The World of Wellness: Parents are divided on how best to handle teenage drinking. Really?

~ Disturbed sleep is associated with preclinical signs of Alzheimer's disease, researchers found. In a new study by U S scientists, in cognitively normal people, frequent awakenings and a habit of lying awake were linked to higher levels of markers of the brain plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

They found that those who woke more than five times an hour, and participants who spent less than 85 percent of their time in bed actually sleeping, were more likely to have amyloid plaque build-up in their brains than those who did not wake up as much. Further research is needed to determine why this is happening and whether sleep changes may predict cognitive decline.  

Now don’t stay awake worrying about this. Worrying never added a minute to your life. 

~ Parents are divided on how best to handle teenage drinking. Should they prohibit it outright, or let teenagers drink with parental supervision? Some parents think that giving their kids a sip of wine at dinner and a taste of beer at a barbecue will make them less likely to want to drink to rebel, and therefore, make them more responsible drinkers. But new research is showing that being lenient about alcohol may have the opposite effect.

In a study in the Netherlands, they found that a laid back attitude from parents can lead to drinking issues in their teens, whereas strict parental rules about drinking can curb adolescent impulses to drink.

~ A man suffered a heart attack Saturday after dining at the aptly-named restaurant the ‘Heart Attack Grill’ in Las Vegas. He began to complain of chest pains in the midst of eating a 'Triple Bypass Burger.'

The Heart Attack Grill, which opened last October, is infamous for serving high-calorie, high-fat foods. Foods on the restaurant menu are given names such as ‘Flatliner Fries’ and ‘Bypass Burgers,’ and a single meal can easily exceed 8,000 calories. While the staff glorifies bad health – people weighing over 350 pounds eat for free. 

This is one time that I wish what happens in Vega stayed in Vegas, but unfortunately there are hamburger joints all over the world that serve high fat, high calorie food. So, now that we have gotten through Valentine's Day, which is all about the heart. Please remember to do things to help your heart…stop smoking, exercise regularly, decrease salt intake, eat a healthy diet, get regular check ups and decrease your stress and limit your alcohol intake. 

If you would like to have a life coach to help you get healthier or learn how to handle the stress in your life, I am currently offering free wellness consultation sessions.

Contact me: On the web @ www.lifecoachdoug.com or call me at 678-793-5399

God bless you,

Doug