Health : Health Buzz: Swimmer's Ear Common, Expensive, Preventable |
| Health Buzz: Swimmer's Ear Common, Expensive, Preventable Posted: 20 May 2011 07:56 AM PDT Study: Swimmer's Ear Costs $500 Million Annually Swimmer's ear is common, expensive, painful—and preventable, new research suggests. The itchy outer-ear infection, which is caused by bacteria in swimming water, leads to about 2.4 million trips to doctors and hospitals each year, according to a new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swimmer's ear cases typically amount to about $500 million in annual medical costs, or $200 per visit. Taking steps to prevent the infection could yield considerable savings, the researchers said. Swimmers should keep their ears as dry as possible by using bathing caps or ear plugs; towel-dry their ears after swimming; and make sure pools and hot tubs have proper disinfectant levels and pH levels to combat germs. Anyone who has itchy, flaky, swollen, or painful ears—all symptoms of the condition—should see a doctor.
10 Things That Can Sabotage Your Weight Loss So you've got your plot to drop the extra pounds. It certainly seems sensible: You're going to eat right, eat less, and exercise. After weeks of declining dessert and diligently hitting the treadmill, you step on the scale and...only 2 pounds gone? You conclude that something or someone must be sabotaging you. You might be right. While experts say weight loss can always be reduced to the simple "calories in, calories out" mantra—meaning if you eat fewer calories than you burn, you'll lose weight—a host of oft-hidden saboteurs may be meddling with the balance. Here's a smattering of them: 1. Treating healthy foods as low-calorie foods. "A lot of times they're not consistent," says Scott Kahan, co-director of the George Washington University Weight Management Program in Washington, D.C. So while whole grains, avocados, and nuts might be kind to your heart or cholesterol levels, dieters who binge on such foods can, before they know it, add hundreds of calories to the day's total. Enjoy calorie-rich healthy foods, dietitians urge, but ration them out: a quarter of an avocado on a salad or a small handful of almonds for a snack. 2. Shunning shuteye. Some research has linked shorter sleep duration to a higher body mass index (a measure of body fat) and increased hunger and appetite. Additionally, if you're tired, you might be prone to grab a sugar-laden treat for a midday boost, skip the gym, and have takeout for dinner to avoid cooking. It's a vicious cycle. Aim for seven or eight hours a night. [Read more: 10 Things That Can Sabotage Your Weight Loss.] 5 Cheap Alternatives to Hiring a Personal Trainer If you can't afford a personal trainer—or don't want one—there are a number of exercise and nutrition resources available on the Internet. For some, the convenience and social support of surfing for fitness guidance online can make it just as effective as working with a trainer in person, fitness blogger Chelsea Bush writes for U.S. News. Here's a guide for how to use (and not to use) today's top online fitness tools. 1. Social Media. Benefits: Social networks like Facebook and Twitter make it easy to get quick fitness tips and news updates, and connect with peers who can offer support and accountability as you work toward your goals. "People tend to stay with a program if they feel part of a community, and social media is the perfect vehicle for establishing this," says New York-based trainer Robert Brace. You can "check in" at the gym on Foursquare, a smart phone app that posts your whereabouts to your Facebook and Twitter profiles. Or you can tweet pictures of the healthy salad you made for lunch via apps like Flickr and Twitpic. With devices like the Nike+ SportBand, many are logging their running time and distance and broadcasting these from their social media profiles. The caveat: While social networks can help you stay plugged in to your fitness program, most trainers say these shouldn't be your sole source of support. "The great part about social media is that it reaches the masses," says David Kirsch, a New York-based trainer who fires off daily tips via Twitter and Facebook. But therein also lies the downside, which he acknowledges. Most of what you get from social media is advice for the masses, but to be effective, a fitness routine should be tailored to your body and lifestyle, he says. [Read more: 5 Cheap Alternatives to Hiring a Personal Trainer.] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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