Weight Loss

With the start of the new year comes all those resolutions that you’re going to eat better and lose weight, especially after over-indulging during the holidays.  Many times we start out strong but lose our resolve after a short time.  Below are some links to help you get started on healthy eating and weight loss options.  Not all diets are safe or effective so check out the links below for helpful information.  

Helpful Tips:

Better Health andYou: Tips for Adults (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Weight Loss Tip: First,Make Sure You're Ready (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Teen Weight Loss: SafeSteps to a Healthy Weight (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Healthy Eating:

20 Ways to Revive Your Healthy-Eating Plan (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Just Enough forYou: About Food Portions (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Diet Plans:

Consumer Diet andLifestyle Book Reviews (American Dietetic Association)

Weight-LossOptions: 6 Common Diet Plans (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Other:

Physical Activityand Weight Control (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Obesity and Weight Loss (National Women's Health Information Center)

Toy Safety Shopping Tips

I know that this is a little late for Christmas shopping but I thought I’d share some tips with you from the Consumer Product Safety Commission

Under Age 3:

Avoid buying toys that are intended for older children since these may have small parts that pose a choking danger for younger children.

Never let children of any age play with uninflated or broken balloons because of the choking danger.

Avoid anything that has balls or marbles that are 1.75 inches or less, again because of the choking hazard they pose to young children.

Make sure toys are well-made with tightly secured parts since young children can be rough with toys.

Avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.

Ages 3 through 5:

Avoid toys that are made of thin plastic since it may be easily broken into small, sharp pieces.

Look for crayons, paint sets and other art materials with the designation "ASTM D-4236." This means the product has been reviewed by a toxicologist and, if necessary, labeled with cautionary information.

Teach older children to keep their toys away from their younger brothers and sisters.

Ages 6 through 12:

When buying a bicycle for a child, make sure you also buy a helmet and that your child wears it.

If buying a toy gun, make sure it is brightly colored so that it is not mistaken for a real gun.

Adults should periodically check toys for all children to make sure there aren’t any broken parts or potential hazards.  Damaged or dangerous toys should be repaired immediately or thrown away if the toy is not repairable.

Teach children of all ages to put their toys away when they’re done playing with them so they or others will not trip over them or fall on them.

READ THE LABEL...

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires toy manufacturers to meet stringent safety standards and to label certain toys that could be a hazard for younger children. Look for labels that give age recommendations and use that information as a guide. Labels on toys that state "not recommended for children under three ... contains small parts," are labeled that way because they may pose a choking hazard to children under three. Toys should be developmentally appropriate to suit the skills, abilities and interests of the child.

Drunk Driving During the Holidays

The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that 40 percent of traffic-related deaths during Christmas and New Year's involve drunk drivers -- a 12 percent increase over the rest of the month of December.

The agency offered the following information on the effects of alcohol to clear up some common misconceptions:

Alcohol acts quickly. Alcohol interferes with people's coordination, driving skills and judgment well before physical signs of drunkenness appear. Continued alcohol consumption can prolong reaction time and can cause people to lose control and become aggressive, making driving safely much more difficult.

Alcohol's effects last. Alcohol continues to enter the bloodstream and affect the brain and body for hours after consumption. Driving late at night compounds the sedative effects of alcohol because people are naturally more tired at night. Driving abilities may continue to be impaired the morning after a night of drinking.

Coffee doesn't help. Caffeine does not help reduce the effects of alcohol on people's coordination or ability to make good decisions. Only time will allow the body to metabolize or break down alcohol and return to normal.

For more information on alcohol and driving, check out these links:

Drugged Driving (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Impaired Driving: Get the Facts  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute, Inc.)

Coping with Holiday Stress

The Christmas season can be a stressful time for people with all the parties, reunions and over-commercialization of the holiday.  Financial constraints can cause feelings of guilt if you cannot afford to buy the hot items of the season.  You hear messages from the advertisers that make it seem that there is something wrong with you if you don’t have the latest gadgets.  With all the activities going on during the season, it’s easy to overcommit yourself and this can cause an increase in stress.  All this can cause stress and depression.  Stress can cause headaches, difficulty sleeping, overeating and excessive drinking.

Here are some tips for coping with stress and depression during the holidays from Mental Health America:

• Keep expectations for the holiday season manageable. Try to set realistic goals for yourself. Pace yourself. Organize your time. Make a list and prioritize the important activities.
• Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Don’t put the entire focus on just one day (i.e., Thanksgiving Day). Remember that it’s a season of holiday sentiment, and activities can be spread out to lessen stress and increase enjoyment.
• Remember the holiday season does not banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely; there is room for these feelings to be present, even if the person chooses not to express them.
• Leave “yesteryear” in the past and look toward the future. Life brings changes. Each season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. Don’t set yourself up in comparing today with the “good ol’ days.”
• Do something for someone else. Try volunteering some of your time to help others.
• Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, going window shopping or making a snowperson with children.
• Be aware that excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression.
• Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way.
• Spend time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends, or contact someone you haven’t heard from in a while.
• Save time for yourself! Recharge your batteries! Let others share in the responsibility of planning activities.

© copyright Mental Health America: downloaded 12/8/11 from  http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=c7df954d-1372-4d20-c80ed0a7ab69d250

The University of Alabama has a great web site that has all kinds of information on handling holiday stress.  The main page is at http://www.pal.ua.edu/stress/holiday_stress.php and there are links to more information from that page.

FDA approves first generic version of cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor

For immediate Release:

FDA approves first generic version of cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic version of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium tablets).

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. has gained approval to make generic atorvastatin calcium tablets in 10 milligram, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg strengths. The drug will be manufactured by Ohm Laboratories in New Brunswick, N.J.

People who have high blood cholesterol levels have a greater chance of getting heart disease. By itself, the condition usually has no signs or symptoms. Thus, many people do not know that their cholesterol levels are too high.

“This medication is widely used by people who must manage their high cholesterol over time, so it is important to have affordable treatment options,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We are working very hard to get generic drugs to people as soon as the law will allow.”

Not all cholesterol in your blood is bad. There are three kinds of blood cholesterol that you should know about: high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides. HDL (good cholesterol) helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries. LDL (bad cholesterol) is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries, which can prevent proper blood flow to your heart and lead to a heart attack. Triglycerides can lead to hardening of the arteries.

Atorvastatin is a statin, a type of drug that lowers cholesterol in the body by blocking an enzyme in the liver. Atorvastatin is used along with a low-fat diet to lower the LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. The drug can raise HDL cholesterol as well. Atorvastatin lowers the risk for heart attack, stroke, certain types of heart surgery, and chest pain in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease such as age, smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL, or family history of early heart disease.

In the clinical trials for Lipitor, the most commonly reported adverse reactions in patients were: inflammation of the nasal passages, joint pain, diarrhea, and urinary tract infection.

Generic drugs approved by FDA have the same high quality and strength as brand-name drugs. The generic manufacturing and packaging sites must pass the same quality standards as those of brand-name drugs.

Information about the availability of generic atorvastatin can be obtained from Ranbaxy at http://www.ranbaxyusa.com/newsdisp011211.aspx.

For more information on cholesterol, visit these sites:

Cholesterol (Food and Drug Administration)

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What is Cholesterol?

High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

High Cholesterol: Understand Your Risks (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Men's Health

While the life-expectancy gap between men and women has decreased, it's no secret that men still need to pay more attention to their bodies. Several things work against men. They tend to smoke and drink more than women. They don't seek medical help as often as women. Some men define themselves by their work, which can add to stress.

There are also health conditions that only affect men, such as prostate cancer and low testosterone. Many of the major health risks that men face – like colon cancer or heart disease - can be prevented and treated with early diagnosis. Screening tests can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. It's important to have regular checkups and screenings.

For more information on men’s health, visit these sites:

Osteoporosis in Men (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

PROSTATE CANCER:

The prostate is the gland below a man's bladder that produces fluid for semen. Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages. It is rare in men younger than 40.

Levels of a substance called prostate specific antigen (PSA) is often high in men with prostate cancer. However, PSA can also be high with other prostate conditions. Since the PSA test became common, most prostate cancers are found before they cause symptoms. Symptoms of prostate cancer may include

-Problems passing urine, such as pain, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, or dribbling

-Low back pain

-Pain with ejaculation

Prostate cancer treatment often depends on the stage of the cancer. How fast the cancer grows and how different it is from surrounding tissue helps determine the stage. Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or control of hormones that affect the cancer.

Detailed Guide: Prostate Cancer (American Cancer Society)

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer.html

For more information on prostate cancer, visit MedlinePlus at:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prostatecancer.html

Let's Talk Turkey

Interesting Turkey Facts…

- 45 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving, 22 million at Christmas.

- The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about as big as a large dog.

- Eating turkey doesn't make you sleepy; it's the carbohydrates in the rest of your holiday dinner that do.

- The average American consumes about 17 pounds of turkey a year.

- Turkey is low in fat and high in protein.

- White meat has fewer calories and less fat than dark meat.

- Only male turkeys (toms) gobble; female turkeys (hens) click.

- Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Missouri, and California are the nation's top turkey producers.

(Sources: National Center for Health Statistics; National Turkey Federation; U.S. Department of Agriculture)

In my previous post, I provided links to safe food handling.  Make sure you check those out.  Here are some main points to keep in mind when preparing your holiday meals:

- Keep things clean.  Make sure you wash your hands frequently while preparing meals.  Also wash all surfaces and utensils touching food.

- Separate foods.  Make sure you use separate cutting boards and knives for cutting vegetables and meats.  It’s important not to cross-contaminate vegetable with the juices of meat or seafood.

- Cook thoroughly.  It is important to cook your food to the proper temperature to ensure that all the harmful bacteria are killed.  For a chart with cooking temperatures of all kinds of food, visit Safe Minimum CookingTemperatures from foodsafety.gov 

- Chill properly.  It’s important to store leftovers properly.  Refrigerate any leftovers immediately after the meal.  Refrigerators should be set at 37 degrees and freezers at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Check out the links in the previous post for more on food safety.

Holiday Food Safety and Nutrition

With the holidays quickly approaching and all the food and festivities that are a part of the tradition, it’s important to keep in mind food safety and healthy eating habits.  Below is a list of links that will provide very helpful information on various food safety issues and healthy tips for holiday eating.

FOOD SAFETY:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Poultry_Preparation_Fact_Sheets/

Poultry Preparation (Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service)

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/holiday_goodies1.pdf

Food Safety for Those Glorious Holiday Goodies! (Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service)

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Holiday_or_Party_Buffets.pdf

Holiday or Party Buffets (Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service)

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Lets_Talk_Turkey.pdf

Let's Talk Turkey–A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Roasting_Those_Other_Holiday_Meats.pdf

Roasting Those "Other" Holiday Meats

HEALTHY EATING:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/nutrition/holidayeating12_01.aspx

8 Steps to Surviving Holiday Weight Gain (Cleveland Clinic)

http://www.dining.ucla.edu/housing_site/dining/SNAC_pdf/GiftOfGoodHealth.pdf

Healthy Eating for the Holidays (Regents of the University of California)

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/pubs/bibs/gen/holiday.pdf

Holiday Food and Nutrition Resource List (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Diabetes Links

There is all kinds of information on the Internet about diabetes.  Since it can be hard to tell the reputable stuff from the questionable stuff, I want to provide some links to quality, authoritative information.  Check out these sites:

Type 1 Diabetes:

Diabetes: Type 1 American Academy of Family Physicians

Type 1 Diabetes Mayo Clinic

Type 1 Diabetes National Institutes of Health

Type 1 Diabetes Hormone Foundation

Type 1 Diabetes: What Is It? Nemours Foundation

Type 2 Diabetes:

Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Fact Sheet: Type 2 Diabetes National Institutes of Health

Diabetes Type II Risk Calculator University of Maryland Medical Center

Type 2 Diabetes Mayo Clinic

Type 2 Diabetes American Heart Association

Type 2 Diabetes American Diabetes Association

Type 2 Diabetes: What Is It? Nemours Foundation

Type 2 Diabetes and A1c Hormone Foundation

Type 2 Diabetes Screening Hormone Foundation 

Surgery for Thyroid Diseases/Cancer

Your thyroid is a gland that is located in your neck.  It produces hormones that help your body function properly.  Surgery is used as a treatment for many thyroid diseases, including an enlarged thyroid, nodules, overactive thyroid, and cancer.

Depending on what condition you have, there are a number of surgical options: biopsy or lumpectomy, removing only a small part of the thyroid; lobectomy, removing half the thyroid; subtotal thyroidectomy, removing almost all the thyroid, except for a small part on each side of the neck; near-total thyroidectomy, only leaving a small part of the thyroid on one side of the neck; and total thyroidectomy, removing the whole thyroid gland.

You should ask your surgeon questions so you understand your options.  You should ask about the risks involved with the operation, as well as how much of the thyroid your surgeon will be removing.  Once you decide on the surgery, your surgeon will give you instructions you need to follow before your surgery.  You will also meet with an anesthesiologist before the surgery.  If you’ve had an allergic reaction to anesthesia in the past, make sure you tell the anesthesiologist.  This should be in your medical record.  Depending on what type of surgery you have, the surgery will usually last between 2-2 ½ hours.  Most people will be able to go home the day after the surgery and you will receive instructions on what to do to take care of yourself.

Thyroid Cancer:

Anyone can get thyroid cancer but there are certain factors that may increase your risk.  Women have a higher rate of thyroid cancer than men.  You are at a higher risk if you are between 25 and 64.  Having a family member with thyroid disease also increases your risk.  Also, if you are of Asian descent, you are at an increased risk.

You should see your health care provider if you have a lump or swelling in your neck.  They may order a variety of tests to diagnose the problem, including which type of cancer you may have.   If surgery is recommended, depending on what type of cancer you have and how far it has spread, you will have one of the surgeries described above.

For more information, check out these links:

Thyroid Surgery (American Thyroid Association)

Thyroid Cancer (PDQ): Treatment (National Cancer Institute)

Finding and Evaluating Consumer Health Information on the Internet

Since my goal with this blog is to provide authoritative health information and to lead you to other Internet resources, I thought I'd repost some information I shared last year on how to find consumer health information on the Internet and how to evaluate that information.  Here is some very useful information:

Do not use Google to search about your diagnosis! Google is a great search engine, but it does not distinguish between what is good information and what is garbage. Like I said, anyone can post anything so beware! Those of you who have been reading my blog from the beginning know that I provide a lot of links from MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine (National Institutes of Health). (I will provide links below for all web sites I mention.) MedlinePlus is probably the best place to start when you need to look up information. They have over 800 health topics with information from over 1,000 organizations, databases for drugs and supplements and much more. You can be confident that any information you find on MedlinePlus is quality information.

Other things to consider when evaluating a web site:

Who developed the web site? Is the author clearly identified? Are the credentials of the author listed? Since anyone can post information, it is vital that you check to make sure the person giving the information is qualified to give that information. If the site does not identify the author, then that information is suspect.

Does the page show when it was last updated? Are the links to other resources still active? Many people post information on the Internet having no intention of keeping it up-to-date. That's why it's important to check for a date to be sure the information is current.

Is contact information provided so that you can e-mail, call, or write the author? If there is no contact information, then it is difficult to ascertain the validity of the information and the authority of the author.

What is the purpose of the information? Assess the reason for the information provided. Are they trying to sell you something or persuade you to do something or is the information provided for informational purposes only? If the page is designed for commercial purposes only, then there may be conflict of interest with the information provided. It is best to stick with non-commercial sites.

Can the information be verified in other sources? If a web site is not well documented, it is especially important to verify the information in other sources. If you ever find a difference in the information, it is important you check with a health care provider for clarification.

Some great resources for health information:

MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine.

Top 100 List: Health Websites You Can Trust (from the Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the Medical Library Association)

NOAH: New York Online Access to Health (organization composed of a number of New York City Libraries)

Autoimmune Diseases

Your body's immune system protects you from disease and infection. But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Autoimmune diseases can affect many parts of the body. These diseases tend to run in families.

There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases.  Since many have similar symptoms, it makes it hard for your health care provider to know if you really have one of these diseases, and if so, which one. It may take a while to get a diagnosis and this can be very frustrating.  In many people, the first symptoms are being tired, muscle aches and low fever.

The diseases may also have flare-ups, when they get worse, and remissions, when they all but disappear. The diseases do not usually go away, but symptoms can be treated.

Topics covered here:

Diabetes

Multiple Sclerosis

Lupus

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Diabetes (Type 1)

Diabetes means your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. With Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth.

Type 1 diabetes happens most often in children and young adults but can appear at any age.

Symptoms may include:

- Being very thirsty

- Urinating often

- Feeling very hungry or tired

- Losing weight without trying

- Having sores that heal slowly

- Having dry, itchy skin

- Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet

- Having blurry eyesight

- A blood test can show if you have diabetes. If you do, you will need to take insulin for the rest of your life.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Visit these sites for more information:

Diabetes:Type 1 (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2 (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Medicines for People with Diabetes (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Dealingwith Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage interferes with messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS. They can include

- Visual disturbances

- Muscle weakness

- Trouble with coordination and balance

- Sensations such as numbness, prickling, or "pins and needles"

- Thinking and memory problems

No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your body attacks itself. Multiple sclerosis affects woman more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but there are people who lose the ability to write, speak or walk. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may help to slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also be helpful.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Visit these sites for more information:

Multiple Sclerosis:Hope through Research (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

MultipleSclerosis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Diagnosis: The Basic Facts (National Multiple Sclerosis Society)

Disease-Modifying Drugs (National Multiple Sclerosis Society)

"ButYou Look So Good!": Managing Specific Issues (National Multiple Sclerosis Society)

Lupus

Lupus is a disorder where your immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues by mistake. This can damage your joints, skin, blood vessels and organs. There are many different kinds of lupus. The most common type, systemic lupus erythematosus, affects many parts of the body. Discoid lupus causes a rash that doesn't go away. Subacute cutaneous lupus causes sores after being out in the sun. Another type can be caused by medication. Neonatal lupus, which is rare, affects newborns.

Anyone can get lupus, but women are most at risk. Lupus is also more common in African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American women. The cause of lupus is not known.

Lupus has many symptoms. Some common ones are

-Joint pain or swelling

-Muscle pain

-Fever with no known cause

-Red rashes, often on the face (also called the "butterfly rash")

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Visit these sites for more information:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Lupus (Easy to Read)  (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Immune Suppressants and Lupus (Lupus Foundation of America)

Steroids and Lupus (Lupus Foundation of America)

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint but is common in the wrist and fingers. More women than men get rheumatoid arthritis. It often starts between ages 25 and 55. Symptoms may come or go so that you have the disease for only a short time, but the severe form can last a lifetime.

Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, the common arthritis that often comes with older age. RA can affect body parts besides joints, such as your eyes, mouth and lungs. 

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Visit these sites for more information:

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Arthritis Advice (National Institute on Aging)

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Complementary andAlternative Medicine (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)