The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health |
- Six apps similar to Fujitsu's new pulse-reading face scanner
- Running shoes can alter a young athlete's gait, and not in a good way: study
- Learn more about osteoporosis at the Star Health Fair 2013
| Six apps similar to Fujitsu's new pulse-reading face scanner Posted: 20 Mar 2013 03:03 AM PDT Fujitsu just announced its new smartphone technology that can take the pulse of a user just by looking at his or her face. But if the "groundbreaking" device sounds familiar, that's because a host of small app developers have developed similar products in recent years. On Tuesday, Mobihealthnews offered a roundup of competing apps that are available now that, like Fujitsu's new product, can measure variations in the brightness of a person's face caused by the flow of blood. Here is what's out there now: Philips' Vital Signs Camera Back in 2011, Philips launched an iPad app dubbed Vital Signs Camera that can measure your heart rate and breathing via the tablet's camera. Since then the company has released a version for the iPhone 4S as well, with the app selling for $0.99 in the AppStore. Cardiio, a face-scanning pulse reader from MIT and Harvard researchers, was a hot topic back in 2010 when it took the form of a smart bathroom mirror. Now it's a popular iOS app with research-backed claims that the app gets within three bpm of the readings that a clinical pulse oximeter can provide. $2.99 Cardio Buddy from Azumio Azumio's Instant Heart Rate app is a popular item in that it can track your pulse by placing your finger over your smartphone's camera. To compete with Cardiio, Azumio also offers its Cardio Buddy iOS app, which scans your face to detect heart rate. $1.99 E-Intuit's Magic Heartbeat Mirror Hong Kong-based E-Intuit offers its own heart-rate checker as a "magic mirror." iOS only, and sells for $1.99 in the AppStore. What's My Heart Rate? by ViTrox This app is available for iOS, Android, and Windows 8 -- plus it's free, although features beyond checking your heart rate (such as storing or charting the data) are extra. Heart Rate Camera by Intra Labs IntraLabs' Heart Rate Camera -- for the iPad and iPhone -- claims to get an accurate reading in eight to ten seconds. The company also advertises face recognition software and an ECG-like chart display, with the app selling for $2.99. -- AFPRelaxnews |
| Running shoes can alter a young athlete's gait, and not in a good way: study Posted: 20 Mar 2013 03:02 AM PDT The latest study to weigh barefoot running against traditional running shoes finds that mixing up the footwear -- training in cushioned shoes, competing in track flats -- may confuse the running gait in young athletes. While running seems a fairly straightforward activity, ask a devotee his or her opinion about foot strike -- is it better to land on your forefoot (as barefoot running shoes promote) or heel? -- and you're likely to stir up some hot debate. To add more fuel to the fire, researchers from the University of Kansas recruited 12 adolescent competitive athletes from local track teams, and asked them to run on a treadmill in cushioned heel trainers, track flats, and without any shoes at four different speeds. Researchers measured a battery of biomechanical details, such as stride length and foot strike, with a motion capture system. "Running barefoot or running in less of a running shoe is a newer trend," says Dr. Scott Mullen, an orthopaedic surgeon at The University of Kansas Hospital. "What we were trying to evaluate is whether or not the foot strike would change in an adolescent -- who doesn't yet have a permanently established gate -- when they changed their shoe or running speed." The researchers found that shoe type "dramatically" altered running biomechanics in the young runners. When wearing cushioned heel trainers, the athletes landed on their heel nearly 70 percent of the time at all speeds. With the track flats, the heel hit the ground first less than 35 percent of the time; and when barefoot, less than 30 percent of the time. "What we found is that simply by changing their footwear, the runners' foot strike would change," says Dr. Mullen. "When they ran in the cushioned heel or an average running shoe ─ even when running a five-minute mile ─ the athletes landed on their heel first." Many adolescent runners train in cushioned heels but compete in track spikes, which may give them less of a performance advantage during competition, he says. Mullen presented his research Tuesday at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in Chicago. -- AFPRelaxnews |
| Learn more about osteoporosis at the Star Health Fair 2013 Posted: 20 Mar 2013 02:31 AM PDT OSTEOPOROSIS is a silent disease that affects millions worldwide. The pain and disability caused by it are often ignored or misdiagnosed as simple pains and more often than not remains largely untreated. There are usually no symptoms until the first fracture occurs. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include back pain, fractures, loss of height, skeletal deformity and neck strain. The word osteoporosis means "porous bones", and occurs when bones lose an excessive amount of their protein and mineral content, particularly calcium. Although the condition is more prevalent in women, it can also affect men, and does not distinguish between age, race or ethnic group. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has estimated that by 2050, the worldwide incidence of hip fracture is projected to increase by 310% in men and 240% in women. A 10% loss of bone mass in the vertebrae can double the risk of vertebral fractures, and similarly, a 10% loss of bone mass in the hip can result in a 2.5 times greater risk of hip fracture. Calcium is an important part of our diet throughout our lives. As we get older, we need even more calcium to help our bodies keep building new bone tissue. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following daily calcium intake for women past menopause and for men over 65: at least 1,300mg per day, but not more than 3,000mg. The recommendations from other organisations and individual countries vary, ranging from 1,000mg a day up to the 1,300mg recommended by the WHO. Certain risk factors make a person more susceptible to low bone mass. These factors include: > A family history of fractures or osteoporosis > Smoking > A thin frame > Heavy drinking > Certain medications, such as steroids > Anorexia The IOF has made the following observations in osteoporosis prevention: > Childhood and adolescence are particularly valuable times to improve bone mass through exercise. > Adequate levels of calcium intake can maximise the positive effect of physical activity on bone health during the growth period of children. > Studies in children and adolescents have shown that supplementation with calcium, dairy calcium-enriched foods or milk enhances the rate of bone mineral acquisition. > Physical activity reduces risk of osteoporosis and fractures and fall-related injuries. > In the frail elderly, activity to improve balance and confidence may be valuable in fall prevention. Studies have shown that individuals who practice tai chi have a 47% decrease in falls and 25% the hip fracture rate of those who do not and that tai chi can be beneficial for retarding bone loss in weight-bearing bones in early postmenopausal women. > Calcium supplementation has been shown to have a positive effect on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. > Calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduces rates of bone loss and also fracture rates in older male and female adults, and the elderly. In institutionalised elderly women, this combined supplementation reduced hip fracture rates. > Good nutrition is an important part of a successful rehabilitation programme in patients who have had an osteoporotic fracture. In frail, elderly, hip fracture patients, this is crucially important, as poor nutritional status can slow recovery, and increase susceptibility to further fractures. You can find out more about osteoporosis at the Star Health Fair 2013 when holistic medicine practitioner Datuk Dr Rajen M. will share his expertise with the public on this silent disease. In addition, you can also learn how to "bank" your bones and minimise the risk of osteoporosis at Great Eastern Life's Live Great Portal on livegreat.greateasternlife.com. Look out for the Live Great Challenge in The Star Health Fair 2013, a contest to test one's physical and mental fitness, financial fitness, nutrition knowledge, and to advocate healthy eating. Attractive cash prizes await you! Great Eastern Life's Live Great Programme is a holistic health and wellness approach which aims to help Malaysians live healthier, better and longer. The programme comprises expert advice, simple health tips, support, articles, apps, rewards, workshops and events, and more. Source: International Osteoporosis Foundation (www.iofbonehealth.org). This year's theme "Let's Live Great!" is to inspire Malaysians to lead a healthy lifestyle by being physically and mentally fit. The Star Health Fair 2013 is organised by The Star with Great Eastern Life as the event partner. It will be held in Halls 1 to 3 of the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre from April 12 to 14. It is open from 10am to 7pm and admission is free. For enquiries or to participate, call 03-7967 1388 (ext 1243/1529) or visit www.facebook.com/thestarhealthfair. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan