role in keeping the brain healthy. Researchers measured the amount of B12 in the blood of 107 healthy adults older than age 60. The group also underwent a brain scan to measure brain volume. The scan was then repeated every year for five years. The researchers assessed brain volume because brain atrophy has been linked with Alzheimer’s disease. Compared with those with higher levels of B12, those with levels in the lowest third had a sixfold higher risk for the greatest brain volume loss. Good sources of vitamin B12 include poultry, eggs, salmon, and fortified breakfast cereals.
Hand Washing Hygiene Know-How
Hand washing is a great way to lower your risk of getting sick. But with all the different types of hand-hygiene products, which should you use? To find out, researchers analyzed data from 30 studies from around the world on the effects of various types of hand hygiene. Overall, hand hygiene lowered the risk for stomach illness by 31 percent and for respiratory illness by 21 percent. But antibacterial soap was no more effective than regular soap in keeping illness at bay. Even alcohol-based hand sanitizers didn’t fare as well as regular soap. To help keep your hands germ-free, wash them with warm water and soap for 20 seconds.
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