LINKS 4 LIFE ALERTS!

Alert! 1 in 7 Hospitalized Patients Runs Risk Of Wrong Procedure, Complication, Infection, Or Death

2012-05-11T17:50:00.000-04:00

There is an ever-increasing risk of hospital errors, from improper procedures to deadly infections. Too many hospitals are under-staffed, unsuitably unclean, and administratively haphazard. Avoid hospitals if you can. But if you cannot...

The article which follows has been excerpted from a copy of the AARP Monthly Health Newsletter, an excellent informational resource for Baby Boomers, Seniors and Caregivers, too. The photograph inserted appears courtesy of Dan Saelinger, photographer. The odds of your condition worsening, your being treated for the wrong ailment (receiving the treatment for another patient's ailment, or due to a misdiagnosis), suffering complications, infections and even possibly death have gone up dramatically in recent years.

You must be your own (or have your own) patient safety and rights advocate if your must be admitted to a hospital. You must be vigilant and assertive -- it has become a matter of your own survival.

After you've read the article, please hit the "BACK" Button on your browser to return to this site for some of the critical steps that you can take in order to being part of a very sad statistic.

Hospitals May Be the Worst Place to Stay When You're Sick

Plus, how to protect yourself from medical errors

by: Katharine Greider | from: AARP Bulletin | March 1, 2012

American hospitals are capable of great medical feats, but they also are plagued by daily errors that cost lives. No one knows that better than Ilene Corina. In the 1990s, she saw a medical team rescue her fragile premature newborn, but she also endured the death of another son — a healthy 3-year-old — when, she says, doctors failed to attend to complications from a routine tonsillectomy.

Email Scam Alert! - SPOOFING

2012-05-07T12:07:00.000-04:00

Example of Caller ID spoofed via Orange Boxing, both the name and number are faked to reference "leetspeak". (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It has become a sad fact of life. When going through your emails, you might view some seeming authentic-looking correspondence from some seemingly authentic email (or ISP) address. Many of these addresses are not at all what they purport to be -- they are duplicated, or "spoofed" and they add credibility to an email that might contain malware, a virus, a phishing scam, and now -- a whole Pandora's box of mobile abuses, identity thefts, and other creative intrusions. It can even be done with caller IDs.

Please read more about this Alert by going to The Spambox Gold Blog.

Be careful and be skeptical. The combination of more sopisticated technology with economically challenging times multiplies the possibility of computer fraud.

Douglas E. Castle for The Links 4 Life Alerts Blog

Predict Your Heart Attack Weeks In Advance - A Cardiac Breakthrough

2012-04-16T12:00:00.043-04:00

What if you could predict that you were going to suffer a heart attack several weeks in advance? There is increasing evidence that you can, and that life-saving interventions may be implemented to save you from what could have been certain death only a few years ago.

The article excerpt which follows appears courtesy of the SmartPlanet Newsletter, an excellent informational resource. When you've finished reviewing it, please hit the "BACK" button on your browser and return to this page for some more healthcare-critical heart-healthy information:

New blood test predicts heart attack weeks in advance

Scientists have found the holy grail of heart medicine: a simple blood test that can tell patients if they're in imminent danger of having a heart attack within two weeks.
Read the blog...

####

Some Other Heart-Healthy Suggestions (Both Scientific And Anecdotal) To Investigate With Your Healthcare Provider And To Try, If Suitable For You:

1) Exercising (varied routines each time) -- cardiovascular, resistance, and thermogenic, for 30 minutes per day;

2) An aspirin (enterically coated), between 83mg and 325mg per day, in the morning with breakfast....oh, and never skip breakfast!;

3) Conscious, deep, deliberate breathing;

4) Hydrate your system -- drink plenty of purified, clean water throughout the day -- eight glasses or more;

5) Keep levels of "bad cholesterol," homocysteine and other arterial cloggers and heart attack provokers down by:

*Cutting down on red meats, sugars and processed foods of all sorts -- sugar substitutes and butter substitutes are more dangerous than plain sugar, by the way;

*Increasing your intake of leafy green vegetables, particularly those rich in fiber and sulfur (i.e., cruciferous vegetables), non-starchy grains;

*Drinking (believe it or not) one cup of coffee or tea daily, and up to one glass of red wine (if you are not suffering from liver disease or alcoholism) daily with a meal;

*Supplementing your diet with (check with your healthcare provider to determine suitability and levels) Vitamin B, Folic Acid, CoEnzyme Q-10 [especially if you are already taking statin drugs];

*Engaging in deliberate mental exercise for 15 minutes to one hour daily...dare I recommend The Braintenance Blog?; and,

*Meditating for 30 minutes daily, uninterrupted, undistracted and undisturbed.

6) Getting regular physical examinations, including blood tests, electrocardiograms (EKGs), echocardiograms, and, if recommended by your healthcare provider, a stress test.

7) Cutting your total daily caloric intake by 20% to 40% -- you'll likely live longer, too. This can be accomplished more easily than you think by 1) skipping extra portions; 2) eliminating snack foods and heavy desserts; 3) eating smaller meals much more slowly (so that you are never ravenous, and so your hippocampus -- the appetite center in your brain -- can register the fact that you are satisfied.

To your very best health,

Douglas E Castle for The LINKS 4 LIFE ALERTS! Blog

Your Medical Records Are NOT Secure! Be Prepared.

2012-03-13T19:31:00.006-04:00

Although many of us have been spending a great deal of time signing all types of documents (usually served on clipboards) from our healthcare professionals regarding our right to expect confidentiality of our medical and health-related records, we live in an age where records are transmitted via internet and faxed from location to location, with many individual employees of many companies handling and having access to it.

Candidly, the handling of our accumulated historical medical records is subject to a combination of some of the worst aspects of human nature (data theft, identity theft and other mischief), and high-technology (data losses, and misdirected transmittals). Your medical records are not secure, so you must be prepared for the 'occasional' breach, hack or theft and disclosure.

Regardless of what the intention of the lawmakers may be in terms of such legislation as HIPAA, and regardless of the precautions which our healthcare providers, hospitals, processing laboratories and local pharmacies take to comply with the letter and intent of the law, there will continue to be breaches.

What reality forces us to do is to anticipate the possible breach of confidentiality somewhere along the chain of data transmittal, and to be prepared to be confronted with (or embarrassed by) the truth. Aside from the possibility of humiliation, we have to be completely candid on all insurance and other forms and questionnaires upon which certain service providers will depend in order to determine the pricing of their services to us...or even if they are going to provide services to us.

HIPAA does not assure us of the security and confidentiality of our health histories and information. But it does increase the likelihood of our being caught in a lie and punished. Where there can be true no guarantee of privacy or secrecy, we are obligated to use some common-sense self-defense:

1) Tell the truth;

2) Be prepared to explain the circumstances or to answer any questions about your healthcare that you might be forced to address.

Yes, ladies and gents -- it's another case of "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."

Following is a Press Release from the U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services which came out earlier today (March 13th, 2012). Expect more like it. Sadly, the hidden message is that by the time the breach is caught and damage control is undertaken, it will always be too late:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2012

Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS settles HIPAA case with BCBST for $1.5 million

First enforcement action resulting from HITECH Breach Notification Rule

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST) has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) $1,500,000 to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules, Leon Rodriguez, Director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), announced today. BCBST has also agreed to a corrective action plan to address gaps in its HIPAA compliance program.

The enforcement action is the first resulting from a breach report required by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act Breach Notification Rule.

The investigation followed a notice submitted by BCBST to HHS reporting that 57 unencrypted computer hard drives were stolen from a leased facility in Tennessee. The drives contained the protected health information (PHI) of over 1 million individuals, including member names, social security numbers, diagnosis codes, dates of birth, and health plan identification numbers. OCR’s investigation indicated BCBST failed to implement appropriate administrative safeguards to adequately protect information remaining at the leased facility by not performing the required security evaluation in response to operational changes.

In addition, the investigation showed a failure to implement appropriate physical safeguards by not having adequate facility access controls; both of these safeguards are required by the HIPAA Security Rule.

“This settlement sends an important message that OCR expects health plans and health care providers to have in place a carefully designed, delivered, and monitored HIPAA compliance program,” said OCR Director Leon Rodriguez. “The HITECH Breach Notification Rule is an important enforcement tool and OCR will continue to vigorously protect patients’ right to private and secure health information.” {continued}.

####

I wish I had better news, but I don't. In fact, I went into my neighborhood pharmacy to refill a prescription, and I was asked to sign a list, visible to every customer who came to pick a prescription up that day, where I signed my name, and a printed label detailing my prescription appeared, as well as similar information for another nine individuals. I tried not to look at the information regarding all of the customers who had come in before I had, but it was awfully tempting.

Sometimes the best defense is self-defense.

Stay Healthy,

Douglas E. Castle
[http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com]

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Concerned About Genetically-Altered Foods?

2012-02-15T19:33:00.006-05:00

The peoples of the world have been eating genetically altered crops (fruits, vegetables, individually packaged or in prepared meals) for many years. The effects on Humans of genetically-altered foods are not fully known, although there seems to be mounting suspicion that hormones, additives and genetic alterations (restructuring of the DNA) of fruits, vegetables, nuts and other edibles might be unhealthy. That is not the issue here. There is no need to debate that which has not been scientifically and consistently proven.

Recently, genetically-engineered fish and other animal foods have made their way into the global supermarket. While I do not want to guess what the effects of eating these products might ultimately be, I believe that as consumers, we should be fully informed conspicuously ON THE FOOD PACKAGE LABEL as to whether the product in the package with has been de-natured...genetically engineered.

I am not a Member of MoveOn.org, but I have found my way onto their mailing list. I noticed the letter which follows in my inbox earlier today, and wanted to bring it to your attention. I do not personally know the senders, nor endorse the agenda of their organization per se, but I am an advocate of transparency and disclosure where Human life and health may be concerned.

Please read the petition which follows, which I am forwarding to our LINKS 4 LIFE ALERTS readership. Please forward this to your family, friends and colleagues for their information. Of course, as always you are invited to follow us on Twitter, at http://twitter.com/Links4LifeAlrts .

-----------------
Below is an email from Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation, and Gary Hirshberg, chairman of Stonyfield Farm. Eric and Gary created a petition on SignOn.org that is getting a lot of attention. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition, click here.

The FDA is on the brink of approving genetically engineered salmon for human consumption. This would be the first genetically engineered animal on supermarket shelves in the United States.

The salmon is engineered to produce growth hormones year-round that cause the fish to grow at twice the normal rate. The government already requires labels to tell us if fish is wild-caught or farm-raised—don't we also have a right to know if our salmon is genetically engineered? Without labels, we'll never know.

More than forty countries, including Russia and China, already require labels on genetically engineered foods. As Americans, we firmly believe that we deserve the same right to know what we are eating.

That's why I created a petition to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on SignOn.org, which says:

Commissioner Hamburg, we urge the FDA to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. We have a right to know about the food we eat and what we feed our families, but under current FDA regulations, we don't have that ability when it comes to genetically engineered foods.

Polls show that more than 90% of Americans support mandatory labeling. Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare. Please listen to the American public and mandate labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Will you sign the petition? Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271198&id=35802-16920799-i23fvyx&t=2

Thanks!

–Eric Schlosser and Gary Hirshberg

The text above was written by Eric Schlosser and Gary Hirshberg, not by MoveOn staff, and MoveOn is not responsible for the content. This email was sent through MoveOn's secure system, and your information has been kept private.

---------------

Each of us has at least three responsibilities to carry out during the course of our lives -- one is to ask questions -- one is to demand honest and complete answers --- and the last is to do everything that we must in order to ensure that we can carry out the first two responsibilities without fear.

Stay healthy. Be Strong.

Douglas E. Castle
[http://www.linkedin.com/in/douglascastle]
[http://Links4LifeAlerts.com]

Alert: Possible Electromagnetic (EMF and ELF) Health Hazards.

2012-02-10T17:26:00.000-05:00

Exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMF), even lower-frequency radiation (ELF) of any sort for any period of time has been correlated, through multiple sources and studies, with an increased incidence of many diseases, some of them incurable and some of them fatal. The EPA has avoided affirming this directly, and has only gone so far as stating that "EMF may be a causative factor in childhood leukemia." I believe, as do others that there is a great deal more to this frightening story that we are not being told by government-sponsored studies and conventional government-sponsored media outlets.

Definitions:

From The EPA -

Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device that is plugged in and turned on. EMF are made up of waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together (radiating) through space. Electric fields are produced by electric charges and magnetic fields are produced by the flow of current through wires or electrical devices.

EMF is commonly associated with power lines. A person standing directly under a high-voltage transmission line may feel a mild shock when touching something that conducts electricity. These sensations are caused by the strong electric fields from the high-voltage electricity in the lines. They occur only at close range because the electric fields rapidly become weaker as the distance from the line increases.

From Wikipedia -

In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. Two types of radiation are commonly differentiated in the way they interact with normal chemical matter: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. The word radiation is often colloquially used in reference to ionizing radiation (i.e., radiation having sufficient energy to ionize an atom), but the term radiation may correctly also refer to non-ionizing radiation (e.g., radio waves, heat or visible light). The particles or waves radiate (i.e., travel outward in all directions) from a source. This aspect leads to a system of measurements and physical units that are applicable to all types of radiation.

Both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation can be harmful to organisms and can result in changes to the natural environment. In general, however, ionizing radiation is far more harmful to living organisms per unit of energy deposited than non-ionizing radiation, since the ions that are produced by ionizing radiation, even at low radiation powers, have the potential to cause DNA damage. By contrast, most non-ionizing radiation is harmful to organisms only in proportion to the thermal energy deposited, and is conventionally considered harmless at low powers which do not produce significant temperature rise. Ultraviolet radiation in some aspects occupies a middle ground, in having some features of both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Although nearly all of the ultraviolet spectrum of radiation is non-ionizing, at the same time ultraviolet radiation does far more damage to many molecules in biological systems than is accounted for by heating effects (an example is sunburn). These properties derive from ultraviolet's power to alter chemical bonds, even without having quite enough energy to ionize atoms.

The question of harm to biological systems due to low-power ionizing and non-ionization radiation is not settled. Controversy continues about possible non-heating effects of low-power non-ionizing radiation, such as non-heating microwave and radio wave exposure. Non-ionizing radiation is usually considered to have no completely safe lower limit, although at some energy levels, new exposures do not add appreciably to background radiation. The evidence that small amounts of some types of ionizing radiation might confer a net health benefit in some situations is called radiation hormesis.

---------------

Some Common Sources Of Electromagnetic Radiation include these...

Dangers Associated With Both Low-Frequency Radiation and Higher-Frequency Radiation:

Nervous system symptoms, like fatigue, stress and sleep disturbances
Skin symptoms, like facial prickling, burning sensations and rashes
Body symptoms, like pains and aches in your muscles
Eye symptoms, such as burning sensations
Foggy thinking and depression
A variety of less common symptoms, like ear, nose, and throat symptoms and digestive disorders
Infertility
Leukemia in children, breast cancer or cancer clusters have been linked to high exposure to EMFs
Abnormal nerve damage, sensory loss, tumor growth, circulatory problems, psychological and psychiatric problems as well as cancers of the head and neck due to prolonged cellular/ mobile telephone use at the closest possible range for long periods of time at each usage interval -- cellphones are absolutely dangerous!

---------------

To date there are 1) no fully conclusive, objective studies by any credible scientific agencies or recognized world authorities [there are many anecdotal, scientific anecdotal correlative studies, but they do not carry a sufficient weight of credibility to force any of the national or international health agencies to re-examine their ancient or flawed studies dating as far back as 10 - 20 years], and 2) There are no official regulatory bodies or regulatory guidelines governing the use, exposure to or construction of radiation-generating equipment or power facilities.

Protect Yourself:

While there is plenty or opportunistic quackery and puffery on the Internet and elsewhere offering products to shield you from radiation, or cleanse your body from its toxic effects, there are none which I would endorse.

1) Practically speaking, minimize your exposure to EMF-emitting or radiating devices;

2) Maintain the maximum possible distance from EMF-emitting or radiating devices;

3) Minimize the use of your cellphone in every possible way, and avoid such devices as receiver earpieces (Bluetooth and similar devices) which can cause just as much damage. It is better to use the speakerphone feature, or the text messaging feature of these cordless cripplers than to stay electronically "attached" to them;

4) Keep a safe distance from your computer screen, and don;t use laptops or notebooks in your lap if you can avoid this.

While the evidence is not fully conclusive or endorsed, it is indeed compelling. Please err on the side of caution to the greatest extent possible.

Here's to your health and longevity,

Douglas E Castle for LINKS 4 LIFE ALERTS!

p.s. Please follow us on Twitter at both of our Twitter Sites [different content on each], located at Links4LifeAlrt and Inspired2Win. Thank you in advance for joining us.

Does Belly Armor Block Pregnant Women from Radiation? (treehugger.com)
Motorcycle Cancer Risk and ELF EMF Radiation Invasion of Gastrointestinal Melatonin (prweb.com)
EMF survey in Gahanna Ohio (homeinspectionsinohio.wordpress.com)
Electromagnetic Sensitivity in Sweden (theness.com)
Electrical Magnetic Fields EMF survey in Columbus Ohio (homeinspectionsinohio.wordpress.com)
Dirty electricity and your health (aboundingwellness.wordpress.com)
Electro Magnetic Field Energy- EMF- What Is It And How Does It Affect Us (pascovet.wordpress.com)
Ionizing Radiation and Medical Imaging (environmentalhealthtoday.wordpress.com)
LNT model debunked by Berkeley Lab researchers (junkscience.com)
Study: Low-dose radiation may not be proportional to cancer risks (smartbrief.com)
Nuke agency reports unusual radiation activity in Europe (atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com)
Pluristem to expand study of radiation exposure treatment (smartbrief.com)
Medical Study: Laptops, WiFi and Male Infertility (technorati.com)
Questions Linger on Safety of Airport Body Scanners (wired.com)
Magnetoastrocoolness: How Cosmic Magnetic Fields Shape Planetary Systems (blogs.scientificamerican.com)
RxBio gets funding to further develop radiation drug (smartbrief.com)
Next-Gen Spacesuits (science.slashdot.org)
New take on impacts of low dose radiation (medicalxpress.com)

SIGNS OF SUICIDALITY - SUICIDE HOTLINES!

2012-01-27T13:43:00.000-05:00

Suicide Warning Signs

People who are depressed are more likely to attempt suicide. Warning signs include talking about death or suicide, threatening to hurt people, or engaging in aggressive or risky behavior. Anyone who appears suicidal should be taken very seriously. Do not hesitate to call one of the suicide hotlines: 800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433) and 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). If you have a plan to commit suicide, go to the emergency room for immediate treatment.

To those of you who suffer from recurring thoughts of suicide. Please seek treatment. There is hope, there is care and there is support. Most importantly...there are alternatives to ending your life.

Life can be excrutiatingly painful at times, but while you are alive there are opportunities for positive change. Don't give up hope. Fight back. I've been there, and I care about every single one of you.

Douglas E Castle for LINK 4 LIFE ALERTS!
[http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com]

Government Assistance Programs Update - January 10, 2012

2012-01-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

This is just a brief news update from Links 4 Life Alerts! regarding US federal government and state government aid programs for families and individuals in need of assistance, and some information about government aid measures being undertaken and underwritten in other countries, as well.

The last items on the list are probably the most important of all. This synopsis (deluxe with hyperlinks) has been prepared with the assistance of Google search tools. I felt that it might be a good idea, at least from time to time, to provide the general public with a collection of news updates regarding government aid programs. It might provide answers for two questions:

1) What programs might be of available or of use to me or to my loved ones?, and

2) Aside from bailing out the big banks, financial institutions, government agencies, and paying legislators, A) where have my tax dollars gone?, and B) how may I get some of my contribution restored to me? (i.e., a personal or family "bailout" program)

SNAP Food Stamps; Apply food Stamps changes; SNAP Welfare like Program or Food ...
Learning and Finance
In doing so, candidates are focusing on programs they think are in need of modification. According to the Presidential hopefuls, it is all in the name of a healthier bottom line for America. According to government statistics, domestic food aid in the ...
See all stories on this topic »

Federal Government Awards $3.4 Million To Union County For Homeless
NJ TODAY
UNION COUNTY – Union County will receive a grant of $3426758 from the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance program of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These federal dollars provide permanent and transitional housing for ...
See all stories on this topic »

Coburn says Oklahoma ag program promoting local farmers markets is waste of $90000
Tulsa World
"In light of the robust success these enterprises are enjoying, it is questionable why federal assistance for farmers' markets is even needed." By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Coming in at about $90000 did not keep an Oklahoma program ...
See all stories on this topic »

Colonization program remains important driver of deforestation in Brazil
Mongabay.com
Settlers tend to clear forest because they "are typically unfamiliar with local farming practices and are often deprived of appropriate technical assistance, which contribute to the high rate of lot abandonment and turnover, and subsequent demand for ...
See all stories on this topic »

Mississippi Public Benefits Drug Test Bill Proposed
Hawaii News Daily
The bill would apply to people receiving Medicaid, food stamps, electronic benefit transfer cards and other state assistance program benefits. "Our system is abused," Watson said. "Across the state, lawmakers have big hearts and truly want to help ...
See all stories on this topic »

Elsevier Foundation Awards 2011 Grants to Advance Women in Science and Support ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The Tribunal was established in 1987 as part of a settlement agreement between RMI and the US government. It gave the Tribunal exclusive jurisdiction to settle all claims arising from the Nuclear Testing Program. The library contains unique holdings ...
See all stories on this topic »

After the quake, praise becomes resentment in Haiti
iWatch News
Judith St. Fort, director of the Haiti Assistance Program of the American Red Cross, which received $486 million in donations for Haiti, said Haiti is a challenging place to work — more so after the earthquake. She cited a long list of issues that ...
See all stories on this topic »

Madison Co Senator Frank Ginn Legislative Preview
News Talk 810
If passed, this legislation would require individuals seeking government assistance to undergo screening for illegal drugs to determine welfare eligibility. The proposed legislation is intended to help families that need assistance while also providing ...
See all stories on this topic »

*Most significant news involving 1) help for paying the costs of housing, and 2) financial aid for single mothers:

assistance, housing assistance: Free Assistance Programs
Do you eed help for paying rent, medical or energy bills? You might qualify for some of the free government assistance programs. Please check it out at: http://fr.
free-assistance-programs.freejoy.aidpage.com/

Government Financial Aid for Single Moms
See what sorts of Government Financial Aid is available for Single Moms. ... Apply for food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, ...
www.singlemomeducationhelp.com/government-financial-aid-...

---------------
While I have never been a champion of either big business or big government per se, and while I am sickened at the thought of a growing and increasingly unproductive Welfare State, I am an advocate of individual rights, Humanitarianism, and value. And by value, I mean getting a return of some sort, in times of dire need, on the vast sums of money paid by consumers to government at all levels in the form of taxes of all kinds. Sadly, this becomes all the more important when government has been less than responsible or accountable as a fiduciary agency in serving the needs of its citizens and constituents. We are entitled to receive something in exchange for the large portion of our earnings which are paid to the government, ostensibly, to help us.

To your physical, emotional and fiscal health,

Douglas E Castle for Links 4 Life Alerts!

Alert! Repetitive Stress Injuries And You (Yes, You)

2012-01-05T13:30:00.000-05:00

Almost two years ago I underwent a surgical procedure for Guyon's Syndrome and had a cubitotomy (an elbow surgery). I had been dealing with an increasing ache in my left forearm, and an increasing weakness, numbness and tingling in my left pinky and ring finger. The muscle between my thumb and my first finger was actually beginning to atrophy. Apparently, as I had found out too late, I had actually displaced my ulnar nerve. Many of my acquaintances have suffered carpal tunnel syndrome -- some have had physical therapy, some have needed surgery, and some have had to limit their computer keyboarding activities. Repetitive Stress Injuries (Repetitive Strain Injuries) are serious business, and their incidence is on the rise.

We do significant damage to ourselves when we make certain motions with great frequency. A small flaw in posture or positioning, or even just the repetitive act itself, can cause nerve and muscle damage.

If you use a keyboard, do a great deal of texting, or engage in any repetitive activity and you notice numbness, tingling, weakness or pain, don't wait -- see a qualified neurologist immediately! These injuries do not repair themselves, or go away over time -- they worsen. Early intervention is absolutely the key to minimizing damage. While certain do-it-yourself home remedies may provide symptomatic relief, don't even try them until you've seen a neurologist. He or she might refer you to a physical therapist or an orthopedic surgeon.

If you're achin', get shakin'. Don't soldier it out. Get seen by an expert.

Nothing further -- I suspect that you folks already know who you are. Let this Alert! be a wake-up call for early intervention!

Douglas E Castle for LINKS 4 LIFE ALERTS!

Returning Veterans Need Everyone's Help

2012-01-02T13:53:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaVeterans returning from war are faced with an overwhelming bundle of problems, including adjusting to civilian life, finding employment, PTSD, financial dilemmas (the number of returning soldiers faced with foreclosure and bankruptcy is staggering), family problems and a myriad of physical and emotional health issues. They are hard-pressed to find government-sponsored assistance, resources or support. They are the forgotten casualties of war.

Regardless of how you feel about the right or wrong of war, it is a sad fact of life...at least for the present. And the collateral damage and fallout from prosecuting a war are always far greater than any government statistics show. After all, if most of us understood the exorbitant cost of war in terms of human life, we might try to settle our differences in some other way.

Those who have risked their lives in service to their countries are still at risk on their return. They have a disproportionately increased incidence (versus the population as a whole) of suicide, drug abuse, and social (even criminal) misconduct. They need help to come to them -- their own attempts to get the assistance that they need are too often futile.

I am an enemy of wars, in general. But I am unconditionally a champion of The Wounded Warriors Project. And I believe that soldiers are Human Beings who need to be recognized and treated as such. Most of them are anti-war: especially since they've seen the trauma first-hand, and so few revel in the glory of "victory."

Douglas E. Castle for Links 4 Life Alerts.
---------------

A letter from Tiffany Mellers to Douglas E. Castle, Titled "The Greatest Casualty Is Being Forgotten."

After almost nine years, the loss of more than 4,400 of my fellow American soldiers and countless Iraqi civilian lives, and at a cost of $800 billion that was badly needed at home, the War in Iraq is over.

Finally, the troops have come home, where they belong.

As an Army Reservist, I'm part of a brother and sisterhood. We look out for each other during good times and bad. The mission has been accomplished, not because we're leaving Iraq, but because our troops committed themselves to their country and have served the people of the United States to the best of their abilities.

Right or wrong, our nation sent these troops to war. Our military men and women have done their duty and for that they deserve our thanks. Now, my fellow veterans need our support.

The Wounded Warrior Project is dedicated to helping the thousands of wounded warriors returning home from the current conflicts and their families. Will you chip in whatever you can afford during this season of giving as a tax-deductible contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project?

Click here to give to the Wounded Warrior Project:

http://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

The tag line of the Wounded Warriors is, "The greatest casualty is being forgotten." Now that the war is receding from the headlines and soldiers are reentering civilian life, it's critical that this generation of troops is supported.

Veterans, suffering from wounds both seen and unseen, have returned to high unemployment. Thousands are homeless or about to lose their homes. They need treatment for their injuries and support transitioning to civilian life. In short, my fellow veterans need our help.

One of the most important principles of the Wounded Warriors is their emphasis on helping injured servicemembers aid and assist each other. That's how we ensure that we will have the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded servicemembers in our nation's history.

No matter whether you opposed the war or supported it, will you help support our veterans by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project?

Contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Thank you for helping our wounded warriors.

–Tiffany

P.S. For more information about the Wounded Warrior Project, go to http://woundedwarriorproject.org.

This email was sent to George W. Bush on December 30, 2011. Actually, George W. Bush is a convenient pseudonym for Douglas E. Castle, when he's receiving stacks of email solicitations from various cause-based organizations... especially those generally regarded as being "liberal" or "progressive." In cases where the cause is deemed "conservative," "Republican," "traditional values" or "right-wing," I use Al Franken as a pseudonym.

*The telephone number for the Veteran's Administration's Crisis Hotline is 800-273-8255. Write it down. Keep it at hand. Let others know about it. If you are a veteran, or if you know of a veteran who is in crisis, get on the phone and make that call. Be persistent. Don't take "no" or " we don't know" for an answer.

Connecting Students With Private Tutors - TutorHunt

2011-12-27T17:26:00.000-05:00

I recently received a letter from Mr. Jack Smith of TUTORHUNT, a free service which connects, via computer, students and private tutors across a comprehensive range of subjects and anywhere in the United States. It promises to be a terrific resource for our supplementing our children's education, and especially for "shoring up" any specific areas of weakness (mine was mathematics).

If your child needs tutoring in any particular subject area -- especially given the limited resources available for individualized attention through the public education system -- I would highly recommend that you visit this site, which can be found at http://www.TutorHunt.com.

Incidentally, if you are an experienced and qualified tutor with a quality background and favorable references, you can also go right to the site, and get yourself registered as a tutor in your particular area of specialization and within your preferred geographical locus.

And now, an excerpt from Jack's email to me:

I am enquiring if you would at all be interested in linking to my website http://www.tutorhunt.com/ from your page, http://links4lifealerts.com/.

We provide a completely free service for tutors whereby students can find the nearest tutor to them who matches their requirements. Our service is used by thousands of parents and students, and I feel that Tutor Hunt could be a useful resource for your readers.

Thank you for your consideration.

Kind Regards,
Jack
http://www.tutorhunt.com/
---------------

I will also be listing Tutor Hunt in our Resources Section here at Links4LifeAlerts. Education is a critical necessity for our children's survival and success, and lamentably, a quality education with personal attention to an individual student's needs is becoming increasingly difficult to find. TutorHunt provides a matchmaking service for tutors and students in need.

Education is a valuable investment in any student's future.

Douglas E. Castle [http://DouglasCastleRSSFeeds.blogspot.com]

Diabetes Prevention, Treatment - Cinnamon Hopes!

2011-12-18T12:58:00.000-05:00

Diabetes, an endocrine disorder, is one of the greatest health risks facing the entire public. The United States leads the world in the percentage of the total population diagnosed with this condition. A function of BMI (Body Mass Index); diet and nutrition; hypertension; lack of exercise; and of course, genetics, diabetes, both Type I and Type II are altogether too commonplace. This disease is implicated as a cause of impaired blood circulation, stroke, and numerous other potentially fatal conditions.

Non-preventive prescription treatments such as insulin, metformin and post-effective dietary control are not solutions. The idea is to prevent the disease from developing.

It is long been thought that the ingestion of certain herbs, such as curcumin (turmeric), cinnamon* and even ginger, as well as some minerals such as chromium picolinate, may help aid in the body's glucose processing, and may therefore, either act as mitigative or preventive agents, or as naturopathic remedies. Much of this information is anecdotal, and has not been properly confirmed using the Scientific Method.

However, these is some potential good news for diabetics and those who would like to decrease the likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus concerning the glucose-metabolizing effects of cinnamon. The following article excerpt follows from Drug Store News:

Cinnamon may curb glucose levels in diabetes patients
Consuming cinnamon may help regulate blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a meta-analysis of eight trials, published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods. Liquid cinnamon extracts create concentrated levels of certain procyanidins that are thought to be associated with healthy glucose levels. Drug Store News (12/1)

Regardless of this promising news, ingesting meals or snacks containing high amounts of sugars or fats, eating intelligently, and exercising are still part of the regimen for curbing the likelihood of getting this illness, and for allowing it to worsen post-diagnosis.

Some additional articles of interest follow for your review regarding some other naturopathic and allopathic news and discoveries regarding the diabetes dilemma. The more you learn about the mechanics of your health and the more religiously that you apply that knowledge, the likelier that you will live a longer, healthier, happier life.

And as always, that is my wish for you and your loved ones. Please remember to forward this article to your family, friends and colleagues. Pass it on, and pay it forward!

Douglas E. Castle for Links 4 Life Alerts!

12 Powerfoods to Beat Diabetes (chroniclesofadiabetic.wordpress.com)
Insulin Signaling Is Distorted In Pancreases Of Type 2 Diabetics (medicalnewstoday.com)
Claims of 24,000 'excess' deaths from diabetes (nhs.uk)
Cinnamon (biosil.wordpress.com)
Diabetes and Weight loss: What You Should Know (thediamondringreview.com)
Diabetes Basics Guide - Types, Symptoms, And How To Treat It (bangunkerto.wordpress.com)
Diabetes and Medicines - Herbs 7a (diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com)
Spices & Herbs Health Benefits and Adding Spices to Foods (webmd.com)
Turmeric Benefits: Essential In Curing Common Ailments (e-prescribe.biz)
Diabetes and Medicines - 5 - Herbs! (diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com)
Antioxidant Spices - Found To Reduce The Negative Effects Of High-Fat Foods (blogcritics.org)
8 of the World's Healthiest Spices And Herbs You Should Be Eating (xblivingnaturally.wordpress.com)
Optimizing Blood Sugar Control in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (psychologytoday.com)
Chromium - The Blood's Sugar Balance Buddy (nakedlivinghelen.wordpress.com)

---------------
* Think of the irony of cinnamon and sugar (my two favorite toppings for breakfast French Toast) combined in so many foods [especially in some very fine Indian dishes, where cinnamon is also enhanced with turmeric, fenugreek and other ayurvedic and naturopathic medicinal spices] in terms of their relative effects in the etiology of diabetes mellitus!

Another interesting observation is that many nutritional supplements for either body-building or weight loss have included chromium picolinate as a "fat blaster" ingredient for more than 15 years. If big pharma could patent these substances, I'd bet my best fedora that they would be prescribed in various concentrated doses by mainstream physicians every day.

Going further, as a Global Futurist, I will predict that one of fields that the large pharmaceutical companies (with the support of the FDA in the USA) will be going into is taking prescription medications and "hybridizing" them with naturopathic remedies to produce a new generation of patentable formulas for profit.

Dangerous Herbal Supplements - Consumer Alert! - Links4LifeAlerts

2011-11-10T13:29:00.001-05:00

Dangerous Herbal Supplements, Interactions with prescription medicines, Potential side-effects -- Beware, self-medicators!

Many of us have become involved in the practice of self-medication. There are many reasons for this: increased advertising of both pharmaceuticals and "non-drug" supplements on TV and other media; a global move (a paradigm shift) in the general direction of alternative medicine; clinical medical care has become increasingly expensive, with corresponding coverage decreasing; herbal supplements are sometimes so inexpensive that they seem "worth a try," and they save you the cost of a physician's visit; the misconception that because they are called "drug free" or "chemical free" [both of which claims are actually inaccurate], some of us feel (wrongly!) that they won't be as addictive or as damaging to the body.

Have you heard something like this: "I don't take any Lunesta, Ambien or even Sominex. I get the sleep I need naturally by taking some valerian, some melatonin, and some 5-HTP (a type of tryptophan). It works great for me!"?

I am an advocate of nutritional supplementation, but not without informing your primary healthcare provider (many 'herbal' remedies have contraindications or potentially harmful interactions with prescription medications), and without doing some very thorough research on the nature of the supplement, the supplier, the dosing, the side effects, and all of the other potential dangers. Remember: Every supplement, just like every prescription medication, is comprised of chemicals.

Some supplements, in particular, may pose a particularly high risk to certain individuals -- yet, they are taken by a large percent of our society's "do-it-yourself" homemade shamans. Check the list below (which is by NO MEANS complete) to be certain that you are aware of the perils associated with some of these 'natural remedies'. You might decide to stop taking them, or to speak with your healthcare provider and get his or her input. Do this immediately. Please don't wait.

We lose readership when people become ill or pass away.

On a serious note, spread the news -- forward this article to everyone about whom you care, and share it on your social media. Be part of the effort to build a healthier world! It only takes a bit of time (and no money) to do a great deal of good for a great many of our fellow (and female) Human Beings.
---------------
Here's the word from WebMD:

5 Risky Herbal Supplements

Even though they're natural, some herbal supplements can be dangerous.

By Sonya Collins
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

"All natural" -- it's on the labels of a growing number of foods, cosmetics, cleaning products, and over-the-counter remedies. This is, in part, what makes herbal medicine so popular. But does natural always mean safe?
Herbal medicine is the use of plants as medicine. Typically taken by mouth or applied to the skin, medicinal herbs can come in several forms, such as ointments, oils, capsules, tablets, and teas.

Risky Herbs

"Some people think herbal supplements really work but that they are harmless," but if it acts like a drug in the body, then it can also have a negative effect, says Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, an expert on medicinal herbs and dietary supplements and a professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
"Most herbs we use in the U.S. are pretty benign," Fugh-Berman says, "but some are dangerous and others are if not taken correctly."
Anything that works like a drug is going to have some risks, says Cydney McQueen, PharmD, a professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy.
For herbs that pose major risks, the most common risks are liver and kidney damage and drug interactions.
Here are examples of herbs that carry risks you may not know about. This is not a complete list of every potentially risky herb or other supplement; it simply shows that some very risky substances are available to anyone over the counter. So again, be sure to talk to your health care providers before taking any herbs.

St. John's Wort

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) can ease mild to moderate depression, says Andrew Weil, MD, who is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. But there is not enough evidence that it helps with major depression.
Besides, depression isn't something to treat without help. "It's not the common cold. If someone wants to use St. John's wort for depression, they still must be managed by a health care provider," McQueen tells WebMD.
Here's one major reason why: drug interactions. St. John's wort can make many other drugs less effective. There have been cases of unintended pregnancies in women taking St. John's wort and birth control pills and cases of organ rejection in those taking St John's wort with anti-rejection drugs after a transplant.
"If you are taking any prescription drug and are interested in trying a course of St. John's wort for mild to moderate depression, first discuss possible interactions with your doctor or pharmacist," says Weil, whose line of dietary supplements includes a product containing St. John's wort.

Kava

Kava (Piper methysticum) can reduce anxiety, and for some it has worked as well as prescription anti-anxiety drugs. But it may take up to eight weeks to work. In women experiencing anxiety in menopause, kava has worked in as little as one week, according to the National Institutes of Health.
However, the National Institutes of Health and the FDA urge people not to take kava because of the risk of serious illness, liver damage, and death even when taken for only a short time at normal doses. Kava use has led to liver transplants and death in one to three months. "Heavy kava use has been linked to nerve damage and skin changes," Weil tells WebMD.

Comfrey

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) has "a well-deserved reputation for healing injured tissues," such as wounds, bruises, sprains, bone fractures, and the swelling and inflammation that can go along with them, Weil tells WebMD. But because of the risk for severe liver and possibly lung damage, "comfrey should never be taken by mouth," Weil says.
The FDA recommended in 2001 that manufacturers remove comfrey products from the market. Still, comfrey is easy to find.
"My local coffee shop serves comfrey tea, and when I told them it was a liver-toxic herb, they said, ‘Oh, we sell a lot of it," Fugh-Berman says.
Weil recommends applying comfrey to wounds that don't heal easily, including open bedsores and diabetic ulcers. However, the U.S. Pharmacopeia, a scientific organization that sets standards for dietary supplements, advises against using comfrey on broken skin, as the toxins that may affect the liver can be absorbed.

Chaparral

Chaparral (Larrea divaricata) is said to reduce pain, inflammation, and skin irritation. However, there is little evidence for this, Weil tells WebMD. Chaparral has also been promoted as a cancer-fighting herb, but according to the American Cancer Society, there is no evidence supporting that, either.
Easily found online in many forms, chaparral has been listed in the FDA's poisonous plant database since 1997 because of the risk of severe -- and in some cases, irreversible -- liver damage.
According to the American Cancer Society, chaparral can cause serious drug interactions with some prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including blood thinners; anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen; diabetes medications, and certain antidepressants.

Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) has not been proven effective for any suggested uses. It was traditionally used to cause abortion, but the large doses required for this could kill the mother or cause irreversible damage to the liver and kidneys, according to the National Institutes of Health.
According to the National Institutes of Health, pennyroyal oil is considered unsafe for anyone at any dose, and it is unknown whether the tea is safe.

How Can I Choose a Safe Herbal Supplement?

These are steps everyone should take before taking any herb, says Tod Cooperman, MD, who is president of ConsumerLab, which tests the safety and quality of dietary supplements.
Do your homework. Before starting any herbal medicine, find out:

Is it safe?
Does it work?
What dosage works?
What part of the plant works? (root, stem, leaf)

Talk to your health care team. Tell all of those involved in your health care -- physical and mental health -- that you're considering taking an herbal supplement. Discuss whether the supplement is safe and effective in general and for you specifically. Remind health care providers of any conditions you have and any prescription or over-the-counter medications you take. Don't wait for them to ask.

Get a quality product. Check the label for the plant's common and Latin names and the plant part used, Weil advises. If it's the root that's effective, you won't benefit from tablets made from the stem.
Look for a quality seal. "Herbals are the most likely of all supplements to contain contaminants," Cooperman says. The three major quality seals are the USP seal (US Pharmacopeia), the NSF seal (National Sanitation Foundation), and the CL seal, issued by Cooperman's Consumer Lab.
Each of these seals indicates that the product ingredients match the label and that if there are contaminants present, they do not exceed safe levels. USP and NSF make sure the product meets Good Manufacturing Practices set by the FDA. CL holds products to standards set by the state of California, which are more stringent than the FDA's standards, Cooperman says. USP and CL also verify that supplements will break apart in the body.
Go for supplements made by big companies, McQueen suggests. Major store brands or manufacturers of FDA-regulated drugs are the most likely to adhere to quality standards.

Test tablets. "Typically herbals are powders in capsules that you don't need to worry about, but make sure tablets will break apart and release ingredients in your body," Cooperman says. Put the pill in body-temperature water and give it about 45 minutes to fall apart. "If it stays intact, it's likely doing the same thing in your body," Cooperman says.
---------------

Please take the best care of your mind and body.

To your very best health,

Douglas E Castle

Your Health: Licorice Lovers' Alert -- Really...

2011-11-01T11:10:00.000-04:00

Black licorice is an old fashioned treat that can be harmful if you eat too much. If you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for two weeks could cause an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Sadly, it happens to be one of my favorite flavorings and snacks -- and many other persons suffer from this same affliction/addiction. But you don't have to turn in your membership card at Licorice Lovers Unanimous if you enjoy this treat in moderation.

Licorice, and a particular chemical in it, glycyrrhizin, can cause dangerous drops in the body's required levels of potassium. Here are some basic guidelines:

Health Alert: Licorice Lovers Unanimous - Don't Overdo It (Seriously...)

The general safety rule for healthy persons under 40 is to consume less than 12 ounces per week, and not more than 3 ounces in any given day.

The general safety rule for healthy persons over 40 is to consume less than 2 ounces per day, and not more than 8 ounces per week , in total.

If you suffer from any type of heart ailment, circulatory dysfunction, hypertension or have a compromised immune system (due to transplant surgery, cancer treatments, and the like), avoid licorice.

Bear in mind that many foods, drinks and flavorings (anisette, absinthe, cakes, cookies and pies) also contain glycyrrhizin, and should be enjoyed in careful moderation. Also, certain licorice candies and confections are coated in different colors -- let the consumer beware. Watch out especially for those pink and white licorice comfits.

An FDA alert follows for your information.

FDA: Eat black licorice in moderation
The FDA says eating large amounts of black licorice can cause irregular heart rhythms, and recommends that adults over 40 eat less than 2 ounces a day. The candy contains a compound called glycyrrhizin, which can make potassium levels drop, leading to symptoms including high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. FoodConsumer.org (10/26)

The good news, at least to date, is that there haven't been warnings about red Twizzlers, Swedish Fish, Gummi Bears, and other sugary necessities -- but then again, your dietician and dentist might disagree.

Stay healthy. Stay Happy.

Douglas E Castle

p.s. You might do well to also avoid eating the black Chuckles (if they still sell them) at movie theaters.

Possible Cure For All Viruses

2011-10-17T11:16:00.001-04:00

DRACO, a drug discovered at MIT, may possibly be a cure for all Human viruses.

The article which follows appeared in my Technorati Inbox Folder several days ago, and I wanted to give it some very serious thought before either commenting about it, or writing my post on my greater area of concern. This particular blogger, Michelle Blowers, writes frequently on a number of subjects of great interest to me. She writes simply and well. She occasionally makes me jealous, but I'd never put that in writing. ####

Breakthrough Drug May Kill All Viruses

Researchers at MIT have made a remarkable breakthrough. They have developed a new anti-viral drug that appears to kill every virus they have tried it against, without harming healthy cells or the patient.

They have successfully tested it against a wide range of viral ailments including the common cold, polio and Ebola.

The new drug is called DRACO (Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) Activated Caspase Oligomerizer) and works by inducing infected cells to kill themselves before the virus can spread.

Read more: http://technorati.com/technology/article/breakthrough-drug-may-kill-all-viruses/#ixzz1aUmxd86

About The Author: Michelle Blowers is a technology and Linux enthusiast. She is a successful website designer and former network administrator and computer instructor.
Michelle Blowers's author page

####

You can read the actual M.I.T. announcement about DRACO by clicking on http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/antiviral-0810.html

In the meantime, expect to hear a great deal of news about DRACO. Some questions remain:

1) When might it be commercially available?
2) What are its contraindications and side effects?
3) What might it cost?
4) What impact will this drug, if openly-marketed, have upon large pharmaceuticals companies, healthcare providers?
5) What might pharmaceuticals companies and healthcare providers do to either suppress the approval or commercialization of this drug if it shows tremendous promise.? Thepublic stands to gain, but certain powerful groups may stand to lose.

We'll keep you posted.

Stay healthy, be happy,

Douglas E Castle for LINKS 4 LIFE ALERTS

http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com
http://Links4LifeAlerts.com

DRACO: New Drug Could Cure Almost Any Viral Infection (huffingtonpost.com)
New Drug Could Cure Nearly Any Viral Infection (bioresearchonline.com)
Draco a Cure for Viruses (scienceray.com)
Miracle Drug Can Treat 15 Viruses in Human and Animal Cells (ibtimes.com)
United Therapeutics unit gets federal contract for antiviral drug (smartbrief.com)

Listeria Outbreak: Reduce Your Risk.

2011-10-14T08:10:00.000-04:00

At the present time, there is a dangerous outbreak of Listeriosis, a disease caused by a gram-positive bacterium named Listeria which is present in certain types of foods. Listeria, or Listeriosis (often used interchangeably), is a type of food poisoning. Incidents reported by CDC and other healthcare agencies are calling it an epidemic.
Since knowledge, when applied, is the best form of prevention, an outline of the facts follows:

Listeriosis is a disease caused by a gram-positive bacterium named Listeria that can penetrate and replicate inside human cells.
Most people who become infected have few or no symptoms; when symptoms are present, they usually consist of fever, muscle aches, nausea, or diarrhea. Some people may develop more severe symptoms such as meningitis, mental changes, brain abscesses, or death.
Although most people have self-limited disease, people with risk factors such as an altered or depressed immune response (for example, pregnant females and their fetus or newborn, cancer patients, AIDS patients) are at higher risk for getting the disease and some are more likely to have more severe disease.

The two links below, provided by WebMD, will provide you will further insight into Listeria, its causes, and what you can due to greatly reduce your risk of infection. Please share the wealth and the health by forwarding or sharing this article with everyone about whom you care. Here's the terrible (you'll groan) but necessarily memorable pun:

Go viral with this news.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20111010/listeria-outbreak-now-2nd-largest-in-us-history

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20110929/listeria-are-you-at-risk

Stay healthy and be happy,

Douglas E Castle [http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com]

Links 4 Life Alerts - A free public resource - http://Links4LifeAlerts.com

2 More Deaths in Listeria/Cantaloupe Outbreak (webmd.com)
Listeria Toll Rises to 23 With Two Louisiana Deaths- Kroger Recalls Ice Cream With Unlisted Peanuts (foxnews.com)
Listeria Outbreak Now 2nd Largest in U.S. History (webmd.com)
Listeria Outbreak: Why More Of Us Didn't Get Sick (npr.org)
Listeria Claims 23 Lives, Breaks Record for U.S-borne Food Outbreak (newyork.ibtimes.com)
Listeria Update: Death Toll Reaches 21 in Almost Half the Country (ibtimes.com)
Beef, Cantaloupe Recalls: Tips for Preventing E. Coli, Listeriosis (abcnews.go.com)

Health Alert! Positive Thinking Works.

2011-10-05T10:42:00.002-04:00

Your mental health is sacred, and should be cared for with attention and love. While we cannot always control all of what happens in the world which surrounds us, we can learn to control how we respond to it, and what we learn from it. Pessimism might seem (intellectually) like a good coping strategy to defend us against disappointment and disillusionment, but optimists tend to be mentally and physically healthier. They live longer.

Being healthy is, in great part, a mind-over-matter proposition. If we anticipate and visualize positive outcomes, if we don't catastrophize over our mistakes and let them preoccupy and define us, out bodies tend to be healthier. If we view mistakes as learning experiences instead of as personal failures, we'll bounce back faster, learn more, and increase our possibilities for success.

The Law of Attraction has some basis in reality. We generally get what we think about most of the time because our minds and our bodies, our acts and our deeds, our efforts and our energies move us in the direction of those thoughts which are foremost on our minds. Especially if these thoughts are reaffirmed and become anchored in as part of our psychological programming.

There are a number of remarkable studies published about the benefits of positive thinking and visualization on the outcomes from surgical procedures, and in the probability, extent and speed of recovery from many illness. Positive thinkers tend to be the winners in every way

A recent article in a BigThink newsletter reinforces this deliberate positive perspective:

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Optimistic Versus Pessimistic Brains

People who think they can learn from their errors have a different brain reaction to making mistakes than people who think intelligence is fixed. The former group bounces back better.

Failure is inevitable some of the time, as are disappointment and disillusionment. The idea is to accept these as necessary, educational parts of your life. I've heard it said that "the road to success is built upon failure," and I believe that it's true. The only certain way to avoid failure is essentially not to experience life. If you can rapidly rebound from a disappointment, setback or failure, you have tremendously increased odds to achieve success. Failure can either be a paralyzer or a motivator...let it motivate you to press onward.

Be cognizant of your thinking process. Be good to your mind, and to yourself. Your body will be grateful as well. Please read the related articles which follow this post. They will help you to convince yourself.

Wishing you wonderful health,

Douglas E Castle [http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com]

Links 4 Life Undergoing Checkup.

2011-10-03T23:55:00.000-04:00

Apologies, dear readers and respected colleagues! We are currently in the process of re-constructing our blog templates in order to improve your reading, learning and interactive experience at each site. We should be able to resume a normalized, more frequent posting schedule by Wednesday evening, 5th October.

Thank you in advance for reading me. And more than this, thank you for your encouragement, support, responsiveness, constructive feedback and loyalty.

Your patience is deeply appreciated.

Faithfully and with respect,
Douglas E Castle

p.s. If you would like something quite interesting to read in the meantime, I would be delighted if you would have a look at http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/2011/10/man-versus-machine.html, and let me know your thoughts.

I would also appreciate your feedback on my most recent post (today) on a blog which has been too-long neglected and is now being reconstructed and re-activated. Visit http://BloggingTipsTricksAndTools.blogspot.com. The blog title is quite misleading (and more than a bit ironic), as you'll notice.

- DC

Health Alert: Skin Cancer Warning!

2011-09-23T21:12:00.000-04:00

Reported incidences of skin cancer have been steadily rising. There are numerous theories about the reason for this increase, ranging from atmospheric change (due to more pollutants and less protectants - greenhouse gases, the ozone layer, radioactive fallout from nuclear power plant disasters, and ambient electromagnetic radiation from the proliferation of cellular and wire-fi communications and other changes) to genetics.

One thing is certain - if you've spent any significant time tanning on the beach or at a tanning salon (even if it was something you did years ago), the likelihood that you either have some precancerous cells or will develop skin cancer is generally far greater than that of your shaded and sheltered counterparts.

Oh, and by the way, glass does not prevent the sun's rays from doing damage to your eyes and skin...neither do popular pigmented 'artificial' tanning sprays. You can easily be overexposed to sun while you ski, or participate in winter sports ... bright sun is reflected on snow and ice to "bounce back" and burn you -- even if the temperature outside is a chilling 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is never too early to have your body thoroughly inspected by a dermatologist in order to establish a "baseline," and to check at least annually thereafter to see if there are any telltale changes in any skin spots or moles. If you develop any sore on your skin which doesn't heal normally, or notice any changes in the size or shape of any "beauty marks" or moles on your body, don't wait. See your dermatologist. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial in keeping you healthy.

By the way, if you should spot a mole which looks like this, you might choose to see a gardener or exterminator instead of your dermatologist:

"That's not funny."

A brief excerpt from WebMD follows, with a link to a skin cancer awareness slideshow:

The Warning Signs of Skin Cancer

Like many cancers, skin cancers -- including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma -- start as precancerous lesions. These precancerous lesions are changes in skin that are not cancer but could become cancer over time. An estimated 40% to 50% of fair-skinned people who live to be 65 will develop at least one skin cancer. Learn to spot the early warning signs. Skin cancer can be cured if it's found and treated early.

To see the slideshow, click *HERE*.

---------------

For those of you who enjoy rules of thumb, there is an "ABCDE" test for possible skin cancers. While this is no substitute for proper medical evaluation and speedy intervention, if you notice a "questionable" mole or pigmentation spot on your skin, this quick test might inspire you to speed up that trip to the doctor's office.

Here's the self-test:

'A' is for Asymmetry

Asymmetry means one half of a mole does not match the other half. Normal moles are symmetrical. When checking your moles or freckles, draw an imaginary line through the middle and compare the two halves. If they do not look the same on both sides, have it checked by a dermatologist.

'B' is for Border

If the border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, or irregular, have it checked by a dermatologist. Melanoma lesions often have uneven borders.

'C' is for Color

A mole that does not have the same color throughout or that has shades of tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red is suspicious. Normal moles are usually a single shade of color. A mole of many shades or that has lightened or darkened should be checked by a doctor.

'D' is for Diameter

A mole is suspicious if the diameter is larger than the eraser of a pencil. Benign moles are usually less than 6 millimeters in diameter.

'E' is for Evolving

A mole that is evolving – shrinking, growing larger, changing color, begins to itch or bleed – should be checked. If a portion of the mole appears elevated, or raised from the skin, have it looked at by a doctor. Melanoma lesions often grow in size or change in height rapidly.

---------------

Remember that you cannot expect every single inch of your skin by yourself. Precancerous moles can be in places that you would never suspect, and that you do not believe have been exposed to the sun.

Please see your dermatologist for a "Skinventory." Gracious - I think that I've invented a clever Lingovation to add to the Lingovation Lexicon.

Stay Healthy And Happy. With All Of My Best,

Douglas E Castle

http://Links4LifeAlerts.com

http://InfoSphereBusinessAlerts.blogspot.com

http://DouglasCastle1.wordpress.com

http://TheInternationalistPage.blogspot.com

LINKS 4 LIFE ALERTS! - Your Health, Your Happiness and Your Financial Security

2011-09-19T19:35:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers:

When you are able to find a quick moment, I would be deeply appreciative if you would be kind enough to visit the actual site for this blog, located at http://Links4LifeAlerts.com and take some time to explore the site and look through our extensive library of links and our trends, breaking news and RSS feeds sections. It is our intention to provide excellent articles (original content which you'll not find elsewhere, but also to be a resource, research and reference center for you to bookmark as one of your favorities.

If you have additional links to resources (websites or blogs) or to RSS feeds which yoiu think would be of benefit to other of our readers and colleagues, please suggest them in a comment of this post, and I will see to it that they are given serious attention. Your input is heartily encouraged.

As always, thank you for reading me, and for your referral of this site to your friends and associates.

Faithfully,

Douglas E Castle
Other Blogs And RSS Feeds By This Author: A comprehensive list of blogs and RSS feeds on various subjects written or moderated by Douglas E Castle may be found by clicking on the orange icon below.

Health Alert! Deadly Mold Spores.

2011-09-11T18:18:00.000-04:00

Image via WikipediaThere is inadequate news coverage and information available about toxic mold syndrome, its potential health hazards, its symptoms, treatment and prevention. That bargain foreclosure home that you are looking at purchasing may be a breeding ground for these highly treatment-resistant toxin-producing mycophytes; this is largely due to the long periods of time that these homes have gone without proper care, cleaning, ventilation. When the bank reclaims a home, it is invariably neglected, and left dark. Most molds thrive in dark, dank areas where there is limited air circulation. Before you buy any home which has been abandoned and untended for more than a few weeks, have it inspected by experts for Black Mold or other Toxic Molds!

In fact, "sick building syndrome," a popular news topic of years ago, was, in most cases caused by a combination of poor ventilation and mold growth. Molds are very resilient organisms which breed very rapidly (through spreading spores), can often endure harsh climate and temperature extremes, and are every bit as deadly as some bacterial and viral infections. They live on organic matter, and can make themselves at home breeding in your sinuses, lungs, and throughout your body.

The symptoms of early-stage mold toxicity and infection in Humans may mimic those of a cold, sinus infection, allergy or light case of the flu. If you are being treated with immune suppressants or any type of steroids (including nasal inhalers), you are exceedingly vulnerable to attack by molds and fungi. If you are otherwise healthy and not being given any type of steroid or immunosuppressant therapy, be certain to see your healthcare provider if you have cold-like or flu-like symptoms (as mentioned earlier) which persist or worsen. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical.

Note: People die from fungal and mold infections. They can absolutely be fatal, especially in infants, the elderly and those being treated with immune suppressant medications and corticosteroids (even in small doses) for conditions such as HIV, cancer, organ transplant recovery, severe arthritis, severe psoriasis, and others.

Here's just a bit of technical background:

Mycotoxins are examples of chemical substances that molds create generally as secondary metabolites, thought to possibly play a role in either helping to prepare the substrate on which they exist for digestion, as defense mechanisms, and some have suggested that they may be produced when the organisms are under stress, which could be related to competition/defense, or simply due to inhospitable environmental conditions. The mycotoxins, which are also neurotoxins (a toxin that is determined to cause neurological damage), most commonly reach people from the air, via spores from the molds in question. They are also found in small particulates at times which may often represent mold dust, small particles of mold that has dried and turned to dust. Spores, when inhaled, can begin to colonize in the sinuses and throughout the body, including the brain, lung and gut after a period of time.
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Following are some hyperlinks to resources to educate yourself and your loved ones about detecting and avoiding mold hazards, signs and symptoms of mold infection, and treatment. Please forward this information to everyone you care about. Awareness and education are the first lines of defense against illness:

1) http://www.mold-help.org/

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold_health_issues

3) http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

4) http://www.webmd.com/search/search_results/default.aspx?query=toxic%20molds&sourceType=undefined

5) http://www.bioidea.net/resources/mold_diseases/

Some additional information about keeping your living and working areas mold-free (or at very least, mold-minimal) is provided below. Note that I have avoided making the obvious rhyme (despite a growing temptation) "There's a fungus among us," throughout this article. I consider this to be somewhat of a victory in self-discipline. Now, back to our agenda:

If mildews or molds are present in your home, it is important that you clean the affected areas right away. A 10 percent bleach solution is most effective in cleaning small areas. If you have a larger area in your home affected by mold or mildew, you should contact a professional to clean it up.

Always wear protective gear, such as gloves and masks, when cleaning areas affected by excessive mildew or mold. Mold can enter your body through the skin of your hands, or through contact with your eyes or mouth. Take extra care when cleaning. Large living or working spaces which may be inhabited by dangerous molds should not be cleaned by non-professionals. Contact a mold-removal service to take care of these large and potentially hazardous jobs.

To your health and happiness,

Douglas E Castle [http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com]

http://Links4LifeAlerts.com
http://Braintenance.blogspot.com
http://TheGlobalFuturist.blogspot.com
http://TheInternationalistPage.blogspot.com
http://InfoSphereBusinessAlerts.blogspot.com

Health Alert! Low Back Pain And Sciatica.

2011-09-01T20:35:00.000-04:00

At some time or another, most of us experience some sort of lower back pain. This can be due to an athletic injury, a twist-and-strain, being overweight (which puts a greater burden on the lower spine), arthritis, a herniated disc, a "pinched nerve," a significant loss of bone density, a torn or strained muscle, a pinched or trapped nerve... If you know the cause of the pain, it doesn't incapacitate you and it rapidly disappears (i.e., after a few days or so), you probably have nothing to fear. Acute and temporary back pain is a part of most people's lives. But chronic, incapacitating back pain of several or more weeks in duration might be indicative of a condition requiring medical attention.

There are several article excerpts, and some links to related articles that may help you to get the help that you need. While I do not endorse self-diagnosis, I do believe that each of us is responsible to 1) learn all that we can about how our bodies work, how to maintain them (wellness and prevention), and what to do in the event that a problem develops, and 2) serve as our own inquisitive, insistent and assertive healthcare advocate. Never let yourself get lost in the "busy healthcare shuffle," or permit someone in a professional capacity to stonewall you or take you less than seriously when you have any question about your health, your treatment, your medications, or any adverse reactions to therapy or medication.

Please read what follows, a portion which appears courtesy of WebMD for those of you who receive Links 4 Life Alerts!:

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to back pain caused by a problem with the sciatic nerve. This is a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks, and leg. Up to 90% of people recover without surgery.

Symptoms of Sciatica

The most common symptom of sciatica is lower back pain that extends through the hip and buttock and down one leg. The pain usually affects only one leg and may get worse when you sit, cough, or sneeze. The leg may also feel numb, weak, or tingly at times. The symptoms of sciatica tend to appear suddenly and can last for days or weeks.

Sciatica or Other Back Pain?

Up to 85% of Americans experience some type of back pain during their lives. But this doesn't always involve the sciatic nerve. In many cases, back pain is the result of overextending or straining the muscles in the lower back. What most often sets sciatica apart is the way the pain radiates down the leg and into the foot. It may feel like a bad leg cramp that lasts for days.

Find out if what you have is sciatica. This requires an examination by a competent healthcare practitioner; sometimes a proper diagnosis might require an x-ray or MRI scan. Remember: You cannot know how to treat a serious or chronic back problem without having the proper diagnosis first. Don't guess -- some "easy home tratments" can worsen the problem tremendously.

You should not have to suffer with constant back pain. Don't. Get the proper diagnosis, and treatment or therapy if required. When you are in pain, your body and your mind are collaborating to tell you that something is not right. Learn to listen to your body.

Forward this article to friends, family and colleagues. We need to take better care of ourselves, and of each other, too.

Wishing you and your loved ones the best of health,

Douglas E Castle [http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/douglascastle]

http://Links4LifeAlerts.com
http://TheInternationalistPage.blogspot.com
http://TheGlobalFuturist.blogspot.com

HEALTH ALERT! Avoid Developing Cataracts.

2011-08-22T20:16:00.000-04:00

Image Of Cataract via WikipediaAlthough cataracts are caused by a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the scope of our control, there are certain things that we ordinarily do that can increase the likelihood of forming cataracts at an earlier age and to a more debilitating extent. Very few patients enjoy cataract surgery. If you can't avoid getting them entirely, at least try to slow down their formation for as long as possible.

Definition:

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.

Some Symptoms:

The most common symptoms of a cataract are:

Cloudy or blurry vision.
Colors seem faded.
Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
Poor night vision.
Double vision or multiple images in one eye. (This symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger.)
Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
These symptoms also can be a sign of other eye problems. If you have any of these symptoms, check with your eye care professional.

Some Possible Causes Of Cataracts (Other Than Aging):

Certain diseases such as diabetes.
Personal behavior such as smoking and alcohol use.
The environment, such as prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Exposure to radiation, such as from X-Rays in a doctor's or dentist's office.
A reaction to certain eye injuries and surgeries.
Prolonged use of steroids, or of certain proto-steroids or proto-hormones, such as are used by bodybuilders and other athletes.
Deficiencies of B vitamins over long periods.

To help reduce the likelihood of your getting cataracts, here are several "Do' s and Don't s" These are things that I wish had known about when I was much younger...but then again, when I was that young, I thought that I knew all there was to know -- sometimes it takes a bit of maturity to realize just how ignorant we really are.

1) Wear sunglasses whenever your eyes are exposed, or might become exposed to the sun - especially when you are driving or looking out the window on a sunny day. The sun's rays pass right through glass;

2) Do not smoke cigarettes;

3) Do not drink more than the equivalent of one glass of wine every day;

4) Avoid unnecessary exposure to X-rays, and X-ray equipment;

5) Do not use self-medicate using intravenous or oral steroids, proto-steroids or proto-hormones;

6) Maintain a well-balanced diet, with plenty of B vitamins. It may also be advisable to take Vitamin D supplements, as well.

Please take care of your eyes, and stay healthy. Forward this article to everyone you care about. I sincerely wish I had known this information earlier in my career. All the very best,

Douglas E Castle [http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com]
Chairman

Health Alert! Deadly Staph Infections Increasing.

2011-08-16T20:01:00.002-04:00

MRSA (pronounced "mersa") is a highly treatment-resistant staph infection that can be permanently crippling or fatal. And the place that you're most likely to get it? In a hospital. This Links 4 Life Alert provides some critical information about this type of infection. MRSA, like the recent bedbug revival, seems to be on the rise. And it is deadly. Its initial symptoms often resemble those of a spider bite, and it is easy to be mistaken between the two.

After you've read this briefing, please forward it to everyone you know by email, text, or through your social media postings and updates.

Remember: Knowledge, if acted upon without delay, is power.
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MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacteria that is responsible for many hard-to-treat infections. The bacteria is often referred to as a "super bug," because it cannot be killed with certain antibiotics, including common ones like penicillin and amoxicillin. MRSA most often causes painful skin infections, but it can also lead to infections of the urinary tract, blood, and lungs. Some of these infections can be life-threatening. People who are in the hospital are more likely to get severe MRSA infections.

WebMD, an excellent resource, has a slideshow about MRSA which you should watch. Simply click on the hyperlink below:

MRSA Slideshow: A Closer Look at MRSA

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Wishing you and your loved ones the very best of health,

Douglas E Castle [http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com]
Chairman
TNNWC Management Consulting Services

Alert! The #1 Silent Killer.

2011-08-12T12:21:00.000-04:00

Image via WikipediaHypertension, or high blood pressure, is the #1 silent killer, especially in industrialized nations. It often shows no symptoms, until a sudden heart attack or stoke occurs. This killer is enhanced by several accomplices: high cholesterol, excessive weight, reduced lung capacity through smoking, and a sedentary ("couch potato") lifestyle.

See your primary health care provider regularly and be certain to have your blood pressure checked, as well as your serum cholesterol and blood sugar. Although you might not be exhibiting a single symptom, you absolutely must check on these things.

While I am not a proponent of excessive medication, hypertension and excessively high serum cholesterol often demand more than a change in lifestyle -- certain prescription medicines which are readily available have been clinically, empirically demonstrated to show a vast improvement in both of these two serious conditions. Frankly, a mere lifestyle change might not be enough.

Consumer Reports/ Consumer Health has some interesting guidelines and statistics which are worth your taking a look at - NOW. Read this article and forward it to all of your family, friends and colleagues.

Remember: "Knowledge without application and action can be every bit as fatal as ignorance." - DC

Stay Healthy!

Douglas E Castle for LINKS 4 LIFE ALERTS!

Sponsored by TNNWC Management Consulting Services.

p.s. While we do not provide medical or health advice to any of our readers, those of you taking statin drugs (for cholesterol regulation), especially Lipitor, might wish to explore the benefits of also taking supplemental Coenzyme Q-10 with your physician.

Many people fail to take the proven steps to prevent heart attacks and strokes. The strategies listed below are ranked by the number of heart attacks and strokes they could prevent in American adults over the next 30 years, according to a special report in the July 29, 2008, issue of Circulation.
Lower your blood pressure

Goal: A systolic (upper) level under 140 and a diastolic (lower) level under 90.
Problems prevented: 6.2 million heart attacks, 7 million strokes.
What you can do: Get your blood pressure checked at least once a year. If it's high, cut back on salt, lose excess weight, and exercise more. If drugs are necessary, our CR Best Buy Drugs recommendation for most people is a generic diuretic, especially a thiazide diuretic.

Improve your cholesterol levels

Goal: An LDL (bad) cholesterol under 160 for people at low risk of heart attack, 130 for those at intermediate risk, and 100 for those at high risk. (To determine your risk, use our online calculator.)
Problems prevented: 9.6 million heart attacks, 3 million strokes.
What you can do: Men 35 and older as well as women 45 and older with coronary risk factors, such as high blood pressure, should get tested at least every five years. Other adults might consider testing, too. If your levels are high, control your weight, exercise more, quit smoking, and eat a heart-healthy diet. If medication is necessary, our CR Best Buy Drugs recommendations for most people are generic lovastatin, pravastatin, or simvastatin.

Lose excess weight

Goal: A body mass index (BMI) under 30 (the cutoff for obesity) and preferably under 25 (the cutoff for being overweight).
Problems prevented: 7.1 million heart attacks, 1.1 million strokes.
What you can do: Determine your BMI by multiplying your weight in pounds by 703, then dividing by your height squared in inches. (Or use our online calculator.) Even simpler: Measure your waist. Men with a waistline over 40 inches and women with a measurement over 35 inches should lose weight.

Control your blood sugar level

Goal: A fasting blood glucose level under 110 for people who do not have diabetes, and preferably under 100; an A1C level, a measure of long-term blood sugar control, under 7 percent for people who already have the condition.
Problems prevented: 4.8 million heart attacks, 0.6 million strokes.
What you can do: Consider getting your blood sugar level measured, especially if you're at high risk for type 2 diabetes because of high blood pressure or cholesterol levels or excess weight. The same lifestyle changes that lower blood pressure and cholesterol can lower blood sugar, too. Our CR Best Buy Drugs recommendation for most people with type 2 diabetes is generic metformin, alone or combined with other drugs.

Stop smoking

Goal: Quit—for good.
Problems prevented: 3.3 million heart attacks, 1.4 million strokes.
What you can do: Talk with a doctor about the best smoking-cessation program for you and be examined for smoking-related illness.

Consider low-dose aspirin

Goal: Take a low-dose (81 milligrams) aspirin daily if appropriate.
Problems prevented: 3.4 million heart attacks, 0.3 million strokes.
What you can do: Talk to a doctor about your risk of heart attack, stroke, and gastrointestinal bleeding starting at age 45 for men and 55 for women. Use our calculator to see whether the benefits of aspirin outweigh its risks for you.

####

Health Buzz: New Anti-Clot Drug Could Help Heart Patients (health.usnews.com)
A New Risk Marker for Heart Diseases (lifelegacyorg.wordpress.com)
Family History's Role in Heart Attack and Stroke (webmd.com)
Cholesterol Lowering Drugs Can Kill You (liberationwellnessblog.com)
What you need to know about dietary supplements (bioidenticalhormoneexperts.com)
Protein, Homocysteine, and Hemoglobin Tests (everydayhealth.com)
Heart Health Glossary (everydayhealth.com)
5 Ways to Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease (thelifestylechanger.wordpress.com)
Political Posturing Versus Honesty - Domestic And International Sabotage (douglascastle1.wordpress.com) - This Article Is Not Relevant - I just posted it for the heck of it. Really. A bit of humor. No offense intended.
Is the war on salt justified? (macleans.ca)

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