Men More Apt To Get Sick

Men, listen up! You now have a good excuse to lounge on the couch when your wife gets out your list of chores. You are taking a "stress break". (See if your wife buys that one...probably not but it is worth a try.) Men are more susceptible to viruses, bacteria and fungi than women, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.

The study of 12,000 rat genes concludes that estrogen accounts for the difference in the ability of males and females to withstand such infections -- a difference that does not exist before puberty, The London Daily Mail reported.

The study says women have stronger adaptive immunity systems that make them less susceptible to the common cold. However, women's stronger adaptive immunity systems may make them more susceptible to autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, lead researcher Rebecca Lamason said.

"The documented higher mortality rates in males worldwide may be due in part to this relatively deficient adaptive immune response," Lamason wrote in the British journal BMC Immunology

Low Blood Pressure Linked To Chocolate

A study of older men in The Netherlands, indicated those who ate the equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of death.

"It's way too early to make recommendations about whether people should eat more cocoa or chocolate," said Brian Buijsse, a nutritional epidemiologist at Wageningen University in The Netherlands, who co-authored the study.

The researchers say, however, it's too early to conclude it was chocolate that led to better health. The men who ate more cocoa products could have shared other qualities that made them healthier. Experts also point out that eating too much chocolate can make you fat - a risk for both heart disease and high blood pressure.

The Dutch study, supported by grants from the Netherlands Prevention Foundation, appears to be the largest so far to document a health effect for cocoa beans. And it confirms findings of smaller, shorter-term studies that also linked chocolate with lower blood pressure.

Supplement Failures?

Last week, a government study indicated that two wildly popular arthritis pills, glucosamine and chondroitin, did no better than dummy pills at relieving mild arthritis pain.

Earlier this month a study revealed negative results for saw palmetto to treat prostate problems. Last July another study echoed the same conclusion for echinacea and the common cold. Those followed similar disappointments for St. John's wort to treat major depression, and powdered shark cartilage for some cancers.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, and the researchers even comment that their results don't necessarily mean consumers are pouring their money down the drain when they buy these sipplements.

That's partly because the three most recent studies found no real harm or the results are not completely clear-cut. Placebo affects are also questioned.

For example, while most people taking the arthritis pills in the study got no significant benefit, the pills did appear to help those with more severe pain. And critics of the echinacea study say different doses might have found a benefit in fighting colds.

Also, studying natural remedies is more challenging than researching prescription drugs, which are subject to Food and Drug Administration regulation. Alternative health products with the same name can have vastly different ingredients and potencies.

Man Wakes Up From Coma and Gives Away Daughter

Brian Paolo woke from a coma after his life support was switched off and ten days later gave his daughter away at her wedding. Paolo, who has emphysema, began to breathe on his own after the machine was switched off, according to The Sun.

Make sure that as you get older, put your financial house in order. Make out a will to sort out you finances and property. Have a living will available so that your family will know what to do if you do not want to stay on life-support machines in the event you have a serious illness.

Crow Diagnosed With Cancer

Singer Sheryl Crow underwent surgery for breast cancer this week and the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent. Crow had the surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday and is recovering without complications according to her publicist. I'll bet on Lance Armstrong for the early favorite for the bad boyfriend of 2006 after their breakup a couple of weeks ago.

Crow said in an interview that she will be undergoing radiation treatment as a precaution. She said she benefited from early detection, and urged other women to have themselves checked.

"More than 10 million Americans are living with cancer, and they demonstrate the ever-increasing possibility of living beyond cancer," Crow said. "I am inspired by the brave women who have faced this battle before me and grateful for the support of family and friends."

Doctor's Without Ties And Coats

The British Medical Association is advising doctors to stop wearing ties and coats to help curb the spread of superbugs like MRSA.

The report by the association's science and ethics committee recommended doctors and nurses shed all "functionless" clothing in favor of freshly laundered, simple outfits and urged attention to basic hygiene like hand washing, the Scotsman reported. What's next, doctor's showing up in shorts and t-shirts? Perhaps put the nurses in Daisy Dukes? Just a thought.

The study found ties sometimes trail into wounds, passing infections, and the ubiquitous white coat provides a surface on which bacteria grow.

Sensitive Teeth Information

Sensitive teeth can ruin most food or drink items the rest of us take for granted. Sensitive teeth can cause pain when eating ice cream, drinking tea or coffee down to an individual's gumline.

Sensitive teeth are caused when the enamel or gumline wear out in a person's mounth. Enamel refers to the protective hard layer on the outer edge of your teeth. Once the enamel or fums are worn down, the hot and cold sensations go directly to the teeth and cause the pain.

Click on this link for a varitey of tips for brushing, type of brush, and drinks to avoid to prevent sensitive teeth, and some tips to help you if your teeth are sensitive.

Whole Grain Nutrition

It's not easy to distinguish between the comparative values of different edible grains or products branded multi-grain that are cracked, flaked, easy-cook and more. any cereal grain is a whole grain if it hasn't had any of its component parts, such as its outer bran layer, removed or processed away. A whole grain may have been flaked, rolled, cracked, ground or turned into a quick-cook grain, but it's still "whole" so long as it is entire.

To help in untangling this information, a black and gold stamp was designed by the Whole Grains Council and the Oldways Preservation Trust identifying a product as either a "Good Source" -- that is, offering a half serving of whole grains, or an "Excellent Source," meaning a full serving of whole grains. A "100 Percent Excellent Source" stamp signified a full serving of whole grains without any refined grains included.

The Food and Drug Administration doesn't object to a company's legitimate claims as to its product's specific whole grains content, it isn't ready to provide a standard definition of what constitutes an "excellent" or "good" source of whole grains. (This is similar to what exactly constituted "light" on a food label - light colored or lighter in calories and fat.) These were terms the FDA said may be applied to specific nutrients but not to whole grains.


The FDA indicates it is working with the USDA to ensure consistency on whole grain policies, final guidance may not be complete before the end of the fiscal year. It launched a 60-day comment period for further consideration of consumer education programs aimed at helping consumers easily identify genuine whole grain products. And it did sanction the definition developed by the Whole Grains Council, Oldways and the American Association of Cereal Chemists of which grains could be classified as whole grains.

Botox-Cancer Fighter

Botox is commonly used for reducing wrinkles but a study shows it may help cancer fighting agents attack cancer cells better. I guess rich women the world over are rejoicing!

Scientists at the University of Louvain in Brussels experimented with Botox on mice with cancer. They found the treatment opened blood vessels that feed cancer cells, allowing drugs to better attack cells resistant to treatment.

The study, published in the Feb. 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research, pushes the possibility that Botox could be used to treat some cancer in humans.

Latex Vs. Non-Latex

A study shows non-latex condoms aren't as safe as latex condoms but people would recommend them to others because they feel better. (Eww, sheep guts on my nether-regions.)

The study of nearly 4,000 sexually active, heterosexual, monogamous couples older than 18 took place in nine U.S. trials and one each in Britain and France. (I wonder why homosexual men were not included in the study?)

The three non-latex condoms tested -- eZ.on, Avanti and Standard Tactylon -- had up to five times higher the breakage rate than latex condoms. Most of the subjects in the trial favored the non-latex condom. (Still pretty grossed out)

Researchers at Family Health International, developers of eZ.on, recommended the non-latex condoms as an alternative to people with allergic reactions to latex and an alternative to not wearing a condom at all.

They warn the study did not evaluate how well the condoms protected against disease, but concluded the high breakage rate would increase the risk of someone getting HIV or a sexually transmitted infection.

Full results are printed in the current issue of The Cochrane Library

Air Pollution's Wake Of Destruction

Air pollution from Maryland's six largest coal-fired power plants causes an estimated 700 premature deaths a year and about 30,000 astham attacks annually, according to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health.

The report is part of a campaign with environmental groups to pass stronger air pollution laws in Maryland, according to the Baltimore Sun. Jonathan Levy, an Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at Harvard, said that air pollution in Maryland had been improving through 2003, but got worse in 2004 and 2005.

Fire Extinguisher Recall

I know, it doesn't really fit in wellness in the strictness sense, but you have to be alive to be well. Anyway, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a voluntary recall of the Strike First Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers, designed for commercial, industrial, multi-residential and vehicle use.

The manufacturer has received three reports of these fire extinguishers failing to discharge properly when activated. Fortunately, there have been no injuries, but the failure to discharge poses a serious fire hazard.

The recalled 2.5 lb and 5 lb extinguishers were sold between December 2002 and April 2004. Products bearing these model and serial numbers should be repaired:



Model #
Serial # Range

WBSF-ABC110AP
TC101566 through TC108819

WBSF-ABC210AP
TC114969 through TC135000
VV822001 through VV832000
WH61001 through WH167622

WBSF-ABC340AP
TC135894 through TC142345

These models could be used for work or home, so check your extingusihers. If you have the models, it may not be a bad time to check your smoke detectors also.

Chocolate Health Food

Mars Inc. is planning the nationwide launch next month of a new product line made with a dark chocolate that the company claims has health benefits. Mars, who makes Snickers and Milky Way, will launch a product called CoccaVia. CoccaVia is made with a kind of dark chocolate high in flavanols, an antioxidant found in cocoa beans thought to have a blood-thinning effect similar to aspirin and may even lower blood pressure. The snacks also are made with vitamins and injected with cholesterol-lowering plant sterols from soy.

Researchers are skeptical about using chocolate for its medicinal purposes, and experts warn it's no substitute for a healthful diet. The party poopers from the Center for Science in the Public Interest have come out with a statment saying how dangerous it is to promote chocolate as healthy. Remember, these are the same spoil sports who tried to ruin movie popcorn for people everywhere.

I think the whole fuss was summed up best by The Wellness Letter out of UC Berkely. The evaluated CoccaVia, and told readers to enjoy the chocolate, but did not endorse it as health food. CocoaVia was just an expensive candy bar, concluded John Swartzberg, chairman of the newsletter's editorial board and clinical professor of health and medical science at Berkeley.

"But it did taste good," he said.

European Professional Women and Motherhood

This article is referring to cultural differences in women with juggling careers and motherhood. The article throws out the view for discussion that European women to not achieve as much as American counterparts because of more generous time off policies with European companies.

The big worry in some political corners is that so called "big business" will not have leaders that are representative of the demographics of the country, and the companies will not grow as well as the American counterparts. If women are home for 3 months with a child, who could blame them if they did not want to come back. Heck, after two days I do not want to show back up at work. Thus, companies will lose top talent because of family concerns.

Heart Attack Information For Women

Axxording to Dutch researchers, men are more likely to realize they are having a heart attack than women, Dutch researchers say. More than half of women and just one-third of men did not realize the symptoms they were suffering meant they were having a heart attack according to the Erasmus Medical Center study of 4,000 people concludes.

The study said as many as 40 percent of heart attacks go unrecognized. Researcher Eric Boersma said that may be because men and women experience pain differently.

"Women may sense shoulder pain instead of chest pain, they may think they have severe flu that is taking a long time to recover from, and those with an inferior-wall infarction may complain of stomach pain," he told the BBC.

Although the study used data from the 1990s, "today we are much more vigilant in identifying patients at risk of developing heart disease and treating them," said Peter Weissberg of the British Heart Foundation.

The study was published in the European Heart Journal.

Triggers For Asthma Attacks

Asthma is on the rise in the United States, and it is important for parents and people who are affected by asthma to understand the disease a little bit better. In an asthma attack, the bands of muscle that surround the bronchial tubes constrict, making it difficult to breathe. What triggers an attack varies from person to person, and anyone living with asthma should attempt to discover their triggers. There are some common triggers that can affect a majority or asthmatics:

- infections, such as a cold, the flu or a sinus infection
- irritants, such as air pollution, cleaning solutions, or strong perfumes
or certain fabrics in clothes or household items (i.e. down pillows)
- tobacco smoke
- exercise or physical exertion
- weather: cold air or changes in temperatures or humidity
- strong emotions (stress, anxiety or grief), laughing or crying
- foods or food additives to which a person may be allergic
- allergens, such as pollen, mold spores, pet dander or dust mites

Reactions to a medications could also act as just such a trigger. Certain cells in your body produce chemicals called leukotrienes as part of their natural inflammatory response to irritants. If you have asthma, the production of leukotrienes can cause the muscles in your lungs' airways to contract and also cause your lungs to produce more mucus, which can block smaller airways causing coughing, wheezing and other breathing difficulties. In a percentage of asthmatics NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) pain relievers may increase the body's production of leukotrienes triggering an asthma attack. Check with your asthma specialist for the best over-the counter pain medication to use.

Chronic Pain Under Reported

More than 20 percent of U.S. adults with chronic pain do not seek physician help for their pain according to the research published by the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2,211 patients reported suffering pain for more than three months but had not informed their physician.

Speculation for the reasons for not seeking treatment include factors like bad experiences with pain care, fear of doctors, perceived lack of effective treatments and barriers to health care such as lack of medical insurance according to study author Dr. Barbara Yawn.

New Study On Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements

The biggest study ever of calcium and vitamin D supplements for older women showed they offered only limited protection against broken bones, causing new questions over what has been a standard recommendation for doctors and nutritionists. The findings were an offshoot of the big national study of diet and hormone therapy known as the Women's Health Initiative.

According to the study, the supplements seemed to reduce the risk of broken hips in women over 60 and also helped those who took the supplements most regularly. But as to preventing bone fractures overall, vitamin D and calcium flunked in these healthy women.

The study, which was over seven years and 36,282 women ages 50 to 79, gave half the participants 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 400 units of vitamin D, The other half took dummy pills or placebos. Women were also taking their own supplements before the research began, and were allowed to keep doing so, whether they were assigned to the test group or the comparison group. The supplements may have helped the women stay healthy but could have diluted the findings. Also, women in the study were taking hormone pills, likely further cutting the number of fractures.

The study showed better hip bone density in the group given supplements, but they ranked no better statistically in avoiding fractures of all kinds. However, women over age 60 reduced their chances of hip fracture by 21 percent with the supplements.

Test Your Mortality

If you want to depress yourself, or change your life around check this article out. Medical researchers have come up with 12 questions to answer for people over age 50. In this game, you want a low score, like golf. Five points or less means your risk factor of dying in the next five years is less than 4 percent. Some things will handicap you, like being a smoker, male, or diabetes.

Like any kind of computer test of this nature, check with your doctor. People over fifty should be getting checkups once per year anyway.

Woman With AIDS Causes Concern

This is the type of thing that usually screams urban legend, but sadly a woman in St. Charles, Misourri was charged with three felony counts of recklessly exposing people to HIV and AIDS. There was also a documented case in Olympia, Washington last year where a man did the same thing to a number of women.

The good news out of a story like this is that it may scare people who are too lazy to protect themselves. Men and women, if you are going to have a one-night stand, don't do it without condoms. Condoms are not perfect, but it is better that facing a currently fatal disease. (Note to right wing religious types: Don't innundate me with comments about abstinence being best. Obviously, it is best if you are not going to have sex. In the real world, grownups like to have sex, even using non-biblical approved methods and numbers. If you want people to lose their sex drive, tell them to get married and their time will come.)

Low Fat Diets Not A Cure All

This link goes over a story where researchers studied women on low-fat diets, and discovered the low-fat diets were not necessarily more effective in preventing heart disease and cancer. The story suggests that readers should still eat a low-fat diet (sounds like spin control) because of other health benefits.

It's interesting to see how research goes all over the map with food and medicine studies. I remember when I was in high school, and avoiding eggs was the thing to do, since eggs were so "high in fat", beef was not good to eat, and asprin would cause stomach ulcers. Now, all those things are accepted in diets and medicine. I wonder if ephedra will make a comeback in 10 years?

I guess it boils down to portion control and movement. Smaller portions are better, and people need to exercise on a regular basis. I am sure most people have eaten at Mcdonalds at one time or another. Well, when I was a kid, large sizes were what is now considered a medium for drinks, fries, etc. Why did bigger become better? I suppose it might be if it is your only meal of the day, or sharing the food with someone.

Look Out Starbucks!

With all the talk now about chocolate being good for you, it is only a matter of time before someone decided to do a cafe style restaurant to cash in on cravings for chocolate, similar to people buying coffee by the IV bag. Here is a story about a chain in Chicago that hopes to carve a nice niche.

Our Brain and Learning

Here is an interesting article on how our brains process learning new tasks.

Allergy Booth and Stiletto Striptease

Here is a story about a Japanese Hotel with a special floor for allergy sufferers, including a special "air shower" that will blow pollen off their bodies.

From the people who brought you Cardio Striptease, here is Stiletto Strength. This aerobics class is the latest craze for women, getting them in shape to wear stiletto heels.

Men And Doctors: Ask These Questions

Men are terribly afraid of doctors. I know, because I fall into this category. A severe lung infection cured me of this problem, as I was healed with lots of rest and medicine. Better living through chemistry, whoo-hoo! Now, I am not as afraid, and will not hesitate to visit a doctor like I did in the last few years.

But, for men who are nervous to visit, here are eight questions to ask. Some of them are very important, dealing with potbellies, sweat, and blood. Ladies, read this article and take care of the men in your life. You both want to grow old together.

Sleeping Pill Concerns

A new study says sleeping pill use by Americans has increased dramatically, raising concerns among health experts.

The report is published by IMS Health, a Fairfield, Conn.-based researcher for healthcare companies, says about 42 million sleeping pill prescriptions were filled in 2005, up from about 25 million in 2000.

The report says usage has jumped because people are overworked in an environment of frenetic workdays and longer commutes. People also are told through advertising about the safety of these pills with little to no side effects.

But some experts say the drugs are being oversubscribed without enough regard to the implications of long-term use, according to The New York Times. The experts also fear doctors may be ignoring other conditions such as depression or sleep apnea which are other causes sleeplessness.

Newer brands of sleeping pills may not have the same risk of dependence as older ones like barbiturates, but researchers warn about the "next day" effect of continued sleepiness after waking from a drug-induced slumber.

Lock Up Your Teen Daughters!

No, not seriously, but this report indicates that teen girls try drugs and alcohol at a higher rate than boys. Drugs listed include marijuana and cigarettes.

1.5 million girls between 12 and 17 started drinking alcohol in 2004 compared to 1.28 million boys. Girls also smoked more cigarettes (730,000) and marijuana (675,000). Nicotine is not a big surprise, as girls have been using that for years as a way of keeping their weight down.

Researchers feel girls are more vulnerable to the effects of drugs, so special care must be used in educating therm to the dangers of abuse. Girls may become addicted to nicotine faster than boys and even moderate drinking can disrupt their growth and the development of their reproductive systems.

Dr. Ralph Lopez, an associate professor at Cornell University's Weill Medical College and the author of "The Teen Health Book: A Parents' Guide to Adolescent Health and Well-Being," said teenage girls are at risk for drug and alcohol use because they feel pressure to succeed academically and also to look perfect. Any parent who say the movie Mean Girls will attest that fictional movie felt more like a documentary for their teenage daughter.

Follow Up On "Biggest Loser" Contestant

Here is a follow up article on Suzy Preston, the Seattle-area hairdresser who finished third on the show "The Biggest Loser". Preston went from 227 pounds and is currently 140 pounds. Preston and the rest of her contestants were included in a DVD that shows their workout routines from the show. Preston seems happy with her appearance on the show, and is pleased with the residual changes in her health and appearance.

Worst Cities For Asthma

Here is a list of worst cities for asthma. Scranton, PA is at the top of the list, but cities are spread throughout the country with no specific patterns apparent.

Periodontal Disease and Your Heart

Periodontal disease is an inflammation and infection of the gums and other tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth, including the bone and ligaments. A buildup of plaque may lead to the gums pulling away from the teeth and forming pockets, which allow bacteria and infection-causing debris to collect and erode the surrounding ligaments and bone. The teeth become loose and then may fall out. Symptoms include swollen gums that bleed easily, and chronic bad breath.

You may be thinking, why is this important? Good oral hygiene can be just as important as exercise and a healthy diet in the prevention of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, there is a direct link between gum disease and hardening of the arteries and other coronary heart disease. That's because chronic periodontal disease appears to be a first link in a chain that sets off an inflammatory process that contributes to the build-up of plaque on the artery walls.

In addition to brushing and flossing, you can also defend against the development of gum disease by supplementing with the amino acid N-acetylcysteine (NAC). It can give a powerful boost to your body's natural production of glutathione. Low levels of this antioxidant have been associated with periodontal disease. You can find NAC supplements in most health food stores and vitamin shops.

Don't Drink The Water

If you are looking for a reason not to drink water, take a look at this bit of information about water in a major metropolitian area. Southern California waters now harbor tiny amounts of prescription medications released with treated sewage.

"There is no place on Earth exempted from having pharmaceuticals...in its wastewater," Shane Snyder, head toxicologist at the Southern Nevada Water Authority, told the Los Angeles Times. "This is clearly an issue that is global, and we're going to see more and more of these chemicals in the environment; no doubt about it."

The drugs (including Viagra, Prozac and steroids) in rivers and lakes are probably so diluted that there is no immediate threat to human health. But researchers say that no one knows the effect of ingesting small quantities of these drugs for decades. In other words, if your grandkids start turning green like "The Hulk", you may have an explanation.

Amounts that are harmless to people can also devastate wildlife. Biologists have found examples of fish affected by estrogen and are studying how turning fresh water into pharmaceutical cocktails affects frogs and other aquatic life.


Source Materials From United Press International

Carlin's Views On Aging

George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony...YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60. You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!" May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever... Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

This was sent out in a greath health newsletter from Health Sciences Institute. To subscribe, click here. It's a free newsletter.

Interesting Hospital Study

Rush University Medical Center doctors have been routinely asking patients for years if they can get their artifical joints when they are "done" with them (i.e die). The head of the program said the purpose of the study was to improve the performance of the artifical joints for their patients. By studying them after the face, they can attempt to deal with problems that will come up and hopefully correct for future patients. One estimate lists approximately 400,000 Americans undergoing procedures for artifical joints last year.

Rush officials are happy with the program so far. 189 artifical joints have been retrieved from 119 patients after they have passed away. Over 700 more have signed up for the program. Joints that are replaced while a patient is still living can be studied, but doctors can get better information when the joins are studied post-mortem. This study is part of a bigger study by the National Institutes of Health, which helps Rush with their funding in addition to private funding of the study.

Sleep Suggestions For Women

According to the Mayo Clinic Women's Health Source newsletter, women may have a harder time sleeping then men due to changes in hormone levels during a normal monthly cycle. They have written some suggestions for improving sleep, but these suggestions can help men who have peoblems with insomnia as well.

First, limit caffeine consumption, especially later in the day. It seems obvious, but if you are taking medications for headaches or sinus problems, check the label. Some medicines include caffeine. Second, avoid nicotine which acts as a stimulant. Third, don't drink alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol can lead to an interrupted sleep cycle during the night. Fourth, exercise, but not too close to bedtime. Being overweight can be a cause of sleep apnea. Next, don't eat too close to bedtime. Last, be careful with daytime naps. If you need a nap, try and limit it to 30 minutes.

When you are in the middle of an insomnial episode, do not stay in bed. Staying in bed can be frustrating, and lead you to more difficulties sleeping. Get out of bed, read, or watch some television. Keep a routine, including getting up at the same time on weekends. Making up for lost sleep time on the weekends can also disrupt patterns. If the above steps do not work, consult your doctor. Problems sleeping could also be related to other medical conditions.

An Unspoken Topic Of Health

Sexual and Reproductive Health is just as important to a healthy long life, but in this country we pull the ostrich equivalent of putting our heads in the sand and not talking about sex in a calm, rational, scientific manner. It is a shame government can't keep out of our bedrooms. No wonder our teen pregnancy rate is so high.

Anyway, this wonderful official, Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, has decided to be nanny for his entire state, and is trying to criminalize sexual content between teenagers by taking advantage of his state's mandatory law. In other words, if you are at the doctor and have a hickey from making out with the cheerleader, this AG wants your doctor to report this or otherwise face the possibility of a misdemeanor. "Big Brother" knows best for your human development.

If we want to change behavior, parents must be involved and talk to their kids. I don't want to be a grandparent by age 40, and most parents probably feel the same way. Talk to your kids, and listen if they have questions. Telling kids to abstain from sex is fine but realistically how many will? I want my daughter to make sure she doesn't get pregnant, get an STD, or forced to have sex against her will. Prepare your kids to be adults. That is the parent's job, not your state Attorney General.

Students Refuse to Sell Snacks

This story in Florida is rather interesting, as some elementary school students are refusing to participate in fundraising sales for candy and potato chips. I have mixed feelings reading this story. One, I don't like how most schools pimp out their kids to have them sell candy and other things anyway. Shouldn't fundraising be a PTA job? Two, isn't a bigger problem the lack of physical education classes in school? Get the kids moving, and the occasional candy eaten with parental approval would not be that big of a deal. My 10 year old only has PE twice a week. Some school districts are eliminating PE entirely. When I was in school, I had PE every day. My junior high had sports teams. Now, kids go to middle school, and are lucky if they can afford a club team. This is not a good change for kids today.

New Asthma Treatment Studies

Here is a link to a report on a study of potential new asthma treatments. Currently, most asthma specialists perscribe a long lasting inhaler like Advair, to keep the lungs open for a longer period of time, and a fast acting inhaler like Albuterol for emergency relief.

A doctor at Washington University is looking at reducing the extra production of mucus, which anyone who suffers with asthma will tell you is a huge problem. This doctor is looking at combining two new drugs that ultimately could prevent the harmful transformation of the cells, allowing for healthy airway function.

National Wear Red Day

On Friday, many women throughout the U.S. will choose something red to wear as they dash off to take care of their daily activities. They will be participating in National Wear Red Day (Friday, 2/3/06), an annual campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of heart disease among women.

Make sure the women you care about are aware that heart disease strikes women just as easily as men, and that they should take proper care if they are feeling any potential symptoms of heart trouble.

New Tax Breaks For Medical Costs

In the 2007 Budget, President Bush has proposed making all out-of-pocket medical expenses deductible. The thinking on this proposed change is that it will help the uninsured and those who have minimal amounts of coverage.

At the present time, only medical expenses that exceed only 7.5 percent of the a taxpayers adjusted gross income. This is a level that is difficult for most Americans to hit if they are in good health during any given year.

The President is also expected to propose an expansion of the health savings accounts, which allow people to put money tax free into accounts for medical expenses and also will propose to allow people to keep their insurance without extra costs if they change jobs or start a business. The 2007 Budget should be released in about two weeks.

Exercise Aids Depression

Here is an article reporting on a study from the Washington Post about the effects of depression and exercise. A group of volunteers were studied, performing moderate exercise 30 minutes per day.

I can say from personal experience that I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and my doctor said if I was not exercising, my symptoms would have been much worse. At the time of my diagnosis, I had a new job that was rapidly going downhill, a new baby that I had to support, and a severe respiratory illness 8 months into my new job. The doctor figured that the anxiety came from the stress of the poor breathing (duh!) and the depression came from the job issues. Fortunately, I love the atmosphere of a gym or fitness center, so I naturally gravitated to exercise.

After being on medication for a period of time, the exercise has helped me wean myself off the medication under my doctor's supervision. Since I am taking medication for asthma, I am glad I am not having to worry about medication for anxiety and depression.

Mom Sues Kelloggs?

This mom is blaming TV, specifically Nickelodeon, and Kelloggs for commercials enticing their kids to eat junk food. I am not usually one to rant, but I can't help myself when I see stories like this.

OK, here are a few suggestions for you. Don't hurt yourself looking in the mirror when assigning blame. One, turn off the television. Kids can't ask for what they don't see. Don't use television as your babysitter. Two, set an example yourself. What do you eat? Also, what do you buy your kids. My youngest girl watches Nickelodeon in the morning, and eats great. Why? We give her a variety of foods, and don't buy junk food all the time. Three, lighten up, and let your kids enjoy being kids. They have their whole adult lives to be miserable and watch what they eat. Let them enjoy a Pop Tart every once in a blue moon. Fourth, and most importantly, a little junk food won't kill them unless they are sitting on the couch all day playing X-Box or watching Nick all day. Get your kids to the park, signed up for a sport, or teach them to ride a bike. Get them moving. It is bad enough that most schools cut back or eliminate physical education, but you need to get your kids moving and don't forget to set an example yourself.

As Dennis Miller used to say on his show, that's just my opinion...and I may be wrong. What does the rest of the world think?

Unique Change To PE In West Virginia

West Virginia recently announced that they will put the game "Dance, Dance Revolution" in all the middle schools in the state. Their goal is to get the game in the 700 plus schools in their school system in the next three years. It will not be a cheap undertaking, but one that officials are willing to try with the possible help of corporate donations.

Why are they doing this? West Virginia is one of the top 3 states in the country when it comes to obesity. They also lead the nation when it comes to high blood pressure in their residents, and are in the top 5 for diabetes. By targeting middle school children, they hope to hit them at a crucial stage in their development, when they start making their own decisions and asserting their independence. School officials hope the game will give students who don't like traditional sports an option to participate in the physical education classes. Good for the officials in West Virginia who are coming up with creative ways to solve their public health issues, but still be fun for students.

Introduction

I have two other blogs, but I am really starting to enjoy writing in my free time. One thing I miss is being around the health and fitness industry. My name is Grant, and I have a BA in Recreation Management from Eastern Washington University. It has been a while since I have worked in health and fitness, but I still keep up with wellness trends.

After some thought, why not a third blog devoted to wellness? I have worked as a trainer for 3 years in my past working life, and I exercise regularly several times per week. With my asthma and recent battle with panic attacks, I am unique in that I have had to have a lay person's knowledge of wellness all of my life. I am not a physical therapist, but you will have links to articles from doctors and therapists posted in this blog. I hope you enjoy this.