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health THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013
STUDY
RESEARCH
Aerobics may protect brain from alcohol damage US researchers have found that aerobic exercise may protect white matter in the brain from alcohol-related damage. WASHINGTON: Aerobic exercise, known to slow cognitive decline, may also prevent or repair damage to the brain caused by alcohol, a new study has found. US researchers found that aerobic exercise may protect white matter in the brain from alcohol-related damage. Heavy long-term alcohol consumption leads to neural damage that looks similar to the decline in neurocognitive functioning observed as people age, said Hollis C Karoly, a graduate student at the University of Colorado at Boulder and corresponding author of the study. "Given that exercise is protective against some of the neural and cognitive effects of ageing, it seemed likely t h a t
Experts say individuals who have experienced alcohol-related brain problems could possibly use exercise to help recover from those effects. aerobic exercise may also work to reverse or prevent some of the damage to the brain caused by chronic alcohol consumption," Karoly said. Karoly and her colleagues had 60 participants (37 men, 23 women), drawn from a larger database designed to share common brain and clinical data collected across studies on alcohol and nicotine use, undergo a diffusion tensor imaging session. All participants also completed measures
of alcohol consumption, loss of control over drinking, and aerobic exercise participation. Study authors then examined relationships among exercise, alcohol, and fractional anisotropy in the superior longitudinal fasciculus, external capsule, fornix and superior and anterior corona radiata, as well as self-reported loss of control over drinking. "This study found that the relationship between alcohol consumption and white matter depends upon how much people exercise," said Karoly. "For individuals with low levels of aerobic exercise, heavy drinking was linked to poorer white matter health, but for those with greater exercise involvement, the relationship between alcohol and white matter health was not as strong," said Susan F Tapert from the University of California, San Diego. "Although we d o n ' t
know yet if the exercise is protecting against alcohol-related damage, or if it is a sign of factors linked to brain health, this is a very compelling study. "This suggests that individuals who have experienced alcohol-related brain problems could possibly use exercise to help recover from those effects; studying people over time will tell us if this is in fact the case," Tapert said. "Aerobic exercise appears to be a promising candidate for decreasing alcohol-related brain damage. “Certainly clinicians could use these findings to support prescribing aerobic exercise programs as an adjunct treatment for individuals dealing with psychological or physiological problems related to a heavy alcohol-use history," Karoly said. The study will be published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. PTI
DOCTOR’S COLUMN I am trying to lose weight before my infertility treatment. I was told not to exercise in the afternoon in summer. Can you tell me why not ? It is easier to understand when you realise that even motor engines get hot and breakdown in summer! When the outside environment is more than 40 degrees Celsius, it becomes difficult for the body to cool down. Exercise itself generates heat; so you are doubly heating the body, and therefore causing heat stress.
Non-food plants can provide nutrients LOS ANGELES: A team of Virginia Tech researchers has succeeded in transforming cellulose into starch, a process that has the potential to provide a previously untapped nutrient source from plants not traditionally thought of as food crops. YH Percival Zhang, an associate professor of biological systems engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering, led a team of researchers in the project that could help feed a growing global population. Starch is one of the most important components of the human diet and provides 20-40 percent of our daily caloric intake. The research was published this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Cellulose is the supporting material in plant cell walls and is the most common carbohydrate on earth. This new development opens the door to the potential that food could be created from any plant, reducing the need for crops to be grown on valuable land that requires fertilizers, pesticides, and large amounts of water. The type of starch that Zhang's team produced is amylose, a linear resistant starch that is not broken down in the digestion process and acts as a good source of dietary fiber. It has been proven to decrease the risk of obesity and diabetes. This discovery holds promise on many fronts beyond food systems, reports Science Daily. "Besides serving as a food source, the starch can be used in the manufacture of edible, clear films for biodegradable food packaging," Zhang said. "It can even serve as a highdensity hydrogen storage carrier that could solve problems related to hydrogen storage and distribution," he said. IANS
DR DIVYA SUDARSHAN
‘STAY COOL THIS SUMMER’
Two-thirds of the heat generated during exercise is converted to an inner source of heat, which contributes to heat injury. That means the body is unable to cool itself to maintain a healthy temperature, and if one continues to do this, it can lead to a heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. Heat stroke refers to body temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit and is associated with mental status changes such as
loss of consciousness or coma. However, prior to the onset of heat stroke, there may be nausea, dizziness, headache, and difficulty with speaking or walking. Treatment of these symptoms, known as heat exhaustion, involves fluids, sprinkling water and fanning the patient, and applying ice packs to the head, neck, abdomen, groin, and under the arms. If there is any evidence of heat stroke,
then it is an emergency, and the patient needs medical attention immediately. Don't wait until you're thirsty before you drink water. Drink often and drink regularly. Do not rely on thirst. By the time you feel thirsty, there is already a significant fluid deficit. Keep track of how much urine you are passing, and in what colour. If it becomes darker, it’s a warning sign.
Drink more than just water. When you exert yourself, you lose electrolytes as well as fluid. Replacing the fluid alone (with just water) can lead to electrolyte imbalances. These imbalances can be life-threatening. The writer is a gynaecologist and obstetrician at Happy Women Clinic. You can write in to her at happywomenclinic @gmail.com or call her on 9959729444