Get the Greatest Antioxidant Value from What You Eat

Antioxidants help slow and prevent damage to our bodies caused by disease. They enhance immune defenses, lower risk of infection and cancer and can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Nutritionists suggest increasing fruit and vegetable servings to 5 per day to boost antioxidants in your body. Tea, nuts and fruit juices are also high in antioxidants.

Want to increase the effectiveness of antioxidants in your diet? Try these tips:

• Raw veggies are a good source of antioxidants, but tomatoes, carrots and spinach release more antioxidants when they are stir-fried, microwaved or lightly steamed.
• To get the greatest advantage from the antioxidants in tea, brew your own and drink it hot, strong and right away. Bottled and instant teas have virtually no antioxidants. Even home-brewed teas begin to lose their antioxidant advantage if they sit in the fridge or are diluted with ice.
• Not all chocolate is created equal in the antioxidant universe. Only dark chocolate has high levels of antioxidants and the darker, the better.
• Buy nuts like almonds with the skins intact. Most antioxidant value is in nut skins, not their meat.
• When shopping for fresh fruits and veggies, those with the deepest and brightest colors provide the most antioxidants.
• Frozen fruit and veggies match their fresh counterparts in antioxidant value, but only canned tomatoes retain antioxidants in the form of lycopene. Other canned products lose any antioxidant value in the canning process.
• Don't ignore fruit juices. Purple grape juice is loaded with antioxidants. Apple, grapefruit and cranberry juices are also good antioxidant sources. The closer to 100% juice, the better.
• Organic fruits and veggies don't have any more antioxidants than commercially grown produce. Buy them for other healthy reasons, but not for antioxidant value.

Exercise Reduces Anxiety of Chronic Illness

Coping with chronic illness is a difficult challenge. The uncertainty of how you'll feel each day and how your illness will impact your plans, your job and your family life creates daily anxiety. The up and down nature of chronic illness -- bad days and good days -- coupled with lack of definitive treatment for many chronic illnesses only increases anxiety. Researches have now found that exercise can help alleviate the anxiety experienced by sufferers of chronic illness.

According to a University of Georgia study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, regular exercise decreases anxiety in the chronically ill no matter what the status of their illness. In a comparative study of 3,000 chronically ill patients who lived mostly sedentary lives, 30 minutes of even mild exercise reduced anxiety symptoms by 20%. This was true for patients suffering from myriad types of chronic illness including fibromyalgia, heart disease, depression and cancer. Only those with multiple sclerosis did not respond to exercise.

While the benefits of exercise in combating depression have been known for some time, the new study shows that exercise also has a positive effect on anxiety.

Moisturize to Protect Skin from Winter Dryness

It's been a harsh winter and our skin is paying the price. Frigid temperatures suck the humidity out of the air. Forced air furnaces in homes and office buildings create an arid atmosphere that leaves skin dry, flaking and itchy. It's not the cold that damages skin but the dryness of the air that destroys the natural moisture barrier that protects our skin from damage.

Dermatologists recommend daily moisturizing as well as a weekly exfoliation to remove dead skin cells. Removing dead cells allows the new skin underneath to absorb moisturizer and rejuvenate more quickly. A gentle scrub or peel once a week will slough off dead skin cells.

Moisturizing dry skin is big business and there are thousands of products on the market from inexpensive familiar cremes to high-priced designer-label oils. Some newer moisturizers have impressed dermatologists with their ability to repair damaged skin barriers. Lotions and creams containing synthetic ceramides mimic the skin's natural fatty acids and help maintain skin moisture barriers. CeraVe Moisturising Lotion and Cream are two products that contain synthetic ceramides. Clinique Comfort on Call Allergy Tested Relief Cream Skin Protectant, while pricey, uses a natural antifreeze found in carrot roots to protect skin.

You don't have to spend a fortune to protect your skin this winter. Some very affordable inexpensive products are among the most tried-and-true moisturizers on the market. For dependable dry skin relief, dermatologists recommend Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion, Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Plus Intensive Repair Body Creme and Nivea Creme.

Contrary to human nature, dermatologists recommend lukewarm showers or baths in winter. Hot showers or baths cause skin to release a chemical that makes skin itchy. The itchiness causes more vigorous rubbing while toweling off and that breaks down the skin barrier, making it more susceptible to chapping and dryness. A cooler shower or bath and application of a thick coat of moisturizer within three minutes of exiting the shower or bathtub will keep skin hydrated during the winter.

Gum Disease Can Impact General Health

When was the last time you saw your dentist? Researchers have discovered that periodontal or gum disease is as big a risk factor for heart disease as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking. Gum disease releases powerful bacteria into the bloodstream that can negatively impact your overall health. In addition to heart disease, periodontal disease has been linked to diabetes, stroke, respiratory infections, low birth weight and premature births.

Research has found that diabetes puts people at greater risk of developing periodontal disease. Many physicians refer to gum disease as "the sixth complication of diabetes." Diabetics and those with pre-diabetes should see their dentist regularly -- every 6 months. Don't ignore red or sore spots on your gums or bleeding gums when you brush your teeth. It could be an indication of periodontal disease and should be addressed promptly to protect your health.

Less Salt Decreases Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke

Cutting our salt intake could cut the number of U.S. heart attacks and strokes by 155,000, recent research shows. Decreasing salt intake can decrease the high blood pressure associated with heart attacks and strokes. The average U.S. male consumes 10 grams of salt a day which adds up to 8 pounds of salt a year. Women consume just a little less, about 7 grams of sodium a day. A study conducted by medical researchers at the University of California-San Francisco showed that reducing sodium consumption by just 3 grams per day significantly decreased an individual's risk of stroke or heart attack.

By extrapolating study data across the U.S. population, researchers said decreasing sodium intake by 3 grams per day could decrease the number of heart attacks nationwide by 11% and reduce strokes by 4%. National health care costs could be reduced by $10 billion to $24 billion.

As much as 80% of the salt consumed by Americans comes from prepared and restaurant foods where salt is used to enhance flavor. To live a healthier life, study authors recommend preparing more meals at home, buying low-sodium foods at the grocery and adding less salt at the table.

New Study Says Watching TV Can Kill You!

For a long time people have been telling us that TV rots your brain. Now, new research says it can kill you, too! Long hours of sedentary inactivity spent watching TV has been linked to obesity and heart disease for some time, but new research has quantified the the connection between inactivity and increased health risk.

Researchers found that for every hour per day you spend sitting on your duff watching TV:

• You have an 18% greater risk of dying of cardiovascular disease.
• You have an 11% greater risk of dying from any cause.
• You have a 9% greater risk of dying from cancer.

Part of an Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, the study findings were published this week in the Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association. The study tracked 8,800 men and women aged 25 and older over 6 years and did not include people who already had a history of cardiovascular disease.

While the results of the study might be expected for people who are overweight or obese, what surprised researchers is that results held true even for people of normal weight and those who exercised regularly. And even if you don't spend that much time in front of the boob tube, you run the same risks if you spend hours on the job sitting in front of a computer or processing paperwork or doing anything. Apparently our bodies weren't made to sit for hours on end.

The lesson here seems to be, if you want to live longer, get off your duff and get moving!

Hot Fitness Trends for 2010

The best advice for staying fit is eat less and move more, experts agree. But every year people come up with new ways to make the drudgery of diet and exercise more fun. Here are the 10 top fitness trends for 2010:

1. Group training. Exercise is more fun when you share the pain. Find classes and small group training at health clubs, senior centers and community centers.
2. Timed workouts. Increase the intensity but shorten the time. That's the idea behind timed workouts. Great for busy folks.
3. Exergaming. Mix fitness with video games. Adding element of competition to exercise motivates you to keep going. Wii even makes exercise fun.
4. Cost-conscious workouts. Forget expensive health and fitness clubs; more folks are exercising at home. Turn up the tunes or plug in an exercise or yoga tape. Save while you shave off those pounds.
5. Boomer programs. Exercise routines targeted to baby boomers are aimed at lowering blood pressure and cholesterol to promote healthy, independent living.
6. Functional workouts. Exercise wherever you are and whenever you have time with suspension training tools and resistance bands that you can use at home, work or on the road.
7. Online training tools. Online meal planning and exercise guidance programs allow folks to get information they need 24/7. iPhone interaction lets you check calories, download recipes any time. Online support groups help you stay motivated.
8. Health and fitness awareness. Fighting obesity has replaced smoking as America's next big health challenge.
9. Specialty exercise classes. The success of TV's Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance have sparked interest in ethnic dance, pole dancing, Zumba and other unusual dance techniques. Dancing provides great exercise. Attendance is increasing at Arthur Murray and other ballroom dancing schools.
10. Professional credentials. More health clubs and fitness centers are hiring credentialed pros to provide higher-quality, knowledgeable, accurate fitness help.

Tips for Coping with Election Day Stress

With the elections only a few more days away, election stress is getting to many of us. We are constantly bombarded by phone calls, mail fliers and negative television ads. It's enough to make you grind your teeth and reach for the Tums.

Psychologists say economic uncertainty isn't helping. "Human beings, generally we do better in periods of calm, stability and certainty," said Illinois psychologist Nancy Molitor who said this election season is the most anxious she's seen her patients in 20 years of practice. All this anxiety is causing sleep problems, edginess, irritability and concentration problems.

Elections are a major stress producer because people vote from a "very, very core place in their personalities," said Lisa Miller, an associate professor of psychology at Columbia University Teachers College in New York. She said we tend to project our hopes and fears onto presidential candidates, expecting them to protect us keep us safe.

When you start to feel overly stress about the election, here are some things experts say will help:

• Step back. Shut down the computer, turn of the TV, stop answering the phone and close the newspaper. Avoid getting into political arguments with friends and colleagues.
• Be pro-active. Volunteer to help your candidate. If you're actively working for what you believe in you'll won't feel powerless which is at the root of much election anxiety.
• Take care of yourself. Stress wears you down physically and mentally. Make sure you eat healthfully, exercise and get enough sleep. The very act of taking control of something decreases stress.
• Be realistic. Every candidate has both strong and weak points. No candidate is all good or all bad, despite what you may hear. The country has always survived no matter who was elected. Though ideas and view may differ, each candidate is sincerely trying to do his best for the country. And remember, our forefathers mandated a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one person or viewpoint can rule. The President must be supported by Congress and vice versa which guarantees a fair amount of balance and compromise in governmental decisions.
• Change the subject. When you can't take it anymore, just change the subject. Agree to disagree. Go for a walk, get out in nature, do something that takes your mind off politics.
• Remember to vote. Make sure you go to the polls and cast your ballot on Tuesday, November 4. Whether your candidate wins or loses, you'll know your voice was heard!

Foods You Can Really Bite Into

With Halloween fast approaching, your dentist is probably cringing just thinking about the Reese's Cups, M&Ms and Hershey bars you're stocking up on and the damage they'll do to your teeth. But there are dentist-approved foods that will actually strengthen your teeth and gums, though offering them to Trick or Treaters might get your windows soaped.

Here's a list of foods from the Academy of General Dentistry that fight tooth decay and gum disease naturally. You might want to stock up before your Halloween gorge.

• Rebuild tooth enamel by eating yogurt, cheese and milk -- all good sources of bone-building calcium. The temporary coating calcium products form on your teeth also helps prevent tooth decay by protecting teeth against the natural acids in your mouth.
• Boost gum health with grapefruit which aids in wound healing and prevents collagen breakdown which can loosen teeth. In a German study, grapefruit decreased gum bleeding significantly. Because the acid in grapefruit can temporarily decrease the strength of tooth enamel, dentists recommend waiting 30 minutes before brushing. Also, check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding grapefruit to your diet as it interacts unfavorably with some medicines.
• Kill mouth bacteria by snacking on kiwis, oranges, limes, cranberries and strawberries. All are rich in vitamin C with is a powerful killer of oral bacteria. Green tea contains catechins that also fight mouth bacteria; and the phytochemicals in those super spicy foods you love, like wasabi and jalapenos, inhibit germ growth.
• Freshen your breath with mint and parsley which kill mouth bacteria and sweeten breath.
• Whiten teeth by eating cauliflower, spinach, lettuce and broccoli. The minerals in these veggies form a protective film on teeth that helps prevent stains from penetrating enamel. Strawberries have a bleaching effect on tooth enamel; and hard crunchy foods like carrots, nuts and seeds destroy plaque as you chew. Go easy on known stain makers: red wine, cola and coffee.

So fill your plate with these great tooth-healthy foods and SMILE all the way to the dentist!

'Stayin' Alive' Can Actually Help You Stay Alive

The Bee Gees' great disco song Stayin' Alive can put the beat back into a stopped heart. At 103 beats per minute, the 1977 pop standard provides the perfect rhythm for performing CPR. In a study at the University of Illinois medical school, doctors and students produced the ideal number of chest compressions during CPR while listening to the peppy falsetto tune from the John Travolta movie Saturday Night Fever.

Study author Dr. David Matlock said few people realize how quickly chest compressions must be performed to start and keep a heart pumping. The American Heart Association, which uses Stayin' Alive as a CPR instructor training tool, recommends 100 compressions per minute, a considerably faster rate than most people think. When performed properly, CPR can triple the survival rate from cardiac arrest, but few people attempt it because they're not sure of the proper rhythm. According to Dr. Matlock, compressing the chest to the beat of Stayin' Alive will keep you on track.

New Developments in Fighting Colorectal Cancer

Many people feel colonoscopies are one of those things where the cure seems worse than the disease. It's not, of course, but it is one of the most invasive and, for many, uncomfortable preventative/diagnostic procedures people undergo. So there is good news on two fronts:

• Most people over age 75 should stop getting routine colon cancer tests, says the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government health group; although other medical and cancer organizations disagree. The task force recommends a colonoscopy of the entire colon every 10 years for adults between 50 and 75, a sigmoidoscopy of the lower colon every 5 years, a stool blood test every three years, and an annual stool blood test. Their recommendations are based on studies indicating that although the risks of contracting colon cancer rise after age 75, the benefits of detecting and treating this cancer decline significantly.
• An x-ray alternative to the standard colonoscopy has proven as effective in spotting most cancers, concludes a recent federal study. Faster, cheaper and less intrusive, the test is expected to increase screening rates by 50%. Despite the fact that colorectal cancer is America's second biggest killer, many people don't get tested because they fear the test during which a doctor snakes a thin, flexible scope (a tube with a tiny camera attached) through the patient's rectum into the large intestine while visually checking a monitor for signs of polyps, abnormalities and possible cancer. The new method, called CT colonography, uses x-rays to perform a "virtual colonoscopy." Critics say the new test is better at ruling out cancer than detecting it and that patients who receive a negative result will still have to undergo a standard colonoscopy to verify results and remove growths. In comparative tests, the virtual colonoscopy detected knobby polyps equally as well as the traditional test but was less effective in detecting flat growths on the colon wall that are more likely to be cancerous. Concern was also expressed about x-ray radiation and false readings by radiologists. If you're interested in CT colonography, check with your insurance carrier first. Because this is a new procedure, it is not yet covered by all insurance companies. Coverage by Medicare is currently under review.

Virtual colonoscopy is most likely to be used as an initial screening tool. The test costs $300 to $800 compared to up to $3000 for a traditional colonoscopy. The unfortunate aspect is that both tests require complete colon cleansing, for many the worst part of the screening process. Despite cost or discomfort, don't ignore screen recommendations. Colorectal cancer claims 50,000 lives each year and can nearly always be eliminated when discovered early.

Youthful Habits Check High Blood Pressure

Scientific studies are finding that acting like a kid may reset your body's clock and help you beat high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension) increases your risk of heart attack, heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and stroke. But lowering your blood pressure can be easy -- and fun -- if you just act like a kid again!

• See the doctor every year. Those annual visits to the pediatrician kept us healthy and on track when we were kids, but most adults only see a doctor when they're sick. Annual checkups set a baseline for normal body functions and tell us when things are getting out of whack. Early treatment prevents small, solvable problems from becoming big, life-threatening ones.
• Drink milk. Drinking nonfat milk products reduces your risk of hypertension by 50%. If you're allergic to milk or are lactose intolerant, you can get similar benefits from the milk protein casein which can be found in certain lactose-free products and supplements. Casein blocks the chemical reactions that cause blood vessels to narrow and make pressure rise.
• Play. And you don't even need to play every day. Just 30 minutes of brisk exercise three times a week will lower your blood pressure. Walk, play hopscotch with the kids, jump rope, toss a frisbee -- just make sure you get your heart rate up.
• Eat candy. But not just any candy -- dark chocolate, the darker the better. Eating 30 calories of dark chocolate a day will lower your blood pressure without weight gain.
• Take a nap. People who only get five hours (or less) of sleep a night increase their risk of getting hypertension. If you have trouble sleeping, make sure you take a nap during the day.

Embrace Life, Live Longer

People who embrace life and have a positive outlook live an average of 7.5 years longer than those who focus on the negative. This is particularly true as we age. People who feel pummeled by old age and spend their time moaning and groaning about achy bones just don't live as long as those who focus on the positive aspects of aging and choose to enjoy life.

In a 23-year study conducted by researchers at Yale University and Miami University in Ohio, positive perceptions on aging were found to increase longevity. The study asked 660 seniors age 50 and older to evaluate age-related statements, such as: "As you get older, you are less useful." Over the length of the study, those who focused on the positive aspects of aging lived nearly a decade longer.

Positive seniors valued the gains in wisdom and understanding that came with age and the opportunity to share their skills and knowledge with others. They remained mentally active, maintaining a sense of curiosity about the world while continuing to explore longtime interests and develop new ones. They gave of themselves to others and seemed to focus their lives outward rather than inward on themselves. They remained physically active as long as possible, but loss of physical abilities did not dim their positive view of the world.

The lesson here seems to be that those who live life, who embrace and strive to enjoy life, live the longest -- and probably enjoy every minute of it!

It's Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

Here are five powerful reasons to quit smoking:

• 20 minutes after you quit smoking, your heart rate drops.
• 12 hours after you quit smoking, the carbon monoxide levels in your body normalize.
• 2 weeks to 12 months after you quit smoking, your heart attack risk drops and your lungs begin to heal.
• 1 to 9 months after you quit smoking, your shortness of breath improves noticeably.
• 5 years after you quit smoking, your stroke risk has dropped to the same as a non-smoker's.

More than 18 million American 45 and older and 4.5 million Americans 65 and older smoke, according to the U.S. Public Health Service. Since 2000, smoking in the 65 and older age group has increased 20%. Yet repeated studies show that 7 out of 10 smokers want to quit.

In the September 2008 issues of the AARP Bulletin, former U.S. surgeon general C. Everett Koop says he's not surprised by the high number of smokers in the U.S., particularly older smokers. "Research shows that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine or heroin. Quitting isn't just a matter of willpower." Many people have received the information and support they need to fight tobacco addiction and quit smoking through the free national tobacco quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Help is also available online at www.smokefree.gov.

The benefits of quitting begin almost immediately (see above list), no matter how old you are, says Koop. "Research shows quitting after age 65 reduces risk for coronary heart disease, emphysema, lung cancer, osteoporosis, hearing loss, cataracts, impotence, poor circulation and Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, abstinence can promote faster recovery from broken bones, surgery and illness."

What are you waiting for? Call the quitline today. Do it for yourself. Do it for your spouse, your children and your grandchildren.

How to Take Care of Dry Skin

Fall is just around the corner which means the dry days of winter are approaching. When the furnace kicks on, skin dries out. Here are some tips for taking care of dry skin:

• Use thick, greasy moisturizers, particularly after a shower or bath. The thicker the moisturizer, the better the penetration and longer the moisturizing effect.
• Don't use skin care products that contain alcohol.
• Use a humidifier to increase moisture in the air.
• Drink lots of water to keep your skin hydrated.
• Avoid long, hot showers or baths that can dry out skin.

Your Fat Might Be in Your Genes!

A new study shows that those extra pounds you keep fighting might just be genetic. Recent research in the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Amish community shows a common genetic variation that makes people more likely to gain weight. Scientists think about 30% of white people of European ancestry have the variant, including the Amish. Combined with Americans' sedentary lifestyle (and our penchant for fast-food), scientists believe this genetic factor helps to explain why so many Americans are overweight compared to other world populations.

Now here's the interesting thing. The effects of this genetic variant can be blocked by exercise. Unfortunately it takes a lot of exercise -- 3 to 4 hours a day! The Amish who live a 19th century rural lifestyle that includes a lot of walking and physical labor easily achieve that goal. It probably also explains why obesity wasn't much of an issue in earlier centuries before cars and modern appliances. People who had the fat gene were getting enough exercise to combat any ill effects.

All is not lost if you've embraced the typical modern American lifestyle. Scientists say working moderate exercise into your day at every opportunity will help override the fat gene. Take a brisk walk instead of vegging out in front of the TV. Spend an hour gardening when you come home from work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park in the back of the parking lot when you go to the store or better yet, walk whenever you can. Save on gas and bike to work. Join a gym or sign up for an exercise class. Scientists believe the benefit from moderate exercise is cumulative, so every 10 minutes here and there during the day adds up.

Three to four hours of exercise sounds unmanageable given our busy lives. But if you count up all those 10 and 15 minute bits, you might be surprised how much exercise you're able to squeeze into a day!

Watch Out for Drug Names that Look, Sound Alike

When I read this article by Lauran Neergaardap, medical writer for the "Seattle Post Intelligence," I felt the information was important to share. Ms. Neergaard covers health and medical issues for the "Associated Press" in Washington. Her article on how easy it is to confuse drug names and steps you can take to prevent such medical mistakes is information we should all know. Here is her article:

Take the generic drug clonidine for high blood pressure? Double-check that you didn't leave the drugstore with Klonopin for seizures, or the gout medicine colchicine.

Mixing up drug names because they look or sound alike - like this trio - is among the most common types of medical mistakes, and it can be deadly. Now new efforts are aiming to stem the confusion, and make patients more aware of the risk.

Nearly 1,500 commonly used drugs have names so similar to at least one other medication that they've already caused mix-ups, says a major study by the U.S. Pharmacopeia, which helps set drug standards and promote patient safety.

Last week the influential group opened a Web-based tool to let consumers and doctors easily check if they're using or prescribing any of these error-prone drugs, and what they might confuse it with. Try to spell or pronounce a few on the site - http://www.usp.org/ - and it's easy to see how mistakes can happen. Did you mean the painkiller Celebrex or the antidepressant Celexa?

Due out later this fall is a more patient-oriented Web site, a partnership of the nonprofit Institute for Safe Medication Practices and online health service iGuard.org, that will send users e-mail alerts about drug-name confusion.

And the Food and Drug Administration - which currently rejects more than a third of proposed names for new drugs because they're too similar to old ones - is preparing a pilot program that would shift more responsibility to manufacturers to guard against name confusion. The goal is to spell out how to better test for potential mix-ups before companies seek approval to sell their products.

"There are so many new drugs approved each year, this problem can only get worse," warns USP vice president Diane Cousins.

At least 1.5 million Americans are estimated to be harmed each year from a variety of medication errors, and name mix-ups are blamed for a quarter of them.

Rarely does a company change a drug's name after it hits the market, although it's happened twice since 2005. The Alzheimer's drug Reminyl now is named Razadyne, after mix-ups, including two reported deaths, with the old diabetes drug Amaryl. The cholesterol pill Omacor is now named Lovaza, after mix-ups with blood-clotting Amicar.

Doctors' notoriously bad handwriting isn't the only culprit. A hurried pharmacist faced with alphabetized bottles on a shelf might grab the wrong one.

Nor are computerized prescriptions a panacea. A doctor who e-prescribes still can click the wrong row on the alphabetized screen, picking the bone drug Actonel instead of the diabetes drug Actos.

Phone or fax a prescription, and static or smudged ink can turn the epilepsy drug Lamictal into the antifungal pill Lamisil.

Harder to measure but perhaps more common: A doctor means to prescribe a new drug but spells out a similar-sounding old one out of habit. Or the patient misspells or mispronounces one of his drugs, and a health worker assumes it's the schizophrenia drug Zyprexa, not the antihistamine Zyrtec.

"We've had cases where a health care professional repeats what they think the patient's on, and the patient thinks they must know what they're talking about and agrees," says USP's Cousins.

Enter the new Web tool. Cousins advises consumers to check it against their current medications, so they know to pay more attention to confusing ones at refill time.

Question the pharmacist if the tablets look different than last time - it might just be a new generic, or it might be the wrong drug altogether, says pharmacist Marjorie Phillips, medication safety coordinator at MCGHealth, the Medical College of Georgia's health system.

Patients also can ask their doctors to write the diagnosis on the prescription, a step that pharmacists told the Institute for Safe Medication Practices would help them prevent errors.

"What they consider most important is knowing why the medication is used," says institute president Michael Cohen. "It would go a long way to interrupt a lot of these mix-ups."

Write "for heart" next to "clonipine," for example, and a pharmacist is less likely to grab similar-sounding gout pills.

But specialists are urging more research on another widely touted solution: Writing drug names in an eye-catching mix of upper- and lower-case letters. It sometimes helps but can backfire, warns Dr. Ruth S. Day, director of Duke University's medical cognition laboratory. She found users of a heart drug got even more confused with it was written NIFEdepine - because the change made them pronounce it "KNIFE-duh-peen" instead of "nie-FEH-duh-peen."

Don't Worry! Be Happy!

Laughter is the best form of medicine, they say. Though scientists haven't been able pinpoint why, studies show there's a lot of truth to the old saying. Many people are firm believers.

Many cancer patients say laughter helps them cope with pain. Laughter gives us an emotional boost that can decrease stress, anxiety and depression. Some think laughter strengthens relationships, that we achieve a special bonding when we laugh together that makes it easier to cope with life's troubles. At the very least it provides a welcome distraction. Nursing home residents in a Clemson University study requested less pain medication after watching I Love Lucy reruns. Slapstick comedy produced the best results, according to study leader, Clemson professor Fran McGuire.

Doctors do know that laughter can boost the immune system. "Laughter is just like a vitamin that you take every day," said Mary Bennett, director of Western Kentucky University's nursing program. "It's another one of those healthy behaviors that we all should do, like eating right and exercising."

"We hunger for humor. We long for laughter," said Sister Sue Tracy, a survivor of multiple cancers and Dominican nun in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That hunger has led to the formation of laughter clubs where people get together to tell jokes and puns and share a good belly laugh.

So next time you need a good laugh, tune in Lucy and Ethel or the Three Stooges, pick up a book by humor columnist Dave Barry, regale yourself with a Stephanie Plum adventure by comedic novelist Janet Evanovich, turn on Comedy Central, stay up and catch Jay Leno's opening monologue, read the jokes in Readers' Digest or go on the internet to your favorite joke site. You'll be happier if you have a good belly laugh every day!

Four Steps to Safer Healthcare

While patient safety is the goal of every healthcare professional, there are four important things you should do to make sure you get the safest healthcare possible:

1. Ask questions. Choose a doctor you feel comfortable talking to. Ask questions and make sure you get answers you understand. It helps some people to write down their questions before they go to the doctor so they don't forget what they want to ask. Consider take a relative or friend along to help ask questions and write down the doctor's instructions so you don't forget any important information. If you're unclear about something when you get home, call the doctor's office and ask to speak to the nurse for clarification.
2. Keep track of medications. Make a list of all the medications you take (some pharmacies will print you a list), including number of milligrams and dosage amounts. Make sure you also list any vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies you take. Note any drug allergies you have. Take this list with you every time you go to the doctor. If the doctor prescribes a new drug, ask about side effects, drug interactions and what to avoid while taking the medicine. When you pick up your prescription, make sure it's what the doctor prescribed and ask the pharmacist how to use it. Read all labels and warnings and call the pharmacist or your doctor's office if you have questions. If a refill looks different from previous prescriptions for the same medication, ask the pharmacist about it. Sometimes generic drugs by different manufacturers are different shapes or colors. But don't assume; ask the pharmacist first.
3. Get test results. If your doctor orders a test or procedure ask when to expect the results. If you don't hear from the doctor in the prescribed time, call and ask for the results. Never assume everything is fine if you don't hear anything. Make sure you understand test results and ask your doctor for an explanation if you don't.
4. Choose hospitals carefully. If you require hospital care, talk to your doctor about which hospital will best meet your health needs. Ask which hospital can provide the best care and results for your particular medical condition. Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand instructions about follow-up care.

Soothing Sunburns

Ahhhh, the idyllic vacation days of August. Hot, lazy days on the beach. Swimming and boating on crystal clear waters. Hiking through wildflower-strewn meadows. Vacation time is here again!

Hot days in the sun can take a toll on your skin. Just 10 minutes in the sun on a hot August day can result in sunburn. Even if all you're doing this month is weeding the garden and ferrying the kids to the pool or local park, a bad case of sunburn can put the kibosh on your plans and make life miserable for a few days. Prevention is worth a pound of cure, as my grandmother used to say. Slather on the sunscreen and repeat periodically. Even if you're wearing sunscreen that claims to be long-lasting or waterproof, you're safer if you reapply sunscreen every couple of hours. The higher the SPF number the better, particularly if for kids and seniors or if you have fair skin.

If the worst happens and you do get a sunburn, here are some suggestions for soothing sunburned skin:

• Take a cool shower or bath or apply cool compresses to burned areas. Adding baking soda or colloidal oatmeal to the bathwater will also help sooth the skin.
• Keep skin moist with lotion.
• Apply aloe vera gel to cool the skin and relieve pain.
• Adults can take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep

When was the last time you got a good night's sleep? Fifty percent of U.S. adults are chronically sleep deprived. Lack of sleep is known to contribute to heart disease and weight gain. According to a 2006 report in the American Heart Association publication Hypertension, adults who get less than five of sleep a night increase their risk of developing hypertension. If you can't get a full eight hours under the covers, take a nap during the day. A 2007 report in the Journal of Applied Physiology indicated that just thinking about a nap could reduce blood pressure!

To get a good night's sleep, follow these tips from Eldr magazine:

• Turn off the TV and phone
• Don't smoke and don't drink alcohol or caffeine in the evening
• Avoid stress and don't argue before going to bed
• Bathe or shower before bed to relax your body
• Put out the pets (Their movements may wake you during the night.)
• Keep your bedroom cool, close the curtains and shut the door
• Sleep on a firm mattress; use a neck pillow and quality bedding (A higher thread count makes for smoother, more comfortable sheets.)
• Read, do deep breathing or meditate right before sleep

Seniors Are Happier, More Content

The older you are, the happier you are, says eye-opening new research about Americans' attitude toward life. "The good news is that with age comes happiness," said study author Yang Yang, a University of Chicago sociologist. "Life gets better in one's perception as one ages."

Older Americans have learned to be satisfied with what they have. They have more realistic expectations about life and have come to accept their achievements. Seniors realize "it's fine that I was a schoolteacher and not a Nobel prize winner," explained Duke University aging expert Linda George.

Between 1972 and 2004, Yang conducted periodic interviews with 28,000 people between the ages of 18 to 88. Although happiness seemed to soar and dip with the economy, at every stage in the study older Americans were happiest. About 33% of those surveyed said they were happy at age 88, compared to 24% of those 18 to 25. As people progressed through life, happiness appeared to increase about 5% with each decade. "Contentment as far as I'm concerned comes with old age," said study participant Ilse Siegler, 84, "because you accept things the way they are. You know that nothing is perfect."

Health Tips in the News

I've run across a bunch of little health tips lately and thought I'd share.

• 50 chocolate chips a day keeps the doctor away: Dark chocolate provides the highest antioxidant benefit of any food, including fruits and veggies. Pecans came in second with 14% less antioxidant punch. Red wine, a perennial favorite, was in the middle of the pack with 25% fewer antioxidants than dark chocolate. Antioxidants lower blood pressure, decrease diabetes risk, eliminate cancer-causing carcinogens, reduce the risk of blood clots, stabilize cholesterol levels and enhance cognitive function. Look for chocolate with a high percentage (70%+) of cocoa. (Bitter is better!) Recommended dose for maximum antioxidant benefit is 1.6 oz. or 50 dark chocolate chips. Now that's a diet plan I can get behind!
  
• Prevent gum disease: Brush, floss, swish your mouth twice a day with anti-gingivitis mouthwash (Listerine or an equivalent generic) and eat at least 2 ounces of yogurt (or other dairy product) a day. A new study in Japan shows that insufficient calcium in the diet increases the risk of periodontal disease.
  
• Lose weight to beat cancer: New research indicates a link between numerous types of cancer and excess pounds. Being overweight increases your risk for cancer of the colon, kidney, breast, esophagus, thyroid and a few others. Researchers suspect that extra fat cells may change hormone levels, increasing the risk of cell mutation. (Yes, you can eat dark chocolate and lose weight. Without all the sugar, dark chocolate has fewer calories than milk chocolate or semi-sweet. Just remember, quantity counts!)
  

Know Your Family's Health History

Knowing your family's health history can help you preserve your own health, say medical experts. Creating a family health history can make you aware of shared risks for diseases or health conditions. Being aware of a family history of heart disease, cancer, diabetes or other chronic conditions can allow you to take preventive measures to lower your personal risk.

"Having a conversation about your family health history may help ensure a longer, healthier future together," said Acting U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson. "By sharing information, loves ones can help each other learn about diseases for which they may be at risk, and take steps which may reduce their vulnerability to them."

Family health history is a powerful screening technique. It can pinpoint possible genetically inherited health risks. While more than 90% of Americans believe that sharing family health history is important, only one-third have actually attempted to gather and record their family's health information. The Surgeon General has created a free computer tool to help families create a health history. To access My Family Health Portrait, click here.

The website takes you through a series of easy steps that help you organize and report your family history. You can save the report to your personal computer, print it and share it with other family members. You can add to and revise the information as necessary. I recently created a family health history for my children. I urge everyone to create a family health history and share it with your family members.

Emotion Sharpens Our Sense of Smell

Emotion can sharpen your sense of smell when something bad happens, say researchers at Northwestern University. Emotion and smell have long been linked. A scent can often trigger memories of an event or person. However, the Northwestern research shows that our awareness of odors and their association with an event increases significantly when the event evokes strong emotions.

Research subjects were asked to smell and identify sets of laboratory chemicals. In each set, two of the odors were identical, the third similar but slightly different. Subjects were able to pick out the dissimilar odor about one-third of the time. Subjects were then given a mild electric shock when they smelled only the odd chemical. When the test was repeated, they were able to identify the dissimilar odor 70% of the time.

MRI scans showed that the brain stored the scent in its main olfactory region, imprinting it and allowing for faster identification. In other words, the brain is able to sniff out threats. Researchers hope this will lead to a better understanding of post-traumatic stress syndrome disorders.

Giving Makes Us Happy

It's better to give than receive, the Bible tells us; and now scientists agree. People who do something for others or give to charities are happier than those who don't, says a report in this week's issue of Science magazine. Researchers at Harvard University and the University of British Columbia found that the way people spend their money affects their happiness.

What surprised lead researcher Elizabeth Dunn, assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, was the magnitude of the affect and that how people spent their money was more important than how much money they had.

"This work suggests that even making small alterations in how we spend money on a daily basis can make a difference in happiness," Dunn said. "The message is, given what you have, how can you make little alterations to do something for others."

Study participants were asked to assign a "happiness quotient" to various personal spending items -- paying bills, buying gifts for themselves, buying gifts for others, giving to charity. The study found that personal spending like paying bills and buying things for yourself had no relation to happiness. However, giving to others "was associated with significantly greater happiness," Dunn said.

In another experiment, Canadian students were given envelopes containing between $5 and $20. Some were directed to spend the money on themselves; others, to buy a gift for someone. The amount of money spent had no impact on the students' feelings, but the opportunity to give a gift rather than buying something for themselves created significantly greater feelings of happiness. The people on "Oprah's Big Give" must be ecstatic!

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!

Spring may be coming, but I still need a cup of coffee to get myself going on these cold, gray mornings. Roughly 8 in 10 workers depend on caffeine to get themselves through the day, according to Workplace Media, a consulting firm that tracks the habits of American workers. Half rely on coffee for their daily jolt, the other half depend on caffeinated soft drinks.

"Caffeine wakes up the brain and gets the metabolism going," said Workplace Media VP Dan Wheeler. According to the National Coffee Association, 57% of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee every day; up from less than 50% four years ago. For the first time since 1980, coffee beat out soft drinks as America's beverage of choice. Driven by the popularity and success of Starbucks, coffee consumption is growing fastest among 18- to 39-year-olds.

"Americans have developed a taste for more inventive, upscale, premium-priced coffee products," noted market-research firm Mintel. Demand -- and big bucks -- have sharpened competition. Everyone from McDonald's to Dairy Queen is concocting specialty coffee drinks. McDonald's has captured 51% of fast-food coffee sales, but fast-food and other family restaurants account for only 20% of total coffee sales. More than 23% of us prefer to buy our cup of joe from gourmet coffeehouses like Starbucks. However, in a taste test last year Consumer Reports picked McDonald's Premium Roast coffee over Starbucks, which it called "bitter." Think about that next time you fork over $5 for a grade latte!

Get Involved to Cure Loneliness

The holidays are not a happy time for everyone. For many people who are separated from their families or who have lost a partner, the holidays are a lonely time. Seeing other families gathering together augments their feelings of loss. The burden of loneliness can feel particularly heavy during the holidays.

Rather than dwell on your loneliness, reach out to others. "Loneliness is often caused by wanting people to do something for us," explains psychologist Hap LeCrone. "When we do things for other people, we are rarely lonely."

Here are some things you can do to combat loneliness during the holidays (and all year round):

• Reach out. If a friend or acquaintance is also alone this holiday, invite them over for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. Go to a movie together or out shopping to see the mall decorations.
• Volunteer. Serve food at the local soup kitchen, take small gifts and visit with the elderly in nursing homes, drive seniors to doctor appointments, deliver Meals on Wheels, help out at the local food pantry. Check with your church or local volunteer bureau; volunteers are particularly needed during the holidays.
• Re-connect with friends. Call someone you haven't talked with in a while and catch up on the news. Send a newsy card or email to an older relative. Invite a neighbor over for coffee.
• Get involved. Take a class or start a hobby. Think of something you've always wanted to do and get out there and do it.
• Get moving. Loneliness can lead to depression and nothing fights depression better than exercise. Join a gym, take a swim class, join a walking group, sign up for the park district volleyball team, join the yoga class at the senior center. Nothing creates a friendly bond like sweating together!
• Help others. The best cure for loneliness is to do something for other people. Giving of yourself lightens your load and theirs. You can find ways to reach out even if you're housebound. Organize a small phone network of other homebound people through your local church or senior services. Take turns checking on each other and sharing news.

When you give of yourself to others, you stop thinking about how difficult your own life is. If you're lonely this holiday, do something to help other people and reap the joy that comes from giving of yourself.

Holiday Sniffles? Could Be Your Tree!

Do you have a case of the holiday sniffles? It could be your Christmas tree! Allergists have long suspected a link between "live" Christmas trees and the rash of runny, itchy noses they see each December. The problem is that once they're cut -- usually weeks before Christmas -- the evergreens are no longer live, but dead. And nature's way of breaking down dead plants is through mold, a powerful allergen.

In an experiment to prove the mold theory, Connecticut allergy specialist Dr. John Santilli placed a cut Christmas tree inside an apartment and took air samples for two weeks. The normal mold count in a typical home is 500 to 700 spores per cubic meter of air. Within 24 hours of placing the tree in the apartment, the mold count rose to 800 spores per cubic meter. By day 14, the mold count had skyrocketed to 5,000 spores per cubic meter.

"The longer you keep the tree up, the worse it gets," said Santilli, who recently presented his findings at a meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in Dallas. A tree begins decaying as soon as it's cut, Santilli explained. "Mother Nature's cleanup crew is the mold. The molds take over and start decaying it." Add in the dry needles, leaves and grass in their branches and Christmas trees are an allergy disaster waiting to happen.

If you or a family member suffer from allergies, you might consider getting an artificial tree this year. Not only will you breathe easier, but there won't be any needles to pick out of the carpet after the holidays!

If your Christmas tradition demands a real tree, allergists suggest spraying the tree down with a good stiff spray from a garden hose first, then letting it dry before bringing it inside. The less time it spends in your house, the easier you'll breathe.

Super Staph Germ Can Be a Killer

A super staph germ that is resistant to current antibiotics has plagued hospitals, nursing homes and other multi-resident care facilities for some time. But a new, more aggressive strain has been responsible for thousands of recent illnesses. My uncle contracted an antibiotic-resistant staph infection while undergoing chemotherapy treatments at a Cincinnati hospital. Over the summer, there were news reports of an outbreak of the super germ at an East Coast day care center. This fall, several cases were traced to a Midwest high school locker room.

"An estimated 90,000 people in the United states fall ill each year from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA," said a recent article by Associated Press reporter Randolph Schmid. "It is not clear how many die from the infection. One estimate put the number at more than 18,000, which would be slightly higher than U.S. deaths from AIDS."

Attacking people with reduced immune systems, the super staph germ undermines the body's defense mechanisms by causing germ-fighting cells to explode, thus eliminating the body's main defense against infection. While antibiotic-resistant staph germs are generally found in health-care environments, the highly aggressive new strain is cropping up in communal settings like schools, assisted living facilities and day care centers. Called community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA, the new strain of super staph can cause severe infection and even death in otherwise healthy people. Recently, CA-MRSA caused the death of a 17-year-old Virginia high school student.

For years, Americans have overused antibiotics. Part of the problem is that patients have demanded and doctors have prescribed antibiotics for many illnesses for which they are not effective. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics, but that hasn't stopped us from asking our doctors for a prescription when we have a bad cold. Even when antibiotics are called for, Americans demand to start with the most powerful drug available. Children with chronic earaches or chronic bronchitis can find themselves immune to low-dose antibiotics by the time they reach high school.

It's the development of super germs like CA-MRSA that have finally caught the attention of the medical community and the public. Most physicians these days are circumspect about antibiotic use and prescribe low-dose drugs whenever possible. As a society, it's in our best interests to prevent the overuse of antibiotics and protect our disease-fighting drug arsenal. Otherwise, the next vicious super bug could run rampant through America and we will be powerless to stop it.

Know When to Call the Doctor

Everyone gets aches and pains or feels ill from time to time. Many people don't like to go to the doctor so they'll just wait it out -- and often your body will heal itself. But there are times when waiting to call your doctor is the worst thing you can do.

Here are some tips from physicians on how to tell when home care isn't working and it's time to call your doctor:

• If you have a fever of 101 degrees that isn't better by morning, call your doctor. Long or high fevers can harm the brain. Even low-grade fevers, if they persist, can indicate infection or pneumonia.
• If you are ill or have a wound that isn't getting better, or that gets worse after a couple of days, call your doctor. Not healing can indicate infection, undiagnosed diabetes or skin cancer.
• If you are short of breath or wheezing, particularly if it's a new condition, call your doctor. If you're struggling to breathe, call 911 immediately. Breathing problems can signal a heart attack, panic attack, pneumonia and other serious problems.
• If you become hoarse for no reason, particularly if you're a smoker, call your doctor. And until you get a diagnosis, stay away from alcohol, coffee and soft drinks which will only make things worse.
• If you have an incapacitating headache and you're not prone to migraines, call your doctor. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting or pain in one spot can signal a stroke, brain tumor or onset of a migraine problem.
• If you have an earache that is so painful you can't hold your head up, call your doctor. Earaches are often symptoms of more serious problems. They can also be caused by foreign objects like insects or water in your ears.
• If you have face pain, call your doctor. It may be a sinus infection that requires antibiotics or it can be the sign of a stroke.
• If you have pain in a muscle, joint or bone that doesn't respond to heat and ice or is too painful to use, call your doctor. You may have broken a bone or have a severe strain or sprain.

When it comes to your health, there's no reason to play the hero. It's much better to call your doctor's office and talk to the nurse about your symptoms than suffer in silence while you let a little problem grow into a big one. Use common sense, but be smart. If you're not sure about something, or if you're a little worried about a symptom, make the call. Better safe than sorry!

Brain Games Ward Off Dementia

Brain health is the big new thing in senior health. People are living longer and they want to retain their full mental capacity as they age. Studies have found that there's a certain amount of truth to the adage "use it or lose it." Activities that force you to think quickly or switch from one type of brain activity to another (from reading to drawing, for example) appear to help ward off dementia.

Tuned into the fact that boomers are aging, game companies are starting to market brain games aimed at the growing senior market. Nintendo has come out with Brain Age which provides a changing series of activities that promote rapid calculation and rapid reading. Other game makers are jumping on the band wagon. On the internet you'll find lots of mind-bending sites to keep your brain active.

Here are some things you can do to keep your brain healthy and happy:

• Get out and exercise. Aerobic exercise pumps up your heart rate and sends more blood and oxygen to your brain.


• Lose those extra pounds. Obese middle-agers are twice as likely to develop dementia. High blood pressure and high cholesterol also increase your risk of dementia.


• Eat more brain food. Foods rich in antioxidants cleanse the brain of free radicals which can eat away at neuron connections. Add leafy veggies like spinach, broccoli and cauliflower to your diet. Don't forget antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries, strawberries and cranberries. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like trout and salmon also fight brain decay.


• Get on the computer. Brain specialists have developed brain training programs to give your neurons a good workout. Sold mostly to retirement communities but available to individuals, Posit Science offers BrainFitness for $395. A bit more affordable, MindFit can be downloaded from http://www.cognifit.com/ for $129.


• Play video games. Time to join the grandkids in front of the video screen and get your game on. Nintendo offers Brain Age and Mattel sells Radica Brain Games.


• Play online. Crank up the computer and visit an online brain gym for some cerebral exercise. Some good websites to try: BrainBuilder.com, Braingle.com, Eons.com, HappyNeuron.com and MyBrainTrainer.com.

Team Approach Benefits Diabetics

If you're diabetic, ever wonder why the doctor is always checking your feet? Foot problems -- infections, wounds that won't heal, warping bones -- are the most common reason diabetics wind up in the hospital. Each year diabetics undergo more than 80,000 amputations of toes, feet and lower legs -- many of them preventable say medical experts. A new team approach to treating diabetics is proving beneficial in decreasing the need for amputation. Good news for America's 21 million diabetics.

The team approach brings together podiatrists and vascular surgeons, specialists who rarely work side-by-side, to treat developing problems in their earliest stages. Using the team approach, diabetics can receive proper foot care immediately. "It gets them everything they need right away, without months of waiting," said podiatrist Dr. John Steinberg, a member of Georgetown University Hospital's limb-salvage team.

Diabetics are unable to property regulate blood sugar, or glucose. Over the years, high levels of glucose damage blood vessels resulting in poor circulation and other complications. Foot ulcers that refuse to heal are a common problem for diabetics. Coupled with neuropathy (loss of sensation) and poor blood flow, ulcers may become gangrenous as tissue dies. Amputation is often the only way to stop the cycle which can be very painful and debilitating. The goal of the new team approach is to aggressively treat all causes of foot problems to prevent amputation.

Did You Get Your Flu Shot Yet?

It's flu season. Time to get your flu shot. This year it's easy. Vaccine supplies are plentiful and you can get a flu shot at your doctor's office, public health clinic, even some drug stores and grocery stores.

Each year about 36,000 American die from flu or its complications; 90% are 65 or older. Flu is a serious respiratory infection that affects the entire body. It is characterized by high fever (up to 104F), body aches, headaches, nausea and dehydration. For most people, the virus runs its course in one week but can last up to two weeks. It may take several more days for flu sufferers to regain their strength. Those most at risk are adults over 50, children under 5, and people with chronic medical conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis or heart disease.

You cannot get flu from the vaccine as it is not made from a live virus. Few people experience any reaction to receiving the vaccine but some may experience redness or a slight swelling at the injection site. A very few people may develop a slight fever, chills or headache, but these only last 24 hours. Flu vaccinations must be renewed annually because the virus mutates from year to year. Unfortunately, this year's vaccine won't protect you against next year's flu.

According to a study just published in the New England Journal of Medicine, flu shots are particularly effective for the elderly with benefits increasing with each decade of age. Those who care for or regularly visit the elderly are particularly encouraged to get a flu shot. Flu season runs from September through May. Get your shot early and protect yourself and your family for the entire flu season.

If you have Medicare, don't forget that the flu shots are included for you at no charge.

Cancer Breakthroughs for Women

A diagnosis of cancer is not the death-knell it was in our parents' day, but it is still the second leading cause of death in women. Only heart disease is more deadly. This year 680,000 women will be diagnosed with cancer and 270,000 will die. The 10 most common types of cancer in women are:

1. Breast
2. Lung
3. Colon/rectum
4. Uterus/cervix
5. Urinary tract
6. Lymphoma
7. Melanoma
8. Thyroid
9. Ovary
10. Leukemia

Today there is plenty of hope on the horizon. Five-year survival rates are up significantly. Nearly 90% of the women who contract breast cancer are still alive five years after diagnosis. The survival rate for uterine/cervical cancer is 73%; 66% for kidney cancer and 65% for colon cancer.

There are many proactive steps you can take to minimize your risk of contracting cancer. Prevention magazine suggests nine ways to combat cancer.

1. Get the new vaccine Gardasil to protect yourself from cervical cancer. Currently approved for women age 9 to 26, clinical trails are now being conducted to determine effectiveness on older women. Drug companies soon hope to gain FDA approval to vaccinate women up to age 55.
2. Avoid hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when you can or use the lowest dose possible. Research has proved a direct link between HRT and breast cancer.
3. Get plenty of vitamin D. Numerous studies indicate that vitamin
   D fights cancer, possibly cutting the risk of getting any cancer by 60%. Two to three times a week for 5 to 15 minutes spend time in the sunshine without sunscreen. The short exposure shouldn't increase your risk of skin cancer doctors say. But if you're concerned, take your vitamin D in tablet form. Researchers recommend 1,100 IU per day.
4. Use chemotherapy only when truly necessary. A new tool called Oncotype DX tests tumor genes to predict whether a breast cancer patient will benefit from chemo in addition to hormone therapy. A test by Loyola University Health System found 23% of women who would have been recommended for chemotherapy didn't need it.
5. DNA researchers are discovering more genes that increase cancer susceptibility. In the not too distant future, they expect to develop tests that will determine an individual's amount of cancer risk.
6. Use drugs that target your cancer. Herceptin reduces breast cancer recurrence rates by an amazing 50% for HER-2 positive cancer. The drug uses an antibody to seek out and destroy HER-2 cancer cells. The FDA has just approved the treatment for all HER-2 positive cancer, not just breast cancer.
7. Lung cancer kills more women than any other cancer. The 5-year survival rate is only 16%. New, less-invasive surgery techniques make treatment easier and recovery faster. Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) surgery requires only a small incision between the ribs and sends you home in about 3 days.
8. Learn to identify possible ovarian cancer symptoms: pelvic pain, prolonged bloating, urinary problems, loss of appetite or feeling full quickly. Women who experience these symptoms probably don't have cancer, but it pays to be proactive, so see your doctor promptly. More women die from ovarian cancer because it is discovered too late. A simple blood test for the protein CA-125 can detect the presence of cancer.
9. Ask about new radiation treatments. Many women choose to have a mastectomy instead of the less drastic lumpectomy to avoid radiation treatments. Typically, treatments are given for five days a week for five weeks. A new study shows three weeks of radiation is enough to get the job done. A five-day radiation treatment using temporary insertion of radioactive pellets at the tumor site is also being studied.

Germs Turn Deadly After Space Flight

Deadly germs from outer space attack Earth! It may sound like the ridiculous plot of 1950s B movie, but it could happen.

In an experiment to see how space affects germs, scientists sent some salmonella germs along on a 2006 space shuttle trip -- carefully sealed, of course. Salmonella is the germ that causes food poisoning. When the space-borne germs were fed to mice back on Earth, the mice were three times more likely to get sick and died faster than mice fed earthbound salmonella.

The act of being in space caused the germs to mutate, making them stronger and more virulent. Researchers found 167 gene changes in the salmonella sent into space. Of the mice who received the space germs, only 10% survived, compared to 40% of the mice who received the earthbound salmonella.

"Wherever humans go, microbes go, you can't sterilize humans," said Cheryl Nickerson, associate professor at the Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology at Arizona State University. "Wherever we go, under the oceans or orbiting the earth, the microbes go with us, and it's important that we understand ... how they're going to change."

Even Fake Acupuncture Relieves Back Pain!

A recent German study on acupuncture yielded startling results. For chronic lower back pain, acupuncture performed better than traditional care, even when it was faked!

Nearly half of the patients treated with acupuncture needles felt relief that lasted for months. Only a quarter of the patients who received medication or other traditional Western treatments felt better. Even fake acupuncture -- inserting the thin needles less deeply and in no particular location -- provided more relief for longer periods than traditional medicine. Researchers speculated that either the body found relief from any thin needle pricks or a placebo effect was in operation.

"Acupuncture represents a highly promising and effective treatment option for chronic back pain," said study co-author Dr. Heinz Endres of Ruhr University Bochum in Germany.

In the study, more than 1,100 German patients were treated for chronic lower back pain. Pain relief was assessed six months after treatment. Of those who received real acupuncture, 47% still felt improved at six months. In the sham acupuncture group, 44% had less pain; in the traditional care group, only 27%.

Seniors Still Sexy After All Those Years

Most of America's seniors are still sexually active and enjoying life, according to a comprehensive survey on the sexuality of older adults. More than 3,000 seniors, ages 57 to 85, confided that sex still matters to them well into their 70s and 80s. The more healthy and physically fit they were, the more it mattered.

"The majority of those surveyed said they were in some type of
relationship, and most of those had engaged in sexual activity in the previous 12 months," said Dr. Stacey Lindau, University of Chicago assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and lead author of the report.

America's seniors are definitely holding their own. "Interestingly, the average frequency of sex among those who said they were active was two or three times a month, which is about the same reported in previous surveys of adults 18 to 59. What this suggests to us from a medical standpoint is that sexuality and sexual activity is less a function of age than a person's health status," Lindau said.

Since health does decline as people move into their 70s and 80s, the nature of sexual activity changed as people aged. Most seniors said they engaged in traditional intercourse with their partner, but reported more emphasis on cuddling, kissing and snuggling as they aged. Of seniors 75 to 85, only 38% of men and 16% of women reported sexual activity during the past year.

Enthusiasm for sex seemed to be a Mars/Venus affair. Of the men surveyed, 87% said sex was important in their lives, compared to 65% of the women. Of those who remained sexually active, half reported experiencing at least one sexual problem. For women, lack of desire was the most common complaint; for men, 37% cited erectile dysfunction.

Anti-Smoking Drug May Fight Alcohol Dependence

If you drink or smoke, there's a new pill out that may help you kick the habit. Varenicline is already being used to help smokers overcome addiction. Preliminary research shows it could do the same for heavy drinkers. Because the pill targets the pleasure centers in the brain, it may eventually be useful in treating addictions of everything from painkillers to gambling.

Developed by Pfizer as a stop-smoking aid, varenicline is sold in the US under the name Chantix. It works by adhering to the same brain receptors to which nicotine binds when inhaled in cigarette smoke. The drug prevents dopamine from being released into the brain's pleasure centers, making smoking less rewarding.

Often smoking and drinking go hand-in-hand so it's not surprising that the same drug might help curb both addictions. However, since the drug doesn't work with all smokers, it's unlikely that it will work with all drinkers. "Is this going to be a cure-all? No, not for smoking or alcoholism, because both diseases are more complicated than a single target or single genetic issue," said Allan Collins, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Colorado. Human trials are scheduled to start soon and will be conducted by Selena Bartlett, a neuroscientist with the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco in conjunction with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Super Staph Bug Stalks Hospitals

My uncle has cancer and isn't doing very well. He's been in and out of the hospital the past couple of months. The last time in he had a small procedure that is not normally a problem but for him became life-threatening. He got an antibiotic-resistant staph infection that has really laid him low, zapping the strength he needs to cope with chemotherapy and fight the cancer.

As many as 5% of hospital and nursing home patients have been infected with a dangerous, drug-resistant staph germ, according to a recent comprehensive study. Fully 30,000 hospital patients might have the superbug at any given time. It is a huge problem for health care facilities where it is associated with skin infections, blood infections, pneumonia and other illnesses.

Spread by touch, the deadly germ thrives in health-care environments where people have open wounds, including bed sores. Outbreaks are most prevalent in emergency room, dialysis and intensive care patients. Recently, however, there have been community-related outbreaks of the superbug affecting prisoners, children and athletes, with the germ spread through skin contact or shared towels.

Experts now believe that the drug-resistant staph germ is 10 times more prevalent than previously believed. Hopefully, this will spur drug companies to redouble their efforts to develop an effective antibiotic t0 fight the superbug.

Pamper Your Feet: Coping with Plantar Fascitis

My sister was hobbling around for weeks. She could barely stand to put her foot on the ground to take a step. The pain in her foot and heel was excruciating. She finally went to the doctor. She had plantar fascitis.

Plantar fascitis occurs when the connective tissue on the bottom of the foot (the plantar fascia) becomes inflamed. The fascia extends along the length of the foot from the heel to the toes and supports the arch and foot structure.

Obesity, rapid weight gain, high-impact exercises like jogging and basketball, diabetes, shoes that have no arch support or thin, hard soles that don't support the feet can all contribute to plantar fascitis says Dr. Tedd Mitchell in his column Health Smart. Tight Achilles tendons can exacerbate the problem because they limit your foot's range of motion. When you stretch the tendon's past that limited range, stress is placed on the fascia, Dr. Mitchell explains.

"This phenomenon explains why the pain is worse in the morning: The foot remains in a contracted position overnight, and when it's stretched first thing the next morning, the pain strikes," says Dr.Mitchell. Often pain decreases during the day as the muscles are stretched, but can come back sharply after sitting for a long period, like watching TV or working at a desk.

While plantar fascitis usually goes away, it can take several months or several years, which is too long to cope with the level of pain most patients experience. You may need to see a podiatrist if your problem is extreme. Cortisone shots are often given to help control the pain. You may need a specially designed orthodic insert to wear inside your shoes to help support the arch.

But before you take that step, try some home remedies recommended by Dr. Mitchell.

• Stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendons with the exercises below.


• Ice the feet at the end of the day.


• Take over-the counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen.


• Wear shoes with good arch support, no hard heels or soles.

Basic Stretching and Strengthening Exercises:

• Towel stretch. Sit on the floor with your legs out in front of you, toes pointing up. Roll a towel into a tube lengthwise. Holding the ends in each hand, place the towel over the balls of your feet. Apply gentle traction so that you feel your feet and Achilles tendons getting a nice stretch. Hold for 30 seconds, relax, repeat again and again.


• Chair stretch. Sit in a chair, keeping your legs straight, lift them up off the floor and point your toes toward your body. You should feel the stretch in your Achilles tendon and heel. Hold for 30 seconds. Point your toes away from your body for 10 seconds. Repeat again and again. If it is hard to hold both legs off the ground, you can do this one leg at at time, alternating legs.


• Stair Stretch. Stand on the stairs. Holding onto the rail or wall to support yourself, balance with the balls of your at the edge of the step. Drop your heels below the level of the step. You'll feel your Achilles tendons stretch. Hold for 30 seconds. Rise up on your toes and slowly lower your heels again. Repeat again and again.

Regular foot exercises like those below can control plantar fascitis and keep future attacks from recurring. My sister had to go the full route with a podiatrist and orthodics before she could walk comfortably again. Now she does a few minutes of stretching exercises every day while she's working at her desk or watching TV and she's been pain-free for 10 years.

Travel Tips for Boomers

For the country's 78 million boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), travel is a necessity, not a luxury. Boomers spend more than $157 billion annually on leisure travel, according to a 2005 AARP study, more than any other age group. Health-minded and active, boomers are choosing vacations that marry exercise and leisure, giving birth to a new "silver industry."

Adventure travel packages, health and wellness cruise getaways, cycling tours with bed and breakfast accommodations, and eldertreks to exotic locations are among the new vacation packages being marketed to those who are 50+ but still young at heart. As your doctor tells you at every check up, regular exercise increases mobility and muscle strength and reduces the risk of hypertension, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression.

For tips on keeping active while traveling, visit AARP's website and check out the page, Taking Fitness on the Road. You'll find lots of fitness tips, exercises and resources for travelers. Pack your swimsuit and walking shoes the next time you go on a trip and have some healthy fun in the sun this summer!

Don't Be Mislead by Sensational Health Headlines

Don't be mislead by health claims promising fantastic results. To avoid jumping on the junk-science bandwagon, apply the four "tests" below from eBuzz.biz -- and always check with your doctor before trying something new.

• Find the foundation. If a research source isn't listed, the claim could be bogus. Check online and review the original study or journal article.
• Apply the time test. A single study doesn't constitute reliable science. To ensure that results are valid, medical experts repeat studies with expanding patient populations. Make sure other studies have confirmed the reported results.
• Question motives. Ask who sponsored the research. Drug companies have a vested interest in producing results that will sell their product. Publish or perish is the mantra of research universities. Researchers may feel pressured to publish early results that haven't been sufficiently validated.
• Delve into details. Read the small print. Look at how many people participated in the study, whether follow-ups were done and over what time period. Check to see who participated. The study may have tested only one demographic, such as white males over 70. Study results could be different in other patient groups. See what the results were in the control group. News and magazine articles may report only key findings. The full findings contain more details and often greater cautions.

Always read medical headlines with a bit of skepticism. Sensational headlines may sell newspapers and magazines, but they don't usually tell the whole story. Apply these four steps for checking the facts -- and always check with your doctor before you decide to try a new product or procedure. Stay healthy; get the facts.

Revolutionary Drug Fights Osteoporosis

A revolutionary bone-building drug dramatically reduced hip, vertebra and other fractures in women with osteoporosis according to a three-year international study. Currently only approved for cancer patients, Zometa (zoledronic acid) may be the miracle drug osteoporosis patients have been waiting for. Novartis Pharmaceuticals is hoping for FDA approval to start marketing the drug for osteoporosis under the name Reclast later this year.

In the recently completed study, the drug reduced overall fracture risk by 33%, hip fracture by 41% and vertebral fracture by 77%. The study was published in this month's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Reclast is administered as a single 15-minute intravenous dose once a year. Currently, bisphosphonates like Zometa and Fosamax are the most popular and effective drugs used to treat the breakdown of bone caused by osteoporosis. Unfortunately, doctors have found that most patients quit taking the drugs after a short time. Novartis, which sponsored the new study, hopes its annual dose will change that. Like a mammogram, it could become part of a woman's annual physical.

There are some significant risks with the new drug protocol. In the study of 8,000 women, a rare, serious heartbeat irregularity occurred more often in women on the drug than on those taking a placebo. The study was also too small to rule out an increased risk of jawbone deterioration which affects 3% to 10% of cancer patients taking more frequent doses of the drug. However, for those with advanced osteoporosis, the significant benefits may outweigh the risks.

Many Sleep Problems Are Correctable

Those naps you sneak in front of the TV don't make up for a good night's sleep. To recharge and stay healthy, most people need a good 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Few adults say they sleep that much, and 69% of those over 60 have at least one sleep complaint. Many people have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or being able to sleep according to a recent study of 1,500 patients age 60 and older.

Many sleep disturbances are correctable with meditation, exercise, light therapy or evening activities. But few adults -- less than 19% -- ever mention their sleep problems to their doctor. Many assume that sleep problems are normal as you age. While sleep changes are a normal part of aging, sleep problems are not. Studies have found that only 1% of older people who report sleep difficulties are in good health. Lack of sleep has been proven to adversely affect health and decrease the body's immunity to disease.

If you are experiencing problems sleeping, talk to your doctor. Sleep disorders, particularly in the elderly, can be a sign of metabolic disfunction, cardiovascular problems, cancer, increased sensitivity to pain, poor mental health, and diminished quality of life.