Wednesday, September 25, 2013

How is it possible for an app to properly and accurately monitor your sleeping habits?

Renee Neltner

Throughout the night, during each sleep cycle (light, deep, or REM sleep), there have been studies that show that you move differently. The app 'Sleep Cycle' has been calibrated based on those studies to calculate how well you were sleeping throughout the night.

Since this app needs to detect the movements that you make in your sleep, it works with a device within the phone called an accelerometer. Once the accelerometer is calibrated with the app, it becomes extremely sensitive to motion, which allows it to graph each movement that is made.

Sleep quality is measured through the use of two different factors:
1-the amount of movement that is made
2-the total time that you were sleeping
This app is basically using the idea that the more that you sleep, the less you actually move. This is how it determines the quality of sleep that is calculated.

Sources:
http://www.sleepcycle.com/support.html
http://www.sleepcycle.com/howitworks.html

No Money More Problems




                Money is instrumental in our daily lives, our whole world revolves around money. We go to school to get good jobs so we can make money. Not to mention almost everything we do requires money. So, with so much of our world revolving around money how does it impact us from a health perspective? From my own personal experience, money has been one of the largest single reasons of stress in my life. It’s not my job or going to work that is the cause of stress. Also, I make enough to live comfortably, so what’s the cause of this stress. I think the answer to this stress is budgeting. I spend my money where I shouldn’t
                There are many negative powerful effects on not only our bodies but our minds as well. In Jane McGrath’s article on stress she states, “Financial stress affects more than your wallet: It can have a ripple effect on your health and interpersonal relationships. In no other process can our thoughts alter our bodily functions so sud­denly and so powerfully, illustrating the ultimate example of the mind-body connection.” McGrath, also, goes on to talk about many of the side effects such as; “heart attack, diabetes, hair loss, depression -- and gum disease.” It was also reported by CNN that, “Thirty-five percent of middle class Americans said they or someone in their household has experienced a physical symptom of stress…”
                It’s clearly obvious that some types of stress are related directly to money problems. It’s also obvious that stress can have a very negative impact on our bodies as well as our minds. After doing some research one of the easiest and the most controllable ways to reduce this stress is to make a budget. By setting aside a certain amount of money to pay bills and for personal spending creating a budget can decrease stress monumentally.

How can successfully learning how to budget your money affect your physical health?

Budgeting your money can effectively improve an individuals health in many different positive ways. First it relives a lot of stress from ones life. According to the stress management website "about 7 in 10 respondents are very stressed about money and only 1 in 10 report that they aren't worried about finances." Cleary from all the discussion in class we have had stress causes many different health issues such as severe weight gain/loss, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression etc. Learning how to successfully manage money can really improve the lack of stress from life and benefit your health enormously. Less stress in ones life leads to positivity, motivation, and a healthier lifestyle. Secondly stress leads to sleeping issues that can cause sleep disorders and lead to other effects like lack of motivation and moodiness. This just once again proves that the less amount of stress you put into your life the healthier your life will be. Taking the time to learn how to correctly budget your money leads to nothing but a less stressful lifestyle as well as a happy bank account. Not being able to successfully budget money can also leading to unhealthy coping issues such as smoking, drinking, or weight gain. Overall budgeting money can really improve your physical health as well as your ability to manage your life.

Kyndal Tanner



http://stress.about.com/od/financialstress/a/financialstress.htm

What are the benefits of exercise for a college student outside of body composition?

Tyler Hieneman

While listening to all of the presentations last week it was very obvious that exercise and fitness are very important to many members of our class.  As we all know there are the obvious benefits of exercise, like bodily changes and health status but I was interested in what other positive things may come out of exercise among college age students.  I found an article form the American Continental University that addresses this issue in a very straightforward way.  Two key positive features of exercise on the college student are stress relief and improved mood.  Exercise gives students an escape from everything that is going on in the world of college.  Other benefits of exercise to college students include stimulation of brain cell development, improved memory retention, and increased focus and concentration. All of these attributes are extremely helpful to students in the classroom and can even lead to exercise improving results in the classroom.  This is simply amazing, exercise is not only great for the body of a college student and will keep them healthy for years to come but will also allow them learn more and improve their scholastic performance.  College student as a whole need to be made aware of these benefits to physical exercise on their entire well-being and academic performance and maybe more of us will make time in our day for a trip to the gym.


http://www.aiuniv.edu/Student-Life/Blog/September-2012/5-Reasons-College-Students-Should-Make-Time-For-Exercise

Can money buy you "Good Health"????


Anysha 

Money can’t buy you happiness but it may just buy you “good health”. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that a person who has a lot of money is more likely to be healthy. Wealthy individuals have better access to medical care and insurance.  Majority of normal working class Americans cannot afford out of pocket medical expenses. A 50,000 dollar medical bill would take a toll on a person’s credit which is basically every aspect of their life. This is why many people refuse to go to the doctor just for normal screenings or for complications because they cannot afford the outrageous bill. This is not a problem to wealthy people because money is not an issue. If the whole country could afford a personal chief and a personal trainer then the world could be a much healthier place. There are numerous resources that are readily available to the wealthy. The chief could cook them the healthy meals that they need for good nutrition. Who is more susceptible to disease? Shelton Cohen and Carnegie Mellon (Psychologist) performed an experiment on how health is related to social class. They asked, “Did your parents own their own home as a child”. After people answered a cold virus was then squirted into their noses. The conclusion to this experiment was that if you answered yes then you were less likely to catch a cold than those who answered no. There is a question that is still at large; Can money buy you “Good Health”? 

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/On-Retirement/2012/05/15/why-the-wealthy-are-healthy 

What are some things that can help a person get a good nights sleep?

1.  Keep a regular sleep schedule.
-Set a regular bedtime every night.
-Wake up at the same time everyday.
-Take naps during the day to help make up for lost sleep from the previous night but also be smart about napping.
-Fight the after dinner drowsiness
2. Naturally regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
-Spending most of the day inside tends to make you more sleepy because it takes your body away from natural light. Taking your body away from natural light can cause your body to produce more melatonin which causes you to become sleepy.
-To increase light exposure during the day:
   *remove your sunglasses.
   *spend more time outside during the day.
   *let as much light into your house and/or work place.
-boost melatonin at night:
  *turn off tv, computer, and all electronic devices
  *don't use your cell phone
  *make sure the room is dark when it's time to sleep.
 3. Create a relaxing bedtime routine
-keep noise down
-keep the room a cooler temperature
-make sure your bed is comfortable
4. Eat right and exercise regularly
-no big meals before bedtime
-avoid alcohol before bed
-cut down caffeine
-avoid drinking too much liquids before bed.

Kathleen Kimmell

http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_tips.htm

What are Some Ways a Person can Stay Focused on Their Workout Routine?

Between procrastination and lack of motivation, starting a workout routine and sticking to one can be very difficult. WebMD has created, "Ten Workout Secrets From the Pros."


1. Be Consistent: No exercise program will work if you're not consistent. Doing a little something everyday is a great start.
2. Follow an Effective Exercise Routine: The American Council of Exercise (ACE) surveyed 1,000 ACE certified trainers. They suggested three things to get fit. 1)Strength Training. 20 minutes a day will help tone the entire body. 2)Interval Training. Changing what you're doing. It can be as simple as walking for two minutes and then running for two minutes. Even simple changes can make a difference. 3)Increased Cardio. Many people ignore cardio. This is best for burning fat. 60 minutes a day of low to moderate intensity is recommended daily.
3. Set Realistic Goals: Striving for instant perfection can make you feel discouraged if you don't obtain it immediately. Focus on healthy behaviors and the rest will come.
4. Use Buddy System: Having a friend who wants to reach similar goals as you can encourage you to be more consistent. Workouts become more enjoyable when you're with a friend.
5. Make Your Plan Fit Your Life: You don't need a fancy gym and equipment to get fit. If you only have floor space, use your body weight to work out. Do squats, pushups and other similar exercises to tone your body. Start with 10-12 reps and increase as your strength grows.
6. Be Happy: If you hate something, don't do it. You're more likely to stick to a program if you enjoy it a little.
7. Watch Your Clock: Your body clock, that is. Workout when you have the most energy. If you're a morning person, schedule your workouts then. If you perk up later in the day, do afternoons and evenings. There is no set time that you have to workout. Working out when you have the most energy will yield the better results.
8. Call in the Pros: Especially if you're a beginner. A professional assessment of what you need and your weaknesses can focus your mind and balance your overall fitness.
9. Get Inspired: Fitness is a state of mind. Read blogs and websites of other peoples success to get inspired.
10. Be Patient! There will be ups and downs, setbacks and victories. Hang in there and you will see solid results.


Alecia W.