Massachusetts is the Second Least Obese State in the Nation
New information from Gallup says that Massachusetts is the second least obese state in the nation. The least obese state is Colorado. Connecticut and Rhode Island also made the top 10. This is great news, but we are not surprised. In the last 13 months, Mass. was ranked fourth in nation for overall health, the second fittest state in the nation, and the 10th happiest state (according to Twitter). Basically, Massachusetts is a great place to live. [Gallup]
Nearly half of basketball referees in a new study reported hearing loss. “Referee’s ear” is something that people in the profession sometimes joked about, due to the ringing in their ears often experienced after a game from the loud whistles and possibly the crowds, too. It is known as tinnitus and a new study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene reports that referees were much more likely to report symptoms of ringing in the ears and trouble hearing than people of the same age in the general population. Insert joke about missed calls due to hearing loss here. [NY Times]
Exercise is the key to good sleep, according to a new poll by the National Sleep Foundation. People who exercised moderately reported good sleep and vigorous exercisers reported the best sleep. Non-exercisers had the highest risk for sleep apnea and poor sleep. Self-reporting surveys can be tricky, so we wouldn’t consider this a scientific study. But exercise and getting a good night’s sleep are important factors for overall health, so any news that gets people moving is good news. [WBUR]
The CDC says that a “nightmare bacteria” is a big threat to public health. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference Tuesday: “It’s not often that our scientists come to me and say we have a very serious problem and we need to sound an alarm. But that’s exactly what we are doing today.” The superbug is antibiotic resistant and poses a threat to hospitals and nursing homes nationwide. [The Washington Post]
