H E A L T H ~ 911

Food and Safety

2010-11-06T21:57:00.001-05:00

Food and Safety - A Small Price to Pay to Keep Salmonella Away

It's not just cars and laptop batteries that get recalled anymore. They are doing eggs and even fresh produce that get tainted with horrible food poisoning agents like salmonella and E. coli these days. Most people don't really pay much attention to where they buy their meat and produce; the supermarket standards that they've grown used to usually do just fine. It is just the people who get unlucky and come by an infection that quickly learn how food and safety can completely depend on where they buy from.

Sellers at any farmer's market usually know when to expect the most demand for their wares - it is usually right after a major outbreak of something in the recall. Consumers quickly wised up that there is something about where they buy their food from that can affect their health, and come flocking to the places that sell organic produce. The wave usually lasts as long as a couple of months, before people get tired of paying three times more for organic and locally grown stuff, and go back to the supermarket. It's not just the expense either; caring about food safety requires that you take the time to use hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soap, meat thermometers and all that. It's often more than anyone can take. Except of course for people who've actually experienced how terrible and E. coli infection can feel.

How many people actually experience it each year? It's not a small number - about 10% of the country lands in hospital after a food infection of some kind each year. And it can affect children more than most because of their weaker immune systems. And even once people do get better after infection, the lingering effects on their kidneys and other vital organs remain for life. The problem is so serious and so expensive for the country, that Congress is coming out with a food and safety bill soon that allow the government to order recalls, and to enforce strict standards. Until the government comes through, here are some of the best practices you can adopt to protect yourself.

Giving up eggs altogether would be the safest - no soft boiled eggs or cookie dough anymore. But if upu can'tbe that way, try buying pasteurized eggs They're the ones that have a big red P. printed on the box. Of course they cost a couple dollars more a dozen than regular eggs, but that's small price to pay to keep salmonella away.

There is a popular idea there that vegetarian food safety goes hand-in-hand. While that might be true to a certain extent, you do remember the time when Taco Bell got into trouble for food poisoning in its latest, don't you? Never buy bagged lettuce - and be sure to wash it thoroughly after you throw away the outer leaves. A $10 salad spinners should make things easier. Make sure that you use different cutting boards for meets and vegetables. At the end of the day, be sure to soak your boards in value to bleach. Leftovers are always to be dealt with very carefully. Nothing over a couple of days old should never be fit for consumption. Elderly people especially are a little prone to making little savings with such measures. You could make sure this never happens to any elderly person you know.

Children's Mental Health

2009-06-29T09:17:00.004-05:00

Parents worry more about Kids mental health

More evidence we are living in an ' age of anxiety.' Health experts surprised at the extent of concern more parents have about their children's emotional and behavior problems.

A National Center for Health Statistics survey reports nearly one out of five boys and one out of ten girls have parents who are worried..

Its good to see parents more willing to seek help and to ask questions. Because more of them are recognizing emotional and behavior problem symptoms. The increased practice of medicating children with ADHD and Anti-Psychotic therapy has skyrocketed.

Some schools have helpfully increased their mental health services. And many pediatricians are bringing mental health experts into their offices or arranging a consultant service to help these kids and parents.

Juice Drinking fights Alzheimers

2006-08-31T21:05:00.000-05:00

Alzheimers risk lowered by drinking juice daily. Seeing how some of our friends have suffered from Alzheimers moves us to wonder if there is anything we can do to help prevent. Seems there is no cure. But what about prevention?

Several new reports show promise of things that might lower the risk. Good. One of them is as simple as drinking juice daily. Read this research that involved 1,800 people over ten years.

Those who drank either vegetable or fruit juice three times weekly lowered their risk of Alzheimers 76%. More work needs to be done but that would encourage many of us to drink more all natural juice. Peel or skin included. That is where most of the polyphenol anti-oxidants are, the part most of us throw away.

Alzheimers News here
Alzheimers Organization here

Bathroom Germs

2006-07-12T16:20:00.000-05:00

Bathroom Germs

Do You Know What Is Lurking in Your Bathroom? No matter how clean you think you are, the quantity and variety of germs that you would find on your hands at any given time would shock you. Germs are spread every time we touch an object or a person. Not all of them are dangerous, and some bacteria are even helpful.

However, your risk of getting sick is increased every time you use a public restroom, as evidenced by a 1996 study conducted by the American Society for Microbiology. They discovered that while 95% of the people surveyed said they washed their hands every time they used a public facility, only about 67% actually did. A recent nationwide poll showed that 39% of respondents are worried about the germs lurking in public restrooms. Is there a reason for concern? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, infectious disease is the number three killer of Americans. They report that 40 million Americans get sick from hand-carried bacteria every year, and 80,000 people die from those germs.

Germs thrive in moist areas, and live off organic waste, which can be found in nearly every public restroom. What can you “catch” in a public restroom? Many illnesses that are transmitted in public restrooms include the common cold and flu bugs, intestinal illnesses, and skin infections. There is also a potential danger of picking up the bacteria that can be fatal, from streptococcus, staphylococcus, salmonella, E. coli and even hepatitis A.

People also worry about picking up STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) from toilet seats. Out of all the concerns about germs in public restrooms, STD's are actually the least likely to be a problem. This fear may be due more to urban legend than to anything else. Most of the bacteria and viruses that cause sexually transmitted diseases cannot live long enough outside the body for transfer to occur.

There is a far greater risk of coming into contact with the salmonella and shigella bacteria, which can be transferred by contact with feces. The infected person can transfer the bacteria onto any surface he touches – such as toilet handles, sink faucets and door handles. What should you look out for? Over-crowded restrooms, wet floors or puddles, lack of available supplies (toilet paper, soap and paper towels) and foul-smelling odors are all signs of improper maintenance and should be a cause for concern. Often the odor in public restrooms comes from dried urine in tile grout. Once dry, regular cleaners cannot remove the uric acid salts, and bacteria feed off them. (The odor comes from the bacteria’s digestive process.)

Germs – particularly fecal bacteria, can be shot into the air every time a toilet flushes. This bacterium settles on surfaces throughout the bathroom and is often enough to spread disease. How can you protect yourself?

First of all, your mother was right. Wash your hands frequently throughout the day, using proven methods of hand washing (see below). Do not touch your eyes, nose, face or mouth until you’ve washed your hands. Carry waterless antibiotic hand washing gel with you. If you’re going to be out and using public facilities, carry your own toilet paper with you. Try not to use toilet paper that is sitting on the top of the holder, on the back of a toilet or on a shelf.

Never use toilet paper that is wet or damp, or looks as if it might have been wet at one time. Because the inside surfaces of sinks harbor a large concentration of germs, don’t touch them. Do not use your hands when you flush the toilet, turn on or off a tap or open the restroom door when leaving.

Avoid Tick Bites

2006-06-20T16:38:00.000-05:00

Tick Bites
Do you love being outside in the summertime, running through theyard with bare feet or planting in your garden? The whole family can benefit from quality time spent outdoors but certain precautions should be made to avoid tick bites.

Ticks are miniscule bugs that thrive in tall grass, brush, orwoodland areas and some are carriers of Lyme Disease, which, ifleft untreated, can be quite harmful. They do not fly but tickscan latch onto your skin if you rub against them. Most people donot notice when they have been bitten and the longer they areattached, the greater risk you run of contracting a tick-bornedisease.

If you expect to go camping or hiking in the woods, take theseprecautions to avoid tick bites and stay healthy this summer:

1. Tuck your lightweight long pant legs into your socks and tuckyour long-sleeved shirt into your pants. This will keep ticks onthe outside of your clothes. Clothing should also be tightlywoven so ticks do not find their way through the clothing to yourskin. 2. Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can easily be seen. 3. Wear repellants with DEET and apply to clothing BUT do notspray your child's hands or face. A concentration of 24% DEET hasbeen shown effective for five hours of protection but do notspray more than once each day.

4. Carefully inspect your entire body when you return inside.Deer ticks are especially small so ask someone to help you. Take extra care to check the scalp since hair can easily hide a tick.Repeat this procedure with your pets that go outside. Long fur also provides the perfect hiding place for ticks.

5. Since deer are carriers for ticks, make your landscaping asdeer-resistant as possible to keep the ticks out of your yard. Plant shrubs the deer will not eat, keep your grass cut short,and remove any leaves and debris that often act as a tickbreeding ground.

If you are bitten by a tick, carefully remove the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and as quickly as possible. Be sure the entire tick is removed; if you are unsure,seek medical attention. You may also want to keep the tick in a container for identification.

The most common symptom of Lyme Disease is a reddish, roundbulls-eye mark at the site of the bite. Other symptoms are fever,joint and muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, swollen glands, anddizziness. If you think you have any of these symptoms, contactyour medical provider as soon as possible. The sooner antibiotictreatment begins, the better the chance for full recovery.

Stress vs. Blood Pressure

2006-05-31T12:33:00.000-05:00

Does STRESS on job cause Chronic High Blood Pressure ? This report says NO.

Dr. Samuel Mann (Cornell Medical) says job stress does not cause chronic high blood pressure. Studies of over 100,000 people now prove it. A job flare up will certainly raise our blood pressure short term but that in itself is not a reason to change jobs for medical reasons. This seems to disprove what others have tried to prove over 40 years of research.

No doubt job stress can cause other problems but chronic high blood pressure is not one of them.

Job Stress Blood Pressure report.

Heart Doctor stops surgery to donate Blood

2006-05-29T16:42:00.000-05:00

Heart Doctor stops surgery 20 minutes to donate pint of blood. The 12 hour surgery was going well except for the fact the young boy was losing blood. And the hospital was about out of his rare type. Which the good doctor just happened to have. Doing this saved the boy from bleeding to death.

Dr Weinstein, a New York Heart surgeon, is a member of Heart Care International. Doctors, nurses, and other health care people donate their time to fly way off to some foreign country to assist local doctors and their patients. They are an impressive group. Many of them actually use their vacation time to perform such a wonderful service for others.

I love stories like this and hope you do to.

Click Here for more.

Aspartame Artificial Sweetener

2006-04-05T16:08:00.000-05:00

Interesting news update today on Artificial Sweetener Aspartame. Many of us have heard conflicting news on using artificial sweeteners. Some say OK....some say it causes cancer. Who is right? I always put more trust in human research over animal research. And thats what we have here. Other research involved huge doses and animals. None of us take huge doses and none of us are animals.

The artificial sweetener aspartame does not increase the risk of cancer, says a U.S. National Cancer Institute study that included more than 500,000 American adults.

This new study included 340,045 men and 226,945 women, ages 50 to 69. Over five years of followup using aspartame. This report was shared with the American Association for Cancer Research yesterday.

Anti-aging TEA

2006-03-30T05:55:00.000-05:00

Drinking Tea is healthy. In case you have missed the many reports out past year about the health benefits of tea......click here for just one that speaks of how good it can be. These Douglas Hospital researchers found that the regular consumption of either black or green tea may reduce age related problems like Alzheimer disease. This is a terrible disease and there hasen't been much one could do to combat it. So this report is significant.

This is the first study to show how helpful both black and green tea can be. Researchers were very impressed to observe tea extracts blocking death of brain neurons. And that is one of the terrible things about Alzheimers disease.....good brain cells dying.

Tea: the New Anti-Aging Beverage? Click here.

Cell Phone Radiation Hazard

2006-03-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

Cell Phone Radiation (Reuters)
Cell Phone Radiation researchers in Finland will now conduct a more advance testing of possible radiation damage to human skin. Previous testing found evidence of mobile phone radiation causing cell-level changes.

Cell Phone use has become so common now and some researchers suspect this has caused an increase in brain cancer. But this has never been proven. Lots of speculation. More research needed.

Click here for Cell Phone news.

Belly Fat worse kind of fat

2006-03-01T15:42:00.000-05:00

New Belly Fat Health Report
So many new reports warn of the " fat danger to our health." And most of these tell us the most unhealthy fat is: Belly Fat. .. Even for children. We now know that children with fat belly were likely to have some of the same health risk factors of middle-aged obese adults. About one in five children are at risk. ..Read this report of a womens' group attacking Belly Fat by lifting weights twice weekly. They noticed expanding waistlines as they aged. And decided to do something about it. Weight training was the answer. Muscle burns more calories than fat. And looks better too !!!! Some doctors compare exercise and weight training to the " fountain of youth." ........................................Women Weight Training study--click here

Yahoo Health Groups

2006-02-24T16:17:00.000-05:00

Yahoo Health Groups are very helpful sources of health information and support. Check out a few that may interest you and judge for yourself .

Browse for more specialized Groups
· Advice (2051)
· Alternative Medicine (6264)
· Beauty (4367)
· Children's (1998)
· Drugs and Medications (2348)
· First Aid (562)
· Fitness and Nutrition (7233)
· Health Care (7529)
· Men's (922)
· Other (5470)
· Professional (19274)
· Reproductive (1278)
· Seniors (349)
· Stress Management (1428)
· Support (31030)
· Teens (975)
· Women's (4514)
· Pet Health@ (1190)

Woman's Self Care Guide (WebMD)

2006-02-23T00:37:00.000-05:00

Helpful folk at WebMD have offer " Womans Guide to Taking Care of Herself." You help take care of everyone else.......learn more about taking care of YOURSELF. Need Calcium? Got too much stress? Worrying about child care? Want to Eat Smart to Live Well? All this and much more is covered. Including: Make a Date!.. With Your Doctor. Skip over and read this report and check out all the free links, etc. Click here for WebMD Womans Guide.

Green Tea vs. Cancer and Alzheimers

2006-02-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

Click Here for Green Tea health report.

More studies show green tea could help protect from Alzheimer's disease, fight cancer, lower cholesterol and even help with weight loss. Some of these studies were done with animals and some with people. Its a habit healthier than we realized. Because green tea has more antioxidants than most other drinks. The Chinese and Japanes have known this for centuries and really appreciate their drinking of tea. Its working its way around the world, now the second most popular drink Worldwide. Reading this report will help you make another healthy choice.

Lower Cancer Deaths

2006-02-17T15:10:00.000-05:00

Fewer cancer patients are dying. Good news. Many of us have lost either a friend or family member to this dreadful disease. Now fewer patients are dying, thanks to earlier detection, better treatment, and less smoking. The percentage of men who smoke has dropped 20% in the last 35 years. Cigarette consumption (usa) is at its lowest level since World War II.
30% of all cancer deaths are related to smoking. But there are about 45 million still smoking in USA. And lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths.
Click here for this Cancer news update

How To Survive Cold and Flu season

2006-02-14T00:24:00.000-05:00

Read this Health Tips report and gain a better chance of surviving the cold and flu season this year. The tips are simple and could easily be overlooked. Take hand washing, for example. Some doctors put this first on list of healthy tips to fight off cold and flu germs. Dirty hands are the most frequent source of bacteria. Frequent washing for children and parents will go a long ways toward keeping you healthier. Desk or doorknob germs can last several hours. Germs spread after child touches them and then puts finger or hands to face, mouth, etc.

Emergency Medicine Report Card

2006-02-06T23:57:00.000-05:00

How does your State score on Emergency Medicine ? The average of all USA states is C- ........Read this new study from American College of Emergency Physician that evaluates each State in four ways. I didn't find any A+ States at all.

Whole Grains Help Elderly Hearts

2006-01-25T22:01:00.000-05:00

I've seen many reports on healthy benefits from eating whole grain breads; dark rice; oatmeal, etc. Very Heart Healthy. Plus some other healthy advantages also. But, this is the first report I've read where researchers worked only with the elderly.

And this research left no doubt three servings daily of whole grains, etc, will help the elderly live longer and live better. More quanity and more quality of life is a worthy goal.

Click Here to see how some simple nutritional choices can really increase the health of the elderly and also, the health of mid agers too.

Brush your Teeth---Helps Your Heart !!

2006-01-24T16:41:00.000-05:00

Read this brief report if you've never heard or read how brushing and flossing your teeth can help prevent a heart attack.

Echinacea does not prevent Colds..

2006-01-20T14:31:00.000-05:00

Click Here for latest research report on Echinacea. These German researchers speak of this herb helping to shorten the length and severity of colds but does not prevent a cold. Echinacea is the top selling herb for treatment of colds in Europe and the United States.

More information about Echinacea can be Found Here

Pain Killer Poisoning

2006-01-04T01:21:00.000-05:00

Acetaminophen is the most popular pain reliever, used by over 100 Million people per year. Most users consider it so safe they aren't concerned about getting too much. And thats probably why there are over 56,000 emergency room visits annually. Over 100 of them die. One popular brand is Tylenol. Most of us use it and have found relief.

But its also found in so many other products (cold remedies, prescriptions,etc)that people can overdose without realizing it until its too late. Some companies are now printing more information on the Front label. And we commend the McNeil company for warning people:

" If you don't read the label.......Don't use the product.!"

Just doubling the daily safe dose could lead to death, according to these researchers. I'm glad for the warning. It came as a surprise that this popular over the counter product is the leading cause of liver failure. Read your labels. Talk with pharmacist if any doubts.

Read News Report
One More Report Here

Is Fish Really a BRAIN FOOD ?

2006-01-03T15:31:00.000-05:00

Eating Fish Makes us Smarter?
We've heard that since we were kids. Is it true? Yes, it is. Read this NY Times news report that confirms eating fish is good for our brain.

One Harvard study revealed the more fish expectant mothers ate the smarter their baby would be at 6 months.

Another study revealed that older folk eating fish at least once a week did much better than those that did not.

Of course, we all know about the mercury health hazard in some fish. Read this news report for the way to go. Light tuna is one of the safer ones.

Fish Brain Food report here

Click here for one way of finding out if you already have mercury problems

SUV's Safer than Cars? Not for KIDS

2006-01-02T02:47:00.000-05:00

SUV's NOT Safer for Children Report

Childrens Hosptial Child Safety Info

Some car owners were getting after some SUV owners during recent gas high prices. One SUV owner replied: " Well yes, it does take more gas. But our kids are safer than in a car." Some of us used to think so. But not anymore. Read this new report and you'll see children can be more endangered riding in a SUV than in a car !!

One problem with SUV's is their tendency to ' roll-over.' A lot more than any car. And children's injuries are Three-times worse in SUV rollovers than in a car. Read what a Children's Hospital emergency room doctor has to say about this:

. "Many people just assume that the extra weight and size of an SUV makes them safer, but what we found was that the potential benefits were canceled by the SUVs' increased likelihood of rolling over," said study co-author Dr. Dennis Durbin, an emergency room doctor at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"The message for parents is that SUVs are no safer, and that they should know the importance of ensuring that their children are properly restrained for their age on every trip in the car."

SUV's are more popular than ever, partly due to owners feeling of safety. And some tests have verified that. But they only tested for adults. This new report considered the safety of Children and learned some alarming things that you should also know about.

Fewer Cancer Deaths

2005-12-25T17:27:00.000-05:00

The good news is fewer people with Cancer are dying from cancer. The bad news is just as many people are getting cancer but, thanks to more screening and earlier treatments, they are living longer. No doubt the earlier we discover cancer the better. Much more treatable.

Some lifestyle changes are also helping. For instance:

1) People are smoking less. (ex: high schoolers that smoke has dropped almost 10 %)
2) People are consuming less alcohol
3) People are more ' fat ' conscious and eating less FAT
4) People are more concerned about the sun and its cancer-causing effect.

More info: National Cancer Institute

Barley is "Heart Healthy"

2005-12-23T17:38:00.000-05:00

The FDA has responded to a request from the National Barley Foods Council that " Barley " be included in food list of Heart Healthy foods. They both agreed Barley is good for our hearts and there is solid evidence it can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

The good test results were based on daily consumption of 3 Grams of Barley fiber each day. It can be statistically proven this daily consumpiton can lower our cholesterol. I'm going to eat more whole grain barley.

Research has long shown Barley to be a very healthy choice. Great potential. We will now be hearing more about it. Coronary heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. This ruling will encourage more companies to produce and market more of this heart healthy grain.

More Barley Report info here

Skin Cancer Mole Alert

2005-12-18T20:02:00.000-05:00

BBC Skin Cancer News report...............introduces Lee Jordon, skin cancer survivor, now has a helpful web site to show others the danger signals as well as prevention wisdom. Young people should pay attention to him. His cancer struck a couple years ago at age 23. And he always used sun protection..!!

His skin cancer developed from moles on arms and leg so he has named his new web site:

Mole Aware

Check it out. Might save a life. Yours or maybe a friend. Lee lost a friend to this so is doubly motivated to spread the word. Take a peek at what this survivor wants to share:

Gradual changes over many months can be hard to spot
Use mirrors to see the back of your body

Use a digital camera once a month to compare
Keep your eyes on other peoples moles too

If in doubt, get it checked out, without delay
Short bursts of UV exposure is dangerous, stay sunSmart

As the winter moves on, moles might evolve quicker
Practice checking your skin for odd moles

Choose fake tanning products if you want a tan
Heat can strip your skin of moisture

Take care of your lips
Snow reflects the sun, protect your facial areas
The low sun is blinding, keep sunglasses with you

Smokers Don't Get Hired !

2005-12-02T14:09:00.000-05:00

Imagine presenting your job application to the Interviewer, only to be turned down within couple minutes. Why ? Because you are a Smoker. The World Health Organization will not hire anyone who admits to smoking. As of Dec 1.

One quote from this new report:

"Tobacco use is the major preventable cause of death in the world, killing nearly 5 million people annually. Tobacco use is addictive," it said.

The ban on recruitment of smokers is legal under international law, which governs operations at WHO and other U.N. agencies regardless of location, Simpson explained. The ban, therefore, applies across all the agency's sites, including offices in New York, he said.

Read more here And Newsweek here

Practice " Safe Stress " over holidays

2005-11-25T23:36:00.000-05:00

Another busy holiday season is here. Its busy, busy, busy. Lots of STRESS. You better watch out......this holiday STRESS can affect your HEALTH. Look what it can do.......

Raise your Blood pressure
Raise your Cholesterol
Weaken your Immuny System (thats why we get more colds when stressed)
plus many more problems that can distract us

Read the latest report on this Holiday Stress subject

Green Tea? or Black?

2005-11-23T00:11:00.000-05:00

http://www.drmirkin.com

Here are two posts in Dr Mirkins recent email letter.
You should click link above and learn more.

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Dear Dr. Mirkin: I’ve heard that green tea is good for your heart. Does regular tea have the same effect? Probably. Several studies show that people who drink green tea have a reduced incidence of heart attacks. Since black tea is made by fermenting green tea leaves, you would think that green tea and black tea would be the same, and they may be. But almost all studies on tea and heart attacks have been done with green tea, probably because green tea companies support and publicize the studies. Both green and black tea contain potent antioxidants: flavinoids, polyphenols and catechins. These antioxidants block cox-2 enzymes that cause clots and block arteries. Scientists do not recommend tea to prevent heart attacks yet because there may be other variables. Tea drinkers may have fewer heart attacks because they have healthier lifestyles for other reasons.

*************************************************

Dear Dr. Mirkin: Sometimes I just can’t make it through the day without a nap. Is that abnormal? I think naps are good for you, and I nap every day. Napping may even make you smarter. One study compared a people’s ability to learn after no sleep, a 30-minute nap, or a 60-minute nap. Those who had a 30-minute nap did better than those who didn’t nap, while those who took a 60-minute nap did far better than those who took only a 30-minute nap. When you start a nap, your eyes are kept still, called non-rapid-eye-movement sleep. You drop down from stage one sleep into a deeper stage two, then a deeper stage three, and then your eyes start to move rapidly back and forth. This is called Rapid Eye Movement sleep, or REM sleep. This study shows that you learn better if you wake up right after non-REM sleep (stage two), and you get more non-REM sleep in a 60-minute nap than a 30-minute nap. If you feel tired most afternoons, you are normal. In many parts of the world it is traditional to take an afternoon nap or siesta. Studies of office workers and school children show that people work best in the early morning. As the morning progresses, they lose their ability to concentrate. Then they go out to lunch and function way below their capacity for the rest of the day. It gets worse as you age. Tiredness is a signal that your brain needs a rest. Find a quiet place to lie down and take a nap. *************************************************

The Great Cholesterol MYTH

2005-11-18T18:11:00.000-05:00

We hear an awful lot about cholesterol these days. How dangerous it can be. How most of us have some form of ' high ' cholesterol and we better do something NOW about it. OK. Some of us have done that.

But you know what? Many of us health researchers have stumbled across reports that deny the truth of many cholesterol teachings today. I'm not talking about gossipy chit-chatter type of people either. Every so often we learn of medical professionals that question many of these teachings and much of the research findings behind many cholesterol studies. Sometimes we get the impression what we hear from some doctors came from the friendly pharmaceutical rep. The rep and his company are money motivated so we have to factor that in.

Take a look at this report and additional links from it that show some professionals have doubts about current cholesterol teachings. There are many more but this is a sample. There is NO MEDICAL ADVICE given by our postings here. This is just information that is in the news.

You must talk to your doctor about matters like this . Getting both sides of any health issue can be good for the patient. Sometimes a Second Opinion is valuable. Doctors themselves do that !

Here are a couple quotes you'll be reading:

'There's no connection whatsoever between cholesterol in food and cholesterol in blood. And we've known that all along. Cholesterol in the diet doesn't matter at all unless you happen to be a chicken or a rabbit.' Ancel Keys PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota 1997.

One more from the report author:

It seems almost unbelievable that warnings about the dangers of a high cholesterol level rain down every day, when the reality is that a low cholesterol level is much more dangerous than a high level. Given this, why would anyone want to lower the cholesterol level? On the face of it, it would make more sense to take cholesterol-raising drugs. Especially after the age of 50.

Click Here for above report

Two more you might like:

http://www.thincs.org/
The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics

http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/index.html --- author is skeptical of profit-driven health information

Medical Doctor pulls the plug !

2005-11-17T15:19:00.000-05:00

Against family wishes, Medical doctor pulls the plug and ends patients life. Twenty minutes and he was gone. Is it any wonder this doctor now prefers being a math teacher ? At least that won't involve life and death issues.

Good riddance. Read more here

Bird Flu Links Page

2005-11-16T22:35:00.000-05:00

New Bird Flu Links page will be updated daily.

Avian Flu (bird flu) Links page Here

Nite-Owl Children do worse....

2005-11-16T13:26:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I wonder about children still up when I take my late night walks. The school bus comes early. Do these children suffer for it the next day? Are parents concerned ?

Read this new research report proving children need to get to bed sooner. We hear about childrens problems but seldom hear that lack of sleep could be the ' real ' problem.

Bird Flu Drug causing suicides ?

2005-11-15T01:01:00.000-05:00

We hope the only drug available to the world for Bird Flu virus is not causing suicides. But there are some who believe this may be true.

Read this very troubling report here

Sauerkraut Fights Bird Flu Virus ?

2005-11-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

Bacteria in fermented cabbage may be the secret weapon in fighting Bird Flu Virus, experts say.

Health reports like this have already boosted the sales of cabbage in USA, Korea, etc.

Click here for Sauerkraut report
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China has vowed to vaccinate all of its estimated 14 billion poultry to contain the spread of bird flu.

Click here

Bird Flu gets more dangerous

2005-11-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Vietnam study shows Bird Flu virus mutating into a more dangerous form. More apt to spread.

Report Here

Kitchen Sink more Germs than Toilet

2005-11-14T01:17:00.000-05:00

We've posted this before but it bears repeating. Which do you think has more germs......your toilet or your kitchen sink?

Answer: Your kitchen sink has more germs. Proven fact. And your dish rag in sink is part of the problem. Researchers have been amazed at the millions of germs found in the average sink and dish cloth. Its one way some people get sick.

We should all change the dish cloth daily. Buy a bundle at the dollar store. And don't keep using them till they smell. You wouldn't believe how dirty they really are by then. Change them daily and then wash weekly or so in soap and hot water. Maybe a little bleach. A safe combo that germs hate to see coming.

One survey shows only 1/3 of people change their wet dish rag each day.

Toilet cleaner than Sink report here

Bird Flu update

2005-11-10T13:41:00.000-05:00

Friday Bird Flu update

China reports new Bird Flu outbreak
Deadly Bird Flu virus detected in Kuwait. (First time.)

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Bird Flu link here

Bird Flu Pandemic was subject of three day International Meeting. Progress was made in each country taking this threat seriously and promising to be ' transparent ' about any signs of trouble. I commend them all for acting before any pandemic virus appears. Prevention is better than cure.

Its essential all countries do their part. Something this serious does not respect " borders." Its a global problem that, if worse comes to worse, millions of people will die.

Read one small part of this VOA report:

"What happens in China and Vietnam is not only going to affect China and Vietnam, but it will affect neighboring countries," Mr. Adams says. "And, I think as has been demonstrated by the movement of the virus that in fact Europe, Eastern Europe has been infected. We are quite concerned…given the migratory paths of birds, we are quite concerned about Africa, although Africa has not been hit yet."
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Second Update today

New Bird Flu outbreak in China. And first in Kuwait. Click here.

Smoking. Quit or Just Cut Back..?

2005-11-08T15:10:00.000-05:00

You want to quit smoking because you know its a health hazard for you and (second hand smoke) for your family. Then you start wondering if it would be OK to just cut back. What if I only smoke 4 or 5 times a day ? Wouldn't that be easier and healthier ?

Easier ? Yes, probably would be. Healthier ? Not really.

Read what these Two New Studies reveal. Then decide for yourself.

Dr Weil: "Aging Gracefully"

2005-11-08T14:02:00.000-05:00

Are you one of the 79 Million Baby Boomers ? And you've noticed signs of aging ? Me too. Here is a book written just for you. Well, not the actual book but an interesting USA TODAY interview of the books author.

Dr. Andrew Weil, very popular alternative healing voice in the wilderness. I especially like the way he accepts ' aging ' and speaks more of aging gracefully and successfully than ' Anti-Aging.'

Dr Weil interview here

Doctors taking Doctors to court !!

2005-11-07T17:10:00.000-05:00

Two anti-aging doctors taking two Aging Doctors to court. Seems the Aging doctors ridiculed some of the anti-aging doctors and now we witness a legal fight. May the best side win.

Personally, I have appreciated learning from both sides of this issue and regret some doctors will now fear to share their professional opinions, afraid of lawsuits.

Click here for The Scientist report on these fighting doctors.

Baby Boomers Exercise Mistakes

2005-11-07T00:52:00.000-05:00

Read this CNN report of 40 year old attorney trying to exercise the same as when he was 20. He gained lots of pain and injury and now knows what some of us also learned the hard way: we are not as young as we used to be and have got to slow down. And, the "No Pain--No Gain" teaching taught us years ago is a myth.

Aging can't be avoided but injuries can. Us older folk just need to exercise smarter, not harder. More than 1 MILLION injuries were reported by baby boomers in 1998.

Click Here

Free Medical Encyclopedia

2005-11-05T15:22:00.000-05:00

Medical Encyclopedia

Check out this huge A-Z index and browse over 14,000 topics.

Click here

Dust Mites in your Bed ?

2005-11-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

Did you know most beds and bedding have dust mites ? Have you ever seen them ? Can you imagine how many thousands if you could count them ?

Take comfort in the fact that they cannot survive hot water ! How hot ? Must be over 130 degrees. What is your hot water heater temperature set for ? Make sure its over 130.

Your weekly washing of bedding will not only clean the dirt away but destroy those sneaky, no good dust mites. If hot enough.

Yoga can be Dangerous !

2005-11-03T12:46:00.000-05:00

Most people assume YOGA is healthy, easy, safe. But have you not read of the injuries twisting your body like a pretzel can cause? And believing everyone should touch their toes is a Myth. Yoga is more popular than ever. And so are the injuries. Read this report of things to beware of if you are into Yoga. Better be safe than sorry.

Click here

Why Women Live Longer than Men

2005-11-01T22:54:00.000-05:00

Many of us have noticed women usually outlive men. Why is this ? What can a man do differently to catch up?

For starters, you could Click Here for a simple list. Illustrated with Photos. :>)

Here is one more that illustrates the hazards of being male. Click here.

10 Superfoods that fight Cancer

2005-11-01T15:05:00.000-05:00

Researchers are learning more and more about the health benefits of eating right. How often they remind us to eat our veggies; eat more fruits, etc. Before reading this report, let me ask you...........

What do onions, strawberries, and cabbage have in common?

Why do Polish women now living in USA have more breast cancer than those that remain in homeland? What is it they eat 30 lbs of yearly in Poland but only 10 lbs of when living in USA ?

Is changing your diet really one of the most effective ways of prolonging your life ?

Is it true almost 1/3 of cancers are diet related ?

Why is eating more veggies and fruits the Second best way to lower your Cancer Risk ?

If second....what comes First in cutting our cancer risk? ( smoking )

Read what the experts are proving and saying. Click here.

Is Fish really Brain Food ?

2005-10-31T23:56:00.000-05:00

Looking back over the years reminds us of things called a myth today that were considered true years ago. How about fish as a brain food? Us older folk heard that even as kids. Is that also considered a myth now?

Read this report of research on over 3,000 people for six years. They found the answer to the above question about eating fish making people smarter. You should know about this and then benefit.

Click here

Plastic Surgery? WebMD Guide

2005-10-31T00:44:00.000-05:00

Are you considering Plastic Surgery ? We found an interesting Guide that you should consult before you do much else. Its interactive. You won't be bored. .

WebMD Plastic Surgery Guide Here

High Blood Pressure vs. Joe Montana

2005-10-29T23:34:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Montana was shocked when Joe phoned home and told her he had high blood pressure and would need to do something about it. Joe had been feeling fine and only went to doctor for routine physical at his wife's urging. What a surprise for them both to learn this 46 year old , one of the worlds greatest pro football quarterbacks, had high blood pressure.

He was not sedentary, or overweight. Montana turned out to be one of the more than 65 million Americans who suffer from high blood pressure, an insidious and symptomless disease that dramatically increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

"I had no symptoms at all. That is the scary part of this disease. It can sneak up on you," he said

We've come a long ways with medical advances but doctors will tell you they don't know everything about high blood pressure and what causes it. More than 65 Million americans suffer from it. And there are millions that don't even know they have it. It's like a killer that silently creeps up in the dark and then strikes.

Joe is treating his condition and has not had stroke or heart attack. And you can be sure he knows ' his numbers.' How about you? Do you know your blood pressure numbers? Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and find out.

Read more about Joe Montana's high blood pressure and treatment here

Car Survival Kit for Winter

2005-10-28T13:40:00.000-05:00

Winter is coming and sometimes that can mean troubled weather for driving. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer a basic helpful survival list for our car. You can add to this 15 item kit.

Booster Cables
Road map
Flashlight and batteries
Compass
Paper Towels
Tow Rope
Tool Kit
Sand and Salt to melt snow
Shovel
Compressed, canned air for tires
Can opener
Dried foods
Blankets
First Aid Kit
Windshield scraper

Chew Gum after Surgery !!

2005-10-27T14:01:00.000-05:00

Would you like to feel better and heal quicker after surgery? Would you like to leave the hospital one day sooner than others? All you have to do is: Chew Gum, according to new report. Laugh but at least read this new doctors report here.

Discount for 80 Years Safe Driving

2005-10-27T13:29:00.000-05:00

Most of us find the cost of car insurance going up. Read here of a 100 year old man whose car insurance has gone way down. What is the secret ? How can we do the same ? Drive 80 years without a ticket or accident !!

click here for Safe Driving Discount

Beer Drinking and Cancer Risk

2005-10-25T23:30:00.000-05:00

Lots of news reports remind us drinking wine is healthy. Here is one about Dr. Anderson quitting his beer drinking habit because he observed an increase of cancer amongst those still drinking. He has switched to red wine after confirming its health benefits are well established.

Dr. Anderson ended this news item by saying:

"Just as an aside, I think people should be aware that they can get the same benefit by drinking grape juice."

Thats what I drink. Non-alcoholic. Read this report here

Coffee Stunts Growth Myth

2005-10-25T20:03:00.000-05:00

Will a little coffee stunt a childs growth ? Have you heard that it does ? Me too. One young boy was told he was shorter than others because he sometimes took a sip of his dad's coffee. We've probably all heard this. If so, we should also hear what years of research have shown. Its a MYTH.

Its not that we want to see children drinking coffee, etc. Its just that we want to know what is true and what is Myth.

Read this for a little sample of the research.

Eating Fish is Safe? No Mercury?

2005-10-24T22:35:00.000-05:00

How many times have we read about the danger of Mercury in Fish? And how many times have we read of all the wonderful health benefits of eating fish? Even just once a week is helpful. Lots of research has proven the nutritional value of eating fish. How good it is for our hearts, etc. We have no doubt about that.

Yet, we worry about the mercury. Should we just avoid eating fish and play it safe? What is the risk involved here. Is it possible not eating fish is the bigger risk? Losing the healthy heart benefit? Plus other health blessings.

Is avoiding Mercury the main issue? Or, is this toxin a very small risk in comparison to not eating fish? Many of us ponder this and go back and forth. Just this week I reached for the can of light tuna instead of my usual can of albacore. Why? Research tells us the bigger fish has more mercury stored up than the smaller (tuna) fish. Right?

Read this report if you too share our health concern in eating fish today. Its reassuring.

No Pain-No Gain Myth

2005-10-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

NO PAIN--No Gain. Ever hear that from some exercise experts? Not much anymore but we not only heard it many years ago---we believed it. Thats how we exercised. Thats how many of us jogged in the old days. And we paid the price. And learned the hard way that the hard way was not wise.

" Baby boomers in 1998 suffered more that 1 million sports injuries, to the tune of nearly $19 billion in medical costs, said the report from 2000, the most recent data available. "

"The most common injuries come from overuse and affect knees, ankles, lower back and shoulders"

"Aging can't be avoided, but injuries can be. And doctors say that doesn't mean all avid joggers must hang up their running shoes, or lifelong basketball players must necessarily forgo the neighborhood court Â— it's all about exercising smarter. "

"The old adage 'no pain, no gain' should be less relevant as we age than when we're younger," Lonner said. "It's a matter of being educated in how to exercise appropriately and what signs to look out for when exercising, like muscle soreness and joint pain."

These are some of the things doctors are saying. Read the whole thing and save yourself some of the problems we sufferred that once believed in NO PAIN--No Gain. Myth !!

Associated Press News Report
also check out
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Patient Library

Oatmeal instead of Diet Pills !!

2005-10-22T21:31:00.000-05:00

Certain foods work better than Diet Pills, according to new report from ABC News. Titled: Forget Diet Pills, eat Oatmeal. Or Lentils, or Coffee (4cups), or Salmon Steak, or Apples.

ABC News informs us that: "Each year Americans spend more than $18 billion on the roughly 29,000 varieties of appetite suppressants for sale across the country. " Can you believe that ?

Click here and also read of the lady happily spending over $10,000 in diet pills, etc. She should eat oatmeal instead. :>)

Walk The Dog & Lose 14 lbs

2005-10-21T16:28:00.000-05:00

Reuters reports another plus for pets. Especially having (and walking) a dog. Read about overweight people losing 14 lbs just in walking a dog over 12 month period. May not seem like much but that number beats a lot of diets people are always trying.!! Just 10 minutes a day, 3 times weekly to begin with. Then 20 minutes five days weekly.

This simple exercise also improved their flexibility, balance, and helped them feel much better about themselves. Plus, the dogs were healthier and happier too. What a positive thing.

Click here for dog walking diet news

Ant-Bacterial soap better ?

2005-10-20T01:02:00.000-05:00

Many of us assume the anti-bacteria soaps are more effective than regular soaps. This latest report on subject says: NO, not true. Researchers say both soaps do well and one is not better than the other.

Read why anti-bacterial soaps may not be any better for us in the home. Click here.

Depression hits 1 out of 10

2005-10-19T14:16:00.000-05:00

New report shows 1 in 10 Americans have experienced some mental illness in their lifetime.
And 1 in 20 Americans have experienced depression in last 12 months.

Whats also new is middle age baby boomers are hurting more than young adults.
Read more here

Click here for quiz to see what your own risk of depression is.

And ask yourself if a Pet can help. The answer is yes. We've seen this over and over for many years and now we are reading many well researched reports proving the same.

Pets can actually lower your blood pressure. And help your social relationships. Give your immunity a boost. And help you defeat feeling Depressed !!

I have read reports proving people who had a heart attack live longer if they also have a pet.

5 Ways Pets can improve your health report here

LUPUS links

2005-10-18T13:24:00.000-05:00

October is national LUPUS month. I'm glad it gets attention and I'm glad some are seeking the answers and cures for this chronic autoimmune disease. Imagine your own immune system turning against your body and attacking healthy cells. Thats what LUPUS does.

I checked out many LUPUS resources today and the following were outstanding:

http://www.topix.net/health/lupus
http://www.lupusresearchinstitute.org/lupus_archive.php
http://www.lupusresearch.org/faqs_lupus.html (helpful question/answer page)

If you want more here is a full page of the best LUPUS links online today.......

http://www.lupusresearch.org/links.html

Arthritis: What is it ?

2005-10-17T13:38:00.000-05:00

HEALTH - What You Should Know About ArthritisIf you were in a conversation with someone and they said "What's Arthritis?", how would you begin to explain? There are many misconceptions about arthritis and it's a complicated disease. There is so much to know about the various types of arthritis. Digesting some fast facts about arthritis is the best way to begin learning about the disease.

http://arthritis.about.com/

Diabetic Diet Tips

2005-10-15T17:35:00.000-05:00

Karen Newton, RN, offers a free Diabetic Diet Tips course. Some doctors believe there is a diabetes Epidemic in this country. We need all the help we can get.

Its a good thing to control diabetes before it controls us. This free email course will help you with some very useful tips. The effects of diabetes can be reversed. Many have done that. One way is with a simple Meal Plan. You'll find more in Karen's free Diabetes Diet Tips course.

Click here.
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If you want to read a very sobering report from Georgia concerning the Diabetes Epidemic and how it has escalated as people have gotten fatter..........Click Here.

Home Testing for Aids Virus

2005-10-14T17:37:00.000-05:00

Doctors say about one million in USA have the Aids HIV virus and 25% of them don't even know it. In many cases it is being spread by people who do not know they have it. This is one reason for the new tilt toward Home Testing Kits.

After 18 years of controversy.

Making HIV testing easier should help prevent the spread of this virus infecting 40,000 more people each year. What could be simpler than purchasing this over the counter kit and testing at home. The sooner those infected know it and make changes the better.

New York Times HIV aids report here

Health - Medical Resource Links

2005-10-13T18:05:00.000-05:00

Looking online for medical and/or health information? Where do you start? There are so many places you could suffer " info overload." One page you may find interesting and comprehensive is over at Centerwatch.com

Have you wondered about the different medical or health trials going on? And if they might accept you? These trials have helped many and you might want to know more about what trials are currently available and nearby to you.

Go to centerwatch Patient Trials page

Bottled Water Myth

2005-10-12T21:03:00.000-05:00

Thanks to millions of dollars of corporate advertising...there is a bottled water myth. I agree with this report and the area I live in confirms it also.

Take a look.

Bottled Water Myth news

Halloween Safety Tips

2005-10-10T13:53:00.000-05:00

I had compiled a list of my own Halloween Safety Tips for parents and children when I discovered this more complete list from the

Los Angelos Fire Department

Childrens safety is a concern this time of year. Click here for Tip sheet

Proof Vitamin E is Anti-Aging

2005-10-08T21:01:00.000-05:00

More proof of Vitamin E value in our quest for good health and appearance. This latest research shows how this vitamin can protect the skin against the radiation of the sun. Its a proven anti-oxidant. It can prevent or minimize the damage caused by free-radicals.

We need more anti-oxidants like this to help protect our skin. And to postpone visible signs of skin aging.

Read this report

Kids get Arthritis

2005-10-08T14:46:00.000-05:00

Juvenile Arthritis made the news recently when the first treatment guidelines ever were published in the Journal of American Medical Association. One in every thousand children under 16 have this painful problem. These new guidelines should help doctors help these children.

Serious damage to bones, joints and muscles if left untreated.

There is no cure but researchers deserve credit for taking a close look at almost 300 studies involving children with juvenile arthritis and publishing the best way to help them.

Read report here
Arthritis Foundation Juvenile Arthritis page here

Middle Age vs Alzheimer's Disease

2005-10-06T14:12:00.000-05:00

We've often read how exercise helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. We now have a new report published in NY Times showing how middle age people who exercise also have added protection against becoming senile, dementia, alzheimers. Proving what we've learned......that what helps our heart helps our mind also.

Researchers in Sweden were surprised to notice what 'leisure time physical activity' twice weekly could accomplish. 1,500 patients had their habits monitored for 35 years. Those who exercised as they passed through middle age had a 50 percent lower risk of developing dementia and 60 percent lower chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. Compared to those in the study that had little exercise over the years.

"If an individual adopts an active lifestyle in youth and at midlife, this may increase their probability of enjoying both physically and cognitively vital years later in life," said Dr. Miia Kivipelto of the Aging Research Center of the Karolinska Institute, who is the study's main author.

Many people are surprised to learn exercise can help them avoid memory loss and brain disease. Exercise helps our blood flow and thats good for heart and brain. This may be the first study that validates something as simple as exercise can help prevent Alzheimers, a very dreadful disease.

We hope publishing good news like this would motivate us to be more active. We'll not only live longer.....but live better. More apt to live long......die quick.

Read about this new research here

Food Safety Quiz

2005-10-05T16:46:00.000-05:00

Each year 76 million Americans suffer from foodborne illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though most cases are mild — a day or two of stomach upset — it can be serious for children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

Take this quiz to test your food safety IQ. Find out if you're following the most up-to-date advice to prevent foodborne illness or if you're making some risky food-safety mistakes.

One of the questions on this quiz asks:

You're firing up the grill to make your famous chicken kabobs for an impromptu party. Do you wash the chicken first?

Answer: No. Surprised? The most recent dietary guidelines recommend against washing raw poultry before cooking because the risks outweigh the benefits. You'll be more likely to contaminate your sink, kitchen counters and utensils with bacteria from the splashing.

How many people do you know that know that ?

Read Food Safety quiz here

Healthy children eat home-cooked meals

2005-10-04T12:48:00.000-05:00

Read this new report in The Washington Times. Harvard Medical School is asking doctors to recommend that youngsters eat old-fashioned family dinners at home to prevent obesity and curb risky habits.

"Doctors should encourage teens to limit their intake of food prepared away from home and eat family dinners together," said Dr. Elsie Taveras, a pediatrician and childhood obesity specialist who led the research. Home is simply healthier.

The Harvard researchers tracked the food choices, weight, physical activities and social habits of 14,355 children, ages 9 to 14, from all 50 states.

Researchers believe parents and children should receive " Nutritional Reality Check." There is no doubt this is a public health tragedy.

Read more of junk food dangers here.

Chocolate vs Diarrhea

2005-10-04T12:21:00.000-05:00

Want another reason to eat dark chocolate ? New research indicates eating dark chocolate will relieve diarrhea. Proving the ancient myth is True ! Thanks to the Oakland Children's Hospital & Research Center.

Cocoa Beans contain lots of healthy chemicals called: flavonoids. And its now proven these can ease diarrhea symptoms.

"Our study presents the first evidence that fluid loss by the intestine can be prevented by cocoa flavonoids," said Horst Fischer, Ph.D., Associate Scientist, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute and co-author of the study. "Ultimately, this discovery could lead to the development of natural treatments that are inexpensive, easy to access and are unlikely to have side effects."

Each year, Americans record an average of 2.4 million visits to their doctor with symptoms of diarrhea. Children younger than the age of five and the elderly are the most likely to develop grave health problems if their condition leads to dehydration.

Until now, no one knew how the ancient 16th century European myth of cocoa treating diarrhea could work.

Read the dark chocolate vs diarrhea report here.

Prostrate Cancer obesity risk

2005-10-01T17:36:00.000-05:00

Overweight men should read this new report. It may give them added incentive to lose a few pounds. Its not only healthier but anti-cancer. This new study of men with prostrate cancer shows those who were obese had more serious problems.

The results also suggest that diet and exercise may be effective in reducing the risk of prostate cancer progression.

Yahoo cancer health report here
American Cancer Society Prostrate Cancer page here
ACS Prostrate Cancer message boards here

Fruit Juice fights cancer

2005-09-27T15:50:00.000-05:00

Prostrate Cancer will be diagnosed in over 200,000 USA men this year. More than 30,000 of them will die from it. This is the #2 Cancer Killer of men, second to lung cancer. A serious situation, don't you think ?

Interesting news report today about Pomegranate juice fighting cancer in new tests. Not only in prevention of cancer but treatment. And prostrate was singled out as especially treatable by drinking the juice.

This isn't the first time we've read reports of how powerful anti-oxidants can be in fighting cancer cells. Pomegranate juice is rich in anti-oxidants. Its one reason we want more fruits and vegetables. Especially those with deep colors.......anti-oxidant colors.

Deep red Pomegranate juice is becoming more popular now as a health drink.

"Our study -- while early -- adds to growing evidence that pomegranates contain very powerful agents against cancer, particularly prostate cancer," said Dr. Hasan Mukhtar, a professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, who led the study.

Yahoo Pomegranate news here
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Click here for recent Pomegranate juice research proving drinking one glass a day can improve blood flow to the heart. Coronary heart disease is the #1 cause of death in USA. This first of its kind research involved people with heart disease and making just one change over three months. Their heart improved 17% simply by drinking one glass of this juice daily.

Smokers get Diabetes

2005-09-26T17:36:00.000-05:00

Hey smokers..........Would you like another good reason to quit ? You are more apt to get diabetes if you smoke.

The current issue of Diabetes Care reports this bad news for smokers. Researchers at Wake Forest University of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C did a five year study comparing smokers and non-smokers, proving smoking gives you a higher risk of becoming a diabetic.

Cigarettes and health problems seem to go together.

Read smoking-diabetes report here

If you would like to read an interesting report on the easy way of preventing diabetes just click here. Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful. Learn more about your risk and the small steps you can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a long, healthy life.

You don't have to knock yourself out !! Good luck.
PS: If you need help to quit smoking....click here

Broccoli fights Cancer

2005-09-26T17:02:00.000-05:00

New research report out today confirms broccoli can help fight cancer. Sure hope this is true. We need all the anti-cancer help we can get.

Almost a million and half people get cancer each year. 500,000 of them die. And researchers and doctors believe about 1/3 of these deaths are diet related.

Researchers say it's the first study to suggest that treatment with isothiocyanates (broccoli, caulifower,etc) can slow the progression of lung cancer as well as reduce the risk of tumors in people already exposed to cancer-causing substances, such as tobacco smoke.

So....eat your veggies. We are what we eat.

Click here for this WebMD Produce Power report

Your Aging Skin

2005-09-25T20:04:00.000-05:00

Is beauty Skin deep ? No, its Bone deep. Thats part of a new report presented Sunday in a Chicago conference of Plastic Surgeons.

We see the signs of aging skin as we look in the mirror. Usually we blame the skin, the sun, our genes, etc. But this latest research shows we lose more than fat and elasticity as we age. We also lose bone volume as aging bone stucture changes. And our faces sag and our skin wrinkles making us look older than we really are.

What to do? Ah, plastic surgeons to the rescue. They can use ' filler ' to recreate lost volume. And maybe some forehead ' lifting ' and soft tissue ' repositioning.' For starters.

Is it painful ? Yes, when you get the bill ! :>)

Read report here

Want more?
Aging Skin update here

Whats Your REAL AGE ?

2005-09-24T11:05:00.000-05:00

Thats a good question. Whats YOUR Real Age? It can make a difference just how old we really are. Are you YOUNGER than your actual years ? Are you OLDER than your actual years ?

What about your lifestyle ? Did you know that can make you younger or older than your years ?

Take the RealAge Test today and find out your RealAge. And these professionals will offer you advice based on your answers that can actually make you younger. This is a patented one-of-a-kind RealAge test.

Its interesting to watch your RealAge getting younger or getting older as you answer the quesitons. Finish the test and receive a personal plan developed by MDs and PhDs. We hope this will help you Age Less.

RealAge Test link here

Obesity in Children

2005-09-22T23:32:00.000-05:00

We know that the number of Obese children has tripled over last 20 years. And we have followed the researchers reports as they seek for the answers. Of which there are many.

Only once before have I read a report just issued that blames constipation amongst children for the terrible increase in fat children.

Children with chronic constipation are about twice as likely to be obese as their peers without this problem, according to a report in the medical journal Pediatrics.

And why are children constipated ? One thing mentioned is the lack of ' fiber ' in their diet. Which aids in more calorie consumption daily.

Constipation and Childrens Obesity news here
And a good Childrens Obesity site is here

Drinking Beer can cause Cancer ?

2005-09-22T20:44:00.000-05:00

There is a lot of different cancers and a lot of different causes. New research now reveals beer drinkers increase their risk of having Colon Cancer.

The doctor leading this research warns drinking more than one beer a day increases this risk of getting cancer.

Dr. Anderson and associates investigated the impact of regular alcohol consumption on colorectal tumors in 2,291 patients undergoing screening colonoscopy. Heavy beer drinkers doubled their risk according to this report.

Read more here
Or Here-Dr. Will Boggs, Reuters Health

Did You Wash Your Hands Today?

2005-09-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

Women have cleaner hands than men. Because women Wash Their Hands more than men. Every survey and test I've seen confirms this. Including the new one just out. Do you think a women would snicker at another women who might use tissue paper on the rest room door handle as she opens it? I doubt it.

But some men sure would. One of them snickered at me in Walmarts when he saw me using a paper towel as I opened the men's room door to leave. He didn't know (maybe would not care anyway) that the man leaving just ahead of me not only did not wash his hands after using the rest room but had just sneezed into his hand as well. Why would I want to touch that same door handle after he used it? Common sense.

Take a look at the hand washing links in this post. Judge for yourself.

The fact is:

"The single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others is to clean our hands." Simply using soap and water is the gold standard when it comes to washing off dirt and germs. No soap and water available? Many stores sell swipes and hand sanitizers.

Resources and latest survey
Hand Washing Press Release
Why Children hand washing so important

Green Tea fights cancer? Alzheimers?

2005-09-20T23:16:00.000-05:00

Pin another ribbon on drinking tea. Its been interesting to read what science is now learning about the health benefits of drinking tea. Puts a smile on the face of us life-long tea drinkers.

Now we learn researchers have confirmed the same green tea ingredient that may fight cancer (EGCG) will also help us resist the brain-disease Alzheimers.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disorder that causes memory loss and afflicts an estimated 4.5 million people in the United States and millions more globally. Many times over the years I've noticed people are more concerned about losing their minds than heart attacks, etc.

More research will be required. We thank the folks at University of Southern Florida psychiatry department for adding to the growing body of information that confirms simple things like drinking tea (and taking EGCG tea supplements) can work wonders.

Green Tea Alzheimers report here

Middle Age Bones and Soy Protein

2005-09-20T16:11:00.000-05:00

I don't like Soy but you middle age women might want to try it after reading this new report on middle age women's bone health.

Bone fractures can be a problem for women middle age and older. Happens thousands of times each year right here in USA. This four and half year study of over 24,000 women revealed those who consumed the most Soy protein had the best bone health record. The fewest bone fractures. Over 50 percent reduction. The more soy consumed- the better the record.

How much Soy protein did they have to consume to come out on top of this problem so many face? The American Heart Association says daily consumption of 25 grams soy protein would be " heart disease preventive."

This new research suggests that would also prevent bones from breaking in the 40 to 70 age group. Each cup of soy milk averages over 6 grams. The top 20 percent of this group of 24,000 middle age women took two cups daily. Some took a piece of tofu daily.

Researcher Dr. Schu signed off by saying: " In my opinion, women should increase soy consumption."

Soy Report here

Medical costs highest in Wisconsin

2005-09-18T14:40:00.000-05:00

Why does it cost more to be sick in Wisconsin ? Eight out of ten cities in Wisconsin have higher physician costs than any other in USA. Take LaCrosse for instance. Its #1 on list of most costly cities in USA to get medical treatment. #1 on a list of 319 US cities, with physician prices 48 percent higher than american average.

Their US Rep. Paul Ryan called this report a ' Wake Up ' call to both consumers and policymakers in Wisconsin. Amen.

Many are blaming the lack of competition in the state for this problem. And the lack of transparency in medical pricing so consumers can actually shop around some.

Read more here

Doctors Want To Know

2005-09-18T13:31:00.000-05:00

Another news item today about doctors warning their patients to tell them about any and all alternative medical programs they are using. The concern is that without full disclosure there can't be full medical care. Not to mention there could be dangers involved in mixing more than one kind of treatment.

I know many people afraid to tell their doctor of alternative treatments they find helpful. And some who take vitamin and mineral supplements often keep this to themselves. Why this reluctance to be open with their primary care physician?

Because they know some doctors will judge all this complementary medical care very harshly. Many doctors (especially older ones) are not open minded to anything outside of their medical school training. Some patients feel it is too risky to tell them. Patients don't want to upset this close minded doctor.

The real risk is something going wrong because the doctor did not know. Sometimes its better to change doctors and work with one who has training in alternative medicine in addition to his orthodox medical training. They can resolve any conflict right up front. Before something goes wrong.

Complementary describes techniques used in conjunction with conventional medicine, alternative describes techniques that can be used in place of it. There are estimates one-third of adult americans use one of these complementary or alternative treatments.

News Report click here

Learn more about complementary and alternative medicine here

Aspirin Update

2005-09-17T12:44:00.000-05:00

Taking aspirin at night does more to lower blood pressure than taking it in the morning. First time researchers have ever noticed this. These scientists in Spain divided people with mild hypertension into three groups. Average age 44.

One group took aspirin in the morning. Another took it at night. And the rest took no aspirin at all. Aspirin at night was the clear winner after three months of evaluation. (Just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology)

Many of us find this simple change to be interesting. Some of us have been doing this for many months. With doctors approval.

Aspirin News Update here

Nursing Shortage not good

2005-09-14T23:02:00.000-05:00

Kentucky Nursing Shortage
Texas Nursing Shortage
Scotland, UK Nursing Shortage
New Zealand Nursing Shortage

These links are just four from over forty news items concerning the worldwide nursing shortage. Its a proven fact this shortage can endanger the welfare of patients. I couldn't help but notice most nurses were older as I visited a nearby hospital. I mentioned this to an older RN on duty that day and she told me her daughter had just finished college and was working a computer job for more money and better benefits than she was earning after all these years as a caring RN. So, maybe its about the money. For one thing.

Another thing is mentioned in the Texas report above. There aren't enough nursing schools with sufficient faculty to meet the increasing demand. Can you imagine Texas turning away 4,200 people who applied to nursing programs ? That was a couple years ago. Its more like 5,000 last year. Everyone of them was needed and would have been hired in a heartbeat. IF they could have been trained. Where are the teachers? Some have retired, others went to private sector for more money.

The bottleneck is the lack of faculty in this case. Not the lack of willing students. Good jobs waiting if they could only receive training. If only there were more teachers ~!

Nationally, the shortages are continuing to mount. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that registered nurses will be the fastest-growing occupation by 2012.

The New Zealand report above mentions five nursing vacancies amongst the Mental Health staff. And that is why six beds have to remain empty out of 31. It doesn't help that Mental Health nurses are paid less than general nurses. Why would that be ?

The Scotland report above mentions the nursing shortage there is affecting patient safety. No doubt it would. What can any of us do to help? Two of my family were nurses and I always respected that. One way the nursing shortage affected them was in working overtime so much. I saw first hand the weariness this caused and wondered how do they expect nurses to be on top of things when they are weary to the bone.

Myth: drink 8 cups water daily

2005-09-14T15:49:00.000-05:00

How often we now see people with bottled water in their hand as they walk around, go shopping, or just sit in the yard. One lady could not attend a one hour meeting of ours without bringing (and sipping) her bottle of water. Some of us older folk find this hard to understand. We and our family and friends have lived well all these years without ever carrying a bottle of water around. Not even when some of us were avid joggers all year long.

The bottled water folk are sure we must have been (and still are) dehydrated..!!

A related issue that comes up is the dire need of drinking 8 cups of water daily. Here we are living well all these years and have never done this. Drink water...yes. More so when thirsty...yes. But eight cups every day regardless?

I have looked and looked over the years for the proof we need to drink 8 cups of water daily. And have not found it. The reason I mention this now is because The Harvard Medical College Health newsletter (email) arrived today and reminded me of this very subject.

They too have looked for proof we need to drink 8 cups of water daily and could not find it. Imagine that. Let me give you a sample paragraph from this Health letter:

"More recently, a kidney specialist at Dartmouth Medical School searched the scientific literature for studies that might support the idea that people need 8 glasses of fluid a day. Not only did he determine that no such evidence exists, but concluded that the research that has been done "strongly suggests that such large amounts are not needed"

If you would like to read more why not subscribe to Harvards free Healthbeat eletter. I have to pay for some of their research but this publication regularly arrives free of cost.

Subscribe Harvards Healthbeat here
And you can read todays edition here.

Fat Couch Potato Kids

2005-09-14T15:17:00.000-05:00

Some new research adds to what makes kids fat. Usually we hear about the lack of exercise and eating too much causing many to become obese. It seems the number of children becoming obese has doubled in last few years. We see proof of this walking up and down our streets. At least they are walking.

This latest report mentions something worse than lack of exercise and eating too much. Its called Television.

You can help children avoid getting fat by limiting their TV viewing. In some ways children watching too much TV are getting fatter and fatter regardless of exercise or what they eat. These researchers observed 1,000 children between age 3 and age 15.

Those who watched the most TV were also the ones most obese. Especially the girls.

They used BMI (body mass index) -- an indicator of body fat -- to identify obese and overweight kids.

I once asked a parent who was complaining about her kids becoming fat couch potatos, " Why don't you just turn it off and let them go out and play ball or something?" Or even go walking together. She said the TV was her baby sitter and it was the best she could do. Poor kids. Poor parents. So many are addicted to this Plug-In Drug.

If you don't think its addicting........try stopping it for a few days. Pull the plug. Then you'll know more about its power over both children and parents. No wonder obesity amongst children has doubled.

TV couch potato report
One more

Vitamin C fights Cancer ?

2005-09-13T13:31:00.000-05:00

We have read research reports of Vitamin C fighting cancer for the last 40 years. And we also have read reports where it does not. Some say yes, some say no. What do you say?

Click here and read a report in todays MedlinePlus confirming large doses of Vitamin C do have anti-cancer powers.

So how do they explain some clinical tests were pro Vitamin C fighting cancer and some clinical tests were anti vitamin c fighting cancer ? The research against vitamin c used oral forms. And this research today went back and repeated some of the original pro research that used both oral and intravenous vitamin c.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found vitamin c ascorbate killed cancer cells at high doses which requires intravenous infusion. And normal cells were not adversely affected at any size dose.

These high intravenous doses of ascorbate led to the formation of hydrogen peroxide, a cancer killing chemical.

Vitamin C cancer update here

Hearing Loss. Aging Ears on young people

2005-09-12T13:40:00.000-05:00

A young friend showed me a car trunk full of expensive music equipment that produced those loud sounds they love and we shun. I asked about his ears and the possibility of hearing loss. Not concerned. I asked about Acne troubles so many teens have and that was a concern..!!

Check out a couple links here and learn more about the very real danger of hearing loss amongst our young people. The baby boomers have already found this out the hard way. Even President Clinton had to get fitted for hearing aids a few years ago.

Ear doctors tell us most of this damage from continual loud sound is not reversible. Tell that to one young fella that denied this could happen. "And if it does, they will have a way to fix it by the time I get older." Its great to be young. Nothing to worry about. Postpone it all to the future and then fall back on the hope medical science will come up with something to restore their aging ears to young ones again.

MP3 players can damage your hearing more than popular Walkmans and CD players.

The National Health Interview Survey revealed hearing loss increased 26% in people 46 to 64.
And 17% in people 18 to 44.

My young friend said the music has to be loud to do any good. Going without it was impossible. And turning it down to levels us older folk could accept would not work either. He tried that and was not happy. It seems many younger folk need this almost like the druggie needs more drugs. It appears to be something addictive and controlling.

The Pediatrics journal estimates over 5 Million children between ages of 6 to 19 have hearing loss that is ' noise-induced.'

Young people with Aging Ears will be more common. The loss of hearing associated with age is moving down the ladder to the younger generation.

Read Hearing Loss News here
More News here

Doctors, Medical Workers: Katrina Heroes

2005-09-11T13:18:00.000-05:00

Disasters always spawn heroes.

On Sept. 11, 2001, many of them wore dark blue uniforms that said FDNY.

On Sept. 1, 2005, many wore hospital scrubs that said MD, RN and EMT. Thousands of health care workers stayed with patients in devastated hospitals after the storm struck.

Doctors, medical workers are Katrina’s heroes

Just one example:

And Dr. Lee Garvey, 48, an emergency room doctor at Carolinas Medical Center who dropped everything to staff a state-of-the-art mobile hospital that provided the only trauma care for seven devastated counties in rural Mississippi.

“We’re here because this is what we live to do,” Garvey said, “trying to offer something to these people.”

Read more here.

Radon hides in your basement

2005-09-09T21:40:00.000-05:00

Some of you know we covered this in previous post but here it is in the news again. This time about a man checking his home in Rhode Island for radon gas and being very shocked when the Inspectors report said he had it and needed to correct it immediately.

Nationwide, one of every fifteen homes has this radioactive gas problem. Especially in some areas such as New England. Many people have lung cancer because of it. And some of them never smoked. But its double trouble for those that smoke.

Can you picture over 20,000 lung cases from Radon per year?

Radon gas cannot be seen or smelled so its a very sneaky enemy lurking in many basements. You can go to Home Depot, etc, and purchase a Radon detector kit for $25 or so. Do it now while you are thinking of it. This is a serious problem most people are not even aware of.

Aspirin vs. Cancer

2005-09-07T23:36:00.000-05:00

Aspirin vs. Cancer has been in the news again. You've probably seen one of these Headlines....

" Long-term Aspirin use lowers colon cancer risk"
" Aspirin cuts risk of Colon Cancer"
" Aspirin may Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk"
" Aspirin may help prevent Colon Cancer"

Plus many others. Its good news to hear of extensive studies that show Aspirin's ability to prevent cancer. Instead of an apple a day, some are now saying we should take an Aspirin a Day to keep the doctor away. This 100 year old drug is in the news again because a large study of women indicated those taking the most aspirin daily for ten years lowered their risk over 50%. Impressive.

But there is a problem. And its not found in the headlines but in the small print of these Aspirin vs. Colon Cancer news reports. The problem is: great risk of internal bleeding from prolonged daily use of aspirin. And that has been proven. A serious side effect. Is it worth it? Talk to your doctor.

This is an important issue because Colon Cancer is the #2 Cancer killer, second only to lung cancer. Over 130,000 people will get it this year and about 56,000 will die from it. Prevention is the way to go and that means talking with a doctor about aspirin. And about tests ,etc, that can help discover it in time to treat it.

Links:
http://www.colorectal-cancer.net/
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/cri_2x.asp
click here for link to Calcium vs Colon Cancer. One glass of milk per day can reduce Colon Cancer risk by 15 %.

Tired Medical Students are dangerous

2005-09-07T14:54:00.000-05:00

Still another report out today about how medical students make dangerous doctors due to lack of sleep. Nothing new there. But its still shocking. Did you ever have to work the night shift? Ever try to work around the clock? Ever notice how we make more mistakes when tired?

The poor young doctors in training are regularly scheduled for ' round the clock ' shifts. Seems traditional now. Imagine that young doctor trying to help you and others after a 20 hour shift? It wouldn't be wrong to ask any of these student doctors how much sleep they get. Its proven they make many more mistakes and they also cause many more accidents while driving.

Some researchers compare these overworked young doctors to someone slightly drunk. I'm glad there is more publicity about this and hopefully....more pressure put on those who make out these doctors schedules. The 90 hour work week is not healthy for them or for their patients. It always seemed inhumane to me. A 1999 study by Insitute of Medicine mentioned almost 100,000 deaths a year from negligent medical practice. How many of them died because of the tired out resident-physician who was about as alert as a drunk?

This and more in latest American Medical Association Journal.

Three Medical Student Doctor links.

CBS News Report
Australian News Report
American Medical Student Association (largest, oldest organization of doctors in training)

Memory Loss. You worried ?

2005-09-07T13:27:00.000-05:00

A few health news items stood out as I reviewed over 100 this am. One of them covered some recent research on losing our minds. Or, memory loss. This is a big thing and I noticed many times people more concerned about that than heart attack or cancer. You too ?

Click here for a Memory Loss update on Yahoo health news today.

This report shows us seven simple things anyone can do to preserve our memory. You've probably heard them before but they seemed too simple to work wonders. Like exercise, for instance. We hear this all the time. And some of us practice it. With NO regrets. It works. Just walking 15 minutes a day will help our heart and mind. Its proven that what helps our heart will also help our mind.

Weekly servings of fish are proven winners. Some of us opt for pure fish oil capsules. And have proven their helpfulness. Just ask my doctor. Blood tests don't lie.

Read this Memory Research report now.

Green Tea vs. Cancer

2005-09-05T23:02:00.000-05:00

A new Green Tea fights Cancer press release crossed my desk today. Read it Here.

There have been some impressive studies confirming the health value of drinking Tea, green or black. And those of us drinking Tea for many years are not surprised.

It seems some kinds and brands of Tea are a little better than others. This press release today mentions two of them that even the FDA recognizes as proven cancer fighters. Take a look.

Stress #1 Health Problem..?

2005-09-05T12:42:00.000-05:00

Is STRESS the #1 Health Problem ? Maybe. Its estimated more than 50% of doctor visits are from stress related causes. One doctor even mentioned 75%.

I want to share a few very helpful links on this subject. First would be the AIS, The American Insitute of Stress. A non profit organization established in 1978 at the request of Hans Selye to serve as a clearinghouse for information on all stress related subjects. Other founding members included Linus Pauling, Alvin Toffler, Bob Hope, Michael DeBakey, Herbert Benson, Ray Rosenman and other prominent physicians, health professionals and lay individuals interested in exploring the multitudinous and varied effects of stress on our health and quality of life.

One look at these names tells us to BOOKMARK this site. Job Stress is far and away the leading source of stress for adults but stress levels have also escalated in children, teenagers, college students and the elderly for other reasons, including: increased crime, violence and other threats to personal safety; pernicious peer pressures that lead to substance abuse and other unhealthy life style habits; social isolation and loneliness; the erosion of family and religious values and ties; the loss of other strong sources of social support that are powerful stress busters.

Go here for helpful gov. site on STRESS.