MediWeek

Sedentary lifestyle has become increasingly prevalent in modern times, with prolonged sitting at workplace being considered a key part of normal life. At many workplaces, individuals are noted to sit for prolonged periods, despite being aware of the adverse health effects associated with sedentary behavior. The World Health Organization has issued physical activity guidelines in […]

Bone strength is an essential component of lifelong health. Peak bone mass achieved in early adulthood as a result of accumulation of bone mass during skeletal growth and development is indicative of long-term bone health. Suboptimal accrual of bone mass at young age can pave the way for development of osteoporosis in older age. Besides

Tomatoes, one of the commonly consumed and easily available vegetables, contain large amount of lycopene. Lycopene lowers the blood pressure (BP) by blocking angiotensin converting enzyme and its gene expression, thereby blocking angiotensin II synthesis (a vasoconstrictor that increases BP). It also indirectly increases nitric oxide generation in the endothelium. The clinical evidence on impact

Dementia, a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities, is highly prevalent in older adults (late-onset dementia, LOD). However, dementia can also have an early onset with symptoms occurring before the age of 65 years (young-onset dementia, YOD). It may be possible to prevent the early onset of symptoms by understanding the role

Yoga nidra, an easy-to-do yogic technique involving withdrawal of senses, reduces stress and improves sleep in patients with insomnia. Subjective improvement in sleep, cognitive scores, and self-observation notes has been found with yoga nidra practice, but the effect of yoga nidra on objective parameters in beginners has not been adequately studied. A study by Datta

Poor dietary behaviors and patterns, a major risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are associated with 7.94 million CVD-related deaths annually. The fast-paced modern lifestyle is linked with untimely food habits, like skipping breakfast and eating late at night. The daily eating/fasting cycle, integral to circadian rhythms, significantly influences cardiometabolic functions and impacts blood pressure

Elevated cholesterol and dyslipidemia in childhood have been linked with subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiac damage in the mid-twenties and premature death in the mid-forties. Long-term data on the association of accelerometer-measured sedentary time, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) with lipid indices is limited among children. Moreover, there is a lack of clarity

Optimal maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy is vital for healthy pregnancy and development of a healthy baby. Long-term data on the nutritional status during various stages of pregnancy and postpartum is lacking. In addition, the impact of micronutrient supplementation on vitamin status during pregnancy remains uncertain. A recent study by Godfrey et al.,

Prolonged sitting, one of the most prevalent forms of chronic sedentary behavior, is often associated with mild impairment of cognitive functions. Acute bouts of uninterrupted prolonged sitting decrease blood flow to cerebral tissues, thus impairing executive functions. A recent study by Horiuchi et al. investigated the effect of intermittent half-squat exercises on executive functions during

Insufficient sleep is linked to elevated risk for type 2 diabetes among general population. However, the impact of chronic insufficient sleep on glucose metabolism in women remains uncertain. A recent study by Zuraikat et al., published in the journal, Diabetes Care that even mild sleep restriction (90 minutes per night) over an extended period may