Health Watch

Back Belts

Don’t count on back belts to protect your back. Lumbar supports—those large belts worn around the waist when lifting or carrying heavy objects—do little or nothing to prevent back pain, according to a new review by Dutch researchers.
UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, July 2008

Exercise & Arthritis

It’s not true that exercise makes arthritis worse. In fact, exercise stimulates cartilage to take up more nutrients and repair itself, and physical activity thus helps people with osteoarthritis reduce pain and stiffness and cope better with daily activities.
UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, July 2008

Sleep it off

We're always told that being more active will help us lose weight, but the message might now also be lie back, shut your eyes and snooze. A recent study of more than 1000 men - led by J. Catesby Ware, a director of the sleep disorder centre in Virginia, USA - found that those who reported sleeping less, weighed more. "There are hormonal secretions that are affected by sleep loss that apparently affect appetite and eating." reveals Ware.

So how much sleep do we need? According to professor of neurology Dr Phyllis Zee: "People who report, on average, getting between seven and eight hours of sleep are the ones who appear to have the lowest risk of weight gain.

Heartburn

To reduce heartburn at night, try to sleep on your left side, not on your right side or back. This reduces the backup of food and acid int the oesophagus that causes the burning sensation. Raising the head of the bed aboput 15cm can help or use a bed wedge to elevate your torso.