EXERCISE

A recent statement issued from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) concludes that an inadequate fluid intake during exercise can be physically harmful and proper rehydration is vital to the maintenence of cardiovascular health and a safe body temperature. The effects of insufficient fluid intake include dehydration and premature exhaustion. To prevent or delay the negative impacts of dehydration, fluid should be taken prior to the physical activity.

The report indicates that individuals typically drink an insufficient amount of fluid to offset the weight lost through sweating. ACSM recommends that individuals should drink approximately 500ml of fluid about 2 hours prior to the exercise. During exercise, individuals should continue intermittently to drink fluids. The amount of the fluid should equal a rate of two cups of fluid per pound of weight loss. Either water or sports drinks can be consumed for events lasting less than one hour. For exercises which last longer than one hour, proper amounts of carbohydrates and/or electrolytes should be added to the fluid. Carbohydrate requirements can be met by drinking roughly 4-8 percent concentrations of carbohydrate in solution. Electrolytes (mainly sodium) can be included for excercises lasting more than one hour and indeed, if taste is enhanced, their inclusion is justified. Inclusion of carbohydrates delays fatigue, increases carbohydrate oxidation, and improves performance, whilst electrolytes reduce the risk of developing a low sodium level (hyponatremia).

Gyms where the bugs thrive

Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston have reported that gyms and their facilities may be “bugged”. Bacteria and fungi can thrive and multiply in the warm and moist places in the gyms. Even the cleanest-looking health clubs are natural incubators for germs which can cause painful infections, itching and blistering. Dermatologist Dr. Ted Rosen suggested that people should:

Shower before entering a hot tub, and avoid sitting near the hot-tub jets.
Wear thongs in the shower, sauna, locker room, and by the pool.
Completely dry off between the toes after swimming and bathing.
Towel well after bathing and wear underwear that does not trap moisture and heat.

However, provided that these sensible precautions are taken, there is little need for concern.

NUTRITION

A current buzzword in the vitamin industry is 'antioxidant'. Antioxidants are natural compounds that are found in foods and that prevent low-density lipoprotein (LDL - the bad cholesterol) from oxidizing, thereby, may reduce the occurrence of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke. The oxidation process results in the formation of damaging radical molecules which have been linked to cancer, aging, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Consequently, some studies have linked the intake of antioxidants with protection against cancers, aging and disease. ß-carotene and vitamins C and E have been shown to protect against heart disease and cancer, to boost the immune system and to help infections heal faster. In a study of 2,002 patients in Britain during a three-year trial, patients with established coronary-artery disease who took high-dose daily supplements of vitamin E had 77 percent reduction in the incidence of non-fatal heart attachs. In Holland, in a study of 552 men between the ages of 50 and 69, as compared with men who drank less than 2.6 cups per day, those who drank more than 4.7 cups of tea per day had a 69 percent reduced risk of stroke. It is interesting to note that fruits such as apples, and black tea (especially) contain flavonoids - nonnutritive compounds with antioxidant properties. Tea also contains other antioxidative compounds.

However, despite all the theories, scientists do not all agree as to the role of anti-oxidants in health and disease. Everyone agrees that each person requires a certain amount of vitamin and mineral intake per day to keep healthy, but whether additional supplements of vitamins and antioxidants to the diet can prevent cancer, aging or other disorders requires additional proof. In fact some studies have shown harmful effects of taking such supplements. A report by Physicians' Health Study indicates that taking supplements that contain high doses of ß-carotene and vitamin A did not protect against lung cancer. Another study, known as CARET, showed that smokers who took the vitamins were at an increased risk of lung cancer and death.Critics of the latter study, however, point out that the participants were at a high risk of lung cancer because they smoked or worked with asbestos. Further, the vitamins may have been given too late to have a beneficial effect. Since cancer is a process that takes 20 to 30 years, giving supplements in the middle of that process probably would not have much effect. On the other hand, starting supplements at the beginning of the process may be beneficial.

Thus, until these disputes can be resolved the best strategy is to keep a balanced diet and to make sure that at least the recommended doses of vitamins and other nutritional supplements are taken every day.

SEXUAL FUNCTION

At some point in their lives, 18 to 30 million men in the U.S. suffer from impotence. Oftentimes, this is caused by heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, low high density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) blood levels, or as a side effect of medication. A number of drugs can be injected to produce an erection, however, only one has been approved for such use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Penile injections of the drug, called alprostadil and sold under the name Caverject, induces an erection by relaxing muscle tissue and by allowing the blood vessels to dilate. These events engorge the penis with blood and therefore lead to erection. In one of the largest studies of its kind to date, researchers have found that impotent men can safely and effectively achieve erection after injecting themselves with the drug. Six hundred men were taught as how to inject themselves with the drug during a six-month period. 70% of these men continued to use the drug, and in these men, 87 percent of the injections allowed a satisfactory sexual intercourse. Fifty percent of men experienced a mild pain, and approximately 11 percent of all the injections resulted in pain. Only 1 percent of men had an erection that was maintained long enough to be considered dangerous. Very few men listed pain as the cause for the discontinuation of the drug. Major reasons for discontinuation of the drug was a disklike for self-injection and the inability of the drug to induce erection. Based on the reported findings, clinicians now have a tool for treating the impotence in men.