HEALTHY LIVING Health Insider
A DRINK A DAY CAN RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE Even one drink a day can raise blood pressure. An analysis of seven studies found that systolic blood pressure (the top number) rose 1.25 mmHg in people who drank an average of 12 grams of alcohol a day (12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits all contain about 14 grams of alcohol). Systolic levels rose 4.9 mmHg in people who consumed an average of 48 grams of alcohol a day. Diastolic (the bottom number) levels also rose in men, but not in women. “I am not surprised by this finding,” said cardiologist Dr. Chauncey Crandall, author of the newsletter Heart Health Report. “If you have a blood pressure issue, you should cut back on these beverages. Alcohol is a definite risk factor for high blood pressure.”
EXERCISE HORMONE MAY REDUCE ALZHEIMER’S PLAQUES Previous laboratory studies have found that exercise reduces amyloid beta deposits in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the
mechanism remained a mystery. Scientists at Massachusetts
General Hospital recently treated human cell models of Alzheimer’s with an exercise- induced muscle hormone called irisin and discovered that it led to a significant reduction of amyloid beta, according to Se Hoon Choi, Ph.D. Researchers found that irisin increased levels of neprilysin, an enzyme secreted in the brain that degrades amyloid beta.
ALCOHOL LINKED TO FAT DEPOSITS Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol increased levels of ectopic fat — the fat around the heart, liver, intestines, or other organs. But not all drinking appeared harmful. “Interestingly, the
lowest levels of ectopic fat were seen in people who reported a light to moderate intake of alcohol,” said Richard Kazibwe, M.D. Wine appeared
to contribute less to pericardial fat than beer and liquor, perhaps due to the beneficial polyphenols found in wine.
ARE YOU ADDICTED TO THE INTERNET? Researchers from the University of Surrey have devised a new internet addiction spectrum consisting of five groups:
Casual users (14.8%) are usually older. They mainly go online for
specific tasks and log off without 92 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | FEBRUARY 2024
lingering, and they are the least likely to explore new apps. Initial users (22.86%) find
themselves online longer than they had planned, and somewhat neglect household chores, but don’t consider themselves addicted. Experimenters
(21.98%) feel anxious or uneasy when not connected to the internet and feel better after
logging on. They like to try out new apps and technology. Addicts-in-denial
(17.96%) have addictive behaviors such
as neglecting their real-world responsibilities, yet they don’t admit they feel uncomfortable when of line. Addicts (22.36%) openly
acknowledge their internet addiction and its negative influence on their lives. They are the most confident in using new apps and technology.
SEDENTARY TIME LINKED TO DEMENTIA RISK Adults age 60 and older may be
ALCOHOL STATISTICS
million The number of Americans age 18 and older who drank alcohol in the past year.
1 and 2 The safe daily limit of
alcoholic drinks for women and men, respectively,
according to U.S. dietary guidelines.
140,557 Annual alcohol-related
deaths.
at increased risk for dementia if they spend a lot of time sitting. A study published in JAMA
found that whether sedentary time was a consistent several hours or spread throughout the day didn’t matter as much as the total time spent being sedentary. “We were surprised to find that the risk of dementia begins to rapidly increase after 10 hours spent sedentary each day, regardless of how the sedentary time was accumulated,” said study author Gene Alexander, Ph.D. “Lower levels of sedentary behavior, up to around 10 hours, were not associated with risk.”
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ILLUSTRATION/GOLDEN SIKORKA/SHUTTERSTOCK / DRINKS/CABECA DE MARMORE/SHUTTERSTOCK
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