Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2019 i Prevention

LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER? Not around here! And I bet that even if you’re taking well-deserved time off, “lazy” is one of the last words people would use to describe you, Prevention reader! Here are a couple of the great projects we’ve been working on: Prevention Virtual Walk: I’m thrilled to announce our first-ever virtual walk. On October 5, I—and you too, I hope—will be walking a 5K, wherever we are and with whomever we please. Walking is such an important and simple way to be healthy, so let’s do it together—virtually. Learn more about the program on page 22 and at prevention.com/virtualwalk, where you can sign up and get an exclusive Prevention Virtual Walk T-shirt, find a special walking plan from Jillian Michaels, enter for a chance to win…

Make a grab bag Fill a pretty basket with outdoor essentials, then put it by the door you use most. Include items like sunscreen, bug spray, lip balm with SPF, a spare pair of sunglasses, an umbrella, a wide-brimmed hat, and even tweezers (in case you get bitten by a tick). Keep biters at bay Prime outdoor spaces to deter mosquitoes. Stow a fan by the back door or on a screened porch; the pesky buggers don’t like blowing air, so this may discourage them from getting close enough to bite. Drain buckets, kiddie pools, garbage cans, or gutters that have standing water, a mosquito magnet. Swap your sheets Sleep experts say people snooze better when they’re cool, so invest in sheets that promote that feeling. Look for breathable cotton,…

Doctors have long used medicine-infused patches to deliver treatments through the skin. Now skincare brands are taking a similar approach with patches for blemishes, wrinkles, under-eye bags, and more. “They adhere to your face and work by covering a specific area to drive in concentrated ingredients, helping them penetrate and deliver faster results,” explains dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Skincare patches help you avoid product overuse and “reduce the chances that a formula will evaporate or get wiped off before it can work,” Dr. Gohara says. Those for chapped lips or under-eye puffiness can produce instant, temporary improvements; those for wrinkles tend to require multiple applications.…

Now that we’ve settled into the year’s warmest months, you may want to switch up your grooming habits to match the heat—and everything that comes with it. Solve summer’s peskiest skin and hair problems with easy, science-backed, expert-approved fixes. THE ISSUE: SUNBURN FAST FIX: Reduce the pain and swelling from scorched skin by taking two aspirin or ibuprofen as soon as possible, suggests Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Next, use a soothing milk compress: Soak a washcloth in a bowl of ice-cold whole milk (skim and dairy-free alternatives may not work, since the whole milk’s fat speeds healing) and drape it over the burn until the cloth is room-temperature. The coolness helps minimize heat emitted from…

At least once a day a patient apologizes to me for not having shaved her legs or gotten a pedicure before climbing into the stirrups. Along with worrying that I’ll find some dread disease, patients think I’m judging their hairy legs or chipped toe polish. It reminds me: While it’s a very routine exam for me, it’s anything but routine for the patient. You can quit worrying. As a gynecologist, my only expectation is basic hygiene—a shower or bath during the previous 24 hours is appreciated. Beyond that, here are truths about three other issues that come up for women about goin’ to the gyno. TRUTH #1 You can be examined even if you’re bleeding You scheduled your annual gynecologic exam four months in advance and told your boss you…

WATERMELON AGUA FRESCA SERVES 4 Remove rind from 1 mini seedless watermelon (about 3 lbs) and cut into pieces. Blend watermelon and 2 cups water until very smooth. Stir in ¼ cup lime juice, 1 tsp agave nectar (or to taste), and ¼ tsp salt. Pour over ice and serve with lime slices and watermelon pieces. NUTRITION (per serving): 60 cal, 1 g pro, 16 g carb, 1 g fiber, 12.5 g sugars (1.5 g added sugars), 0.5 g fat (0 g sat fat), 0 mg chol, 120 mg sodium SEAWEED CORN COBETTES SERVES 8 Soak 2 Tbsp dried hijiki seaweed in hot water for 25 minutes to soften. Drain, then mix with ½ cup dried dulse seaweed and 2 Tbsp lemon juice. Once dulse is hydrated, transfer to a cutting…

1 Protect the head Knocks to the noggin can be dangerous and put players at risk of concussion. In addition to wearing the designated headgear for their sport, kids should learn the appropriate techniques for tackling in football, body checking in hockey, and heading the ball in soccer, says Ingrid Ichesco, M.D., a pediatric sports medicine specialist at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. If a child does experience a hit to the head, “be aware of any headache, dizziness, confusion, or emotional issues,” she says. “The number one thing is if they’re not acting like themselves, perhaps more irritable, they need to be evaluated by a trainer or doctor.” When in doubt, sit it out. 2 Be sensitive to pain Kids may feel pressure to get back out…

MATH RIDDLES Determine which mathematical symbols (such as x, +, etc.) you need for each riddle. 1 USE A 9 AND A 0 TO FORM A MATH PROBLEM THAT EQUALS 0 2 USE THREE 5s TO FORM A MATH PROBLEM THAT EQUALS 6 ANAGRAMS Rearrange the letters of each word to create a related word or phrase. FIND THE PATTERN What letter belongs in each empty spot? SHAPE SUDOKU Using the six shapes below, fill in the grid so that no shape is repeated across, down, or within the marked rectangles. ANSWERS: Anagrams: Silent, Married, No More Stars. Math Riddles: #1: 9 x 0 = 0. #2: 5 + (5 ÷ 5) = 6. Find the Pattern: J, M, O (months of the year). Shape Sudoku: Top row: Visit prevention.com/augustbraingames…

GH TOTAL WELLNESS INDEX Seem as if you’re always dragging? You’re not alone! Only 47% of people feel that they have enough energy to get through the day, according to the Total Wellness Index survey by the Good Housekeeping Institute Wellness Lab. We asked Elaine Chin, M.D., a partner in the survey and chief medical officer of the Executive Health Centre in Toronto, for her go-to energy boosters. • SIP GREEN TEA. The caffeine in coffee and tea gives you a mental and physical pick-me-up, but green tea is an attractive option because it also contains theanine, an amino acid that significantly reduces symptoms of that caffeine rush you may get from too much java. • MUNCH ON PROTEIN. When we’re stressed, our bodies crave carbohydrates to replenish energy supplies.…

Your body has a built-in cooling system—sweating—but particularly hot weather can overwhelm this process. Chronic health conditions, medications, and age can make it even harder to cool down, raising your risk for heat-related illnesses. “There’s a spectrum of problems that can become progressively more severe and even be life-threatening,” says David Farcy, M.D., president of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. Excessive sweating in skin folds or under tight clothing can cause heat rash, and loss of fluid and electrolytes can trigger muscle cramps. Dehydration plus a rising body temp can result in heat exhaustion, characterized by fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headache, chills, or racing heartbeat. Ignoring these clues can be dangerous and may lead to heatstroke, which can damage the brain. Bright summer weather can lead to sun poisoning, a…

There’s been a rise in colorectal cancer in adults under 50, and scientists are learning more about what might be contributing to it. One culprit could be sugary drinks: A lab study on mice at Baylor College of Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine found that consuming a modest amount of high-fructose corn syrup daily (the equivalent of drinking a 12-oz sugar-laden beverage) accelerated the growth of intestinal tumors. Researchers also observed high amounts of fructose in the mice’s blood and high levels of glucose in their colons, both of which they hypothesize provide fuel for tumors. Though the findings are preliminary and studies need to be done in humans, scientists say this information may aid in the development of new treatments. In the meantime, this is another good reason to…

The tropical treat is good for more than cooking: The fatty acids in coconut oil can “feed” your strands too, research shows. Unlike oils like mineral and sunflower, coconut oil in its pure form and preformulated products can penetrate the hair shaft, reducing the loss of proteins (the building blocks of hair) and preventing damage when used pre- or post-wash, a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science found. “For maximum benefits, apply coconut oil as an overnight treatment from roots to ends, allowing it to soak into strands, then rinse out in the morning,” says Meri Kate O’Connor, hairstylist and colorist at Eva Scrivo Salon in New York City. If using raw coconut oil, she says, “rub it in your hands first to warm it up, making it…

You know how uncomfortable you start to feel when a coworker hovers over you as she looks at something on your computer screen? Or how you start to back up and scan the room for an exit strategy when a friend of a friend gets too close as he talks to you at a party? All of us cringe when someone invades our personal space. Heck, it can even feel icky when we watch it happen to someone else. (Case in point: touchy-feely politicians on both sides of the aisle.) But there’s a good reason things get awkward fast when someone busts through that buffer, says Michael Graziano, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Princeton University and the author of The Spaces Between Us. “Our unconscious understanding of…

How do they work? When you use a canine DNA test, you’ll swab your dog’s cheek for saliva and send it to a lab, which will compare the DNA in the spit to a database of breeds to determine matches. Some will also test for genetic predisposition to medical conditions using the same sample. Results take from two to six weeks to come back, depending on the company. Company representatives say that as long as the sample is taken properly, the breed results for the three major dog DNA tests—Wisdom Panel Dog DNA, Embark Dog DNA Test, and DNA My Dog—are 92% to 99% accurate and the genetic panels are almost 100% accurate. Hughes adds that quality controls ensure the accuracy of medical results. That said, breed determinations are only…