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)