Z94 - The Rock Station » health check

Love Salt? You Probably Did As a Kid, Too — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:28:31 +0000

If salty foods are your weakness, blame your childhood. Research has found that babies given such foods can develop a preference for them that carries over into adulthood. In fact, some kids in the study who were exposed to sodium early on even became bona fide salt fanatics, going so far as to lick salt [...]

Is Happiness on the Decline? Let's Look to Twitter — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:47:26 +0000

Whether you love or hate Twitter, the microblogging site has revolutionized online communication and some scientists are even using it to ascertain worldwide mood. Though, what they’ve found is kind of a bummer. In particular, Twitter has seen a steady decline in happy words and an increase in negative words since 2009, with the steepest [...]

Nurture Your Baby Now for Better Relationships Later — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:33:24 +0000

Want to make sure your new baby will have healthy relationships later in life? Nurture the bond you have with him or her now.

A new study with 75 kids over a 20-year period found those with secure emotional attachments to their mothers were later better at resolving and recovering from relationship conflicts and enjoyed more stable, satisfying ties with romantic partners in early adulthood.

Can You Stop Future Heart Attacks by Checking Your Blood Pressure? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:38:49 +0000

Getting your blood pressure taken isn’t the most fun activity in the world, but now it looks like we have a better reason to get it measured than simply “because we have to.”

Sorry to freak you out, but scientists discovered blood pressure fluctuations in middle age may be a precursor to both heart attacks and strokes.

Walking May Make You Thinner, But Will It Also Make You Stronger? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:16:52 +0000

In recent years, health advocacy groups have recommended walking a minimum of 10,000 steps a day to stay fit.

And although all that pavement-pounding does help keep your weight down, researchers have found it doesn’t make people stronger or improve their balance and agility.

Ex-Smokers Are Not Just Healthier, They're Happier Too — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:23:51 +0000

If you’ve decided to greet the New Year with a resolution to quit smoking, you may be dreading the stress and jitters often associated with nicotine withdrawal. But take heart! A new study says you’ll be healthier and happier. A group of 1,500 study participants who’ve been smoke-free for three years said their overall quality [...]

Forget Calorie Counting, It's Now All About Counting Gym Time — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:12:58 +0000

When it comes to food, would you rather know how many calories you’re ingesting or how much treadmill time it’ll take to burn off the calories?

Think carefully because some now believe displaying the amount of jogging time needed to burn off the calories from a sugary drink — instead of just showing a calorie count — may be more effective in dissuading you from drinking those beverages.

'Obesity May Run in the Family,' Say Researchers — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:04:09 +0000

Is obesity contagious? A study back in 2007 seemed to indicate that, saying we get it from our friends. To back that up, researchers highlighted data showing members of social groups were likely to have similar rates of obesity. New research, however, seems to be changing all this by finding that social interactions may have little impact on body weight.

Good News for New Year's Resolutions States 'Nibbling' Is OK — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:28:01 +0000

As you start to think about your New Year’s diet (really, don’t we all have one planned?), a small Norwegian study has found a little eating between meals won’t necessarily torpedo your weight-loss goals. Researchers found that women who engaged in “nibbling” — defined as unplanned or repetitious eating between meals — didn’t have a [...]

US Government Agency Begs to End Cell Phone Use While Driving — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:23:23 +0000

Studies about the dangers of using a cell device while driving have produced mixed results — some say talking or texting behind the wheel can increase the odds of a crash exponentially, while others say the perils are few.

Regardless, the National Transportation Safety Board is so convinced of the dangers of “distracted driving” that it’s now called for a nationwide ban on non-emergency cell phone use while driving. Even hands-free devices are not excluded.

Have Scientists Found a Way for People to Live Forever? — Health Check [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:00:22 +0000

A 100th birthday is so rare these days that it’s cause for serious celebration. But scientists say that someday in the very near future, people could live well beyond that. “I don’t think there’s any limit,” said Aubrey de Grey, a leading longevity researcher and scientist at Cambridge University. “Certainly, there’s nothing that would stop [...]

Could the Dangers of Driving and Using a Cell Phone Be a Bunch of Baloney? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:03:27 +0000

In recent years, study after study has raised the alarm about the dangers of talking on the phone while driving, with some saying you could be four times as likely to have a crash if you’re using a phone behind the wheel.

But new research indicates it may have been much ado about nothing.

Are Working Moms Healthier Moms? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:30:15 +0000

Many new mothers grapple with whether or not they should work while their children are still young.

But if a new study is to be believed, it can actually benefit a woman’s health to collect a paycheck between changing diapers.

Put Down the Raw Cookie Dough and You Won't Get E. Coli — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:28:08 +0000

Arguably the best part about making cookies during the holidays is getting a sneak spoonful of the raw dough before it goes in the oven. Like with tons of other great-tasting grub, however, it’s so not good for us. In fact, two years ago, 77 people in 30 states became ill from doing just that.

Can You Avoid the Stench of Bad Grades by Studying with Pleasant Smells? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:47:29 +0000

Hey students, want higher test scores? Try studying with a little potpourri or the scent of fresh-baked cookies. Scientists have discovered that our ability to learn actually decreases when the information is paired with a nasty smell. To test the theory, neurobiologist Rony Paz of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and his [...]

Should Nuns Be Offered the Pill to Reduce Cancer Risks? — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:11:23 +0000

If you were going to choose a segment of society least likely to need birth control pills, no one could fault you for putting nuns at the top of the list. Researchers, however, say the notoriously contraceptive-averse Catholic Church should make the pills available to those women to reduce their risk of cancer.

Thank You, Cavemen, For Teaching Us How to Yawn — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:41:08 +0000

The mystery of why yawning is contagious may finally have been solved: an Italian study says it’s linked to empathy. Suggesting yawning may show the closeness of your relationships rather than simply how tired you are, scientists discovered people were more likely to yawn in response to a close relative rather than just a friend. [...]

'Why Do We Shiver?' and Other Mysterious Winter Health Questions Answered — Health Check

Kathy Landin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:48:19 +0000

Unless you’re lucky enough to live in one of those beautiful, warm places, where the weather never changes, you are now settling in for a season of gloves, static, chapped lips and chills to the bone. But what do we really know about how our bodies react to winter?

Kids Whose Parents Drink and Drive More Likely to Do It Themselves — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:48:47 +0000

Want to keep your kids from drinking and driving? A new study says not doing it yourself is a good start. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) surveyed about 67,000 people over the age of 12 and found that 18 percent of 16- and 17-year-olds who’ve driven under the influence of alcohol [...]

Working the Night Shift May Literally Increase Your Risk of Diabetes — Health Check

Shauna Wright — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:05:11 +0000

All you ladies out there now have an excuse for getting out of working night shifts. A new study indicates women who work these hours could be increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Who knew? Data from almost 200,000 female nurses over two decades found this risk to increase between 5 and 58 [...]