Recent Posts by Alan Carpenter

Life Skills, Health, and Well-being

Life skills matter for younger people Do they matter for older people, too? Educators and business researchers show that life skills (also called non-cognitive skills) promote educational and occupational success in early adulthood. Do these life skills predict health and well-being in later adulthood? British researchers Andrew Steptoe and Jane Wardle at University College, London,…
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What Exactly Are Whole Grains and Whole Grain Foods?

Confused about what these terms mean? What to look for in a bread label In 1999, the Whole Grains Working Group of the American Association of Cereal Chemists International defined “whole grains” as “intact, ground, cracked or flaked fruit of the grain whose principal components, the starchy endosperm, germ and bran, are present in the…
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Sleep-Disordered Breathing Predicts Dementia

Obstructive sleep apnea Insomnia Sleep-disordered breathing refers to recurring arousals from sleep and intermittent reduced blood oxygen levels (hypoxia). This condition affects a sizeable fraction of elderly Americans.  Several adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes, may arise from sleep-disordered breathing. A team of researchers sought to determine if objectively measured sleep-disordered breathing…
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Sleep-Disordered Breathing Might Kill You

Interruptions reduce sleep quality Poor sleep quality harms your health Sleep-disordered breathing (obstructive sleep apnea is one common example) occurs widely among American adults. This condition predicts increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke. Most people with this malady don’t know they have it and don’t receive medical treatment. Yet, medical treatment can improve sleep…
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