What's New In Self-Help Health?

We need to be less sedentary at work. According to a report published in PLoS One, much of the national weight gain is due to less physical activity during the workday. In 1960 50% of American jobs required moderate physical activity. In 2010 it was 20%. This change equals an average decline of about 120-140 calories a day in physical activity – which closely matches the nation's steady weight gain since 1960. There are fewer agricultural and manufacturing jobs and more office jobs – jobs which technology has made even less physical. Just moving the office printer could leave a positive "imprint" on employees' health.

We need better dental hygiene – and not just to prevent cavities. A British study determined people who brushed less than twice a day had a 70% increased risk of heart disease. A Columbia University study found people with higher levels of periodontal disease had twice the risk of type 2 diabetes. According to a study in the Journal of Periodontology, people with respiratory diseases had poorer periodontal health. A Swedish study suggested women might be 11 times likelier to get breast cancer if they have missing teeth and gum disease. Obviously, we need to "brush up" – and down – on oral hygiene.

We also need to take our medications. According to the briefing paper "Medication Adherence: Making the Case for Increased Awareness", 75% of Americans don't take prescription medications as prescribed by healthcare professionals. This non-compliance is responsible for more than 33% of medicine-related hospitalizations, approximately 125,000 deaths and a cost to the healthcare system of about $300 billion annually. The main reason for non-compliance is not having enough time to talk to one's doctor about concerns – medication costs, side effects and when one should start feeling better. Maybe the examining table should be thought of as a "timetable".

Time is what's needed to improve memory. In a study done at The Scripps Research Institute, memory formation lasted only 1 day when fruit flies were given only 1 episode of learning. However, when the fruit flies' learning was spread over several episodes, they were able to remember for up to 7 days – the equivalent of 7 years in humans. Yes, "spaced conditioning" works in humans too. Memory is improved with rest periods during learning and restful sleep consolidates what is learned so it can be remembered years later. It seems for memories to develop, they need "time exposure".