People with autism risk more likely to report self harm

People with a higher genetic likelihood of autism are more likely to report higher childhood maltreatment, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, according to a new study.

The study, shows that the findings hold true even for those with a higher genetic likelihood of autism rather than a formal diagnosis.
Previous studies from the University of Cambridge established that autistic individuals experience higher levels of self-harm, including suicidal thoughts and feelings, and higher rates of childhood maltreatment.
"This new study extends our earlier work by showing that individuals who carry more of the genes associated with autism have higher risks for maltreatment and self-harm," said a study researcher.

"Our work highlighting unacceptably higher rates of suicide in autistic people was published 5 years ago, yet almost no new support has been provided," he added.
For the study, the research team calculated the genetic likelihood for autism in 100,000 individuals from the UK Biobank Study who had their DNA analysed and had also provided self-reported information about childhood maltreatment, suicidal ideation and self-harm.
Those with the highest genetic predisposition to autism on an average have 28 per cent increase in childhood maltreatment and a 33 per cent increase in self-harm and suicidal ideation compared to those with the lowest genetic predisposition to autism.
"While we have found an association between a genetic likelihood for autism and adverse life events, we cannot conclude the former causes the latter," said study lead author.

"We suspect this association reflects that genes partly influence how many autistic traits you have, and some autistic traits such as difficulties in social understanding may lead to a person to be vulnerable to maltreatment, he added.
This research highlights the risks of such adverse outcomes for those with a high number of autistic traits, if adequate safeguarding and support aren't provided.

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6 ways to lower your resting heart rate

Thump, thump, thump. Your heart is a constant soundtrack to your life, but have you ever really thought about it? Your resting heart rate -- how fast it beats while you're not exercising or doing anything strenuous -is vitally important to your overall well-being. A normal resting heart rate falls anywhere between 60 to 100 beats per minute, though if you're in great shape, it could be even lower. 

It's easy to measure. Just find your pulse on your neck or wrist, and count the number of beats you feel in 60 seconds. To some extent, your resting heart rate is influenced by outside factors, like the weather your current emotions and medications you take. However, if it's consistently too high, you'll definitely want to get it checked out by a doctor, especially if you experience other symptoms, like dizziness, fatigue or shortness of breath.

Even if your resting heart rate isn't high enough to warrant a medical condition, it'll be better for you in the long run if it falls towards the lower end of the range. One comprehensive study  of a cohort of men and women suggested a higher rate of mortality for people that had a resting heart rate of over 70 beats per minute. 

If your average resting heart rate is higher than you'd like it to be, the good news is that there are concrete steps you can take to lower it. Here are six lifestyle changes you can make starting today for a healthier heart. 

1. Eat a heart-healthy diet

What you eat has a large impact on your heart -- a diet high in deep-fried foods and sugary sweets is going to be hard on your heart. On the other hand, there are certain foods you can eat regularly to be kind to your body and improve the function of your heart. 

For example, eating fish has been linked to lower resting heart rate. Plus, fish is delicious, so if you're a meat-eater or a pescetarian there's no reason not to incorporate it into your diet more. If you can't stand fish, calcium is also imperative to a healthy heart. Foods like milk, cheese and yogurt contain calcium, and if you're lactose intolerant like me, you can get your fix with leafy greens and calcium-fortified breads and cereals.
If you don't eat any of these foods, omega-3 fatty acids help your heart function well. Chia seeds and walnuts are both rich in this essential nutrient. 

2. Exercise

Working out consistently is one of the most reliable methods to lowering your resting heart rate, and aerobic exercise is the best way to do it. It may seem counter-intuitive, but raising your heart rate frequently will help it slow down in the long run. And you don't have to consign yourself to the treadmill either --one study showed that both endurance training and yoga both lowered participants' resting heart rate.

If you can't stand the gym, there are other fun ways you can fit your workouts in. Rock climbing, dancing, and even pretending to be a mermaid are all effective (and fun) ways to exercise. 

3. Quit smoking (and vaping)

If you want to lower your resting heart rate, or have a healthier heart in general, quit smoking. Cardiac function has shown to be much better in nonsmokers, even while they're at rest. Vaping has been touted as a healthy alternative to traditional cigarettes, but some preliminary studies show that the flavorings in e-cigarettes can also hurt your heart.

4. Try to relax

I'm sure you're familiar with the feeling of being nervous or stressed out -- including your heart thumping wildly in your chest. While acute stress can raise your heart rate, chronic stress over time has also been shown to negatively impact heart health. 

There are many effective ways to relieve stress, and you should try them out and see what works for you. Personally, I meditate daily for ten minutes and it's done wonders for my stress levels. You can even mediate on the go.

Walking outside in a green area can also be relaxing. You can practice the Japanese art of forest bathing by leaving all electronics behind and walking aimlessly, taking the smells and sounds of nature while you wander. You can also try getting a weighted blanket and using it when you want to relax or fall asleep.

For acute stress, deep breathing exercises will lower a high resting heart rate, but if you find that stress is affecting your daily life, you may want to take a more long-term approach. 

5. Get better sleep

At this point, I think sleep is basically regarded as a major key to all health problems. Sleep deprivation is bad for your heart, and it also tends to worsen mental health issues. If you wake up after a bad night's sleep, your resting heart rate may be temporarily elevated, while long-term loss of sleep may be a contributing factor to heart disease. 

If you find yourself tired on a consistent basis, you may have to take a closer look at your sleeping habits. Using screens too close to bedtime and ingesting too much caffeine may be culprits of an unhealthy sleeping schedule.

6. Drink more water

Hydration is also often overlooked, but it's vitally important to your well-being. When you're dehydrated, there's actually less blood travelling through your veins, and your heart rate has to increase to circulate the volume effectively.
Drinking enough water is especially important while you're exercising-- you can lose 2% of your body mass through sweat quite easily. This big loss of fluid is even harder on your heart. 
And forget disposable water bottles -- there's a lot of reusable models that'll make hydrating fun and simple. You can even buy a bottle that infuses fruit into the water or a collapsible pouch that's easy to store.


The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Soy food cuts fracture risks in breast cancer survivors

Eating soy-rich food can decrease the risk of bone fractures in pre-menopausal breast cancer survivors, suggests a new study. The higher soy intake was linked to 77 per cent reduced risk of osteoporotic fractures in younger women, the study showed.

In the study, researchers investigated the impact of exercise and soy food consumption on bone fracture rates among breast cancer survivors.

“The menopausal transition is known to be a period of high risk for bone loss, and given the relative scarcity of data related to fracture risk among younger women with breast cancer, this study marks an important contribution to this body of literature,” said the paper’s lead author.

“Our findings, in particular regarding the protective effects of soy food consumption, provide novel insight into how future interventions can be best tailored to different risk groups,” the author said.

For the study, the team used data from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival study of 5,042 newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors in the age group of 20-75.

The study found soy-based foods that are rich in isoflavones provide a natural selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), which helps in increasing the bone mineral density.

Previous studies have showed the use of tamoxifen, a SERM or drug, that is prescribed for breast cancer patients, reduces risk of fractures.

Several treatments for breast cancer can cause premature menopause and decrease bone mineral density, leading to a higher incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures among survivors compared with healthy women in the same age group.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the US, with one in eight women diagnosed with it during their lifetime.

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Media multitasking may increase obesity risk:

Do you keep switching between digital devices like smartphone, tablet and PC? Beware. A study has linked media multitasking to obesity.

The study showed that mindless switching between digital devices could be associated with increased susceptibility to food temptations and lack of self-control, which may cause weight gain.

“Increased exposure to phones, tablets and other portable devices has been one of the most significant changes to our environments in the past few decades, and this occurred during a period in which obesity rates also climbed in many places,” said lead author of the study.

The research, included 132 participants aged 18-23 years.

The team measured proactive behaviours of compulsive or inappropriate phone use (like feeling the urge to check phone for messages, while talking to someone) as well as passive behaviours like media-related distractions that interfere with your work.

The findings showed those with higher scores were associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and greater body fat percentage.

The participants underwent an fMRI scan during which researchers measured brain activity, while people were shown a series of appetising but fattening foods’ images.

When media multitaskers saw pictures of food, the part of the brain dealing with food temptation became more active, said researchers.

The author said it was important to establish such links given the rising obesity and prevalence of multimedia use.

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Hearing loss may point to greater cognitive decline risk:

Hearing impairment in older adults may indicate increased risk of faster cognitive decline with age, a study claims.

Researchers tracked 1,164 participants for up to 24 years.

All had undergone assessments for hearing acuity and cognitive function between the years 1992 to 1996 and had up to five subsequent cognitive assessments at approximately four-year intervals. None used a hearing aid.

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The study, found that almost half of the participants had mild hearing impairment, with 16.8 per cent suffering moderate-to-severe hearing loss.

Those with more serious hearing impairment showed worse performance at the initial visit on a pair of commonly used cognitive assessment tests.

Hearing impairment was associated with greater decline in performance on these tests over time, both for those with mild hearing impairment and those with more severe hearing impairment.

However, the association of mild hearing impairment with rate of cognitive decline was modified by education. Mild hearing impairment was associated with steeper decline among study participants without a college education, but not among those with higher education.

Moderate-to-severe hearing impairment was associated with steeper MMSE decline regardless of education level.

“We surmise that higher education may provide sufficient cognitive reserve to counter the effects of mild hearing loss, but not enough to overcome effects of more severe hearing impairment,” said a professor.

Degree of social engagement did not affect the association of hearing impairment with cognitive decline.

The findings show the need for physicians to be aware that older patients with hearing impairments are at greater risk for cognitive decline.

Researchers also emphasised the importance of preventing hearing loss at all ages, since hearing impairment is rarely reversible.

One important way to protect hearing, they said, is to minimise loud noise exposure since this is the largest modifiable risk factor for hearing impairment.

Read more at Speciality Medical Dialogues: Higher intake of meat tied to higher risk of fatty liver disease https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/higher-intake-of-meat-tied-to-higher-risk-of-fatty-liver-disease/Hearing impairment in older adults may indicate increased risk of faster cognitive decline with age, a study claims.Researchers from University of California San Diego in the US tracked 1,164 participants for up to 24 years.

Mortality due to heart diseases increases by 50% in winter

Various studies have shown that the number of heart attacks and related deaths is higher in winter months. The mortality rate due to heart attacks may be as much as 50 per cent higher in the cold. As the temperatures drop, it becomes difficult to retain heat inside your body. The fall in our body's internal temperature is too dangerous for people living with cardiovascular problems who may suffer from angina or chest pain when exposed to cold weather. In fact, winter is the most vulnerable time for patients having a background history of heart diseases.

According to doctors, it is imperative to not ignore irregular discomfort in the chest, severe sweating, pain in the neck, arms, jaws and shoulders or shortness of breath during winter, which are major symptoms of heart failures.

Speaking about the same, a Dr. said, "The main reason for the increase in heart-related ailments in winter could be the rise in blood pressure. The arteries become constricted due to which the heart must exert more effort to pump blood. Winters also tend to increase levels of certain proteins in the bloodstream which in turn increases the risk of blood clots. Many heart attacks are caused due to hypothermia, the condition of heart failure due to abnormally low body temperature."

The Dr.added that another possible reason could be that cold weather allows smog and pollutants to settle on the ground leading to a chest infection, which may propel the incidence of heart attacks. "On the other hand, shorter and cooler days spent indoors can cause a person to become lethargic and lead to a type of depression known as Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can also be a risk factor for heart problems."

The strain on the heart can be difficult to handle for the elderly and those with existing issues. The elderly are at greater risk of heart attacks. Besides this, cholesterol levels tend to fluctuate significantly leaving people with borderline diabetes at greater cardiovascular risk during the colder months.

Adding further the cardiologist said, "All heart patients should have their cardiac and mental stress levels check up done in winter. A heart attack can come with irregular meals, late nights, missing of a regular dose of medicines and indulgence in smoking and drinking. Acute stress-related events are common during winters, especially close to the full moon in the early morning hours. The circadian variation in event frequency suggests that cardiac events may be triggered by external activities, particularly those activating the sympathetic nervous system."

Here are some preventive measures to prevent the risk of heart problems in winter.  Although exercising regularly is good for our heart, avoid going for a morning walk on extremely chilly days as blood pressure naturally spikes in the morning. Instead, try walking in the evening before the sun sets.

 Stay indoors to keep your body temperature regulated. Wear socks, gloves, and cover yourself with comfortable layers. Also, make sure to bathe in hot water every time.

Eating a large meal always puts extra load on your heart. Eat small, healthy and regulated meals at intervals. Limit the intake of salt and water.

Be prepared for emergencies and do not ignore minor symptoms such as discomfort in the chest, sweating, breathlessness and pain in the neck, jaws or shoulders, and swelling in the feet. Contact a specialist on an immediate basis to resolve any panic complaint of sudden chest pain.

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Walking may help women conceive

If you have a history of pregnancy loss, do not lose hope as a new study suggests that physical activity such as walking may improve the chances of conceiving among women who are overweight or obese.
The study suggested that women reporting more than four hours a week of vigorous activity had significantly higher pregnancy chances compared to no vigorous activity.
"One of our main findings is that there was no overall relationship between most types of physical activity and the likelihood of becoming pregnant for women who had already had one or two pregnancy losses, except for walking...," said co-author,  "... which was associated with higher likelihood of becoming pregnant among women who were overweight or obese," he added.
For the study, researchers recruited 1,214 women between 18 to 40 years old with a history of one or two pregnancy losses.
The researchers found that the association of walking with the ability to become pregnant -- known as fecundability -- varied significantly by body mass index (BMI).
Among overweight or obese women, walking at least 10 minutes at a time was associated with improvement in fecundability, the researcher said.
Moderate activity, sitting and other activity categories were not associated with fecundability overall or in BMI-stratified analyses, they added.
The researchers noted that these findings provide positive evidence for the benefits of physical activity in women attempting pregnancy, especially for walking among those with higher BMI.

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