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Health: Chicago Blacks, Latinos Have More Asthma Problems; Eat What You Want as Long as You Walk; Double Children’s Vitamin D Intake, Doctors Advise
October 14th, 2008
Chicago Blacks, Latinos have more asthma problems. African-Americans are 20 percent more likely to have severe asthma and Latinos are 30 percent less likely to have the chronic disease when compared to Whites, according to the Chicago Respiratory Health Survey. When combined, these groups are four to six times more likely than Whites to die from asthma, as the asthma mortality rates for Chicago’s White population have declined over the past 10 years, the researchers found. When compared with diabetes or heart disease, the number of asthma deaths is relatively small; probably around 150 in Cook County in the past year, said Dolores Weems, an epidemiology research specialist at the University of Chicago. “The thing about people dying from asthma is that it’s a chronic disease that you should be able to live with if you have quality care,” she said in Medill Report. As to the cause of the mortality gap, Maureen Damitz, senior program director for the Respiratory Health Association, said “I don’t think we have that answer.” A variety of factors contribute to the problem, Weems said. “If I could put my finger on that one thing, I would,” she said, pointing out the myriad of factors that contribute to the persistent problem, from older homes full of mold to stress to the quality of care received. For tips on controlling your asthma, go to BET.com/Body & Soul.
Eat what you want as long as you walk. You can eat basically anything you want and still lose weight if you religiously take a brisk 30-minute walk six days a week, according to researchers from the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. This amount of exercise is enough to trim your waistline and cut your risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a common condition linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle that raises the odds of heart disease, diabetes and stroke, reports Reuters Health. “Our study shows that you’ll benefit even if you don’t make any dietary changes,” study leader Johanna L. Johnson said in a statement. The Duke team examined results from the STRRIDE study (Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise), which was funded by the National Institutes of Health. In this study, researchers observed 171 middle-aged and overweight men and women for the effects of varying amounts and intensity of exercise. They found that 41 percent of the participants had metabolic syndrome before they began exercising regularly. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of five conditions: a large waistline, high blood pressure, high levels of harmful triglycerides, low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and high blood sugar. But after eight months of exercise, only 27 percent still had metabolic syndrome. “It’s … encouraging news for sedentary, middle-aged adults who want to improve their health,” Johnson said. “It means they don’t have to go out running four or five days a week; they can get significant health benefits by simply walking around the neighborhood after dinner every night.”
Double children’s Vitamin D intake, doctors advise. Children should be getting double the usually suggested amount of vitamin D because of evidence that it may help prevent serious diseases, the leading U.S. pediatricians group recommended on Monday. To meet the new recommendation of 400 units daily, millions of children will need to take vitamin D supplements each day, the American Academy of Pediatrics said. That includes breast-fed infants - even those who get some formula - and many teenagers who drink little or no milk. Baby formula contains vitamin D, so infants fed only formula generally do not need supplements, the doctors said. However, the academy recommends that breast-feeding for at least the first year of life, and breast milk is sometimes deficient, reports The Associated Press. Most commercially available milk is fortified with vitamin D, but most children do not drink enough of it - four cups daily would be needed - to meet the new requirement, said Dr. Frank Greer, who helped write the report.
The thing about people dying from asthma is that it’s a chronic disease that you should be able to live with if you have quality care,” she said in Medill Report. As to the cause of the mortality gap, Maureen Damitz, senior program director for the Respiratory Health Association, said “I don’t think we have that answer.
Hi,
your article about walking? I know it to be true I have lost 11.8 pounds in about two months walking & doing weight watchers meetings. Getting back to the walking point ” I have slimed my stomach down to flat! my legs, & upper legs look great. So America i say to you ” just walk”. lolllllllll
Vera (California woman.)
Yo.. ‘Vera’… I got something that will get you even more in shape!! It’s called lynns work out!!