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Increased risk of premature birth and underweight babies associated with racial discrimination

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2 years ago

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Increased risk of premature birth and underweight babies associated with racial discrimination

Having an underweight and premature baby is linked to having encountered racial discrimination based on ethnicity, skin colour, or nationality, according to a pooled data analysis of the available evidence.

The research’s findings were disseminated in the journal “BMJ Global Health.”

According to the researchers, the study strengthens the body of evidence showing that racial discrimination increases the risk of negative health outcomes.

Race has been acknowledged as a social determinant of health and a risk factor for many diseases for a number of years. The evidence is mounting that upstream social, environmental, economic, and political factors are the primary causes of health inequities and that racism, not race, is frequently the underlying issue.

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For instance, maternal mortality rates in the USA are 2-3 times higher for Black and Indigenous women than for White women. Similar disparities exist between Black and Asian women’s maternal mortality rates and White women’s maternal mortality rates in the UK.

The researchers searched eight electronic databases for pertinent studies on self-reported race discrimination and premature birth (before 37 weeks), low birth weight, and high blood pressure associated with pregnancy that had been published up to January 2022 in order to explore the patterns of racial disparities in pregnancy outcomes.

The final analysis included the findings from 24 studies overall, with an average of 39 to 9470 participants per study. The majority (20) of studies were conducted in

Participants in the study came from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, including Black or African Americans, Hispanics, non-Hispanic Whites, Maoris, Pacific Islanders, Asians, Aboriginals, Romanis, native Germans, and Turks.

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The analysis of pooled data revealed that for all the outcomes examined, racial discrimination was linked to a higher risk of preterm birth and having a baby that was small for gestational age.

Premature birth rates were predicted to be 40% more common overall. The odds of premature birth were decreased but remained 31% higher when low-quality studies were excluded. And while not statistically significant, the overall odds of a small-for-gestational-age baby were estimated to be 23 per cent higher.

When additional analyses of a few chosen data were conducted, similar outcomes were attained.

The majority of the studies included in the pooled data analysis were based in the USA and included few other marginalised racial or ethnic groups besides African Americans. The researchers also acknowledge that many of the studies were of low quality. They might not therefore be more broadly applicable to other racial and cultural groups.

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However, they note that their findings “align with existing evidence on perceived racial discrimination as an important risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes.”

They say: “Racism permeates people’s daily lives and has profound effects on the experiences of people who are racialized. It influences other social determinants of health like employment, poverty, education, and housing as an upstream factor.

The availability of services and resources, such as referrals to specialised care, access to health insurance, and use of public health services, can be impacted by racism, which is more directly related to health.

The researchers emphasise a number of strategies, including the necessity of bettering clinician training, to address how racism affects health outcomes.

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They propose that this can be accomplished by “universally removing well-documented examples of racial bias that continue to perpetuate health inequities.”

This includes the absence of instruction on dermatology and the various disease manifestations in non-White people, the unreliability of pulse oximetry technology, unjustified racial adjustments to renal function measurement, and insufficient instruction on personal biases and the social causes of health inequities.

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Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine

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3 days ago

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November 21, 2024

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Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine

Taking regular breaks from intense training, like deload weeks, helps your body recover, preventing fatigue and injury, and ultimately boosts fitness gains.

When it comes to getting fit, the idea of spending hours at the gym might come to mind, but many fitness experts argue that taking a “deload week” every six to eight weeks is actually key to improving your fitness gains. A deload week involves reducing the intensity of workouts to allow the body to recover from the fatigue and muscle damage caused by intense training.

While high-intensity training helps build strength and fitness, it can also lead to muscle strain, and without adequate recovery, these gains can’t fully materialise. Deload weeks give the body much-needed rest to repair and rebuild, ensuring continued progress. (Also read: Bhagyashree swears by this super easy exercise for instant leg pain relief and better mobility. Watch how to do it )

Why recovery is key for muscle growth

According to an article by The Conversation, intense exercise can cause tiny tears in muscle fibres, leading to inflammation that requires rest or low-intensity exercise to heal. This inflammation is essential for muscle growth and fitness improvements. However, without proper recovery, muscles remain in a state of slight damage, preventing inflammation from resolving. This chronic state of inflammation can hinder muscle function, reducing oxygen efficiency and impairing performance. Giving muscles time to recover through rest ensures they repair properly and are primed for continued progress, setting us up for greater success in our fitness journey.

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Many gymgoers fear taking time off and are worried it will lead to a loss of gains. However, research shows that muscle genes have a “memory imprint,” which keeps them in a semi-prepared state. This allows muscles to respond more quickly and effectively to future training, promoting growth after a rest period. Even after extended periods of reduced intensity, up to seven weeks, muscular fitness can be restored to prime condition—and in some cases, surpass previous levels. Interestingly, recovery can occur twice as fast as it took to reach peak fitness initially, even if some strength is lost.

Taking time off from intense training is crucial to prevent muscle soreness and avoid overtraining syndrome. Overtraining occurs when the body doesn’t get enough rest, leading to prolonged fatigue, decreased performance, and mood disturbances. Symptoms develop gradually, making overtraining difficult to recognize until it’s severe. Rest is essential to avoid these issues and ensure long-term progress in training.

Role of overtraining syndrome and deload weeks

Overtraining syndrome is challenging to quantify due to its vague symptoms. Studies suggest it may affect as few as 10% of elite athletes, though rates could climb to 60% among highly competitive individuals. Recovery is essential for both fitness and overall health. When engaging in heavy gym routines, it’s vital to incorporate sufficient recovery time into your workout plan. Unlike rest days, which involve little to no exercise once or twice a week, deload weeks feature lighter training at reduced intensity—typically about 50% fewer workouts or a 20% drop in workout intensity.

Both rest days and deload weeks are essential for recovery and crucial to improving fitness. It’s not about choosing one over the other—they complement each other. For instance, intense training for marathons, Ironman, or CrossFit competitions requires weekly rest days alongside scheduled deload weeks. However, for recreational gym-goers exercising 1–3 times weekly at a moderate intensity, the recovery from this routine is often sufficient without the need for additional deload weeks.

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Fitness influencers recommend incorporating deload weeks into training schedules every 4–8 weeks, aligning closely with the expert advice of 4–6 weeks. However, it’s crucial to listen to your body and schedule deload weeks as needed. If your performance plateaus or worsens, it may signal time for a deload. Training plans should be flexible enough to allow rest when required. Deload weeks not only enhance performance but also support overall health.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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