According to a study done by Colorado University and Boston's Children's Hospital, listening to iPods and MP3 players at high volume can lead to hearing loss. Listening through earbuds or in-ear headphones for 90 minutes a day at 80% volume is safe for long-term hearing, but at 70% volume one can safely listen for 4 1/2 hours a day. However, the risk of permanent hearing loss can increase with just 5 minutes a day at full volume. It's estimated that 7%-24% of users listen at risky levels - and it's teens who especially need to listen to the risks.
According to the American Medical Association, some salt is necessary to regulate blood pressure and assist muscle and nerve function; but too much can cause hypertension, heart disease and stroke. In the past 4 decades salt consumption has doubled because of processed and restaurant food. On average Americans consume 9-12 grams daily - that's 3,600-4,800 milligrams - and that's twice the government recommendation. The AMA says 150,000 premature deaths could be prevented yearly if Americans halved their salt intake. By reducing intake by 1 gram daily, 200,000 lives could be saved in a decade. These numbers shouldn't be taken with a grain of salt.
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 811 overweight adults were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 diets. The diets were healthy twists on popular commercial diets, containing different levels of fat, protein and carbohydrate. The participants were asked to cut 750 calories a day from their diet, exercise 90 minutes a week, keep an online food diary and meet regularly with diet counselors to chart their progress. What the 2-year study found was the reduction in weight and waist size was similar in all four diets. What counts in dieting is calorie counts.
According to a report in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, a well rounded exercise routine can help offset the effects of aging. For best results the routine should include 5 types of activity: aerobic to raise heart rate; strengthening to maintain muscle mass; stretching to boost flexibility; balance to improve coordination; and "core stability" training, which focuses on trunk muscles. Studies show regular exercise can lower risks of chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, as well as boost immune function, alleviate fatigue and reduce the risk of disability in older adults. It all starts with exercising - good judgment.
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