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28Apr

IMD issues heat wave alert in several states, here are few tips to stay safe and prevent heat stroke

Posted by: admin Categories: PREVENTION & WELLBEING
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/ IMD issues heat wave alert in several states, here are few tips to stay safe and prevent heat stroke

Published on Apr 28, 2024 10:43 AM IST

  • Here are six essential first-aid tips to help someone experiencing heat stroke:

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India is currently facing a severe heat wave, with soaring temperatures posing significant health risks to the population. As the mercury rises, it becomes crucial to understand the implications of extreme heat and take proactive measures to prevent heat-related illnesses like heat stroke. Here are essential tips to stay safe and prevent heat stroke during this challenging period of intense heat in India.(HT Photo/Praveen Kumar)
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Published on Apr 28, 2024 10:43 AM IST

India is currently facing a severe heat wave, with soaring temperatures posing significant health risks to the population. As the mercury rises, it becomes crucial to understand the implications of extreme heat and take proactive measures to prevent heat-related illnesses like heat stroke. Here are essential tips to stay safe and prevent heat stroke during this challenging period of intense heat in India.(HT Photo/Praveen Kumar)

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Monitor Breathing and Circulation: Keep a close eye on the person's breathing and circulation. If they become unconscious or stop breathing, begin CPR immediately and continue until emergency medical assistance arrives.(Representative Photo)
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Published on Apr 28, 2024 10:43 AM IST

Monitor Breathing and Circulation: Keep a close eye on the person's breathing and circulation. If they become unconscious or stop breathing, begin CPR immediately and continue until emergency medical assistance arrives.(Representative Photo)

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Provide Fluids (if Conscious): If the person is conscious and able to swallow, provide small sips of cool water or an electrolyte-rich sports drink. Avoid giving them anything too cold, as it may cause shivering, which can increase the body's heat production.(Shutterstock)
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Published on Apr 28, 2024 10:43 AM IST

Provide Fluids (if Conscious): If the person is conscious and able to swallow, provide small sips of cool water or an electrolyte-rich sports drink. Avoid giving them anything too cold, as it may cause shivering, which can increase the body's heat production.(Shutterstock)

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Cool the Person Down: Use cool, wet cloths or ice packs to lower the person's body temperature. Focus on the head, neck, armpits, and groin areas, as these are the body's major heat-exchange regions.(Freepik)
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Published on Apr 28, 2024 10:43 AM IST

Cool the Person Down: Use cool, wet cloths or ice packs to lower the person's body temperature. Focus on the head, neck, armpits, and groin areas, as these are the body's major heat-exchange regions.(Freepik)

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Move the Person to a Cool, Shaded Area: Quickly move the person to a cool, shaded area, preferably an air-conditioned environment. This will help lower their body temperature.(AFP)
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Published on Apr 28, 2024 10:43 AM IST

Move the Person to a Cool, Shaded Area: Quickly move the person to a cool, shaded area, preferably an air-conditioned environment. This will help lower their body temperature.(AFP)

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Remove Excess Clothing: Carefully remove any unnecessary clothing or accessories the person is wearing to allow for better heat dissipation.(PTI)
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Published on Apr 28, 2024 10:43 AM IST

Remove Excess Clothing: Carefully remove any unnecessary clothing or accessories the person is wearing to allow for better heat dissipation.(PTI)

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Call for Emergency Medical Assistance: Immediately call emergency services or 911 to request immediate medical attention. Heat stroke requires prompt medical intervention.(HT Photo)
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Published on Apr 28, 2024 10:43 AM IST

Call for Emergency Medical Assistance: Immediately call emergency services or 911 to request immediate medical attention. Heat stroke requires prompt medical intervention.(HT Photo)

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27Mar

Global Medical Dynamometers Market Set to Reach $780.1 Million by 2028, Backed by BCC Research Insights

Posted by: admin Categories: PHYSICAL REHABILITATION
Comments Off on Global Medical Dynamometers Market Set to Reach $780.1 Million by 2028, Backed by BCC Research Insights

The global medical dynamometer market is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by the rising prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the growing emphasis on physical rehabilitation. Advanced technologies such as wireless connectivity and real-time data monitoring are enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of muscle strength assessment, fueling market growth. Additionally, increasing awareness about proactive healthcare management is driving demand for dynamometers in fitness centers, gyms, and home-based rehabilitation programs.

BOSTON, March 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "According to the latest BCC Research study, the demand for Global Medical Dynamometer Market is estimated to increase from $547.5 million in 2023 to reach $780.1 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from 2023 through 2028."

This comprehensive report delves into the multifaceted landscape of the medical dynamometer market, spanning healthcare, rehabilitation, and research sectors. It provides an exhaustive analysis covering various types of dynamometers including hand, chest, squeeze, and push-pull variants. Targeting key stakeholders such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine facilities, and research labs, the report offers profound insights into market dynamics, current trends, and future potentials. By addressing drivers, challenges, and opportunities, it equips market players with strategic intelligence to navigate the evolving landscape. Moreover, the report elucidates industry status, recent developments, and emerging trends, enabling informed decision-making and fostering growth. Geographical nuances are meticulously examined, making it an invaluable resource for companies seeking to expand their market footprint. Whether for market incumbents, potential entrants, government agencies, or other interested parties, this report serves as a definitive guide to understanding and capitalizing on the dynamic medical dynamometer market.

The medical dynamometer has emerged as a pivotal tool in addressing clinical needs, particularly in precise ankle strength measurements. With its portability and high reliability, it proves to be indispensable for routine muscle strength monitoring across diverse populations, exhibiting robust agreement with the gold standard handheld dynamometer (HHD). Its versatility extends from children to the elderly and individuals with weak ankle strength, promising accurate measurements in clinical settings pending further validation. Adding to this landscape, Ashva WearTech's Fitmust introduces a handheld muscle strength dynamometer, poised to revolutionize muscle strength assessment. Launched in April, this microprocessor-based device offers precise and medically accurate measurements, aiding in injury assessment and rehabilitation. Fitmust addresses the critical aspect of muscle strength, recognized by physiotherapists and orthopedic surgeons as paramount in treatment protocols. By providing a comprehensive testing solution for various muscle groups, it empowers healthcare professionals with valuable insights for optimizing health and fitness outcomes.

Explore the full report on the burgeoning Global Medical Dynamometer Market for comprehensive insights and forecasts – click here to Learn More. 

Key Drivers of the Global Medical Dynamometer Market

Increase in Sports Injury: With the surge in the popularity of sports and physical activities, there has been a corresponding increase in sports-related injuries. Medical dynamometers are indispensable in this scenario, as they play a crucial role in assessing muscle strength and monitoring rehabilitation post-injury. These devices are in high demand due to their effectiveness in tracking progress during the recovery process, ensuring athletes and individuals can safely return to their activities.

Rise in Prevalence of Bone Injuries and Osteoporosis: The prevalence of bone injuries, fractures, and conditions such as osteoporosis is on the rise, particularly among the aging population. In addressing these challenges, medical dynamometers prove invaluable. They aid healthcare professionals in evaluating bone health and assessing muscle strength around affected areas. Early detection and continuous monitoring facilitated by these devices significantly contribute to better patient outcomes and improved quality of life.

Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Trends: There has been a significant emphasis on rehabilitation and physiotherapy in recent years. In this evolving landscape, medical dynamometers serve as essential tools for therapists to design personalized exercise programs tailored to individual patient needs. By facilitating targeted muscle strength assessment and monitoring, these devices help patients regain strength, improve mobility, and enhance overall functional capacity, thereby accelerating the rehabilitation process.

Growing Geriatric Population and Increase in Orthopedic Surgeries: As the global population ages, there is a concurrent increase in age-related conditions and orthopedic surgeries. Joint replacements, fracture repairs, and other orthopedic procedures are becoming more prevalent. Medical dynamometers play a crucial role in this scenario, assisting healthcare providers in preoperative assessments, postoperative rehabilitation, and long-term monitoring of patients. By accurately assessing muscle strength and functional capacity, these devices contribute to optimized outcomes and improved post-surgery recovery trajectories.

Request a Sample Copy of the Global Medical Dynamometer Market Report.

Report Synopsis 

Report Metrics

Details

Base year considered

2022

Forecast Period considered

2023-2028

Base year market size

$516.0 million

Market Size Forecast

$780.1 million

Growth Rate

CAGR of 7.3% for the forecast period of 2023-2028

Segment Covered

Technology, Product Type, Application, End-User, and Geographic Region

Regions covered

North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW)

Countries covered

U.S, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Russia, China, India, Japan, and Australia

Key Market Drivers

•  Increase in Sports Injury

•  Rise in Prevalence of Bone Injuries and Osteoporosis

•  Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Trends

•  Growing Geriatric Population and Increase in Orthopedic Surgeries

Global Medical Dynamometer Market Segmentation Analysis

Technology Segmentation

Within the medical dynamometer market, technology segmentation categorizes devices into two main types: Electronic Dynamometers and Mechanical Dynamometers. Electronic Dynamometers employ electronic sensors to accurately measure muscle strength, offering real-time data for assessment. On the other hand, Mechanical Dynamometers rely on mechanical principles such as springs or levers for muscle strength assessment, providing a portable and cost-effective alternative.

Product Type Segmentation

The market for medical dynamometers further segments products into various types to cater to different assessment needs. Handheld Dynamometers are compact and easy-to-use devices suitable for assessing muscle strength in different body parts. Pinch-gauges are specialized tools designed to measure pinch strength, particularly useful in hand rehabilitation. Push-Pull Dynamometers evaluate upper and lower limb strength during pushing and pulling movements, while Squeeze Dynamometers measure grip strength, crucial for assessing hand function.

Application Segmentation

Medical dynamometers find application across various medical fields, including Orthopedics, Medical Trauma, Cardiology, and Neurology. In Orthopedic settings, these devices assist in preoperative assessments, postoperative rehabilitation, and monitoring orthopedic conditions. Medical Trauma applications involve evaluating muscle strength post-traumatic injuries. Cardiology utilizes dynamometers to assess cardiac muscle strength and endurance, while Neurology employs them in diagnosing and monitoring neurological conditions.

End-User Segmentation

End-user segmentation categorizes users of medical dynamometers into different groups. Hospitals commonly use dynamometers for patient assessment, rehabilitation, and monitoring. Physiotherapy Clinics utilize these devices for designing personalized exercise programs, while Rehabilitation Centers rely on them for patient recovery and functional improvement.

This report on the Global Medical Dynamometer Market provides comprehensive insights and analysis, addressing the following key questions:

1.  What is the projected market size and growth rate of the market?

The Global medical dynamometer market is projected to grow from $516.0 million in 2022 to $780.1 million in 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3 % during the forecast period.

2.  What are the key factors driving the growth of the market?

  •  Increase in sports injuries.
  •  Rise in prevalence of bones injuries and Osteoporosis
  •  Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy trends
  •  Growing Geriatric Population and increase in orthopaedic surgeries.

3.  What segments are covered in the market?

This report segments the market based on technology, type, application, end-user, and region. Based on the technology, the market is segmented into electronic dynamometer and mechanical dynamometer. Based on product type, the market is segmented into handheld dynamometer, pinch gauges, push-pull dynamometer, squeeze dynamometer and others. Based on application, the market is segmented into orthopedics, medical trauma, cardiology, neurology and others. Based on region, the market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World.

4.  By Type, which segment will dominate the market by the end of 2028?

Handheld Dynamometer will dominate the market by the end of 2028.

5.  Which region has the highest market share in the market?

North America holds the highest share in the market.

Some of the Key Market Players Are:

  •  3B SCIENTIFIC GMBH
  • BIODEX MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC.
  • BIOMETRICS LTD.
  • BTE TECHNOLOGIES
  • CHARDER ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
  • FABRICATION ENTERPRISES INC.
  • HERKULES KUNSTSTOFF OBERBURG AG
  • HOGGAN SCIENTIFIC LLC.
  • JLW INSTRUMENTS
  • JTECH MEDICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
  • KERN & SOHN GMBH
  • LAFAYETTE INSTRUMENT CO.
  • MARSDEN GROUP
  • NORTH COAST MEDICAL INC.
  • PERFORMANCE HEALTH
  • VERNIER SCIENCE EDUCATION
  • ZHONGSHAN CAMRY ELECTRONIC CO. LTD.

Browse Related Reports:

Global Market for Pain Management Drugs and Devices: This report refers to a comprehensive analysis of the global market for pain management drugs and devices, focusing on both current trends and future projections up to 2028. It delves into the market drivers, restraints, and challenges, while also providing insights into the competitive landscape and regulatory framework. Segmented by geography, product type (pharmaceuticals and medical devices), and application areas such as post-operative pain, neuropathic pain, and musculoskeletal pain, among others, the report offers a detailed examination of key market players and their strategies. Notably, the report excludes drugs or devices targeting specific conditions like rheumatoid arthritis but includes treatments aimed at alleviating associated pain symptoms. For instance, Enbrel is highlighted for its role in treating moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, while Celebrex is recognized for its efficacy in managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, alongside the relief of acute pain.

Directly Purchase a copy of the report with BCC Research.

For further information or to make a purchase, please get in touch with [email protected].  

About BCC Research

BCC Research provides objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities with detailed market research reports. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions, free of noise and hype.

Contact Us

Corporate HQ: BCC Research LLC, 49 Walnut Park, Building 2, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA

Email: [email protected],

Phone: +1 781-489-7301

For media inquiries, email [email protected] or visit our media page for access to our market research library.

Data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher.

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26Mar

Lake Country Fire Department hosts junior bootcamp

Posted by: admin Categories: SPORTS & ATHLETICS
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The Lake Country Fire Department coordinated a Junior Firefighter Bootcamp for senior high school students throughout the region during the first week of spring break.  Grade 11 and 12 students from George Elliot, Mount Boucherie, Immaculata, Rutland and Vernon Secondary schools were immersed in what it is like to be a firefighter as part of a team of skilled first responders.

Day one students picked up their t-shirts and started with an intro to Fire Services Academy. First aid and basic life support including AED and Red Cross CPR training were a focus during day two, followed by personal protective equipment (PPE), self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), firefighter skills and drills, auto extrication, and aerial apparatus experience. They even participated in lunch prep during the course.  

“I really liked learning the rope tying knots and was a little scared of the SCBA breathing equipment and the ladder truck,” said Marixa. “But we were given intense safety briefings and the instructors walked us through everything step by step. I connected with the firefighters and the other students in the program. It was a great experience.”

“This kind of training is part of our community involvement,” said Deputy Fire Chief Kynan O’Rourke. “Not only does it give senior high school students some exposure to firefighter skills so they may decide to go on to a career in first response (and maybe a new crew of recruits for us in Lake Country), but it sharpens our members’ training and leadership skills.”

First year Firefighter Rayman Bassi was the lead for organizing with the Careers department of GESS. Firefighter Bassi was tasked with putting together the group of instructors, developing the lesson plans, coordinating with staff, while keeping the program on pace for the week-long drills and exercises.

Taking time away from his own schooling as a third-year electrical apprentice. Bassi states: “I was a driven high school student that played high level sports and didn’t have an understanding of the fire services when I got out of high school, a program like this would have been beneficial for me.” As a key takeaway for this group of students Bassi says: “This is adult learning in a professional environment; this type of training will kickstart them after high school!”

Firefighter Tom Clements, Firefighter/Paramedic Madi Maki, Firefighter Kyle Lehmann, and probationary Firefighter Ajay Weintz supported the event and offered training, advice and mentorship for the group of young learners.

The Junior Firefighters completed the week of study, physical fitness, firefighter skills training based on the Jones and Bartlett syllabus, and took home a CPR and AED basic life support certificate, a Chiefs’ letter thanking them for their time towards the program as well as new friendships established on the kind of teamwork and trust required in the fire service.

Deputy Fire Chief Kynan O’Rourke would like to thank the careers department of GESS for the collaboration with the other schools in the valley and would like to see a continuation of this event for next year.



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26Mar

What is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome? Halsey reveals diagnosis

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After a public struggle with endometriosis, Halsey is opening up about several other life-disrupting health issues.

The Grammy-nominated singer, who uses the pronouns she/they, revealed they've finally received some answers after being sick for most their adult life and finding their symptoms starting to get "really bad," they said in their Instagram story Tuesday.

“Obviously my health has changed a lot since I got pregnant and gave birth. And I started getting really, really, really sick,” Halsey, 27, said in the video.

“I was hospitalized for anaphylaxis a few times and I had some other stuff going on. Basically, after seeing like 100,000 doctors, I got diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome, POTS."

The singer said they were on a treatment plan and staying active.

People identified the last condition as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a group of disorders marked by lightheadedness or fainting and a rapid heart rate when a person stands up after lying down, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Up to 80% of patients are women between the ages of 15 to 50.

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune, rheumatic disease with symptoms that include dry mouth, dry eyes, fatigue and musculoskeletal pain, according to the American College of Rheumatology. Most patients are women.

In mast cell activation syndrome, a patient keeps experiencing hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and other symptoms of anaphylaxis, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology noted.

TODAY first explored the causes, symptoms and treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2019 when actress Lena Dunham revealed her diagnosis:

What is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?

It’s actually a group of 13 related disorders caused by different genetic defects in collagen, an essential building block, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

EDS weakens the body’s connective tissues — which normally provide strength and flexibility — either because the collagen isn’t as strong as it should be or there’s not enough of it in the skin, muscles, skeleton and blood vessels.

The inherited disorders affect about one in 5,000 people, the National Institutes of Health noted. They’re diagnosed with genetic testing and a physical exam.

What are the symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?

They depend on the type of EDS and can range from loose joints to life-threatening complications, such as bleeding and the possibility of organ and vessel rupture. The Ehlers-Danlos Society listed these possible warning signs:

  • loose, overly flexible or unstable joints

  • joint pain

  • soft, stretchy, fragile skin that tears or bruises easily

  • slow and poor wound healing

  • severe scarring

  • debilitating musculoskeletal pain

  • poor muscle tone

What is the treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?

There is no cure, so the treatment involves managing symptoms. About 90% of EDS patients suffer from chronic pain, which may require medication, physical therapy to prevent injuries, low-resistance exercise and the support of devices like braces, canes, wheelchairs and scooters.

If patients have loose, hypermobile joints that can easily dislocate, the focus is avoiding situations that might cause it to happen, like contact sports or lifting heavy objects. Calcium and vitamin D can help maximize bone density.

Doctors may also recommend patients use sunscreen and mild soaps to protect their fragile skin, the Cleveland Clinic noted.

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25Mar

Last chance: Best deals on Garmin smartwatches and fitness trackers at Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

Posted by: admin Categories: SPORTS & ATHLETICS
Comments Off on Last chance: Best deals on Garmin smartwatches and fitness trackers at Amazon’s Big Spring Sale


Amazon

There are tons of amazing Amazon Big Spring Sale deals to shop today, the final day of the sale. Whether you're shopping for a new TV, upgraded home gym equipment or even a massage gun, you can save hundreds when you shop the deals on offer at Amazon. That includes major savings on Garmin fitness trackers and smartwatches. 

These premium smartwatches for fitness enthusiasts normally have a premium price to match, but you can now get some of the most advanced Garmin watches at some of the lowest prices we've ever seen. Keep reading for our favorite Garmin deals, or tap the button below to start shopping all the Amazon Big Spring Sale deals. But don't delay -- the Big Spring Sale ends today.


Shop Garmin deals at the Amazon Big Spring Sale

The best Garmin deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale

If you're looking for the most advanced activity tracking, health metrics and other high-end features, it's hard to go wrong with Garmin smartwatches. Luckily, you have a chance to save big on these premium smartwatches when you shop these Garmin deals at Amazon today.

Save $100 on the Garmin Forerunner 255


Amazon

The Garmin Forerunner 255 is a lightweight smartwatch for runners that tracks all the essentials like heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen and body temperature. It also offers more advanced features like automatic rep counting and training load, a metric that helps you decide how intense (or easy) your workout should be each day.

Get the insight-loaded Garmin fitness tracker during the sale for just $300 (reduced from $400).


$300 at Amazon

Garmin Venu 2 (save $72)


Amazon

The Garmin Venu 2 is a fitness-focused smartwatch that can track heart rate, respiration, blood oxygen levels and more. But what really sets it apart is the ability to customize the display to show you the metrics you care about during your workout.

Speaking of that workout, the watch comes preloaded with routines that target different muscle groups or performance goals. When you pick one and tap start, the watch not only starts a timer but shows an animated display of how to perform the exercise you're doing in each interval.

The premium fitness tracking smartwatch is on sale for $328 during the Amazon Big Spring Sale (reduced from $400).


$328 at Amazon

Garmin Vivoactive 4S everyday smartwatch (20% off)


Amazon

When choosing a smartwatch, we hate to let price dictate a purchase, but it's tough to deny the quality of Amazon's discount on the Garmin Vivoactive 4 GPS smartwatch. Keep track of everything from energy level, stress levels and sleep.

Twenty pre-loaded indoor sports and GPS apps can record all the ways you move, all day, all the time -- perfect for yoga, running and swimming. Smart notifications keep you in touch with text messages and calendar reminders when paired with your mobile device. It's available in two sizes -- the 40mm size featured here and a larger 45mm size.

Regularly $330, the 40mm size is currently on sale at Amazon for $260.


$260 at Amazon

Best-selling outdoor Garmin Instinct (33% off)


Amazon

Boasting durability that can withstand life's adventures, the Garmin Instinct is shock and water-resistant (up to 100 meters). Multiple navigation systems make for accurate tracking in rugged environments proving more accurate than GPS alone.

We like the track back feature for hikers, climbers, runners and adventurers to help navigate the back to your starting point. The battery life is a plus as well -- 14 days in smartwatch mode and up to 16 hours in GPS mode.

Train with pre-loaded activity profiles and monitor heart rate, activity and stress, to make this one of the most efficient smartwatches, especially for the price. Four color options are available.

Regularly priced at $250, the Garmin Instinct GPS is on sale at Amazon for $168.


$168 at Amazon

Shop more Amazon Big Spring Sale Garmin deals



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25Mar

Helping patients manage pain

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Doctors cure sometimes, treat often, but comfort always — and guided by that saying, Dr Lim Zhen Wei made the decision early in his career to practise anaesthesiology — and later to specialise in pain medicine.

Dr Lim performs a staged procedure to dull pain in the spine. The nurses and radiographer wear protective vests as a fluoroscope, essentially an x-ray, is used to help pinpoint the exact area of pain.

THE discipline fascinated him as he viewed anesthesiologists as being able to exercise exact control over the human body, and to practise medicine with what he describes as instant benefits for his patients.

“Anaesthesiologists play a very important role in making patients comfortable and lessening anxiety during and after surgery by precisely managing human physiology like blood pressure, breathing volume, and body temperature,” said Dr Lim, who is Consultant, Department of Pain Medicine, Pain Management Centre (PMC), Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

“Pain medicine is a natural extension of practising anaesthesiology where I lessen patients’ pain, frequently after surgeries or secondary to another disease.”

Dr Lim feels a great sense of achievement when he can help his patients overcome their pain.

“I once treated a 60-year-old who was limping into the procedure suite in the morning but was hopping out of PMC by lunchtime,” he said.

His patients are a diverse group, ranging from teenagers to nonagenarians, with complaints such as painful joints in their limbs and even the spine.

Their pain might have resulted from sports activities, accidents, or just age-related wear-and-tear.

Most, however, seek help to manage their pain because they are not keen on more invasive treatments like surgery.

Dr Lim recalled a female patient in her late 60s with osteoarthritis in both knees.

“She was petrified at the idea of undergoing surgery. I did a right knee genicular nerve ablation treatment and her knee pain was reduced substantially,” he said.

Dr Lim used the same treatment on a younger man in his early 40s who also had knee pain.

In his case, jogging, golf and other activities had worn out his knees, causing pain.

The man did not want surgery as he felt his symptoms were relatively mild.

After positioning a needle next to the nerve causing pain and numbing it with state-ofthe- art cooled radio frequency ablation, the patient was able to return to what he was doing before.

“Numbing the nerve — a pure sensory nerve that does not supply any motor function — reduces the pain,” said Dr Lim.

Dr Lim has a keen interest in horology, the art of making clocks and watches.

For many patients, having the pain reduced to a level that enables them to get on with life is sufficient.

Making the patient more comfortable, even without correcting the underlying disease, is vital.

The natural reaction of someone with a painful left knee is to use their right knee more to avoid putting pressure on the painful knee.

But over time, the patient could start feeling pain in the right knee.

“It is important that we treat the pain early so that the patients can continue to maintain a balanced posture. It slows down the progression of the disease. For many patients, that is enough,” said Dr Lim.

Dr Lim sees the practice of medicine as both an art and science.

So perhaps it is not surprising that he should have an interest in horology, the art of making clocks and watches.

“Other than good clinical acumen and skills, a good doctor must also be able to build rapport and make patients feel at ease.

With advances in AI (artificial intelligence) and technology replacing many things in our lives, a good horological creation will remain relevant, just like a good doctor-patient therapeutic relationship, which cannot be replaced by AI,” he said.

Dr Lim, who shares young children — a girl and boy, aged five and two respectively — with his teacher wife, also enjoys travelling as a family.

“Travelling helps us understand the world around us and gain perspective on our own lives by seeing what others are going through. It truly is another form of education. Most importantly, it makes memories that last a lifetime.”








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24Mar

Detroit Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson’s blood clot: A doctor weighs in

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The Detroit Pistons, and Ausar Thompson, received a shock this week when the rookie forward was diagnosed with a season-ending blood clot on Wednesday. 

The 2023 No. 5 overall pick had already missed five games prior to the announcement with what was initially characterized as “asthma.” Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Thompson has already been cleared for conditioning work and is expected to return to non-contact basketball activities after the season’s conclusion on April 14. 

The Free Press spoke with Dr. Geoffrey Barnes, cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center, about blood clots and how they impact professional athletes. Barnes is not involved in Thompson’s medical care, and the Pistons didn’t provide details on the exact nature of his clot. 

Most commonly, a blood clot diagnosis references a clot in the veins of the legs (a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT), or a blood clot that has broken free from the veins, traveled up through the body and lodged itself into the lungs (a pulmonary embolism, or PE). 

HIGH HOPES: Why Pistons are optimistic after Ausar Thompson's scary blood clot diagnosis

The former is often accompanied with pain or swelling in one leg. Pulmonary embolisms impact the upper body — chest discomfort, shortness of breath, a sped-up heartbeat and potential lightheadedness and dizziness if it becomes more severe. 

“That’s usually what people mean when they say ‘Oh, they have blood clots,’" Barnes said. “It’s something in the vein system, starts in the legs, can break free and travel to the lungs. It’s incredibly common, over a million people every year in America get these. 

“They tend to happen most commonly in folks as they age, so it’s much more common in people over the age of 60 or 65 than in younger folks. They can happen for a wide range of reasons. But oftentimes they just come out of the blue and we can never figure out exactly why somebody developed their blood clot.” 

The severity of the symptoms, coupled with diagnostic testing, allows doctors to determine the severity of the clot, Barnes said. A small clot in the leg may be accompanied by mild swelling and soreness, and can be treated with blood thinners without the need for a hospital stay. 

On the extreme end, a large clot lodged into the lung could block blood flow and strain the heart — leading to a quickened heart rate and fast breathing due to a lack of oxygen. 

“That’s when people are in the hospital, we often have to do surgery or procedure to try and remove the blood clot and figure out ways to really support them through it,” he said. “It’s a really wide-ranging condition. Thankfully, the vast majority of people do very well and have more minor blood clots, the forms in the legs or a small one in the lungs that aren’t life-threatening.”

Outcomes have varied for NBA players recently diagnosed with blood clots. The most notable example is Hall of Famer Chris Bosh, whose career was ended prematurely by clots. He was ruled out for the remainder of the 2014-15 season in late February after a clot was discovered in one of his lungs. 

Bosh, a two-time NBA champ with the Miami Heat, reportedly felt pain in his back and side for several days before getting his symptoms checked out. He returned for Miami’s season opener in 2015-16, but a blood clot in his leg shut him down for the final time the following February. The NBA eventually ruled continued clotting issues were a career-ending illness. 

Other players, such as New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, have been able to resume their careers without further issues. 

The good news, Barnes said, is that most professional athletes are low-risk due to their age. But there are factors, such as dehydration and longer-distance flights, that can increase the risk for athletes.

The main treatment for everyone who has a clot, regardless of athletic status, is to be put on a blood thinner. The medicine prevents new clots from forming, but also comes with an increased risk for bleeding. It’s often why athletes can’t play while they’re on thinners, he said. 

When athletes develop PEs, they work with doctors to make sure their heart and lungs sufficiently heal afterward. Symptoms such as chest discomfort and lightheadedness while walking are tracked. Physical activity can ramp up from there, starting with climbing stairs or going for a bike ride or jog. For DVTs, doctors check to see if pain and swelling have resolved. 

With that, athletes also go through cardiopulmonary exercise testing that allows them to measure heart and lung function. Recovery is quick for some — weeks to a couple of months. But it can take six months or more in extreme cases. In the worst cases, long term or permanent damage can prevent athletes from getting back to their prior status. It largely has to do with the size of the clot. 

Once a first clot happens, the risk of having a second one increases, Barnes said. But with minimized risk factors, many people are able to live the rest of their lives without a second complication. 

“The highest-risk people maybe have a genetic disorder that puts them at risk for blood clots,” he said. “Maybe they have cancer or another condition. Those are people who I get really concerned about. Some people have one blood clot and never have anything again the rest of their life, and don’t have other significant risk factors. 

“As you think about an athlete, it really depends on what kind of athlete and what kinds of activities that they’re doing. You could imagine that maybe a golfer or a billiard player, somebody who is a high-level athlete but doesn’t necessarily have that same level of cardiovascular strain might not be at quite as high a risk as somebody who, say, is a soccer player who’s having to run 10 miles every game and is having issues with dehydration and is flying all over the world. It depends on the situation for each athlete.”

Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him @omarisankofa.

Next up: Pelicans

Matchup: Pistons (12-58) vs. New Orleans (43-27).

Tipoff: 3 p.m. Sunday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.

TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).



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24Mar

Danielle Lloyd in Workout Gear Shows Off “Huge Results”

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Danielle Lloyd is hitting the gym and getting strong. In a new social media post the English model pumps iron during a rigorous sweat session. "8 weeks of real consistency and dedication from @missdlloyd is really starting to pay off and we are seeing some huge results ✂️Smashing it," her trainer, Craig Steele, captioned the Instagram video. How does the 40-year-old approach diet and fitness? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits. 

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As can be evidenced in her post, Danielle trains hard at the gym. "I lift heavy weights, so I look more toned," she told Closer. According to the Mayo Clinic, strength and weight training help reduce body fat, preserve and increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more efficiently. Strength training may also help you:

  • Develop strong bones
  • Manage your weight
  • Enhance your quality of life
  • Manage chronic conditions
  • Sharpen your thinking skills

Danielle maintains a balanced diet"I also saw a nutritionist and now eat a certain amount of carbs, protein and veg. I even weigh the amount of oil I use – it really does work," she told Closer. For breakfast, "before the gym I'll have a protein shake and afterwards a couple of Warbutons thins with a scraping of butter," she says, A snack might be Proper Popcorn and a Fibre One bar. For lunch, she enjoys grilled chicken with broccoli, and dinner, a piece of salmon with jacket potato and green veg. "Before bed I'll have an apple and six squares of dark chocolate," she adds. 

Danielle is a golfer. "Showing the boys how it's done," she captioned a photo from Top Golf Dubai. A comprehensive review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that golf's health benefits are extensive, including mind, body, and even lifespan. Benefits include improved longevity, decreased risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke, good mental health, and improved strength and balance.

Danielle also enjoys jet skiing when she is on vacation. Health Fitness Revolution claims that the average 150-pound rider will burn a surprising 238 calories during a half-hour ride. The sport is also great for cardiovascular endurance.

Danielle prioritizes her mental health. "People say, 'You're on the telly, how can you have anxiety?' – they haven't got a clue. We all have the same worries. It's hard to know what the trigger is, but I'm a shy person and life can be hectic. Earlier, I had so much anxiety, my heart was beating out of my chest at what felt like a million times an hour. I was breathing heavily and felt sick. I've learned it's better to leave the house, see people and talk about it, as that's therapy in itself. I've also started doing breathing exercises at home, too," she told Closer. 



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23Mar

Review: Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor

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The Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor is claimed to be the first heart rate monitor that performs a continuous ECG, or electrocardiogram. It's a specialist bit of kit that delivers on its promise, offering valuable insights into your heart's activity during daily activities and exercise. The app is also easy to use, though the price tag means it's not for everyone (check out guide to the best heart rate monitors for more affordable options).

Measuring the electrical activity of your heart is not a novel concept, but conventional ECGs often require bulky and heavy devices that don't work well for daily activities and exercise.

You can measure lots of metrics while riding, such as heart rate, power, cadence, glycogen levels and core body temperature. The Fourth Frontier X2 adds to that list, providing continuous ECG monitoring.

How does it work?

In the box you get the Frontier X2 device, an adjustable chest strap, a micro-USB cable and a start-up guide. It's packaged well, and is pleasing to unbox.

The Frontier X2 clips onto the elastic chest strap in the same way as a standard heart rate monitor from the likes of Garmin or Wahoo, but has that unique selling point of performing continuous ECG monitoring, showing how your heart is beating.


2024 Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor - 01 Live ECG data.jpg

In addition, it measures heart rate, heart rate variability, which is the regularity between the heart rate pulses, breathing rate, heart strain and body shock, which is body weight over seconds.

The device has the option to measure 20 different activity types, though it's not clear what would change if you picked one activity over another. It's IP67 rated so is waterproof up to 1.5 metres, making it suitable for swimming, though this is purely based on the rubber bung on the micro-USB port being fixed securely. One limitation of this is that the rubber bung comes off fully every time you need to charge it – it's not attached to the device. Something more integrated would be better; I can easily imagine this falling on the floor when I'm charging the device, and since it's such a tiny piece there's a high risk of losing it.

While I have no way of testing the accuracy of the ECG graphs, it recorded in a way that you would expect it to, and hasn't missed a beat.

In use

The Frontier X2 can be used during exercise and daily activities and will be of most benefit to people who are worried about their heart health, but it could also be useful to any sportsperson to help them understand their heart's response during training and racing. And, if you love data, it adds another dimension to your training with other metrics alongside ECG and heart rate, as previously mentioned.

It's designed to work continuously with the Frontier X app, which is available on Android and iOS. You receive feedback through the app on things such as whether you're under or over-training, need more cardio, more power, and so on.


2024 Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor - 03 App feedback.jpg

The app is well laid out, intuitive and easy to use. You can see your live ECG through the app, and you can continuously stream this to another person by generating a link.


2024 Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor - 04 App ECG page.jpg

All workouts are saved to the cloud unlimited for free. However, since it does a lot of analysis of data after an activity has been recorded, it takes a while before you can view the ECG data. I'd say it took around 10 minutes between finishing a ride and the ECG data becoming available.


2024 Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor - 02 App homepage.jpg

The device features one button and easy-to-understand LEDs that flash at you – for example, blue when it's looking for devices. Connecting the device to both my Hammerhead Karoo 2 and the app was straightforward. Apart from one pairing mishap at the start, it has worked seamlessly ever since, and you can pair both simultaneously by pressing the button once. Viewing your ECG data needs to be done through the app, but you can see your heart rate through your bike computer.

It's worth noting that you need to press the button on the device to start an activity before it will start recording heart rate or ECG data, which is different to a standard heart rate monitor.


2024 Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor - detail 3.jpg

Usefully, if you have some kind of episode during a ride – like a spike in heart rate or you feel lightheaded – you can log it by pressing the button on the Frontier X2 once and it will set a marker at this point, so you can easily find the event when the data uploads to the app or web.

You can set two alerts while you're exercising – a single buzz and a double buzz. You could, for example, set upper limits for both breathing rate and heart rate, or upper and lower limits for just heart rate (or just breathing rate), so it will vibrate when you're outside of those limits. This will be useful if you have a heart condition and you don't want to exceed a certain heart rate, but setting a lower limit to make sure you're not riding too easy could also be useful.

The Frontier X2 features an LED screen, which I was intrigued by, but I think the device could be made lighter and sleeker by getting rid of it, as it's redundant once the chest strap is on and recording. It serves little purpose beyond indicating battery status because you can't read it easily; you need to access the ECG data through the app and your heart rate data on either your bike computer or the app instead.


2024 Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 LED screen.jpeg

Despite it being bulkier than a standard heart rate monitor, I did find the Frontier X2 comfortable to wear. It features an elasticated strap that is highly adjustable and fastens in a similar way to that of a Wahoo or Garmin heart rate strap.

Data

As I've said above, you can access your data using both the app and a computer. You can see much more detail when viewing the graphs on a computer, as below, but the app still offers sufficient detail to see whether your rhythm is regular or irregular, and alert you to any issues that may need a closer look on the computer.


2024 Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor - 05 ECG data desktop view.jpg

The ECG data has good granularity – you can clearly see the spikes in the line rather than it being smoothed out – and the Frontier X2 records data in a way that you would expect it to, which could be valuable to show to healthcare professionals. You also have access to one follow-up session with an expert to gain a better understanding of how the device works.

Battery life

The Frontier X2 has a claimed battery life of up to 24 hours of continuous use, and 12-15 days under typical usage. I wore it on a day-long expedition (10 hours) with no sign of a low battery warning, so I have no trouble believing those claimed run-times.

I'd say battery life is more than adequate for this device, and will likely outlast your bike computer, although it's short compared with a standard heart rate monitor, and you are going to need to remember to charge it up.


2024 Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 charging point.jpeg

It fully charges in 45 minutes, but it's micro-USB charging rather than the more modern and faster USB-C.

Value

The Frontier X2 is a specialist, niche bit of kit that I would recommend if you need the special features, such as the continuous full ECG trace. Although personally I would find the price off-putting, it garnered a lot of interest from members of the local cycling club who have concerns about heart health, particularly middle-aged riders, one of whom has a heart condition.

Compared with a standard heart rate monitor, the Frontier X2 is expensive. For example, Polar's H9 heart rate sensor, which Ed reviewed last year, is £51.50, super comfortable and reliable, with many features of its big brother, the H10, but in a more affordable package.

The H10 costs £76.50 and has some ECG tracking but not real-time streaming of ECG or the ability to perform alerts; the Frontier X2 is unique in its ability to continuously monitor and store ECG data.

Conclusion

Overall, the Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor does what it says on the tin, performing continuous ECG, along with recording heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, heart strain and body shock. Although it's comfortable to wear, I think the device could be made sleeker by getting rid of the screen, as you can't read it once the chest strap is on. Personally, I would struggle to justify the price, but it does what it's meant to very well, so if you're concerned about your heart health it's well worth considering.

Verdict

Specialist device that comes at a cost, but particularly useful if you are concerned about your heart health

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

Make and model: Fourth Frontier Frontier X2 Smart Heart Monitor

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Fourth Frontier says that it's the "world's first smart heart monitor".

It lists:

Continuous ECG up to 24 hours - The world's first and only consumer wearable that allows you to record high-quality ECG in real-time for upto 24hrs during any activity.

Real time, live ECG streaming - Share your Live ECG in real-time with experts, family, or friends, whenever you want, wherever you want, even while exercising!

Detailed ECG graphs - The Frontier X2's patented ECG technology gives you the unique ability to record up to 24 hours of highly detailed, accurate data through any activity of your choice!

Route maps with ECG - Correlate your ECG data with your GPS data to gain unprecedented insights into your ECG response to pace, elevation, intensity and distance.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Fourth Frontier lists these features/details:

- one button, all actions

- waterproof up to 1.5m

- 1 year warranty

- Metrics - Heart: Heart Rate, Strain, HRV (Heart Rate Variability)

Performance: Breathing Rate, Training Load, Body Shock, Step Cadence

- Device size - Dimensions: 73mm x 24mm x 13mm

- battery - upto 24 hours of continuous usage; 12 - 15 days under typical usage

Full charge in under 45 minutes

- connectivity - Frontier X2 now has Bluetooth 5.0 for 3X speed and greater range.

Frontier X App available for iOS and Android phones, as well as the Apple Watch

Displays Heart Rate on compatible BLE sports watches

Rate the product for quality of construction:

8/10

It could be sleeker, as it's very angular, but overall it's really well made.

Rate the product for performance:

8/10

It does exactly what it's designed to – providing continuous ECG monitoring and measuring heart rate, though the device has a display on it and you can't actually read it once you're wearing it.

Rate the product for durability:

8/10

Very well made and no issues so far.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)

6/10

For a heart rate monitor it's heavy, but for an ECG monitor it's light.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)

8/10

The Frontier X2 device is a bit chunky, particularly underneath a sports bra, but the chest strap itself is very comfortable and highly adjustable.

Rate the product for value:

5/10

People who are worried about their heart health are likely to think it's worth the price to have access to ECG readings to check, though personally I would find the price off-putting.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It performed as expected, providing continuous ECG monitoring and measuring heart rate. The only issue is that the screen on the device is designed to be read, but there's no sport where you could easily see the screen once you're wearing the chest strap.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The quality of data. It's been reliable and hasn't missed a beat, recording in a way that you would expect it to.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It's a bit bulky, and the price.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

We haven't reviewed anything with the same features as this, but compared with a standard heart rate monitor, it is expensive.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Overall, it's very good and does what it's meant to, providing continuous ECG monitoring along with recording heart rate and other metrics, though I think the design could be made sleeker by removing the screen, as its purpose becomes redundant once the chest strap is on.

Age: 23  Height: 175  Weight: 64

I usually ride: specialised tarmac sl6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

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22Mar

Jake Gyllenhaal Got a Staph Infection Filming New Movie: What to Know

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Jake Gyllenhaal shared in a recent interview that he got a staph infection after being cut by glass while filming his new movie ‘Road House.” Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM
  • Actor Jake Gyllenhaal says he contracted a staph infection while filming a fight scene for Road House.
  • Staph infections occur when staphylococci bacteria enter the body via a cut or abrasion.
  • Staph infections can be mild, but they can also be serious and life-threatening.
  • You should see a physician immediately if you experience rapid heart rate, neck stiffness, chest pain, fever, severe headache, or trouble breathing.

Jake Gyllenhaal has revealed he contracted a staph infection while shooting his latest movie.

Chatting on Dax Shephard’s Armchair Expert podcast alongside his co-star Conor McGregor, Gyllenhaal shared that while filming a fight scene for Road House, he cut his hand, and it resulted in a staph infection.

Recalling the scene, he said: “We’re fighting on the floor, fighting around tables, we’re fighting around glass.”

During the scene, the actor sustained an injury when he placed his hand on glass. “I felt the glass going in my hand. I remember the feeling [and] went, ‘That’s a lot of glass,” he shared.

Gyllenhaal hurt himself while filming another portion of the film. “I thought [the infection] came from, remember that scene where you come with a piece of wood?” he asked McGregor.

“I grabbed your arm, and I thought, ‘Oh, maybe I’m injured.’ But my whole arm swelled up. It ended up being staph.”

Staph infections are common, and in some cases, they can be serious. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection following an injury.

“All of us have staphylococci bacteria and other bacteria on our skin. This is normal and healthy and part of our microbiome,” explains Daniel D. Rhoads, vice chair of the College of American Pathologists Microbiology Committee.

“What can become a problem is when the skin’s integrity is compromised, and the bacteria that are normally on the surface of our skin can now contaminate deeper tissue where bacteria do not belong.”

Sometimes this compromise in the skin can be imperceivable, like a minor cut or small abrasion that you do not even notice. Other times, the compromise is more obvious, as it was for Gyllenhaal.

Either way, Rhoads says, when we have a cut or abrasion, there is always a risk that bacteria from our skin (in this case, Staphylococcus aureus, also known as S. aureus) or from the environment could not only contaminate the exposed tissue but could also start growing.

This is a staph infection, and it triggers the body’s immune response, resulting in calor, dolor, rubor, and tumor.

“Mr. Gyllenhaal described his arm swelling up. That swelling is “tumor.” I would bet that his arm was also red (rubor), hot (calor), and painful (dolor),” Rhoads explains.

Staph infections can range in severity. When a bacterial infection like this starts spreading from the local site of the tissue damage toward the middle of the body, Rhoads says it’s “bad news” because it means the immune system is having a hard time curtailing the infection.

Dr. Linda Yancey, infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston has a helpful analogy in understanding the varying degrees of infection.

“To say “Staph infection” is like saying “traffic accident.” They range from fender benders to sixteen-car pileups and everything in between,” she explains.

“Most Staph infections are minor and resolve on their own, but the more severe ones require medical care.”

Staph infections on the mild end of the spectrum will usually present with a little pain and swelling. Often, the immune system is able to fend off the infection, and it will go away without medical or surgical intervention.

However, that’s not always the case. “Staph infections are most concerning when they are spreading quickly, and symptoms transition from local tissue inflammation to systemic symptoms, for example, chills and increased rate of breathing,” Rhoads warns.

In the most extreme cases, which were much more common before we had antibiotics, Rhoads says severe local infections can spread to cause a systemic infection and then death.

It can be challenging to prevent staph infections, given that the bacteria that causes them is already present on the skin. However, Yancey says good hygiene is the cornerstone of good health.

It’s important to regularly – and thoroughly – wash your hands. You should also shower after physical activity. These steps can keep cuts clean and reduce the risk of infection.

Rhoads says, “It’s good to wash cuts and abrasions with soap and water to try to remove bacteria and debris that could be contaminating a new wound.”

You should also keep any open wounds covered to stop bacteria from entering the skin.

Meanwhile, sharing towels, razors, and other pieces of personal equipment, such as makeup brushes, is a big no-no.

“People who share sports equipment, for example football teams, should ensure that equipment is cleaned and sanitized between uses,” Yancey adds. The same rings true if you exercise in a public place, like a gym.

If you are concerned about a staph infection, Yancey says your first step should be your primary care provider.

“However, if the infection you are concerned about is a boil or abscess, urgent care or an emergency room is a better choice as they will have the equipment to drain it if needed.”

It’s essential you seek medical assistance if you notice the infection is getting worse and is spreading quickly or if it’s accompanied by fever, headache, neck stiffness, and/or chest pain, rapid heart, and trouble breathing.

Oftentimes, staph infections can be treated with antibiotics, though sometimes surgery may be required.

Staph infections happen when bacteria enter the body via a cut or abrasion. They can be mild and clear up on their own.

However, staph infections can also be serious and life threatening. If you’re concerned, you should consult a medical professional straight away.

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22Mar

Managing PCOD: Expert Shares the Importance of Diet and Exercise

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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects millions of women worldwide, causing hormonal imbalances and a range of symptoms such as irregular periods, acne, and weight gain. While PCOS cannot be cured, its symptoms can be managed effectively through lifestyle changes, particularly focusing on diet and exercise. Adopting a PCOD diet and exercise plan is crucial for women with PCOS to alleviate symptoms and improve overall health.

We spoke to our expert Dr Kapil Dave, Director Sports - Sharda University to shed some light on the importance of diet and exercise in managing PCOD. Here is what he shared with us.

PCOD Diet: What to Eat?

Choosing the right foods is essential for managing PCOS symptoms. A PCOD diet should primarily consist of unrefined, natural foods that are low in processed sugars and high in essential nutrients. Here are some dietary guidelines for women with PCOS:

1. Unrefined and Natural Foods

Opt for whole grains, legumes, and minimally processed foods to stabilise blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.

2. Fish Rich in Omega Fatty Acids

Include fatty fish like tuna, salmon, sardines, and mackerel in your diet to reduce inflammation and support hormone regulation.

3. Green and Leafy Vegetables

Load up on nutrient-dense greens such as spinach, kale, and broccoli to provide essential vitamins and minerals.

Importance of Diet and Exercise in Managing PCOD

Also Read: World Down Syndrome Day 2024: 10 Tips for Caregiving Parents

4. Dark Red Fruits

Choose fruits like grapes, cherries, and berries that are rich in antioxidants and low in sugar to help manage insulin levels.

5. Healthy Fats

Incorporate sources of healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, and nuts to support hormone production and maintain satiety.

6. Spices

Add anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric and cinnamon to your meals to reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity.

7. Moderate Amounts of Dark Chocolate

Indulge in dark chocolate in moderation, as it contains antioxidants and may help regulate mood and cravings.

Importance of Diet and Exercise in Managing PCOD

Foods to Avoid

1. Refined Carbohydrates

Minimise consumption of cakes, pastries, white bread, and other refined carbohydrate products to prevent spikes in blood sugar levels.

Also Read: Expert Shares 6 Health Benefits of Drinking Fennel Tea

2. Fast Food and Fried Items

Avoid fast food and fried foods such as fries, pizza, and burgers, which are high in unhealthy fats and contribute to weight gain.

3. Processed Meat

Steer clear of processed meats like sausages and bacon, which can exacerbate inflammation and hormonal imbalances.

4. High-Sugar Fruits

Limit intake of high-sugar fruits like bananas, mangoes, and jackfruit, as they can cause rapid increases in blood sugar levels.

5. Red Meat

Reduce consumption of red meat, pork, and ham, as they may contribute to insulin resistance and inflammation.

PCOD Exercise: Importance and Recommendations

Exercise is an integral component of managing PCOS, as it helps improve insulin sensitivity, regulate hormones, and promote weight loss. Here are some exercise recommendations for women with PCOD:

1. Cardiovascular Exercise

Incorporate cardio workouts such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, or rowing into your routine to improve cardiovascular health and aid in weight management.

2. Strength Training

Include strength training exercises to build muscle mass, increase metabolism, and enhance insulin sensitivity.

3. Yoga and Meditation

Practice yoga asanas, meditation, and breathing exercises to reduce stress levels, improve mood, and promote relaxation.

4. Core Strength

Strengthen your core muscles through exercises like planks, crunches, and leg raises to support posture and stability.

5. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Incorporate HIIT workouts into your routine to maximise calorie burn and improve cardiovascular fitness in less time.

Consultation and Personalisation

It's essential for women with PCOS to consult with healthcare professionals, including dieticians and physicians, to develop a personalised diet and exercise plan tailored to their specific needs and goals. These experts can provide guidance on nutritional requirements, exercise intensity, and lifestyle modifications to effectively manage PCOS symptoms and improve overall health.

A Final Word

Adopting a PCOD diet and exercise plan is crucial for women with PCOS to alleviate symptoms, regulate hormones, and improve overall well-being. By making healthy food choices, engaging in regular physical activity, and seeking professional guidance, women with PCOD can take control of their health and enhance their quality of life.

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22Mar

bitchy | Wearing a too-tight sports bra can affect your breathing while exercising

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As you probably know, when it comes to medical research, women are under-represented. The most famous example was the lack of female crash test dummies, but studies on issues like heart disease and cancer have also mainly focused on male participants. Enter Lululemon. The popular yet pricey athleisure line funded a study to research breathing patterns in “elite” female runners. The tests were conducted on treadmills, with the participants doing different treadmill workouts while wearing custom sports bras that were adjusted to different levels of tightness around their rib cages. Surprise! The study found that wearing a sports bra that’s too tight around your rib cage may “compromise” a woman’s ability to breathe properly while exercising, which can also affect their running performance. Lululemon really dropped all that money to tell us something every single woman who’s ever worn a sports bra while exercising could have told them for free.

Be cautious: It turns out that wearing a tight sports bra while exercising may not be good for your health, according to a new study. The study, which was published in the National Library of Medicine, was funded by Lululemon Athletica and conducted by the University of British Columbia. During their research, they examined the breathing patterns of nine elite runners.

While on a treadmill, runners wore custom sports bras that could be adjusted to different tightness levels. The bras were designed for individuals with rib cage sizes ranging from 30 to 34 and cup sizes of B or C. Throughout the study, the runners engaged in various treadmill workouts, during which they adjusted the tightness of their sports bras differently for each session.

The study — which focused on the tightness only around the rib cage — revealed that women who wore a sports bra that was too tight took fewer breaths and exhibited a higher breaths-per-minute rate, noting that “respiratory function may become compromised by the pressure exerted by the underband.”

However, those who wore a less constrictive sports bra “resulted in a decreased work of breathing,” and improved one’s running economy by decreasing submaximal oxygen uptake.

“People ask, ‘What sports bra should I wear?’ I say, ‘Wear one that is correctly fitted,’” Shalaya Kipp, the lead author of the study who is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, told the Washington Post. “That’s probably the biggest thing that would help.”

Specifically, the study showed how wearing a looser bra had a 1.3% improvement rate for a person’s running economy. Kipp told the outlet that a 2% increase in running economy would help a three-hour marathon runner improve their time by three minutes.

“It was quite invasive,” Kipp, who also competed in the 2012 Olympics and participated in the study, said. “It’s the hardest experimental protocol I’ve ever had someone do.”

“A decline in lung function makes breathing harder, which is especially critical during exercise or daily physical activity,” she added, per the outlet.

[From People]

I think most of these results are common sense. Of course wearing a too-tight sports bra is going to make it more difficult to breathe while running. Wearing anything too tight from your hips through your shoulders is going to make it difficult to breathe! I think the problem most women run into when buying a sports bra is wanting to feel that extra support to avoid bouncy boobs. Running when you’re flopping around is equally as painful and annoying. So, just like with everything else made for women, the struggle is real. Also, I wonder if Lululemon sponsored this “study” as a way to promote whatever wildly overpriced custom sports bras they want to sell to women with cup sizes C or less. Be the heroes, Lululemon! Give us a supportive yet comfortable sports bra for under $50!

On a more serious note, I do want to take a minute to do a quick PSA on the topic of too-tight sports bras. Obviously, this will not be the case for most women, but if your sports bra suddenly feels too tight without reason, please consider getting checked out by your doctor. My friend is a marathon runner. She had a routine mammogram last winter and it was clear. This past fall, while training, she noticed her sports bra felt too tight and that she was having trouble breathing. It kept happening, so her doctor sent her for another mammogram and she ended up being diagnosed with Stage IV triple negative breast cancer. I don’t want to be a downer or scare anyone! But, it’s been weighing on me, so I thought it was important to mention it just in case it could help any of you out there.

Photos credit: Andrea Piacquadio, Andres Ayrton, The Lazy Artist Gallery and Monstera Production on Pexels



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21Mar

Bolster Your Brain by Stimulating the Vagus Nerve

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The vagus nerve is one of 12 cranial nerves that connect our brain and body. It extends from the brain stem all the way to the gut and is a critical part of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Unlike the sympathetic nervous system, which governs the fight, flight and freeze response, the parasympathetic nervous system controls resting heart rate, respiration and digestion. It’s the key to unlocking the relaxation response. In recent years, researchers discovered that the vagus nerve also puts the brakes on inflammation, a key player in the onset of nearly all chronic diseases, including those that affect cognition.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved devices that stimulate the vagus nerve with electrical impulses for the treatment of specific conditions, including epilepsy, depression, and migraine and cluster headaches. But research shows that vagus nerve stimulation may help bolster brain function, even in healthy people.

“It turns out that many of the activities that we associate with calmness—things like deep breathing, meditation, massage and even the experience of awe—effect changes in the brain, in part, through increasing vagus nerve activity,” said Vernon B. Williams, MD, a sports neurologist at Cedars-Sinai.

And a growing body of research links meditation, mindfulness and even listening to music (which can elicit feelings of awe) to a reduced risk of cognitive impairment. But scientists are still unclear on how the vagus nerve impacts health and cognition.

“Research is underway to try to understand whether vagus nerve activity has a direct effect on pathology, immunity and total functioning, both physical and cognitive,” said Mitzi Gonzales, PhD, director of Translational Research in the Jona Goldrich Center for Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders at Cedars-Sinai.

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21Mar

Letters to the Editor (21 March 2024)

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21 Mar 2024  |   06:10am IST

Letters to the Editor (21 March 2024)

Dust pollution haunts Panjimites

It is learnt that a group of residents from Panaji have reportedly filed two petitions in the Bombay High Court at Goa, urging urgent directions to the government and the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Corporation (IPSCDL) to alleviate the inconvenience and dust pollution caused by unplanned Smart City projects. The ongoing works has left most of the roads and lanes being dug up. This has caused a lot of dust pollution affecting the health of the residents especially children and the elderly population. Imagine a newborn or an infant breathing in dust-filled air. Dust particles are known for their potential to cause respiratory and cardiovascular health problems. They can also irritate eyes, throat and skin. 

Regular dust inhalation can greatly increase one's risk of lung disease and cancer because it weakens the lungs and contributes to disorders like chronic bronchitis. For people with respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema even small increases in dust concentration can make their symptoms worse. According to health experts, air pollution also plays a major part in exacerbating other ailments such as diabetes and sleep apnea. It would hence be in the fitness of things to screen residents of Panaji city for any lung disease due to dust pollution. A white-paper on the respiratory health of residents of Panaji would be welcome.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Respect sanctity of Basilica

Recently the Central Govt announced a package of Rs 17 crore for the preparation of the works to be undertaken  as there will be the Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier fondly known as Goemch Saib. 

This happens once in ten years, where the pilgrims and people of other faiths from all over the world and India visit Old Goa to have a lifetime closer look at the Holy Relics of the saint. 

The Basilica is under the Archaeological Survey of India and hence the area that has been earmarked as heritage site and has to be maintained by the Govt of India. Catholics should pray that the money sanctioned is used for the purpose that will make the area used as a pilgrimage site and not to promote tourism that will destroy the sanctity of the Spiritual Heritage site. For the Catholics and people of India, it is a blessing and we hope that with the visit of the Pope, Goa and India will be blessed with his prayers giving us hope to live for Jesus and to spread the message of Love and Not hatred. Praise God.

Gregory E D'souza, Siolim

SAG ground finally finds good use

The large open space beside the railway bridge and Taniya Hotel in Vasco, belonging to Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) which was idle for so many years and filled with sewage and tall grass, has finally found some good use for itself. Right after dumping tonnes of mud for the land reclamation process, the ground has generously contributed itself towards various events such as parking space for Vasco Saptah, cricket tournaments, political gatherings, shopping exhibitions etc. For the recent political gathering of the BJP, which took place on that ground itself, it was mentioned by MLA Daji Salkar and the CM that the open space would be converted into a multi-facility sports complex. If this promise finds its manifestation, then this will stand testament to a great leap in the development of the port town, which citizens are eagerly looking forward to.

Milind Jakati, Vasco  

Train toll plaza workers to respond to accidents

Despite the availability of modern technology and notwithstanding innumerable first-aid and safety signages, passengers struggle to come to terms with ghastly accidents on highways.  The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in conjunction with a public sector unit of the ministry of health, is  planning to strengthen the Incident Management System (IMS). 

The IMS strives to respond to unplanned events and service interruption by restoring the services and events to the originally planned state through a plethora of arms.  A few crucial amenities like availability of ambulances will be spruced up so that the " golden hour"— one hour following the accident— is not gone abegging. 

Real-time tracking system, too, demands fresh innovation to make it foolproof.  As regards to immediate medical aid, the number of trauma centres on highways, if any, require more additions. 

 It is beyond doubt that all passengers have heard about ‘toll-free phone number’ in exigencies but whether or not the exact number is known to them is anyone's guess. A very vital step undertaken by the NHAI towards ensuring passenger safety is to train the toll plaza workers for instantaneous response to accidents. Education and awareness are two sensitive, and invariable, cogs in the passenger security wheel.

Ganapathi Bhat, Akola

PM’s words just an empty rhetoric

Narendra Modi while on a visit to the North East recently had spoken about protecting our borders which the Congress and earlier governments did not do. Many do not realise that Modi has no problem about protecting borders. The moment our neighbouring country adopts a threatening posture, Modi cedes the territory to them like to China on our northern and north-eastern  borders where we gave given lakhs of square kilometers of our land to them. There is no need for protecting borders as far as Modi is concerned!

Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz

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20Mar

Most people breathe badly. Most of us rarely think about it. We should

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Opinion: For many of us, because of stress, hurry and the concomitant demands we place on ourselves, our breaths are too short, too shallow and too many

Published Mar 20, 2024  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  3 minute read

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Taking a few deep belly breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth, daily, can turn down your body's stress response, which is particularly helpful if your anxiety is accompanied by physical symptoms such as shallow breathing, a racing heart or churning stomach. Getty Images Photo by Bojan89 /Getty Images/iStockphoto

The thing I think about most every day, day in and day out, week in and week out, month in — OK, you get it — is my breathing. Not my finances or the state of the world or my relationships or even my cat. It’s how I breathe. I daresay this makes me not just unusual, but a dyed-in-the-wool freak.

But I have my reasons. Years ago, as I wrote in an earlier column, I developed a severe and disabling breathing problem as a result of a serious psychological breakdown suffered years before.

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My exhales sounded like a dump truck grinding its gears or a smoker hacking his guts out. At its worst, it was also constant. Literally. So bad that hotels refused me accommodation (I would bother other guests), passersby mocked me on the street, and I had to retire early from my job.

It was only after I discovered a breathing coach — yes, such a creature does exist — in late 2022 that I was able to bring it under some control. My coach, Cian Dalton, is from Ireland where he used to box professionally under the moniker, “the Celtic Cyclone.”

That probably sounds unusual, too, but it’s not. Boxing well, Cian explains, is highly dependent on how well a fighter breathes. If he loses his breath, he’ll lose his fight. Makes sense. So do a lot of other things he says.

Perhaps the most interesting is that most people — not just me — breathe badly. In fact, because of stress, hurry and the concomitant demands we continually place on ourselves, almost everyone does.

James Nestor, an American science journalist, made the same argument three years ago in his groundbreaking book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art. Put simply, Nestor says we breathe through our mouths rather than our noses, and into our lungs not our diaphragms. Consequently, our breaths are too short, too shallow and too many.

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Correcting this has been my main goal for the past 16 months, and it should be yours too. Nestor puts it brilliantly, I think, when he compares your nose to the main parachute in your pack and your mouth to the spare. In other words, the only time you should breathe through your mouth is when your nose is plugged. (Athletes, however, may need to breathe through both to get adequate oxygen for their sport.)

If you doubt this advice, consider this. If someone is upset, what’s the first thing we suggest he or she do to relax? Take a deep breath. Why? Because a full breath is always restorative, especially if taken outside. So why do we take so few ourselves?

(OK, it’s time to ask: As you read this, are you breathing through your mouth or your nose?)

Thanks to Cian, my breathing isn’t anywhere near the handicap it was. Talking and eating remain perpetually iffy (talking over a meal is probably the most difficult thing I can attempt). And exercising too vigorously is also something to avoid.

But on a good day — and there are many more now — providing I get regular rest and don’t overdo it, I can go until 4 p.m. without any cursed croaks, coughs or other sound-barrier breaks. No, it’s not enough. I want a complete cure and a normal life. But the difference is startling.

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Obsessing about my breathing does make me an odd duck, but having breathing difficulties does not.

According to research published in Britain’s premier medical journal, The Lancet, chronic respiratory difficulties are among the most common non-communicable diseases in the world. And thanks to pollution, industrialization and all the other evils of modern life, the problem is getting worse. The incidence of chronic respiratory difficulties worldwide rose 39.8 per cent between 1990 and 2017, and has continued to increase ever since.

But because breathing, like our heart rate and digestion, is autonomous, we, unlike me, rarely think about it. We should. After all, breathing is the single most important thing we do every day of our lives. So, Cian says, it’s something all of us should make an effort to improve — like a boxer. He should know.

Nicholas Read is the author of a dozen books about animals and nature and is a former Vancouver Sun reporter.

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20Mar

Jessica Alba in Workout Gear “Woke Up” and Worked Out

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Jessica Alba is showing fans just what it takes to get her strong, toned physique—and it looks pretty intense. Alba shared a video of herself wearing leggings and a white shirt, doing cardio exercises and weights with her long-time personal trainer Ramona Braganza at the gym. She also did some mat work wearing black leggings and a sports bra. "@ramonabraganza woke up and chose violence ????????????," she captioned the post. "And this is why we don't workout together ????," commented friend Lizzy Mathis. Here's how Alba is in the best shape of her life at 42.

Jessica Alba/Instagram

Alba's Instagram video shows her doing cardio on a treadmill, and weight training with dumbbells and resistance bands. Cardio and weight training complement each other in many ways, experts say. "Cardio training improves endurance, oxygen utilization efficiency, and cardiac and respiratory function," sports medicine doctor Dr. Christopher McMullen tells UW Medicine. "Strength training increases muscle size and strength, enhances coordination, and is utilized for preventing and rehabilitating from injury."

Jessica Alba/Instagram

Alba mixes up her workouts so she doesn't get bored. "To keep the workouts interesting for Jess, I mix up the strength training exercises in a variety of ways," Braganza told Harper's Bazaar. "Sometimes it's reps and others it's timings. We always have music on. Sometimes when the gym is absolutely not what Jessica wants, we will go outside and walk the hills near her home."

Jessica Alba/Instagram

Alba no longer sees beauty as something solely for the male gaze. "Before becoming a mom, my femininity was defined by society's standards of what it means to be desirable to men," she told The Cut. "Now I understand what feeling powerful from a woman's point of view means. It has nothing to do with whether someone desires you, it's more about how connected you feel to yourself. You end up attracting people when you're confident and you feel good in your skin. And that's a by-product of being connected to your feminine energy."

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Alba uses a massage gun to help recover from her strenuous workouts. "The most important thing to Jessica for recovery after workouts is to stretch and using her Theragun," Braganza told Harper's Bazaar. "Sore muscles will prevent good workouts the next day and she has learned how to take care of that through self-massage."

Alba is glad beauty standards are changing. "Millennial ideas of beauty are so unattainable in a way, and that comes from generations of us being brainwashed and feeling like we'll only be successful if we look perfect or desirable," she told The Cut. "Both of my daughters have a different outlook on what's beautiful. To them, it's almost off-putting if you try to look too good. It's more natural if you have a shiny nose or dark circles under your eyes, which they view as more real and cool."



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20Mar

Masculinity and being Queer in men’s sports

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I’ve never been one to fall for inflammatory content — those petty little posts that you know are just there to make you mad. But it’s certainly enticing that at any given moment I can give my brain enough primal stimulation to the point where my heart rate spikes, my breath quickens and my vision blurs. One click of a button, really. That’s all it takes. Click.

On Dec. 30, I took the bait. Duke basketball player Jared McCain was going viral, but not for an inhuman dunk or a buzzer-beating heave. Instead, then 19-year-old McCain was trending because he chose to paint his nails. And if I had any regard for my own well-being, I would’ve scrolled past it in blissful ignorance that maybe the online sports community was cheering him on for his self-expression. I knew that it wasn’t going to be the case, but I should’ve believed so anyways. Instead, I clicked.

“This shit is so gay.” My heart rate spiked. “Kick him out of school.” My breathing quickened. “The youngins need to get bullied.” My vision blurred. 

Maybe I shouldn’t have cared, really. All I could do was yell my own thoughts into the void and preach to the choir. A tweet wouldn’t change people’s minds, but I tossed one into the universe anyway — not for McCain, but for me. Because under the guise of sticking up for him, I was standing up for myself.

***

I rode my bike to practice that day, feeling free, pretending my short hair was flowing in the wind in a long veil behind me, like a dress. I was humming a soft tune as my naturally rosy cheeks, soft jawline and round eyes all scrunched in the face of the evening sunset.

As I slipped my basketball bag off my shoulders and rested my bike on the small maple tree outside the gym doors, I reentered the real world. I felt comfortable in that gym, even as a freshly minted varsity player who only knew most of his teammates cordially. The high ceilings and stark smell of floor sealant provided a familiar, soothing environment — a reminder that I had been there before. I felt comfortable in the space, but, to be honest, I never really felt comfortable with the people. The team camaraderie of sports — the collective suffering and joy, the unity that comes with sweating together — often eluded me. Even then, before I truly knew the reason, I had the sinking feeling that I didn’t belong there — thoughts that start somewhere in your chest and flutter down to your waist only to sit there, waiting to be, but never actually being, acknowledged.

I hadn’t quite come to understand my Queerness yet. The idea of it was still a small seed in my brain; I just knew that I didn’t think like the rest of my teammates. That day, I started to understand why. It wasn’t like the movies. Everyone didn’t burst out in snickers immediately upon my entrance: I wasn’t jeered at. In fact, people didn’t notice until I began tying my shoes.

“Oh, shit,” one teammate commented. “Eli has pink nails.” 

It wasn’t a malicious comment on the surface; it was simply an observation. Each one of my nails was sloppily painted in a neon pink, except for my ring fingers, which were coated in black. It was the deepest black my friends had. It was the type of black that I had imagined a black hole would be made of, the type of black I swore I could see my reflection in. I knew that wearing them to practice was a risk, but I didn’t really care. I was free that day.

“He’s been hangin’ out with the gays too much, man,” another teammate said.

“Faggots,” another corrected. My coach was in the room. He looked the other way. He used that word just as often as my teammates did. He had no reason to step in. Maybe I even saw the corner of his lips curl into a smile.

Those words hurt me on a level deeper than the anger I would feel for them saying slurs about others, but I wasn’t sure why. At the time, there was a feeling that, deep down, those words were describing me. My heart rate increased, my breathing quickened, my vision blurred. But I didn’t say anything. I didn’t stand up for my friends or myself. Instead, I laughed along, agreed and locked myself in the bathroom as I scraped off the polish. 

Basketball players didn’t paint their nails — not men, anyway.

***

Perhaps McCain didn’t experience what I did. Perhaps the Duke locker room was a much more accepting place than my semirural high school’s locker room was. Perhaps most of the hate McCain received was from lowlifes on Twitter with nothing better to do than make fun of a 19 year old. But then again, probably not, because it’s no secret that men’s sports aren’t a very accepting place. 

Accepting or not, I stayed. I loved the game of basketball — its fast pace, its wit. It kept me coming back for more. But I also loved what it gave me. It put me out of harm’s way, acting as a mask to any of my un-masculine tendencies. In the locker room, I was an actor, pretending to be a hard, emotionally closed-off jock. 

It’s almost like a game of “Who can be the most masculine?” I guess it makes sense that when you throw a bunch of young, competitive guys into a room together, it morphs into an unspoken battle of being the biggest, toughest man in the room — or, just the best representation of the prototypical “manly man.” It’s natural, I suppose, but it’s a vicious cycle: each person trying to out-man the one next to him. And this is the origin of “locker room talk,” the crude, often misogynistic and homophobic chatter that happens in changing rooms. It was this kind of talk that told me I didn’t belong.

Despite not yet really knowing that I was Queer myself, I had a lot of Queer friends. I was part of a 20-person fiddling band, of whom a majority were Queer in some form. In a way, I found myself on both ends of the spectrum. On one end, I could be freer and more open in my expression with very little judgment at all from my music friends. On the other end, I had to be very closed and purposeful with my actions and words so as to not be labeled as an outcast: an unmasculine man. I held my tongue as I heard slurs thrown around the locker room, slurs that I now know were describing me.

“If there was someone gay on this team, I’d make them change in the other room ’cause that’s weird,” I overheard one day — an homage to Tim Hardaway’s famous quote on a radio broadcast. Everyone laughed, agreeing. Yet there I was, right in the middle of the room, but the Queer still must hide.

In fairness, I am three years removed from my final days in a competitive sports team locker room. But I am not convinced that in my three years of absence, any notable strides have been taken. Stories like McCain’s and a similar situation with former USC quarterback Caleb Williams have drawn the homophobes of the sports community out in droves.

And this toxic culture doesn’t stop when an athlete enters the professional ranks. Former NFL player Colton Underwood, who came out as gay after his retirement, says that he used to have a folder of naked women on his phone that he would claim women sent him. He did this to “fit into that alpha hypermasculine culture.” The same teams that hold pride night and preach acceptance on social media have a deeply troubling culture behind closed doors. The walls of a locker room are well-insulated to protect against any change in societal climate — to protect the fragile representation of “manliness” as a concept defined by misogyny and homophobia that they hold on a pedestal.

I wish I would’ve stuck up for myself. I wish I would’ve told my teammates that they were wrong. Sure, nothing would have changed. Maybe I would have been ridiculed until I graduated, but at least I would have done something. Instead, I upheld a culture that I felt ostracized from. The only way to change a culture is to subvert it — being Queer in sports is an opportunity to turn the entire culture on its head. It can’t be quiet suffering anymore. I’ll paint my nails if I want to, because I belong in sports.

Statement Columnist Eli Trese can be reached at [email protected].



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20Mar

COVID vaccines can cut post-infection heart failure, blood clot risk: Research

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The COVID-19 vaccine can cut the risk of heart failure and blood clots after a COVID-19 infection, a new study in the British Medical Journal found.

Previous studies found that a SARS-CoV-2 infection can trigger cardiac and thromboembolic complications, and the risk for a person infected remains high for a year after becoming sick, researchers noted.

The new study found that while the risks remain, getting a vaccine slashes the risk of heart failure up to 55 percent and blood clots up to 78 percent after getting sick.

Using a sample of 10.17 million vaccinated people and 10.39 million unvaccinated people across three European countries, the study found the positive health effects were most significant in the 30 days following a vaccination but can last up to a year.

The study examined people who were vaccinated with Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

After the COVID-19 vaccine became politicized and controversial despite medical professionals urging the public to receive the shot, doctors said this study shows complications from the infection itself are worse than complications that may come from receiving the vaccine.

“While there has been concern about the risk of myocarditis and other thromboembolic events following vaccination, this analysis highlights that the risk of such complications is notably higher when it comes from the SARS-CoV-2 infection itself,” Dr. John Brownstein, the chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, told ABC News.

The results of the study show that a COVID-19 vaccination reduced the risk of cardiac and thromboembolic outcomes after a COVID infection. The effects were more pronounced in the few weeks following the infection, but are “consistent with known reductions in disease severity following breakthrough versus unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 infection,” the study found.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults 65 years and older get an updated vaccine. The CDC released a report that the most recent vaccines from the fall were found to be 54 percent effective at preventing symptomatic infections among adults.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

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19Mar

Do you have asthma? Here are exercises that are gentle on the lungs

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Picture: Pexels

Keeping fit or participating in extracurricular activities like sports can be extremely difficult when faced with the setback of respiratory complications caused by asthma.

Not only is it challenging to give your hundred per cent in these activities, but you may find yourself feeling like the only one missing out when it comes to the camaraderie that comes with sports participation – especially when you are still in school while watching your mates enjoy themselves on the athletics track, or rugby and soccer field.

The National Health and Blood Institute in the US explains that this is because asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that affects the airways in the lungs.

“The airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the airways can become inflamed and narrowed at times. This makes it harder for air to flow out of your airways when you breathe out.”

However, the health publication Kids Health reveals that not all is entirely lost. The information reveals that while cold weather sports and those that involve a lot of energy with no breaks do affect those with asthma, this does not mean that quitting sports entirely should be an option.

Instead, several sporting codes can be extremely effective in strengthening the lungs of those who suffer from asthma while simultaneously improving fitness levels.

Below are a few safe alternatives and how they can be beneficial:

Swimming 

Health and wellness publication Healthline explains that this is extremely beneficial to those who suffer from the chronic condition. It is further explained that the chances of getting asthma-related symptoms are increased because of the moist and warm air, low pollen exposure, and pressure of water fluid in the chest.

Hiking 

Hiking is also considered a positive exercise option. The above-mentioned source recommends finding a trail that is relatively flat with a steady low and steady incline.

Biking 

Whether indoor or outdoor, biking does not involve the over-exertion of energy and is therefore seen as a healthy option to strengthen one’s breathing.

Also see: Health benefits of eating fish

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19Mar

Venting to others doesn’t reduce anger, study shows

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People who vent about a source of anger might feel better in the moment, but that won't diminish their ire, researchers found. Photo by Liza Summer/Pexels
People who vent about a source of anger might feel better in the moment, but that won't diminish their ire, researchers found. Photo by Liza Summer/Pexels

Grumbling and grousing to others isn't an effective way of reducing rage, a new review shows.

Folks who vent about a source of anger might feel better in the moment, but that won't diminish their ire, researchers found.

Instead, stress-reducing techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation and yoga are much more effective alternatives than griping, results show.

"I think it's really important to bust the myth that if you're angry you should blow off steam -- get it off your chest," said senior researcher Brad Bushman, a professor of communication at Ohio State University. "Venting anger might sound like a good idea, but there's not a shred of scientific evidence to support catharsis theory."

For this analysis, researchers reviewed over 150 studies involving more than 10,000 participants.

They discovered that turning down the heat through stress-relieving activities is better at reducing anger because it lowers a person's fight-or-flight response.

On the other hand, venting about anger actually increased a person's agitation, as did physical activities like jogging.

"To reduce anger, it is better to engage in activities that decrease arousal levels," Bushman said in a university news release. "Despite what popular wisdom may suggest, even going for a run is not an effective strategy because it increases arousal levels and ends up being counterproductive."

Lead researcher Sophie Kjaervik, a postdoctoral fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University, said the study was inspired by the rising popularity of "rage rooms."

In these venues, people are encouraged to smash items like glass, plates and electronics to work through their anger, Kjaervik said.

"I wanted to debunk the whole theory of expressing anger as a way of coping with it," Kjaervik said. "We wanted to show that reducing arousal, and actually the physiological aspect of it, is really important."

For the review, the research team focused on how a person's physical arousal might influence their anger.

They compared arousal-increasing activities like punching a bag, jogging, cycling and swimming against arousal-decreasing activities like deep breathing and meditation.

The findings, published recently in the journal Clinical Psychology Review, showed that arousal-decreasing activities were effective at managing anger in both lab experiments and real-world settings, and among varying groups of people.

By contrast, activities that increase arousal generally did nothing to control anger.

However, it wasn't always clear-cut which physical activities increase arousal, researchers noted.

Jogging was most likely to increase anger, but playing ball sports or taking part in a physical education class tended to decrease arousal.

That suggests, researchers said, that introducing an element of play into physical activity might increase positive emotions or counteract negative feelings.

"Certain physical activities that increase arousal may be good for your heart, but they're definitely not the best way to reduce anger," Bushman said. "It's really a battle because angry people want to vent, but our research shows that any good feeling we get from venting actually reinforces aggression."

More information

The American Psychological Association has more about anger management.

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