Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/872903
YOUR HEALTH IN A HEARTBEAT IT'S NOT EASY TO STAY CURRENT WITH HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION. HERE'S A QUICK RUNDOWN OF DEVELOPMENTS TO KEEP YOU IN THE KNOW. KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME WHAT'S SUGAR HAVE TO DO WITH IT? A NAIL BITER Autumn is prime time for activities like soccer and hiking, but these sports may increase the likelihood of falls and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). While a bump on the head may be tempting to shrug off, signs of a concussion, such as persistent headache, nausea or ringing in the ears, warrant a visit to a doctor. "Prevention is the most effective way to minimize trauma due to sports or activities," says Bashar Fahoum, M.D., director of trauma surgery with NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. "I recommend wearing a helmet and using safety equipment at all times when biking or playing contact sports, and using a trekking pole or hiking staff when exploring uneven terrain." Sugar is an ingredient in many food products, from breakfast cereal and yogurt to condiments like ketchup and salad dressing. If processed sugars and foods with naturally occurring high carbohydrate counts (such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread) that break down into simple sugars during digestion comprise a significant part of a daily diet, the risk for obesity and related health conditions—including type 2 diabetes and heart disease—increases. "The issue isn't that people eat sugars or carbohydrates every day but that they eat large portions of them," says Todd Simon, M.D., chief academic officer and vice chair of medicine at NYP Brooklyn Methodist. "I recommend enjoying sweets only as an occasional treat and limiting carbohydrates to 45 to 65 percent of the calories consumed daily." For a daily diet of 1,200 calories, Dr. Simon's recommendation is between 135 and 195 grams of carbohydrates per day. For a 1,500 calorie-per-day diet, the doctor suggests 169 to 244 grams of carbohydrates daily, and for a 2,000 calorie-per-day diet, he recommends 225 to 325 grams each day. It may seem like an innocent habit, but nail biting can have health consequences. Nails can harbor microscopic germs, so bringing them into contact with the mouth can contribute to the spread of infection. Biting nails can also lead to pain, misshapen nails or chipped tooth enamel. Although people of all ages bite their nails, nearly half of adolescents do so. "In most instances, nail biting during the teen years is a response to anxiety," says Susan Gottlieb, M.D., developmental-behavioral pediatrics doctor at NYP Brooklyn Methodist. To encourage teenagers to relieve nervous energy in a healthier way, suggest a distraction technique like squeezing a stress ball when they have an urge to bite their nails. Keeping nails trimmed short and coating them with a bitter-tasting nail polish—available at many drugstores—can also help. APPROXIMATE GRAMS OF CARBOHYDRATES FROM ADDED SUGAR THAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CONSUMES DAILY 45 % ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF TEENAGERS WHO BITE THEIR NAILS 30 % PERCENTAGE OF INJURY DEATHS CAUSED BY TBI 82g B Y T H E N U M B E R S 5 P H Y S I C I A N RE F E R R A L / / 718 . 49 9. C A RE B Y T H E N U M B E R S 5