First30Days - Health

Man Up

2008-11-21T23:52:07Z

Over the past few months we've written posts about how "real men" suffer from depression, post-partum depression, and breast cancer. Now that the New York Times has published an op-ed piece about how "real men" suffer from the side effects of prostate cancer treatment, we're beginning to detect a pattern.

Apparently being ill in any form is just not macho in our culture, and seeking treatment is for sissies. A football player who tackled depression said he was embarrassed to admit he was sad to his locker room buddies. Doctors perform "pec checks" to lessen the awkwardness for men looking to get a breast exam.

This might explain why, according to WebMD and various other sources, men tend to only go to the doctor when they get to the point of being extremely ill.

What can or should we do as a culture to change this image in our society? Should we start by hiring the editors of Esquire or GQ to make over our nation's medical centers? Add Wii and Wi-Fi? What does it take to get you, or the man you love, to the doctor?

Stay Quit Monday

2008-11-18T11:41:32Z

If you've been thinking about quitting smoking, this Thursday could be like your New Year's Eve. November 20th is the 33rd anniversary of Great American Smokeout Day, which was implemented by the American Cancer Society in order to encourage smokers to kick the habit. Unlike New Year's Eve, however, everyone celebrating on Thursday will have the same resolution—cutting smoking out of their life.

People across the country will be thinking of you and sending out their positive energy as you put down your cigarettes for one day. While having that kind of motivation for 24 hours is certainly powerful, where will you draw your strength the rest of the year? Well, the American Cancer Society has started a really cool new program called Stay Quit Monday, that you can start after you've made it through this weekend.

"Why Monday?" the web site says. "It's a fresh start—the January of each week. A day to refocus and recommit, celebrate your progress, or to quit again if you relapse."

What a powerful concept! If you give in and have a cigarette, you don't have to give up because you know there's another Monday right around the corner!

The Healthy Monday web site is full of resources and support, including links to helpful online tools. Give it a shot!

Passport to Health

2008-11-14T13:57:39Z

I'll take door number three, Bob.

Congratulations! You've just won an all-expenses paid trip to beautiful India! While you're there, you'll receive a top-of-the-line surgical procedure courtesy of your insurance company.

Thank you for playing, "Let's Make a Recovery."

The health insurance giant Wellpoint has announced that next year it will launch a medical tourism program that will give its clients the opportunity to fly to India for surgical procedures. While it may seem like a long way to go for a hip replacement or a heart bypass, but you can't argue with the accounting. A typical hip replacement surgery in the United States can cost up to $80,000. In India, it can be as little as $8,000. The price disparity is similar for other procedures.

Other insurance companies have taken note of the 750,000 Americans who participated in medical tourism last year. In addition to Wellpoint, Aetna Inc., Cigna Corp. and UnitedHealth Group are also said to be developing programs.

Undoubtedly, a large portion of the people traveling overseas for operations are doing so because they don't have health insurance.
Would you be willing to go to another country for a life-saving surgery? How would you go about making sure it's safe? [BusinessWeek]

A Cure for AIDS?

2008-11-13T16:33:57Z

Part of the First30Days change philosophy is that with every change, something good will come. At times this can seem impossible to believe, but it can come true in ways we'd never, ever expect.

Take the case of an unnamed 42-year-old male AIDS patient, who was later diagnosed with Leukemia that developed independently. How could this person ever find anything positive out of being diagnosed with two deadly diseases at once?

When his doctor began treating the Leukemia with a bone marrow transplant, it occurred to him that he might be able to use the same concept to treat the AIDS as well. They found a donor who possessed a gene mutation that prevents AIDS from developing. So far, the patient's blood tests appear negative for AIDS.

Is this the miracle cure we've all been waiting for? It could be. Is it a huge step in the right direction? Indubitably. The doctors say that this breakthrough will help to encourage researchers to put forth more efforts into studying gene therapy.

Whatever the outcome, this patient was probably at one of his lowest points when he received the second diagnosis. Now they could be playing an integral part in bettering and/or saving the lives of millions. [Associated Press]

Canned Heat

2008-11-10T15:25:32Z

Just when you thought business people were running out of ideas for products to help you quit smoking, a Dutch company has come up with a product called "liquid smoking," that it purports can fend off the desire to smoke cigarettes. The new product is being launched in Great Britain, where a recent smoking ban has nicotine lovers craving a fix.

Supposedly the product works not with nicotine,"but a potent mix of roots from South African plants, which has been used since the 14th century by bushmen."

Why is it that every miracle cure has to come from ancient bushman or an Amazonian tribe? Can't they just admit it came from a lab? Anyway, critics are already up in arms about the products packaging, which resembles a Marlboro package, but at least one smoke-free individual is welcoming the new product.

Bruce Watson, a freelancer for Walletpop.com who says he kicked his cigarette habit with the help of absinthe, writes that his "own experiences with herb-infused liquids makes me think that this beverage could offer a workable solution for a lot of nicotine
addicts."

The only danger is that liquid smoking could turn into a new liquid addiction. What do you think? Will you turn to a can for your nicotine fix? [The Daily Mail UK]

Raisin' Awareness

2008-11-04T13:40:51Z

Of all the half-baked ideas… well this one isn't so much baked as it is dried, but an Australian medical team is using raisins as part of cognitive therapy to help depression patients. Before you go reminiscing about those dancing California raisin commercials, this therapy doesn't involve cartoons or catchy songs.

According to Australia's The Age newspaper, this new therapy is called Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and it "uses the raisin as a way to learn meditation techniques that make you more aware of the physical world, and your own thoughts."

Sounds a bit odd, no? Well, if you think about it, a raisin offers a lot to contemplate. It's tasty, squishy, has lots of funky wrinkles and an interesting history. Just where was the vine where it originated and where was it laid out to dry? Whew, that's hours of food for thought right there!

We might be acting a bit silly regarding this story, but the truth is it does have a good point. The object of this therapy is to train the mind to reduce negative thoughts. You can do that with a raisin, a date or fried plantains. The more you fill your mind with positive thoughts, the less room the negative ones will have to invade.

Is there a certain food or object that always brings you positive thoughts?

Books for A Better Life

2008-11-04T13:18:18Z

Did you know that each year, the MS Society honors books that they feel make a difference to people struggling with a health diagnosis? The Books For a Better Life Awards honor writing in categories from parenting and going green to spiritual living and wellness.

That's great news all on it's own—we've long believed that the thoughts and experiences of others can be great guiding lights in times of transition and difficulty. The even better news this year is that WE are nominated!

The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Any Change is nominated in the Motivational category alongside four other tremendous tomes (one of which is authored by First30Days expert Julie Morgenstern. Congrats to her!) While the winners won't be announced until February, we encourage you to take a look at some of the titles, and if you haven't already, buy a copy of our book today (hey, c'mon. We had to ask!)

Meantime, share with us what books have been helpful to you during your hard times. We'd love to know what you think should be on the list!

Post-Op Love

2008-10-30T13:13:15Z

Let's play a little game. We're going to give you a quote, and you guess who said it.

"Just waking up every day is an orgasm—an emotional orgasm. I know there are more ahead of me. I live for that."
Was it...
A) Angelina Jolie
B) A German fashion designer
C) A metastatic breast cancer survivor

Ok, let's try another one:

"I know how the male mind operates: Breasts are a big part of the package. So I tried to make up for it with my ass."
Was it...
A) Jennifer Lopez
B) A female stand-up comedian
C) A metastatic breast cancer survivor

You're probably starting to get the point. The answer to both of those was, of course, "C." Being open about your breast cancer on a huge website like MSNBC is one thing, but being brave enough to share the intimate details of trying to rebuild your sex and dating life afterwards is another.

Stefanie LaRue heroically tells of how men would compliment her on her nice hair (a wig), how others would shy away as soon as they heard her diagnosis and how eventually, she grew confident enough to go out and find new romance. As you can tell from the above excerpts, her story is candid, inspiring and a must read for anyone about to re-enter the dating scene.

Have you been searching for new romance since being diagnosed? What have been some of your greatest challenges?

Toots and All

2008-10-29T13:58:35Z

"Hey, Professor Johnson, could you lay off the beans? This is a small laboratory for heaven's sake. You're making me so angry my blood pressure must be going through the roof!"

"Lay off, Jones, I know it stinks, but its for your own good."

We have no idea how medical scientists get inspired, but we're inclined to believe that something like the preceding conversation occurred when researchers from Johns Hopkins University decided to study the effects of small amounts of hydrogen sulphide on blood pressure. The researchers found that small amounts of the toxic gas—generated by bacteria in the human gut, and responsible for the pleasant odor in the car after a trip through the Taco Bell drive-through—helped to lower the blood pressure in lab mice.

"Now we know hydrogen sulphide's role in regulating blood pressure, it may be possible to design drug therapies that enhance its formation as an alternative to the current methods of treatment for hypertension," Dr Solomon Snyder tells the BBC.

Ok people, this is big news.Who's ready to sign up for the human lab tests? Even if the hydrogen sulphide doesn't have an effect, all of the giggling at the premise of the experiments will surely help relieve some stress. [BBC]

The E-Cards We're Dealt

2008-10-23T14:20:06Z

You've got mail! Hooray, ten new messages. Three of them are spam, three of them are Everyday Change emails (Yay!), a couple Facebook updates, a note from your mom, and oh hey, what's that little electronic greeting? This week news sites like US News and World Report, The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times have been abuzz about a web site called inSpot that allows users to send anonymous electronic greetings informing the recipients that they may have been exposed to infections like clamydia, ghonorhea or even HIV.

The e-cards bear messages like, "No one wants to be the bearer of bad news...but I got diagnosed with STDs (You might have one, too)," or "It's not what you brought to the party—it's what you left with."

They don't sound quite as fun as the other e-cards you might receive with little dancing bears singing happy birthday, but for some people it might be better to receive one of these trite cards than to have an awkward conversation with a one-night stand.

If one of your ex-lovers were to tell you that they have an STD, how would you prefer them to do it? Would you be down with an electronic greeting?

Sympathy Pains

2008-10-22T15:55:58Z

Feelings of helplessness, loss of interest in hobbies and sex, feeling like you won't be able to take care of your new child...these have all been classic signs of postpartum depression in women, but experts say they can occur with new dads, too.

Psychotherapist Will Courtenay says that a combination of stress, a lack of sleep and lower levels of testosterone can lead to a male version of postpartum depression.

"If a man doesn't get effective treatment for his depression, it could have damaging, long-term consequences for himself, his marriage, his career and his child," he tells CNN.

If you have a history of depression and you've got a baby on the way, now is a good time to bring this up with your doctor. The two of you can come up with a plan to manage your depression and be the best new dad you can be.

There are some people who think that sympathy pains, and possibly this new medical condition, are a bunch of bunk. Do you believe that men could suffer similarly to their partners after a new baby is born?

About Face

2008-10-21T15:23:21Z

Taking on breast cancer can feel like the ultimate full-time job. There are the doctor's visits, the time spent explaining your condition to caring family and friends and not to mention the everyday tasks of taking care of yourself and your family. Well, you take vacations from your regular job, right? Why not take a retreat from your cancer? Here are three places that can help.

* Infinite Boundaries: Located throughout the Midwest, their retreats feature discussion groups, creative arts and low-impact outdoor activities. Check the web site for information about specialized retreats for solo women without partners, and women with metastatic breast cancer. The four-day, all-inclusive event costs $300.

* Betty J. Borry: If you're looking for adventure, check out one of the BJB retreats. Survivors do everything from kayaking to snowshoeing in various New England locations. Costs vary, but one recent retreat cost $160 for the weekend.

* Casting for Recovery: Who ever thought that fly fishing could be good therapy? Well, the founders of Casting for Recovery did and now they host retreats all over the country where survivors and patients can bond over this "lifetime sport." Contact the organization for costs and requirements.

These are just a small sample of the programs that are out there. Check them out. A couple of relaxing days spent with other survivors might be just the pick-me-up you need.

Shuffle, Ball Change

2008-10-17T13:08:59Z

If you're having a bad day, please, please, please check out this New York Times video about Juliana Sadock Savino, a 54-year-old fibromyalgia sufferer who took up tap dancing in order to relieve chronic pain associated with the condition.

The former classical musician was discovered by a New York Times reporter after writing in a response to a story about dancing. "I recently, at the age of 54, took up tap dancing," she wrote. "I swear it's good for whatever ails you, though my big toe might disagree. To dance is joy!"

The reporter traveled to Ohio to get to know the spunky Savino a bit better. In the video Savino taps around her kitchen and jokes that her son makes fun of her for practicing shuffle, ball change in line at the grocery store. She also explains that she took up dancing after playing her bass for long amounts of time became too painful and was later surprised by how therapeutic tap dancing was.

Watching her express so much joy in the four-minute clip, one would never know that she has to take opiates on a daily basis to battle constant pain. She makes you want to get up and dust off your dancin' shoes.

This video is a great reminder that a positive attitude can help you manage just about any diagnosis. Have you taken up any new activities since being diagnosed? How have they helped you ease your pain.

Make Way for Movember

2008-10-16T12:30:22Z

Excuse me, Sir, I'd like to talk to you about your prostate. Uhm, awkward!

Experts say that one of the central reasons men take so long to have their prostate cancer diagnosed is that it's just not a fun subject to bring up. Unfortunately, this awkward feeling can come right along with your diagnosis. Nobody really wants to sit around with their buddies and explain that yes, you can get cancer...down there.

Keeping quiet about your diagnosis isn't a helpful way to manage your prostate cancer and that's why we're super excited for Movember! The event started five years ago in Australia (where "Mo" is slang for moustache) as an event to raise money for prostate cancer. During the month of November, men pledge to grow out their moustaches and at the end of the month friends compare and give awards for the best style. It caught on with Aussie rugby players and has become something of a national phenomenon. Organizers are hoping the trend will catch on in the U.S. and Britain because it's such a great way to bring up the subject of prostate cancer.

This is the perfect opportunity for those of you who have been searching for the perfect excuse to look like Tom Selleck or Freddy Mercury. Even the most vigilant human resources department will have trouble getting in the way of someone sporting a Yosemite Sam-like handlebar in the name of cancer research.

You can even throw your own Mo party. The official Movember website has instructions and information about events already taking place where dudes with the best staches get tickets to the Playboy Mansion. We're letting you in on this early so you have time to get a group of moustache-loving friends together in time for Movember.

Poetry in Motion

2008-10-14T14:02:56Z

The following poem was written by 20th century poet, Anne Sexton, who actually took up writing upon the advice of her therapist:

The Fury Of Rainstorms

The rain drums down like red ants,
each bouncing off my window.
The ants are in great pain
and they cry out as they hit
as if their little legs were only
stitched on and their heads pasted.
And oh they bring to mind the grave,
so humble, so willing to be beat upon
with its awful lettering and
the body lying underneath
without an umbrella.
Depression is boring, I think
and I would do better to make
some soup and light up the cave.

When you're taking on depression, finding ways to cope can be difficult, but oftentimes writing out your feelings can make a world of difference it can be the emotional equivalent of making soup and lighting up the cave.

You can keep the poems in a personal notebook or diary, or you could even take it a step further and post them online on sites like www.mentalhealthpoetry.org or www.poemsabout.com. You'll even be able to find other aspiring poets who are going through a similar experience.

Has writing poetry helped you deal with your depression?

Warrior Women

2008-10-14T12:35:05Z

When Marc Silver set out to do research for his book, Breast Cancer Husband, he was stunned by the amount of stories of infidelity he heard. But this post isn't about the women betrayed by their husbands, it's about those who are made strong enough to leave a bad marriage.

During Silver's research, he also met a woman who said her husband was lazy and unsupportive during her toughest time. "After I was diagnosed, I lost 200 pounds," she told Silver. It wasn't from the chemotherapy--she dropped 200 pounds of husband. It's likely the couple was having problems before, but her newfound strength enabled her to finally leave a marriage that wasn't working.

Battling breast cancer and all of its subsequent treatments can turn you into a warrior of sorts. If you're strong enough to take on a deadly disease, who knows what other battles you can wage--and win. You might just find yourself standing up to many of the problems you thought were insurmountable before. [Los Angeles Times]

Labeled to Enable

2008-10-14T12:24:32Z

If you're eating a turkey sandwich with "lite" mayonnaise and drinking a diet soda, you expect your lunch is going to be healthier than that of the guy next to you eating the real stuff, right? What about when it comes to what you smoke?

In 2006, U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler passed a major ruling that said tobacco companies' use of labels like "light" and "low tar" was misleading and ordered them to cease using such labels. Now the issue is back in front of the courts as the Justice Department wants tobacco companies to pay up to $14 bilion in penalties, and the companies say they did nothing wrong.

"The current punishment does not fit the magnitude of the crime," M. Cass Wheeler of the American Heart Association told USA Today. "That money should be used for education and cessation programs to break the cycle of addiction, not to entice children and adults to start and maintain a very deadly habit."

Do you think the "light" and "low tar" labels were misleading, or should we be smart enough to know that a cigarette is a cigarette, no matter what the label says? If they were indeed misleading, should tobacco companies have to pay?

Miss Diagnosis

2008-10-10T13:30:15Z

For years, Mimi Winsberg thought she was iron deficient. She took supplements and even injections of the mineral, yet she still didn't have enough energy for her passion of running marathons. Finally, a doctor diagnosed Winsberg with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that is set off when its sufferers consume gluten. It causes the immune system to attack the small intestine and if untreated, can lead to everything from infertility to cancer.

Winsberg's reaction was what really stood out in the New York Times piece.

"This is what has been happening to me my whole life, and I just never put it all together before," she said.

Going undiagnosed can be a harrowing psychological experience. You know your body and feel that something is fundamentally off, but modern medicine just doesn't seem to agree with you. When you're finally given a correct diagnosis, it's as if a light goes on and intuitively, you knew it all along.

This is why it's always important to be in tune with our bodies. If something feels off, don't be afraid of being pushy. Ask for another opinion. After all, who knows our bodies better?

Have you been through the process of a lengthy misdiagnosis? Did a light go off for you, too?

Strip Club Gives Free Flu Shots

2008-10-08T11:23:50Z

For all those women who wondered how they could get their husbands to take care of their health, here's an idea.

Rachel's Steakhouse, a strip club in Casselberry, FL, offered free flu shots yesterday between 12:00pm and 4:00pm to its patrons who could prove they were 55 or older. Anyone over 65 years old received a free meal with the flu shot! Anyone under 55 could pay $10 to get innoculated.

Reports did not say if a free lap dance was included, or whether the strippers actually administered the shots. But seriously, this is a pretty good idea. It's great that Rachel's Steak House is raising it's patrons' awareness of their health and finding easys way to do so.

This has us wondering...would you be more inclined to get a flu shot if it was someplace you actually liked to visit? [Local6.com]

Sacked by Depression

2008-10-07T14:08:38Z

There's no crying in football, right? That's what Eric Hipple thought, and when the Detroit Lions quarterback was hit head-on with the tragic suicide of his 15-year-old son, Jeff, he wasn't sure what to do about the onset of a very real depression. Luckily, Hipple was able to seek treatment and has written a book about his experience called Real Men Do Cry: A Quarterback's Inspiring Story of Tackling Depression and Surviving Suicide Loss.

Hipple says he is doing better, but he still questions himself about his son.

"How could he have been in so much pain, yet I couldn't see it? I now know that beyond the external pressures causing Jeff's changes, he was desperately trying to cope, as I had, with undiagnosed depression," he tells the Vancouver Sun. "That also helped me to come to the decision to do this, to get the word out, because there seems to be a great need. There are people in despair that don't know about the resources available.''

We think its great that a real tough guy like Hipple has come out to talk about his depression. It couldn't have been easy but it will surely help countless folks who believe that depression is only reserved for the weak willed. This guy had to battle against 300-pound offensive linemen and you can't get much tougher than that.

The World's Biggest Smoking Ban

2008-10-07T14:08:35Z

Political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi said he realized the potential evils of cigarettes after he gave up smoking as a young man. Now, decades after his death, his country is trying to get its citizens to once again follow in his footsteps and give up smoking by instituting a nationwide smoking ban.

The new law, which was timed to coincide with Gandhi's birthday, calls for a fine of 200 rupees or about $1 USD for anyone smoking in public.

So far, the results have been minimal as police officers have been reluctant to enforce the new rules. In a country so large, where so many people incorporate smoking into their daily lives, many are adopting a pragmatic attitude.

A commenter named Suraj from Malaysia, summed up the situation best when he said, "It will take two generations minimum to significantly reduce smoking in public places; but hey they gotta start sometime, eh?"

We all gotta start somewhere when it comes to quitting smoking. Even if you believe yourself to be a lost cause, you can look to India as an example of people taking on a huge challenge one step at a time. [The Times of London]

How Pink Is Their Love?

2008-10-03T09:29:54Z

Move over black and orange, October's got a new signature color—pink!

The month that used to be known for Halloween and Oktoberfest is also breast cancer awareness month. It's now as common to see pink vacuum cleaners, toasters, t-shirts and fingernail polish as it is to find a SpongeBob SquarePants costume at your local market. And if you're managing a breast cancer diagnosis, it is probably heartening to know that so many companies are trying to raise money to find a cure.

But are all those pink products practicing what they preach?

An article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune examines the pink phenomenon and raises the question about the authenticity of many companies' pink product claims.

For example, Ann Taylor offers an "Ann Cares" card that customers can purchase for $25. They offer that 90% of the proceeds from the card will benefit breast cancer.

But, explains reporter Kristin Tillotson, " if you buy a card and spend only $100, the BCRF gets $22.50, and the company still makes $60 (assuming the $2.50 left over from the card price is for handling and service costs)."

A commenter on the site suggests visiting www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org for information on a particular company's pink efforts. We suggest checking out the individual campaigns. If you think they're putting forth a worthwhile effort, then by all means, go pink!

Veggie Power!

2008-10-03T09:21:29Z

Imagine a table covered with foods like tacos, baked potatoes and butternut squash lasagna. Mmm, are you hungry?

Now imagine all of that food is vegan, made with no animal products or by-products like cheese, milk or eggs. Are you still with us?

If you or someone you care about is one of the millions of Americans affected by diabetes, you might just want to tell your stomach to start rumbling.

New research commissioned by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine suggests that a vegan diet can greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems in those affected with diabetes. According to WebMD, two out of three people with diabetes die of a heart attack or stroke, so it's in your best interest to change your diet!

If you're worried you'll be stuck eating rabbit food for the rest of your life, don't be! There are hundreds of great web sites overflowing with vegan recipes and tips, and most major cities have vegan restaurants. We're pretty sure some our members have great suggestions for vegan cuisine they'd like to post here as well (wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)

Hollywood's Smoky Love Affair

2008-09-26T11:42:15Z

Think back to cinema’s golden era when films were black and white and the big names were Humphrey Bogart and Joan Crawford. While recalling the classics, you might also remember another detail. Everyone smoked. And it’s no coincidence that all the heroes and heroines had a cigarette dangling from their lips.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco found contracts between tobacco companies and film studios created to establish cross-promotion between cigarettes and movies. Movie stars who endorsed certain brands of cigarettes were paid the equivalent of millions of dollars by today’s standards.

All that smoking depicted in films was not a reflection of Americans' love of tobacco at the time, researchers say. Rather this shows that cigarette smoking in films was deliberate and premeditated to be highly influential.

Some experts argue that these findings support the idea that movies today that have smoking in them should receive an “R” rating. Do you think removing cigarettes from youth-oriented movies would help stop kids from smoking? Would it help you in your quitting smoking efforts? [WebMD]

Medical Equality For All

2008-09-26T11:07:48Z

Depression affects nearly 20 million people in the United States annually, and yet most people with this mental health diagnosis are forced to pay for treatment entirely out of their own pockets. When treatment is covered, insurance companies favor pharmaceutical treatments over psychological treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

The giant disparity in coverage between mental health conditions and medical ones could soon be a thing of the past with the introduction of a new law that puts them on equal footing. The bill, which was recently introduced to Congress, aims to abolish loopholes in our healthcare system that allows insurance companies to provide less coverage for mental health conditions compared to physical ones. The House and Senate have yet to agree on what a corporate tax break would be that would help insurance companies offset the costs they’d inherit. If the bill becomes law, it will:

* End higher copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses for mental health treatment compared to physical health treatment.
* Remove the limit on the number of follow-up appointments allowed. Most insurers set a limit on how many therapy sessions a person can have in a year.
* Enhance mental health coverage for those who are self-employed or self-insured.
* Provide coverage for substance abuse treatment.

Have you been frustrated by your depression treatment options? Do you think legislation will help? [U.S. News & World Report]

Palm Reading and Cancer

2008-09-26T10:54:21Z

Next time you get your palm read, it might behoove you to pay close attention, especially if that person is your doctor. Turns out, palm reading does have some medical validity, especially for seniors.

Elderly people who show symptoms of thick palms and swollen fingers that make the hand look wooden might have a syndrome linked to a cancer health diagnosis. It’s called PFPAS: palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis syndrome.

PFAS has been linked to ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, blood cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. Researchers don’t know what the relationship is between PFAS and cancer, just that it exists. One theory is that a chemical signal called connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) might cause overgrowth of connective tissues in the palm while simultaneously directing cancer to proliferate.

Have you ever had your palm read? How accurate have you found the readings to be and should it be applied to your health? [WebMD]

What Happens in the End?

2008-09-23T07:19:57Z

You've probably seen the advertisements for Ricky Gervais's new movie, "Ghost Town," where a nurse tells him he died "just a little bit." These near-death experiences happen more often these days with the advancement of medical technology, and so it's gotten some researchers wondering. Say you’ve been given a heart disease health diagnosis and you suffer cardiac arrest. The paramedics are on their way but your heart has not beat for nearly 10 minutes. Are you dead?

It’s a question that the world’s leading death expert, Sam Parnia, M.D., wants to answer. To better understand just what death is and isn’t, Parnia and his colleagues are starting a three-year study of “out-of-body” experiences called the AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation) project. It will include medical centers throughout the U.S., Europe, and Canada and more than 1,500 cardiac arrest survivors.

Parnia says that when your heart stops beating, your brain no long receives blood, so within about 10 seconds your brain activity should cease as well. However, about 10% to 20% of people who survive cardiac arrest report full consciousness. How can they be conscious when they’re clinically dead? Or, can the brain continue consciousness even after it’s been “turned off?”

The questions Parnia and his researchers raise couldn’t have even existed fifty years ago. Our technology and drugs have advanced so much that we can literally bring people back from the dead. It’s a powerful phenomenon that, Parnia feels, deserves its own branch of science.

Do you think the study of death as a scientific field should be pursued? What do you think of the idea of death as a health diagnosis rather than a moment or action? Have you ever had a near-death experience? [Time]

Making Treatments Bearable

2008-09-23T07:02:00Z

There's a lot of encouraging news in the world of breast cancer treatment that gives hope to those who are fearing the lengthy and painful treatments.

According to Bloomberg News, Canadian researchers announced yesterday that patients with early-stage breast cancer could benefit from just three weeks of radiation, instead of the five weeks typically prescribed. This news would help up to 40% of breast cancer patients not only get their treatments over with quicker, but newly diagnosed women will have a shorter wait time to receive treatment.

In another report in The Washington Post, acupuncture has been shown to help ease side effects that patients feel as a result of radiation treatment. Not only was it more effective than drugs in treating hot flashes some women experience, but it had longer-lasting effects than medical treatments. Scientists aren't exactly sure how or why acupuncture worked so well in the study, but are hopeful this could become an important part of treatment plans in the future.

If you're currently going through your own treatment for breast cancer, is it helpful to know researchers are looking for ways to make it more bearable? Do you envision a world without breast cancer in the near future?

A Little Magic Flute for Your BP

2008-09-19T12:18:27Z

Next time your blood starts to boil, try popping in a compilation of Mozart’s best works. New research shows that listening to one of Mozart’s pieces can lower blood pressure by 5% in older adults.

If classical music isn’t your cup of tea, researchers also found that guided relaxation audio programs helped older adults reduce their blood pressure by 6.4%. The researchers theorized that the guided relaxation audios worked slightly better than Mozart’s sonatas because patients were more focused on enjoying the music rather than paying attention to relaxing their bodies.

The risk for developing high blood pressure increases as we age, and with it comes an increase risk for heart disease, stroke and death. Other risk factors for high blood pressure include smoking, having high cholesterol, being overweight, lacking exercise, and eating an unhealthy diet. The risk for heart conditions, however, is not dramatically lowered by these small reductions in blood pressure, the researchers emphasized. Classical music and/or guided relaxation audios can be used in addition to lifestyle changes, medications, diet, and stress management to help manage high blood pressure.

What's your favorite way to relax? Have you tried a classical music or guided relaxation CD? [CTV]

Gwyneth Reveals Pospartem Battle

2008-09-19T12:18:19Z

Only recently has postpartum depression entered the psychological scene as a valid depression diagnosis. For years, medical information excluded it or glossed over it, referring to the disorder as typical “baby blues” associated with the stress and heightened emotion of motherhood. Women were left feeling alone and afraid to express their thoughts.

The latest celebrity to share her experience with postpartum depression is Gwyneth Paltrow when she appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." After her first child Apple Blythe Alison was born, Paltrow says she was in “postnatal euphoria.” So when she was pregnant with her second child, she expected to be the same way after his birth. But shortly after Moses’ arrival, Paltrow said she felt very aloof and disconnected from even herself.

It wasn’t until a dinner with her friend pop star Madonna, a mother of three, that Paltrow said she realized she needed to find a way to change her behavior and outlook. Paltrow also credits exercise and a healthy diet as change agents in lifting her postpartum depression. (Remember though that a celebrity’s version of exercise and normal people’s version of exercise are vastly different. Paltrow works out for two hours a day, six days a week. You don’t need to exercise that vigorously to be healthy. Half an hour to an hour most days of the week is plenty.)

Have you or someone you know experienced postpartum depression? What treatments worked best? [Celebrity-babies.com]

A Revolution in Diabetes Management

2008-09-18T13:22:30Z

If you’re dealing with a diabetes health diagnosis, chances are you have to give yourself shots of insulin throughout the day to manage your blood sugar. Wouldn’t it be great if you could cut down the number of injections from three times a day to once a week?

Scientists in Toronto are working to make that dream a reality, and so far they’ve had very promising results. They’ve found that a revamped version of the drug Byetta (exenatide) works better at managing one's blood sugar level than daily injections. Even better, the once-a-week version did not increase one's hypoglycemia risk and showed similar body weight reductions as seen with the daily version.

Before you weep for joy, know that it will take a few years before you see this on the market. Still, there's comfort in knowing that an important change in your diabetes management is on the way.

How do you stay positive about your diabetes maintenance? [Optimistworld.com]

Exploring the Fine Line between Sad and Depressed

2008-09-16T11:43:38Z

A man comes in to see a psychiatrist because his fiancée just left him. He can’t sleep, he’s agitated, he’s lost interest in activities that use to excite him and he’s been feeling a lot of, “What’s the point in life?” If you were the psychiatrist, would you say this man is clinically depressed or is he reacting with “normal sadness” to a difficult emotional blow?

As the psychiatrist behind a recent New York Times article points out, there’s no clear research to distinguish where sadness ends and depression begins. In most cases, psychiatrists and psychologists rely on the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) to diagnose and treat their patients. If the person meets a certain amount of criteria, they are classified as clinically depressed, regardless of how “normal” the circumstances are for their feelings, behaviors and actions.

Some experts argue that, as a society, we’ve become too dependent on drugs and over-hype depression. If that were true, our rates of depression should be sky-high compared to generations before us. In reality, depression rates have held fairly steady over the last few decades but it is true that more and more psychiatrists are favoring medication therapy over psychotherapy for all sorts of mental disorders.

What do you consider "normal" sadness? How does it differ from dealing with depression?

Mouth Off on Heart Disease

2008-09-12T14:38:53Z

When it comes to heart disease, you would think the best place to understand the disease would be with...the heart. Maybe so, but researchers are putting their money where the mouths are.

The idea is that those with unhealthy mouths have a higher risk of heart disease. People with poor dental hygiene have a lot more bacteria in their mouths, and all different kinds of bacteria as well. All these bacteria end up in the bloodstream where they can combine with platelets, causing blockages. Blockages in the arteries lead to heart disease.

Scientists are studying the interaction between bacteria and platelets that lead to the blockages and are trying to develop new drugs to prevent it from happening. Although no relationship has been established between mouth troubles such as periodontal disease and heart disease, other studies have shown strong links between the two.

Until research in this area improves, scientists are reminding people to practice healthy oral hygiene. Brush twice a day, floss after every meal and visit your dentist for regular checkups. But you’ve been taking care of your teeth anyway, right?

Have you noticed your oral health affect any other areas of your body? [HealthDay]

The Young and Underrepresented

2008-09-11T13:22:37Z

When Christina Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer, women her age and younger shuttered. Many thought she was too young to have breast cancer, yet Applegate is part of a much larger group than most people realize. More than 250,000 women under the age of 40 are living with breast cancer, and 11,000 will be diagnosed in the next year, according to MarketWatch.com.

Breast cancer can be particularly difficult to detect in younger women because their breast tissue is denser and therefore hides tumors better. MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) are reputable at detecting these camouflaged tumors, but they’re generally very expensive procedures. MRIs also have a high false-positive ration. For these reasons, doctors generally don’t recommend them for younger women unless they have a strong family history of breast cancer.

This places younger women with breast cancer in a minority. They have little representation in research and few survivors to profile genetically. Some progress is being made, such as through the Annie Fox Act of 2007. This legislation, named after 35-year-old Annie Fox who succumbed to breast cancer in 2002, provides $9 million annually for breast cancer research for this younger age group. Yet more progress can be made. If you or a woman you love has been diagnosed with breast cancer, talk to a doctor about being a study participant. The more young women with breast cancer participate in studies, the more researchers can learn and create better treatment plans. Speak up and be an active advocate of change!

Have you or someone you know ever participated in a medical study? What was your experience?

Smoke-Free in Keystone State

2008-09-11T13:07:14Z

Thanks to a new statewide smoking ban, Pennsylvania smokers will dish out big bucks if their butts are found in public places such as schools, restaurants, offices and stores.

As of yesterday, smokers who are caught puffing in a restricted public place will be fined $250 for a first offense, $500 for second offense and a whopping $1,000 for the third offense. Holy sticker shock!

While the smoking ban is certainly a step in the right direction, critics say it’s not enough. Small restaurants and bars, nursing homes, fire halls, private clubs, smoke shops and 25% of casinos are exempt from the ban. Yet those who are in support of the ban are working on new legislation that would drop some of the exemptions.

Is this tough love quitters need, and do you think smoking bans work? [ThePittsburghChannel.com]

Sex Addiction or Good Acting?

2008-09-09T10:23:53Z

Recently, actor David Duchovny, who plays a sex-addicted writer on the television show “Californication,” voluntarily went to rehab for sex addiction after years of denying he had a problem.

Sex addiction is a compulsive behavior that is often likened to alcoholism or gambling, but it's not recognized as a diagnosable disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. Although it’s not an officially recognized health diagnosis, it affects an estimated 3% to 5% of Americans.

Symptoms can include rampant promiscuity, spending hours viewing pornography and using sex as an escape mechanism from problems, such as stress or depression. Sex addicts are usually ashamed of their behavior and try to keep it secret. They also tend to have difficulties expressing their emotions and with emotional intimacy in relationships. Treatment for a sexual addiction can include anti-depressants, which can lower the libido as a side effect, psychotherapy and group therapy.

Duchovny was accused of being a sex addict in the 1990s before he married actress Tea Leoni, which he denied in a Playgirl magazine interview.

This got us wondering: Do you think that sex addition is a real condition, and could playing the role of a sex addict ignite the condition? If that's the case, could other jobs incite other unhealthy addictions or conditions? [Reuters]

But My Cashier Says My BP Is Fine...

2008-09-09T10:23:50Z

Yes, times are tough and the economy isn’t the greatest, but that’s no excuse to let grocery store machines become your new “doctor.”

An older person, 77 years-old, wrote into a newspaper column saying that he or she was in excellent shape except for having high blood pressure, which was discovered through a “machine at the local grocery.”

If this sounds like you, we have to tell you that you’re being hosed. You can’t rely on 25 cent machines to diagnose a medical condition like high blood pressure. These machines are gimmicks; they’re meant to provide you with a ballpark figure of your blood pressure. They are no more accurate than mood rings.

Even if you’re having a difficult time making ends meet, many clinics provide physicals and other health services on a sliding-fee scale, meaning that they take into account your income when they charge you for services. See if you qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Call ahead to clinics to see what they charge and how they can work with you. It might take a little extra time and research, but there are ways to make sure you receive quality health care. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

Could Twins Hold the Key?

2008-09-05T09:46:44Z

With all the hype and hostility toward type 2 diabetes (the generally preventable form linked to obesity), type 1 diabetes is often left out of the discussion. Type 1 diabetes usually starts in childhood and can have life-threatening symptoms, as 13-year-old twin sisters Ali and Marissa Newman know all too well.

Three years ago, Ali started losing weight and sleeping more. At first, her parents and friends thought she had an eating disorder. Eventually, she became so worn down one night, she was too weak to get out of bed and could barely breathe. Ali’s family rushed her to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a life-threatening condition caused by extremely high blood sugar creates an imbalance in blood chemicals. It was official: Ali had type 1 diabetes. The family soon learned that her sister Marissa was at an increased risk for type 1, even as a fraternal twin. Identical twins have more than a 50% risk of developing the condition if one twin has it.

Knowing that she was at an increased risk for the disease, Marissa offered to be part of research to prevent type 1 diabetes. The study is trying to see if it can make the body slowly accept insulin rather than attacking it. Although a similar study was done before with little success, researchers are excited this time around because they’re putting it to use in those who are most at risk, such as Marissa.

We thought this was pretty awesome of Marissa to serve as a guinea pig for diabetes research, especially if it means helping her sister. Would you be willing to enroll in a health study to help a family member? [The New York Times]

No Treatment the Best Treatment?

2008-09-05T09:31:42Z

Many men who receive a prostate cancer health diagnosis aren’t doing anything about it.

And they’re following their doctor’s orders.

The whole “do nothing” approach for prostate cancer is technically referred to as “active surveillance” in doctor-speak, and the number of patients preferring this treatment option is growing.

Other prostate cancer treatment options, such as surgery or radiation, are extremely aggressive and can leave harsh side effects, such as incontinence and impotence. And, of course, these treatment options are available to prostate cancer patients at any time.

However, recent data has supported the active surveillance treatment plan. Under this program, men with prostate cancer receive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and physicals every six months. They also receive biopsies every 12 to 18 months. Most doctors are quick to emphasize that active surveillance is a treatment option that is unique to prostate cancer.

It’s definitely a big trade-off: Do you risk impotence and/or incontinence problems for the rest of your life or let the prostate cancer grow slowly but enjoy a fully-functioning phallus? Well, men, what would your choice be? Women, what would you want for your man? [TheBostonChannel.com]

Tall Tales?

2008-09-04T10:13:45Z

Short men might have a reason to celebrate: New research from Great Britain shows that taller men have a higher risk of developing a prostate cancer health diagnosis. After studying thousands of men with and without prostate cancer, researchers found that the risk of developing prostate cancer increased about 6% for every 3.9 inches above the shortest study participant.

Before all the short men get too excited, or the tall men too irate, the researchers said that they doubt height by itself is the link to the higher risk of prostate cancer. Rather, they believe it is a significant link to some other factor for developing prostate cancer.

Others are not convinced a link between height and prostate cancer exists at all. Some researchers say that the link could arise from pure chance when a study looks at a risk factor as broad as height, skin color or gender and a condition as widespread as prostate cancer. Even if height were a risk factor, it would be very low, critics say. What’s most important is that tall or short, men take care of themselves: eat a balanced, nutritious diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep and receive regular check-ups.

Do you think height could be a risk factor for prostate cancer? [HealthDay]

Who Needs Prostate Screening?

2008-09-04T09:58:52Z

Some cancers are trickier than others. Somewhere towards the top of the list is prostate cancer. That’s because catching prostate cancer involves risky tests that can leave men impotent and/or incontinent. Some doctors even go so far as to say that prostate cancer screening tests do more harm than good. And in some cases, the United States Preventative Services Task Force agrees. The Task Force recently revised its guidelines to recommend that men 75 and older opt out of prostate cancer screening tests if they aren’t a high-risk candidate. For men younger than 75, the Task Force neither recommends nor discourages prostate cancer preventative tests.

Yet not all health agencies share the Task Force’s opinion. The American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association recommend all men start prostate cancer screening tests at age 50. Yet the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends men only engage in prostate cancer preventative tests if they feel they are high-risk. Risk factors for prostate cancer include a family history of the disease, age, race, weight and overall health.

When/if you are faced with the decision on whether or not to get prostate cancer preventative tests, listen to your gut and communicate with your doctor as much as possible. Get a second or even third opinion on the matter. If you’re in good health overall with no family history of prostate cancer, why put yourself through the torture? On the other hand, maybe you’re the picture of perfect health at the age of 76, but you have family who died of prostate cancer, wouldn’t you want to know if you had the condition? What do you think about the new recommendations? [U.S. News & World Report]

Easy on the Incense

2008-08-31T19:23:02Z

Burning incense might help those dealing with depression, but new research shows regularly burning incense can increase the risk of a cancer health diagnosis.

Incense is generally made from various sweet-smelling plant materials, such as tree bark, resins, flowers, roots and oils. When these compounds are burned, they release potentially cancerous substances: benzene and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

Thousands of incense users were followed for 12 years who were cancer-free at the beginning of the study. During that time, 325 men and women developed cancer of the upper respiratory tract, such as nasal, oral or throat cancer. Another 821 of the study participants developed a lung cancer health diagnosis. Heavy incense users also had higher rates of a particular kind of cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) that forms in the cells lining the internal and external body surfaces.

Do you burn incense often? How will these findings influence your incense usage? [Reuters]

California Kicks Butt!

2008-08-29T11:35:43Z

When it comes to the battle to quit smoking, it seems California’s state-funded program is doing something right. Its residents not only improve their health, but also the program saves the states billions of dollars in health care—$86 billion dollars worth, to be exact, between 1989 and 2004. It also resulted in 3.6 billion fewer packs of cigarettes being sold. That could be translated into an estimated $9 billion loss, before taxes, for tobacco companies.

What's making the difference? It appears that the main reason California’s plan was so successful was because it aims to “change social norms” about smoking. Whereas most states have been targeting kids and teenagers to prevent them from starting smoking, California has been targeting adults. The idea is that as more adults quit smoking, it will influence kids not to smoke too.

The study of California's anti-smoking programs also found that the most successful messages against smoking emphasize that the tobacco industry lies, nicotine is addictive and secondhand smoke kills.

If California is doing such a good job kicking butt and saving billions of dollars, why haven’t other states implemented the same or a similar plan? And what should be done with all the savings? [WebMD]

Love Your Sunscreen

2008-08-29T11:35:23Z

Get outside and enjoy the end of summer this Labor Day weekend with family and friends, but don’t forget the sunscreen. It's your most valuable weapon against a skin cancer health diagnosis.

New research shows that people who have had nonmelanoma skin cancer have double the risk of developing other types of cancer, such as lung cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer. Researchers speculate that the risk is so much higher for other cancers in skin cancer patients because their DNA is already weakened and damaged. And it appears that age is a factor as well—the younger a person is diagnosed, the higher the chance of developing other cancers.

Plus, in a surprising discovery, researchers found that certain drugs used to lower blood pressure actually help reduce a person’s chances of developing some skin cancers. Blood pressure-lowering drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) lower the risk of developing basal or squamous cell skin cancers. But why does this happen? Researchers have no idea why or how that connection exists.

Rather than relying on drugs to save you from skin cancer, just remember to limit your time in the sun, especially during peak hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reapply your sunscreen often—every couple of hours, and bring sunglasses and a hat.

What are your plans for Labor Day weekend? Will you be catching some rays? [HealthDay]

True or False Quiz

2008-08-28T13:25:41Z

So just how well are you doing at managing your high blood pressure? Hypertension is a serious health diagnosis, but it can be kept easily in check. Take this quiz to test your heart health knowledge:

TRUE OR FALSE: Sweating, nervousness and/or fatigue are symptoms of high blood pressure.
ANSWER: False. High blood pressure rarely has any signs or symptoms, especially in the beginning stages. Without having your blood pressure taken on a regular basis, such as when you go to the doctor’s office, you may never know you have high blood pressure until you develop heart disease, have a stroke or experience kidney failure.

TRUE OR FALSE: Women are at risk for a high blood pressure health diagnosis.
ANSWER: True. Younger or middle-aged men have a higher risk for high blood pressure than women of the same age, but that switches after age 55. Women also have different risk factors than men. Smoking and being on birth control increase a woman’s chance of developing high blood pressure. Pregnancy can also increase a woman’s hypertension chances.

TRUE OR FALSE: Home blood pressure monitoring kits are a waste of money.
ANSWER: False. Monitoring your blood pressure at home is strongly encouraged by doctors. Granted, some work better than others, but it’s your responsibility as a discriminating consumer to see which one is right for you.

TRUE OR FALSE: One in three Americans has high blood pressure.
ANSWER: True. The number of U.S. citizens with high blood pressure has soared in recent years, thanks in part to the obesity epidemic.

TRUE OR FALSE: Changing your lifestyle won’t affect your blood pressure.
ANSWER: False. Regular exercise and a healthy diet filled with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help reduce blood pressure. Taking prescribed medications as directed by your doctor can also help lower your blood pressure. Losing weight, and limiting your salt and alcohol intake can also help.

So how well did you do? What additional steps could you be taking to better manage your high blood pressure? [Kitsap Sun]

Start a Home Smoking Ban

2008-08-26T12:20:59Z

Your health and the health of your family is likely one of the top reasons you’re trying to quit smoking. One of the ways you can help yourself in your goal as well as keep your family safe and healthy is by instituting a smoking ban at home. That way, home joins the ranks of restaurants, movie theaters and office buildings where cigarettes are not allowed.

By starting a no-smoking policy at home, you'll have a positive influence on your kids. A new study provides evidence that parents who don’t smoke at home are more likely to have teens who don’t smoke cigarettes. The study also showed that the reverse can be true: Parents who smoked at home had teens who found smoking to be more socially acceptable and were therefore more likely to smoke. The teens with parents who smoked were also more likely to estimate higher smoking rates within their community.

So even if you think your teens aren’t paying attention to what you say and do, they are.

What other rules do you have in your home regarding smoking? [HealthDay]

Health Records Could Save Your Life

2008-08-26T12:18:47Z

If you hadn’t noticed, the medical world has changed since our parents were kids. Doctors don’t make house calls. They don’t have a steady clientele they’ve treated and whose kids they’ve treated. No, in today’s busy society doctors have been pushed into the quantity-over-quality system. Doctors have hundreds upon hundreds of patients they see, which has reduced the average doctor visit down to about seven minutes. You’re lucky if your doctor remembers your name let alone what vaccination you’re overdue for or what health diagnosis you have. Add to the chaos of modern life the fact that our primary care physician is usually just the staring point for the dozens of other specialists we’ll see in our lifetime, and it’s easy to see how information can get lost or never transmitted.

You have the power to prevent these glitches, and it’s as simple as making sure you have copies of all your medical records. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor(s) for them: It’s information all about you, so of course you have the right to have them. If your doctor does give you grief about turning over copies of your records, consider this a red flag that this might not be the best doctor, and you should start looking for a new one.

In addition to obtaining and keeping copies of your health records’ (and while you're at it, collect copies of your partner’s and/or children’s records too), carry an emergency health information card in your wallet or purse. This card should list all medications you take, your allergies and medical conditions.

So, you’ve collected copies of all your family’s health records: Great job! Now how do you organize it and where do you store it? Share your tips on the process! [ABC News]

The Stench of Cancer

2008-08-22T11:18:50Z

It’s the latest scent you don’t want to smell: skin cancer. Researchers have found that people with a skin cancer health diagnosis have an “odor profile” that is “markedly different” from people with healthy skin. Natural chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are what create the different skin smells.

This odoriferous news excites researchers because they’re hoping to develop a quick and easy smell test that could diagnose the most common form of skin cancer, rather than having to do visual exams and biopsies. However, the researchers are quick to point out that this study is preliminary and much more examination is necessary.

This is not the first time smell tests on cancer detection have been studied. Earlier this year, Ohio researchers found that breath sensors detected lung cancer’s distinct scent in 75% of cases.

The article never explains what exactly skin cancer smells like. Because it’s cancer, one would likely imagine the smell to be unpleasant. But is it dirty-gym-socks unpleasant, burnt-toast unpleasant or dirty-diaper-with-curry-on-top unpleasant? Or is that completely wrong and maybe skin cancer has a deceptively sweet and citrus-like scent?

What do you imagine skin cancer to smell like? [HealthDay]

Declaring War on Smoking

2008-08-22T11:18:47Z

In war movies, the soldiers always smoke on their breaks, after a tough battle...actually any time they can. But in the real world, the U.S. Department of Defense wants its soldiers to quit smoking. That’s why it’s started the “Quit Tobacco. Make Everyone Proud” campaign aimed at 18- to 25- year-old servicemen and women. In fact, a DOD survey found that the prevalence of smoking among that age group in the military was much higher than their civilian peers.

The campaign is based on an interactive web site, Ucanquit2.org, that helps users create a personal plan to quit smoking, keep and online journal about the goal, play online games, meet friends for support, listen to inspiring podcasts on quitting smoking and communicate privately with counselors.

What are your predictions for this program—do you think it will work, or is smoking too ingrained in the military culture to go away? [Stars and Stripes]

Kid's Play Becomes Diabetes Fundraiser

2008-08-21T16:01:18Z

Helen Rapp, a 17-year-old from Ladue, MO, never dreamed her love for putting on skits, dances and plays in her backyard would one day help diabetes research.

She started in theater when she was nine, and would spend all her free time performing with friends. When her brother, Turner, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 10, Helen immediately wanted to put her and her friends’ talents to use through a backyard fundraiser for diabetes research. Helen and her friends never performed in her backyard for their diabetes fundraiser because too many people wanted to attend. So she and her friends started the Arch City Theater Troupe and put on their first benefit in their local Missouri community.

In its first year in 2005, the benefit raised $4,000. In the second year, it doubled that amount. During the third year it brought in $15,000 and this year’s goal is $16,000. All of the proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

After reading about Helen’s little dream that yielded big results, what are some talents you could share to fund disease research? [West County Journal]

Better to Lose and Gain...

2008-08-21T15:36:37Z

If you're in the midst of learning to manage your diabetes, and you're looking to lose weight, you may be happy to learn that just about any effort you make to shed some flab will help your condition.

According to a study in the August 12 issue of Diabetes Care, researcher Gregory A. Nichols claims that "you can achieve some long-term benefits in terms of blood pressure and glycemic control that extend even beyond the point at which you regain weight." That doesn't mean that yo-yo dieting is necessarily good for you, but it may not do so much harm.

In addition to losing weight, here are some other tips for managing your diabetes.

* Educate yourself. “School House Rock” said it best: Knowledge is power. Arm yourself with as much research and information about diabetes as you can find. Discuss your findings and questions with your primary-care doctor. Remember that no question is too trivial or “dumb” to ask, especially when it regards your health.

* Exercise. You already know you should be doing this with or without a diabetes health diagnosis. It’s the best thing you can do to improve your health and show love and respect for your body. Shoot to get at least three 30-minute workouts in each week.

* Take Your Medications/Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions. While it may seem obvious, not everyone takes her medications as directed. If your doctor prescribes medications, make sure you are following his or her instructions.

* Enlist Your Family and Friends' Support. Making health changes can be difficult. It’s OK to lean on your family and friends for support. They can be your personal cheerleading squad when you hit a slump making changes to your lifestyle.

What other tips do you have to share that have helped you control your diabetes? [U.S. News & World Report]

Going to a Spa, or Chemo?

2008-08-21T13:44:02Z

Close your eyes and imagine this...

Instead of walking into an intimidating hospital, gliding along stark white hallways with faulty florescent lights to get to your chemotherapy treatment, your treatment is administered in a spa-like building, with relaxing music, running waterfalls, nature sounds and even a large window with a view of the ocean. Do you think your body would respond better to treatment?

That's the theory put forth by advocates of evidenced-based design, a theory of interior design that argues that one's surroundings can affect the healing response and overall well-being. For patients dealing with a health diagnosis, this design difference could literally mean the difference between life and death.

Much anecdotal evidence has supported evidence-based design; patients are quick to say how comfortable and relaxing a room can make them feel. However, no large-scale clinical studies support the concept. In fact, some critics outright oppose the idea of evidence-based design because they argue it’s not a responsible way to spend healthcare money. Their argument is that in a country with spiraling healthcare costs, it might be wiser to use those funds for technology or equipment upgrades rather than pools and lush gardens.

We'd like to hear from you. If you're dealing with cancer, or any major health diagnosis, do you think you could recover better in relaxing, spacious rooms with waterfalls and other soothing elements, or would you prefer a traditional Western medical approach in a hospital? Is the money better spent this way or on newer technologies? [The Wall Street Journal]

Quit Smoking for Vanity's Sake!

2008-08-21T13:40:25Z

Lisa Morrison is a very healthy 50-year-old woman. She exercises regularly, eats only organic food and meditates often. However, her one vice had always been smoking. During the course of her 30-plus year love affair with smoking, she had tried to quit several times. She tried acupuncture, patches, hypnosis—nothing worked. Nothing, that is, until she decided she wanted cosmetic surgery on her face in 2007.

To have a successful outcome for a neck- and eye-lift procedure, Morrison’s doctor told her she had to quit smoking or he wouldn't do the surgery. That ultimatum was all she needed to finally quit … and get a younger-looking face.

Most doctors refuse to do plastic surgery on smokers because nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, which reduces blood flow to the skin. Without proper blood flow to the skin, wounds might heal improperly, infections can occur, bruises will last longer and scars may be brighter or bigger.

Granted, some doctors are stricter about checking a patient’s smoking status than others. Some doctors merely do a smell test for nicotine and do a skin assessment before allowing patients to go ahead with surgery. On the other side of the spectrum are the doctors who require urine samples from their patients to prove they are smoke-free at least a couple weeks before a procedure. Most doctors are willing to help their patients reach their non-smoking goal, after all, they want to perform the procedure as much as the patient’s want it.

While quitting smoking is always a difficult goal worth celebrating, is plastic surgery really the right motivation? Is anyone else worried about the “image before health” message this conjurs? [The New York Times]

The Truth Can Set You Free: A Testimony

2008-08-19T11:46:41Z

It’s a common story: On the outside, the Gallaghers were the typical suburban family. John was a businessman and husband to Trisha for more than 30 years. They had four wonderful children together. But on the inside, the family was living a lie.

In 1999, John attempted suicide. Tired of the unabated feelings of hopelessness, loneliness and apathy, he leapt head-first out of a third-story hospital window where he was on suicide watch. Although he was being observed, it only took a second for him to go through with the act. In what some would call a miracle, not only did John survive the fall, but he did so with minor injuries.

Ironically, after John’s most desperate act for help and acknowledgement, the family ignored the suicide attempt and his experience with severe depression. John didn’t want anyone to know about his suicide attempt, so his wife and older children created elaborate stories for his hospital stays and injuries. The stories worked so well that the younger children really believed their dad had been in an accident, and John’s dad died without ever knowing the truth.

After almost 10 years of denial and an almost-broken marriage, John was inspired by reading another man’s suicide attempt to go public with his own story. The younger children were told the truth and a family dialogue about suicide and depression began. In fact, John was so inspired that he wrote a book about his experience and encouraged every family member to write their own contributing chapter about their experience. The book, No More Secrets: A Family Speaks About Depression, Anxiety and Attempted Suicide will be released this fall. The Gallaghers hope their story will help other families dealing with depression and help ease the stigma associated with suicide attempts.

Does the Gallaghers’ story sound familiar? Do you know someone or a family who seems to have it all together only to find out they were dealing with depression? Share your experience; you never know who it could inspire. [The Reporter Online]

Angina: A Subset of Heart Disease

2008-08-19T11:28:29Z

If you have heart disease, there’s a strong chance you have angina as well. In fact, more than 6 million people in the United States have it.

Angina is the medical term for chest pain or tightness in the chest. It occurs when the heart can’t get enough oxygen from your blood. To make it even more confusing, there are three types of angina:

* Stable angina (chronic stable angina)
* Unstable angina (which usually indicates a heart attack)
* Prinzmetal’s angina (a rare type of angina caused by a coronary artery spasm)

The risk factors for angina are similar to that of heart disease. To reduce your chances of developing angina and heart disease, you should:

* Quit Smoking
* Keep a healthy blood pressure
* Keep a healthy cholesterol level
* Exercise regularly
* Practice stress management techniques
* Drink moderately

If you experience angina for more than a few minutes, it could signal that you are having a heart attack. It’s important to take angina seriously and get to the hospital immediately. Call 911—don’t attempt to drive yourself to the hospital.

Have you spoken with your doctor about angina? Have you ever experienced it or helped a friend one or loved one who did? [Mayo Clinic]