Faculty/Staff Wellness Program

Headlines...introducing Coach Alba...a new weight loss tool! Read more here

 

There are many wellness topics to learn about.  Below are some that might be most relevant to you.  

 

Longevity
Diabetes
Walking

 

Longevity

Researchers found that those who did not smoke, drank alcohol in moderation, exercised regularly and ate 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily lived 14 years longer than those who didn't. More.

Walking

Daily stroll protects memory lane

Vigorous walking improves metabolic syndrome

Tai Chi

Tai chi improved knee arthritis 3 times more than education and stretching...more

Diabetes

Brief but Intense Exercise May Thwart Diabetes

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Jan. 28 -- As little as three minutes of high-intensity exercise every other day may help sedentary people ward off diabetes, results of a small clinical study suggested. Two weeks of brief episodes of high-intensity training led... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/ExerciseFitness/tb/12641 

Aerobics and Strength Training Key for Obese Older Patients' Health

KINGSTON, Ontario, Jan. 26 -- For abdominally obese older patients, a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training is the best way to reduce insulin resistance and disability, a randomized trial showed. The combined training regimen led to... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/ExerciseFitness/tb/12599 

 

BATH, England, Jan. 23 -- Smokers motivated to quit were nearly twice as likely to stop smoking with group support than with one-on-one counseling, researchers here found. More than a third of participants in an intensive group smoking cessation... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Smoking/tb/12584

ATLANTA, Jan. 23 -- Although mortality from cigarette smoking in the U.S. is down overall, it has increased among women in 17 states and the District of Columbia, according to CDC. Overall, smoking-attributable deaths declined from 288 per 100,000 in... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Smoking/tb/12580 

 

Chondroitin Improves Signs and Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis

PARIS, Jan. 30 -- Special European chondroitin supplements taken for knee osteoarthritis over the long haul may ease symptoms as well as slow progression of joint damage, researchers found. In a randomized controlled trial, chondroitins 4 and 6 sulfate... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Geriatrics/Arthritis/tb/12682 

 

For Knees, Exercise Affects Osteoarthritis and Recovery from Arthroplasty

AMSTERDAM, Jan. 30 -- Certain types of activity appear to increase the risk of osteoarthritis in the knee, but strength training aids recovery after joint replacement surgery, two studies showed. Activities that involve mechanical strain or low muscle... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/tb/12673

 

PROVO, Utah, Jan. 21 -- Nearly five months have been added to Americans' average life expectancy by the decrease in air pollution that began in the late 1970s and lasted through the early 2000s, researchers here said. During that time, the... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/EnvironmentalHealth/tb/12552

 NEW YORK, Feb. 9 -- Mild cognitive impairment and its progression to Alzheimer's disease were less common in older New Yorkers adhering to the so-called Mediterranean diet, researchers here said. Among those who stuck most closely to the diet, the risk... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/AlzheimersDisease/tb/12815

 

 

MAYWOOD, Ill., Feb. 10 -- Women who drink two or more cans of regular soda a day may be increasing their risk of kidney damage, a cross-sectional study showed. Women who consumed the most soda -- a marker for intake of high fructose corn syrup -- had... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Nephrology/GeneralNephrology/tb/12836

 

 

ROCHESTER, Minn., Jan. 15 -- Patients with osteoarthritis in the knees may possibly protect against cartilage loss by building up their quadriceps, researchers here found. Strong quadriceps prevented cartilage loss at the lateral compartment of the... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/tb/12470

 OTTAWA, Jan. 15 -- Like the little engine that could, patient confidence may be key to reaching higher levels of physical activity, researchers here said. In a cross-sectional study, Canadian patients who were more confident that they could exercise... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/ExerciseFitness/tb/12475

Treadmill Exercise and Resistance Training Improve Function in PAD

CHICAGO, Jan. 13 -- Patients with peripheral arterial disease have improved function and circulation with treadmill exercise and leg resistance training, a randomized trial showed. Six months of supervised treadmill exercise led to significant... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/PeripheralArteryDisease/tb/12429

 

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 12 -- Individuals who reported sleeping less than seven hours a night were 2.94 times more likely to develop a cold than those who slept eight hours or more, researchers found. In addition, those who had sleep efficiency of 92% or less... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/tb/12414

 

 

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 5 -- Overweight individuals followed for up to 15 years were more likely to require hip or knee replacements than slimmer people, researchers here found. Study participants in the top quartile of body mass index (BMI) were... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatol ogy/Arthritis/tb/13132

 

 

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 11 -- Cash on the barrelhead to quit smoking appears to pay off in higher cessation rates, a randomized controlled trial showed. Smokers who were promised money to quit had significantly higher abstinence rates six months after their... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Smoking/tb/12855

 

 

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 19 -- A cup of tea morning, noon, and night could substantially reduce the risk of a stroke, according to a meta-analysis. Individuals who made it a daily habit to drink at least three cups of black or green tea were 21% less likely to... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverag e/ASA/tb/12964

 

 

BOSTON, Feb. 25 -- Cutting calories is the key to weight loss regardless of whether a diet emphasizes fat, protein, or carbohydrates, researchers found. Four low-calorie diets -- differentiated by percentage of intake of those nutrients -- all yielded... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pr imaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/13021

 

 

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Better eating and physical activity habits could prevent about a third of all cancers in the U.S., a new report says. The figure -- from Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention -- does not include the cancers that could be... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Primar yCare/PreventiveCare/tb/13045

 

BOSTON, March 3 -- A daily drinking habit may modestly increase pancreatic cancer risk, researchers found in a meta-analysis. Pancreatic cancer risk was 22% higher (95% CI 3% to 45%) for individuals who had two or more drinks a day than for nondrinkers... full story http://www.medpag etoday.com/HematologyOncology/OtherCancers/tb/13098

 

BOSTON, Feb. 27 -- Vitamin D deficiency appears to weaken the body's defenses against upper respiratory infections, researchers here said. People with serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D less than 10 ng/mL were 36% more likely to have had a recent cold... full story http://www.medpagetoday.c om/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/tb/13061

 

 

 

STOCKHOLM, Feb. 25 -- Being overweight or obese poses as much of an increased risk of mortality in young adults as smoking, researchers here reported. Obese and overweight adolescents have the same risk of premature death as heavy and light smoking... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Smoki ng/tb/13065

 

NORWICH, England, Feb. 23 -- Stroke risk declined in a linear fashion among men and women who adopted from one to four healthy behaviors, investigators here reported. People who did not practice any of the behaviors had more than a twofold increased... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Strokes /tb/12991

 

 

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 23 -- Higher calcium intake may reduce the risk of colorectal and other digestive cancers, according to an NIH study. Men and women with the highest levels of calcium intake had significantly fewer cancers of the digestive system... full story http://www.medpagetoday.co m/Gastroenterology/ColonCancer/tb/13000

problematic in depressed patients as previously thought. In a randomized smoking cessation trial, people with a history of depression were no more likely than others to report... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry /Depression/tb/13130

 New diet study in New England Journal of Medicine reveals that cutting calories and exercising-not a particular type of diet-is what matters. See video http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/29407732#29407732

 

MONTREUX, Switzerland, March 16 -- All types of exercise improve blood vessel function after myocardial infarction, but benefits disappear after patients stop training, researchers here said. Flow-mediated dilation significantly increased in patients... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com /PrimaryCare/ExerciseFitness/tb/13278

 

OXFORD, March 17 -- A body mass index (BMI) above the normal range is associated with an increased risk of mortality over eight years of follow-up, researchers here said. Every 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI beyond the normal 22.5 to 25 kg/m2 range was... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Obesity/ tb/13310

 

 

SAN DIEGO, March 17 -- To stay in decent cardiovascular shape, the government and various health organizations recommend 30 minutes of "moderate intensity" exercise five days a week. But just how much exercise is that? If you channel the Bee Gees'... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pr imaryCare/ExerciseFitness/tb/13294

 

 

DENVER, March 23 -- Three out of every four Americans don't get adequate amounts of vitamin D, researchers found. The prevalence of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels at or above the recommended 30 ng/mL dropped by about half in about 15 years -- down to... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com /Endocrinology/Osteoporosis/tb/13383

 

 

CLEVELAND, March 23 -- Normal systolic blood pressure and very low LDL cholesterol levels provide the most benefit in slowing the progression of coronary atherosclerosis, researchers here found. Patients with coronary artery disease who controlled... full story http://www.medpaget oday.com/Cardiology/CoronaryArteryDisease/tb/13389

 

 

ATLANTA, March 23 -- One out of three U.S. adults has an elevated triglyceride level, but very few receive treatment for the probable cardiovascular risk factor, researchers here found. In fact, only 1.3% used one of three medications indicated to... full story http://www.medpageto day.com/Cardiology/CoronaryArteryDisease/tb/13385

 

 

BETHESDA, Md., March 23 -- People who chow down on too many steaks and hamburgers may have shortened life expectancies, researchers reported in a massive study of aging Americans. Greater consumption of red and processed meat was associated with an... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Prima ryCare/DietNutrition/tb/13384

 

 

NEW YORK, March 23 -- High-fructose corn syrup has come under renewed fire for its possible links to a host of medical problems, with some major players in the food business beginning to substitute sugar for the ubiquitous sugar substitute. In recent... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pr imaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/13394

 

 

ATLANTA, March 26 -- Nearly 70% of adult Americans have risk factors that warrant reducing daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg or less, CDC researchers said. Based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2005 and 2006... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardio logy/Hypertension/tb/13449

 

NEW ORLEANS, April 17 -- Oral contraceptives blunt muscle development in active young women, according to data presented here. Ten weeks of resistance exercise training resulted in 40% less gain in lean mass among users of oral contraceptive pills than... full story http://www. medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AdditionalMeetings/tb/13797

weight loss than skipping an equivalent number of calories from food, researchers said. Each serving of sugar-sweetened beverages eliminated from the daily diet produced... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pr imaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/13751

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO, April 16 -- Substituting polyunsaturated fats for the saturated variety may help reduce coronary artery disease, according to a meta-analysis of studies involving more than 340,000 people on two continents. Their findings, pooled from... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pri maryCare/DietNutrition/tb/13783

 

 

 

HOUSTON, April 15 -- A low glycemic-index breakfast enhanced the fat-burning effects of moderate exercise in sedentary women, according to a small British study. Fat oxidation increased significantly during a 60-minute walk when the women consumed low... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pr imaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/13738

 

HOUSTON, April 15 -- Two studies and a meta-analysis provided mixed support for diet as a factor in colorectal cancer risk. A large European prospective cohort study suggested that consumption of fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of colorectal... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Prima ryCare/DietNutrition/tb/13744

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html

 

 

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., April 24 -- Both active smoking and secondhand smoke are causally linked to breast cancer, an international panel of researchers has found. In its review of several recent studies and meta-analyses, the panel, convened by the... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Smoking /tb/13899

 

SAN FRANCISCO, April 27 -- Lifestyle factors play a critical role in diabetes prevention, even for older adults. For adults 65 and older, a combination of good habits -- physical activity, healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption, and not smoking --... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrin

  SAN FRANCISCO, April 28 -- Smoking and hypertension top the list of preventable causes of death in the U.S., researchers found. Each of these two factors accounted for 20 percent or more of preventable deaths in American adults -- an estimated 467,000... full story http://www.medpage today.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/tb/13925 ology/Diabetes/tb/13917

 

AAN: Stroke Risk Cut 65% in Patients Who Hit Major Risk Factor Targets

SEATTLE, April 29 -- Patients who meet guideline targets for "good" and "bad" cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure can expect a 65% reduction in stroke risk, according to research presented here. Analysis of data on more than 4,700 patients... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverag e/AAN/tb/13979

 

SAN FRANCISCO, May 14 -- Athletes may get the same post-workout boost from a bowl of cereal as they might expect from a sports drink, researchers found. A bowl of cereal with nonfat milk after exercise produced statistically similar results as a... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Primary Care/DietNutrition/tb/14202

 

 

SAN DIEGO, May 20 -- The effects of exposure to secondhand smoke in childhood may persist for decades, a researcher said here. In a large cohort of nonsmokers, early signs of emphysema were noticeable on CT scans among those who had lived with one or... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage /ATS/tb/14294

 

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., May 21 -- All older people should routinely take antihypertensives to prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke, even if they don't have high blood pressure, according to British researchers. "Our results indicate the importance of... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardio logy/Hypertension/tb/14320

 

 

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., May 26 -- Internet and computer programs that help smokers quit are just as effective as more traditional methods, researchers say. Smoking cessation rates were about one-and-a-half times greater among those who participated in web... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Sm oking/tb/14361

 

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., May 28 -- Far fewer Americans are engaging in healthy lifestyles than there were just two decades ago, researchers say. Only 8% of today's patients engage in all five healthy behaviors -- maintaining a healthy weight, eating fruits... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pr imaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/14416

 

 

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., June 2 -- When it comes to muscle recovery, a glass of low-fat chocolate milk after exercise is just as good as a high-carbohydrate energy drink, researchers say. In a small study of soccer players, low-fat chocolate milk... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryC are/ExerciseFitness/tb/14491

 

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., June 3 -- Tai Chi may reduce pain and improve disability in patients with arthritis, researchers found. Their meta-analysis showed that the Chinese exercise had small positive effects on pain and disability, but the poor... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/PainM anagement/PainManagement/tb/14517

 

 

HOUSTON, June 8 -- Shorter sleep duration predicted higher blood pressure, adverse changes in blood pressure, and an increased risk of hypertension over a five-year period, data from an ongoing cohort study showed. Sleep duration also played a role in... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/ PrimaryCare/SleepDisorders/tb/14599

'Eco-Atkins' Diet with Plant Proteins May be Effective for Dyslipidemia

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., June 8 -- A variant of the low-calorie, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet that substituted plant protein for meat helped overweight people lose pounds -- and significantly improved their lipid profiles and other cardiovascular risk... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/ Dyslipidemia/tb/14602

 

The so-called Mediterranean diet -- rich in nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables -- reduces the likelihood that patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will need antihyperglycemic drug treatment, a new study found. Among diabetics who... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrino logy/Diabetes/tb/15764

ESC: Obese Kids Show Signs of Metabolic Syndrome

BARCELONA -- Obese children as young as 12 exhibit signs of metabolic syndrome, researchers say. In addition to higher blood pressure and greater insulin resistance, children who were obese had significantly decreased endothelial function and... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Meetin gCoverage/ESCCongress/tb/15773

 

When an American adult looks in the mirror, he or she is likely to see an out-of-shape, overweight, hypertensive, or diabetic adult -- which is why Americans considered at low-risk for heart disease now make up less than 8% of the population. Although... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiolog y/Prevention/tb/15960

Physical Activity Helps the Very Old (CME/CE)

No matter how old you are, increased physical activity is associated with decreased mortality and improved function, a longitudinal Israeli study found. Among physically active participants, eight-year mortality at age 70 was 15.2%, compared with... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/ Geriatrics/GeneralGeriatrics/tb/15949

NEW YORK -- An exercise program for obese children can reduce early complications that can eventually lead to heart disease, researchers found. Those in the program had significant reductions in blood pressure after three months, and significant... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Prim aryCare/ExerciseFitness/tb/17461

Weight Loss Improves Cardiac Structure, Function

NEW YORK -- Obese patients showed structural improvements in the heart and vasculature and in left ventricular function within three months of starting an effective weight-loss program, researchers said here. Among those who lost nearly 10% of body... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/P revention/tb/17454

Cardiac Benefits of Smoking Reduction Quantified (CME/CE)

NEW YORK -- Cutting out just five cigarettes a day after an acute MI was associated with an 18% decrease in mortality, researchers found. And quitting completely was associated with a 37% decrease compared with persistent smoking in a prospective... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Pre vention/tb/17457

SABCS: Obesity Hampers Breast Cancer Therapy (CME/CE)

SAN ANTONIO -- Obesity significantly worsens breast cancer prognosis, including response to therapy and survival, data from a large Danish study showed. Compared to normal-weight breast cancer patients, obese patients had as much as a 38% greater risk... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCo verage/SABCS/tb/17468

Diet and Lifestyle Still Top Bone Loss Prevention Strategies (CME/CE)

Diet and lifestyle should remain first among osteoporosis management options despite major advances in evidence for and approval of new treatments over the past few years, according to the North American Menopause Society. The group's position... full story http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Osteoporosis/tb/19352