A Guide for an Easy Calorie-Burning Lifestyle

Burning Calories — Photo by roxanabalint – yayimages.com

Regulation of calories has arguably become the single most important issue for people suffering from weight issues and consuming excessive calories is one of the primary causes of weight gain.

Therefore, in this article, we are going to talk about some simple and quick methods to burn more daily calories. All these calorie-burning measures can be adopted by making slight tweaks in our daily routine. Even if you are not suffering from the issue of overweight, these small adjustments can help you counter so many diseases that you might otherwise be subjected to.

Do Domestic Cleaning Yourself

What’s better than an activity that can make your abode more hygienic and clean while simultaneously help you to stay in shape? Cleaning kitchen counters, vacuuming the entire home space, doing dishes, and other related domestic cleaning activities can burn a good amount of daily calories without adopting any strict diet and rigorous gym activity.

Make Slight Changes in Your Daily Commute

Man bicycle riding on a city street By making little adjustments in your daily commute to the office, work or college, you can add an easy calorie-burning routine to your schedule. For instance, if your work destination is nearby your home and local traffic laws allow the bike ride on the roads then consider yourself lucky because an hour of biking with moderate speed can burn more than 500 calories!

Biking your way to work and back can help you burn a significant amount of calories without carving out any additional windows in your daily routine for workout activities.

If this option is not feasible, then some other tricks can also come handy in making your commute a calorie-burning routine. If you go to work in your own vehicle, then try to find a farther parking spot and walk your way to the office. Similarly, if you use public transit for your daily commute, you can get off a station or stop earlier to add some walk or brisk walk to your schedule.

All of the discussed measures are simple and easy to execute, you don’t have to do anything extra to burn calories through these little adjustments.

Walk the Dog

Woman walking a dog Having a pet in the house can be great for your mood. It also helps in creating an amiable environment in the house.

Moreover, having a pet dog can become a part of your easy calorie-burning routine. Take a walk with your dog a little further than you usually do or go to the nearest dog park. You can burn a nice amount of calories (and is also a good calorie burner for your dog!).

Stairs Over Elevators

By walking upstairs, you can burn double the amount of calories as compared to regular walking. Some people walk up four and five flights when at work just to keep their ‘blood running’.
So, just make up your mind to prefer stairs over elevators wherever you go. By making this simple adjustment in your lifestyle, you can burn more calories on daily basis.

Get Your Gardening Done

Person tending to her lawn If your home has an outdoor space, then you can also put it to use to burn some more calories. Set up a small garden there and take up all its maintenance and sprucing activities on your own. While providing you with a great environmental friendly hobby, light gardening activity (watering, weed removal etc) for half an hour can help you in burning more than 100 calories. You can also grow some seasonal vegetables to save some bucks on your grocery shopping.

Window Shopping

Many people find it very pleasing to roam around in a mall and just check out recent products and fashion articles on display. If you are one of those individuals, then there is good news for you. You can burn roughly 100 calories with just half an hour of window shopping.

Two-Minute Walk Breaks and Lunchtime Wander

While sitting at your desk at work, you don’t need to walk for more than a few seconds throughout your shift. You can make a simple amendment in this stagnant activity to add more of a whole body movement in your working hours.

Add a two-minute window of walking every hour because one research shows that by doing so can counterbalance the detrimental effects of excessive sitting. You can devise a two-minute round-trip from your desk for every working hour. It’s very doable and will help you to prevent in developing a pot belly.

Moreover, don’t spend your lunch break in the same position you sit all day at work. Go out, have some fresh air and take a stroll for 15-20 minutes. It will rejuvenate your mind and also burn few calories.

High Line NYC — Walking the 1.4 mile High Line in New York City is an excellent way to burn off calories and keep that blood pumping

Apart from all these easy daily activities that can help you burn some quick calories, there are some occasional (weekly or fortnightly) activities that can serve the same purpose.

Site seeing, outdoor games or a hike: Explore your surroundings in whichever way you want. Try to schedule any such activity on weekends which can be served as a recreational escape and a way to burn lots of calories. If you live in or near a big city, why not play tourist and check out all the city has to offer. In addition, just going to the city and walking a good couple of miles is a great calorie burner. In New York City, the borough of Manhattan is designed in grids; that is, every block from north to south is 1/10 of a mile, so every 20 blocks equates to one mile.

Car wash: You can save money and burn calories by cleaning and washing your car on your own.

Bottom Line:

Exercising your body to do daily routines will help you to get rid of those extra calories and keep those vital organs running at optimum levels.

Newly-Researched Factors that Might Increase the Risk of Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term for all such instances where a person’s memory and ability of cognitive thinking get severely damaged.

The effect of dementia is so severe that it can interrupt or halt the everyday activities of an individual. Statistics regarding the prevalence and healthcare expenses of this mental concern demonstrate the graveness of the matter.

According to the World Alzheimer’s Report, worldwide healthcare expenses on the treatment of different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, will reach one trillion dollars this year. Statistics suggest that right now, around five million people are living with dementia in the US, and this number is projected to rocket to 14 million by 2050.

In the conventional healthcare domain, dementia is not considered a preventable medical condition. Therefore, most of the healthcare expenditure exhausted in this domain goes to researching the underlying reasons that lead to this disease and setting out its prevention measures.

Due to the greater prevalence of dementia among our senior citizenry, many people think of it as a pitfall and an unwanted consequence of aging. However, dementia can affect a person from any age group.

The fact that dementia is incurable makes it very vital to get oneself educated with all the factors that have been researched and studied for their role in increasing the chances of acquiring this mental illness in different forms.

Snoring

For many years, snoring was considered an annoying, involuntary habit of a sleeping individual. However, studies are now associating it with Alzheimer’s disease as well.

According to a study published in the journal SLEEP, obstructive sleep apnea (a principal cause of snoring in many cases) is linked to slowed cognitive functions and increased risks of developing dementia.

The researchers have further substantiated this claim by analyzing the spinal fluid of the patients who participated in this case study. This analysis has shown that people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea go through molecular changes in their spinal fluid, which might become a precursor for the development of dementia.

Thus, people suffering from excessive snoring and obstructive sleep apnea must focus on the treatment of their condition to limit the risks of dementia.

Diet Soda and Artificially-Sweetened Drinks

Use of soft drinks and other artificially processed drinks is detrimental to health in general. However, a research study from the previous year suggests that people with high use of such drinks become more vulnerable to acquiring dementia.

The study was conducted on more than 3,000 participants aged 45 and above who shared their lifestyle details to gauge the risk factors of getting this cognitive degenerative disease.

According to the study, people who have an increased average intake of diet sodas become two to three times more vulnerable to acquiring dementia. Even though the study is not conclusive, it shows that people who are already suffering from unhealthy physiological conditions and drinking diet sodas become more vulnerable to this mental health problem as well.

For that reason, our brain health needs to eat and live healthily.

Unhealthy Lifestyle and Behavior

Another interesting study has been conducted to identify the risk factors for dementia. A comprehensive piece of research suggests it might be possible that unhealthy lifestyles and behavioral choices prompt one-third of cases of dementia.

For instance, the study has pointed out that hearing loss at a young age, social seclusion, and lack of education after the 15-year stage can increase the chances of a person suffering from dementia in later years.

Of course, eating a healthy portion of fruits and vegetables is highly recommended, as well as a good daily exercise routine.

All these mentioned conditions and situations have a strong connection with the brain.

Calcium Supplements Can be Detrimental

Experts advise not to use nutritional supplements without any critical reason because scientific studies are constantly revealing the harmful side effects of these OTC drugs. A study that underlines the detrimental effects of calcium supplements has established its link with dementia.

According to the study, people suffering from cerebrovascular diseases and have ever suffered from stroke become vulnerable to dementia with the administration of calcium supplements.

The study doesn’t provide a direct cause and effect of this phenomenon. However, it can be deduced that calcium can affect blood supply to the brain by altering the stiffness or contraction of vessels.

So, people who are already suffering from brain diseases must consult their physician before the administration of any nutritional supplement.

Compromised Cardiovascular Health

The field of medical science has already established a connection between the health of the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system through different studies.

A research study, which was presented at the International Stroke Conference last year, suggested that health issues such as blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, which affect the heart’s health, are also responsible for increasing the risk of dementia. So, it can be said that by keeping your heart healthy, you can simultaneously reduce the risk of dementia.

Less Amount of REM Sleep

REM (rapid eye movement) is a part of the sleep cycle highlighted by increased brain activity. Therefore, most of the dreaming sequences occur during REM sleep. Now, science tells us that this dreaming phase of sleep can also protect our brain from the torment of dementia. According to a research study from the last year, older people with less amount of REM sleep become more susceptible to acquiring dementia over an extended time period.

The study has only established a connection between reduced REM sleep and dementia instead of furnishing the binary of cause and effect. However, initial inferences of this study suggest that increased activity of the brain during sleep can help rejuvenate the neuropathways that become fragile with aging and can lead to the onset of dementia.

Cranial Injuries

Severe repetitive and non-repetitive head injuries can also be one of the risk factors for dementia. Studies have concluded that people who suffered from a serious head injury in the past are 60 percent more at the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

In Summary:

- If you snore, find the cause. It might just be nothing (which is common) or may be the result of something that may need attention.
- Soda tastes good, but for the most part, is not very healthy. Dring it sparingly if at all.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Have daily fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly.
- Be wary of calcium supplements.
- Make sure you are getting 7-8 hours of good sleep.
- If you acquire a head injury. Don’t manage it yourself. Seek treatment from a medical professional.
- See your doctor on a regular basis.

It is always best to consult with your physician regarding this disease and any diseases in order to better prepare for your underlying health, now and in the future.

A Formulated Opinion Behind Mass Shootings

Gun Violence Overview

A glance at the list of gun assaults that have taken place on American soil is chilling. The earliest traces of a massacre was in Colonial America in the 18th century, and the number of casualties as a consequence of gun-related violence at schools has shown a sharp increase since then. It has increased gradually and now has come to the forefront of the minds of the populace and the media.

The shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida are just some of the high-profile cases of shootings at schools.

While the regularity and prevalence of these events are alarming and subsequent gun control demonstrations have resulted in endless debate, there is another intriguing factor of mass shootings that evades the attention of the average person and that is not often highlighted by the media.

The central question we will focus on is what drives a person to shoot innocent people? Specifically, what incites them to carry out school genocide?

Our objective is to understand a person’s reasons for inciting a mass shooting, particularly those aimed at schools where the victims are innocent children and teachers.

Our conclusions were not designed to imply a defense for the actions of the attackers or condone their actions. There are scores of conclusions from experts and non-experts alike and our discussion is but one of them.

Executive Partner and Director of the Mental Health Law Practice Group of the Abrams, Fensterman law firm, Carolyn Reinach Wolf’s Psychology Today article “Guardrails for the College-Bound With Mental Health Needs – What every worried parent should know to keep on-campus risks in check” was discussed on CBS Radio 880 by Dr. Steve Kussin.

Suggested Motives

School shootings are the subject of raging debates in forums varying from media outlets to public demonstrations and social media. Nonetheless, the main impression that people gather from their discussions is twofold.

One prevailing notion is that these atrocious attacks are the result of the perpetrator’s psychiatric condition, but another popular rationale is that such deeds are the side effects of a dysfunctional social environment.

Pretty much agreed upon by the experts and citizens alike is that these actions can be attributed to a combination of individual and societal determinants, not specifically one or the other.

For instance, the treatment meted out to Anders Behring Breivik, the antagonist who executed 77 people in two separate terrorist attacks on July 22, 2011, provides an interesting case study. Although he did not target a school, he did provoke genocide, which is exactly what a school shooting is: a bloodbath in the public domain.

In this particular case, the Norwegian media and the world at large concluded that the aggressor was concluded to be insane as a socially impaired individual; hence, the lone wolf narrative that is often attributed to such people. He was motivated by a radical right-wing ideology. Truthfully, both considerations are correct to varying extents. Simply attributing the attacker’s intentions to just one of the two would simply be a misnomer.

Part of the reason this stance is significant is that there is unlikely to be a single, definitive event that transpires in a person’s life that would make them feel the need to become a mass murderer. Rather, the impetus and incentive are far more likely to germinate over time due to their mental frailty and the negative impact on society.

We can assume that the assailant was free to make independent decisions which led to such a catastrophe and we can also yield to the notion that his surroundings played a part in his cognitive dysfunctionality.

The likelihood is that both the aforementioned factors supplement each other. Every individual harbors of angst and is inclined to be aggressive at one point or another. It is human nature; however, hardly any individuals are driven to vent their frustration with the aid of weaponry in a public venue.

With regards to the pressure that society has impaired on some individuals, a number of these murderers who executed this type of genocide showed symptoms that they felt that others were against them and this adversity led them to carry out such ill-conceived and unfortunate acts.

The guilty individual’s perception of society may shape and eventually trigger their need for violence. The extent to which they are affected determines if they are willing to take extreme measures. Therefore, we can conclude that the interaction of personality traits and external factors is what causes an individual to behave in such a way.

The Lone Wolf

As mentioned, individuals who engage in such drastic behavior are likely to suffer from a lack of social integration.

For example, in his studies, French sociologist Emile Durkheim concluded that cultural determinants can contribute to mental illness.

He also estimated that individualistic societies are far more likely to have cases of suicide, homicide, and genocide in contrast to societies that accommodate individuals.

A person who is considered a misfit or does not have the required social skills is likely to become a ‘lone wolf’. In time, the aggression and rage they feel towards the community that has shunned them may manifest as violent outbursts.

These individuals may look for some group to identify with, especially if it is political. This could be the first red flag of which there may be many more.

On the other hand, an individual who has developed strong bonds with others in their environment is more apt to be free from such thoughts, this rationale bears a striking resemblance to many of the school shooters when it is learned that they exhibit lackluster social and interpersonal skills.

Conclusion

We are not saying that people who feel that they are social outcasts are going to exhibit such behavior or that those who get violent feel a lack of being accepted. Their overwhelming emotional chaos can lead them down a path of violence, which becomes an outlet for the animosity they can potentially feel towards society; consequently, we should be vigilant in noticing such behavior, be aware of red flags, and take the necessary actions to prevent a full-blown tragedy.

The Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

A stigma refers to a sense of shame or a feeling of contempt attached to a particular person or a group based on their condition. The focus of our conversation will be the stigma that has consumed mental health.

Depression

There are more than 52 million Americans who endure some type of mental disorder and subsequently, many find themselves on the receiving end of condemnation.

Patients who suffer from mental illness embody one of the most widely stigmatized groups in the United States.

Depression

Whatever the reason why a person is depressed, if that individual starts showing abnormal signs of behavior, he/she may face ridicule and taunts as a result, depending on the circumstances.

It should be noted that the reverse is also true. Those that are bullied are also prone to depression. Such is the case of the tragic situation with Adriana Olivia Kuch who committed suicide after an alleged attack by four teens in her New Jersey high school.

So whether it is that a student is depressed before or after the fact, displaying signs of depression can only lead to more issues when at school, since other students may see that person as ‘different’.

People who are not educated about the perception of depression are unable to comprehend that it may be more than a state of mind. It is certainly plausible to believe that this person may need medication or a psychological evaluation if he/she feels depressed continuously.

Individuals who suffer from a mental disorder are already prone to feeling disgruntled and disheartened. It is only logical to assume that upon encountering a negative attitude from others around them, they will feel more demoralized and discouraged. A stigma serves as a barrier for those who are already in considerable pain.

A new initiative has been launched in recent years where personalities wear custom shoes with pink laces to support breast cancer awareness or rainbow laces to support LGBT groups. This is not just a marketing gimmick to attract attention or stay in the good books of the public, but a way to enlighten others.

The Outcome

Girl Being Bullied Now, imagine if instead of such a move, people engage in jeers and mockery. Tormenting those who are experiencing a hardship of the mental variety will not have a favorable outcome and may even drive them to act recklessly. Its societal effects include being ostracized and excluded.

Also, low esteem is likely to abound from a prevalent stigma. The recent school shootings may be the result of bullying from a person with low self-esteem, at least to a point. Eradicating the stigma of mental illness may be one step in combating these violent tendencies or at least help to reduce or delay the chances of an extremely violent outburst. Like cancers, bullying an individual, especially based on any form of stigmatization is a curse that no one wants.

How to Fight It?

The statistics regarding mental health patients are alarming. They delineate that 1 in 5 adults in the USA, which is roughly 44 million people, suffer from a mental illness in a given year.

1 in 25 adults experiences a serious mental condition whereas 1 in 5 children is likely to suffer from a mental issue in their youth, and approximately 450 million people suffer from a mental health problem worldwide.

That is a damning example of how mental issues can manifest so early in our lives; hence, another means that should be addressed by the medical profession. Additionally, this type of stigma is to converse freely about mental health. People should be encouraged to discuss the problems they face and they should be provided with a forum to do just that.

For instance, there are therapy groups and even on Facebook and websites where people can discuss their mental health concerns openly using their moniker or with anonymity if they wish. A person who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or a bipolar patient can write about their problems online and find a supportive audience in the process. This will give those who take mental health for granted an authentic, firsthand account of the trials and tribulations of people who suffer from mental issues.

An extension of the first method is to educate oneself about the types of mental conditions, what they entail, and how the illness affects patients. If you devote time to those who are suffering or give them a shoulder to cry on, you will learn much more about mental disorders. A small act of kindness will go a long way to eliminate the stigma of mental health. Any movement starts with one individual and if more people adopt the same approach, a positive difference can be made.

Another suggestion is to mind your language. Quite often, youngsters and even adults may use terminology such as ‘retard’ to describe someone who they consider an outcast. The person on the receiving end of their remarks may be actually suffering from a mental disease. Therefore, individuals should refrain from using such works as adjectives to describe others and show a modicum of respect and compassion.

Man who appears to be mentally ill

Speaking of which, it is encouraged that people show kindness to those who exhibit mental disorders. This is why schools often plan academic trips to mental facilities where gifted children reside. Interacting with them will represent a learning curve for students and ensure that they are a little more sympathetic and thoughtful in their daily lives.

These are just some of the ways we can combat the stigma affecting mental health. A little effort can hopefully signal a shift towards a more understanding society and that in turn can help to be an alternative to someone turning to violence.

Having sympathy and compassion for an individual who is mentally ill is of course encouraged, but we would be remiss if we didn’t address a contrarian viewpoint regarding people with mental issues. If there is any sign of a person showing potential violent tendencies, through verbal statements, social posting, or just a change of normal routine or behavior that you think may lead to violence, the proper authorities must know about it. It may be difficult for a family member to do this, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. It’s possible that the individual may not just be dangerous to others, but he/she may also be dangerous to themselves. As they say “If you see something, say something!”.

Little-Known Facts About Obesity

Obesity is one of the most prevalent health concerns of the majority of the US population. According to the statistics furnished by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, around one-third of US adults are overweight. It is a root cause of many diseases. From cardiovascular issues to glucose levels in the blood, obesity contributes to the many health issues that we face in America today.

Being overweight is underlined by excessive fat accumulation in the body and the area which gets more traction than anywhere else is the abdominal region. People suffering from obesity are more worried about the numerous layers of adipose tissues around their abdomen, commonly known as love handles.

Obesity in general and belly fat, in particular, can also have negative side effects on your psychological health. Losing confidence and avoiding social interactions due to the concern of having an ‘imperfect’ body and appearance can affect your life in more than one way. In this article, we will outline some popular and little-known facts associated with belly fat to improve your understanding of the subject.

Belly Fat is the Most Dangerous Among All

Although all types of excessive body fats are bad for your health, it is comparatively more harmful than the others, because the abdominal adipose tissues are rich in chemicals and compounds that can aggravate the issues of diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure.

It’s Not Just About Cutting Down Your Calories

Many people try to shrink their waist by cutting down the intake of their daily calories and there are many ways to do this. Excluding the excessive amount of calories from your diet is important to remain fit and healthy, but it doesn’t ensure you will get rid of your belly fat.

The nature of the food you are consuming to fulfill your calorie needs also sets the course of belly fat reduction. Science has established that calories taken from whole grains are healthier than the ones taken from processed wheat and barley. So if you want to reduce your belly fat, reduce your calorie count not just by eating less, but also by consuming healthy food.

Condiments are Helpful in the Fight Against Belly Fat

Aside from enhancing the flavor of meals, certain condiments can also aid to shed your belly fat. For instance, apple cider vinegar has been studied for its effects on people striving to lose those extra pounds. A group of people who are regularly consuming apple cider vinegar along with their diet and exercise routine was successful in reducing more belly fat than the group that was not consuming it.

Belly Crunches are Not the Answer

There is a widespread misconception that crunches can help you in getting rid of belly fat. This routine is good for making your abdominal muscles strong. However, you would be disappointed if you are exhausting yourself by crunching to lose excess weight in your stomach area. Yes,the exercise in itself will help you to lose calories, but then try aerobic exercises instead of crunches if that is what you are looking to do.

More Sitting Means More Body Fats

There’s an expression ‘Sitting is the new cancer’. If your lifestyle involves more sitting hours then it’s just a matter of time, you are more prone to acquiring additional weight. One can notice that many adults with desk jobs suffer from pot bellies, thanks to the fat accumulated around the abdomen. If you are entangled in a situation where you are required to sit for extensive hours, then add few minutes of aerobic exercises in your daily routine to offset the harmful effects of sitting.

Brisk walking, jogging, swimming or any gym activity can help you in maintaining this routine. Pick the one which you can easily accommodate in your everyday schedules.

Green Tea Aids in Losing Belly Fat

Green tea is also a good catalyst for losing weight. However, make sure that you are not just relying on the benefits of green tea. A healthy, low-calorie diet and increased physical activity are essential to reaping the benefits of green tea for burning the fat off.

Obesity in the Abdominal Region Should be Measured in Length

It sounds strange but if you want to effectively get rid of belly fat, then measure its reduction in inches instead of pounds. Measurement of your waist is a more precise way to gauge the success of your belly fat loss.

Number of Meals is not Proportional to the Amount of Belly Fat

Many people starve themselves in order to reduce the inches around their waist. However, the truth of the matter is that you can eat six meals a day and still shed abdominal fat. But these meals should be small in size and must be filled with healthy nutrients.

Stress is a Belly Fat Facilitator

Aside from taking its toll on your mental health, stress is also a facilitator in accumulating a layer of fat around your belly. It is physiologically underlined by the increased levels of cortisol in the blood circulation. This fight-or-flight hormone provokes untimely cravings for foods rich in fats and calories. For that reason, people with stressful lifestyles may suffer from obesity and pot bellies.

Is Belly Fat a Promoter of Metastasis?

Other than the above-discussed facts associated with belly fat, a recent research shows that it can also promote the development of cancerous tumors in the abdominal region. According to a study published in the Journal named Trends in Immunology, the layer of fat protecting vital organs in the abdominal region can turn into a threat in case of increased belly fat.

This layer called omentum generally serves homeostasis by inducing inflammatory reactions to heal internal wounds. However, if omentum is covered by more adipose tissues in terms of belly fat then it might provide a sanctuary for cancer cells against the body’s immune response especially in case of ovarian and gastrointestinal cancers. Scientists are still working on the role of omentum and belly fat on the metastasis of cancer tumors. If this research gets substantiated further, then it will be another addition to the long list of detrimental effects of excess fat on the body.

Getting rid of belly fat is not an unattainable task. With the help of determination and effective measures to mend your unhealthy lifestyle habits, you can most certainly get in shape.

What Happens When You Contract Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a condition where inflammation occurs in the air sacs of one or both lungs. These sacs are known as alveoli and may be filled with fluids such as water or puss. It can cause a glut of coughing, which is accompanied by phlegm. Phlegm is a thick substance secreted by the mucous membrane.

The infection predominantly affects children and adults aged five and above. Quite often, a bout of pneumonia can mean a visit to the hospital.

We will delve into the significant details of this disease, including what causes the inflammation, different types of pneumonia, symptoms that patients exhibit, risks involved, diagnosing the disease, and viable treatments.

Types

Pneumonia is classified into different types by health care professionals. This categorization is based on how the ailment is acquired. First and foremost, two broad categories are identified by doctors. These are:

Community-Acquired Pneumonia

When the disease develops beyond the realms of a hospital, it is known as community-acquired pneumonia. It is a common occurrence, particularly in winter and affects more than four million individuals in the United States annually.

Hospital Acquired Pneumonia

The other broad category is called hospital-acquired pneumonia. As the name implies, this transpires when a patient is admitted to the hospital for reasons other than pneumonia. Being subjected to a ventilator, for instance, can augment the risk of developing pneumonia.

Furthermore, the advent of pneumonia can be broken down into categories based on how severe the lung tissue is damaged:

Bronchopneumonia is a condition where deposits which cause the inflammation are dispersed in the lungs
Lobar pneumonia follows an inflammation of one lobe of the lung, which includes all the air spaces in the specific lobe
Lipoid pneumonia is simply the accretion of fats in the airspace

That is not all though. Pneumonia can also be divided into varying types depending on the germs that cause the disease. For example, bacterial pneumonia is caused by the presence of bacteria, the most common of which is known as streptococcus.

Respiratory viruses can also cause viral pneumonia, particularly in infants and the elderly. However, in majority cases, it subsides quickly. Mycoplasma pneumonia is a combination of both instances mentioned above while fungal pneumonia is the ill effect of soil and bird droppings.

Symptoms

Signs of pneumonia can change depending on whether the condition is mild or extreme and also, the type of infection that the patient develops. The most common indicators of the ailment are abundant coughing. While coughing is a precursor to several health concerns, wheezing linked to pneumonia will generally be accompanied by the excretion of excess phlegm. This is dense, yellow material that originates from mucus. It can also be bloody in severe cases.

Similarly, high fever can be a signal that something worse is around the corner and the same applies to pneumonia too. It is often connected with the sensation of chills through the body. Sometimes, as was the case with a 15-year-old teenager, he acquired a chronic cough, but showed no other systems; however, after visiting the doctor, he was diagnosed with walking pneumonia.

Alternatively, other manifestations include chest congestion and agony, which worsens as you breathe. A disconcerting headache and a general loss of appetite. This can often lead to diminished energy and/or fatigue.

Risks

Although anyone can develop the condition, there are some who are at greater risk than others when it pertains to respiratory illness. Determinants which augment the element of risk include people with a compromised immune system, poor health, senior citizens and cigarette smoking, to mention a few. The adverse effects that smoking has on the human body are well known. The phrase ‘smoking is injurious to health’ is a common disclaimer that is often found on the packaging of cigarettes.

A respiratory infection can also lead to the advent of pneumonia. For instance, if a patient has recently suffered from a bout of influenza or laryngitis, it may well turn in to pneumonia. Also, those who experience difficulty in swallowing, which can happen because of various issues, are also prone to developing the disease.

Moreover, patients with bronchitis and fibrosis or any other lung oriented illness are increasingly vulnerable. Experiencing augmented stress or trauma can trigger pneumonia and so can live in a nursing accommodation. All in all, there are multiple risk factors associated with pneumonia.

Diagnosis

Sometimes, doctors may encounter difficulty in diagnosing the infection. Like asthma and bronchitis, pneumonia shares many of the same symptoms. For example, coughing and chest pain are common indicators of several diseases, which is the main reason doctors are hard pressed may have to run a series of tests.

When you consult a physician, they may run tests related to your breathing and question you regarding how long you’ve had coughing and if it contains phlegm. Problems with inhaling and exhaling and checking your body temperature is another diagnosis that may arise.

Treatment

In terms of treatment, there are different routes that patients can take. Conventional wisdom suggests that a doctor must be consulted primarily. This will lead to prescribed treatment of the disease. Antibiotics and antiviral medication may be given by doctors, subject to the cause and severity of pneumonia. Examples of suitable pharmaceuticals include ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Pneumonia can also be treated at home. This would ideally include plenty of rest combined with the prescribed medication and an abundance of water intake.

In extreme cases, hospitalization may be necessary. This happens when a patient has another condition which can cause complications and subsequently, the situation can worsen. Also, appropriate diagnosis is necessary to determine how the individual initially acquired these diseases. Doctors monitor your vitals, such as your heart rate while you are admitted. They will also inject intravenous antibiotics into the system and employ oxygen therapy to assuage the patient.

Bottom line is if you acquire severe coughing that doesn’t appear to diminish, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible.

Breath: A New Indicator of Various Health Issues

Girl breathing Breathing is one of those homeostatic phenomena which occurs naturally. It is underlined by the involuntary movement of the lung muscles, which carries out the vital procedure of the oxygenation of the blood.

With advancements in the field of medical sciences, breathing is now being used as an indicator to diagnose different diseases and health complications. Now, anomalies in breath can reveal significant medical information about the examined individual.

In this article, we will outline all the diagnostic measures that can be performed through samples of one’s breath. Some of them are still in their preliminary research phase but might become part of conventional diagnostic practices in near future. Let’s take a look.

Bad Breath Can Indicate Stomach Cancer

Right now, screening of stomach cancer involves a difficult invasive procedure. Therefore, it is uncommon for people to get themselves screened for it. However, this may get changed in a few years because research has shown us that the nanoarray analysis of breath can reveal information which can help in differentiating between various early stages of stomach cancer.

The test was conducted where participants had to fast for 12 hours prior to the test. The same test is now being performed on a large cohort of individuals to authenticate the initial results. If the test remains successful, then it will be a momentous development in the field of medical diagnosis.

Breath Test for the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

For the diagnosis of lung cancer, diagnostic facilities carry out ultrasounds of lung and biopsies of the affected tissue. However, a study conducted a few years ago suggests that lung cancer diagnosis can also be made cheaper and non-invasive with the help of an electronic nose test.

A coded electronic device was used in the study to identify the presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the exhaled air. This profiling of VOC was then used to diagnose lung cancer of a group with a mix of people having lung cancer and other lung-related issues.

The study showed that this electronic nose was successful in diagnosing lung cancer in around 90 percent of the cases. Scientists are working on improving the accuracy of this device so that it can be adopted as a standard apparatus for the diagnosis of this disease.

Heart Failures and Breath Tests

It is quite strange to determine the condition of your heart through breath. But as we know, science is all about committing such wonders. A research was conducted in this regard where 41 patients with cardiovascular complications went through a breath test. The breath samples of these patients were then studied for chemical and molecular signs of heart failure through spectrometry.

Breath tests to indicate the conditions of heart failure are not conclusive yet, but they have paved a way for non-conventional diagnostic measures for cardiovascular diseases.

For the Identification of Diabetic Issues

One of the side effects of diabetes is compromised oral health. Dry mouth, bad breath, and gingivitis are common oral health issues that occur with diabetic patients. But now, scientists have found that the oral odor of diabetes patients probably contain significant information regarding the severity of their diabetic condition.

Scientists have found out that fruity breath in the people suffering from diabetes indicates a critical condition called ketacidosis. This condition is usually reached when a diabetic person’s body starts to churn out energy through fat metabolism due to low levels of insulin. This energy generation mechanism can lead to a coma because of its detrimental byproducts including acetone which gives a tinge of fruity smell to the breath of the affected individuals.

Breath Smells of Ammonia Indicates Renal Issues

Breath, with traces of ammonia, smells like you have eaten fish meat lately. However, if you are noticing that your mouth smells like seafood when you haven’t consumed any then this might be an indication that your kidneys are not doing their job properly. Toxins which kidney fails to remove from the body can affect the adjacent vital organs including the respiratory system. This renal failure can lead to the condition where the affected person’s breath gets ridden with ammonia.

Bad Breath Can Indicate Digestive Issues

Many people are concerned with their bad breath because of its social implications. Acid reflux and overburdening the digestive system are the common underlying reasons for bad breath. However, it has been concluded by researchers that bad breath can also be indicative of some serious digestive problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This digestive disorder underlines the stomach’s inability to digest food in time which results in the decay of organic matter in the gut resulting in bad breath.

Allergies in Respiratory Tract and Bad Breath

There are various respiratory tract infections which can lead to the problem of bad breath. Therefore, stinky breathe can also be used as a diagnostic pointer for flu, sinusitis, and bronchitis. Science tells us that allergies and infections in the respiratory tract can lead to the development of cells and tissues which produces bacteria that cause bad breath.

Foul Breath and Oral Health

Last but not least, oral health and foul breath have a strong connection with each other. Tooth decay can lead to the development of bad breath. In tooth decay, the outer hard layer of teeth called enamel erodes, exposing the soft inner layer. This exposed inner layer of the teeth entraps food particles that can’t be removed through regular tooth brushing. In the acidic environment of the oral cavity, the trapped food particles pave the way for the production of bacteria that causes bad breath.

Aside from different health conditions, bad breath is usually caused by poorly a maintained dental health and lifestyle. Failing to floss regularly and not brushing your teeth before going to bed can lead to this unwanted condition.

Moreover, smoking is another one of the major reasons for bad breath. Xerostomia or dry mouth also encourages the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity that can cause bad breath.

A Comparative Analysis of Popular Diet Plans

Apple with tape measure around it Fitness should never be taken for granted. People are inclined to follow the latest fad in hopes of shedding a few pounds. However, if they do not make wholesale changes, they are likely to gain weight again.

A better formula to follow is to improve your lifestyle. Ideally, this includes a good diet and reasonable exercise. While an adequate exercise regime is vital and can help reduce the risk of illness, the importance of a proper diet cannot be overstated.

“Abs are made in the kitchen” is a quotation you may have either read somewhere or heard if you’ve ever been to the gym or spoken to a fitness guru. The crux of this quote is that a diet is supremely significant, perhaps even more so than exercise.

Nevertheless, we can compare mainstream diet plans to decide if they are actually worth your time.

Atkins

The concept of dieting is defined as a routine where you monitor and control what you eat in order to lose, gain or maintain your weight. You can set yourself targets in terms of potential weight and eat accordingly.

Before we proceed, we need to understand that in nutrition, there are three main classes: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Each of these can be discussed in detail but it is immaterial to the differences.

One popular diet ‘plan’ is Atkins. Coined by Doctor Robert Atkins in the 1960’s, it involves a meal plan that is heavy on proteins and fat but contains virtually no carbohydrates. The basic idea is to consume greater quantities of the first two, which will help you avoid carbohydrates. It is expected that this will diminish your appetite over time.

Plate of eggs, strawberries and blueberries — Photo: photosofalifetime.com

The Atkins diet is divided into four phases. The primary step also called the induction stage, is to set a limit and consume only 20 grams of carbohydrates in a day. On the other hand, you must increase the quantities of protein you eat. Protein-rich foods include red meat, fish, and eggs. Fats included in the plan include dairy products like milk. However, starch-heavy foods, nuts, and caffeine are all prohibited.

You must adhere to these principles for at least two weeks. Achieving this target helps to lose weight faster since the body is subjected to an abrupt adjustment. The other three phases involve gradually reintroducing carbohydrates back into your diet once you are close to your expected weight. You can expect to shed up to 15 pounds in the first two weeks and four to six pounds in the following phases.

One of the benefits of Atkins is that it keeps you motivated early on since the initial weight loss is significant. This encourages a person to remain disciplined in his/her approach. The diet also cuts your intake of processed food, which is better for your health. It can also reduce the risk factor for developing diseases like cholesterol, sugar, and blood pressure.

Potential disadvantages are that it may cause fatigue and headaches. It will reduce the amount of fiber in your body as well as decrease your calcium levels.

Paleo

Adopting a prehistoric diet from the Paleolithic era millennia ago includes a reliance on basic foods. This also explains how both names given to this diet are derived.

Our hunting ancestors were reliant on anything they could catch and make with their bare hands, for instance, meat, fish, fruits, and nuts. Alternatively, this also means processed meats; wheat, dairy, and sugar are off the menu.

This method is generally regarded as being high on proteins and low on carbohydrates. Since there is no fixed plan, variations can be made to include a greater quantity of carbohydrates.

Omitting processed meals from your diet means a reduction in your calorie intake, which immediately helps in losing weight. The diet includes more foods that have ample nutritional value. If you abide by the Paleo diet, it will allow more flexibility since users generally follow an 80/20 rule, where they should follow the diet eighty percent of the time.

Moreover, there are no fixed meal plans, since the diet of cavemen was never accurately recorded. Paleo is not ideal for vegetarians since it has high portions of meat. Dairy products like milk are essential parts of a balanced diet but this plan discourages their consumption.

Dukan

Named after its creator, a French doctor named Pierre Dukan is another low carbohydrate and high protein diet. Like Atkins, this is also split into four stages.

Phase one, which is known as the attack phase, lasts for ten days when followers must consume lean proteins from a premeditated list. A small intake of oat bran and a minimum of six glasses of water is obligatory. However, unlike Atkins, the Dukan diet bans vegetables outright and narrows fat intake in the first stage.

The remaining three steps are called cruise, consolidation, and stabilization respectively. How long you stay in each will depend on how much weight you intend to lose.

Users’ weight level drops quickly like Atkins, which can encourage them to carry on. Dukan is easy to follow and there is no need to count calories. Additionally, a vast number of foods are permitted, especially in the first phase of Dukan.

On the other end of the spectrum, it can be hard to sustain the diet since it causes exhaustion and nausea since you are cutting a majority of carbohydrates, which means the body may need time to adjust.

Weight Watchers

This plan is based on an exchange or points system called SmartPoints. Foods are assigned points value and carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are factored in.

Weight Watchers is basically a calorie control measure where no limitations are placed on followers, as long as they remain below the point threshold determined by the system. The process is more thorough as meetings and weigh-ins are scheduled regularly. The diet can help you lose about two lbs a week.

The advantage of Weight Watchers is that no food is banned, which means no great adjustment needs to be made. The plan is not restrictive and advocates balance. The concept of safety net points means you can make exceptions and indulge in your favorite food without guilt.

The drawbacks of the diet are that in the beginning, understanding and following the points system can be as taxing as counting calories. People may be unable to attend frequent meetings as well. Also, Weight Watcher branded foods are suggested, which are more expensive than other value brands.

A Mixed Approach to Losing Weight

You might want to consider a holistic approach. This plan involves the discipline of the mind and body and is usually managed by a doctor or nutritional professional. Many people have succeeded in using this plan. You can learn more about holistic medicine here.

In conclusion, it is obvious that every diet plan has its benefits and shortcomings. A significant aspect of such plans is that excessive weight is lost in the short term, but if you’re not careful in the long term, you may regain it. Therefore, above all, a healthy and balanced lifestyle is encouraged.

How About DIY – Do It Yourself?

An alternative to all of the above is DIY. All it takes is a schedule of healthy foods to eat each day, exercise, and the proper discipline and you’re in! Follow these steps to ensure you’re on the right track!

The Case of the 67-Year-Old Man

In one case, a 67-year-old man, 5’6″ in height and weighing 187 lb, decided to not follow any diet plans. Instead, he decided to simply adapt to a natural routine of eating the right foods and avoiding the bad ones.

Breakfast

Previously he was eating for breakfast high-calorie cereal and sometimes a bagel with it and coffee with regular milk with a sweetener. He also had some fruit with the cereal, such as blueberries and/or strawberries.

Now he bypasses the cereal and just has a low-calorie toasted English muffin with low-calorie butter and Stevia for the sweetener, which has zero calories.

Lunch

This is where the weight loss plan really takes the punch. The man used to have big lunches. Cheeseburgers he would make at home or high-calorie frozen dinners and sometimes, he would go out to a fast food restaurant or the local pizza shop. Not to mention he included a glass of soda with every meal!

Now that all stopped. He currently has a light meal consisting of some tuna with a vegetable salad he would make himself or with friends or just a nutrition bar or equivalent. And to drink, just water.

Friends making a salad together — Photo: iStock

Dinner

Here he would splurge, but not a big-time splurge. Maybe just a small spaghetti dinner with a couple of meatballs or possibly a cheeseburger or go out to dinner with his wife for some turkey or chicken dinner, but watching the calories.

Other times, he would just have a vegetable salad, maybe some fruit with it, and just water to drink to accelerate the process.

Late Night Snacks

He would avoid this altogether or just have something light.

Exercise

The man would exercise daily, but not extreme or even heavy exercising. He would simply walk around the block at a pace just above simple walking. Other times he would go to the mall and walk around, taking the stairs to go to other floors.

He also came up with a unique exercise. Since he is retired, he would pick up his nine-pound Maltese and walk with her around the house, as well as go up and down the stairs a few times.

He would do all or any of these routines for about 15-20 minutes or until he would feel his heartbeat increase, then work out a little more and then stop. He stops not because he has a heart condition, but because he knows that that’s when his metabolism is working at its best; however, he doesn’t want to overdo it due to his age. Of course, younger people could exercise longer if they choose.

Case Conclusion

The bottom line is that this person stopped eating those high-calorie meals and drinks, specifically, avoiding high-calorie meals for breakfast and lunch and sometimes for dinner. Avoided soda at all costs and drank water instead – he also increased his water consumption by three-fold.

He also exercised and made sure he had the required eight hours of sleep.

The result – He began losing between 1/4 – 1/2 pounds per day and is currently weighing 179 lbs just after four weeks. He believes that the weight loss is disproportional, meaning that he has been losing more because he is not eating high-calorie foods and drinks and less because he is eating the right foods, but he also knows that both are important!

The man has a simple expression for his weight loss:
“It’s not about what you eat, it’s about what you don’t eat!”

Note: The above true scenario is working for this gentleman, but might not work for everyone, as each person’s health condition, metabolism and age should be taken into account. It is best to talk to your medical professional if you are going to change your diet and/or exercise to be on the safe side.

Summary

Of course, there’s no guarantee that any of these will work if there are other factors involved with your physical or mental health; such as, if you are pregnant, elderly, or have an immune deficiency disorder. In cases such as these, you should consult with your doctor before proceeding.

Whatever diet you choose, any of them are worth the try and many people swear by them, so get your diet shows on and start running!

Alcohol: Society’s Social Enigma

Beer poured in a bottle Maybe Al Capone had it right. No, we are not talking about his hideous crimes. Still, his ingenuity in realizing that alcohol prohibition was not going to stop the average Joe or Jane from drinking this popular beverage, otherwise known to some as ‘booze’ or ‘happy juice.’

In chemistry, alcohol is an organic compound. Technically speaking, when a hydroxyl functional group is combined with a carbon atom, alcohol forms. Let’s explore this subject further and maybe shed some light on it.

Properties

Ethanol is another name for this stimulant that is commonly found in alcoholic drinks. It is a biphasic drug, and different levels of dosage can have varying effects on a person.

It is produced when the yeast ferments sugar in food particles. Wine is a known example, made from sugar and grapes. Other instances include beer from sugar in malted barley, apple cider, and vodka from potatoes and beets.

The content of alcohol varies depending on the type of drink. Fermented drinks like beer contain between 2% and 6% alcohol, so if consumed casually, they do not make a person particularly inebriated. Wine has 8% to 20% alcohol, which makes it a stronger drink.

On the other hand, drinks like vodka (40%-50%) and tequila (40%) are distilled and have considerably higher toxicity levels.

Effects

Consuming alcohol has an impact on a person’s state of mind. It is a depressant with sedative traits that affect the central nervous system, and if consumed in high doses, it can diminish one’s vital functions.

Most consumers associate alcohol with pleasure since drinking small quantities helps improve their mood. How it affects an individual’s frontal lobe can be detrimental to health if taken in large quantities. This begs the question, is alcohol bad for us?

We can examine the benefits and drawbacks of this intoxicant, which may help us understand what makes us want this inspiring beverage.

Advantages

A commonly held belief among drinkers is that moderate consumption can positively influence our health. Research conducted at Harvard University supports this belief.

They accumulated data from over 100 independent studies and concluded that if consumed responsibly, alcohol can reduce the risk of diseases such as heart attacks by up to 40%. It also diminishes the possibility of clot-related strokes and other cardiovascular issues, but some drinks can have more positive health benefits than others.

Drinking alcohol increases good cholesterol in your body, which acts as a safeguard against heart disease. It contains high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which has a positive effect on our body.

Moreover, red wine contributes to a reduction in blood pressure since it contains polyphenols. Other health benefits include fighting the common cold. Many infants are given a teaspoon of brandy if they are suffering from influenza. This has been backed by a study at Carnegie Mellon University.

Researchers have also found that alcohol helps improve your sexual health and lower chances of getting long-term illnesses like dementia and diabetes but remember, these studies are based upon moderate drinking. Overdoing it, well, we all know the answer to that!

Disadvantages

drunk man on alcohol Now that we have elaborated on the benefits, we can look at the downside of drinking alcohol – and there are many.

First and foremost, caution is advised when drinking because the more you drink, the greater the chance of issues arising—or should we say, the greater the chance of just plain getting yourself in trouble, to say it mildly.

Many alcohol lovers are prone to heavy and binge drinking, which will be discussed later. If drinking sensibly can help avoid diseases, consuming overwhelming amounts can do the opposite. As the expression goes, too much of anything can negatively affect you.

For instance, drinking too much alcohol can lead to inflammation of the liver, a condition which is called alcoholic hepatitis. Typically caused by viruses, alcohol is identified as one of its primary causes. If you are not careful, your liver may also be scarred for life, an issue known as cirrhosis. In addition, jaundice is directly related to excessive alcohol drinking.

Harvard University claims that binge drinking can lead to cancers affecting the breast, colon, and, of course, the liver. Moreover, alcohol is a known reason for weight gain. One example is beer, a calorie-heavy drink with no nutritional value. If it is part of an unhealthy diet, it can cause drinkers to develop a ‘beer belly’ as well.

Drinking also affects your brain capacity. A frequent example is drunk driving. It is more commonly known as Driving under the Influence or DUI or DWI in the New York area. DUI can result in deadly consequences, and we probably know of someone or know someone close to us who went down this road (pun intended). It is not a pleasant experience.

Binge drinking, which we referred to earlier, is a habit of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. It is a dangerous trend that does not help. If you habitually consume multiple cans or glasses of alcohol in a short period, it damages the body and increases the chances of getting a stroke and high blood pressure. Teenagers and millennials are notorious for this, and many end up paying the price.

Soft drinks

Other beverages have effects that can rival alcohol as well.

Soft drinks like Coca-Cola and Mountain Dew are usually composed of carbonated water, sweeteners, artificial color, phosphoric acid, caffeine, and artificial flavors. The sweeteners contain a high level of sugar.

It is crystal clear that this is not a healthy blend of ingredients at all. Soft drinks also have zero nutritional value. In other words, it is a hollow drink with empty calories and no apparent advantage. Caffeine is a diuretic. That means it causes a more significant occurrence of urine. This, in turn, means that the chances of dehydration are greater. Sodas are also weight gainers.

The only potential benefit of soft drinks is that they contain caffeine, as mentioned earlier, and sugar elements, which can lift you if you’re low on energy. However, it is better to have fruits such as apples, which have the same effect.

Furthermore, excess sugar intake is quite detrimental. People often read the nutritional value of foods and consume them without thinking twice if the fat percentage is negligible. In such cases, it is essential to note that the sugar level of such foods may be quite high, which is never a good idea.

A single 350-milliliter can of Coke contains 39 grams of sugar, equivalent to roughly nine teaspoons. Sugar is bad for your bones because it reduces the calcium level in your body.

Diet soda, advertised as having no sugar, is not a viable alternative. They have abundant sweeteners, leading to sugar cravings and potential weight gain.

Conclusion

The most obvious caveat from our discussion is that both alcohol and soft drinks have multiple drawbacks. However, in the case of the former, it has several health benefits too.

We have discussed the attributes, advantages, and disadvantages of alcohol in detail, and the bottom line is simple. Be happy. Have fun and have a shot or two, but also be reasonable. Losing your cognitive abilities can put you in many places, none of which will make you proud. Additionally, you can become vulnerable to any number of crimes, including becoming a victim of sexual abuse. Other people’s lives may be put in jeopardy as well. Think about it.

Are Mobile Apps the Answer to Contemporary Health and Fitness Issue

”Image of a smartphone displaying a health app" — Photo by Wavebreakmedia – yayimages.com

In the United States, where obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes are the leading health concerns, the significance of staying fit can’t be overstated.

Our physical movements are shrinking by every passing day, which proportionally leads to a greater prevalence of the above-mentioned diseases. The conveniences of technology have made our lives virtually stationary. However, such is the paradox that technology can also help in compensating for the conveniences it provides to us.

Ender smartphones, the most noteworthy placard of modern technology. They offer us many different health applications designed to facilitate our lifestyles and encourage us to maintain our health.

On face value, these apps look great and might help people with their benefits. However, at this current time, no reliable records are available that adequately can provide us with results of using these health apps. Therefore, some experts contest that these health and fitness apps are not helpful and consider them counterproductive, but the developers and corporations that produce these apps may differ.

In this article, we will try to play the role of advocate of both points of views and then you can decide about the benefits of health and fitness apps on your smartphones.

Benefits of Health Apps

The proponents of health apps bring up several points to prove the benefits of these mobile applications.

Many are Free and Easy to Use

Most of the software applications available for smartphone users are free of cost and for that reason, this is the first benefit put forward by the ones advocating them. Others may cost just a few dollars, while other applications can be acquired after you join a diet group or health club. With these, the apps will most likely be free, but you will have to pay a monthly or yearly fee to join; however, these will be the best health apps you can use since they will provide you with many tools and recording features not found in free or almost free apps.

As far as the low-cost ones are concerned, you can still benefit greatly as they will help you with your daily workout and provide you with fitness ideas that are otherwise only available to people who can spend money on fitness books and professional consultancy.

All these programs have easy-to-use interfaces, which is different from the free-floating information available on the Internet. This feature of customization makes these health apps handy for every individual user according to his/her level of fitness and health condition.

They Have Unlimited Scope

Many health and fitness apps are not limited to any particular niche and health regimen. This feature makes them very universal in their reach. For instance, there are specific programs only designed to guide and help you with everyday running and then there are others that can facilitate your yoga routine.

This flexibility of use definitely makes them popular among people with a preference for different fitness regimens. From a virtual gym to a yoga studio, these health mobile apps can come handy to implement different physical fitness routines.

Helps in Maintaining Diet Routines

To stay fit, maintaining a healthy diet is as important as a physical fitness routine and sometimes even more and there are apps that address this aspect. The nutritional information regarding your meals can be furnished and there are some which can break down the food you ingest into its nutritional components and guide you in tracking your weight loss mission. Some of these programs are very professional; such as, Weight Watchers, which provides you with powerful software where you can actually point the phone at a food item’s barcode and acquire the necessary information you need to process your diet with..

Provide Best Tracking Mechanism

Have you completed your 10,000 steps today? How often have you heard that? With the help of navigation, mobile apps can perform a fairly accurate tracking of your fitness routine. They can also show you the number of calories burned during the activity. Moreover, you can schedule a complete fitness plan, track it and find your success ratio. There are even apps that can monitor your heart rate.

Downsides of Health Apps

Many people blame these mobile apps for being unproductive and harmful to the efforts of achieving fitness goals. Let’s have a look at the most common critiques on these virtual health applications.

Lack of Precision

Health apps are often criticized for their lack of precision and inaccurate information and this criticism is not uncalled for. For instance, some researchers most of the apps that calculate heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels use sensors that are not manufactured and assembled to find out these measurements. They say this information is unproven, unreliable and therefore can’t be used for any inference.

No Involvement of a Healthcare Expert

The exclusion of healthcare professionals is a USP of many mobile apps, but this same feature is also criticized because unaided and unassisted use of health regimen can prove to be counterproductive.

Lack of Regulation

Another issue which doubts the benefits of health apps is the lack of regulation associated with them. Clinics, physical fitness centers, and physicians, in general, have to comply with the regulatory policies of the FDA, HIPAA, and other regulatory agencies. But mobile apps are not required to undergo that strict and necessary checklist, which makes their use untrustworthy. Developers are not liable if anything goes wrong by acting upon the advisory information provided by these apps.

According to a research article published in the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, only three percent of the top 100 apps used to gauge blood pressure are designed by different healthcare agencies and rest of them are developed by coding engineers and developers. This free flow of health apps without any regulations is only giving rise to more inaccurate medical data.

Compromise of Confidentiality

Doctor-patient confidentiality is an important part of healthcare practices. It is imperative to maintain them for the peace of mind of patients. But unfortunately, health apps are not bound to maintain any such thing. Even though many health apps clearly mention that they maintain complete confidentiality of the user’s personal information, but the opposite has been found to be true on certain occasions.

As per research study conducted by an NGO, nearly two-thirds of 43 analyzed health apps leaked the personal details in the form of dates of birth and other medical information.

From the above discussion, it can easily be deduced that the use of mobile health apps can be beneficial sometimes. But relying too much on them and excluding professional counsel can also make them perilous with their use.

Research these health applications before you download. One good way to determine how good they are is to read their reviews. For the ones where you have to join a club or health organization, you will most likely be using a much more reliable health program; hence the saying:“You get what you pay for!”