BABIES AGE 0-1

SLEEP NEEDS:

Anything from 10-19 hours in a 24-hour period at birth. By 12 months, they need 12 hours. Babies have lots to learn and because the brain processes that stuff while we’re asleep, they need more of it. They have different sleep cycles to adults: just 60 minutes, and may wake more frequently

SLEEP CHANGES:

Newborns don’t have a body clock – in other words they don’t know when it’s night-time because the pathways that enable daylight to synchronise the body clock haven’t formed yet. A more solid 24-hour pattern will emerge from two-to-four months old

SLEEP FACTS:

If a mother breastfeeds at the baby’s bedtime, the milk is on the mother’s body clock and will contain melatonin – the sleep hormone – from her body. Expressed milk from earlier in the day given at bedtime won’t contain melatonin

CHILDREN AGE 1-12

SLEEP NEEDS:

From about 12 hours at age one and in early childhood, to eight or nine hours in late adolescence. Sleep duration gradually decreases throughout childhood and if they are not sleeping well, it could be because you are putting them to bed too early

SLEEP CHANGES:

They spend more than 40% of sleep time in the slow wave stage, 10 times that of adults. The sleep cycle changes from 60 minutes at birth, to 75 minutes at two, to the 90/100 minutes of adulthood by the age of six

SLEEP FACTS:

An over-tired child may be hyperactive, seeming to have endless energy when really they need sleep. Good bedtime routines help to synchronize the body clock – natural daylight during the day and dim the lights as the evening progresses

TEENS

SLEEP NEEDS:

Sleep needs change dramatically in the teenage years – not so much in terms of length (they still need about nine hours) but in terms of when they are ready to go to bed – which is much later than at any other time in their lives. It’s biology, not wilfulness

SLEEP CHANGES:

Their body clocks shift two or three hours forward, meaning they aren’t ready for bed until later and can’t get up until later. This is because they produce melatonin 90 minutes later than children or adults, so even if you send a teenager to bed at 9pm, they won’t be able to sleep until 10.30pm

SLEEP FACTS:

In studies where high schools started the day later, there was a significant change in grades. Even an hour later made a huge difference. Asking teenagers to get out of bed at 6am is like asking adults to get out of bed at 4am, and many typical teenage traits (moodiness and uncommunicativeness) may be due to sleep deprivation

ADULTS

SLEEP NEEDS:

Allowed to sleep unhindered, adults can sleep for eight and a half hours. The average is seven hours. Before electric light, we slept for up to 10 hours a day. In pre-industrial times we may well have slept in two chunks, with relaxed wakefulness in the middle

SLEEP CHANGES:

Sleep patterns change during adulthood. As we age, we find it harder to recover from sleep deprivation and shift work. Stress keeps us awake and weight gain can lead to sleep apnoea and snoring. Sleep apnoea is three times more common after menopause

SLEEP FACTS:

Women complain more than men about being unable to sleep, but in tests they were found to get more – and deeper – sleep than men

OLDER ADULTS

SLEEP NEEDS:

Given the opportunity to sleep, a sample of over-60s slept for a maximum of seven and a half hours a night

SLEEP CHANGES:

It takes older people longer to fall asleep, which is more broken and can be lighter. They have lower melatonin levels than in their youth. The good news is that the older you get, the less sleep deprivation affects you

SLEEP FACTS:

The eye lens becomes yellow as we age, altering how light passes through it and reducing the amount of blue light (which is the best at resetting our body clock) that gets through

© 2013 Guardian Newspapers Limited.

A lack of clinical trials aimed specifically at younger breast cancer patients could be partly to blame for their poorer survival rates, according to a major new Cancer Research UK study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute,* today (Friday).

The study – funded by Cancer Research UK and The Wessex Cancer Trust – analysed almost 3000 women diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 40, treated at 127 UK hospitals. Breast cancer is mostly diagnosed in post-menopausal women, and those diagnosed under 40 represent fewer than five per cent of all breast cancers treated in the UK.

The trials looked at survival for younger patients with oestrogen-receptor positive disease, whose cancers are fuelled by the female hormone oestrogen.

The findings revealed a rapid increase** in disease relapse after five years in younger oestrogen-receptor positive patients who had received the usual treatment of chemotherapy followed by the drug tamoxifen for five years. This finding was in contrast to observations from other studies in older women who do not show the same steep relapse rate after five years.

Tamoxifen blocks oestrogen receptors, preventing the hormone driving the cancer.

The research suggests that taking tamoxifen for a longer period of time might help younger patients. But the study also highlights the need for young breast cancer patients to be targeted to take part in treatment trials to explore different treatment approaches.

Chief investigator Diana Eccles, head of Cancer Research UK’s Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and Professor of Cancer Genetics at the University of Southampton, said: “This study adds to the evidence that breast cancer can behave very differently when diagnosed in younger women. They may require a different approach to treatment – which isn’t necessarily understood from cancer trials in older patients.

“Research is the key to improving survival for these women and we urgently need trials to help us develop new treatments tailored specifically at this age group.”

Kate Law, Cancer Research UK’s director of clinical research, said: “Although in general breast cancer survival has improved dramatically in recent decades, with women now twice as likely to survive their disease for at least 10 years compared to those diagnosed in the 1970s, the same can’t be said for younger breast cancer patients.

“But we’re making progress. Our scientists have been working for over a decade now on new drugs called PARP inhibitors, specifically for cancers caused by BRCA1 or BRCA2 faults in younger women, and these are already showing great promise in clinical trials. But there’s still so much more we want to do to improve treatment for younger breast cancer patients and ultimately ensure that all women beat their disease.”

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© 2013 Targeted News Service

U.S. doctors are prescribing enough antibiotics to give them to 4 out of 5 Americans every year, an alarming pace that suggests they are being overused, a new government study finds.

Overuse is one reason antibiotics are losing their punch, making infections harder to treat. The report released Wednesday gives the first detailed look at usage of these medicines in every state and finds it highest in the South and Appalachia.

“It sounds high,” said Keith Rodvold, a professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

There is no scientific consensus on an appropriate level of antibiotic prescribing. But some experts said the new study’s results are disturbing, and that rates are probably excessive even in the states with the lowest antibiotic prescription levels.

Antibiotics have been commonly available since the 1940s, and have done wonders at saving patients with infections ranging from pneumonia to sexually spread diseases. But bacteria have increasingly gained the power to shrug off antibiotics.

Experts say chances of resistance increase when antibiotics are not used long enough or are taken for the wrong reasons, allowing bacteria to survive and adapt. The Centers for Disease control and Prevention is tracking at least 20 strains of resistant bacteria.

CDC researchers conducted the new study, analyzing a national prescription drug database for 2010. The findings are being published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.

Other studies have focused on antibiotic prescriptions for specific groups like Medicare patients. This is the first to look at it for all Americans.

Doctors and other health care providers prescribed 258 million courses of antibiotics in 2010, for a population just shy of 309 million, the researchers found. That translates to 833 antibiotic prescriptions for every 1,000 people, on average.

But rates were much higher in West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, where about 1,200 were written for every 1,000 people. On the low end were Alaska, Oregon and California, where prescriptions were at or below 600. Earlier studies found similar geographic trends.

Why the difference?

One possibility: Southerners suffer more infections than people in other parts of the country.

Southern states have the highest rates of obesity and diabetes, and diabetics tend to have more infections than other people, noted the CDC’s Dr. Lauri Hicks, one of the study’s authors.

“So some of that prescribing may be warranted,” she said.

During the swine flu pandemic of 2009 and 2010, the South saw more reports of illness than other parts of the country. Experts at the time said patients with flu-related pneumonia should be treated with both antiviral medicines and antibiotics to prevent all forms of deadly complications, Rodvold noted.

The South also has higher rates of certain other respiratory infections, including bronchitis, according to a study last year by University of Pittsburgh researchers.

And the CDC study found the most frequently prescribed antibiotic was azithromycin, which is commonly used for bronchitis symptoms. But that’s a problem. Bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, and antibiotics like azithromycin don’t work against viruses.

“Some of the prescribing may not be warranted,” Hicks said.

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Cardiovascular Week — A resting heart rate – the number of heart beats per minute – is determined by an individual’s level of physical fitness, circulating hormones, and the autonomic nervous system. A rate at rest of between 60 and 100 beats per minute is considered normal.

People who are very physically active tend to have a low heart rate at rest, but the authors wanted to find out if heart rate had any bearing on an individual’s risk of death, irrespective of their level of cardiorespiratory fitness.

They therefore tracked the health of just under 3000 men for 16 years, all of whom were part of the Copenhagen Male Study. This was set up in 1970-71 to monitor the cardiovascular health of middle aged men at 14 large companies in Copenhagen.

In 1971 all participants were interviewed by a doctor about their health and lifestyle, including smoking and exercise, and given a check-up. Their cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using a cycling test, set at three different levels of exertion.

In 1985-6, just under 3000 of these original participants were given a further check-up, to include measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, blood fats and blood glucose. Their resting heart rate was also recorded (ECG and VO2Max).

Sixteen years later in 2001, the researchers checked national Danish registers to find out which of these men had survived. Almost four out of 10 (39%; 1082) of the men had died by 2001.

Unsurprisingly, a high resting heart rate was associated with lower levels of physical fitness, higher blood pressure and weight, and higher levels of circulating blood fats. Similarly, men who were physically active tended to have lower resting heart rates.

But the results showed that the higher the resting heart rate, the higher was the risk of death, irrespective of fitness level.

After adjusting for factors likely to influence the results, a resting heart rate of between 51 and 80 beats per minute was associated with a 40 to 50% increased risk of death, while one between 81 and 90 beats per minute doubled the risk, compared with those with the lowest rate. A resting heart rate above 90 beats per minute tripled the risk.

On the basis of their findings, the authors calculated that every 10 to 22 additional beats per minute in resting heart rate increased the risk of death by 16%, overall.

When smoking was factored in, this showed that every 12 to 27 additional heartbeats per minute increased a smoker’s risk by 20%, with a 14% increase in risk for every additional 4 to 24 beats per minute for non-smokers.

The authors say that a great deal of attention has focused on resting heart rate as an indicator of longevity, but that it has not been clear whether a high rate is simply an indicator of low levels of physical fitness.

But they conclude: “We found that irrespective of level of physical fitness, subjects with high resting heart rates fare worse than subjects with lower heart rates. This suggests that a high resting heart rate is not a mere marker of poor physical fitness, but is an independent risk factor.”

Keywords for this news article include: Heart Rate, Hemodynamics, BMJ-British Medical Journal (see also BMJ-British Medical Journal).

Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2013, NewsRx LLC

To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com .

(Family Features) Crisp, juicy and sweet, grapes are a real crowd-pleaser. Even better, all three colors of grapes — red, green and black — are good for you.

Grapes are a natural source of beneficial antioxidants and other polyphenols. Current research suggests that grapes may help maintain a healthy heart, and may also help to defend your cells against a number of age-related illnesses. Scientists are also working to uncover more links between grapes and eye health, brain health, joint health, and more. At just 90 calories per 3/4 cup serving, grapes are a sensible, delicious snack with no fat or cholesterol.

People love to eat grapes fresh for a refreshing snack, but grapes also add sweet, juicy, crunch and color to salads, entrees and desserts. Here are six fun, flavorful ways to enjoy California grapes:

Layer — California grapes are juicy, nutritious and beautiful in breakfast parfaits.

Roast — Just like when you roast vegetables, grapes also caramelize, yielding a flavor that is wholly unique. You can top your dish with roasted grapes as is, or turn them into a luscious sauce.

Grill — Oh yes! You can thread them on a skewer with other fruits, like pineapple and mango, vegetables, fish, meat and poultry. Grapes can handle the heat, not only from the coals, but also from a spicy marinade or rub.

Clip — The best way to present grapes on a fruit platter or as a (truly edible) plate garnish is to clip them into smaller clusters. Grapes provide height, coverage, color and simply great taste.

Dip — Rich chocolate — dark, milk, white, flavored — and grapes make a delightful pairing.

Grab-and-Go — Pack them up for a snack or as an accompaniment to sandwiches and wraps.

Here is a selection of recipes that show how grapes can add flavor, texture, color, and nutrition and health-promoting properties to appetizers, salads, and sides. Note: Sometimes when a recipe seems too “healthy” to appeal to picky eaters, grapes have a way of making these preparations taste better and look more appealing.

Keeping Hearts Healthy

According to research from the University of Connecticut, funded by the California Table Grape Commission, eating grapes may help protect heart health in men with metabolic syndrome. In the study, men with metabolic syndrome who consumed grapes lowered their key risk factors for heart disease.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together — high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess abdominal fat and increased blood triglycerides — significantly increasing the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Eating a variety of grapes may contribute to heart health by:

Promoting healthy blood flow

Reducing oxidative stress

Improving blood lipids

Decreasing inflammation

Grilled Antipasto Skewers

Yield: 12 skewers

24 shrimp (31-40 size), peeled and deveined

3/4 pound red or black California seedless grapes

1 8-ounce jar cocktail onions

3 ounces prosciutto, each piece sliced into long ribbons

Marinade:

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

Black pepper, freshly ground

4 tablespoons olive oil

Soak long bamboo skewers in water for at least 5 minutes. Thread skewers with 2 shrimp, 6 grapes and 2 onions, with a ribbon of prosciutto winding throughout. Place the finished skewers in shallow dish or plate. To make marinade, whisk together garlic, vinegar, rosemary, salt and pepper and gradually add the oil. Evenly dab on half of marinade with a brush. Let marinate in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and then brush with remaining marinade. Grill on a hot fire for 2 minutes per side. Serve immediately.

Nutritional analysis per skewer: Calories 92; Protein 4 g; Carbohydrate 7.5 g; Fat 5 g (Saturated Fat .8 g); 49% Calories from Fat ; Cholesterol 24 mg; Sodium 122 mg; Fiber .57 g

Bulgur Salad with Grapes and Kale

Servings: 6

2 cups water

1 cup bulgur

Kosher salt

1 cup pecan halves, toasted and roughly chopped

2 cups seedless California grapes, halved

2 cups packed kale or Swiss chard leaves, finely slivered

1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped

1/4 cup scallions, thinly sliced

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons lemon zest, finely grated

Pinch cayenne

Black pepper

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in bulgur and 1/2 teaspoon salt and remove from heat. Cover and let stand 20 minutes or until most of water is absorbed. Drain well and press to extract any excess water. Let cool and stir in the remaining ingredients. Season well with salt and black pepper. Serve room temperature or chilled.

Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories 289; Protein 5.8 g; Carbohydrate 33 g; Fat 17 g (Saturated Fat 1.8 g); 50% Calories from Fat; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 181 mg; Fiber 7.3 g

Spicy Grape and Chicken Lettuce Cups

Servings: 4 as an entr

The current standard practice of screening adolescents who are either symptomatic or at high-risk for celiac disease proves to be more cost-effective than universal screening. Additionally, the strategy is successful in preventing bone loss and fractures in celiac patients, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.

As many as 70 percent of untreated celiac patients experience decreased bone mineral density, which can lead to increased risk of osteoporosis and non-traumatic hip and vertebral fractures. Stanford University researchers sought to understand the cost-effectiveness of universal screening for celiac disease versus screening only patients who are at risk for or showing symptoms of celiac disease, given the high risk, and associated costs, of non-traumatic hip and vertebral fractures if untreated or undiagnosed.

“Our study showed that conducting systematic screening of patients at risk of celiac disease is more cost effective than screening all adolescents for the disease,” said KT Park, MD, MS, division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, department of pediatrics, Stanford University, and co-lead study author. “We determined that adopting a universal screening strategy fails to increase the long-term quality of life of the population as a whole, and introduces potential harm from unnecessary endoscopic evaluations of healthy individuals.”

While the two methods proved similar in lifetime costs and quality of life measurements, screening only those who are at risk or who are showing symptoms was ultimately more cost effective — by a margin of $60– in preventing bone loss and fractures among patients with undiagnosed or subclinical disease.

“There is an ongoing clinical concern in the GI community that the current practice of celiac disease screening misses a considerable proportion of asymptomatic patients due to the frequency of silent or inactive disease,” added Dr. Park. “However, implementing universal screening to prevent bone disease and subsequent non-traumatic fractures alone in undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease patients does not appear to be a viable health policy alternative to the standard of care.”

Further analysis of risk and cost of other potential consequences of undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease, such as anemia, infertility and malignancy, could change the cost-effectiveness of universal screening for celiac disease.

For more information about celiac disease, read the AGA Institute brochure, “Understanding Celiac Disease (http://www.gastro.org/patient-center/digestive-conditions/celiac-disease).”

The mission of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology is to provide readers with a broad spectrum of themes in clinical gastroenterology and hepatology. This monthly peer-reviewed journal includes original articles as well as scholarly reviews, with the goal that all articles published will be immediately relevant to the practice of gastroenterology and hepatology. For more information, visit www.cghjournal.org.

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© 2013 Targeted News Service

Michael Huckabee, Ph.D., is a professor and director of the physician assistant program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Huckabee worked as a physician assistant for 30 years, mostly in rural Nebraska.

Many trivia questions about the smallest bones in the human body have brought fame to the malleus, the incus and the stapes (also known by their shapes as the hammer, anvil and stirrup). Just inches inside the ear, these three tiny connected bones, together called the ossicles (http://subent.com/images/ossicles.jpg), give movement to the sounds we hear, all in an instant.

Sounds are waves that vibrate the eardrum (tympanic membrane) that then make these bones quiver. That movement sends waves of vibrations into a pool of liquid (the cochlea) that is lined with thousands of hair cells (the organ of Corti). Those hair cells communicate with the brain to determine the sound’s loudness, pitch and quality, all in a space the size of a pencil eraser. And that’s just the beginning …

Catch the wave. The part of the ear we can see and pull on is the pinna. The shape and curves are designed to capture sound waves from various directions and funnel them into the ear to start vibrating those ossicles. Cupping your hand behind the ear and pulling it forward makes sounds louder because your hand is snagging more sound waves.

Selective hearing. The brain is constantly making decisions on what to hear and what not to hear. When everything works correctly, we can reject all the hubbub at a party and zero in on one particular voice. At a musical performance, we can choose to single out the sounds of one instrument in the midst of an orchestra. This sense of hearing discrimination is poorly understood, but often diminishes as we age. Some call this the “cocktail party problem (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28423422/ns/health-health_care/t/cant-hear-holiday-parties-blame-your-brain/#.UaayBtLVCSo).” One obvious fix is to move your conversation away from the crowd.

Hearing the high notes. The higher the pitch, the faster the sound wave vibrates. Over time, that can overwork and damage those hair cells. Sometimes that shows up when we think people around us are mumbling. Our ability to distinguish consonant sounds is related to those higher pitches. For example, “What time is it?” and “What kind is it?” sound the same to those who have lost the function of some of those hair cells.

Ears never sleep. Even when we’re asleep, our hearing continues to screen sounds efficiently. The brain can decide when to ignore noisy traffic and trains, yet promptly wake you with the ding of the alarm clock. So when dad sleeps through the crying baby and mom is up all night, it’s likely because the brain has decided to filter those sounds differently.

Saved by the smallest muscle. In addition to holding the smallest bones, the ear claims the prize for the smallest skeletal muscle, the stapedius (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgj-v9jlx_Q/T9N19huWmkI/AAAAAAAABu4/kk5y3NAZY8Q/s400/Stapedius.jpg). This muscle can pull back the stapes, dampening a sound vibration to protect the inner ear from loud noises. Along with another muscle (the tensor tympani) it works every time we speak. Otherwise, the sound of our own voice would reverberate inside our heads. If we know a loud noise is coming, we subconsciously activate the stapedius (making firecrackers more tolerable).

Don’t miss a sound. Ears are amazing, and we can expect them to handle all this and more. But if you think yours aren’t working up to par, see your health care provider.

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© 2013 Targeted News Service

The newly discovered bacterium that causes gum disease delivers a one-two punch by also triggering normally protective proteins in the mouth to actually destroy more bone, a University of Michigan study found.

Scientists and oral health care providers have known for decades that bacteria are responsible for periodontitis, or gum disease. Until now, however, they hadn’t identified the bacterium.

“Identifying the mechanism that is responsible for periodontitis is a major discovery,” said Yizu Jiao, a postdoctoral fellow at the U-M Health System, and lead author of the study appearing in the recent issue of the journal Cell Host and Microbe.

Jiao and Noahiro Inohara, research associate professor at the U-M Health System, worked with William Giannobile, professor of dentistry, and Julie Marchesan, formerly of Giannobile’s lab.

The study yielded yet another significant finding: the bacterium that causes gum disease, called NI1060, also triggers a normally protective protein in the oral cavity, called Nod1, to turn traitorous and actually trigger bone-destroying cells. Under normal circumstances, Nod1 fights harmful bacterium in the body.

“Nod1 is a part of our protective mechanisms against bacterial infection. It helps us to fight infection by recruiting neutrophils, blood cells that act as bacterial killers,” Inohara said. “It also removes harmful bacteria during infection. However, in the case of periodontitis, accumulation of NI1060 stimulates Nod1 to trigger neutrophils and osteoclasts, which are cells that destroy bone in the oral cavity.”

Giannobile, who also chairs the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the U-M School of Dentistry, said understanding what causes gum disease at the molecular level could help develop personalized therapy for dental patients.

“The findings from this study underscore the connection between beneficial and harmful bacteria that normally reside in the oral cavity, how a harmful bacterium causes the disease, and how an at-risk patient might respond to such bacteria,” Giannobile said.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health and by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Supplement to the U-M Cancer Center Support Grant.

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The University of Michigan

© 2013 Targeted News Service

Joseph Taylor of Southlake TX is a veterinarian who regularly advises pet owners on the most effective ways to care for their dogs and cats. Dr. Southlake is issuing comment on a new article that provides tips on keeping animals safe as the weather heats up and they head outside to play.

Once warm weather arrives, it is advisable for pet owners to get their animals a thorough checkup. A visit to a veterinary professional can reveal any weight problems, as well as heart or respiratory issues that may have come into play. Identifying and resolving these areas of concern is an important step in getting a dog or cat ready for outdoor activities in the summer months.

Even dogs that seem to thrive in warm weather need to have access to plenty of shade and fresh water when they are spending time outside. Pet owners should look for parks with trees and soft ground for dogs to relax under when they are in need of a break. Some spaces even offer hoses or manmade ponds to help pets cool off after a busy day of play. Owners should always refill their animals water bowls throughout the day, as a dog needs plenty of water in order to stay hydrated and healthy.

Joseph Taylor Southlake TX comments on this piece of advice, “Just like humans, dogs are susceptible to dehydration, which can cause a number of health problems. When pets are roaming around outside on hot days, it is important that their owner supplies plenty of fresh water. When dogs begin to pant vigorously and appear overheated, usher them inside for some cool air and a drink of water. This prevents illness from occurring.”

A dog needs exercise year-round, but a pet owner must carefully plan walks and playtime around the day’s temperatures. It is best to take a dog out for exercise during the early morning or later evening when it is cooler outside. Taking a pet out during the hottest part of the day can quickly result in dehydration or heat exhaustion.

Some breeds are more vulnerable to overheating than others. Animals that have short noses, such as pugs and bulldogs get hotter quickly, so pet owners should watch them carefully when they head outside to play. Shorter spans of time in the heat can help to keep the dog from falling ill.

Pet parents should never leave an animal inside a parked car during the warmer months, even with the windows open. Temperatures can rise to up to 110 degrees inside the vehicle, causing serious health risks for the dog. Leaving the pet at home allows the animal to remain cool and comfortable.

Joseph Taylor Southlake TX supports this stating, “While the temperature may not be too extreme outside, it will quickly rise within a car, thus creating an unsafe situation for the animal inside the vehicle.”

ABOUT:

Joseph Taylor Southlake TX is a board certified veterinarian. He attended Cornell University where he received hands-on training in the care of animals of all sizes. Dr. Southlake regularly helps pet owners keep their animals safe from fleas, ticks, and heartworms. He also provides dental care and information on proper nutrition for dogs and cats.

© 2013 PRWEB.COM Newswire

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Politics & Government Week — Summer is here and it’s time to start heading outdoors. In some states, you can enjoy the outdoors year-round. It is OK to spend some time in the sun, but do not think for one minute that people with darker skin – including many in the African American community — have nothing to worry about when it comes to being at risk for skin cancer. Even if you do not have light skin, light-colored hair, and blue or green eyes, you are at risk for skin cancer. Anyone can get skin cancer.

While skin cancer is less common among people with darker skin, it is often detected at later or advanced stages. In fact, data show that when Hispanics and other minority Americans are diagnosed with melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, it is usually at a later stage, when the disease is harder to treat.

This later diagnosis occurs partly because many people–even doctors–have long assumed that the pigment melanin in darker skin can protect against skin cancer. However, although melanin does help prevent sunburns, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can still damage skin.

Also, the sun isn’t the only cause of skin cancer. That’s why skin cancer may be found in places on your body that never see the sun. For example, you may be more likely to develop skin cancer if you come into contact with certain chemicals or poisons, have scars or skin ulcers, or use medicines or develop medical conditions (such as HIV infection) that suppress the immune system. While family history and genetics are risk factors for skin cancer in Caucasian Americans, these have not been studied in people with darker skin.

It is important to identify the signs and symptoms of skin cancer early.

When skin cancer is found early, it can be treated more easily. A change on the skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This may be any new mole or growth on the skin, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a change in an old growth. Check the skin on all surfaces of your body, even in your mouth. Talk with your doctor if you see any changes on your skin that do not go away within a month.

There are steps you can take to protect yourself and prevent skin cancer.

Avoid staying out in the sun if you can, especially in the middle of the day, when the sun’s rays are strongest. If you work or play outside, you should wear clothes that cover your arms and legs, a hat that shades your face and ears, and sunglasses that filter out UV light to protect your eyes.

Use sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. You should use sunscreen products that are labeled “broad spectrum” that can filter both UVA and UVB rays. You should not use tanning beds, booths, or sunlamps, because these machines also give off UV rays.

It doesn’t matter whether you consider your skin light, dark, or somewhere in between– remember, anyone can get skin cancer. Start taking care of your skin today.

Last year the National Cancer Institute introduced a brochure that contains the facts you need to know to protect yourself from skin cancer. That brochure is still available. You can order Anyone Can Get Skin Cancer at 1-800-4-CANCER ( 1-800-422-6237 )or download a copy at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/prevention/skin/anyone-can-get-skin-cancer). Share it with your friends and family, so that you can all try to avoid skin cancer and stay healthy.

NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI web site at www.cancer.gov (or m.cancer.gov from your mobile device) or call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER ( 1-800-422-6237 ). More articles and videos in the culturally relevant Lifelines series are available at www.cancer.gov/lifelines, including a video about skin cancer for people with darker

Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2013, NewsRx LLC

© 2013 Politics & Government Week via VerticalNews.com

When preparing for a surgery, a patient can feel like their outcome is all in the surgeon’s hands. But there are many things a patient can do both before and after surgery to hasten their healing process and improve their outcome.

Rebecca McClaine, MD, is a UC Health general surgeon and a surgical instructor at the UC College of Medicine. She says there’s one thing she always emphasizes when discussing an upcoming surgery with patients.

“I always tell my patients: ‘It takes longer to get back to 100 percent than you think it will,’ ” she says. “I think there are things that people don’t ask about that will really improve their healing, from any kind of surgery.”

The top things, she says, are reducing smoking and improving nutrition.

“If you smoke, and you can’t quit before surgery, then it helps to try and cut back. Even if it’s just the 3 to 7 days before surgery and during recovery, it will help your healing,” says McClaine. “Along with smoking, if overweight patients can lose 5 or 10 pounds in the weeks leading up to their surgery, that can make a difference as well. You don’t want to starve yourself or go into a surgery malnourished, but the proper nutrition and diet will help you heal.”

For patients not eating a well-rounded diet, McClaine recommends taking a multivitamin or using nutritional meal replacement drinks to supplement their meals.

She also says alcohol can make a difference in her patient’s recovery: “If you’re somebody who drinks every day, let your physician know. You may be unexpectedly more dependent than you realize, and you can go into withdrawal after surgery. That can complicate things, so it’s very important for your surgeon to know beforehand.”

Immediately after surgery, the emphasis turns to the caregivers. For more involved procedures with longer inpatient recovery, McClaine says family and friends should spend the first few post-surgery days at home.

“It’s important that the caregivers get some rest,” she says. “Their loved one will need them more 3-4 days after surgery and especially once they go home.”

At home, patients need a calm, clean environment in which to rest and recuperate. Stocking the pantry with healthy snacks and the fridge with pre-made foods can be a big help to patients and caregivers.

Finally, patients should follow their provided care instructions and shouldn’t avoid using their prescribed pain medication during recovery.

“Pain medication is known to be safe as long as you’re taking it for pain,” says McClaine. “Though some patients may be afraid to become addicted, it’s more important to have your pain under control–that enables you to take deep breaths, which prevents pneumonia, and enables you to walk around, preventing blot clots. If you’re in pain, your body has an increased stress response and that prolongs the recovery process.”

If a patient or their family has any questions during recovery, even on nights and weekends, McClaine recommends patients call their surgeon’s office directly. Their surgeon, or their partners in the practice, can best answer questions and direct the patient to the best practitioner.

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© 2013 Targeted News Service

Congress has designated 2010-2020 as the “Decade of Vision” to acknowledge the very real public health need and challenge of vision loss. (H. Res. 366 and S. Res. 209) Over 78 million Baby Boomers will be turning 65 over the next decade and will be at risk for age-related eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts.

How Does Research Save Lives

In recent years research has uncovered major biochemical breakthroughs that may lead to future treatments for some of the most common causes of vision impairment.

Following an increase in enquiries, Hidden Hearing has issued advice on cleaning ears and preventing long term hearing loss in the process.

The ear canal has cells within it that produce cerumen, otherwise known as ear wax, but a build up of this can sometimes lead to temporary hearing loss and pain. Hidden Hearing explains how this can be dealt with safely:

Soup kitchen meals lack nutritional value — they are often low in fiber, potassium, calcium, vitamins A and E, but high in fat and salt, U.S. researchers say.

Courtney R. Lyles of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues analyzed the nutritional contents of meals served at six San Francisco-based soup kitchens — each site served approximately 600 to 18,000 meals per week. They found the meals served were lacking in fiber and but had higher than recommended amounts of fat.

The study also reported the meals were below target levels for potassium, calcium and vitamins A and E, but cholesterol levels were at appropriate levels.

“Soup kitchens, which serve prepared, generally warm meals and a setting in which to eat, often serve as the primary food source for homeless and marginally housed people — maximizing the nutritional value of meals is often secondary to the soup kitchen’s mission of providing calories, especially given limited financial resources,” the researchers wrote in the study. “The nutritional content of soup kitchen menus have been infrequently examined, but the few existing studies suggest that soup kitchens are inconsistently able to provide nutritionally balanced and healthful meals.”

The researchers said they recognized soup kitchens often rely on community funding and food donations when preparing their meals, but they said their study might help spur the development of nutrition content standards for free meals served at soup kitchens.

The findings were published in Preventing Chronic Disease.

Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI). Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI’s prior written consent.

After one of the heaviest tick seasons ever, the majority of Americans are taking precautions to protect themselves from ticks, but are misinformed in the correct tick removal methods, according to a new survey from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Serious tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Babesiosis, are transmitted to humans when ticks latch on and bite unnoticed, most often during outdoor activities. The NPMA urges those spending time outdoors during the summer months to take simple steps to prevent the spread of these dangerous diseases.

This advice comes on the heels of the group’s new survey, finding while 72 percent of U.S. adults report taking some precautions to protect themselves and their families from ticks, more than 60 percent have reported using improper methods to remove a tick from themselves, their family members or their pets.

“Ticks transmit serious illnesses with a host of dangerous and unpleasant symptoms such as fever, headache, rash and fatigue,” says Dr. Jorge Parada, infectious disease specialist and NPMA’s medical spokesperson. “Because ticks typically require hours of feeding before they can successfully transmit infections, prompt and proper tick removal is a crucial step in decreasing the threat of catching a tick-borne illness.”

If you find a tick on your body or that of a family member or pet, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick as this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. Avoid squashing the tick because spreading tick blood in the bite wound might increase the risk of infection. Once the tick is removed, clean the area with soap and water. If you develop a rash, headaches, pains or fever, call your doctor immediately.

“Ticks pose a real threat during the summer months when many Americans are spending more time outdoors,” remarked Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs, NPMA. “We hope they’ll remember that a few simple steps can make a difference in protecting their families from the health risks associated with these pests.”

Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toe shoes when outdoors, especially in wooded areas or tall grasses.

Choose light colored clothing that makes it easier to spot ticks and other insects.

Wear a bug spray when outdoors, and reapply as directed on the label.

When hiking, stay in the center of trails, away from vegetation.

Take steps to keep your own yard tick-free. Keep grass cut low and remove weeds, woodpiles and debris, which can attract ticks and other pests.

Be on the lookout for signs of tick bites, such as a telltale red bull’s eye rash around a bite. If you suspect a tick has bitten you, seek medical attention.

Learn the symptoms of Lyme disease and consult with your doctor immediately if you believe you have contracted it.

Source: National Pest Management Association (NPMA)

Copyright Business Wire 2013

It’s widely known that vitamin D works in conjunction with calcium to build strong bones, but new evidence strengthens the understanding of the nutrient’s effect on other body systems, as well. Researchers from Creighton University, GrassrootsHealth, Pure North S’Energy Foundation (PNSF) and the University of Alberta hope their new findings about the nutrient will lead to improved governmental nutritional policies.

Led by Robert P. Heaney, M.D., John A. Creighton University Professor at Creighton University and research director at GrassrootsHealth, the research team joined efforts to refine known associations of vitamin D with insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes mellitus, and blood pressure.

While insufficient vitamin D has long been associated with increased insulin resistance and hypertension, this study is the first to prove that the relationship is not linear or consistent across the full range of vitamin D status. Instead, it identifies a specific range where the association is strongest: 16-36 ng/ml (40-90 nmol/L) of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the blood measurement of vitamin D status. Furthermore, the results suggest that a level of at least 32 ng/ml (80 nmol/L) must be achieved to ensure small but useful improvements in both blood sugar control and blood pressure.

“It’s important to recognize the range at which any substance is effective,” explains Heaney. “At low intakes, a given increment will do little more than prime the pump; and at high levels, the effect is already realized so giving more does little or nothing. Only increments in intake above a certain basal status will produce a detectable effect.”

This study was also the first to apply a method of analysis that reflects the basic character of vitamin D as a nutrient. After taking into account influential factors like body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, the relationship between vitamin D status and insulin resistance and blood pressure was analyzed in incremental sections from the lowest to the highest levels.

“It’s only by applying this unique method and analyzing many subsections that we can see the real nature of the relationship,” said Heaney.

Researchers were supported by funding from Pure North S’Energy Foundation. The findings were published in the May issue of Advances in Nutrition and are available as an open access publication.

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© 2013 Targeted News Service

What if you could get a good amount of nutrition and feel satisfied all from a tiny seed?

Think ch-ch-ch-chia.

Most of us remember that jingle (you’re probably singing it as you read this) advertising the terra-cotta planters in the shape of pets. Once you soaked the seeds and slathered the gooey mixture on the planter, it sprouted fuzzy greens in a few days.

Turns out those black seeds are full of nutrients.

“They are an amazing tiny seed and really inexpensive, and a little goes a long way,” says Andrea McNinch, 37, owner of Healing Yourself Institute and Regeneration Raw in Royal Oak.

McNinch has been using chia for at least seven years and says the seeds have “two times the potassium as bananas and three times the reported antioxidants that blueberries have.”

Chia seeds are often compared to flax seeds because they have similar nutritional profiles. But the main difference is that chia seeds don’t need to be ground the way flax seeds do. Chia also has a longer shelf life and does not go rancid like flax does.

From a culinary perspective, McNinch says, chia acts as “a binder, thickens and emulsifies things.”

“Adding in chia bulks up your food without the calories and fat and without diminishing the flavor,” she says. “You can add chia to anything.”

Raw and sprinkled on foods or soaked in water to create a gelatinous thickener, chia seeds are a source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.

“In the last two years, chia has grown from being known in the health food community to being available at Costco,” says Amber Poupore, 34, owner of the Cacao Tree Cafe in Royal Oak. She uses chia in smoothies and desserts and to make a dehydrated seed bread.

Food companies also are getting into chia. Global product launches of foods containing chia were up 78% in 2012, according to research firm Mintel. Dole Nutrition Plus launched a line of whole and milled chia and products containing chia.

“It’s certainly a trend that’s been real hot,” says Tedd Handelsman, owner of Better Health Store locations in Michigan.

“We’ve carried them for a couple of years, and they are gaining in popularity,” he says, adding that chia is becoming as popular as flax seed in the functional food category.

Often cited as an authority on chia, Wayne Coates is an agricultural engineer and professor emeritus at the University of Arizona. He wrote “Chia: The Complete Guide to the Ultimate Superfood,” published last spring. The book discusses the history of chia and its health benefits and includes plenty of recipes.

“It’s not a supplement and is a food in the FDA’s eyes,” says Coates. “Which means you can consume as much as you like.”

Coates does urge caution when choosing chia seeds.

“Chia is only black or white,” Coates says. “If there is brown — it is not good and it can mean the seeds are immature.”

Contact Susan Selasky: 313-222-6432 or sselasky@freepress.com

More Details: How to use chia

Here are some suggestions for using raw chia seeds:

–Sprinkle over yogurt, oatmeal and cereals.

–Stir into drinks and smoothies.

–Toss in mixed greens, rice, pasta or potato salads.

–Add to muffin and cookie recipes.

–Make a pudding, stirring the seeds into almond milk (or other dairy, rice or coconut milk).

–In a clean coffee grinder, grind the seeds into a coarse flour (often called milled chia) and use it in baked goods.

To make chia gel

Soak about 2 tablespoons of seeds in 1 cup cool water. The seeds will swell and the mixture will become gelatinous. You can thin the gel if it’s too thick.

–Add the gel to water and drink as is.

–Use the gelatinous mixture as an egg replacer in some recipes. You may need to adjust the other liquids in the recipe.

–Use it as a thickening agent in salad dressing and some sauces and soups.

About the seeds

Chia, also known as Salvia hispanica, comes from a flowering plant native to Mexico and Central America and also grown in Australia. Here are some things you might not know:

–Chia is a member of the mint family.

–Chia seeds are mainly black, but you can buy white ones.

–Aztec and Mayan cultures “relied on it to keep their civilization healthy,” Wayne Coates writes in “Chia: The Complete Guide to the Ultimate Superfood.” In fact, the name chia means “strength” in Mayan.

–Chia seeds are sold at health food stores and some grocery stores. Prices vary.

©2013 the Detroit Free Press

Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Gastroenterology Week — Investigators publish new report on Gastroenterology. According to news reporting originating from Chicago, Illinois, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “The incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), as well as other inflammatory conditions, has dramatically increased over the past half century. While many studies have shown that IBD exhibits a genetic component via genome-wide association studies, genetic drift alone cannot account for this increase, and other factors, such as those found in the environment must play a role, suggesting a ‘multiple hit’ phenomenon that precipitates disease.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the University of Chicago, “One major environmental factor, dietary intake, has shifted to a high fat, high carbohydrate Western-type diet in developing nations, nearly in direct correlation with the increasing incidence of IBD. Recent evidence suggests that specific changes in dietary intake have led to a shift in the composite human gut microbiota, resulting in the emergence of pathobionts that can thrive under specific conditions. In the genetically susceptible host, the emerging pathobionts can lead to increasing incidence and severity of IBD and other inflammatory disorders. Since the gut microbiota is plastic and responds to dietary modulations, the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and/or dietary alterations are all intriguing complementary therapeutic approaches to alleviate IBD symptoms. However, the interactions are complex and it is unlikely that a one-size-fits all approach can be utilized across all populations affected by IBD.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Exploration into and thoroughly understanding the interactions between host and microbes, primarily in the genetically susceptible host, will help define strategies that can be tailored to an individual as we move towards an era of personalized medicine to treat IBD.”

For more information on this research see: Diet, microbes, and host genetics: the perfect storm in inflammatory bowel diseases. Journal of Gastroenterology, 2013;48(3):315-21. Journal of Gastroenterology can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA. (Springer – www.springer.com; Journal of Gastroenterology – www.springerlink.com/content/0944-1174/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting V. Leone, Dept. of Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Chicago, 900 E 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, United States (see also Gastroenterology).

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Gastroenterology is: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.

Warm weather brings sunshine and short sleeves, but also brings biting, blood-seeking insects. The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) reminds Delawareans that simple precautions reduce a person’s chances of getting tickborne or mosquitoborne infections this summer.

The most common disease spread by ticks in Delaware is Lyme disease, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected deer ticks. Ticks are active all year, but during the spring and summer months when humans enjoy outdoor activities, people get tick bites and tickborne diseases more often than any other time of year. In 2011, Delaware had 873 confirmed cases of Lyme disease (96.4 cases per 100,000 population) – the highest incidence rate of Lyme disease in the nation.

Symptoms can include a “bull’s-eye” rash (seen in approximately half of Lyme disease cases in Delaware), fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint aches. Chronic joint, heart and neurological problems may occur. It usually takes 24-36 hours of attachment before a disease is transmitted from a tick to a person. Early diagnosis and treatment, which may include antibiotics, are key to good health outcomes. Anyone bitten by a tick should monitor their health closely and contact a physician if symptoms develop. Other tick-borne illnesses such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis are diagnosed much less frequently in Delaware.

Diseases transmitted to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito include West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and several other diseases that cause brain inflammation (encephalitis). And while Delaware has not had a confirmed human case of EEE since 1979, cases of WNV do exist. In 2003, there were 17 confirmed human cases of WNV in Delaware, two of which were fatal. During 2007, 2008 and 2011, one human case was confirmed each year.

Approximately 80 percent of human infections are mild and cause no apparent symptoms. Nearly 20 percent of those infected develop a mild illness (West Nile fever), which includes fever, body and muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, and rash. A small percentage of patients, usually the elderly, develop severe neurological disease that results in meningitis or encephalitis.

DPH reminds residents to take the following protective measures to avoid tick and mosquito bites:

TICK PREVENTION

* Wear light-colored clothing to allow you to see ticks crawling on your clothing.

* When possible, wear long sleeves and long pants. Tuck your pant legs into your socks.

* Apply tick repellants (check for child safety precautions before using).

* Check yourself and your children for ticks after being outdoors; pay special attention to the head area. Know that ticks can enter your home on pets.

TICK REMOVAL

* Use fine-tipped tweezers or shield your fingers with a tissue, paper towel or rubber gloves. Avoid removing ticks with bare hands whenever possible.

* Grasp the tick close to the skin surface and pull upward with steady, even pressure.

* Do not squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick since its fluids (saliva, body fluids, and gut contents) may contain infectious germs.

* After removing the tick, cleanse the site with an antiseptic or soap and water, and wash your hands.

DPH does not recommend the use of home remedies such as petroleum jelly or hot matches for tick removal. These methods do not work and are potentially unsafe.

MOSQUITO PREVENTION

* Take extra precautions when mosquitoes are active, such as at dusk.

* When working outside, wear protective clothing such as shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and pants.

* Mosquito netting can also be used to protect one’s face and neck or used on infant carriages, strollers and playpens.

* Apply mosquito repellent (check for child safety precautions before using).

MOSQUITO-PROOF YOUR HOME, HELP YOUR COMMUNITY

* Keep windows and doorways tightly sealed and maintain window and door screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.

* Electronic repellents that emit high frequency sounds do not repel mosquitoes or other pests. The electronic bug zappers do not control mosquitoes or other flying pests but in fact kill bugs indiscriminately, including many beneficial insects that prey on pests.

* Eliminating or managing standing water around your house is the best method to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your backyard:

** Change birdbath water every week.

** Regularly drain pet dishes and plant pot saucers.

** Regularly clean and repair gutters to prevent them from retaining water.

** Regularly check and drain plastic covers and tarps used outside such as pool covers, Jacuzzi covers, garbage can lids, compost covers and gardening tarps.

** Store water-trapping containers such as wading pools, wheelbarrows and buckets upside down or inside shelters. Store water-trapping containers such as wading pools, wheelbarrows and buckets upside down or inside shelters.

* Manage habitats in and around water bodies such as ornamental and retention ponds, ditches and catch basins:

** Manage weeds; keep vegetation short around water. Adult mosquitoes are attracted to dense, tall vegetation around water.

** Remove unnecessary floating structures or debris from ponds. Mosquitoes are often found around floating debris.

** Keep drains, ditches and culverts clean to allow proper drainage.

** Consider stocking ornamental or permanent, self-contained ponds with insect-eating fish, such as goldfish.

** Shape pond edges to a shelf or steep slope. Mosquitoes prefer shallow pond edges.

Further information regarding Lyme disease and tick prevention can be found at:

CDC: www.cdc.gov/ticks

DPH:www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/lyme.html

Further information regarding mosquito prevention can be found at: CDC: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm

For questions concerning mosquito control, please call Department of Natural Resources Environmental Control (DNREC) at:

New Castle County (302) 836-2555

Kent/Sussex Counties (302) 422-1512

For additional information regarding human disease, contact DPH, Bureau of Epidemiology at: 1-888-295-5156 .

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© 2013 Targeted News Service

Many Americans looking for a healthier way of living are considering the Mediterranean diet. Following the Mediterranean diet has shown to decrease risk of heart disease, cancer, and brain disorders. According to the Mayo Clinic, “following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality, a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer mortality, and a reduced incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.”

What is the Mediterranean diet?

The Mediterranean diet is more than just a nutrition plan, it is a lifestyle. It focuses on getting sufficient levels of physical activity levels as well as eating healthy foods. The following are four key components of the Mediterranean diet:

If nuts can help stave off Alzheimer’s, what else is good for your mind? Here are some ways to keep your brain healthy

It is the ticking timebomb that will affect 1.7 million of us in just 40 years. But can you stave off Alzheimer’s with a healthy diet? This week scientists said eating chicken, oily fish and nuts may help stop it developing. So what do the experts say about the other claimed methods of beating the disease?

Eat berries

A study of 16,010 female nurses in the US suggested that eating greater amounts of blueberries and strawberries is associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline. Strawberries and blueberries are rich in a group of naturally occurring antioxidants called flavonoids, which scientists suggest may help to delay cognitive aging by protecting brain cells from chemical stress which can build up as we age. Population studies like this can provide useful clues about the effects of lifestyle and diet on cognition, but we must be sensible when interpreting the results. The study suggests a link between eating berries and slower cognitive decline, but there could be many factors at play. Previous evidence has shown that eating fruit as part of a healthy diet in midlife could help to reduce our risk of dementia.

Clean the house

A study which measured the activity of older people over a four year period, showed that daily physical activity such as cooking, cleaning and playing cards could help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

There is already some evidence that exercise in midlife can help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. This study adds to this by suggesting that daily physical activity like doing household jobs or playing cards could have benefits into older age.

Learn another language

A recent article found some evidence to suggest that speaking more than one language may help to boost our ‘cognitive reserve’ — the ability of our brain to resist damage.

It is thought that this could help protect our brains from decline and may bolster our brains against the damage which causes dementia.

More research is needed to tease apart the most beneficial aspects of bilingualism — whether it is the age we starting learning, how fluent we are or how much we use the language in everyday life.”

Drink green tea

Scientists have found that green tea compounds could protect the cells in rats from the harmful effects of amyloid — the toxic protein that builds up in the brain during Alzheimer’s.

These results are at a very early stage, so they can’t make the leap of assuming that green tea can protect people from dementia.

Eat broccoli and rocket (arugula)

Scientists are also investigating whether the body’s antioxidant systems can be harnessed to help fight Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers want to know how to fight cell damage caused by free radicals. They hope to harness the body’s natural antioxidant defence mechanisms to halt the progression of Alzheimer’s, using drugs designed to kick-start these mechanisms. One drug is based on a chemical called sulforaphane, which is found in vegetables such as broccoli and rocket. It is currently in clinical trials as an anti-cancer agent, but if the work in Dundee produces positive results, it’s hoped the research could eventually lead to clinical trials for Alzheimer’s – the most common cause of dementia.

Times of India

© 2013 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited

A team of scientists from the University of Liverpool’s Institute for Aging and Chronic Disease analyzed the results of 185 studies, and their review published in the British Journal of Nutrition says Omega-3 fatty acids can prevent and even reverse junk food’s damage to the brain. The discovery was a bi-product of the study’s original purpose, which was to determine whether omega-3 fatty acids aid in weight loss by stimulating particular processes in the brain.

Decades of research show that eating junk food is harmful for a variety of reasons. Not only can junk food contribute to weight gain and disease, but it can also have negative effects on the brain. Specifically, research has indicated that high-fat diets trigger the production of inflammatory chemicals and triglycerides, which block important hormones from entering the brain after eating. This inflammatory condition also negatively affects molecules that stimulate neurogenesis

By Julie Deardorff, Chicago Tribune

Caffeine-infused waffles and maple syrup are promoted as energizing alternatives to a morning mug of coffee.

But the recent craze of adding caffeine to a range of kid-friendly snack foods — including popcorn, chewing gum, candy bars, mints, Cracker Jack, jelly beans and ice cream — is raising enough concern that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched an investigation of caffeine’s possible health effects on children and adolescents.

The effort, which comes amid heated debate over whether energy drinks with stimulants are safe for children, marks the agency’s first close look at the world’s most popular psychoactive drug since its use in cola was approved in the 1950s.

Most healthy adults can safely tolerate moderate doses of 200 to 300 milligrams, about two to four cups of brewed coffee, according to the National Institutes of Health. But the U.S. lacks official guidelines or limits for children, whose smaller bodies and developing brains may be more vulnerable to caffeine’s effects, including the risk of physical dependence and addiction.

Part of what worries the FDA is the changing nature of how caffeine is delivered — through a greater array of products that may appeal to younger consumers and in higher doses than in the past.

Chewing a pack of Jolt Energy Gum, for example, would have effects similar to downing six energy drinks, according to the package.

“It’s a question of finding caffeine in new and different places,” said Michael Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for food. “There are concerns over the perhaps subtle developmental impacts on kids and whether they become regular users of a central nervous system stimulant. What are the cumulative effects?”

Meanwhile, parents can’t necessarily tell how much caffeine kids are getting. Caffeine levels aren’t required to be disclosed on food labels, and if the caffeine occurs naturally — as in tea or cocoa — it isn’t listed among the ingredients.

In the case of energy drinks, many are sold as dietary supplements and don’t have to disclose caffeine levels if the ingredient is part of a “proprietary blend.”

Last month Wrigley, the world’s largest gum manufacturer and a subsidiary of Mars Inc., temporarily halted sales of its new caffeinated gum product after meeting with the FDA. The company cited a “greater appreciation” for the agency’s concern about the recent flood of caffeine in the nation’s food supply.

Others say caffeine has been safely consumed in a variety of foods and beverages for centuries. Many of the newly caffeinated snacks are novelty items targeting adults who want a quick pick-me-up but don’t like coffee.

“If you want to worry about what kids are ingesting, I would put sugar way up higher on the list,” said Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger, director of clinical cardiac electrophysiology research at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “Sugar has clearly documented downstream effects on health that caffeine just does not.”

Goldberger also serves as a consultant to the American Beverage Association and the energy drink company Red Bull.

Consumed daily by 80 percent of the world, caffeine is a bitter-tasting nervous system stimulant that occurs naturally in coffee, tea, guarana and kola nuts. It’s thought to work by interfering with a brain chemical called adenosine that facilitates sleep.

Blocking the receptors for adenosine also allows the brain’s own stimulants, the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate, to rev up bodily systems.

“It not only wakes up the brain, but it can increase heart rate,” said Dr. Lynn Goldman, a pediatrician and dean of the School of Public Health and Health Services at George Washington University. “When I’ve seen people with caffeine overdose, they’re scared; they end up in the ER because they think they’re having a heart attack.”

In adults, caffeine use is relatively safe. But the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in 2011 that children and teenagers steer clear of caffeinated drinks because caffeine interferes with sleep and can increase anxiety, in addition to making the heart beat faster.

“Childhood and adolescence is a period of rapid growth in the final stage of brain development; proper sleep and nutrition are essential,” said Jennifer Temple, an assistant professor in the School of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Buffalo who studies children’s caffeine use. “Caffeine disrupts sleep patterns, and the excess consumption of soda is associated with poor diet, excess weight and cavities.”

Federal officials can’t say whether children are ingesting more caffeine than previous years; rigorous studies involving the nation’s youngest consumers are lacking.

But the most recent federal data show that children ages 2 to 13 ingested an average of 43.5 milligrams of caffeine a day in 2008. A typical cola contains about 35 milligrams in a 12-ounce can. Young men ages 14 to 21 consumed 110.5 milligrams per day; women took in slightly less.

Information also is lacking on the physiological, psychological and behavioral effects of habitual caffeine use by children. “We can’t assume children are small adults. They may have unique responses we don’t know about,” Temple said.

The FDA limits the caffeine content in soft drinks to 71 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces. But manufacturers often circumvent the limit by calling their products dietary supplements. Some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as five cups of coffee.

Sales of energy drinks grew by 78 percent from 2006 to 2011, according to the market research firm Mintel, and a recent study in the journal Pediatrics found that half of the energy drink market consists of children, adolescents and young adults.

Energy drink consumption has been associated with elevated blood pressure, altered heart rates and severe cardiac events in children and young adults, especially those with underlying cardiac disease, according to a letter sent to the FDA by more than a dozen prominent researchers and scientists. The highest doses have been linked with caffeine intoxication, resulting in a racing heartbeat, vomiting and cardiac arrhythmias.

Dr. Steven Lipshultz, a pediatric cardiologist at the University of Miami, tells parents that young patients with an underlying heart condition should avoid caffeine because it can stimulate the heart. “If you’re asking a sick heart to work even harder, it may go into a life-threatening heart rhythm,” he said.

Goldberger, an adult cardiologist, downplayed the cardiac risk of energy drinks in his testimony before the Chicago City Council when it considered restricting sales of the products. In 2011 he published research in the American Journal of Medicine that concluded moderate caffeine use was well tolerated in adult patients with known or suspected arrhythmia.

Wheaton mom Nancy VanderMolen said she limits caffeine for her preteen daughter because of the girl’s heart condition. But she was disappointed that Wrigley pulled its caffeinated gum off the market because she wanted to try it herself.

“If the packaging is good, people with heart conditions would stay away just as they do from Red Bull,” VanderMolen said. “I don’t like coffee and need the caffeine boost. I was looking forward to the gum so I could give up soda for good.”

That’s the sort of customer Roger Sullivan, the founder of Wired Waffles, is targeting. After hearing about a bakery that laced brownies with caffeine, Sullivan created a caffeinated waffle. Later he launched caffeinated maple syrup.

Though the products aren’t designed to be eaten together, consuming both would yield 284 milligrams of caffeine — still less than a 16-ounce cup of Starbucks, which has 330 milligrams, Sullivan noted.

Sullivan said he supports full disclosure of caffeine content in drinks and snacks. His products carry a voluntary warning label that says they are not intended for pregnant or nursing mothers, children or people sensitive to caffeine. “I’ve been very careful to be sure not to use marketing that is aimed at kids,” he said.

Once children and teens start consuming caffeine, they often continue for the same reasons as adults.

Morgan Gstalter, 18, of Skokie, said she doesn’t like the taste of energy drinks but has been drinking coffee since she was about 10, when her father introduced her to it.

“It was mostly milk and sugar at that point, but as I grew up I started drinking it more and more,” said Gstalter, who has contributed to The Mash, a Chicago Tribune Media Group publication for high schoolers.

Now, like many of her peers, she drinks at least one cup a day, occasionally buying an extra coffee in the lunchroom at Skokie’s Niles West High School, where she recently graduated.

“Coffee has become such a regular thing in my life now, that I can feel the days when I woke up late and forgot my travel mug,” she said. “It cuts back the sleepiness a little, and if I don’t have coffee in the mornings I feel sluggish and moody all day.”

jdeardorff@tribune.com

Twitter @juliedeardorff

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©2013 the Chicago Tribune

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By Robin Erb, Detroit Free Press

Michigan has the highest rate of obese seniors in the country, according to a new report.

About 29.5 % of Michigan seniors have a body-mass index of 30.0 or more and are considered obese; a body-mass index of 18.5 — 24.9 is considered normal.

In Hawaii, the sixth healthiest state for seniors and the thinnest in the nation when it comes to senior obesity, just 16.9% of seniors are considered obese.

Yet on average, fewer of Michigan’s seniors report being completely sedentary, compared to the rest of the country.

So if they’re active, what gives?

“It’s about the caloric intake,” said Dr. Richard Gajdowski, medical director for United Healthcare of Michigan in Southfield.

The report released this week by the United Health Foundation drew on obesity rates and 33 other measures to rank the health of seniors among the states. Michigan finished 26th, a ranking buoyed by the better-than-average rates of physical activity and access to dental care.

United Health Foundatino is a not-for-profit foundation affiliated with the Minnetonka, Minn.-based health care insurer UnitedHealthCare. Each year, the foundation releases a statistical glimpse of the nation’s health; this year it focused on Americans 65 and older.

Among other data compiled for Michigan:

– About 9.9% of seniors, or about 130,000, smoke, placing the state 35th in that category.

– About 3.5 % of seniors are chronic drinkers, placing the state 24th in that category.

– About 28.5% of seniors reported doing no physical activity — golf, gardening, running, calisthenics, or walking — in the past 30 days, placing the state 13th in that category.

– Michigan has one of the lowest rates of teeth extraction in the nation among seniors, placing the state 7th in that category.

– About 96 % of Michigan seniors have a dedicated health care provider, placing the state 7th in that category

But most troubling for Gajdowski is that Michigan’s seniors seem to have have eaten their way to being dead last in the country when it comes to a healthy weight.

The key for improving health for today’s and tomorrow’s seniors will be setting realistic goals.

Even individual, incremental changes — in weight loss, for example — can have life-changing benefits, Gajdowski said.

“There is a value to marginal improvement. There’s a value to maintaining weight rather than gaining weight or losing 10 pounds or 20 pounds. It’s about doing the best you can where you’re starting,” he said.

Among the 50 states, Minnesota’s seniors were the healthiest; Mississippi’s seniors rank 50th. For more information, visit www.americashealthrankings.org/senior/all/2013

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©2013 the Detroit Free Press

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With the arrival of summer, when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are strongest, ophthalmologists − medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases and conditions − are warning the public that overexposure to these rays can burn the eyes’ corneas and cause painful, temporary blindness. The American Academy of Ophthalmology urges the public to wear sunglasses and hats when enjoying the outdoors this summer and all year long.

A number of scientific studies indicate that continuous years of unprotected exposure to the sun without eye protection can damage your eyes by contributing to cataracts and macular degeneration and even lead to tumors that may require surgical removal. A lesser known danger of sun exposure, however, is the more immediate risk of sunburnt eyes or photokeratitis, also termed ultraviolet keratitis or snow blindness. Light-colored eyes are at increased risk for this condition because they have less pigmentation in multiple layers of the eye than those with darker eyes.

Mild photokeratitis can feel as if there is grit stuck in the eyes, which is caused by layers of the cornea peeling following the sunburn. Those with extreme cases describe the condition as feeling as if their eyeballs are on fire. If people experience these symptoms, they should immediately see an ophthalmologist.

The typical treatment for photokeratitis is cool, wet compresses and artificial tears for local pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) eyedrops are used to reduce inflammation and eye pain, and oral pain medication is prescribed for severe discomfort. Affected patients should also seek isolation in a dark room, remove contact lenses, avoid rubbing the eyes and wear sunglasses until the symptoms improve. Recovery usually takes one to three days.

“It’s important for people to remember their protective gear on sunny days,” said Philip R. Rizzuto, M.D., secretary for communications for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “In far too many cases, people think that a little redness on the skin is not a big deal; but, consider what that burn could feel like on your extremely thin and delicate corneas. Don’t leave home without sunglasses and hats if you are heading outdoors.”

The Academy offers these tips to protect your eyes from both short-term and long-term damage from the sun: Go 100%! Regardless of the cost or color of your shades, wear sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection, make sure they block both UV-A and UV-B rays and wear them anytime you are outside or driving during the day.

Choose wrap-around styles. Ideally, your sunglasses should wrap all the way around to your temples, so the sun’s rays can’t enter from the side.

Top it off. Wear a hat with a three inch brim to supplement your sunglass protection.

Beware of reflective surfaces. When at the beach or in the water; remember that UV light reflected off sand, water or pavement can also damage the eyes.

Certain medications may increase your sun risk. Be aware that certain medications you are taking may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity). Be sure to ask your Doctor.

Don’t rely on contact lenses. Even if you wear contact lenses with UV protection, remember your sunglasses. Don’t be fooled by clouds. The sun’s rays can pass through haze and clouds.

Indoor tanning is worse than outdoor. Tanning beds can produce UV levels up to 100 times stronger than the sun’s rays. The Academy and other medical organizations recommend against use of these beds.

For more information on keeping eyes healthy or to find an ophthalmologist in your area, visit www.geteyesmart.org.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology The American Academy of Ophthalmology, headquartered in San Francisco, is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons – Eye M.D.s- with nearly 32,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s”