Check out the video, it has some inspiring things to talk about!

Who are you and what’s your journey?

The top personal and career development discussion forum in the US is right here: http://www.coolaura.com.

The site brings together people from all over the world to network, allowing members to talk about personal growth, and work together to create spiritual and business development workshops.

Allow me to back up. I’ve been gone for more than a year, but I am back to start blogging again about health related matters. That includes mental and spiritual health. I feel that personal improvement and forward thinking career planning is an essential part of becoming … more as a person.

So, I wanted to talk about Coolaura.com and kind of give it a review.

As part of my own personal journey in life, I started looking through personal development forums in the US and the UK. It’s amazing how many there seem to be. (It’s also amazing how many seem to be total crap.) Coolaura isn’t like that. It’s run by a therapist named Malek Moqaddam. The site describes itself as “Life Coaching, Master Therapy & Personal consultations.” It’s a website about the Journey for Human potential.

The site offers a lot of positive, emotional affirmations, like “Dear God Almighty, today I woke up, I’m healthy, I’m alive, I’m fine, thank you!” For those that aren’t so spiritually inclined, however there are more generic affirmations as well.

The site also contains a forum where people can interact with Malek, with others, and work on business, career issues, personal discovery, participate in online workshops and more.

It’s definitely worth the time to check out what I feel is one of the top online career development and personal growth sites. But, hey… growing as a person has become part of my personal journey.

It doesn’t have to be yours. But I think it should be.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 47,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 11 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

Carrot Juice helps increase blood flow, and thus helps decrease muscle weakness.

Written by Will Blesch, Copyright 2012

Greeting programs!

We’re continuing with a mini-series on reducing muscle weakness and increasing physical strength in elderly parents and the senior citizen population. Many of these remedies and strategies also apply to younger people as well, so if you are not yet a senior citizen, don’t let that stop you from reading on.

Last time we went over vitamins and minerals, basically foods that are essential for efficient muscular function.

We talked specifically about B and E vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese.

For more on these nutrients, check out the blog posting just before this one.

Today, we’re going to talk about the herbal remedies for muscle weakness that are out there. As we have mentioned more than once in this series, the CDC notes that, “Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls.” Thus, there is good reason to be concerned with ensuring that if you are over the age of 65, you work hard to maintain muscle strength.

Now, what about herbal remedies for muscle weakness?

The first thing to note right off the bat is that if they are natural and herbal…that means they are not chemicals designed in a lab somewhere. These things were made to be consumed by you. Every single one of these foods can be eaten every day, every week, all year long.

What’s first on the list?

Carrot juice! Yum! Carrot juice helps improve your blood’s circulation. Because of that, it helps reduce stiffness and muscle weakness caused by poor circulation.

An essential amino acid that many associate with helping to prevent oral herpes outbreaks called L-Lysine also works to build stronger bones, cartilage and connective tissue. This, by itself helps to fight fatigue as well as muscle weakness…and you can find this amino acid easily in the vitamin section at many supermarkets.  Horsetail is an herb that helps your muscles to contract normally and efficiently. It does this due to its high levels of silica. Horsetail tea drunk around three times a day is a great method of getting the right levels of silica into your system.

Horsetail tea is a great method for increasing blood flow from the heart to the muscles.

Hawthorn berries help to increase blood flow from your heart to your muscles. They also help your heart’s muscle contractions.

Each of these taken on a daily basis can help reduce muscle weakness and increase muscle strength. They don’t have side effects and they’re readily available. You should choose to make each of these a part of your diet!

Next time, we’ll talk about physical therapy and drugs on the market that may or may not really help to reduce muscle weakness.

Until then! Peace.

Written by Will Blesch, Copyright 2012

Hi gang!

So, yesterday I began talking about muscle weakness issues faced by the elderly. In my last posting, I talked about how the CDC notes that, “Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls.” And, then I went on to talk about the risks of those falls and I mentioned the first muscle weakness remedy older folks can begin using to counter those risks.

And, I wasn’t talking about bodybuilding supplements either.

The first remedy for muscle weakness I touched on was Nutrition Management.

I suggested that elderly parents, senior citizens etc. include in their daily diet high protein foods, such as meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, seeds, nuts, legumes, granola, oat flakes and wheat germ.

But, really there’s so much more to it than this. For instance, in order to properly function, muscles also require the presence of several B and E vitamins in the diet in sufficient amounts. You don’t get enough? Voila! Your muscles can become weak.

B vitamins, such as vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and vitamin B12, are found in leafy green vegetables, meat and dairy products. Eggs, fish, grains and nuts are also good sources of B vitamins. Good sources of vitamin E are grains, sunflower seeds, almonds, nuts and spinach.

You don’t have to be a senior citizen in order to begin benefiting from eating this stuff. These are healthy foods, period.

People of all ages, but particularly the elderly should also determine to partake in the consumption of minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese.

Why?

The answer is that these are also essential for efficient muscular function. They must also be included in regular and consistent amounts in the diet. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products, tofu, almonds, spinach, broccoli, beans, and sesame seeds.

Vitamins and minerals necessary for proper muscle development should be part of any nutritional management plan.

(Just as a side note, I talked with a young teenage kid recently who thought he could basically get all the benefits of eating healthy foods by just popping some bodybuilding supplements and building his muscle mass. He even told me he eats total junk! It amazed me that he had such an ignorant view, so I totally had to set him straight.)

Foods rich in magnesium include almonds, spinach, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, broccoli, tofu, beans, brown rice and grains.

Foods rich in manganese include nuts, rice, wheat, oat bran, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate and shellfish.

Sometimes, these minerals can be a bit hard for the body to absorb directly from foods, and in these cases you may need to use supplements. (Again, not bodybuilding supplements. That’s not what I am talking about here.) Don’t be afraid to go online and Google “discount supplements” though. You’ll find some decent minerals and vitamins you can use to help absorb those nutrients you’re missing.

Making sure to do what you can to avoid muscle weakness is important. As I said in my last posting, I have a grandfather that fell and broke his hip. Many times that has to do with muscle weakness…so to increase physical strength and decrease muscle weakness…beefing up on your nutrition is essential.

Next time! We’ll talk about some wild and wacky herbal remedies for muscle weakness that many senior citizens and people in general simply don’t consider.

Written by Will Blesch, Copyright 2012

Ok, read some interesting stuff that I thought I’d talk about here. And, I found it interesting since I have grandparents that are getting up there in age.

According to the CDC, “Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls.” However, the CDC goes on to say that, less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it.

These falls actually can be pretty scary. My grandfather fell and fractured his hip. Not just that, but afterwards for some reason one leg ended up being shorter than the other when it healed. Now, he has to walk with a cane and he had to get a lift to put in one of his shoes.

He has also been noticeably weaker. I think that sucks.

A paper published in the journal, “The Gerontologist,” [1], goes further and states that among older adults (those 65 or older), falls are the leading cause of injury death. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.

Less Muscle Can Lead to Balance Problems

In 2010, 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments and more than 662,000 of these patients were hospitalized! That’s a lot!

So anyway, you know all this got me thinking. For those with elderly parents, or even if you happen to be reading this and you ARE a senior citizen, what sort of solutions are really out there?

There has to be something that can help increase an older person’s physical strength and decrease the likelihood that they’re going to fall and get seriously hurt. Right?

Well, I looked it up on Google, and lo and behold, there’s seriously not that much. There’s recommendations by doctors to increase physical activity.

However, there are a few odd solutions I’m going to bring to your attention.

1. Besides increasing physical activity, there’s also recommendations for helping an elderly person’s physical condition through nutrition management.

Healthy muscular function, coordination and development heavily relies on a good source of proteins in the diet. Individuals who suffer from muscle weakness are recommended to include in their daily diet high protein foods, such as meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, seeds, nuts, legumes, granola, oat flakes and wheat germ.

I am thinking of turning this particular subject into a short series. So, keep your eye out for more info on this subject.

In the meantime, if you are an older person (over 65 years), do yourself a favor and take a look at your eating habits. Increase your protein intake and make a genuine effort to increase your daily physical activity if even just a little.

Over time it could do you a world of good.

Reference:

[1]Hornbrook MC, Stevens VJ, Wingfield DJ, Hollis JF, Greenlick MR, Ory MG. Preventing falls among community–dwelling older persons: results from a randomized trial. The Gerontologist 1994:34(1):16–23.

Is Gardasil Really Safe?

Written by Will Blesch, Copyright 2012

Well!

I just read an article by Dr. Mercola.

Apparently Gardasil, the HPV vaccine (HPV stands for the Human Papillomavirus) may possibly cause inflammation in the brain that can could lead to death. Imagine that! Merck and the FDA have been saying for years how groovily safe the vaccine is, but a new study out by scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have new evidence to offer.

In fact, the study conducted by these researchers says many of the symptoms reported by those vaccinated by Gardasil after they got their HPV shots are associated with cerebral vasculitis.

(Cerebral vasculitis or central nervous system vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessel wall involving the brain and occasionally the spinal cord.)

The study says that in some cases, cerebral vasculitis may well be triggered by the Gardasil vaccine. This is in spite of the fact that public health agencies are still maintaining that the vaccine is safe!

So what kind of symptoms are we talking about here?

As of mid-2012, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has received 119 reports of death following vaccination with Gardasil, as well as:

•     894 reports of disability

•     517 life-threatening adverse events

•     9,889 emergency room visits

•     2,781 hospitalizations

Moreover, during the study, scientists analyzed brain tissue samples from two young women, who suffered from cerebral-vasculitis-type symptoms following Gardasil vaccinations, and that died shortly afterwards.

Dr. Mercola’s article stated concerning the study, “They found antibodies that recognize HPV-16L1, a viral antigen present in Gardasil, binding to the wall of blood vessels in the brain. Particles of the HPV-16L1 antigen from Gardasil were also detected in the arteries at the base of the brain, with some particles adhering to the blood vessel walls.”

I don’t think I would vaccinate either my son or daughter with the HPV vaccines (either Gardasil or Cervarix). I don’t think either vaccine is truly safe despite what the health department, the FDA and the CDC have to say about it. New information keeps coming to light that paints these vaccines with a big, red “Do Not Use” sign.

For those that don’t know, HPV is the most common STI in the world. However, despite the hype and fear mongering, there is no HPV health crisis. In fact, over 90% of HPV infections are cleared from the body in a two year time frame with no medical intervention whatsoever.

Sometimes though, those infections are not cleared, and that’s when a potential problem with genital warts or cervical changes etc. can occur.

Click on the following link to learn more about HPV symptoms and what remedies are available.

http://youtu.be/mUezfleAkxA
The best option is to get informed…and to lower your chances of getting HPV by being in a faithful relationship with one partner; limiting your number of sex partners; and choosing a partner who has had no or few prior sex partners.
Reference:

MedAlerts.org. HPV vaccine adverse event report to VAERS as of Aug. 13, 2012.

Simvastatin can cause muscle pain, muscle weakness, and many other side effects.

Written by Will Blesch, Copyright 2012

Apparently, statin side effects are becoming more and more talked about in regular media channels. The UK’s “The Daily Mail” just ran a story on Britain’s most prescribed statin, Simvastatin, and how dosages are to be lowered due to harsh side effects like muscle pain, muscle aches and severe muscle weakness.

I wonder if lowering dosages is enough. From everything I’ve been reading, I have to say that I am frankly amazed that statins have been hailed as wonderdrugs, and that any of them ever were approved by the FDA here in America.

To be even more blunt…I have to wonder about the FDA’s competency to protect the health of the American consumer.

Take a look at this laundry list of side effects when it comes to the use of statins like Lipitor or Simvastatin:

WebMD lists the following for Simvastatin:

• Muscle Problems related to SLCO1B1 Gene Variant (severe)
• Atrial Fibrillation (Severe)
• Acute Infection of the Nose, Throat or Sinus (less severe)
• Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements (less severe)
• Dizziness (less severe)
• Rash
• Head pain
• Feel Like Throwing Up
• Heartburn
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Stomach Cramps
• Reaction due to an Allergy

There’s actually a ton more, but those are some of the most common.

As for Lipitor, WebMd lists the following side effects:

• Joint Pain (severe)
• Reaction due to an Allergy (severe)
• Indigestion (less severe)
• Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements (less severe)
• Gas (less severe)
• Stomach Cramps (less severe)

I gotta ask…why would a doctor prescribe, and why would a patient take, a drug that’s designed to reduce or eliminate or prevent one element of a disease process…only to trade that ONE element for a potential host of other terrible symptoms?

How does that benefit the overall health of the patient? Moreover, what does it say about the ethics and goals of the doctors prescribing it? What does it say about the pharmaceutical companies making the drugs? What does it say about the government agencies (like the FDA) that approve these drugs for use?

Methinks it puts all of them in a bad light. Personally, I think it comes down to money. I think it’s more about dollar signs than about the health of the public.

And, I think that’s more than sad. It’s disgusting.

It ought to be criminal.

Before stopping the use of Lipitor or another statin due to muscle pain, the patient should try Muxscle for a while and see if the muscle aches decrease.

Written by Will Blesch, Copyright 2012

So, there’s been all this talk about statins and the drawbacks to using them. I haven’t actually done a lot of investigation into this subject before, so when I started hearing about issues related to statin use, I decided I needed to get informed.

For those who don’t know, statins are a class of drugs used by patients to lower their cholesterol levels.

The best-selling statin is actually Lipitor, manufactured by Pfizer. In 2003, Lipitor became the best-selling pharmaceutical in history. Currently, there are many statins on the market, including atorvastatin (Lipitor and Torvast), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor, Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo, Pitava), pravastatin (Pravachol, Selektine, Lipostat), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor, Lipex).

However, according to a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics entitled, Genetic predisposition to atorvastatin-induced myopathy: a case report., “The major clinical complication of statins is a variety of muscle complaints ranging from myalgia to rhabdomyolysis.”

Yikes. Moreover, some of these muscle related problems apparently don’t stop…even when the patient ceases taking statins.

That’s not cool.

Although, at least in the paper mentioned above, Speaking of two patients, the authors noted, “Atorvastatin was stopped in both cases, and symptoms resolved.”

But, who wants to trade lower cholesterol for potentially life long muscle pains? I sure wouldn’t.

Speaking of muscle pain, there’s a new product on the market called Muxscle that apparently is being used to help prevent muscle pains and muscle aches brought on by the use of statins.

It’s makers suggest that, before stopping the use of Lipitor or another statin due to muscle pain, the patient should try Muxscle for a while and see if the muscle aches decrease.

Reference:

Hoffman KB, Kraus C, Dimbil M, Golomb BA A Survey of the FDA’s AERS Database Regarding Muscle and Tendon Adverse Events Linked to the Statin Drug Class. PLoS One. 2012

University of Washington: Douglas Research Center

Copyright 2012, written by Will Blesch

In an article published in the Seattle Times, NIH head Francis Collins was quoted as saying concerning the agency, “there is a “yawning gap” between discovery and product, and the agency has moved toward bridging that gap.”

Mr. Collins was referencing a new $65 million dollar grant awarded by the NIH to the University of Washington to help turn lab research into practical, useful medical devices and other medical products.

NIH Building

While this sounds great on the surface, one has to wonder why the government is using one of its agencies to create, effectively, competition with the private sector.

Shouldn’t the NIH limit its funding strictly to research?

Isn’t it slightly distressing that the public has no idea whether the grant awarded to the University of Washington (or any other research institution) was or was not awarded with a particular agenda in mind?

How do any privately held medical device companies, biotechs or pharmaceuticals know that this $65 million grant won’t be used to bring medical devices and products to the market that directly compete with devices and products already in development by private firms?

There is already legitimate criticism of many aspects of the NIH’s funding policies.

For instance the NIH, through its peer-review system used to rank proposals, can skew the direction of dollars it has toward research that fits specifically within a particular paradigm.

The NIH hands out over $20 billion every year.  However, its funding decisions are incredibly slow and there has long been criticism that it favors recognized researchers and conservative approaches.

Individual scientists, biotechnology companies and other medical start-ups on the cutting edge are often denied funding by the NIH. Yet, throughout history it has been the new blood willing to take risks that bring about radical, new breakthroughs in science…including tremendous medical advances.

Private biotechs, medical device firms, start-up pharmaceuticals and even individual scientists work on very valid research and many are left to rely strictly on the private sector for funding.

However, when given adequate funding, these institutions and individuals are often able to move faster than their academic counterparts in university related departments. They are not as held back by academic or governmental red tape.

Personally, I applaud the fact that the NIH has given this grant to UW. Practical results in the world of medical devices, and other medical products, from publicly funded research really do need to be forthcoming.

Discoveries and inventions should absolutely be moved out of laboratories and into the hands of people who can obtain something good from them.

But this is too little!

The NIH needs to stop being so conservative…so slow. And, you know, here’s the thing.

If the NIH is going to jump into funding more than mere research through its grants then those in leadership positions should do one of two things.

1)      Begin looking at setting up its own Fund similar to an investment fund etc. that is used specifically to create a governmental stake in various biotechnology start-ups that are unrelated to universities…which is super creepy….

or!

2)       The NIH should just start funding a little more liberally… in directions that are not always so well established. It should revamp its system of evaluating proposals and streamline things in order to make the entire process from proposal to funding much, much faster. Give new blood an equal chance to bring exciting, new research to the scientific community and that in turn translates into marketable medical devices and products that benefit humanity…at an accelerated pace!

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