Brisk Walk Cuts Early Death Risk
Make sure to go for a brisk walk daily as a new study says a brisk 20-minute walk each day can add years to your life. Researchers at University of Cambridge have carried out a study analysing over 334,000 European men and women and found that brisk walking for 20 minutes daily can actually make a difference. The study also found that twice as many deaths may be attributable to lack of physical activity compared with the number of deaths attributable to obesity. Professor Ulf Ekelund from the Medical Research Council said: “We found that just 20 minutes would make a difference. Physical activity has many proven health benefits and should be an important part of our daily life.”
Gene behind vision loss discovered
A new gene tied to an incurable eye disorder called retinitis pigmentosa has been discovered. Scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Centre at Houston carried a hereditary analysis of a louisiana family with vision issues to uncover the gene. The retina converts images into electrical signals that can be processed by the brain. It acts much like the film in a camera. Retinitis pigmentosa damages this film. Once it starts, the loss of vision is progressive, often ending in blindness, they said. In the journal Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, UTHealth’s Stephen P Daiger and his colleagues report their discovery of a new gene tied to retinitis pigmentosa, which brings the total of genes associated with this sight-threatening disease to more than 60. The gene is called hexokinase 1 (HK1).
Fruit Snacking Can Damage Your Teeth
An apple a day may keep the doctor away but it could also be keeping your dentist busy, according to a recent survey. The warning about snacking on sugary fruit comes from a poll of 458 dentists, hygienists and dental professionals. Four out of five professionals warned that snacking on fruits contributes to decay, plaque build-up and enamel erosion, and a third said that apples can cause major damage to teeth and gums, alongside chocolate and biscuits. The findings echo research by Professor David Bartlett at the King’s Dental Institute, which found eating fruit may be as damaging to dental health as carbonated drinks. Just under half of the experts questioned warned that fruit juice is also a key cause of tooth and gum problems and more than a third pinpointed savoury snacks as problematic too.