Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 2-20-19

18 I HEALTH I
February 20, 2019
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
@MIDRIVERSNEWS
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
A growing amount of research connects drinking more than three cups of coffee
per day with living longer.
health
capsules
By LISA RUSSELL
Does drinking a lot of coffee
lead to a lot longer life?
Consuming three to five cups of coffee a
day could be a “sweet spot” when it comes
to living longer, according to a new report
from the Institute for Scientific Information
on Coffee [ISIC]. The report examines the
most recent research into coffee and life
expectancy, including a Harvard University-led
study of almost 20,000 participants
which showed that drinking between three
and six cups of java per day was associated
with a 22 percent lower risk of dying from
any cause over a 10-year period. Several
other studies also have found links between
coffee and longevity with consumption of
as little as one cup per day, with increasing
benefits for people whose daily java fix
includes multiple refills.
At a roundtable meeting held late last
year, ISIC members suggested that coffee’s
caffeine content alone is unlikely
to explain its positive effect on mortality.
They said chemicals called polyphenols
found in coffee may have antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory benefits that contribute
to living longer. They also discussed coffee’s
role in a healthy diet and lifestyle,
especially considering past studies that
show coffee is also related to a reduced risk
of conditions like Type 2 diabetes.
More research links screen time
with negative outcomes for kids
An increasing amount of research now
points to the negative effects of screen
time on the brains of kids of all ages.
From toddlers to teens, all kids seem to be
negatively impacted by excessive screen time.
These effects can include both learning
delays in young children and a greater risk
of serious mental health issues and potential
suicidal behavior in teens, according
to two recent studies which focused on
those groups.
Digital media and screens are now everpresent
in the lives of children, even at the
earliest ages. On average, children under
8 years of age spend more than two hours
a day looking at screens. By the time they
enter school, one in four children shows
deficits or delays in developmental areas
such as language, communication and
motor skills
A recent Canadian study compared young
children’s weekly screen time at ages 2 and
3 with their developmental progress at ages
3 and 5, when children typically begin to
enter school. It found that higher amounts
of screen time were significantly related
to poorer performance on developmental
screening tests.
While screen time may interfere with
opportunities for learning and growth, it
is also possible that children with delays
receive more screen time to help parents
deal with their challenging behaviors. In
either case, many children are beginning
school inadequately prepared for learning
and academic success, the researchers said.
• • •
A second study of teens, led by San
Diego State University psychology professor
Jean Twenge, may be even more
alarming. That study, which examined
anonymous questionnaires from more than
500,000 U.S. teens, found a large increase
in depression and suicidal thoughts among
young people between 2010 and 2015,
especially girls.
The number of teen girls reporting symptoms
of severe depression increased by 58
percent over the five-year period, which
also coincides with a similar increase in
the suicide rate for girls between the ages
of 13 and 18.
When researchers looked into the relationship
between screen time and these
serious issues, they found that 48 percent
of teens who spent five or more hours
per day on electronic devices reported at
least one mental health-related outcome,
compared to only 28 percent of those who
reported an hour or less of screen time.
The findings agree with previous studies
that have linked time spent on social media
to more unhappiness among teens, Twenge
said. “Between 2010 and 2015, teens
increasingly spent more time with screens
and less time with other activities. That was
by far the largest change in their lives during
this five-year period, and it’s not a good formula
for mental health,” she added.
On the calendar
An American Red Cross blood drive
is on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 4-8 p.m.
at Dardenne Elementary School, 2621
Hwy. K in O’Fallon. Advance appointment
times are available online at redcrossblood.org.
• • •
A Babysitting 101 class is offered by BJC
of St. Charles County on Saturday, March 9
from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Progress West Hospital,
2 Progress Point Parkway in O’Fallon,
in Conference Room B. Topics include the
business of babysitting, child development,
safety and first aid, and fun and games. A
workbook, backpack and light snack are
provided. The course fee is $30 per child.
Advance registration is required by calling
(636) 344-5437.
• • •
BJC offers free Know Your Numbers
health screenings on Thursday, March
21 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Progress West
Hospital, 2 Progress Point Parkway in
O’Fallon. These screenings for adults
include fasting glucose, cholesterol, lung
function, blood pressure and BMI measurements.
To register, visit bjcstcharlescounty.org/Events.
• • •
BJC offers a Staying Home Alone
course on Saturday, March 23 from
9–10:30 a.m. at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters
Hospital, 10 Hospital Drive in St. Peters,
in Medical Office Building 1, Suite 117.
This parent-child program helps determine
the child’s readiness to stay home
by themselves and prepares them for this
experience. Parent and child workbooks
are included. The course fee is $25 per
family. Registration is required by calling
(636) 344-5437.