Encouraging Health

This article over on MSNBC brings up an important point about the Virginia Tech rampage by lonely (and loner) Cho Seung-Hui. At what point do we allow a person with morbid thoughts, expressed either in word - spoken or on paper to roam free?

A Virginia Tech professor said that Cho’s creative writing was so disturbing that she referred him to the school’s counseling service, but he would not go.

“I kept saying, ‘Please, go to counseling; I will take you to counseling,’ because he was so depressed,â€? said Lucinda Roy, the English Department’s director of creative writing. But “I was told [by counselors] that you can’t force anybody to go over … so their hands were tied, too.â€?

So, even with a particular idea that the young man was mentally disturbed, ‘the system’ was virtually helpless. I’m not advocating the thought police, but, clearly, something needs to charge.

Clues?

‘The Chicago Tribune reported on its Web site that he left a note in his dorm room that included a rambling list of grievances. Citing unidentified sources, the Tribune said he had recently shown troubling signs, including setting a fire in a dorm room and stalking some women.’

Even with these disturbing issues comng forth about the young man responsible for thirty-three deaths (counting his own)’ still nothing was done. Could he have received an intervention? If so, what kind? medical? legal? social?

In a civilized society, we always recoil at violence, preferring to sweep the problem under the rug until the next outbreak. Yes, its unpleasant to think that ‘our children are capable of such acts.

Hopefully, some meaningful dialog can now happen.

violence, writing, thought, deaths, Virginia Tech, Cho Seung-Hu

violence, writing, thought, deaths, Virginia Tech, Cho Seung-Hu

For anyone who has had the unfortunate experience of pins, needles, dull, throbbing aches in their legs, Restless Legs Syndrome is one of the most mis-understood and excruciating feelings in the world. When I was on Dialysis, I had RLS for months on end of the constant misery. Fotunately for me, my Dr.’s listened and helped me contain the RLS.

Now, there is breakthrough advice over on www.WebMD.com on how to treat RLS.

Some self-treatment can be helpful:
* avoid substances or foods that may be causing or worsening the problem.
* Any underlying medical conditions, such as anemia, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, kidney disease, thyroid disease, varicose veins, or Parkinson’s disease, should be treated.
* Daily drug treatment is usually recommended only for people who have RLS symptoms at least three nights a week, or as determined by your doctor.

Directly from WebMD:

Here are 10 steps you can take to lessen the symptoms of RLS and get you sleeping better.

Avoid or limit alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine all together or at least for several hours before bedtime.
Take medications (prescription and nonprescription) only as directed by your doctor.
Exercise every day.
Stretch your legs at the beginning and end of each day.
Massage your legs regularly.
Avoid eating a heavy meal close to bedtime.
Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
Avoid daytime naps.
Use your bed only for sleeping or sex.
Try not to use bedtime as worry time.

Restless Legs Syndrome, legs

Restless Legs Syndrome, legs

Here is great news for older people; Exercise can help the elderly avoid falling and breaking bones.

In 2004, the most recent year statistics are available, almost 15,000 people 65 and older died from falls and about 1.9 million were treated for injuries in emergency rooms, said Judy Stevens, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Making sure that people over the age of 65 know how to avoid falling or being injured by a fall is the goal of a campaign launched this month by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The organizations say in addition to exercise, older people can make their homes safer by installing night lights, bathroom grab bars and slip-resistant floors.
”

Exercise can help elderly avoid devastating falls

elderly,falls, breaking bones, exercise

elderly, falls, breaking bones, exercise

With a brand, spanking new week, I thought you, the readers, would like the opportunity to ask me to cover items or areas you would like to see featured here on Encouraging Health.

Just send me a comment or email with your request and, if appropriate, I’ll research then post right here.

Now, On to the new innovation in health for this afternoon,

Researchers have found Stem cell study zeroes in on ALS cause

This is a great boon for the study on ALS! Researchers used embryonic stem cells from mice to generate batches of cells that mimicked the disease. The researchers said the studies demonstrate that embryonic stem cells can be vital for basic medical research. The article goes on to state Such batches of cells could also be used to test new drugs to treat the incurable and almost always ALS, also known as motor neuron disease.

stem cells, ALS, research

stem cells, ALS, research

First, get rid of the fat.

All the crunches in the world went going to make a difference if you’ve still got that extra fat.

According to Lynn Millar, professor of physical therapy at Andrews University in Michigan and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine:

“To get the best results, aim for 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise three to five days a week. Twice a week incorporate anaerobic exercise, such as weight lifting, using eight to 10 different exercises targeting large muscles, Millar says.”

Here is sound, great advice: “Overall, your workout should be 75 percent aerobic and 25 percent anaerobic, suggests Edward Jackowski, CEO and founder of the motivational fitness company Exude.

If you’re a guy with a 38 waist and your stomach is hanging over your belt, you’re not going to firm that,” he says. “You need to lose weight at the same time.”

If you take the time to lose the weight first by aerobic exercise, along with cutting calories and crunches, you’ll be much happier.

get your belly beach ready

Abs, crunches, fat, calories

Abs, crunches, fat, calories

For your weekend meal planning sessions, here are some hints and tips from the Department of Agriculture’s www.MyPyramid.gov on what to look for in whole grains.

Myself, I buy whole wheat flour and make my own biscuits, pizza dough, breakfast dunking sticks, etc. I also buy whole wheat pastas–their healthier and have a great taste.

* Create a whole grain pilaf with a mixture of barley, wild rice, brown rice, broth and spices. For a special touch, stir in toasted nuts or chopped dried fruit.
* Experiment by substituting whole wheat or oat flour for up to half of the flour in pancake, waffle, muffin or other flour-based recipes. They may need a bit more leavening.
* Use whole-grain bread or cracker crumbs in meatloaf.
* Try rolled oats or a crushed, unsweetened whole grain cereal as breading for baked chicken, fish, veal cutlets, or eggplant parmesan.
* Try an unsweetened, whole grain ready-to-eat cereal as croutons in salad or in place of crackers with soup.
* Freeze leftover cooked brown rice, bulgur, or barley. Heat and serve it later as a quick side dish.

And, last but not least: Whole Grain Tips for Children

* Set a good example for children by eating whole grains with meals or as snacks.
* Let children select and help prepare a whole grain side dish.
* Teach older children to read the ingredient list on cereals or snack food packages and choose those with whole grains at the top of the list.

whole grain, flour, pasta, tips, children, meal planning, Department of Agriculture, mypyramid.gov

whole grain, flour, pasta, tips, children, meal planning, Department of Agriculture, mypyramid.gov

Bird flu may hit tourist states

In a disturbing report released today, if the Avian (or Bird flu) hit the United States, the tourism industry and those states that rely on tourist dollars coat be hit first, and hard.

“The Trust for America’s Health projected a $683 billion economic loss nationally during a pandemic, which is about 5.5 percent of the goods and services produced in the United States. The number is comparable to a previous analysis conducted for Congress, but the latest report is the first to break down the impact by state.”

The results could be devastating. For instance, the report states that “tourism and entertainment could experience an 80 percent decline in demand. The transportation and warehousing sectors could experience a 67 percent decline in demand.”

Early efforts so far have “focused on enhancing public health capabilities, but efforts to prepare for the economic ramifications have been inadequate, the organization contends.”

The United States needs to take this threat seriously. It has the potential for catching her off guard, like the flu pandemic in the early part of the last century did. It could also last up to 18 months with spikes that last six to eight weeks each.

Taking basis precautions caved help prevent such serious consequences. Ask year health care prouder about the Bird Flu vaccine and its different strains. To minimize workplace infection, the report gives the most in-depth advice yet for businesses to take such steps as cleaning offices — flu can live on hard surfaces for 48 hours — and minimize employee contact by not shaking hands and staying 3 feet from co-workers.

Also, wash hands, avoid large crowds, are way To minimize infections.

Bird Flu influenza, tourist, tourism,Economic Loss

Bird Flu influenza, tourist, tourism, Economic Loss

“I don’t have time”, “I don’t like it”, “It’s too hard”

How many of us have used excuses (like me) to avoid exercise. Many of the National Health Organizations (listed to the right of this page) request that we perform at least 15 minutes of exercise three times per week. At the minimum.

Personally, I usually walk 30-45 minutes a day (its a mile and a quarter around my neighborhood), but lately, i’ve been to lazy (yes, I admit it) to do anything. (It’s too cold, it’s too rainy, it’s to cold and rainy, etc).

Jeff Wilson, over on 451 Press’s “Men’s Interests”, tackles this issue head on with two posts on ‘Fifteen Minute Fitness”. In his first part, Fifteen Minute Fitness I, he discusses something I haven’t heard of, Hindu Squats, then push-ups and finally Shadow Boxing. In his second part, Fifteen Minute Fitness II, he encourages jumping rope with a few variations on a theme.

With so many ways to get in our ‘15 minutes three times a week’ such as those touted by Jeff, there really is no excuse.

fitness, exercise, jump rope, push-ups

fitness, exercise, jump rope, push-ups

Found this tidbit that eating eggs doesn’t cause cholesterol levels to skyrocket like once thought:

Wendy Repovich, an exercise physiologist at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, who did her best to dispel several common nutrition misconceptions during a recent American College of Sports Medicine-sponsored health and fitness summit in Dallas, Texas.

“Eating eggs will raise your cholesterol.” This myth started because egg yolks have the most concentrated amount of cholesterol in any food, Repovich told Reuters. However, when eaten in moderation, eggs do not contain enough cholesterol to pose health risks, she said.

“Most people avoid eggs and probably if they have any kind of cardiovascular risk their physicians tell them to avoid eggs,” Repovich said. “But really, there aren’t a whole lot of studies that show that one or two eggs a day really make a difference to cholesterol levels.”

Check out the article aboutEggs will raise your cholesterol, and other myths, and see what you’ve been missing.

This is great nevus for me! I love a basic breakfast of toast, eggs and coffee. Just something about that brings me right back to my Childhood, my grandfather taking me to a local restaurant from the back door, through the kitchen and right to our table. the ordered us Eggs and Toast (with those small plastic squares of jelly you peel the foil off)

What foods bring back Childhood memories for you?

eggs, cholesterol, childhood, memories

eggs, cholesterol, childhood, memories

Cocoa, not tea, calms blood pressure, study says

There’s plenty of good news for chocolate lovers! Turns out that some dark chocolate is good for blood pressure.

The fall in blood pressure credited to cocoa could be expected to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks by 10-20 percent, the report said.

Both cocoa and tea contain polyphenols, a class of chemicals known to help prevent cardiovascular disease that are present in most fruits and vegetables. But cocoa has a different type than tea — procyanids — that appear to be more active.

Currently, patients with high blood pressure are urged to eat more fruits and vegetables, although cocoa and tea products account for the bulk of total polyphenol consumption in Western countries.

In my article, “Chocolaholics Rejoice”, Chocolaholics Rejoice, over on www.Edgeboston.com, I discuss the health benefits of a specific type of chocolate, dark chocolate:

“The cocoa typically sold in American markets is low in flavanols, which usually are removed because they impart a bitter taste. The findings do not mean people should indulge in chocolate. Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa phenols; so if you’re going to try this at home, remember: Darker is better.”

So, kick back and enjoy!

dark chocolate, blood pressure, flavinoids, polyphenols

dark chocolate, blood pressure, flavinoids, polyphenols