Should Older Dog Get Brain Cancer Screening with Yearly MRI?
A dog can’t tell you if it has horrible headaches, and cancer is common in older dogs, so doesn’t it make sense to get annual MRI’s to screen for brain tumors? (more…)
Most Promising ALS Cure Breakthrough So Far
The “most compelling” breakthrough for an ALS cure has halted the progression of this disease in mice, but when will human clinical trials start? (more…)
Why Don’t Eye Muscles Become Paralyzed in ALS?
People fear that eye twitching is the first sign of ALS, but oddly, the eye muscles never become paralyzed by ALS.
Right to the very end, the paralyzed ALS patient who can’t even breathe on their own can still blink their eyes: muscle control. (more…)
Are You More Likely to Survive Heart Attack if You Exercise?
Yes, those who exercise can still get a heart attack, but at least this means they’re less likely to die from a heart attack when compared to sedentary people. (more…)
Should Dogs Get an Annual MRI to Screen for a Brain Tumor ?
YES, your healthy dog should get annual MRI’s for brain tumor screening.
An MRI isn’t as expensive as you think, especially if it can catch a brain tumor early.
Cancer (which includes brain tumors) is the leading killer of dogs, and my parents’ German shepherd’s MRI showed a brain tumor. The veterinary neurologist told us, “I see this all the time.”
Sores Near End of Cat’s Tail: Causes and Solutions by Vet
There is more than one possible cause for persistent sores at the end of a cat’s tail.
Certainly this is not something that a cat owner should ignore – not any more than you’d ignore it if your child had continuous sores on their behind. (more…)
Back Squat Alternative for Long Femurs: Zercher Version
Femurs that are longer than one’s torso are a disadvantage to performing the back squat.
If your lower legs are disproportionately short for your upper legs, and especially if your femur length exceeds that of your torso, you’re stiffed when it comes to executing back squats without an uncomfortable forward lean, unless you adopt a very wide stance; enter the Zercher squat. (more…)
How to Do a Split Squat With a Barbell Across Your Back
Have you been thinking about doing a split squat with a barbell across your back?
You’ve probably seen people doing the split squat with dumbbells. This exercise is as much a favorite among women as it is men.
You can also do this with a barbell across your back — either a free barbell or with a tracked barbell device.
Get familiar with this movement by first using dumbbells.
Shutterstock/Artsplav
Having the back leg elevated is fine. Once you’re comfortable with the dumbbell version, you’re ready for a barbell.
However, start with a light barbell, even if you’re using a track machine (“Smith” machine). A light barbell will expedite your ability to refine your form early on.
As to how far apart your feet should be, in terms of one behind you and one ahead of you, this boils down to personal preference.
However, there IS a such thing as the back foot being too close to the forefoot, which would put more stress on the knee joint.
A good rule of thumb is that the back foot should be far enough behind you so that your leg is actually extended behind you (hip extension), yet at the same time, you can feel the quads, butt and hamstrings working.
Another point of consideration is your back position. It should be upright, with an arch in the lower part.
Your back should not be rounded or hunched. This is easier to prevent with a tracked barbell.
If you can’t help but lean forward when using a free barbell, then see what happens when you use a lighter barbell.
You may have to adjust foot position to find a way to prevent leaning forward. Keep in mind that the more your back leg is extended behind you, the more difficult it may be to keep an upright back.
Taking yoga classes will help immensely with loosening up a stiff lower back.
Sets and Reps
Aim for eight to 12 repetitions each side for three to five sets to get in a good lower body workout.
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
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Top image: Freepik.com/pressfoto
Why Do 5’10” Women Hate Their Height More than 6’2” Women ?
It’s strange but true:
Women who hate their height the most aren’t the tallest women out there.
They tend to be around 5-10. And actually, 5-10 is no longer all that tall for a woman. (more…)
Should You Stop Babies from Putting Fingers in Their Mouth?
What would happen if every time you caught your baby with their fingers in their mouth, you removed their fingers with a firm “No”?
You may be thinking, “Why not just let them have their fun? What’s the harm if they’re sucking on their fingers? Babies like this; let them be!”
The “Eeeuuu!” Factor
From a non-medical standpoint, there’s the issue of unsightliness. When babies suck or munch on their fingers, invariably this causes saliva to drool out.
When the baby removes her fingers, they glisten with a fresh coat of saliva. This has that “Eeeuuu!” factor to it.
Of course, the solution is DON’T look if it makes you queasy. However, there’s a second issue: physical contact with the “grossed out” adult (or older child). They won’t want to hold this baby.
I’ll admit, I fell into that category when my niece was four. She frequently had her thumb in her mouth.
When it was out it looked raw and wet. Anyone who picked her up risked getting that wet yucky thumb on their skin. There’s always the adult out there who’ll be very cognizant of this.
Gateway to Nail Biting?
If babies, toddlers and preschoolers are permitted to suck on their fingers or have their fingers in their mouth in any shape, way or form, might this pave the way to nail biting?
There are no studies on this, but it’s fair wonder if all very young nail biters started out with sucking on their fingertips or whole fingers.
It’s easy to imagine that sucking on a digit can then escalate to nibbling at the fingertip and then eventually biting at the nail.
Unbreakable Thumb Sucking
My niece was still sucking her thumb at age seven! My sister-in-law said she had tried everything to stop this habit.
It finally stopped after the girl fell off some monkey bars and broke her arm.
Her baby sister frequently has three fingers in her mouth. I see this all the time with other babies and toddlers in public.
Meanwhile, there are parents who find this unsightly and will not permit it in their own children. Who’s right?
Should Parents Pull the Fingers Out of Their Baby’s Sucking Mouth?
“Babies and toddlers should not be asked to remove their fingers from their mouth,” says Dr. Lisa Lewis, MD, a board certified pediatrician in Fort Worth, Texas, and author of “Feed the Baby Hummus, Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World.”
“Babies and toddlers like to console themselves and also reduce symptoms of teething by putting their fingers in their mouths.
“Yes, they can pick up illnesses more easily this way. The hands should be kept washed regularly, but not excessively.
“A good alternative to telling children, ‘Take your hands out of your mouth,’ would be to offer a safe toy they can chew on or a pacifier.
“But asking them (repeatedly!) to take their hands out of their mouth will cause them to think about it more, and likely increase the behavior.
“At a young age, the baby and toddler brain is not ready to correct a self-nurturing behavior that is involuntarily present.
“When children enter preschool, they often naturally stop the behavior. Their impulse to explore with their mouth is reduced, and they naturally note that their peers are not putting their hands in their mouth.”
Finger Sucking vs. Thumb Sucking and Nail Biting
The New York State Dental Journal has a report titled, “When children put their fingers in their mouths. Should parents and dentists care?”
“We have heard mothers tell their children not to stick their fingers in their mouths because they will get sick,” states the report’s abstract.
“Medical and dental professionals know this is true. Oral habits like thumb sucking and nail biting can damage the structure of the mouth and can lead to the spread of infectious diseases.”
If your baby, toddler or preschooler seems to suck on their fingers more often than is necessary, and especially if it’s accompanied by a lot of drool that turns your stomach, it’s best to consult with your pediatrician and the child’s dentist before you take any actions to extinguish the habit.
Dr. Lewis has been a practicing pediatrician for 25+ years. She completed her pediatrics residency at Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Scott and White Memorial Hospital where she served as chief resident.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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