February 2010 Archives

Courtesy Reuters online:

An industry group representing the top five manufacturers of CT equipment said on Thursday the companies will add new safeguards to their machines to help prevent patients from being exposed to too much radiation.

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance said manufacturers will add a color-coded warning system to give health care providers clear warning when they are doing scans that give patients potentially dangerous doses of radiation.

A CT or computed tomography scan gives doctors a view inside the body, often eliminating the need for exploratory surgery.

But CT scans deliver a much higher radiation dose than conventional X-rays. A chest CT scan exposes the patient to more than 100 times the radiation dose of a typical chest X-ray. High doses of radiation can cause skin burns, cataracts and other injuries.

Courtesy WebMD

People who are lactose intolerant often avoid dairy products, thereby depriving themselves of calcium, vitamin D, and other essential nutrients, according to a draft statement released today by a National Institutes of Health-sponsored panel on lactose intolerance and health.

The panel, composed of experts from across the medical spectrum, was tasked with evaluating what we know about lactose intolerance. Very little, as it turns out.

"There are huge gaps in knowledge," says panel chairman Frederick J. Suchy, MD, professor and chief of pediatric hepatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Lactose Intolerance Information Lacking
The panel reviewed nearly 60 relevant studies, a quarter of which were conducted in the United States. "None of the studies," the draft states, "evaluated a representative U.S. sample ... [and] they cannot be used to estimate the prevalence of lactose intolerance."

The numbers may be elusive, but outcomes of a dairy-poor diet are easy to predict.

"It has implications for bone health, cardiovascular health, and maybe colon cancer," Suchy says. But for those who experience symptoms of lactose intolerance -- bloating, gas, diarrhea -- after a glass of milk, "the reflex response is to stop drinking milk and eating dairy products."

What Is Lactose?
Lactose is a sugar found in milk. In order to digest it, the body needs a special enzyme, called lactase. Everyone is born with lactase; otherwise, babies and breast milk wouldn't mix very well. But most of the world's population -- people of northern European descent are an exception -- is genetically programmed to decrease the production of lactase around age 3 or 4.

In the U.S., Asians, African-Americans, Hispanics, and other minority groups are particularly likely to be deficient of lactase.

However, not everyone who is deficient of lactase will suffer from drinking a glass of milk.

"Whether or not it becomes clinically important is very variable," says John Snyder, MD, chief of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. It is quite possible, he says, that someone with a low level of lactase will tolerate dairy products as well as someone whose level is a lot higher.

Get Tested for Lactose Intolerance
For Snyder, who was not a member of the panel, the important thing is to get evaluated. Taking a lactase enzyme pill may alleviate symptoms. If it does, says Snyder, that would suggest you are lactose intolerant. A breath test can offer more conclusive results. Your doctor will also want to rule out other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease.

A diagnosis of lactose intolerance does not have to mean a dairy-free diet, Suchy emphasizes. Yogurt and hard cheeses, he says, shouldn't cause any trouble. And small amounts of milk throughout the day, rather than a large glass all at once, might be easier on your gut.

"The reality is that alternate strategies may be effective," says Suchy.

In 1986 I met with a body worker trained in New York City by the renowned shiatsu master Ohashi. She was showing me how she worked with, what was to me at the time, an unusual client. Duke was a great mastiff puppy from New Jersey horse country that was receiving deep muscle massage around his leg and hip joints to increase circulation to lessen the chance of sprains and strains as he grew.

Duke enjoyed every minute of the flexion and extension, friction massage, acupressure along his spine, and energy work he received. I was impressed by this and even more so when the therapist, a small woman, introduced me to her next client, a very large brown horse. She used the same shiatsu points and meridians that she showed me on Duke. As with working on Duke, she began by quietly sitting and waiting for a sign to begin. Then she visualized the horse's spine, scanning vertebrae at a time, for areas that were deficient in healing energy. Based on that and how the horse would press into her hands, she would begin work. This was clearly a dance of mutual respect, trust and appreciation.

after that I learned of Linda Tellington Jones, founder of Tellington Touch (TTOUCH) healing for animals, one of the better known systems used especially for horses but not at all limited to them. One of Linda's clients was a python at the San Diego Zoo named Joyce who suffered from a recurrent respiratory ailment. After spending hours using TTOUCH on Joyce along with some assistants, Linda pointed out that this was a result of her inability to stretch to her full eight feet. Joyce made it apparent that she was grateful, in front of a room of two hundred previously skeptical zoo personnel by rising up cobra style in front of Linda and flicking her "third eye" with her tongue. She also rested with her head over Linda's heart.

Michael Fox, VMD, author, former director of the Humane Society of the United States, who writes a syndicated column for the Washington Post, and is co-founder of a wildlife sanctuary in Southern India, has also done work with wild animals in addition to extensive work with domestic animals. He told me that when they brought in injured animals at the wildlife sanctuary in India, he would call in one of his therapy assistance dogs, or a previously rescued wild animal to comfort the newcomer. This, and from the his staff being trained to give gentle strokes, the laying on of hands and prayerful presence stimulated the animal's will to live.

Most pet owners I speak to say they instinctually massage their pets. Learning specific points and techniques can be helpful for degenerative and chronic conditions such as arthritis and stiffness. Massage therapy can be used as an adjunct to other treatment including as a stimulant to enhance post-operative recovery, as a catalyst for convalescence from sickness and as an adjunct to intensive care in cases of shock and severe debility.

Massage increases endorphins, the body's painkiller hormones, and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system that brings the body into homeostasis or balance. The benefits are the same in animals as they are in people.

Other benefits include improving circulatory disorders, especially impaired heart functions in old age; reducing obesity and hypothyroidism; improving liver and kidney function; and reducing stress and anxiety. This last benefit works both ways. The pet massage giver also has a decrease in stress and anxiety.

I have a client from Hemet whose Chihuahua lies on her for the second half of the massage when she is face up. I am not allowed to leave the room until I have spent a minute on Angel's spine. Another client in Fallbrook has a large Shepherd-Rottweiler who is beginning to experience pain and stiffness in his joints. Bo always presents the hip that is giving him the most discomfort.

Animals know our intentions and rarely will refuse help from us, unless the memory of the problem is so painful they can't bear it, or if they have been mistreated. Pamela Hannay says "We must show them the respect they deserve, give them the opportunity to let them do the work they are best at and let them by our teachers."

Wendy has been teaching and practicing massage, yoga and movement on the east and west coast since 1973 and is also a Mandala artist and a native plant gardener. She has a BFA in Dance from Temple University. She currently lives in Murrieta, California and is a state credentialed massage therapist as well as yoga teacher. Wendy has been a co-organizer of local earth days and co-organizer of the first Holistic Health Fair in the Inland Empire. Read more from her blog

Every parent has dreams of their baby, growing up to be a doctor or lawyer. They can see their child growing up and having a happy family. Visions of their little one having, nothing but the best dance all around their head. No one watches their infant take its first breath and says to them, "I am going to watch you suffer through childhood and die a death from a preventable disease."

All it takes is 100 minutes a week, that is just 20 minutes a day. That is all that the State of California is asking our elementary students to participate in physical activity a week. Given that it seems the average five-to-seven-year-old can't sit for more than ten minutes straight, it seems that it wouldn't be that difficult for teachers to find 20 minutes out of each day for their students to run, jump, twist, turn, hop, skip, leap, bound or make any basic human movement that would be considered fundamental. But it seems that it is and it shows. Our little ones, the future of America, are fat and statistics show they are getting fatter.

How could it be that over 250,000 children aged six and under are too heavy for their car seats and that 190,000 of those are three-years-old and younger? It isn't because kids are getting any taller! Why is that over half of all children are living with a chronic health condition? It could be because, during the last eight years, the child obesity epidemic has risen more than 50 percent.

The teachers in our classrooms will tell you that they just can't get those twenty minutes in each day. They will say that the educational standards that are imposed upon the children are just too high for them to give up 20 minutes of the 360 ticks of the clock that the students are in school. To me, given that research shows that the length of attention span in children is equal to the minutes of a child's age, it seems hard to believe that we can't get students out of their chairs to move just a little bit more.

Look, I understand what the thinking is. Reading, writing and arithmetic are fundamental. We can't expect to prepare our babies to be the leaders of our planet, if they can't spell or don't know their times tables. But if we are also preparing them for a life where the chances of spending a substantial amount of time visiting one doctor after another, we need to wonder, what is more important. In fact, we need to question the thought process within our schools. When we look at the research done with children, aerobic exercise is proven to improve cognitive function. This means, that with exercise we can improve students abilities to pay attention, plan, and concentrate more. Compared to sedentary children, the brains of physically fit kids are able to process more extensive tasks.

Instead of instructing the same way maybe our teachers just need to think outside the box a little bit more. Considering that the budget is limiting our resources, it is time to make a change. Of course, you can't line up kids each day and ask them to run a half-marathon or do a hundred push-ups. It won't happen; it isn't safe and won't be productive. But just like advice to anyone who is starting an exercise program, we just need to make it fun. Really, who hard it is that? We are talking about children. Kids love games, it is inherent amongst children to fidget and not sit still. Admittedly, I am not a classroom educator, but I do provide education for my children, Jorge and Mia at home and I know first hand, that we can make plenty of math games that don't involve being trapped in a desk chair. Honestly, I think our kids eyeballs would probably blow up if they couldn't get up and move more.

Our children need us all to step up. As parents, it is our responsibility and obligation, to provide our young ones with the best chances to succeed. That means, they get the best of us when it comes to providing security, comfort, support, and decision making. There isn't a child alive who doesn't look up to their mommy and daddy for the answers. We can't let ourselves surrender to shortcuts. I am not even saying that we need to completely avoid the video games and fast foods. Your kids don't need to be fat and they don't need to be on diets. They don't need to think that if they aren't skinny they aren't attractive but we don't need to set them up for early heart attacks either.
Really, how hard is it to take a walk with your family or go out the park? Your babies need to see you do it. You have to be their role models. Our obesity problem is getting any better and will only get worse if our parents don't get more active.

There are no tricks. Just stop being lazy, and search for a healthier lifestyle for your children. Unplug the TV and make more time, otherwise we all we suffer.

Jeremy McCann has a degree from Cal Poly Pomona in exercise science and is an International Sports Sciences Personal Trainer. He is also a National Academy of Sports Medicine Performance Enhancement Specialist and a Corrective Exercise Specialist. He has his own fitness company www.GETFIT951.com.

How did I become a Fit Mom? Stroller Strides came into my life! A little over 6 years ago, when my boys were just 3 1/2 and 18 months, my friend and former co-worker, Lisa Druxman called me to tell me about a stroller fitness program called Stroller Strides that she had started in San Diego. She wanted to know if I wanted to be a part of it. She had a ton of requests for the classes from moms in my Temecula area and thought I would be a good fit given my fitness background.

She explained that they did outdoor stroller fitness classes that I could bring my kids to and there would be other moms there like me for support and to socialize with. They also had playgroups once a week for my boys to enjoy plus they planned occasional mom's night out.

I was sold! Where do I sign up? The rest, as they say, is history! Soon after that call I became the fittest, healthiest, happiest, mom that I could ever imagine being all while sharing it right along with my kids. I was able to combine my passion for motherhood with my passion for fitness. In addition I have had the pleasure over the last six years of meeting some of the most amazing moms and kids. I have been able to play a big role in changing their lives for the better through Stroller Strides.

I believe that being a mom is truly rewarding but it's very, very hard work. Moms need to spend time on themselves to stay healthy, fit, and happy both physically and mentally but so few actually do. Good health is a necessity for a mom, not a luxury. We put everyone and everything else ahead of us and in the end everyone ends up paying for that. If you don't take care of yourself first how can you possibly take care of everyone else who depends on you?

I once had a member of mine tell me that it was like when you are on an airplane and the flight attendant is explaining what to do in the event of an emergency and the oxygen masks come down, "Put your oxygen mask on first and then put the oxygen mask on your child." Moms, it is ok to put yourself first and become a Fit Mom. The most wonderful thing is that your kids will watch, learn and follow to become fit kids themselves with you as their role model.

Michele Sapp
Stroller Strides... Helping Moms Make Strides In Fitness, Motherhood, and Life. ®
http://www.strollerstrides.net/temecula

Michele Sapp lives in Canyon Lake with her husband and two boys ages 10 and 8. She has been in the fitness industry for 15 years. She volunteers at her son's school each week and is the head coach for the school's 100 Mile Club Health and Fitness Program. She is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys staying active, spending time with her family and friends, cooking, traveling and interior decorating.

African Americans die more often of colon cancer than other ethnic groups, so the African American Outreach Committee of the American Cancer Society is holding its annual free "Colon Cancer--It's Preventable!" conference on Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Purpose Center, located at 23115 West Rider St. in Perris. Everyone with a colon is welcome, with a free lunch and goody bag.

"African Americans need to protect themselves from colon cancer, because we die from the disease more often than other ethnic groups," said Phyllis Clark, founder of the "Colon Cancer--It's Preventable" conference with the American Cancer Society's African American Outreach Committee, and founder of the Healthy Heritage Movement. "I lost my mother to colon cancer when she was in her early 40's. Too many lives are being lost that could be saved by prevention and early detection."

I have been researching the many challenges of midlife transitions and being surrounded by people in the 40-60 year age range spurs me on. I have been teaching yoga since 1973, but just recently I have honed in on the value of yoga for women (and men) experiencing osteoporosis. We are told that getting enough calcium and getting enough weight bearing exercise is important. There are two reasons that yoga helps with both of these imperatives.

Many of the standing and balance poses taught in yoga classes involve bones and muscles of the legs, hips and spine working together; but also, yoga exercises often involve strengthening the upper body and sometimes require arms and hands to support the rest of our body weight. So you are strengthening yourself from all angles! What better way to strengthen your upper body than support your whole body in eagle's nest pose? And what better way to improve your balance and strengthen your body from your feet up than in tree pose or dancer's pose?

Yoga poses done on a continuous basis can help activate the endocrine glands that are so important for maintaining calcium balance, and for alleviating menopausal complaints such as mood swings, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, hot flashes, and disruptive sleep patterns.

Additionally, poses such as dog pose and table top stretch stretch your spine in such a way as to increase space between the vertabrae.

I think it is important to see our changing bodies and new found challenges in mid-life and onward to be our guides for improving our overall health and increasing our sense of well-being. Yoga is a wonderful tool and a path for increased self-knowledge and awareness.

Wendy has been teaching and practicing massage, yoga and movement on the east and west coast since 1973 and is also a Mandala artist and a native plant gardener. She has a BFA in Dance from Temple University. She currently lives in Murrieta, California and is a state credentialed massage therapist as well as yoga teacher. Wendy has been a co-organizer of local earth days and co-organizer of the first Holistic Health Fair in the Inland Empire. Read more from her blog

This time of year you can walk into any gym across the country and you will get the same experience. You see beat red faces walking from an Aerobics room class, you will hear the pounding of the feet on the treadmill, the clanging of dumbells as they collide in the air, and repetitions of numbers will jump from the tongue of a trainer working closely with his/her client. Masses of people are locked into chasing their fitness goals right now, and have that feeling that nothing is going to stop them. But something does.

Part of the average New Years resolution is to join a gym. Each January, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, one million people will join fitness clubs across the country in hopes of cutting that bodyfat down. Visions of situp, after situp dance in their heads as they can just see themselves fitting into that pair of pants they haven't for many years.

You can spot these new members out right away. Most share the look of shear intimidation or fear as they cross the gym room floor for the first time. I mean think about it. Health clubs are filled with a variety of torturous looking devices being used by specimens of the human gene pool who sometimes wear half of the normal amount of clothing that is deemed acceptable in the "real world."

Most fitness facilities aren't built for success, in fact gyms bank on the fact that there is a 20 to 30 percent dropout rate for these new members within the first 90 days. Even if you do make it past those magical 90 days, it is proven that about half of all members will use their gym 50 days or less during the year. Given that 41.3 billion dollars are spent on memberships and 65 percent of America is overweight and obese, it seems like such a terrible waste.

How can it be that we have a million people each year that are willing to invest about 400 dollars annually for memberships, yet over the course of the year either cancel it or use it less seldom than the public library.

Maybe joining the gym, just isn't the answer.

The obvious problem that is sweeping the heath of our nation is that we are fat and getting fatter. When it comes down Americans are used to doing things out of quicker and easier, and we want to be gratified NOW. Think about it, drive-thru's are much quicker and easier than making a meal, and in that 36 seconds it takes to chew and swallow your burger and fries, you are rewarded by the great taste. As a result, our health is in decline. People will wander around those gyms without any type of guidance, coaching or support, while forcing themselves to try and to do something that is only going to make them sweat, stink and feel pain in hopes that they will see a pound or two difference in a week!

We all know, that to lose bodyfat, we need to spend more calories than we take in. It is a rather easy concept, move more and eat less. We all know that that are plenty of options in how to exercise. So where do people go wrong and why is there so much agony in trying to chase your goals.

The disturbing fact is that your body does not want to change. Your body is made up 11 different systems trying to create perfect balance and basically keep things easy on itself. When it comes to weight control, the human body has a built-in thermostat for body fat regulation. Hunger and the feeling of fullness are driven by the levels of fat within each persons individual fat stores. Your body will do its best to drive behaviors to keep those bodyfat stores within a certain range unless we consistently do something about it to create change. That something, is creating a new lifestyle of exercise and diet.

Jeremy McCann has a degree from Cal Poly Pomona in exercise science and is an International Sports Sciences Personal Trainer. He is also a National Academy of Sports Medicine Performance Enhancement Specialist and a Corrective Exercise Specialist. He has his own fitness company www.GETFIT951.com.

Annual Playday for Women, benefiting the American Red Cross of Riverside County, and presented by Inland Empire Magazine, is honored to announce that the keynote speaker of this year's event is Marcia Wallace; Riverside will be graced with the presence of this Emmy award winning television actress, stage performer, comedienne and motivational speaker. Playday for Women will be held on Friday, April 30, 2010 at the Riverside Marriott and BioKorium Salon & Day Spa from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Advance tickets are $60 and include breakfast, shopping vendor exhibits, viewing of demonstrations and speakers, including keynote speaker, 30-minute pampering service, lunch, goodie bags, raffles and more. Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Marcia crosses all generations and can speak to women of all ages based on weathering her own stormy life through laughter and tears. She is the perfect fit for Playday. Behind the quick-witted, colorful personas she has created for television, animation and stage, she is a mother, a 25-year breast cancer survivor, a high-profile advocate for breast cancer awareness and a writer. Her book, "Don't Look Back, We're Not Going That Way!" is the title of her hilarious and moving story that she will bring to Playday for Women. (The longer subtitle to her speech is: "How I Overcame a Rocky Childhood, a Nervous Breakdown, Breast Cancer, Widowhood, Fat, Fire & Menopausal Motherhood And Still Managed To Count My Lucky Chickens.") Marcia will also be signing books at the event.

John Rowley, the Director of Fitness and Wellness at the American Institute of Healthcare & Fitness , has outlined below the best tips to score an Olympic Gold Medal body - featuring simple exercise ideas to help achieve fitness goals in honor of this year's games. Many of these exercises can even be done from your own living room, while cheering for your favorite team!

• Speed Skater Lunges : With your hands on your hips, take a comfortable stance, feet shoulder-width apart, head up and torso erect. From there, step with your right leg straight out to your side, as deep as you can go without moving your left foot. Plant your right foot and bend your right knee to 90 degrees. Then, flexing the muscles of your thigh, push yourself back up to a standing position and repeat the movement with your left leg. Alternate side to side until you've completed at least 10 reps per leg.
• BODY-WEIGHT SQUAT (legs): Put your hands on your hips. From a standing position, feet about shoulder-width apart, squat down until both knees reach 90 degrees. As you lower yourself, keep your lower back slightly arched, head up, and stick your glutes out as if you were going to sit in a chair. Also, be sure that your knees aren't out past your toes as you descend--if they are, you're not moving your glutes back far enough on the descent. Once you reach the bottom position, flex your quads, hamstrings and glutes to power yourself back up to a standing position and then repeat.
• Cross Country Lunges: Lunge across the living room moving your arms as if you are cross country skiing, or go to the steps and take two at a time with a lunging movement, moving your arms as well to tone your quads, hams and glutes.
• Parallel Bars: Don't have your own parallel bars at home like my buddy Mitch Gaylord the Olympic Gold Medalist? Then grab two chairs and do dips in between the chairs for a great upper body work out.
• Ride the bicycle... for great abs: Lie on your back as though you are about to do a regular crunch, then lift both legs up so that they are a few inches off (and parallel to) the floor. Then, just as you would do a normal crunch, lift your shoulders off the floor but twist one elbow inward, and at the same time bring your knee in having it meet at the middle with the knee opposite to that elbow. Return your knee and shoulder to their original positions, and the next crunch should be used with the other elbow and knee. It looks like you are riding a bike but including your upper body.
• Hand Stand Push Ups: You can start with regular push ups, then put your feet up on a chair and increase the angle until you are doing push ups from the hand stand position. Great Pole Vaulters do this. This works your chest, shoulders and triceps muscle.
• Run The Stadium Steps: Don't have a stadium? Walk or run the steps at home. This works your quads, hams, calves and glutes and is also a great cardio vascular work out. You can also go up sideways.

Courtesy ABC News Online:

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it wants to issue new safety requirements for manufactures of computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopic devices to reduce unnecessary radiation from medical imaging.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it wants to issue new safety requirements for manufactures of computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopic devices to reduce unnecessary radiation from medical imaging.

The FDA's plan focuses on three procedures with high radiation doses: CT, nuclear medicine studies, and fluoroscopy. These are the greatest contributors to total radiation exposure within the United States population, the FDA said. That's because they require much higher radiation doses than other radiographic procedures, such as standard X-rays, dental X-rays, and mammography.

"The amount of radiation Americans are exposed to from medical imaging has dramatically increased over the past 20 years," Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a prepared statement. "The goal of FDA's initiative is to support the benefits associated with medical imaging while minimizing the risks."

INLAND EMPIRE residents can fight back against cancer and share hope for those facing the disease by supporting the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days®. This longstanding program, which involves offering daffodils to donors every spring in appreciation for their contributions, is about more than just giving beautiful flowers; it is an opportunity to share hope for a world with less cancer and more birthdays, where cancer never steals another year from anyone's life. For a donation of $25, everyone from school children to corporate CEOs can send a bouquet of fresh-cut daffodils to someone special to support the fight against cancer.

An important part of Daffodil Days is the Gift of Hope - a bouquet of 10 daffodil stems in a vase, delivered anonymously to cancer patients within the community. The Gift of Hope helps brighten a patient's day and fosters a relationship, ensuring the patient's and caregiver's knowledge that the Society is helping them get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience. Multiple donation levels are offered (beginning at $25), to enable donors to support as many Gift of Hope deliveries as they choose.

The Society has appointed Connie Carpenter as chairperson of Inland Empire's 2010 Daffodil Days campaign. Carpenter intends to lead the Daffodil campaign in order to stimulate even more awareness about cancer prevention, early detection and the many free services available in Inland Empire to help those facing the disease.

"I encourage everyone to help paint our community yellow with daffodils this spring to represent our commitment to preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from the disease," said Adrienne Record, Carpenter's staff partner for the Daffodil Campaign. "We all have the power to make a difference for those facing cancer and their families. By giving daffodils, we are actually sharing the hope of a world with less cancer and more birthdays."

As the first flower of spring, the daffodil is the American Cancer Society's symbol of hope for a world free of cancer. Record and Carpenter will coordinate all activities regarding the ordering and delivery of daffodils in Inland Empire.

A special part of this year's Daffodil Days, Birthdays R. Hope, is a limited-edition Boyds® by Enesco® bear designed exclusively for the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days Bear and a Bunch™. She is available for a donation of $25 and comes with a bouquet of 10 daffodil stems.

The last day to place an advanced order is March 1; daffodils and Bear and a Bunch products will be delivered March 23, 2010.

Dollars raised through Daffodil Days enable the Society to offer free programs and services that save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.

For more information about Daffodil Days, to request daffodils or to get involved with the program, contact Adrienne Record at the American Cancer Society at (951) 300-1224.

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Courtesy WebMD:

The older a mother is when she gives birth, the higher her child's risk of autism, new data show.

A smaller effect also is seen for the age of the father, but only when the child is born to a father over age 40 and a mother under age 30.

The new findings come from a comparison of reported autism cases in California to state singleton birth records from 1990 to 1999. Over that time, there were about 5 million births and more than 12,000 autism cases.

The results:

Women over age 40 are 77% more likely than women under age 25 to have a child with autism.
Women over age 40 are 51% more likely than women aged 25-29 to have a child with autism.
Women aged 35-39 are 31% more likely than women aged 25-29 to have a child with autism.
Women aged 30-34 are 12% more likely than women aged 25-29 to have a child with autism.
Women under age 25 are 14% less likely than women aged 25-29 to have a child with autism.
Men over age 40 are twice as likely as men under age 25-29 to have a child with autism, but only if the mother is under age 25.

It's tempting to think that the trend for women to delay childbirth is behind the continuing rise of autism. But that's not the case. This trend accounts for less than 5% of the autism increase in California over the decade 1990-1999, calculate study researchers Janie F. Shelton, Daniel J. Tancredi, PhD, and Irva Hertz-Piccioto, PhD.

So what's going on? That isn't clear. Older parents' genes can undergo changes caused by aging and by the environment.

Read more

Are you looking for answers to your questions about vision loss? On Friday, February 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Braille Institute will host a free seminar on understanding vision loss and ways to adjust and cope with sight loss. The event will be held at Braille Institute, located at 70-251 Ramon Road in Rancho Mirage.

The two hour seminar will cover the basics of blindness and visual impairment and specific skills related to assisting people who are blind and visually impaired.

Techniques for The Business of Living will be addressed along with how to continue Getting Around Town safely once vision is fading. We will also discuss the emotional impact of sight loss and how to cope with the changes in lifestyle. All of your questions will be answered. Please RSVP by calling 760-321-1111. If you would like additional information about this event or any of Braille Institute's other free programs and services, please contact Lisa Jimenez, Rancho Mirage Regional Director, at 760-321-1111, Ext. 6103.

Braille Institute is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate barriers to a fulfilling life caused by blindness and severe sight loss. Through educational training, programs and services, Braille Institute helps tens of thousands of people each year regain and maintain their independence. Thanks to generous donations, Braille Institute services are available free of charge. More information can be found at www.brailleinstitute.org.

Courtesy WebMD:

H1N1 swine flu is no longer widespread in any state, but new infections continue and the death rate remains high, the CDC reported today.

A Harvard poll shows that about half of Americans believe the H1N1 swine flu outbreak is over, and only a third remain concerned. That may explain why three in four U.S. residents still haven't been vaccinated against the pandemic virus, despite now-plentiful vaccine supplies.

CDC figures clearly show that the fall/winter wave of H1N1 swine flu has long passed its peak. The number of people seeing a doctor about flu symptoms has for three weeks hovered just below epidemic levels.

Yet for the same three weeks, deaths from pneumonia and influenza have been above what CDC calculates to be the seasonal "epidemic threshold."

While flu isn't the cause of all these deaths, this figure -- and reports of nine new pediatric swine flu deaths in the last week of January -- are troubling reminders that H1N1 swine flu continues to infect, sicken, and even kill susceptible people.

"This virus is still around," CDC respiratory disease chief Anne Schuchat, MD, said at a news conference. "People are being hospitalized and are dying. ... The virus is still spreading and those not who have not been vaccinated still are vulnerable."

Schuchat admits that there may not be another huge wave of H1N1 swine flu infections. But she noted that ongoing spread means cases "really can add up over time."

A CDC survey conducted in the last week of January found that about 70 million U.S. residents -- 23.4% of the population -- have been vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Extensive data on the first 61 million doses administered indicate that the vaccine is safe.

The Harvard poll, conducted Jan. 20-24, shows that over half of parents either got their children vaccinated or plan to do so by the end of February.

However, the CDC survey shows that only 37% of children who got a first dose of the vaccine got their second dose. Without a second dose, a child remains unprotected.

"I urge parents to take their kids back for their second dose," Schuchat said. "It would be tragic for you to go so far to do the right thing and then have your child get sick."

Since vaccine distribution began, 124 million doses of the vaccine have been shipped around the U.S. At least 155 million doses will be made available in the U.S., which has enough bulk vaccine to make 229 million doses.

Spot a lady in red today, and chances are she isn't making a fashion statement - it's part of a health movement.

Feb. 5 is National Wear Red Day, when women across the U.S. are encouraged to don a red article of clothing to help build awareness for heart disease, the No. 1 killer of adult females.

Each year nearly half a million women die from heart disease, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), which sponsors the event.

The campaign to educate women about their risks began last year, when the first Wear Red Day was held on Feb. 6, 2009. According to the AHA, the day is a wake-up call to alert women that age, family history and race can't be changed, but healthy choices can be made to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The movement goes beyond simply wearing red: People who go to goredforwomen.org can download a Wear Red Day "kit" that includes downloadable flyers, posters, e-mail campaigns, fundraising tips and more.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/02/05/2010-02-05_women_across_the_us_raise_awareness_for_heart_disease_on_national_wear_red_day_.html#ixzz0egP1LbaS

Welcome to America, the land of the free. There are people in many places that dream about the soils that we live on. In their heads, visions of all the freedoms and choices that Americans have will dance endlessly for hours. Whether it is the big car or the fancy house, or even just the chance to not have to wake up each morning to a chorus of sound, America is believed to be a place where we can take full advantage of the heartbeat we possess.

So why is it then that we live in a place where more than 65 percent of the people that live here our obese or overweight, but at the same time, national surveys will report that American citizens will claim that they spend more than thirty minutes a day exercising? How come we have a life expectancy that is up to 76 years old but at the same time more than 600,000 people will die from heart disease in the United States this year? Why can we see a 50-year-old man run farther and lift heavier weights than ever before, yet the average American man that is 50 will spend $6,000 dollars each year on health care? It could be the food, but anthropologists suggest that Paleolithic men consumed an average daily intake of 5000 calories per day, while current consumption is about 2200 daily. So what gives?

There is an obvious disconnect somewhere. We live in a place that is showing the healthiest and most physically fit people of all time, yet we have more and more people dying of preventable diseases each year. It isn't that we aren't aware that we have issues. Do a Google search for "fat loss" and in .20 seconds you will receive 36,200,000 search results. It isn't that they're aren't options. The American Dietetic Association has reported many than 31,000 diets. SO WHAT IS WRONG?

It could easily be that the American culture is too mechanical. Think about that Paleolithic man for a moment. When he told his cavewoman, that he has going out to get dinner, he grabbed his club and chased down the cheetah. Nowadays, we grab our car keys and chase down the closest BIG MAC. There are so many major differences in last twenty years. You can sit in front of your computer screen and visit the world and never have to move a muscle. The simple act of having to hop in your car and head to the mall is replaced by the pointing and clicking of the mouse. Even things like rolling down your car window are mechanical. Heck, I have spoken with many teachers who claim that they don't even need to teach students handwriting because all the kids do is type.

Its true that we can't do without our advances in technology. We must do a better job at using the specialized world that we live in. We can do many simple things each day to help slow down and reverse our obesity epidemic.

Here is some simple math. There are 3500 calories in a pound of fat. That means if you consume 3500 extra calories, you will gain a pound of fat. Consider this then; if you can find a way to spend 100 more calories or consume 100 less calories each day, you could save yourself almost 10 pounds per year. That's as simple as standing instead of sitting for about an hour each day or cutting out a piece of cheese each. Think about this; if you cut just one soda everyday, you would lose about 15 pounds!

Again, the problem is that it is a lifestyle change and that takes a commitment people don't really understand. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, more than 50 percent of people drop out of their fitness programs within a year. Its because to get in shape, sometimes we need to breath hard, we need to sweat, we need to be uncomfortable, and we need to be patient for to see our rewards. People want to do that; it is just a difficult change when you consider where the average American is starting. They really have a hard time, staying motivated through all the challeges that are presented.

So I say, use our specialized world better. Health and fitness is a growing industry. There are many people who dedicate their lives to helping our communities become healthier. Join a Zumba class, train for a marathon, get yourself into a Yoga studio, and set your personal best bench press record, but do so with a good coach, trainer or teacher. Surrounding yourself with someone that possesses that knowledge and drive to help you push through the physical and psychological challenges that it takes to get healthy and fit, may be the best choice you ever make.

Jeremy McCann has a degree from Cal Poly Pomona in exercise science and is an International Sports Sciences Personal Trainer. He is also a National Academy of Sports Medicine Performance Enhancement Specialist and a Corrective Exercise Specialist. He has his own fitness company www.GETFIT951.com.