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Fast Company
2 hours ago
- Health
- Fast Company
What is ‘office chair butt'? TikTok's viral term for a real health problem
Rather than the Sunday scaries or toxic bosses, employees have unlocked a new workplace fear: office chair butt. While not a new concern, the term has resurfaced on TikTok to describe how sitting for long stretches affects the look of your behind—what medical professionals call atrophy of your gluteal muscle group. 'A lack of conditioning in your gluteus maximus and surrounding tissue leads to weakness, making it build up fat tissue and appear flatter or saggy,' occupational therapist Michael Milicia told the Cleveland Clinic. And it's not just an aesthetic issue. Other symptoms of 'office chair butt' can include poor posture, lower back pain, and limited mobility over time. There's a reason researchers have dubbed sitting 'the new smoking,' linking chronic sitting to serious health problems including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and anxiety. Now, the term has gone viral on TikTok. And they're not taking it sitting down. 'I refuse to be a victim,' posted one TikTok user, showing the routine of squats, lunges, and standing leg lifts she performs at her desk. 'I don't think you're in danger,' one person commented. 'No office chair butt for us,' another user posted, leading her coworkers through a series of exercises. The video quickly inspired others: 'Just saw this while at work and immediately put my desk to standing,' read one comment. Since most workplaces don't come with a fully equipped gym, employees have gotten creative. Some use the office escalator as a makeshift StairMaster. One video shows an employee swapping out traditional weights for a water cooler while performing Bulgarian split squats. 'Me every 30 minutes when I find out what office chair butt is,' another TikTok user wrote, running up and down stairs and doing laps around a conference room. If you're reading this: Give me 10 squats. Stat.
CNET
a day ago
- Health
- CNET
Oura Ring Can Now Track Blood Sugar. I Tested It For a Week and Got These 3 Surprising Takeaways
I've used my Oura Ring daily for the past few years to track my sleep, recovery and stress, but it recently unlocked a new insight I didn't know I needed: blood sugar levels. I'm constantly experimenting with the latest health tech, so I was naturally intrigued when I learned that Oura Ring partnered with Dexcom's Stelo, a continuous glucose monitor designed for people without diabetes. The goal of this collaboration is to help everyday people like me understand how food and general eating habits impact blood sugar and overall health. "By combining Stelo data with Oura's existing insights, we're empowering members to better understand the cause-and-effect relationships between eating patterns, energy, mood and recovery -- and ultimately make sustainable, science-backed lifestyle changes," Maz Brumand, vice president of product for Oura, told CNET. I tested the Stelo CGM with my Oura Ring for two weeks, and I can say that it changed the way I eat and move, and I think this type of biofeedback is helpful for everyone, even if you do not have diabetes. What is continuous glucose monitoring, and why is it important? Your blood sugar, or blood glucose, refers to the measurement of sugar in your blood. According to the Cleveland Clinic, glucose is the main source of energy for your body -- it's what powers your muscles, brain and even your cells. When you eat certain foods (particularly carbohydrates), your glucose rises, and your body responds by releasing insulin to shuttle that sugar into cells for energy or storage. On the flip side, if you experience frequent spikes or crashes (even if you don't have diabetes ), it can impact your energy, sleep, mood and even long-term metabolic health. When your body doesn't need glucose immediately, it stores it as glycogen in your muscles and liver. For people with diabetes, monitoring glucose levels is crucial. But is it important to do the same for the rest of us without a diagnosis? To an extent, I think so. Monitoring your blood sugar throughout the day and seeing how your body reacts to different foods can reveal a lot about your cravings, sleep and metabolic health. "Glucose is a real-time window into metabolic health, which underpins how we feel day to day -- our energy, focus, mood and sleep -- and how resilient we are over time," Brumand says. Oura With the rise of wearable glucose sensors like Stelo, those without diabetes can now get insights into how their eating habits impact their bodies (without finger pricks or a prescription). What is a 'normal' glucose range, and are spikes bad? Before using a CGM, I thought blood sugar was either stable or erratic, with no room for in-between spikes. Once I began tracking my glucose daily, I quickly learned that spikes are completely normal, especially after meals and snacks. Most people will see glucose levels rise and drop throughout the day. According to the American Diabetes Association, a general target range for adults without pre-diabetes or diabetes is between 70 and 140mg/dL (note that Oura also follows this range, and it's what users can expect to see in their graphs). It's also worth highlighting that 70 to 100mg/dL is considered normal for fasting (particularly in the morning before having food), and under 140 mg/dL is common, especially after meals. "Clinical studies show that even in healthy individuals, a moderate glucose spike (rise above 140mg/dL) can occur on a daily basis. In fact, research suggests that healthy adults will live above 140mg/dL for about 30 minutes, up to 2 hours a day, which is usually 1 to 3 short-lived glucose spikes", says Renee Fitton, registered dietitian and director of education at L-Nutra, a nutrition technology company. Oura Fitton further explained that the number and frequency of glucose spikes depend on various factors, primarily what and when you're eating. These spiked can also be affected by other factors like stress level, exercise, dehydration and even whether you have a sunburn. Many glucose monitors use a custom range that adapts to your body's baseline and patterns over time. When looking at your graph, it's important to keep in mind that context and trends matter more than one-off spikes. For example, seeing a spike after dessert isn't a sign that something is wrong. It's a sign that your body is doing its job. What matters most is how quickly your glucose returns to baseline and how often your levels stay elevated over time. "I would not see signs for concern for occasional (one to three times per day) moderate spikes (less than 160mg/dL) that resolve within about 30 mins. When reaching more frequent, especially if they are higher spikes (for example, above 180mg/dL), that take a long time to resolve (over 60 minutes), then there may be concerns about metabolic health," Fitton explained. "A completely flat glucose curve is not something that we aim for; you want some gentle ups and downs as a sign of healthy metabolic flexibility." How I set up the Stelo monitor with my Oura Ring You can order the Stelo sensor through ($99 for two sensors). I received a small box with the sensors and easy instructions. Applying it to the back of my upper arm took less than 2 minutes and was surprisingly painless. And yes, there is a small needle involved. I'm terrified of needles, so I spent some time mentally preparing to prick myself, but to my disbelief, I didn't feel it at all. The sound the ejector makes is pretty loud, though. I sometimes think the sound acted as a diversion to my brain, and that's why I didn't feel anything. But, nonetheless, it was a pretty pain-free experience. Once in place, I paired it to the Stelo app, and it automatically reflected within the Oura app. Each sensor tracks your glucose level 24/7 for up to 15 days. Left Image: CGM in the self-injector. Right image: CGM on the back of my right arm. Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET From the Oura app, I could see how my glucose levels fluctuated throughout the day. You can easily access it at the top of the app, where you also see other data metrics like sleep, heart rate, activity and readiness score (a personalized score, ranging from 0 to 100, that provides a snapshot of how well your body has recovered from the previous day's activities and sleep). How even my 'healthy' food choices raised my blood sugar (and that's OK) One of the most eye-opening parts of my testing was seeing how some of my favorite healthy staples played out on the glucose graph. A great example of this was my favorite pressed juice. I had a pressed juice in the morning that contained pineapple, beets, carrots, ginger, cucumber and lemon. It's nutrient-dense, but it also spiked my glucose above what's considered my healthy range for about 6 minutes (a small window and still considered optimal for my age and overall metabolic health). This was enough to make me rethink how and when I consume fruit-heavy beverages. The next day, I experimented with having a fruit smoothie instead of juice. I made a homemade smoothie with berries, banana, plant-based protein powder, peanut butter, soy milk and oats. This smoothie kept my glucose completely in range (zero minutes above my personal threshold). The added protein and fiber from the fruit, oatmeal, peanut butter and protein powder helped slow the absorption of natural sugars into my bloodstream. Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET What I learned: Even natural fruit juices can cause glucose spikes, especially when consumed on an empty stomach and without any protein or fiber. Smoothies that include protein, fat and fiber can help keep spikes at bay and help stabilize your energy levels. Balance your meals with protein, fats and fiber Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET Later that week, I had sushi rolls with a side of edamame for dinner. To my surprise, my glucose levels stayed within range the whole time. Oura Advisor (Oura's AI coach) even pointed out that this food combination offered protein and fiber, which likely contributed to the steady glucose levels. This moment was really encouraging for me. It made me realize that I don't need to drastically change what I eat. By just being more intentional about how I pair my foods, I can drastically improve the impact they have on my blood glucose. Pairing your foods with healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds and olive oil can also slow digestion and therefore the absorption of sugars. Fitton explains that this is primarily due to what happens in our digestive tract, even before the nutrients get to our bloodstream. Protein, fiber and healthy fats work in their own way to slow the absorption of simple carbohydrates into the bloodstream, making a slower, more gradual release of sugars into the blood. These factors turn what could be a glucose spike into a steady rise that your body can clear gradually. "The biggest area of concern when managing our blood sugar levels is limiting refined carbohydrates. When you do choose a refined-carb item (a plain cracker, white flour tortilla, cookies, etc.), try to pair it instead of eating it solo: add cheese, nut butter or a handful of edamame to blunt the glucose rise, and choose a higher-fiber version of your carbohydrate source when possible (for example, whole-grain crackers) so the carbs come packaged with their own speed limit," Fitton says. Cake and a walk equal steady blood sugar? One of the more surprising things I learned was that blood sugar stability isn't just about what you eat. It's also about what you do after you eat. One afternoon, I had a slice of cake for a snack. No fiber or protein added, just the cake (I had lunch a few hours before). Instead of my blood sugar spiking, my glucose levels remained steadily in range. The caveat? I took a brisk walk after having my dessert. It wasn't anything strenuous, just a short 15-minute walk around my neighborhood. But it was enough to help my body process and use the glucose more efficiently. "The body knows that exercise demands more energy, and so it helps open up our cells to soak up sugar (energy) and remove it from our blood. A 10-minute walk burns about 30 to 40 calories, and your body will get that energy from circulating glucose or stored glycogen," Fitton explained. After eating cake and going for a walk, my blood sugar saw a slight spike, but stayed within range. Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET Taking a walk after meals has long been recommended by experts for metabolic health, but seeing the effect in real time made it click for me. I do think that having the cake after having a balanced meal with protein and fiber also contributed to my steady levels of blood sugar. Sometimes, it's not about completely eliminating our favorite treats or carbs, but more so about timing, food pairing and movement. 3 ways I learned to flatten my glucose curve without sacrificing my favorite meals Before using the glucose sensor with Oura, I assumed blood sugar spikes were mostly about foods and how they impact your body. I also thought the only way to manage them was to cut carbs or drastically change my diet. But over these two weeks, I experienced firsthand how and when I eat (and move) matter just as much as what I eat. I learned that these three strategies helped keep my glucose levels in check. Pair carbs and sweets with protein, fiber and healthy fats When I had a berry smoothie with protein powder and soy milk, my glucose levels stayed steady. In contrast, when I had a fruit smoothie earlier that week, my blood sugar levels spiked and crashed more quickly. Takeaway: Carbs on their own, especially refined and processed carbs, can spike blood sugar quickly, but adding protein or fat slows digestion and leads to a more gentle spike. Food pairing examples: Apples and peanut butter, toast with avocado, rice with beans or another it out (especially after sweets) When I had cake as a snack, I was sure my graph would spike dramatically, but it didn't because of my walk (and eating a balanced meal before). A simple walk, even just 10 to 15 minutes, can help offset blood sugar spikes. This small but simple habit helps me now enjoy treats without the crash later. Timing your food matters I also noticed that when I ate higher-carb foods earlier in the day, my body processed them better than when I had them later at night. Breakfast smoothies and bowls kept my levels stable, while the same smoothie after 9 p.m. caused more spikes. "When it comes to blood sugar management, we see that in the morning our body usually has a spike in cortisol (a stress hormone) that can actually help our body take up sugar very quickly and quickly manage blood sugar. Eating in the morning will also calm the cortisol response, reducing the stress on your body. If you wait too long to eat, excess cortisol can create inflammation and also produce larger glucose spikes when you do eat," explained Fitton. Fitton further explained that, conversely, in the evening, the sugar management systems in our bodies start powering down and are not as good at helping blood sugar get into the cells. So it is important to try not to eat too late; otherwise, you'll probably see blood sugar go up and stay up for longer. That doesn't mean you can't eat carbs or treats at night, but eating them earlier in the day when insulin sensitivity tends to be higher can make a real difference.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Neuralink implants brain chip in sixth patient who says 'I'm already shocked'
Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-chip company, has implanted its brain-computer interface (BCI) in a sixth person. The update came from Rob Grenier, who shared his experience on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week. "Absolutely amazing what I can do already in under a week with Neuralink!" Grenier posted, along with a video showing him playing a computer game and moving a cursor using only his thoughts. Grenier became quadriplegic after a car accident in December 2022. The incident left him paralyzed from the neck down. 'I can't thank the Neuralink team, the doctors, the surgeons and all of my family and friends' support. It may only look like I'm doing a couple games but it's been under a week and I'm already shocked!' he added in the post. Elon Musk's Neuralink raises $650 million in Series E round The announcement comes as Neuralink raised over $650 million in its Series E funding round, bringing its valuation to $9 billion. The Series E round attracted major investors including ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, and several others, valuing the company at approximately $9 billion pre-money according to recent reports. Cathie Wood's ARK Invest is among the company's major backers. The funding represented a significant increase from Neuralink's $280 million Series D round in August 2023. Neuralink has launched clinical trials at leading medical institutions across three countries, including Barrow Neurological Institute, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami, University Health Network in Toronto, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. It is now preparing for a human trial of its Blindsight chip in partnership with the UAE's Cleveland Clinic in 2026. Musk had earlier said, 'With Neuralink interfacing directly to the visual cortex, even those who are completely blind will be able to see again.' Alcatel V3 Ultra Unboxing & Hands-on | Dual Display Mode, Sleek Design & More!
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Actor Jung Il Woo talks about a life-threatening disease, reveals how a car accident caused the issue and says, 'I didn't know when I would die'
Actor Jung Il Woo , who made his successful debut in the realm of acting with the drama series 'High Kick !', recently opened up about a life-threatening issue that he suffers from. He detailed what getting the diagnosis felt like and how he has been managing so far in his life. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'High! Kick' actor Jung Il Woo gets candid, talks about life-threatening disease During an appearance on a popular TV variety show titled 'Huh Young Man's Food Travel', the actor opened up about living his life with a cerebral aneurysm , calling it a 'ticking time bomb'. He shared that back in 2006, at the mere age of 19, the actor was involved in a major car accident along with fellow actor . Both of the actors suffered a lot of major injuries, with the latter even becoming comatose for a few months after the accident. A cerebral aneurysm, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is 'a bulge in a weak area of a blood vessel in or around your brain. Most aneurysms are small and don't cause issues. But a ruptured brain aneurysm is life-threatening.' Il Woo shared that it was because of the car accident that he ended up developing the aneurysm. He also delved into how he got the official diagnosis by the time he turned 27 and how that affected him. The actor shared that he went into depression after the diagnosis, as the doctor bluntly told him that he could pass away at any given moment without any warning. He shared that 'It's a time bomb-like disease. I was so scared and anxious because I didn't know when I would die.' He even shared about how, for the past 10 or so years, he has had to get regular follow-ups from the doctor every six months to ensure that his condition has not worsened. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Actor turned to faith to calm himself During his appearance on 'Captain Kim ' last year, the actor had talked about dealing with his disease and how turning to faith helped in calming him down. He shared that he walked the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain three times and how during his first visit, he ended up getting emotional and crying about it. He shared that after crying during mass, he felt 'cleansed'. He even managed to call that one of the happiest moments of his life as well, sharing that it all helped him deal with his issue better and more calmly. Jung Il Woo has been on a hiatus for the past two years; however, the actor is officially returning to the small screen through the upcoming weekend drama ' Splendid Days '.
Medscape
a day ago
- Health
- Medscape
Tackling ‘Treatable Traits' in Obstructive Lung Disease
If only managing a patient with an obstructive lung disease — like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — were as easy as writing a prescription. As it stands now, physicians also have to worry about whether their patients are using their inhalers correctly, or even taking their medications at all, as well as numerous other factors that can complicate their prognosis. 'Every patient is different,' said Amy Attaway, MD, a pulmonologist with Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. 'Every patient has these barriers that are impacting their COPD or asthma that is making it difficult to treat them optimally.' What Are Treatable Traits? Amy Attaway, MD A recent study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease described how many primary care patients exhibit various combinations of treatable traits, thus requiring personalized attention to help get their symptoms under control. Attaway said she likes the treatable trait concept, which includes assessing each patient and developing personalized approaches for their specific issues. 'If you don't define a problem, it's really hard to treat it,' she said. 'This highlights that every patient is different, and you have to personalize their therapy.' The study authors specifically looked at the following traits in people with asthma, COPD, or a combination of both: Insufficient inhaler technique Poor adherence to lung medication Type 2 eosinophilic inflammation Current smoking Obesity Physical activity Reversible airflow limitation Anxiety and/or depression All these treatable traits can pose challenges by themselves — potential combinations only drive up the complexity. Primary care physicians are already addressing many of the treatable traits, such as obesity and physical activity, as well as anxiety and depression. But there are still ongoing challenges. That's particularly true for most patients with COPD because the condition often exists in tandem with other comorbidities that must be managed, according to Wilson Pace, MD, a family medicine physician and professor emeritus in family medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado. Then, there's the time element — or the lack of time — as the case may be. 'That's the great burden of a primary care physician,' said Stephanie LaBedz, MD, a pulmonologist with UI Health in Chicago. Stephanie LaBedz, MD Having a checklist of treatable traits can help physicians keep track of all the factors that may be influencing their patients, said Attaway. But clinicians may not have the time in a single visit to address all of them. Even a short inhaler technique training session or refresher can take some time. 'If you see multiple patients a day, that 5 minutes really adds up,' said Edward Len, MD, a pulmonologist with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in Largo, Maryland. Social determinants of health that affect medication adherence may also need addressing, said Len. For example, physicians may need to determine if their patients have transportation to and from a pharmacy to pick up medications, as well as money for the copays. Medication Use Challenges Some treatable traits may be harder than others to manage from a primary care setting. Each type of inhaler requires a specific inhalation technique , and some patients must use multiple different types of inhaled medications to manage their obstructive lung disease — which requires them to master different techniques. Edward Len, MD Additionally, age and cognitive function can also affect a patient's ability to use their inhaled medications correctly, according to research. 'They don't recognize that they don't have optimal inhaler technique,' LaBedz said. 'They think they're doing it correctly.' Perhaps not surprisingly, perfect inhalation technique by patients is rare, which means that patients may not be receiving as much benefit from their inhaled medication as they should. And that's assuming that they're diligent about trying to use their medications. Theaforementioned study cited people forgetting to use their medication as one of its treatable traits. According to LaBedz, medication adherence among patients with COPD is below 50%. In fact, some research estimates that adherence among patients with obstructive lung disease is between 10% and 40%, even though they're more likely to experience exacerbations that lead to hospitalization when they're not properly taking their meds. 'If they're not using the inhaler, it's not going to work,' said Len. LaBedz said she would not expect a primary care provider to handle insufficient inhaler technique — at least not all by themselves. As a pulmonary specialist, she can offer an in-depth assessment of inhaler technique education and training. However, while primary care physicians may not always have time, primary care practices can designate and train a nurse to educate patients on proper inhalation technique, Pace suggested. 'Well-running primary care practices try to make sure that everyone is working at the peak of their license,' he said. Having in-house staff to work with patients on inhaler technique could also reduce the burden on the patient since they wouldn't have to make an additional visit elsewhere to receive training, Pace said. It may also reduce the likelihood that a patient would be a no-show at their follow-up visit, which research suggests is a common phenomenon among patients who receive a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist. Getting Patients on Board One challenge not included in the above study's treatable traits list: Patient motivation. Sometimes, physicians may find themselves having to persuade patients to make changes in their behavior, and that can be its own challenge. 'If they don't care enough about it, getting them to change behavior is tough,' said Pace. Even similar motivations can require different approaches. What works for one patient may not be as effective for another. 'You always have to come to the middle with patients,' said Geoffrey Chupp, MD, a professor of medicine in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. 'Everybody has their own journey. Some people are more adept at these things than others. You have to find what works for any core individual. You have to reinforce it and give them positive feedback.'
