Winter Sports Tourists at Higher Risk of Heart Attack

Skiers and other winter sports tourists who visit the Alps are at increased risk for heart attack due to low temperatures, high altitude and inadequate conditioning for intense physical exertion, finds a new study. The risk is greatest during the first two days of vacation, said a research team of cardiologists at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, who focused on winter tourists in the Tyrolean Alps. "Every year, millions of tourists visit the Tyrolean Alps to participate in a variety of winter sports, each of which carries a certain risk of accident and injury," study senior author Dr. Bernhard Metzler, an associate professor of cardiology at the university, said in a news release from the European Society of Cardiology.

"Previously it had been shown that sudden cardiac death accounts for a staggering 40 percent of the total fatalities amongst winter sports tourists in the Austrian Alps and, of these, acute [heart attack] is the leading cause," he added. Metzler and colleagues analyzed data from 170 patients who suffered a heart attack during a winter sports vacation between 2006 and 2010. About 56 percent of the patients suffered their heart attack within the first two days of beginning intense physical activity, although just 19 percent had a known cardiac condition. Prior to their vacation, more than half of the patients got less than the minimum levels of physical activity recommended by the European Society of Cardiology.

Altitude may have been a major factor, the study authors noted. The patients' heart attacks occurred at a mean altitude of 1,350 meters (4,429 feet), compared to the mean altitude of 170 meters (557 feet) where they lived. The researchers also found that about 70 percent of the patients had at least two risk factors for coronary artery disease, including smoking, diabetes or high cholesterol levels. People planning winter sports holidays in the mountains need to prepare themselves with regular exercise beforehand, the study authors suggested. Once at the resort, they should increase their level of physical activity gradually, they added. The researchers presented their findings last week at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Clearing Kids for Sports Participation Sparks Conflicts

Most teenagers think they're invincible, and that goes double for talented teenage athletes. They're young, immortal, at the top of their game, the envy of their friends. So when news hits that an apparently healthy, high school or college athlete has dropped dead in the midst of playing his or her favorite sport, millions of parents get understandably anxious. The uppermost question becomes: Should my child be screened before participating in sports? What tests are needed? And how can we be sure that he or she is truly healthy enough to compete? Everyone agrees that a medical checkup before participating in sports is crucial. But the agreement seems to stop there. At the core of the conflict over further testing is how extensively young athletes' hearts should be tested before they're cleared for athletic participation.

"I think everyone should have a doctor who evaluates them, and the doctor should know the child is going to be participating in athletics," said Dr. Paul Thompson, the director of preventive cardiology at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, who helped write a joint position statement in 2007 from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. That statement recommends cardiovascular screening for high school and college athletes before they start participating in athletics and at two- to four-year intervals. The screening should include a family history, a personal history and an exam "focused on detecting conditions associated with exercise-related events," according to the groups' recommendation.

But, there's more: "The AHA does not recommend routine, additional noninvasive testing such as a routine EKG." The American Academy of Pediatrics seems to agree. "Every athlete should have a thorough history [taken] from the athlete as well as the athlete's family," explained Dr. Reginald Washington, a pediatric cardiologist and chief medical officer at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver and past chairman of the academy's committee on sports medicine and fitness.The doctor should ask about any chest pain and dizziness, and whether the athlete has ever passed out or experienced a racing or unusual heartbeat, Washington said. The physician should also ask if the athlete's parents have had early heart disease, before age 55 for a man and 65 for a woman. And the physical exam, he said, should be thorough and include listening to the heart, taking blood pressure and feeling the pulse.

Weight Loss Surgery May Cut Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Losing weight can help reduce the amount of pain experienced by obese people with knee osteoarthritis, researchers say. The new study included 24 obese adults, aged 30 to 67, with knee osteoarthritis who underwent weight loss surgery. The patients' knees were assessed before surgery and at six and 12 months after surgery. Patients who lost an average of 57 pounds within six months of having bariatric surgery showed significant improvements in knee pain, stiffness and physical function, the investigators found.

These patients also experienced improvements in quality of life, the ability to perform day-to-day tasks and sports activity. None of the patients received other treatments for their knee osteoarthritis. The findings were scheduled to be presented Saturday at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day program. "Each individual had some kind of improvement in their pain from losing weight, some more than others," lead researcher Christopher Edwards, of the Penn State College of Medicine, said in a society news release.

"There are few studies that have investigated the role of isolated weight loss in the absence of additional arthritis treatment on those individuals with radiographically confirmed osteoarthritis," he added. "Further research still needs to be performed to investigate whether knee arthritis symptom improvement continues over time and applicable to those individuals who are simply overweight, but our research suggests a strong possibility of improvement."

Cyberbullying, 'Sexting' Major Problems for Schoolkids

Being bullied in cyberspace and "sexting" are major problems for school-age children, and parents need to be aware of this to protect them, says an expert. Research suggests that as many as 25 percent of children in the United States report being subjected to cyberbullying, which the use of technological devices to deliberately harass or harm other people through e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging, cell phones and online networking sites."With the increase technological devices, children are now using to harass and harm other children," Bridget Roberts, an professor of counseling at Indiana State University, said in a university news release.

"Many children have personal cell phones, making it very easy to use these devices in that way. Communication in cyberspace also seems more anonymous and seems to require less responsibility on the part of the child committing the behavior." And at least 20 percent of teens say they've engaged in sexting, which is the sending of sexually explicit photos via cell phones. "Teens and their parents are not aware of the serious nature of such an act and the potentially life-long consequences" of sexting, Roberts-Pittman warned. For example, teens arrested for sexting can be charged with the possession or distribution of child pornography and be required to register as a sex offender for up to 20 years in some states.

She said worrisome changes in a child's behavior may be an indication of cyberbullying or sexting. "Behavior change is a part of adolescence. However, a significant change could mean the child is dealing with a serious issue such as cyberbullying. Parents should be aware of signs such as anxiety, depression, their child not wanting to attend school or making a drastic decision such as quitting a sports team," Roberts-Pittman said. In addition, parents need to monitor their children's phone and Internet use and can do so using software packages such as Spectorsoft or I Am Big Brother.

Energy Drink

The benefits of creation your own energy drinks range from the control of sugar being put into the drink to using your own natural ingredients. The following homemade energy drinks should help you get the energy you need after a workout or just as a boost your energy through the day without the added sugar and preservatives in store brought drinks.

Apple Energy Drink

• Apple cider vinegar contains important amounts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, B1, B2, and B6.
• Ingredients:2 teaspoons raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar; 16 ounces chilly water; 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup/raw agave syrup/raw coconut nectar (for diabetics: 2 teaspoons yacon syrup/2 teaspoons coconut sugar or raw coconut nectar/4 drops stevia)

Chocolate Energy Drink

• Chocolate energy drink, just blend the subsequent ingredients in a blender until smoothed.
• Ingredients: 1 cup skim milk
  ½ banana cut and frozen
  2 tablespoons sugar
  2 tablespoons cocoa

Grass Energy Drink

• Wheat grass is an abundant basis of protein, potassium, magnesium, and B complex.
• Ingredients: 3 huge sweet bananas; 2 cups cold water; 1 tablespoon wheat grass powder
• Directions: Process all ingredients in the blender until level pour into a large sports bottle!

Side Effects of Steroids

The side effects of steroids can be very stern and even fatal. Nearly everyone on systemic steroids for more than a month suffers from a number of adverse effects, depending on daily dose and how long they have been on systemic steroids. These can include any of the following problems, which are not listed in any particular order of importance.

Different types of steroids are being used by various people in body building. Even athletes participating in many different types of sports have been using steroids to get better performance and build muscle.

How does Steroids Work ?

Steroids work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the action of the immune system. Inflammation is a development in which the body’s white blood cells and chemicals can protect against infection and foreign substance such as bacteria and viruses. In certain diseases, though the body’s immune system doesn’t function properly. This might cause irritation to work against the body’s tissues and cause damage. Inflammation is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain.

Steroids decrease the production of inflammatory chemicals in order to minimize tissue damage. Steroids also reduce the activity of the immune system by distressing the function of white blood cells. If steroids have been prescribed for one month or less, side effects are infrequently serious. However the following problems can arise:

• Sleep disturbance

• Increased appetite

• Weight gain

• Psychological effects, including increased or decreased energ