Latest news with #UCDavisHealth
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The latest walking trend that could help burn more calories and lower blood pressure
Lace up those sneakers! There's another walking trend that you may want to consider before your next workout. Developed in Japan, the interval walking method is a form of High-Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, training. It's all about bursts of brisk energy, and interval training has long been known to offer benefits — perhaps more than the traditional target of 10,000 daily steps. So, how does it work? According to Tom's Guide, the method suggests you start your walk at a low intensity - one which you could easily hold a conversation - for three minutes. After that, you should walk at a high intensity for three minutes, during which you are working hard. You then alternate between those intensities for a period of 30 minutes or even more. The benefits of interval and HIIT training are widelyestablished. HIIT work, which consists of alternating between bursts of intense work and recovery times, can help to burn a lot of calories in a short period of time. People continue to burn calories for hours after their workouts. 'These workouts typically cause you to burn more fat and build muscle. Studies have also showed that high-intensity workouts may help lower blood pressure and heart rate,' according to UC Davis Health. Interval training offers cardiovascular benefits and can improve age-related muscle loss. Researchers have previously found that people between the ages of 65 to 80 who did such training reversed age-related deterioration of muscle cells and improved muscle power. "The key is to walk at a brisk pace that gets the heart rate up and makes you work harder," Dr. Lauren Elson, medical editor of the Harvard Special Health Report Walking for Health, said in a statement. Any cardio can improve the health of your heart, strengthen the immune system, and help to manage your weight. Recent research has found that taking just 9,000 steps a day can help to lower your risk of developing 13 different cancers. Federal health authorities say that adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, in addition to two days of muscle-strengthening activity. "Walking also is a great way to get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, as you can do it indoors or outdoors, and workouts can be adjusted to fit any fitness level," said Elson.
CBS News
25-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
UC Davis hospital wants to double number of helipads, but concerns grow over potential noise
SACRAMENTO — Air ambulances are often the quickest way for patients in rural areas to get critical medical care. The UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento currently has two active helipads, and now they want to add two more atop the new 14-story California Tower being built on campus. "We do expect some growth in helicopter arrivals," said Matt Dulcich, the hospital's director of planning. The hospital is the only level-one trauma center in the region, treating the most serious emergencies like shootings, burns and pediatric injuries. "That will really allow our patients who come by helicopter to have a direct elevator ride directly down into the emergency department," Dulcich said. And for the first time, military medevac copters and Cal Fire's new fleet will be able to land. "The new helipads will be large enough to accommodate the Firehawk helicopters, where the old ones are not," Dulcich said. The new heliport will be further away from existing homes, but the additional aircraft noise could cause a headache for some nearby neighbors. "We'll be focusing on about 100 residences that could be affected," Dulcich said. What mitigation measures is UC Davis Health taking to limit noise nuisances? The hospital is offering homeowners up to $35,000 in new acoustical windows, doors, skylights and improved insulation for those living in high-noise zones. "With each home being different and a different age and different design, we'll have to work carefully with each homeowner to determine what the best upgrades might be," Dulcich said. The hospital says some of their current facilities date back to the 1920s, and the new helipads and medical tower will help provide state-of-the-art health care for the growing region. "It will really improve patient access to new, modernized facilities," Dulcich said. The cost of the new California Tower is $3.7 billion, and it's scheduled to open in 2030.
Buzz Feed
24-04-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Gwyneth Paltrow Said She Became "Obsessed" With "Healthy" Eating, So Let's Talk About It
Warning: Discussion of restrictive eating. Gwyneth Paltrow shared her changing attitudes towards her diet after facing huge backlash in previous years. If you cast your mind back to 2023, Gwyneth went viral for her appearance on The Art of Being Well podcast with Dr. Will Cole. She said that her typical diet will consist of coffee, bone broth for lunch, and then an early paleo dinner. Paleo is often dubbed the caveman diet and tries to re-create what humans ate during the Paleolithic era, although there's considerable debate as to what exactly that entails. According to UC Davis Health, paleo has the potential for health risks including heart disease, osteoporosis, rickets, and bone fractures. Her words proved extremely controversial, with one dietician telling BuzzFeed that it "screams disordered eating." In response to the criticism, Gwyneth said, "This was a transparent look at a conversation between me and my doctor. It's not meant to be advice for anybody else. It's really just what has worked for me." It's worth noting that Will Cole is not a medical doctor. Well, in a new episode of The goop Podcast, Gwyneth said that it was her father's throat cancer diagnosis when she was 26 that fundamentally altered how she saw food. Surgery and radiation meant that he had a "very difficult time eating," and she explained, "It was at that time that I started wondering, through trying to see if there was anything we could do to help my father, if there was any kind of intersection between wellness and food." She then started "to research environmental toxins" and "tried to convince him to stop putting sugar in his coffee in the morning" and "to make him go gluten-free, which was a hilarious endeavor." The actor continued, "I got met with comments like, 'I'd rather be dead.'" "So no, I did not convert him to eat a more healthy diet in hopes that it would translate into longevity. But through the process, I did start to kind of experiment on myself," she added, calling herself a "guinea pig" before talking about "detoxes," "heavy metals," and "inflammation." The Goop founder further said that she has "genetic mutations" that affect her detoxing, continuing, "When I tried to eliminate [certain] things, my vitality spiked, my energy levels, clarity, et cetera. So that's what I was trying to bring into the life of my father as he was healing, to no avail." Cooking food for her father further spawned her interest in certain food, and she noted, "I went into hardcore macrobiotics for a certain time, that was an interesting chapter where I got kind of obsessed with eating very, very healthily. I think I was really trying to heal my dad by proxy and he just didn't really want anything to do with it...I might have gotten a little didactic about it, but I think I just felt so good." "I was sort of intoxicated by that idea and I still feel that way to this day. I mean, things have gotten a little more complicated with me and longer-term inflammation and health stuff," Gwyneth added. "But it's the reason Brad [Falchuk] and I became paleo a few years ago now, although I'm a little sick of it, if I'm honest, and getting back into eating some sourdough bread and some cheese. There, I said it. A little pasta after being strict with it for so long."
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Candida auris, a deadly fungus, is on the rise in hospitals, senior facilities
The Brief Candida auris, a type of yeast that spreads mostly in hospitals and senior care centers, can cause severe illness and death. Drug-resistant fungal infections like C. auris have been increasing worldwide as more resistant fungi emerge. Cases of Candida auris, a dangerous, drug-resistant fungus, are rising in hospitals and senior care centers across the U.S. According to UC Davis Health, C. auris is still considered rare, but it kills more than 1 in 3 people infected – and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cases were up 64% in 2023 compared to 2022. Big picture view Candida auris is a type of yeast that can cause severe illness and spreads easily among patients in healthcare facilities, according to the CDC. C. auris can cause a range of infections from (skin) infections to more severe, life-threatening infections, such as bloodstream infections. READ MORE: Shingles vaccine may cut risk of dementia, study says C. auris can infect different parts of the body like the blood, wounds and ears. By the numbers Candida auris was first discovered in the U.S. in 2016, with 51 cases reported. There were 4,513 cases of C. auris in the U.S. in 2023, up from 2,928 the year before. READ MORE: Which US city is the healthiest to live in? In the U.S., more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections are reported each year, with more than 35,000 deaths. Symptoms of a C. auris infection depend on where the infection is and how serious it is. Symptoms may be similar to symptoms of infections caused by bacteria like fever or chills. "There is not a common set of symptoms specific for C. auris infections," the CDC says. READ MORE: Oregon dysentery outbreak: 7 new cases reported in February so far People can also have C. auris on their skin and other body parts without having symptoms. This is called colonization. People who are colonized can spread C. auris onto surfaces, objects and other patients. C. auris usually remains on a patient's skin or body sites for a long time, even if they never have symptoms. C. auris is often resistant to antifungal medications, "meaning the fungus develops the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill it." If the germs don't die, they'll continue to grow. The CDC says most infections can be treated with a class of antifungal medications called echinocandins, but some C. auris strains are resistant to all three main classes of antifungal medicines, including echinocandins. The CDC says C. auris mostly affects patients with serious underlying medical conditions and people who need complex medical care and invasive medical devices. Invasive (and often medically necessary) devices that can carry C. auris include: Breathing tubes Feeding tubes Catheters in a vein Urinary catheters Healthy people who aren't hospitalized or seriously ill generally aren't at risk for C. auris. Most of the time, it is unnecessary to screen or test healthcare providers or family members. "Most patients who become sick with C. auris were already very sick," the CDC explains. "When patients with C. auris die, it is hard to know how much C. auris contributed to their death compared to pre-existing illnesses." The Source This report includes information from UC Davis Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Los Angeles Times
01-04-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
The Underrated Power of Sleep: Why Rest Is the Ultimate Wellness Flex
We live in a world that glamorizes the grind. But let's set the record straight: sleep isn't optional. It's a non-negotiable pillar of health—and it might just be the ultimate wellness hack you've been ignoring. There's a mountain of science backing what you already feel in your bones after a restless night: sleep affects everything. From your focus and hormones to your skin and heart, how well you sleep shapes how well you live. Here's why sleep matters — and what it's doing behind the scenes while you snooze. Sleep isn't downtime — it's prime time for your brain. While you rest, your mind is hard at work storing memories, processing emotions, and clearing out mental clutter. Harvard research shows that solid sleep improves focus, creativity, and decision-making. Skimp on it, and your productivity tanks while brain fog rolls in. So yes, your 3 p.m. crash and forgotten passwords might just be a sleep issue, not a you issue. Ever felt irrationally weepy or wildly annoyed after a rough night? That's not just in your head. Sleep stabilizes mood and helps your brain cope with stress. When you're short on sleep, your emotional center gets hyperactive, making little things feel overwhelming. Bottom line: more sleep, fewer meltdowns. Think of sleep as your body's built-in immune booster. While you're dreaming, your body's defense system gears up — producing antibodies and fighting inflammation. According to UC Davis Health, consistent sleep strengthens your ability to fight off illness, while chronic sleep loss increases your chances of catching colds, flu, and more. Translation? Getting sick less often could start with going to bed on time. For women, the road through perimenopause and menopause is often paved with sleep disruptions. Hormones play a starring role here. According to Health and Wellness Coach Jill Foos, many midlife women experience poor sleep starting in perimenopause. 'Since progesterone promotes relaxation and deep sleep, its loss contributes to insomnia and restlessness,' Foos explains. Estrogen doesn't make things easier. 'Fluctuations affect deep sleep, increase night sweats, weaken the bladder, and raise the risk of snoring and sleep apnea,' she adds. In other words, it's not just you. Your hormones really are waking you up at 3 a.m. Cravings out of control? Can't shake the extra weight? Sleep could be the silent saboteur. Your hunger hormones (leptin and ghrelin) rely on sleep to stay balanced. Lose sleep, and you'll feel hungrier, crave carbs, and struggle with blood sugar spikes. The CDC links chronic sleep loss to insulin resistance and increased diabetes risk. Better sleep might be your best-kept secret for metabolic health. Good sleep helps your heart run like clockwork. It keeps your blood pressure in check, regulates stress hormones, and supports healthy circulation. 'Disruptions can contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer's, and insulin resistance,' Foos notes. Prioritizing rest isn't indulgent, it's protective. There's a reason it's called beauty sleep. During deep sleep, blood flow to the skin increases, collagen production kicks in, and your body repairs daytime damage. Skip sleep, and you'll see the effects in the mirror: dullness, puffiness, and premature aging. Lack of sleep raises cortisol (your stress hormone), and high cortisol makes it harder to fall and stay asleep. It's a vicious cycle. The fix? Create a wind-down routine that signals to your body that it's safe to rest. Think magnesium-rich snacks, meditation, or screen-free time before bed. Women are twice as likely as men to report sleep issues, especially during hormonal shifts like pregnancy and menopause. But we've been told it's just part of the deal. It's not. And it's time we talk about it. 'Sleep is foundational, especially during midlife,' says Foos. 'Yet many women go years without realizing that their fatigue, brain fog, or irritability could be linked to sleep disruptions caused by hormones,' she adds. Awareness is powerful—and so is seeking support. If you've tried every sleep tea on the shelf and still toss and turn, don't go at it alone. 'Consulting a specialist in sleep and hormones is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment,' says Foos. Conditions like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or menopause-related insomnia need personalized care. You deserve to sleep well. Period. The next time you feel tempted to power through another late night, remember this: sleep is your body's most essential repair tool. It regulates your mood, sharpens your mind, protects your heart, and supports your hormones. So, no, sleeping isn't slacking. It's your body's way of keeping you sharp, sane, and strong.
