Health And Beauty Special Times: August 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

Aspirin-Clopidogrel No Better Than Aspirin Alone for Patients with Lacunar Stroke

Embargoed for Release
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
5 p.m. EDT

Aspirin combined with the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel is no better than aspirin alone for stroke prevention in people with a history of lacunar strokes, and the combination carries a greater risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to results of a trial funded by the National Institutes of Health. Lacunar strokes occur due to chronic high blood pressure and typically produce small lesions deep within the brain.

The trial results also point to an overall improvement in stroke management during the past decade. Regardless of whether patients received aspirin alone or the dual therapy, their stroke risk was reduced more than three-fold from what it was 10 years ago.

Antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin are routinely prescribed to help prevent new strokes in people with a history of lacunar stroke. The Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes (SPS3) trial was designed to determine if adding clopidogrel to aspirin would offer better protection than aspirin alone. The results appear in the Aug. 30th New England Journal of Medicine. They show that the aspirin-clopidogrel combination was about equal to aspirin in reducing the risk of any type of stroke, but it almost doubled the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

"For all stroke therapeutics, there is a need to balance the potential benefits against the risks. The SPS3 findings establish that for lacunar stroke, dual therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel carries significant risk and minimal benefit," said Walter Koroshetz, M.D., deputy director of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.

The SPS3 trial is funded by NINDS and led by Oscar R. Benavente, M.D., research director of the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Health program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In addition to comparing dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin, the trial was designed to test two levels of blood pressure control. After an interim data analysis in August 2011, the antiplatelet component of the trial was stopped. NIH also issued a clinical alert, warning that there was "little likelihood of benefit in favor of aspirin plus clopidogrel [for] recurrent stroke should the study continue to conclusion." The blood pressure component of the trial is ongoing, and the trial participants have been encouraged to continue taking aspirin without clopidogrel.

Strokes occur when blood vessels that supply the brain rupture or become blocked, such as by a blood clot. Antiplatelet drugs interfere with the formation of blood clots.

Lacunar strokes occur due to chronic high blood pressure, which in turn leads to progressive narrowing and finally blockage of small arteries that supply deep brain structures. They account for up to one-fifth of all strokes and are especially common among African-Americans, Hispanics and people with diabetes. Although lacunar strokes tend to produce relatively small lesions, they can cause disability depending on where they occur in the brain.

The SPS3 trial involves more than 3,000 participants at 82 clinical centers in North and South America and in Spain. The participants are age 30 and older, and all had a recent history of lacunar stroke prior to enrollment. About 52 percent are white, 31 percent Hispanic and 17 percent black.

For the antiplatelet component of the trial, about half of the participants received 325 milligrams of aspirin and 75 milligrams of clopidogrel daily, and the other half received aspirin and placebo. The participants were also randomly assigned to receive either standard control of systolic blood pressure (less than 130 mm Hg) or aggressive control (130-149 mm Hg).

After eight years of study, the annual risk of recurrent stroke was 2.7 percent in the aspirin-only group and 2.5 percent in the aspirin plus clopidogrel group. Most of the recurrent strokes in both groups were lacunar strokes. The rate of serious or life-threatening internal bleeding was 1.1 percent in the aspirin group and 2.1 percent in the dual therapy group. The difference was due mostly to a higher number of gastrointestinal bleeds in the dual therapy group. The percentage of brain bleeds in the two groups was not significantly different. Deaths from any cause were also higher in the aspirin-clopidogrel group.

For both groups, stroke recurrence was lower than the investigators had expected. When the SPS3 trial began in 2003, another large trial that tested warfarin vs. aspirin for stroke prevention had just ended. Warfarin is an anticoagulant, another class of drugs that interferes with blood clotting. That trial, called the Warfarin vs. Aspirin Recurrent Stroke Study (WARSS), found that patients with a history of lacunar strokes who took aspirin had an annual stroke recurrence rate of about 7 percent. (Warfarin and aspirin were about equal.)

This reflects a common trend, Dr. Benavente said. "What we see more and more often in stroke prevention trials is a significant decrease in stroke risk, compared to data from 10 years ago. We have better medications now to control stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, and these are clearly having an impact."

In prior studies, antiplatelet drugs including aspirin or clopidogrel alone, or a combination of aspirin and dipyridamole, have been shown to reduce stroke risk in patients with heart disease or prior stroke. In one trial, aspirin combined with clopidogrel was more effective than aspirin alone at reducing stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation, a type of abnormal heart rhythm. However, other trials involving broader stroke populations found no added benefit from combining aspirin and clopidogrel. Therefore, current practice guidelines recommend aspirin alone, clopidogrel alone, or aspirin plus dipyridamole for secondary prevention after most types of stroke. The SPS3 results are consistent with those guidelines.

Researchers continue to investigate whether the clopidogrel-aspirin combination might be beneficial for patients with other types of stroke, such as transient ischemic attack (TIA). This is a type of stroke in which symptoms fade away in less than 24 hours; it is also a warning that a more damaging stroke may be imminent. The Platelet-Oriented Inhibition in New TIA (POINT) trial is testing whether aspirin plus clopidogrel are effective at preventing major strokes when given within 12 hours of a TIA. That trial is also funded by NINDS.

The NIH clinical trials database, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, has more information about the SPS3 trial (NCT00059306) and the POINT trial (NCT00991029) . NINDS funds the trials through cooperative agreements (NS038529 and NS062835, respectively).

For more information about stroke, please visit http://stroke.nih.gov.

NINDS (http://www.ninds.nih.gov) is the nation's leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The NINDS mission is to reduce the burden of neurological disease – a burden borne by every age group, by every segment of society, by people all over the world.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health ^®

Reference: Benavente et al. for the SPS3 investigators. "Effects of clopidogrel added to aspirin in patients with recent lacunar stroke." New England Journal of Medicine, August 30, 2012. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1204133.

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News Source

Aspirin-Clopidogrel No Better Than Aspirin Alone for Patients with Lacunar Stroke

Embargoed for Release
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
5 p.m. EDT

Strokes occur when blood vessels that supply the brain rupture or become blocked, such as by a blood clot. Antiplatelet drugs interfere with the formation of blood clots.

For more information about stroke, please visit http://stroke.nih.gov.

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health ^®

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Get to Acne's Root Cause for Clearer Skin

If you're tired of waking up to blackheads and zits waiting to be popped, you're about to uncover the true causes of acne! Learn to eliminate it once and for all! Read here

Sweet Stroke Prevention?

Men...listen up.

This story may sound too sweet to believe, but Swedish researchers say eating milk chocolate every week may help save you from a stroke.

The study, just published in the Journal of Neurology, followed more than 37-thousand Swedish men, ages 49 to 75, over a 10-year period. The men filled out their own food logs, and were asked specifically about their chocolate consumption. The team then cross referenced data on stroke cases.

Those who ate the largest amount of chocolate, about one-third of a cup a week, had a 17-percent lower risk of stroke than those who did not eat any chocolate at all.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news the doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

Source

Sweet Stroke Prevention?

Men...listen up.

This story may sound too sweet to believe, but Swedish researchers say eating milk chocolate every week may help save you from a stroke.

Those who ate the largest amount of chocolate, about one-third of a cup a week, had a 17-percent lower risk of stroke than those who did not eat any chocolate at all.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news the doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

Original Source

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Temper Tantrums

If your toddler is prone to temper tantrums, how do you know if it is normal or means something more?

Researchers at Northwestern University have been studying preschool temper tantrums, trying to distinguish between typical misbehavior and early signs of possible mental health problems. They asked the parents of nearly 1,500 children, ages three to five, about their child's behavior.

Using a newly developed questionnaire, they focused on the frequency and severity of the tantrums, the triggers, and how well the kids were able to manage their anger. While tantrums among the group were common less than 10-percent of young children threw a daily "fit." And that relatively low percentage carried across girls and boys, poor and non-poor children and Hispanic, white and African-American children.

The study's lead author says discovering that tantrums are not rampant in this age group was an a-ha moment, and that the data are a strong indicator that frequent tantrums are atypical and may be a sign of a deeper problem requiring intervention from mental health professionals.

The researchers are now fine tuning this diagnostic tool to help doctors diagnose the difference between a normal tantrum and a troubling pattern of outbursts.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news to help keep your family healthy.

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Temper Tantrums

If your toddler is prone to temper tantrums, how do you know if it is normal or means something more?

The researchers are now fine tuning this diagnostic tool to help doctors diagnose the difference between a normal tantrumand a troubling pattern of outbursts.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news to help keep your family healthy.

Source

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

New Evidence Points to Greater Benefits of Infant Circumcision, but Final Say Is Still Up to Parents, Says AAP

New scientific evidence shows the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks of the procedure, but the benefits are not great enough to recommend routine circumcision for all newborn boys, according to an updated policy statement published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The revised policy, like the previous one from the AAP, says the decision whether or not to circumcise should be left to the parents in consultation with their child’s doctor.

The policy statement and accompanying technical report from the AAP will be published in the September 2012 issue of Pediatrics (published online Monday, Aug. 27). The documents update the previous policy that the AAP published in 1999 and reaffirmed in 2005.

Since the last policy was published, scientific research shows clearer health benefits to the procedure than had previously been demonstrated. According to a systematic and critical review of the scientific literature, the health benefits of circumcision include lower risks of acquiring HIV, genital herpes, human papilloma virus and syphilis. Circumcision also lowers the risk of penile cancer over a lifetime; reduces the risk of cervical cancer in sexual partners, and lowers the risk of urinary tract infections in the first year of life.

The AAP believes the health benefits are great enough that infant male circumcision should be covered by insurance, which would increase access to the procedure for families who choose it.

“Ultimately, this is a decision that parents will have to make,” said Susan Blank, MD, FAAP, chair of the task force that authored the AAP policy statement and technical report. “Parents are entitled to medically accurate and non-biased information about circumcision, and they should weigh this medical information in the context of their own religious, ethical and cultural beliefs.”

The medical benefits alone may not outweigh other considerations for individual families. The medical data show that the procedure is safest and offers the most health benefits if performed during the newborn period. The AAP policy recommends infant circumcision should be performed by trained and competent providers, using sterile techniques and effective pain management.

The policy has been endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (the College). “This information will be helpful for obstetricians who are often the medical providers who counsel parents about circumcision,” said Sabrina Craigo, MD, the College’s liaison to the AAP task force on circumcision. “We support the idea that parents choosing circumcision should have access to the procedure.”

Parents who are considering newborn circumcision should speak with their child’s doctor about the benefits and risks of the procedure, and discuss who will perform the circumcision. “It’s a good idea to have this conversation during pregnancy, and to learn whether your insurance will cover the procedure, so you have time to make the decision,” said Dr. Blank.

Source: www.healthychildren.org

Monday, August 27, 2012

Breast Cancer and Weight

Breast cancer survivors are often vigilant about follow-up testing to keep an eye out for recurrence but now new research suggests the need for vigilance with the scale, as well.

Pooling data from three national studies, researchers looked at long term outcomes of more than 68-hundred women with breast cancer. They wanted to find out if their weight had any impact on whether the cancer returned.

The researchers found that increasing body mass index significantly increased women's risk of cancer recurrence and death, even if they did well with treatment. The weight connection was seen only in women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about two-thirds of all breast cancer cases.

Further study is needed to determine if weight loss can make a difference after breast cancer diagnosis. The research team believes treatment strategies aimed at interfering with hormonal changes and inflammation caused by obesity may help reduce the risk of recurrence.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Breast Cancer and Weight

Breast cancer survivors are often vigilant about follow-up testing to keep an eye out for recurrence but now new research suggests the need for vigilance with the scale, as well.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

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Friday, August 24, 2012

The Return of Ragweed

As we watch summer slowly fade away, millions of us are facing a season of suffering. Hay Fever season!

Fall allergies are often triggered by ragweed pollen which typically starts to bloom in mid-August and finishes wreaking havoc sometime in October.

For the 35 million Americans who suffer through seasonal allergies, the return of this plant means the return of those all too familiar symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and sore throat. Ragweed can also make asthma worse for those who have it.

Although theres no cure for ragweed allergy, this nasty passage to Fall can be controlled by following a few steps:

Avoid the outdoors if possible between 5 and 10am when pollen counts are highest.
Keep windows in your home and car closed to lower exposure.
Remove your shoes at the door so you don't trail pollen from room to room and
Be aware that pets can also transport pollen.

If your allergies are really bad, you may want to talk to your doctor about allergy medications.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news you can use for healthier living.

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The Return of Ragweed

As we watch summer slowly fade away, millions of us are facing a season of suffering. Hay Fever season!

Fall allergies are often triggered by ragweed pollen which typically starts to bloom in mid-August and finishes wreaking havoc sometime in October.

Although theres no cure for ragweed allergy, this nasty passage to Fall can be controlled by following a few steps:

Avoid the outdoors if possible between 5 and 10am when pollen counts are highest.
Keep windows in your home and car closed to lower exposure.
Remove your shoes at the door so you don't trail pollen from room to room and
Be aware that pets can also transport pollen.

If your allergies are really bad, you may want to talk to your doctor about allergy medications.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news you can use for healthier living.

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Agapi Stassinopoulos: Be Grateful: What Are You Taking for Granted?

My mother used to say, "You can't be unhappy and grateful at the same time." Over the years, I have found how right she was, in matters of the heart.

Often, we think of love as a big emotional experience and we put conditions on it. We think, if X, Y, and Z happen, I can experience love. We think of it as something outside ourselves that we suddenly arrive at one day. But actually that is not so.

I think of love like the air we are breathing. It's always there, even if we don't notice it. However, when our minds, emotions, preoccupations, shoulds, worries and doubts take over, they can profoundly interfere with experiencing the simple state of loving.

How do we access it? We need triggers so we can remind ourselves that love is always there. How do we know it in our hearts as a breathing, living, knowing, practical, grounded state of our daily existence? How do we know it when we feel challenged, when we're running to our jobs and our kids are throwing temper tantrums and we're late for the train and we can't find our keys? How do we find that love in the hustle and bustle of life? When we feel criticized and rejected? When we are judging ourselves and our circumstances? When we don't get what we want? When our colleague gets promoted for a job we wanted? When we ask for a raise and we don't get it? When the bills are mounting and we don't know how to pay them? Where is love then, and most importantly, how do we find it? How do we get back to our hearts? And why does it matter?

Here is the quickest fix for getting into your heart: BEING GRATEFUL. I believe that true gratitude can shift even the most negative emotions. As my mother used to say, we cannot occupy two conflicting states of emotion at the same time. If you are unhappy, challenged and feeling stuck, here is the key to shift: gratitude. "Change the channel to what you want to experience," was another one of my mother's favorite sayings.

Think about something you are grateful for. If the kids are screaming and they don't want to put their jackets on, maybe take a deep breath and pause, feel grateful that you have kids who have jackets and that you have enough money to get on the train and even the fact that there is a train. If you're upset that your colleague is getting a raise and promotion, can you take a moment to be really, really grateful that you still have a job?

I was recently watching the Oprah Lifeclass, where a mother talked about the call she got 11 years ago, when she learned her three daughters were in a terrible car accident. One daughter was told she'd never walk again. The other two daughters were in critical condition. They all survived to tell the story. The daughter who was told she couldn't walk now walks, and is pregnant. When Oprah asked the daughters what they learned from this tragedy, they all replied, "Never take anything for granted."

Life can change in an instant. I have never forgotten a quote I read in a Time magazine interview with Christopher Reeve, where he spoke about watching people do everyday things, like unbutton a jacket, pick up a fork, tie their shoes or walk up steps. He said, "If they only knew how lucky they are."

He said this as he lay there with doctors and nurses trying to help him move his limbs, hooked up to all kinds of medical machines, including a ventilator. I wonder, why is it that we have to wait for something so tragic to happen to be grateful for the miracle of our lives?

I had an experience the other morning that brought this point home. As I was getting out of bed, I was overwhelmed by the day's schedule, which was packed because I'm in the middle of my book tour for Unbinding the Heart. As I started to worry about how I would do it all, something inside said, "Get back to bed and start your day by being grateful." So I spent a half-hour going over all the things I am grateful for, starting with the miracle of my body, my family and friends and the opportunity to do something I really love. It's remarkable how, as I got out of bed, I had so much energy, joy and kept moving from one thing to the other without feeling overwhelmed. Riding the wave of gratitude can definitely keep your spirits high.

Gratitude leads to great-fullness, and this feeling of fullness is the entryway to our hearts when they are closed and shut off. Once we are in our hearts, we find solutions to the problems that once seemed overwhelming. Once you start on the road of gratitude, there is no limit, because there are so many things we take for granted and so many things we can be grateful for. Being in a state of gratitude can move you into a state of power and presence. From a state of gratitude, we can ask for help, and people are moved to help us. A state of gratitude puts us in a state of worthiness. In a state of worthiness, we know that we are not alone.

The five-step, quick fix to get you back to your heart:

Suspend all judgments of what is going on.
Change the channel to being grateful for every little thing.
Continue to be grateful and appreciative for things that are right in your life.
Observe how with gratitude things can shift for you.
Express your gratitude in words and actions to those around you.

For more by Agapi Stassinopoulos, click here.

For more on the spirit, click here.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Back to School Basics

Depending on where you live, your kids may be just days away from meeting their new teachers or already adjusting to a new school routine.

Our friends at the American Academy of Pediatrics offer these back-to-school basics to make the transition healthy and happy.

Start by getting the kids into a positive mindset. Point out the plus side of going back to school, like reconnecting with friends they haven't seen all summer. Make sure those backpacks are sturdy with padded shoulder straps and a padded back. When you get it ready for the first day, don't stuff it. Keep the load to a minimum.

If your child will be riding the bus, explain the rules and talk about wearing a seatbelt, if one is available. If the mode of transportation is a bike, make sure your child has a helmet that meets all of the latest safety standards. And make sure any walkers know to use the cross walks where crossing guards are stationed.

Finally, when the homework starts to pile up, set aside a specific spot to work and make sure there's good light. Turn off the TV, and get the year started on the right academic note!

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

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How Does Nail Biting Affect Your Social Life?

How Does Nail Biting Affect Your Social Life?
You are in a large get-together of old friends. Everyone is shaking hands and greeting each other - but not you. You bite your fingernails and are too embarrassed that someone will notice and comment on the short, un-manicured nails. You begin to wish you were anywhere but there. Why did you agree to attend? Fear takes over and you sit behind a table just so you won't have to shake anyone's hand.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Proper Treatment of Fire Ant Bites

Everyone has seen a group of bright red fire ants marching across the sidewalk at some point. Everyone also knows that they should be avoided, but not everyone knows what to do should a person come into contact with one. They are common enough that it is a good idea to have some basic knowledge. How the bite can be prevented, what will happen if it occurs, and how to handle it if it does are things that everyone should know about fire ant bites.

There are a few trademark symptoms of the bite of the fire ant. Almost everyone will experience redness of the skin, itching, swelling, and/or burning. The location might even unfortunately blister, an issue that can last more than a week for some. Some folks are not so lucky–if a person is hypersensitive to the bite, they may experience a swollen throat and trouble breathing, which could lead to death.

Everyone should make sure that children playing outside know that these little pests are very dangerous and to stay away from them. Kids should be taught never to kick over their colonies. Instead, if they are spotted on the property, the homeowner should obtain a cypermethrin solution and apply it generously to the areas in which the colonies are found. Watering the area will help to adhere it to the ground.

If a bite does occur, there are a few steps that should be taken. First and foremost, the bitten person should ensure that the ant and any others are removed from the body, as they will continue to bite. Then, take an allergy medicine to try to counteract the symptoms. Immediately after, crush aspirin or use meat tenderizer and mix it with water to form a paste and cover the location of the bite to reduce pain.

Anti-itch cream is ideal for the intense itching that will likely occur. If possible, the inflicted person should not scratch the bites to avoid scarring. It is possible that the area will turn into open sores, and if this is the case, an antibiotic ointment should be applied. This is all that can really be done until the symptoms subside, but if anything more serious occurs, medical help should be sought immediately.

No one wants to suffer from fire ant bites, but especially not those who are very allergic or overly sensitive to the venom. Everyone should be aware that in some rare cases, these bites can cause death, and to ensure that children are well informed about the danger. However, most inflictions can be treated with topical ointments, creams, and over-the-counter medicines, and discomfort will be the main issue.

If you are looking for more homemade recipes, visit HippsHelp.com today! Our blog features recipes to show you how to make BBQ chicken, how to repair leaky pipes, and even how to treat fire ants! In addition, we feature DIY videos to make all your home repairs easy.

Source: www.thehealthdirectoryonline.com

Back to School Basics

Depending on where you live, your kids may be just days away from meeting their new teachers or already adjusting to a new school routine.

Our friends at the American Academy of Pediatrics offer these back-to-school basics to make the transition healthy and happy.

Finally, when the homework starts to pile up, set aside a specific spot to work and make sure there's good light. Turn off the TV, and get the year started on the right academic note!

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Get Involved!

Are you an active or passive participant in your health care?
Your answer to this question may be a big factor in how healthy and happy your relationship with your doctor can be.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality says the best patient is an active one. In fact, those who communicate better with their doctors tend to be happier with their care and have better health results.

How can you strive to get this kind of relationship?

Come to your next visit with a list of questions you want answered. And bring your current medications, including any vitamins or supplements, so you can show the doctor what you're taking.

Be honest while you're there. Don't hold back about any symptoms or your health history. And if you don't understand everything the doctor is saying about a condition, test or treatment, don't be embarrassed to ask again.

Finally, when you get home, follow through. Take medications as prescribed, schedule any tests or further appointments.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has tools that can help you plan your visit, and help you after your appointment. Log onto www.ahrq.gov.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with information that can help keep your family healthy.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

5 Reasons to Try a New Acne Treatment

There a number of reasons to stick with the same acne treatment for a long period of time, but if that treatment product is not working for you then that would be a good reason to change. I know we have all heard that it takes some time for treatment to work but that time usually does not exceed three months. In fact you should begin to see changes within 2 to 3 weeks of using a product. Rest of the article

Anna David: What Happens To An Irritable Person On A Meditation Retreat?

Until this year, the words "meditation" and "retreat" did not go together in my world, in any capacity. Truthfully, the word "retreat" never entered my vocabulary much at all, unless it somehow involved a spa treatment. But suddenly, in 2012, it seemed as if people were retreating. People were becoming retreat-ers.

It was time for me to join the fray.

Especially because the retreat I'd decided to sign up for was being led by Thom Knoles, the man who'd taught me meditation nearly a decade ago. The form of meditation he teaches, Vedic meditation, is a derivative of the Transcendental Meditation technique taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and I've been practicing it for roughly 20 minutes every morning and 20 minutes every afternoon most days since I learned.

Still, meditation, for me, has always been a solitary act: Something I do, in a cool, quiet room -- preferably my bedroom -- with the windows closed. During Thom's visits to Los Angeles over the years, I've occasionally joined in the group meditations he's led, where I've encountered hordes of people who have told me how much they love meditating in a group setting. I've nodded and then contemplated murder as I tried meditating next to them but found myself horribly distracted by their coughing or rustling around or loud breathing.

There were benefits of meditation that these coughers and breathers spoke of that I felt I wasn't necessarily getting. They talked about things like "feeling at one with the world" and "entering new states of consciousness" and "developing a magnanimous feeling" toward their fellow man. I got the feeling that if I breathed too heavily next to them while meditating -- and for all I knew, I did -- they found it not irritating but actually somehow beautiful.

It was time to take my practice deeper. It was time to acknowledge, first, that what I had was a practice. I realized that the role I'd given meditation in my life was that of "efficiency generator": I always felt energized after one of my 20-minute sessions, especially after the afternoon one, because it usually provided me with enough energy to write for another few hours. But I wanted more.

The retreat I signed up for was in the Catskills town of Phoenicia, at Menla Mountain Retreat, a 320-acre property operated by the U.S. Tibet House. After spending a few days in Manhattan, I took a Trailways bus out to Phoenicia, passing Woodstock and enough Catskills towns to feel like I'd somehow accidentally landed in "Dirty Dancing."

Once I arrived at Menla, I met the other members of the group: Primarily 30- and 40- something creative professionals, along with a smattering of 50-somethings and two 20-something brothers whose father had recently gone on one of Thom's retreats. Many of us were experienced meditators -- some had even been on other retreats with Thom before -- but there were newcomers as well.

We were there to learn what's known as "rounding." When I'd first heard this word, I'd pictured each of us bent over in half, arms hanging to the side, moving around in circles -- some sort of a leftover image I must have had in my head from watching a group of deadheads at a show I'd been dragged to in high school. But rounding was actually, I soon learned, a series of asanas (or yoga poses) and Pranayam (or breathing techniques) that we were instructed to do before beginning one of our 20-minute meditations.

The poses were quite basic -- what Power Yoga enthusiasts in L.A. or New York would surely sniff at -- and apparently it was their very basic-ness that was so important. We were told not to make any serious effort at them: If we bent over and, say, our arms didn't touch the ground, we weren't supposed to stretch until we reached the floor, the way we're encouraged to do in most fitness classes, but to dangle where we were. The Pranayam consisted of plugging one nostril and breathing in, then switching to plug the other nostril and breathing out -- for five minutes. Doing all of that -- the asanas followed by the Pranayam followed by one of our regular 20-minute meditation sessions -- was doing a round. And what were we supposed to do after completing a round? Why, more rounding!

While this sounds like all it would be tedious, for some reason I found it anything but. Of course, what I had motivating me was the promise that, after rounding retreats, stress that's accumulated for years literally drops away.

Many retreaters stayed in the main lecture hall and did their rounds together--each taking their own spot, marked by a yoga mat, against the wall--others went off to round in their rooms or even outside. I started in the main room but, despite the stress falling away from me, I was still me--which means that when one of my fellow retreaters rounded off his round by falling asleep and snoring, I found myself wanting to roll up my yoga mat and toss it in his direction. Off to my room I went.

Rounding was broken up by meals--all terribly healthy, except for one lunch that inexplicably included chocolate chip cookies--and lectures by Thom, about everything from the long-term benefits of meditating ("Over time, it makes you sort of mentally deficient at getting stressed--in the same way that if you dip a cloth into dye, eventually the color will start to stick") to understanding our relationship to joy ("Object Referral Happiness means that the object world has arranged itself into a set of circumstances that fit our idea of happiness whereas Self-Referral Happiness comes from stepping beyond thought into the field of being, where we can say, 'If my whole world is taken away, that's okay because I'll just create a whole new world'"). During the first few lectures, I noticed a lot of people placing their phones on the stage next to Thom. I was so relaxed that my brain apparently wasn't working clearly and I assumed they were doing that because they didn't trust themselves not to be distracted by Twitter or Words with Friends or Facebook while he was talking. It was only during the last lecture that I realized they were all recording his words.

To my delight--and, I must admit, surprise--my fellow snorers and breathers and coughers became my fast friends. I guess it shouldn't have been so shocking: people who are gathered together for a short period of time while seeking a common goal have been known to bond, but I think when your shared intent is greater joy and less stress, that bond is less of the summer camp variety and more of the lasting relationship type (and, indeed, we've all been in regular touch: right now, I have get togethers planned with both the L.A. and New York contingents).

The stress relief that would come from two straight days of rounding would, Thom promised, be noticeable: the retreat ended on a Monday morning and he swore that by Wednesday, we'd feel, undeniably, a previously not experienced level of joy. And call it the power of suggestion or just call it a process that works but by that Wednesday, I was back in LA and I was, indeed, delighting in my life. The feeling lasted--well, a few days at least. But a few days of pure delight for someone who finds herself regularly wanting to smack a fellow meditator who's coughing may be some sort of a record. If I want to get it back--well, that's what another retreat is for.

Click here for information on future Thom Knoles retreats.

Photos: Andrew Barrett

Follow Anna David on Twitter: www.twitter.com/annadavid

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Get Involved!

Are you an active or passive participant in your health care?
Your answer to this question may be a big factor in how healthy and happy your relationship with your doctor can be.

How can you strive to get this kind of relationship?

Come to your next visit with a list of questions you want answered. And bring your current medications, including any vitamins or supplements, so you can show the doctor what you're taking.

Finally, when you get home, follow through. Take medications as prescribed, schedule any tests or further appointments.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has tools that can help you plan your visit, and help you after your appointment. Log onto www.ahrq.gov.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with information that can help keep your family healthy.

Source

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Bypass Surgery vs. Angioplasty

When you find out you have a blocked coronary artery, you have options to help lower your risk of heart attack.

A heart bypass operation can be done to re-route blood around the blocked area or angioplasty, where the plaque is removed by a device like a "roto-rooter" may be an option.

Each has its own benefits and risks and your doctor will tell you if one is right for you.

But researchers wanted to know if either or both approaches had an increased risk of stroke after the procedure.

In a new study just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, a team from Italy and New York analyzed data from 19 different trials...including nearly 11-thousand patients. They focused on the risk of stroke in the first 30 days after a procedure.

Bypass patients were significantly more likely to have a stroke in the first 30 days out, and the risk remained through the first year.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States and stroke is a major cause of death and disability as well. Talk to your doctor about your risks for both conditions.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading health news that matters to you.

Original Source

How To Treat Problematic Acne With Home Remedies

How To Treat Problematic Acne With Home Remedies
Although acne is a problem that many people suffer from, it is still a painful issue that devastates many people and rules many peoples lives. If day after day you are consistently having a battle with acne, please read on to learn some helpful tips. Follow the guidelines presented here to achieve a clear and glowing complexion.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Monday, August 20, 2012

Anesthesia Alert

There are many things that parents worry about when they are told that their child needs surgery. Anesthesia is one of those things.

Researchers in New York and Australia wanted to know whether anesthesia exposure posed any cognitive risk to young children.

Their study, just published in the journal Pediatrics, looked at more than 26-hundred children in Australia. Of those, 321 had anesthesia before they turned three. At age 10, neuropsychological tests were done to see if those children exposed to the anesthesia had any differences in language, cognitive function, motor skills, or behaviors, as compared to the kids who had not had anesthesia.

The results:
Even a single exposure was associated with an increased risk for long-term deficits in receptive and expressive language...and abstract reasoning. No differences were noted in behavior or motor functions. While delaying needed surgery is not advised, talk over any concerns you have about anesthesia with your physician.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV...with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

What Is Acne Rosacea?

Acne rosacea is a chronic skin condition characteristic of small, acne-like bumps on the face. This is often accompanied by redness of the facial skin, including the cheeks, nose, and eyelids. Read here

Anesthesia Alert

There are many things that parents worry about when they are told that their child needs surgery. Anesthesia is one of those things.

Researchers in New York and Australia wanted to know whether anesthesia exposure posed any cognitive risk to young children.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV...with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Anesthesia Alert

There are many things that parents worry about when they are told that their child needs surgery. Anesthesia is one of those things.

Researchers in New York and Australia wanted to know whether anesthesia exposure posed any cognitive risk to young children.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV...with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

News Source

Friday, August 17, 2012

ADHD and College

Sending your child off to college for the first time is hard for every parent. But when the student has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, the transition can be extra difficult for everyone involved.

A new study conducted by a graduate student at Kansas State University looked at the experiences of a small group of freshmen with ADHD. All lived on campus and were at least an hour away from home. Each student participated in a series of interviews designed to examine their backgrounds, their experiences on campus and what they learned about the switch to college the first year.

None of the students had planned their transition very well, nor did they factor their ADHD into their college choice. Most said they chose their school based on "feel"...versus facts.

Overall, the students surveyed found the first year tougher than they expected, lacked strategies to manage their symptoms, and needed assistance to access on campus resources designed to help them. Students with ADHD also needed support from family members to keep their medication on track, and in some cases, to wake them up for class.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 5-point-2 million American children have been diagnosed with ADHD. It affects an estimated 1 percent to 4 percent of college students.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading - health news for healthier living.

News Source

ADHD and College

None of the students had planned their transition very well, nor did they factor their ADHD into their college choice. Most said they chose their school based on "feel"...versus facts.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading - health news for healthier living.

Credit

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Adult Acne Treatment That Has Permanent Results

Adult Acne Treatment That Has Permanent Results
In the world of acne management, there is a plethora of options, including topical agents, medications, creams, special washes and drying agents. All of which contain chemicals that can damage the body and potentially make one immune to successful acne treatment. For a permanent result, you have to fix the internal cause and the skin will heal naturally and remain healthy. Eliminate acne from the inside out.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Worrying About Weight

If you think you're fat, can it become a self-fulfilling prophecy? Yes...according to a new study in the Journal of Obesity.

Researchers in Norway used data from nearly 12-hundred teenagers, both male and female, gathered from 1995 to 1997. All were normal weight at the time, but were asked if they considered themselves very fat, chubby, about the same as others, thin or very thin. The same group was contacted again 11 years later when they were 24-30 years of age. Half of the participants still had normal weights, but among those who were overweight, the researchers found significant differences.

59-percent of the girls who had felt fat as a teen became overweight in adulthood, as measured using body mass index, or BMI. If waist circumference was used as the measure instead, then the percentage of teens who initially perceived themselves as heavy and later became overweight was 78 percent!

In contrast, 31 percent of the girls who did not consider themselves fat during adolescence were found in the follow-up to be overweight as measured using BMI. That number was 55 per cent as measured by waist circumference.

Another interesting finding: normal weight girls were more likely than boys to rate themselves as overweight: 22 percent of girls and nine percent of the boys saw themselves as fat or chubby in the first survey.

Bottom line, researchers hope this study shines a light on keeping a level head on a healthy body image.... while taking into account natural differences in body type.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with news from today that can lead to healthy tomorrows.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Worrying About Weight

If you think you're fat, can it become a self-fulfilling prophecy? Yes...according to a new study in the Journal of Obesity.

Bottom line, researchers hope this study shines a light on keeping a level head on a healthy body image.... while taking into account natural differences in body type.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with news from today that can lead to healthy tomorrows.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Cataracts and Cholesterol

Is there a connection between cataracts and your cholesterol medicine?

New research suggests there may be. A study, appearing in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, analyzed nearly 64-hundred patients who visited an optometry clinic in Canada.

The team evaluated both diabetes and statin treatment as possible risk factors for age-related cataracts. Statin use was common among the group with 56-percent of patients with Type 2 diabetes taking statin drugs and another 16-percent without diabetes taking the cholesterol lowering medication.

Both diabetes and statin use were significantly associated with an increased rate of age-related cataracts. The team evaluated both diabetes and statin treatment as possible risk factors for age related cataracts.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

News Source

Cataracts and Cholesterol

Is there a connection between cataracts and your cholesterol medicine?

New research suggests there may be. A study, appearing in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, analyzed nearly 64-hundred patients who visited an optometry clinic in Canada.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading, health news that matters to you.

News Source

A Guide To Getting Rid of Acne

If you suffer from breakouts of acne and pimples, this article can be of great help to you. Both teenagers and adults frequently have to deal with acne. The skin on your face will become healthier as you learn ways to control breakouts. Original article

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

DNA Links

Scientists studying the human genome have made a variety of amazing discoveries. Now...they say they've identified genetic factors that may be behind both Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Tourette Syndrome.

OCD is a common psychiatric disorder, affecting more than 2-million American adults. It's defined by the presence of obsessions and compulsions that can be a significant struggle.

Tourette syndrome is a developmental disorder characterized by motor tics and at least one vocal tic. It usually appears in childhood and has genetic roots. Tourette Syndrome affects roughly one in every 100 people.

Two papers, just published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, focused on the genetic level makeup of both of these conditions. In the Tourette work, nearly 15-hundred cases were studied. A signal within a specific gene was identified as the trouble spot. This gene encodes a protein in the cerebellum, the region in the brain that covers motor control. In the OCD research, more than 14-hundred cases were reviewed. At the genetic level, a strong signal was picked up near a gene that's highly expressed during childhood, when OCD often is diagnosed.

While neither study offers a reason why these conditions happen, understanding where they develop may help scientists move towards a better understanding of the genetic beginnings of both.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with news from today that can lead to healthy tomorrows.

Source

DNA Links

OCD is a common psychiatric disorder, affecting more than 2-million American adults. It's defined by the presence of obsessions and compulsions that can be a significant struggle.

While neither study offers a reason why these conditions happen, understanding where they develop may help scientists move towards a better understanding of the genetic beginnings of both.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with news from today that can lead to healthy tomorrows.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Monday, August 13, 2012

Sleep, Snoring and Kids

When your significant other snores, he or she may be banished to the spare bedroom. But what happens when it's your toddler making all that noise? Is it more than just an annoyance?

In a first of its kind study, researchers in Cincinnati, surveyed two-hundred-49 mothers about their kids' sleep, snoring and behavior. The mothers filled out questionnaires from the time of their baby's birth through a 3 year follow-up point.

22 of the children were reported to have persistent, loud snoring at least twice a week, at ages 2 and 3. This group had significantly worse overall behavior including hyperactivity, inattention and depression. Interestingly, children who were breastfed seemed to be protected against later snoring. And the longer they nursed, the better.

While most kids will snore occasionally, persistent snoring should be reported to your family's doctor.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with information that can help keep your family healthy.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Better Hygiene For Better, Acne Free Skin

I'll bet that you have tried every product on the shelf of Rite Aid to get rid of your acne. And you still suffer from it. If this is true, you might want to stop what you are doing and re-think your hygiene. Original article

Friday, August 10, 2012

FDA Approves Marqibo to Treat Rare Type of Leukemia

FDA NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 9, 2012
Media Inquiries: Stephanie Yao, 301-796-0394, stephanie.yao@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA approves Marqibo to treat rare type of leukemia

Orphan drug approved under agency’s accelerated approval program

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Marqibo (vincristine sulfate liposome injection) to treat adults with a rare type of leukemia called Philadelphia chromosome negative (Ph-) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

ALL is a rapidly progressing form of blood and bone marrow cancer that is more commonly diagnosed in children than adults. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 6,050 men and women will be diagnosed with ALL and 1,440 will die from the disease this year.

Marqibo is approved for patients whose leukemia has returned (relapsed) two or more times, or whose leukemia has progressed following two or more regimens of anti-leukemia therapy. Marqibo contains vincristine, a commonly used anti-cancer drug, encased within a liposome, a drug delivery vehicle composed of material similar to that of cell membranes. It is an injection administered once a week by a health care professional.

“Marqibo’s approval demonstrates the FDA’s commitment to the development and approval of drugs that address serious, unmet medical needs,” said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Marqibo provides an additional option for Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients whose disease is unresponsive to available therapies.”

Marqibo is approved under the FDA’s accelerated approval program, which allows the agency to approve a drug to treat a serious disease based on clinical data showing that the drug has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients. This program provides earlier patient access to promising new drugs while the company conducts additional clinical studies to confirm the drug’s clinical benefit and safe use. Marqibo also received orphan-product designation by the FDA because it is intended to treat a rare disease or condition.

The drug’s effectiveness was evaluated in a single clinical trial in adult patients whose leukemia had relapsed at least two times despite standard treatments, and who had at least one previous treatment response lasting at least 90 days. The study objective was to determine the response rate to Marqibo, as either a complete remission (CR) or a complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi). Of 65 patients enrolled, 10 patients, or 15.4 percent, responded with either a CR or CRi. In the 10 patients achieving CR or CRi, the median duration of documented remission was 28 days. The median time to the first event of relapse, death, or next therapy was 56 days.

The safety of Marqibo was evaluated in two single-arm trials of 83 patients who received the clinical treatment regimen. Serious adverse events such as low white blood cell counts with fever, low blood pressure, respiratory distress and cardiac arrest occurred in 76 percent of the patients studied. The most common side effects observed during clinical studies include constipation, nausea, low blood cell counts, fever, nerve damage, fatigue, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and insomnia.

Prescribing information for Marqibo will carry a Boxed Warning alerting patients and health care professionals that the drug must be administered only through a vein (intravenously) because it is deadly if administered in other ways, such as into the spinal fluid. The Boxed Warning also states that Marqibo has different dosage recommendations than vincristine sulfate injection alone. To avoid overdose, it is important for health care professionals to verify the drug name and the dose before administration. Special requirements for preparation of the drug are detailed in the label.

Marqibo is marketed by Talon Therapeutics Inc., based in South San Francisco, Calif.

For more information:

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

# # #

Source: www.fda.gov

Anti-Microbial Therapies For Acne

Benzoyl bleach/Peroxide (BP) is an external anti-bacterial product that was initially used as a shedding broker for pimples. Its procedure of activity is through decreasing P. acnes on skin by oxidative elimination, and the medication is efficient as an external broker. Original article

FDA Approves Marqibo to Treat Rare Type of Leukemia

FDA NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 9, 2012
Media Inquiries: Stephanie Yao, 301-796-0394, stephanie.yao@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA approves Marqibo to treat rare type of leukemia

Orphan drug approved under agency’s accelerated approval program

Marqibo is marketed by Talon Therapeutics Inc., based in South San Francisco, Calif.

For more information:

# # #

Original Source

Thursday, August 9, 2012

What Can You Do About Acne?

Think back to the three primary causes of acne and you can begin to understand why the main reasons for using either home treatment solutions and/or prescribed treatments is to (1) unblock skin pores, (2) destroy viruses, and (3) decrease oil. Lifestyle: Control and frequency are excellent things, but not everyone can sleep eight hours, eat three excellent meals per day, and consume eight glasses of water a day. You can, however, still control your acne even if your schedule is busy and unforeseen. Original article

Lloyd I. Sederer, MD: Book Review: Brain-Based Parenting: The Neuroscience of Caregiving for Healthy Attachment

Book Review:
Brain-Based Parenting: The Neuroscience of Caregiving for Healthy Attachment
By Daniel A. Hughes, Jonathan Baylin and Daniel J. Siegel -- W. W. Norton, 2012

Brain-Based Parenting is a long way from what we read decades ago when Dr. Spock (the pediatrician, not the Star Trek star) was explaining and guiding parents in how to care for their children. The distance is, however, principally in terms of understanding how the brain works -- the neurobiology underlying attachment, attunement, and good and not-so-good parenting. That is the strength of this book, and a remarkable strength it is.

Readers be warned: This book takes work. It takes careful reading, digesting complex material, and considering how we are both a product of our biology (and neurodevelopmental evolution) and how we can influence our biology. The book is as much a textbook of neurobiology as it is a parenting manual.

The opening chapters are the most brain-based, and perhaps the best. The reader will learn about key brain regions (the amygdala, hippocampus, insula, overall limbic system, and prefrontal/orbitofrontal/anteriocingulate cortices), mirror neurons, the vagus nerve, vegetative and autonomic nervous systems, and a host of neurotransmitters such as oxytocin (the attachment neurotransmitter), dopamine (the brain's pleasure neurotransmitter), GABA, serotonin, adrenalin and brain growth factors. This neuroscience course is tremendously aided by the authors' use of summary boxes, graphics and photos. But it is not "neuroscience for dummies"; it is neuroscience for serious students of the brain, behavior and parenting.

Subsequent chapters get down to the business of parenting. They cover what the authors regard as the principal "domains" of effective parenting (approach, reward, child-reading, meaning-making and parental executive functioning), "blocked care" (how parents are internally constrained from doing right), their formula for caregiving (PACE -- playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy), how parents can master their own emotional regulation, and "reflective functioning," or how parents can feel and think, how parents can eschew judging and reacting and replace this with understanding.

This foundation in cognitive neuroscience is what I will remember the most from the book. I now can imagine what I can do to release oxytocin in my brain (give my wife or son or a dear friend a hug), or dopamine, or how to prompt my cortex to override limbic fears and impulses and in so doing "be the adult in the room." I can begin to appreciate how developing mindfulness and a meaningful mental narrative can avert powerful but not helpful defensive and reactive judgments, and how this will lead to being a more "attuned" and successful parent, or person in general.

To my surprise, the opening chapters (not the coaching that followed) were what left me the most enlightened. But I was forewarned by the authors in chapter one, when they remarked that "Parenting is a brain thing." The authors' parental teaching and coaching was rather menu-driven, even if sophisticated, clear and directive. But advice surrounds us and understanding is in short supply. The book's contributions to understanding were what distinguish it. The book is not really a self-help book, but it does provide help.

There were many sections in the book on what happens between a therapist and a patient during psychotherapy. As a psychiatrist who has done a great deal of therapy, I found these interesting. But they strayed from the core and critical topics of the book, namely cognitive neuroscience and parenting, which were in themselves enough to digest. I don't comprehend what purpose this material will provide parents looking to learn.

Brain-Based Parenting is one in a W. W. Norton series on interpersonal neurobiology, launched by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. Neuroscience and cognitive psychology are among the most exciting new fields about the brain and behavior in a long time. This book does sound justice to these subjects and to the evolving way that science can (and must) inform and assist everyday human endeavors, including, in this case, parenting. Is this book worth the wade into such complex territory? I say, stay with it and you will be rewarded, as will your progeny and the others that constitute your emotional world.

=======

Lloyd I. Sederer, MD

www.askdrlloyd.com

Dr. Sederer's book for families who have a member with a mental illness, The Family Guide to Mental Health Care, will be published by WW Norton in the spring of 2013.

The opinions expressed here are solely mine as a psychiatrist and public health advocate. I receive no support from any pharmaceutical or device company.

Visit Dr. Sederer's website (www.askdrlloyd.com) for questions you want answered, reviews, commentary and stories.

For more by Lloyd I. Sederer, M.D., click here.

For more healthy living health news, click here.

For more on the mind, click here.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

The Road to Happiness

What childhood achievements are most important to your happiness as an adult?

Researchers in Australia analyzed data from more than 800 people who were followed for up to 32 years in a multidisciplinary health and development study. They looked at the relationship between language development in childhood, academic achievement in adolescence, social connectedness growing up and well-being in adulthood.

The study showed that social success defined as positive attachments to parents, peers and teachers was a strong pathway to happiness. On the other hand, academic success was a weak indicator of adult well-being.

The researchers say their findings are in line with earlier studies that show a no real association between socioeconomic prosperity and happiness.

I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with the news doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.

Credit

The Road to Happiness

What childhood achievements are most important to your happiness as an adult?

The researchers say their findings are in line with earlier studies that show a no real association between socioeconomic prosperity and happiness.

I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with the news doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.

News Source

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.: The Benefits Of A Quick Mental Check-In (WATCH)

Mindfulness meditation, the act of intentionally paying attention to the present moment while putting aside our snap judgments, may alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma, and open us up to wonders, happy moments and a sense of grace in life. But make no mistake, the longest of practitioners will tell you that they still experience the downturns, getting hooked by the inevitable frustrations of life, and anticipatory anxiety.

So it's not a cure, but it gives us something that a cure can't.

Implied in mindfulness is the acceptance that life is full of ups and downs. This acceptance breeds a sense of warmth and compassion that could not grow if the downs were cured. As the saying goes, it takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.

Or Rumi's quote: "Don't turn your gaze. Look toward the bandaged place that's where the light enters."

The wonderful integration of neuroscience in recent years has shown us that in those moments of acceptance, the volume on our fear circuit and ruminative cycles are turned down and we can reopen to what truly matters.[1] We can actually grow the area of our brain responsible for empathy and willingly shift to more compassionate states of brain.

Just like riding a bicycle, eating and talking, it takes intentional practice and repetition.

Those moments we wake up to what matters is what is called "the now effect," and it can be trained. A wonderful teacher named Tara Brach calls those moments of refuge.

Don't look for mindfulness to cure your anxiety, depression or addiction, look at it more as a new way of relating to life, a way of coming home, nurturing a healthier heart and opening up to the experience of being alive.

Here's a short practice to begin or continue right now:

As always, please share your thoughts, stories and questions below. Your interaction creates a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Adapted from Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

For more by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D., click here.

For more on emotional wellness, click here.

References:

[1] Goldstein, Elisha. The Now Effect: How a Mindful Moment Can Change the Rest of Your Life. New York: Atria Books, 2012.

Follow Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Mindful_Living

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

How Can You Get Herpes

http://bit.ly/O2e0pB
How Can You Get Herpes
Oral contact through kissing can likewise spread herpes. The viruses of herpes can enter your body through your mucus membrane like genitals or mouth. This would mean then that having oral sex could definitely have the virus transferred.

Herpes infection does not restrict you in having sex. As long as you take precautionary measures of not acquiring the disease, you are still to be able do the things that you want.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Heart-Lip Link?

Dozens of prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause photosensitivity: an increase in sensitivity to sunlight. But now researchers have linked long-term use of two common blood pressure medications to an increased risk of lip cancer.

The study, just published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that the drugs nifedipine and hydrochlorothiazide, sold under a variety of brand names, were both associated with cancer of the epithelial cells: commonly known as squamous cell cancer. Researchers compared more than 700 lip cancer patients in Northern California to nearly 23-thousand people in a control group. They found that the risk of squamous cell lip cancer was higher for those with long-term use of photosensitizing blood pressure medications.

The researchers feel any increased risk of developing lip cancer is outweighed by the benefits of taking blood pressure medicine as prescribed. However, they urge doctors to tell their fair skinned patients about the risk of taking their medications and going out into the sun, and to advise the use of sunscreen and wide brimmed hats during any sun exposure.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with news from today that can lead to healthy tomorrows.

Original Source

Heart-Lip Link?

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with news from today that can lead to healthy tomorrows.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Monday, August 6, 2012

Kid's Sleep Problems

If you're the parent of a pre-schooler, you've likely struggled with what types of videos and TV shows you allow your child to watch. A new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, may help you decide how to shape those viewing habits.

The study focused on more than 550 children three to five years of age. Researchers wanted to know whether changing the type of media they watched improved their sleep.

Half of the families were assigned case managers who helped them replace violent or age-inappropriate media with educational, age appropriate content. Parents were also encouraged to watch with their children. The other half received no media counseling. Both groups filled out three questionnaires over 18-months.

Researchers looked at how long it took the children to fall asleep, the amount of times they woke up during the night, the number of nightmares, degree of difficulty waking up in the morning and daytime sleepiness. They found the children who watched what they termed healthier media had significantly lower odds of sleep problems.

The researchers recommend that doctors and parents consider media choices in the prevention or treatment of child sleep problems.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines with health information for your entire family.

Source