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Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning as a novel fingerprint for cardiovascular events: results from the prospective cohorts in UK and China | BMC Medicine

Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning as a novel fingerprint for cardiovascular events: results from the prospective cohorts in UK and China | BMC Medicine

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    Major life events influence level of physical activity, may negatively impact heart health, experts say — ScienceDaily

    Starting off a new college or a new occupation, obtaining a infant or coming into retirement are big everyday living activities that appreciably influence a person’s physical activity level, which could direct to poorer coronary heart well being. People and well being care industry experts require to be proactive in addressing this challenge, according to direction from a new American Heart Affiliation Scientific Assertion published currently in the Association’s flagship journal Circulation. A scientific statement is an specialist analysis of recent investigate and could notify potential recommendations.

    The statement, entitled “Supporting Physical Action in Individuals and Populations Throughout Daily life Events and Transitions,” focuses on the will need to greater realize how lifestyle improvements have an effect on actual physical activity levels and what can be accomplished to assist persons maintain good heart health throughout daily life transitions. The statement producing team customers notice that since sedentary habits is an emerging cardiovascular disease threat component, it truly is important to recognize how bodily exercise levels may effect well being in the course of big existence activities and transitions. The assertion also provides steering for health treatment experts to detect, address and boost frequent actual physical action to people enduring significant improvements in their life. Choices for local community-amount interventions to boost actual physical exercise are also explored.

    “Specified existence occasions and transitions may well mark the beginning and stop of various phases of a person’s lifetime, and these lifetime changes may well guide to durations of much less physical action and additional sedentary way of living behaviors. Actual physical activity is an vital coronary heart-wholesome actions and too substantially sitting down and inactivity is not fantastic for you,” said the composing team Chair Abbi D. Lane-Cordova, Ph.D., FAHA, an assistant professor in workout science at the Arnold Faculty of General public Health at the College of South Carolina in Columbia South Carolina. “This is a specially critical subject matter proper now since, in addition to life’s other key gatherings, the COVID-19 pandemic is an additional disruption of everyone’s day by day routines and exercise stages.”

    The American Heart Affiliation recommends most older people take part in at least 150 minutes for each week of average-depth cardio activity or 75 minutes for every 7 days of vigorous aerobic action, or a combination of both of those, ideally spread throughout the week. Young children and adolescents 6-17 many years previous really should get at the very least 60 minutes of moderate-to vigorous-depth bodily action just about every day.

    In accordance to the U.S. Facilities for Disorder Control and Prevention’s Place of work of Ailment Avoidance and Health Advertising “Balanced Individuals 2020” initiative, only 1 in 5 teens (20{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf}) and about 1 in 4 older people (24{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf}) in the U.S. routinely attained the advisable degrees of bodily exercise in latest several years. Whilst these prices are minimal across the board, info counsel these numbers could modify significantly through a important lifetime occasion or changeover. The creating team examined data on 17 distinctive daily life events or transitions, and observed evidence of lessened action degrees for the duration of 9 occasions:

    • Starting a new college (elementary, middle, superior faculty or university) — every distinctive everyday living situations
    • a very first work or career alter
    • a marriage or civil union
    • being pregnant
    • parenting
    • retirement or
    • transferring into a very long-time period treatment facility.

    The producing team also assessed the results of significant everyday living alterations on numerous subgroups in just the U.S. inhabitants to determine people today most in have to have of assistance all through daily life transitions. Men and women most at danger for drastically decrease physical activity in the course of lifetime modifications include:

    • people with lower ranges of instruction
    • these who lived by yourself through the initial COVID-19 location closings
    • all those who lacked secure obtain to outside area for exercise and actual physical exercise and
    • women throughout pregnancy and parenthood.

    The “socioecological product,” which encompasses personal, social, environmental and coverage contributors, was the framework utilised to take a look at many things that impacted concentrations of bodily action.

    The assessment uncovered that typical factors influencing bodily activity ranges among the youth (<18 years of age) at the individual level include:

    • gender
    • age
    • motor coordination
    • time outside
    • physical activity preferences
    • body image
    • perceived barriers
    • involvement in school sports and
    • physical education.

    At the interpersonal level, youth were influenced by their weight and physical activity levels, and by their parents’ education level. Environmental influencers for youth included neighborhood crime rates, perception of safety, walkability, proximity and access to school programs and recreational facilities. COVID-19-related restrictions and stay-at-home orders have also been related to changes in physical activity in youth and Lane-Cordova noted more data in this area will be important to consider.

    The analysis of physical activity levels for adults (18+ year old) found individual influencers included:

    • the perceived health benefits of exercise
    • history of and intention to exercise
    • self-efficacy/confidence to achieve goals
    • enjoyment and
    • lower stress levels.

    Social and cultural norms affected adults both negatively and positively, while environmental influencers included proximity and access to recreation facilities and greenspaces, transportation, neighborhood walkability and convenience.

    Research specific to factors affecting physical activity during life transitions is less robust, so the statement suggests future efforts to identify socioecological factors that may help support routine exercise. Examples of these factors include safer streets for pedestrians ans cyclists, rails-to-trails programs and park upgrades. The writing group proposes public health policies to implement these infrastructure changes would help ensure support for physical activity during major life events.

    The statement also suggests practical strategies for health care professionals to support routine physical activity levels during major life events and transitions. Health care

    professionals can assess physical activity by asking a few questions as part of the collection of vital signs during a routine health visit. A brief screening tool of questions for individual patient responses may be a low-cost option in a clinical setting to assess physical activity levels and support needed. For daily patient use, the writing group suggests simple, commercially available wearable technology such as pedometers or accelerometers to monitor physical activity levels and changes. Simple metrics like adding 1,000 steps per day to increase daily physical activity levels may result in improved health benefits.

    “It’s important to maintain or improve physical activity when major life events happen, which is often a time when exercise is most needed,” Lane-Cordova said. “There are so many ways people can do this. They could plan family activities that involve exercise, use free videos or websites to exercise at home or take standing breaks while at work. The most important things are to be aware of the positive health and cardiovascular impact of physical activity and make the effort to get moving.”

    The statement suggests health care professionals have a big role to play when it comes to opening the conversation about physical activity levels with their patients. The writing group recommends health care professionals focus on compassion and understanding. Given that primary care physicians may lack the necessary time and resources for follow-up support, clinicians may look at expanding the roles of other members of the clinical care team, including nurses, medical assistants and health or lifestyle coaches.

    The statement also mentions behavioral counseling as another means to provide support for physical activity during major life transitions or events. There are numerous mental and physical health benefits of starting and maintaining regular physical activity during major life events and transitions. Urging regular physical activity along with offering compassion and empathy supports physical and mental health during challenging times.

    The statement writing group notes that health care professionals can be an important source of encouragement. Referring to past accomplishments may increase a patient’s confidence in their ability to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily routine. Motivational interviewing may be better received during life transitions and events than a more traditional educational approach during life transitions and events. And a variety of health care professionals, such as medical assistants and health or lifestyle coaches, can help provide physical activity counseling.

    The writing group said it is crucial “to look beyond the health care setting and engage organizations, communities, workplaces, faith-based communities and assisted living facilities to promote physical activity.” The statement provides a list of resources for individuals and health care professionals, many of which are free and online. Future areas of research should include improved surveillance efforts to assess physical activity, sedentary behavior and the corresponding overall health and wellness, particularly among at-risk and underserved populations, according to the writing group. More information is also needed to effectively characterize the impact of life events and transitions on sedentary behavior, especially given the growing body of evidence that too much sitting is associated with worse health outcomes. Finally, the statement highlights the need to develop and test interventions that specifically target life events and transitions linked to declines in physical activity levels.

    Co-authors are Vice Chair Bethany Barone Gibb, Ph.D., FAHA Gerald J. Jerome, Ph.D., FAHA Amanda E. Paluch, Ph.D. Eduardo Esteban Bustamante, Ph.D. Michael J. LaMonte, Ph.D., M.P.H., FAHA Russel R. Pate, Ph.D. R. Glenn Weaver, Ph.D. and Kashica J. Webber-Ritchey, Ph.D., M.H.A., R.N. Authors’ disclosures are listed in the manuscript.

    Posted on

    Major life events may affect a person’s physical activity levels and heart health

    Starting a new college or a new task, possessing a child or entering retirement are major everyday living gatherings that noticeably have an affect on a person’s physical action stage, which might lead to poorer coronary heart wellbeing. Men and women and wellness care professionals want to be proactive in addressing this concern, in accordance to advice from a new American Coronary heart Affiliation Scientific Statement revealed now in the Association’s flagship journal Circulation. A scientific assertion is an expert examination of latest study and could advise potential suggestions.

    The statement, entitled “Supporting Actual physical Activity in Individuals and Populations In the course of Existence Functions and Transitions,” focuses on the have to have to far better understand how lifestyle adjustments impact actual physical action degrees and what can be finished to enable folks preserve fantastic heart wellness through daily life transitions.

    The statement crafting team associates notice that because sedentary conduct is an rising cardiovascular disease danger factor, it is vital to acknowledge how physical exercise amounts might impact wellness all through major existence events and transitions. The statement also offers assistance for wellness treatment professionals to recognize, tackle and boost typical actual physical exercise to individuals suffering from substantial changes in their life. Possibilities for local community-amount interventions to boost bodily activity are also explored.

    “Selected existence gatherings and transitions may possibly mark the starting and conclusion of different phases of a person’s lifestyle, and these everyday living alterations may direct to intervals of considerably less actual physical exercise and a lot more sedentary life-style behaviors. Actual physical activity is an critical coronary heart-healthier habits and much too significantly sitting down and inactivity is not fantastic for you,” explained the composing team Chair Abbi D. Lane-Cordova, Ph.D., FAHA, an assistant professor in workout science at the Arnold Faculty of Community Wellness at the University of South Carolina in Columbia South Carolina. “This is a specifically critical subject proper now mainly because, in addition to life’s other main events, the COVID-19 pandemic is an additional disruption of everyone’s day-to-day routines and activity levels.”

    The American Heart Affiliation suggests most adults participate in at least 150 minutes per week of reasonable-intensity cardio exercise or 75 minutes for each 7 days of vigorous cardio activity, or a combination of both equally, if possible distribute all through the week. Kids and adolescents 6-17 several years old need to get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical action each individual working day.

    In accordance to the U.S. Facilities for Disease Manage and Prevention’s Workplace of Ailment Avoidance and Health and fitness Marketing “Healthier Folks 2020” initiative, only 1 in 5 teens (20{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf}) and about 1 in 4 grown ups (24{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf}) in the U.S. routinely obtained the advisable amounts of bodily exercise in latest years. Whilst these rates are low throughout the board, information suggest these quantities could change noticeably during a major lifetime occasion or changeover. The crafting team examined information on 17 various lifetime events or transitions, and found evidence of lowered action concentrations all through 9 functions:

      &#13

    • Starting a new college (elementary, center, large college or university) – each individual distinctive lifetime activities

      • &#13

    • a to start with work or career change

      • &#13

    • a relationship or civil union

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    • pregnancy

      • &#13

    • parenting

      • &#13

    • retirement or

      • &#13

    • transferring into a long-expression treatment facility.

      • &#13

    The creating group also assessed the results of significant life alterations on numerous subgroups inside the U.S. population to detect persons most in need to have of help all through lifetime transitions. Men and women most at risk for considerably decrease actual physical exercise for the duration of existence changes include:

      &#13

    • people today with decrease concentrations of instruction

      • &#13

    • those who lived by itself in the course of the original COVID-19 location closings

      • &#13

    • people who lacked harmless access to out of doors area for training and bodily action and

      • &#13

    • women during pregnancy and parenthood.

      • &#13

    The “socioecological model,” which encompasses individual, social, environmental and policy contributors, was the framework made use of to take a look at numerous elements that influenced concentrations of physical exercise.

    The assessment uncovered that common variables influencing bodily action stages amid youth (<18 years of age) at the individual level include:

      &#13

    • gender

      • &#13

    • age

      • &#13

    • motor coordination

      • &#13

    • time outside

      • &#13

    • physical activity preferences

      • &#13

    • body image

      • &#13

    • perceived barriers

      • &#13

    • involvement in school sports and

      • &#13

    • physical education.

      • &#13

    At the interpersonal level, youth were influenced by their weight and physical activity levels, and by their parents’ education level. Environmental influencers for youth included neighborhood crime rates, perception of safety, walkability, proximity and access to school programs and recreational facilities. COVID-19–related restrictions and stay-at-home orders have also been related to changes in physical activity in youth and Lane-Cordova noted more data in this area will be important to consider.

    The analysis of physical activity levels for adults (18+ year old) found individual influencers included:

      &#13

    • the perceived health benefits of exercise

      • &#13

    • history of and intention to exercise

      • &#13

    • self-efficacy/confidence to achieve goals

      • &#13

    • enjoyment and

      • &#13

    • lower stress levels.

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    Social and cultural norms affected adults both negatively and positively, while environmental influencers included proximity and access to recreation facilities and greenspaces, transportation, neighborhood walkability and convenience.

    Research specific to factors affecting physical activity during life transitions is less robust, so the statement suggests future efforts to identify socioecological factors that may help support routine exercise. Examples of these factors include safer streets for pedestrians ans cyclists, rails-to-trails programs and park upgrades. The writing group proposes public health policies to implement these infrastructure changes would help ensure support for physical activity during major life events.

    The statement also suggests practical strategies for health care professionals to support routine physical activity levels during major life events and transitions. Health care

    professionals can assess physical activity by asking a few questions as part of the collection of vital signs during a routine health visit. A brief screening tool of questions for individual patient responses may be a low-cost option in a clinical setting to assess physical activity levels and support needed. For daily patient use, the writing group suggests simple, commercially available wearable technology such as pedometers or accelerometers to monitor physical activity levels and changes. Simple metrics like adding 1,000 steps per day to increase daily physical activity levels may result in improved health benefits.

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    It’s important to maintain or improve physical activity when major life events happen, which is often a time when exercise is most needed. There are so many ways people can do this. They could plan family activities that involve exercise, use free videos or websites to exercise at home or take standing breaks while at work. The most important things are to be aware of the positive health and cardiovascular impact of physical activity and make the effort to get moving.”

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    Lane-Cordova, PhD, FAHA and Assistant Professor in Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina

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    The statement suggests health care professionals have a big role to play when it comes to opening the conversation about physical activity levels with their patients. The writing group recommends health care professionals focus on compassion and understanding. Given that primary care physicians may lack the necessary time and resources for follow-up support, clinicians may look at expanding the roles of other members of the clinical care team, including nurses, medical assistants and health or lifestyle coaches.

    The statement also mentions behavioral counseling as another means to provide support for physical activity during major life transitions or events. There are numerous mental and physical health benefits of starting and maintaining regular physical activity during major life events and transitions. Urging regular physical activity along with offering compassion and empathy supports physical and mental health during challenging times.

    The statement writing group notes that health care professionals can be an important source of encouragement. Referring to past accomplishments may increase a patient’s confidence in their ability to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily routine. Motivational interviewing may be better received during life transitions and events than a more traditional educational approach during life transitions and events. And a variety of health care professionals, such as medical assistants and health or lifestyle coaches, can help provide physical activity counseling.

    The writing group said it is crucial “to look beyond the health care setting and engage organizations, communities, workplaces, faith-based communities and assisted living facilities to promote physical activity.” The statement provides a list of resources for individuals and health care professionals, many of which are free and online.

    Future areas of research should include improved surveillance efforts to assess physical activity, sedentary behavior and the corresponding overall health and wellness, particularly among at-risk and underserved populations, according to the writing group. More information is also needed to effectively characterize the impact of life events and transitions on sedentary behavior, especially given the growing body of evidence that too much sitting is associated with worse health outcomes. Finally, the statement highlights the need to develop and test interventions that specifically target life events and transitions linked to declines in physical activity levels.

    Source:

    American Heart Association

    Journal reference:

    Abbi, D., et al. (2021) Supporting Physical Activity in Patients and Populations During Life Events and Transitions: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001035.

    Posted on

    Carroll ISD Rejects Option for Home Schoolers to Participate in Sports and Other UIL Events

    Austin, TX, 17 hours ago — Carroll Independent School District, the majority of which lies in Southlake in North Texas, declined to welcome home-educated students to participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) events.

    The board vote on Monday, December 13, was 4-3, with the three newest members expressing more support for welcoming home schoolers and voting against the motion.

    Assistant superintendent Gordon Butler presented four options to the board: 1) full implementation next academic year; 2) open some extracurriculars in spring 2022; 3) open middle school participation in 2022-23 as a pilot program; 4) do not participate.

    In the regular legislative session, House Bill 547 passed with sponsors and votes from members of both parties. It allows home school students to participate in UIL activities, but the school district must first opt-in.

    So far, 21 school districts across the state have opted in. They include small districts like Fate and Meridian to large districts like Weatherford and Abilene. However, Carroll ISD, which promotes itself as a leading school district that “fosters excellence,” will not join this group.

    The Texan Tumbler

    Southlake resident Elizabeth Huffman educates her three children at home and spoke at the meeting in favor of allowing home school participation. She was frustrated by the outcome.

    “It is an uphill battle we have to fight. I thought through COVID maybe we had overcome some of these stereotypes, but apparently not. Carroll chose not to be forward thinking and set the standard of excellence,” Huffman told The Texan.

    “The objections [at the meeting] seemed to be about academic rigor not the legislative right to participate,” she said. “Personally, I have three students who can read and write Latin, and my freshman has a 94 average in her dual credit Spanish class at Dallas Baptist University.”

    According to the bill’s provisions, before being allowed to participate in UIL events, a home school student would have to score at or above grade level on a nationally-normed achievement test every two years, Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) president Tim Lambert said in an interview with The Texan.

    In order for a public school student to participate in UIL events, he or she must show advancement one of two ways, either through successful completion of course work or by passing the Texas STAAR tests. 

    Carroll ISD school board member Todd Carlton stated that “the ongoing academic rigors [of Carroll] are as high as any in the nation.”

    “It is difficult to tell the rigor of home schools,” he said, adding that Carroll students earn the privilege of UIL participation by “enduring the academic rigors.”

    “What about C-students who barely passed but can throw the ball?” Huffman mused about the implication by Carlton that all Carroll students are thriving academically.

    CISD board member Hannah Smith also pushed back, asking Carlton what the consequences of his concerns were. “So what? You believe it is unfair? The legislature already balanced those concerns,” she said.

    Nationally, home-schooled students score 15 to 30 percentile points above the average public school student, according to the National Home Education Research Institute.

    Colleges, like Amherst, often welcome home-schooled students as “innovative thinkers with a lot to bring to the table,” NBC News reported.

    Mary Ochranek has lived in Southlake for 21 years. Her 19-year-old daughter, who was homeschooled, now attends TCU with a full tuition scholarship.

    “She entered TCU with 42 credits and now has two majors, music and psychology. And through her experiences she has found many students at college who aren’t ready to be there,” she told The Texan. 

    School districts were not given much guidance by UIL about what to require of home school students so they must develop their own policies, Butler said during his presentation to the school board.

    He said that the “no pass, no play” requirement would apply to home school students as it does to public school students, adding that the home school families he met with were very collegial and willing to adjust to meet the standard. However, the coaches were more reticent, especially about missteps on required paperwork.

    Huffman said they are willing to submit to an academic evaluation by a private tutor or show their syllabus and quarterly reports for the work completed in their home education setting.

    Another concern raised by Carroll ISD school board member Michelle Moore was that allowing even a pilot program for UIL involvement would “open the door” and “could have unintended consequences.”

    Board president Eric Lannen raised similar concerns about large numbers in the future and possible funding issues.

    Recently elected board member Andrew Yeager pointed out that home school families already pay property taxes in Carroll ISD. “It’s not like they receive a rebate for homeschooling,” he said.

    So far, 33 states have adopted similar measures about home school participation in UIL, Lambert said, and none have reported these problems. “This fear is just not founded on a basis in fact,” he added.

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about three percent of families home schooled their children before COVID-19, but that has grown to over 12 percent now.

    Huffman, who was part of focus groups about home school participation in Carroll ISD, said six families attended the meetings she participated in and that would represent 23 children. She speculated that not every student will choose the same activity to participate in so it may add one student per UIL event.

    Huffman said her son would like to try out for baseball and her youngest daughter enjoys softball. But other families might choose fine arts or debate.

    Her children have played Dragon sports as children and would like to continue as they grow older. “We cheer for the Dragons, support the Carroll Education Foundation, and of course pay our tax dollars, which we are happy to do. But I don’t feel like they are supporting us.” 

    “If you look at the history of the UIL, it was started in 1913 as a debating society and was open to all white students in Texas to give them an opportunity to become better citizens,” Lambert explained. It wasn’t integrated until the late 1960s.

    Lambert believes the UIL should return to its purpose of being a program for all Texas students to help make them well-rounded citizens.

    “Most of the comments [at the board meeting] had nothing to do with UIL or its purpose. I heard so much ignorance and little desire to learn more about home schooling,” Ochranek said. “I really wish the discussion had been about implementation and inclusion.”