scholarly journals Lost Touch? Implications of Physical Touch for Physical Health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A Thomas ◽  
Seoyoun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Lower Blood Pressure ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Lower Blood ◽  
Lower Likelihood ◽  
Physical Touch ◽  
Path Models ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives Growing research on the impact of physical touch on health has revealed links to lower blood pressure, higher oxytocin levels, and better sleep, but links to inflammation have not been fully explored. Physical touch may also buffer stress, underscoring its importance during the stressful time of living in the COVID-19 global pandemic—a time that has substantially limited social interactions and during which physical touch has been specifically advised against. Method We analyze nationally representative longitudinal data on older adults (N = 1,124) from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project using cross-lagged path models. Results More frequent physical touch is significantly related to a lower likelihood of subsequent elevated inflammation. Discussion These findings highlight the importance of finding safe ways to incorporate physical touch, even in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Deletion of proton-sensing receptor GPR4 associates with lower blood pressure and lower binding of angiotensin II receptor in SFO

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (6) ◽  
pp. F1260-F1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuming Sun ◽  
Ellen Tommasi ◽  
Doris Molina ◽  
Renu Sah ◽  
K. Bridget Brosnihan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Angiotensin Ii ◽  
Fractional Excretion ◽  
Urine Osmolality ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Lower Blood Pressure ◽  
Angiotensin Ii Receptor ◽  
Lower Blood ◽  
Fractional Excretion Of Sodium ◽  
The Impact

Diets rich in grains and meat and low in fruits and vegetables (acid-producing diets) associate with incident hypertension, whereas vegetarian diets associate with lower blood pressure (BP). However, the pathways that sense and mediate the effects of acid-producing diets on BP are unknown. Here, we examined the impact of the deletion of an acid sensor GPR4 on BP. GPR4 is a proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptor and an acid sensor in brain, kidney, and blood vessels. We found that GPR4 mRNA was higher in subfornical organ (SFO) than other brain regions. GPR4 protein was abundant in SFO and present in capillaries throughout the brain. Since SFO partakes in BP regulation through the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), we measured BP in GPR4−/− and GPR4+/+ mice and found that GPR4 deletion associated with lower systolic BP: 87 ± 1 mmHg in GPR4−/− ( n = 35) vs. 99 ± 2 mmHg ( n = 29) in GPR4+/+; P < 0.0001, irrespective of age and sex. Angiotensin II receptors detected by 125I-Sarthran binding were lower in GPR4−/− than GPR4+/+ mice in SFO and in paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus. Circulating angiotensin peptides were comparable in GPR4−/− and GPR4+/+ mice, as were water intake and excretion, serum and urine osmolality, and fractional excretion of sodium, potassium, or chloride. A mild metabolic acidosis present in GPR4−/− mice did not associate with elevated BP, implying that deficiency of GPR4 may preclude the effect of chronic acidosis on BP. Collectively, these results posit the acid sensor GPR4 as a novel component of central BP control through interactions with the RAS.

Cooking with shea butter is associated with lower blood pressure in the Ghanaian population

2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 459-469
Author(s):  
A. Kofi Amegah ◽  
Emmanuel Brahuah ◽  
Saverio Stranges
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Shea Butter ◽  
Lower Blood Pressure ◽  
Bioactive Constituents ◽  
Lower Blood ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract. The cardiovascular health benefits of shea butter, an edible off-white or ivory-colored fat native to West Africans has never been investigated. This is in spite of anecdotal evidence, which suggests that shea butter may have medicinal properties and its bioactive constituents lower certain cardiovascular risk markers. We hypothesized that cooking with shea butter would be associated with lower blood pressure (BP) in the Ghanaian population. Data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, a nationally representative population-based survey was analyzed. A total of 9396 women aged 15-49 years and 4388 men aged 15-59 years selected from 12,831 sampled households were included in the study. Respondents with average systolic BP of ≥140 mmHg or average diastolic BP of ≥90 mmHg were classified as hypertensive. Multivariable linear and logistic regression adjusting for gender, age, area of residence, religion, ethnic group, marital status, education and wealth index was used to establish the association between shea butter consumption and BP. Overall prevalence of hypertension in the population was 15.1%. Shea butter consumption was associated with 2.43 mmHg (95% CI: −3.54, −1.31) and 1.78 mmHg (95% CI: −2.71, −0.86) decrease in systolic BP and diastolic BP, respectively, and 25% (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.55, 1.04) reduced odds of hypertension, compared to use of vegetable oils. Region of residence appeared to modify the relationship. We found an association of shea butter consumption with lower BP, which provides the rationale for investigation through rigorous study designs to evaluate the benefits of shea butter consumption for prevention of hypertension and improved cardiovascular health.

scholarly journals Connected Play in Virtual Worlds: Communication and Control Mechanisms in Virtual Worlds for Children and Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Yao Du ◽  
Thomas D. Grace ◽  
Krithika Jagannath ◽  
Katie Salen-Tekinbas
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Multiplayer Games ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Platform Comparison ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Technology plays an essential role in shaping youth’s communication and social interactions in online multiplayer games. Due to physical distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 global pandemic, online multiplayer games like Minecraft and Roblox are well-positioned to amplify healthy communication/social connections and mitigate the impact of social isolation. Research so far has been focused on how these gaming environments support youth development from the perspectives of individual stakeholders (e.g., caregivers, educators, designers, and developers). However, features of these games, such as communication and parental controls, are often misaligned with the ways in which children develop communication and social skills. Using a series of case studies of popular virtual worlds and online games, this paper provides an analysis of critical design features that serve youth throughout different stages of childhood and early adolescence. We offer three main contributions: (a) a comparison matrix of similarities and differences in communication and control features between platforms; (b) an evaluation of design features in selected virtual world platforms that promote safe and positive social interactions; and (c) a method for cross-platform comparison aimed at helping researchers, designers, and practitioners examine specific dimensions of social communication and play experience in virtual worlds.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of the Application of Behavioural Insights of 33 Worldwide Governments on the Landing Pages of their COVID-19 Official Websites and their Impact on the Growth Scale of the Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio ◽  
Raphaela Kitson-Pantano ◽  
David Luu ◽  
Yann Cabon
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
World Population ◽  
Population Movements ◽  
Virus Growth ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 crisis has seen over a third of the world population locked down and this article has sought to understand human behaviour in response to a historical and unprecedented global pandemic. Through the analysis 18 behavioural mechanisms present on the landing pages of the websites of 33 institutional governments from March 1st til May 1st 2020 compared to the WHO data on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths per million for each country, the authors show that a behavioural consensus was observed across all 33 countries and that Individual and Social nudges had no impact. Whilst the decisions in essentially every country on Earth, were taken with the same aim: to limit population movements and social life, two aggravating factors of the spread of the virus, only the environmental nudges effectively helped slow the virus growth scale. The authors explain the rationale behind these results and suggest that people seek information beyond governmental websites that they generally mistrust. They further suggest using Scientists as role models to encourage governmental website's traffic and designing recursive nudges to increase the impact of individual and social interventions. Together with the new phases of the spread of the virus will come new rules and guidance. Public health policies need to address behavioural change of the population on a global scale in a more targeted manner and it is hoped that this paper will provide some insight on how to do so.

scholarly journals Salt restriction lowers blood pressure at rest and during exercise without altering peripheral hemodynamics in hypertensive individuals

2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (6) ◽  
pp. H1194-H1202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Ratchford ◽  
Ryan M. Broxterman ◽  
D. Taylor La Salle ◽  
Oh Sung Kwon ◽  
Song-Young Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Lower Blood Pressure ◽  
Hemodynamic Responses ◽  
Salt Restriction ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Peripheral Hemodynamics ◽  
Lower Blood ◽  
Leg Exercise ◽  
The Impact

Dietary salt restriction is a well-established approach to lower blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular disease risk in hypertensive individuals. However, little is currently known regarding the effects of salt restriction on central and peripheral hemodynamic responses to exercise in those with hypertension. Therefore, this study sought to determine the impact of salt restriction on the central and peripheral hemodynamic responses to static-intermittent handgrip (HG) and dynamic single-leg knee extension (KE) exercise in individuals with hypertension. Twenty-two subjects (14 men and 8 women, 51 ± 10 yr, 173 ± 11 cm, 99 ± 23 kg) forewent their antihypertensive medication use for at least 2 wk before embarking on a 5-day liberal salt (LS: 200 mmol/day) diet followed by a 5-day restricted salt (RS: 10 mmol/day) diet. Subjects were studied at rest and during static intermittent HG exercise at 15, 30, and 45% of maximal voluntary contraction and KE exercise at 40, 60, and 80% of maximum KE work rate. Salt restriction lowered resting systolic blood pressure (supine: −12 ± 12 mmHg, seated: −17 ± 12 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (supine: −3 ± 9 mmHg, seated: −5 ± 7 mmHg, P < 0.05). Despite an ~8 mmHg lower mean arterial blood pressure during both HG and KE exercise following salt restriction, neither central nor peripheral hemodynamics were altered. Therefore, salt restriction can lower blood pressure during exercise in subjects with hypertension, reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, without impacting central and peripheral hemodynamics during either arm or leg exercise. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to examine the potential blood pressure-lowering benefit of a salt-restrictive diet in individuals with hypertension without any deleterious effects of exercising blood flow. While mean arterial pressure decreased by ~8 mmHg following salt restriction, these findings provide evidence for salt restriction to provide protective effects of reducing blood pressure without inhibiting central or peripheral hemodynamics required to sustain arm or leg exercise in subjects with hypertension.

Baroreflex Sensitivity Assessment – Latest Advances and Strategies

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Teresa La Rovere ◽  
Roberto Maestri ◽  
Gian Domenico Pinna ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baroreflex Sensitivity ◽  
Carotid Sinus ◽  
Lower Blood Pressure ◽  
Vasomotor Tone ◽  
Sensitivity Assessment ◽  
Lower Blood ◽  
Prognostic Implications ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Sympathetic Vasomotor Tone ◽  
Stimulation Of

The baroreflex mechanism has been recognised as a key part of cardiovascular regulation. Alterations in the baroreceptor-heart rate reflex (baroreflex sensitivity [BRS]) contribute to sympathetic–parasympathetic imbalance, playing a major role in the development and progression of many cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, the measurement of the baroreflex is a source of valuable information in the clinical management of cardiac disease patients. This article reviews the most relevant advances for the measurement of BRS and their clinical and prognostic implications. Novel therapeutic strategies, exploring the use of electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus, have been evaluated recently in experimental and preliminary clinical studies to lower blood pressure and to reduce the level of baroreflex-mediated sympathoexcitation in heart failure. A recent study has also shown that the implementation of an artificial baroreflex system to regulate sympathetic vasomotor tone automatically is feasible.

Fast Foes: The affective consequences of interacting in a negative self-disclosure situation.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Gordils ◽  
Jeremy Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Negative Behaviors ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Affective Consequences

Background and Objectives: Social interactions involving personal disclosures are ubiquitous in social life and have important relational implications. A large body of research has documented positive outcomes from fruitful social interactions with amicable individuals, but less is known about how self-disclosing interactions with inimical interaction partners impacts individuals. Design and Methods: Participants engaged in an immersive social interaction task with a confederate (thought to be another participant) trained to behave amicably (Fast Friends) or inimically (Fast Foes). Cardiovascular responses were measured during the interaction and behavioral displays coded. Participants also reported on their subjective experiences of the interaction. Results: Participants assigned to interact in the Fast Foes condition reported more negative affect and threat appraisals, displayed more negative behaviors (i.e., agitation and anxiety), and exhibited physiological threat responses (and lower cardiac output in particular) compared to participants assigned to the Fast Friends condition. Conclusions: The novel paradigm demonstrates differential stress and affective outcomes between positive and negative self-disclosure situations across multiple channels, providing a more nuanced understanding of the processes associated with disclosing information about the self in social contexts.

Navigating the New Retail Landscape

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Treadgold ◽  
Jonathan Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Retail Industry ◽  
Drivers Of Change ◽  
Economic Crises ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Personal Leadership ◽  
Practical Guidance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rapid Emergence

The retail industry globally is in an era of profound, perhaps unprecedented, change, change which has been further accelerated for many by the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic and its attendant health and economic crises. This book is intended to serve as a wide-ranging, robust, practical guide to leaders of enterprises tasked with understanding and delivering success in the new landscape of retailing. Part 1 describes the major directions and drivers of change that define the new global landscape of retailing. Accelerating changes in technology, the rise to prominence globally of internet enabled shoppers and the rapid emergence of entirely new retail enterprises and business models are combining to re-shape the very fundamentals of the retail industry. The new landscape of retailing is unforgiving: success can be achieved more quickly than ever before but failure is equally rapid. Opportunities in the new landscape of retailing are profound, but so too are the challenges. Part 2 discusses the structures, skills and capabilities that retail enterprises will need to be successful in this new landscape and the skills and capabilities required of the leaders of retail enterprises. More than 25 detailed case studies of innovative, successful enterprises internationally and more than one hundred smaller examples, all updated and many new since the first edition, are used to illustrate the themes discussed. Frameworks are presented to provide practical guidance for enterprise leaders to understand and contextualize the nature of change re-shaping retail landscapes globally. Clear guidance is given of the capabilities, skills and perspectives needed at both an enterprise and personal leadership level to deliver success in the new landscape of retailing.

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