Because the severity of atherosclerosis in young adults increases with the number of risk factors, the low screening rates, particularly among young persons with two or more risk factors, are of concern (Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA) and colleagues in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

The data are from an analysis of 2587 young adults–men aged 20 to 35 years and women aged 20 to 45 years–included in the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

Overall, 55.2% of men and women had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor; 17.9% had two risk factors. Of these men and women, 4.6% had CHD or a CHD risk equivalent. Regarding screening, less than 50% of people were screened for elevated cholesterol levels, although it was higher among women than men. Among those with CHD or a CHD risk equivalent, however, just 67% of young adults were screened for elevated cholesterol; 47% of adults with two or more risk factors were screened.

Among young adults, the prevalence of high cholesterol levels increased with the number of CHD risk factors–65% of those with CHD/CHD risk equivalent had high LDL-cholesterol levels, compared with 6.7% of those without any risk factors–but the screening rate was less than 50% regardless of risk status. Also, there was no statistically significant difference in screening rates among those with no risk factors and those with one or more risk factors.

The results indicate that improvement of risk assessment and management for cardiovascular disease among young adults through evidence-based clinical and public health interventions is warranted.

Smell is the best indicator of ripeness for this vitamin Amazing fruit, so simply smell to pick a perfect peach. Another good sign? The flesh slightly indents when you press it. And since peaches are very perishable, don’t buy more than you can eat in a day or two. But by all means, get more than a few!

Nutritional information
1 cup, sliced: 60 calories, 0g fat, 15g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 1g protein

Jump Squat
Today’s Veteran Training exercise involves plyometrics. What’s that, you ask? It’s an exercise that incorporates repeated stretching and contracting of the muscles to increase strength, as in the jumping and quick rebounding you’ll be doing during a Jump Squat. A few sets of this multitasking move — which targets your calf muscles, hamstrings, quadriceps, and glutes — and your legs and butt will be stronger in no time!

Step 1
Stand with your feet together, arms at your sides.

Step 2
Jump up as high as you can, swinging your arms behind you.

Step 3
Land in a squat position, legs slightly more than hip width apart, arms extended in front of you, elbows bent at 90 degrees and palms facing each other. Be sure that your knees do not extend beyond your toes.

Step 4
Immediately jump back up to the starting position and repeat.

Caution: This exercise may not be suitable for those who have or have ever had a knee or back injury. Please consult your doctor before starting any fitness program.

Ingredients

• 8  asparagus spears
• 2  tsp olive oil
• 1  garlic clove
• 2  cups mixed greens
• 1  hard boiled egg
• 1  tbsp vinegar
•   Salt
•   Pepper

There is always talk about cholesterol, lipids, and “good” vs “bad” … but what’s what? Cholesterol and fat are things that most thought were always unhealthy, but research has shown that there are different types, some that increase the risk of heart disease and some that are protective. To check your risk of heart disease, your doctor may order a lipid profile test. This checks the levels of at least four lipid — fat — components in your blood:

Total cholesterol: This is the total amount of cholesterol floating in your bloodstream, some of which may offer protection against heart disease, and some of which may increase your risk. Your total cholesterol level should be less than 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter).

LDL cholesterol: LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, usually labeled “bad,” tends to adhere to the inside of blood vessel walls, building up blockages that can cause a heart attack. You want your LDL level to be low — ideally, less than 100 mg/dl, according to the American Heart Association. Between 100 and 129 is considered “near optimal,” 130 to 159 is considered “borderline high,” 160 to 189 is considered “high,” and 190 and above is considered “very high.”

HDL cholesterol: This type of cholesterol is the one many people think of as “good” cholesterol. Instead of sticking to the lining of blood vessels, HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol (the so-called good cholesterol) is brought to the liver to be removed from the body — so it reduces your risk of heart disease. You want your HDL level to be high — at least 60 mg/dl or higher. A low HDL level (less than 40 mg/dl for men; less than 50 mg/dl for women) increases the risk of heart disease.

Triglycerides: These fats are also included in a lipid profile. Although it’s not clear whether high triglyceride levels are a risk factor for heart disease by themselves, they usually go hand in hand with other risk factors, such as high total cholesterol or low HDL. If you are obese, inactive, drink a lot of alcohol, or follow a diet very high in carbohydrates, you may have high triglycerides. Your triglyceride level should be less than 150 mg/dl.

Have you gotten a lipid profile report? If not, make an appointment with your Doctor within the next seven days and commit to getting one. If you’ve already gotten the results and your lipid profile is good, that’s excellent, but it doesn’t mean you can eat whatever you want! You need to continue eating healthfully so those lipid levels can stay great!

If the thought of an upcoming race or Triathlon has you shaking in your shoes (or wetsuit), don’t resign yourself to giving a subpar performance. A recent Harvard study found that in students taking the GRE, those who were told their nervousness would improve their performance got better scores than the group who wasn’t told anything about their jitters. Before you embark on your anxiety-producing task, imagine your anxiety as a positive force that’s heightening your alertness and focus, and prepare to shine. Listen to your Triathlete Coach or Trainer and remember you trained hard for a reason.

Body-Weight Squat

Need a reason to log more Z’s? Sleep is as vital for survival as food, says the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Under the cover of night, sleep floods your veins with age-defying human growth hormone, sends armies of T-cells into battle against colds and infections, and resets the appetite controls that tell you to not hit the turn signal when you pass a McDonald’s. Just as important, it stabilizes your waking brain, helping you process information faster and feel more alert.

You won’t get all of that from drinking a Red Bull, and that’s bad news for the 30 percent of men ages 30 to 44 who log fewer than 6 hours of sleep a night. Don’t be another tired statistic, and don’t rely on sleeping pills to repay your sleep debt. Instead, arm yourself with the more shuteye. It’s time to shed some light on the dark territory of sleep. Face your fears of missing that favorite T.V. show or not finishing that final chapter.

WASHINGTON – At least 10,000 people and possibly far more die in the United States each year because they have not been screened for colon or breast cancer, according to a government report released on Tuesday.

But more people are being screened than ever before, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in the first of a series of new reports on health statistics.

“We are encouraged by a significant increase in colon cancer screening rates over recent years,” the CDC Director told reporters in a telephone briefing.

But, he added, “more than a third of Americans who need to be screened haven’t been screened.”

CDC researchers analyzed survey results from the state-level 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey for the report, available at http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns.

They found colon cancer screening rates rose from 52 percent of those who should get the tests in 2002 to 63 percent in 2008. Americans are advised to get a colon cancer screen, usually in the form of a colonoscopy, starting at age 50 and at age 40 if there is a family history of the disease. 

A separate report found that 81 percent of women aged 50 to 74 got mammograms in 2008, virtually the same as in 2006.

“The findings indicated that more than 22 million men and women have not had a potentially life-saving screening test for colorectal cancer and about 7 million women age 50 to 74 have not had a recent mammogram,” the CDC said in a statement.

“Any screening is good and the overall increase is the main message there,” Frieden said. “Nevertheless, there is a lot more progress we could make with colon cancer screening.”

The CDC said there are differences of opinion over how many lives could have been saved by early screening. Colonoscopies can detect and remove pre-cancerous growths before they become tumors and mammograms can catch tumors while they are small and easily removed.

LIVES SAVED

The American Cancer Society says that more than 106,000 Americans were diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009 and nearly 50,000 died of it.

What is debated is exactly how many of those would be prevented by colon cancer screening getting as high as can plausibly be expected.

“You can argue for 10,000. You can argue for 30,000,” he added. “I think we can certainly say more than 10,000 very comfortably. For every person who dies from preventable colon cancer it is one too many.”

In 2009, 194,000 Americans got breast cancer and 40,000 died. Each year about 12,000 lives are saved as a result of mammography.

If insurance companies stopped requiring co-payments for screening tests, that could help increase the number of people willing to be screened, the CDC said.

The report also showed that people with health insurance are far more likely to be screened for cancer, with 66 percent of those insured getting the recommended breast or colon screening compared to 36 percent of those without.

Currently, about 46 million Americans, or 15 percent of the population, has no health insurance. A new healthcare law signed in March is projected to extend coverage to 32 million more Americans, mainly by requiring them to buy it.