Pollen, Fruits, Veggies Help Trigger Oral Allergy Syndrome - Health Day

Up to one-third of people with seasonal allergies may suffer oral allergy syndrome (OAS), which results from a cross-reactivity between seasonal airborne pollen proteins from weeds, grass and trees and similar proteins in some fresh fruits and vegetables.

Common symptoms of OAS -- also known as pollen-food syndrome -- include: itchiness, tingling or swelling of the mouth, tongue and throat immediately after eating fresh fruits, vegetables and certain kinds of other foods, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Drug Info Companies Sue to Block State Laws - WSJ

IMS Health, Wolters Kluwer Health and Verispan — which buy records of doctors’ prescribing habits, then crunch and sell the data to the drug industry — filed lawsuits yesterday against Maine and Vermont, where laws restricting the collection of prescription data are set to go into effect on Jan. 1 of next year.

“The new laws in Vermont and Maine will have the same unintended consequences as the one in New Hampshire, blocking vital healthcare information from public view while doing nothing to drive down prescription drug costs or improve the health and well-being of citizens,” an IMS vice president said in this statement. The companies also noted that the patient data they collect is anonymous — it doesn’t identify individual patients by name.

National Asthma Guidelines Updated - NIH

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) today issued the first comprehensive update in a decade of clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. The guidelines emphasize the importance of asthma control and introduce new approaches for monitoring asthma.

Updated recommendations for managing asthma include an expanded section on childhood asthma with an additional age group, new guidance on medications, new recommendations on patient education in settings beyond the physician's office and new advice for controlling environmental factors that can cause asthma symptoms.

COPD Rates May Rise as Population Ages - WebMD

The worldwide burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is far greater than has previously been recognized, and it will increase over the next few decades as the world population ages.

As many as 10% of adults aged 40 and older across the globe are believed to have moderate to severe COPD, with rates more than double that among the elderly, according to the most comprehensive studies of COPD prevalence reported to date.

COPD kills 2.5 million people a year, according to World Health Organization estimates. It is currently the fifth leading cause of death in high-income countries like the U.S.

See Jane Run. See Her Run Faster and Faster - NYT

Men, as might be expected, get slower as they age. At a recent five-kilometer race in Pine Beach, N.J., which drew nearly 1,000 runners, the fastest man was 24 years old and the men’s times increased with each five-year age group.

But the women were different — their times were all over the place with older women beating younger women in almost every age category. The fastest woman was 37 years old; the fastest woman in the 45 to 49 age group beat the fastest woman in the 20 to 24 and the 40 to 44 age groups.

New Report Indicates Changes in How Americans Get Their Information about Health and Cancer - NIH

The newly issued report provides a snapshot of how Americans are responding to changes in access to information and the abundance of health information.

The data show a growing preference toward receiving health information — whether cancer-related or other health information — from a health care provider than from other sources, such as printed materials, friends and family, information specialists, and the Internet.

N.Zealand eyes labels to fight obesity - AP / Yahoo

he government should impose "traffic light" labeling to warn consumers about obesity-causing food and drink products if New Zealand companies won't do it voluntarily, a parliamentary committee said Friday.

After a 10-month inquiry, a majority of lawmakers on Parliament's health select committee recommended a system of red, yellow and green labels to indicate the levels of fat, salt and sugar in products. The committee also recommended guidelines for food-related advertising.

More than half of New Zealand's 4 million people are either overweight or obese,

Most People Happy at Work -- WebMD

“The most important factors contributing to more job satisfaction in descending order of importance are holding a job with high prestige, being older, being nonblack, and earning more from a job,” says researcher Tom W. Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Center at the University of Chicago, in a news release.

“Job satisfaction is especially high among those 65 and over because most people working at that age are not those forced to still work due to financial reasons, but those who choose to [do so] because they like their jobs.”

Diet starts Monday, right? - MSNBC

There's something about weekends that sends caution — and calories — to the wind. Even if your workweek is all about smart snacks and sensible dinners, for many of us, all bets are off come 5 p.m. Friday, says clinical psychologist Robert Maurer, PhD, author of One Small Step Can Change Your Life.

"It's almost like a dam bursting," he says. We're tired and feel like we've earned the right to put healthy habits on hold. A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study revealed that adults take in an extra 222 calories — nearly 15 percent of the number of calories an average woman needs each day — over the course of the weekend (including Friday).

The Many Benefits of Breakfast - WeebMD

Studies show that eating a healthy breakfast (as opposed to the kind containing doughnuts) can help give you:

A more nutritionally complete diet, higher in nutrients, vitamins and minerals

Improved concentration and performance in the classroom or the boardroom

More strength and endurance to engage in physical activity
Lower cholesterol levels

Five diagnoses that call for a second opinion - CNN.com

Getting a second opinion is important before submitting to certain procedures

Crucial for tricky diagnoses, risky procedures; there may be less-invasive options

Consumers should investigate as they would with any big financial commitment

Record number of americans lack health insurance - Medline Plus

A record number of Americans are without health insurance, according to new U.S. Census Bureau statistics released Tuesday.

Some of the trend can be explained by employers who are curtailing coverage or making it too costly for lower income workers to afford, the report said.

"The number of people without health insurance coverage increased from 44.8 million in 2005 to 47 million in 2006," David S. Johnson, chief of the bureau's Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, said during a teleconference Tuesday.

The percentage of Americans without health insurance rose to 15.8 percent in 2006 from 15.3 percent in 2005, Johnson added. "This is the second consecutive year of increase," he said.

Foods for Long Life and Well-Being - WebMD

If you've made it this far in life, chances are strong that you may live into your 80s or even 90s. But will you be living well?

"We probably can't extend life much beyond what we already have done," says William Hart, PhD, MPH, associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at the St. Louis University Doisy School of Allied Health Professions. "But we can help make those last five to 10 years of life more enjoyable. Living longer isn't much fun if you're not healthy enough to enjoy it."

So what's the secret to staying healthy as you get older? Exercise, of course. Also, the right food. To get started, add these five nutrients to your diet.....

Doctors Offering No-Interest Loans to Patients - NYT

Zero-interest financing, a familiar sales incentive at car dealerships and furniture stores, has found its way to another big-ticket consumer market: doctors’ and dentists’ offices.

For $3,500 laser eye surgery, $6,000 ceramic tooth implants or other procedures not typically covered by insurance, millions of consumers have arranged financing through more than 100,000 doctors and dentists that offer a year or more of interest-free monthly payments.

Some insurers, including UnitedHealthcare, also have special credit plans available for insured members whose policies are linked to health savings accounts. Such policies combine high-deductible insurance with tax-sheltered savings accounts where money can roll over year to year until needed for medical expenses. But typically, the amounts of money being set aside do not go very far toward meeting even routine health expenses.

Innovative clocks may make waking smoother - MSNBC

Morning grogginess may be a thing of the past thanks to bio-alarm clocks designed to wake sleepers at the perfect time.

The clocks detect brainwaves or body movements and are programmed to wake sleepers during light sleep, which occurs periodically through the night.

“It felt like you’d already been awake for some time, and the clock just let you know it,” said Boris Abramov, 30, of Long Beach, California who used the Sleeptracker, which is worn on the wrist.

Health Blog Q&A: Improving Hospital Safety - WSJ

Behind the scenes at the nation’s hospitals, a nonprofit group called the Joint Commission helps set the agenda for patient safety.

The Joint Commission inspects and accredits hospitals, and many other health-care facilities, for quality. Ultimately, though rarely, it disqualifies failing institutions from payment by Medicare, a crippling blow. Critics say conflicts of interest, bureaucracy and a reluctance to penalize poor performers have limited the Joint Commission’s effectiveness. Only in 2006, for instance, did the Joint Commission begin to pop in on hospitals without advanced notice.

Medical Records Are the New Credit Score - WSJ

If someone somewhere types the wrong number on some form and your credit score goes down as a result, you’ll be in a pinch the next time you need a loan. The same holds true for medical records and applying for health insurance, the WSJ reports.

Maybe somebody miscoded a diagnosis in one of your medical files, or maybe someone incorrectly transcribed something a doctor said. If you have a common name, someone else’s record might end up in your file. Errors like these “happen all the time,” Joy Pritts, a researcher at Georgetown’s Health Policy Institute tells the WSJ.

Exercise takes the edge off chronic pain - Mayo Clinic

Exercise can be a great way to ease chronic pain. Consider the risks of inactivity and the benefits of movement.

When you're in pain, exercise is probably the last thing on your mind. But it may be more important than you think. Regular exercise is a versatile weapon in the fight against chronic pain.

The risks of inactivity: When you're inactive, your muscles — including your heart — lose strength and work less efficiently. Your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes increases. Inactivity can increase fatigue, stress and anxiety as well.

"Years ago, people who were in pain were told to rest," says Edward Laskowski, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist and co-director of the Sports Medicine Center at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. "But now we know the exact opposite is true. When you rest, you become deconditioned — which may actually contribute to chronic pain."

Ten Health Trends You Can't Ignore - Forbes

Your diet may be full of whole grain and organic foods, and your medicine cabinet loaded with the latest fat-fighting pills. But if you really want to get ahead of the health care curve, you'll need a kitchen full of mangosteens and a gym that will let you chase dragons.

Super fruits and entertaining workout equipment are just two of the newest trends in the world of health and fitness, where time-starved, stressed-out consumers are demanding new and easy ways to look and feel good.

UK tries pictures to discourage smokers - AP

Cigarette packs will be required next year to display such graphic images as diseased organs in a bid to scare smokers into snuffing out their butts, the government announced Wednesday.
Britain will be the first member of the European Union to require such warnings, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said.

"We have already made a lot of progress with stark written warnings on cigarette packs," Johnson said.

The images include an unhealthy lung, a chest cut open for heart surgery and a large tumor on a man's neck. In all, Britain chose 15 images from a selection developed by the European Commission.

Asleep on the Job? - WebMD

Eyes glazing over in front of the computer screen? Nodding off at a meeting? Headed to the vending machine for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up?

You're not alone. Packed schedules at home and at work can make it all too easy to fall asleep on the job. But getting enough energy to make it through your workday and still have something left in the tank when you get home doesn't have to be a struggle.

Here are some tips to help you feel energized throughout the day..............

What’s Mississippi Doing About Obesity? - WSJ

AS IMPORTANT AS THE ARTICLE, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ ALL OF THE READER'S COMMENTS -- TAKEN AS A WHOLE, THEY PAINT A PICTURE OF THE REAL STORY OF THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC!!!

What’s Mississippi doing about obesity? That’s what the Health Blog wanted to know after reading yesterday’s report that ranked Mississippi the most obese state in the nation.

So we called Ed Thompson, Mississippi’s interim state health officer, who was quick to argue that there’s no clear evidence on how public interventions affect population-wide obesity rates.
“Frankly, medical science does not yet know with certainty how you can reduce obesity in a population,” Thompson said. “We know how to reduce obesity in an individual. It’s simple: eat less and exercise more. But that’s hard to operationalize.” Most health iniatives are based on common sense, he said. “The answer to the obesity epidemic is not programs with clever names.”

Fit and 40-Plus - WebMD

How to get (and stay) active, no matter what your age

In your 40s and beyond, fitness tends to take on a new shape. Exercise routines you once found merely challenging may become painful or even impossible by the time you're 40, 50, or 60.

It doesn't matter whether you're male or female, a kickboxer or a mall walker -- sooner or later, age will have an effect on your body.

Women top men as seekers of online health info - Reuters

Women are much more likely than men to search the Internet for information on health, according to research conducted by two professors from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

The finding is consistent with gender differences in healthcare utilization; for instance, women are more apt than men to go to the doctor when sick, the researchers say.

How to Reach Your Goals - Web MD

Experts describe strategies for setting goals -- and making sure you achieve them.

F as in Fat, 2007

REFERENCE ARTICLE REPORT!

Adult obesity rates rose in 31 states last year, according to the fourth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007 report from the Trust for America's Health (TFAH). Twenty-two states experienced an increase for the second year in a row; no states decreased. A new public opinion survey featured in the report finds 85 percent of Americans believe that obesity is an epidemic.

Mississippi topped the list with the highest rate of adult obesity in the country for the third year in a row, and is the first state to reach a rate of over 30 percent (at 30.6 percent). Colorado was the leanest state again this year, however, its adult obesity rate increased over the past year (from 16.9 to 17.6 percent). Ten of the 15 states with the highest rates of adult obesity are located in the South. Rates of adult obesity now exceed 25 percent in 19 states, an increase from 14 states last year and 9 in 2005. In 1991, none of the states exceeded 20 percent.

The report also finds that rates of overweight children (ages 10 to 17) ranged from a high of 22.8 percent in Washington, D.C. to a low of 8.5 percent in Utah. Eight of the ten states with the highest rates of overweight children were in the South.

Embryonic Human Stem Cells May Help Repair Heart Muscle, Lab Study Shows - Health Day

Experiments in rats show that human embryonic stem cells can repair damaged heart muscle, improve heart function and slow the progression of heart failure.
Using stem cells to repair damaged hearts is something that appears promising, but so far it has been fraught with problems.

Previous experiments have shown that it is possible to create heart cells from embryonic stem cells. However, most of these cells do not become heart muscle cells, and many don't survive once transplanted into a damaged heart.

"We found a way to increase the survival of these cells," said lead researcher Dr. Charles Murry, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Washington, in Seattle.

This study makes the case that you can use embryonic stem cells after a heart attack, and shows that there is an improvement in cardiac function," said Dr. Kenneth R. Chien, a member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

In contrast to adult stem cells, these embryonic heart cells appear to actually be heart muscle. Experiments with adult stem cells seem to show improved heart function by creating blood vessels, Chien explained.

7 Ways to Jump-Start Your Weight Loss Plan This Fall - WebMD

During the free-form days of summer, vacations, picnics, and carefree attitudes can all get in the way of healthy eating and weight control. January may be the traditional time to start a weight loss program, but with kids back in school and routines becoming more structured, fall is the perfect time to launch a diet and fitness regimen.

Even the fall weather can serve as an inspiration to be active and eat more healthfully. It's the perfect time of year to hit the hiking trail, or bite into a crisp, delicious apple. Just breathing the fresh fall air makes you feel healthier.

China to ban tobacco advertising by 2011: report - Reuters

China, the world's biggest cigarette producer and consumer, will ban all tobacco advertising by 2011, Chinese media reported on Tuesday.

Chinese are the world's most enthusiastic smokers, with a growing market of more than 300 million making it a magnet for multinational cigarette companies and focus of international health concern.

China has banned smoking on public transport, but it is still allowed in many public places, such as restaurants, and it is not uncommon to see people smoking even in hospitals.

The country needs to rein in smoking or the habit could end up killing 2.2 million Chinese a year by 2020, the World Health Organization said in May.

Smoking Boosts Risk for Head, Neck Cancers - Health Day

Current and past smokers are at significantly increased risk for head and neck cancers such as cancers of the larynx (voice box), nasal passages/nose, oral cavity, and throat, says a U.S. National Cancer Institute study that looked at data collected on more than 476,000 men and women between 1995 and 2000.

The analysis revealed that smoking increased head and neck cancer in both women and men, but appeared to have a greater impact in women. Smoking was attributed to 75 percent of such cancers in women, compared to 45 percent of such cancers in men, the study said.

Report: National strategy needed to fight fat - CNN.com

(CNN) -- Americans are already among the fattest people in the world, and they just keep packing on the pounds. A new report finds that obesity rates have swelled during the last year in 31 states with not one state reporting that its obesity rate shrank.

Nationwide, two-thirds of U.S. adults are obese or overweight, according to the fourth annual report from the Trust for America's Health, titled "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America." The report's co-author says the government needs to treat this trend as an epidemic that threatens the health of Americans and put in place a national plan to combat obesity.

"The key recommendation in the report is we need a national strategy," said report co-author Jeffrey Levi.

Empowered Patients Meet Imperfect Hospitals - WSJ

The public is learning that hospital-acquired infections are frighteningly common, sometimes deadly and often preventable. That’s leading to some awkward interactions between hospital staff and patients and their family members, the Boston Globe reports.

10 Tips for Fall Fitness - Web MD

How many New Year's Eves have you spent sipping champagne and vowing to get more fit in the coming year? And how many times have you failed to follow through?

"December 31 over a drink is too late to set goals and make promises," says Justin Price, owner of The Biomechanics, a personal training and wellness coaching facility in San Diego, Calif.
Fall, on the other hand, is a great time to start a fitness program because "'you're going to create good habits for the holiday season and the upcoming winter months," says Price.

Click link for 10 Tips for Fall Fitness

Hazard: High-Fat Diet Raises Risk of Colon Cancer Return - NYT

Colon cancer survivors with diets high in meat and refined grains triple their risk of recurrence or death compared with those who eat fruits, vegetables and fish, a new study reports.

Researchers studied 1,009 patients who had surgery for stage 3 colon cancer — their tumors had metastasized to regional lymph nodes. All the patients completed detailed food questionnaires.

In a follow-up of slightly more than five years, 324 patients had a recurrence of cancer, 223 died with a recurrence, and 28 died without documented recurrences.

The more closely patients followed the high-fat Western diet, the more likely they were to have a recurrence. Compared with the one-fifth whose dietary pattern s least resembled the high-fat diet, the one-fifth whose patterns most resembled it were 3.25 times as likely to have a recurrence of cancer or die. Western dietary patterns, the scientists write, are associated with higher blood levels of insulin, and insulin is associated with enhanced tumor growth.

AeroClinic offers quick care for busy travelersStory Highlights

Story Highlights

• New retail medical facility offers care to Atlanta airport travelers, employees
• Treatment available for minor acute illnesses such as strep throat, headache
• Physical exams, vaccinations, monitoring of chronic diseases also offered

Bad breath is more than a social disease - MSNBC

On the list of social offenses, bad breath ranks right up there with flatulence and body odor.

And while store shelves are well stocked with remedies ranging from chewing gum and mouthwash to breath strips and drops, researchers are just starting to understand the science of bad breath.

“In dental research, bad breath is neglected because it is not a disease that will kill people,” she said in an interview. “But it’s a huge problem. Everybody suffers from bad breath at one point in their lifetime.”

The skinny on spicy foods - MSNBC

Adding spices to your diet can curb hunger, strengthen muscles, boost your brainpower and improve mood, new research shows. Plus, you get instant big-time flavor for a few calories and nearly zero fat.

Dunkin' Donuts dumping most trans fats - AP

Dunkin' planned to announce Monday that it has developed an alternative cooking oil and reformulated more than 50 menu items — doughnuts included. The Canton, Mass.-based chain says its menu will be "zero grams trans fat" by Oct. 15 across its 5,400 U.S. restaurants in 34 states.

The ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins, another unit of Dunkin' Brands Inc., plans to be zero grams trans fat by Jan. 1.

Dunkin' isn't claiming it will become "trans fat free," but does say any trans fat in foods including doughnuts, croissants, muffins and cookies will fall below half a gram per serving. Federal regulations allow food labels to say they've got zero grams of trans fat, provided levels fall below the half-gram threshold.

Too skinny? How to add pounds safely - Mayo Clinic

If you're trying to gain weight, eat a well-balanced diet that includes:
Whole grains
Vegetables and fruits
Low-fat dairy products
Lean protein sources, such as fish, poultry, beans and legumes

You'll likely need to add some fats and sugars to your diet for extra calories. When you add fats, choose unsaturated fats, such as nuts and oils. When adding sugars, select sweets that also provide nutrients, such as bran muffins, yogurt, fruit pies or juice, and granola bars.

Eating three meals a day plus between-meal snacks on a regular basis will add the calories you need to gain weight, as well as the balance and variety you need in your diet. You don't necessarily need protein drinks or shakes to gain weight. But these can provide extra calories if you feel like you're eating all that you can.

Sea salt vs. table salt: Which is better? - Mayo Clinic

you favor foods with fewer additives, you may prefer sea salt. But there's no evidence that the additives in table salt are harmful to your health. Although your body needs some sodium to function properly, most people eat too much, which can lead to high blood pressure. Whether you use sea salt, table salt or some other type of salt, most experts recommend between 1,500 and 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day for healthy adults.

10 Eating Habits To Avoid - Forbes

First Things First - Before even broaching the subject of food with patients, Dee Rollins, registered dietitian with Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine in Texas, asks about how much sleep they're getting, how often they're exercising and their stress levels.

Sleep, exercise, stress, TV hours, ....

....think about what's at stake.
"Do you really have to have this type of chaotic lifestyle?" Nelson says. "Some serious reflection might offer you insight into what you could do to eat healthier foods. This is for your health."

Ragweed Season Doesn't Mean Suffering - Health Day

(HealthDay News) -- Ragweed season, which lasts from about mid-August to October in many parts of the United States, can bring misery to the estimated 36 million Americans with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

Symptoms such as sneezing, runny noses, swollen, itchy watery eyes are so severe that they disrupt a person's ability to function normally at work or school, says the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

The academy notes that almost 80 percent of people with seasonal allergies suffer sleep problems, resulting in daytime fatigue and poor concentration. Each year, ragweed-related allergies cause more than 3.8 million lost days of work and school.

Vaccines and Their Promise Are Roaring Back - NYT

THE prospect of profit drives innovators, perhaps as much as solving the technical problems that make innovation possible.

This truism is gaining new currency among innovators in the once-legendary field of vaccines. In the 1950s, vaccine inventors were the stars of American innovation, celebrated the way Steve Jobs of Apple and the pair who founded Google are today. In 1955, Jonas Salk virtually wiped out polio with a vaccine, becoming the most celebrated scientist in America. In a phenomenal run starting in the late 1950s, Maurice Hilleman created vaccines for flu, measles, mumps, rubella and other illnesses, getting credit for saving more lives than any medical innovator in history.

By the mid-1990s, however, innovation in vaccines had virtually come to a halt. Only a handful of companies even tried to develop new ones, compared with 25 in 1955.

But in a stunning reversal, innovators today are chasing dozens of vaccines, stimulated by some recent high-profile successes. “People see vaccines as money makers,” says Paul A. Offit, chief of the infectious diseases section at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the author of “Vaccinated,” a new book on Hilleman’s career.

Bird flu found at German poultry farm - AP

Tests have found that birds at a poultry farm in southern Germany died of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, and some 160,000 birds were being slaughtered as a precaution, authorities said.

The virus was detected in ducklings at the farm near Erlangen, in northern Bavaria. A federal lab confirmed that the birds died of the "highly pathogenic" H5N1 variant, the state consumer protection ministry said Saturday.

More than 400 birds had died over a short period of time at the farm, ministry spokeswoman Sandra Brandt said. Authorities planned to start Saturday evening with the slaughter of the 160,000 birds at the farm.

Make a New Assault on Salt - Health Day

If you're like most Americans, there's too much salt in your diet, which can lead to high blood pressure and increased risk of heart attack or stroke, experts warn.

The issue is so important that the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Heart Association, the American Dietetic Association and the U.S. National Institutes of Health have launched a campaign to cut Americans' salt intake by half. The AMA has even gone so far as to urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw salt's designation as "safe."

n the April 19, 2007 issue of the British Medical Journal, two studies found that reducing salt intake by 25 percent to 35 percent could cut the risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 25 percent and lower the risk of death by 20 percent.

Huckabee Warns of Obesity Epidemic - AP

Republican presidential candidate and self-described "recovering foodaholic" Mike Huckabee told Southern governors Saturday that an obesity epidemic could cause serious problems for the American economy, and even for national security.

"Today we hear a lot about the war on terror, how we need to fight it," said Huckabee, who lost 110 pounds several years ago when he was governor of Arkansas. "Let me ask this question: Who's going to fight it in the future if we're a generation so sick that we don't have the capacity to show up for work?"

Cardiac rehabilitation: Building a better life after heart disease - Mayo Clinic

Cardiac rehabilitation is an exercise and education program designed to improve your quality of life after you've had a heart attack or another heart problem.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help you recover after a heart attack, from other forms of heart disease or after surgery to treat heart disease. Cardiac rehabilitation is often divided into phases that involve various levels of monitored exercise, nutritional counseling, emotional support, and support and education about lifestyle changes to reduce your risks of heart problems.

Cardiac rehabilitation often begins while you're still in the hospital and continues through monitored programs in an outpatient setting until home-based maintenance programs can be safely followed.

Scientists Spot Brain's 'Free Will' Center - Health Day

If you've ever been of "two minds" about doing something, a new study may explain why.
Scientists say one part of the brain is responsible for initiating action, while a totally separate area is in charge of not taking that action.

This newly identified region, involved in an aspect of self-control, may change conceptions of human free will, the researchers said. It could also explain the basis of impulsive as well as reluctant behavior, they added.

"The central issue is quite simple. If we want to do something, and we decide not to, how does that brain wire that?" said Rajesh Miranda, associate professor of neuroscience and experimental therapeutics at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. "They showed the region in the brain that can act as a gate to suppress a plan to do something," said Miranda, who was not involved in the research.

So --- part of why we do -- and don't exercise, eat right, .....

WHO ties rising population, new diseases - AP

A ballooning world population, intensive farming practices and changes in sexual behavior have provided a breeding ground for an unprecedented number of emerging diseases, the U.N. health agency said Thursday.

AIDS and 38 other new pathogens are afflicting mankind that were unknown a generation ago, the World Health Organization said.

We've urbanized a world. We have moved people and food around that world at ever increasing speed," Ryan said. "We're not saying that's a bad thing. What we're saying is that we must recognize the risk we create in the process and invest to manage those risks."

Court Orders Medicare to Release Doctor Data for Ratings - WSJ

As doctors, regulators and insurers bicker over physician ratings, a court ruling promises to crack open a mother lode of data on specific practitioners.

Consumers’ Checkbook – a Washington, D.C., group that rates everything from plumbers to health clubs — asked Medicare last year to provide detailed claims data from four states and D.C., including which physicians provided care. (Another, pending request covers all 50 states.) Medicare balked and the matter landed in federal court in D.C.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan told the Department of Health and Human Services to cough up the data by Sept. 21. Disclosure is in the public interest, he said, particularly as it helps the public keep tabs on how well Medicare does its job.

Consumers’ Checkbook, which already rates doctors by asking them to recommend their peers, says it initially plans to use the data to show how often a given physician has performed various procedures. “We know that for many types of procedures, experience matters,” Robert Krughoff, the group’s president, told the Health Blog from Colombia, where he is on a family vacation.

Later, he expects the group will look at how well doctors follow treatment guidelines. (Read the group’s press release and the court’s opinion for more.)

Exercise may restore some youth to blood vessels - Reuters

Moderate exercise might help older adults' blood vessels relax, a study has found -- pointing to one reason why exercise lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

As people age, their blood vessels can become more constricted and less pliable in response to blood flow, a change that contributes to high blood pressure and clogged arteries.

But in the new study, older men who took up regular exercise were able to substantially reduce this effect of aging.

The findings are good news for sedentary older adults, researchers say, because the benefit required only moderate activity -- namely, taking a walk five times a week.

Making sense of conflicting nutrition information - Cnn.com/Health

Like other branches of science, nutrition is constantly evolving. As researchers learn more about vitamins and minerals, for example, dietary advice changes.

This article addresses pros and cons of:

Vitamin D

Coffee

Omega-3s (fish oil in fish)

The Truth Behind the Top 10 Dietary Supplements - WebMD

visit to the health food store can be an overwhelming experience. It's tough to figure out what to choose from among the dizzying assortment of dietary and nutritional supplements on the shelf. From vitamins to minerals to weight loss pills, there are thousands of options to choose from. But do you really need any of them? Do they really work, and if so, which ones are best?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) once regulated dietary supplements the same way it does foods, but that changed as of Aug. 24, 2007. The FDA's new good manufacturing practices ruling ensures that supplements:
Are produced in a quality manner
Do not contain contaminants or impurities
Are accurately labeled

"Making cereal is very different from making dietary supplements. ... This new ruling is very specific to the production of capsules and powders and will give consumers great confidence that what is on the label is indeed in the product," says Vasilios Frankos, PhD, of the FDA's Division of Dietary Supplement Programs.

The FDA provides manufacturers with guidelines for making claims about what effects their products have on the body, Frankos says. "If they make a claim, they must notify us so we can review it," Frankos says. "Manufacturers have to provide us with evidence that their dietary supplements are effective and safe."

4 page article

Heart Attack Boosts Diabetes Risk - Health Day

After a heart attack, the risk of developing diabetes and so-called pre-diabetes rises steeply, a new study finds.

In fact, recent heart attack patients are up to four-and-a-half times more likely to develop diabetes compared with the general population and more than 15 times more likely to develop high blood sugar, according to the report in the Aug. 25 issue of The Lancet.

Many Found Sexually Active Into the 70s - NYT

Most Americans remain sexually active into their 60s, and nearly half continue to have sex regularly into their early 70s, researchers are reporting today as a result of the most comprehensive national survey to date of sexual behavior among older adults.
But many older people also report struggling with sexual problems, like reduced desire and erectile difficulties, the survey found.

The new report, appearing in The New England Journal of Medicine, was based on interviews with more than 3,000 Americans, 57 to 85 years old, who gave detailed descriptions of their sexual activities.

When 'Good' Cholesterol Goes Bad - Health Day

(HealthDay News) -- It looks like HDL, the "good" cholesterol that supposedly protects against cardiovascular disease, might have a harmful side.

New research suggests that some people's HDL is more protective for their hearts than others, and that certain proteins in HDL can exacerbate vessel damage, particularly in people with heart disease.

But there's good news, too, as scientists uncover a new means by which HDL boosts cardiovascular health.

Health Tip: While Chewing Gum May Relieve Stress ... - Health Day

(HealthDay News) -- While chewing gum may help you feel better when you're stressed, don't overdo it, advises the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
When you're stressed, you may be prone to chewing more vigorously, which can strain your jaw.

Women Don't Know Cholesterol Levels - WebMD

Most women are seriously lacking when it comes to knowing their cholesterol numbers, according to a new survey.

Researchers found that twice as many women knew how much they weighed in high school than knew their current cholesterol level -- despite the fact that heart disease is the No. 1 killer among women.

"Clearly, strides have been made in educating women on the risks of high cholesterol, but the disconnect between awareness and action needs to be addressed," says researcher Phyllis Greenberger, president and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research, which sponsored the survey, in a news release. "Knowing your cholesterol number is the first step in controlling cholesterol. That number is certainly more important than what you weighed in high school."

The 10 best foods you aren't eating - MSNBC

Want to do your body a world of good? It's as easy as expanding your grocery list

Although some people aren't opposed to smoking some weed, most wouldn't think of eating one. It's a shame, really, since a succulent weed named purslane is not only delicious but also among the world's healthiest foods.

Of course, there are many superfoods that never see the inside of a shopping cart. Some you've never heard of, and others you've simply forgotten about. That's why we've rounded up the best of the bunch. Make a place for them on your table and you'll instantly upgrade your health--without a prescription.

Calcium Supplements Thwart Bone Loss - WebMD

Confused about whether calcium supplements and vitamin D supplements protect your bones?
A report in this week's edition of The Lancet sheds new light on that question.
People aged 50 and older who take calcium supplements are 12% less likely to fracture a bone than their peers who don't take those pills.

That protection rate doubles when calcium supplements are taken correctly, report the researchers, who included Benjamin Tang, MD, of the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at Australia's University of Western Sydney.

Can you sip your way to skinny? - MSNBC

Chugging water is healthy for your cells, but your thighs are another issue

Drinking water benefits every cell in your body. It hydrates your skin and helps keep you alert. But can it help you to lose weight?

Women's magazines and diet gurus have long promised that if you gulp a lot of water, you'll feel full and eat less, and the pounds will melt away.

If only it were that easy. Unfortunately, that's one of the biggest diet myths out there.

Study: 43 million Americans take aspirin daily - Reuters

An estimated 43 million U.S. adults take an aspirin every day or almost every day, according to a U.S. government survey, a figure that accounts for a fifth of the adult population.
Most are taking the pills for their health -- such as to prevent heart attacks or strokes -- the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found.
Aspirin relieves pain and reduces fever. But it also can lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes caused by blood clots, because it makes the blood clot less efficiently.

Sleepy? Cut out late-night Internet and TV - Reuters

People who spend more pre-bedtime hours using the Internet or watching television are more likely to report that they don't get enough sleep, even though they sleep almost as long as people who spend fewer pre-bedtime hours in front of a computer or television screen, survey findings show.

Health Blog Primer: UVA, UVB, and Sunscreen - WSJ

The FDA just proposed rules (online here) for testing and labeling sunscreen. They’ve been a long time coming. The FDA put the world on notice in 1993 that it wanted to propose rules for sunscreen. Some FDA standards were developed for ultraviolet rays known as UVB, but the new rules deal with UVA rays.

Your vitamin cheat sheet - Health

Health Magazine's recommendations for vitamin use

The best multivitamin for you -- and 11 to steer clear of - CNN.com/health

You've been told for years that popping a multivitamin every day might help you live longer. But the daily multi habit has been getting a bit of bad press lately.

First, ConsumerLab.com, a watchdog of the supplement industry, found that more than half of the 21 multis it tested had too much (or too little) of certain vitamins -- or had been contaminated with dangerous substances such as lead. Then a controversial paper from researchers in Denmark and other European countries, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, made the claim that taking vitamins may actually shorten your life.
What's the real story?

Health talked to leading nutrition experts at Harvard and Tufts universities to find out and to get some answers on this and other confusing info about vitamins.

Even a little exercise has health benefits: study - Reuters

new study shows that even low levels of weekly exercise - below currently recommended levels -- has major health benefits. In the study, 30 minutes of brisk walking three days per week was enough to drive down blood pressure and improve overall fitness in a group of healthy sedentary adults.

For optimum health, adults are currently recommended to engage in 30 minutes of moderately strenuous exercise on at least five days of the week. But few people achieve this level of weekly activity, often citing lack of time as the reason.

Stomach stapling leads to longer, better lives - MSNBC

AP - LOS ANGELES - The first long-term studies of stomach stapling and other radical obesity treatments show that they not only lead to lasting weight loss but also dramatically improve survival. The results are expected to lead to more such operations, possibly for less severely obese people, too.

Calorie needs can fluctuate like your weight - MSNBC

Many of today’s nutrition recommendations are based on calorie needs, whether for weight control or for foods that fit in a healthy diet.
Unfortunately, most of us apparently can't identify our calorie needs. In a 2006 survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, 88 percent of respondents could not accurately estimate how many calories they should eat every day.

For a more accurate estimate of recommended calories that reflects your height and weight, go to www.mypyramid.gov and click on MyPyramid Plan. Recalculate your needs with every five to 10 pound change, since calorie needs change with weight.

Tired of Waiting for a Doctor? Try the Drugstore - NYT

The concept has been called urgent care “lite”: Patients who are tired of waiting days to see a doctor for bronchitis, pinkeye or a sprained ankle can instead walk into a nearby drugstore and, at lower cost, with brief waits, see a doctor or a nurse and then fill a prescription on the spot.

Drug That Lowers Resting Heart Rate Being Tested - Health Day

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Can a drug designed solely to lower the resting heart rate improve treatment of cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure and coronary artery disease?

Definitive evidence on the value of using a drug to lower the resting heart rate is expected from the two international trials now in progress, one including people with coronary artery disease, the other including people with heart failure, Borer said.
Results of those studies should be available by the late summer of 2008, he said.

Health Tip: Dangerous Dieting - Health Day

(HealthDay News) -- The right way to diet and lose weight is slowly, over time, and while eating a balanced diet with plenty of healthy foods, the American Heart Association says.
Diets that encourage eating only one type of food or encourage rapid weight loss can be dangerous to your health

Strategies for handling a stress-filled life - MSNBC

An older article -- but important -- addresses:

• Where's the finish line
• Money woes
• No job security
• Not reaching goals
• Single mom blues
• Procrastination
• Teen tantrums

Study: Virus may contribute to obesity - CNN.com Health

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the buffet of reasons for why Americans are getting fatter, researchers are piling more evidence on the plate for one still-controversial cause: a virus.

New research announced Monday found that when human stem cells -- the blank slate of the cell world -- were exposed to a common virus they turned into fat cells. They didn't just change, they stored fat, too.

While this may be a guilt-free explanation for putting on pounds, it doesn't explain all or even most of America's growing obesity problem. But it adds to other recent evidence that blames more than just super-sized appetites and underused muscles for expanding waistlines.

Vital Signs: Behavior: Hostility May Raise Risk for Disease - from NYT > Health

Researchers studying 313 healthy Vietnam veterans have found that anger and hostility may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Over a period of 10 years, the men had regular physical examinations involving a wide variety of medical tests. They also underwent psychological examinations using well-established questionnaires to determine their levels of hostility, anger and depression.
The researchers measured blood levels of a protein called C3, a marker for the inflammation that is a risk factor for cardiovascular illnesses. After controlling for other variables, the scientists found that those in the highest one-quarter in hostility, anger and depression showed a steady and significant increase in C3 levels, while those in the lowest one-quarter had no increase.

“This may put those men at increased risk for hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease,” said Stephen H. Boyle, the lead author of the study and a researcher at Duke University Medical Center.

A java jolt may boost, not wreck, your workout - MSNBC

Good news for java junkies: You don't have to skip your caffeine fix to get in a good workout — even in the hot summer months when coffee's widely believed to promote dehydration.
What's more, a caffeinated beverage may actually help you exercise longer.

Google and Microsoft Look to Change Health Carefrom NYT > Health

In politics, every serious candidate for the White House has a health care plan. So too in business, where the two leading candidates for Web supremacy, Google and Microsoft, are working up their plans to improve the nation’s health care.

By combining better Internet search tools, the vast resources of the Web and online personal health records, both companies are betting they can enable people to make smarter choices about their health habits and medical care.

Green tea extract may boost cancer-fighting enzymes

Healthy subjects who received daily caffeine-free green tea extract capsules had an increased production of detoxification enzymes, which may provide some cancer-fighting benefits, study findings show.

Virgin olive oil may help keep blood clot-free - Reuters

Eating foods prepared with olive oils that are rich in phenols, substances though to have beneficial effects on the heart, may help ward off harmful blood clots in people with high cholesterol, Spanish researchers report.

Fast Pace and Long Life in Big Applefrom WSJ.com: Health Blog

We move fast because it’s part of the pace of life here. Speeding down sidewalks and sprinting up subway steps is one way you make it known that you live in the city and aren’t here to just see the sights.

But researchers are finding the rapid pedestrian pace of New Yorkers is actually quite good for us. As New York magazine reports, the New York City Department of Health estimates a New Yorker born in 2004 can now expect to live 78.6 years, nine months longer than the average American will.

There are many factors behind the lengthening lifespan here. Part of it is public policy: No smoking in bars or restaurants. But a large part of what makes us New Yorkers different is that we walk — everywhere, every day. And we walk fast.

Know when it's time to fire your doctor - CNN/health

Here are five ways to know when it's time to think about leaving your doctor, and the best way to do it.
1. When your doctor doesn't like it when you ask questions
2. When your doctor doesn't listen to you
3. If your doctor can't explain your illness to you in terms you understand
4. If you feel bad when you leave your doctor's office
5. If you feel your doctor just doesn't like you -- or if you don't like him or her

Vital Signs: Hazards: Smokeless Tobacco on Par With Cigarettes - from NYT > Health

Smokeless tobacco, the kind users put between cheek and gum, is one way to satisfy a craving for nicotine without offensive smoke. But a new study has found that it may be almost as effective as cigarettes in delivering nicotine and carcinogens.

Phys Ed: Lobes of Steel from NYT > Health

Scientists have suspected for decades that exercise, particularly regular aerobic exercise, can affect the brain. But they could only speculate as to how. Now an expanding body of research shows that exercise can improve the performance of the brain by boosting memory and cognitive processing speed.

Exercise can, in fact, create a stronger, faster brain.

Sweatology

Like the finish line of a long road race, the Times Square subway platform one recent hot afternoon was a study in wet humanity, from drenched (a large woman in shorts and a skimpy, sweat-splotched top, flushed and vigorously fanning herself), to barely bedewed (an elderly man in a suit and tie calmly reading his paper).

Who would believe that every sufferer had the same model of personal air-conditioner operating at full blast?

Sweat is our interior coolant, part of a uniquely human biologic machine. The machine drips and occasionally stalls: long waits on torpid platforms can inspire glum reflections on how it will hold up as the planet heats up. But experts counsel optimism: the system is sturdy, adjustable and even reproducible by engineers working to make our future sweaty selves more comfortable.

Awareness: Counseling by Phone Benefits Drinkers

Experience has shown that even a few short discussions with a health professional can help a problem drinker. But sometimes people who could benefit from the talks are unable to come in or reluctant to do so.

Maybe they do not have to, says a new study that found that counseling by telephone could be effective in curbing excessive drinking.

Writing in the August issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, researchers suggested such counseling could be good for hard-to-reach patients. It also uses fewer resources than face-to-face meetings.

“Telephone counseling for alcohol problems,” the authors write, “could help overcome barriers that often hinder access to conventional alcohol treatment such as stigma, transportation, child care and scheduling conflicts.”

You, Your Friends, Your Friends of Friends

But what seems obvious in the abstract can lead to surprising findings. A recent study found that obesity can spread from friend to friend much like a virus. When one person gains weight, close friends tend to gain weight, too.
The study, published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine, involved a detailed analysis of a large social network of 12,067 people who had been closely followed for 32 years, from 1971 to 2003.
Now, scientists believe that social networks not only can spread diseases, like the common cold, but also may influence many types of behavior — negative and positive — which then affect an individual’s health, as well as a community’s.

Caffeine: Is it dehydrating or not?

I've been seeing ads that say cola and coffee drinks hydrate you as well as water does. Is this true?
- Albert / Ohio
Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

It is true. Researchers used to believe that caffeinated drinks, even consumed in moderate amounts, had a diuretic effect. This means that you would urinate more after drinking them and become dehydrated. Recent research shows that this is not true, and caffeine only has a diuretic effect if you consume large amounts of it — more than 500 to 600 milligrams a day.

Coping With Stress Helps Cholesterol

The better you cope with stress, the better your "good" cholesterol level is likely to be, according to a new study.

"We know that stress and hostility affect cholesterol," says researcher Carolyn M. Aldwin, PhD, professor and chairwoman of the department of human development and family sciences at Oregon State University in Corvallis. There has been less research, however, on how coping skills can counteract the effects of stress, she says.

Good coping skills were associated with better levels of the so-called "good" cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in her study.

Ten Healthy Reasons To Take A Vacation

The surf's calling, but if you're like many, you're feeling guilty about asking your boss for a little time off to relax--even though you desperately need it.
Not only do Americans get a meager amount of vacation time, they also tend not to use it all, according to Expedia.com's seventh annual Vacation Deprivation survey, conducted this spring.

Energy drinks: Are they bad for my heart?

They could be. Many energy drinks are loaded with caffeine, sugar and herbal stimulants that can make you alert, but can also make your heart beat markedly faster, putting you at risk of health problems.

Weightlifting: Before or after an aerobic workout?

If you want to include both weightlifting and aerobic exercise in the same workout, it's generally best to lift weights first.

U.S. EMPLOYERS RATE “RETENTION” AS THE TOP BENEFITS OBJECTIVE

According to the 5th annual MetLife Study of Employee Benefits Trends, employee retention is the top benefits objective among employers—edging out controlling costs for the first time since the study’s inception. Employee retention was identified as the most important benefits objective by more than half (55%) of employers overall.

Zero Trans Fat Doesn't Always Mean Zero

NEW YORK (AP) - "Stroll the aisles of any grocery store and you're sure to spot labels declaring "zero grams trans fat" on the front of snack foods, cookies and crackers. But does zero really mean there's NO artery-clogging fat inside?


Maybe, maybe not."

Partnership for Prevention's Leading by Example CEO-to-CEO initiative

Partnership for Prevention's Leading by Example CEO-to-CEO initiative is designed to leverage the workplace to improve health by promoting greater business involvement in health promotion and disease prevention.

The macro goal of Leading by Example is for CEOs to influence the American healthcare system to emphasize prevention rather than treatment.

At the core of the initiative are enlightened CEOs who play a pivotal role in advancing worksite health promotion both through their influence on corporate culture and visible support for such programs.

The participating CEOs "lead by example" in that they make health promotion and disease prevention a part of their business strategy to achieve success through optimum employee performance, and management of health care costs. Additionally, their participation in the Leading by Example initiative helps other executive leaders understand and appreciate the relationship between a healthy workforce and a healthy bottom line.

This is a link to the full 32 page pdf.

D. W. Edington's Slides from the 26th Annual Wellness in the Workplace Conference

D. W. Edington is the Director of the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center.

In this March 14, 2007 presentation, he presents 41 slides on "Health Management as a Serious Business Strategy."

Objective: Shareholder value from creative and innovative products from healthy and productive people.

D. W. Edington lays out a strategy for the Next Generation Health Management Program.

New Study: Boosting Five Preventive Services Would Save 100,000 Lives Annually

A new study by Partnership for Prevention found that increasing use of preventive services -- such as more adults using aspirin to prevent heart disease and being screened for cancer -- would save tens of thousands of lives each year. The study, led by the National Commission on Prevention Priorities, found serious deficiencies in the use of preventive care for the nation as a whole -- and particularly troubling shortfalls among racial and ethnic populations.

U.S. Lags Behind 41 Nations in Life Span

"Americans are living longer than ever, but not as long as people in 41 other countries."

"The U.S. has the resources that allow people to get fat and lazy," said Paul Terry, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta. "We have the luxury of choosing a bad lifestyle as opposed to having one imposed on us by hard times."

"Policymakers also should focus on ways to reduce cancer, heart disease and lung disease, said Murray. He advocates stepped-up efforts to reduce tobacco use, control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and regulate blood sugar."

Study: Fat Workers Cost More in Injury Claims, Lost Workdays Than Their Fit Colleagues

Overweight workers cost their bosses more in injury claims than their lean colleagues, suggests a study that found the heaviest employees had twice the rate of workers' compensation claims as their fit co-workers.

Obesity experts said they hope the study will convince employers to invest in programs to help fight obesity.

The New Human-Capital Metrics

The focus of HR organizations is changing --- fast.

"The human-resources department is in survival mode. As outsourcing the function becomes a more-prevalent option for companies, HR managers know that if they are going to endure, they have to deliver strategic value, and that value has to be measurable."

"If your goal is to increase your company's people productivity through the effective use of human-resources tools and strategies, it's time to change the DNA of human resources," says John Sullivan, professor of management at San Francisco State University. "It's time to change human resources so that it focuses on top performers and ensures that it spends most of its time and budget on high-ROI activities." After all, he adds, "the only soft area left in a company is the largest expense item: people."

Welcome to Executive Wellness Coaching!

Welcome to my new blog for Executive Wellness Coaching!

First, What is Wellness?

The definition of wellness, long used by the National Wellness Institute is:

• Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices towards, a more successful existence.

The term wellness has been applied in many ways. There is general agreement that:

• Wellness is a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential
• Wellness is a multi-dimensional and holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and the environment
• Wellness is positive and affirming
• The bottom line is that wellness is a multidimensional process that directly influences one’s quality of life.