MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'caffeine'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:53:50 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103340&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftips-to-beat-the-heat%2F2011.08.06 Dehydrated, cramped, limping? on a bike. Road nationals 2010. People who exercise outdoors face a new threat. It’s unrelenting. Consistent. Inescapable. Perhaps, even more dangerous than distracted or mean motorists. It’s the heat. Gosh, is it hot. If only I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say, “Doctor M, you aren’t riding in this heat; are you?” Well…Other than the fortunate souls smart (or lucky) enough to live in cooler climates, most of us are facing an extreme wave of hotness. As a Kentuckian, I live in the epicenter of this summer’s cauldron. Louisville sits in a wind-protected valley alongside the heat sink that is the Ohio River. Think hot and steamy. The excessive heat smacked me hard last evening. Normally, my highly-veined skin and northern European h... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103340 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:00:01 +0100 5103340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992881&cid=t_106883_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FiYPZR5YGdyo%2F Coffee has made me do some stupid things. Like spend over $800 a year to get my morning fix. I’ve spilled it on the floor of a brand-spanking new car (turns out, I didn’t really understand how the cup holder was supposed to work). It’s made me so jittery that I once tripped and knocked over a poster board during the middle of a presentation. And, like a good writer, I’ve even spilled it on my laptop from time to time. I did all of this in the name of being more awake, more lively, more brain-powered, of course (after all, I someday aspire to be the next J.K. Rowling). But researchers now say all of this caffeine was stunting my creative growth. In a recent study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, Australian researchers say coffee can bo... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992881 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:42:15 +0100 4992881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984721&cid=t_106883_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Unhealthy food that affect your skinEat healthy, stay healthy. If we eat healthy, we stay healthy. In other words, our diet affects our body. So, it is very important to take a healthy diet for a glowing skin. A healthy skin reflects back the healthy regime you are following to maintain that lovely glow on your face. There are adverse effects of unhealthy diet on your skin. Let’s figure out which food items are not good for skin: 1. Sugar: If taken in excess it can affect your health badly. Problem starts with the process called glycosylation. In this process, the sugar in the blood attaches itself to the protein and stops its proper functioning. All body cells include the component collagen and it’s a vital component of our skin. So, it badly affects the skin. ... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984721 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:26:43 +0100 4984721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911731&cid=t_106883_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FDY7D7iG8Nd0%2F When I say I don’t drink coffee, people often look at me like I’m a crazy evangelical health nut who’s just declared war on all things enjoyable, but a recent story bolsters my argument for ditching your daily cup(s) of joe: According to a recent report out of Australia, too much coffee can cause auditory hallucinations — i.e. hearing things that aren’t there. And we’re not talking inhuman amounts of caffeine; just five cups a day triggered the hallucination in some test subjects. Now who’s crazy? The report, which was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, measured the effect of caffeine and stress among 92 participants, and suggest that their findings prove that caffeine and stress can induce symptoms similar to schizophreni... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911731 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:17:01 +0100 4911731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714744&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffood-and-migraine-headaches-triggers-are-hard-to-predict%2F2011.04.14 At a Harvard Medical School talk on migraine and food, a nutritionist from Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center delivered a message that people in the audience probably didn’t want to hear: “There are no specific dietary recommendations for migraine sufferers,” said Sandra Allonen. But she did have some advice to offer—and she emphasized that the connection between food and migraine is a very individual one. Several foods have been associated with triggering migraine. None of them has been scientifically proven to cause migraines, explained Allonen, but many people report a link between eating these foods and getting a migraine. Possible migraine triggers include: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Harvard Health Blog* (Source: Be... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714744 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:00:29 +0100 4714744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4445957&cid=t_106883_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FGJYVpRK239M%2F photo: Thinkstock There’s the one about eating greasy foods giving you acne, when hormones and dead skin cells are to actually blame. There’s the myth that shaving will make you as prickly as a porcupine, when it’s just the angle at which your hairs have been cut that makes them feel thicker after shaving. You won’t get arthritis from cracking your knuckles. And you don’t need to worry about catching warts from frogs (no matter how passionately you kiss them). Some health myths are simply silly. (Sorry, men with big feet aren’t necessarily well-endowed.) Other health hoaxes are just the stuff of teenage angst. (No, you won’t catch sexually-transmitted diseases from sitting on the locker room toilet seat.) But you do need to worry about medical myths that may be a haza... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4445957 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:53 +0100 4445957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4429047&cid=t_106883_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fspectroscopynow-february-1-issue.html Valentine’s Day science – Spring may not quite be in the air, but Valentine's Day is on the way and love is certainly on the minds of researchers in the US. A small functional magnetic resonance imaging has been used to investigate love. The study revealed brain activity in 10 women and 7 men when they looked at photos of their spouses to whom they had been married an average of 21 years. The results? Apparently, love lasts. Grapes of worth – The position in which a grape in a bunch matures on the vine seems to influence the production of different metabolites more than the specific genetic clone from which the vine is raised, according to new NMR data. Researchers have turned to NMR spectroscopy to help them analyse and characterise the chemistry of grape berries. T... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4429047 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:09:50 +0100 4429047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419182&cid=t_106883_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fspectroscopynow-february-1-issue.html Valentine’s Day science – Spring may not quite be in the air, but Valentine's Day is on the way and love is certainly on the minds of researchers in the US. A small functional magnetic resonance imaging has been used to investigate love. The study revealed brain activity in 10 women and 7 men when they looked at photos of their spouses to whom they had been married an average of 21 years. The results? Apparently, love lasts. Grapes of worth – The position in which a grape in a bunch matures on the vine seems to influence the production of different metabolites more than the specific genetic clone from which the vine is raised, according to new NMR data. Researchers have turned to NMR spectroscopy to help them analyse and characterise the chemistry of grape berries. T... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419182 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:09:50 +0100 4419182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419346&cid=t_106883_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FFQ4ljECXycw%2F photo: Thinkstock Old Man Winter is one nasty SOB. For those of us living in northern climes, the unrelenting cold is enough to drive us indoors and under our favorite blanket for weeks at a time. We crave starchy comfort foods and curse when the scale dares to reveal our weakness. We’re sleepy, grumpy, dopey, and any number of other traits characterizing the Seven Dwarfs, but fervently hope we don’t act like them by the time spring has actually sprung. Up to 10 million Americans – 75% of them women – also get SAD: Seasonal affective disorder. Some confuse run-of-the-mill winter blues with this subtype of major depressive disorder, but that’s like comparing a paper cut to a severed fingertip, says Dr. Raymond Lam, director of the Mood Disorder Centre at the University of British ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419346 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:05:20 +0100 4419346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361327&cid=t_106883_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F18%2Fquoted-in-washingtonians-fit-foodie-blog-and-nbcs%2F If you know me, then you know I love sharing my opinion on things. And don’t get me started on nutrition, wellness, and dieting or you may not get me to shut up! So that’s why I love it when a reporter wants to interview me. I seem to have a knack for turning “a few short questions” into an hour long conversation! I love it when they end the call with “wow, this is really interesting!” That’s how I know I hit that sweet spot of giving practical knowledge. My lastest phone friend was from the Washingtonian (DC’s top magazine – DCers, you better subscribe). We discussed one of my FAVORITE topics — energy management! Who couldn’t use more energy?! The problem is most of us are going about it the wrong way. We’re hyped up ... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361327 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:41:16 +0100 4361327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4326902&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-energy-drink%2F2011.01.09 By Scott Gavura, BScPhm, MBA, RPh for Science-Based Medicine My stimulant of choice is coffee. I started drinking it in first-year university, and never looked back. A tiny four-cup coffee maker became my reliable companion right through graduate school. But since I stopped needing to drink a pot at a time, an entirely new category of products has appeared — the energy drink. Targeting students, athletes, and others seeking a mental or physical boost, energy drinks are now an enormous industry: From the first U.S. product sale in 1997, the market size was $4.8 billion by 2008, and continues to grow. (1) My precious coffee effectively has a single therapeutic ingredient, caffeine. Its pharmacology is well documented, and the physiologic effects are understood. The safety data isn’... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4326902 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:00:48 +0100 4326902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214211&cid=t_106883_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FFu9zbf50qTQ%2F Can Caffeine Actually Combat Asthma Symptoms? Maybe slightly, and temporarily, but not enough to mean tossing your meds. (via The New York Times) Post from: BlissTree (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214211 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:00:58 +0100 4214211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133108&cid=t_106883_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fcan-you-overdose-on-caffeine.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133108 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:33:00 +0100 4133108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119125&cid=t_106883_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FgK2ziCQUOsU%2F Check out this post from Deborah Huso on AOL Health. For those of us who always look admiringly at colleagues who seem to be able to breeze through anything regardless of whether they’ve had three hours of sleep or 10, there may be genetic clues as to why some people require loads of caffeine to power through the workday and others don’t. A new study points to the possibility that gene variants may determine everything from how easily we fall asleep to how many times we wake up in the night. Research led by Dr. Namni Goel, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, set out to explain why some people function better on less sleep than others. The study, published in the most recent edition of Neurology, didn’t exactly answer that question, but i... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119125 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:14:26 +0100 4119125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045096&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnurses-and-doctors-need-coffee-the-most%2F2010.10.08 Nurses and doctors depend on coffee to perform their jobs the most of any profession, reports a survey. Nurses ranked first and doctors second when asked if they needed coffee to get through their day. The rest of the coffee-fueled careers were a mixed bag of white collar and blue collar positions. Among other findings: – 48 percent of those in the Northeast said they were less productive without coffee, compared to 34 percent of Midwesterners. – 40 percent of those aged 18 to 24 said they can’t concentrate as well without coffee. – 37 percent said they drink two or more cups a day. NOTE: The study was funded by CareerBuilder and Dunkin’ Donuts. *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045096 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100 4045096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036607&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F203369%2F Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036607 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:20:27 +0100 4036607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3959926&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcoffee-grounds-to-combat-cellulite%2F2010.09.11 Last week a popular TV talk show featuring a bunch of doctors (I’m not naming names) discussed how coffee grounds can improve cellulite. They explained how rubbing coffee grounds into your skin imparts caffeine into the cellulite thereby improving the circulation and drawing the toxins out. This is a great tip, except that rubbing coffee grounds on your skin does not impart any caffeine into it, and there are no toxins in cellulite. Cellulite is a normal secondary sex characteristic of women. It is the result of thin connective tissue in women’s skin. Massaging the cellulite (with coffee, tea, grapes, cream cheese, or chocolate frosting) pushes the fat back into the skin, temporarly improving the appearance. There is no science behind using coffee to treat this normal condition. Scient... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3959926 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:00:26 +0100 3959926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911671&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Flike-coffee-stop-driving-your-car%2F photo: Thinkstock If you’re one of millions who can’t fully function without a cup of coffee in the morning, you might want to rethink your driving habits. The coffee berry borer beetle thrives in warm weather, which the world is seeing a lot more of lately. When the temperatures in South America climb, the beetle is able to spread to more locations, destroying coffee crops along the way. Farmers haven’t yet found a way to kill the pest, so for now, coffee drinkers should do their best to work against climate change and global warming. Would you make your life a little greener to save your much-loved cup of Joe? via Treehugger Post from: BlissTree Like Coffee? Stop Driving Your Car (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911671 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:03:30 +0100 3911671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3903097&cid=t_106883_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2FzvhwsnVI0bU%2F Everything looks better in the morning, even the previous night. However, the previous night looked pretty good anyways. This is the sort of pretentious blather that my mind runs through when it is waking itself up, which it is attempting to do so right now. It is helped along by a mocha frappuccino; I suppose that the first bits of caffeine are hitting the brain-blood barrier right now as I type. The crickets are still running on, though their enthusiasm is much less in the mornings than in the night. I find myself worrying about how exhausted they must get with singing 24 hours a day, but in a few months, they will all be dead anyway, from the cold. On that cheery thought, I will go and try to make something out of the aforementioned morning. Filed under: Ephemera Tagged: arts, Brain, Ca... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3903097 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:08:45 +0100 3903097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865233&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-things-we-want-to-do-this-weekend-11%2F It’s almost our favorite time of the week. Yep, that’s right – Le Weekend. We’ve got big plans for the next few days (see below). How ’bout you? Eat cucumbers. This vine vegetable is sorely under-appreciated. We’re going to eat a cuke-centric dish at least once this weekend. Eat energy bars. We don’t always have time to cook delish dinners, so we’d better be prepared. Bake a batch of cookies. It’s almost time for our summer-long baking hiatus to come to an end, and we won’t even break the bank on fancy baking gear. Try aromatherapy. Or at least buy some nice-smelling soaps. We’re thinking lavender. Sleep. We know we say this a lot, but this weekend we’re dismissing our alarm clocks. We’re going to need o... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3865233 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:44:09 +0100 3865233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854781&cid=t_106883_167_f&fid=36994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition-news.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fwhat-happens-to-your-body-within-hour.html : "New Golden Oldie Spot - If you have some nutritional Golden Oldies like this one please give us a tip offWhat happens in your body when you drink a soda, particularly cola and caffeinated sugary fizzy drinks.# In The First 10 minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor allowing you to keep it down.# 20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. (There’s plenty of that at this particular moment)# 40 minutes: Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your livers dumps more sugar into your bloo... Healthy Eating and Nutrition News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854781 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:56:00 +0100 3854781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3786132&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpregnant-women-and-caffeine%2F2010.07.24 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has issued a statement that moderate caffeine consumption (<200mg/day — about a cup of coffee) does not increase a woman’s risk for miscarriage or preterm birth. The review of recent studies was published in Obstetrics and Gynecology and should reassure women about drinking coffee when pregnant. Caffeine does cross the placenta, but there was no difference found between the moms who drank caffeine while pregnant and those who did not. If you wonder how much caffeine is in certain drinks or foods, click here. One fact the study did not mention is that many women have a natural aversion to coffee when they are pregnant. Maybe nature knows best. *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Sourc... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3786132 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3786132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753784&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fclutter-buster-the-clutter-diets-purse-organizer%2F You get your morning coffee and spend three minutes hunting in your big, beautiful purse for your wallet and change. You go to the gym, and spend a couple minutes looking for your gym card. Every time your lips are dry, your lip balm seems to have buried itself deeper underneath the clutter in your purse. Add up all that time spent searching in your Mary Poppins-style handbag, and you’re probably spending a lot more time on those purse hunts than you’d like. (Not to mention the dirty looks coming your way while you delay other customers’ morning coffee, digging for a quarter in the bottom of your satchel.) Organization expert Laurie Marrero, author of The Clutter Diet, says the solution is simple: Any time you’ve got a large, open space, the easiest way to organize ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753784 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:12:46 +0100 3753784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740566&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-things-we-want-to-do-this-weekend-7%2F After a short week, the weekend came as a pleasant surprise to us here at Blisstree. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a ton of things we want to fit in over the next few days: Have some chocolate. Even if it’s just a little square, we’ll be having a bite of chocolate this weekend. It was its birthday, we have to. It would be rude not to. Go camping. We’re ready to head out into the great outdoors and rough it for a night or two. But only with our eco-friendly camping supplies, of course. Read some foodie lit. We love reading about food almost as much as we love eating it (okay, maybe not that much). We might even read some good advice about how to eat well without gaining weight. Have a snack. Sometimes you just feel like snacking. We’ll be ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740566 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:39:48 +0100 3740566 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733054&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F7-ways-to-stay-safe-in-the-sun-because-love-is-not-a-heatwave%2F It’s like a heat wave…Burnin’ in my heart…I can’t keep from cryin…It’s tearin’ me apart. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas might call this love, but we call it hellish weather, and it’s hitting a lot of us this week. We haven’t figured out how to stay unfazed by 100º weather, but we welcome Care2’s 7 tips for avoiding heat stroke. They might seem obvious, but muggy heat doesn’t exactly encourage clear thinking. Stick to the basics and be smart in the sun this summer: Air-conditioning, fans, and shade: The best way to keep cool is air-conditioning, and though we don’t encourage excessive use of the energy-sucking machines, when it gets super hot, it’s smart to use air-conditioning, fans, and shade to keep... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733054 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:07:15 +0100 3733054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3730122&cid=t_106883_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F07%2Fan-honest-tea-review-organic-fair-trade-and-just-plain-good%2F By: Carlene Helble- Elite Nutrition Intern What better way to celebrate the end of National Iced Tea Month than with a glimpse into an awesome new tea product? Honest Tea Organic: half tea and half lemonade is the perfect refreshing drink with a conscience. At first I was a little concerned when I decided to try the product since many pre-bottled teas can be sickeningly sweet. Not so with Honest Tea half and half! It was not overly sweet and the lemonade complemented and enhanced the tea rather than covering it. Besides the taste, I loved that the company was environmentally aware as well as globally aware of how they could help people and the planet as a whole. The product is USDA certified organic AND fair trade! The bottle is made from #1 plastic which is the most recyclable of the pla... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3730122 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:09:13 +0100 3730122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706638&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F185764%2F Coffee may prevent Alzheimer’s, but what’s the catch? According to a story yesterday on NPR’s Morning Edition, researchers recorded improvements in lab mice with Alzheimer’s, but only if the critters got a ton of caffeine. Theoretically, the human equivalent would mean drinking at least five cups of regular coffee every day, but at this point these findings are inconclusive. So keep doing your crossword puzzles. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706638 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:19:26 +0100 3706638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632243&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-things-we-want-to-do-this-weekend%2F Are we the only ones who felt like that four-day week didn’t go by quite as quickly as we’d hoped? Thankfully, the weekend is upon us. Here’s what we want to do: Drink a mimosa. Skipping coffee isn’t normally something we look forward to, but if it means slowing down our immunity to the benefits of caffeine, we’re willing to take a short break. Thank god for mimosas; without it our brunches would get ugly. Eat an ice cream cone. …Instead of a high-calorie, ice cream man diet-buster. Not that we don’t love ice cream sandwiches, but the nutrition facts have convinced us that we only need a small swirly cone. Bike in the park. By now, you should know that we have a real thing for bikes. But the good news is that pretty soon you could even charge you... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632243 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:20:24 +0100 3632243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581573&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fis-caffeine-a-wonder-drug-for-the-brain%2F Photo: Blisstree While too much caffeine can sometimes lead to health issues (eye twitch, anyone?), a new supplement in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease explores the preventive effects of caffeine against cognitive decline caused by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. You could be fighting dementia by drinking countless cups of joe a day – now you can say all those late nights you stayed up friending everyone in your 7th grade class on Facebook were just doctor’s orders. Caffeine has multiple beneficial effects on the brain, particularly to normalize brain function and prevent its degeneration. Caffeine also has a positive impact on memory and cognitive performance. Plus, the drug may be a disease-modifying agent with regard to Alzheimer’s. It could even prove to... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581573 Thu, 20 May 2010 12:00:06 +0100 3581573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471783&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FVfbpbwFJYZ8%2F I’ve been called many names…and, most of the time, I ignore it and let it roll off my back. But last week, I got the ultimate compliment. I was ordained as one of the “Disruptive Women in Healthcare,” a blog site that invites anyone, particularly women, to speak up and challenge the health care status quo. Since I got formal permission to be disruptive (as if I really needed to have someone tell me it’s okay), I am going to allow myself to be a bit irreverent in this blog entry. I apologize in advance. The focus of this week’s blog is on the health benefits of personal genetic testing–an emerging area of medicine that intrigues many people when they read about it, but scares them too much to get tested themselves. Yes, the blog last week had a simi... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471783 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:43:06 +0100 3471783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3448810&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F10-things-our-hunky-naturopath-scolds-us-for-doing%2F Remember John Dempster? He’s a licensed (and hot) Naturopath who practices in Toronto. This is our third conversation with the good doctor (here’s the second), who will regularly contribute to Blisstree about health and wellness issues. Find his practice here. This week, we asked Dr. Dempster to give us the skinny on what we’re doing wrong health-wise. Got a question for our hunky naturopath? Leave it in the comments section below. Top 10 Mistakes People Make Regarding Their Health Prior to Visiting Me: 1.     Skip Breakfast Straight up, this is the worst possible way to start your day. We need this meal to supply us with the energy, protein, and individual nutrients required to meet the daily demands of each day. Without this meal, we’re essentially operating on fumes... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3448810 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:09:43 +0100 3448810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411072&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fsleeping-on-the-job-is-dreamy%2F Instead of giving yourself a caffeine IV every afternoon, succumb to the will of the nap attack. At least that’s what UC Berkeley psychology professor Mathew Walker and his colleagues suggest. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, taking a nap during the day will lower your blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart attack, and even make you smarter. A new study shows that people who take long enough naps during the day (with Stage Two non-REM cycle having the best results), find that their brains feel recharged and hungry for knowledge. Walker divided a group of 39 young adults into Siesta Team Alpha and Stay Awake Team Beta, and put them to the test. At noon, both teams endured a grueling learning session, and finished by completing a comprehensive test. At 2 p.m., Siesta ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411072 Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:28:30 +0100 3411072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385560&cid=t_106883_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F083caHwTkLQ%2F Do you use substances or engage in compulsive activities to regulate your mood? Do you reach for something sweet, a couple of drinks, or a pack of cigarettes after a difficult day because you can’t unwind without them? Do you race to the stores to spend away the day’s frustrations or run around in circles taking more time to get less done? If these self-defeating habits sound familiar, Emotional Sobriety will shed light on why and how these coping mechanisms threaten your health and impact resilience. When we manage the stresses of the day by turning to outside ‘mood managers’ such as food, sex, work, shopping, gambling, drugs, and alcohol rather than healthier forms of ’self-soothing,’ it is because we lack emotional sobriety–the state of proc... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385560 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:02:00 +0100 3385560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3288033&cid=t_106883_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fcaffeine-addiction-2%2F Recovering alcoholics and addicts have a long history of drinking large amounts of coffee, tea and cola soft drinks. Coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate and many foods contain caffeine. A new range of drinks on the market is a variety of high content caffeine drinks such as Red Bull. Caffeine, a stimulant, is the most widely consumed drug. Caffeine has occasionally been considered a drug of abuse and has the potential for people to become addicted. Signs of caffeine addiction are; Coffee simply stimulates the central nervous system, increases stress hormones in the blood streams, thus making a person feel unnaturally alert. Consequently increased alert state tends to subdue your body’s natural instincts and prevent it from relaxing. This causes undue stress and leads to various kinds... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3288033 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:06:56 +0100 3288033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3269716&cid=t_106883_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F13%2Fwhat-to-do-when-life-falls-apart-the-essential-6-step-program%2F What constitutes life falling apart? The death of a beloved spouse or family member? A marriage or relationship that has withered away or perhaps ended abruptly? A job loss potentially leading to financial ruin (or so you might think right now)? Whichever situation is closest to yours, there are some steps that you must go through to come out the other side with your heart — and new life — intact.   The 6 Steps Wallow in it. This step is essential. Repeat everything you went and are still going through many times to anyone who will listen. Good friends and family will be very patient with this part of the process. If your big life change included a cheating spouse, self-righteous indignation is appropriate at this point. Part of this step includes getting out of bed and... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3269716 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:22:56 +0100 3269716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146110&cid=t_106883_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhow-to-stay-warm-during-the-cold-winter-months%2F I had something else in mind for today but after receiving so many notes from all of you who are reacting to the extreme cold, I thought we’d talk about some practical matters. It may be a bit repetitious because some of us have been chatting about these things, but for other, it will be new information. I often think by gathering all of our experiences together we often come up with some very helpful information. I’d like to chat about current problems and challenges so we can all help each other by pooling our information. FACING THE COLD. One of the greatest challenges those of us with rheumatoid disease face is the effect of weather changes on our bodies. There is little doubt that barometric changes affect us and the effect that both heat and cold can have on us. The most common c... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146110 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:15:38 +0100 3146110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123516&cid=t_106883_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FXFIOAluIgu0%2F Symptoms, Withdrawal and Treatment Coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate and many foods contain caffeine. A new range of drinks on the market is a variety of high content caffeine drinks such as Red Bull. Caffeine, a stimulant, is the most widely consumed drug and is a stimulant. Caffeine has occasionally been considered a drug of abuse and has the potential for people to become addicted. After studying two cases and a survey of the population the researchers concluded that caffeine abuse and addiction are potentially serious conditions. They propose guidelines for manufacturers such as; clearly indicate the caffeine content of products containing comparatively higher quantities of caffeine; warn that such products should be avoided by infants and children wherever possible, and inform adul... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123516 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:05:59 +0100 3123516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3033485&cid=t_106883_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fcaffeine-alcohol-caffeinated-cocktails.html Campus life at college tends to involve poor sleep and sleep deprivation. Often caffeine and alcohol are a part of the problem.Each substance by itself can be disruptive to sleep. Now a popular trend among college students is to combine the two together.Some make their own “caffeinated cocktails” by mixing alcohol with high-caffeine energy drinks. Others simply buy caffeinated beer.A 2007 study surveyed 496 college students. Results show that 54 percent of energy drink users consumed the drinks with alcohol while partying.In 2008 more than 4,200 college students completed a Web-based survey. Results show that 24 percent of current drinkers reported mixing alcohol with energy drinks.The belief is that caffeine blunts the negative effects of alcohol intoxication. But is this true?In a st... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3033485 Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:46:00 +0100 3033485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2966947&cid=t_106883_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fcaffeine-night-shift.html A recent study examined the effect that consuming caffeine at night may have on daytime sleep.The sleep of participants was monitored during a night in a sleep lab. Then they stayed awake in the lab for 25 hours. While awake they were given caffeine capsules. Then their sleep was monitored again as they slept during the day.Results show that daytime sleep was worse after taking caffeine. Measures such as sleep efficiency and sleep duration were lower.So does this mean that people who work the night shift should avoid caffeine? Not necessarily.The participants were given caffeine late during the night. They took a 100-mg dose three hours before attempting to sleep during the day; they were given another 100-mg dose only one hour before daytime sleep.The stimulating effect of caffeine can la... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2966947 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:02:00 +0100 2966947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2924900&cid=t_106883_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FGe5cptnSnbE%2F A few eternal questions: - Is caffeine good for the brain? - Does it boost cognitive functions? - Does it protect against dementia? There is little doubt that drinking that morning cup of coffee will likely increase alertness, but the main questions that research is trying to answer go beyond that. Basically: is there a sustained, lifetime, benefit or harm from drinking coffee regularly? The answer, so far, contains good news and bad news. The good news for coffee drinkers is that most of the long-term results are directionally more positive than negative, so no clear harm seems to occur. The bad news is that it is not clear so far whether caffeine has beneficial effects on general brain functions, either short-term or long-term (aged-related decline or risks of dementia). It is important ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2924900 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:22:26 +0100 2924900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862627&cid=t_106883_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2009%2F10%2F04%2Fcaffeine-natures-own-wonder-drug%2F Much has been said and written about caffeine over the past half century. There have been over 20,000 studies conducted looking at the various effects and benefits of caffeine over this period of time. Numerous studies have demonstrated the tremendous health benefits that can be derived from regular daily consumption of caffeine, most commonly delivered through the consumption of coffee or energy drinks such as Red Bull or similar beveragage. All of these have a high caffeine content.  In almost any way that caffeine is consumed, there are certain health benefits that it delivers. Despite all the negative press that has been attributed to caffeine, there has never been a study that has shown that caffeine has long term negative health effects, quite the contrary. The vast majority ... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862627 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:36:58 +0100 2862627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2836085&cid=t_106883_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fbedtime-battles-helping-children-get.html It is 9 p.m.; you are ready for your kids to go to sleep, but are they?As the school year begins, parents may find themselves struggling to defeat the technological temptations that keep children awake late at night.Research shows that children who don’t get enough sleep are at higher risk for emotional and behavioral problems. Distractions like computers, T.V. and video games can keep children from getting the sleep they need to stay healthy.A study presented in June at SLEEP shows that adolescents who use technology (cell phone, DVDs, or computer games) and drink caffeine at night struggle to stay awake and alert during the day.Parents can help children get the sleep they need by changing their nighttime behavior. Limiting use of technology at night and developing a nightly bedtime rou... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2836085 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100 2836085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2725005&cid=t_106883_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D625 Esain Bolt (Fastest Man on the Planet) runs the 100 meters in 9.58 sec while the stock Ferrari F430 does it in only 2.74 seconds.  Muscle Speed Factory   The complexity of the muscle internal combustion machinery and fuel creation and use reminds me of the Space Shuttle launches we see here in Florida! Fast Twitch vs. Slow Twitch Muscle Fibers There are two types of skeletal muscle fibers. Fast fibers, which use sugars for fuel and do not require oxygen, kick in for tasks that require maximum force and quick action, such as sprinting. Slow fibers, which employ oxygen-using (or aerobic) pathways, power activities that require endurance, such as long-distance running. A protein called alpha-actinin-3 is made mostly by fast fibers and is implicated in their capacity for rapid force gen... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2725005 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:15:05 +0100 2725005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2626227&cid=t_106883_135_f&fid=35274&url=http%3A%2F%2Facidrefluxweb.com%2F%3Fp%3D3830 Mae West: You know I used to be ashamed about the way I lived my life. Actor: You mean to say you’ve reformed? Mae West: No, I stopped being ashamed. For some reason I really laughed when I heard this on a documentary on comedians and how they’ve pushed boundaries in society. Most likely there are a few times in my life when I could relate to that. Day 9 off coffee and I’m managing to make my way through. I woke up yesterday with absolutely no desire to write anything. So I didn’t. The Canine alan-on therapy continues as Buster rebels as he fights the fact that he is no longer the leader in our relationship. He even sleeps with his back towards me in the bed in his crate. He’s pissed and he’s shunning me. Hopefully he’ll get used to this epiphany... acidrefluxweb.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2626227 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:48:38 +0100 2626227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2580350&cid=t_106883_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fcaffeine-cures-alzheimers-and-other-misleading-headlines%2F Not really, but I’d imagine that headline caught your eye and grabbed your attention, which is what it was supposed to do. The study on which that claim is based was widely and often quite misleadingly trumpeted across the Internet yesterday (July 6, 2009). Although some responsible sites included in the headline that the tests were done in mice, many concealed this important fact until you were well into the article and had already been exposed to whatever advertising was on the page. I’d already seen several misleading headlines before I realized the studies were in mice and I’m sure that many people didn’t ever get the full story. The entire webisode was set in motion by the University of South Florida Health’s press release, a slick piece of PR entitled &#... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2580350 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:37:16 +0100 2580350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2440328&cid=t_106883_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fwired-technology-caffeine-keeping-teens.html Technology-savvy teens can excel at multi-tasking. They can send text messages, surf the Internet and watch their favorite TV show all at the same time.But a new study shows that technology may be taking a toll on their sleep. Many teens are staying up too late and consuming too much caffeine. As a result, they’re not getting enough sleep to remain alert during the day.The study involved students between the ages of 12 and 18 years. They reported how much time after 9 p.m. they use various technological devices.WebMD reports that watching TV was the most common activity; 82 percent of participants watched TV after 9 p.m. Fifty-five percent reported being online; 44 percent reported talking on the phone; and 42 percent reported listening to an MP3 player. Other common activities were watc... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2440328 Wed, 27 May 2009 18:22:00 +0100 2440328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442404&cid=t_106883_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FYHz3AVUn5fs%2F It may come as quite a shock to those type 2 diabetics who regularly consume caffeine to hear that studies are now showing that caffeine raises blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. I’m a regular diet coke drinker and I thought that because there is no sugar in diet coke it was safe for me to drink regularly…I was wrong. The American Diabetes Association announced the findings of a Duke University study which showed that caffeine raised the blood glucose levels of type 2 diabetics throughout the day and especially after meals. But I thought caffeine was ok for diabetics? Previous studies on the link between caffeine and diabetes had shown that caffeine consumption lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes. Those who drank the most caffeine were the least likely to develop type 2 di... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442404 Tue, 26 May 2009 08:13:09 +0100 2442404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2386938&cid=t_106883_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fcaffeine_all_downside_and_only_placebo_upside.htm Jennifer Nachbur Ever miss your daily cup of coffee and subsequently get a pounding headache? According to reports from consumers of coffee and other caffeinated products, caffeine withdrawal is often characterized by a headache, fatigue, feeling less alert, less energetic and experiencing difficulty concentrating. Researchers from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine sought to investigate the biological mechanisms of caffeine withdrawal in a paper published recently in the online edition of the scientific journal Psychopharmacology. They looked at brain electrical activity and blood flow during caffeine withdrawal to examine what was taking place physiologically during acute caffeine abstinence, including the likely mechanism underlying the co... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2386938 Mon, 04 May 2009 08:05:00 +0100 2386938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2306911&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fcaffeine-eases-exercise-induced-muscle-pain%2F Great news for all the caffeine addicts out there. It’s a known fact that caffeine is a performance enhancer, one of the very few that isn’t banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. But now a new study by University of Illinois researchers has found that caffeine eases the muscle pains of exercising. The study involved 25 fit, college-aged men. Some of the participants were regular caffeine users, ie ones who drank at least four cups of coffee (or the equivalent in caffeine laced drinks) a day on average, while others either didn’t take in caffeine at all or only had a small daily intake. After an initial exercise test on an exercise bike to determine maximal oxygen consumption, the participants were then monitored while doing two high-intensity, half-hour exercise sessio... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2306911 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:52:30 +0100 2306911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2266831&cid=t_106883_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FdDIm7H3Vt6E%2F I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to know why our eyelids twitch. I have this issue a lot, especially during times of extreme stress. I once worked as a corporate event planner and during one specific event each year my eye would twitch the entire time. It got to be a funny part of the process. When my coworkers saw my eye twitch, they’d say, “Must be time for the big conference again!” Naturally my eyes (in their now “untwitched” state) caught this article that helped explain the causes. Among them were: “Stimulants from products such as caffeine, medications or substances of abuse, lack of restful sleep, and stress or anxiety.” That certainly explained my annual eye-twitching outbreak. We’d typically operate on litt... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2266831 Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:00:48 +0100 2266831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2259900&cid=t_106883_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fcaffeine-and-ms-more-than-a-cup-of-coffee%2F Sitting with my morning cup of Joe, looking ahead to a busy day got me thinking of my use of caffeine, specifically coffee, to battle multiple sclerosis fatigue. I know that in the months prior to my MS diagnosis I would fade each and every day around 2:00-2:30pm.  My 3 o’clock mocha was as much a part of my business daily routine as were at least one plane flight and an uncomfortable hotel bed.  If I didn’t get my mid-afternoon jolt of caffeine and sugar, I was a dead man walking. I never bought into that whole Prokarin thing, the patch of histamine and caffeine touting itself as new multiple sclerosis therapy.  I prefer my buzz to come in a flavorful cup rather than a dermal plaster. I’m wondering, as I seem to recall more than a few comments about the topic of how much coffee/t... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2259900 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:07:05 +0100 2259900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195224&cid=t_106883_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fplanning-a-pregnancy-read-this-first%2F Most women are aware of the need to follow certain nutrition and lifestyle guidelines after they become pregnant, but did you know that it’s actually important to begin these regimens well before you begin to start a family? Most likely you knew about recommendations to take pre-natal vitamins and not to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes during pregnancy, but it’s equally important to start these behaviors much earlier, before you plan to become pregnant, so that you’ll be “covered” from the moment pregnancy occurs. But recent research has found that few women follow pre-pregnancy recommendations. In fact, a study just published online in the British Medical Journal found that only three percent of women who became pregnant were taking the recommended vitamins... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195224 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:11:30 +0100 2195224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2132273&cid=t_106883_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fhuman-experiment-part-2.html Earlier this month, I posted about my own efforts to deal with insomnia, and how I inadvertently threw myself into caffeine withdrawal. I'm following up here.So to summarize my experiment on myself, I manipulated the following variables, all at once, with no control group, and no way of knowing which variable was responsible for any changes I saw.1) I stopped all caffeine. Well, mostly. After the caffeine withdrawal headache and fatigue, I decided there was no real rationale for this, and I've been drinking half a cup of coffee most mornings. In anticipation of the crowds and a purported 1:5000 person: porta-potty ratio at Obama's Inauguration, I did not have any coffee on that morning. I've had no Diet Coke (yes, this is possible) and my efforts to completely stop chocolate have been un... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2132273 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:45:00 +0100 2132273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2129135&cid=t_106883_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FU40lmNQ5iy4%2F Dr. Michael Farkouh of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, is a specialist in the effects of diabetes on the cardiovascular system. According to Dr. Farkouh research studies state that there is an epidemic of diabetes in North America. The epidemic is due to the lack of exercise, the foods that we consume and our lifestyles and stress. Our schools are cutting back on the physical education and the halls are lined with pop and candy machines, which also adds to the epidemic. Parent’s are going through the drive up and getting dinner on their way home from work, which is usually loaded with fats. The parents will go through the same window grabbing a coffee loaded with caffeine, muffin or something worse for breakfast in a rush to get to work. These are just a few of the things that are causing ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2129135 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2129135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2113387&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F01%2F18%2Fthe-sunday-sidebar-17%2F Size does matter according to John Coates, the author of a stock trading study. He found that men with longer ring fingers relative to their index fingers seem to be better at high-stakes, fast-paced stock trading as compared to those whose index finger was almost as long as their ring finger. Honestly. I’m not making this up. Researchers gathered together 44 male stock traders working in high finance arenas making quick decisions with large amounts of money and measured their right hands. The study then followed these traders for the next 20 months and discovered that those whose ring fingers were much longer than their index fingers made 11 times more money than those with the shortest ring fingers. Does this mean that if I’m looking for a stocktrader, I need to look at his h... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2113387 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:35:54 +0100 2113387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2113416&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5920 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources High Caffeine Intake Increases Likelihood of Hallucinations, Women More Likely to Experience EMS Delays, Smoking During Pregnancy Alters Thyroid Hormone Levels (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2113416 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2113416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2110603&cid=t_106883_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F16%2Fhearing-voices-or-seeing-things-cut-back-on-the-coffee%2F As we reported yesterday, people with a higher caffeine intake, from sources such as coffee, tea and caffeinated energy drinks, are more likely to report hallucinatory experiences such as hearing voices and seeing things that are not there. When under stress, the body releases a stress hormone called cortisol. More of this stress hormone is released in response to stress when people have recently had caffeine. It is this extra boost of cortisol which may link caffeine intake with an increased tendency to hallucinate, said the researchers. This isn’t likely a concern for most people, as most people don’t consume 7 or more cups of coffee every day. (And if you do, you might have more problems than simply hearing the occasional odd voice or whatnot.) But it has a direct impa... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2110603 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:59:33 +0100 2110603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2110769&cid=t_106883_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FSFD7PKz8iUE%2F Heavy snow falls across Canada and the U.S. have caused a jump in admissions to the hospitals, due to heart attacks, strokes and back injuries. Exertion from shoveling snow and slipping on the ice has taken its toll. Trying to clear the drive in a short time is not wise. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity. Those with back or heart problems, high blood pressure or breathing difficulties should not even think of tackling the job. Before shoveling snow do not drink coffee or any drinks that contain caffeine, no liquor or smoking these are known stimulants. Anything that increases your heart rate will cause extra stress on the heart.   Before 10am on Christmas day at one hospital, there were five heart attack patients admitted that were all related to shoveling snow. Resear... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2110769 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:04:00 +0100 2110769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2107718&cid=t_106883_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fhuman-experiment.html There are things to do about symptomatic distress in addition to medications and therapy. I often encourage people to make themselves their own human experiments. There are a few things we can change easily: we alter our diets, sleep, exercise, and the assorted "substances" we ingest. I sometimes suggest to people that they do 2 week trials and see if something helps. Is your life better if you stop drinking for a couple of weeks, exercise mor or less, give up food additives, decrease the carbs in your diet, cut out or add caffeine? Pick a variable, change it for a time, and see if you feel better.That being said, I've been having some trouble sleeping. I decided I'd take my own advice and change some things. Oh, but you know, I'm an inpatient sort of soul, and I decided to change a few th... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2107718 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:13:00 +0100 2107718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2104469&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F01%2F14%2Fits-healthbolt-carnival-time-7%2F Time for another Healthbolt Carnival. You know the drill - grab a coffee, get comfortable, and start clicking. There’s plenty of reading to be done, starting with… Steve M from Weight Loss Weapons who looks at Weight Loss Scam Sites, saying, “Before being lured by an appealing weight loss success story check the weight loss scam list. Odds are good that they site is a fake.” Madeleine Begun Kane from Mad Kane’s Humor Blog keeps the guys on their toes with her A Valiant Guy’s Guide To Valentine’s Day. Alvaro Fernandez from SharpBrains has a list of the Top 10 Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health Books. Sarah Scrafford from Massage Therapy Careers looks at how you can educate yourself for free with these 50+ Open Courseware Classes on Fitness and Nutrition.... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2104469 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:40:34 +0100 2104469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2089938&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F01%2F08%2Fhealthbolt-carnival-time-2%2F Welcome to the latest Healthbolt Carnival. This edition features a collection of posts sent in over the past month (some, it seems, have gotten lost, so if you post isn’t here, apologies). Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and start clicking on an eclectic selection of health and wellness posts… Katherine McMahon from Gluten Free Alaskan Goddess discovers that Italy is full of Celiacs in Living Gluten Free in the land of Pasta and Pizza. Alvaro Fernandez from SharpBrains writes about Cognitive screenings and Alzheimer’s Disease, saying, “The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America just released a thoughtful report advocating for widespread cognitive screenings after the age of 65 (55 given the right conditions).” Dr Martin W. Russell reviews The LAP-BAND Solu... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2089938 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:51:46 +0100 2089938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2067396&cid=t_106883_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fto-max-life-with-little-help.html I'm back from my White Christmas, back to muddy Maryland. I'm trying to find something stimulating to blog about with my brain on psychiatric vacation. Judith Warner of the New York Times has been kind enough to help with her op-ed piece "Living the Off-Label Life." She talks about a Shrink Rap favorite topic: the line between distress and illness, the use of medication (or in this case, non-meds such as coffee ...Clink....diet, etc) to help people reach some idealized potential. Ms. Warner writes:------What if you could just take a pill and all of a sudden remember to pay your bills on time? What if, thanks to modern neuroscience, you could, simultaneously, make New Year’s Eve plans, pay the mortgage, call the pediatrician, consolidate credit card debt and do your job — well — witho... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2067396 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:45:00 +0100 2067396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2018564&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fnote-to-self.html I may have given up coffee, but caffeine is still caffeine. The fact that I have had 6 cups of well-steeped tea plus a diet pepsi today is probably a lot worse.Oh, final exam preparations.At least maybe now I'll be able to stay awake to study tonight! (And I haven't resorted to RedBull, that's also a plus).One-ish day until finals.(I have nothing to talk about whatsoever, I have no idea why I keep blogging. If there's something you actually want to hear about, let me know). (Source: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med) I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2018564 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:35:00 +0100 2018564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1985595&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fbeing-unproductive.html Time spent in the library so far today: 2 hoursWork accomplished: 1 sentence written on type 2 steroid hormone receptors. Having one of those "can't get any work done" sort of days. I keep re-reading the information on the slide, but it's as if the words are bouncing off my forehead. I bet coffee would help, but I finally gave the stuff up (I took it up again during midterms, and had to wean myself off again) and I'm not about to succumb to it's warm and delicious productivity-inducing loveliness. (Besides, it's expensive, and my dentist was so proud of me for giving up coffee that I can't very well go and have some now). Perhaps I'll go have a cup of tea...Hopefully this will be a short term incapacity, and I'll soon be right back to studying for finals. 13 days till exams, 25 days till v... I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1985595 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:45:00 +0100 1985595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933237&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5188 Even small amounts of caffeine consumed during pregnancy may increase the risk for fetal growth restriction, according to a BMJ study. Using questionnaires and saliva samples, researchers assessed the caffeine consumption of 2600 healthy pregnant women throughout pregnancy. After adjustment for tobacco and alcohol use, women who consumed over 200 mg of caffeine daily (roughly 2 cups of brewed coffee) were at increased risk for fetal growth restriction (birth weight less than the 10th percentile), compared with women who consumed less than 100 mg. This finding was consistent for consumption across all trimesters. Women who reduced their caffeine intake had infants with a higher mean birth weight, relative to those who maintained their prepregnancy intake. The authors suggest that women who ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933237 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1933237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930359&cid=t_106883_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2Fentry%2Fcaffeine-drinking-exercise-freaks-have-reduced-skin-cancer-risks-study%2F Prolonged exposure to sunlight, besides other factors leads to skin cancer. In 2007 alone, 1,000,000 cases of skin (non-melanoma) cancer have been estimated, with nearly 2000 people being killed by the disease. Though it is not always possible to change one’s job requirements to go out and travel in the sun, change in your ‘lifestyle’ can be an answer to the deadly disease. If you are an exercise freak, just add to it a cup of that refreshing coffee - and you are at the least risk of developing skin cancer! Yes, by building up this healthy but simple habit, you may actually reduce your risk from the painful and killer disease. This combination of exercise and caffeine may help bringing in a revolutionary remedy to the growing skin cancer cases across the world. D... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930359 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:01:08 +0100 1930359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709156&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4114 Red Bull, may increase your risk of stroke or heart attack, so Australian researchers have found. Reuters reports Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young people, Australian medical researchers said on Friday. The caffeine-loaded beverage, popular with university students and adrenaline sport fans to give them “wings”, caused the blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke. “One hour after they drank Red Bull, (their blood systems) were no longer normal. They were abnormal like we would expect in a patient with cardiovascular disease,” Scott Willoughby, lead researcher from the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, told the A... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709156 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1709156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696735&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fdarn-giving-up-coffee-is-hard.html In the same vein as MWWAK's recent post... Could someone please explain to me why, despite the fact that tea has about half the caffeine as a cup of coffee, and despite the four huge mugs of well-steeped tea I've had this morning, I'm getting a coffee-deprival migraine? Grrrr... (Source: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med) I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696735 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:08:00 +0100 1696735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689406&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fi-hear-you-thinking-but-how-can-you.html Last year I spent way too much money eating out (a salad or sandwich here and there really adds up!) as well as buying coffee, so I'm rectifying this situation best I can. The eating out bit will be a lot easier now that I live quite close to school, but the coffee issue is what I'm currently working on.I had planned to give up coffee completely this summer, but that doesn't seem to be working out terribly well. I'll wean myself down to a small amount of caffeine every day, but then when I try to stop the caffeine completely I am either so out of it that I can't function, or I get a terrible migraine. So, new plan.I went wandering through the grocery store last night looking for instant coffee. Sure it's gross, but it would do the job. What I found instead is an instant latte mix and decid... I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689406 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:46:00 +0100 1689406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668588&cid=t_106883_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F350838586%2Ften-ways-to-battle-coffee-addiction.html Caffeine-free energy boosters(From the mailbag)Kelly Sonora at the Nursing Online Education Database (NOEDb) recently sent me an article by Christina Laun, entitled "50 Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine." The complete article is available on the NOEDb web site. If you are making an effort to decrease reliance on coffee, Laun writes, the suggestions will "give you a boost when you're feeling sleepy or prevent tiredness altogether."Herewith, a sampling:--Turn on the lights. Your body responds naturally to changes in light, so if it's unnaturally dark where you're working or sleeping it may make staying alert a lot harder. Try keeping your blinds open a bit so you'll wake up naturally in the morning or adding a few extra lights to your workspace to keep you from feeling sleepy throug... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668588 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:29:00 +0100 1668588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642629&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F07%2F21%2Fthe-caffeine-test-and-more%2F Got some  computer play time? Then check out these fun but highly unscientific tests… Can’t remember how many cups of java you gulped down today? Not to worry, The Caffeine Test can tell you (OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets) Other fun time wasters include…. Finding out How Many Germs Live On Your Keyboard.                        2,202,060How Many Germs Live On Your Keyboard? (OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets) And How Much Your Dead Body is Worth $4475.00The Cadaver Calculator - Find out how much your body is worth. (OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets) Tags: caffeine, fun tests, HealthboltShare This (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642629 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:37:44 +0100 1642629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1544106&cid=t_106883_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fwater-a-scambuster-report%2F That’s right, even water can be a scam these days. That’s because of relentless marketing, widespread misinformation and an ingrained mythology surrounding what ought to be a pretty simple fact of modern life: If you’re thirsty, have a glass of tap water. That would stand in contradistinction to a claim such as, “You need to drink at least eight eight ounce glasses of water a day (the 8×8 rule), preferably bottled, regardless of whether you’re thirsty and regardless of whether you live in a hot climate or engage in strenuous physical activity.” In fact, the 8×8 rule is so thoroughly entrenched in our common psyche that even most healthcare practitioners and nutritionists will spout it without a moment’s hesitation. Unfortunately, however, the 8×8 rule is a comp... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1544106 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:32:15 +0100 1544106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1500304&cid=t_106883_154_f&fid=35946&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fvideo-play.mp4%3FcontentId%3D74e282631cfed93e%26type%3Dvideo%252Fmp4 We've rounded up the most recent strange and wonderful medical stories that didn't make it into our June issue of NRM.Pills to boost first-person-shooter performanceBERLIN -- Eschewing the days of Jolt Cola and Red Bull, hardcore video gamers are turning to caffeine-laced vitamin pills to stay juiced during all-night head-to-head battles. The pills, marketed as FpsBrain by the German company Tomarni GmbH, promise to "speed up your mind" with "rapid reaction and focus" and offer a 110% money back guarantee! Looking for more benefits? Unlike caffeinated drinks, it's reported the pills don't produce hand tremors -- giving gamers precise aim at their virtual enemies.Photo: Tomarni GmbHMD claims Alzheimer's reversal "in minutes"LOS ANGELES -- Sensational footage from a video released in early A... Canadian Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1500304 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:21:00 +0100 1500304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1470422&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fcomplaint-letter-la-little-medic.html I'm not much one for letter writing, but I've just written a great complaint letter to a coffee establishment that has butchered my coffee twice in the past week. Basically, courtesy of this place I have been privy to two of the most spectacularly awful coffee experiences of my life, so I decided I needed to save others from this fate :P I thought of it more as an opportunity for descriptive writing :) (Source: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med) I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1470422 Mon, 26 May 2008 21:24:00 +0100 1470422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2192712&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=38261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vibrantglow.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fcaffeine-sensitive-detox-your-liver.html All of my life I have been extremely sensitive to caffeine. One cup of coffee or a lot of dark chocolate sends my heart racing, my head spinning and my body shaking.I just chalked up the extreme response to being a little quirky. But according to Dr. Peter D'Adamo, naturopathic physician and author of The GenoType Diet, caffeine sensitivity like mine is a result of a sluggish liver. He calls people like me "slow acetylators". Basically, toxins go into the liver, but spend too much time there when they should simply be processed and eliminated.This really makes sense now that I'm pregnant and have developed an itchy and dreadful case of PUPPPs, also known as "pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy". The best antidote I have discovered in my research after a course of steroids ... Vibrant Glow blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2192712 Tue, 20 May 2008 19:54:00 +0100 2192712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1432666&cid=t_106883_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F287050096%2Fcoffee-addiction.html The pharmacology of caffeine.Recent studies have documented the existence of severe caffeine addicts who suffer significant depression and lessened cognitive capacity for several weeks or months following termination of coffee drinking. Balzac, the nineteenth century French writer, reportedly died of caffeine poisoning at roughly the 50-cup-per-day level.At low doses, caffeine sharpens cognitive processes--primarily mathematics, organization, and memory--just as nicotine does. The results of a ten-year study, reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that female nurses between the ages of 34 and 59 who drank coffee were less likely to commit suicide than women who drank no coffee at all.Until recently, coffee and tea were rarely thought of as drugs of abuse, even though it is c... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1432666 Fri, 09 May 2008 19:38:00 +0100 1432666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1416761&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fshattered.html Oh my goodness I'm so tired. The kind of tired where if I stand up for any longer than a couple of minutes I make sure there are no sharp or pointy objects that I could injure myself on should my legs give out from beneath me. This is going to make the evening shift I have tonight a bit of a problem!I'm going to go grab an espresso and pray that it does the trick! (Source: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med) I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1416761 Fri, 02 May 2008 19:43:00 +0100 1416761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1352006&cid=t_106883_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2008%2F4%2F5%2Fmedical-myth-1-drink-8-glasses-of-water-a-day.html By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.D A recent editorial in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology reviewing all the evidence to back up the claims of “drink 8 glasses of water a day” drew my attention to the whole subject of “medical myths”. Every physician could attest to episodes of irate true believers refusing to accept any criticism or skepticism. To my astonishment, I came across many physicians who vehemently believe in those urban myths. It is a curious observation of mine: There exists an inverse correlation between the amount and quality of the evidence and temperature: the less light the greater the heat. It is as if you attacked a central tenet of their beliefs, shaking up their view of the world. Even in scientific meetings I have witnessed many hea... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1352006 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:59:29 +0100 1352006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1272746&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fattention-fellow-coffee-lovers.html The new Starbucks Honey Latte. Quite possibly the tastiest thing ever to touch my circumvallate papillae. (Seriously Cal, go try it!) (Source: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med) I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1272746 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:46:00 +0100 1272746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1272764&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fand-now-for-some-humour.html You know it's exam season when:1) You're so focused on studying that you forget to eat, and only realize you've missed meals when you get home at bedtime and wonder why you're so hungry. 2) You've replaced at least half of your blood volume with caffeine. 3)Your roommates look really, really suprised to see you.4) Your verbal skills have disintegrated to the point where your study group communicates with grunts and sighs because talking would take too many precious neurons.5) When you do talk, you're so out of it that conversations come out like this: "Yeah, uh, you know, the thing..." "Whaaaa? Sorry, huh? Oh, right, the thing..."6) Showering is the best part of the day.7) You talk about napping the way some talk about the holy grail.8) You can't wait for Saturday, because that means that ... I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1272764 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:02:00 +0100 1272764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1191603&cid=t_106883_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2F226611912%2F It may come as quite a shock to those type 2 diabetics who regularly consume caffeine to hear that studies are now showing that caffeine raises blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. I’m a regular diet coke drinker and I thought that because there is no sugar in diet coke it was safe for me to drink regularly…I was wrong. The American Diabetes Association announced the findings of a Duke University study which showed that caffeine raised the blood glucose levels of type 2 diabetics throughout the day and especially after meals. But I thought caffeine was ok for diabetics? Continue Reading Caffeine Raises Blood Sugar Levels In Type 2 Diabetics (Source: Battle Diabetes Blog) Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1191603 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:59:50 +0100 1191603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1184760&cid=t_106883_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F224881823%2F Last week, came out interesting new findings on ovarian cancer. New developments revealed that cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption do not have an effect on ovarian cancer risk. However, caffeine intake may lower the risk of developing ovarian cancer, particularly in women not using hormones. Such were the findings published in the March 1, 2008 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. There was no association between current or past smoking and ovarian cancer risk, however smoking status, duration, and pack-years were significantly associated with risk of mucinous tumors, a rare form of ovarian cancer. The authors also found no association between alcohol consumption and ovarian cancer risk. However they observed an inverse trend of risk with total caf... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1184760 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:56 +0100 1184760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1173122&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F01%2F23%2Fcaffeine-can-be-found-in-the-strangest-places%2F                                                                  (photo credit) With a recent study indicating that pregnant women consuming 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day increase their risk of miscarriage, it’s important to know what products contain caffeine and how much. Caffeine, of course, is mostly found in coffee, chocolate, coke, and energized soft drinks. But it seems that it can also be found in the strangest places. For example… Shower Shock Soap Running late with no time for a morning coffee. No problem - just lather up with the Shower Shock Soap. It smells of peppermint but it contains enough caffeine to let you absorb 200 mg per wash. Snack Foods In a place where no food or fluids are allow... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1173122 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:51:33 +0100 1173122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1149651&cid=t_106883_122_f&fid=34755&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropsychological.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fneuropsychology-abstract-of-day-desires.html Okay, sitting in a coffeehouse right now, how could I not choose this abstract!West O, & Roderique-Davies G. Development and initial validation of a caffeine craving questionnaire. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2008 Jan; 22(1):80-91.Department of Psychology, HaSS, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL, UK.Craving for caffeine has received little empirical attention, despite considerable research into the potential for caffeine dependence. The main aim of this study was to develop, and initially validate, a multi-item, multidimensional instrument to measure cravings for caffeine. Participants were 189 caffeine consumers who completed the Questionnaire of Caffeine Cravings, which was based on the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU), in one of five naturally occurring periods of abs... BrainBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1149651 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:12:00 +0100 1149651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1147253&cid=t_106883_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F01%2F13%2Ftoo-much-stress-to-sleep%2F Anyone who has ever said that working full time and going to school is easy, must be as close to super-human as it gets. For the past two and a half years I’ve been doing it and every single day I ask myself why. Well, once I made it through the first semester I figured – “I might as well go ahead because I already paid for a semester”. Four semesters later when I took ‘internal uses of accounting’, I found out that after you pay for something it’s considered a ‘sunk cost’, so you shouldn’t base your decisions on what you’ve already paid for. But by then it was really too late; I put myself through so much misery already I just had to finish my masters for posterity sake. Well, I’m barreling down on my last semester here and also recovering from a serious medical... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1147253 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:13:30 +0100 1147253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1131712&cid=t_106883_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F211799560%2F A study shows how Caffeine regulates alternative splicing in a subset cancer-associated genes including the transcription factor and tumor suppressor KLF6 through the splicing factor SC35.  There is a necessary "caffeine response element" in the intron of KLF6 which plays a role in the splice-site choice, although caffeine induces up-regulation of SC35 and over-expression of SC35 is sufficient to mimic the caffeine response. © Jason Stajich for Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics, 2008. | Permalink | No comment Add to del.icio.us Search blogs linking this post with Technorati Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under alternative splicing, gene regulation. (Source: Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics) Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1131712 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:54:29 +0100 1131712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1126434&cid=t_106883_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F210065916%2F We admit to loving coffee, but a few researchers say they have found something better - a shpritz that may be able to treat sleepiness. The nasal spray contains a naturally occurring brain hormone called orexin A, and a study found it reversed the effects of sleep deprivation in monkeys, allowing them to perform like well-rested monkeys on cognitive tests, according to Wired magazine. Its first use will probably be to treat severe sleep disorder narcolepsy. This may represent “a totally new route for increasing arousal, and the new study shows it to be relatively benign,” Jerome Siegel, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA and a co-author of the study, which was published last week in The Journal of Neuroscience. “It reduces sleepiness without causing edginess.” In th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1126434 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:50:31 +0100 1126434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1119438&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fgrande-lactosefree-nonfat-nofoam.html I was in Starbucks a little while ago, and the woman behind me in line ordered a drink that was literally 20 words long. There were so many specifics that barista had to take a breath three times while calling it out after it was made. As soon as the door closed behind this particular customer, the entire cafe burst out into laughter. * * * * * *While out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping a couple of days ago, I discovered a drive-through Starbucks. I haven't tried it out, but I'm intrigued! * * * * * *Seeing as my parents live in a little tiny town where there is a gas station and a general store and not much else, I've been in Starbucks-less-ness while I've been visiting. Consequently I've developed my own recipe for specialty coffee:1. Fill 1/... I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1119438 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:47:00 +0100 1119438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1019573&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fproof-that-universe-still-loves-me.html I've been working like a mad woman to get ready for my midterms this week, and I'm getting pretty tuckered out from it. I've been craving a nice big Starbucks coffee all day, but I was completely out of spending money for the week so I didn't think that was possible. Then on impulse, I checked an account that I used in the summer and haven't looked at since, expecting it to be empty. Whatta ya know, I got another paycheque that I had forgotten about! Not a big paycheque mind you, but enough to make me a happy happy (soon to be caffeinated) girl! If you'll excuse me, I need to go and get myself a lovely specialty coffee, and then memorize a whackload of bacterial and parasitic infections! (Source: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med) I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1019573 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:10:00 +0100 1019573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1012448&cid=t_106883_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F181144930%2F Put that Red Bull down… and the can of Rock Star as well! The “high energy” drinks are not so hot for your heart. This isn’t brain surgery, caffeine raises the ol’ blood pressure thus cardiac issues. Shortly after consumption, your systolic rate increases by over 7.5% and diastolic raises 7% and heart rate is up 7-10 beats per minute. And why is this? Here ya go… Most energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and taurine, an amino acid also found in protein-containing foods such as meats and fish. Both have had effects on heart function and blood pressure in some studies. In contrast, “sports drinks” in general contain various mixtures of water, sugars and salts alone, without chemicals aimed at increasing “energy” or alertnes... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1012448 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:37:49 +0100 1012448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=992256&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Frandom.html I would just like to point out that the very cute 1st year med student is looking even more adorable than usual today! Tanya is meeting me at the library later (I'm going to interview her in preparation for the exam tomorrow! Jess was kind enough to let me interview her yesterday!) and we'll drool over him together :)Another random thought: coffee makes me tremendously happy, and self-confident and studious. No wonder I'm having trouble giving it up!Must go back to cramming for communication in health care, the exam is tomorrow! (Source: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med) I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=992256 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:30:00 +0100 992256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=971382&cid=t_106883_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F10%2F23%2Fonly-older-women-benefit-from-a-caffeine-boost-sorry-guys.html by Pat Salber, MDThere is a short article by Nicholas Bakalar from NY Times News Service in local papers today.  The jist of the article is that the amount of caffeine in three cups of coffee or tea each day may help older women maintain mental sharpness - unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be an effect in older men."Le Study" is from French researchers and is published in the journal Neurology in August 2007.  Karen Ritchie, a researcg durectir with the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research is the lead author.  The study included more than 7,000 men and women, average age 74 years old, who were followed for over four years.  They were asked about their coffee and tea intake and their mental acuity was measured by st... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=971382 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:01:00 +0100 971382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=986083&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fwonderful-discovery.html The health sciences cafeteria makes half-decent coffee, but it's not wonderful or anything. The aforementioned cafeteria is closed on the weekends, and the hospital attached to the university has coffee that is worse than bathwater, so the answer to this caffeine deprivation has been mainly vending machine coffee, and occasionally biking 20 minutes to the nearest Starbucks... that is, until last weekend. Carissa and I made a wonderful discovery: the children's hospital, which is attached via overpass to the library, has a Starbucks! This is a double edged sword however, as the [four dollar] coffee is excellent, but unless I'm planning on paying the Barista's tuition as well as my own, I'm going to have to switch back to [85 cent]vending machine coffee. (Source: I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Jus... I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=986083 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:01:00 +0100 986083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966598&cid=t_106883_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F172369649%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966598 Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:58:24 +0100 966598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=986089&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36658&url=http%3A%2F%2Fxavier-emmanuelle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fstudying-like-mad.html Quote of the day: "Yeah, we can treat N. Meningitidis with penicillin, or with third generation cephalosporins."- Me!! I can't believe that actually came out of my mouth! That means that I must actually be learning something, yippee! (And yes, I forgot to mention chloramphenicol, but I'm terrible with antibiotic names so I'm still quite impressed). I'm on hour 6 of studying today, and my brain is starting to be rather uncooperative. The plan is to study for another hour or two here at the library, and then bike to Starbucks and study there for awhile. I'm really anxious to try the peppermint frapuccino recommended by Frectis, and I think the bike might do me some good in terms of regaining some brain functioning. Anyways, I have a TON of work left to do, so I'll go memorize some more vacci... I'm Not Anti-Social, I'm Just Pre-Med blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=986089 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:32:00 +0100 986089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=867437&cid=t_106883_107_f&fid=35670&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanteriorcommissure.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fquick-note-on-my-coffee-addiction.html I quit drinking coffee exactly 11 days ago. Following a massive two-day headache while my body detoxified, I actually felt pretty good. Less tired, more energetic, a couple of extra dollars in my pocket.Then I see articles like this and break like a skinny little twig. I'm happily sipping my first cup since then.At least it packs a bit more punch than it used to. Maybe my brief hiatus downregulated my adenosine receptors. I remain, however, a caffeine-sensitive individual. (Source: The Anterior Commissure) The Anterior Commissure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=867437 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:20:00 +0100 867437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=814189&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F21%2Fred-bull-overdose-stops-mans-heart%2F Filed under: Diet, Products, Men Heart HealthEver wondered what would happen if you overdosed on Red Bull? Answer: your heart could stop ticking. I am not kidding.Australian man, Matthew Penbross (28), found that out recently after drinking eight of the super-highly caffeinated beverages during a five hour period. I guess eight is his unlucky number, because after downing that last one he collapsed. An ambulance was called and the first aid crew found Penbross having a heart attack. Realizing his heart had stopped, they had to use a defibrillator to get his heart pumping again. The obvious question: why was he drinking so much darn Red Bull?? Answer: he was competing in a motocross (motorcycle racing) event and wanted to get his adrenalin pumping. "It was to get a bit of a buzz and keep do... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=814189 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 814189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=948688&cid=t_106883_93_f&fid=36525&url=http%3A%2F%2Fuvamedicine.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F12%2Fsurgical-clerkship-101-part-3%2F This is the last in my series about surgical clerkship. In this essay, I thought I would address some of the things that can go wrong and present some strategies to fix them or do “damage control”. Misunderstandings or Miscommunication - Communication in medicine - any specialty- is a key component. Learning to listen carefully to your patients, your colleagues and your teachers is of paramount importance. Sometimes anxiety or time prevents you from actually “hearing” the message. This happens to everyone and especially to people who are trying to juggle several tasks at the same time. If you make a mistake, own up to it, apologize and move on. Don’t internalize and don’t personalize anything on any clinical rotation. It is very easy to miscommunicate wh... NJBMD's Blog from Student Doctor Network blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=948688 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:11:09 +0100 948688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=874664&cid=t_106883_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org Irani: Prolonged exposure to sunlight, besides other factors leads to skin cancer. In 2007 alone, 1,000,000 cases of skin (non-melanoma) cancer have been estimated, with nearly 2000 people being killed by the disease. Though it is not always possible to change one’s job requirements to go out and travel in the sun, change in your “lifestyle” can be an answer to the deadly disease. If you are an exercise freak, just add to it a cup of that refreshing coffee – and you are at the least risk of developing skin cancer! Yes, by building up this healthy but simple habit, you may actually reduce your risk from the painful and killer disease. This combination of exercise and caffeine may help bringing in a revolutionary remedy to the growing skin cancer cases across the world. Dr.... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=874664 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:09:26 +0100 874664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=755626&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F24%2Ftrans-fats-banned-from-seattle-area-restaurants%2F Filed under: Type 2, Diet, Lifestyle, Daily NewsKing County, Washington - following in the footsteps of New York - has banned restaurants from cooking foods in trans fats. King County is home to Seattle, the city famous for its generous rainfall and equally generous caffeine intake. The new rule stipulates that, in addition to the trans fats ban, all eateries in the Seattle-area must also provide nutritional information about menu items. The trans fats ban was passed by the King County Board of Health in an effort to stem soaring rates of illnesses that are linked to obesity, like type 2 diabetes. Board members and their supporters (including a representative from the American Diabetes Association) argue the change will help turn the tide by improving eating habits. Their opponents, howeve... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=755626 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 755626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=744957&cid=t_106883_107_f&fid=35670&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanteriorcommissure.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fmia.html I've been awful about blogging lately. My posts are getting sadly sporatic. But I've been deep in thesis proposal-writing mode.My life has included four major staples for the past two weeks:1. my (new!) laptop2. eyedrops for long days staring at a computer screen3. a fifteen-coffee per day habit4. an unplugged internet jack, to prevent procrastination...with #3 probably ranking highest in importance.Anyone know any good science jokes to lighten the mood around here?UPDATE: I just emailed my first draft of the whole thing, weighing in at a respectable 147 pgs, to my advisor. Ahhh, bliss. Until I get it back w/ red marks all over it. (Source: The Anterior Commissure) The Anterior Commissure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=744957 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:48:00 +0100 744957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693044&cid=t_106883_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fcaffeine_challenge_induced_panic_attacks_in_patients_with_pa.htm Marlene Busko June 22, 2007 - Patients with panic disorder or with major depression and panic attacks were more likely than control subjects to have panic attacks after drinking a high dose of caffeine, according to results of a small study by Isabella Nascimento, MD, and colleagues at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. These findings were presented in a poster at the American Psychiatric Association 2007 Annual Meeting, in San Diego, California. The study was also published (abstract) in the May-June issue of Comprehensive Psychiatry. More...   (Medscape - free registration may be required) © 2007 Medscape (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693044 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 08:15:00 +0100 693044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651882&cid=t_106883_107_f&fid=35670&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanteriorcommissure.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fjust-another-manictuesday.html I have had way way way WAY too much caffeine today.Which, luckily, meant I accomplished more today than I have in a week. Hurrah! Accordingly, I've (respectfully) made an addition to Jorge Cham's grad student motivational graph:If that little peak were obnoxiously loud red or manically hot pink, it'd mimic my mental state pretty darn closely. UPDATE:All right, in response to a comment that was just posted on caffeinated soap, I'll cite this article that assessed the permeability and transdermal absorption of three difference compounds - one of which is caffeine - on human skin grafts (yes, ew).The most relevant results are found on the graph on p828, where the permeability of caffeine (abbreviated 'CF' and marked w/ filled triangles) is measured over time. I'm no pharmacologist, but that l... The Anterior Commissure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651882 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:48:00 +0100 651882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=499194&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F24%2Fcaffeine-impairs-sugar-metabolism%2F Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Diet, Research, ProductsCaffeine intake makes insulin more resistant to changes in blood sugar levels, Canadian researchers report. The researchers evaluated sugar metabolism in 23 men before and after a three-month exercise program. Before and during the exercise program, the men were given caffeine or a placebo. The subjects included 8 sedentary lean men, 7 obese men with type 2 diabetes, and 8 obese men without diabetes. Before the exercise program, caffeine reduced insulin sensitivity by 33% in the lean and obese men and 37% in the obese men with diabetes compared to placebo. After the exercise program, insulin sensitivity fell 23% after caffeine intake in the lean men, 26% in the obese men, and 36% in the obese diabetic men. Comparison of the two stud... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=499194 Sat, 24 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 499194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=489982&cid=t_106883_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F22%2Fa-socially-responsible-super-hero-to-fight-childhood-obesity%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, ProductsUnless public health takes urgent measures, the Institute of Medicine warned in a report one in five children in the United States will be obese by the year 2010. In response to this alarming message, Just Different Specialty Tea Company now offers Captain Teao's organic Tea for Kids - a calorie and caffeine free kid-friendly beverage. The tea is a refreshing drink that provides a healthy beverage option in the fight against childhood obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It is made with organic rooibos and is available in several flavors, such as: Very Vanilla, Orangie Orange, Lip Licking Lemon, Mango Madness and Peachy Keen Peach. Captain Teao is the first character of his kind. He is a fictional, fun lo... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=489982 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 489982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=730532&cid=t_106883_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fcoffee-and-your-heart.html Recent research shows that coffee drinkers come in two flavors: “fast” metabolizers and “slow” metabolizers. People with a particular gene variant are more vulnerable to it’s effects. The gene in question controls the production of a key enzyme, known as CYP1A2, responsible for metabolizing coffee in the liver. People who inherit the slow version face a greater risk of non-fatal heart attacks at high levels of caffeine intake.“The association between coffee and myocardial infarction [heart attack] was found only among individuals with the slow CYP1A2 allele [gene variant], which impairs caffeine metabolismm, suggesting that caffeine plays a role in the association,” the authors wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).The University of Toronto’s Ahmed... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=730532 Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:13:00 +0100 730532