This week I saw one of my pregnant mothers for one of her prenatal appointments. Her mother and the father of the baby, who all live together, accompanied her. We reviewed some things to get ready at home for the baby, one of which was getting the household members vaccinated against whooping cough. Most women planning to become pregnant or who become pregnant are thinking about their diet, vitamins, juggling their many doctor’s appointments, and getting things ready at home for a baby. They are not thinking about whooping cough. But they should be.
What is whooping cough?
A bacteria called pertussis causes whooping cough. The infection results in intense fits of coughing that can be so bad that it is hard to eat, drink or breathe for weeks. It is spread from exposure to infected persons through droplets in the air from coughing and sneezing, and is highly contagious. In babies, it is particularly serious, and 90% of pertussis-associated deaths have been among babies less than one year old.
Protect Your Loved Ones: Vaccinate with Tdap
Half of infants who contract whooping cough are infected by their own parents. This is preventable with a booster vaccine known as Tdap. The booster is recommended if it has been more than two years since your last tetanus shot (known at Td, usually given every ten years). You only need one Tdap vaccine in your lifetime. Ideally, you should get vaccinated with Tdap, a combined tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine, preconceptionally. The next best thing is to get it just after you deliver, either before discharge from the hospital, or as soon as possible after discharge in your doctor’s office. It is equally important for partners, family members and caregivers of your newborn to be vaccinated with Tdap.
So talk to your OB/GYN prior to giving birth about vaccination before being discharges from the hospital, or as soon as possible after discharge. Then, request that all those in contact with your baby attain a Tdap vaccination to protect your infant until the time he or she is fully vaccinated. If you are not yet pregnant but planning to start or add to your family, talk to your OB/GYN about getting vaccinated before pregnancy.
For more information, here are the recommendations of the ACIP for the Prevention of Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Infants:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5704a1.htm
70% OF ALL WOMEN WHO GET BREAST CANCER HAVE NO KNOWN RISK FACTORS. Shocking, isn't it? Women who do everything right, have no family history of it, and still get this cancer. We have no idea what causes breast cancer. We know that certain factors increase our risk, but we really don't know what's causing it or for that matter how to prevent it.
So what do we know about breast cancer? These are the known factors that seem to increase your risk of breast cancer:
These lifestyle-related factors also seem to increase your risk:
There are also some "controversial factors" that may or may not have an effect on breast cancer.
That's the sum total of what we know so far about breast cancer. Dr. Susan Love, the leading authority on breast cancer says, "We can't learn what causes cancer just by studying diseased tissue. We need to study healthy women and compare them to women with cancer to figure out what causes cancer....Scientist need women for their research, not rats. We need women to change the face of breast cancer research."
Dr. Susan Love hopes her research will lead to a vaccine that will prevent cancer. She has created the Love/Avon Army of Women research project. Her goal is to recruit 1 million women to participate in breast cancer research to learn how to prevent the disease. 380,000 women have joined thus far. They are recruiting women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, who are healthy or have a breast cancer history, to join. As a member of her army, you agree to be emailed about breast cancer studies in need of volunteers. Some of the studies involve filling out questionnaires, others require samples of blood, urine or saliva. You choose which study you want to participate in.
We need each other to help fight breast cancer. Join the Army of Women at www.armyofwomen.org.
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. The usual causes are dryness, staph bacteria and too much oil. The tear film is comprised of mucus, oil and water. The lachrymal glands produce the bulk of the tears, which is liquid. The oil glands inside each of the eyelids secrete the oil to delay evaporation of the watery tears.
The symptoms of blepharitis include lid swelling and redness, blocked oil glands, dry, itchy eyes, loss of lashes and foreign body sensation. It often is bilateral and maybe gradually progressive.
Depending on your body type and your diet you may produce too much Omega-6 oils which are inflammatory to the tissues. The best way to counteract this is by increasing Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet and supplements (1000 mg. DHA daily). Inflammatory oil encourages the growth of bacteria and dehydrates further what may already be a dry eye.
Traditional therapies are artificial tears, antibiotics (as drops, ointment or pills) and steroid eye drops. Since blepharitis tends to be chronic treatment often needs to be long-term. A shining new star called Azasite as been introduced for the treatment of conjunctivitis. However, it is an extremely useful erythromycin eye drop for treating blepharitis as well. It not only reduces the bacteria count on the eyelid but loosens up the blocked sebum secretions in the oil glands.
What makes Azasite special is the ease of application, the level of tissue contact, the depth of absorption and convenient dosing. Azasite is prescribed twice daily for two days then once a day for five days; its effect lasts an additional 7 to 10 days. Warm compresses help clear the blocked oil and debris and works better than lid shampooing. Artificial tears may still be necessary.
I have found Azasite to be a wonderful adjunct in the treatment of this nuisance condition. Just be sure that your condition is not caused by seasonal allergies or make up.
When you're trying to lose weight and you don't have much time to prepare meals, frozen entrees can be a convenient way to help control calories. Keep in mind though, not all frozen meals are healthy. What should you look for when buying a frozen entree? First, look at the ingredient list. The first ingredient should be real food, like chicken, pasta or vegetables. It shouldn't start with fillers, stabilizers or chemicals, words you don't recognize as food. Buy organic frozen meals when you can as they tend to have healthier ingredients, less chemicals and fillers. Next make sure it's not over 500 calories per serving and it doesn't exceed 700mg of sodium. It should also have at least 3 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein to help you feel full and to keep you satisfied. Two brands I like are Amy's Kitchen (www.amyskitchen.com) and Organic Bistro (www.theorganicbistro.com).
The Healthy Gift Set
If you're looking for a gift that will help a loved one or a friend to take better care of herself, this is it. If you want to improve your own health, then the Healthy Gift Set is for you. Get my exercise dvd, Fitness After Fifty, AND my Guilt-Free Gourmet Cookbook, together for just $24.95! Makes a great gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day and Birthdays. SHIPPING IS FREE. Give the gift of health!
Buy it at www.whybefit.com
The Interleukin Genetics Company has a test that shows whether people will do better on a low fat or low carb weight loss plan. The Company says our DNA controls how we burn and store calories from various foods and claims their test sorts out this information. Independent studies of the test found that people on diets matched to their genes lost five times more weight than those on mismatched diets. The test costs $149.00. You take a simple swab inside your cheek to collect the DNA, send it back to their lab where they process it. Then they send you a personalized report telling you what kind of diet and exercise program you should be on. You can find out more at their web site www.inherenthealth.com. Sounds intriguing. I would be interested in feedback from anyone who tries this.
How do you know when a new exercise product really delivers what it claims? Before you buy, ask yourself these 2 questions.
Does it sound too good to be true?
If it does, it probably is. The people behind these products and ads really are marketing geniuses. They get your attention, and within minutes get you to believe you can have a fitness model body in just minutes a day. If the ad is promising results that logically aren't possible(no matter how bad you want it), change the channel.
Does it target just one body part?
If it's saying you can have six pack abs and lose those love handles in just minutes a day, it's lying to you. Spot reduction doesn't work. There is no way to slim down or trim inches off a specific area of your body just by working that body part. Diet is such a big part of losing inches, building muscle and dropping weight. If the product doesn't address the diet part, then it's pretty much a gimmick exaggerating its results.
We're experiencing an increase in refractive errors, which refers to the eye's ability to "bend" light and focus, especially in nearsightedness. It all starts with children who perform hours of close work on their computers and smart phones without taking a break. As these kids age into adulthood, they continue the same practices while trying to fit too many activities into a day. The incidence of myopia (poor long distance vision) has jumped from 25% to 42% in American adults in the last 25 years. The incidence has increased from 0% to 44% in Eskimo children who have become urbanized.
On top of this we're witnessing the fact that America is aging; within the next 10 years there will be 54 million people 65 and over. With age comes a decreasing focus power (presbyopia) and an increase in ocular conditions such as dry eye, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Although there are many new technical innovations for diagnosing and treating eye disease, it is still best to avoid them in the first place.
Good eye health begins with very basic preventive steps:
In my new book Lethal Hindsight the hero Lauren Chandler stumbles upon an insidious plot with international consequences by doing eye examinations in Washington, DC. One of the subplots in the book is the fact that nutrition and supplementation will be very protective for the future vision of Americans.
According to a new study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, lowering the amount of salt you eat just a little, could have a huge impact on your health.
Consuming just 1/2 teaspoon less salt per day can substantially lower risk of heart attacks. Although you may have cut back on the salt in your cooking or at the dinner table, 80% of the salt in your diet comes from packaged foods and restaurant foods.
You really need to make an effort to read food labels
and buy products that contain reduced sodium. Be particularly aware of pasta sauces and frozen meals. They are high in salt.
Conversation with Dr. Hope Ricciotti on diet during pregnancy and other issues.
Beefing up on that fiber may help reduce your inflammation. According to this article titled 'More Fiber, Less Inflammation?' found on Ar hritis Today Magazine's website, fiber now appears to lower C-reactive protein which is an indicator of inflammation that is found in the blood. Check out the gist of the article below and you can read it in its entirety on the magazine's website HERE.
Arthritis Today says: 'The benefits of fiber are most plentiful than we knew. Fiber is good for the heart, may prevent some cancers and now appears to lower C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation found in the blood. A high CRP level signals general inflammation and could indicate anything from an infection to rheumatoid arthritis to heart disease.
Dana E. King, MD, professor of family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, led a study in which people who ate a high-fiber diet – between 27 and 28 g per day – saw their CRP levels go down. One group got their fiber from foods; another group took a supplement. CRP levels dropped in both groups.'
Read more about Fiber and inflammation on Arthritis Today.
According to the CDC, 46 million Americans have arthritis, the leading cause of disability in the
'It is staggering to know that there are hundreds of types of arthritis. The one thing they all have in common is pain in the affected areas. For some people the pain in the morning, accompanied by stiffness is the most debilitating problem. Often there is extensive joint involvement accompanied by swelling and tenderness. Those who experience arthritis of the neck often become bedridden. Others are able to live with rheumatoid arthritis hands, but only because they are taking pain medications, as well as anti-inflammatory pills. Medications often become a way of life for people looking for a rheumatoid arthritis cure.











Trying the south beach diet, anyone have any thoughts about it?
In honor of our brothers, uncles, sons, dads and other great men who are fathers, let's encourage an out of the box conversation with them.
The talk would go something like this, ' ____, I love you, and because I want you around, we need to talk. When was your last health check-up or screening?' Whaddya think? Will it go over? I think so. To guide you, here are some suggestions for screenings that are arranged by age group. Feel free to use these as a guideline or create your own. Just get the conversation going. Talk about...
20's-Testicular Cancer Testicular cancer, although rare is a leading killer of young men between 20 and 34 from a cancer-related death. It typically presents as a painless lump or mass, scrotal enlargement or a sensation of abdominal heaviness. Risk factors are being a young age, having a history of undescended testes, and is more common in white males. Ask your doctor to teach you how to perform a self-exam.
30's-Skin Cancer Exposure to midday sun, and poor UV protection are risks factors for melanoma. Melanomas are twenty times more common in whites than blacks and four times more common in whites than Hispanics. Still, everyone is at risk. Wearing sunscreen daily and clothes that protect UV rays can help prevent skin cancer. Be aware of moles that have irregular borders or change their shape or color.
40's-Prostate Cancer Being a black male is associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer. Other risk factors are increased alcohol usage, a diet that is high in fats and a family history of prostate cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Talk to your health care provider about screening tests and your individual risks in your forties.
50's- Colon Cancer Eighty percent of colon cancer comes from polyps. These polyps can be seen and treated with a colonoscopy. Individuals with a first-degree relative who developed colon cancer prior to age 60 may be at an increased risk for colon cancer. It is very important that you discuss your risk factors and what age you should have your first colonoscopy. Some may recommend a colonoscopy prior to age 50.
60's-Bladder Cancer Bladder cancer is two to three times more common in men than women. It is unusual to develop before the age of 50. Good screening involves regular doctor's appointments, and routine urine tests and a bladder tumor antigen. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of bladder cancer.
70's-Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Risk factors are being older than 65 and male, smoking, hypertension, increased cholesterol and diabetes. Males have an increased risk. An abdominal ultrasound is a good screening tool, and in some cases a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be indicated.
80's- Major Depression Getting depressed is not a normal part of aging. It is important to identify and treat older men who are depressed. Men, 85 and older have a higher risk of suicide than the general population. Two simple questions can serve as a screening tool. They are asking these questions, (1) under the past two weeks, have your felt down, depressed to hopeless, (2) under the past tow weeks, have you little interest in doing things that bring you pleasure.
So, under your loving signature, add a screening tip as part of your father's day wishes.