Pesticides, Chemicals and their Harmful Effects

This year marks the end of the Agricultural Health Study, a 20-year study of the effects of pesticides on farm workers and their families. Although the study focused on Iowa and North Carolina, there are still some elements that are important for Pennsylvania farmers as well as anyone who handles chemical compounds.

As the largest study of agricultural exposures in the world, this research focused on cancer in those who apply pesticides to the crops along with their spouses and children. It also looked at reproductive health, respiratory concerns, neurological symptoms, diabetes, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and injury. More than 89,000 people participated in this study that provided key information on farming practices, pesticide use and health status.

Some of the main results showed that because of pesticide exposure, farmers had a greater risk for cancers, especially prostate cancer. There was also a strong connection to Parkinson’s disease because of the exposure to rotenone and paraquat. Rotenone is an odorless chemical compound used in pesticides as well as insecticides. Paraquat is a chemical weed killer. Other significant issues discovered from pesticide exposure in both men and women in the study were asthma, diabetes and thyroid disease.

Probably the most critical finding of this study is one of the most profound and common sense discoveries: the use of gloves is a strong barrier against the harmful effects of pesticides. As part of the study, researchers took measurements of pesticides that penetrated into the body from those who wore gloves and those who did not. Those who wore gloves were 70% less likely to have pesticide residues penetrate their systems. In addition, washing your hands was another prime barrier against absorbing chemical residues into the body after handling pesticides. Furthermore, protective clothing and equipment can also provide an extra layer of protection against the harmful substances.

In all, the study resulted in 175 published reports in scientific literature regarding poor health effects from pesticide exposures.

What does this mean to the general population? Quite a bit, actually. Many of us aren’t on the farms handling pesticides or insecticides daily, but we do handle more chemicals than we think. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, there are more than 80,000 chemicals in the United States that have never been fully tested for their health and environmental effects. Advocacy groups such as the Council are working to change that. In the meantime, all we can do today is learn how to deal with the chemicals we know about and have some control over such as bug sprays, weed killers, and even chlorine or Clorox.

The Environmental Protection Agency puts out a consumer handbook on how to purchase, use and store pesticides. Here are some key elements from that book:

1. Before you buy a product, read the label. You may not need the product for your intended use.

2.  If asked to dilute the product, make sure you use measuring implements that you do not use for cooking. Even if you wash them, it is not safe to use that implement for anything other than the pesticide.

3. Wear protective clothing. If you are spraying your garden, make sure you wear long pants and long sleeves along with gloves. On windy days, you may even want to wear face protection such as a mask.

4. Never eat or smoke around these products. Many pesticides are flammable and toxic to ingest. Use common sense when using such products.

5. If using a chemical inside, such as Clorox, make sure your room is adequately ventilated. Make sure your pets and children are removed from the room when in use. If you are spraying your kitchen for pests, make sure you remove all food and pots/pans so they are not infected.

More details can be found on the EPA’s website at www.epa.gov. Use common sense with your pesticide products and you will be able to maintain good health.

 

Note: The Agricultural Health Study ran from 1993 to 2014 and was approved by the institutional review boards of the US National Institutes of Health, its contractors, and by the Health Canada’s Research Ethics Board.

 

References:

Agricultural Health Study. (n.d.). About the study. Retrieved from http://aghealth.nih.gov/about/

Environmental Protection Agency. (2014). Citizen’s guide to pest control and pesticide safety. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/Cit_Guide/citguide.pdf

Hou, L., Andreotti, G., Baccarelli, A. A., Savage, S., Hoppin, J. A., Sandler, D. P. ... Alavanja, M. C. (2013). Lifetime pesticide use and telomere shortening among male pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(8), 919-924. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1206432.

Weichenthal, S., Villeneuve, P. J., Burnett, R. T., van Donkelaar, A., Martin, R. V., Jones, R. R., DellaValle, C. T., Sandler, D. P., Ward, M. H., Hoppin, J. A. (2013). Long-term exposure to fine particular matter: Association with nonaccidental and cardiovascular mortality in the agricultural health study cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives, 122(6), 609-615.

 

 

Secondary Drowning is for REAL

When you and your family hit the pool or the beach this summer, you need to be aware of a phenomenon known as secondary drowning, or dry drowning.

Secondary drowning is not a new concept, but it is one that is especially dangerous for children. Children are more susceptible to this type of drowning mainly because of their active play and splashing in the water, which causes incidental inhalation of that water into the lungs. The water can remain there for a period of time acting as an irritant and possibly posing a more serious threat.

Research has revealed inhaling water during swimming activities can damage the alveoli of the lungs. The alveoli provide the function of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange during the breathing process. They provide a barrier that prevents harmful gases and chemical to enter the blood stream while allowing oxygen to flow freely through the body.

While you may not think it’s possible for a child to inhale enough water to damage their lungs, it doesn’t take much of it to become a significant irritant in a smaller person’s developing lungs. Furthermore, chemically treated water (i.e. swimming pools) poses a great risk because those chemicals enter the lungs with the water. However, the incident can occur in both fresh water and salt water. Of interest, it has been noted that those who suffered from salt water lung damage often struggled to recover whereas those with dry drowning symptoms from fresh water immersion have a better chance of a full recovery.

Secondary drowning is not something that you will notice immediately. It has a latent period of up to 48 hours. Symptoms include fast breathing, using the entire body to breathe, flushed face, and mood changes. Physicians have found that when a parent notices there is a respiratory problem, it is often too late.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 10-15 percent of drowning deaths were a result of secondary drowning between 2005 and 2010.

One of the best ways to prevent secondary drowning is to teach your child how to swim. Swim lessons teach your child how to breathe when they are in water and will be less likely to inhale it. Three locations in Meadville provide swim lessons: Allegheny College, Meadville Area Recreational Complex, and the Meadville Family YMCA.

At the Meadville Area Recreational Complex, group lessons started this week and run all summer, however, it’s not too late to get involved. They have baby swim lessons up through older children. Adult and private lessons are available by contacting the MARC. For more details on anything swim-related, contact MARC aquatics director Chris Nuzback at 814-724-6006.

Of interest, Nuzback commented on the use of floatation devices for swim assistance and how important it is that they be US Coast Guard approved. Other devices can pose a threat to your children as they may not stay inflated and may not provide the protection as intended. Nuzback is a strong proponent of water safety and commented, “The best thing you can do is pay attention to your children” when they are anywhere near water. “Just because they can stand in the water doesn’t mean they can’t drown.”

Another common location for swim lessons is at the YMCA. The Meadville Family YMCA teaches children and adults how to swim. Children can start as young as 6 months. Not only will these lessons teach you and/or your child how to swim, but they also include water safety and boating safety. Overall, it will help everyone be more comfortable in the water to prevent drowning or secondary drowning. Check out the YMCA’s website for swim lesson details: www.meadvilleymca.org/aquatics or phone them at 814-336-2196 and chat with the aquatics director, Laura Singo.

Lessons are also available through the summer at Allegheny College. Times and ages vary so you will want to call the college’s Wise Center at 814-332-3350 for details.

In the meantime, the CDC has provided several tips to prevent swimming injuries, drowning and secondary drowning. Here are the top three:

1. Closely supervisor children or designate a responsible adult to keep watch
2. Use the Buddy System – always swim with someone else who could help you in the event of an emergency
3. Watch for signs and symptoms of respiratory distress within the first 24 hours after leaving the water.

 

Works used for this article:

Pearn, J. H. (1980). Secondary drowning in children. British Medical Journal, 281(6248), 1103-1105. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1714551/.

 

Drinkable Sunscreen? It may be too good to be true

Tired of greasy, sticky hands after applying sunscreen? Even the spray-on sunscreens leave you inhaling fumes that you shouldn’t breathe. Well, enter a new era of skincare products: drinkable sunscreen.

This new product, The Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare UV Neutralizer Harmonized Water, claims to offer SPF 30 protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays. The product claims to provide protection for up to three hours in the sun. A 100ml bottle will cost you around $30.

Apparently, the product manufacturers claim that this drinkable sunscreen causes the water molecules just below the surface of your skin to vibrate. That vibration results in frequency emissions that cancel out the frequencies of UVA and UVB radiation – the ones that cause sunburn and potentially melanoma. Oh, and the product comes in tan enhancing and no tan enhancing formulas!

Too good to be true? Maybe.

Dermatologists and many other health professionals are skeptical that an ingestible product will prevent an external event such as sunburn and skin cancers. There is no scientific-based data to support the product’s claims, especially the concept that water can cause vibrations within the body. According to several news reports, the company itself did little research on the product before rolling it out. There were no independent or clinical trials. The drinkable substance was tested on about 50 people who claimed to stay in the sun for extended periods of time and found they were sufficiently protected. We know nothing about these 50 people, their health status, or potential motive for testing the liquid.

Furthermore, there’s another problem with this product: if you’re on certain medications, the it may not work. According to the Evergreen, Colorado-based company, “certain medications that have been identified as ‘sun-sensitizing’ may result in little to no sun protection if UV Water is your only form of protection.” The site lists hundreds of medications (including many over-the-counter drugs and supplements) for which this product may not work including acetaminophen (Tylenol), naproxen (Aleve), paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), St. John’s Wort, Dong Quai, Vitamin A, sertraline HCI (Zoloft), and many more. Even saccharin, the artificial sweetener, made the list.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not mention this product or any investigation of this product on its website. However, it may be considered a supplement, thus, it would not require an FDA review or approval. A similar product made by DliSODin Skin Nutrients is also available but by prescription only. It requires consumption at least 15 days before spending time in the sun. Again, if the product is considered a supplement, it would not require FDA scrutiny.

Yet, the likelihood of a drinkable substance for sun protection is not necessarily science fiction. According to many journals on nutrition and food, sun protection can come from your body’s internal mechanism, mainly from nutrients found in foods like the phytochemicals in grapes, berries, and walnuts, and sulforaphane in broccoli. In fact, food research found that the traditional Greek-style Mediterranean diet may contribute to the low rates of melanoma in that region. From an alternative health view, certain herbs can produce antioxidant activities that resist UV rays. Water was not among any of the substances studied. However, research showed that certain herbs only offer supplemental protection to an externally applied product.

Despite the potential help from internal sources that can protect against harmful UV rays, Osmosis’ product is too new to have substantial and conclusive research published for the industry or consumer. Your best bet is to continue your typical regimen and deal with the greasy sunscreens. It has proven to be the best defense against the sun so far.
 

Sources Used for this Article:

Korac, R. R. and Khambholja, K. M. (2011). Potential of herbs in skin protection from ultraviolet radiation. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 5(10), 164-173.

Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare. (2014). UV Neutralizer-Tan. Retrieved from http://www.osmosisskincare.com/HarmonizedWater-UV.aspx.

Q13Fox News Staff. (2014). Should you trust drinkable sunscreen? Retrieved from http://q13fox.com/2014/05/27/should-you-trust-drinkable-sunscreen/#axzz33CtbL8OF.

Shapria, N. (2010). Nutritional approach to sun protection: a suggested complement to external strategies. Nutrition Reviews, 68(2), 75-86.

Time Magazine. (2014). Dermatologists are skeptical of new “drinkable” SPF. Retrieved from http://time.com/#119534/dermatologists-are-skeptical-of-new-drinkable-spf/.

 

Defense Against the "Superbug"

The World Health Organization has identified a serious threat to human health around the globe. Known as a “superbug”, this antimicrobial resistant bacterial infection has been coined “AMR” (Antimicrobial Resistance).

This superbug has interfered with the effective treatment and prevention of various infections that are caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. According to the WHO’s 257-page Global Report on Surveillance, this means that infectious cannot be controlled, the spread is often imminent and the risk of death is far greater. The report stated that “the problem is so serious that it threatens the achievements of modern medicine.”

The list of commonly known bacterium highly resistant to treatment includes the following:

• ·         Escherichia coli (E-coli) – a cause of urinary tract infections, blood infections
• ·         Klebsiella pneumoniael – causes pneumonia, urinary tract infections and blood infections
• ·         Staphylococcus aureus – wound infections, blood stream infections
• ·         Streptococcus pneumoniael – causes pneumonia, meningitis and otitis
• ·         Nontyphoidal Salmonella – foodborne diarrhea, blood stream infections
• ·         Shigella species – causes bacillary dysenteria
• ·         Neisseria gonorrheal – causes gonorrhea

Furthermore, four specific diseases have seen an increase in resistance to treatments because of the superbug: tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and influenza.

The WHO has indicated that the main “fix” for such resistance infections is to prevent the transmission of the organisms in the first place. In other words, the key take-away from this report is improved hygiene. One of the most important elements that reduces the spread of infection is hand hygiene, or basically, washing your hands frequently. For developed nations like the United States, hand hygiene is more about educating people on the importance of hand-washing; yet for third-world nations, the problem lies in infrastructure such as access to clean water and the means to have improved hygiene.

While the practice of handwashing has been around for centuries for personal hygiene, it was only since the 1800s that the link between it and the spread of diseases was identified. Studies have shown that organisms can survive on the hands for varying periods of time and could easily be spread through touch (a simple handshake or touching something another person has touched). Such bacteria include E-coli, influenza and rhinovirus – some of which can survive on your hands for up to an hour.

Handwashing can cut the spread of infections in half. That means you can ward off infections simply by keeping your hands clean. The problem lies in the handwashing technique itself. The WHO reported that most people do not know how to wash their hands effectively.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed easy guidelines to follow to wash your hands and, in essence, ward of infections. With the discovery of the “superbug” now wreaking havoc on the world, washing your hands often and correctly is a great weapon.

How to correctly wash your hands, as directed by the CDC:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. For a way to time yourself: sing “Happy Birthday” from beginning to end, twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

It is recommended to dry your hands and then use the paper towel to turn off the faucet so you do not re-infect your hands by touching the knob that you originally turned on with dirty hands.

It was also noted that hand sanitizers are good in a pinch, but they do not eliminate all germs that can accumulate on your hands. You should wash with soap and water as soon as you have the opportunity.

Used for this article:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Wash your hands. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/.

World Health Organization. (2014). Infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/drugresistance/infection_prevention/en/.

World Health Organization. (2014). Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance 2014. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/drugresistance/documents/surveillancereport/en/.

Colon Cleansing: A Bad Idea

Researchers have found that while colon cleansing has been around since ancient times, the health benefits are basically a myth.

An April 22 article on the Live Science website indicated that flushing the colon was one of the worst things a person could do for their health. Research from the past decade supports that very notion. In a published report in The Journal of Family Practice, doctors from Georgetown University School of Medicine, urged people to stop cleansing their colon as a way to improve their health. It is actually causing far more harm than good and could result in serious internal injuries.

Colon cleaning was originally thought to contain waste that poisoned the body. Prior to the 1900s, it was routinely practiced as a way to allegedly remove these toxins and clean the body. It was a procedure – often repeated several times – where the patient’s colon is filled with water, which sometimes included a mix of herbs or other compounds. It is important to note that this is not like an enema, which uses a small amount of water to assist with acute bowel obstructions. Colon cleansing uses a significantly larger amount of water, sometimes up to 60 liters.

In 1919, the American Medical Association condemned the practice and eventually colon cleansing became a thing of the past. However, in recent years with the emergence of alternative medicines in the United States, colon cleansing has made a comeback – accompanied by a flurry of doctor and emergency room visits by very sick people.

Currently marketed as supplements, some colon cleansing systems are endorsed by various celebrities and promise increased energy, weight loss, and a plethora of other health benefits. Home kits are very common as are the newest profession of hydrotherapist, who perform colon irrigation services today.

Although it has become popular once again, colon cleansing is not a supported practice by many physicians and scientific studies have proven its benefits are faulty. Cleansing the colon certainly does remove the toxins from the body, but it also removes good bacteria that help the body function properly. By removing such bacteria, people have succumbed to severe illnesses, including renal failure. Reports in the scientific literature found that colon cleansing could result in these other severe health concerns: electrolyte imbalance, pelvic abscesses, rectal perforations, and colitis. Of course, milder symptoms are also possible such as cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting and soreness to severe concerns such as, and renal failure.

Even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has condoned the practice, issuing several warming letters in regards to meeting certain requirements – especially labeling practices. Colon cleansing products are considered dietary supplements and do not need approval for sale by the FDA, but the labeling must be clear.

The Journal of Family Practices warns of this practice with four key notations:

1. Colon cleansing is not necessary. This is particularly true if the individual suffers from diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Many other issues such as hemorrhoids, kidney disease or heart disease can also exacerbate the side effects of a colon cleanse.

2. Side effects can be deadly. As noted earlier, they include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, kidney insufficiency, pancreatitis, bowel perforation, heart failure, and renal failure.

3. Devices for colon cleansing are not approved by the DFA. This means that they may be inadequately sterilized and contain harmful bacteria.

4. Colon cleansing practitioners do not need to be licensed to practice. They may have gone through training, but not by a scientifically based organization.

If you’re considering a colon cleanse…do you your homework; talk with your doctor. It may not be all that it’s cracked up to be.

Works used to compile this article:

Live Science. (2014). The poop on pooping: 5 misconceptions explained. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/45017-poop-health-misconceptions-truth.html.

Mishori, R., Otubu, A., and Jones, A. A. (2011). The dangers of colon cleansing. The Journal of Family Practice, 60(8), 454-457.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2014). Colon cleansing and warning letters. Retrieved from http://google2.fda.gov/search?as_sitesearch=www.fda.gov/downloads/iceci/enforcementactions&q=colon+cleansing&client=FDAgov&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=FDAgov&sort=date:D:L:d1&getfields=*&filter=1&requiredfields=-archive:Yes&site=FDAgov-Category-WarningLetters&ie=UTF-8&ulang=en&ip=199.73.44.10&access=p&entqr=3&entqrm=0&oe=UTF-8&ud=1

Get Social - Be Healthy!

It’s fairly well-known that as we age, we experience more psychological distress simply from growing older. For example, our families move away, we retire, we downsize our living arrangements, and our friends pass away. Although this is “life” (as some say), it is also a dangerous time causing significant stress that can lead to illness and premature death.

One of the key components of maintaining a stable mental health as we age is through social interactions. The World Health Organization has largely noted that being social is critical to reduce psychological stress. A recent study of 236,490 Australian adults, known as the 45 and Up Study, unveiled some interesting results associated with social interaction. Those who had regular social interactions (phone calls, visits, or group activities) had a reduced risk of psychological distress. Of interest, there was no association between frequency of contact and risk for those ages 85 and older; but for those ages 45-84, frequent contact was important. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in stress risk for women than for men indicating that women have a stronger need for social interaction to maintain solid mental well-being.

This particular study, along with numerous others on the topic, supports the need for social interaction (human to human contact) as we age. How do you maintain social interactions when your family moves away and your friends pass on?

There are numerous ways you can get “social”:

1. Volunteer: Find a charity you love. Local churches have all types of activities for older adults. The Senior Center is another great place to find friends and stay connected.

2. Join a group or club: Meadville and Crawford County has a significant number of organizations that you could join: Kiwanis, Rotary, and Lion’s Club are just a few of them. Any of them would welcome your membership.

3. Sign up for a class: Learn a new language or a new skill. The Crawford County Career and Technical Center offers a plethora of adult evening classes, including Introduction to Computers and Basic Automotive Maintenance. Other organizations offer classes like Sign Language. Or you could become a tutor in your own specialty area for young learners.

4. Sign up for an organized 5K walk: There are numerous ones out there and you might find some walking buddies in the process. For example, the French Creek Recreational Trails group is holding its annual Memorial Day Human Race 5K Run/Walk on Memorial Day. This presents a good opportunity!

5. Get fit: The YMCA has a Silver Sneaker’s program where you can find other seniors your age and workout together.

There are more benefits of regular social interactions than you think. There are a few noted by the University of Rochester Medical Center as well as Grandparents.com:

1. Reduces your risk of cardiovascular problems, some cancers, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis

2. Slows your risk of memory loss and reduces risk of Alzheimer’s disease

3. Lowers blood pressure

4. Reduces risk of mental health issues such as depression

5. Reduces the risk of stroke

6. Boosts your immune system

7. Relieves pain

Works Researched for this Post:

Grandparents.com. (2014). 6 health benefits of being social. Retrieved by http://www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/health/health-benefits-being-social.

Phongsavan, P., Grunseit, A. C., Bauman, A., Broom, D., Byles, J., Clarke, J., Redman, S. and Nutbeam, D. (2013). Age, gender, social contacts and psychological distress: Findings from the 45 and up study. Journal of Aging Health, 25(6), 921-943. doi: 10.1177/0898264313497510.

University of Rochester Medical Center. (2014). Older adults and the importance of social interaction. Retrieved from http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4513.

Are you an Exercise Addict?

Exercise plays a key role in health maintenance and disease prevention. I’m obviously a huge proponent of exercise considering that I log close to 15 hours of it weekly by participating in some form of physical activity: weight training, swimming, bicycling, running, skiing, and more. Am I addicted? Are you? Maybe.

According to the Substance Use and Misuse journal, there is a significant positive addiction that occurs when someone gleans the benefits of health from good exercise. A positive addiction is fine and healthy; however, research dating back 40 years discovered that exercising too much can lead to physical injury as well as negligence of other responsibilities such as family and work. This is considered a negative addiction similar to drug or alcohol abuse.

Despite the significant body of research on over-exercising, neither the medical nor psychological fields recognize it within any of their stated dysfunctions. The spectrum of dysfunctions runs from compulsive to impulsive disorders. The top four impulsive behaviors are listed as antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, sexual compulsion, and self-destructive behaviors. The top four compulsive behaviors body-dysmorphic disorder, anorexia nervosa, depersonalization disorder, and hypochondria. Recent research believes that exercise addiction falls somewhere between body-dysmorphic disorder and anorexia on the compulsive side of the spectrum.

Both of those disorders are identified by the obsessive and repetitive nature of the actual behaviors. Researchers found that exercise addition has the same characteristics. “This is the obsessive facet of the dysfunction, which is accompanied by increased levels of anxiety before carrying out the behavior and decreasing anxiety, sense of relief, and satisfaction after the fulfillment of the behavior.” And, this is cyclical before and after any form of exercise for the addict.

Furthermore, the prevalence of exercise addiction could also be associated with type of sport or activity. Studies of the late 1990s and early 2000s found that exercise addiction in the negative sense was prevalent in 52% of triathletes, 25% in runners, and 3.2% of ultra-marathoners. The biggest problem in definitively saying these individuals are negatively addicted to their sport and/or the physical relief earned from participating: identifying the difference between addiction and commitment.

A few researchers have found that commitment doesn’t necessarily mean the individual will neglect other duties, yet they could. Addiction often implies that there will be neglect of other responsibilities in favor of satisfying that addiction.

How do you know if you’re addicted or simply enjoying the positive benefits of exercising? The American Running Association has identified a few signs that indicate a potential exercise addiction:

1. Exercising is valued beyond any other aspect of your life: As studies show, neglect of family, work, and other responsibilities is a significant sign of an addiction.

2. Injury, illness, and fatigue are ignored: When the body needs rest, an addict will ignore those cues in favor of working out.

3. Irritability, depression and anxiety are present: These elements occur at a high level when you find you cannot get in your daily workout.

4. “More is Better” is a motto: Addicts believe that the more they workout, the healthier they will be.

5. The line between healthy exercise and addictive exercise is blurred: Addicted individuals cannot tell the difference between beneficial exercise and too much.

6. Poor performance at races or events means more exercise: Addicted individuals do not understand the importance of rest and recovery…exercise is always the answer.

Of course, denial of a problem is common as it is with any addiction. If you have any of these signs, you could have an exercise addition. You are encouraged to consult with your doctor or a counselor on learning about healthy exercise to rid yourself of your addiction.

Works used for this article:

American Running Association. (n.d.). Know the signs of unhealthy exercise addiction. Retrieved from http://www.active.com/articles/know-the-signs-of-unhealthy-exercise-addiction.

Berczik, K., Szab, A., Griffiths, M., Kurimay, T., Kun, B., Urban, R., & Demetrovics, Z. (2012). Exercise addiction: symptoms, diagnosis, epidemiology, and etiology. Substance Use and Misuse, 47(4), 403-417. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2011.639120