There are personality factors associated with individuals who are resistant to getting colds when they're exposed to a virus, says Sheldon Cohen, PhD, professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University whose research examines the effects of stress and social support on immunity and health.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Just Say Om
Santa Monica, Calif., yoga therapist Felice Rhiannon credits her meditation and breathing practices for improving her physical and emotional health. "Meditation practice helps to calm my nervous system and allows the immune system to function with less interference," she says. For Rhiannon, "A calmer mind means a calmer body."
"The greatest change is in my peace of mind and sense of ease," she says. "I don't get colds as often as I did when I was younger. My sleep is better and my ability to cope with life's inevitable stresses has improved."
In a study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine in 2003, researchers at the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University found that volunteers who participated in eight weeks of mediation training produced significantly more flu-fighting antibodies than those who didn't meditate.
Mind Over Body
Atlanta interior designer Melissa Galt believes in a "mind over medicine" attitude. "I don't have time for sickness in my life," says Galt, who travels frequently and doesn't take anything to fight germs. "I don't believe in it and don't acknowledge it."
Every thought is accompanied by a chain of biochemical reactions in your body, says Northrup. So a positive attitude can increase levels of nitric oxide, which help to balance neurotransmitters, improve immunity, and increase circulation, she says.
"Whenever nitric oxide levels are high -- from anything ranging from positive thought to exercise -- you're actually improving your resistance to disease," she says.
Up Your Vitamin Intake
We have a worldwide epidemic of vitamin D deficiency, says Northrup. Everybody needs vitamin D, which can be found in foods like sockeye salmon, eggs, and milk.
Hyla Cass, MD, an integrative medical practitioner and author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health, adds that certain prescription drugs like acid blockers can deprive the body of nutrients like vitamin D.
Surveys show that Americans don't get enough vitamin C, says Elisabetta Politi, RD, MPH, CDE, nutrition director at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center.
Citrus fruits are a good source of vitamin C. "It's a myth that vitamin C prevents the cold," she says. "But having an appropriate amount of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables can boost immunity."
Don't Worry, Conquer Stress
Stop worrying about getting sick. The fear and expectation of having something adverse happen actually lowers immunity, says Northrup. "When people are worried about it all the time," she says, "they literally scare themselves to death."
Constant worrying causes cortisol and epinephrine levels to rise - and these stress hormones can weaken the body's overall immunity. "The immune system plummets when cortisol levels are chronically high," she says. "Your own body produces high levels of steroids when you're under constant stress."
An Apple a Day Really Works
Your mom may have been right when she said, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." A natural antioxidant called quercetin, found in red apples as well as broccoli and green tea, may give an immunity boost to individuals under stress.
In a study conducted by David Nieman, PhD, professor at Appalachian State University, results showed that only 5% of cyclists who took 1,000 milligrams of quercetin every day for five weeks reported upper respiratory illness during a two-week period following extreme exercise, whereas 45% of the cyclists who took a placebo reported illness following extreme exercise. However, there were no significant differences in measures of immune system function in the two groups.
Additionally, researchers found that athletes taking the quercetin supplement maintained better mental alertness and reaction time over the placebo group. So go ahead, stock up on those red apples and you may be thanking Mom later.
Pay Attention to Your Mouth
Chicago public relations consultant Joanna Broussard says gargling regularly with an antiseptic mouthwash has helped improve her dental health and may have helped fend off other illnesses.
Twelve years ago, Broussard's dental hygienist convinced her to gargle consistently after brushing her teeth. "So I made the effort and got into the habit every morning," she says, "Since then I have not had colds. When people all around me have colds or the flu, I seem to be immune."
Another reason to bone up on your brushing and gargling is that poor oral hygiene and gum disease have been linked to more serious illnesses, including diabetes.
Training for the Body
ennifer Cassetta, a martial arts instructor in New York City, claims she never gets sick, and neither do her father and grandmother, who also teach martial arts. "I believe it is the holistic approach to exercise that calms the mind and relieves stress," she says. "And the cardio, strengthening, and conditioning help boost the immune system."
Cassetta says her health has changed dramatically after she picked up martial arts eight years ago. Before then, she was a smoking, take-out-every-night, espresso-drinking girl in her 20s.
"As I started to train, I started to change my habits drastically," she says. "I cleaned up my diet, trained more, and quit smoking. Now in my 30s, I have more energy, I look better, and am stronger than I ever have been."
One bout of vigorous exercise can increase circulation, says Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom. "Whenever circulation is increased, you get far more white blood cells," she says, "so they check for foreign germs and are far more apt to be able to gobble them up."
Secrets of Super-Healthy People Some people never seem to get sick. What are they doing that the rest of us aren't to keep illness at bay?
Are you secretly envious of your co-workers and friends who, like superheroes, never seem to get sick? You know, the ones glowing with good health while everyone around them is sneezing, sniffling, and coughing like villains.
Don't hate the healthy people. Instead, steal the secrets of people who manage to stay above the sickroom fray and take steps to boost your body's immunity.
Some Boomers Edgy on Health Care Costs In Survey, Nearly One in Five People Age 45 and Older Say They're Not Sure They Can Afford Health Care in 2009
Dec. 24, 2008 -- Health care costs are daunting to nearly a fifth of the people who took part in a recent AARP survey.
The telephone survey, conducted in November by Woelfel Research, included 1,001 U.S. adults age 45 and older. All but 10% of them have health insurance, either from their employer, their spouse's employer, private insurance, or Medicare.
One survey question was, "How confident are you that you will be able to afford medical care next year?"
Most people -- 81% -- said they were at least somewhat confident. That leaves the remaining 19% unsure that they will be able to foot their health care bills in 2009. Here are the details:
- Extremely confident: 26%
- Very confident: 33%
- Somewhat confident: 22%
- Not very confident: 9%
- Not at all confident: 10%
People age 65 and older (and thus eligible for Medicare) were especially confident that they'll be able to afford health care next year. People earning less than $30,000 per year were least confident about being able to pay for healthcare.
Likewise, when asked specifically about affording prescription drug costs next year, most people -- 83% -- were at least somewhat confident. But 9% were not very confident and 8% were not at all confident that they could afford their prescription drugs. Most participants reported spending up to $200 per month for up to six prescription drugs in 2008.
Taking Action
Survey participants were also asked what they had done to try to contain their health care costs.
- 58% said that when a doctor prescribes a new drug, they always ask if there's a generic equivalent.
- 62% said they always pick the generic version, if one is available.
- 49% said they've asked their doctor if there are things they can do (such as physical activity and diet change) to lower their number of medications.
- 77% said they've never been prescribed a brand-name drug that they couldn't afford.
- 85% said they hadn't cut back on medications in the past year because of costs.
The survey has a margin of error of three percentage points.
FDA OKs 1st Eyelash Drug Latisse Latisse Promotes Longer, Darker, Thicker Lashes; Glaucoma Drug Inspired It
Dec. 26, 2008 -- The FDA has approved Latisse, the first drug to promote eyelash growth, according to Allergan, the company that makes Latisse.
Latisse, which will be available by prescription starting in the first quarter of 2009, contains the active ingredient of the glaucoma drug Lumigan, which is also made by Allergan.
Eyelash growth is a known side effect of Lumigan. But Lumigan and Latisse are used differently. Lumigan is an eyedrop, and Latisse gets dabbed along the lash line on the upper eyelids to promote longer, thicker, darker lashes.
Allergan states that "Latisse users can expect to experience longer, fuller, and darker eyelashes in as little as eight weeks, with full results in 16 weeks." If Latisse is stopped, eyelashes will gradually return to their previous appearance as new eyelashes grow in.
Allergan also notes that Latisse may cause darkening of the eyelid skin, which may be reversible, and it "may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye, which is likely to be permanent."
Latisse may also promote hair growth in other skin areas that it frequently touches, so Allergan recommends blotting it off any skin other than the upper eyelid's lash line to prevent that side effect.
According to Allergan, Latisse was well-tolerated in its clinical trials, with the most common side effects being eye redness, itchy eyes, and skin hyperpigmentation.
Earlier this month, an FDA advisory panel recommended that the FDA approve Latisse and also recommended further studies in certain groups of patients, such as young patients and people who lost their eyelashes to chemotherapy.
Child Anxiety: Therapy Plus Zoloft Best Study Shows Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Zoloft Work for Child Anxiety -- But Combo Is Best
Dec. 24, 2008 - Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Zoloft are effective treatments for childhood anxiety disorders -- but the combination works best, a government-funded study shows.
Anxiety disorders and social phobias limit the lives of at least one in 10 children. Yet up to half of these kids aren't helped by short-term treatment with psychotherapy alone or medications alone.
That's why Johns Hopkins researcher John T. Walkup, MD, and colleagues led a multi-institution, government-funded study to see whether combination treatment would help.
The researchers enrolled 488 children and teens age 7 to 17 years. All suffered separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia.
There were four different treatment groups:
- 76 kids got inactive placebo pills.
- 133 kids got Zoloft alone -- beginning with 25 milligrams per day and adjusted up to 200 milligrams per day within eight weeks, including eight 30- to 60-minute sessions to rate treatment response and adverse events.
- 139 kids got CBT alone -- 14 one-hour sessions based on the Coping Cat program.
- 140 kids got combination treatment with CBT and Zoloft.
After 12 weeks:
- 24% of the kids in the placebo group were "very much" or "much" improved.
- 55% of the kids in the Zoloft group were "very much" or "much" improved.
- 60% of the kids in the CBT group were "very much" or "much" improved.
- 81% of the kids in the CBT/Zoloft combination group were "very much" or "much" improved.
Walkup and colleagues conclude that all three of the active treatments -- CBT, Zoloft, or the combination -- are effective short-term treatments for kids with anxiety disorders.
"Among these effective therapies, combination therapy provides the best chance for a positive outcome," they conclude.
Zoloft treatment worked the fastest, with rapid initial improvement but little additional improvement after eight weeks of treatment. CBT took eight to 12 weeks to work.
Most kids with anxiety disorders don't get diagnosed or treated, notes an editorial by Graham J. Emslie, MD, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
That's too bad, he says, because research now shows that untreated childhood anxiety persists into adulthood.
"This trial answers the most compelling question about the treatment of anxiety disorders: Treatment is indicated," Emslie states.
Zoloft is an SSRI antidepressant. Like other members of its class, the drug has been linked to suicidal thoughts in children and adults. But in the Walkup study, there were no more suicidal thoughts in kids taking Zoloft than in kids taking placebo pills.
However, kids taking Zoloft reported more insomnia, fatigue, sedation, and restlessness than kids in the CBT group.
Zoloft is made by Pfizer. Pfizer provided the Zoloft and placebo pills used in the study, but did not provide other support for the study and was not involved in the design or implementation of the study. Walkup and colleagues report receiving various fees and research support from various pharmaceutical companies.
The study findings, and the Emslie editorial, appear in the Dec. 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Meditation: No Magic Depression Treatment
While meditation can help many who are depressed, it's not a sure-fire cure, Raison tells WebMD. "In fact, many people with mood disorders find they can't do meditation when they're depressed." Their thoughts are too overwhelming. They are anxious, nervous, and can't sit -- and likely they need antidepressants, he says.
"For people who are seriously depressed -- or whose depression involves too much internal focus and rumination -- meditation can make their depression worse," he tells WebMD. "Early on, they begin to realize things about themselves they are uncomfortable with."
Meditation provides true insight into why we behave as we do, Raison says. "There can be a shocking realization when you start watching your thoughts. You see the junk that's in there, and it can be very distressing. Every individual case is different. With depression, which can be so disabling and overwhelming, we need to use wisely all treatment modalities to give people the best outcomes."
Compassion Training Transforms the Mind
Using MRI brain scans, scientists have begun tracking the effects of compassion training.
"We are finding that we can transform the brain by changing the mind," says Richard J. Davidson, PhD, director of the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience and the Keck Laboratory for Functional Brain Imaging and Behavior at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The brain region related to compassion, the insula, "is quite special," he explains. "It is the only brain area that monitors the body and provides the brain with information on what is going on in the body. It sends signals to the body that might change during emotional distress."
Compassion training can generate a state in which loving and compassion envelops the whole brain, he says. When people meditate on compassion, the signals to the insula and other brain regions involved in empathy and understanding are changed. The change is more dramatic among advanced practitioners, compared with novice practitioners, he adds.
His studies have shown that with even a little compassion training, people can reap a physical benefit.
Volunteers who received compassion training online -- and practiced it for 30 minutes a day for two weeks -- showed significantly greater propensity to want to help people who were suffering. They also reported a higher level of well-being, confidence, and positive feelings. MRI brain scans of these volunteers showed greater activation in the insula, Davidson reports.
Raison has studied the effects of compassion training in Emory freshmen -- examining the body's stress response system, specifically inflammation that links stress with depression. These same inflammatory processes are risk factors for other diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.
In one of his studies, freshmen who got six weeks of compassion training had less physiological stress response in a test -- heart rates, blood pressure, stress hormone levels, and other stress-related markers -- compared with students who participated in a discussion group instead.
Not only that, students in the "compassion group" who actually practiced the meditation -- rather than just taking the training classes -- fared the best in the stress test. They had the least stress reaction, he reports.
"They came in the door a little different than the other kids who didn't practice it," Raison says. "These types of meditations help people reduce their reaction to stress."
Meditation in Depression Therapy
Regularly meditating on compassion can also help prevent depression by reducing a person's emotional and physical reaction to stress in his or her daily life, says Charles L. Raison, MD, a psychiatry professor and co-director of Emory's Collaborative for Contemplative Studies.
"We look at compassion meditation as a protective strategy, sort of like exercise," he tells WebMD.
Over the past three decades, research has shown that meditation produces a relaxation response that helps decrease metabolism, lowers blood pressure, and improves heart rate, breathing, and brain waves. As the body receives a quiet message to relax, tension and tightness seep from muscles.
Meditation has gained millions of converts, helping them ease anxiety, stress, and chronic pain, improve heart health, boost mood and immunity, and resolve pregnancy problems.
By learning the Tibetan practice of "mindfulness meditation," it is possible to break the cycle of negative thinking that feeds depression, says John D. Dunne, PhD, co-director of Emory's Contemplative Practices and Studies programs.
"Negative thoughts are very real to depressed people," says Dunne. "They interpret their own actions in a very negative way ... have a very negative sense of self. They hold onto these thoughts very, very strongly."
Because a depressed person is so self-focused, it's difficult to convince them that their negative thoughts are not reality, he adds. "The goal of mindfulness meditation and compassion is to end this self-focus, this negative tone."
Cultivating Compassion as Depression Therapy
In developing compassion and inner peace, daily meditation is key, explains Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negri, PhD, a senior lecturer and director of the Emory-Tibetan Partnership.
During meditation, one becomes mindful of one's thoughts and feelings, he tells WebMD. "Meditation is a moment-by-moment awareness of your thoughts. Then, we work to change those negative feelings -- to view other people and their actions differently."
It is a human tendency to react to certain thoughts and feelings in a preconditioned way, says Geshe Lobsang. "We all have aversions and cravings, likes and dislikes. If a thought of a person comes up, we tend to immediately react based on whether we like or dislike them. That sets up a chain reaction about what's wrong with that person."
That cycle of preconditioned reactions is what we seek to change. "When people cause us difficulty, we can learn to see that they have difficulties in their own lives -- and that they act from ignorance or weakness," he says. "It's not about condoning injustice. What's wrong is wrong. But we can see them as our spiritual teachers, teaching us lessons like patience."
The Dalai Lama's Advice on Depression Inner peace is a gift -- nurtured through meditation, empathy, and compassion.
Have your job, your mortgage -- your life -- pushed you into depression? The Dalai Lama can help.
The ancient practices of Tibetan Buddhism -- meditation, mindfulness, empathy, and compassion -- are offering world-weary Americans a better perspective on life and its hardships.
By feeling compassion for others -- seeing even our enemies in a new light -- we can ease our own stress and anxiety, the Dalai Lama told a crowd of thousands, gathered for his visit to Atlanta in October 2007. Through "inner disarmament" -- reducing anger, hatred, and jealousy -- we create a path to our own happiness and world peace, he said.
The Dalai Lama has long shown the world that, even in adversity, inner peace is possible. In his many books, he has taught us The Power of Compassion, The Power of Patience, and The Art of Happiness. As the spiritual leader of Tibet, he has toured the world, inspiring multitudes to embrace this philosophy of compassion.
He has also inspired leading scientists at Emory University and elsewhere to study traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices and ethics, researching them as a treatment for depression.
Much of our inner turmoil is due to negative feelings like fear and anger, the Dalai Lama said during his Atlanta visit. "Those emotions that disturb our peaceful mind must be eliminated. In times of great distress, our best friend is inside the heart ... it is our compassion."
A compassionate attitude sustains one's good health, whereas feelings of anger, hate, and fear can hurt the immune system, he said. Trust develops between people when there is evidence of genuine concern and warm-heartedness. Good creates more good -- even if it comes slowly.
Pets Comfort College Students College Students Get Companionship, Activity, Stress Relief From Their Pets
Dec. 26, 2008 -- Pets may be a source of stress relief, as well as companionship, for college students, a new study shows.
The study included 241 students, mainly freshmen, at a commuter college in the Midwest. About 100 adults age 30 and older in the same area, but not affiliated with the college, also took part.
Participants completed a survey which included questions about pets. The group included 98 dog owners, 42 cat owners, 97 people with both cats and dogs, and 74 people with other pets.
When asked why they had pets, companionship was the most common reason for people of all ages; those people said they would be lonely without their pet.
The second most common reason was that their pet helps keep them active. And the third most common reason was that their pet helps them "get through hard times."
College students were more likely than the older participants to say their pet helps them get through hard times. That may be because college freshmen are in a transition period and haven't yet built their social network and resources for coping, note the researchers, who included Sara Staats, PhD, professor emeritus of psychology at Ohio State University.
"College is a very stressful environment for them and sometimes they can feel isolated or overwhelmed with the change," Staats states in a news release. "Many feel their pets will help them get through these difficult and stressful situations, and many more say that without their pet, they would feel lonely."
Writing in a recent edition of Society and Animals, Staats and colleagues conclude that, although the students in their study may not represent all college students, "pets provide important benefits to young persons as well as the better-known benefits provided to the lonely, elderly, or ill."
Impact of Vaccine Delay
Offit says he understands why parents are concerned about the number of vaccines their children receive.
"Most recently, with the addition of several new vaccines to the infant schedule, some parents have become concerned that children receive too many vaccines too early," Offit says in the article. "Given that young infants currently receive 14 different vaccines, requiring as many as five shots at a single visit and 26 inoculations by 2 years of age, the concern that children might be overwhelmed by too many vaccines is understandable."
But there is no scientific validation to justify their fears, Offit tells WebMD.
Any delay of vaccines increases the likelihood that children will develop controllable diseases such as pneumococcus, pertussis, and chickenpox, Offit says, and the evidence that vaccines work is overwhelming. "If you withhold or separate or delay vaccines, those children suffer the consequences, and children suffer."
He says that that enforcement of vaccine mandates, which were initiated because of measles outbreaks that swept across the U.S. in the mid-1970s, has dramatically reduced hospitalizations and deaths resulting from vaccine-preventable diseases. He also says that states with philosophical exemptions to vaccines have higher rates of vaccine-preventable diseases (such as pertussis) compared with states without such exemptions.
He writes that "recent outbreaks of measles in 15 states" were caused by groups of concerned parents who fell prey to unjustified fears.
Offit writes that many parents are wary of accepted recommendations in part because they harbor "a suspicion of profit motive driven by pharmaceutical companies" as well as "misinformation on the Internet."
"It's very easy to scare people," Offit says. "It's very hard to unscare them."
Alternative Vaccine Schedule: What Sears Says continued...
While numerous studies by the CDC, Institute of Medicine, and others have found no link between vaccines and autism, many people, including celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy, remain unconvinced.
Their case was bolstered earlier this year when a federal court ruled that a Georgia girl was entitled to compensation because she developed autism-like symptoms after receiving vaccines that aggravated a pre-existing condition.
These ongoing fears have had a tangible impact: A 2005 survey of vaccine-refusing parents published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that two-thirds of respondents said their main reason for rejecting vaccines was concern that they might be harmful.
The co-founders of a vaccine safety watchdog group, the National Vaccine Information Center, blame their children's learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder on reactions to the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine (DPT).
Alternative Vaccine Schedule: What Sears Says
Sears' book provides parents with alternative "schedules" for having children vaccinated to protect them from diseases once common in kids. For example, he proposes splitting up the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, normally given all at once, into separate components spread over a few years, to keep from overloading children's immune systems. Although he writes that he has no research to show that giving the MMR and chickenpox vaccines at the same time is dangerous, he feels parents should have their children protected against the diseases gradually.
Sears tells WebMD that Offit and others have misunderstood his book, and that he believes in vaccines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other medical organizations. He says he plans to write a rebuttal to Offit's article for submission to Pediatrics.
"I almost see myself as an ally of the AAP in that I'm finding ways to encourage parents who otherwise would not vaccinate [their children] to go ahead and vaccinate," Sears says. "I believe that my options will actually increase the vaccination rate. My book is admittedly not pro the AAP's vaccine schedule. My advice does differ in the way vaccines are given, but ultimately, I agree that vaccines should be given. For parents afraid of the way AAP says to do it, I give them an alternative."
He says "there is no science that is conclusive enough to show any links between vaccines and autism" but that his book provides "ways to vaccinate if you are worried about autism that may decrease the theoretical link if you believe there is such a link."
Alternative Vaccine Schedule Stirs Debate Article in Journal Criticizes Popular Book on Timing of Kids' Vaccines
Dec. 29, 2008 -- A popular book that presents an alternative vaccine schedule for infants and toddlers is flawed, misguided, and puts children at significant risk of preventable diseases, the journal Pediatrics reports in a harshly-worded article.
The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, by the widely-followed Robert Sears, MD, of Capistrano Beach, Calif., contains recommendations for vaccines that are at odds with those of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is dangerous, Paul Offit, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine, tells WebMD.
The book also undermines recommendations by the CDC and the American Academy of Family Physicians, Offit says.
His analysis of the book is published in the latest edition of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sears' book, which has become a best seller and is popular among parents leery of vaccines, has induced many to change vaccine schedules or avoid recommended vaccinations for their children, Offit tells WebMD.
"What he does is, he capitalizes on the current culture's fear of vaccines by saying, 'not only do I understand your fear but I will provide you with a mechanism whereby you can act on that fear,'" Offit says. "His method is to separate, delay, or withhold some vaccines. That means some children become more susceptible for a longer time to diseases, and there is no reason to delay."
Check for bedbugs along the seams of mattresses.
Bedbug or imposter?
Don't assume your bites are bedbugs. Bites can be hard to identify, even for doctors. Rule out mosquitoes, fleas, mites, and biting gnats by conducting a visual inspection. It's best to collect and identify bedbugs to confirm bites. Look for the bugs themselves or their bloodstains, especially along the seams of mattresses. Further, look for dark spots of insect waste where bedbugs might crawl into hiding places on furniture, walls, and floors.
Frontal view of an adult bedbug ingesting a meal from a human arm.
Do bedbugs transmit diseases?
Bedbugs are more of a nuisance than a health hazard. They aren't known to spread disease to humans, although they may be host to the organisms that cause hepatitis B and Chagas' disease.
Treating bites.
Bedbug bites do not usually require treatment. If a secondary infection occurs (usually from scratching), apply a local antiseptic lotion or antibiotic cream or ointment. Creams with corticosteroids and oral antihistamines may be advised in the presence of allergic reaction or larger skin reactions. In these more severe cases, you may need to see your doctor.
Bedbugs leave red, itchy bites on the skin, usually in rows.
Signs and symptoms of bedbug bites.
Amazingly, these sneaky little bloodsuckers dine on you without waking you. You don’t feel their stealthy bite because they inject a numbing agent into your body, along with an anticoagulant to keep your blood flowing as they suck. The first sign of bedbugs may be itchy, red bites on the skin, usually on the arms or shoulders. Bedbugs tend to leave straight rows of bites.
(Left) a cluster of hungry bedbugs. (Right) a bedbug filling up.
Know the enemy.
Bedbugs are small, flat, wingless insects with six legs that, like mosquitoes, feed on blood from animals or people. They range in color from almost white to brown, but they turn rusty red after feeding. The common bedbug doesn't grow much longer than 0.2 inches (0.5 centimeters) and can be seen by the naked eye to the astute observer. Bedbugs get their name because they like to hide in bedding and mattresses.
A common bedbug magnified.
Don't let the bedbugs bite.
As if you needed something else to worry about, bedbugs, those pests from the old bedtime rhyme are making a comeback. More of a nuisance than a health hazard, they’re showing up to suck blood from people in hotels, college dorms, and hospitals. Take an informative look at bedbugs: what they are, where they lurk, and how to spot them before they get you.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Tis the season of temptation – and evidence suggests most of us give in. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows the average person puts
The skin of turkey and chicken is loaded with saturated fat. Per gram, saturated fats are higher in calories than protein or carbs, and they contribute to high cholesterol. Another no-no is the dark meat, which has more fat per bite than white meat.
Nice: Serve yourself turkey breast or other white meat without the skin.
Holiday Food Horrors
Tis the season of temptation – and evidence suggests most of us give in. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows the average person puts on a pound during the holidays and never loses it. This adds up to serious weight gain over the years. And for those with high cholesterol or high blood pressure, landmines abound on the dinner table. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid the holiday food trap. See WebMD’s list of foods that are naughty and nice.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Avoiding Sun Exposure for Baby's Skin
Baby Sunscreen and More
Apply sunscreen to the areas of baby's skin that can't be covered by clothes. You can also use zinc oxide on baby's nose, ears, and lips. Cover the rest of your baby's skin in clothes and a wide-brimmed hat. Sunglasses protect children's eyes from harmful rays.
Yellow Skin Can Mean Jaundice Usually occurring two or three days after birth, jaundice is a yellow coloration that affects baby's skin and eyes. It'
Infant Sunburn
The sun may feel great, but it could be exposing your baby's skin to the risk of damaging sunburn. Avoid baby skin problems by protecting from sunburn: keep your infant out of direct sunlight during the first six months of life. Later, use a strong baby sunscreen, hats, and umbrellas. For mild infant sunburn apply a cool cloth to baby's skin for 10-15 minutes a few times daily. For more severe sunburn, call your child's pediatrician.
Jaundice Can Occur When Babies Are Very Young
Yellow Skin Can Mean Jaundice
Usually occurring two or three days after birth, jaundice is a yellow coloration that affects baby's skin and eyes. It's common in premature infants. Caused by too much bilirubin (a breakdown product of red blood cells), the condition usually disappears by the time baby is 1 or 2 weeks old. Treatment for jaundice may include more frequent feedings or, for more severe cases, light therapy (phototherapy).
Keep Delicate Skin In Mind When You Wash Clothes
Laundry Tips for Baby Skin Care
Avoiding skin rashes will keep your baby smiling and happy: Use a gentle detergent to wash everything that touches your infant's skin, from bedding and blankets, to towels and even your own clothes. You'll cut down on the likelihood of baby developing irritated or itchy skin.
Yeast Is Behind Thrush and Certain Kinds of Diaper Rash
Baby Yeast Infections
Yeast infections often appear after your baby has had a round of antibiotics, and show up differently depending on where they are on your baby's skin. Thrush appears on the tongue and mouth, and looks like dried milk, while a yeast diaper rash is bright red, often with small red pimples at the rash edges. Talk to your pediatrician: Thrush is treated with an anti-yeast liquid medicine, while an anti-fungal cream is used for a yeast diaper rash.
White Bumps on Baby's Nose and Face
Newborn skin: White Bumps (Milia)
As many as one in two newborns get the little white bumps known as milia. Appearing usually on the nose and face, they're caused by skin flakes blocking oil glands. Milia are sometimes called "baby acne," but baby acne is related to hormonal changes. In this case, baby skin care is easy: As baby's glands open up over the course of a few days or weeks, the bumps usually disappear, and need no treatment.
Baby Shouldn't Take a Powder
Infant Skin Doesn't Need Powdering
Babies can inhale the very fine grains of talcum powder, which could cause lung problems. So it's best to avoid using talcum powder on your infant. A corn starch-based powder is considered safer. But yeast, which can cause diaper rash, feeds on corn starch. So to protect baby skin, you're better off skipping the powder.
A Common Baby Skin Condition: Cradle Cap
Excess Oil Causes Cradle Cap
Cradle cap can show up during baby's first or second month, and usually clears up within the first year. Also called seborrheic dermatitis, cradle cap is caused by excess oil and shows up as a scaly, waxy, red rash on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, the sides of the nose, or behind the ears. Your pediatrician will recommend the best treatment for cradle cap, which may include a special shampoo, baby oil, or certain creams and lotions.
When Newborn Skin is Flaky and Dry
Baby's Dry Skin
You probably shouldn't worry if your newborn has peeling, dry skin – it often happens if your baby is born a little late. The underlying skin is perfectly healthy, soft, and moist. If your infant's dry skin persists, talk to your baby's pediatrician.
An Itchy Skin Rash: Baby Eczema
Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema
Eczema is an itchy, red rash that occurs in response to a trigger. It is common in children who have a family history of asthma, allergies, or atopic dermatitis. Eczema may occur on baby's face as a weepy rash. Over time it becomes thick, dry, and scaly. You may also see eczema on the elbow, chest, arms, or behind the knees. To treat it, identify and avoid any triggers. Use gentle soaps and detergents and apply moderate amounts of moisturizers.
Birthmarks Aren't Inherited
Baby Birthmarks
Lots of babies have birthmarks — more than one in ten as a matter of fact. Birthmarks, areas of skin discoloration, are not inherited. They may be there when your baby is born, or they might show up a few months later. Generally birthmarks are nothing to worry about and need no treatment. But if your baby's birthmark worries you, talk to your pediatrician.
Baby Skin Problems: Even Newborns Get Acne
Pimples & Whiteheads
Baby acne gets its start in the womb, where baby is exposed to mom's hormones. Those hormones boost oil production, clogging baby's oil glands. Pimples on baby's nose and cheeks usually clear up by themselves in a few weeks. So you don't need to treat baby acne or use lotion.
Diaper Rash is the No. 1 Rash
Avoiding Diaper Rash
If baby has red skin around the diaper area, you're dealing with diaper rash. Most diaper rashes occur because of skin irritation due to diapers that are too tight; wet diapers left on for too long; or a particular brand of detergent, diapers, or baby wipes. Avoid it by keeping the diaper area open to the air as long as possible, changing your baby's diaper as soon as it's wet, washing with a warm cloth, and applying zinc oxide cream.
Sensitive Skin Know-How
Newborns Are Prone to Rashes
The good news about your newborn's rashes: Most cause no harm and go away on their own. While caring for baby's skin may seem complex, all you really need to know are three simple things: Which conditions can you treat at home? Which need medical treatment? And how can you prevent baby from experiencing skin problems to begin with?
Baby Skin Problems Aren't Unusual
Expect Bumps, Spots, and Rashes
There's nothing quite like the soft, delicate skin of a baby. And nothing like a cranky infant irritated by diaper rash, cradle cap, or another skin condition. While your baby is perfect, your baby's skin may not be. Many babies are prone to skin irritation in the first few months after birth. Here's how to spot and treat common baby skin problems.
Don't forget daily maintenance. Brush and floss regularly to keep teeth white.
Rev Up the Powered Toothbrush!
One simple strategy can help maintain white teeth: brush. Brush at least twice and floss at least once daily. Even better, brush after every meal and snack. Brushing helps prevent tooth stains and yellow teeth, especially at the gum line. For best results, try a powered toothbrush. Both electric and sonic toothbrushes may be superior to traditional toothbrushes in removing plaque and surface stains on teeth.
Sports Drinks Can Be Tough on Teeth While all sweetened drinks are bad for teeth, some energy and sports drinks may be worse, according to one study
Medications That Can Stain Teeth
The antibiotic tetracycline cause gray teeth in children whose teeth are still developing. Antibacterial mouthwashes -- containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride -- also stain teeth. Some antihistamines, antipsychotic drugs, and antihypertensive medications cause tooth stains, as can iron and excess fluoride. If bleaching doesn't help, ask your dentist about dental bonding, in which a tooth-colored material is applied to teeth.
After exercising, you may reach for a sports drink. Just don't sip too long.
Sports Drinks Can Be Tough on Teeth
While all sweetened drinks are bad for teeth, some energy and sports drinks may be worse, according to one study in General Dentistry. Researchers found that these drinks -- as well as bottled lemonade -- may erode tooth enamel after long-term use. The result is thin, translucent, discolored teeth. To prevent tooth erosion:
- Don't sit and sip these drinks for a long time
- Rinse your mouth with water when finished drinking.
You can still enjoy these nutritional gems. Just brush to keep teeth white.
More Foods That Stain Teeth
The deep color of these fruits and veggies give them their nutritional punch. But blueberries, blackberries, and beets leave their color on teeth as well. Eat up for your health, and prevent tooth stains by:
- Brushing teeth after eating.
- Rinsing your mouth with water.
Foods that Cause Teeth Stains There's another reason to watch what you eat – some common foods can cause tooth discoloration. Here's an easy way to t
Think As You Drink
They may be packed with disease-fighting antioxidants, but a glass of red wine, cranberry juice, and grape juice also stain teeth easily. That doesn't mean you should give them up, but remember to brush or rinse your mouth after you drink. These aren't the only teeth-staining foods to be aware of...
To Keep Teeth White, Don't Light Up Not only is it bad for your health, smoking is one of the worst offenders when it comes to teeth stains. Nicotine
Foods that Cause Teeth Stains
There's another reason to watch what you eat – some common foods can cause tooth discoloration. Here's an easy way to tell if a food might be at fault: Anything that can stain a white cotton T-shirt can stain teeth, say dentists. Coffee stains teeth, for example. Other top offenders are beverages such as tea, dark sodas, and fruit juices. These teeth stains develop slowly and become more noticeable as we age.
No butts about it: Smoking leads to teeth stains.
To Keep Teeth White, Don't Light Up
Not only is it bad for your health, smoking is one of the worst offenders when it comes to teeth stains. Nicotine causes brown stains that penetrate the groves and pits of tooth enamel and can be hard to remove by brushing alone. The longer you smoke, the more entrenched the stains become. Smoking also causes bad breath and gingivitis (gum disease), and increases risk of oral cancers.
Got crowns or veneers? Be careful with tooth bleaching. It's not for everyone.
Tooth Whitening and Dental Work
Approach tooth whitening with caution if you have lots of dental veneers, bonding, fillings, crowns, and bridges. Bleach will not lighten these manufactured teeth – meaning they will stand out among your newly whitened natural teeth. To match your new tooth shade, you may need to investigate new dental work, including veneers or bonding.
If you've whitened your teeth, keep up the good work!
Preventing Teeth Stains
As we age, the outer layer of tooth enamel wears away. The underlying layer, called dentin, is more yellow. That's why it's important to avoid teeth stains in the first place – especially after whitening. If you take care with foods and drinks that cause tooth discoloration, the results of teeth whitening may last up to one year. Whitening teeth too often could make them look translucent and blue – so you'll want to maintain your new smile.
Teeth-Whitening Toothpastes How to get stains off your teeth? Over-the-counter toothpastes, gels, and liquids help remove surface stains. Many of the
Home Remedies for Whiter Teeth
Some people still prefer the age-old home remedy of baking soda and a toothbrush to gently whiten teeth at home. Also, some foods such as celery, apples, pears and carrots trigger lots of saliva -- which helps to scrub away stains on your teeth. Chewing sugarless gum also triggers saliva, which help eliminate teeth stains. A bonus from all that saliva: It neutralizes acid that causes tooth decay. With teeth, more saliva is better all around.
Stain-erasing toothpaste: Brush for health and beauty
Teeth-Whitening Toothpastes
How to get stains off your teeth? Over-the-counter toothpastes, gels, and liquids help remove surface stains. Many of these products contain mild abrasives, chemicals or polishing agents. Unlike bleaches, they don't change the color of teeth. But if you want teeth bleaching action in your toothpaste, you can have that, too. Some whitening toothpastes work with peroxide and baking soda -- whitening teeth through mild bleaching.
Teeth Whitening Kits A home tooth whitening kit contains peroxides, a bleach that can remove both deep and surface stains -- and actually changes you
Home Whitening Strips
Tooth whitening strips will help get rid of tooth stains. These strips are very thin, virtually invisible -- and are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. You wear them a few minutes daily for a week or more. Results are visible in just a few days, and last at least a year. The results with strips are not as dramatic as with teeth whitening kits, but the strips are easy to use and pretty much fool-proof.
Teeth Whitening Kits A home tooth whitening kit contains peroxides, a bleach that can remove both deep and surface stains -- and actually changes you
Teeth Whitening Kits
A home tooth whitening kit contains peroxides, a bleach that can remove both deep and surface stains -- and actually changes your natural tooth color. If you have coffee-stained teeth, a tooth-bleaching kit can help. With some kits, you apply a peroxide-based gel (with a small brush) to the surface of your teeth. In other kits, the gel is in a tray that molds to the teeth. The tray must be worn daily (for 30 to 45 minutes) for a week or more.
You may be able to remove superficial teeth stains yourself.
Do-It-Yourself Teeth Whitening
You may be able to get rid of superficial teeth stains by yourself. A number of at-home teeth whitening products – kits, strips, and toothpastes – may lighten stains. There are even some old-fashioned remedies you can try. Tooth whitening products available on drugstore shelves use mild bleaching to brighten yellow teeth. Toothpastes use abrasives and chemicals to remove surface stains. For deep stains, you may need a dentist's help.
Want brighter, whiter teeth? Know what to do – and what to avoid.
Love That Bright Smile
Have your pearly whites lost their luster due to teeth stains? Stained teeth can occur naturally as we age, but some common foods, drinks, and even mouthwashes can cause teeth stains. Do-it-yourself remedies can help whiten teeth, and avoiding substances that stained teeth can stop further discoloration. Use these secrets to whiter teeth to restore your bright smile.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
2008's 12 Major Cancer Advances Cancer Doctors' Picks for Year's Biggest News in Cancer Treatment (continued)
Pegylated Interferon for Melanoma
A European study showed that a year of treatment with pegylated interferon -- a newer, more active form of interferon -- cuts the risk of recurrent melanoma by 18% in patients who had the deadly skin cancers surgically removed.
Targeted Erbitux for Colon Cancer
Studies showed that Erbitux only works in patients whose tumors carry a normal KRAS gene. While this means that patients with KRAS-mutant tumors won't benefit from Erbitux, there's an upside. It means these patients won't unnecessarily suffer from side effects of the chemotherapy.
The Pill Cuts Ovarian-Cancer Risk
A review of data from 45 studies showed that for every five years they're on the pill, women who take oral contraceptives cut their risk of ovarian cancer by 20%.
HPV Vaccine May Cut Oral Cancers
A 2008 study showed that oral cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) went up in the U.S. -- even though oral cancers not linked to HPV went down. That might be because of an increase in oral sex. If so, the HPV vaccine -- now approved for prevention of cervical cancer -- might have a role in preventing oral cancers, too.
Oncologist Shortage Looms
ASCO estimates that by the year 2020, the U.S. will have 4,000 too few cancer specialists. By then, the number of cancer patients will increase by 55%. The number of oncologists is increasing at a much slower rate.
Caring for Childhood Cancer Survivors
One of the wonderful successes in the fight against cancer has been an increase in the number of kids who survive childhood cancer. But a chilling new study shows that 30 years after their cancer diagnosis, these kids are five to 10 times more likely than other kids to develop heart disease. The reason: side effects of cancer treatments. Patients and families must be aware of this fact. Their doctors must carefully monitor these survivors for heart problems and target them for prevention efforts.
For continued advances in cancer treatment and prevention, ASCO calls for increased federal spending on clinical cancer research and for removing barriers to participation in clinical trials of new cancer treatments.
2008's 12 Major Cancer Advances Cancer Doctors' Picks for Year's Biggest News in Cancer Treatment
Dec. 15, 2008 - Twelve major advances made cancer treatment and prevention a lot better in 2008, according to the American Society for Clinical Oncology.
ASCO today announced its annual list of major advances in cancer treatment and prevention. They're impressive accomplishments.
But there's a lot more to do: In 2008, an estimated 1.4 million Americans learned they had cancer. Half a million died from the disease.
The 12 choices come from the 21 cancer specialists who make up ASCO's editorial board.
"Only studies that significantly altered the way a cancer is understood or had an important impact on patient care were included," the editors note.
ASCO's 12 major advances:
Erbitux for Lung Cancer
Advanced non-small-cell lung cancer is a grim diagnosis. A 2008 study showed that adding Erbitux to standard chemotherapy increased survival by up to 21% in patients whose tumors carried a molecule called epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR.
Gemzar for Pancreatic Cancer
Only 5% of people with pancreatic cancer are still alive five years after their diagnosis. In 2008, a large study of patients with early pancreatic cancer showed that, after surgery to remove their tumor, Gemzar chemotherapy doubled disease-free survival and increased overall survival.
Treanda for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
In March 2008, the FDA approved Treanda for first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or CLL.
It was an unusual approval, as Treanda has been available in Europe for some 30 years. Researchers had thought it was just another member of a similar class of drugs -- but then they learned it had a different mode of action that might work against a wide range of cancers of the blood.
Astonishing news came from an international study that showed Treanda completely eliminated cancer in 30% of CLL patients.
Avastin for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Avastin starves tumors by making it hard for them to grow the new blood vessels they need for nourishment. It's been used in colorectal and lung cancer. Last February, the FDA approved Avastin for use in combination with Taxol in patients with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer that does not carry the HER2 marker.
Approval came after a 2007 study showed the Avastin/Taxol combo doubled disease-free survival compared to Taxol alone.
Long-Term Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
It used to be that all doctors could do to prevent breast cancer recurrence was to give women five years of tamoxifen treatment. New studies changed that, showing that women can reduce their risk of breast cancer recurrence even more by taking tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor (such as Femara) for several years.
Zometa for Breast Cancer
Researchers last year learned that Zometa, a bone-strengthening drug, reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence if given to premenopausal women undergoing hormonal-suppression therapy with tamoxifen or Arimidex plus Zoladex.
NO MYTH: Alcohol Poisoning
FACT: Alcohol poisoning is a potentially deadly medical emergency. If you see someone vomit multiple times or pass out after drinking heavily, a visit to the nearest emergency room is in order. It’s easy to blow off these symptoms as the price of partying hard, but there’s a danger of shock or, in the case of vomiting, becoming severely dehydrated.
MYTH: Herbal Remedies Can Help
FACT: British researchers reviewed the available studies on hangover pills, such as yeast and artichoke extract.They concluded that there is no compelling evidence of any effective treatment. Another British team found a supplement made from prickly pear cactus may reduce the nausea and dry mouth associated with hangovers, but not the dreaded headache. The only proven cure is time.
FACT: Coffee leads to more dehydration and could make your hangover worse. After a night of drunkenness, it’s best to avoid anything with caffeine. Instead, sip water and sports drinks to counter dehydration and replace lost electrolytes. This is especially important if you experienced any vomiting.
MYTH: A Wake-Up Cocktail is the Cure
FACT: More alcohol in the morning does nothing but postpone a hangover. The worst symptoms hit when blood-alcohol levels drop to zero. If you have a screwdriver at breakfast, this moment will just come later in the day. And if you find you can’t function without a wake-up cocktail, you should discuss the possibility of addiction with your doctor.
MYTH: Alcohol Helps You Sleep Well
FACT: Alcohol disrupts sleep. While a nightcap may help you doze off more quickly, it undermines the quality of your sleep. You don’t spend as much time in all-important REM cycles and you tend to wake up too soon. If you’ve been drinking heavily, a hangover might strike in the last part of the night, leaving you too uncomfortable to get back to sleep.
MYTH: Pop Pain Pills Before Bed
FACT: Over-the-counter painkillers peak in about four hours, so the effect of a bedtime dose will be gone by morning. A better plan is to take the pills when you first wake up. Avoid taking acetaminophen after a night of drinking. Alcohol disrupts how the liver processes acetaminophen, possibly leading to liver inflammation and permanent damage.
MYTH: Eat Pasta Before Bed
FACT: This one is wrong on two counts. First, eating at bedtime (after you’re already drunk) is no help. Food has to be in your stomach before Happy Hour to have any impact. Second, while any food can slow the body’s absorption of alcohol, fat does it best. So go for steak or pizza before your first martini, and you might escape a hangover. One bedtime tip that does help – drink water to fight dehydration.
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