Healthy behaviors among teenagers studying in schools in the urban and rural areas of Western Poland

Introduction: Unhealthy behaviors are related to the increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Reduction of the risk is possible, although it requires modification of the unhealthy behaviors. This change is possible in all stages of life, however it is most effective in its early phases. A well documented correlation between health-related behaviors and morbidity and mortality makes them an important aspect of public health. Aim: The aim of this study was the recognition  of health-related behaviors among boys and girls studying in the schools of the urban and rural areas of Western Poland and also pointing out a group of youth that should be targeted with specialized health education programmes.Method: This study was conducted on a group of 845 middle school students (14-16 yrs), attending randomly selected middle schools in urban and rural areas located in the Western Poland. An anonymous auditory survey was conducted. The survey consisted of 31 close-ended questions about the demographic and socioeconomic status, and health-related behaviors. In this paper in the statistical evaluation of the accumulated data concerned relationships between health-related behaviors and gender and place of study.Results: A widespread occurrence of unhealthy behaviors was observed. Many participants admitted to unhealthy nutritional habits, and, although less frequently, tobacco use, drinking alcohol and low physical activity. The area in which the students were located played an important part in the nutritional behaviors of boys and with the use of tobacco and the physical activity of girls. The group at the most risk of unhealthy behaviors were the girls studying in the urban middle schools and the boys studying in the rural middle schools.Conclusion: The unhealthy behaviors are a reason for maintaining a regular health education of the middle school students. This education should consider specific educational needs related to the sex and students` place of study

Relationships between adults` participation in leisure time physical activity and demographic factors. Part I: gender and age – review and update

Background: The benefits of regular moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) are well documented, and include reduced morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, and other pervasive conditions. Despite these benefits, adults` participation in regular LTPA is still low. Many previous studies showed associations between adults` participation in LTPA and demographic factors but the results of these researches are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of studies examining the relation between adults` participation in LTPA and two demographic variables: gender and age.Method: The systematic review was limited to four factors: leisure-time physical activity, adults, gender and age. Literature searches were conducted using predefined keywords in 6 key database. A total of 46 potential papers was identified. Of these 46 papers, 25 passed the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review.Results: In most of the analyzed studies  showed no significant differences in the percentage of inactive men and women. Among sufficient active individuals there were more men than women. In all analyzed studies found significant association between the level of LTPA and age of men and women. However, the directions of these connections were different in individual countries, and age and gender groups.Conclusion: Relationships between adults` participation in LTPA and gender, and age are specific for men and women in individual countries, and age groups, therefore there is necessity to monitor the level of LTPA in these subgroups. The results of these studies should be useful in the creation of the strategies supported adults` participation in LTPA.

Does past participation in competitive sports affect the relationships between socioeconomic factors and self-rated health: study randomly selected Polish male and female former athletes and non-athletes

Objectives: Identifying patterns of associations between self-rated health (SRH) and socioeconomic factors in male and female former athletes and non-athletes, and verifying if these associations are modified by the factors which characterize former athletes` past sport participation. Methods: The data used came from Former Athletes' Lifestyle Project conducted among former athletes (N=351) and non-athletes (N=466) aged 18-66 years randomly selected from three regions of Poland. Anonymous questionnaires regarding SRH, socioeconomic variable, and factors which characterize former athletes’ past sport participations (competitive sports training experience, sport level achieved in the past, and period of time since the end of sports career) were used. SRH was categorized as negative (average, poor or very poor) and positive (good or very good). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios of negative SRH after adjusting for socioeconomic and sports characteristics. Results: Groups former athletes and non-athletes exhibited different patterns of relationships between SRH and socioeconomic variables. In both male and female non-athletes the higher risks of negative SRH were significantly associated with low socioeconomic position. Short time from ending sport careers significantly reduced the risk of negative SRH in both male and female former athlete. Conclusions: Among men and women former participation in competitive sports limits the adverse effect of socioeconomic status on SRH. For this reason it appears to be appropriate to incorporate popularization of competitive sport as one of the strategies of public health indirectly oriented towards reduction in socioeconomic inequalities in health

Deep stabilization muscles training in patients with polyarticular hypermobility

Hypermobility syndrome is an inherited dysfunction in the structure of connective tissues. It is manifested by disturbances in the proportion of collagen. The main symptoms of this syndrome are: laxity joint capsules and ligaments, range Increasing the mobility of joints, pain and many disorders and Functioning of organs and systems containing connective tissue. Improperly selected and dosed physical effort in patients with hypermobility syndrome can lead a frequent injuries and overload the musculoskeletal system. The consequence will be early degenerative changes and disability

Effects of cranberry (Vaccinum macrocarpon) supplementation on iron status and inflammatory markers in rowers

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of supplementation with cranberry (Vaccinum macrocarpon) on the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, hepcidin and selected markers of iron metabolism in rowers subjected to exhaustive exercise. METHODS: This double-blind study included 16 members of the Polish Rowing Team. The subjects were randomly assigned to the supplemented group (n = 9), receiving 1200 mg of cranberry extract for 6 weeks, or to the placebo group (n = 7). The participants performed a 2000-m test on a rowing ergometer at the beginning and at the end of the preparatory camp. Blood samples were obtained from the antecubital vein prior to each exercise test, one minute after completing the test, and after a 24-h recovery period. The levels of hepcidin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), ferritin, iron, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and myoglobin were determined, along with total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), unbound iron-binding capacity (UIBC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). RESULTS: Both prior and after the supplementation, a significant post-exercise increase in the concentration of IL-6 was observed in both groups. At the end of the study period, cranberry-supplemented athletes presented with significantly higher resting, post-exercise and post-recovery levels of TAC than the controls. However, a significant exercise-induced increase in the concentrations of TNF-alpha, myoglobin and hepcidin was observed solely in the control group. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with cranberry extract contributed to a significant strengthening of antioxidant potential in individuals exposed to strenuous physical exercise. However, supplementation did not exert direct effects on other analyzed parameters: inflammatory markers and indices of iron metabolism (TNF-alpha, hepcidin and myoglobin)