Winter 2016
HEALTH & HAPPINESS 4You
Digital eye strain
Kids eating 22 kg sugar a year Getting rid of sweet tooth
How to do Sun Salutation 7 ways to calm your gut
A simple guide to the new UK alcohol guidelines
What can you do for the NHS In June 2014, Commonwealth Fund, a highly respected Washington based foundation declared the NHS as the best healthcare system in the world. We all know that in recent years the NHS has been under tremendous financial pressure and the present government is struggling to find savings. The problems are enormous. There is a huge increase in demand and the NHS faces the prospect of a massive £30 billion deficit. Therefore, we cannot afford to waste NHS resources. Yes, we are responsible for a lot of waste. The figures are mind boggling. We miss 12 million GP appointments each year. It costs the NHS over £160m a year. It's enough to pay for another 7,600 nurses. Half of women and 43% of men in England are now regularly taking prescription drugs, according to a 2014 Health Survey for England. In 2013, the NHS was giving out an average of 18.7 prescriptions per person in England. The cost to the NHS was in excess of £15bn-a-year. We also throw away medicines worth £300m every year. Of course, the NHS is doing whatever it can. But part of the answer lies with us, the patients. Let's stop the waste and use the service when it is really necessary. Our quality of life depends on the the efficiency of the NHS. Every penny, that could be saved, should be saved.
Vijay Rana Editor, Health & Happiness 4 You
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CONTENTS Winter 2016, Issue 18 5 - Frequent 999 calls cost millions to the NHS 7 - New government alcohol guidelines 8 - Seven ways to calm your gut 9 - 5 year olds eating up to 22 kg of sugar a year 10 - Eating when not hungry 11 - Meditation may improve brain in 8 weeks 12 - Mindfulness in 15 minutes 13 - How to do Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) 14 - Quality relationships improve health 15 - How to get rid of sweet tooth 16 - Drink water before you drive 17 - Repeat words to improve infant talk 18 - What is digital eye strain
How to get in touch Editor: editor@ajivan.com Advertising enquiries: sales@ajivan.com Subscription enquiries:
info@ajivan.com Tel: 07850 374 595 Website: www.ajivan.com HEALTH & HAPPINESS 4 YOU is a voluntary group dedicated to spreading the message of positive health and wellbeing. Disclaimer: The information available in this magazine is for general awareness only. It is NOT a substitute for the knowledge and judgment of qualified medical experts. We make no warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this information. Should you have any medical condition, you are strongly advised to consult a qualified health care professional. Views expressed by our contributors are their own and we take no responsibility for their views.
Frequent 999 callers cost NHS millions of pounds a year According to a report published in the Guardian newspaper, ambulance “frequent fliers” who make several 999 calls a year are costing the NHS in England millions of pounds. Though most callers have genuine medical needs many have developed unhealthy dependence over the service. Some of the more extreme cases reported by ambulance services are: - A patient called 999 more than 700 times in two years. The estimated cost to the ambulance service over a year was more than £110,000. - A patient who cost NHS England £10,000 in a month. - A patient who made 238 emergency calls over two months at a cost of nearly £40,000. The London ambulance service says each patient costs on average £7.81 per 999 call. To be further reviewed on the telephone by a clinician costs £64.59, to receive an ambulance and be treated at home is £155.30, and to receive an ambulance and be taken to hospital costs £254.57. Frequent callers, who make more than five calls in a month or 12 in three months, include people with chronic, often multiple conditions, mental health issues, high levels of anxiety, lack of confidence in managing their own problems, and people who feel socially isolated and may be seeking attention. NHS clinical commissioning groups and ambulance services across England have embarked on a programme to change that behaviour. An experienced paramedic at the ambulance dispatch centre helps crews on the scene to determine whether they should provide advice on the spot, refer the caller to other services or take them to hospital. This person also phones doctors at GP practices to discuss patients’ clinical conditions and support crews in considering alternatives to A&E. North West ambulance service identified 1,456 frequent callers in 2014-15. “Some patients are unaware of what else to do, or who to ring for help, and although we cannot always provide the care they require, patients know that we will respond”, it said. “Several patients
have unmet care needs, are lonely and may have multiple complex needs that necessitate a multidisciplinary approach to support their health and social care needs appropriately. “Collaborative working and involving the patient in decision making is vital to ensure that patients are involved, that care is personalised and that each care provider is aware of all input. Unfortunately, support offered is not always accepted, and some patients refuse to engage, and will continue to ring 999.” Rob Cole, consultant paramedic with the West Midlands ambulance service, said the problem was “getting worse in terms of numbers but that is offset by the fact we are considerably better at the management of the problem”. South Western ambulance service received 13,231 calls from frequent callers between June and August 2015. It said: “It is important to acknowledge the difference between inappropriate frequent callers and appropriate frequent callers. For example, a patient with unstable angina, end-stage COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] or a terminal illness meets the definition of a frequent caller but will have regular contact with us for a genuine acute need."
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New alcohol guidelines The UK's chief medical officer has issued new alcohol guidelines. Both men and women should not consume more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which equates to five pints of beer at 5% ABV strength. One should spread these 14 units over 3 or more days and have several alcohol free days a week. Pregnant women should aim to abstain from drinking entirely. Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about the tough new guidelines on consuming alcohol.
Regular drinking Men and women who drink regularly should consume no more than 14 units per week and spread this out over three days or more. - But health chiefs have made clear that there is no "safe" drinking level - The risk of developing a range of illnesses including cancer - increases with any amount you drink on a regular basis -People should have several booze-free days a week
What does 14 units of alcohol look like? - 6 pints of beer (4% strength) - 7 glasses of wine (12%) - 14 shots of spirits (40%)
How many units of alcohol are in each drink? - Single shot of spirits (25ml): 1 unit - Standard (175ml) glass of wine: 2.1 units - Large (250ml) glass of wine: 3 units - Pint of 4%-strength beer: 2.3 units - Pint of 5%-strength beer: 2.8 units - Pint of strong cider (8%): 4.5 units
Binge drinking - People should not "save up" their 14 units of alcohol for a one-night binge. - Chief medical officers have always warned people against binge drinking and the new guidelines are no different
Tips for drinking on any single occasion - Limiting the total amount of alcohol you drink on any occasion - Drinking more slowly, drinking with food, and alternating with water - Avoiding risky places and activities, making sure you have people you know around, and ensuring you can get home safely
Drinking in pregnancy - No level of alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy, the guidelines state - Drinking can lead to long-term harm to the baby the more you drink the greater the risk - However, if the woman has drunk only small amounts of alcohol before she knew she was pregnant or during pregnancy, the risks to the baby are likely to be low
"Drinking any level of alcohol regularly carries a health risk for anyone, but if men and women limit their intake to no more than 14 units a week it keeps the risk of illness like cancer and liver disease low." Dame Sally Davies Chief Medical Officer for England
Seven ways to calm your gut
Maybe you’ve just eaten, or finished a meal an hour or so ago — and now your stomach just doesn’t “feel right.” You feel bloated and uncomfortable. Or maybe it’s more of a burning sensation. Maybe you feel queasy, or even throw up. You might say you have an “upset stomach” or indigestion. If there is no known medical cause for your symptoms, your doctor would call it “dyspepsia” or “bad digestion.” Indigestion is real. The medical term for persistent upper abdominal pain or discomfort without an identifiable medical cause is functional dyspepsia. The symptoms can come and go at any time, but often eating is the trigger. Sometimes the discomfort begins during the meal; other times, about half an hour later. If you suffer from functional dyspepsia, you’re not alone. Roughly 25% of the population is affected, and it hits men and women equally. It is responsible for a significant percentage of visits to primary care doctors, in part because many people worry they might have an ulcer. While it’s frustrating that the cause of functional dyspepsia is unknown, it’s even more frustrating that there is no surefire cure.
The good news is that there are simple things you can try to help get some relief: 1. Avoid foods that trigger your symptoms. 2. Eat small portions and don’t overeat; try eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, and be sure to chew food slowly and completely. 3. Avoid activities that result in swallowing excess air, such as smoking, eating quickly, chewing gum, and drinking carbonated beverages. 4. Reduce your stress. Try relaxation therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy, or exercise. An aerobic workout 3-5 times per week can help, but don’t exercise right after eating. 5. Get enough rest. 6. Don’t lie down within two hours of eating. 7. Keep your weight under control. For more on diagnosing and treating indigestion, buy The Sensitive Gut, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.
The cost of diabetes to the NHS is over £1.5m an hour. This equates to over £25,000 being spent on diabetes every minute. And still 850,000 people in the UK do not know they have Type 2 diabetes. 8
Public Health England launches Sugar Smart Campaign
Five year old children are eating up to 22 kg sugar a year The Change4Life campaign follows revelations that 4-to-10 year olds consume over 5,500 sugar cubes a year, or around 22kg - the average weight of a 5-yearold. A new Sugar Smart app has been launched to help parents see how much sugar there is in everyday food and drink. The free app works by scanning the barcode of products and revealing the amount of total sugar it contains in cubes and grams. In 2013, almost a third (31%) of 5-year-olds and almost half (46%) of 8-year-olds had tooth decay, the most common reason for 5-to 9-year-olds being admitted to hospital. The excessive amount of sugar consumed by the average child per year is currently 3 times the new maximum recommended daily amount. The recommended daily maximum added sugar intake is: • • •
19g, that’s 5 sugar cubes for children aged 4 to 6 24g, that’s 6 sugar cubes for children aged 7 to 10 30g, that’s 7 sugar cubes children aged 11 or older
A fifth of 4-to-5-year-olds and a third of 10-to-11-yearolds are overweight or obese. Overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults making them more prone to a range of serious health problems, such as heart disease, some cancers and Type 2 diabetes. There are now 2.5 million people suffering from Type 2 diabetes, 90% of whom are overweight or obese. Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist for Public Health England, said, "Children are having too much sugar, 3 times the maximum recommended amount. This can lead to painful tooth decay, weight gain and obesity, which can also affect children’s wellbeing as they are more likely to be bullied, have low self-esteem and miss school. "Children aged 5 shouldn’t have more than 19 grams
of sugar per day. That’s 5 cubes, but it’s very easy to have more. That’s why we want parents to be Sugar Smart”. Obesity costs the NHS £5.1 billion per year and is projected to rise to £9.7 billion by 2050, with wider costs to society estimated to reach £49.9 billion per year. The campaign reveals the sugar content of everyday food and drink; a chocolate bar contains 6 cubes of sugar, a small carton or pouch of juice drink contains over 5 cubes and there are 9 sugar cubes in a can of cola, instantly taking children up to or over their recommended maximum for the day. The Change4Life Sugar Smart campaign has been launched with television, digital and outdoor advertising, and updated web content across England. Five million Sugar Smart packs will be given away to primary age children and their families via schools, local authorities and retailers. A nationwide roadshow will take place across 25 locations from late January. Five major supermarkets have also pledged to support the campaign through educating and helping customers make healthier food choices when shopping. Change4Life will release further information throughout the campaign, including a Sugar Smart mini series featuring Jamelia and Amanda Ursell with lots of practical tips for parents on how to eat less sugar.
Average sugar consumption of children aged 4 to 10 per day is 60.7g. That’s 22,174g or 22kg of sugar per year. Based on 4g sugar cubes this is 5,543 cubes of sugar per year. The average weight of a 5 year old child in England in 2012 was 20.7kg. 9 HEALTH & HAPPINESS 4 YOU
Let hunger be Your Guide Eating when we are not hungry is bad for our health With the wide availability of convenient foods engineered for maximum tastiness-- such as potato chips, chocolates, and bacon double cheeseburgers-- in the modern food environment and with widespread advertising, the contemporary consumer is incessantly being bombarded with the temptation to eat. This means that, in contrast to people in traditional societies, people in contemporary societies often eat not on account of hunger but because tasty food is available and beckoning at all hours of the day. New research published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, found that the tendency of today’s consumers to eat when they are not hungry might be less advantageous for health than eating when they are hungry. The individuals participating in the study were 45
undergraduate students. The participants were first asked to rate their level of hunger and then to consume a meal rich in carbohydrates. To measure how the meal was impacting participants’ health, participants’ blood glucose levels were measured at regular intervals after they consumed the meal. Blood glucose levels tend to rise after a meal containing carbohydrates and it is generally healthier if blood glucose levels rise by a relatively small amount because elevated blood glucose is damaging to the body’s cells. The results of the study showed that individuals who were moderately hungry before the meal tended to have lower blood glucose levels after consuming the meal than individuals who were not particularly hungry before consuming the meal. These findings suggest that it might be healthier for individuals to eat when they are moderately hungry than when they are not hungry.
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Harvard Study:
Meditation rebuilds brain’s gray matter in 8 weeks
A study conducted by a Harvard affiliated team out of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) came across surprising conclusions regarding the tangible effects of meditation on human brain structure. An 8 week program of mindfulness meditation produced MRI scans for the first time showing clear evidence that meditation produces “massive changes” in brain gray matter. Study senior author Sara Lazar of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program stated that meditation practitioners aren’t just feeling better. They are literally undergoing changes in brain structure that create the associated sustained boosts in positive and relaxed feelings. Fellow MGH researcher Sue McGreevey notes that previous studies by Lazar’s group found structural differences in the brains of meditation practitioners compared to those with no prior experience most notably in the thickening of the cerebral cortex; the area responsible for attention and emotional integration. These prior studies, however could not narrow down the structural differences to meditation specifically until now.
This most recent study found that an average of 27 minutes of a daily practice of mindfulness exercises stimulated a significant boost in gray matter density, specifically in the hippocampus; the area of the brain in which self-awareness, compassion, and introspection are associated. Furthermore, this boost of gray matter density in the hippocampus was also directly correlated to a decreased gray matter density in the amygdala; an area of the brain known to be instrumental in regulating anxiety and stress responses. In stark contrast, the control group did not have any changes occur in either region of the brain thus ruling out merely the passage of time as a factor of influence regarding the drastic change in gray matter density fluctuations. MGH fellow out of Glessen University in Germany, Britta Hölzel, states that neuroscientists are finding far more plasticity in brain structure than anticipated and that most importantly we are now aware from a scientific point of view that we can play a very active role in altering our brain structure to improve our overall well-being and quality of life.
A new study has found life expectancy in England and Wales is expected to continue to rise from the 2012 average of 79.5 years for men and 83.3 for women, to 85.7 for men and 87.6 for women by 2030. 11
Practice mindfulness 15 minutes a day In the research conducted by Dr. James E. Stahl and his team of Harvard researchers, study volunteers participated in an 8-week mind-body relaxation program offered through the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. The program taught a range of mind-body skills. Dr. Stahl, who is now at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, teaches his own patients mindfulness and meditation skills in his internal medicine practice and encourages people to practice daily. He says that you don’t need to enrol in a formal program, or even spend a lot of time practicing — 10 to 15 minutes a day will do. Consistency is the key. Here is a guide on ways to incorporate mindfulness skills into your daily life:
Relax at the end of your day with a 15minute guided meditation. Keep guided meditations or podcasts on your phone or tablet for easy access. Guided meditations are available through apps like Headspace or Meditation Oasis and the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center.
Start your day with a basic Sun Salutation yoga sequence or Surya Namaskar. It is one of the most effective sequences of yoga posed that energizes your body as you stretch and strengthen all the major muscle groups.
Check in with your breath for 10 to 15 minutes for a midday break. Close your eyes and notice where you store stress in your body. As your breath becomes slower and smoother, imagine sending your breath to that area on your inhalation. Imagine a
knot loosening as your exhale. Repeat this cycle with each inhalation and exhalation. Do a body scan in 10 to 15 minutes. Find a comfortable seat or lie down. Close your eyes and breathe more deeply and slowly. First, focus your attention on your feet. Notice any tension, pain, or stress. Take deep, slow breaths as you focus your awareness on that area of your body. As if you are scanning your body with light, move your attention slowly upward. Notice how each section of your body feels as you continue to breathe slowly: your shins and knees, thighs and hips, lower back and abdomen, chest and upper back, neck and shoulders, and finally your head. Try a variety of approaches to find what sticks. Daily practice works best, but if you have a busy schedule, aim to practice at least three or four times a week. And don’t give up if you feel like it’s not working in the beginning. These techniques are like any other skill or workout — the more you do it, the stronger you will get.
PHYSICAL INACTIVITY: 10% of heart disease cases, 13% of type 2 diabetes cases, 18% of colon cancer cases and 17% of breast cancers are caused by physical inactivity. Source: Walking Works - Report by Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support 12
How to do Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation If you are pressed for time and looking for a single mantra to stay fit, here’s the answer. A set of 12 powerful yoga asanas (postures) that provide a good cardiovascular workout in the form of Surya Namaskar. Literally translated to sun salutation, these postures are a good way to keep the body in shape and the mind calm and healthy. Each Sun Salutation round consists of two sets. These 12 yoga poses complete one set of Surya Namaskar. To complete the second half, you need to repeat the same sequence of postures, only moving the left leg instead of the right, in steps 4 and 9. You might find several versions of doing Sun Salutation. However, it is best to stick to one particular sequence and practice it regularly for best results. Traditionally, Sun Salutation is best performed outdoors, facing east, the direction of the rising sun, a symbol of the dawn of consciousness and jnana or knowledge. This might be a perfect wake-up routine in India, where it’s usually warm outside, but may not always be feasible in London in late December. Nowadays, Sun Salutation is used mostly as a
preliminary warm-up for a yoga session. Launch your practice slowly with three to five rounds, gradually building up to 10 or 15. If this seems like a lot, remember that the traditional number of rounds is 108, which may take you months to work up to. You can pace the sequence briskly to create an effective cardiovascular exercise routine.
HAVE SOME 'ME TIME': The UK workforce works the longest hours in Europe. Prof Cary Cooper, an occupational health expert at the University of Lancaster recommends setting aside a couple of nights a week for some quality "me time" for socialising, relaxation or exercise. 13
Want to be healthy? Develop quality relationships The depth and breadth of your social connections will impact your health just as much as diet and exercise, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers found that the size and quality of a person's social ties affect specific health measures, such as abdominal obesity and hypertension, at different points in their lives. For example, adolescents who are socially isolated face the same risk for developing inflammation as those who don't exercise. Older adults are more at risk for developing hypertension from social isolation than from diabetes. Higher social strain slightly increased the odds of abdominal obesity and inflammation during early to mid-adulthood and carried an even higher risk of overall obesity among those who were slightly older. Researchers used four massive longitudinal surveys that altogether followed more than 14,000 participants at various stages in life and captured the nature of their social lives, then later, their physical well-being. The size and variety of social ties — social integration — were captured by elements such as numbers of friends, marital status, religious affiliation and involvement in community domains. The quality of social ties — social support and strain — was measured through questions such as whether friends and relatives were critical, supportive, loving, argumentative and annoying. Then, researchers looked at whether the quality and quantity of social ties were associated with four specific health markers: blood pressure, body mass index, waist
circumference and a particular protein which measures inflammation. "These markers, all together, are good markers of some of the physiological effects of stress — daily stress, not acute stress," said senior author Kathleen Mullan Harris, also a UNC professor and faculty fellow at the Carolina Population Center. "The theory is the social relationships can buffer some of the effects of stress, and/or help with coping." Surprisingly enough, having a big social network was more important than having high-quality relationships for people during both adolescence and old age — opposite ends of the life spectrum. But during mid-adulthood, from about the mid-30s to 50s, the quality of relationships mattered more. The findings underscore the value of social ties to improving a person's physical health, from the teenage years through the 90s and beyond. The researchers said educating and messaging around the importance of relationships can mitigate health risks, which aren't manifested in diseases yet.
STOP WASTING THE NHS RESOURCES: Figures show that about 12 million GP appointments are missed each year - about 4% of the total. It costs the NHS over £160m a year. To put that in context, it's enough to pay for another 7,600 nurses. A further 5.5m hospital appointments are also missed - about one in 10 - at an average cost of over £100 a go. So ring your GP to cancel the appointment in time if you don't need it. 14
How to get rid of your sweet tooth
We all like sweet things, but we should be eating less sugar. Now a study hints that it may be possible to tone down our taste for sugar A little-discussed factor that can make dieting difficult is the issue of tolerance. Our bodies get used to a certain amount of fat, a certain amount of sugar, or a certain amount of salt. The more we eat, the more we begin to like them. And that's how we develop a particular taste. Now a study shows it may be possible to reverse that trend and quieten the demands of a sweet tooth. Other studies have shown that it’s possible to retrain the taste buds to desire less salt — decrease the amount of salt you eat for a while and then the same foods you found acceptable start to taste too salty. Now, in a small study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that the same training to reduce people’s taste for sugar might be possible. They recruited 29 people who said they regularly drank at least two sugar-sweetened beverages a day and asked them to rate the sweetness of some sweetened puddings and drinks. The scientists then asked half of the people to reduce their sugar by 40% (they could do so by eating or drinking whatever they wanted) and allowed the other half to continue with their regular diets. After three months, the people in the study, which was funded by the Monell Chemical Senses Center and PepsiCo, went back to eating whatever they wanted to eat for a month. The scientists monitored any changes in their sugar intake by asking the people to rate lightly
sweetened puddings and beverages. The people who lowered the amount of sugar they ate during the study consistently reported that the puddings and drinks with little sugar tasted sweeter than did the group that didn’t reduce their sugar consumption, suggesting that their taste or tolerance for sugar had changed after eating less of it. The effect was stronger for the puddings than for the drinks, which the researchers say could be related to differences in the way foods and liquids are processed by the body. The effect did not last when the people went back to eating what they wanted. The group that had lowered the amount of sugar they ate went back to eating just as much as they had at the start of the study. Also, even during the study, the people who ate less sugar did not report any changes in how pleasurable the sweetened puddings or drinks were — pleasantness, or “reward,” is one of factors that some experts say may be involved in eating preferences. The study only involved a small number of people, and the fact that the low-sugar group went back to increasing the amount of sweet foods they ate certainly doesn’t prove that the effects of a sweet tooth can be dampened. But they hint that it may be possible, and support the need for more research into how our tolerance or “taste” for foods can be adjusted. 15 HEALTH & HAPPINESS 4 YOU
Dehydrated drivers make the same number of mistakes as drink drivers
A Loughborough University study has revealed that even mild dehydration is equivalent to being over the drink driving limit in terms of driver errors. Researchers at Loughborough University carried out a range of tests over two days on male drivers, using a laboratory-based driving simulator. During the normal hydration test there were 47 driving incidents, but when the men were dehydrated that number more than doubled to 101 – a similar number to what might be expected of someone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These included lane drifting, late braking and touching or crossing the rumble strip or lane line. The leader of the study, Professor Ron Maughan, Emeritus Professor of Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Loughborough University, said, “We all deplore drink driving, but we don't usually think about the effects of other things that affect our driving skills, and one of those is not drinking and dehydration... Our findings highlight an unrecognised danger and suggest that drivers should be encouraged to make sure they are properly hydrated. “To put our results into perspective, the levels of driver errors we found are of a similar magnitude to those found in people with a blood alcohol content of 0.08%,
the current UK legal driving limit.” With driver errors accountable for 68% of all vehicle crashes in the UK, the European Hydration Institute, who sponsored the research are urging drivers to be cautious and ensure they are adequately hydrated before setting off on journeys, especially during the warmer summer months. The level of dehydration induced in the study was mild and could easily reflect that of individuals with limited access to fluid over a busy working day. Jane Holdsworth, Director of the European Hydration Institute (EHI), said, “Anecdotal evidence suggests that many drivers avoid drinking on long journeys to minimise bathroom stops, yet we know that even mild hydration can cause symptoms such as headache, tiredness and lethargy. Driver error is by far the largest cause of road traffic accidents and the EHI wanted to test whether mild hydration had an impact on the incidence of common driver errors.” The research has been published in the medical journalPhysiology and Behaviour. 16 HEALTH & HAPPINESS 4 YOU
Parents should repeat words to improve language skills of infants New research from the University of Maryland and Harvard University suggests that young infants benefit from hearing words repeated by their parents. With this knowledge, parents may make conscious communication choices that could pay off in their babies’ toddler years and beyond. “Parents who repeat words more often to their infants have children with better language skills a year and a half later,” said co-author Rochelle Newman, professor and chair of UMD’s Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences (HESP). “A lot of recent focus has been on simply talking more to your child — but how you talk to your child matters. It isn’t just about the number of words.” Newman and co-authors HESP Professor Nan Bernstein Ratner and Harvard Associate Professor of Education Meredith L. Rowe tracked maternal-child directed speech to prelinguistic (7-month-old) infants. They specifically measured the infants’ ability to understand language at 7 months, and later the children’s vocabulary outcomes at age 2. They found that the toddlers who had stronger language outcomes differed in two ways from their peers: their parents had repeated words more often, and they were more tuned in to the language as infants, and thus better able to process what was being said. “It takes two to tango”, said Dr. Ratner. “Both the child and the parent play a role in the child’s later language outcomes, and our study is the first to show that.” The researchers believe their findings will be of immediate use to families. While it is clinically proven that parents naturally speak more slowly and in a specialized “sing-song” tone to their children, the findings from this study will perhaps encourage parents to be more conscious of repeating words to maximize language development benefits. “It is the quality of the input that matters most, not just the quantity,” said Dr. Rowe. Ravneet Sawhney is the Director/Proprietor of Little Cherubs Day Nursery
Digital eye strain
What happens to your eyes when you look at multiple screens? Nearly eight out of every 10 Americans who suffer from digital eye strain use two or more devices simultaneously, according to The Vision Council's 2016 report, Eyes Overexposed: The Digital Device Dilemma. The report, based on a VisionWatch survey of more than 10,000 adults, finds that 65 percent of Americans experience digital eye strain symptoms, such as dry, irritated eyes, blurred vision, eye fatigue, neck and back pain and headaches.
What is Digital Eye Strain? Digital eye strain is the physical discomfort felt after two or more hours in front of a digital screen and is associated with the close to mid-range distance of digital screens, including desktop and laptop computers, tablets, e-readers and smartphones. Prolonged periods of use appear to exacerbate symptoms of eye strain as 96 percent of Americans who experience digital eye strain spend two or more hours each day using devices. A combination of factors foster the onset of digital eye strain, including the proximity of the screen, the frequency and duration of use and the degree of exposure to high-energy visible (HEV) or blue light emitted by video screens.
How Can People Protect Their Eyes? Consider wearing yellow-tinged specialized computer eyewear, which takes eye strain off by focusing on the computer. The optical industry has responded to the shift in digital habits and has developed lens technology to exacerbate vision problems and protect eyes from blue light,
glare and other environmental stressors. Commonly referred to as computer glasses, this eyewear has lenses that are constructed specifically for the middistance range at which users typically view a digital screen, and they can be purchased with or without a prescription. The lenses and filters are customized to reduce blurriness and pixilation, decrease brightness, block blue light, and minimize glare while working in front of a screen—or multiple screens. Reading a non-digital book — that’s ink on paper — provides our eyes with a pretty precise point of focus. Justin Bazan, an optometrist and medical adviser to The Vision Council says, “When we look at ink on paper, our eyes know at what distance the ink and paper is and we can lock the focus on.” Pixels on a screen, on the other hand, are hard points of focus and compete for our eyeballs, he says. “Since a pixel is a hard target, we see that our focusing system is always in a state of trying to find exactly where the pixel is. That constant focusing causes strain.” But even if you can’t print out every page you read, or if your workspace is flanked by flashing screens, there are still way you can protect your eyes, according to The Vision Council. Practice the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes with your screen, give your eyes a 20 second break and look 20 feet away, which will relax the focusing muscles. And if you’re a real stickler for eye safety in the workplace, give your screen a friendly high five: that’s the distance you should keep to protect your eyes.
Enjoyed this article? Then let us know. Write to editor@ajivan.com. It will make us happy. We have been spreading the message of Health & Happiness for five years. Now it's your turn. 17
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OUR OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Saturday 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
INSTANT PASSPORT PICTURES We print while you wait Photos for UK Passport, ID Photos, Driving Licence, Blue Badge, Oyster Cards Indian Visas, Indian OCI
OSTERLEY PARK PHARMACY 165 Thornbury Road, Osterley Park, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 4 QG Tel: +44 (0) 20 8560 2683, Email: info@osterleyparkpharmacy.co.uk
AJAY AUTOS Proud of the highly-professional and friendly service for over 30 years All makes and models serviced and repaired On-site MOT test centre Computerised 4 Wheel Alignment Air Conditioning Servicing Diagnostics Clutch and timing belt
AJAY AUTOS 34 Merrick Road, Southall, Middlesex, UB2 4AU, Tel: 020 8574 3000