Lowering stroke risk may help curb dementia, too
Medical science has discovered that if you work to strike out strokes, you also can knock out dementia. In 2000, Ontario, Canada, put a stroke prevention program into play. A new study shows that between 2002 and 2012, stroke rates in Ontario went down for folks over 80 an amazing 38 percent. The researchers also observed that there was a 15 percent decline in dementia rates in people over 80. That suggests that the steps people took to lower their risk of stroke probably helped stave off some types of dementia. Or, having a stroke puts you at higher risk of dementia — so fewer strokes means less dementia.
Either way, make your double play and get stroke and dementia off your home plate:
• Stick with a diet rich in produce, olive oil and nuts, whole grains and lean proteins.
• Eliminate inflammation-triggering added sugars and syrups — and artificially sweetened beverages and foods, also associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke and dementia.
• Keep blood pressure at less than 120 over 80; high blood pressure damages your circulatory system. It’s the No. 1 cause of strokes.
• Don’t smoke! Smoking also damages your circulatory system.
• Shoot for at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly to lower lousy LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.
Boost from beets
We’ve mentioned before that beets (sometimes called beetroot) and beet juice help heart health and provide performance boosts to athletes by increasing levels of artery-relaxing nitric oxide. Relaxed arteries mean increased blood flow, which means better athletic performance. Russian and Eastern European countries’ teams have long treated their top athletes to beet stew/soup/borscht during training sessions and before competitions. American athletes finally picked up on that and have been doing it for a while, too.
But in addition to improved performance, there are many health boosts from beets and beet juice. The phytonutrients that give beets their deep crimson color have powerful anti-cancer properties, boost the immune system and help cleanse the liver. And now research has found that for seniors, drinking beet juice before working out may significantly increase exercise’s brain-boosting effects.
A recent study looked at 26 participants, mean age 65, who had a shot of beetroot juice one hour before a moderately intense, 50-minute treadmill workout. Those folks showed greater connectivity between the somatomotor cortex, a brain region associated with motor function, and the insular cortex, a brain region associated with cognitive functioning. The researchers said test subjects “had brain networks that more closely resembled those of younger adults.”
Q: My 14-year-old daughter is shy and gets picked on at school. That’s why I was so shocked when she asked if she could get a nose job and cheek implants. At first I was inclined to say “No way!” but if it makes her feel better about herself … What’s your opinion?
Katlin B., New York
We’re glad you asked. Being bullied has a longlasting impact on a child. The potential repercussions include depression, headaches, problems adjusting to school and long-term damage to self-esteem. So, if you haven’t talked to your daughter about how it’s not her fault that she’s bullied, start that conversation tonight. You also need to discuss how to get support from school and her peers — and help her do that. Check out stopbullying.gov to launch an initiative.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that about 20 percent of U.S. students in grades nine-12 experienced bullying on school property within the past year; around 7 percent experienced cyberbullying.
As for plastic surgery … a new study shows that over 11 percent of kids age 11 to 16 who are bullied want plastic surgery to improve their appearance or boost their self-esteem. Only about 1 percent of kids who are not bullied are interested. Around 226,000 teens have minimally invasive and cosmetic surgery procedures annually.
We’d recommend caution for now. Your first job is to help your daughter feel more beautiful on the inside — stronger, more confident — by helping her find activities she can excel in and make friends through. And then you should consider cognitive therapy. The teen years are a fragile time, and having a safe, neutral haven where she can express and sort out feelings can allow your daughter to cope and thrive. When she’s on her own, she can make the decision whether to have cosmetic surgery. But give her a chance to be comfortable in her own skin.
Contact the You Docs at realage. com.