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 'families'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:55:00 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169666&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35095&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAutismsEdges%2F%7E3%2Fe9oWI2GQiIc%2Fautism-and-airlines-how-can-airlines.html (Source: Autism's Edges) Autism's Edges blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169666 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:52:00 +0100 5169666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140115&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35095&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAutismsEdges%2F%7E3%2FOTqvkLjy6TQ%2Fvirgin-america-no-accommodations-for.html (Source: Autism's Edges) Autism's Edges blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140115 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:18:00 +0100 5140115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130968&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35095&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAutismsEdges%2F%7E3%2FxgguL-RQVg8%2Foctopuss-garden-by-sea.html (Source: Autism's Edges) Autism's Edges blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130968 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:18:00 +0100 5130968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125970&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-purpose-of-alateen%2F Alateen is part of Al-Anon, which helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend. Alateen is a recovery program for young people. Alateen groups are sponsored by Al-Anon members. The program of recovery is adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous and is based upon the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts of Service. The only requirement of membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend. Al-Anon/Alateen is not affiliated with any other organization or outside entity. What Alateen members learn compulsive drinking is a disease. they can detach themselves emotionally from the drinker’s problems while continuing to love the person. they are not the cause of anyone else’... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125970 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:49:32 +0100 5125970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086454&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35095&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAutismsEdges%2F%7E3%2FlTdyxsGy5AA%2Fat-last-we-are-muggles.html (Source: Autism's Edges) Autism's Edges blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086454 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:57:00 +0100 5086454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028456&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F12%2Fhow-to-reach-members-of-the-military-and-their-families%2F As I was researching The Happiness Project, I was struck by the fact that I often found it more helpful to read about one person’s idiosyncratic happiness project than to read about general principles applying to all humankind or studies applying to large populations. For some reason, reading about Thoreau’s very individual decision to move to Walden Pond, or St. Therese’s struggle to stay patient with the nun who made clicking noises during evening prayers, was what taught me most about myself. I’ve heard from people whose lives are very different from mine, on the surface — but it turns out that we face many of the same challenges in our happiness projects. Here’s a question for you, readers: I’ve been steadily getting email from members of the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028456 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:06:59 +0100 5028456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984499&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Ffamilies-affected-by-mental-illness-feel-little-support-from-churches%2F A new study conducted at Baylor University indicated that families with a mentally ill member would like their congregation to offer more assistance. The study, published in the journal “Mental Health, Religion and Culture,” was the first to look at how mental illness of a family member influences an individual’s relationship with the church. “Families with mental illness stand to benefit from their involvement with a congregation, but our findings suggest that faith communities fail to adequately engage these families because they lack awareness of the issues and understanding of the important ways that they can help,” said Diana Garland, Ph.D., dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work and co-author of the Baylor study. The study surveyed nearly 6,000 participant... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984499 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:11:12 +0100 4984499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968578&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F25%2Fwhen-your-workplace-is-toxic%2F If you find yourself in a toxic relationship, you always have the option of ditching the friend and moving on. However, when the environment in which you make your bread and butter damages your self-esteem and robs you of self-confidence, you can’t exactly walk out… if you want to eat that night. What to do? More than a few friends have complained to me recently about toxic workplaces and their dilemma of how to live sanely within insane walls. So I thought about this more, consulted some experts, and offer a few suggestions. 1. Keep the focus on you. Just like you learn in a 12-step groups for friends and families of alcoholics, the only person you can totally control is yourself, so it’s best to begin there. Theoretically, no one can make you feel a certain way unless you allo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968578 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:18:01 +0100 4968578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952797&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FczovuTGcLYA%2F By Alan ReynoldsRobert Reich posted a letter in June 20 Wall Street Journal responding to my article of June 16, “Why 70% Tax Rates Won’t Work.” He argues that I distort his proposal (though I wasn’t talking about his proposal) and ignore his argument that, “Giving the middle class more purchasing power by lowering its rates while raising the rates at the top will help spur [economic] growth.” This strikes me as a futile effort to change the subject.  Since I proved that past tax rates of 50-70% on relatively modest incomes raised less revenue than a top tax rate of 28%, how could Reich’s proposal of 50-70% rates at incomes above $500,000 raise more revenue?   And if 50-70% tax rates would not raise more revenue, then how could he possibly promise “substantial rate ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952797 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:05:45 +0100 4952797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934330&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F16%2Ffresh-air-fund-needs-host-families-2011%2F Imagine growing up in a city environment where you rarely see a tree, a patch of grass, or a bird. Imagine having nowhere to play a game of baseball or play catch with your dog. Imagine a place where the only thing summer brings is sweltering indoor temperatures, with no vacation or fun outside of playing in the fire-hydrant spray. For many children, this is inner-city life and the only life they know. But the Fresh Air Fund is a non-profit that has been giving free summer experiences to poor children in New York City since 1877. During that time, they’ve helped millions of children have a very different kind of summer vacation — a chance to breath some fresh air in a different, less urban environment. They need more host families living in a northeastern state this summer. Continue re... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934330 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:11:23 +0100 4934330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841451&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwW03XIpnT-Y%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonOklahoma has just joined the ranks of a half-dozen other states by enacting a K-12 education tax credit program. Under the new program, individuals or businesses that donate to non-profit School Tuition Organizations receive a tax cut worth 50 percent of the donation. STOs then use the funds to help low income families afford private schooling. Journalists for the Associated Press and countless other media outlets routinely refer to donations made under education tax credit programs as “state money.” According to the United States Supreme Court’s recent ACSTO v. Winn decision, “that is incorrect.” This is a matter of settled law. To call these private donations “state money” is to misrepresent the facts and mislead readers. It w... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841451 Tue, 17 May 2011 13:13:01 +0100 4841451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828850&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FZQVsgrpqZaY%2F By Walter OlsonCato scholars have been appropriately scathing about the federal government’s 2009 “cash for clunkers” program, which paid several billion taxpayer dollars to have older cars scrapped and their engines destroyed, with owners getting vouchers toward new vehicles. When Chris Edwards nominated cash-for-clunkers as the “dumbest government program ever,” he listed among its effects: “Low-income families, who tend to buy used cars, were harmed because the clunkers program will push up used car prices.” Guess what’s the newest trouble to hit the car business? As news outlets around the country are reporting, the price of used cars has lately soared to a modern-day record, with some cars commanding more used than they sold for when new... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828850 Mon, 16 May 2011 19:17:26 +0100 4828850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813245&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGSv73gL_4_A%2F By Michael F. CannonDefending ObamaCare in federal court yesterday, the Obama administration’s acting solicitor general, Neal K. Katyal, peddled the widely discredited claim that the uninsured increase your and my health insurance premiums by $1,000: “When people self-finance their health care,” Katyal contended, “that raises the cost of health care overall by $43 billion a year, and that raises the average family’s premiums by $1,000 a year. That will price untold numbers of people out of the market.” That estimate comes from two left-wing groups, Families USA and the Center for American Progress Action Fund. When President Obama himself made this claim, FactCheck.org reported: [Obama] said ”the average family pays a thousand dollars in extra premiums to pay for pe... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813245 Wed, 11 May 2011 17:47:04 +0100 4813245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803394&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35095&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAutismsEdges%2F%7E3%2FcyX7jdY3GIg%2Fhappy-mothers-day-2011.html (Source: Autism's Edges) Autism's Edges blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803394 Sun, 08 May 2011 15:07:00 +0100 4803394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775499&cid=t_111598_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-research%2Fadhd-new-research-gives-families-hope-and-more-treatment-choices.php The results from ADHD new research has been giving kids and parents new hope. What was originally seen as a behavior problem is now viewed as a medical condition with real symptoms. As a result, a variety of treatments have been studied so that parents and physicians can better address children’s needs. The new studies for ADHD have looked at this disorder and determined multiple treatment modalities that can give a better overall result. While some parents believe that stimulants and other drugs are the only solution, other parents are using biofeedback, a good diet and natural remedies with great success. The reason prescription medications are so well known is that they are advertised in the media and promoted more often by the medical establishment. One of the alternatives tha... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775499 Sun, 01 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4775499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615222&cid=t_111598_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeilVerselsHealthcareItBlog%2F%7E3%2FPH-LM6dEKO4%2F On Jan. 28, Ron Pollack, executive director of the liberal advocacy group Families USA, introduced President Obama at a Families USA event by saying, “Numerous presidents over many decades tried to secure health reform legislation that would move us toward high-quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans. You, Mr. President, actually achieved it.” The crowd ate it up. During the contentious debate over health reform in 2009 and 2010, countless lobbyists, pundits and politicians touted “quality healthcare” as a reason to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Some called for the same “Cadillac” health plans that members of Congress provided for themselves. Many opponents of the legislation countered by saying the U.S. already has the &#... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615222 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:10:14 +0100 4615222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525053&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F26%2F10-forms-of-twisted-thinking%2F Both David Burns (bestselling author of Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy and Abraham Low (founder of Recovery, Inc.) teach techniques to analyze negative thoughts (or identify distorted thinking — what psychologists call “cognitive distortions”) so to be able to disarm and defeat them. Since Low’s language is a bit out-dated, I list below Burns’ “Ten Forms of Twisted Thinking,” (adapted from his “Feeling Good” book, a classic read) categories of dangerous ruminations, that when identified and brought into your consciousness, lose their power over you. 1. All-or-nothing thinking (a.k.a. my brain and the Vatican’s): You look at things in absolute, black-and-white categories. 2. Overgeneralization (also a favorite): You view a nega... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525053 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:17:59 +0100 4525053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495186&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FKezm3WhuHEE%2F By Michael F. CannonThe Associated Press reports that Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R) told the Juneau Chamber of Commerce that he will not be implementing ObamaCare: "The state of Alaska will not pursue unlawful activity to implement a federal health care regime that has been declared unconstitutional by a federal court," Parnell told the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, to applause, Thursday. The AP included a couple of interesting comments from ObamaCare supporters Timothy Jost, a law professor at Washington & Lee University, and Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. Jost described Judge Roger Vinson (to whom Parnell referred) as "one renegade judge," when in fact two federal judges have struck down ObamaCare's individual mandate as unconstitutional.  (Since only two federal jud... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495186 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:01:58 +0100 4495186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482757&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fworking-mom-overweight-kid%2F2011.02.15 A study about working mothers is getting a lot of buzz. The official title of the paper is ”Maternal Employment, Work Schedules, and Childen’s Body Mass Index.” Most media summaries, however, are entitled something like this: “Mothers Who Work Have Fat Kids.” I’m not kidding. I hate seeing studies and media reports like this. Not because they’re not helpful or worthy of our time, but because they examine the effect of mothers working — not mothers and fathers working — on our childrens’ health. In addition, the media/blogosphere goes bananas. This is the stuff that sells — studies on working moms get our attention. They feed the so-called “mommy wars.” They suggest that with the rise of women in the work force over the last five decades, our... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482757 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:00:45 +0100 4482757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470532&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Falcoholism-affects-the-entire-family-2%2F …Not Just the AlcoholicHow many people are involved in the life of any one alcoholic? Family, friends, employer, co-workers… It is important to remember that all these people are affected by alcoholism-not just the alcoholic. Many of them spend a lot of time and energy trying to "fix" the alcoholic: covering up for them, punishing them, taking responsibility for them.For over 56 years, Al-Anon Family Groups (including Alateen for younger members) has been providing help and hope to families and friends of alcoholics. In non-professional, mutual support meetings, members share their own experience, strength, and hope to help one another to recover from the effects of alcoholism. Living with alcoholism has been described as living on a merry-go-round, where each family memb... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470532 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:25:00 +0100 4470532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266280&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fal-anon-mp3-podcasts%2F An official Al-anon MP3 websiteFor over 55 years, Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) has been offering strength and hope for friends and families of problem drinkers. It is estimated that each alcoholic affects the lives of at least four other people… alcoholism is truly a family disease. No matter what relationship you have with an alcoholic, whether they are still drinking or not, all who have been affected by someone else’s drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship.New Podcast website Welcome to “First Steps to Al-Anon Recovery” from Al-Anon Family Groups. This is a series of podcasts to discuss some common concerns for people who have been affected by someone else’s drinking.Drinking During the HolidaysJanie, Ern... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266280 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:16:27 +0100 4266280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175899&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35124&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspergerwoman%2F%7E3%2F90_Heue8ALA%2Fnew-beginning.html It has been a while. Sorry if you stopped by here once and not found a new posting. I regret to announce that what has been a wonderful, loving and 14 months lasting love affair has come to an end. My boyfriend and I have split. No feelings of hate, it just had to be this way. We hopefully can remain to be good friends. It is strange to loose a stephchild and in laws this way. Sad. Both families were happy with our partners. Well, they say, evevery time a door is closed, a window has opened somewhere else. Autisme and loving can mix together, I know now for sure. Emotions were intense during the last week. Been working hard on my therapy. As I walked down the city today it seemed being occupied with all thoughs on our break up, my fears had almost gone. Perhaps one needs a certain level o... The Art of Being Asperger Woman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175899 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:41:00 +0100 4175899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086253&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FvbfEM-_juzE%2F By Michael F. CannonHere’s a poor, unsuccessful letter I sent to the editor of the Los Angeles Times: Three and a half million Californians may become eligible for subsidized private health insurance in 2014 under ObamaCare [“3.5 million Californians would be eligible for healthcare tax credits, study finds,” October 6], but those subsidies will not “slash the cost” of their health insurance.  As ObamaCare causes health insurance premiums to rise by as much as 30 percent, the private-insurance subsidies will shift those costs to taxpayers.  A bipartisan majority of Americans opposes ObamaCare in part because such shell games increase costs rather than reduce them. Cost-Slashing? No, Cost-Shifting. is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086253 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:52:22 +0100 4086253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4001808&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Falcoholism-is-a-disease-of-the-family-2%2F Alcoholism; a disease of families Not only is there a significant genetic component that is passed from generation to generation, but the drinking problems of a single family member affect all other family members. The family environment and genetics can perpetuate a vicious and destructive cycle. Many marriages break up over a husband’s or wife’s drinking. Domestic violence typically erupts when one or both spouses have been drinking, and drinking makes domestic violence more dangerous. Families play a critical role in recovery from alcoholism. They can be instrumental in encouraging a family member with alcoholism to seek treatment. Strong family support also increases the chances for successful recovery. Alcoholism and Problem Drinking – Pervasive in Family Life More than h... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4001808 Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:39:37 +0100 4001808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889072&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FvRa2WL-7944%2F Politico has obtained and published a confidential messaging-strategy presentation that essentially admits ObamaCare supporters are losing the battle for public opinion.  The presentation was delivered to professional leftists by the left-wing Herndon Alliance, based on public opinion research by Democratic pollsters John Anzalone, Celinda Lake, and Stan Greenberg, in a forum organized by the left-wing group Families USA,  “one of the central groups in the push for the initial legislation.”  It is a stark admission that the public has not warmed to the new health care law, despite predictions that they would do so.  Here’s how Politico describes the presentation and its implications: Key White House allies are dramatically shifting their attempts to defend health care... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889072 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:04:57 +0100 3889072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3885462&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F08%2Ffacebook-places-sharing%2F I asked my teen what she thought about Facebook Places and she had two responses: 1. What's the point? 2. I'd rather just post in my status update. (Source: Dr. Gwenn Is In) Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3885462 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:41:36 +0100 3885462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3872522&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fsocial-skills-only-children-arent-awkward%2F photo: Thinkstock New research shows that only children don’t have sub-par social skills in high school. There could be a social benefit to having brothers and sisters when children are in grade school, but by the time they reach adolescence, all of the other social interactions they’ve had in youth groups, sports, and clubs have eliminated the negative effect of not having siblings. That means you’ll have to find something else to blame for your awkwardness – Mom and Dad are off the hook. How do you think your siblings (or lack thereof) affected your social skills? via MSNBC Post from: BlissTree Social Skills: Only Children Aren't Awkward (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3872522 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:33:06 +0100 3872522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858387&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdetachment-with-love%2F Alcoholism is a family disease. Living with the effects of someone else’s drinking is too devastating for most people to bear without help. In Al-Anon we learn individuals are not responsible for another person’s disease or recovery from it. We let go of our obsession with another’s behavior and begin to lead happier and more manageable lives, lives with dignity and rights; lives guided by a Power greater than ourselves. In Al-Anon we learn: Not to suffer because of the actions or reactions of other people; Not to allow ourselves to be used or abused by others in the interest of another’s recovery; Not to do for others what they could do for themselves; Not to manipulate situations so others will eat, go to bed, get up, pay bills, not drink; Not to cover up for an... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858387 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:35:47 +0100 3858387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3730107&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=39090&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fhelpalcoholicfamily%2FxITS%2F%7E3%2FXl1i-YSK67c%2F I treat a number of alcoholic families where there are two alcoholic spouses. Their children are growing up in an incredibly toxic environment. What is the most interesting is that each spouse often accuses the other of being the more serious alcoholic. In this situation, both partners are giving the other spouse “permission” to drink. There is no voice of reason. What happens to these couples? The usual scenario that I witness is divorce. Here is why. Usually, the alcoholic wife or alcoholic husband at some point suffers a serious consequence from drinking whether it is a DUI, health problem (liver disease, pancreatitis), or job loss. Once one alcoholic spouse is put in the position to stop drinking alcohol, there is pressure on their partner to do the same. If one continues t... Alcoholic Spouse Advanced Help blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3730107 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:59:05 +0100 3730107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714450&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fawakening-your-sexuality%2F – A Recovery Book With candor and compassion, Stephanie Covington reminds us that recovery is about living life fully and completely and sexual recovery is integral to the fullness of your life. With comprehensive scope and individual focus, she addresses the following questions: How is women’s sexuality shaped by a male-based society? How do dysfunctional families influence a woman’s sexuality? What did the sexual revolution do for women? How are women affected by alcohol, drugs, and AIDS? What is the connection between sexuality and spirituality? How can recovery groups address sexual issues? Most important, Awakening Your Sexuality gives women the tools to process their sexual histories, understand their sexual selves, and create the sexual lives they want. C... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714450 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:26:00 +0100 3714450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695833&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FwiU-zMUiK7Y%2Fexperts-worry-that-reducing-salt-will-lead-to-iodine-deficiency.html How ironic. Iodized salt was introduced in the 1920s as a way to prevent iodine deficiency. It worked! But now, the American Thyroid Association is worried that if the sodium police get their way and people really start cutting back on salt, thyroid problems and birth defects could be an unintended consequence.  Your body needs iodine in order to produce thyroid hormone. Iodine deficiency is especially dangerous (and especially common) during pregnancy, when it can cause problems with the infant's neural development and lead to mental retardation. Some researchers are investigating whether low iodine levels during pregnancy might increase the risk of ADHD. Sodium is intake up but iodine intake is down Iodized salt is the primary source of iodine in the American diet. But even tho... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695833 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:29:33 +0100 3695833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690836&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealthcare-finance-and-poverty-fault-lines-intersected%2F2010.06.23 Solutions to problems are generally sought from within the problems themselves. Two recent examples are healthcare and finance. In both cases, the solutions are believed to be better-structured and regulated systems. In blogs, articles and speeches, I have stressed that — while there are myriad ways that healthcare can be improved — the real solutions to high healthcare spending lie outside of healthcare. Poverty and its associated manifestations are at the core of the healthcare spending crisis. The high costs of caring for the poor will continue to overwhelm the system, no matter how it’s structured and improved. Rather than looking for solutions through changes in process and regulation, the major solutions to healthcare’s excessive spending reside in areas such as ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690836 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:45:35 +0100 3690836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3672057&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=39090&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fhelpalcoholicfamily%2FxITS%2F%7E3%2FNg-NT4yhwuI%2F Are you living with an alcoholic? Do you have children at home? At first, your spouse may have been “abusing alcohol”, but life did not “center” around alcohol. However, over time, their alcohol consumption has increased. Somehow, both your lives now center around alcohol. You have become an “alcoholic family”. Here are typical characteristics of an alcoholic family: Your alcoholic spouse has quit participating in family activities because they are hungover or can’t be relied on to “show up”. You are in a caretaker role. You feel like a single parent. You feel like you are ” parenting” your alcoholic husband or alcoholic wife. Your children do not invite friends in an attempt to “hide” what their home life is li... Alcoholic Spouse Advanced Help blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3672057 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:36:14 +0100 3672057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618029&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35095&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAutismsEdges%2F%7E3%2FOEKtq4_yJWw%2Fblue-angels.html (Source: Autism's Edges) Autism's Edges blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618029 Mon, 31 May 2010 15:08:00 +0100 3618029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3612063&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FTPFst3GR8wo%2F Alateen is part of Al-Anon, which helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend. Alateen is a recovery program for young people. Alateen groups are sponsored by Al-Anon members. The program of recovery is adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous and is based upon the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts of Service. The only requirement of membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend. Al-Anon/Alateen is not affiliated with any other organization or outside entity. What Alateen members learn compulsive drinking is a disease. they can detach themselves emotionally from the drinker’s problems while continuing to love the person. they are not the cause of anyone else’... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3612063 Sat, 29 May 2010 16:11:00 +0100 3612063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603706&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2Fshow-23-preview-managing-familys-digital-footprints%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dshow-23-preview-managing-familys-digital-footprints Show 23 Preview: Managing Your Family’s Digital Footprints Do you what a digital footprint is? Do you know where your family leaves their digital footprints? Check out this week’s show to learn everything there is to know about digital footprints, how to track them down, keep tabs of them,  and keep everyone safe and sound! Show Date: Friday May 28, 2010 Show Time: Noon ET Show Page: www.blogtalkradio.com/drgwenn (image source) SHOW NUTS AND BOLTS Listening To The Show Live: You have 2 ways to listen to the show live 1. From my show site. On the day of the show, you’ll see the “play/chat” button when it’s show time. Click the “play/chat” button and you’ll hear the show live. If you don’t see it, just refresh the browser. 2. From any phone (land, cell ... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603706 Thu, 27 May 2010 14:01:00 +0100 3603706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595926&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FLkto19cqlIU%2Fwhats-for-lunch-once-school-is-out.html Q. The school year for our kids (6, 12, and 16) is coming to an end in a couple of weeks. I am already wondering what they are going to eat for lunch or during the day. Do you have any suggestions of a healthy lunch or snacks menu that I can prepare beforehand, since I work all day? They usually grab anything is available in the fridge or pantry but I would like to provide to them more nutritious alternatives. A.  No matter how many nutritious options you provide, kids are likely to to push them aside and reach instead for chips, snacks, and sweets.  I think your attempts to get your kids to go for nutritional alternatives will be more successful if you keep tempting but non-nutritious foods out of the house as much as possible.  As for what to leave in the fridge inste... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595926 Mon, 24 May 2010 16:05:58 +0100 3595926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3567942&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F15%2Fgo-to-your-graduation%2F Our regular contributor and one of the therapists here at Psych Central, Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D., has a great new article entitled, Yes, You Should Go to Your Graduation. It’s worth checking out if you’re a student facing the imminent graduation ceremony, or a parent of such a student. From mid-May well into June, my corner of the world is celebrating one graduation after another. With four colleges, a state university, two community colleges and more high schools and alternative schools than I can count within a 25-mile circle around my town, the hills are alive with the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance.” It’s the season when graduating seniors wear funny hats and walk across a stage or field or gym floor after what seems like an interminable wait. It’s a time whe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3567942 Sat, 15 May 2010 16:46:04 +0100 3567942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3564091&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2Ffacing-the-participation-gap-in-my-family%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfacing-the-participation-gap-in-my-family Do you have a technology participation gap in your family? We do. In fact, most families do somewhere. For us, we have a few older relatives who firmly believe that technology is for “the younger generation”. What’s interesting is that some of these people are not that old, at least not “old” as I definite it. One relative, for example, was a working woman in her younger days. Retired now, she never bought into any technology past the 1970s! Truly…beyond the automobile, refrigerator, TV, radio, dishwasher, washer and drier, she has seen no need for anything else. Although  she has grudgingly begun to use email and the web, she has deemed herself  ”old” and refused to use a cell phone or any other “high tech device”. Various rela... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3564091 Fri, 14 May 2010 14:18:10 +0100 3564091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3564092&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2Fshow-22-preview-my-unplugged-experiment-lessons-learned%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dshow-22-preview-my-unplugged-experiment-lessons-learned Show 22 Preview: My Unplugged Experiment Lessons Learned I recent had 2 weeks nearly unplugged, including some unplugged time with my kids – and survived! Tune into to hear about my ups, downs and lessons learned. Show Time: Noon ET Show Date: Friday May 14, 2010 SHOW NUTS AND BOLTS Listening To The Show Live: You have 2 ways to listen to the show live 1. From my show site. On the day of the show, you’ll see the “play/chat” button when it’s show time. Click the “play/chat” button and you’ll hear the show live. If you don’t see it, just refresh the browser. 2. From any phone (land, cell or skype) by calling 347-237-5194 Listening as a Registered Blog Talk Radio use Registering with Blog Talk Radio is free and allows you to participate in a live Chat during eac... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3564092 Fri, 14 May 2010 14:16:32 +0100 3564092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538381&cid=t_111598_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Ffv4UWoM0oyI%2F Despite the hits to revenue that some big drugmakers are blaming on health care reform, the legislation is long-term boost to the industry, given that the pool of customers will eventually widen. And to say thank you, PhRMA is sponsoring a re-election ad for Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader from Nevada, who is facing a tough re-election campaign. A recent poll found Reid garnering about 40 percent of the vote, while each of his three Republican opponents would grab roughly 50 percent (you can read more here). Meanwhile, 53 percent of voters in the state favor repeal of the recently-passed national health care plan. Presumably, they are not backers of Families USA, which also sponsored the ad - click here to watch. (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538381 Thu, 06 May 2010 16:03:41 +0100 3538381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3526854&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2Flessons-learned-from-dr-gwenns-2-week-unplugged-experiment%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dlessons-learned-from-dr-gwenns-2-week-unplugged-experiment Living unplugged. Pre-broadband I used to do it all the time.  In fact, it’s how we all lived. Post-broadband, it’s been exceptionally rare. Post-cell phone, iPhone especially, no way!  For the better part of the past 2 weeks, though, that’s exactly what I’ve managed to do…and it’s been wonderful! Here’s the synopsis of my “experiment”: During Turn Off Week, we reinforced the notion that a busy family is a family who doesn’t gravitate towards screens of any kind. We didn’t need to consciously think about what we were missing on TV or surfing the net because we were too busy doing other things. Being on vacation, that’s easy to accomplish. The goal now is to molt that vacation mentality to the every day down time of o... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3526854 Mon, 03 May 2010 11:39:27 +0100 3526854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3508457&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=39090&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fhelpalcoholicfamily%2FxITS%2F%7E3%2F9wmNpf3zG5Q%2F Do you ever wonder if your alcoholic husband or alcoholic wife will die from alcoholism? The late stages of alcoholism is characterized by a complete obsession with alcohol. Alcoholic spouses by this stage are utterly consumed by drinking. By now, your spouse is no longer working and depends on you for food, shelter, and alcohol. They have withdrawn completely from any kind of social life or even participation in the family. Is your alcoholic husband or alcoholic wife suffering from any of the following physical problems?  heart problems including high blood pressure? inability to absorb nutrients which has led to malnutrition? alcoholic liver disease such as cirrhosis? chronic pancreatitis? cancer? multiple black outs and poor memory (note: alcohol shrinks the brain)? As a psychiatrist... Alcoholic Spouse Advanced Help blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3508457 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:49:42 +0100 3508457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3502995&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=39090&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fhelpalcoholicfamily%2FxITS%2F%7E3%2FWZC9hTb8fGg%2F Are you living with an alcoholic wife and wish more than anything that she would quit drinking alcohol? Listen up! What kind of treatment might help her succeed? A very recent study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (by Barbara McCrady and Ellizabeth Epstein) showed that cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol dependent women, delivered during couples therapy worked better for maintaining sobriety than when it was delivered during individual therapy. It involved 20 sessions over 6 months. It is considered short term therapy. According to the authors of the study, 4-8% of women under the age of 44 are alcohol dependent and 65% of women who are alcohol dependent have another psychiatric diagnosis. Are you wondering what cognitive behavior therapy is? Cognitive b... Alcoholic Spouse Advanced Help blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3502995 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:05:07 +0100 3502995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487221&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Faway-and-unplugged-for-vacation%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Daway-and-unplugged-for-vacation I’m off on vacation and plan to stay unplugged while I’m gone in honor of this week’s Screen Turn Off Week. For inspiration to keep your screens off this week, check out the following links: Screens, Screens Everywhere and Time to Turn Them Off! A Dose of Dr. Gwenn Show 20: Surviving April Vacation Unplugged Whether you are working this week, away or on a staycation, I hope you find some unplugged time each day for yourself…and for your family. Power down, my friends, power down!! Related posts:Show 20 Preview: Surviving April Vacation Unplugged! Dr. Gwenn Is In is off on vacation! Happy Unplugged Holidays! (Source: Dr. Gwenn Is In) Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487221 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:00:01 +0100 3487221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3480940&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FUwBtgHpK-EA%2F Adult Children A recovery book for people outside alcoholic or addictive families. It is estimated that millions of people have grown up in alcoholic homes. But what about the rest of us? What about families that had no alcoholism, but did have perfectionism, workaholism, compulsive overeating, intimacy problems, depression, problems in expressing feelings, plus all the other personality traits that can produce a family system much like an alcoholic one? Countless millions of us struggle with these kinds of dysfunctions every day, and until very recently we struggled alone. Pulling together both theory and clinical practice, John and Linda Friel provide a readable explanation of what happened to us and how we can rectify it. - Order Today >> Adult Children of Dysfunctional Famil... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3480940 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:28:27 +0100 3480940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3475937&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fshow-20-preview-surviving-april-vacation-unplugged%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dshow-20-preview-surviving-april-vacation-unplugged Show 20 Preview: Spring Break Turn Off Week always falls during my kids’ Spring Vacation. Tune in as I talk about ways to deconnect, stay sane,  and why the timing is perfect for your family! Show Time: Noon pm ET Show Date: Friday April 16, 2010 Turn Off Information How to Keep Screens Off by Dr. Gwenn (Screens, Screens Everywhere and Time to Turn Them Off!!) Screen Time Cause Home Page American Academy of Pediatrics Media Use Resources SHOW NUTS AND BOLTS Listening To The Show Live: You have 2 ways to listen to the show live 1. From my show site. On the day of the show, you’ll see the “play/chat” button when it’s show time. Click the “play/chat” button and you’ll hear the show live. If you don’t see it, just refresh the browser. 2. From any phone (land, cell ... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3475937 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:54:51 +0100 3475937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3467941&cid=t_111598_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FVI5OgAOPPY4%2F Technology rules the world, from TV and the Internet to air traffic control and medical records. Everything and anything is technologically wired. High-tech advances have produced some amazing gadgets, and certainly make some aspects of life a lot easier. However, they can also make life extremely passive. Families and friends communicate via text and email. Kids play video games and surf the Web instead of reading books. Does technology own a lot of your life? For most of us, the answer is yes. “Creativity needs time, space, and silence, and we have deprived ourselves, even as adults, of those experiences,” says Susan Linn, a Boston-based psychologist, instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, on Washingtonian.com... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3467941 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:00:52 +0100 3467941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3454207&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fadult-children-of-alcoholics-can-practice-being-normal%2F Don't let the trust stop at birth “Sometimes I feel like I was raised by wolves,” sighed James, a 55-year-old man who grew up in a home with two alcoholic parents. “I know what it is to be codependent. I’ve gone through so much of my life guessing at what ‘normal’ is. It’s like trying to find your way through a dark woods without a compass.” According to Rosemary Hartman, supervisor of the Hazelden Family Program, reactions like James’ are typical for people who grew up in dysfunctional families. But acknowledging that there were issues that deeply affected the whole family system is an important first step toward emotional and spiritual healing. Hartman said this acknowledgment frequently happens when adults have their own children. “They want to be good parent... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3454207 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:25:00 +0100 3454207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3441067&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FUBRQnJKXiWM%2F In dysfunctional families, parents violate the boundaries of their children. Parents from these families; do not respect their children’s personal freedom and privacy, they discount their children’s feelings, do not honor their attempts at independent thinking and decision-making, and do not allow them to experience their impulses toward creativity, spirituality and self actualization. These deficits in the children’s development are revisited by problems in their adult relationships and careers, and with raising their own families. When parents disrespect a child’s boundaries, the child’s sense of self are compromised. This affects their; sense of autonomy, self-respect, feelings of effectiveness and making a difference. In place of a healthy sen... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3441067 Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:21:41 +0100 3441067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3399053&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Fif-you-missed-the-national-day-of-unplugging-pick-a-day-this-week-to-celebrate%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dif-you-missed-the-national-day-of-unplugging-pick-a-day-this-week-to-celebrate Last weekend, Friday to Saturday, was the National Day of Unplugging…and I missed it.  Even if I knew of it’s existence last week, I wouldn’t have been able to participate due to a deadline that actually couldn’t be missed. This isn’t a huge deal for me, though. I’ll just move this unplugged celebration to another day and it will be just as meaningful. My family loves to play around with holidays. For example, Passover is on Monday but with so many out of town relatives and interfaith marriages, we move the holiday to the nearest weekend so everyone can participate in the Sedar. This works well for those of us with kids in school who end up having homework regardless of participating in a Sedar and those of us who work and find mid-week Sedars a bit st... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3399053 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:40:03 +0100 3399053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3362587&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FQ9j37zO_ptc%2Fjuice-and-diabetes-risk.html Here's an interesting follow-up to my recent post How healthy is 100% fruit juice, really?. A large study, conducted in China finds that people who drink two or more servings of juice a week are 25% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely drink juice. This is consistent with another large 2008 study, which also found that increased juice consumption led to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes--but that eating more whole fruit decreased diabetes risk.Those who view fruit juice as a way to improve their (or their kids') nutrition might want to think again. Eat fruit. Drink water. (Source: The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S.) The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3362587 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:26:48 +0100 3362587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3338325&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Fkelping-kids-with-text-iquette%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dkelping-kids-with-text-iquette Do your kids text? My 12 year old has a friend who loves to text but doesn’t get that it exists on a phone that 1. has an off switch 2. belongs to a person who may be busy when the text comes in an unable to return the text right away. So, there has been some lags in returning texts with this friend and some texts have been missed. Inevitably, about once a day, almost like clock work, my daughter will receive a text from this friend “are you mad at me, you’re not returning my texts?” This gal, P, is incredibly sweet and relatively new to the town. Her family is originally from another country but has been in the States for a few years so that shouldn’t be a huge issue at this point. What is new for P is her cell phone and use of texting, though. And, she&#8217... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3338325 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:55:48 +0100 3338325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302674&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FhdJEKXMXuuU%2Fmore-veggies-while-pregnant-reduces-allergies-in-babies.html Allergic conditions such as eczema and asthma are fairly common in infants. Many parents search for nutritional solutions, such as eliminating cow's milk, soy, or other common allergens--with mixed results. But the best time for nutritional intervention to reduce allergic sensitivity may be during pregnancy.A recent study in Japan noted that women who ate the most fruits and vegetables during pregnancy had the least allergy-prone babies, cutting the risk of eczema almost in half compared with women who ate fewer servings. Foods that seemed to have the greatest protective effect were the brightly-colored, carotenoid-rich choices like leafy greens, carrots, red and orange peppers, winter squashes, and so on. (Source: The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302674 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:43:30 +0100 3302674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3307101&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FKTy2Ta1GID0%2F Based on the public television series of the same name, Bradshaw On: The Family is John Bradshaw’s seminal work on the dynamics of families that has sold more than a million copies since its original publication in 1988. Within its pages, you will discover the cause of emotionally impaired families. You will learn how unhealthy rules of behavior are passed down from parents to children, and the destructive effect this process has on our society. Using the latest family research and recovery material in this new edition, Bradshaw also explores the individual in both a family and societal setting. He shows you ways to escape the tyranny of family-reinforced behavior traps–from addiction and co-dependency to loss of will and denial–and demonstrates how to make conscious c... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3307101 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:08:05 +0100 3307101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3276093&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fpartners-of-alcoholics%2F Partner’s Criticism Linked to Alcoholic Relapse A new study published in Behavior Therapy apparently confirms that Al-Anon’s purpose of offering “understanding and encouragement” to those with drinking problems is best approach family members can take in dealing with the situation. The study, conducted by William Fals-Stewart of the State University of New York at Buffalo, found that men recovering from substance abuse are less successful if they believe their spouse or partner is critical of them, rather than supportive. The study found that of 106 married men studied, those who reported greater criticism from their partners were more likely to have relapsed, regardless of the severity of their drug problem, age or race. Al-Anon is a support groups for those who are affect... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3276093 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:42:00 +0100 3276093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267206&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FIWEiwmvaa7k%2F Families may be reunited with Al-anons help Research proves that the Al-anon method of encouragement and support is one of the best ways to help a recovering addict stay sober A recent American clinical study examined the effect of perceived criticism on relapse back to substance abuse, and found that the perception of criticism was a very significant factor leading to relapse. Families can best help in the recovery process by remaining encouraging and supportive, and additionally attending both therapy with the alcoholic, as well as some form of family support organization. The Al Anon philosophy: Al-Anon has but one purpose to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps, by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267206 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:47:52 +0100 3267206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267207&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F8lWnTrijfao%2F Which letterbox has a dysfunctional family Growing up in an alcoholic family “Sometimes I feel like I was raised by wolves,” sighed James, a 55-year-old man who grew up in a home with two alcoholic parents. “I’ve gone through so much of my life guessing at what ‘normal’ is. It’s like trying to find your way through a dark woods without a compass.” According to Rosemary Hartman reactions like James’ are typical for people who grew up in dysfunctional families. But acknowledging that there were issues that deeply affected the whole family system is an important first step toward emotional and spiritual healing. Hartman said this acknowledgment frequently happens when adults have their own children. “They want to be good parents, but struggle with how to do it. They have s... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267207 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:32:33 +0100 3267207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262645&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F11%2Fthe-fresh-air-fund-needs-host-families%2F Imagine growing up in a city environment where you rarely see a tree, a patch of grass, or a bird. Imagine having nowhere to play a game of baseball or play catch with your dog. Imagine a place where the only thing summer brings is sweltering indoor temperatures, with no vacation or fun outside of playing in the fire-hydrant spray. For many children, this is inner-city life and the only life they know. But the Fresh Air Fund is a non-profit that has been giving free summer experiences to poor children in New York City since 1877. During that time, they’ve helped more than 1.7 million children have a very different kind of summer vacation — a chance to breath some fresh air in a different, less urban environment. In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family program... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262645 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:30:38 +0100 3262645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243776&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRn6agnYFkmA%2F By Neal McCluskeyAs part of his ill-considered credentialing-to-compete initiative, President Obama wants to greatly increase both the size and availablity of Pell Grants. Under his proposed FY 2011 budget, the total pot of Pell aid would rise from $28.2 billion in 2009 to $34.8 billion in 2011; the maximum award would go from $5,350 to $5,710; and the number of students served would rise by around 1 million.   A critical question, of course, is whether increasing Pell will ultimately make college more affordable or self-defeatingly fuel further tuition inflation. The New York Times took that up in yesterday’s Room for Debate blog. Economist Richard Vedder has long educated people about the inflationary effect of student aid, and does so again with great clarity. It’s ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243776 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:21:48 +0100 3243776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3228013&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fco-dependent-defence-behaviours%2F Some behaviours seem to have us locked into unbreakable patterns Psychological and emotional defence mechanisms are used by all human beings and may be necessary for survival in some situations. However, people from dysfunctional families (co-dependents, adult children of alcoholics for example) may have developed defence behaviours that are increasingly dysfunctional. When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.- Alexander Graham Bell We’ve all used defences to distance ourselves from distressing feelings and maintain a sense of emotional stability. Our defence patterns began in childhood when they prevented us from becoming overwhelmed with anxiety. However, as an adult we o... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3228013 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:29:34 +0100 3228013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185660&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FXTD8P_nDGsQ%2Fbpa-which-foods-are-safe.html Q. I've heard that BPA can be in the lining of many canned foods and in the lids of jarred food. I am planning to get pregnant in the next couple of months so I'm trying to avoid BPA. Should I avoid all jarred and canned food? How can I find out which foods are bpa free and safe to eat?A. The FDA sent out a confusing mixed message this week. On the one hand, the FDA officials admit they have concerns over the safety of BPA in food products such as canned goods and baby formula.  The agency says it supports "reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA" and advises consumers not to fill containers made with BPA with hot liquids. On the other hand, the FDA has decided that BPA can remain in use while further study is conducted and tells parents tells them to conti... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185660 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:40:04 +0100 3185660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3180411&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fmilitary-families-alcoholism%2F Al-Anon/Alateen Helps Military Families Recent published reports show that heavy drinking has increased in the military. What data is not shown are the effects of this drinking on others. For 55 years family members and friends of alcoholics have found help and hope in Al-Anon meetings. There are meetings held on or near military bases in the US, Canada, and around the world. Al-Anon provides a safe, confidential, and free place for military families to share with and learn from other family members and friends of problem drinkers. The latest Al-Anon/Alateen Membership Survey (completed in November 2003) shows that 25 percent of Al-Anon members and 29 percent of teen members surveyed have a relationship with a problem drinker on active duty in the military. An additional six percent have a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3180411 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:45:16 +0100 3180411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3171887&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FbbdOwtOl6hM%2F By Michael F. CannonSuppose you’re a family of four at or near the federal poverty level.  Under current law, if you earn an additional dollar, you get to keep around 60-70 cents. Under the House and Senate health care bills, however, you would get to keep maybe 38 cents.  Or 26 cents.  Or maybe just 18 cents. The following graph (from my recent study, “Obama’s Prescription for Low-Wage Workers: High Implicit Taxes, Higher Premiums”) shows that under the House and Senate bills, the combination of (1) a mandate tax and (2) subsidies that disappear as income rises would impose implicit tax rates on poor families that reach as high as 82 percent over broad ranges of income. This graph actually smooths out some rather bumpy implicit tax rates that spike as high as 174 percent. ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3171887 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:55:10 +0100 3171887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149029&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6sJIosoLgDU%2F By Chris Moody The moral and constitutional case for gay marriage. The populists have it wrong. Why free trade and globalization are great blessings to  Americans and poor families around the world. How Obama’s plan for health care will affect medical innovation in America: “Imposing price controls on drugs and treatments–or indirectly forcing their prices down by means of a ‘public option’ or expanded public insurance programs–would reduce the incentive for innovators to develop new treatments.” Register now for the upcoming Cato forum featuring author Tim Carney and his new book, Obamanomics: How Barack Obama Is Bankrupting You and Enriching His Wall Street Friends, Corporate Lobbyists, and Union Bosses. Buy the book, here. Podcast: &#8... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149029 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:24:59 +0100 3149029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153650&cid=t_111598_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FQhE9pUK_mtU%2F The biggest obstacle to treatment of alcoholism is getting the alcoholic to break through the denial that is a hallmark of this condition (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153650 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:08:02 +0100 3153650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139150&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2Fi-resolve-to-be-more-low-tech-for-2010-how-about-you%2F If there is one saying that embodies new year’s resolutions it is this: the more things change, the more they stay the same! Our resolutions enterring this new decade are not that dramatically different from those we had in 2000. If you read enough posts and end of the year wrap ups from 2009 and 1999, the list is virtually idential: we all want to be more healthy, to be kinder, to feel less stress out, to spend more time with family and friends. But, time has passed and there has been some dramatic shifts in technology that have impacted our lives over the last decade in ways unimaginable.  In 1999, we were not uber connected on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter…in fact, homes were not wired to allow us to be connected to even have email. While cell phones ... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139150 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:43:07 +0100 3139150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3100774&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FImJK73x8JXk%2F By Tad DeHavenA couple of weeks ago I discussed a New York Times report on soaring food stamp use. Yesterday, the New York Times reported that cash welfare use in New York under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program started to rise more recently. The Times calls this “something of a riddle” given that food stamp usage has been increasing throughout the recession. But the Times solves the riddle when it acknowledges: “It is much simpler to receive food stamps than cash assistance.” The 1996 welfare reform that replaced the broken Aid for Families with Dependent Children with TANF imposed more stringent time limits and work requirements on recipients. By contrast, the 2002 farm bill expanded food stamp eligibility, increased benefits, and made it easier to claim... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3100774 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:57:55 +0100 3100774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3100796&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Flsyqw_ZPxvw%2F The following guest post by Rachel Hampton, Research Associate at the Global Health Council, is part of Disruptive Women’s “The Value of Health: Creating Economic Security in the Developing World” series. Rachel’s areas of focus include maternal, newborn and child health and reproductive health. She has authored research briefs on private sector involvement in health systems, commercial sexual exploitation, the integration of maternal, newborn and child health and family planning, in addition to a variety of other publications from the GHC. Women’s economic autonomy and employment opportunities are crucial to their health, particularly their reproductive health. Each year, 536,000 women die, nearly 10 million are disabled, and 250 million years of reproductive ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3100796 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:02:42 +0100 3100796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3111535&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F12%2Fwatching-tv-smartly-and-sanely-over-holiday-break-with-your-kids%2F With the upcoming school holiday break days away, let’s be realistic: TV sets are about to get a bit more use than usual. In fact, many will go into hyper drive as kids of all ages are home more and parents become distracted with holiday preparations and school week plans. It’s always important to keep an eye on the clock when kids are home for extended periods of time and be sure that tube time doesn’t increase out of control. At the same time, whether a vacation week or any other time of the year, the core of TV viewing with kids is always content. With they myriad of TV stations and shows on the air these days, finding good content for any age is a gigantic challenge. A new group has partnered with TIVO  to help you with this task in some very creative ways. ... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3111535 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:45:00 +0100 3111535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3111537&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F12%2Fthe-developmental-tracking-industry-do-we-need-a-gizmo%2F With our world becoming high tech, it’s not surprising that gizmos and programs or our computers, iPhones and Smartphones are emerging to help us track everything from our infant’s cry to our child’s development. But, are these necessary? I was called by a reporter from Wired.com to weigh in on this with a colleague as was a colleague of mine. As members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council of Communications and Media, and Spokespersons for the AAP, we had a few opinions on this very important topic that I want to share with you that you can find here. Before you download or buy any computer program or cell phone application just ask yourself one question: can this program do anything more that I can do myself? More times than not, the answer will be no! Honest, you really c... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3111537 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:56:00 +0100 3111537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079605&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2Fsm9GT4D3keM%2Fensuring-good-nutrition-on-a-restricted-diet.html Q. I have a 2-year old son who is allergic to dairy, egg, and soy. He drinks rice milk in addition to water and sometimes juice. We are lucky because he loves to eat meat (primarily meatloaf), and fruits and vegetables. I have become good at sneaking veggies into his meatloaf, spaghetti, etc. As he grows, however, I am wondering about providing him a balanced diet. Is there anything that I am missing, or anything, nutritionally, that I should be giving him? Thanks.A. It's common for young children to eat a fairly limited diet, either because of dietary restrictions or because they refuse to eat anything but a small selection of foods. This often causes parents a great deal of anxiety. "Are my kids getting what they need to be healthy?"At least the foods your son will eat are ... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079605 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:47:57 +0100 3079605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067333&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F0zDRXNQaiOQ%2Fin-search-of-gluten-free-breakfast.html Q. My daughter can't eat foods that contain gluten. Dairy products also don't seem to agree with her but soy milk is OK. Our problem is what to give her for breakfast ? Can you suggest any cereals (preferably low GI) that are gluten free that are good for breakfast? A. Oats do not contain gluten, so oatmeal might be a good choice.  Be aware, however, that oats and oat-based cereals are almost always processed in plants that also handle grains containing gluten.  Depending on the level of your daughter's gluten sensitivity, you may have to find oat products that are processed on separate equipment, to minimize the chances of cross-contamination.  Bob's Red Mill is one brand of certified gluten-free oat cereals.Once you find a good source of gluten-free prod... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067333 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:58:46 +0100 3067333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3111538&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F12%2Fpartner-with-your-child-to-handle-inappropriate-content-on-the-itunes-store%2F   I had heard there were “adult only” applications on iTunes but hadn’t seen any myself – until yesterday. I’ve been on the application store many times to find cool application for my iPhone and never seen anything alarming. Yesterday, however, under “top free applications”, this is what I found: Note #2, “Beautiful Boobs”. If you scroll down, you’ll find #74 “Pocket Girlfriend lite”, among others in a similar vain! All are technically for “over 17 years of age” but if your child is using your phone, or an older sibling’s phone, and the parent controls are not set to block explicit content and limit downloads to over 17 years of age only, your child could download one of these games. Do you know where the parent control settings are on your iPhone or... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3111538 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:09:00 +0100 3111538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023105&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fqe-aFuDa-I4%2F Leaders of the Church of Christ, Scientist, are pushing to get a provision into the health care bill that would mandate equal treatment for “spiritual healing,” such as Christian Science prayer treatments. Sens. John Kerry and Orrin Hatch are trying to get it inserted into the Senate bill, according to the Washington Post. Kerry’s spokeswoman, Whitney Smith, told the Los Angeles Times that insurers would not be forced to cover prayer. Instead, she said, “the amendment would prevent insurers from discriminating against benefits that qualify as spiritual care if the care is recognized by the IRS as a legitimate medical expense. Plans are free to impose standards on spiritual and medical care as long as both are treated equally. It does not mandate that plans provide... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023105 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:57:40 +0100 3023105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003822&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F17%2F2009-army-suicides-highest-ever%2F While most of us will be spending Thanksgiving with our loved ones next week, there are already 140 Army families who will not be spending this year celebrating their time together. Instead, those families will be mourning the loss of one of their own, due to suicide. With 140 suicides already on the books amongst Army families, 2009 is going to the be a record-breaking year for the Army, but not in a way they would like anyone to notice. 2009 will mark the year that the Army has suffered the highest suicide rate ever. So what does the Army do? Does it recognize the significance of this number with a solemn, sincere statement? No, instead it turns on the full denial PR machine: “We are almost certainly going to end the year higher than last year,” General Peter Chiarelli, the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003822 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:35:44 +0100 3003822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2996048&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2Fw8MYDTDTYcs%2Fgrowing-kids.html Q.  I have a 10 year old daughter who is small for her age and wants to grow and gain some weight. She eats well when she likes what is on the table, however she is kind of picky. She does not care for meat and doesn't eat many vegetables. She loves fruit and would live on pizza if we let her. She takes a multi-vitamin every day. I don't know what to do that would be healthy for her and help her grow. Should I give her a nutrition drink supplement? A.  First, don't worry too much about your daughter's picky eating habits. It's very common for kids to shun vegetables in favor of pizza and still grow up strong and healthy.  Keep on doing what you can to encourage healthy eating habits without turning the family dinner table into a battle zone.The truth i... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2996048 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:50:16 +0100 2996048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977434&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drgwennisin.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fdigital-citizenship-starts-at.html   We all consider ourselves citizens of the world, global citizens. But, do you realize we’re also digital citizens? That was the topic of last week’s Family Online Safety Institute conference in Washington, DC, where I had the privilege of being on the panel,Exploring Why Kids Behave The Way They Do OnLine, and interacting with the industry’s top movers and shakers in industry, research and policy. The overriding theme of the two day conference was digital citizenship…in particular “Building a Culture of Responsibility: From Online Safety to Digital Citizenship.” We heard every topic imaginable from what’s happening in technology to keeping our kids safe online to topics on how parents can talk to kids about being better digital citizens to why schools need to step into... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977434 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:52:00 +0100 2977434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2962861&cid=t_111598_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F11%2Fcytoskeleton-in-giardia-and-trichomonas.html A recent publication discusses the Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis genome projects that have brought to our understanding of the unique cytoskeletal protein profiles of these two parasites and integrates this new analysis of protein composition with recent structural and functional studies. Although both parasites are flagellated, the differences in both the structural and protein composition of their cytoskeletons are more numerous than their similarities. Consistent with general patterns across its genome, the cytoskeletal gene families in Trichomonas are greatly amplified in number, while the corresponding families in Giardia are - with few exceptions - represented by only one or a very few copies. While the microfilament proteome is largely complete in Trichomonas, it is virt... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2962861 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:24:00 +0100 2962861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943765&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJ08j1EAl2cE%2F According to a Washington Post story today, “the weak dollar is one problem the United States loves to have.” The story reports how the fall of the dollar against the euro and other currencies in the past year has boosted U.S. exports and discouraged imports, cutting the trade deficit and allegedly boosting the U.S. economy. A weaker dollar has spurred complaints in Europe and elsewhere, but here at home the Post story leaves the impression the approval is practically unanimous. Nowhere in the 1,058-word story is the impact on consumers ever mentioned. But it is American consumers who pay the biggest price when the dollars we earn buy less on global markets. We are paying more for oil, which not coincidentally has zoomed toward $80 as the dollar flounders. A weaker dollar means higher ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943765 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:56:31 +0100 2943765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934970&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FEDrCRfEv4Mc%2Fdoes-candy-turn-kids-into-monsters.html Trying to rein in the amount of sugar kids eat is hard enough.  Having a plastic pumpkin full of candy in the house sure doesn't make it any easier.There are plenty of compelling reasons to limit kids' intake of sugar. Candy is a source of empty calories that can displace more nutritious foods, lead to weight gain, and wreak havoc with insulin metabolism. (Type 2 diabetes used to be called Adult Onset Diabetes, but no more.)But many parents are also convinced that sugar turns kids into little monsters--making them hyper-active, aggressive, or otherwise unmanageable. Yet the research fails to bear this out.Is it all in parents' heads? Controlled studies have measured the effects of sugar consumption on behavior and cognitive performance and failed to find any connect... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934970 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:39:47 +0100 2934970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934929&cid=t_111598_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FevndrBnSZSI%2Falzheimers-wandering-mrs-j-no-longer.html For those who were interested in and commented on my story about Mrs. J, the problem appears to be solved. Rose Lamatt Alzheimer's Reading Room If you missed the previous stories they are listed below. Mrs. J is an elderly woman, suffering from Alzheimer's disease, who was out and wandering the streets of our town without supervision or assistance. What if Mrs. J Wanders Away and Ends Up Dead? Mrs. J Might Wander But Now Someone is Watching Rose is Betwixt and Between over Mrs J--Mrs. J’s out wandering again I learned this morning that Mrs. J. was removed from her home by the Department of Children and Families and moved to a care facility. A court hearing will take place to decide where Mrs. J. will live in the future. It has become very apparent that she cannot be left alone a... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934929 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:35:11 +0100 2934929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2930962&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fe8FSXQOtY1Y%2F Florida’s airwaves are alive with the sound of Governor Charlie Crist’s radio advertisement trumpeting his grade of “A” on Cato’s “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors.” I am pleased that Gov. Crist values Cato’s ratings because we work hard to make them accurate and nonpartisan. But the radio ad is making many fiscally conservative Floridians scratch their heads because of the governor’s recent policy actions. The governor earned his Cato grade in last year’s report mainly because of his large property tax cuts and moderate spending approach. The grade was based purely on quantitative data on revenues, general fund spending, and tax rate changes. However, since I wrote the report in mid-2008, the governor seems to have fallen off the fisca... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2930962 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:29:02 +0100 2930962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879390&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FUNQg-UugyUE%2F How cap-and-trade is like ritual self-flagellation. The Senate Finance Committee’s version of health care reform is definitely a step up from all of the other versions of the bill. But that’s still a pretty low bar. Change? The president cuts another deal for special interest lobbyists at the expense of American families. Why free trade is a boon to the environment. Podcast: Measuring Obama’s record on pursuing peace. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879390 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:37:34 +0100 2879390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2846347&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_TKxtI_qwPg%2F Scott Lincicome sharpens his pencil today and calculates that Congressional failure to ratify the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement–a deal that was signed almost three full years ago–has so far cost American exporters $2 billion.  That tally increases $1.9 million each and every day. Since that time [the trade agreement signing], American exporters have paid approximately $1.9 million per day in Colombian tariffs that they wouldn’t have paid if the Democrat-controlled Congress had just passed the FTA back then and thus allowed it to enter into force. By my math, that means that Congress’ and (now) the President’s partisan stalling has resulted in a pointless tax on American businesses of almost $2 billion ($1.9798 billion = 1042 days times $1.9 million) a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2846347 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:32:08 +0100 2846347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832350&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fautism-speaks-deceives-parents.html As a recent post on the Left Brain/Right Brain blog pointed out, Autism Speaks engaged in a "bait and switch" when Suzanne Wright asked parents to contribute video footage of their autistic children for a new project, without disclosing any of the nasty details of what she planned to do with it. Would the contributors to the "I Am Autism" video have agreed to participate if Autism Speaks had admitted at the outset that it was planning to demonize autistic kids as embarrassing burdens who destroy their parents' marriages and dreams?Well, at least one parent who posted a comment on the video's YouTube page, under the name BarrysDaughter, made it quite plain that she felt deceived by Autism Speaks' request for video contributions from parents. She wrote:"I do have 2 autistic children and a hu... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832350 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:26:00 +0100 2832350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823915&cid=t_111598_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F23%2Fkeep-warm-keep-well-a-guide-for-people-over-60%2F Title: Keep Warm, Keep Well: A guide for people over 60 The Skinny: Aims to help older people maintain good health during winter and take advantage of the financial help and benefits available. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 16p Published: 18/09/2009 Similar Materials: Keep Warm, Keep Well: A guide for families Keep Warm, Keep Well: A guide for people with disabilities or long-term health conditions Keep Warm, Keep Well: Supporting vulnerable people during cold weather Posted in Grey Literature, Older People Tagged: Chronic Diseases, Disabilities, Families, Grey Literature, Health Education, Health Promotion, Hypothermia, Older People, Patient Information, Winter Pressures (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823915 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:53 +0100 2823915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814566&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drgwennisin.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fmission-turn-off-weekare-you-up-for.html This week is Turn Off Week, formerly TV Turn Off Week. Your mission: keep all screens off in your home for the next week, for you and your kids. There are events going on in just about every state this week so check out what's happening in your area. But, you don't have to participate in an organized event to accomplish this important mission in your home. All it takes is 1. turning off the screens 2. spending time as a family doing screen-less activities What activities are screenless, you ask? reading puzzles games nature walks talking together family meals making family meals listening to music together...and talking about it outdoor adventures playing games outside sports outside going to the gym together charades organizing your child's room together rearranging the family roo... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814566 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:55:00 +0100 2814566 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804257&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FNaw5yqDn8CQ%2Fcan-yogurt-protect-you-from-the-flu.html Q. I recently read about a study showing that probiotics protected kids from getting the flu. It seemed like a pretty powerful study in favor of the health benefits of yogurt, at least in kids. Do you have any recommendations for a reasonable "dose" of yogurt would be for an adult?A. Yes, I noted that study with interest as well. The kids (about 300 of them, aged 3 to 5) were taking probiotic supplements or placebo pills twice a day. The kids getting the probiotics had about half as many fevers, coughs, and runny noses, took fewer prescriptions and missed fewer days of school. We should note that the study was funded by a company that makes probiotic products.  That said, the results were published in a peer-reviewed journal (Pediatrics) so the study design apparently passe... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804257 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:47:26 +0100 2804257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786169&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drgwennisin.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fnetworked-families-connecting-with.html Do you use digital media to connect with your kids? I do? Here's a snapshot of my family's story as told to PBS's Digital Nation: I'd love to know how you connect with your digital natives...aka tweens and teens! Leave your stories in the comments or email me the details. ©2009 Pediatrics Now. All rights reserved. PEDIATRICS NOW® is a registered trademark of Pediatrics Now. (Source: Dr. Gwenn Is In) Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2786169 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:17:00 +0100 2786169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667761&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FELzDyJeyCMc%2Fseven-out-of-ten-kids-have-low-vitamin-d-levels.html A new report reveals that 70 million American kids (ranging in age from toddlers to teens) are at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and bone problems due to deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D.  Low vitamin D levels are about 6 times more common in young black Americans because darker skin produces less vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. See also this story in the Washington Post.) This storm has been gathering for quite some time.  Vitamin D levels in adults are also low and vitamin D deficiency is being linked to an increasing number of serious, chronic conditions and auto-immune diseases. (See also my post "Vitamin D. Now I'm a believer"). Everyone seems to agree on what's causing the problem. We spend less time outdoors, we've... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667761 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:15:55 +0100 2667761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639685&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fcontext-and-consequences.html In response to a recent guest post in the New York Times "Motherlode" blog, which used language such as "nightmare" to describe raising an autistic child, blogger Sarah of Cat in a Dog's World wrote an e-mail pointing out that such descriptions were hurtful to autistic people reading them. Her reply was published as a separate article on Motherlode and received numerous comments, some of which suggested that the mother who wrote the original guest post should not be criticized for honestly expressing her feelings and that it was natural for a parent to feel stressed by a child's disability. Sarah then wrote an entry on her blog in which she explained that she was not accusing the mother of intentionally trying to harm the child; rather, she was addressing the broader issue of the impact of... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639685 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:21:00 +0100 2639685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2625946&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FNWMxvdU1wFQ%2F As the New York Times reported, House Democrats proposed a hotly debated bill where families who make $500,000 would have to pay an extra $1,500 to help subsidize health insurance for the poor. (And if a family makes more than $1 million, they would have to pay $9,000.) Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2625946 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:59:05 +0100 2625946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2616688&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fraising-a-large-family-a-book-review%2F When you have a newborn, you sometimes wonder when you will get to shower on a regular basis again. Then that newborn becomes a toddler, the sheer intensity eases up a little, and you start to consider whether you want to add another child to your family. At some point you take the plunge and you make the transition from one to two children. Eventually you find that you’re surviving and occasionally even thriving with two. Are you crazy to consider a third? A fourth? Mary Ostyn’s A Sane Women’s Guide to Raising a Large Family helps parents think through the decision to expand the family and offers helpful tips on how to make it work both financially and emotionally. Mary shares her wisdom and wit in this practical and accessible book. Through her experience raising her t... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2616688 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:37:35 +0100 2616688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2606171&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrQYYVUfvF5g%2F Researchers at the University of Washington Autism Center set out to determine the answer to the question, is raising a child with autism especially stressful for parents (compared with raising a child with another developmental disability). Their answer? Yes. (Come to think of it, why didn’t they just ask me? The reader comments below the story are worth reading. They seem like a roundup of common feelings and fears.) Photo courtesy of freeparking (flickr.com) Tara Parker-Pope ran a Q&A with Annette Estes, the center’s associate director, to discuss the findings. No bolts of lightening here, at least for me.  What was interesting was their inability to track down the source of the stress. Estes said it was not the extra work itself of parenting a child with autism —... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2606171 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:47:38 +0100 2606171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571058&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fdowries-trust-funds-and-independence.html I read an article by Kristina Chew yesterday discussing new legislation in West Virginia that will give tax credits to parents who contribute to trust funds for their autistic children's support as adults. Autism professional Barbara Becker-Cottrill gave an interview discussing parents' worries about what will happen to their children as adults, stating that trust funds can provide families with a sense of security.In seeking to help families who worry about their children's future, this legislation addresses what has become a widespread concern. Because today's society is so poorly adapted to the needs of its autistic citizens, a trust fund often can be a reasonable option. I once wrote a post on this blog suggesting that parents who were spending large amounts of money in pursuit of mira... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571058 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:58:00 +0100 2571058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570669&cid=t_111598_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fhit-symposium-mit This morning I joined a panel discussion about Standards at the HIT Symposium at MIT. We had a great panel discussion, moderated by Janet Marchibroda (Chief Healthcare Officer at IBM) that included Christine Bechtel (Vice President, National Partnership for Women and Families Patrick Gallagher (Deputy Director at NIST) and me. Patrick provided an overview of NIST and the work the government is doing to ensure selected healthcare standards perform as advertised, are implementable, and usable. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570669 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:10:44 +0100 2570669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512506&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FJZ0ShW0GG44%2F An informal survey conducted this morning in our dining room revealed that nine out of 10 arguments between me and Jill begin over autism. Alex had been squatting on the floor last evening, flipping through a big hardcover about knitting. Fine, except he hadn’t picked up when asked (with him it generally takes about three requests, which to be fair is probably about what you’d have to fire at most kids), and I had tripped over this hardcover one too many times. So I tried to cram it back onto the bookshelf just as Jill grabbed her keys and we got ready to head out. Except there was another book jammed on top of the other books on the shelf, and I had to take it out to get the big knitting hardcover to fit. Image: paloaltosoftware, flickr.com “Jeff, what are you doing?&#82... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512506 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:31:26 +0100 2512506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512029&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drgwennisin.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fsocial-networking-and-todays-tweens-and.html Being the first group of parents to have to have to parent an all digital generation of kids, it's no wonder our brains go on overload trying to sort out not only how to use all things digital but keep our developing kids safe and thriving in their ever digital lives.I talked about these issues today on Fox25 Boston and highlighted the new social media and sexting tips out from the American Academy of Pediatrics in honor of Internet safety month. Here's the clip of the segment with all the details:To remember the key points of the new AAP tips, I came up with the mnemonic "TECH":T: talk to your kids about their technology use and what they think of technology and the issues they hear about online.E: educate yourself about the technology your kids are using, your kids about the issues, and ... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512029 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:06:00 +0100 2512029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473915&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FMmsknmq-HvE%2F Photo by Me-Liss-A (flickr.com) Replies continue to come in on the question posted on another forum, “If you could say one thing to your relatives about your autistic child, what would it be?” “Have empathy,” said one respondent. “”He’s still family. Don’t forget he exists,” said another. And still another: “Open your eyes!” “Do not be afraid,” one reply said. “Do not feel sorry for us or our child. He is the greatest gift/blessing we could ever have in our lives. We are happy we were chosen to care for this person.” “My wonderful Aspie is now 16 years old, and we have overcome so many hurdles,” one respondent said. “If I could turn back to yesterday, these are some of the things tha... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473915 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:25:50 +0100 2473915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473714&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drgwennisin.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fwhat-data-features-do-teens-need-on.html Cell phones are their feature are an ever growing topic in today's families. It used to be that the hot button issue was whether to get the phone. Now, we have to deal with all the features: texting, Internet, camera...to name the tip of the iceberg!Clearly we're becoming a more mobile society with our cell phones taking over features previously reserved for our computers. A recent Nielsen Wire report confirms this observation showing that in Q1 of 2009 21% of cell phone owners used their phones to search the Internet, up from 16% in Q4 of 2008.At the moment, digital plans are pricey so it's easy to lock our kids out of their cell phone Internet access. However, not too long ago we said the same exact thing about texting and now we have affordable unlimited texting plans.Given the impulsiv... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473714 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:28:00 +0100 2473714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469737&cid=t_111598_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drgwennisin.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fdose-of-dr-gwenn-show-13-preview.html Show # 13: Wednesday June 10, 2009 Noon ETNetworked Families!Join me today for my monthly Networked Families show. On deck this week are topics that range from MP3 players, the 24/7 lifestyle of teens, hidden hazards of technology during natural disasters, tele-medicine, and an update on how media impacts our kids' health.All the studies featured on today's show are filed under the June_10_Podcast tag on my Delicious page.SHOW NUTS AND BOLTSListening To The Show Live: You have 2 ways to listen to the show live -1. From my show site. On the day of the show, you'll see the "play/chat" button when it's show time. Click the "play/chat" button and you'll hear the show live. If you don't see it, just refresh the browser.2. From any phone (land, cell or skype) by calling 347-237-5194Listening as ... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469737 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:40:00 +0100 2469737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424029&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJg-RkqeBr-A%2F A tax credit bill was recently proposed in South Carolina to give parents an easier choice between public and private schools. It would do this by cutting taxes on parents who pay for their own children’s education, and by cutting taxes on anyone who donates to a non-profit Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The SGOs would subsidize tuition for low income families (who owe little in taxes and so couldn’t benefit substantially from the direct tax credit). Charleston minister Rev. Joseph Darby opposes such programs, and I support them. We’ve decided to have this dialogue to explain why. Our closing comments appear below, and the previous installments are here and here and here. Rev. Joe Darby Closing Comment Thanks for the research and references, Andrew, but I do... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424029 Tue, 19 May 2009 17:00:06 +0100 2424029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414749&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FbNwzdN2ia3Y%2F A tax credit bill was recently proposed in South Carolina to give parents an easier choice between public and private schools. It would do this by cutting taxes on parents who pay for their own children’s education, and by cutting taxes on anyone who donates to a non-profit Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The SGOs would subsidize tuition for low income families (who owe little in taxes and so couldn’t benefit substantially from the direct tax credit). Charleston minister Rev. Joseph Darby opposes such programs, and I support them. We’ve decided to have this dialogue to explain why. Our closing comments will appear next Tuesday, and the previous installments are here and here. Rev. Joe Darby Second Response We agree on something, Andrew — you don’t lock kids in a b... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414749 Fri, 15 May 2009 16:10:23 +0100 2414749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405035&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FH5MmIyIwdlc%2F The South Carolina legislature is currently considering a tax credit bill intended to give parents an easier choice between public and private schools. It would do this by cutting taxes on parents who pay for their own children’s education, and by cutting taxes on anyone who donates to a non-profit Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The SGOs would subsidize tuition for low income families (who owe little in taxes and so couldn’t benefit substantially from the direct tax credit). Charleston minister Rev. Joseph Darby opposes such programs, and I support them. We’ve decided to have this dialogue to explain why. Our initial comments were posted Tuesday. Our next responses will appear on Friday afternoon, followed by closing comments next Tuesday. Rev. Joe Darby First Response S... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405035 Wed, 13 May 2009 16:19:47 +0100 2405035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405045&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FbqgkbVpa0MA%2F    Photo by Peter Holden Photography for AEI I was a panelist at an American Enterprise Institute forum today discussing the proliferation of federal tax credits, particularly for low-income families. AEI scholars Kevin Hassett, Larry Lindsey, and Aparna Mathur have a draft paper that looks at the idea of consolidating current individual credits into one supercredit. The idea would be to simplify the system and reduce the economic distortions created by these credits, which are valued at about $170 billion in 2009. My observations included: Obama’s Make Work Pay credit is valued at about $60 billion per year, much of which is ”refundable.” (That means it is partly a spending increase not a tax cut). Coincidentally, Obama’s proposed tax hikes for higher-... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405045 Tue, 12 May 2009 20:16:34 +0100 2405045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389933&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F05%2Fwhere-did-mommy-go%2F There is a controversial book on the Australian market called, Where Did I Really Come From? which explains how to answer those most awkward questions children tend to ask, only with a slight updated twist. Instead of the traditional double-speak of flying storks, planting seeds and cabbage patches (which led me to believe my father’s gardening shed was a Den of Iniquity), it’s a realistic account of where some children really do come from. The book includes sections about lesbian Mums, gay men, IVF babies and assisted conception. The author, Narelle Wickham, says the book is just trying to let children know that there are many ways to conceive a child, all of which are normal. But, according to Focus On The Family spokeswoman Deb Sorensen, it devalues the traditional family unit. In ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389933 Tue, 05 May 2009 17:00:36 +0100 2389933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376907&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2Fhf8LNxjNk3M%2Fsugar-free-food.html Q. When my daugher was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a year ago, I bought every sugar-free thing that I could for her. Now her liver enzyme levels are elevated.  I'm wondering whether the sugar-alcohols in diabetic foods may have something to do with it.  A. Because your daughter has at least one diet-related medical concern, I hope you are working with a dietician or nutritionist. No-one can (or should) diagnose your daughter's medical issues over the internet.  Diabetics often have elevated liver enzymes.  And to my knowledge, sugar alcohols are not generally linked to liver problems. But your letter brings up an interesting issue. You don't say how much sugar alcohol your daughter is consuming but you write, "I bought every sugar-free thing that I could.&qu... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376907 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:10:52 +0100 2376907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364917&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fm2fJhXkh_VY%2F Just when I was getting so jaded by federal education politics that I could have been displayed as part of this exhibit, the Sunshine State comes along and brightens my day. It’s not just that the Florida Assembly voted to strenghten its k-12 scholarship tax credit program yesterday, it’s that the vote was 94 to 23. In addition to almost universal Republican support, the bill garnered the votes of half the entire state Democratic caucus! As I wrote on this blog last year, “the [school choice] times they are a changin’.” Democrats in Washington don’t understand that yet. Perhaps they spend too much time with DC’s NEA lobbyiests. Whatever the reason, the long term health of the Democratic Party depends on its celebration  of its pro-school-cho... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364917 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:10:57 +0100 2364917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349874&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FQwcVN8HAV4E%2Fkids-who-are-ab.html I was struck by the common-sense wisdom of this recent study, showing that 4-year-olds who aren't able (willing?) to delay gratification are about 30% more likely to be overweight by the time they are 11.  What the authors of the study don't tackle is how (or whether) the ability to delay gratification can be taught. Is it a personality trait or a learn skill?  Studies show that, at least among college students, the ability or willingness is directly related to how important the pay-off seems.  In other words, being willing to delay gratification isn't just about learning to wait for a reward. It requires that we are convinced that the delayed reward is BETTER than the instant reward. I can spend this $10 today, or I can sock it away in my IRA and, thanks to the miracle ... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349874 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:32:55 +0100 2349874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347791&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1gyjF8BlUnY%2F I’m a bit ashamed to admit it: I just finished reading The Beautiful Tree, Professor James Tooley’s new book recounting his remarkable travels through some of the world’s poorest slums discovering for-profit private school after for-profit private school. I’m ashamed because The Beautiful Tree is a Cato book and I should have read it long before it became publicly available. Fortunately, it seems many people outside of Cato caught on to the importance of Tooley’s work the moment they heard about it. Yesterday, the Atlantic’s Clive Crook blogged about Tooley’s book, calling Tooley “an unsung hero of development policy” for bringing to light — and refusing to let others blot that light out — how mutual self-interest betwee... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347791 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:28:03 +0100 2347791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313541&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F06%2Fmothers-act-to-drug-americas-moms-for-fake-postpartum-depression%2F Wake up, people who care about mental health. Wake up, people who work to prevent child abuse, people who work to prevent suicide, people who work to prevent preterm births, people who care about healthy families. Wake up, psychiatric professionals, nurses, gynecologists, pediatricians. Here’s an actual text of a communication being sent far and wide by the very loud and vociferous opposition to the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act to support increased funding, education and research for postpartum depression: “This MOTHER’S Act, with its innocuous sounding name will mandate “mental screening” for Pregnant women. This will lead to many more young mothers being labeled with fraudulent psychiatric conditions and many of them will be put on dangerous psychiatr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313541 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:36:01 +0100 2313541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284385&cid=t_111598_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fthird-child-syndrome%2F Shortly after my neighbor had her third child, she complained that she kept forgetting things. She couldn’t recall the right word for an object or couldn’t remember the name of the movie she watched the week before. Photo of three German sisters by Kai Sender She actually worried that she was suffering from early onset dementia. Well, now that I’ve had my third child, I can assure her that it’s not early onset dementia, it’s third child syndrome! In the last three days, I have forgotten: 1) the name of that television show filmed in Ireland, the one about the Catholic priest tempted by the spunky townswoman, the one I watched for five out of six seasons (it’s Ballykissangel, of course!) 2) the name of that annual flower that comes in orange or yellow, th... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284385 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:00:56 +0100 2284385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2174074&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2FIVo04G1OI9Q%2Fmama-dont-let-y.html Just came across a fascinating study about breast-feeding, asthma, and fast food. The good news is that more mothers are breast-feeding these days, and breast-feeding for longer.  I'm sure they're motivated in part by all the research showing how much healthier breast-fed babies are.  One widely reported benefit is that babies who are breast-fed have lower rates of asthma later on. But get this:  Letting your kids eat fast food when they're older appears to completely negate the benefits you gave them by breast-feeding, at least in terms of asthma protection. More details from the study here. Breast-feeding is a wonderful thing to do for a child's health but obviously, we need to stay committed to their health and nutrition throughout childhood! (Source: The ND Blog: N... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2174074 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:19:53 +0100 2174074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2018667&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F475854392%2Fchildhood-obesi.html All of us, whether or not we have children, need to be concerned about the rising rates of childhood obesity. The consequences, both to the kids and to the society that will bear the costs of a sicker population, are dire.  What are the factors contributing to this troubling trend and what can we adults do to help raise the next healthy generation? This was the topic of a recent interview I did on Ben Greenfield's Fitness podcast.  You can listen to the interview here: http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2008/12/podcast-episode-24-are-you-making-your-kids-fat.  (It starts about 20 minutes into the show.) (Source: The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S.) The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2018667 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:35:07 +0100 2018667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952960&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F450197165%2Favoiding-peanut.html In another of those annoying reversals (what? you mean butter's actually better for me than this yucky margarine you made me switch to?!?), researchers now think that keeping our kids from eating peanuts early in life may actually be causing more peanut allergies, not less. Even if you don't have kids yourself, you've probably noticed that severe peanut allergies have gotten to be a much bigger deal lately.  The child care facility at my gym has large signs informing parents that no peanut-containing snacks may be brought in because so many kids have peanut allergies. Last year, I was even on a flight where they couldn't serve peanut snacks because there was a child on board with a peanut allergy so severe that having a packet of peanuts open on the plane would be enough to cause a ... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952960 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:19:15 +0100 1952960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1940347&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F443280390%2Foverweight-kids.html Interesting study in this month's Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Researchers analyzed the diets and health stats of low-income kids. The kids' diets were very high in fat and sugar, and low in whole foods and important nutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. A third of the kids were obese. But, surprisingly, when researchers analyzed their diets, they concluded that 44% weren't eating enough calories. Researcher Roberto Trevino offers the following intepretation:"The problem is not that they're eating too much. It's that they're lacking nutrients that are important for metabolism to burn off fat and sugar."The mainstream press seems to buy this notion, as evidenced by this headline in the San Antionio Express News: "Heavy Kids Aren't Ov... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1940347 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:17:00 +0100 1940347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1880732&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F421935187%2Fhalloween-survi.html Halloween is coming and that usually means a big increase in how much sugar our kids are eating. (And I don't know about your house, but the kids aren't the only ones that get into the Halloween candy around here!) Obviously, the ideal  amount of candy for kids (and kids-at-heart) is NO candy.  But this is not the time to play the hard cop. Here are some tips and strategies for allowing everyone to enjoy the holiday while containing the damage. Don’t let your kids start eating the candy they collect while they are still out trick or treating. If they’re eager to get home to have a piece of candy, they might be willing to stop with a slightly smaller payload. Set (and enforce) limits on how much candy may be eaten each day and when (i.e., only after meals). Halloween can... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1880732 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:23:52 +0100 1880732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1740057&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F377392203%2Ffarm-to-school.html School lunches have not traditionally been known for their high nutritional (or culinary) standards. But progress is being made, thanks to a combination of legislative efforts, public health advocacy and activism, a growing awareness of and interest in nutrition, and pressure from concerned parents. Online Surveys & Market Research An innovative new program is introducing fresh local produce into school cafeterias and curricula around the country, benefiting both both students and farmers.  I love this idea!! Creating partnerships between schools and local farms means fresher, more nutritious lunches, plus an wonderful opportunity to teach kids about biology, geography, meteorology, health, ecology, nutrition, and local economics. It also provides an efficient wholesale outl... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1740057 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:26:00 +0100 1740057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734730&cid=t_111598_167_f&fid=36989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FNutritionData%2F%7E3%2F374353029%2Fbrown-bagging-i.html Today's guest blogger is Colby Golder. The hottest accessory this Fall may be the brown bag--the kind you carry your lunch in, that is.  With food prices skyrocketing, packing lunches for school and work is an easy way to save money and give your diet a nutritional upgrade at the same time. Here are some tips for nutritious and appetizing brown bag lunches that are easy on the wallet: 1. Make your own trail mix.  Purchase almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, high fiber cereal, and dried fruit and create your own for less than you'd pay for pre-mixed versions. Portion into small air-tight containers or bags that you can grab and go. Trail mix is a great way to boost your intake of many trace minerals including zinc, magnesium, manganese, and copper.  As an added bon... The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, L.D.N., C.N.S. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734730 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:25:52 +0100 1734730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652396&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fmichael-savage-in-deep-doo-doo.html A lot of people have been wondering what the heck Michael Savage was thinking last week when he said, among other offensive remarks, that autistic children were really just brats who needed more discipline. I'm inclined to believe that the potential consequences of his rant never even crossed his mind. If he thought about it at all, he probably figured that—given the extent of the ugly, dehumanizing language so often used to describe autistic children in recent years—there would be no consequences whatsoever.After all, "combating autism" is now an official policy of the United States government; some of our politicians and autism charities have given the impression that they're competing to see how many times in the same speech they can revile autistics as a devastating burden to socie... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652396 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:14:00 +0100 1652396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512236&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fthat-must-be-so-hard.html During the Good Morning America segment on neurodiversity, Kristina Chew corrected the interviewer's suggestion that she was suffering because she is a parent of an autistic child. "I don't feel that I suffer," she replied. On Kristina's blog, a commenter named Sharon discussed how widespread this view of inevitable suffering has become, and how often she, as a parent, has to deal with this assumption that she must be suffering. Sharon wrote:I know when I tell people that my sons have autism, the look of pity on their face and they say "That must be so hard."Reading that comment, I was reminded of a conversation that I had almost 25 years ago with an older white woman, who was generally a nice and well-meaning person and who thought of herself as tolerant, but who—like many of her genera... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512236 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:24:00 +0100 1512236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1477888&cid=t_111598_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2F300803371%2F I’d just like to draw attention to a comment made by Cockroach Catcher in a previous post, in which he says of his background in child psychiatry: At least a third of the children we saw were not the real patients. I’m currently a CPN operating out of an outpatient clinic for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Cockroach Catcher’s comment intrigued me, so I decided to do a bit of a straw poll of 15 kids seen in our clinic over the past couple of weeks. For these 15 kids, I asked myself, “Who’s the real patient?” Of the 15 kids, five of them have no identifiable mental health problem. Bang on Cockroach Catcher’s estimate of a third. Sometimes those in this category are the children of parents who have a mental health problem. They... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1477888 Thu, 29 May 2008 21:32:07 +0100 1477888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1442972&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fstructural-fatigue.html In response to my discussion of the recently published study of neurological conditions such as schizophrenia and depression in parents of autistic children, Joey's Mom wrote a post pointing out—quite correctly—that there are many parents of special needs children who feel exhausted and overwhelmed and who may be suffering from subclinical depression, even if they do not have a diagnosis. She wrote:Exhaustion lurks around every corner, haunts every house, lingers in the corners and hangs in the air; exhaustion on a level I do not see in homes without special needs children, exhaustion I never see etched on the faces of mothers with no disabled children. In other homes, in other parents, there is a laugh-it-off: jokes about having drinks are lighter-hearted, comments about bad days are ... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1442972 Wed, 14 May 2008 21:20:00 +0100 1442972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1429108&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fresearchers-discover-happy-autism.html Earlier this week, the mainstream media reported on a study that showed higher rates of various neurological conditions, including schizophrenia, in parents of autistic children. The study focused on families in Sweden whose children were born between 1977 and 2003, and the sample included 1,227 autistic children and 30,693 non-autistic children. (Daniels et al., "Parental Psychiatric Disorders Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Offspring," Pediatrics, May 2008.)The popular reporting on this study gave the misleading impression that large numbers of parents of autistic children had been diagnosed with some sort of psychiatric disorder. In fact, very few of the parents had any diagnosis at all. Schizophrenia, although it had a statistically significant association, was found i... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1429108 Thu, 08 May 2008 14:42:00 +0100 1429108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523823&cid=t_111598_158_f&fid=36019&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fcaregiver%2F%7E3%2FqU6KlG2MCzw%2Fprimary-caregiver-gives-tips-on.html Ginger, the primary family caregiver (for years), helping her dad age 100 to remain in his home of 60+ years - overseeing his care. But being the primary caregiver, she put her dreams of traveling on hold for some time because she did not want to leave him. Although doctors reassured Ginger that his health is good and no need to worry, she remained loyal to her role.But after several years of juggling her heart's desire ...stay... go... stay... go , Ginger decides to go for it.We talked about the structure she put in place of her absence, which seems very reasonable to me, there's always that element of surprise that can bite you when you're not looking!Ginger's story... Click here to listen...Before leaving the country Ginger did the following:1. Asked her two adult children to step into ... Working Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523823 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:33:00 +0100 2523823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1335269&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Ftaking-care-with-assumptions.html In recent years, parents worldwide have been advocating for better services for their autistic children. Society has no understanding of my child's needs, they say. He will always need services as he goes through life. What will become of him after I am dead? Who will take care of him?There's no doubt that the structure of present-day society is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of the autistic population. Still, when it's assumed that the solution consists entirely of arranging for more government-provided services to take care of autistic people, this assumption—although well intentioned—falls short of addressing the core issue. When we have a major structural problem in our society, as we do, it needs to be dealt with through radical structural change.Parents should not have to ... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1335269 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:55:00 +0100 1335269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1275003&cid=t_111598_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwhen-do-you-stop-being-a-breast-cancer-survivor%2F I have often wondered if the only way to truly be a cancer survivor is to die of something else. It has been almost five years since my diagnosis, and I am still called a breast cancer survivor. What I like about it is that World War II heroes are called survivors and so are Vietnam Vets. I too have survived a battle, it was very personal, but it did threaten my home and my loved ones, if not my country. What astounds me most is the number of women that become survivors every year. It is no longer a title reserved for just a few. The good thing is that we are all surviving; the bad thing is that more and more of us are fighting the battle for our lives. It’s like waking up and finding out you belong to the mob family. You don’t choose it and it will always be a part of who you are. You... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1275003 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:00:59 +0100 1275003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1246710&cid=t_111598_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthere-is-no-one-to-blame-for-my-breast-cancer-diagnosis%2F In my January 25th blog “If I had only known I was a BRCA gene carrier sooner.” I wrote about my extended family and how I could have known sooner that I was a BRCA II carrier if they had only told me. The truth is that although members of my extended family had a suspicion that there was a genetic breast cancer gene mutation in my father’s family, the actual testing didn’t take place until just over a year ago. Sister finally got to the core of the issue. Although we were not informed at that time, neither would it have made a difference in my circumstance. I was diagnosed with breast cancer long before that. I therefore have to let you know that they are fine people who had no intention of allowing me to suffer unnecessarily. In addition, there was such a strong link to cancer th... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1246710 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:26:56 +0100 1246710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231891&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Ffamily-history.html My paternal grandfather, a native New Yorker, had some problems when he enrolled his young son in primary school in the early 1940s. Apparently, the lad wouldn't behave like the other boys or pay attention to the teacher, but spent all his time talking incessantly about his own particular interests. Send him away to military school, several people advised. That'll shape him up.And so this skinny little boy, who wore eyeglasses and was fascinated with cameras and optical devices, was packed off on a train to a military school where he was the smallest and youngest pupil. Fresh meat, to put it bluntly. Several months later, his parents took pity on his obvious misery and brought him home; but what was to be done with him now?Upon giving some thought to the alternatives, my grandfather decide... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231891 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:46:00 +0100 1231891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1159530&cid=t_111598_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fkatie-mccarron-theft-of-joy.html The trial is over and the verdict out. As a member of the "Autism Hub" we were asked to set aside a day in memorial to "Katie," so that the memory of "Katies" brief life remains with us. There are many scholarly writers to address sadness, anger and disbelief but I’m not much of a political animal. Autism is part of so many people’s lives and public awareness grows daily. So much of it is a different way of being or thinking. I may not understand it very well but then I don't understand Alzheimer's either. Autism has become very ordinary to us as a family and certainly not newsworthy. So instead of berating the ugliness of the world, today I choose to celebrate the ordinary, as autism doesn’t exist in a vacuum. I sit in the doctor’s waiting room with my eight and a half year old s... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1159530 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:28:00 +0100 1159530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1126278&cid=t_111598_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F210081356%2F AlzheimersNotes.com    I was excited, after posting What Would You Like to See at Alzheimer’s Notes in 2008, an immediate response from readers.  This gives me a direction to plan with some of my posts for these topics suggested have multiple aspects to them. *How can friends and family members on the fringes of Alzheimer’s help, encourage and react? *Suggestions for balancing caregiving and work. *I’d mentioned desiring more guest posts and already have someone working on one. *How can you help children understand Alzheimer’s? Keep tuned and you’ll be seeing information on these topics and more. What else would you like to see? (c)2008 Mary Emma Allen Share This (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1126278 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:32:02 +0100 1126278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1123729&cid=t_111598_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F209367931%2F Short film exploring Alzheimer’s impact on a young family. Share This (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1123729 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:13:06 +0100 1123729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1091321&cid=t_111598_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2007%2F12%2F12%2F7-ways-to-deal-with-holiday-grief%2F Holidays tend to be family-oriented and if you’ve lost a loved one, the season can be an especially painful reminder of the death. Here are some ways to cope: talking about the deceased person is okay. Your stress will only increase if the deceased person’s memory is allowed to become a landmine that everyone tiptoes around. things won’t be the same. It’s normal to feel at odds with yourself and family events when dealing with grief. Do not isolate, but limit involvement when you need to and plan new events. don’t let other people’s expectations dictate how your holiday will unfold. If you don’t feel like doing something this Christmas, don’t let others force you. If you do want to attend holiday functions, make sure you know your limit... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1091321 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:02:34 +0100 1091321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1076369&cid=t_111598_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F196460144%2F Exercise is another important component of staying healthy and depending on what stage of Alzheimer’s Disease the person is at, an exercise or fitness video might be an appropriate gift, especially if they aren’t able to get out and about due to weather… Of course, it would be important to discuss this with the person’s doctor first to ensure that it would help and not impair the person’s health. Various other medical conditions could be contra indictive to exercive videos. Resources: Active Videos Senior Store Share This (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1076369 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:47:44 +0100 1076369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1071064&cid=t_111598_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F195330754%2F A personalized wooden jigsaw puzzle is a great idea for a gift. It would provide not only a familiar memory for the person with Alzheimer’s Disease but would also provide an cognitive skills actiivity. This video shows how it is made… Share This (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1071064 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:26:08 +0100 1071064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1068733&cid=t_111598_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F194739548%2F With the Christmas season quickly arriving, it’s time to start hunting for gifts for family and friends. It’s a task that is often fraught with stress, especially when you are trying to buy for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s difficult to think of what to buy them. You spend your time asking yourself “Is this what they would like?”, “Is this something they would need?”, and “Will they recognize and use this gift?” I recently across this great article ‘Enhancing Life for the Older Adult with Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias: Some Gift Ideas’ by Stephanie Zeman Rn MSN that might help in your gift buying process. Stephanie suggests you choose a gift based on what stage the Alzheimer’s patient is a... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1068733 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:31:41 +0100 1068733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1068734&cid=t_111598_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F194697036%2F   Photographs look past Alzheimer’s , an article by Henry Lehmann, in The Gazette at Canada.com, features interesting information about art Pascal Dufaux has done of his uncle who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  Alzheimer’s disease is both the subject and the title for Montreal artist Pascal Dufaux’s oddly penetrating photo-installation [of his uncle] now in one small room at Galerie Joyce Yahouda, according to the article. “Taking photos of an Alzheimer’s patient!” you exclaim.  “I’d never do that.” However, I find the photos we took of Mother, alone and with us, also remind us of happy times, as well as the bittersweet ones.  These are times when we could bring her enjoyment, times we learned to love her in a different... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1068734 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:10:56 +0100 1068734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1063567&cid=t_111598_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F193324392%2F Here’s a great Christmas present for the caregiver in your family… (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1063567 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:26:30 +0100 1063567