Cheerleading Causes Majority of Female Athlete Injuries (HealthDay)

us.rd.yahoo.com — HealthDay - MONDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Over the past 25 years, cheerleading accounted for two-thirds of all catastrophic sports injuries experienced by high school and college females in the United States, a much higher proportion than previously thought, a new report says. read more...

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Higher Blood Pressure Risk In Teenagers Linked To Poor Or Insufficient

medicalnewstoday.com — US research reveals that teenagers who don't sleep enough or have poor quality sleep may be at higher risk of elevated blood pressure that could lead to cardiovascular disease in adulthood. The study is the first to examine links between high blood pressure and sleep quality in healthy adolescents. read more...

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A little stretching may not dampen muscle strength

nlm.nih.gov — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While some research has raised the question of whether pre-workout stretching hinders muscle performance, a new study suggests that a few minutes of stretching may not sap the average exerciser's muscle strength. Stretching is part of many active people's pre-exercise routine. But some recent studies have been pointing to potentially negative effects on athletic performance. In some studies, though not all, stretching right before a workout has been found to decrease both sprint speed and jump height. There's also evidence that stretching temporarily reduces muscle strength. However, one question has been whether such effects would be seen after the short bouts of stretching that a typical exerciser or weekend athlete might perform. The new study, published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, looked at just such a "practical" stretching regimen. read more...

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Money Awarded to States for Health Care

healthnews.com — As part of the current administration's strategy for expanding access to health care, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced grants of over $49 million issued to 30 states that provide health insurance to those who cannot get conventional coverage due to their health status. This year's grants are in addition to approximately $286 million that states have received since 2003 to support this program. "Getting health insurance to the uninsured has been a high priority of the Bush Administration," said Kerry Weems, HHS' Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator. "These new grants for high-risk pools will help get coverage to people who otherwise would not have access to health care." read more...

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Aging swimmer gives hope for the rest of us

msnbc.msn.com — CHICAGO - Dara Torres jokes that she had trouble reading the scoreboard after winning the first of two events at the Olympic swimming trials. Her eyes just might be the only part of her body showing some age. At 41, Torres is heading for her fifth Olympics — despite taking several years off, giving birth just two years ago and undergoing two surgeries within the past eight months. read more...

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High intensity exercise curbs metabolic syndrome

nlm.nih.gov — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Findings from a small study suggest that the ability of exercise to reverse components of the metabolic syndrome is directly related to the intensity of training. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms that together confer a high risk of developing heart disease or diabetes. The components include high blood pressure, high blood glucose levels, high triglyceride levels, a large waist measurement, and low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. In the current study, reported in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, aerobic interval training, performed at 90 percent of the highest measured heart rate, reduced 1.9 syndrome risk factors. In contrast, continuous moderate exercise, performed at 70 percent of maximum heart rate, reduced just 0.7 risk factors. read more...

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Report Offers Resources for Home Health Care Response During a Flu

ahrq.gov — Home Health Care During an Influenza Pandemic: Issues and Resources, a report identifying home health care as a critical component in providing care during a pandemic influenza event and offering resources to home health care providers and community planners to prepare for such an event, was released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in collaboration with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Home health care agencies already provide routine care for acute and chronically ill, permanently disabled and terminally ill patients. In fact, on any given day, there are three times as many patients in home health care settings as there are in hospitals. "To date, there has been little information about how home health providers could meet a sudden demand for services during a public health emergency, although it is extremely likely that these agencies would be called on to provide additional services at a time of need," said AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. "This report offers practical advice and potential strategies to ensure that home health care can meet emergency demands and continue to provide safe, high-quality care." read more...

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Eating Disorders - Anorexia Nervosa

healthnews.com — Anorexia nervosa is more than an eating disorder; it is also a psychological disorder. The person suffering from anorexia nervosa starts out trying to lose weight. Psychologically, over time, the weight loss becomes secondary, and the sense of power achieved from dieting becomes primary. At that point, in order to feel in control of his/her body, the individual engages in restrictive eating to a point close to starvation. Any eating brings fear of losing control. This restrictive eating becomes an obsession, just as physically and psychologically powerful as any drug addiction. read more...

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