DON’T HAVE A STROKE OVER A WEEKEND _ Another study found that people who are treated for stroke over a weekend tend to fare worse than those who are treated during the week, but the reasons remain unclear. Canadian researchers found that people who checked into the hospital on the weekend tended to have more severe strokes than those who came in during the week, presumably because those with minor stroke symptoms chose to wait until Monday or Tuesday. However, when they used statistical tools to eliminate the influence of stroke severity on the findings, they found that the association remained — people who came to the hospital on the weekend were 12 percent more likely to die within 7 days than those who arrived during the week, regardless of the severity of their condition. So what’s the explanation? There may be unintentional differences in quality of care between the week and weekend, says the study (Toronto General Hospital).
REAL BREAKUP LINES _ A dating website asked users share the worst breakup lines they’ve been told.
• You earlobes distract me.
• I’d consider staying if you were successful, but I’m not sure even that would be enough.
• That bottom line is that after watching you eat, I’ve decided to become a vegetarian.
• I’m really neglecting my cats.
• My mother says you look shifty.
• My old girlfriend just came back from Italy, so this will be our last date.
• Dancing is how I express myself, and you have no rhythm.
• I really like you, but your voice grates on my nerves.
• I was someone else when we started dating. I’m myself now, and I want out.
CAN NAPPING AT WORK INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY _ Does your employer let you take a 20 minute snooze in the afternoon? In European countries such as Spain and in many Latin American countries, an afternoon siesta is considered normal. The Wall Street Journal cited a study which found 52 percent of companies had reprimanded or even suspended office-nappers. But naps can help employees and their companies. A Harvard University study showed that worker burnout set in as a day of training wore on. But allowing subjects to take a 30-minute nap after some work prevented further deterioration and a one-hour nap actually boosted performance.
