Prolonged Daily Sitting Could Be Harmful To Your Health - New Study

A new study has restated the harmful effect of sedentary lifestyle, especially prolonged sitting for more than three hours per day. The new study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that sitting for more than three hours per day is responsible for 3.8% of all-cause mortality deaths. Investigators also estimate that reducing sitting time to less than three hours per day would increase life expectancy by an average of 0.2 years. In order to properly assess the damaging effects of sitting, the study analyzed behavioral surveys from 54 countries around the world and matched them with statistics on population size, actuarial table, and overall deaths.

 

Researchers found that sitting time significantly impacted all-cause mortality, accounting for approximately 433,000, or 3.8%, of all deaths across the 54 nations in the study. They also found that sitting had higher impact on mortality rates in the Western Pacific region, followed by European, Eastern Mediterranean, American, and Southeast Asian countries, respectively. “It was observed that even modest reductions, such as a 10% reduction in the mean sitting time or a 30-minute absolute decrease of sitting time per day, could have an instant impact in all-cause mortality in the 54 evaluated countries, whereas bolder changes (for instance, 50% decrease or 2 hours fewer) would represent at least three times fewer deaths versus the 10% or 30-minute reduction scenarios,” explained lead investigator Leandro Rezende, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine.

 

“Although sitting is an intrinsic part of human nature, excessive sitting is very common in modern societies,” commented Rezende. “Sedentary behavior is determined by individual, social, and environmental factors, all strongly influenced by the current economic system, including a greater number of labor-saving devices for commuting, at home and work, and urban environment inequalities that force people to travel longer distances and live in areas that lack support for active lifestyles.” The results of this analysis show that reducing sitting time, even by a small amount, can lead to longer lives, but lessening time spent in chairs may also prompt people to be more physically active in general.

Culled From National Mirror

Expect More Heat Waves, Warm Nights, Hot Days - NIMET

• Experts predict epidemic of malaria, typhoid fever, others 

• ‘How to cope with intense heat’

 

With the global average air temperature of the earth hitting 1°C hotter than at the beginning of the 20th century, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has warned Nigerians to brace for more hot days, warm night and heat waves.

 

A statement by the Head of Public Relations Unit, Eva Azinge noted that with the long residence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the current warming would continue beyond 2100 even when the emission of greenhouse gases is reduced.

 

The statement noted: “We must therefore prepare for a future with more hot days, warm nights and heat waves because of past and present emissions. This preparation will require smart adaptation strategies and engaging in climate resilient practices to cope with the damage that has been done.”

 

Also, a leading consultant in Public Health and Disaster Management, Dr. Priscilla Ibekwe, has, however, proffered some tips to enable people to cope with the scorching heats in parts of the country.

 

She told The Guardian: “The weather is unbearably hot. Excessive heat can have harmful effect on our health. It can lead to dehydration-due to excessive loss of water, among others. It can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke. It can also lead to death.

 

“The evidence about the risks to health from heat waves is extensive and consistent from around the world.

 

‘‘Excessive exposure to high temperatures can kill. During the summer heat wave in Northern France in August 2003, unprecedentedly high day- and night-time temperatures for a period of three weeks resulted in 15,000 excess deaths. The vast majority of these were among older people. In England that year, there were over 2,000 excess deaths over the 10-day heat wave period which lasted from 4 to 13 August 2003, compared to the previous five years over the same period.”

 

She regretted that Nigeria had not paid much attention to the adverse effects of heat on the health of its people.

 

Her words: “In the past few years, episodes of heat wave have been reported in different parts of the world, including India, African countries. It is assumed that since we are in the tropics, we are used to hot weather. Regrettably, some people die because of the excess heat but we do not know how many people have died, or had heat strokes because we do not seem to collect, collate and publish data on excess deaths during the heat wave.

 

“I strongly believe that one death from heat wave, is a death too many. It can be a death of a relative or friend. Governments, public and private sectors, communities and individuals, have a role to play, to reduce the risk of ill-health and death from heat waves.”

 

She also noted how global warming was partly contributing to the high temperatures. She urged relevant government agencies to develop a heat wave plan and disseminate it widely.

 

She encouraged people to eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. “Drink plenty of clean water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Reduce the intake of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages because they dehydrate the body. Seek medical advice if you or a family member has a medical condition. If you notice any change in your health, please seek medical advice immediately.”

 

She listed danger symptoms to watch out for in hot weather to include feeling faint and dizzy, shortness of breath, vomiting or increasing confusion.

 

Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for a stronger response by governments, aid organisations and the private sector to address the devastating impact the El Niño climate event is having on the food security, livelihoods, nutrition and health of millions of people around the world.

 

The appeal came at a meeting organised in Rome by four United Nations (UN) agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

 

Participants, including representatives from governments, non-governmental organisations and other UN agencies, took stock of the growing impacts of the current El Niño, which is considered as one of the strongest in history.

 

They noted that more than $2.4 billion (N480 billion) is needed for the current El Niño emergency and recovery-responses and currently there is a $1.5 billion (N300 billion) gap in funding.

 

According to a joint statement released yesterday by the FAO, El Niño-related impacts have been felt across the globe since mid 2015.

 

By: Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos), Emeka Anuforo and Joke Falaju (Abuja)

The Guardian News

Breaking News: Madonna University Gets Her Own ATM Cards

It seems while others a kills away in advancement, some are still lagging behind. A loyal DQ reader, who is also a student of the Madonna University Nigeria, sent in this memo. From the email, she was obviously thrilled that the ATM cards have arrived, at last!!!

Before now, students had the option of withdrawing funds over the counter of the school bank, or they are given permission to go out of school to access funds from other bigger banks.

It is a positive development for students and customers of the bank.

Woman Refuses CS, Goes Home And Delivered Triplets.

A housewife, Mrs. Blessing Etoor, refused doctor’s instruction that she would be delivered of her babies by Caesarean section. And gave birth to triplets around 1am on Monday at home in the natural way without going through the knives.

Mrs Etoor with her babies at home.

Mrs. Etoor, an indigene of Eleme in Rivers State by marriage, now has 10 children (six girls and four boys) through multiple births. She was formerly a hair dresser.

Narrating how she was delivered of the remaining two babies, Mrs. Etoor, said her husband was able 
to bring in somebody that helped her. She had first pushed for the first baby to come out before help finally came her way from a local nurse.

She told PUNCH:

 “I gave birth to the babies in the house. I was not feeling labour; I was just calling on my husband to give me water to take my bath. I sat back and lay down. Just as I was sleeping, water began to rush out. 

Then I asked my husband to run out and bring somebody to take me to the hospital. But then he should ask his younger brother to come and stay with me. Before the brother came, it was like something was coming out of me.

“I asked my children to help me stay on the ground. I was calling my first daughter, Faith, to help me. Just as I lay down with my back on the ground, I started feeling the baby trying to come out.

“I pushed and the first baby came out. So, I called on my husband to bring somebody in to help me. With the help, I was able to be delivered of the other two babies.”

Mrs. Etoor pointed out that her two elder sisters had given birth to twins, stressing that her family has a history of multiple births.

People have been visiting the one-bedroom apartment of the Etoors on hearing how the woman from Ekiti State shunned doctor’s directive and gave birth to triplets at home.

Her husband, Mr. John Etoor, recalled that he had kicked against the Caesarean section written on her card by the doctor at the General Hospital, Nchia, because none of his wife’s family had the history of undergoing such a method of giving birth.

He added that though he never prayed for multiple births, he had accepted them because they were given to him by God.

Mr. Etoor, however, called for financial support from government and public-spirited individuals, adding that the babies were currently at home while the doctors had, according to him, told him to bring the babies when they are in stable condition.

“It is all the wish of God. God wanted it to happen this way. This is because when we went to the general hospital, what they had written on her card was caesarean section. I told the doctor that it was a lie. 

This is because she had given birth the first time, the second time and the third time and her stomach was not ripped open. Her family members were not delivered by CS. Even in my own family, no one has gone through caesarean section. 

I said she would put to bed in peace in the name of God. Within me, I was feeling strong that my wife would put to bed in peace. 

I told my wife that she would put to bed in peace; no one would cut her stomach open and that I did not like what I saw on her hospital card. She would not take a hospital bed,” John Etoor, who is a subsistent farmer, added.

Twins found To Have 2 Fathers on DNA Test.

A pair of twins has been discovered to have different fathers, after the dissimilarity between the children prompted their parents to take DNA tests.

The children, from Vietnam’s northern Hoa Binh province, are two-year-olds and distinctive by one having thick, wavy hair, while the other has thin, straight hair.

Both the mother and father took DNA tests after they feared they may have been given the wrong
baby at the hospital, reports Viet Nam News.

However, the tests, carried out by the Hanoi Centre for Genetic Analysis and Technology, proved that the twins both belonged to the mother.

The 34-year-old husband was found to be the father of only one of the twins, making the children bipaternal.

Bipaternal twins are extremely rare and this is reportedly the first case to be recorded in Vietnam.

Dr Keith Eddleman, director of obstetrics at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York told CNN that it is possible for a woman to conceive bipaternal twins through two acts of sexual intercourse.

A woman’s egg has a life-span of between 12 and 48 hours, he said, while a sperm can last for between seven and 10 days. It is during this overlap that it is possible for two eggs to be fertilised.

Dr Ben Carson Drops Out Of Republican Presidential Race.

In speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Dr Ben Carson, Retired Foremost Neurosurgeon and one time front runner for the Republican Presidential candidate slot have decided to step aside. He has this to say about his joining the race;

"I hope my presence added a measure of civility to the race, raised issues that would not otherwise have been discussed, and had an overall positive impact”.

#Ese: Hausa Youths Lure Our Little Girls With Food, Cash - Lagos Parents, Landlords.

Some parents in Lagos have expressed concern over the threat allegedly posed by male residents of Hausa extraction to their young girls following the Ese Oruru saga.

They alleged that young Hausa traders have been luring young girls of other ethnic extractions with financial and material gifts into amorous relationships.

Fourteen-year-old Ese was this week returned to her parents in Bayelsa after she was allegedly abducted by one Yunusa Yellow in August 2015 and taken to Kano in northern Nigeria.

#commonsense Senator Ben Bruce Writes Epic Open Letter To Youths (MUST READ)

The #CommonSense Senator, Ben Murray Bruce penned an open letter to Nigerian youths urging them to desist from the mistakes his generation made.

Read below!

Gov Oshiomole Increases Doctors Salary By 5%

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has approved a 5% increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) of medical doctors in the state.

Dr Mike Adenuga Is Now Africa's 2nd Richest Man - Forbes

There are 24 African billionaires this year, down from 28 in 2015. And according to Forbes, Nigerian businessman Mike Adenuga is the biggest gainer among the African billionaires. He is now worth $10 billion, up from $4 billion a year ago.

The significant jump in Adenuga’s fortune according to Forbes is attributable to new information on the value of his telecom, oil and real estate holdings. Angolan investor Isabel dos Santos and oil tycoon Folorunsho Alakija of Nigeria still remain the only two female billionaires on the continent. See the top 23 richest people in Africa after the cut...

(Child Brutality Or Abuse): If This Is Your Son, What Will You Do?

Hello Lailans,

This is what a lesson teacher did to my son for mispelling a word. What are your advice friends because I have been trying to keep calm but honestly the longer I try to think, The more I feel bad. What is the best way around this ugly brutality?

See more photos after the cut:
.

One thing is certain.
The scars did not come from a cane. 

Are you Diabetic? Read This Revealing Post...

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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria has the highest number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Africa. Diabetes can cause serious long-term health problem, if not properly taken care of. And if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, most doctors would recommend that there is no cure and can only be managed. 

However, there are ways you can live a VERY healthy lifestyle in a way that diabetes becomes a non issue. And the best of all, you can do this by taking control of your health and well being. For example, the #1 way to do this is to take control of your diet. And You can do so by eating meals that are classified as Diabetic Friendly Meals. 

I am talking about meals such as....

1. Moi Moi

This food is rich in protein and is considered a diabetic friendly food that you can also add to your diet. 

2. Plantain With Vegetable Stew

This meal is very delicious and contains lots of vitamins and minerals that aids the pancreas

3. Garden Egg With Groundnut Dip

This particular meal is good as a snack meal in between meals. It is extremely low in calories, but packed with nutrients 

I would like to give you more information  on how you can fight diabetes and take control of your health, so if you are highly interested, I want you to sign up at the link below

Click this link to sign up ==> http://solutionfordiabetes.com/

When you sign up, I'll reveal to you, how to live a healthy lifestyle that will ensure that your diabetes become a non-issue.

I'll also introduce you to many more diabetic friendly Nigerian meals and drinks you can consume on a daily basis .

I'll also guide you on what to do everyday that will keep diabetes and it's symptoms away.

So if this interest you, please use the link below to sign up today and join us in the fight against diabetes.

Click this link to sign up ==> http://solutionfordiabetes.com/

PLEASE NOTE: This is only for people who are diabetic (especially type 2) and would like to follow a healthy lifestyle to reverse diabetes in the Nigerian way.

Rev Father Appointed SA To Cross River State Govt.

This is the Catholic priest who contested for governorship in Cross River State. His name is Rev. father Francis Eworo. Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade has appointed him Special Adviser, government assets.