Urban Planners Wield Influence on Physical Activity Levels

Urban planners who incorporate parks and sidewalks in the mix may have a hand in increasing the physical activity of their cities’ residents, according to a new study.

The researchers examined land use plans from surveys of planning directors from 67 North Carolina counties. Planners were asked whether their designs included transportation improvements such as sidewalks, bike paths and greenways as well as policies to guide development and preserve green space in their communities.

“Counties with land use plans that accounted for nonmotorized transportation improvements and included specific tools to guide land development [had] higher proportions of residents engaging in physical activity for both leisure and transportation purposes,” said lead author Semra Aytur, Ph.D.

“Other researchers have shown that factors such as access to bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parks, connected street networks and a mixture of residential and commercial land uses are positively associated with physical activity,” said Aytur, of the public health school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Our study examined policies and plan attributes that could potentially support these types of activity-friendly features.”

The study appears in the March/April issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.

Motivated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active Community Environment (ACE) program — designed to promote policy and environmental interventions that create more accessible places for physical activity — the authors assigned ACE scores to each of the study counties.

The researchers combined data from the planning survey with data from two North Carolina surveys completed by 6,694 adults to assess residents’ level of physical activity, such as time spent walking or biking in the past month.

After adjusting for factors such as gender, race and income, the researchers found residents of counties with high ACE scores were 1.9 times more likely to have a better physical activity level and 1.7 times more likely to walk frequently compared to residents of the lowest ACE counties. For instance, more adults in counties with a score of 4 reported walking at least 150 minutes per week compared to those in counties with a score of 1.

According to Aytur, many areas around the country are developing innovative planning strategies that may affect their regions’ public health. Experts, however, question whether the awareness is widespread.

“Information as to how much the built environment influences health behaviors has only recently becoming available, so city planners may not know which designs and features are important to include in building new communities,” said RAND research scientist and physician Deborah Cohen.

“This study indicates that when planners consider options for promoting nonmotorized transit, residents are more likely to engage in physical activity,” Cohen added. “Many people believe individuals are solely responsible for their own activity.”

(Source: American Journal of Health Promotion news release)

Potential Wage Tax Increase for Carlisle Residents in the News

The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported today that voters in the Carlisle Area School District will be asked on the May 15 ballot whether or not they'd like to increase the wage tax in order to reduce property tax.

The newspaper says that if passed, the income tax would increase from 1.1 percent to 2.1 percent. Thus, a person earning $50,000 per year would owe an additional $500. The article also says that if the wage tax passes, property tax bills would be cut by $3.3 million. The Patriot-News suggests that home owners would save between $363 and $518 over the next three years.

All wage earners would pay more income tax; however, renters would not receive a tax break.

To read more about this from the Harrisburg Patriot-News, click here.

It’s No Stretch Shoveling Snow Leads To Injuries

When the ground is covered in snow, the first thought is to dig yourself out. The second thought should be are you physically ready? “If your body isn’t prepared for shoveling snow, your chances of sustaining muscle pulls and strains will increase,” said Dr. Susan Wainwright, vice chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Or worse she added, as shoveling snow is no different than any physical activity that strains the heart.

“A lot of ‘weekend warriors’ who play basketball or football won’t think twice about stretching before they play, but they’ll carelessly go out and shovel snow without any type of warm up,” said Wainwright. “Back injuries are one of the most common injuries when snow falls.”

But whether you are playing in a sport or not, it is always important to take time out to warm up and stretch before engaging in any physical activity, including shoveling snow from your pavement and driveways. Wainwright noted that correct position is important when shoveling. She also said you shouldn’t overload the shovel and you should never use your back to lift snow.

“The back is not meant to do this type of activity,” she added. “The back is supposed to be stable so that the arms and legs can move appropriately. You have to lift with the arms and legs, and then twist with the arms and legs. Injuries occur when people lift and twist with their backs.”

Shoveling snow can also be fatal. According to Wainwright, numerous individuals suffer heart attacks from the strain of lifting snow. She said men and women above the age of 45 who are not physically active should take extreme caution when they take to shoveling. She added that it might even be wise to pay someone to do it for them.

“The heart is a muscle like any other muscle in your body,” said Wainwright. “When it gets strained, it shuts down because it can’t handle the increased load. Older adults who aren’t that active tax their cardiovascular system when they start to shovel and this results in heart attacks. You have to remember that shoveling is hard work and you should take every precaution to not get injured or even worse.”

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia is a private, coeducational institution founded in 1821 as Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, the first college of pharmacy in North America. It is where the founders of six of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world launched their futures. Comprising four colleges across a broad range of majors, USP specializes in educating its 2,800 students for rewarding careers through its undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in pharmacy, science, and the health sciences.

(Source: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia news release)

Protect Your Skin In Colder Months

Just because it’s cold or cloudy, don’t get lulled into the false security of thinking you can ignore protecting your skin against the sun.

Even on cloudy days, when you may assume you’re at less risk, harmful ultraviolet rays filter through the clouds. If you’re outside, it’s impossible to totally avoid the sun’s ultraviolet rays on exposed areas of skin.

Hit the slopes – smartly

The northern hemisphere points away from the sun in the winter, and most of the weaker ultraviolet rays are blocked by the atmosphere.

In higher elevations, however, there is greater risk for sunburn because there is less atmosphere to block the sun’s rays. Add to that the fact that snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays, and you have a potentially dangerous situation. Even though it may feel cold, you can burn quickly.

Remember to:

• Cover up with a long-sleeved jacket, hat and gloves.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses or goggles
• Be sure sunglasses or goggles offer 100 percent UV protection.
• Pay close attention to the underside of chin and ears.
• Wear sun block such as zinc oxide on exposed and sun-sensitive areas.

Stay safe on the seashore

If your winter includes a respite in a sunny climate:

• Remember to pack sunscreen.
• Use waterproof sunscreen if you scuba dive or swim.
• Reapply often if you scuba dive or swim.
• Forgo visiting the tanning salon before hitting the beach. A tan from a tanning booth won’t protect you from sun exposure. Tanning booths produce UV rays.

Be Sun Smart All Year

• Wear a full-spectrum sunscreen that: o blocks both UVA and UVB rays o has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15
• Avoid peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Use sunscreen every day if you will be in the sun more than 20 minutes.
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors.
• Pay extra attention to face, ears, hands and arms when applying sunscreen.
• Keep infants in the shade and covered with clothing.

(Source: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center news release)

New Daylight Savings Time and Your Computer

What’s changing?

On March 11, the Daylight Savings Time (DST) provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 comes into effect. DST has been extended. In 2007, clocks change on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. Prior to 2007, DST rules stated that clocks change on the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October.

What does it mean for systems?

The last US-wide change to DST occurred over 20 years ago. Because DST was so well defined, manufacturers chose to embed DST rules into their software. Those settings will now need to be adjusted.

It's very possible that the change to DST will impact your computer.

For stories from professionals on this, click here, here, and here.

Expert Tips To Keep Guys Sane On V-day

To women, it's the Mac-daddy of all holidays, so guys need to know how to survive this make-or-break relationship holiday. Here are some surefire tips from the folks that have been in the business of making guys look like Romeo for the past 25 years: The Vermont Teddy Bear Company and its sister companies, PajamaGram, and Calyx Flowers.

1. Make a BIG Impression. Most Americans have probably seen all of the usual suspects for Valentine's Day gifts, the tantalizing chocolates, heart-felt cards, and elegant bouquets.
2. Make it Personal. Make your gift even more special by sending her a pair of cozy pajamas personalized with her name or monogram.
3. Say it. With Love. Express how much you care for her by giving her a gift that she'll remember long after Valentine's Day is over.
4. Avoid crowds. Shop online. You can shop at your leisure and schedule your gift, from any of the above mentioned companies, to be delivered to her on time.
5. Send her Gift to the Office. Women love to have their co-workers see just how romantic their men can be and they love to talk, talk, and talk about their sweetie at the office.

(Source: Vermont Teddy Bear Company news release)

Free Heart Program Offered: Women and Cardiovascular Disease

Holy Spirit Health System will host a free program for individuals interested in learning more about women and cardiovascular disease.

Lenke Erki, MD, of Associated Cardiologists, PC, will present “Women and Cardiovascular Disease” from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14. The seminar will be held in Holy Spirit Hospital’s auditorium.

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in women since 1984. Often times, women have different warning signs and symptoms from men and many die from their first heart attack. This seminar is intended to provide attendees with information about women’s risk factors, how to prevent heart disease, and the warning signs of a heart attack. Dr. Erki will also discuss different types of heart and vascular diseases, treatments and how to prevent future problems.

Light refreshments will be served. There is no need to register for this seminar.

(Source: Holy Spirit Hospital news release)

A Heart-Felt Valentine: Red Wine And White Wine May Be Just As Healthful

Before you enjoy that bottle of wine for your romantic Valentine’s Day dinner and touch glasses, you may really be toasting to your health.

Scientists say they have found evidence that the pulp of grapes appears just as heart-healthy in laboratory experiments as the skin. The study, which appeared last year in the American Chemical Society Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry, challenges the idea that red wine is more heart-healthy white wine.

Past studies indicated that the cardioprotective compounds in grapes — polyphenolic antioxidants — reside in the skin and seeds. Grape skins, which contain purple pigment, are crushed with the pulp to make red wines. But the skins are separated from the pulp to make most white wine. That situation led to the conventional belief that red wines and red grape juice are the most heart healthy.

Dipak K. Das, of the University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine, headed the study. It was done with colleagues form the University of Milan and several other research institutes in Italy.

“Although further study is needed to identify the principle ingredients responsible for the cardioprotective abilities of the grape flesh, to the best of our knowledge, our study provides evidence for the first time that the flesh of grapes is equally cardioprotective with respect to the skins,” the researchers report.

(Source: American Chemical Association news release)

2007 North Middleton Girls Softball Sign-ups

Registration for the 2007 North Middleton Girls Softball League will be held on Tuesday, February 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the township municipal building. Registrations will also be taken Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. until March 21. After March 21 a late fee will apply.

(Source: North Middleton Township Fall/Winter newsletter)

Nine Ways to Relieve Joint Stress

It happens to all of us: joint pain from a lifetime of lifting, bending and normal wear and tear. Beyond medication, there are steps you can take to relieve stress while going about your daily activities. Here’s what you can do, from a world leader in arthritis care.

If you’ve lived long enough, inflammation in the ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist can cause pain, swelling and limited motion. If you have joint pain or suffer from arthritis, no doubt you’ve already been prescribed medication by your doctor to reduce these symptoms. But there’s a lot you can do yourself—apart from taking your medication—to lessen joint pain. Following are some time-proven steps from a newsletter called Arthritis Advisor, brought to you by Cleveland Clinic. (For more information, click on http://www.arthritis-advisor.com)

1. Control your weight. Obesity puts extra stress on weight-bearing joints, such as the back, hips, knees and feet.
2. Be aware of body position, using good posture to protect your back and the joints of your legs and feet. Whenever possible, sit down to perform a job instead of standing. Change position often, since staying in one position for an extended period tends to increase stiffness and pain.
3. Conserve energy by allowing for rest periods during the workday and while performing any activity.
4. Respect pain. It’s your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Don’t involve yourself in an activity that puts strain on joints that are already painful or stiff.
5. Use care when getting in and out of a car, chair, or tub, as well as for climbing, lifting, carrying, pulling, or pushing objects. Think before you strain. Tip: Try to always sit in the highest chair in the room, and look for chairs with armrests to make it easier to get up.
6. Use your strongest joints and muscles to reduce the stress on your smaller joints. For example, carry a purse, handbag, or briefcase by its shoulder strap rather than by its handle.
7. Distribute pressure to minimize stress on any single joint. Lift dishes with both of your palms rather than with your fingers, and carry heavy loads in your arms instead of with your hands.
8. Avoid tight gripping, pinching, squeezing and twisting if your hands are affected by arthritis. Ways to accomplish the same tasks with alternate methods or tools can usually be found.
9. Investigate assistive devices. Many of these self-help products—bath stools, grippers, reachers, grab bars—have been developed to make every-day activities easier and less stressful on your joints and muscles. Your doctor or physical therapist can suggest devices that will be helpful for tasks you may find difficult at home or at work.

(Source: The Cleveland Clinic news release)