August 2016

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Cracking your knuckles really is all that it’s cracked up to be.
A recent study reveals that the long-held fears of this joint-popping practice leading to arthritis, swelling or lower grip strength are out of hand. In fact, your crack habit actually leads to an increased range of motion — sort of like yoga for your knuckles.
Researchers studied the ultrasounds of 40 subjects’ hands both pre- and post-crack, and compared them to the knuckle scans of people who don’t crack. Some participants admitted to popping their joints up to 20 times per day for the past 40 years!
Turns out, the knuckle-crackers didn’t have any hand problems. There was no immediate pain, swelling or disability in the knuckle-cracking group, and no immediate difference in the strength of their grip. In fact, they had an increased range of motion over the uncracked knuckles.
The study, which has not been published yet, was presented in a December meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. The authors recognize that “further research will need to be done to assess any long-term hazard — or benefit — of knuckle cracking.”
But in the meantime, people have a new lease to snap, crackle and pop their fingers with reckless abandon. Thanks, science!
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Researchers have discovered a new way to ensure a good night’s sleep, but it might involve dumping your significant other.
The quality of the sleep we get each night is linked to how much we feel valued by our partners, a study published in the Social Psychological and Personality Science Journal shows.
“Our findings show that individuals with responsive partners experience lower anxiety and arousal, which in turn improves their sleep quality,” said author Dr. Emre Selçuk, who led the research.
We all know we shouldn’t drink coffee before bedtime, stay up until 2 am watching Netflix, or update our Facebook profile until the sun comes up.
But what a lot of people don’t realize is how influential our social partners can be to our sleep.
Feeling uncared for in a relationship can lead to tension and anxiety, which in turn can lead to difficulty falling asleep, insomnia, and waking up feeling groggy and unrested.
“Having responsive partners who would be available to protect and comfort us should things go wrong is the most effective way for us humans to reduce anxiety, tension, and arousal,” Selçuk said.
The biggest threat we face in this situation isn’t feeling grumpy in the morning or sleeping through the alarm clock — high quality, uninterrupted sleep is important because it gives our bodies time to recuperate and fight back against deteriorations in our physical health, the study notes.
We spend up to a third of our life in bed — spend some of that time sleeping with someone who doesn’t appreciate you, and you’re likely knocking a few years off your life.
“Our best bet for a happier, healthier, and a longer life is having a responsive partner,” Selçuk said.
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When it comes to losing weight and keeping it off for good, we tend to focus too much on saying no to our impulses, cravings, and destructive desires. "No, I'm not going to eat that!" Or, "No! No dessert tonight."
We especially want the food everybody else is eating that we can't have.
And even when we do manage to resist that gooey dessert, just saying no isn't always enough, especially if we hesitate long enough for what I call "mind-tasting" to occur.
With mind-tasting, the thought of a specific food enters your mind and you virtually begin to taste the food — in your mind!
But don't think mind-tasting is all in your head; studies show that various hunger-inducing physiological changes begin to take place throughout the body.
When, for example, binge eaters simply look at a picture of their binge food, or smell it, pleasure centers of the brain light up, leading to that familiar experience called a "craving."
Make no mistake, indulging in mind-tasting will certainly erode your confidence and willpower.
Unfortunately, saying no to temptation isn't the end of your struggle. You find yourself waffling back and forth, drowning in a mind-tasting whirlpool of should-I, shouldn't-I ambivalence.
Sure, you're saying “no” now — but sometimes that "no" turns into, "Well, just a little taste can't really hurt."
If you've been down that dietary yo-yo highway too many times in your life — and one British survey showed that by the age of 45 the average woman has been on 61 diets! — you're going to need more tools in your toolbox to fight the swirling cacophony of destructive, ambivalent thoughts associated with cravings and urges.
As important as it is to dig your heels in and say no to any temptation, there's another valuable tool for building your self-discipline muscle: The power of yes!
"Yes! I can do this!"
Saying no to temptation strengthens you by building up an atrophied self-discipline muscle, and that's necessary for success.
But saying "yes" does something quite different — it fuels optimism. Optimism is the gas pedal that empowers you not only to fight the good fight, but to believe that in spite of your cravings, you are, in fact, stronger than your impulses.
Without that optimistic belief that you really can be strong, that you really can achieve your goal, then saying no becomes hit or miss. You can never be sure you'll say no to that temptation.
If you want to handle the discomfort of an urge or craving and put yourself on the path toward lifelong weight mastery, you need to fortify yourself with a one-two punch: develop the discipline of "no" along with the motivation of "yes."
So, by all means, start out by saying no to destructive eating, but say yes to believing that you can. It's not just saying, "I think I can," it's knowing, "Yes, I can!"
Now that you're pumped up and convinced that you're going to say no to destructive eating along with fortifying your optimism, here's a helpful tip to try. As you well know, in the heat of a dietary melt-down, where twisted thinking produces an irrational fog, good intentions are often defeated by seemingly irresistible compulsions.
For just such circumstances, I offer a simple technique that can save your dietary life: Take a business card and on the back write down a few clear, objective reasons why you want to resist cravings and temptations (saying no).
Then write some optimistic encouragements (the power of yes).
Whenever you find yourself buckling under your impulsive, mindless desires, simply take the card out of your purse or wallet and read your list.
For instance:
1. That's it! No more feeling weak and out of control for me!
2. Whatever it takes, I'm going to look good for the wedding.
3. No! I will not let food rule my life.
4. Be strong! Stay strong! I am strong!
It helps to keep reading the list, mantra-like, over and over until either the urge passes or your thinking once again becomes focused and rational.
Dr. Joe Luciani has been a practicing clinical psychologist for more than 35 years. He's the internationally bestselling author of the Self-Coaching series of books, now published in ten languages, which deal with anxiety, depression, and relationships. His latest book, “Thin From Within,” is a self-coaching, mind-over-mouth approach to achieving lifelong weight mastery. He appears frequently on national TV, radio, and the Internet, and has also been featured in numerous national magazines and newspapers. Visit self-coaching.net for more information.
For more DAILY VIEWS, The News' contributor network, click here.
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Well, here’s a terrifying statistic to stop the stroller set in its tracks: Two kids are hurt every hour in baby buggies and carriers. And many of these tots are suffering serious head injuries.
Nationwide Children's Hospital found that almost 361,000 children ages 5 and younger were treated in emergency rooms for stroller or carrier-related injuries between 1990 and 2010. And one-quarter of the stroller accidents, and one-third of the carrier ones, resulted in traumatic brain injuries and concussions.
Most of these little ones were hurt when they fell from the stroller (67%) or carrier (63%) — maybe they weren’t strapped in securely — or when the stroller (16%) or carrier (29%) tipped over, maybe because it was overloaded or on an uneven surface. And while overall stroller and carrier-related injuries dropped during the study period, the number of stroller-related TBIs/concussions doubled, and carrier-related TBIs/concussions actually tripled.
“While these products are used safely by families every day, when injuries do occur they can be quite serious,” warned study author and research associate Kristi Roberts in a statement. She called the number of head injuries “scary” considering the fact that TBIs/concussions in kiddos can hurt their cognitive development.
“As parents, we place our most precious cargo in strollers and carriers every day,” she said. “By taking a few simple steps like making sure your child is buckled up every time he is in his stroller or carrier and being aware of things that can cause these products to tip over can help prevent many of these injuries.”
Here’s a refresher on stroller and carrier safety.
  • Buckle up. Make sure your kid is seated and strapped in at all times.
  • Keep handles clear. Hanging heavy purses and bags on stroller handles can tip them over. Store these under the stroller or wear them on your shoulder.
  • Buy the right size. Strollers and carriers are not one size fits all. They have age and weight limits, so make sure yours is the right fit for your child.
  • Lock it. Set stroller wheels when you “park” so it doesn’t roll away. Be careful when using a stroller near a curb and in high traffic areas without sidewalks.
  • Get low. Keep carriers close to the ground so the child has a shorter fall if it tips over.
  • Check for recalls. Visit recalls.gov to see if your model has been recalled.
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Your job could be giving you a heart attack.
Social workers and truck drivers are putting themselves at the greatest risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a CDC report released on Thursday.
Researchers surveyed tens of thousands of workers across the country to measure how many heart-healthy habits they follow, including not smoking, eating a well-balanced diet, exercising, and maintaining lower weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
Turns out, community and social service employees were 56% more likely to miss most of these good behaviors. The report didn’t suggest any reasons why, but community service is notoriously high-stress, yet low-paying work, which may drive employees to cope by smoking or eating junk. No good deed goes unpunished.
Transportation and material moving employees also scored low, backing up arecent study that revealed 61% of truck drivers are obese, have high blood pressure, sit too much and don’t sleep enough due to their long hours on the road.
The greener, more granola jobs in farming, fishing and forestry were the healthiest (surprise, surprise) likely thanks to all of that time spent moving in the great outdoors. Production workers and those in the arts, design, entertainment, sports and media also had more healthy habits.
But there’s no perfect jobs out there, as anyone in the workface can tell you. Every occupation missed some healthy mark. The farming, fishing and forestry workers actually had the worst diets, for example, and food service employees smoked the most.
This survey comes with a few caveats. The 66,609 respondents self-reported their behaviors, and the subjects were disproportionately white, female, well-educated and held white collar jobs. This study also didn’t weigh whether any one health factor has a greater impact on your risk of heart disease over another.
But the findings can hopefully be applied to help state organizations and private companies launch heart disease prevention programs. “Work conditions and organizations have a direct impact on health,” the study authors concluded.
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Donald Trump’s campaign chairman Paul Manafort has resigned.
“This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign. Trump said in a statement. “I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process. Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success.”
Manafort joined the campaign earlier this year.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Charlotte.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Charlotte.

 (CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS)
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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A hijab-wearing Muslim woman handing out flower-topped pens was kicked out of a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina because she was a “nuisance,” according to local media.
Rose Hamid attended Thursday night’s rally in Charlotte to “put a positive image on Islam and Muslims,” she told the Charlotte Observer.
Wearing a hijab, Hamid quietly handed out green “Salam I Come in Peace” pens with roses on top and told attendees that Islam is a peaceful religion, according to Fox affiliate WGHP.
“I’ve been just passing out pens and talking to people and having really great conversations,” she said.
But before the rally even began, police escorted the Muslim activist out of the Charlotte Convention Center.
NC WEB BL LN

Charlotte resident Rose Hamid, who was booted from Thursday’s rally, was previously kicked out of a Trump rally for peaceful protest.

 (JEFF SINER/ZUMAPRESS.COM)
“He said I’m a nuisance. And that I’ve caused problems in the past, which isn’t true. He said I caused problems in the past and I’m a nuisance,” she told the Charlotte paper.
“I haven’t done anything wrong.”
This isn’t Hamid’s first time getting booted off the Trump train.
In January, the flight attendant was removed by security after she silently stood in opposition while Trump trashed Syrian refugees during a South Carolina rally.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addressed his supporters Thursday at a rally in Charlotte, N.C.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addressed his supporters Thursday at a rally in Charlotte, N.C.

 (CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS)
“It is turning out that they probably are ISIS,” the bloviating billionaire told adoring crowds.“ There's so many men, they're so young, they are very strong. Where are the women? Where are the children?”
For her silent stand on the candidate’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, the 56-year-old was heckled, booed and escorted out.
“There is hatred against us that is unbelievable. It is their hatred, it’s not our hatred,” Trump said as Hamid left peacefully.
The GOP candidate has a long record of opposing Muslim immigration to the U.S.
Police escorted Rose Hamid, a Muslim woman from Charlotte, out of the convention center before a Trump rally Thursday.

Police escorted Rose Hamid, a Muslim woman from Charlotte, out of the convention center before a Trump rally Thursday.

 (CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS)
At one point, the ranting real estate mogul proposed a temporary ban on Muslim immigration, though he later tweaked his suggestion and advocated for suspending immigration from those nations “compromised by terrorism.”
Monday, he told Ohio supporters he wanted “extreme vetting” and an “ideological test” for would-be immigrants.
“Only those who we expect to flourish in our country and to embrace a tolerant American society should be issued visas,” he said.
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Donald Trump may apologize for his insulting attacks on the family of a Muslim American war hero — maybe.
A day after the GOP presidential candidate admitted that he “regrets” causing “personal pain” to anyone, his campaign manager said he “may” reach out to the family of fallen Army Capt. Humayun Khan.
"He may, but I certainly hope that they heard him last night,” Kellyanne Conway said on “Good Morning America” Friday.
Conway did not specify if Trump’s Thursday night regrets admission was directed at the Khans, the Muslim-American family he repeatedly insulted after they spoke out against Trump and his anti-Muslim policies.
She also dodged a question about whether the comment was addressed to Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war that Trump once mocked for being captured.
Donald Trump expresses his regrets during a campaign speech in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday.

Donald Trump expresses his regrets during a campaign speech in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday.

 (GERALD HERBERT/AP)
"He was talking about anyone who feels offended by anything he said and that's all him," Conway insisted.
The still-vague clarification of Trump’s vague confession came just hours after he spoke about his regrets at a Thursday night rally in North Carolina.
“Sometimes in the heat of debate, and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don’t choose the right words or you say the wrong thing,” Trump said. “I have done that. And believe it or not, I regret it — and I do regret it — particularly where it may have caused personal pain.”
Trump has launched personal attacks on many of his rivals — he insinuated that Ted Cruz’s dad played a part in the assassination of John F. Kennedy and has bestowed sophomoric nicknames on many of his opponents, among other examples — but was most widely condemned for his drawn out feud with the Khan family.
Khizr Khan addresses delegates, with wife Ghazala Khan by his side, on the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention on July 28.

Khizr Khan addresses delegates, with wife Ghazala Khan by his side, on the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention on July 28.

 (SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
Khizr and Ghazala Khan appeared at last month’s Democratic National Convention and slammed Trump for not knowing the “meaning of sacrifice” as they spoke about their son, who was killed in 2004 by suicide bombers in Iraq while protecting his fellow American soldiers.
Trump quickly barked back, bizarrely claiming his real estate empire was a “sacrifice” and questioning why Ghazala Khan stayed silent on stage while her husband spoke.
“If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably — maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say. You tell me,” Trump said, suggesting that the Khans’ Muslim faith barred the woman from speaking out.
Ghazala Khan later said she chose not to speak because she becomes emotional whenever she thinks about her son. Standing on stage silently as she remembered Humayun was hard enough, she said.
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Someone probably has a screw loose, but it’s not Hillary Clinton.
Donald Trump’s national spokeswoman Katrina Pierson revealed her own trouble with logic as she falsely diagnosed the Democratic presidential nominee with dysphasia Thursday during an appearance on MSNBC.
Pierson said that it’s “extremely important to note that Hillary Clinton has taken a lot of time off the campaign trail.”
“What’s new are the other reports of the observations of Hillary Clinton’s behavior and mannerisms, specifically with what you just showed in those previous clips, as well as her dysphasia, the fact that she’s fallen, she has had a concussion…” Pierson said, alluding to a number of debunked reports about Clinton’s failing health.
NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi

Hillary Clinton has been accused of having a myriad of health issues by conservatives.

 (SUSAN WATTS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
Dysphasia is a neurological condition that impairs speech.
Most of the questions about Clinton’s health stem from when Clinton suffered from a concussion and was diagnosed with a blood clot in 2012. The Clinton campaign responded by accusing Trump of “peddling deranged conspiracy theories in a desperate attempt to change the subject” from other issues.
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The State Department admitted Thursday that $400 million in cash was used as “leverage” to ensure Iran released American prisoners — but still insists the payment wasn’t a ransom.
State Department spokesman John Kirby candidly confessed that the U.S. withheld delivery of the cash until the American citizens had left Iran.
Kirby maintained that negotiations over the United States’ returning Iranian money from a decades-old account was conducted separately from the prisoner talks.
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the U.S. delayed the delivery of a cargo plane filled with pallets of foreign currency until a Swiss Air Force plane carrying three Americans left Tehran on Jan. 17.
“Because we had concerns that Iran may renege on the prisoner release ... we of course naturally ... sought to retain maximum leverage until after the Americans were released,” Kirby said Thursday.
“It would have been foolish, imprudent and irresponsible for us not to try to maintain maximum leverage. So if you’re asking me was there a connection in that regard in the end game? I’m not going to deny that.”
The timing of the events has fueled suspicions from Republican lawmakers and accusations from GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump of a quid pro quo that undermined America’s longstanding opposition to ransom payments.
Obama denied any connection between the money and the prisoners.

Obama denied any connection between the money and the prisoners.

 (JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS)
“If it quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. If a cash payment is contingent on a hostage release, it’s a ransom,” said Sen. Ben Sasse, (R-Neb.). “The truth matters and the President owes the American people an explanation.”
Kirby’s admission follows vigorous denials from the White House that there was any quid pro quo or ransom for the detainees.
Earlier this month, after the revelation the U.S. made the payment in piles of euros and Swiss francs, President Obama and administration officials flatly denied any connection between the funds and the prisoners.
The money comes from an account used by the Iranian government to buy American military equipment prior to the Iranian revolution and the severing of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The equipment was never delivered after the shah’s government was overthrown in 1979 and revolutionaries took American hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
The two sides have wrangled over that account and numerous other financial claims ever since.
The U.S. delivered $400 million to Iran after American prisoners were released.

The U.S. delivered $400 million to Iran after American prisoners were released.

(MRODAK)
The agreement, which also coincided with the announcement of the controversial Iranian nuclear deal, called for the return of the $400 million, plus an additional $1.3 billion in interest.
At the time of the release, the Obama administration said that the four detainees had been freed in exchange for the U.S. dropping charges against seven Iranians convicted of sanctions violations.
“We actually had diplomatic negotiations and conversations with Iran for the first time in several decades,” Obama said earlier this month.
The President added that the open channels led to the “ability to clear accounts on a number of different issues at the same time converged.”
But critics contend the timing of it all is still suspicious.
Sen. Mark Kirk, (R-Ill.), said Thursday he sees congressional hearings “as the only way for the American people to fully know whether their tax dollars went directly to Iran’s terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
With News Wire Services
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