BREAKING NEWS: Health (2)

Role of memories in people with and without hoarding problems

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 06:06:36 +0000

New research conducted at the University of Bath has demonstrated important differences in how people with and without hoarding problems discard objects and the role their memories play.

People with higher multimorbidity scores have faster brain decline, greater suicide risk

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 06:05:18 +0000

Having arthritis, or diabetes, or heart disease can change a person's life, getting in the way of daily activities and requiring special diets and medicines.

New probe can identify and latch onto proteins on surface of endoplasmic reticulum

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:55:28 +0000

Sigma receptors are proteins found on mainly the surface of endoplasmic reticulum in certain cells. Sigma-1 and sigma-2 are the two main classes of these receptors.

Study examines type of social interaction required for people to display physiological synchrony

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:49:36 +0000

A team of researchers led by a member of the Colorado School of Public Health faculty at the Anschutz Medical Campus examined what type of social interaction is required for people to display physiological synchrony--mutual changes in autonomic nervous system activity.

Instagram Is Bad For Your Mental Health

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:44:03 +0000

Technological innovations in this era, such as social media platforms like Instagram, should help people feel much more confident. However, they are said to actually jeopardize the users’ mental health.

New strategy for efficient production of fatty acids and biofuels from glucose

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:41:39 +0000

Researchers have presented a new strategy for efficiently producing fatty acids and biofuels that can transform glucose and oleaginous microorganisms into microbial diesel fuel, with one-step direct fermentative production.

Why San Francisco Is Banning E-Cigarettes

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:34:38 +0000

San Francisco supervisors are currently considering two measures that would ban e-cigarettes. Here's why.

Calculating The F-Number Of The Human Eye

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:30:45 +0000

There are a lot of things that go into computing the F-number of the human eye. Here’s what you need to know.

Neuroscientists find anatomical link between cognitive and perceptual symptoms in autism

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:27:41 +0000

Neuroscientists at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science and University College London have found an anatomical link between cognitive and perceptual symptoms in autism.

Vape Explosion Destroys Teen’s Jaw, Teeth

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:25:47 +0000

Researchers raised concerns that e-cigarettes may harm users due to sudden explosions.

Lyme Disease Update: Researchers Close To Finding Cure For Lyme Arthritis

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:18:19 +0000

Researchers believe that they're close to finding the cure for arthritis caused by Lyme disease.

Cancer patients taking statin medication has lower risk of suffering a stroke

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:13:02 +0000

Cancer patients taking cholesterol-lowering statin medication following radiation therapy of the chest, neck or head had significantly reduced risk of suffering a stroke, and possibly other cardiovascular complications, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Drew Barrymore’s Workout For Weight Loss Revealed

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:12:26 +0000

Here’s how Drew Barrymore remains fit and healthy throughout her career.

Home-based HIT appears to be effective for improving fitness in obese individuals

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 05:01:31 +0000

How much do you exercise? Government guidelines suggest that, in order to stay healthy, adults should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week - that's exercise that gets your breathing and heart rate up.

Natural Remedies For Clogged Milk Ducts

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 04:49:54 +0000

If you have managed to try everything, but your clogged milk ducts simply won’t unclog, maybe it is time for you to start trying these natural methods.

New analysis of U.S. data provides insights into workplace sexual harassment

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 04:37:31 +0000

A new Gender, Work & Organization analysis of U.S. data from 1997-2016 provides new insights into workplace sexual harassment.

Concordia researchers devise new technique to detect obstructions in artificial heart valves

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 02:47:00 +0000

Researchers at Concordia have devised a technique to detect obstructions in a type of mechanical heart valve they believe will contribute to safer follow-up methods for cardiologists and their patients.

Can Chewing Food Slowly Lead To Weight Loss?

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:46:24 +0000

Chewing food suppresses ghrelin hormones and promotes weight loss.

Vitamin C Serum: What Is It For?

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:56:28 +0000

A good vitamin C serum protects the skin against free radicals and sun damage.

[White Paper] Optimizing Intake & Orders Management for PDGM

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:46:04 +0000

While intake and orders management are already keys to home health agencies’ success, these processes will become even more critical with the onset of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) come Jan. 1, 2020.

As traditional home health payment units move from 60 days to 30 days in length, the case-mix complexity escalates. Managing time, scheduling and costs will become even more important. Smooth intake and orders management processes have never been so essential — and the time to prepare is now.

In this white paper you will learn:

Top tips to improve intake in preparation for PDGM
Expert advice on improving orders management as PDGM approaches … and more!

Download Now

Senior Helpers CEO: Home Care Is the ‘Tip of the Spear’ for US Health Care System

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:45:03 +0000

Home care — the types of services regularly delivered in a senior’s home over the course of months and years, rather than days or weeks — has steadily risen to newfound prominence of late.

Today, in fact, it’s now seen as the “tip of the spear” for the entire U.S. health care system, according to Peter Ross, co-founder and CEO of Towson, Maryland-based home care franchiser Senior Helpers. Backed by Altaris Capital, Senior Helpers has more than 320 locations in its franchise network, spanning 43 states and three different countries.

“We’re starting to get recognition,” Ross said Wednesday during a panel discussion at the Healthcare Innovation and Investment (HI2) Conference in Chicago. “The health care system is saying, ‘As home care, you’re really a part of us. You’re the tip of the spear. You’re in the home.’”

For proof of home care’s elevated status, one need only look at recent M&A activity.

In 2017, there were just 20 deals completed for home care companies, according to data from Atlanta-based M&A advisory firm Mertz Taggart. That figure more than doubled in 2018, jumping to 46 total transactions.

Meanwhile, there were at least six home care transactions in the first quarter of 2019.

While home health M&A activity is likely to feel like a rollercoaster ride in coming months because of a changing reimbursement landscape, home care dealmaking is expected to remain robust for the foreseeable future.

When it comes to M&A, a big chunk of home care deals has been spearheaded by private equity players. But that’s starting to change, according to Ross.

“I see more strategic partners getting in there in the future,” he said.

Of the nearly four dozen home care transactions last year, at least 13 came from publicly traded companies, including Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED) and Canada-based Nova Leap (TSXV: NLH), Mertz Taggart data shows.

Getting started

To some extent, home care’s momentum may only be just beginning.

The oldest baby boomer doesn’t turn 80 until 2026 — and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are only now starting to dabble with in-home services and supports focused on their members’ social determinants of health.

“We’re just at the tip of the iceberg,” Ross said.

Right at Home CEO Brian Petranick agreed. With a corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, Right at Home has more than 475 U.S. operating territories, providing a range of services in the home as well as in retirement communities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals.

“What’s interesting and what’s changed … is the industry has shifted,” Petranick said, also speaking at the HI2 Conference Wednesday. “People are starting to realize that with more care moving into the home environment, there is one group of people that really understands the dynamics of aging in the home — and that’s the people in our space.”

The realization is having a clear impact on home care companies’ bottom lines.

Right at Home, for instance, expects to hit more than $650 million in systemwide revenue in 2019, with over 32 million hours of care delivered across its operations, according to Petranick.

The main appeal of home care from an outcomes standpoint: its longitudinal relationship with clients.

“If you think about a typical home health transaction, it’s an event-based transaction,” Petranick said. “Something happens with a client, home health comes in to take care of them for a short period [of time]. They plug in and out of clients’ lives over the course of many, many years.”

“Home care, we’re there often before Medicare-certified home health comes in — and we’re there after,” he added.

Highlighting headwinds

Although home care is headed for big things, there are plenty of headwinds on the horizon.

Labor challenges are at the top of that list, according to Emma Dickison, president of Cincinnati, Ohio-based Home Helpers, a franchise network with more than 300 locations.

In 2018, the median home care caregiver turnover rate skyrocketed to 82%, according to the latest Home Care Benchmarking Study by market research and education firm Home Care Pulse.

To get around those labor obstacles, home care providers need to be nimble and think outside of the box, Dickison said. For Home Helpers, in particular, that has meant tapping into the recent retirees labor pool, along with veterans and the family members of active military members.

“I think we have to look at atypical ways and places to do that,” Dickison said at HI2. “What got us ‘here’ isn’t going to get us ‘there.’ We have to be very creative and innovative in how we attract and keep caregivers and staff moving forward.”

Per usual, ongoing state and federal regulation is also a headwind. In certain states, that has taken the form of caregiver registry initiatives.

Most recently, though, the hot-button state issue has come from Connecticut, which is on the brink of finalizing legislation that would prohibit home care agencies from enacting noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements with their caregivers. In general, such agreements are typically used to prevent caregivers from poaching agency clients.

Broadly, Medicare Advantage can be either a headwind or tailwind moving forward, depending on how it plays out, the three home care executives agreed.

The post Senior Helpers CEO: Home Care Is the ‘Tip of the Spear’ for US Health Care System appeared first on Home Health Care News.

Cancer-Causing Chemical Found In Popular Blood Pressure Medicine

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:27:42 +0000

A cancer-causing chemical has once again been found in other production batches of Valsartan.

Microscopic Life Found In Dinosaur Bones

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:24:02 +0000

While studying dinosaur fossils, scientists were able to make a new discovery: a thriving number of bacterial colonies living in the ancient bones.

Yogurt Health Benefit: Helps Men Avoid Bowel Cancer

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:18:06 +0000

Yogurt has been found to help reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer in men.

Colorado Hospital Faces Lawsuit After Contaminated Surgical Tools Led To Infections, One Death

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 23:55:29 +0000

Porter Adventist Hospital in Colorado is in hot water for using contaminated surgical equipment.

Arizona DCS Arrests Melissa Diegel as “Fugitive from Justice” While Living in Florida

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 22:43:26 +0000

Melissa Diegel with her two daughters before they were medically kidnapped by the State of Arizona.

Health Impact News

Melissa Diegel is an Arizona mother who had her two daughters medically kidnapped back in 2014 for disagreeing with their doctors.

Her story was covered by Health Impact News and inspired the beginning of our MedicalKidnap.com website.

The original story from 2014:

10 and 12 Year Old Sisters Seized from Family by Hospital in Phoenix

The Daily Caller is reporting that Diegel is being charged in an eight count indictment, and has been extradited from Florida, where she has lived since 2017, and is now incarcerated in an Arizona jail.

Diegel lost her long battle with the State of Arizona and never had her two daughters returned. But apparently Arizona was not content to let Diegel move on with her life, and is now charging her with “child abuse” for seeking medical treatment for her daughters from 2011 through 2014, and prosecuting her as a “fugitive from justice.”

According to The Daily Caller, Diegel faced a Marion County judge on May 21, 2019, but Arizona failed to produce a warrant and the judge dismissed the charges allowing Diegel to go free.

“I went to my extradition hearing this morning and Governor Ducey did not sign the governor’s warrant to bring me back to Arizona so as of right now I am free,” Diegel reported on Facebook.

But later that same day a sheriff’s officer reportedly arrived at her home with a new warrant and took her back into custody.

Diegel stated that she suspects Arizona may be worried about a lawsuit, since her oldest daughter is about to turn 18.

According to The Daily Caller:

Diegel said she is not sure why these charges are being brought now but believes Arizona may be worried about a lawsuit.

“The only thing I can think is that [her oldest daughter] will turn eighteen in December and then she can sue,” Diegel said.

“When the staff at Phoenix Children’s Hospital make mistakes, they have a convenient way of escaping the ire of parents and legal culpability,” says Malinda Sherwyn, who is part of the watchdog group Arizona DCS Oversight Group (ADOG). “They call in the Department of Child Safety and shift blame for their own wrongdoing to parents it’s called Medical Kidnapping and too often non offending parents never see their children again. AZ DCS picked on the wrong mother in Melissa Diegel.”

“They could not silence her regarding the harm done to her children in foster care. Six years later, as her oldest child ages out of this horrible system, a grand jury was convened based on the ridiculous fabricated evidence provided by the Department of Child Safety,” Sherwyn added.

Arizona may well have reason to worry about a lawsuit. An affidavit shared with The Daily Caller suggests that her two daughters were abused in foster care after being removed from her care.

Read the full story at The Daily Caller.

Comment on this article at MedicalKidnap.com.

MedicalKidnap.com Articles on Arizona

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Hometeam CEO: Supplementing Care Is More Important to Us Than ‘Disrupting’ It

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 21:58:29 +0000

When CEO Randy Klein took over Hometeam about a year ago, he was tasked with leading the private equity-backed home care company into a new era.

The New York-based startup had recently switched from its direct-to-consumer business model to one based on partnering with other agencies and insurers. It also moved from a payment structure based on private pay and Medicaid to one focused almost entirely on Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibles.

Since then, those tweaks have helped Hometeam expand geographically and win new partners, Klein told Home Health Care News, though he declined to share the number of clients and partners the company has.

And while Hometeam is often called a home care disrupter, that’s not the company’s predominant motivation anymore, according to Klein. Rather than disrupt home care, its goal is to supplement it to make that care more effective.

Klein recently connected with HHCN to share Hometeam’s progress and plans for the future, along with his bold Medicare Advantage (MA) predictions and take on recent flexibility for dual eligibles.

You’ll find HHCN’s conversation with Klein below, edited for length and clarity.

HHCN: We haven’t connected with Hometeam in about a year. How has the company grown and changed since then?

Klein: When I last spoke with HHCN for your Disrupt podcast, we were only beginning to speculate about the ability for non-medical home care … to improve outcomes and create value in the delivery system, rather than simply fee-for-service.

Fast forward, and we’ve expanded geographically. We’ve brought on a new health plan. We are working with multiple agencies now trying to help support aides and be an important part of the care delivery system.

We’ve started working directly with consumer-directed or patient-directed independent aides who are still paid for by Medicaid. [We’re] also supporting informal caregivers and self caregivers as well, all through the program we’ve developed.

Can you tell me more about your new partners and how you’ve expanded geographically?

We started working with a health plan in Massachusetts (that I can’t name) that has a large dual-eligible population.

We identified that within their dual-eligible population, they still had the opportunity to reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations, emergency room visits and other events by better leveraging the care that was already there — the aides that these members had.

We went live with them in January, [and] we’re finding that we have a pretty high rate of member acceptance. We see some good leading indicators that what we’re doing is likely producing results.

It has to do with an approach we’ve been using for years: Understand the client, understand their needs, understand what it takes to keep them safe and in place, and then provide real-time connectivity for the aide back to a supporting clinical team that can facilitate issue identification and resolution pretty much in real-time.

For a representative example, think about a typical frail, elderly dual-eligible member — multiple chronic comorbidities, probably mobility issues, maybe not homebound but something close to it.

In that case, if they have the right set of conditions — which is what we’ve been focusing on: chronic, complex, in the community — they have predictable patterns of care, along with predictable warning signs when things are going wrong.

Anyone in health care knows somebody with congestive heart failure who gains weight is someone you need to pay attention to. They all know how to do stuff like that through biometric monitoring. That’s an important part of it.

We’ve developed a program and process that says, “Alright, Mrs. Jones has this given set of conditions. Let’s make sure she has physicians orders in place and has the appropriate medications in the home or the ability to rapidly get the appropriate medications in the home, so when she starts to gain weight, we can get something to her, and her caregiver can assist her with that, allowing us to avoid the ED for that person.”

There’s actually a whole bunch of stuff we’re doing that caregivers have noticed forever, but we’re putting it to work.

The caregiver is going to be the first person to notice that someone’s not eating as normal, they’re not sleeping as normal, they’re not moving as normal. They’re going to be the first ones to see that there’s broken DME, someone is experiencing behavioral changes or there’s no food in the fridge.

We’ve identified the type of things caregivers can effectively monitor for. We’re not going to ask them a gazillion questions — because then you end up getting bad responses. We only ask them things that are important specifically for the case they’re responsible for.

Then we use that information, bounce it up against someone’s clinical record and say, “Alright, this is important in the context of this specific client’s set of issues.” Then we generate alerts and responses based on that.

Previously, we were only doing that for our agency. We were able to make that process and program now available to other agencies and plans, which allows us to be a lot lighter in terms of scalability and implementation. It also recognizes that in the case of these high-needs, chronic and complex individuals in the community, many of them already have care in place.

Rather than try to disrupt that care, we thought a better way of doing that was trying to make that care more effective.

The last time we connected, Home Team had recently switched to focus almost solely on dual eligibles and some Medicare beneficiaries. Is that still your strategy?

That is still our main strategy, and it is going well. We stood up our first health plan in that model, and we have several other health plans we’re pretty deep in discussions with.

It’s a neat part of the market to work on because, by definition, you’re talking about folks who have needs and the right payer construct — Medicare and Medicaid — making it achievable to use home- and community-based services to improve outcomes.

We’re just starting to look at doing this for people with Medicare only — people with Medicare Advantage plans. We see that there’s an opportunity there with MA plans that are looking at ways to use home- and community-based services through the benefit flexibility that was recently offered.

For the time being, our main focus is on dual-eligibles.

Speaking of dual-eligibles, CMS recently announced plans to expand coverage options for that population. What’s your reaction to that?

I clapped. I think I posted about it, too.

Only like 10% of duals are actually in organized care delivery. Being dual is actually a social condition, not a medical one. It means that you are low income and either disabled or elderly.

It has nothing to do with your medical care, but it makes you many times more likely to experience adverse medical outcomes. It does not need to be that way.

With the moves CMS is making right now, I would anticipate that in the not too distant future, you’re going to start to see growth in the fully integrated dual-eligible plans. You’re also going to see provider groups that are taking risks or creating synthetic dual-eligible plans.

Going back to Medicare Advantage and the new flexibility — what plans does Hometeam have there?

I still think it’s really early days on that.

There was limited uptake of the benefit last year, and what did come out was pretty light. The reason for that is many-fold: rate adequacy, concerns about adverse selection, questions about whether or not it’s actually going to have the anticipated results.

I expect it’s going to be another year or so before we really see that benefit take off because health plans are cautious.

That being said, we’re looking at the rules around what CMS put out there, which is that they’re looking for an extended benefit that will produce improved outcomes for its recipients. It has to have something that has a medical improvement aspect to it as well, and we’re very much positioning ourselves to support that. We look at the major opportunities there as falling into a couple of buckets.

Care transitions make a ton of sense. The other is for high utilizers — people who are cycling in and out of the hospital or who are at end-of-life on Medicare.

For that subset of the population, I could see a plan deciding they’re going to offer an extended home care benefit that goes above and beyond the Medicare regulations for skilled home care and allows for some degree of personal care to keep those folks from cycling back in.

Previously, you told us that the Hometeam of the future will be a technology and data-enabled provider of in-home care supports and services. What sort of tech and data projects are you working on?

We’re ingesting all sorts of health plan and delivery system data. We’re working with claims, pharmacy data [and more]. This allows us to automatically build member profiles and use them to anticipate the type of things we should be watching for.

We’ve gotten much more precise in identifying which members are likely to have a need that is unmet in the community.

One of the things we’re doing that’s pretty unique and valuable is marrying up the traditional home-based functional time-and-task type information with the medical claims [and] pharmacy data, where those two really have not spent time mingling together.

Hometeam is often grouped with Honor and now-defunct HomeHero as a venture-backed home care disruptor. What are your thoughts on those comparisons and disruption in home care in general?

Each company has found its own way.

Obviously, HomeHero is not around anymore in its present form. I’ve heard that they’ve considered reconstituting.

I wish [Honor] well. They’ve chosen a path that makes a ton of sense for the type of business they’re trying to enable.

What Honor, HomeHero and HomeTeam was trying to do at the outset — it’s needed.

We need better aide placements. We need a better way of connecting with people with community-based care. And disruption takes time.

There’s a strong need for disruption in home care, otherwise I would not have moved here. But it’s a very difficult business to achieve disruption in for a lot of reasons.

That being said, I believe with the moves that have happened from CMS, in the market and around value-based contracting, the time is now more than it was four or five years ago for this to happen.

What other industry trends are you keeping your eyes on?

Social determinants. It’s really important — and it’s buzzy, but it’s buzzy for a reason.

It’s great that people are starting to think about health behaviors, anxieties, insecurities, loneliness [and] real things that affect people’s ability to thrive.

Looking forward, what’s next for Hometeam? Can we expect any strategy shifts or big changes in the future?

I don’t think so. I say that at all peril that statement could create for myself.

We’re doing what we said we were going to do when I got here a year ago. We’ve been doing it, and we’re going to continue to do it. I like the results that we’re seeing.

There’s just so much work to be done here that what makes sense for us is to continue moving at this issue of improving outcomes through supporting caregivers in the home.

*Editor’s note: HHCN spoke with Klein before fellow home care disruptor HomeHero was acquired by Family Directed, giving the once-defunct start-up new life.

The post Hometeam CEO: Supplementing Care Is More Important to Us Than ‘Disrupting’ It appeared first on Home Health Care News.

Nike Mannequins Come in All Sizes

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 21:57:26 +0000

The sportswear brand Nike has introduced new, inclusive mannequins to their Niketown stores in London that include representations of physically disabled and plus-sized athletes.

Frozen Avocado Recalled On Listeria Fears

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 21:47:59 +0000

Nature's Touch Frozen Foods said the recall is "based on strict precautionary measures after the company was informed by the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] that a routine sampling program found a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in one sample bag of the Product."

Dangerous brain parasite 'orders in' for dinner

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 21:45:36 +0000

Researchers have discovered how toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled parasite, maintains a steady supply of nutrients while replicating inside of its host cell: it calls for delivery.

Another Carcinogen Found in Popular BP Meds

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 21:26:29 +0000

Valisure reported finding high levels of called N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) in specific lots of the drug.

Study: Many LGB Teens' Parents Acknowledge Struggle

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 21:13:32 +0000

The survey revealed that adjusting takes time. Parents who had learned about their child's sexual orientation two years ago struggled just as much as those who had recently been told.

How Much Work Brings Happiness? Not Much, Study Shows

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 19:35:08 +0000

On average, it only took eight hours of work per week to improve an unemployed person’s mood -- with no sign of extra benefits with more time on the job.

Vitamin D Supplements May Not Help Your Heart

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 18:41:45 +0000

The research found no decrease in major heart events in people taking vitamin D supplements. There was no drop in heart attack rates. No drop in stroke. No drop in death from any cause

International Yoga Day 2019: These yoga asanas will make your tot a yogi right from a tender age

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 18:30:23 +0000

There was a time when it was thought that yoga was for the old and ailing and especially for those who had limited range of activities. But we soon saw a revolution happening and yoga becoming a favourite among the little tots too. Parents are enthused about it and are encouraging their kids to take up yoga. As we gear up to celebrate International Yoga Day tomorrow, yoga teacher Amogh Shinde, at FIT360 Kids Health & Fitness describes some asanas that would benefit kids in more than one ways. Here are few myths of yoga debunked by an expert.

But keep in mind that when you introduce yoga to kids it is important to start slow and be consistent. The first step is to select an asana that you want them to practice. Here are few asanas that he suggests would benefit the kids:

The ‘jungle theme asana’ where kids do the humming bee sound to get a clear vocal.
The ‘butterfly asana,’ where kids have to fold their legs and start flapping them, it is also a magical asana as it makes their legs strong.
ABC Yoga where kids are made to roll their tongue and say A to Z. This helps them to develop clear speech and is best for vocals. This asana should be done at least once a day.
Tatkaraasana Place a candle in front of your child at a proper distance and ask them to watch the flame of the candle. This asana helps for clear and better vision and improves concentration. It also develops the ability to hold a stand in a changing situation in life. This has to be done for 2 minutes max or till the eyes start watering. Note that this asana has to be done under the supervision of elders.

Keep in mind

International Yoga Day, which is being celebrated on 21st of June from 2015, aims to raise public awareness about this traditional min-body-technique. The intention is to help people know about its benefits and reap them while practising the poses correctly. Technique is very important while performing any exercise including yoga.

While kids are practising a yoga pose make sure to correct their posture in the early stages since this will help them to practice it correctly as they advance further. If the alignment of their posture is not corrected at an early stage it may affect their overall posture later.

Moreover, it is important to ensure that the correct breathing pattern is followed by kids while doing the asanas. Each asana is followed by a counter posture, which will help their bodies to relax, and comfort the muscles and joint soreness. Here is the ultimate guide for yoga for kids.

Try to introduce new asanas in creative ways. Use props or other techniques to make the practice fun loving. Keeping in mind the level of difficulty that can be endured by kids so it helps to avoid injuries. Don’t try to train your kids on your own, instead, send them to an expert who can help them to develop an interest in yoga.

Yoga benefits your kids in various ways. It helps with the child’s posture correction, which should be done at an early age for a better lifestyle. It helps the kids to improve their concentration and focus. They understand how to use their bodies in a healthy way. They can manage their stress through breathing awareness, meditation and healthy movement. It boosts their stamina and calms their mind to live a mindful life.

When kids indulge in the practice right from an early age it helps them to grow in a self-aware and mindful environment. This helps them to face the world with confidence, and they are comfortable with their own body and skin. Although yoga has immense benefits for all the age groups, it can do wonders if kids start doing it at an early age. It is important to say, however, that to start yoga with kids it is advisable to take the help and guidance of experts.

Health24.com | Is teen sexting a warning sign of other risky behaviours?

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 18:30:02 +0000

Evidence from a study claims teens who were sending or receiving sexts were more likely to get caught up in other risky behaviour.

A miniature robot that could check colons for early signs of disease

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 18:25:23 +0000

Engineers have shown it is technically possible to guide a tiny robotic capsule inside the colon to take micro-ultrasound images. Known as a Sonopill, the device could one day replace the need for patients to undergo an endoscopic examination, where a semi-rigid scope is passed into the bowel - an invasive procedure that can be painful.

From one brain scan, more information for medical artificial intelligence

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:48:34 +0000

Researchers have devised a novel method to glean training information for machine-learning models, including those that can analyze medical images to help diagnose and treat brain conditions.

First step towards a better prosthetic leg? Trip people over and over

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:02:57 +0000

The first step a team took in addressing a challenge in lower-body prosthetics was coming to understand the way people with two legs catch themselves, accomplished by covering test subjects with motion-capturing sensors.

Health24.com | Popcorn as a snack: Healthy hit or dietary horror show?

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:30:16 +0000

Popcorn at the movies is very different to popcorn made at home. Even a small movie theatre popcorn has significant amount of calories and is very high in salt.

Sandalwood essential oil: Why it is actually essential

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 15:42:17 +0000

The fragrance of sandal wood is somewhat close to divinity. Probably that is why it is so popular among the manufacturers of incense sticks. However, you will find it in the ingredient list of products like perfumes, cosmetics, incense, and even medicines too. Traditional ayurvedic and Chinese medicine have used sandalwood for the treatment of many conditions, thanks to its healing properties. Those conditions include urinary infections, digestive issues, coughs, depression, as well as infections. Now, aroma therapists also rely on sandalwood essential oil for various therapies. This is because, this oil, like lavender, has a calming effect on your mind.

Sandalwood essential oil is extracted through steam distillation of wood from 40-80 year-old- sandalwood trees. It is believed that older trees yield better oil reserve and a stronger aroma. Apart from Indian Sandalwood, there are two more varieties: Hawaiian Sandalwood and the Australian Sandalwood. However, the Indian version is by far the best as far the health benefits are concerned.

HOW IT HEALS YOU

Expensive as it is, sandalwood essential oil contains two primary active components namely alpha and betasantalol. These are the molecules that give sandalwood oil its memerising fragrance. They also give it the healing properties that sandalwood essential oil boasts of. From decreasing inflammation to regularizing blood glucose levels in the body this essential oil does it all for you. Here, we tell you about some of the prominent health benefits of sandalwood essential oil.

Heals wounds and inflammation

Due to its effective antiseptic properties, sandalwood essential oil can potentially heal both internal and external wounds. Yes, you read it right. It can be ingested too. This oil can protect you against infections from ulcers or wounds. You can apply it topically on your skin to protect your wounds, boils, pimples, etc. In fact, it can also be effective against inflammation in the brain, circulatory, and excretory systems caused due to side-effects of insect bites, poisoning, and antibodies, says a study published in the Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology. It can also soothe inflammation in the urinary system by flushing out harmful toxins. Once the inflammation goes, you can pee easily.

Provides relief from spasms

Due to its sedative nature, sandalwood essential oil can potentially relax nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. Thus, it can relieve you of spasms and contractions, says a study published in the journal PeerJ. This means that it can help treat problems like aches, coughs, and cramps, problems linked to spasm.

Has anti-ageing benefits

Being rich in antioxidants, sandalwood essential oil can potentially reduce the damage caused by free radicals, factors responsible for accelerating the ageing process. Also, according to a study published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, this essential oil can naturally improve eczema, warts, acne, and molluscum contagiosum, a viral skin infection. To fetch out its anti-ageing benefits, you just need to add few drops of this oil to an unscented lotion and apply it on your face.

Helps reducing the risk of cancer

Due to the presence of an active compound namely alpha-santalol, sandalwood essential oil can reduce your risk of developing cancer. It also diminishes the chance of recurrence. According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment, alpha-santalol can bring down the incidence of cancerous tumours, while hindering them from multiplying.

Treats cough

Due to its expectorant like properties, sandalwood essential oil can effectively treat coughs, says a study published in the International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology. It can also provide you protection against viral infection that leads to mumps, cold, flu, and other illnesses.

Regularizes blood pressure levels

You can bring down your blood pressure or hypertension levels by using sandalwood essential oil. Mix it with milk or water. You will benefit even if you apply sandalwood paste topically.

Treats insomnia

According to a study published in the Japanese Journal of Psychopharmacology, sandalwood oil can improve your sleep quality and schedule as well. The research explained that a compound known as beta santalol present increases your shut eye time. It also increases your rapid eye movement, an essential factor for deep sleep.

Improves digestion

Being relaxant in nature, this oil can potentially induce relaxation in the intestine and abdominal muscles, thus helping in the removal of gases. This prevents bloating and acidity.

Give you mental alertness

A study published in the journal Planta Medica reveals that inhaling or applying sandalwood essential oil on the skin actually triggers oxygen saturation in the blood, eye blink rate, pulse rate, and skin temperature. These are factors capable of lending you mental alertness. The compound linked to these physiological effects is known as alpha-santalol. These stimulatory effects enhance your brain function.

Strengthens gums and teeth

Due to its astringent properties, sandalwood essential oil can promote contractions in the muscles, gums, and skin. This is what actually strengthens the hold of your gums on the teeth, and keeps your skin and muscles in good shape.

SIDE EFFECTS OF SANDALWOOD ESSENTIAL OIL

While the goodness of sandalwood essential oil are undeniable, some of its benefits are controversial. So, you should always use this oil with precaution. Whenever you apply it topically on the skin, make sure you dilute it first with some carrier oil like coconut. Breastfeeding mothers and children should stay away from it. Also, if you are allergic to this oil, don’t wait for the reaction to occur. Immediately stop using it. Additionally, those suffering from health problems like liver disorder, should consult their doctors before opting sandalwood essential oil.

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