Healthy Habits for Life

Awareness Ribbons of Support and Hope

2009-06-28T06:56:00.003-07:00

Since their introduction in the United States in 1991, colorful swirling Ribbons have quickly spread. They have wrapped their tendrils around the world to become lasting cultural icons of awareness, unity, support and hope.
Awareness Ribbon Color Meanings

Black= Melanoma Cancer, Sleep Disorders.

Blue (Navy) = Arthritis, Colon Cancer, Down's Syndrome, Osteoporosis, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Child Abuse, Dysautonomia, Hystiocytosis, Erb's Palsy, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Dystonia, Interstitial Cystitis, Bracial Plexus Injury, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Alopecia, Reyes Syndrome

Blue (Light) = Prostate Cancer, Men's Health and Behcet's Disease.

Blue Pin Stripe = ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

Burgundy = Myeloma, Hospice Care, Sepsis, APS (Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome), FVL, Thrombophilia, Headaches and to support the Permanently Disabled.

Gold = Childhood Cancer and COPD.

Green = Celiac Disease, Transplants, Depression (both Adults and Children), Bipolar Disorder, Mental Health or Illness, Eye Injuries, Tourette's Syndrome, Bone Marrow Transplants and Donation, Fanconi's Syndrome, Glaucoma, Leukemia, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans, Kidney Cancer or Kidney Disease, Neural Tube Defects, Mitochondrial Disease, Cerebral Palsy and to support Stem Cell Research

Gray = Asthma, Juvenile Diabetes and Brain Tumors.

Orange = Hunger, Leukemia, Self Injury, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Skin Cancer (with a sun in the center of the loop), Addiction Recovery

Lavender = All Cancers (general cancer awareness), Epilepsy, Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis, Rett Syndrome

Purple = Pancreatic Cancer, Chron's Disease and Colitis, Cystic Fibrosis, Leimyosarcoma, Macular Degeneration, Sjogren's Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Sarcoidosis, Thyroid Cancer, ADD, ADHD, Alzheimer's, Cancer Survivors (this is a general color that anyone who has survived cancer can wear), Chronic Pain, and Domestic Violence

Pink = Breast Cancer, Birth Parents, Cleft Palate

Pink/Blue = Prematurity, Birth Defects, Infertility, SIDS, Support for those who have had a Miscarriage

Puzzle = Autism.

Red = Aids/HIV, MDS & Aplastic Anemia, Substance and Drug Abuse (includes inhalants), MADD, DARE, Heart Disease, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW), Pro-life, Hypertension, Evans Syndrome

Silver = Parkinson's Disease

Teal = Ovarian, Cervical, Uterine (all gynecological) Cancers, Sexual Abuse, Myasthenia Gravis and Panic Attacks.

White = Lung Cancer, Diabetes, Adoption, Bone Cancer, Osteoporosis, Scoliosis, Support and Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, Blindness and Holocaust Remembrance

Yellow = Bladder and Testicular Cancer , Liver Disease, Hydrocephalus, Suicide Prevention, Down Syndrome and it represents Hope.

More Ribbons

Wear BLUE this Week to Support Men's Health!

2009-06-14T00:04:00.003-07:00

Wear BLUE, is a program designed to raise awareness of men's health issues within your community, while at the same time raising money for The Men's Health Network.

The Network is a national non-profit organization, whose mission is to reach men and their families, where they live, work, play, and pray with health prevention messages, tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient support.

To participate in this effort, please visit Wear Blue.Org for more information on how you can help!

Learn more at National Men's Health Week

May 31st Is World No Tobacco Day

2009-05-31T11:38:00.003-07:00

According to The American Legacy Foundation, despite increased awareness about the dangers of smoking in recent years, 46 million adult Americans still smoke. This widespread use of tobacco is not only having expected long-term effects on the health of smokers but also more immediate effects on America's children.

Passive exposure to secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), puts young people at risk for serious health consequences, including low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma and ear infections. While the health consequences are devastating, the foundation's report also details the significant economic costs of treating children with smoking-related illnesses.

The foundation found that, in 2001, tobacco's effects on children included:

Nearly 300,000 pediatric asthma cases costing the nation more than $236 million
More than 99,000 cases of ear infections costing the nation nearly $49 million
More than 26,000 low birth weight births costing the nation more than $300 million
263 cases of sudden infant death syndrome

"Smokers know that their addiction is harmful, but they predict that their smoking will hurt only themselves, and they think that will happen years down the road," said the foundation's President and CEO Cheryl Healton, Dr. PH. "This research shows us that tobacco isn't just killing years down the road. It is killing today, and its silent, innocent victims are children."

The foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outlined three immediate steps smokers can take for their children's health:

· Make your home smoke free

· Keep your car smoke free

· Stop smoking for your children

"Parents need to stop smoking for their children - not only are children who live in smoke-filled environments more likely to get sick but they are also more likely to smoke as an adult than their peers," said Dana Best, MD, MPH, FAAP, AAP Committee on Environmental Health. "An important first step to help parents quit smoking is learning about the smoking cessation resources in their community. The more parents know about the process of quitting the more likely parents are to succeed."

How To Quit Smoking Even If You Don't Want To

A small reduction in tobacco smoke exposure would spare thousands of children from devastating health problems. In this report the foundation found that if states were to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke by one percentage point, the national outlook would be:

2,263 fewer low birth weight births and an associated health care cost savings of nearly $27 million
21 fewer smoking-attributable sudden infant death syndrome deaths
19,077 fewer cases of asthma and an associated savings of more than $15 million
6,755 fewer ear infections cases with savings of more than $3 million

If you need help quitting please call your local QuitLine.

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5 Symbols To Create a Healthy, Balanced Home

2009-05-20T00:40:00.004-07:00

Symbols can act in two ways:

First, they can be used to focus and project your own personal energy. Second, a symbol can function as a magnifier and transmitter, in order to bring various energy forces into your everyday life.

1. Circle: The Circle is one of the most potent symbols. It represents Eternity, Completion, Unity, the Universe, Perfection and the Sacred Female.

2. Triangle: The Triangle relates to the combined power of the Body, Mind and Spirit; Mother, Father and Child; and of the Past, Present and Future.

3. Square: The Square represents the four elements- Wind, Water, Fire and Earth - and the four directions.

4. Pentacle (Five-Pointed Star-pointing up): Represents the four basic elements (Wind, Water, Earth and Fire), with the 5th point representing the Spirit. The pentagram is a powerful sign, used for protection from dark forces.

5. Infinity: The symbol for infinity looks like the number eight laid on its side. In ancient India and Tibet, it represented Perfection, Dualism, and Unity between male and female. In the occult tarot, it's linked to magic and represents equilibrium or the balance of various forces. This is a very powerful and cosmic symbol to use in your home.

Sources: Sacred Space, by Denise Linn (Ballentine Wellspring, 1995)
Picture: The Three Gongs of Initiation -AllPosters.com

What Do The Symbols in Your Dreams Really Mean?

2009-05-07T00:02:00.003-07:00

There are symbols found in the human unconscious that mean similar things to all of us. By understanding these symbols, it is possible to analyze our dreams and to learn from them.

Various life experiences influence the interpretation of these symbols, thus each individual's dream is unique in both context and analysis. These common images, symbols and definitions are designed to assist in your analysis.

Remembering Your Dreams
"A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read." ~The Talmud

There are a number of ways to remember our dreams to uncover their obscured meaning. Many experts will tell you to talk to yourself during the stage between waking and sleeping. Tell yourself, to remember your dreams. If it doesn't work immediately, keep repeating the suggestion each night.

According to dream researchers, if you develop a habit of recording your dreams, in time you will gain a clearer vision of your life and your development in the past, present and future.

It is helpful to do some research on the various methods of dream work or dream analysis to focus your mind as well. After you begin to remember your dreams, it is important to record them immediately after waking. The longer you wait to record your dreams, the fewer details you will retain.

Learn more at Dream Symbols and Meanings

Physical Activity and Children

2009-04-07T11:38:00.002-07:00

What You Should Know

Studies show that when children's exercise and fitness needs are met, children are more able to learn and achieve.

Given the growing epidemic of obesity and the link between physical activity and academic performance, parents and schools must work together to make quality daily physical education a priority in schools and to give children more opportunities to be physically active throughout the school day.

Unfortunately, the trend is that children are becoming less physically active:

1. In 1969, 42 percent of children ages 5 to 18 walked or biked to school; in 2001, only 16 percent did.

2. Almost all public elementary schools schedule physical education for their students, but only 17 to 22 percent (depending on grade level) provide physical education on a daily basis.

3. About two-thirds of young people in grades 9 to 12 are not engaged in recommended levels of physical activity. Daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42 percent in 1991 to 33 percent in 2005.

4. In 2005, only about half of students in grades 9 to 12 attended physical education classes on one or more days in an average week when they were in school.

5. In 2005, more than a third of high schoolers reported watching three or more hours of television per day on an average school day.

This inactivity is not only harming children's health but affecting children's academic success. Physical activity improves children's academic performance.

6. Studies show that providing more time for physical activity (by reducing class time for academics) can lead to improved test scores, particularly in the area of mathematics.

Physical activity programs have also been linked to stronger academic achievement, increased concentration, and improved reading and writing
test scores.

8. Children who have daily physical education classes exhibit better attendance and have a more positive attitude about school.

9. Children who spend less time in other subjects in order to allow for regular physical education have been shown to do equally well or better in academic classes.

Adapted in part, with permission, from Action for Healthy Kids, "Building the Argument: The Need for Physical Education and Physical Activity in Our Schools," www.ActionForHealthyKids.org.

10 Tips for A Healthier Day

2009-03-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

Eating breakfast is an important part of powering-up your body for the day. Eating a balanced breakfast can help keep your family alert, improve mood and reduce mid-morning food cravings.

Did you know?

• People who eat breakfast are significantly less likely to be obese and diabetic than those who usually don’t?

• Children who eat breakfast are more likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.

• The State of Minnesota Breakfast Study showed that “students who ate breakfasts before starting school had a general increase in math grades and reading scores, increased student attention, reduced nurse visits, and improved student behaviors.”

Unfortunately, many breakfast foods contain a lot of sugar and have been stripped of their natural nutrients. Try to avoid frosted and chocolate cereals, donuts, white bread and high-sugar breakfast bars. Instead of sugary juices, provide your children with 100% fruit juices or fat-free or low-fat milk.

Eating only sugary foods may cause your child to have erratic energy levels. Eating a balanced breakfast will help get all of you get going and sustain your energy until lunch time.

A healthy breakfast does not have to take a lot of time. Stick to the basics and serve simple foods that are nutritious and quick in the morning. For ideas, follow these ten tips for nourishing ways to kick-start the day.

Ten Tips for a Healthier Breakfast

Oatmeal in an Instant -- Instant oatmeal is great on a cold morning and contains fiber and vitamins. Choose oatmeal that isn’t already pre-sweetened. Sweeten it with raisins or fresh fruit.

Smoothie madness -- Blend frozen fruit (bananas and berries are great), low-fat or fat-free milk, and 100% fruit-juice for a quick, tasty breakfast smoothie with lots of nutrients.

Go 100% whole grain -- 100% whole-grain, fiber-containing cereals served with low- or fat-free milk are a healthier alternative to sugary cereals. Whole-wheat muffins with smashed banana are easy and tasty as well.

Eggxactly! -- Boil, scramble, or poach eggs and serve on whole-wheat toast - they're packed with nutrition and, in appropriate portions, are great for kids and adults.

Toaster Treats -- Frozen whole-grain waffles take almost no time to make. Top them with berries, low-sugar apple sauce or sliced bananas instead of syrup.

Go Nutty! -- Spreading peanut or almond butter on whole-grain toast is a great to get both protein and fiber.

Go Fruity -- A fresh fruit cut up with a dollop of low-fat or fat-free yogurt is a great way to start the day. Apples contain fiber and bananas contain potassium.

Try All-Fruit Spreads -- Instead of butter or margarine on toast, try all-fruit spreads, fruit butters, or even sliced bananas or strawberries.

Bagel Classics -- Try a whole-wheat or sunflower seed bagel with low-fat cream cheese or peanut butter.

Breakfast On-the-Go -- Don't have time to eat breakfast at home? Keep whole-grain mini bagels on-hand or muffins, nuts and dried and fresh fruits that can be taken in the car (apple slices and bananas are also easy and not too messy!).

Small Business? Limited Budget? You Can Still Create a Healthy Workplace!

2009-03-24T23:19:00.002-07:00

We spend the majority of our waking hours at work, therefore the workplace is an excellent venue to begin focusing on prevention and wellness.

Half of all mortality in the U.S. is linked to changeable behavioral factors such as smoking, poor diet, alcohol use, physical inactivity and careless accidents. Yet less than 5% of the total health care burden is spent on reducing these risks.

Wellness programs can effectively engage employees in health care decision making and encourage them to take a proactive role in improving their health status.

Using workplace driven initiatives and incentives to promote healthy lifestyles, holds great promise for improving employee and dependent health as well as stabilizing overall health care costs in the United States.

Tips for Reducing Asthma Triggers in Indoor Environments

2009-03-13T11:12:00.002-07:00

There are three basic strategies for controlling allergens in the indoor environment.
1. Source Control
Source control is the most effective strategy for controlling allergens.
Find out what causes the allergen or pollutant, where it is located, what it consists of, and reduce or eliminate the source.

Tobacco Smoke or Wood Smoke - Do not allow smoking inside your home. Declare your home a smoke-free zone. Wood-burning fireplaces may be a trigger for some children. If so, you may not be able to utilize the fireplace.

Excessive Moisture and Mold - Use an exhaust fan over the range to remove moisture, and cooking odors. Control moisture to control mold growth. Keep humidity levels low (40-50 percent relative humidity). Repair all leaks and drips.

Dust Mites - Clean regularly. Wash bedding materials weekly or more often if needed. Vacuum and wet mop hard-surface flooring often to reduce dust mites and pollen. If dust mites are an allergen for your child, carpet, stuffed animals, open shelves, and other dust-collecting items may have to be removed from the child's
sleeping area. Dust - Clean blinds, ceiling fans, and filters on a regular basis.

Pollen - Keep washable rugs at all entrances. Wash them weekly. Keep windows closed during high pollen seasons.

Pets - If you have pets, wash and brush them weekly to remove pollen, animal dander, hair, dust, etc. Keep pets away from where children sleep. It may be necessary to keep pets outdoors if the child's asthma is triggered by them.

Strong Odors or Fumes - Cleaning products and pesticides can add pollutants to the indoor air. Keep your home well ventilated when using these products. Consider using less toxic products.

2. Ventilation
Good ventilation can help reduce some allergens in the indoor air.
Buildings need to have a sufficient amount of outdoor air to dilute and remove pollutants and moisture that are produced indoors and to supply combustion devices (and occupants) with oxygen. However, outside air may have pollutants in it, such as pollen. One also must consider the cost of heating or cooling the outside air when bringing it into the building.

Leave doors between rooms open most of the time for better air circulation. Open
windows when possible to allow for a good supply of outdoor air. Install exhaust fans in bathrooms to remove moisture and chemicals from the building. Fit your gas range with a hoodfan that exhausts the air outside. Use the fan, or open a window when cooking to remove gas fumes.

3. Air-Cleaning Devices
According to Dr. Joseph Ponessa at Rutgers Cooperative Extension in New Jersey, there is little research evidence that directly links the use of air cleaners to improved health. However, if the indoor air is still a problem after doing everything you can to control the source and ventilate, you may choose to try an air cleaner.

The American Lung Association gives these points to consider if you plan to buy an air-cleaning device.

Efficiency - Look for mechanical filters, such as HEPA filters, and electronic air cleaners that can effectively trap particles.
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) - The overall effectiveness of an air- cleaning device depends on the amount of air drawn through it, in addition to its efficiency. The label on the box will give the room size for which that the filter is designed.
Air Discharge Patterns - The flow of air produced by the air-cleaning device affects the general effectiveness of the device.
Price - Consider the cost of replacement filters and maintenance, in addition to the initial purchase price.

Source: Based on a fact sheet developed by Janie Harris, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Specialist, Housing and Environment, December 2007.

Support Childrens and Womens AIDS Awareness Day, March 10, 2009

2009-03-10T09:01:00.004-07:00

You've got the power to change the world!

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children.

During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35. Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations.

But HIV/AIDS among women and girls is not just an international problem - it affects women right here in the United States. In addition, the number of U.S. women and girls living with HIV is on the rise. In the mid 1980s, less than 15 percent of new HIV infections in the United States were among women and girls ages 13 years and older; by 2006, it was about 27 percent.

By supporting Childrens and Womens AIDS Awareness Day, we can bring attention to the impact of this disease and encourage women to get tested regularly and know their status. We can also let women know that despite being infected, they can live life to the fullest.

Fitness Basics for Beginners: How to Choose a Workout Video

2009-03-06T10:56:00.004-07:00

When beginning a fitness program, remember patience is essential. Don't try to do too much too soon and don't quit before you have a chance to experience the rewards of improved fitness. Exercise must become a habit, one of those things that you do without question, like bathing (I hope) and brushing your teeth. You can't regain in a few days or weeks what you have lost in years of sedentary living, but you can get it back if you persevere.

And the prize is well worth the price!

EXERCISING AT HOME IS A GOOD alternative for people who are short on time, can't afford a club membership, or just can't seem to make it across town to the local gym.

Exercise videos are one option when there are monetary or logistic concerns. While some videos are boring or hard to follow, there are many that are well produced and have the marks of a seasoned, professional fitness instructor. But before you warm up the DVD Player, you should make sure that the video you choose is right for you.

Are you a "video person"?
Exercise tapes are like running shoes; one size does not fit all. You might get claustrophobic just thinking about doing a step routine in a 3 ft. by 5 ft. living room space. You may be the type of person for whom the act of driving to the gym and walking in to a room full of people is the only way to get you motivated.

Conversely, you may like the idea of dancing to the beat of a different drummer in your pajamas and aerobic shoes. And if you need a little variety, or reside in inclement weather, this may be the perfect mode of exercise for you.

Keep goals in perspective
While videos can motivate and inspire you, understand that they can't shut your kitchen cabinet door or magically melt away 40 pounds in three weeks. It's very important not to give in to all the hyped marketing surrounding many videos that may make unsubstantiated promises. In fact, any video that promises quick weight loss or instant results is probably unsafe and should be avoided .

If you are really interested in purchasing a video, do some research and find out if one of your friends has the same video, or if NetFlix or YouTube has a trial version.

When starting out, look for boxes that indicate the video is for beginners. Choosing an intermediate or advanced tape could be frustrating and lead to discontinuation of the program.

Find an inspiring instructor
Ideally, you should shop for a video that features a certified, experienced instructor who includes a warmup and a cool-down in the workout. Avoid videos that feature a celebrity as the main selling point, especially if they try to teach the routine themselves without support from a trained fitness professional.

Also, it is important that the instructor offers alternatives to the main program if it is too difficult for you. These are usually referred to as "modifications." Modifications are included in good videos for a reason, and you shouldn't feel out of shape or otherwise embarrassed if you have to do a combination on the floor instead of an 8-inch step.

Strike a balance
No matter what style exercise video you choose - such as dance, pilates, step or yoga - work toward building a collection that fosters balance and overall conditioning. This includes aerobics, strength and stretching. Many tapes combine all of these factors.

Perhaps most importantly, dedicate yourself to whatever style or method gets your blood flowing and your body moving.

Finally, be honest with yourself about how motivated you will be to exercise at home before you make the investment. It is also important that you understand how to exercise safely and that your doctor has cleared you to exercise.

Source: American Council on Exercise

Nine Healthy Tips to Looking Fine in 2009

2008-12-26T09:13:00.006-07:00

Let’s make this the year that all of our healthy resolutions and good intentions pay off for ourselves and our families.

The following nine simple, healthy tips will get you started on the road to a healthier, happier future. They cost nothing in terms of time and money, and require just a little time and minimal effort.

Look for opportunities to incorporate these healthy habits into your daily routine and notice the changes in the way you feel about your health and yourself. Share your success with your friends, family and co-workers.

Substitute water for one 20-oz bottle of regular soda each day. You will save enough calories to lose 26 pounds in a year.
Pick up the pace. By simply doing what you normally do a little faster, you’ll burn more calories and improve heart and lung function.
The average person makes about 200 food choices each day. When making those choices, pay attention to plate size, package size, serving size. By using smaller plates and bowls you will eat up to 60 percent less (if you don’t go back for seconds).
See it before you eat it. Put your serving in a bowl and avoid eating directly from the box, bag or package. You’ll consume about 134 fewer calories per sitting.
Sit up straight to eat, and you’ll eat about 10 percent less.
Taking the stairs for a total of just 2 minutes, five days a week, provides the same calorie-burning results as a 20-minute walk—and burns 100 to 140 calories.
Adults gain two hours of life expectancy for each hour of regular physical activity. Walking for as little as 30 minutes a day provides significant heart-health benefits.
Obesity is associated with 53 health conditions and has roughly the same association with chronic health conditions as 20 years of aging. Type 2 diabetes in the U.S. has increased 1000 percent in the last 30 years. Just a 10 percent weight loss will reduce your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Reward yourself. Acknowledge your achievements,even the small ones.

Reaching a goal takes hard work and you should be proud of your efforts and share your success with your friends, family and co-workers.

December is Toy Safety Month

2008-12-02T05:45:00.005-07:00

Selecting Safe Toys for Your Child
As families gather for the holidays, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers that dangerous children's products may still be in their homes.

Grandparents dust off old playpens; older children often share their toys with younger relatives; and keepsakes are stored in old cedar chests. The CPSC (and Medicine-Net.com) wants to prevent these holiday traditions from becoming tragedies. Despite recall notices and public warnings, CPSC has found that many products with the potential to seriously injure or kill are still being used by consumers. Families should check whether old products have been recalled and place them out of the reach of children. Manufacturers will usually offer a free repair kit or replacement product.

What is the Toy Industry Doing?
Toy Companies Are Focused On Safety
The toy industry spends an estimated $300 million a year on safety testing and inspection of toys. Recently, toy companies have increased their efforts above and beyond that figure.

And while the toy industry already had a strong system for ensuring safety (one that is often modeled by other industries and countries), the industry is already working to strengthen the toy safety and inspection efforts – so that people can again feel confident in the safety of toys.

Companies are putting special focus on assuring the safety of painted toys for young children (who are more likely to mouth toys and other objects) by sending them back to laboratories for retesting. They are also purchasing sophisticated lead testing equipment for spot checks in warehouses and distribution centers in addition to sending samples to accredited laboratories for testing.

Toy Industry Safety Reassurance Initiatives
The toy industry in the U.S. and Canada are deeply committed to safety. This commitment is seen in the $300 million annually spent on testing – in the manufacturing plants, in warehouses' and on retailers' shelves and in the labs where all toys are tested to ensure that they're safe for the children who play with them.

Safety Practices in Manufacturing Plants
Safety testing occurs throughout the manufacturing process.
Toys are picked randomly off the production line and subjected to rigorous testing, both in the plant and off-site. To help ensure your child's safety, companies are increasing the frequency of unannounced inspections in foreign/overseas manufacturing operations.

Companies are also demanding certified reassurances that the product coming from suppliers' factories meets all U.S. standards, and that all materials and subcomponents (other components or related parts) obtained from other sources also meet the standards.

Safety Testing in Warehouses and on Retailers' Shelves
Safety testing doesn't stop when the toys leave the manufacturing plants. Toy companies conduct tests on random samples of toy products pulled from warehouses (where toys are stored before being shipped to stores). Testing takes place in both company labs and in independent laboratories. Manufacturers, retailers and importers are also spot-testing products
already on retailers' store shelves.

As an additional step, major retailers are also helping to ensure that toys are safe by retesting products before putting them on store shelves.

Paint Testing At Accredited Labs: Before and After It Is Used on Toys
Companies routinely send their products to accredited labs to test the safety of the paint.

Companies are now reviewing and reinforcing the requirements for testing paint for lead content as it comes into the factory – both before it is applied and again after it is on the toys.

Have A Safe And Healthy Holiday Season!

Source: www.safekids.org
www.toyinfo.org

What is Asthma?

2008-10-28T22:55:00.002-07:00

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is the most common long-term disease of children, but adults have asthma, too. Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but only have asthma attacks when something bothers your lungs.

We know that if someone in your family has asthma, you are also more likely to have it. In most cases, we don’t know what causes asthma, and we don’t know how to cure it.

Asthma can be controlled by knowing the warning signs of an attack, staying away from things that trigger an attack, and following the advice of your health provider.

What is an Asthma Attack?
An asthma attack happens in your body’s airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell, and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucus that your body produces clogs up the airways even more. The attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing.

How is Asthma Treated?
Your health provider will work with you to develop an action plan for treating your asthma. Your treatment might include making changes in your lifestyle and medication.

There are two main types of medication—quick relief and long-term control. It is important to take your medication. If you don’t, your asthma might get worse.

What Can Trigger An Asthma Attack?
Allergens
• Animal dander
• Dust mites (in house dust)
• Cockroaches and other pests
• Mold (indoor and outdoor) and Pollen

Irritants
• Cigarette smoke
• Air pollution
• Cold air and changes in weather
• Strong odors (from painting or cooking.
• Strong emotions (stress, crying, laughing, etc.)

Other Triggers
• Medications such as aspirin and beta-blockers
• Sulfites (like found in dried fruit or red wine)
• Worksite chemicals or dusts

What If My Child Has Asthma?
1. Talk with your child’s health provider.

2. Develop an Asthma Management Plan

3. Make sure you know the answers to questions like:

• What triggers my child’s asthma attacks?
• How should she use her medication?
• What do I do if she has an attack?
• When should I call the doctor?
• Who should I call in an emergency?

4. Talk with your child about her asthma. Make sure she can answer the questions above for herself. Help her follow her treatment plan and watch for problems.

5. Asthma Proof Your Home. Remember that asthma attacks can be triggered by things like mold growing on shower curtains or tiny dust mites that live in blankets.

Source: CDC & American Lung Association Websites

Happy, Healthy Halloween!

2008-10-22T20:13:00.001-07:00

Anytime a child has an accident, it's tragic. The last thing that you want to happen is for your child to be hurt on a holiday, it would forever live in the minds of the child and the family.

There are many ways to keep your child safe at Halloween, when they are more prone to accidents and injuries. The excitement of children and adults at this time of year sometimes makes them forget to be careful. Simple common sense can do a lot to stop any tragedies from happening.

Pumpkin Safety Tips
Pumpkins and jack-O-lanterns are a fun part of the holiday festivities. In order to keep this activity a safe part of every Halloween celebration, consider the following tips:
• When it comes to carving pumpkins, have your children draw the face and scoop the seeds. Leave the actual cutting and candle lighting to the adults.
• Have the children use markers to delineate the face they want carved out of their pumpkin.
• Once the seeds are scooped, rinse and spread them out on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt, and roast at about 325 degree Fahrenheit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Munching the seeds while the pumpkin is being carved will help to keep your child involved and occupied while the actual carving is taking place.
• Once the pumpkin is carved, if you're using a candle to light up your jack-O-lantern, have an adult do the lighting.

Halloween Safety Tips
With witches, goblins, and super-heroes descending on neighborhoods across America, the American Red Cross offers parents some safety tips to help prepare their children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat holiday. Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun.
• Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.
• Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms.
• Cross the street only at corners.
• Don't hide or cross the street between parked cars.
• Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards, and brooms, too!)
• Plan your route and share it with your family. If possible, have an adult go with you.
• Carry a flashlight to light your way.
• Keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flammable.)
• Visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger's house.
• Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes.
• Be cautious of animals and strangers.

Have a grown-up inspect your treats before eating. And don't eat candy if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.

Source: www.familyeducation.com, the American Red Cross and www.wellnessproposals.com

The Night Before Halloween

NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

2008-10-06T18:53:00.005-07:00

MONARCH HEALTH PROMOTIONS RECOGNIZES NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

TUCSON, AZ – October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.

This is exciting progress, but there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.

Women age 65 and older are less likely to get mammograms than younger women, even though breast cancer risk increases with age.
Hispanic women have fewer mammograms than Caucasian women and African American women.
Women below poverty level are less likely than women at higher incomes to have had a mammogram within the past two years.

The Health Toll:

According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be an estimated 182,460 (female); 1,990 (male) new cases and 40,480 (female); 450 (male) deaths from breast cancer in the United States in 2008 alone.

“If all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection methods – mammography plus clinical breast exam – breast cancer death rates would drop much further, up to 30 percent,” says the American Cancer Society

“The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely – once is not enough.”

For more information about NBCAM, please visit http://www.nbcam.org/.

Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor's Soul: Stories to Inspire, Support and Heal (Chicken Soup for the Soul)

For additional information, please call one of the following toll-free numbers: American Cancer Society, (800) 227-2345, National Cancer Institute (NCI), (800) 4-CANCER, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, (800) 221-2141.

The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.

The Truth About Alzheimer's

2008-09-15T07:27:00.004-07:00

Alzheimer’s World Awareness Day is September 21st
Alzheimer's is a progressive and fatal brain disease. More than 5 million Americans now have Alzheimer’s disease. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.

Here are some basic truths

It is the most common form of dementia, a general term for the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
It has no current cure. But treatments for symptoms, combined with the right services and support, can make life better for the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s. We’ve learned most of what we know about Alzheimer’s in the last 15 years.
There is an accelerating worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it from developing.

Alzheimer's and the brain
The brain has 100 billion nerve cells (neurons). Each nerve cell communicates with many others to form networks. Nerve cell networks have special jobs. Some are involved in thinking, learning and remembering. Others help us see, hear and smell. Still others tell our muscles when to move.

To do their work, brain cells operate like tiny factories. They take in supplies, generate energy, construct equipment and get rid of waste. Cells also process and store information. Keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen.

In Alzheimer’s disease, parts of the cell’s factory stop running well. Scientists are not sure exactly where the trouble starts. But just like a real factory, backups and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas. As damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs well. Eventually, they die.

Risk Factors
Age- The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s is increasing age. Most individuals with the disease are 65 or older. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s doubles about every five years after age 65. After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent.

Family history- Research has shown that those who have a parent, brother or sister, or child with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. The risk increases if more than one family member has the illness. When diseases tend to run in families, either heredity (genetics) or environmental factors or both may play a role.

Risk factors you may be able to influence
Age, family history and heredity are all risk factors we can’t change. Now, research is beginning to reveal clues about other risk factors we may be able to influence.

Head injury: There appears to be a strong link between serious head injury and future risk of Alzheimer’s. Protect your head by buckling your seat belt, wearing your helmet when participating in sports, and “fall-proofing” your home.

Heart-head connection: Some of the strongest evidence links brain health to heart health. Your brain is nourished by one of your body’s richest networks of blood vessels. Every heartbeat pumps about 20 to 25 percent of your blood to your head, where brain cells use at least 20 percent of the food and oxygen your blood carries.

The risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart or blood vessels. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol. Work with your doctor to monitor your heart health and treat any problems that arise.

General healthy aging: Other lines of evidence suggest that strategies for overall healthy aging may help keep the brain healthy and may even offer some protection against developing Alzheimer’s or related diseases. Try to keep your weight within recommended guidelines, avoid tobacco and excess alcohol, stay socially connected, and exercise both your body and mind.

Preventing Alzheimer's: Ways to Help Prevent, Delay, Detect, and Even Halt Alzheimer's Disease and OtherForms of Memory Loss

Source: Alzheimer’s Association

WellnessProposals.com

September is Baby Safety Awareness Month

2008-08-31T17:57:00.003-07:00

TRAVELING SAFELY WITH CHILDREN

Everybody needs a child safety seat, booster seat, or safety belt.

• There must be one safety belt for each person.
• People who are not buckled up can be thrown from the car or around inside the car.
• Never hold a child on your lap! You could crush him/her in a crash, or the child may be torn from your arms.
• Never ride in the cargo area of a station wagon, van, or pickup!
• No one seat is 'best', The 'best' child safety seat is the one that fits your child and can be installed correctly.

• WARNING: The back seat is the safest place in a crash.

Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in back. Infants riding rear-facing must NEVER be placed in front of an airbag.

WHEN IS A CHILD READY FOR THE ADULT SAFETY BELT?

• Until age 8, most children have not developed strong hipbones, and their legs and body are too short to allow for proper fit of a safety belt. Safety belts are designed for adults.

To be able to fit in a safety belt, a child must:

• Be tall enough to sit without slouching,
• Keep his/her back against the vehicle seat back,
• Keep his/her knees completely bent over edge of seat,
• Keep his/her feet flat on the floor, and
• Be able to stay comfortably seated this way.
• The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the center of the shoulder and across the chest.
• Never put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back. This can cause severe internal injuries in a crash. If the safety belt does not fit properly the child should use a belt-positioning booster seat.

CHILD PASSENGERS AND AIR BAGS AN INFANT OR CHILD RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BY THE INFLATING AIR BAG .

To do its important job, an air bag comes out of the dashboard very fast. Many people's lives have been saved by air bags. However, the force of an air bag can hurt people who are too close to it.

Infants in the front seat have been killed when the rear-facing child safety seat is hit with great force causing a fatal brain injury. Older children are killed from impact by the air bag because they are "out of position" - either unbuckled, or not wearing the shoulder portion of the safety belt. During precrash braking, the child's upper body can be thrown forward toward the air bag at the time it is triggered causing severe head or neck injuries.

PREVENT INJURIES FROM AIR BAGS BY FOLLOWING THESE SAFETY STEPS:

Infants in rear-facing child safety seats must NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle that has a activated passenger air bag.

Children 12 and under should ride properly restrained in the back seat.
Everyone should be buckled up with both lap AND shoulder belts on every trip.

Driver and front passenger seats should be moved as far back from the dashboard as practical. Make sure the shoulder belt stays in place and do not lean toward the air bag compartment.

If you must put a child riding in a forward-facing child safety seat or booster in the front, make sure the safety seat is correctly installed, the child is correctly buckled up with the harness very snug and the vehicle seat is moved as far back as possible.

Source: NHTSA

Appetite and The Brain

2008-08-20T16:00:00.011-07:00

Anyone who spends any time people-watching—at a mall, at a sporting event, in the lobby of a movie theater— knows that we’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic.

Two-thirds of Americans are now either overweight or obese. As our collective weight inches upward (and outward), so do our healthcare costs, for obesity raises the risk for many chronic and potentially lifethreatening illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease. In the United States, we spend at least $92.6 billion—or about 9 percent of total U.S. health expenditures—on obesity related health problems.

Although a “cure” for obesity remains elusive, scientists are getting tantalizingly close. In recent years, they’ve unlocked many of the mysteries of the incredibly complex neurochemical feedback mechanisms that regulate our appetite and body weight.

Such research is leading to:

Greater knowledge of how and why people become obese.
Insight into the effects that different diets have on weight regulation.
A better understanding of the link between obesity and diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and other illnesses.
Safer and more effective obesity treatments.

A major breakthrough in understanding the neuroscience of obesity came in 1994 with the discovery of the hormone leptin. Produced by the obese (ob) gene in the body’s fat cells, leptin is largely responsible for the urge to eat. High levels of the hormone activate some of the brain’s nerve cells, or neurons, in a way that suppresses appetite and creates a feeling of fullness.

Low levels create a reverse message: hunger. Scientists now think that leptin may be even more critical than the hormone insulin in regulating the body’s delicate balancing act between calories in (eating) and calories out (exercise).

Exactly how leptin regulates appetite remains unknown, but new research has revealed that regions of the brain linked with pleasurable emotions and sensations—particularly the nucleus accumbens in the ventral striatum—jump into greater action at the sight of food when leptin levels are low. Yummier foods such as chocolate cake trigger greater activity than blander ones such as broccoli. Thus, leptin appears to control appetite in part by interacting with the reward areas in the brain that make eating enjoyable.

Scientists originally hoped that leptin could be used to treat obesity. But the story turned out to be much more complicated.

Although morbidly obese people born without the ob gene do lose weight when given the hormone, such cases are very rare. Most obese people have the gene and produce plenty of the hormone—too much of it, in fact, causing them to become resistant to its effects.

So they remain hungry, even after eating, say, a cheeseburger, double order of French fries, and a super-sized soft drink. Scientists are now attempting to identify the specific brain pathways and mechanisms associated with leptin resistance.

Another appetite-related hormone that has come under intense scrutiny is ghrelin, which is produced primarily in the stomach. Unlike leptin, ghrelin stimulates appetite—and quickly, on a meal-to-meal basis. Levels of the hormone rise rapidly in the bloodstream when the stomach is empty and then race to tell the brain it’s time to eat. As soon as the stomach becomes full and stretched, ghrelin levels fall. When people lose weight through dieting, their ghrelin levels become chronically high—which may explain why dieters struggle to keep weight off. Scientists are now looking to see if blocking ghrelin may help.

Yet another area of research involves the receptors, or “docking sites,” on neurons for the hormone melanocortin-4. When activated, these receptors help suppress appetite. When they become defective, however, they lead to morbid obesity.

Recent research involving mice has revealed that activation of melanocortin-4 receptors in certain areas of the brain—the paraventricular hypothalamus and the amygdala—help reduce body fat by decreasing our desire to eat, while receptors on neurons elsewhere in the brain help increase the amount of calories our bodies expend.

This finding may lead to more targeted treatments for helping people control their weight. Other research has uncovered differences in how the brains of men and women regulate appetite.

Estrogen, for example, has been found to use the same pathways in the brain as leptin uses to suppress appetite—a possible reason why women tend to gain weight after menopause.

Another study recently reported that the children of women who undergo gastric bypass surgery before becoming pregnant are only half as likely to become obese. This intriguing result suggests that both the genes and the environmental factors causing obesity can be overridden—further hope that the obesity epidemic may one day be brought under control.

Mastering Leptin: The Leptin Diet, Solving Obesity and Preventing Disease, Second Edition

Source: Brain Briefings Nov. 2007
Society for Neuroscience
www.sfn.org/briefings

Women & Breastfeeding

2008-08-12T13:53:00.003-07:00

Last week was National Breastfeeding Awareness Week. Now is an appropriate time to revisit this important topic.

from the National Women's Health Report: Women & Pregnancy

When Amber McCracken, 32, had her first child three years ago, she was all set to breastfeed. She figured it was a perfectly natural process that would come easily. Instead, she had such a terrible time with it that she gave up before her daughter was six weeks old.

"Because I couldn't provide my first child with the important nourishment of breast milk, I felt like a failure as a mom even before I left the hospital," she notes. What so many women don't realize, Ms. McCracken now knows, is that breastfeeding must be learned--by both mother and child.

Nonetheless, American women are getting better at breastfeeding. A 2001 survey found that nearly 70 percent of babies are breastfed in the hospital; about 46 percent exclusively breastfed. Six months later, 33 percent of babies were still breastfed, 17 percent receiving breast milk only.

Those figures, part of the Ross Mothers Laboratory Survey (RMLS), which has been tracking breastfeeding in the U.S. since 1954, represent a record high, say researchers. Even better--groups that were historically less likely to breastfeed, such as women who are African-American, younger and those with only a high school education, also showed significant increases.

But it's taken a lot of work to get there, the RMLS researchers note. They attribute increases to programs such as the peer counseling programs that target low-income women, and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a joint effort by UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Hospitals in the initiative agree not to accept free or low-cost breast milk substitutes, feeding bottles or nipples, and implement 10 specific steps to support successful breastfeeding.

What these and other programs like them show, says Michelle Collins, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, is that there's a lot of preparation to breastfeeding. "It's not as simple as putting the baby on the breast, and it goes smoothly from there." She also notes that while the 70 percent figure nationwide looks good, the figures differ dramatically throughout the country. In southern Illinois where she used to live, for instance, barely one in three new mothers tried nursing and half quit by six weeks.

"It's a cultural thing," she says. "If your mom didn't breastfeed you, you probably won't breastfeed your baby, because your mother may not be as supportive of you nursing." Having a support system--whether your family, husband or friends--is also critical, she says.

Just as important is learning how to breastfeed. That involves everything from how to hold the baby and how often to feed the baby, to how to tell if the baby is getting enough milk (hint: wet diapers and weight gain). It also means being prepared for problems, like breast infections or sore nipples. In fact, the most common reasons for stopping breastfeeding are sore nipples, not having enough milk, problems with the baby nursing or feeling that the baby wasn't getting enough to eat.

All those problems can be addressed by a certified lactation consultant, which most maternity wards and some pediatric groups have, notes Ms. Collins. "And expect that it's a learning process," she says. "It may take a good two weeks before you feel comfortable."

Ms. McCracken knows that now. "I was so disappointed to miss out on one of the first opportunities to bond with my baby," she says of her first pregnancy. She's pregnant again, however, and hopes now that she knows more about breastfeeding her attempts to nurse will be successful. "I'm hopeful I have that chance again."

Resources

International Lactation Consultant Association
919-861-5577
www.ilca.org
Provides database of lactation consultants by zip code who provide breastfeeding support and information.

La Leche League
847-519-7730
www.lalecheleague.org
Provides breastfeeding support and educational materials.

National Association for Postpartum Care Services
1-800-453-6852
www.napcs.org
Offers national database of contacts to assist with practical responsibilities and personal needs of families during the post-delivery period.

© 2006 National Women’s Health Resource Center, Inc. (NWHRC) All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from the NWHRC. 1-877-986-9472 (toll-free). On the Web at: www.healthywomen.org.

Understanding Diabetes and Your Risk

2008-07-29T19:27:00.001-07:00

Reverse Your Risk: Understanding Diabetes - 18 and Older

Today, millions of people in the United States have diabetes, including millions more who do not even know they have the disease. Read more to learn about diabetes and find out if you're at risk...

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes—about 9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood.
Diabetes means that your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. Your blood always has some sugar in it because the body uses sugar for energy; it's the fuel that keeps you going. But too much sugar in the blood is not good for your health.
Sugar needs insulin to get into the body's cells. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach. If your body does not make enough insulin or the insulin does not work right, the sugar can't get into the cells, so it stays in the blood. This makes your blood sugar level high, causing you to have diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin, but the insulin can't do its job, so sugar is not getting into the cells.

Type 2 Diabetes risk factors & symptoms

Type 2 Diabetes risk factors include:

Parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
Family background of Alaska Native, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
History of gestational diabetes
High blood pressure
High levels of "bad" (LDL) and/or low levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol
Fairly inactive lifestyle and/or exercise fewer than three times a week
Cardiovascular disease

Type 2 diabetes occurs most frequently in people who:

are over age 45
are overweight or obese - about 70 percent of women, and 50 percent of men, who have diabetes are obese

Type 2 Diabetes symptoms include:

increased thirst
increased hunger
fatigue
increased urination, especially at night
weight loss
blurred vision
sores that do not heal

Talk to your health care provider about these and other risk factors. A simple blood test will tell you if you are diabetic or at risk of developing diabetes.

Resources on Diabetes

Diabetes FAQ - Discusses frequently asked questions about Diabetes.
Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? - Learn more about Type 2 Diabetes and steps you can take to reduce your risk!
Small Steps. Big Rewards - Prevent Type 2 Diabetes and see how physical activity can decrease your risk.

Stop Diabetes: 50 Simple Steps You Can Take at Any Age to Reduce Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Women's Equality Day: A Letter of Concern

2008-07-23T11:04:00.012-07:00

As we celebrate the anniversary of women's right to vote next month on August 26th, Women's Equality Day, we need to draw attention to the effect of tobacco-related diseases on women.

Lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as a leading killer of women. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease, which kills one of three women in the United States. Babies born to women who smoke and babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, and other chronic lung diseases.

It is not by accident that tobacco use has increased to the point of creating an epidemic among American women. Since the 1960s, tobacco advertising has linked women's liberation with smoking, beginning with "You've come a long way, baby," and now proclaiming that "It's a woman thing." The tobacco companies also have developed slick advertising campaigns that glamorize smoking and that connect cigarettes with thinness. The Federal Trade Commission's annual report on tobacco advertising revealed that advertising and promotional expenditures increased by $2.68 billion (21.5%) between 2002 and 2003, for a grand total annual expenditure of $15.15 billion. This represents an increase of approximately $9 billion since 1998.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a number of publications that explain the risks of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke and the benefits of quitting. These include the 2006 Surgeon General's Report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, the 2004 Surgeon General's Report, The Health Consequences of Smoking, and a number of products based on these reports. CDC also has a community toolkit to help combat the problem of tobacco use among young girls and women, Dispelling the Myths About Smoking.

We may not have the money that the tobacco companies have, but we have hearts that react to the pain and suffering caused by tobacco use. All of us must work together to keep children safe from tobacco use and to help those who want to quit their deadly addiction.

50 Ways to Improve Women's Lives: The Essential Women's Guide for Achieving Equality, Health, and Success (Inner Ocean Action Guide)

In Health and Gratitude,

Michelle L. Taylor
Monarch Health Promotions
(520) 404-4558

Just Another Headache? It Could Be Depression

2008-07-14T14:19:00.002-07:00

When the dull pressure of an occasional headache begins, you might chalk it up to work stress, lack of sleep or personal worries. If the ache is mild or moderate, you may consider it no big deal and simply reach for an over-the-counter drug--aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium--instead of calling your health care professional.

Simple tension-type headaches are common, happening to 78 percent of adults, according to the National Headache Foundation. Such aches are dull (not stabbing or pulsating), may contract the muscles in the scalp or neck and generally occur on both sides of the head, without nausea or sensitivity to light and noise.

Yet occasional or episodic headaches may increase in frequency over time. Are you taking headache medication nearly every day, but feeling little relief? Does the aching often start when you wake up or in the evening? Are you having sleep problems?

If that describes you on 15 or more days a month, you have chronic tension-type headache. And you might also be suffering from unrecognized depression.

Although people with chronic tension-type headache often get through their daily activities, studies show they have significantly higher levels of depression, which affects overall functioning and quality of life. That depression might not be displayed as sadness or other classic signs of a depressive disorder, so the problem underlying the headaches may be missed by health care professionals and even patients themselves. What's more, chronic pain itself can lead to depression.

If you suffer from chronic headache, get help now to end the pain:

Anyone taking headache medication more than two days a week needs to be examined by a medical professional. See your primary care provider or a specialist at a headache clinic (often affiliated with hospitals).

Even if you are not depressed, antidepressants are often prescribed for chronic tension-type headache. These drugs provide better pain relief than standard over-the-counter medications.

Biofeedback has also been shown to be helpful in ending chronic headache.

Breaking the Headache Cycle: A Proven Program for Treating and Preventing Recurring Headaches

References
"Categories of Headache." National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org. Accessed 3/27/2006.
"Tension-type Headache." National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org. Accessed 4/3/2006.
Diamond, S. "Tension-type headache." Clinical Cornerstone, 1(6): 33-44, 1999.
Barton-Donovan, K, Blanchard, EB. "Psychosocial aspects of chronic daily headache." Journal of Headache Pain, 6(1):30-39, 2005.
Holroyd, KA, Stensland, M, Lipchik, GL, et al. "Psychosocial correlates and impact of chronic tension-type headaches." Headache, 40(1):3-16, 2000.
Diamond, S. "Depression and Headaches." National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org. Accessed 3/27/2006.
"Consult Your Healthcare Provider If Your Headache…" National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org. Accessed 4/3/2006

Reprinted with permission from the NWHRC. 1-877-986-9472 (toll-free).

Simple Ways to Improve Your Posture

2008-07-06T10:38:00.004-07:00

Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself in a full-length mirror or store window and seen your body slumped with poor posture?

You might quickly pull your head and shoulders back, pull in your stomach and walk on. In a minute or two, when you've forgotten about what you saw, your body might start to slump again.

If there were a mirror in front of us all day long, reflecting how we stand, walk and sit, good posture might be more on our minds. Having the right posture is important, and not just for looking good. Correct posture promotes better body movement, keeps bones in healthy alignment, takes strain off muscles and joints, keeps abdominal organs functioning well and helps avoid back pain.

With practice, you can improve your posture. These ideas may help:

Take several short stretch breaks throughout the day, especially if you work at a desk or computer. Stretching keeps muscles flexible for good posture.

Sitting on a chair's edge, feet flat on floor, place a pillow or soccer-sized ball between your knees. Squeeze gently for a few seconds while lifting your head and pulling your shoulder blades back. Repeat 10 times.
Stand with your back against a wall, heels about 3 inches from the wall. Put arms down with palms forward and low back close to wall.
Lift your chest so your shoulders touch the wall.
Bring head back to wall, chin tucked in.
Pull up and in with muscles of lower abdomen.
Hold for 10 seconds while breathing normally. Repeat 3 times.

Awareness Through Movement: Easy-to-Do Health Exercises to Improve Your Posture, Vision, Imagination, and Personal Awareness

ISBN: 0062503227
ISBN-13: 9780062503220

References
Luebbers P. "Enhancing Your Flexibility." American College of Sports Medicine Fit Society. http://www.acsm.org. Accessed July 11, 2007.
American Physical Therapy Association. "The Secret of Good Posture: A Physical Therapist's Perspective." http://www.apta.org. Accessed July 9, 2007.
St. Luke's Iowa Health System. "Three Simple Exercises to Improve Posture." http://www.stlukes.org. Accessed July 11, 2007.
American Academy of Family Physicians. "Vitamin B-12." http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/765.html. Accessed June 20, 2007.
_______________________________________________
Reprinted with permission from the NWHRC. 1-877-986-9472 (toll-free). On the Web at: www.healthywomen.org.

Tips to Enjoy a Happy, Healthy, SAFE 4th of July

2008-06-29T21:49:00.001-07:00

We at Monarch Health Promotions want everyone to have a happy, healthy, safe 4th of July!

With that in mind, please consider the fireworks injury statistics and the tips below:

• Fireworks devices were involved in an estimated 9,200 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.

• An estimated 6,400 injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms during the one-month period (June 16-July 16) surrounding the Fourth of July.

• Firecrackers accounted for 20% of all injuries followed by rockets (13%), and sparklers (16%).

• Males suffered three times the number of injuries as females.

• Sparklers caused the greatest number of injuries in children 14 and younger, followed by firecrackers and rockets.

Of the 1,000 estimated sparkler injuries,

200 were to children age 5 and younger.
2,300 of the injuries were to children under age 15.

• 11 people were killed by fireworks in 2006.

Fireworks Free Fun
You can ensure your children’s safety by supervising their activities and their environment. Instead of worrying about what
might be going on in your neighborhood, you can be what’s going on in the neighborhood.

Host a Fourth of July party for your kids and their friends.
Let the kids decorate T-shirts or hats with paint and decals that glow in the dark. When evening rolls around, their new night-bright clothes will be dry and ready to model.
Take the kids to a professional fireworks show. Check your local paper for times and locations of displays in your area.
Provide safe sounds and sparkles (see lists below).

Safe Sounds
Part of fireworks’ attraction to children is the big noise that goes with them. Kids love making noise and there are lots of safe ways for them to do this.

• Step or sit on inflated balloons until they pop.

• Inflate small bags (lunch bags are a good size). Popping the bags makes a nice, loud “BANG”.

• Buy noisemakers from a party store. Different brands and types of noisemakers make many unique, and loud sounds.

• Bring out your old pots, pans and pie plates. The kitchen cacophony should be quite satisfying to the noise-making set.

• Horns, whistles, bells and cymbals will also serve as sound fun.

Safe Sparkles
The other attractive part of fireworks is the glitter. Here are some safe, fire-free tips.

• Glo-sticks, glo-ropes and glo-jewelry provide safe and fun ways to brighten an evening.

• Flashlights, plain or with filters made by wrapping the flashlight in colored cellophane, can light the night in fun, safe ways.

• Neon and glow-in-the-dark paint can provide both a fun afternoon project and a special evening display. Kids enjoy watching their art take on a special glow as the sky darkens.

• A jar of fireflies or lightening bugs can provide lots of fun. Nature’s little sparklers provide a fun challenge to young insect
hunters. Just remember to release the bugs before the hunters go to bed!

• Novelty flashlights can be extra fun. You can buy flashlights that have mirrors to bounce the light, and changeable colored filters or optic fibers that look like sparklers but are much safer.

Please remember to celebrate safely. Fireworks are extremely
dangerous. Do not purchase, use or store fireworks of any type. Attend only authorized public fireworks displays conducted by licensed operators, but be aware that even
professional displays can be dangerous.

Source: Green M.A., Joholske, J., 2006 Fireworks Annual Report: Fireworks-Related Deaths, Emergency Department Treated Injuries, and Enforcement Activities During 2006.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, June, 2007

For more about Fireworks, Call the PBA Vision Health Resource Center at 1-800-331-2020.