Link Found Between Selfie Viewing, Decreased Self-Esteem

Frequent viewing of selfies through social network sites like Facebook is linked to a decrease in self-esteem and life satisfaction, according to Penn State researchers in mass communications. "Most of the research done on social network sites looks at the motivation for posting and liking content, but we're now starting to look at the effect of viewing behavior," said Ruoxu Wang, graduate student in mass communications.

Viewing behavior is also called "lurking" -- when a person does not participate in posting or liking social content, but is just an observer. This form of participation in social media may sound like it should have little effect on how humans view themselves, but the study, published online in the Journal of Telematics and Informatics, revealed the exact opposite.

Wang and Fan Yang, graduate student in mass communications, conducted an online survey to collect data on the psychological effects of posting and viewing selfies and groupies. They worked with Wang's graduate adviser, Michel Haigh, associate professor in communications. Posting behavior did not have significant psychological effects for participants. Viewing behavior did. They discovered the more often people viewed their own and others' selfies, the lower their level of self-esteem and life satisfaction.

Source: sciencedaily.com

Stronger Muscles Lead to Stronger Brain

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at the University of New South Wales and the University of Adelaide.

The results have been published in the Journal of American Geriatrics.

The trial involved a Study of Mental and Resistance Training (SMART) carried out on patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) between 55-68 years old. Patients with MCI have a higher risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

The findings are particularly significant given the high incidence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease among the aging population. According to the 2016 World Alzheimer Report, 47 million people worldwide have dementia and this number is expected to triple by 2050.

In the United States, the figure predicted for people with Alzheimer's disease in 2050 is 13.8 million.

Due to the high cost of care for patients with dementia, the World Alzheimer Report recommends moving beyond specialist care. The report suggests a holistic approach that focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with the condition.

Source: MedNewsToday

Deaf awareness: Communication made simple

People who experience hearing loss can feel isolated and alone. It is important that the hearing public understand how to interact with deaf people and those who are hard of hearing. It is not difficult to adapt communication, but for those on the receiving end, it can be a breath of fresh air.

Source: Mednews

Five ways Reading can Improve Health and Well-being

For many of us, there's nothing quite like getting lost in a good book; reading can transport us to another world, providing escape from life's everyday stresses, at least temporarily. But increasingly, researchers are finding that reading may offer some very real benefits for health and well-being.

Led by researchers from Yale University School of Public Health, the study revealed that adults who reported reading books for more than 3 ½ hours per week were 23 percent less likely to die over 12 years of follow-up, compared with those who did not read books.

While the researchers were unable to pinpoint the precise mechanisms by which reading may boost longevity, they pointed to previous studies that found reading can increase connectivity between brain cells, possibly lowering the risk of neurodegenerative diseases that can shorten lifespan.

Given that more than 75% of American adults have read at least one book in the past year, any reports of the associated health benefits are likely to be welcome news.

If you are in the remaining 25 percent of people who find reading a chore, perhaps learning more about how it could improve health and well-being will encourage you to shun the TV for the library.

Source: MedicalNewstoday

The heterogeneous nature of depression

Depression is generally considered to be a specific and consistent disorder characterised by a fixed set of symptoms and often treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. However, the standard rating scales used by healthcare professionals and researchers to diagnose this disease often differ in the symptoms they list, perhaps explaining why a one-size-fits-all treatment has to date been so ineffective. This is the finding of research conducted by psychologist Eiko Fried from the University of Amsterdam (UvA). His results are published in the latest edition of the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Source: Science Daily

Poorest and most marginalized women continue to be most at risk of maternal death

The poorest and most marginalized women continue to face the highest risk of death from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. The authors of a special series published in The Lancet today, warn that efforts must be drastically increased to safeguard the maternal health of all women everywhere, if the good health and well-being of all people – and in turn the well-being and prosperity of communities and societies – are to be achieved.

WHO estimates that 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Considerable progress has been made on a global level to reduce maternal mortality – between 1990 and 2015, maternal mortality worldwide dropped by about 44%. The authors of The Lancet series note however, that at regional and national levels progress has been ‘patchy’, and that in some countries the pace of improvement appears to be slackening.

Diversity and difference

An article published in The Lancet series, which chiefly examines data on maternal mortality and morbidity, highlights how inequalities in maternal health are becoming more diverse and uneven, both within and between populations and countries. The authors note the importance for countries to recognize this uneven distribution of poor maternal health to ensure effective planning and implementation of actions to improve health. This includes the need to address inequities in wealth, socio-economic status, human rights and access to health-care

Source:World Health Organization

CAESAREAN SECTION

Caesarean sections should only be performed when medically necessary

News release

​​10 APRIL 2015 | GENEVA - Caesarean section is one of the most common surgeries in the world, with rates continuing to rise, particularly in high- and middle-income countries. Although it can save lives, caesarean section is often performed without medical need, putting women and their babies at-risk of short- and long-term health problems. A new statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the importance of focusing on the needs of the patient, on a case by case basis, and discourages the practice of aiming for “target rates”.

Caesarean section may be necessary when vaginal delivery might pose a risk to the mother or baby – for example due to prolonged labour, foetal distress, or because the baby is presenting in an abnormal position. However, caesarean sections can cause significant complications, disability or death, particularly in settings that lack the facilities to conduct safe surgeries or treat potential complications.

WELCOME TO WORLD OSTEOPOROSIS DAY!

Osteoporosis is the silent disease that affects millions of people all over the world. There the World Osteoporosis Day is observed each year on October 20th, to promote the health awareness of osteoporosis, methods of prevention, and available means of diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Facts and Figures:

• Osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures a year.
• There is one fracture every three seconds worldwide.
• About 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over age 50 experience osteoporotic fractures.
• In women over 45 years of age, osteoporosis-caused fractures account for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases, including breast cancer, diabetes and heart attack. 
• In men, the risk of fractures is higher than the risk of prostate cancer by 27%.
• A prior fracture caused by osteoporosis is associated with a 50% risk of having a second fracture; and with every new fracture the risk further increases.
• By 2050, the worldwide incidence of hip fracture in men is projected to increase by 31% and 24% in women.

Objectives of World Osteoporosis Day:

• Promoting awareness of early detection of osteoporosis all over the world to avoid complications of the disease.
• Educating the public about certain risk factors which increase the risk of osteoporosis.
• Promoting awareness of the importance of prevention of osteoporosis, by focusing on leading a healthy life style (healthy food rich in calcium, protein, vitamin D and exercising).
• Official Date:
  Globally: October 20th, 2016.
  Locally: Al-Muharram 19th, 1438H.
  
  Theme of the World Osteoporosis Day 2016:
   "LOVE YOUR BONES , PROTECT YOUR FEATURE"