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 'healthy'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:51:40 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181782&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fstressed-out-employees-at-risk-for-other-health-problems.html Super stressed? If so, it might also effect how much you eat and exercise, and even your confidence, according to a study published today in the American Journal of Health Promotion in which researchers found that asking people just one simple question about their stress levels quickly determines their risk for poor health. Researchers looked at responses from a survey of 13,000 workers who had enrolled in their employer’s wellness center. Nearly 17 percent, or 2,147, reported stress "as bad as it can be." Those very stressed employees reported poorer eating habits, more fatigue, and lower activity levels than their less-stressed counterparts. They also reported more health problems, including being overweight and having high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Ot... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181782 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:30:00 +0100 5181782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181804&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthree-common-ailments-that-can-be-treated-with-regular-exercise%2F2011.08.31 It’s Wednesday, so I would like to tell you about some cool things I learned this past week about the science of how exercise can be used as a treatment for three common ailments. First, some background about exercise: The great thing about exercising every day that you eat is that this magic potion is not a shot or a pill. It does not involve a doctor burning or squishing anything in your body. There are no HIPAA forms, no insurance pre-certifications, and not even a co-pay. It’s as we say, easy and free. And drum roll please…exercise is active—not passive. Here’s the Mandrola take on how exercise might treat three specific medical conditions: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr John M* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181804 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:00:42 +0100 5181804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182331&cid=t_101711_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwhat-does-letting-go-mean%2F Let go as they fall “To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means ’I can’t do it for someone else. To let go is not to cut myself off, its the realization I can’t control another human. To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. To let go is to admit powerlessness, Which means the outcome is not in my hands. To let go is not to try to change or blame another, it’s to make the most of myself To let go is not to care for, but to care about. To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive. To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies. To let go is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reali... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182331 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:16:04 +0100 5182331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181784&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fpoor-sleep-linked-to-high-blood-pressure.html Older men who regularly miss out on deep, restorative sleep have an 80 percent increased risk of developing high blood pressure, according to a study out this week in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension. Researchers used in-home sleep monitors to measure how long and well 784 men 65 and older slept. After an average of 3.4 years, 243 men had developed high blood pressure. Men who spent less than 4 percent of their sleep time in of slow-wave sleep, considered the deeper, restorative stage of sleep, had the highest risk of developing high blood pressure. In addition, men with reduced slow-wave sleep had shorter sleep duration, more awakenings at night, and more severe sleep apnea. Nearly a third of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, and the risk if higher in sen... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181784 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5181784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181774&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1553       There are days you can soothe your baby and then there are days you can’t.  We have ALL been there, and not just once! Each time your baby cries and can’t be soothed, we are thinking of the next step and solution. Sometimes all it takes is a certain way you are rocking them, or a certain type of music (maybe even your own voice!) Its easy to say either 1) i will pick them up or 2) i won’t pick  them up.  But when it comes right down to it each day and each time he cries and won’t stop is completely different from the time before. Here are some tips to help you cope with a crying colicky baby.  And even if your baby isn’t colicky, here are some suggestions to help you and your baby learn together  how to help each other. Its easy to ma... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181774 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:57:43 +0100 5181774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181701&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34698&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthyconcerns.com%2F2011%2F08%2Finterviewed-kathy-freston-for-blogher-shes-awesome-httpwwwbloghercominterview-talking-health-oprah-and-veganism-au.html Interviewed Kathy Freston for BlogHer. She's awesome: http://www.blogher.com/interview-talking-health-oprah-and-veganism-author-kathy-freston (Source: HealthyConcerns.com) HealthyConcerns.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181701 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5181701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169541&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fexercise-now-benefit-later.html If you’re waiting for the “right time” to start working out more, don’t delay. The earlier you start exercising, the more likely you are to maintain physical performance and strength in older age, suggests a study out this week in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers in England and Australia analyzed self-reported exercise levels of approximately 2,400 British men and women at ages 36, 43 and 53 followed since their birth in the month of March,1946. In 1999, when all the participants in the study were 53 years of age, the researchers measured their grip strength, standing balance, and how long it took them to rise from a chair as indicators of strength and physical performance. Grip strength is a measure of upper-body muscle condition. Chair-r... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169541 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:55:00 +0100 5169541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182067&cid=t_101711_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F83QTuZxBx3c%2F Obesity linked to Cognition (HealthCanal): - “Obese people tend to perform worse than healthy people at cognitive tasks like planning ahead, a literature review has found, concluding that psychological techniques used to treat anorexics could help obese people too.” - “According to a review of 38 studies on cognitive function and obesity by researchers from the University of NSW, obese people have a tendency toward “reduced executive function”, meaning planning, goal-oriented behaviour and decision-making.” - “Obesity may both cause and be caused by the reduced executive function, said review lead author Dr Evelyn Smith, from UNSW’s School of Psychiatry.” To read article: click Here. To access study: Click on A review of the association between obesity and cognitive fun... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182067 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:09:46 +0100 5182067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169611&cid=t_101711_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F83QTuZxBx3c%2F Obesity linked to Cognition (HealthCanal): - “Obese people tend to perform worse than healthy people at cognitive tasks like planning ahead, a literature review has found, concluding that psychological techniques used to treat anorexics could help obese people too.” - “According to a review of 38 studies on cognitive function and obesity by researchers from the University of NSW, obese people have a tendency toward “reduced executive function”, meaning planning, goal-oriented behaviour and decision-making.” - “Obesity may both cause and be caused by the reduced executive function, said review lead author Dr Evelyn Smith, from UNSW’s School of Psychiatry.” To read article: click Here. To access study: Click on A review of the association between obesity and cognitive fun... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169611 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:09:46 +0100 5169611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158994&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-shown-to-protect-obese-mice-from-the-diseases-of-obesity%2F2011.08.25 I usually choose not to write about the “new new scientific thing” that gets picked up by the press,  because early research is usually not reproducible and good science takes a long time to validate as true.  But since we know that mice and rats that are kept on low-calorie diets live 30% longer (and healthier) than their fat cohorts, I was interested in a new research compound, SRT-1720,  that was shown to protect obese mice from diseases of obesity.  Fat mice lived 44% longer if they were given this drug. The “designer” drug works by (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158994 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5158994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159847&cid=t_101711_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Faa-works-long-term%2F Conclusions The findings highlight the unique and positive impact of AA involvement on long-term SUD treatment outcome and extend understanding of why AA is beneficial for patients. Research report; Predictors of 4 year outcome of community residential treatment for patients with substance use disorders. Addiction. 2008 Apr;103(4):671-80. Laffaye C, McKellar JD, Ilgen MA, Moos RH. See also; Brief-TSF is designed to as adjunctive therapy for anti-craving medication. Twelve Step Facilitation 12th Step Works Are there Patterns to Denial Behavior? :Sweden Likes AA TooAlcoholics Anonymous with Narcotics Anonymous success in England12 Step Treatment Reduces Healthcare DemandSpiritual Awakening for RecoveryDouble Trouble in Recovery (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159847 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:27:00 +0100 5159847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159439&cid=t_101711_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fo71YDxEQEUA%2F We just noticed that the Alliance for Aging Research offers an excellent list of references on Brain Health Research, organized in these 10 sections below. Enjoy! #1 Nourish Your Noggin: Eat a Brain Healthy Diet #2 Use It or Lose It: Stay Mentally Active #3 Work Out for Your Wits: Exercise and Keep Fit #4 Interact with Others: Stay Social #5 Rest for Restoration: Get Plenty of Sleep #6 Unwind for Your Mind: Manage Your Stress #7 Guard Your Gray Matter: Protect Your Head #8 Think Overall Health: Control Other Conditions #9 Give Your Brain a Break: Avoid Unhealthy Habits #10 Understand Your Risk: Consider Your Genes Related articles: The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Brains Debunking 10 Brain Myths (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159439 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:52:32 +0100 5159439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158971&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fmarriage-and-divorce-linked-to-weight-gain.html Men tend to pack on the pounds after getting divorced, women after getting married. That’s according to research presented this week at the American Sociological Association’s 106th Annual Meeting. Researchers at Ohio State University used data on 10,071 people surveyed from 1986 to 2008 to determine weight gain in the two years following a marriage or divorce. Men who got divorced were more likely to gain a lot of weight—more than about 21 pounds—than those who stayed married. Women on the other hand were more likely to add a lot of weight after they got married. For both genders, the weight gains were most notable in people older than 30. Other research suggests that married men are healthier than unmarried ones in other ways as well, though researchers aren&#... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158971 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:55:00 +0100 5158971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158973&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fhappy-marriage-healthy-heart.html The song goes “love will keep us together,” but love can help keep you alive after heart bypass surgery, too, suggests a study published online today in the journal Health Psychology. It found that happily married people who underwent coronary bypass surgery were more than three times as likely to be alive 15 years later as were their unmarried counterparts. Researchers at the University of Rochester tracked 225 people ages 33 to 80 who had bypass surgery between 1987 and 1990. They asked married participants to rate their degree of happiness with their marriage one year after surgery. The study adjusted for age, sex, education, depressed mood, tobacco use, and other factors known to affect survival rates for cardiovascular disease. After 15 years, 83 percent of happily wedd... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158973 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:30:00 +0100 5158973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159205&cid=t_101711_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F22%2Fthe-myth-of-the-one-and-other-relationship-fantasies%2F Psychologist Jason Seidel, Psy.D, has heard partners lament all-too often: “This isn’t the person I married” or “I’m worried this person isn’t perfect for me.” And you know what? They’re probably right. But there’s more to relationships than a partner who remains the perfect fit your entire life. Seidel explains more about the myth of the perfect partner and other relationship fantasies. 1. Myth: Your partner will always be the one. Fact: There is no “once-and-for-all best match,” said Seidel, founder and director of The Colorado Center for Clinical Excellence in Denver. People and relationships rarely remain static. So that once great fit may “become broken, stale or wrong for [you].” In fact, according to Seidel, as you continue to grow in your life, you might ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159205 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:47:51 +0100 5159205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159935&cid=t_101711_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FBan6gUQYTTc%2F Recently I wrote about how you can start closing the gap between the life you are living and your best life . . . but I received some reader complaints. Desire to live their Miracle Question life? Check. Ideas and solutions to start closing the gap? Check. Energy to get their plan (and butt) into action? Not so much. And this is a valuable lesson. Inspiration and desire are only part of what is needed to close the gap, which is why desire + diet is the formula for success. Without physical and mental energy, it’s impossible to put the plan into action. This is why feeling good, having energy, and being healthy are so critical to living your best life. So, how healthy are you? Jumping on the scale can give you some indication. Analyzing your body fat percentage is another option. Mayb... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159935 Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:00:39 +0100 5159935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139717&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fcdc-practice-healthy-behaviors-have-a-longer-life.html At first blush, it would seem like common sense. Practice a healthy lifestyle and you'll have a longer life. And the latest study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the empirical proof to back the popular claim. The CDC researchers looked at adults 17 and older over the course of a few decades—from when they were recruited (1988 to 1994) through to 2006. In particular, the researchers looked at those who practiced "low-risk" lifestyles—not smoking, eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and moderating alcoholic drinks. The findings? Compared to adults who did not practice any healthy lifestyle habits, those who followed all four low-risk living options were: 63 percent less likely to die an early death, overall 66 percent less likely to d... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139717 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5139717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139733&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbook-review-food-truths-food-lies%2F2011.08.18 Food Truths, Food Lies, written by family physician Eric Marcotte, M.D., may be the most refreshingly evidence-based diet book of the decade. You will not find a single mention of super-foods, magical berries, or supplement “must-haves” in the entire book. What you will find is the cold, hard truth about why many Americans are overweight, and what it takes to become a healthy eater. Marcotte writes for the average American – his simple language, matter-of-fact tone, and regular reminders of what the reader has learned, make for a quick and memorable read.  Although it’s clear that Marcotte has carefully distilled his dietary advice from the scientific literature, he refrains from burdening the reader with too many footnotes and references. Instead, he has created ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139733 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:00:45 +0100 5139733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139719&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fsmoking-causes-half-of-all-bladder-cancers-study-says.html Bladder cancer risk for male cigarette smokers is high—50 to 65 percent of men diagnosed with it are smokers. And now women, thought to be at a lower risk, may be just as vulnerable, according to new research. While previous studies show that 20 to 30 percent of women with bladder cancer were smokers, a large study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that smoking is now responsible for half of bladder cancer cases in women. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute analyzed health questionnaire data for more than 450,000 men and women enrolled in the NIH/AARP Diet and Health Study launched in 1995. During the course of follow-up, between 1995 and 2006, 3,896 men and 627 women were diagnosed with bladder cancer. Current smokers were f... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139719 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:35:00 +0100 5139719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139722&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fexcess-weight-not-always-unhealthy.html A new study has added to the evidence that when it comes to longevity, being healthy is more important than being thin. Researchers at Toronto’s York University and other institutions looked at data from 5,453 obese men and 771 obese women who took part in the ongoing Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study in Dallas. For comparison, they also examined data from more than 23,000 normal-weight people in the same study. They grouped the obese individuals into four categories, or “stages,” based on their overall health and whether they had risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, or a mental-health condition. Obese people who had moderate or severe risk factors or coexisting illnesses had a substantially greater risk of dying during the st... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139722 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:35:00 +0100 5139722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139705&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1523       Whether you’ve known from day one that you’d be asking for an epidural or have your heart set on a medicine-free birth, here’s the lowdown on epidurals and how they can take some of the pain out of labor and delivery. Remember that we are all individuals and our different thresholds of pain span the gamut from high to low.  It is fortunate that for those who want medication, it is available.  Here is a comprehensive article about epidurals, what they are, how they work and who can best benefit from them.  You can read more here.   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139705 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:34:53 +0100 5139705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130739&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2F15-minutes-of-daily-exercise-lowers-risk-of-death.html Good news—the bare minimum is good enough, suggests a study published online in the Lancet this evening (or stet) concluding that just 15 minutes of daily physical activity increases your life expectancy by 14 percent, or three years, over your sedentary counterparts. In this large observational study, over 400,000 Taiwanese men and women aged 20 and older participated in a 12-year standard medical screening program, with an average follow-up of eight years. Based on self reports of weekly activity, participants were placed into five categories: inactive, low, medium, high, or very high. Researchers calculated hazard ratios (HR) for mortality risks for every group compared with the inactive group, and calculated life expectancy. Compared with the inactive group, low-activity par... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130739 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:31:00 +0100 5130739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130684&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2Fsens-foundation-is-hiring-a-part-time-it-resource.php For those of you who herd servers, sling code, and live the freelance life of many concurrent clients, I see that the SENS Foundation is looking for a part time IT resource: SENS Foundation, a Californian non-profit, seeks an IT manager to work as part of its expanding team. The position is 2.5 days per week. About SENS Foundation: SENS Foundation is a non-profit, life sciences organization with a mission to develop, promote and ensure widespread access to rejuvenation biotechnologies which comprehensively address the disabilities and diseases of aging. Our Research Center in Mountain View, California is the hub for a growing team of researchers, and outreach and executive staff. Several members of staff are located outside California, in the USA or Europe. In addition, we award grants t... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130684 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5130684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125732&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fis-it-too-early-for-a-flu-shot.html Seasonal flu shots have already begun arriving at drug stores across the country, for $32 for people paying out of pocket. Since the outbreak of the H1N1 flu two years ago, and the recent recommendation that all people older than 6 months get vaccinated, drug manufacturers have ramped up production. That means more doses, and earlier supplies. But the flu season doesn’t usually get going until the fall and winter. Is August too early to get the shot? No, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They recommend getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available in your community. Whether that is late summer or early fall, the protection will last through the flu season, they say. But it’s important to get vaccinated every year—even though this year’s ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125732 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:40:00 +0100 5125732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118618&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1510       Mayim Bialik found out , quite by accident, that her son was color blind. Would you know the telltale signs?  Her son was not yet 6 years old and after an ordinary request to play checkers, she found out just what her son was seeing.  The article is thoughtful and clearly comes from the heart. Read here for more information on color blindness. You can also read her blog here (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118618 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:29:57 +0100 5118618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118711&cid=t_101711_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2F3-facts-you-might-not-know-about-freud-and-his-biggest-addiction%2F You may know that Sigmund Freud, the famed founder of psychoanalysis, had a fascination with cocaine and abused it for many years. But you might not know these three facts that relate to Freud’s longstanding interest in cocaine. Howard Markel, M.D., Ph.D, professor of medical history at the University of Michigan, documents all this and more in his comprehensive, beautifully written book An Anatomy of Addiction: Sigmund Freud, William Halsted and the Miracle Drug Cocaine. 1. Freud was initially attracted to cocaine because he wanted to help a close friend. One of Freud’s dearest friends, Dr. Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow, was heavily addicted to morphine, and Freud initially believed that cocaine could cure him. A brilliant man and talented doctor, Fleischl-Marxow had an accident while do... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118711 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:18:48 +0100 5118711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5119001&cid=t_101711_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2F8-admissions%2F The wisdom of these timeless spiritual paradoxes are encompassed in all 12 Step Fellowship recovery processes. Admit your fear, and your courage will grow. Admit to not knowing, and you will learn. Admit your weaknesses, and you’ll become stronger. Admit your mistakes, and you’ll begin to move past them. Admit you don’t know what to say, and you’ll have said just the right thing. Admit that you’re confused, and you’ll begin to understand. Admit that you’re hurting, and you’ll begin to heal. Admit that you care, and the things that truly matter will grow stronger. Being honest with yourself, with others, with life, can often be difficult and intimidating. Yet honesty is always the most reliable, the most direct route to truly attain whatever... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5119001 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:33:38 +0100 5119001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118747&cid=t_101711_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F-wzekic95sE%2F Patient Doctor Relationship It seems like this topic keeps coming up in my online and social media reading. Basically, the discussion usually centers around the role the patient plays in healthcare. Many people like to discuss what has been called the ePatient. I instead want to talk about the motivations of patients and their ability to influence the healthcare system. Patients in healthcare are unlike “customers” in many other industries. I can’t think of a single patient that wants to go and see a doctor. Ok, maybe they like the doctor and they want to get whatever’s ailing them fixed, but to a person I’m sure we’d say that going to the doctor is the last place we want to be. It’s not like going shopping for a new pair of shoes. There’s no... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118747 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:12:45 +0100 5118747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118628&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fcoconut-water-label-claims-questioned-by-consumerlabcom-tests.html Only one of the brands of coconut water tested by the health-product testing firm ConsumerLab.com lived up to it's nutritional claims. Zico coconut water had as much potassium and other nutrients as listed on its label. The other tested brands, O.N.E. and Vita Coco, did not. Researchers at ConsumerLab.com tested the sodium, potassium, magnesium, and sugar content of all three brands. The sugar and potassium content in Vita Coco and O.N.E. were in line with their labels, but the amounts of sodium and magnesium were as much as 82 percent and 35 percent lower, respectively, than the listed amount. Coconut water is the liquid inside unripe coconuts, and is particularly rich in potassium. One cup has about 500 milligrams, roughly what would be in a banana or cup of orange juice, according to... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118628 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:30:00 +0100 5118628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118619&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1506     Being a grandparent is easy, you get to lavish all the love and hugs to your new grandchild and then you get to leave. Or not.  Its a slippery slope being a grandparent these days.  There is so much information on the internet about  pregnancy, labor and delivery, cord blood banking, and child rearing that it is dizzying.  Things are different now than they were ‘back in the day’  and as grandparents you must learn to move forward with your child and grandchild in order to promote a successful grand-parenting experience for everyone. Here is a great article about how to do just that. {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118619 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:14:55 +0100 5118619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107503&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Ffda-moves-to-clarify-meaning-of-gluten-free.html If you’re having trouble clearly defining “gluten-free,” you’re in good company. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hopes to clarify the issue by standardizing how the term is used on food labels. The agency is reopening a proposal introduced back in 2007 that would require wheat, rye, and barley products that use the term “gluten-free” on their labels to contain no more than 20 part per million of gluten. The FDA said the standard of 20 ppm comes from the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an agency that develops worldwide food standards, which set the guideline in 2008. The European Union has since adopted 20 ppm as its standard for gluten-free foods. Gluten levels below 20 ppm cannot be detected by standard lab tests. Last week, the FDA announced... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107503 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:00:00 +0100 5107503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107744&cid=t_101711_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-ms-honeymoon%2F Diagnostics are better. Primary care doctors are more aware. Patients are seeking knowledge. The general population of people newly diagnosed with MS seems to be getting a bit younger. Truth be known, it’s likely that they are being diagnosed earlier in the course of multiple sclerosis, and that’s a good thing! Medications appear to be more effective early in the course of MS. That’s not just to say they seem to “work” better at keeping attacks down. The meds seem to slow the progression to the point where we may have some extra “good years” before (if) our MS decides to get progressive. Herein lay my thoughts for today: The MS Honeymoon. Many, if not most, of us can think back to some physical “oddities” which we experienced well prior to diagnosis. It wasn’t until a f... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107744 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:40:34 +0100 5107744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107496&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1502         So here you are, your baby has arrived and what?? no manual??? We have all been to ‘that place’ where we just don’t know what to do with our) crying baby 2) wakeful baby and 3) always hungry baby. It isn’t as easy as  1) soothe  your baby 2) put y our baby to sleep and 3) feed your baby. Here are some helpful hints and answers to the out of the ordinary  questions about parenting and newborns. {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107496 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:13:39 +0100 5107496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107507&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fone-in-three-teens-in-us-got-sunburned-last-year.html That’s the suggestion of a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It asked how often, over a 12-month period in 2009 and 2010, teens got a burn that turned their skin red or hurt, and lasted for 12 or more hours. Among white, non-Hispanic teens ages 14 to 17, nearly half reported a sunburn. Avoiding sunburns starts with wearing protective clothing and limiting time in the sun. It also means using the right sunscreen. Your sunscreen should be water resistant, with an SPF of at least 30. Above 30, there's not much more protection. And you need to use it properly, too. That means reapplying it every 2 hours or so and after swimming or sweating. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons of a lotion on most of your body. For details, see our updated sunscreen Ratings. Source Q... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107507 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:15:00 +0100 5107507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103333&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fone-in-three-teens-in-us-got-sunburned-last-year.html That’s according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among white, non-Hispanic teens ages 14 to 17, nearly half got a burn that turned their skin red or hurt and lasted for 12 or more hours. Avoiding sunburns starts with wearing protective clothing and limiting time in the sun. It also means using the right sunscreen. Your sunscreen should be water resistant, with an SPF of at least 30. Above 30, there's not much more protection. And you need to use it properly, too. That means reapplying it every 2 hours or so and after swimming or sweating. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons of a lotion on most of your body. For details, see our updated sunscreen Ratings. Source QuickStats: Percentage of Teens Aged 14 to 7 Years Who Had a Sunburn During the Preceding 12 M... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103333 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:15:00 +0100 5103333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103334&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Feat-right-without-even-trying.html It’s easy to absentemindedly chow down on junk food while watching TV or surfing the Web. But a few simple changes to your environment can make it just as easy to mindlessly munch on healthy foods, according to Brian Wansink, Ph.D., a food psychologist and director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University. Speaking at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention in Washington, D.C., Wansink outlined findings from his lab’s numerous studies on food behavior showing, among other things, that things as basic as the size of a popcorn container or drinking glass can greatly influence the quantity a person consumes. And you can’t necessarily rely on your stomach to tell you you’re full: When Wansink’s team created a bottomless soup bow... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103334 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:30:00 +0100 5103334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096185&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fwest-nile-virus.html There were 1,021 cases of West Nile virus in the U.S. last year, a 60 percent increase from the year before, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the more than 1,000 cases, 718 people were hospitalized and 57 died. The increase came after several years of steady or declining numbers. Cases for this year are not yet available. West Nile virus is transmitted to humans primarily by infected mosquitoes and ticks. Since West Nile virus was first detected in the Western Hemisphere in 1999, it has become the leading cause of neuroinvasive arboviral disease in the U.S. See our tips on avoiding West Nile disease, as well as our Ratings of insect repellants. Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) [CDC] —Maggie Shader (Source: C... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096185 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5096185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096186&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fsmoking-high-blood-pressure-may-shrink-your-brain-1.html The first study to look specifically at the links between smoking, blood pressure, weight and diabetes in middle age, and the way your brain changes as it ages, makes for troubling reading. Researchers carried out MRI brain scans on 1,300 people over the age of 50 (average age 54). They asked multiple questions about their health and lifestyle, and the people took tests to check their thinking and decision-making abilities. Ten years later, the tests and the scans were repeated. People with high blood pressure developed age-related changes in their brain at a faster rate than those with normal blood pressure readings. They also had a more rapid decline in scores on tests looking at their thinking and decision-making abilities. The researchers found that the brains of people with diabet... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096186 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:10:00 +0100 5096186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096133&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2Fa-profile-of-sierra-sciences-and-their-work-on-telomeres.php A recent long Popular Science article looks at Sierra Sciences and its founder, a group that has been working on telomere biology and its role in aging for some years. Alongside a number of other research groups, the Sierra crowd believe that telomeres are a lynchpin portion of our biochemistry and manipulating them might significantly extend life. Make poor lifestyle choices, and you're likely to die of heart disease or cancer or something well before your telomeres would otherwise become life-threateningly short. But for the aerobicized Andrews, for anyone who takes reasonable care of himself, a drug that activates telomerase might slow down the baseline rate at which the body falls apart. Andrews likens the underlying causes of aging, free radicals and the rest, to sticks of dynamite,... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096133 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5096133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096176&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1496       Expectant parents can announce the good news to their Facebook friends via a brand new Facebook family member status option. We’ve told you about the online blogging FB journal set up by some expectant parents.  This new section allows parents to be to update their pregnancy, including due dates, photos and perhaps the baby’s name.  Once added, the unborn child is listed alongside family members on the user’s profile, and a notification is posted on the user’s Facebook wall. Is this TMI? Or just another way to enjoy your pregnancy?  Its all about social media these days, so it seems appropriate to continue on this road. We are living in the virtual world, why not take advantage of it?? {Click here for a free information packet and special coup... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096176 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:31:08 +0100 5096176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096189&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fovercoming-our-hardwired-drive-to-eat-and-eat-and-eat.html Most people know that they should eat less and make smarter food choices. But translating that into action is hard—and a study out this week in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association says that has less to do with a lack of will power than certain powerful biological imperatives. Such “neurobehavioral processes,” the researchers say, help explain why even motivated and informed obese people often fail to maintain weight loss through dietary changes. In particular, the authors say that obese people tend to have a heightened sense of “food reward,” or pleasure from eating tasty (and often sweet or fatty) foods, and a decreased sense of “inhibitory control,” or the ability to suppress the urge to eat high-calorie foods. They also tend to val... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096189 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:30:00 +0100 5096189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096872&cid=t_101711_134_f&fid=35162&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLemonadeLife%2F%7E3%2FrmFcjJLERac%2F I have been a big fan of Amber’s since I discovered her blog last year. She’s been super inspiring in my own personal question to get healthier and fitter. Amber recently got engaged and is planning a wedding for next summer – on my one year anniversary, as a matter of fact! She and her fiance Erik are perfect, but their eating habits don’t always line up. Sound familiar to any of the ladies? Amber shares with us how she works out cooking for two while making sure both parties are happy! Hi Lemonade Life readers, I’m Amber from Girl with the Red Hair! On my blog I talk about my life with a heavy emphasis on healthy living, food and fitness. I am also planning a wedding for July 2012 and while my fiancé and I have a lot of things in common, food preferences are n... Lemonade Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096872 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5096872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086162&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fcolon-cleansing-does-more-harm-than-good.html Colon cleansing is touted as a “natural” way to detox and enhance your well-being, but it’s anything but, say researchers. In fact, the practice comes with several unpleasant side effects and in some cases can even cause death, according to a study published today in the August issue of The Journal of Family Practice. Georgetown University School of Medicine researchers examined 20 studies published over the last decade on colon cleansing, which is also sometimes called colonic irrigation or colonic hydrotherapy. The reports showed little evidence of benefit, but side effects including cramping, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and soreness. In some cases, the products were linked to renal failure, aplastic anemia, liver toxicity, and even death. Previous research has shown ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086162 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:40:00 +0100 5086162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086151&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1488   If your body is lacking in certain vitamins and minerals, taking prenatal vitamins is a must.  Besides the obvious like calcium and iron, it is very very important to make sure you get enough folic acid. This helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects,such as spina bifida among others.  Making sure you are healthy inside and out during your pregnancy can only increase your chances of a having a healthy baby.  If you are planning on becoming pregnant, make sure to start taking your prenatal vitamins before you try to conceive. It can only help !! For answers from the community of thebump.com, you can read more suggestions and answers here.   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! }   (Source: Cord Blood... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086151 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:20:02 +0100 5086151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086168&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrlindagalloway.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fgreys-nursery.jpg No one likes pain, least of all pregnant women. Although obstetricians do a great job providing prenatal care and childbirth deliveries, there is always room for improvement regarding patient education. The management of labor pain is usually delegated to the Anesthesia Department within a hospital or an ambulatory center. The goal of anesthesia is to eliminate physical pain and any suffering that might be a result of pain. However pain and suffering may not always be about cause and effect. To quote the literature, “Although pain and suffering often occur together, one may suffer without pain or have pain without suffering.” Some women want to eliminate pain and others view it as a normal process. However, to the well initiated, it is well known that women who are in pain and “suffe... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086168 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:00:35 +0100 5086168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077671&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fpositive-outlook-may-reduce-stroke-risk.html People who look on the bright side of life may be less likely to have a stroke, a new study shows. There is already some evidence that our state of mind can affect our physical health. Optimistic people may make a better recovery from heart surgery or be more immune to some infections than their negative counterparts. Now research has found that if you have a positive outlook you are less likely to have a stroke than more pessimistic people, but there isn’t a big difference in the risk. Researchers looked at around 6,000 adults over the age of 50 who had never had a stroke and rated how optimistic they were on a 16-point scale. For every point increase on that scale their risk of having a stroke went down by 9 percent. The research found that having a positive outlook seemed to ma... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077671 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:00:00 +0100 5077671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069710&cid=t_101711_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F_gD-fO-T6HA%2F Farmer's Market: McKarren Park or Main Street Lafayette? At about age seven, my favorite movie was Baby Boom, featuring Diane Keaton as a fancy New York City businesswoman who inherited a distant relative’s daughter, moved to the ‘country’ (well, Connecticut) and learned to can applesauce. I’ve never quite approached fancy businesswoman status, and I’ve yet to can anything, but last week I moved to Lafayette, Indiana, after years of living and working on the east coast, and I can’t help thinking that seven-year-old-me would approve. The so-called good life is bound to be easier here, with no dirty subways, crowded commutes, tiny railroad apartments or exorbitant rents, right? Or will I perish for lack of constant movement, new faces and ample vegetarian restaurants? I supp... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069710 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:49:18 +0100 5069710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069464&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fsleep-more-weigh-less.html Each year, readers of Consumer Reports pose hundreds of questions. One common query: What’s the connection between sleep and weight? There is some literature connecting too little sleep to weight gain. Studies suggest that it has to do with hormones called leptin and ghrelin that reside in your fat cells and gastrointestinal tract, respectively. Lack of sleep may decrease the level of leptin, which can block feelings of satiety and encourage you to eat more. And sleep deprivation increases ghrelin, which stimulates the appetite. Seven to 8 hours of restful sleep a night is ideal to eliminate that problem. See what subscribers said about alternative therapies for sleep problems. (Source: Consumer Reports Health Blog) Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069464 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:15:00 +0100 5069464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069854&cid=t_101711_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FoK94dXpG4Ys%2F Everyone is constantly telling you what to do, from your parents to your friends to the media. Unfortunately hardly anyone tells you that you should be living a healthy life. Don’t be surprised when too much stress, junk food and little exercise take their toll on your body. Keep the following quote in mind the next time you catch yourself indulging in unhealthy habits. “Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” – Edward Stanley That being said…here are 10 simple, effective ways that you can apply right now to live a much healthier life: 1- Stop Drinking Alcohol Alcohol in general is one of the worst things for your body. It damages your organs, drains your energy and contributes to your increase... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069854 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:00:29 +0100 5069854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050553&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fdoctors-are-better-at-spotting-skin-cancer-than-you-are.html Not only are doctors more likely to find melanoma than patients, but they tend to find them earlier, when they are easier to treat. That’s the finding of a study out this week in the Archives of Dermatology. Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City looked at the records of 394 patients, who had a total of 527 melanomas. In patients who had been treated at the hospital for at least three months, 82 percent of the melanomas were found by doctors, not patients. In new patients, 63 percent were found by doctors. Cancers found by doctors also tended to be thinner, meaning that they were not as advanced. Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. While melanoma accounts for only 5 percent to 6 percent of skin cancers, it causes roughly 75... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050553 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:15:00 +0100 5050553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050554&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhome%2F2011%2F07%2Fhow-to-recognize-poison-ivy-poison-oak-and-poison-sumac.html Recent rains and warm temperatures have resulted in a bumper crop of poison ivy and doctors have seen an increase in outbreaks in recent weeks. Getting rid of poison ivy and its partners in pain, poison oak and poison sumac, can be a challenge but here’s something not to try—a string trimmer. Whacking the weed will just toss the bits back at you resulting in a malady called trimmer’s itch. The itch is quickly followed by a rash and blisters and weeks of misery. Recognizing these plants and knowing where they grow is the best way to avoid them. The old adage, “Leaves of three, let it be” only applies to the ivy. Poison oak can have three to five leaves on a stem and poison sumac seven to 13. The Food and Drug Administration also recommends the following: Was... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050554 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:22:00 +0100 5050554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050956&cid=t_101711_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fhow-do-you-get-your-juice%2F A long, long time ago in a land far, far, FAR away… I was the Drum Major of my competitive high school marching band. Yes; your beloved writer of the Life With Multiple Sclerosis Blog was, indeed, the geekiest of Band Geeks! This time of year often takes me back, in the Cuisinart of my mind, to the blend of heatstroke and joy that was our preseason Band Camp; the place where we but music and marching together with a well choreographed field drill with color guard accents. During those long, heat-filled summer days on a dusty back field with chalk lines — faint, sometimes, as the Nazca lines — we would march and play and march some more… and then put the playing together with the marching. Mind you, the act of marching while putting hard metal mouthpieces to lips could be far more t... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050956 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:03:20 +0100 5050956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050555&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fsome-aluminum-water-bottles-still-contain-bpa.html Switching from reusable polycarbonate plastic water bottles to aluminum ones doesn't necessarily prevent exposure to the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). That’s according to a recent study examining whether materials used for “BPA-free” reusable bottles lived up to their claims. The study, in the journal Chemosphere, found that some types of aluminum bottles are lined with an epoxy resin that leached even more BPA into water than did the plastic bottles that they were meant to replace. Epoxy resins also are commonly used to line food and beverage cans, and a Consumer Reports investigation found that almost all of the 19 name-brand canned foods we tested contained BPA, which some studies have linked to health effects including reproductive abnormalities and ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050555 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:10:00 +0100 5050555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051304&cid=t_101711_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2Fchill-out-with-these-cold-foods-in-this-heat-wave%2F The dog days of summer are scorching up the thermometers. Today (7/21/2011) the heat index is at 115 degrees F! You (and many people) may complain of a decrease in appetite and general lack of interest in firing up their stoves. But we still need to eat. Some foods can actually help you get a little relief from the heat because they are cold and hydrating. I went on Let’s Talk Live to show how you can increase the nutrition in your meals and stay cool in the summer heat wave of 2011!  No cooking required! Click the image below to watch the full video Breakfast – Blueberry Fruit Shake: Ingredients 2 cups frozen blueberries 1 cup frozen mixed fruit (including cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, peaches, etc) 1 cup milk 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Instructions... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051304 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:04:24 +0100 5051304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050481&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2Fa-little-cryonics-history.php To my eyes, Chronosphere is chiefly important as an insider's personal view of the 40-year history of modern cryonics movements. For decades, people have been working on the indefinite low temperature storage of the deceased, aiming to preserve the fine structure of the brain that encodes the mind's data. There is, to my eyes, still far from enough of a recounting of that history, the lessons learned, and efforts made - the more memoirs and personal accounts presented online the better. So here are pointers to a couple of recent Chronosphere posts on what went on, back in the day, when cryonics was a younger initiative, both of which are liberally scattered with photographs: In Camera Historia: Cryonics Institute Facility, 1978 On 21 March, 1978 the Cryonics Institute (CI) acquired their... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050481 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5050481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050542&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1459       Have you seen the summer forecast across the country???? The heat wave started in the West and is gradually moving towards the East Coast. Here  are a few suggestions on how to have fun, safely, in the sweltering summer heat…. If you go to the beach, earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon after 4:00 are the best times to keep you and your family from sunburn.  Remember, you still need sunscreen  but the sun is at its hottest mid-day. Wearing a hat and a lightweight cover-up are 2 excellent ways to prevent sunburn as well. Wearing a hat can prevent sunstroke, when your body cannot manage its temperature. Re-apply, re-apply, re-apply…..we’re talking sunscreen….. an SPF above 30 or 40 is generally considered adequate. If you go to th... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050542 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:53:09 +0100 5050542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050484&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2Fa-question-and-answer-session-with-aubrey-de-grey.php Over at h+ Magazine you'll find a question and answer session with Aubrey de Grey that covers some old ground and some new ground. The SENS Foundation, which de Grey cofounded, is presently deploying a modest million-dollar yearly budget to work on the biotechnologies needed to repair the cellular and molecular damage that causes aging. A great deal of that budget presently goes towards the first of the Foundation's programs, an effort focused on using bacterial enzymes to break down harmful waste chemicals that build up in our cells and contribute to a range of age-related diseases and degenerations. I should mention that SENS Foundation funding is due entirely to philanthropic donations - including those of a few high net worth individuals - and I know that many of the readers here are ... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050484 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5050484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050560&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fmelanoma-on-the-rise-in-latinos.html The number of Latinos with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has increased by nearly 30 percent since 1992, according to a study in the July issue of the Archives of Dermatology. The main reasons? A false sense of security against the cancer, which leads to excessive sun exposure and inadequate use of safe-sun practices. Many of my Latino patients, and even some of my family members, assume that their darker skin will protect them against harmful rays from the sun, and thus fail to take the steps that can prevent excessive sun exposure. The current study noted in particular that Latino’s rarely wore sun-protective clothing, which includes a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and tightly woven long-sleeved pants and shirts. Other important steps include: • Thoroughly ap... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050560 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:02:00 +0100 5050560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050561&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fstudy-shopping-cart-not-basket-means-healthier-choices-at-the-supermarket.html Heading to the grocery store? Then using a shopping cart instead of a basket can help you make healthier choices as you cruise down the aisles. At least that is the suggestion of a recent study in the Journal of Marketing Research. The researchers, who watched 136 people as they made food choices in the grocery store, found that people who used baskets that they carried instead of carts that they pushed were more than three times as likely to choose unhealthy over healthy food items. Why, exactly, is a little complicated, and involves something called "embodied cognition," or the notion that bodily sensations can influence our thoughts and emotions. In this case, the researchers say that the act of flexing your arm, as you do when holding a basket, somehow encourages you to choose smal... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050561 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:00:00 +0100 5050561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051305&cid=t_101711_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F19%2Feating-right-in-a-heat-wave-cnn-consumer-watch%2F An extreme heat wave has been sweeping the nation. Some people have even died, unfortunately, due to complications relating to the heat. The weather is not letting up either. My own area, Washington D.C. is facing the hottest weather of the year this week. CNN Consumer Watch – Eating in the Heat Wave I was on CNN discussing some of the foods to eat and avoid during a heat wave. [watch the full clip].  Of course, I said a lot more than what actually made it on air. Thank goodness for a blog! Eat, Even if You Don’t Feel Hungry Your appetite might be lower, but you still need energy. Choose the right foods. Fruits and veggies are almost 100% water so they will hydrate and nourish you. Try frozen fruit or a fruit and yogurt smoothie. Avoid high sugar beverages (energy slumps and ... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051305 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:58:57 +0100 5051305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050487&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2Fto-learn-how-cryopreservation-works-in-practice-start-by-reading-the-case-summaries.php Cryonics, as I'm sure you're all aware, has for decades been the best and only shot at a long life in the future for people who die before the advent of rejuvenation biotechnologies capable of reversing the damage of aging. That is a massive number of people, possibly including you and I unless we get our act together - and sadly, all too few will choose to be cryopreserved, even though they have the opportunity and the means. Cryonics is, in essence, a form of indefinite low temperature storage of the body and brain immediately following death. It is carried out with the reasonable expectation, based on present scientific knowledge, that it preserves the fine structure of the brain that stores the information of the mind - you might not be running, but all your data is backed up. We can... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050487 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5050487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036432&cid=t_101711_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2F10-years-with-ms-6-years-with-my-dog-sadie%2F This past April I “celebrated” the 10th anniversary of my diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis — a rather auspicious date to remember. Today, I am thinking back as well. This time, only 6 years… Six years ago today I received an e-mail from a most wonderful young woman in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland. The short note informed me that my new puppy had been born (well, actually that 7 puppies had been born and three of them were bitches; which is what I was hoping for). It was July and I wouldn’t be going to Ireland to pick her up until October — which later got moved to November so that I could speak at an MS fundraising luncheon — but my dear Sadie had been born. The next 8-weeks, as I have chronicled here before helped me decide which of the three young ladies would be mine (or... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036432 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:19:44 +0100 5036432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036224&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fheat-wave-poses-special-risks-to-older-people.html As temperatures and humidity rise across much of the U.S., people 65 and older are among the most vulnerable to heat stroke and heat exhaustion, according to the National Institute on Aging. That’s because the body’s ability to regulate temperature through blood circulation and sweat glands tends to decline with age. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. The signs include: • A body temperature above 103 degrees F • Red, hot, and dry skin with no sweating • Rapid, strong pulse • Throbbing headache • Dizziness • Nausea Heat exhaustion is milder and can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures. The warning signs are heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, fainting, dizziness, headache, and nausea or vomit... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036224 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5036224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028185&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Flow-job-status-linked-to-high-blood-pressure.html People from disadvantaged backgrounds—based on their parents' jobs—run a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, researchers have found. People from a disadvantaged background who go on to get a higher status job have a reduced risk of high blood pressure, compared with people whose social status doesn’t change. Researchers from Sweden looked at 12,000 twins born between 1926 and 1958. They looked at how social and economic status affected people’s risk of high blood pressure, and what happened when people moved between socioeconomic groups. People whose parents had low-status jobs had a 42 percent higher risk of developing high blood pressure, compared with people whose parents had higher status jobs or were self-employed. Looking at people’s own j... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028185 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:40:00 +0100 5028185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028186&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fcould-ill-fitting-dentures-raise-your-dementia-risk.html Not likely—at least not on their own. But older people who have multiple signs of poorer overall health—like difficulty hearing, joint problems and ill-fitting dentures—may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, researchers say. Although several age-related health problems are linked to dementia—such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes—these conditions only partly explain the increase in risk as we get older. And they can't reliably predict who will develop dementia and who will not. Some research has suggested that a person's overall health may provide a clearer indication of their dementia risk. To explore this, a group of Canadian researchers put together a "frailty index" of 19 factors related t... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028186 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:01:00 +0100 5028186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028162&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1432 Cord-Blood Banking Here is an excerpt from an article on kidshealth.org After a baby is delivered, the mother’s body releases the placenta, the temporary organ that transferred oxygen and nutrients to the baby while in the mother’s uterus. Until recently, in most cases the umbilical cord and placenta were discarded after birth without a second thought. But during the 1970s, researchers discovered that umbilical cord blood could supply the same kinds of blood-forming (hematopoietic) stem cells as a bone marrow donor. And so, umbilical cord blood began to be collected and stored. What are blood-forming stem cells? These are primitive (early) cells found primarily in the bone marrow that are capable of developing into the three types of mature blood cells present in our blood �... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028162 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:20:54 +0100 5028162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028190&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Falcohol-consumption-guidelines-experts-say-should-be-revised-with-cancer-risks-in-mind.html Recommendations for sensible drinking focus too much on the short-term risks, not the long-term health threats such as cancer. That's the conclusion of a new analysis out this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Current guidelines, which were developed in the early 1980s, are based mainly on the social and psychological problems of excessive drinking. But they disregard the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of cancer, according to the CMAJ analysis. The authors argue that new evidence linking alcohol and cancer suggest that the guidelines should be revised. The authors also say that in the past, representatives of alcohol producers helped define sensible drinking guidelines, creating a potential conflict of interest, and that the guidelines do... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028190 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:30:00 +0100 5028190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029316&cid=t_101711_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F1WHqFJf0rLM%2F One of the most common techniques used for building self esteem is the use of affirmations. Affirmations are things you tell yourself on a regular basis to “affirm” your personal strength, beauty and value. Affirmations are great, but unless there is a real belief in what the words represent, they will do nothing for your true self esteem. To get at your true self esteem, you must dig a bit deeper; and for this purpose I recommend writing about your life. The Brain Dump and Building Self Esteem Ever since I started “brain dumping”, I became a big believer in its power. A brain dump is simply a process used to get all of your thoughts out of your head. The goal is to bring out all of your conscious and subconscious worries, fears, and doubts so that they do not eat a... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029316 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:11:34 +0100 5029316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028192&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fappliances%2F2011%2F07%2Fthe-myth-of-the-hypoallergenic-dog.html Sorry Bo, but a new study says that there may be no such thing as a low-allergy or allergy-free dog. So chew on that while you’re romping around the White House with Sasha and Malia (who reportedly has dog allergies). The study found that the quantities of dog allergens in homes with supposedly hypoallergenic breeds were no different from those in homes with other breeds, according to The New York Times. So another myth busted. Bo is a Portuguese water dog, one of 11 “hypoallergenic canine candidates” on a list from the American Kennel Club, which also includes poodles, soft-coated wheaten terriers and schnauzers. “I have no idea where this whole concept came from,” Christine Cole Johnson, the senior author of the study, to be published online in The American... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028192 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:17:00 +0100 5028192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028198&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fcuddling-keeps-men-happy-says-study.html The key to a long, happy relationship? Surprisingly, cuddling and caressing is more important to men than for women, according to a study published this week in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Researchers at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington surveyed 1,009 middle-aged and older couples from the U.S., Brazil, Germany, Japan, and Spain, who were together an average 25 years. The asked how many times during the past 4 weeks they engaged in sexual activity with their partner, how often they kissed, cuddled, and caressed, and their degree of happiness in their relationships and sex lives. Men were most likely to be in a happy relationship if they kissed and cuddled a lot, and if their partner experienced orgasm. Men also said they were happier, and were more satisfie... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028198 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:15:00 +0100 5028198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008473&cid=t_101711_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-falls-secondary-damages%2F Supportive, light-weight shoes, a sturdy cane (“stick” in Ireland), cool ocean breezes and keen mindfulness allowed for some “hiking” on my recent holidays in Ireland. We kept to well worn paths and all, but it was nice to get out into nature even if it was only a few feet of the roads. Preparations for these jaunts included cool showers, a fistful of meds and the ever-watchful eye of Caryn as we trod step by spongy, peat supported step… And I’m proud to say that I was one of the few in our group who did not fall during our trekking! Chalk that one up to another lesson of living with MS. So many times, however, we know that we do fall and as I’ve commented before we may meet the canvas more often when we are feeling at the upper end of the MS spectrum. The injuries resulting ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008473 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:18:28 +0100 5008473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008173&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fcolon-cancer-deaths-declining-but-more-screening-needed.html Increased colon-cancer screening prevented 66,000 colon-cancer cases and saved 32,000 lives between 2003 and 2007, according to a new report this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But those numbers could be even better: roughly a third of U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 75 still aren’t up to date with their screening. Colon cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. among cancers that affect both men and women. But those deaths are largely avoidable. Colonoscopy can help detect the cancer early and prevent it by finding precancerous polyps. A study published earlier this year in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that screening colonoscopy cut the risk of colon cancer by 77 percent ov... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008173 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100 5008173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008157&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1420       Below is an excerpt from an article in the Orlando Sentinel about cord blood, its uses, and how people can go about understanding its benefits and even why they should bank it in the first place. “On a lawn beneath Florida Hospital’s Walt Disney Pavilion, NASCAR drivers and their cars were on hand Thursday morning to promote a new program that banks umbilical-cord blood. Beyond the cars, cameras and festival atmosphere is a new partnership between the hospital and a group that collects and stores cord blood from new mothers for procedures that can cure as many as 70 diseases. The program at Florida Hospital will allow pregnant women to donate their cord blood after they deliver their babies. That blood is rich in stem cells, the versatile cells that ca... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008157 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:59:25 +0100 5008157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008158&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1412 sci·at·i·ca –noun 1.  pain and tenderness at some points of the sciatic nerve, usually caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disk; sciatic neuralgia. 2. any painful disorder extending from the hip down the back of the thigh and surrounding area. Unfortunately, sciatica is one of the most painful types of back pain and is common in pregnancy. It usually occurs when the baby shifts or moves and lands on a nerve. Tips to alleviate the pain might include, getting off your feet , if only for a little while, while sitting, raise one leg on a step stool or a pile of books.  You can read more here for other tips and helpful hints to ease the pain of sciatica.   (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008158 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:45:44 +0100 5008158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008178&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Ffatty-foods-trigger-your-bodys-marijuana-like-chemicals.html Ever wonder why it’s so hard to control yourself when you’re eating fatty foods like potato chips and French fries? Maybe it’s because fats in such foods trigger the release of marijuana-like chemicals called endocannabinoids that drives us to eat them, according to research published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers fed rats Vanilla Ensure, a corn oil beverage, a sugar solution, and a protein-rich liquid called peptone, and measured the production of endocannabinoids in the small intestine. They found that the fatty diet triggered the production of endocannabinoids, but the sugars and proteins did not. The trigger starts when the food hits the tongue, where fats in food generate a signal that travels first to the brai... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008178 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:00:00 +0100 5008178 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997525&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fomega-3-fatty-acids-the-science-behind-their-potential-heart-health-benefits%2F2011.07.03 The Biology of Omega-3 fatty acids: (Just a little science:) When fish, flax-seeds or Brussels sprouts pass through the intestine, pancreatic enzymes transform the fat to free fatty acids. These acids are quickly taken up by the cells. Once in the cell, these fatty acids enter the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and cytosol–places that you might recall because your mom helped you make a Cell sponge cake in 7th grade Biology. In the cells, the Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, DHA and EPA) exert their healthy influence in three major ways: in the control of chemical messengers; in the flux of ions—cell electricity; in the smoothness and health of the cell membrane. That’s enough about cells. How do these (good) fats help our bodies? Omega-3 fatty acids reduce Inflammation: –Omega-3s ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997525 Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:00:49 +0100 4997525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4993008&cid=t_101711_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beautyramp.com%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Applying HennaNatural conditioner to make your hair smooth. If you are very conscious about hair care then coloring them with natural products like henna is the best option. It makes your hair look shiny and perfect while conditioning them well. Henna is derived from natural products obtained from a shrub that has been used as dye since ages. The advantage of using this natural hair care product in dying is that it doesn’t harm the hair. Unlike chemicals, it conditions the hair without damaging it. Things Required: 1. Henna powder (depending upon the hair length)2. Lemon juice3. Plastic gloves4. A shower cap5. Brush (to apply henna on hair)6. Comb (wide toothed)7. Bowl (to create henna paste)8. Water9. Vaseline petroleum jelly10. Blow dryer Time required: 15 ... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4993008 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:46:13 +0100 4993008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992687&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbeware-of-potatoes-they-may-cause-you-to-pack-on-pounds%2F2011.07.01 Without meaning to, you’ve gained a few pounds over the last few years. How did that happen? Certain foods, especially the humble potato, may be partly to blame. In a fascinating study of 120,000 healthy, non-obese women and men taking part in long-term studies of diet and health, the participants gained an average of 3.3 pounds every four years over a 13-year period. When the researchers tallied up the foods that contributed most to this weight gain, potatoes topped the list—twice: potato chips potatoes sugar-sweetened beverages red meat processed meats Other contributors to weight gain included sleeping less than six hours a night or more than eight hours, drinking alcohol, and watching television. The results were just published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study of... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992687 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:00:50 +0100 4992687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992676&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Famericans-eating-moreand-more-often.html This study shows how this epidemic has crept up on us.” Bottom line: If you are looking to control your calorie intake, check out our latest diet Ratings. And visit our diet and nutrition and exercise and fitness pages to find more ways to lose weight and live a healthy life. Source Energy Density, Portion Size, and Eating Occasions: Contributions to Increased Energy Intake in the United States, 1977-2006 [PLoS Medicine] (Source: Consumer Reports Health Blog) Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992676 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:20:00 +0100 4992676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992677&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Flung-cancer-screening-could-save-lives-at-a-cost.html Lung cancer is a sly disease, often not picked up until it's well-entrenched and spreading, making treatment difficult. However, lung cancer screening holds the promise of earlier detection and treatment for people at high risk. And, according to new research, this could save lives. Researchers have been looking at several screening approaches, with one of the most promising being low-dose spiral CT scans. These scans can produce detailed pictures of cross-sections of your lungs. Studies show that CT scans can detect more early-stage lung cancers than chest X-rays. But it has been unclear whether this might prevent many deaths. That's where the new study comes in. Researchers recruited more than 50,000 current and former heavy smokers who were ages 55 to 74. They screened them annually... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992677 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:25:00 +0100 4992677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4993010&cid=t_101711_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beautyramp.com%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Low calorie foodLow-calorie foods help in rapid weight loss. Low calorie foods can help you to lose weight without much effort. If you add calorie burning food to your diet that can really help you in getting that perfect shape you always desire. The best method to maintain a healthy lifestyle is by developing a nutritious diet. Combine low calorie foods to make delicious recipes. They will help you to get a slim look far easily than expected. So, here are some low calorie food items: 1. Soybean SoybeanSoybean prevents fat piling on the body. Soybean is rich in lecithin which prevents fat from piling up in your body. It helps in breaking down calories making you slim and fit. Several recipes can be made using soybean oil. Adding a bit of soybean oil to the salads ca... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4993010 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:02:16 +0100 4993010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4993011&cid=t_101711_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beautyramp.com%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Rapid weight loss tricksAdd healthy food to your diet to reduce weight rapidly. Losing weight is not a task that can be accomplished overnight. You have to consistently work for positive results. Don’t lose heart if you are facing a problem in shedding that extra fat. Combining different techniques can certainly help in staying fit and looking smart. Select a slimming schedule that suits your lifestyle. This makes it easier to sink into a daily routine and make you lose weight faster. Here are tricks that could help you shed weight quickly: 1. Calorie burning foodAdd calorie burning food to your diet, it will really help in making you fit. Add vegetables, cucumber, lettuce, green beans and fruits like blueberries, watermelon to your diet. They will do wonders for yo... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4993011 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:49:09 +0100 4993011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992640&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2Ftwo-months-left-until-the-sens5-conference.php The fifth Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS) Conference, SENS5, draws closer. It will be held from 31st August to 4th September at Queens' College in Cambridge - so there's still time to register. The purpose of the SENS conference series, like all the SENS initiatives (such as the journal Rejuvenation Research), is to expedite the development of truly effective therapies to postpone and treat human aging by tackling it as an engineering problem: not seeking elusive and probably illusory magic bullets, but instead enumerating the accumulating molecular and cellular changes that eventually kill us and identifying ways to repair - to reverse - those changes, rather than merely to slow down their further accumulation. This broadly defined regenerative medicine - which inc... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992640 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4992640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992680&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fdiet-sodas-do-they-or-dont-they-help-you-lose-weight.html Last week, a major study suggested that diet soda was not associated with weight gain. This week, a paper presented at the American Diabetes Association 2011 meetings reached the opposite conclusion. What’s a diet-soda lover to do? In the new study, researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio recorded the diet-soda intake of 474 adults aged 65 to 74, as well their waist-circumference, a measurement linked to excess weight. After nine years, the soda-drinking seniors added an average of almost an inch to their belts, compared with roughly a third of an inch for those who avoided diet soda. Some previous research has also suggested that diet soda doesn't help people lose weight, perhaps because people might use diet-sodas to justify consuming other hig... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992680 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:20:00 +0100 4992680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992666&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1403       So our SO’s are feeling a little neglected so they came up with a great way to bond and share beer. What could be better? Dad-to-be parties — also called “dadchelor,” or “forefather” parties — have become more popular in the past few years. For the most part, these aren’t sleazy retreads of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” bachelor bashes. Instead, participants say, this new male-bonding ritual is all about welcoming a major milestone that, for today’s hands-on dads, is even more life-changing than marriage. Read the rest of the article here. These days men are just as excited to become Dads and they have just as many apprehensions as we do. Perhaps given a place to hang as an informal gathering, they can get informati... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992666 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:03:56 +0100 4992666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4993014&cid=t_101711_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beautyramp.com%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Healthy lifestyleFruits are rich in vitamins and minerals and they provide moisture to the skin. Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder. It is certainly true but to look beautiful it’s just not makeup that helps. You can cover few flaws with makeup but to look beautiful it is essential that skin should be attractive and glowing. Heard of natural beauty? Yes, that doesn’t require much makeup to cover up things. It is already glowing, shining and makes you look vibrant. It is very essential to eat healthy as that reflects on your skin. There are some quick tips that will help you to make you completely beautiful. Just add them to your daily routine and see the amazing effects. 1. Freshen up your breath: Nothing is worse than bad breath. It really creates a bad impressio... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4993014 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:19:57 +0100 4993014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4993015&cid=t_101711_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beautyramp.com%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Fat burning food for dinnerHave delicious food for dinner which helps to reduce body fat. There are some food items which when consumed at dinner can help in reducing body fat. There is a whole list of fat burning food items which can help you burn that extra fat from your body. The fact is that these food items keep your metabolism rate high while you are asleep. So, eat the following items at dinner to have a perfect shape. 1. Tuna fish Tuna FishIt delays the process of breaking down of food. Tuna delays the process of breaking down of food, thus tricking your mind to feel satiated for a longer duration. Incorporating suitable alternatives in your diet is a comparatively better way to lose weight. Tuna fish takes full benefit of amino acids responsible for boosting... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4993015 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:17:43 +0100 4993015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984720&cid=t_101711_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Reducing Belly FatYou can reduce belly fat by adding healthy food to your diet. Tired of the fat around your belly? Want to get rid of it? You can easily get that perfect shape by doing regular exercise that makes you lose weight and look fit. The first step to reduce that extra fat is to improve your diet and add healthy food in your daily regime. So, here are some food items that you can add to your diet and you will have a flat belly: 1. Mushrooms: It is a rich source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is known to help in reducing weight as the proper absorption of calcium by body depends on it. People who have deficiency of vitamin D face problem in burning fat. If you eat three ounces of mushroom daily, you can fulfill the requirement of vitamin D in our body.2. Whole grains... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984720 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:31:58 +0100 4984720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984721&cid=t_101711_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Unhealthy food that affect your skinEat healthy, stay healthy. If we eat healthy, we stay healthy. In other words, our diet affects our body. So, it is very important to take a healthy diet for a glowing skin. A healthy skin reflects back the healthy regime you are following to maintain that lovely glow on your face. There are adverse effects of unhealthy diet on your skin. Let’s figure out which food items are not good for skin: 1. Sugar: If taken in excess it can affect your health badly. Problem starts with the process called glycosylation. In this process, the sugar in the blood attaches itself to the protein and stops its proper functioning. All body cells include the component collagen and it’s a vital component of our skin. So, it badly affects the skin. ... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984721 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:26:43 +0100 4984721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984428&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1400         As any pregnant woman knows, once you’re with child, it seems like everyone’s got something to say. And while it’s often with the best intentions, some people don’t seem to realize that they’re talking to a very hormonal, uncomfortable, and extremely hungry woman-on-the-verge, whose emotions are so whacked out that she’ll either burst into tears or cut you. Right now, it’s not a good time! You can read here for a list of what NOT to say.. {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! }   (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984428 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:59:54 +0100 4984428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975855&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fvitamin-d-and-calcium-to-prevent-melanoma.html A daily supplement of vitamin D plus calcium might help stave off melanoma in people with a history of other skin cancers, a new study reports. Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and other institutions analyzed data on more than 36,000 postmenopausal women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative study. Half of the women took a modest dose of vitamin D—400 international units, or IU—plus 1,000 milligrams of calcium each day. The other half took a placebo. Overall, the calcium and vitamin D combination didn’t reduce the risk of melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer—or other skin cancers over the seven years of the study. But when the researchers looked just at women with a history of other forms of skin cancer, includin... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975855 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:30:00 +0100 4975855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968479&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F06%2Fwinning-the-bpa-battle-state-by-state.html Vastly different in size and on opposite coasts, California and Delaware shared at least one thing in common this week: both states advanced legislation to ban BPA in food containers for children. Delaware’s legislature, unwavering in its support to protect its smallest citizens, passed the bill unanimously in both houses, clearing the Senate several weeks ago with a vote of 21-0 and the House on Wednesday 41-0. The bill, which bans the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups containing BPA, now goes to the governor to sign. Meanwhile in California, a similar bill faced a hurdle in the Senate Health Committee, but made it through with a vote of 5-2. The bill, which also bans BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups, was passed by the Assembly last month. The bill must be heard in the Senat... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968479 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:20:38 +0100 4968479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968480&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fdetails-emerge-on-possible-cell-phone-radiation-risk.html A group of scientists at the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, which last month classified low-level radiation from cell phones as "possibly carcinogenic to humans," provided more details yesterday about how they arrived at their conclusions in a report published online in The Lancet Oncology. The panel of 30 scientists from 14 countries reviewed hundreds of articles, including animal research and human studies, some of which had methodological limitations or provided inconsistent results. The new report cites some key studies, including the 2010 INTERPHONE study, the largest investigation so far of cell phone use and brain tumors. The INTERPHONE data showed that people who used cell phones appeared to be at a slightly lower risk, overall, of... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968480 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:45:00 +0100 4968480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968481&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vibrantglow.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fsweet-health-benefits-of-maple-syrup.html Go ahead and pour real maple syrup all over your pancakes. Not only will it be more delicious than the fake stuff, but you'll be doing your body a big favor. Maple syrup is already known to contain trace amounts of B vitamins and amino acids as well as the minerals: calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. However, new research has uncovered an astonishing sweet surprise.While studying Canadian maple syrup, Navindra Seeram, a researcher at The University of Rhode Island, found that it contains 54 beneficial compounds. Several of these compounds posses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, known for fighting cancer, diabetes and bacterial illnesses.Ironically, scientists found that phenolics found in this naturally sweet syrup inhibit two carbohydrate hydrolyz... Vibrant Glow blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968481 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:13:00 +0100 4968481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960345&cid=t_101711_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Youthful SkinProper care helps to maintain a healthy and youthful appearance of your skin. With the age it becomes tough to maintain the soft and smooth texture of our skin. Premature aging caused due to pollution or other factors can be controlled. Proper care and maintenance of skin requires some effort. Here are some handy tips that you can add to your lifestyle to get a healthy and youthful look: 1. Water intake Water Is EssentialDrink six to eight glasses of water everyday to maintain your skin’s elasticity. Drinking the required amount of water daily maintains the required hydration, so that the body can function well. It improves the softness of skin. Seven to eight glasses of a day is the minimum requirement of an individual. 2. Sleep well Get adequ... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960345 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:33:32 +0100 4960345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960049&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1385     It  never hurts to add one more benefit to  breastfeeding. According to WhattoExpect.com here  is yet another good reason to breastfeed your baby. Researchers found that infants who are even briefly breastfed are 60% less likely to be affected by sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than babies who aren’t breastfed at all. And that percentage grows the longer the baby is breastfed. You can read more here..   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! }   (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960049 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:53:17 +0100 4960049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960209&cid=t_101711_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-little-things-we-can-still-do-for-ourselves%2F Like many of my generation and those who came before, I feel now like I may have spent too much time in my “former life” chasing the elusive brass ring. It wasn’t enough to be recognized wherever I went, professionally. Not enough to have the house in town and an apartment in the city. Even my dear Jaguar was a few years older than I would have liked. Now, please don’t get me wrong! I was very appreciative of the things I had attained, but they did not make me happy — Things seldom make us happy. Because of the way I have learned to live my life post-MS, I feel much more attuned with what happiness rarely is and I find it mostly on the inside. That being said, there are still a few little things that I do that make me very happy indeed. Last week, while in New York I treated myse... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960209 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:36:22 +0100 4960209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953396&cid=t_101711_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fi-always-had-good-blood-pressurewhat.html My last physical revealed that, for the first time in my life, I had borderline high blood pressure. What happened? Where did I go wrong? I've always prided myself in having good blood pressure. 130 to 140 over 70 were standard readings for me. In fact at my physical a few years ago, my doctor said that for my age my blood pressure was really good. Okay, so the "at your age" part didn't thrill me, but knowing that my blood pressure was good did.That all changed during my last physical. There are many factors. My weight was a little bit more, but my BP has been good at this weight. There has been a great increase in stress...big time...over the past several years, maybe that is catching up with me? My diet is pretty good, but maybe there are things I need to address in the diet. Here are a ... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953396 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:03:00 +0100 4953396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952823&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fshop-for-hearing-aids-tips-problems-dispenser-audiologist-hearing-loss-association-of-america-hlaa.html Buying a hearing aid has to rank among the most tedious of shopping experiences. To begin with, it's not an item that people are excited about buying. For another, these devices can cost thousands of dollars, and typically are not covered much—if at all—by insurance. There's jargon to understand, and tiny controls and batteries to master. And once you've got your aid or aids, it could take a month or longer for your ears and your brain to fully adjust. As hearing professionals are fond of saying, it's not like putting on a pair of prescription glasses. What's more, getting good information, and making sure the dispenser knows enough about you to provide the right device, can be a challenge. Indeed, in the course of researching CR's hearing aids report, we sent hearing-impaired... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952823 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:00:17 +0100 4952823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952824&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Ffda-unveils-nine-graphic-cigarette-labels.html Still not convinced you need to quit smoking? Maybe the nine graphic cigarette warnings, unveiled today by the Food and Drug Administration, will make you reconsider. Starting September 2012, the warnings will appear on every pack of cigarettes sold in the U.S. and in every cigarette advertisement. The new labels mark the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years. The warnings include messages such as “Warning: Cigarettes are addictive,” accompanied by an up-close image of a man smoking through a gaping hole in his throat, and “Warning: Smoking during your pregnancy can harm your baby,” with an image of an infant struggling to survive in the hospital just days after birth. “These labels are frank, honest and powerful depictions of the health r... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952824 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:25:11 +0100 4952824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952826&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fneed-a-nap-get-rocking.html When it comes to a getting a good nap, adults have more in common with babies than we think. Babies like to be cradled and rocked to sleep, and according to new research, so do we. There’s a strong link between rocking and the quality of our sleep, suggests a small study published Monday in the journal Current Biology. Swiss researchers asked twelve healthy adults to take two 45-minute naps on a hammock-type bed that either remained stationary or rocked gently. All described themselves as good sleepers who didn’t typically nap, with no excessive daytime sleepiness and little anxiety. Researchers assessed sleep quality and quantity using questionnaires and brain wave recordings monitored by an electroencephalogram (EEG). The participants all fell asleep faster when they rocke... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952826 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:30:00 +0100 4952826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960012&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fthe-already-forgotten-past-and-the-nascent-future.php Modern advocacy for engineered longevity and methods of preventing permanent death (such as cryonics) began in earnest in the 1970s, give or take, and has thus been around for long enough to establish a distinct and fascinating cultural past that most younger people are unaware of. The last decades of the last century are being buried rapidly indeed. The more thoughtful older folk who lived through that past there are sponsoring a growing range of initiatives to help ensure the continuation and growth of this present community of advocates, supporters, writers, and researchers. It is in everyone's interest for there to be more people working on human life extension, talking about it, and advocating for longer, healthier lives. In this sense, the future is something that is constructed, n... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960012 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4960012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952827&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhome%2F2011%2F06%2Ffederal-agencies-team-up-to-warn-of-radon-dangers.html Nine federal agencies have joined forces to develop a Federal Radon Action Plan that will target the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. A colorless, odorless gas, radon causes an estimated 21,000 cancer deaths each year. While the announcement was short on details, two goals are to raise awareness of radon dangers and to create jobs for radon testing and mitigation. “This Action Plan represents an historic interagency cooperation with the potential to reduce exposure to radon, including for people and families that do not have the resources to make the simple fixes necessary to protect their loved ones,” the Environmental Protection Agency announced on its website. One in 15 homes has elevated radon levels, according to the EPA. The agency recommends running a... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952827 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:33:00 +0100 4952827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952829&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fhealthy-fathers-day-gifts-for-every-type-of-dad.html If you’re stumped on what to get Dad for Father’s Day, give the gift that keeps on giving—good health. These gifts are sure to keep the special guy in your life—whatever type of guy he is—looking and feeling youthful. And we’re not talking Botox and body shapers. Active Dad: Consider home workout equipment to help him stay fit. Go small with exercise bands, a stability ball, and dumbbells. Step it up with a set of kettlebells, but first make sure you read our safety advice. Go big with a treadmill. We rated dozens and recommend several. Dapper Dad. Give him a close shave with a brand new electric razor. Our testers found seven smooth operators. Conceal signs of wear and tear with one of the many skin-preserving wrinkle products on the market, but may... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952829 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:50:00 +0100 4952829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952830&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Flife-expectancy-in-us-depends.html How long you live depends a lot on where you live, according to an analysis of U.S. life expectancy figures released this week. It found wide variation in those rates in U.S. counties, ranging from 65.9 to 81.1 years for men and 73.5 to 86.0 years for women. And compared to other developed countries, like Japan and Canada, we’re falling behind, the analysis found. The average life expectancy in the U.S. in 2007 was 75.6 years for men and 80.8 years for women, both 37th in the world. The study, by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, suggests that the relatively low life expectancies in the U.S. can’t be explained by the size of the nation, racial diversity, or economics. Instead, it points to the high rates of obesity, tobacco use, a... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952830 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:45:00 +0100 4952830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953263&cid=t_101711_134_f&fid=35162&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLemonadeLife%2F%7E3%2FJ8keDz9VIsY%2F Me and my teeth have had a lot of adventures together. To catch up on previous installments, check out: Confessions of a Girl Who Doesn’t Floss, Confessions of a Girl Who Didn’t Have Any Cavities , and Confessions of a Girl Who Had a Root Canal . Early on in high school, I had braces. Big, unattractive braces. After they were off, I was given a retainer to wear, which I wore, for the most part, for a couple of years. But like most people, my retainer-wearing days quickly ended. And my teeth have started to shift. I first noticed it about four years ago, when I moved to the East Coast. I had an itty-bitty gap between my left front tooth and the tooth next to it. It didn’t really bother me that much, and I ignored it for a long time. Beginning last year, I started noticing... Lemonade Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953263 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4953263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953302&cid=t_101711_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fhow-we-really-eat.html We have our new recommendations on eating right that came out at the beginning of the month. But now real American's have put their slant on it. How we really eat. Face it we are creative.This is what I will eat today. My breakfast plate will consist of coffee (half decaf with skim milk), a piece of fruit, egg beaters and toast. My lunch plate will be left over Chinese food of brown rice and chicken with peanuts and vegetables. My dinner plate will be salad and chicken quesadillas - which will have onions, scallions, chicken, salsa, and cheese.Somewhere in there will be a little chocolate too. Maybe I'll have left over Chinese for breakfast and have a sandwich for lunch. I don't know. I hate following the rules. I like to eat what I like. Everyone has their own version of what they like to... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953302 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:11:00 +0100 4953302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934053&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fan-interview-with-david-gobel-methuselah-foundation-ceo.php Today I noticed a fairly long interview with David Gobel of the Methuselah Foundation - a lot of interesting detail in there as to the Foundation's goals and arrangements. For example: Q: What collaborations, partnerships, or other types of relationships does Methuselah Foundation have with other longevity funding organizations, if any. One example would be the Ellison Foundation. A: Ellison has been a donor to the Methuselah Foundation. We've had many organizations that have been supporters such as the Thiel Foundation, the Ellison Foundation, The Paul Glenn Foundation. Q: Are there any other collaborations with any funding or research-focused organizations? A: We are, I suppose closest to SENS foundation, we do many things together. We also co-founded the Super Centenarian Foundation... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934053 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4934053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934124&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1363     Many factors play a part in predicting gestational diabetes. Being aware of the possibility that you may be at risk is the first step in being able to manage it during your pregnancy.  Women with gestational diabetes have higher overall risk during pregnancy, including higher risk of cesarean delivery, neonatal intensive unit admissions, and overall serious injury at birth. Remember knowledge is power and the more you know the more you can be prepared and have the healthiest pregnancy you can have. Read more: http://technorati.com/women/article/predicting-gestational-diabetes-is-it-possible/#ixzz1PHe6OtfC   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934124 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:24:17 +0100 4934124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934059&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fshould-we-treat-aging.php "Should we treat aging?" is a rhetorical question here, but sadly it remains a straightforward open question for much of the world - when it is asked, they are quite serious in asking it. People expect there to be good reasons as to why aging should be left as it is, the cause of death for more than 100,000 people each and every day, and scientists restrained from working on therapies of rejuvenation. This is one of the uphill struggles taking place in the patient advocacy community for aging research, that most people don't consider themselves patients exhibiting the symptoms of degenerative aging, have little inclination to do anything about it, and are in fact initially hostile to the whole idea. Here's an American Scientist article from researcher David Gems that asks the rhetorical q... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934059 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4934059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934145&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fcutting-back-on-fats-sugar-might-lower-alzheimers-risk.html Following a diet that’s low in saturated fat and quickly digested carbohydrates, such as doughnuts and white bread, could cut your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, suggests a study published today in the June issue of the journal Archives of Neurology. Researchers fed 20 healthy adults either a diet that had a high glycemic index and lots of saturated fat or a low glycemic index and little saturated fat for four weeks. They then gave the participants a memory test. Those who ate the low-fat, low-glycemic-index diet performed better on the memory test, and also had lower blood levels of certain markers of Alzheimer’s disease. A similar experiment in 29 adults who already had some signs of cognitive showed similar, though not quite as impressive, results. While this study... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934145 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:01:00 +0100 4934145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934146&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Frested-wife-happy-life.html It’s well known that too little shut-eye can adversely affect your health. But new research suggests it might also undermine your relationship—at least if the sleepless party is female. In a study presented at this week’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh measured the sleep and marital interactions of 35 healthy, married couples over 10 days. They used a device called an actigraph to measure sleep latency (the amount of time it takes a person to fall asleep), total sleep time, and number of awakenings during the night. The participants used electronic diaries to record the quality of their marital interactions during the same 10 days, answering questions about, for example, how supported or valued they f... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934146 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:45:00 +0100 4934146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934704&cid=t_101711_134_f&fid=35162&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLemonadeLife%2F%7E3%2FljfXSvFHiPs%2F Back in March, I started my latest adventure in losing weight for my wedding, which is now a mere 26 days away. When I started, I decided I didn’t want to have a Goal that I was trying to meet. I didn’t know how quickly it would take me to lose weight and I didn’t know what my body could handle. So I went in thinking, “Whatever I lose will be great. Whatever I lose is what I was supposed to lose.” It allowed me a bit of forgiveness when I had weeks where the drop wasn’t as big as it could be, or even a drop at all. I knew that if overall, I had lost weight from when I started, that was all that mattered. That’s not to say I was easy on myself. Fitness has always been challenging for me to keep up with, although I still manage to find time to work o... Lemonade Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934704 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4934704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934062&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Freplying-to-a-critique-of-sens.php SENS, the Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence, is detailed plan for development of the biotechnologies needed to reverse the effects of aging - to repair the biological damage that causes age-related degeneration and disease, and thereby eliminate the frailty and increasing risk of death that comes with it. Strangely, SENS has gone from valid but fringe idea rejected by the mainstream of aging research to an accepted and supported, albeit small, research program over a handful of years without much in the way of widely published and debated critiques. There was the SENS challenge, a couple of scientific op-ed exchanges in the journals (some of which were quite entertaining), and that was pretty much that. In the early days, no-one would take the time to engage, and the switch f... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934062 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4934062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921404&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fhip-and-knee-surgery-riskier-at-quieter-hospitals.html Hip and knee replacement surgery is riskier in hospitals that carry out fewer operations, researchers have found. People are more likely to get blood clots or die at quieter hospitals, compared with hospitals that perform the operations regularly. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, around 800,000 hip and knee replacement surgeries are performed in the United States each year. A joint replacement can help people with severe arthritis move around more easily and have less pain, but it involves major surgery and things can sometimes go wrong. In the study, which looked at the medical records of around 30,000 people, hospitals that performed more than 200 hip or knee replacements each year had better results. Patients treated in hospitals that performed fewer operatio... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921404 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4921404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921405&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhy-quitting-smoking-makes-you-fat.html If you've ever tried to give up a smoking habit, you might have found that you tend to pack on a little extra body weight, too. Now, scientists say they've found out why. Researchers looking into new ways of treating depression made an interesting discovery. While testing nicotine, the primary chemical present in cigarette smoke, on lab animals, scientists noted that the test subjects weren't eating as much. Yann Mineur, an associate research scientist at Yale, told CBS News: We found that nicotine, when it enters the brain, activates specific nicotine receptors that are located on specific neurons known to decrease feeding and increase energy expenditure when activated. Mineur says the potential exists to make other drugs that produce the same effect. However, CBS News warns that "the ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921405 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:15:00 +0100 4921405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921702&cid=t_101711_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fdieting-and-losing-weight.html I really am trying to lose weight. Cancer is fattening - that is mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gify official verdict. Its none of your business on how much I weigh or what I want to lose, we'll just say I feel fat and that's all that matters.As a result I was interested in the list of best rated diets that just came out. I found it intriguing that they ones that are better are based on changing your eating habits and paying attention to what you eat and how much and not eating their fake food. I mean fake food regarding the diets where you need to eat processed things they send you or you buy in the store. I also noticed that the more extreme diets are also on the bottom. The diets were evaluated on weight loss, weight maintenance and heart health. So the list, from best to worst, is:1... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921702 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:27:00 +0100 4921702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921363&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fa-conversation-with-aubrey-de-grey-on-aging-and-ai.php A good interview can be found at h+ Magazine, in which Aubrey de Grey and Ben Goertzel discuss a range of topics. Goertzel is an artificial intelligence researcher who strongly supports the goal of achieving radical life extension, so the interaction between the two fields is one of his interests: Ben: On a different note - I wonder how much do you think progress toward ending aging would be accelerated if we had an AGI system that was, let's say, roughly as generally intelligent as a great human scientist, but also had the capability to ingest the totality of biological datasets into its working memory and analyze them using a combination of human-like creative thought and statistical and machine learning algorithms? Do you think with this sort of mind working on the problem, we could r... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921363 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4921363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911480&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmyplate-spiffy-new-nutritional-guidelines-for-americans%2F2011.06.08 The crumbling Food Pyramid and its hip successor (MyPyramid) fell into oblivion yesterday, eroded by the stinging winds of science. Their replacement? A quartered plate called—wait for it—MyPlate that was designed to visually convey the elements of healthy eating to Americans of all ages. The new icon consists of a white plate divided into four segments: green for vegetables, red for fruits, orange for grains, and purple for protein. Dairy has a prominent place, sitting where a glass of water should be. The hope is that the plate will nudge Americans away from meals dominated by meat and starch and towards meals made up mostly of plant-based foods. The original Food Guide Pyramid debuted in 1992. It was built on shaky scientific ground. Over the next few years, research from around the... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911480 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:00:00 +0100 4911480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911470&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fvitamin-d-screening-for-everyone-not-so-fast.html If your doctor suggests measuring your blood levels of vitamin D at your next physical, ask why, particularly if you’re not at-risk for vitamin D deficiency. New guidelines from the Endocrine Society, released online this week, say the screening is generally necessary only for individuals at risk for deficiency. That echoes our recent advice on vitamin D testing. The new guidelines from the Endocrine Society suggested specific dietary intakes of vitamin D as well as treatments for specific at-risk groups, including infants, children, obese adults, older adults, and pregnant women. It recommends against using supplementation to prevent cardiovascular disease or death or to enhance quality of life. For the most part, the vitamin D levels suggested in the Endocrine Society’s gui... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911470 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:20:00 +0100 4911470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902628&cid=t_101711_134_f&fid=35162&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLemonadeLife%2F%7E3%2FUzrsi657qbI%2F I suppose to give a true update of how I’m doing with my weight loss goal, I have to fill you in on how I’m doing with my bruised tailbone. It’s been two weeks since I fell down the stairs, and I think I am finally noticing some improvement in how it feels. It took a long time for it to start feeling better, and even as late as Friday I was feeling some severe pain. Ironically, the pain is really most noticeable when I’m sitting on something soft, because I don’t have any support and so my tailbone curves down. When I sit on a harder chair, I have better posture and I’m able to keep my tailbone elevated a bit from the seat, so it doesn’t become the pressure point. I have also found taking Advil every day has really helped with the pain, so I take t... Lemonade Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902628 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4902628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902421&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Faccepting-different-body-types-but-not-approving-of-obesity%2F2011.06.05 I just learned (yes, I’m a little late to the party) about the Body Shop anti-barbie controversy from a post on Facebook. The ad to the left has been banned from most countries, because it was believed to be in bad taste. For me, it raises some very interesting questions. First of all, it’s been my experience that the media has been relentless in its portrayal of feminine beauty as being a dress size zero. This is an unattainable goal for most of us, and a very narrow view of what is truly attractive and physically healthy. I can’t imagine how many young girls feel deeply flawed when they compare themselves to Barbie et al. If unchecked, that self-doubt and insecurity can become a lifelong self-esteem issue or worse. Eating disorders are becoming more and more common, and... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902421 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:00:57 +0100 4902421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902709&cid=t_101711_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2011%2F06%2Ffrom-food-pyramid-to-food-plate.html I was pleased to see the new food pyramid...I mean circle...actually it's a plate. I have always felt the food pyramid was too complicated for many.  Looking at a simple plate, with portion amounts shown on the plate in colors is appealing to the eye, and easy to understand...even for children. When I used to meet with people for consultations, for years, I would do something very similar.  When explaining how much of each food group they should eat, I would say to look at your plate, this much should be meat, this much grains, etc., and would draw a diagram to explain. Now this simple concept is being used by the USDA. Since I'm not sure whether the image is copyrighted, may I invite you to visit the USDA ChooseMyPlate page for more information.If you are interested in portion c... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902709 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 15:40:00 +0100 4902709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893399&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAGhq6fZl69g%2F By Michael F. CannonSome tidbits from the health care policy world: Philip Klein is perhaps too kind to the Obama administration’s latest defense of ObamaCare in “Obama solicitor general: If you don’t like mandate, earn less money.” The Obama administration launches a hospital payment reform effort that, rather than promote high-quality, low-cost medical care, will demonstrate once again why Medicare is incapable of such. The physicians lobby, having thrown its support behind ObamaCare with the expectation that Congress would jack up Medicare’s physician price controls, is still begging Congress to do so. The Obama administration launches a lame effort to reduce medical errors in Medicaid, decades after markets devised far more powerful deterrents. That&#82... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893399 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:08:34 +0100 4893399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893453&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fstop-watches-may-be-better-than-ct-scans-at-predicting-heart-disease%2F2011.06.02 It is hardly news to say that we need better means to predict who will die of heart disease. No matter how much you may hear about medical errors, hospital acquired infections, or even distracted driving, it’s still heart disease that kills the most of us. The inflammation that begins narrowing our arteries starts when we are young. It percolates quietly, stealth-like for years. The young usually skate by unscathed. But all the cookies, beers, chips, inactivity and work stress adds up. The tension of life squeezes our arteries, daring them to crack or fissure. This cataclysm is one of the ways that middle age may introduce herself. A friend, or colleague, or sibling dies suddenly of heart problems. Those of us that our “masters-aged” have likely felt these sensations of sadness, and ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893453 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:00:39 +0100 4893453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893437&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fsleep-deprivation-may-lower-testosterone.html Guys, here’s another reason to get some shut-eye: Sleeping just 5 hours a night might lower your testosterone levels, according to a small study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association and funded by the National Institutes of Health. Researchers at the University of Chicago recruited 10 healthy, lean young men with an average age of 24. The men spent three nights in a lab sleeping up to ten hours, followed by eight nights sleeping less than five hours. Blood samples showed that testosterone levels were 10 to 15 percent lower when men slept five-hours compared with when then slept 10. The men also reported a decline in their mood, energy, and sense of well being during the five-hour phase. The researchers point out that testosterone also plays a role ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893437 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:35:00 +0100 4893437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893440&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fcell-phone-radiation-possibly-carcinogenic-says-who.html The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer yesterday classified low-level radiation from cell phones “possibly carcinogenic to humans” based on limited evidence linking cell-phone use with an increased risk of glioma, a type of brain cancer. While that's certain to raise the level of discussion about the health effects of cell phones, government regulators remain reassuring about the potential risks. Jonathan Samet, M.D., chairman of the IARC’s Working Group and chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California, was quoted in the announcement as saying that "the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough” to support the new classification. He said that “there could be s... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893440 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:37:54 +0100 4893440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893421&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1352     Men have become so closely involved with their partner’s pregnancy that 23 percent report emotional and physical changes often associated with women. Research found they become more emotional, “weepy”, and suffer mood swings, nausea and even phantom pregnancy pains. Men have more involvement and are more in tuned with their partners needs and desires as well as a desire to be an involved parent.  Continue reading  here for additional information   {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893421 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:11:10 +0100 4893421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883541&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2Fexamining-a-few-legal-aspects-of-organizing-your-own-cryopreservation.php As I've noted in the past, one of the challenges that faces present day cryonics as an industry is that it requires a measure of proactive organization and ongoing effort on the part of customers. You can't just sign up for cryopreservation, pay your monthly dues, and let matters coast along unattended - not if you want things to go smoothly when the service is needed. All sorts of obstacles, both organizational and bureaucratic, can rear their ugly heads: arranging your own cryopreservation is less a matter of agreeing to go to a party than it is a matter of agreeing to be the host and organizer of a party. This, of course, greatly reduces the range of people who are willing to sign up for cryonics - no-one likes inconvenience, and there's a certain irrationality when it comes to using (... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883541 Sun, 29 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872077&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fcelebrate-dont-fry-day-by-being-safe-in-the-sun.html The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has declared today Don't Fry Day. The sun-safety awareness campaign hopes to educate people on how best to protect their skin from dangerous UV rays. Doctors diagnose over two million new cases of skin cancer in the U. S. each year, outnumbering all other cancers combined, according to the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. Here are a few safety tips for you this Memorial Day Weekend from our recent sunscreen report and Ratings. Don't rely on sunscreen alone. Wear protective clothing and limit time in the sun. Your sunscreen should be water resistant, with an SPF of at least 30. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or so and after swimming or sweating. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons of a lotion-based sunscreen on most of your body. Sources ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872077 Fri, 27 May 2011 19:30:00 +0100 4872077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872078&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F05%2Fdna-tests-find-disturbingly-widespread-seafood-fraud.html If you've long suspected that the "mahi-mahi" on your plate may really be yellowtail, you now have science on your side: Researchers with the non-profit group Oceana have harnessed the power of forensic science to confirm that as much as half of all seafood sold in the U.S. is mislabeled. "Results from our DNA lab show that about half the time the fish you are eating is not the species listed on the menu," said DNA tester William Gergits. The group accuses the industry of "seafood fraud," and is calling on the federal government to step in to more tightly regulate fisheries and related businesses. Oceana's announcement follows a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office recommending improvements to government oversight of imported fish. Oceana dispatched scientists to... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872078 Fri, 27 May 2011 16:00:29 +0100 4872078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862527&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fextra-calcium-doesnt-prevent-broken-bones.html Getting lots of calcium doesn't help women avoid osteoporosis or broken bones, new research shows. Low calcium intake can lead to weak bones, but the risk goes away for women who get an average amount of calcium, and there’s no extra benefit to having more. In the 19-year study, a group of Swedish researchers took 60,000 women and split them into five groups, based on the amount of calcium they were getting. Women with the lowest intake of calcium had a higher risk of getting fractures or developing osteoporosis. Once women reached a mid-level intake of calcium, though, their risk dropped. There was no advantage to higher-than-average amounts of calcium. The women with the lowest calcium intake had a 17 in 1,000 risk of a broken bone over a year. In the middle group, this fell to 1... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862527 Wed, 25 May 2011 18:20:00 +0100 4862527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862533&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fthe-top-fittest-and-healthiest-cities-in-the-united-states.html That would be Minneapolis and St. Paul, according the American College of Sports Medicine. Each year, the organization ranks the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. based on health and fitness habits. Personal health as well as community and environmental indicators are used to score a city's overall health and fitness level. The Twin Cities took the top spot this year for the first time in part because of fewer smokers. Other factors included an above-average percent of people exercising, and moderate-to-low rates of chronic health concerns like obesity, asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Last year's healthiest metropolitan area was Washington, D.C. This year it ranked a close second. The Top 10 fittest and healthiest metropolitan areas: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Was... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862533 Tue, 24 May 2011 21:40:00 +0100 4862533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862822&cid=t_101711_134_f&fid=35162&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLemonadeLife%2F%7E3%2FlYWsQUtF_WI%2F I always imagined that the first time I passed out, or my first ambulance ride, or my first trip to the Emergency Room, would all have something to do with my diabetes. Because other than my dysfunctional pancreas, I’m actually a very healthy person. But that was not to be the case. Every afternoon, like clockwork, I take a trip downstairs to check the mail. I’m getting married, you see, and waiting for all the RSVPs to arrive, so the mail is a very important part of my day. I’m like a kid waiting for school to get out. I just eye the clock until around 1:30, when I think it’s safe to go look. Sometimes the mail is slow, and I make another trip or two, once at 2:00 and another at 2:30. By 2:30, the mail is almost always here. Yesterday was a cold, cloudy day, but be... Lemonade Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862822 Tue, 24 May 2011 14:52:46 +0100 4862822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862538&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vibrantglow.com%2F2011%2F05%2Ffuel-up-on-high-protein-breakfast-to.html If food cravings leave you vulnerable to overeating nutrition-deprived foods, it may be your breakfast or lack of breakfast to blame.Try starting your day with a protein-rich breakfast to curb those cravings. A new study claims it will increase fullness longer and reduce hunger throughout the day. Researchers found that eating a breakfast high in protein turns down the signals in the brain that control food motivation and reward-driven eating behavior.Of course, filling up first thing in the morning on a simple carbohydrates and sugar, which are found in many processed cereals, is a sure way to spike your blood sugar levels and leave you hungry well before lunch.Forgo the Pop Tart and scramble up some organic eggs from grass-fed chickens.  According to Julia Ross, author of The Mood C... Vibrant Glow blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862538 Tue, 24 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100 4862538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862536&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fnew-advice-for-pregnant-women-when-choosing-sunscreens.html Everyone should use sunscreen when heading out to the sun. But our new sunscreen Ratings say that pregnant women might want to choose ones that don’t contain retinyl palmitate, an ingredient that could possibly increase the risk of birth defects. That ingredient is a topical form of vitamin A that the skin converts to retinoids. And those compounds, which are also found in certain acne medications, have been linked to an increased risk of birth defects. When checking labels, note that the ingredient is sometimes spelled retinol palmitate and has several synonyms, including vitamin A palmitate and retinol hexadecanoate. Products in our Ratings that include the ingredient are noted with a footnote. Almost every sunscreen we tested contains some chemical that has been associated with... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862536 Tue, 24 May 2011 11:30:00 +0100 4862536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853011&cid=t_101711_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Ff_lMEI5cFSg%2F This Huffington Post article is written by Dr. Cynthia Green, an active member of the Friends of SharpBrains.com: Innovation to Enhance Brain Fitness group on LinkedIn. A good reminder of what we should all do to boost our brain fitness: getting off the couch and on your feet maintaining a healthy weight with a low ratio of belly fat Leading a brain-healthful lifestyle Play games against the clock Learn simple strategies to enhance your daily recall Look for activities out of your comfort zone Let’s add to this list managing your stress (via meditation or physical exercise for instance), staying socially connected, and reading interesting and stimulating posts! For more info, revisit our readers’ favorite one: The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Brains (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853011 Mon, 23 May 2011 16:27:08 +0100 4853011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853104&cid=t_101711_134_f&fid=35162&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLemonadeLife%2F%7E3%2FcOdCDvzLMZQ%2F This week, predictably, sucked. I barely calorie counted and when I was calorie-counting, I went over my limit nearly every day. I didn’t go to the gym once, so the walking I did do was just from wandering around the city (though you’d be surprised how many miles you can clock when you do that). As discussed last week, I need to start scheduling my workouts. I need to start figuring out what my plans are for each day and schedule my workouts around that. Because otherwise, it won’t get done. I’m pretty sure this is why all my other weight loss attempts had failed in the past. Here’s what this week will (hopefully) look like: Monday – Circuit training at 5:30 pm Tuesday – Circuit training at 5:30 pm Wednesday – Rest Day Thursday – Zumb... Lemonade Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853104 Mon, 23 May 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4853104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847947&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fzombie-apocalypse-preparedness-dont-forget-your-go-bag.html Now, we don't really think the world will end tomorrow. On the other hand, you never do know when disaster will strike. So, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out yesterday, it does make sense to plan for the worst, whether from zombies, hurricanes, or nuclear emergencies. That means knowing the needed steps to take, practicing with your family, creating a communication plan, stocking supplies, and being ready to act. Consider storing the following basic supplies in a “go-bag” for home use or evacuation: • At least three days' worth of nonperishable food, water, and essential medicines • Toiletries and clothing • Iodine tablets or bleach to disinfect water if you can't boil it • Candles and matches, flashlights or battery-powered lamps, and a ba... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847947 Fri, 20 May 2011 20:05:00 +0100 4847947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848163&cid=t_101711_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fgenetically-engineered-or-modified-gmo.html Genetically altered foods are something I've heard a lot about, but not taken as seriously as I should. For me, there is nothing like taking time to look into something in order to write about it to open my eyes to things I haven't seen before. And that's just what happened to me this week. I am still learning how best to put into scientific words what all of this is about, but generally, it is altering the characteristics of an organism by injecting it's DNA with genes or other properties(?) from another organism. This tampering with the natural structure of, for example, corn or soy beans, common foods that are altered in this way, is naturally of concern to those of us who want to eat foods as close to the way God created them as we can in our tainted environment. I went into greater de... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848163 Fri, 20 May 2011 13:35:00 +0100 4848163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841479&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmost-americans-dont-know-what-healthy-eating-means%2F2011.05.19 Only one in 10 respondents to a national survey could estimate how many calories they should consume in a day. Seventy-nine percent make few or no attempts to pay attention to the balance between the calories they consume and expend in a day. These and other piquant findings from the online 2011 Food and Health Survey fielded by the International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC) struck home last week as I smacked up against my own ignorance about a healthy diet and the difficulty of changing lifelong eating habits. The confluence of my failure to gain weight after cancer treatment and a blood test suggesting pre-diabetes meant that as of last Tuesday, I have been on an eat-specific-types-of-food-every-hour-and-write-it-down regimen.  And despite a lifetime of recommending that p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841479 Thu, 19 May 2011 12:00:13 +0100 4841479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841400&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2Fforesight-institute-25th-anniversary-reunion-conference.php I was reminded today that the Foresight Institute is holding an event next month, on June 25th-26th in the Bay Area, California. Some of the speakers and topics are relevant to those of us interested in longevity science, such as William Andregg of Halcyon Molecular, a fellow who has no problems in speaking his mind when it comes to achieving radical extension of the healthy human life span. The conference reminder came with a $50 discount to the conference registration price for Fight Aging! readers - just enter FIGHTAGING when registering. Join friends old and new this summer at Google's Mountain View headquarters in Silicon Valley as we explore the future of nanotech with a rockstar lineup of nanotech experts and entrepreneurs. Want to understand the science behind the dream? Find out... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841400 Tue, 17 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4841400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841466&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Ftraveling-under-a-cloud-of-ill-health.html Years ago, when I traveled a lot for my work, my life was a whirl of fast food on the fly, overly indulgent restaurant meals, endless cups of coffee into the wee hours of the night, nonstop stress, and strings of days when I was so exhausted by the end of the day that going to the dingy gym behind the hotel pool had about as much appeal as a root canal. It took a toll on my health—and a recent study suggests that I wasn’t alone. The study, in the April issue of the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, looked at over 13,000 employees of a large international company as they underwent an annual physical. While the results weren’t cut and dry, the busiest travelers were more likely to be obese, have high blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and mu... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841466 Tue, 17 May 2011 19:30:00 +0100 4841466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829200&cid=t_101711_134_f&fid=35162&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLemonadeLife%2F%7E3%2Fe-zVFy8qqZQ%2F When I first starting my new mission to lose weight at the end of March, I was pretty gung-ho about working out. I’d even tweet when I finished a “sweatbetes” session. But then after awhile, I started getting a little busy. The gym sessions started becoming less frequent. Yet I still lost weight. Not a lot. But it was consistent. So then I got even more lax about it. Now I’m at the point where I go maybe two days a week. And that’s not good. Because I know exercise is important not only for losing weight but for overall fitness. I have thought about creating a schedule. Something to keep me motivated and a little more planned. Usually I’ve been a “I’ll do what I feel like” girl. But now I’m thinking I should be more proactive if I... Lemonade Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829200 Mon, 16 May 2011 19:48:47 +0100 4829200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829228&cid=t_101711_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Ftechnology-and-health.html New technology comes along all the time. I usually am not one to jump on the bandwagon right away. Maybe I'm slow but actually I think its because I am cheap. Do I really want to spend money on things I may never use? I mean I have enough UFOs (Unfinished Objects) in my house already - half-knit and half-crocheted items, plans to rearrange the living room, spring cleaning, paint the kitchen, etc. - do I really need something new that will suck up more of my time that could be spent catching up on my DVR'd TV shows?I am contemplating a color Nook from B&N. It looks pretty cool but I will have to think for a few months if I would ever use it. And what would I do with all the books I already own? And what about the joys of going to a bookstore and browsing - a favorite rainy day activity? But... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829228 Mon, 16 May 2011 10:15:00 +0100 4829228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828874&cid=t_101711_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fconfessions-of-a-diet-skeptic.html Having numerous friends and family members who’ve ridden the diet roller coaster over the years—lose some weight, gain some weight, find a new “miracle” diet—I admit I’m a tad skeptical of “diets.” Most seem more shtick than substance. No carbs! No fruit! Nothing cooked! Eat grapefruit! Cabbage soup! Twinkies! Eat like a gorilla, like a cave-man, like in the Bible! Our new diet Ratings bring some sense to the chaos, by using objective measures—how long people stick with the diet, how much weight they lose, how they stack up nutritionally—to rank seven popular diets. And we found a clear winner: Jenny Craig. But we also point out that the best diet for you is the one you can stick with. And for me, that isn’t a formal die... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828874 Sat, 14 May 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4828874