Normally, if a company was called on the carpet for a questionable way of marketing their products, I would tend to give them the benefit of the doubt and gather all the facts before condemning them. However, because of some of the shaky things the pharmaceutical industry has pulled in the past, the behavior covered in the article below is very suspect.
At best, giving out free samples of medications without complete safety measures and information accompanying them is irresponsible. However, as the article points out, it also prepares both parents and children for other suggestions from doctors and drug companies, that will typically include the use of additional drugs, thus making the consumption of medication seem a casual decision.
What really gets my gall is that this practice is obviously a way to get doctors and their patients to try and buy additional products, but they have the audacity to say that the primary reason is to help poor families who can't afford medication. Why do drugs have to be marketed in such dishonest and manipulative ways in this country? It gives the whole industry a bad name, and is more damning evidence that Big Pharma is a profit-driven industry whose main purpose is to generate vast amounts of income by plying the legal drug trade despite the risks to consumers. Time and time again they have proven that they cannot be trusted to ensure the welfare of any one or anything other than their own bank accounts.
Free Drug Samples May Not be a Great Deal
By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY
Free samples of prescription drugs may carry hidden costs for children and teens, researchers report today.
In what they say is the first study to examine the use of free drug samples in pediatric patients, the authors analyzed data on 10,295 U.S. residents under age 18 from a 2004 nationally representative survey about medical expenditures.
Among all U.S. residents under 18, one in 20 got at least one free drug sample in 2004, the authors write in Pediatrics. Counting just those who had been prescribed medication, one in 10 got at least one free sample.
In a statement responding to the study, Ken Johnson, senior vice president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group, says free samples provide doctors with "valuable firsthand experience with new treatment options and can also play a valuable role in fostering the appropriate use of medicines."
But lead author Sarah Cutrona, an internist at Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, says giving out free samples "encourages a casual attitude toward medications."
Doing so bypasses pharmacists, who perform important safety checks, Cutrona says.
And, she notes, free samples lack childproof caps, instructions on what to do in case of an accidental overdose and information about kids' doses.
Of the 15 most commonly distributed free samples to children, Cutrona's study found, two are attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder medicines -- Strattera and Adderall -- and are controlled drugs because of their abuse potential.
And labels for those two, plus Elidel, for atopic dermatitis, and Advair, for asthma, received "black box" safety warnings -- the strongest possible -- between 2004 and 2007.
Previous research has shown that free samples lead doctors to prescribe drugs that might not be the best choice, says Cutrona, an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
For example, her new study found that some of the most widely distributed free samples were broad-spectrum antibiotics that aren't considered first-line treatments. Overuse of such drugs could contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, she says.
The prescription drug industry says free samples fill an important role for poor or uninsured patients, but Cutrona's study
found few needy kids got them, because they didn't have access to the doctors who gave them out.
"While it is true that poor and uninsured patients are not the only recipients of drug samples," Johnson says, "a patient's financial situation is a factor physicians often consider when distributing such samples."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-05-drug-samples_N.htm
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
How Overeating Leads to Disease
We have long known that consuming too many calories, especially of the wrong types of foods, can lead to obesity and trigger numerous disease conditions within the body. However, new research now gives us some very interesting updates as to how this process works. It appears thatindividuals who overeat, even if they have not gotten to the point ofbeing overweight or obese yet, can open the door to disease viapathways in the brain and hypothalamus. This new data also givesstronger evidence supporting the role inflammation and hormonal imbalances also play in illness.
We truly are what we eat, for good or for bad. The doubly hazardous habits of a poor diet and simply eating more food than needed on a consistent basis have wrought disastrous consequences for the health of the average American. Despite the false concerns of today's article that exercise and diet are usually not enough to reverse obesity, Iwould hope that this study will be used to encourage such positive lifestyle changes that lead to long-term wellness, rather than stimulate research into some new drug that will supposedly block the effects of overeating and enable individuals to side-step the issues of necessary changes that must be faced in order to regain health.
Overeating Can Throw Off Metabolism
Researchers find brain pathway that's activated, increasing risk of obesity, diabetes
Posted October 2, 2008
By Amanda GardnerHealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- New research shows that overeating triggers a metabolic response normally dormant in the hypothalamus region of the brain, even when a person hasn't gained weight.
"We discovered a very general disease pathway in the hypothalamus, a structure in the middle part of the brain which functions to regulate appetite, feeding behavior, energy and therefore body-weight balance and metabolic processes," said Dr. Dongsheng Cai, senior author of a paper published in the Oct. 3 issue of Cell that details the findings.
"Persistent stimuli from excessive amount of calories can trigger this response before the overt onset of obesity, and this response when induced can promote overeating, contributing to increased levels of caloric overconsumption," Cai added. "So, this process can be like a vicious cycle."
Although the study was conducted in mice, the authors believe the findings will also apply to humans.
Suppressing the pathway might be a potent weapon in the war to fight the burgeoning epidemic of overweight and obesity and its attendant problems, including heart disease and even cancer.
Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese; one-third are obese.
Current efforts to combat obesity -- namely dieting and exercise -- are rarely effective and certainly are not long-lasting.
"Exercise and diet may correct abnormal brain regulation [but] long-term food control is very difficult," said Cai, an assistant professor of physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "We don't understand why. . . The first important thing to understand is how the dysregulation of the brain is processed. The study we just did provides a new pathway. It's the opening of a new direction."
Until recently, researchers didn't know that the hypothalamus was important for how energy processing is conducted in the body.
"The brain is receiving more and more attention from the field . . . but nobody knows whether and how the hypothalamus could be responsible for the increasing occurrence of energy imbalance and obesity under today's environment typical of overnutrition," Cai explained.
Prior research had shown that eating too much triggered inflammatory responses in muscles, liver and other metabolic tissues, changes that underlie the development of type 2 diabetes. So the IKKb/NF-kB pathway had already been identified as a crucial player in these processes.
But it wasn't known if the same pathway was at work in the central nervous system.
In studying the brains of mice, Cai and his colleagues found that a high-fat or high-sugar diet did indeed increase the activity of this pathway in the brain as well. Similarly, the pathway is active in the brains of mice predisposed to obesity.
Once awakened, the pathway induces insulin resistance and dysfunctions of other hormones engaged with weight control and appetite.
While chronic inflammation was once thought to be a result of obesity, it now appears to promote it as well.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/10/02/overeating-can-throw-off-metabolism_print.htm
We truly are what we eat, for good or for bad. The doubly hazardous habits of a poor diet and simply eating more food than needed on a consistent basis have wrought disastrous consequences for the health of the average American. Despite the false concerns of today's article that exercise and diet are usually not enough to reverse obesity, Iwould hope that this study will be used to encourage such positive lifestyle changes that lead to long-term wellness, rather than stimulate research into some new drug that will supposedly block the effects of overeating and enable individuals to side-step the issues of necessary changes that must be faced in order to regain health.
Overeating Can Throw Off Metabolism
Researchers find brain pathway that's activated, increasing risk of obesity, diabetes
Posted October 2, 2008
By Amanda GardnerHealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- New research shows that overeating triggers a metabolic response normally dormant in the hypothalamus region of the brain, even when a person hasn't gained weight.
"We discovered a very general disease pathway in the hypothalamus, a structure in the middle part of the brain which functions to regulate appetite, feeding behavior, energy and therefore body-weight balance and metabolic processes," said Dr. Dongsheng Cai, senior author of a paper published in the Oct. 3 issue of Cell that details the findings.
"Persistent stimuli from excessive amount of calories can trigger this response before the overt onset of obesity, and this response when induced can promote overeating, contributing to increased levels of caloric overconsumption," Cai added. "So, this process can be like a vicious cycle."
Although the study was conducted in mice, the authors believe the findings will also apply to humans.
Suppressing the pathway might be a potent weapon in the war to fight the burgeoning epidemic of overweight and obesity and its attendant problems, including heart disease and even cancer.
Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese; one-third are obese.
Current efforts to combat obesity -- namely dieting and exercise -- are rarely effective and certainly are not long-lasting.
"Exercise and diet may correct abnormal brain regulation [but] long-term food control is very difficult," said Cai, an assistant professor of physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "We don't understand why. . . The first important thing to understand is how the dysregulation of the brain is processed. The study we just did provides a new pathway. It's the opening of a new direction."
Until recently, researchers didn't know that the hypothalamus was important for how energy processing is conducted in the body.
"The brain is receiving more and more attention from the field . . . but nobody knows whether and how the hypothalamus could be responsible for the increasing occurrence of energy imbalance and obesity under today's environment typical of overnutrition," Cai explained.
Prior research had shown that eating too much triggered inflammatory responses in muscles, liver and other metabolic tissues, changes that underlie the development of type 2 diabetes. So the IKKb/NF-kB pathway had already been identified as a crucial player in these processes.
But it wasn't known if the same pathway was at work in the central nervous system.
In studying the brains of mice, Cai and his colleagues found that a high-fat or high-sugar diet did indeed increase the activity of this pathway in the brain as well. Similarly, the pathway is active in the brains of mice predisposed to obesity.
Once awakened, the pathway induces insulin resistance and dysfunctions of other hormones engaged with weight control and appetite.
While chronic inflammation was once thought to be a result of obesity, it now appears to promote it as well.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/10/02/overeating-can-throw-off-metabolism_print.htm
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Eat Well and Slow Down the Aging Process
I don't think there's a one of us who wouldn't like to age gracefully, and the article below gives some great tips on dietary choices that can help us age more slowly, especially regarding the condition of our skin. Despite the multi-million dollar market for skin care products and anti-aging remedies, is important to remember that what we put into our bodies, especially if we choose highly nutritional, organic foods, can make a significant difference in the condition of our skin and affect other aging factors in a big way as well.
When growing or purchasing vegetables, fruits, and other foods high in antioxidants, be sure to find a source of organic, freshly grown produce that is free of pesticides, insecticides, and other toxic chemicals. If possible, growing your own is the best way to go. Locally grown items from a farmers market are also a good option, but you are limited by the growing season in most areas. Remember, fresh is always best, but if you can't get fresh, frozen is the next best choice, as freezing does not destroy as many nutrients as canning. It is always best to eat vegetables and fruits raw or minimally steamed if you want them cooked. The more of the natural antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients you can get into your system, the better the results and the younger you will look!
Natural Medicine
Last updated September 21, 2008 10:36 p.m. PT
Age gracefully with good nutrition
Aging is a natural life process. However, research shows that certain foods may slow the process and postpone the inevitable. Specifically, foods containing antioxidants can help you look and feel younger.
Antioxidants protect your cells from damage by free radicals. Scientists believe that free radical damage may be one of the main underlying reasons we age. Free radicals generally come from two places: natural production in the body as it carries out basic functions -- such as digestion and respiration -- and environmental sources such as chemicals, pollution, cigarette smoke, pesticides and UV sunlight.
While the body can make enough antioxidants to take care of the free radicals inside your body, it needs extra dietary (food) antioxidants to keep up with the outside sources. Fortunately, common antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E can easily be found in common plant-based foods.
Beta carotene is important for healthy skin and good vision and is found in orange and red foods, including sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, cherries, apricots, cantaloupe, watermelon, red bell pepper and tomatoes. It also can be found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and lettuces.
Vitamin C is involved in keeping skin firm and is found in oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, watermelon, peppers, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, snow peas, rutabagas, potatoes (with skin) and summer squash.
Vitamin E boosts the skin-protecting power of vitamin C and also protects the brain. Vitamin E can be found in nuts and seeds like almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, peanut butter and sunflower seeds. It also can be found in flaxseeds, wheat germ, extra virgin olive oil, avocados and whole grain cereals.
By eating colorful, antioxidant-rich foods every day, you protect your brain cells from memory loss, keep eyesight sharp, help fight wrinkles, boost energy levels and help slow the negative effects of aging.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/printer2/index.asp?ploc=t&refer=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/380022_bastyr22.html?source=rss
When growing or purchasing vegetables, fruits, and other foods high in antioxidants, be sure to find a source of organic, freshly grown produce that is free of pesticides, insecticides, and other toxic chemicals. If possible, growing your own is the best way to go. Locally grown items from a farmers market are also a good option, but you are limited by the growing season in most areas. Remember, fresh is always best, but if you can't get fresh, frozen is the next best choice, as freezing does not destroy as many nutrients as canning. It is always best to eat vegetables and fruits raw or minimally steamed if you want them cooked. The more of the natural antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients you can get into your system, the better the results and the younger you will look!
Natural Medicine
Last updated September 21, 2008 10:36 p.m. PT
Age gracefully with good nutrition
Aging is a natural life process. However, research shows that certain foods may slow the process and postpone the inevitable. Specifically, foods containing antioxidants can help you look and feel younger.
Antioxidants protect your cells from damage by free radicals. Scientists believe that free radical damage may be one of the main underlying reasons we age. Free radicals generally come from two places: natural production in the body as it carries out basic functions -- such as digestion and respiration -- and environmental sources such as chemicals, pollution, cigarette smoke, pesticides and UV sunlight.
While the body can make enough antioxidants to take care of the free radicals inside your body, it needs extra dietary (food) antioxidants to keep up with the outside sources. Fortunately, common antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E can easily be found in common plant-based foods.
Beta carotene is important for healthy skin and good vision and is found in orange and red foods, including sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, cherries, apricots, cantaloupe, watermelon, red bell pepper and tomatoes. It also can be found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and lettuces.
Vitamin C is involved in keeping skin firm and is found in oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, watermelon, peppers, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, snow peas, rutabagas, potatoes (with skin) and summer squash.
Vitamin E boosts the skin-protecting power of vitamin C and also protects the brain. Vitamin E can be found in nuts and seeds like almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, peanut butter and sunflower seeds. It also can be found in flaxseeds, wheat germ, extra virgin olive oil, avocados and whole grain cereals.
By eating colorful, antioxidant-rich foods every day, you protect your brain cells from memory loss, keep eyesight sharp, help fight wrinkles, boost energy levels and help slow the negative effects of aging.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/printer2/index.asp?ploc=t&refer=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/380022_bastyr22.html?source=rss
Treating Causes -- Not Symptoms -- of Acne
It is sad but true that many conventional acne treatments deliver toxic substances to your skin, and often make acne worse instead of improving it. The article below discusses some much better options for dealing with acne and other skin conditions -- options that get to the root cause, not just cover up the symptoms.
If you struggle with acne, take a look at your diet (what you put in your body) and chemicals that may be adversely affecting your skin (what you put on your body). The suggestions for using zinc, essential fatty acids, and Vitamin A are excellent. Also, performing periodic liver/gallbladder cleansing is essential since your liver is the main filter of the body and is involved in hormone regulation as well. Acne is a holistic concern. The condition of your skin is an excellent indicator of the health of your entire body. Choose your skin care and personal care products very carefully, purchasing only those that are organic, natural, and free from potentially harmful chemicals that are unfortunately present in many conventional formulas, both prescription and over-the-counter. I highly recommend a natural skincare regimen using Hydra-Tone, Oxy-Balm, E3 Light Skin Polish and Purely Ageless.
The True Causes of Acne
by Sheryl Walter
(NaturalNews) You finally meet someone that you can really see yourself being with. You are having visions of the future already. Yet on the day of your big date, you wake up to find a large red bump on your face with a massive white lump in the middle.
Sorry to paint this disturbing picture and to sound a bit cliche, but if you have ever suffered from acne, you certainly know this feeling.
Unfortunately, as with most skin complaints including eczema and psoriasis, treating the root cause of acne can be quite a labyrinth because the skin is the largest organ of the body, and is affected by almost everything that we do.
Dermatologists rarely get to the root of the problem. Unless they are really innovative, they generally recommend retinol, antibiotics, the birth control pill, or a range of creams. While some of these may help people with acne in the short term, in the long term, they all potentially cause acne.
Many people go to the dermatologists and never get to the bottom of their skin problems. There is one drug called accutain, which does clear the skin quite quickly. However, it is highly toxic, and even doctors are slow to give it out because of the many risks involved.
Natural Alternatives?
The absolute first thing that anyone who is prone to spots needs is zinc. Zinc deficiency is the number one cause of spots and a good quality supplement must be taken, as this mineral can be difficult to get in food.
If acne is in your genes, then eating something that doesn't suit you can create a disaster. Sometimes just one morsel of food can cause a breakout. A food intolerance test is a necessity for anyone who desires smooth skin.
Chemicals, Chemicals, Chemicals. They are everywhere. Just because you don't rub something on your face, doesn't mean it won't affect it. Because the skin is one large organ, what the foot touches could cause a spot on the back.
Shampoo, hair gel, toothpaste, foot balm, body lotion, cleaning products, laundry detergent, washing up liquid; every chemical is a suspect. And even if you think you are using a natural organic product that is great for someone else, it doesn't mean it suits you. Some people (myself included) are so sensitive that they need to vary the skin products they use from week to week so they don't become intolerant.
Candida overgrowth is another big factor in acne and other skin complaints. If it is growing on the inside, herbs are generally the best way to sort it. If it is simply Candida on the skin, then tea tree oil or the Australian Bush remedy Green essence among others may clear it. Seeing a practitioner who specialises in Candida can be incredibly useful.
Hormonal imbalances may be at the root of your skin woes. If so, most certainly Candida plays a role as it disturbs hormonal balance, and you may need to take other herbs to get the hormones back on track.
Essential fatty acids may also be the root of acne and other skin complaints. Omega-3 is found in fish oil and flaxseed oil. Omega-6 may be found in evening primrose oil and starflower oil, and may be beneficial to take by mouth, or even to rub on the skin.
Vitamin A is another good remedy for acne and is also great for blackheads.
I would like to say that these are the only reasons that one could have acne, but unfortunately the causes can be infinite. Try some of these options since they are the most common, and if you get frustrated, see someone who can test your individual needs.
http://www.naturalnews.com/z024279.html
If you struggle with acne, take a look at your diet (what you put in your body) and chemicals that may be adversely affecting your skin (what you put on your body). The suggestions for using zinc, essential fatty acids, and Vitamin A are excellent. Also, performing periodic liver/gallbladder cleansing is essential since your liver is the main filter of the body and is involved in hormone regulation as well. Acne is a holistic concern. The condition of your skin is an excellent indicator of the health of your entire body. Choose your skin care and personal care products very carefully, purchasing only those that are organic, natural, and free from potentially harmful chemicals that are unfortunately present in many conventional formulas, both prescription and over-the-counter. I highly recommend a natural skincare regimen using Hydra-Tone, Oxy-Balm, E3 Light Skin Polish and Purely Ageless.
The True Causes of Acne
by Sheryl Walter
(NaturalNews) You finally meet someone that you can really see yourself being with. You are having visions of the future already. Yet on the day of your big date, you wake up to find a large red bump on your face with a massive white lump in the middle.
Sorry to paint this disturbing picture and to sound a bit cliche, but if you have ever suffered from acne, you certainly know this feeling.
Unfortunately, as with most skin complaints including eczema and psoriasis, treating the root cause of acne can be quite a labyrinth because the skin is the largest organ of the body, and is affected by almost everything that we do.
Dermatologists rarely get to the root of the problem. Unless they are really innovative, they generally recommend retinol, antibiotics, the birth control pill, or a range of creams. While some of these may help people with acne in the short term, in the long term, they all potentially cause acne.
Many people go to the dermatologists and never get to the bottom of their skin problems. There is one drug called accutain, which does clear the skin quite quickly. However, it is highly toxic, and even doctors are slow to give it out because of the many risks involved.
Natural Alternatives?
The absolute first thing that anyone who is prone to spots needs is zinc. Zinc deficiency is the number one cause of spots and a good quality supplement must be taken, as this mineral can be difficult to get in food.
If acne is in your genes, then eating something that doesn't suit you can create a disaster. Sometimes just one morsel of food can cause a breakout. A food intolerance test is a necessity for anyone who desires smooth skin.
Chemicals, Chemicals, Chemicals. They are everywhere. Just because you don't rub something on your face, doesn't mean it won't affect it. Because the skin is one large organ, what the foot touches could cause a spot on the back.
Shampoo, hair gel, toothpaste, foot balm, body lotion, cleaning products, laundry detergent, washing up liquid; every chemical is a suspect. And even if you think you are using a natural organic product that is great for someone else, it doesn't mean it suits you. Some people (myself included) are so sensitive that they need to vary the skin products they use from week to week so they don't become intolerant.
Candida overgrowth is another big factor in acne and other skin complaints. If it is growing on the inside, herbs are generally the best way to sort it. If it is simply Candida on the skin, then tea tree oil or the Australian Bush remedy Green essence among others may clear it. Seeing a practitioner who specialises in Candida can be incredibly useful.
Hormonal imbalances may be at the root of your skin woes. If so, most certainly Candida plays a role as it disturbs hormonal balance, and you may need to take other herbs to get the hormones back on track.
Essential fatty acids may also be the root of acne and other skin complaints. Omega-3 is found in fish oil and flaxseed oil. Omega-6 may be found in evening primrose oil and starflower oil, and may be beneficial to take by mouth, or even to rub on the skin.
Vitamin A is another good remedy for acne and is also great for blackheads.
I would like to say that these are the only reasons that one could have acne, but unfortunately the causes can be infinite. Try some of these options since they are the most common, and if you get frustrated, see someone who can test your individual needs.
http://www.naturalnews.com/z024279.html
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Chlorinated Swimming Pools Increase Asthma Risk
Be careful about letting your children swim in chlorinated pools. Previous studies have found that exposure to chlorine in indoor pools increases risk for asthma and other respiratory problems, but the study highlighted in today's article indicates that outdoor pools may pose an even greater risk. The theory was that the concentration of fumes indoors was worse than outdoors, but new information now nullifies that assumption. The research shows that for several reasons, including kids staying in the water longer in outdoor pools and the tendency for more chlorine to be used outdoors, that the health risk is increased.
Despite its use in many public drinking water systems, chlorine is a very toxic chemical. It can be absorbed into the body through the skin, and many swimmers swallow enough water to cause problems as well. Beyond issues such as asthma, chlorine can also cause other health problems including an increased risk for cardiac disease. As the article points out, the risk for young children is even greater due to their still developing lungs.
Keep in mind that if you have your own pool, there are several alternative ways to disinfect the water without resorting to the use of chlorine or other dangerous chemicals.
Outdoor pools boost child's asthma risk: study
By Michael Kahn
Wed Sep 24, 7:07 PM ET
Swimming in outdoor chlorinated pools appears to increase the odds a child will develop asthma, Belgian researchers said on Thursday.
Other studies have linked chlorine and asthma but the new findings published in the European Respiratory Journal cast doubt on the idea outdoor pools are safer than indoor ones where chlorine vapors remains trapped inside an enclosed space.
"The more you swim, the higher the risk," said Alfred Bernard, a toxicologist at Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, who led the study. "What is new in this study is that we looked at outdoor pools for the first time."
Asthma, which affects more than 300 million people worldwide, is the most common pediatric chronic illness. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness.
Bernard and colleagues showed that outdoor pools are just as or more risky than indoor ones because harmful vapors remain at the pool surface and do not drift away.
And because children tend to spend more time in pools they are more likely to swallow chlorinated water or ingest vapors containing chemicals that attack the cellular barriers protecting the lung from allergens, Bernard said.
"We see that the risk of the outdoor pool is equal and even higher than indoor pools because children tend to spend longer in outdoor pools and they are more chlorinated," he said.
The Belgian team tested 847 students around the age of 15 for allergies and asthma and asked their parents about exposure to asthma risks such as tobacco smoke, pets and pollution, and how much time the children had spent in chlorinated pools.
The researchers determined that the risk for the 50 percent of children predisposed to allergies and asthma was directly related to the amount of time spent in a pool.
Children with the highest pool attendance -- one hour per week for 10 years -- were five times more likely to be asthmatic than young people who had never swum in a pool, the study found.
"Young children are more exposed because they take more water into their airways and their lungs are still developing," Bernard said in a telephone interview.
(Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080924/hl_nm/us_asthma_swimminghealth_1&printer=1;_ylt=ApqKhhAWdC.yp3bFCbQtVh8R.3QA
Despite its use in many public drinking water systems, chlorine is a very toxic chemical. It can be absorbed into the body through the skin, and many swimmers swallow enough water to cause problems as well. Beyond issues such as asthma, chlorine can also cause other health problems including an increased risk for cardiac disease. As the article points out, the risk for young children is even greater due to their still developing lungs.
Keep in mind that if you have your own pool, there are several alternative ways to disinfect the water without resorting to the use of chlorine or other dangerous chemicals.
Outdoor pools boost child's asthma risk: study
By Michael Kahn
Wed Sep 24, 7:07 PM ET
Swimming in outdoor chlorinated pools appears to increase the odds a child will develop asthma, Belgian researchers said on Thursday.
Other studies have linked chlorine and asthma but the new findings published in the European Respiratory Journal cast doubt on the idea outdoor pools are safer than indoor ones where chlorine vapors remains trapped inside an enclosed space.
"The more you swim, the higher the risk," said Alfred Bernard, a toxicologist at Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, who led the study. "What is new in this study is that we looked at outdoor pools for the first time."
Asthma, which affects more than 300 million people worldwide, is the most common pediatric chronic illness. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness.
Bernard and colleagues showed that outdoor pools are just as or more risky than indoor ones because harmful vapors remain at the pool surface and do not drift away.
And because children tend to spend more time in pools they are more likely to swallow chlorinated water or ingest vapors containing chemicals that attack the cellular barriers protecting the lung from allergens, Bernard said.
"We see that the risk of the outdoor pool is equal and even higher than indoor pools because children tend to spend longer in outdoor pools and they are more chlorinated," he said.
The Belgian team tested 847 students around the age of 15 for allergies and asthma and asked their parents about exposure to asthma risks such as tobacco smoke, pets and pollution, and how much time the children had spent in chlorinated pools.
The researchers determined that the risk for the 50 percent of children predisposed to allergies and asthma was directly related to the amount of time spent in a pool.
Children with the highest pool attendance -- one hour per week for 10 years -- were five times more likely to be asthmatic than young people who had never swum in a pool, the study found.
"Young children are more exposed because they take more water into their airways and their lungs are still developing," Bernard said in a telephone interview.
(Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080924/hl_nm/us_asthma_swimminghealth_1&printer=1;_ylt=ApqKhhAWdC.yp3bFCbQtVh8R.3QA
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Honey Beats Pharmaceuticals on Sinusitis
Three cheers for another study that shows a natural substance -- in this case honey -- to be superior to man-made drugs at combating illness. Honey has been used for centuries as an antibacterial and antiviral substance to treat various maladies including respiratory ailments and skin wounds. Now modern researchers are finding that this age-old remedy has been a favorite for very good reasons.
If you choose to medicate with honey, organic is always best, and finding a local source of honey is to your advantage as well. Honey is also great for allergies, and if it is harvested locally, it can more effectively fight pollens and other allergens in your area.
Also, one of the best healing honeys is called Manuka Honey from New Zealand. Active Manuka Honey has been shown in laboratory studies to have antibacterial activity against the 7 most common species of bacteria found in wounds. 58 strains of Staphylococcus Aureus isolated from infected wounds showed complete inhibition at concentrations of 2-3% Active Manuka Honey. Active Manuka Honey is also great for colds and sore throats as well as a soothing balm for all digestive tract concerns.
A Honey of a Sinusitis Treatment
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter
Wed Sep 24, 11:47 PM ET
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Honey may help bring sweet relief to chronic sinusitis sufferers, new Canadian research suggests.
Scientists say natural germ fighters in honey attack the bacteria that cause the discomforting disorder.
"Honey has been used in traditional medicine as a natural anti-microbial dressing for infected wounds for hundreds of years," noted study co-author Dr. Joseph G. Marsan, from the University of Ottawa.
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the activity of honey on so-called "biofilms," which are responsible for numerous chronic infections, Marsan explained.
"Certain bacteria, mainly Staph aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have found a method of shielding themselves from the activity of anti-microbials by living in substances called biofilms, which cannot be penetrated by even the most powerful anti-microbials," he said.
The report was to be presented Tuesday at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's annual meeting in Chicago.
In the laboratory, Marsan's team applied honey to biofilms made up of the bacteria that cause sinusitis.
They found that honey was more effective in killing these bacteria than antibiotics commonly used against them.
"Our study has shown that certain honeys, namely the Manuka honey from New Zealand and the Sidr honey from Yemen, have a powerful killing action on these bacterial biofilms that is far superior to the most powerful anti-microbials used in medicine today," Marsan said.
This study has shown that certain honeys may play some role in the management of these chronic infections that are extremely difficult to treat, Marsan said. "This study was carried out in-vitro in the lab and we must now find how to apply this activity in-vivo on lab animals and subsequently on patients," he added.
The Canadian findings echo research published last year in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, by a team at Penn State College of Medicine. That group found that honey worked better than commercial cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DM) in easing children's cough.
But Dr. Ian Paul, director of Pediatric Clinical Research at Penn State and the leader of the cough study, isn't sure how the sinusitis findings would be applied clinically.
"Bacteria do not grow very well in honey," Paul noted. "There is data that honey works well for wounds, in smothering the bacteria that that grow in wounds. So it's not altogether surprising that honey would be effective in killing these bacteria."
However, whether honey could be used clinically to treat sinusitis isn't apparent, Paul said.
"I wonder how they are going to propose using honey, clinically, in sinusitis," Paul said. "I'm wondering how they are proposing it would be curative or helpful in that setting?"
Results of another study, slated to be presented at the meeting Tuesday, show that many patients with sinusitis sufferer from aches and pains that are equal to those experienced by people with arthritis or depression.
Researchers found that endoscopic sinus surgery to relieve the blockage in the sinuses, also significantly people's reduced pain.
"This study highlights an important point: Chronic sinusitis should not be considered as a minor localized disease condition rather, as this study emphasizes, sinusitis can cause serious clinical levels of discomfort in many patients," study co-author Dr. Neil Bhattacharyya, an otolaryngologist and sinus surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said in a statement.
More information
For more information on sinusitis, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/ahoneyofasinusitistreatment&printer=1;_ylt=AjVyWYxMFGT717P5_RUXW6O9j7AB
If you choose to medicate with honey, organic is always best, and finding a local source of honey is to your advantage as well. Honey is also great for allergies, and if it is harvested locally, it can more effectively fight pollens and other allergens in your area.
Also, one of the best healing honeys is called Manuka Honey from New Zealand. Active Manuka Honey has been shown in laboratory studies to have antibacterial activity against the 7 most common species of bacteria found in wounds. 58 strains of Staphylococcus Aureus isolated from infected wounds showed complete inhibition at concentrations of 2-3% Active Manuka Honey. Active Manuka Honey is also great for colds and sore throats as well as a soothing balm for all digestive tract concerns.
A Honey of a Sinusitis Treatment
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter
Wed Sep 24, 11:47 PM ET
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Honey may help bring sweet relief to chronic sinusitis sufferers, new Canadian research suggests.
Scientists say natural germ fighters in honey attack the bacteria that cause the discomforting disorder.
"Honey has been used in traditional medicine as a natural anti-microbial dressing for infected wounds for hundreds of years," noted study co-author Dr. Joseph G. Marsan, from the University of Ottawa.
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the activity of honey on so-called "biofilms," which are responsible for numerous chronic infections, Marsan explained.
"Certain bacteria, mainly Staph aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have found a method of shielding themselves from the activity of anti-microbials by living in substances called biofilms, which cannot be penetrated by even the most powerful anti-microbials," he said.
The report was to be presented Tuesday at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's annual meeting in Chicago.
In the laboratory, Marsan's team applied honey to biofilms made up of the bacteria that cause sinusitis.
They found that honey was more effective in killing these bacteria than antibiotics commonly used against them.
"Our study has shown that certain honeys, namely the Manuka honey from New Zealand and the Sidr honey from Yemen, have a powerful killing action on these bacterial biofilms that is far superior to the most powerful anti-microbials used in medicine today," Marsan said.
This study has shown that certain honeys may play some role in the management of these chronic infections that are extremely difficult to treat, Marsan said. "This study was carried out in-vitro in the lab and we must now find how to apply this activity in-vivo on lab animals and subsequently on patients," he added.
The Canadian findings echo research published last year in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, by a team at Penn State College of Medicine. That group found that honey worked better than commercial cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DM) in easing children's cough.
But Dr. Ian Paul, director of Pediatric Clinical Research at Penn State and the leader of the cough study, isn't sure how the sinusitis findings would be applied clinically.
"Bacteria do not grow very well in honey," Paul noted. "There is data that honey works well for wounds, in smothering the bacteria that that grow in wounds. So it's not altogether surprising that honey would be effective in killing these bacteria."
However, whether honey could be used clinically to treat sinusitis isn't apparent, Paul said.
"I wonder how they are going to propose using honey, clinically, in sinusitis," Paul said. "I'm wondering how they are proposing it would be curative or helpful in that setting?"
Results of another study, slated to be presented at the meeting Tuesday, show that many patients with sinusitis sufferer from aches and pains that are equal to those experienced by people with arthritis or depression.
Researchers found that endoscopic sinus surgery to relieve the blockage in the sinuses, also significantly people's reduced pain.
"This study highlights an important point: Chronic sinusitis should not be considered as a minor localized disease condition rather, as this study emphasizes, sinusitis can cause serious clinical levels of discomfort in many patients," study co-author Dr. Neil Bhattacharyya, an otolaryngologist and sinus surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said in a statement.
More information
For more information on sinusitis, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/ahoneyofasinusitistreatment&printer=1;_ylt=AjVyWYxMFGT717P5_RUXW6O9j7AB
Monday, September 29, 2008
Resistance Training Aides Senior Citizens
Physical exercise, one of the foundational lifestyle choices that leads to wellness, should be a lifelong pursuit. However, a new study indicates that weight training or other forms of resistance exercise can be beneficial even if you are in your 50s or 60s.
Exercise provides several benefits that keep the body healthy. The most important is to keep elimination routes open so that toxins can be easily removed from the body. The elimination routes that get a positive effect from exercise are breathing, sweating, defecation, and urination. Those who have a routine exercise program are also less likely to experience constipation and digestive tract issues. As one exercises, the lymph system is also kept moving, and is less likely to become stagnant.
The ideal workout routine -- for all age groups -- should include both aerobic and resistance exercises. Weight-bearing activities can be particularly useful for helping individuals maintain balance, coordination, and musculoskeletal strength well into their golden years. Starting early is best, but it's never too late to help yourself stay healthy and well through consistent physical exercise.
Boomers Should Add Muscle Before It's Too Late
Wed Sep 24, 11:47 PM ET
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Strength training can help people build muscle mass to assist in the fight against the debilitating effects of old age until they reach 80, a new study says.
After that, not so much, according to the authors.
The Ball State University study, sponsored by a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, found that while six men in their 80s did get somewhat stronger, their whole muscle size and fiber size did not grow during a 12-week training regime.
"We know that there is accelerated muscle loss as we get older," Scott Trappe, director of Ball State's Human Performance Laboratory, said in a university news release. "The best way to keep our muscles from shrinking is through resistance training, which allows our body to maintain muscle size and strength as we go through our 60s and 70s."
Trappe said aging eventually causes the loss of "fast-twitch" muscle fibers, reducing the ability to produce the explosive movements that allow us to move our feet and arms to keep from falling. The concurrent loss of slow-twitch muscles, the large ones found in the legs, thighs, trunk, back and hips, weakens posture as well. Together, these losses make it harder to balance and maintain an independent life.
"At this point," he said, "I would advise people to actively engage in some sort of resistance training once they hit their 60s. From our study, once you hit the threshold of 80, that may not be possible."
A 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, estimated U.S. health care costs directly attributed to sarcopenia, the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, exceeds $26 billion. Indirectly, sarcopenia has contributed to a doubling of home health care and nursing home expenditures to $132 billion annually.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about healthy living for older adults.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080925/hl_hsn/boomersshouldaddmusclebeforeitstoolate&printer=1;_ylt=AmvGxZI8T7Q4f3Wj3rWemlW9j7AB
Exercise provides several benefits that keep the body healthy. The most important is to keep elimination routes open so that toxins can be easily removed from the body. The elimination routes that get a positive effect from exercise are breathing, sweating, defecation, and urination. Those who have a routine exercise program are also less likely to experience constipation and digestive tract issues. As one exercises, the lymph system is also kept moving, and is less likely to become stagnant.
The ideal workout routine -- for all age groups -- should include both aerobic and resistance exercises. Weight-bearing activities can be particularly useful for helping individuals maintain balance, coordination, and musculoskeletal strength well into their golden years. Starting early is best, but it's never too late to help yourself stay healthy and well through consistent physical exercise.
Boomers Should Add Muscle Before It's Too Late
Wed Sep 24, 11:47 PM ET
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Strength training can help people build muscle mass to assist in the fight against the debilitating effects of old age until they reach 80, a new study says.
After that, not so much, according to the authors.
The Ball State University study, sponsored by a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, found that while six men in their 80s did get somewhat stronger, their whole muscle size and fiber size did not grow during a 12-week training regime.
"We know that there is accelerated muscle loss as we get older," Scott Trappe, director of Ball State's Human Performance Laboratory, said in a university news release. "The best way to keep our muscles from shrinking is through resistance training, which allows our body to maintain muscle size and strength as we go through our 60s and 70s."
Trappe said aging eventually causes the loss of "fast-twitch" muscle fibers, reducing the ability to produce the explosive movements that allow us to move our feet and arms to keep from falling. The concurrent loss of slow-twitch muscles, the large ones found in the legs, thighs, trunk, back and hips, weakens posture as well. Together, these losses make it harder to balance and maintain an independent life.
"At this point," he said, "I would advise people to actively engage in some sort of resistance training once they hit their 60s. From our study, once you hit the threshold of 80, that may not be possible."
A 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, estimated U.S. health care costs directly attributed to sarcopenia, the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, exceeds $26 billion. Indirectly, sarcopenia has contributed to a doubling of home health care and nursing home expenditures to $132 billion annually.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about healthy living for older adults.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080925/hl_hsn/boomersshouldaddmusclebeforeitstoolate&printer=1;_ylt=AmvGxZI8T7Q4f3Wj3rWemlW9j7AB
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