Fun health news for everyone
A report on the general health of Americans has been published and ranks each state based on physical health, job satisfaction, and other quality-of-life characteristics. While Hawaii, Colorado, Utah, Minnesota, and Vermont ranked 1-5 as the healthiest, many others are as well. The lowest rankings must feel bad as the report surveyed a sample of people from each state. It’s no coincidence that people who reported they were happy with their jobs smoked less, had less risk of heart disease and diabetes. People who are dissatisfied with their work will smoke more, eat more, and be less inclined to exercise. While this is not surprising, the statistics for how people rate their lives are: 53 percent felt they were prospering, 43 percent said they were struggling, and 3.5 percent that they were suffering. What constitutes “prosper” was not mentioned. Forward to more fun health news.
Kids: The Tooth Fairy Adjusts for Inflation
The Tooth Fairy has adjusted her remaining rewards under her bed pillows to inflate them. It seems like in 2012, you paid a whopping $ 3.49 for the first missing tooth and, on average, missing back teeth cost the mythical $ 2.49. Long ago, the writer received a quarter for the large front teeth, a dime for a molar, and a nickel for the rest. The time has changed. Inflation rises. Today is National Tooth Fairy Day. Maybe someone bought you a winning Powerball ticket.
Seniors: Are You Satisfied With Your Health Coverage?
We know that working with health insurers can be a real hassle. Sometimes it takes an incredible amount of phone calls to get a question answered. A recent survey found that 94 percent were happy with the quality of care, 90 percent are happy with the benefits, and 81 percent are happy with their out-of-pocket expenses. This is very good news, even as health care cuts across the country will soon follow.
Now they tell me!
Nintendo lovers today can tell their parents that playing the game all day and all night leads to better surgical skills in the future. There. I told you. A recent study found that surgery students who used a Wii controller had far better abilities in 16 different skill sets than those who didn’t. The researchers noted that laparoscopic simulators are expensive and hard to come by for students, while video games, consoles, and controllers are less expensive and readily available. Any game that comes with 3D graphics and requires extensive hand-eye coordination is good for future US surgeons. I wonder if the joysticks I used years ago are as good as a Wii controller.
Blame it on the Roomba
The more technology we have to do housework, the more sedentary we will become and, therefore, the more overweight we will be. Well, it is true up to a point. We have more technology in the home, which allows women who do housework to have a better time. Think of the Roomba and dishwashers that do almost everything except put them away when they’re done (and why they don’t) and laundry systems that allow us to clean and dry clothes in less time. All this leads us to relax and not to exercise. It is true that it is not so difficult for us to clean the house as in the sixties and seventies. Many working women have weekly cleaning ladies or housekeepers. Those who don’t have this luxury can still flip a Roomba’s switch and then lie back to watch TV while vacuuming the carpet. What’s wrong with that?