Catherine Morgan's bloghttp://www.blogher.com/blog/9949/atom/feed2008-05-20T01:50:08-05:00Childhood Obesity: Should We Give Children Cholesterol Lowering Medications?http://www.blogher.com/childhood-obesity-should-we-give-children-cholesterol-lowering-medications2008-07-08T00:17:14-05:002008-07-08T00:17:14-05:00Catherine MorganI've written several posts about the epidemic of childhoodobesity. Childhood obesity is very serious, mainly because of all the secondary problems associated with it, including death.
]]>I've written several posts about the epidemic of childhoodobesity. Childhood obesity is very serious, mainly because of all the secondary problems associated with it, including death.
Childhood obesity is directly related to poor eating habits, and lack of activity. So, when I heard that the use of statin medication had been approved for children as young as eight, I was quite surprised, and very skeptical.
This is the news clip I saw earlier today...
When I first heard it, it almost made sense. But, the problem with this way of addressing childhood obesity, is that you are only treating a symptom (in this case high cholesterol) of a much greater problem. Let me give you an example...
If you have a child that burns their hand on the stove, and the doctor tells you to treat it with burn ointment, that makes sense. However, if this is the tenth time your child has burned their hand on the stove??? Well, maybe it's time to address prevention and not just treatment.
I really believe that we need to focus on preventing and treating childhood obesity, and the answer won't be found in any pill. Lifestyle change and better eating habits are the only way to prevent the longterm effects of obesity. Here are a few sites that might help you improve your child's eating habits...
So, while treating some cases of childhood high cholesterol with statins may be appropriate, it's far from a solution. I would say it's like putting a band-aide on a gaping wound...But, it's actually more like not even trying to stop the bleeding, and using blood transfusions to counter the blood loss. It just doesn't make very much sense.
I'm not the only one questioning these new recommendations, this is from The New York Times...
While some doctors applauded the idea, others were incredulous. In particular, these doctors called attention to a lack of evidence that the use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins, in children would prevent heart attacks later in life.
. . .
Other doctors said the recommendation would distract from common-sense changes in diet and exercise, which are also part of the new guidelines.
“To be frank, I’m embarrassed for the A.A.P. today,” said Dr. Lawrence Rosen of Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, vice chairman of an academy panel on traditional and alternative medicine. He added: “Treatment with medications in the absence of any clear data? I hope they’re ready for the public backlash.”
Newsweek's Mary Carmichael spoke with Peter Belamarich, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, who has prescribed statins to some kids but takes issue with the new guidelines.
Did you hear about this? What do you think? Here is some of what others are saying...
The AAP has also reversed its original stance against giving children under the age of 2 reduced fat milk. Higher fat milk was recommended because saturated fats are essential for brain development. "But now we have the obesity epidemic and people are thinking maybe this isn't such a good idea," said Dr. Frank Greer of the University of Wisconsin, co-author of the guidelines report, which appears in the July edition of Pediatrics, the group's medical journal.
Young children are now getting the fat they need from sources other than milk and the updated recommendation is based on recent research showing no harm came from younger children drinking the reduced-fat milk.
Dr. Daniels says medication isn’t for every kid. “We are only talking about children who have pretty high cholesterol, cholesterol that would be high for an adult,” he says. Children who are obese and have diabetes or other risk factors are more likely to be candidates for medication.
“It’s a balancing act of risks and benefits,” Dr. Daniels says. At some point it ”tips in favor of being more aggressive in terms of treating those problems.”
According to the article, children's cholesterol levels have remained stable in the last few years, and their tri-glyceride levels have even dropped. So... what gives?
Meanwhile, according to this other article, also by Tara Parker-Pope, statins don't even really work: "But many statin users don’t have established heart disease; they simply have high cholesterol. For healthy men, for women with or without heart disease and for people over 70, there is little evidence, if any, that taking a statin will make a meaningful difference in how long they live."
In today's article, Pope says that the AAP is also now recommending that one-year-olds with a possibility of developing a weight problem drink low-fat milk. I- I- I... I'm speechless. Well, almost.
Before I blow a gasket and become one of those obesity-related casualties we keep hearing about, I'm going to just go back to the specifics of this CNN article. Here are some things that are causing my left eyebrow to arch so high that it may just migrate right off my face:
(1) The AAP spokesdoctor quoted in the article, Stephen Daniels, "has worked as a consultant to Abbott Laboratories and Merck & Co." -- "but not on matters involving their cholesterol drugs". OHHHHH, thank god he wasn't working on matters involving their cholesterol drugs. Because you might think he had some impure motives in recommending his former employer's cholesterol drugs to 8 year-olds if he had worked on matters involving their cholesterol drugs, but since he didn't work on matters involving their cholesterol drugs, I can't see any possible conflict of interest, can you?
What this means for your child is that my nurse will be drawing (through a vein rather than a finger poke) a sample of blood at the check up if your child has been fasting overnight and I will send it off to the lab. If your child has an appointment too late in the day to do a fasting sample at the check up, you can either take a request to the lab and have them draw the sample any morning, or return to my office for a lab draw early in the morning. After sending the blood off, I get results in a day or so and will notify you by email of the results. If the labs are abnormal, I will also send the dietary and exercise changes that are recommended and I will encourage you to implement them for a six month period after which we will do the lipid panel again. If things haven’t improved significantly, then we will discuss the pros and cons of lipid lowering medications for your child. If your child’s labs are normal, we will repeat the levels in 3-5 years.
Its a lot to chew on but it emphasizes the importance of doing what we can to keep our kids at the lowest risk. 70% of children have some degree of atherosclerosis by age 20 and although the serious complications of high cholesterol may take decades to present themselves, the eating and activity habits we encourage in our children often last a lifetime.
I’m not even sure about the screening. Have numbers been adapted to children, and how do you measure those numbers against growth spurts, something no parent can predict the timing on? How about this money-saving idea? If parents have a truly obese child or a child whose screening shows high cholesterol, would a modified diet and exercise help? And more important, would a nutrition class for the parents help? You can find a lot of information about the food pyramid and physical activity at the US Department of Agriculture website.
What do you think? Is screening young children for high cholesterol really necessary? Would you put your child on medication for high cholesterol? Should more be done to help prevent obesity in children? Let me know what you think. And, if you've blogged about this, I hope you'll leave me a link in comments.
]]>Woman Dies on Emergency Room Floor, While Ignored By Staffhttp://www.blogher.com/woman-dies-emergency-room-floor-while-ignored-staff2008-07-05T03:48:38-05:002008-07-05T03:52:13-05:00Catherine MorganThe video and tragic story of a woman waiting for over 24 hours in a psychiatric emergency room, before falling to the floor and dying, has been all over the news. The worst part of this story, is that so many people stood by and watched for almost an hour, and none of these people made any attempt to help this poor woman. What does this say about our society?
]]>The video and tragic story of a woman waiting for over 24 hours in a psychiatric emergency room, before falling to the floor and dying, has been all over the news. The worst part of this story, is that so many people stood by and watched for almost an hour, and none of these people made any attempt to help this poor woman. What does this say about our society?
It also brings up many other questions. Are people with mental health issues treated differently than people with other health problems? Does our healthcare system discriminate against the mentally ill? And, why in the world are people waiting in an emergency room for over 24 hours before being seen? Is this another symptom of our broken healthcare system? Can it be fixed?
When I first heard about this tragedy, I thought about a post I wrote almost two years ago...
I am normally not one to wish harm on others but I really hope that wicked bad karma befalls all of the horrible people watching on as someone amongst them died without summoning help. Health care should be a right not a privilege!
How dare they call themselves a hospital emergency room, or even doctors and nurses---someone needs to remind them of their creed "FIRST DO NO HARM" not "if you are busy let'em die" sickening, totally sickening!!!!
The behavior of the staff of Brooklyn’s KIngs County Hospital didn’t surprise me. Oh, like most, I immediately had many visceral reactions–most strongly among them disgust, frustration, shock–after watching the video that shows an unidentified woman falling out of a chair to the floor, struggling weakly, but being unable to get up, and finally dying, dying, while hospital staff–security guards, aides, nurses, and a doctor–ignored the woman’s distress for more than an hour. But I know that many–okay, I’ll say most–of the staff employed in psychiatric facilities routinely attribute all behavior to psychiatric/psychological reasons. In other words, doctors, nurses, mental health techs, et al, believe that anything a psych patient does is done solely to manipulate or to gain undeserved attention. Complaints offered up by patients are seen as attempts to gain some sort of unfair or undeserved privilege or sympathy or perk or even just the thrill of knowing that the patient has “put one over” on the staff.
The Green story is not over. Indications are that someone tried to cover-up the circumstances of her death. One notation in her record says that at 6 a.m. she is “awake, up and about” and had used the restroom. It says that at 6:20 she had normal blood pressure. Green was actually dead or dying.
On television, hospitals in the hood are the last place you want to be. Remember St. Elsewhere? Apparently it is scarier in real life. Today’s news report that a sister sat in the psychiatric emergency room of King’s County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY until she died is a case of truth is stranger than fiction. The fact that last month’s incident was caught on tape is a sad commentary on how those of us with mental illness are marginalized, dehumanized and ignored. Esmin Green, a 49 year-old woman originally from Jamaica, had a history of mental illness and had been committed the day before. She sat in the emergency waiting area for 24 hours (yup a whole day) waiting for a bed. What both shocks and saddens me is that when she this sister collapsed the behavior of the staff was outrageously neglectful. I can’t believe that security guards and staff saw this woman lying on the floor for more than an hour, clearly in distress, and did nothing. Other patients also sat there like this was par for the course (who knows maybe it is). When a nurse finally came over she didn’t bend down to see what was going on, she kicked Esmin (yes, I said kicked). This is treatment not even fitting for an animal let alone a human being. In fact, animal advocates would have your head if you kicked a dog or cat.
This isn't the first time something like this has happened either, about a year ago, something similar happened in a Los Angeles emergency room.
What did you think when you saw the video of this woman falling to the floor, and no one coming to her assistance? Could it happen in your emergency room?
]]>Helping prevent suicide and paying respect to Ruslana Korshunovahttp://www.blogher.com/helping-prevent-suicide-and-paying-respect-ruslana-korshunova2008-07-01T03:57:21-05:002008-07-01T04:08:29-05:00Catherine MorganWhat won't Fox News do for ratings? Clearly, there is nothing they won't do. I was sick last night when I briefly flipped to Fox News, to find them using the suicide of a young model for nothing more than ratings. What I saw was not news, it was a tabloid.
I wasn't the only one who was outraged by the disrespectful coverage...
]]>What won't Fox News do for ratings? Clearly, there is nothing they won't do. I was sick last night when I briefly flipped to Fox News, to find them using the suicide of a young model for nothing more than ratings. What I saw was not news, it was a tabloid.
I wasn't the only one who was outraged by the disrespectful coverage...
The “fair and balanced” crew are at it again, this time rejecting taste and discretion for ratings. Last night, Fox News’ “Geraldo At Large” showed footage of the dead body of model Ruslana Korshunova, who fell to her death from a New York high-rise this past weekend, in an apparent suicide. The 20-year-old model appeared on European Vogue covers and walked in several high-profile fashion shows, including Marc Jacobs.
The show featured long shots of the model’s body, lying on the street, partially covered by a sheet. Knowing one showing isn’t enough to jack the ratings to their liking, they showed the footage again and again, in a half screen as Geraldo chatted with guests, and juxtaposed with footage of the model walking the runway.
In a segment on Fox News this morning with Geraldo Rivera they actually showed footage of 20 year-old supermodel Ruslana Korshunova’s body on the pavement in front of her NY apartment. I’m not going to post it here, but I can’t talk about without a link at least, so here’s a link to that video - extreme warning.
At first it looks like they’re only going to show the body bag, which is what CNN usually does and seems a bit morbid but not disrespectful. Instead they showed footage of her face with blood on it as seen underneath an emergency vehicle for over half a minute.
Geraldo says all sensational-like: “These are the last images of her broken body being lifted off the Manhattan sidewalk, where shocked and sickened witnesses watched her smash onto the concrete. This image stands in stark contrast to the fairtale images of the famous face, chestnut hair that made her modeling’s next big thing.”
Then they show her white face from underneath a car and the word “exclusive” flashes on the screen. Just because she was a model doesn’t mean she deserves to have her death broadcast. Great “exclusive,” Fox.
We were saddened to hear of the suicide of model Ruslana Korshunova this Saturday. Korshunova, 20, was featured in ads for DKNY, Vera Wang and Christian Dior. She had just returned from a modeling job in Paris.
Suicide leaves loved ones to grapple with the most painful unanswered question: why? Friends and colleagues have expressed their shock, one of them saying that Korshunova had appeared to be "on top of the world." Other reports have pointed to the model's online social networking pages as a possible clue to her emotional suffering.
Our thoughts are with Korshunova's friends and family as they deal with this tragic loss of such a young and vibrant life.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. If you need help, please dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area. With more than 130 crisis centers across the country, our mission is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health services. Call for yourself, or someone you care about. Your call is free and confidential.
A distant cousin of mine jumped from a building in DC and died a few years ago because he was just, apparently...really sad. Have you noticed that this life is hard? And that some people have days where it being over seems preferable to dealing with whatever shit is shoveled their way? It's not a real stretch sometimes, folks. And it's is sad to see this group of jerks jump all over a person who just died yesterday not even considering that depression can sink in deep and leave you less than concerned with your appearance.
Who knew about this young woman before yesterday? Did anyone, besides the people in her immediate sphere (if they did), see her or know her as anyone other than a page in a magazine? Now that she took the drastic step of plunging out of the window of a high-rise building to her death, she's everyone's business, and everyone with a microphone claims to know why she did it.
I think we have big problems. And as much as stories like this make me ashamed of the media outlets who cover them, they make me all the more determined to be a small part of the solution.
(read Laurie's full post here at LaurieWrites)
Suicide is a tragedy that should not be exploited for ratings.
Thankfully, there are organizations who want to help prevent suicide. On Sunday, the PostSecret site, posted this video by HopeLine...
Warning signs that someone may be thinking about or planning to commit suicide include:
Always talking or thinking about death
Clinical depression -- deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating -- that gets worse
Having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death such as driving fast or running red lights
Losing interest in things one used to care about
Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless
Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, changing a will
Saying things like "it would be better if I wasn't here" or "I want out"
Sudden, unexpected switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be happy
Talking about suicide or killing one's self
Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
Be especially concerned if a person is exhibiting any of these warning signs and has attempted suicide in the past. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, between 20% and 50% of people who commit suicide have had a previous attempt.
Suicide takes the lives of nearly 30,000 Americans every year.
Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care.
There are twice as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS.
For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death.Suicide rates among the elderly are highest for those who are divorced or widowed.
80% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully.
15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide.
There are an estimated 8 to 25 attempted suicides to 1 completion.
Substance abuse is a risk factor for suicide.The strongest risk factor for suicide is depression.
By 2010, depression will be the #1 disability in the world. (World Health Organization)
Research has shown medications and therapy to be effective suicide prevention.Suicide can be prevented through education and public awareness.
There are three female suicide attempts for each male attempt. (CDC, AAS)According to the Violent Death Reporting System, in 2004 73% of suicides also tested positive for at least one substance (alcohol, cocaine, heroin or marijuana).
]]>Today Is National HIV Testing Day. Do You Know If You Should Be Tested?http://www.blogher.com/today-national-hiv-testing-day-do-you-know-if-you-should-be-tested2008-06-27T01:23:13-05:002008-06-27T01:23:13-05:00Catherine MorganToday is National HIV Testing Day. Do you know if you should be tested for HIV? Do you already know you should be tested, but you've been putting it off?
Today is the day to get all of your questions about HIV testing answered. I think the most important thing to ask yourself is...Do I need to be tested? Here are the questions you should be asking yourself...
]]>Today is National HIV Testing Day. Do you know if you should be tested for HIV? Do you already know you should be tested, but you've been putting it off?
Today is the day to get all of your questions about HIV testing answered. I think the most important thing to ask yourself is...Do I need to be tested? Here are the questions you should be asking yourself...
Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, works) with others?
Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners?
Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), like syphilis?
Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions?
Did you know the CDC recommends that all pregnant women be tested?
HIV testing during pregnancy is important because antiviral therapy can improve the mother’s health and greatly lower the chance that an HIV-infected pregnant woman will pass HIV to her infant before, during, or after birth. The treatment is most effective for babies when started as early as possible during pregnancy. However, there are still great health benefits to beginning treatment even during labor or shortly after the baby is born.
CDC recommends HIV screening for all pregnant women because risk-based testing (when the health care provider offers an HIV test based on the provider’s assessment of the pregnant woman’s risk) misses many women who are infected with HIV.
The latest data on HIV infection across 33 states finds new diagnoses jumping by 12 percent annually between 2001 and 2006 among young gay and bisexual men.
Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the rise is "especially concerning" for young black men aged 13 to 24 who have sex with men. For this group, the annual rate of new HIV diagnoses rose by 15 percent annually, compared to a 9 percent and an 8 percent annual rise among their white and Hispanic peers, respectively.
Move over Brad and Angelina, Jack and Heather are the “it” couple of the moment. And, no, we aren’t talking about Jack Black or Jack Nicholson, for that matter, or Heather Locklear. Project Runway Season 5’s Jack Mackenroth and 12-time Emmy nominated actress, Heather Tom, from The Bold & the Beautiful, have teamed up to raise AIDS awareness through couture fashion.
Mackenroth designed the burnout silk gown for Tom, who wore it to the Daytime Emmy Awards on June 20. The dress will be auctioned off in conjunction with National HIV Testing Day on June 27 to raise money for three AIDS charities.This is special not just to Mackenroth, who is afflicted with the disease, but to Tom as well. She has been involved with AIDS awareness and fund-raising since she began her career on television.
Without proper outreach, an agency’s services are not known to the very community that is in need of them. This reaches to the very core as to why the Tony Cox Community Fund is more important that ever before.
Providing unrestricted marketing funds is completely unheard of (I mean come on, when was the last time your department of health said here is some money, do whatever marketing you want), but that is exactly what TCCF does!! Through the use of these unrestricted marketing funds, agencies produce and market public education campaigns that promote their services and/or a fundraising event.These HIV/AIDS fundraising events usually collect money for the agency while also providing free HIV/AIDS testing, education, and outreach to the community. This double pronged approach to community service provides the perfect opportunity for ASOs to fundraise while continuing to provide direct services to community members in need.
National HIV/Testing Day, National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, World AIDS Day, and other “National Days” are the perfect time to shine a spotlight on educating the public that HIV is still out there, that it still does not discriminate in who it infects, and that, at the current time, education is our only vaccine.
An estimated 250,000 people in the United States have HIV and are not aware of it. National HIV Testing Day is an opportunity for people nationwide to learn their HIV status, and to gain knowledge to take control of their health and their lives.
Out-Raged.org is a Web 2.0 grassroots community of concerned individuals who share news from across the web about the GLBT community and work together to combat the discrimination they see. The site is designed to allow users a way to organize and combat obvious issues of discrimination, particularly in the private sphere, that might otherwise not see a public response.
Did you know today was National HIV Testing Day? Have you blogged about it? What would you tell someone who knows they should be tested, but is feeling apprehensive?
]]>Healthy Living: Can Yoga Reduce Symptoms of Chronic Illness?http://www.blogher.com/healthy-living-can-yoga-reduce-symptoms-chronic-illness2008-06-21T01:37:37-05:002008-06-21T12:50:12-05:00Catherine MorganBack in March, I told you about yet another invisible illness that I've had the pleasure of being diagnosed with. Fibromalgia. It was then, that I learned of the 20+ pounds I had put on in less than a year. And it wasn't like I was at my ideal weight before that time either. For the first time in my life, I actually weighed more than I did when I was pregnant.
]]>Back in March, I told you about yet another invisible illness that I've had the pleasure of being diagnosed with. Fibromalgia. It was then, that I learned of the 20+ pounds I had put on in less than a year. And it wasn't like I was at my ideal weight before that time either. For the first time in my life, I actually weighed more than I did when I was pregnant. It was then that I decided I must begin to take eating healthy more seriously. Aside from not being able to fit into my skinny jeans, the extra weight was exacerbating all of my invisible medical problems.
Since then I've lost about fifteen pounds, and I'm starting to think there might be a chance that I'll be able to finally get back down to my ideal weight. The main problem I'm facing now, is my inability to exercise. It's not that I have an aversion to exercising, it's because I also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (here are some videos that might help you understand), and one of the most devastating symptoms is something called post-exertional malaise. Basically, even though I need to exercise to be healthy and lose weight, just a little bit of exercise can make my fatigue and pain much worse.
I know that yoga would be the best type of exercise for me to try, and I've always wanted to try it. But, up until now, I thought yoga was the type of thing that would be too difficult to learn how to do on my own. And then I came across a book on yoga, that was written specifically for people with Fibromyalgia. I was a little skeptical at first, but I was also ready to give something new a try. So, I emailed the publisher, and asked them to send me a review copy of Yoga for Fibromyalgia: Move, Breathe, and Relax to Improve Your Quality of Life by Shoosh Lettick Crotzer.
When I received the book, I was happy to see that it was an easy read, and included many pictures of the yoga positions it was recommending. It's not a book that claims to be a cure for Fibromyagia, but rather a book that aims to improve the quality of life, of anyone suffering with this debilitating illness. There are positions for reducing pain and fatigue, improving sleep, and maintaining flexibility. If you are living with Fibromyagia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I think you would find this book very helpful. I've only just begun to learn these yoga positions, but I intend to make them part of my personal healthy living program, and I'm hopeful that this will be just the type of exercise that will help me.
Here are some other BlogHers that are blogging about yoga...
I started this week writing about becoming imbalanced over the weekend (which happened for a variety of reasons). I have spent the whole week getting back to myself, doing all the things I know I have to do to be in my center, to feel good and to be productive.
And this got me to thinking about reminders. Remembering to be centered. Remembering what is important. Remembering what we value and where we want to put our energy.
The popularity of yoga is undeniable. Research varies, but it is estimated that from 15 to 28 million people practice yoga in the United States alone. And with good cause. Yoga "asanas," or postures, benefit the body physically, mentally and spiritually. Besides keeping fit, yoga is being used to treat HIV/AIDS, depression, heart disease, cancer and anxiety disorders. So who's blogging about it?
the accidental yogist, as the name implies, finds herself unexpectedly exploring yoga after a knee injury.
Notesgirl has written up a complete step-by-step yoga practice for digestion and stress relief.
]]>June Is Home Safety Month: How Safe is Your Home?http://www.blogher.com/june-home-safety-month-how-safe-your-home2008-06-17T02:15:03-05:002008-06-17T02:15:03-05:00Catherine MorganJune Is Home Safety Month, and a great opportunity to take a look at how safe our homes are. How safe is your home? The Home Safety Council has a very informative website, and you can use their Safety Guide to make sure you haven't been overlooking an important safety issue in your home.
]]>June Is Home Safety Month, and a great opportunity to take a look at how safe our homes are. How safe is your home? The Home Safety Council has a very informative website, and you can use their Safety Guide to make sure you haven't been overlooking an important safety issue in your home.
Make sure you check out their Resource Center, it has everything you could ever want to know about home safety.
This year’s Home Safety Month campaign theme – Hands on Home Safety – asks the public to take some simple hands-on steps to create a safer home environment from the five leading causes of home injury – falls, poisonings, fires and burns, choking/suffocation and drowning. We’re offering turnkey resources to help families nationwide learn how to be “hands-on” with proper home safety practices.
Are you ready for a disaster? Hands on Home Safety – asks the public to take some simple hands-on steps to create a safer home environment from the five leading causes of home injury – falls, poisonings, fires and burns, choking/suffocation and drowning. The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year.
Sandy from the Chronic Health Blog has links to all of June's health awareness campaigns...
Another month has gone by and the year is almost half over! Here’s my monthly list of the national health awareness campaigns you can research and become involved in if you are interested. I will be posting about some of these throughout the month.
In recent years, ergonomists have attempted to define postures which minimize unnecessary static work and reduce the forces acting on the body. All of us could significantly reduce our risk of injury if we could adhere to the following ergonomic principles:
All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several different, but equally healthy and safe postures
Where muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest appropriate muscle groups available.
Work activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head, trunk, and upper limbs.
Is there a home safety issue that you tend to overlook or avoid? Is there something you've been meaning to get to, but you keep putting it off? How safe is you home?
]]>Heart Disease: The Leading Cause of Death in the United States. Are You At Risk? http://www.blogher.com/heart-disease-leading-cause-death-united-states-are-you-risk2008-06-14T18:19:10-05:002008-06-14T18:19:10-05:00Catherine MorganWhat is a heart attack? Why do some people live and others die? Can something be done to help prevent heart disease? Are you at risk?
Yesterday we heard the sad news of Tim Russert's sudden death from an apparent heart attack, at the age of only 58.
]]>What is a heart attack? Why do some people live and others die? Can something be done to help prevent heart disease? Are you at risk?
Yesterday we heard the sad news of Tim Russert's sudden death from an apparent heart attack, at the age of only 58.
Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2008, an estimated 770,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack, and about 430,000 will have a recurrent attack. About every 26 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.
We now know that Tim Russert was being treated for a condition known as asymptomatic coronary artery disease. This means that through tests, he was aware that he had coronary artery disease, however he had no symptoms. Ultimately, this disease and sudden cardiac arrest is what killed him. In more technical terms, he had a sudden coronary thrombosis, that caused ventricular arrhythmia, that caused a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest.
Although people can survive heart attacks (when they receive prompt medical treatment), the type of heart attack that Tim Russert had (sudden cardiac arrest), has a very low survival rate. Here is a video clip of Tim Russert's physician (who was with him before and after his death), explaining what happened
I was planning to blog about something else today, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to address some of the issues surrounding heart disease. Specifically, prevention of coronary artery disease.
In addition to healthy lifestyle changes, remember the importance of regular medical checkups. Some of the main risk factors for coronary artery disease — high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes — have no symptoms in the early stages. Early detection and treatment can set the stage for a lifetime of better heart health.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Do you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women, taking close to 500,000 lives each year, far surpassing breast cancer, diabetes and other causes of death? The reality, however, is that heart disease is highly preventable, yet research shows that many women don’t even know they’re at risk. Why? For a myriad of reasons women often put their health last on the list, despite their best intentions.
I say enough is enough. It’s time for each of us to take a stand and take action about our heart health. That’s why I created the Take Your Health To Heart Challenge. The Challenge motivates and inspires women across the country and around the world to make heart-healthy lifestyle changes that help prevent heart disease and significantly reduce risk factors. Heart disease has affected people in my own life and I’m determined to help spread the word and encourage women to truly take their health to heart.
Kim from Up North Mommy discovered a man seemingly taking advantage of Tim Russert's death to push his own agenda (and books)...
If you take a look at this website, you'll see a couple of books written my Mr. Adams clearly displayed on the right hand side. So what's the issue? It's this: before Mr. Russert has even been eulogized and buried, Mr. Adams has published an article in which he blames Mr. Russert's death on pharmaceutical industry. Mr. Adams doesn't know anything about Mr. Russert's medical history or daily eating and exercise habits. Nor does he know anything about his stress levels, yet he acts like he and his lifestyle alone could have single handedly saved Mr. Russert's life. Not only is this in bad taste, but it's also sickeningly manipulative.
]]>Breaking: Tim Russert Has Died of a Heart Attack at the age of 58http://www.blogher.com/breaking-tim-russert-has-died-heart-attack-age-582008-06-13T15:45:19-05:002008-06-13T15:45:19-05:00Catherine MorganReporting very sad news...Tim Russert has died of a heart attack at the age of 58. As more information comes in, I will post it here. This is the video of the first announcement on MSNBC just a short while ago...
]]>Reporting very sad news...Tim Russert has died of a heart attack at the age of 58. As more information comes in, I will post it here. This is the video of the first announcement on MSNBC just a short while ago...
WASHINGTON - Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after a sudden heart attack at the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58. Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said. No details were immediately available.
Russert, the recipient of 48 honorary doctorates, took over the helm of “Meet the Press” in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, “Meet the Press” is the longest-running program in the history of television. In 2008, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Timothy John Russert Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia.
]]>Can You Prevent A Migraine? Surfing Blogs By Women With Migraines.http://www.blogher.com/can-you-prevent-migraine-surfing-blogs-women-migraines2008-06-10T02:04:43-05:002008-06-10T02:04:43-05:00Catherine MorganDo you get migraines?
I had my first migraine when I was pregnant with my daughter, and since then I have had them off and on. I can go weeks (sometimes months) without having one, but when I do get a migraine, it feels like I will never get rid of it. When I take medicine for a migraine, it sometimes helps, but never gets rid of the migraine completely. And, it seems like once I get a migraine, I go through a period of time where I finally get rid of it, but a day or two later I get another. This cycle can go on for weeks, before finally stopping.
]]>Do you get migraines?
I had my first migraine when I was pregnant with my daughter, and since then I have had them off and on. I can go weeks (sometimes months) without having one, but when I do get a migraine, it feels like I will never get rid of it. When I take medicine for a migraine, it sometimes helps, but never gets rid of the migraine completely. And, it seems like once I get a migraine, I go through a period of time where I finally get rid of it, but a day or two later I get another. This cycle can go on for weeks, before finally stopping.
I've recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and told that there may be a connection between Fibromyalgia and migraines. My doctor suggested that a begin to take a medication to prevent the onset of a migraine. I was surprised to find out that the medication he recommended was an anti-convulsive (used for seizure disorders). These medications have many troubling (possible) side-effects, so I'm not sure if I'm actually going to try it.
To help me in my decision, I thought I would check out some blogs by other women, who suffer with migraines.
On anti-convulsive medication to treat migraines... A review of controlled studies published in the June 2008 edition of the journal Cephalalagia supports the notion that anti-convulsants Depakote and Topamax are much more effective than placebo in preventing migraine attacks. The study also indicates that other anti-convulsants sometimes used for migraine prevention are no more effective than placebo.
The FDA is preparing to put warning labels on epilepsy drugs, including Topiramate (marketed as Topamax), Valproate (marketed as Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon), Pregabalin (marketed as Lyrica), and Zonisamide (marketed as Zonegran) that will notify users about the increased risk for suicidal behavior. Sales of the affected drugs, widely used for nonepilepsy problems such as migraines, topped $8 billion last year.
From the migraine girl -- a great post addressing Migraines and Vacations (a blog carnival)...
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't enjoy taking vacations, but in our Migraine & headache community, it's easy to come across many folks who see the health threats that accompany any trip out of town. Luckily for all of you reading this, we have a really helpful batch of blogs to sift through, all of which will increase your chance of having a happy, healthy vacation despite your headache disease. Some people have a very personal take on the situation, describing specific issues they've had preparing for and embarking upon vacations. Others give us generalized lists of things to pack and/or what to be aware of as you travel to maintain a pain-free brain. Whether or not you have a trip coming up, I believe these writers' tips and insights will benefit you.
I have Migraine Disease - It has ripped years from my life, life with my husband and me together, from my kids lives. It's been very disabling for me. But that's not ALL there is to me. I am a Mom, and a wacky, fun kind of Mom. I like to play with my kids, have fun with them - sometimes at their expense. What good Mother doesn't. I'm trying hard to live with a horrid, painful disease; and have fun while doing so. And I'm learning, probably too much about it. But along the way, I'm meeting very interesting friends. I hope you do, too. I wish you pain-free days! And happy ones as well.
I have had chronic daily migraines for the past 7 years. They are a part of my life, but I don't want a migraine to define me. That's why my blog is about more than migraines. My hobbies are gardening, rubberstamping, scrapbooking and knitting, not necessarily in that order.
So, I'm still not sure what I'm going to do about taking the medication used to prevent a migraine. Any advice would be welcome.
Do you suffer with migraines? Have you considered taking medication to prevent the onset of a migraine? Have you heard of a connection between Fibromyalgia and migraines?
]]>Health Care, Reproductive Rights, The Economy, The War: Why Would Clinton Supporters Vote For McCain? http://www.blogher.com/health-care-reproductive-rights-economy-war-why-would-clinton-supporters-vote-mccain2008-06-07T02:11:37-05:002008-06-07T02:11:37-05:00Catherine MorganI think all the talk about women supporters of Hillary Clinton, voting for John McCain, is being overblown by the media. Shocking.
Yes, it has been a tough time to be a Hillary supporter. And yes, there are a lot of fresh wounds that will take time to heal. However, I do believe that most women who supported Hillary, did so because of her positions on the issues, and not just because she is a woman. For that reason, I have to believe that after careful consideration of the issues (especially women's issues), Clinton supporters will see that a vote for McCain, would be a vote against women.
]]>I think all the talk about women supporters of Hillary Clinton, voting for John McCain, is being overblown by the media. Shocking.
Yes, it has been a tough time to be a Hillary supporter. And yes, there are a lot of fresh wounds that will take time to heal. However, I do believe that most women who supported Hillary, did so because of her positions on the issues, and not just because she is a woman. For that reason, I have to believe that after careful consideration of the issues (especially women's issues), Clinton supporters will see that a vote for McCain, would be a vote against women.
For the record, I admit...I'm still holding out hope for the dream ticket. But, no matter how this all shakes out, come November, I'm voting Democrat.
Here is some of what other bloggers are saying about this issue...
Following up on my post from yesterday on John McCain's bid for Hillary Clinton's female voters, I see my good friend Arianna Huffington has finally joined the ranks of pro-choice bloggers and writes about a promising poll by Planned Parenthood. The poll concludes that many of McCain's supporters in swing states are pro-choice, and don't realize what a reactionary barbarian he is when it comes to a woman's right to control her own body.
I have family members who have strong ties to Bill and Hillary, one of whom campaigned with them during the primaries. I can't tell you the love and admiration she has for the Clintons. However, she is going to set aside her personal feelings and work hard to ensure an Obama presidency. She is well-aware of the consequences if he is not elected. You may choose to follow Hillary's lead and switch your allegiance to Obama.
You may also choose not to vote; or (as some of you have indicated) vote for John McCain The latter two options are one-in-the-same. Since record numbers of Democratic voters are expected to turn out for November’s elections vs. a lesser amount of Republican voters, a non-vote will essentially benefit McCain.
Should you choose to vote for McCain, you would be wise to study up on McCain’s positions regarding issues which are important to most women.
Yeah, that'll show him! John McCain is in favor of forced pregnancy, but these women would rather vote for him than Obama.
John McCain's healthcare plan is "let the market handle it" (like it has been handling it so far), but these women would rather vote for him than Obama.
John McCain is obsessed with fighting wars and extending the war of choice on Iraq, but these women would rather vote for him than Obama. Why? Because they seem to feel that Hillary Clinton is somehow entitled to the nomination, despite the fact that she didn't get the votes.
I just ordered an Obama in 08 bumper sticker from moveon.org. Hillary was my candidate of choice, for many reasons, but mainly because she has been a champion for women's reproductive rights, justice, and health for thirty years. However, the reality is that Barack Obama, not Hillary Clinton, has been chosen as the Democratic presidential nominee. And sure, I experienced some initial disappointment over this. But it is what it is, as my friend Jayne would say. So now I'm ready to step up to the plate in support of Obama and do everything in my power to make sure that he is elected the next president of the United States.
Are you a woman who was supporting Hillary Clinton? Will you now support Barack Obama? What are the chances you would vote for John McCain? Are you mad enough to risk another four years of Republicans in the White House?
]]>What Is Your Favorite Sunscreen? How Important Is SPF?http://www.blogher.com/what-your-favorite-sunscreen-how-important-spf2008-06-03T02:13:25-05:002008-06-03T02:13:25-05:00Catherine MorganIt's summer, and that means it's time to stock up on sunscreen. What's important to you when it comes to sunscreen? Is it the SPF? Natural ingredients? Smell? Price? Are you hoping to prevent skin cancer or premature aging? Are you worried the chemicals in sunscreen could be just as bad for you as the sun? What sunscreen is your favorite?I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours.
Okay, me first. Here is the evolution of my use of sunscreen (formally known as suntan lotion)...
]]>It's summer, and that means it's time to stock up on sunscreen. What's important to you when it comes to sunscreen? Is it the SPF? Natural ingredients? Smell? Price? Are you hoping to prevent skin cancer or premature aging? Are you worried the chemicals in sunscreen could be just as bad for you as the sun? What sunscreen is your favorite?I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours.
Okay, me first. Here is the evolution of my use of sunscreen (formally known as suntan lotion)...
When I was younger, SPF didn't mean anything to me, and my favorite sunscreen was Copportone, because I loved how it smelled. I actually would have preferred the scent of Hawaiian Tropic or BAIN de SOLEIL, but they were a little out of my price range back then. As far as SPF goes...2 was plenty, anything higher than 4 and I thought I would never tan. I eventually wised up, and moved up to an SPF of 8, and even though I still loved the way Copportone smelled, I started using Banana Boat and No-Ad products because they were cheaper. Once I had my kids, I spent the extra money to get them Copportone Water Babies with a high SPF, but I stuck with just getting whatever was cheap for myself. Now that my kids are older, we use the same sunscreen, so I always buy an SPF of 15 or greater. But, I'm not buying the Copportone or the cheap stuff anymore. For me, it's back to being all about how it smells...And I love, love, love, the way Australian Gold smells, I started buying it a few years ago, and now it is all I buy. It's not the cheapest sunscreen, but it certainly isn't the most expensive either.
Not everyone is as concerned with the smell of their sunscreen as I am. Take Michelle at Chic Armoire for example, she says...
For the past 2 summers, I've used the Neutrogena Dry-Touch in an SPF range of 15 to 30. The formula goes on dry without an sunscreen smell (I hate the smell of Coppertone and similar sunscreens). It's paba free, waterproof, and sweat proof. Note that the FDA is considering that the word waterproof not be used in the future. Water resistant maybe the replacement term. It also has Helioplex which is a broad spectrum for UVA and UVB.
There are probably 100 different sunscreens available at drugstores, but of those 100, there’s only a few I would bother buying. I firmly believe Zinc Oxide is the best sunscreen ingredient, and there are almost no drugstore sunscreens that contain decent levels of Zinc Oxide.
Blue Lizard is the only drugstore brand I currently buy. They have a few different products, and the Zinc Oxide ranges from 6%-10%, which isn’t spectacular, but it’s the highest concentration of Zinc Oxide I’ve seen in a drugstore brand.
In searching for posts on sunscreen, I kept coming across this video. I know I've seen it before, I just don't know where. It's more about inspiration and advice than sunscreen, but I thought I would include it anyway.
So...What is your favorite sunscreen?
Why?
Is it because of the smell?
The SPF?
The price?
What's your sunscreen story? Let me know in comments. :-)
]]>Dieting: I Have A Love/Hate Relationship With My Scale.http://www.blogher.com/dieting-i-have-love-hate-relationship-my-scale2008-05-31T03:20:48-05:002008-05-31T03:20:48-05:00Catherine MorganAbout eight weeks ago I posted about how I started a pre-diet. I was trying to get reacquainted with the taste of healthy foods, and wean myself off of sugar. As far as that goes, I feel like I'm doing pretty well, I've even lost some weight.
]]>About eight weeks ago I posted about how I started a pre-diet. I was trying to get reacquainted with the taste of healthy foods, and wean myself off of sugar. As far as that goes, I feel like I'm doing pretty well, I've even lost some weight.
At the time of the post I had lost about six pounds, and since then I have lost another six. I'm now down 12 pounds from my heaviest weight ever (not counting when I was pregnant), I know because that's what my scale says. If it wasn't for my scale I wouldn't believe I've lost any weight at all, so for that reason, I love my scale. However, I also hate that the number is still so high. And, I hate that even after losing 12 pounds, I still have almost 30 to go.
But, it's always a better idea to focus on the positive, so that's what I'll try to do.
First, I have finally gotten over the sugar hump, and I'm not craving sugar the way I used to. I even made my world famous chocolate brownie cake with my daughter, and wasn't tempted to eat any of it. That's a pretty big deal for me. I've also stopped eating junk food, and I've stopped eating late at night (for the most part). Another thing I do, is always keep several bags of vegetables, and microwavable diet entrees in my freezer, for when I need a quick meal.
My daughter has been a great help by not asking me to buy cookies and ice-cream when we go shopping. It's amazing how much easier it is to avoid eating junk, when it's not in the house. Instead of ice-cream with chocolate sauce, she is now happy to get no sugar added ice-pops, and low-fat granola bars. We also had the opportunity to try something new. Skinny Cow sent us two boxes of Skinny Dippers, and they are very yummy (and only 80 calories). We both love mint chocolate chip ice-cream, so the mint Skinny Dippers were are favorite.
So, that's what I've been up to for the last several weeks. I'm not putting a lot of pressure on myself, and I'm not starving myself. I guess what I'm doing could be called a diet, but I'm sticking with calling it a pre-diet for now. Once I hit a plateau, and I'm not continuing to lose weight, I'll kick it up a notch and go on an actual diet. For now, this is working for me, so why mess with it?
Have you been trying to lose some weight? How much do you want to lose? Have you been having any luck? What kind of things have been working for you? Are you calling it a diet? Do you hate or love your scale?
So, some of you may have noticed my weight gain over the past few months... well, I've officially decided to do something about it. I don't believe in "dieting" as in starving myself to death, but I do realize that I've got to make better nutritional choices. I'm also going to weigh myself weekly to track progress and post the results on my blog. (Hopefully, having to be accountable will help me beat any cravings for big fat fudge brownies or cool ranch doritos or Debbie's "little Debbie bars", etc!)
]]>Is There Anyone Who Thinks It's OK To Blame Global Warming On Fat People?http://www.blogher.com/there-anyone-who-thinks-its-ok-blame-global-warming-fat-people2008-05-27T01:21:37-05:002008-05-27T01:21:37-05:00Catherine MorganI don't even know where to begin with this post without it turning into a full blown rant. But, I'll give it a try. Are you freekin kidding me?Is there not already enough discrimination against the overweight in this country?
]]>I don't even know where to begin with this post without it turning into a full blown rant. But, I'll give it a try. Are you freekin kidding me?Is there not already enough discrimination against the overweight in this country?
It seems to me, the media took a boring study encouraging walking and riding bikes to work, and turned it into a story blaming fat people for Global Warming. This kind of thing just makes me so angry. Does anyone really think that we could solve the problem of obesity by blaming fat people for Global Warming? Does anyone really think we could solve global warming by getting rid of fat people? It's beyond absurd.
I was actually working on something totally different for tonight's post, and then I caught the tail-end of this segment on Fox...
We don't imagine Edwards and Roberts wrote their letter to be mean -- their point seems to be that it would be good for various reasons if urban policies worked to promote biking and walking -- and we haven't yet heard of mobs with torches roving the streets in search of those with BMIs of 30 or above. Nonetheless, Yale University has been quick with a news release urging "caution on obesity and climate change link."
Declares Kelly Brownell, director of the university's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, "Saying that obese people are contributing to climate change is highly stigmatizing and assigns blame to the individuals who are obese rather than the conditions driving the obesity in the first place." Things, he says, like junk food marketing aimed at children, the demise of P.E. programs, behemoth portions offered up in restaurants, more.
Obesity experts overwhelmingly condemned a letter in the medical journal the Lancet Thursday that suggested growing rates of obesity pose a threat to the environment.
"Obese people have enough issues to deal with without being demonized for their impact on the environment," agreed Keith-Thomas Ayoob, pediatric nutritionist and associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. "The truth is, all people are an environmental burden.
"It is offensive, and I'm not overweight," he said. "I hope the writers are not in the position of seeing patients. They must have missed the lecture on bedside manner."
Brownell authored a 2006 study showing that when overweight people feel stigmatized because of their weight, they respond by eating more and giving up on diets. "Obese people are under such enormous pressure to lose weight," he says. "They understand the health consequences, they see fat jokes on TV, they were teased and ridiculed as kids. To think that you could add much more to that pressure is wishful thinking." The stress may make them turn to food for comfort or, as one researcher hypothesizes, might even contribute to the physiological processes of obesity through, say, stress hormones. It can also keep people out of the gym, most likely thanks to embarrassment and shame. A study published this year in the Journal of Health Psychology suggests, at least among the college-aged, that having more experience with weight stigma makes people less motivated to exercise.
So if blaming the obese doesn't work, but their behavior still contributes to their condition, what does? It's a delicate balance; we don't want to encourage obesity, but nor do we want to swing the other way and promote unreachable body ideals or eating disorders. (Last summer, my colleague Deborah Kotz wrote about this thorny issue as it relates to obesity prevention programs for kids.) Maybe, Latner says, the focus should be on healthful eating behaviors rather than a number on the scale—and we should leave the character issues out of it.
And for those low-income families for whom obesity is a terrible problem, (a) less of them are likely to have the information the rest of us do, and (b) what are they supposed to do about it? A 2007 study revealed that a low-income family would have to devote between 43% and 70% of its food budget to fruits and vegetables in order to meet federal dietary guidelines. And healthy, low-cost foods, in general, tend to be less available to the poor.
I've also written about the difficulties facing low-income families and their ability to afford a healthy lifestyle.
mm, food for thought..(but not for eating). Today the NYT has an article in it about the above title and of course blogging from every corner follows the article...insanity rules. We who are not slim eat more thus cause more food production thus causing global warming...in addition I suppose we put out more heat. What about the carbons released by the cars of the slim who drive to the gym? What about the enormous appetite of my hardworking skinny hubby?
What's next? Diet Prison to starve obese people until they reach an arbitrary number on the scale? Shall we end all athletic competitions to save fuel costs and deny people the right to bear children to solve a non-existant problem?
Blaming the obese for global warming is like blaming the fire department for setting a fire. Why not blame the food and diet industries that create obesity? Get rid of snack food, hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup and MSG and obesity rates will decline. Give people time to cook healthy meals and stop bringing donuts to meetings. Force restaurants to serve reasonable portion sizes.
If you want to end global warming (which is a bunch of hooey) don't blame the obese, blame the industries and corporations that manufacture fake food and overwork their employees, making it extremely difficult for anyone to maintain or achieve an "ideal" weight.
Seriously? Come on now. If they're really going to try to use the argument that a higher consumption of calories contributes to negative effects on the environment, why not focus on calorie consumption instead of obesity?
Even if you subscribe to their logic that larger physical size necessarily equals higher calorie consumption, there is more to size and calorie consumption than just fat. Tall people require more calories than short people. Large-framed people require more calories than small-framed people. Muscular people require more calories than non-muscular people. The only difference between these factors and fat is that we are given a free pass to hate fat and to judge fat people as much as we want. If one were to try to apply the same prejudices to tall people or to muscular people or to thin people with large apetites or to people with fast metabolisms, everyone would recognize it as completely ridiculous. But when someone comes up with new reasons to hate fat, the media can't wait to report it.
Is an overweight person who takes public transportation more of a threat to the environment than a thin person who drives an SUV? (What about if the thin person drives back and forth to the gym in an SUV every day?)
Do you know how much the thin person eats? There's an assumption a thin person eats less than a heavier person, but that's not necessarily the case.
Has anyone even studied the carbon footprints of a large number of obese people and compared them to the environmental footprints of a large number of thin people? If not, isn't this "finding" just an assumption?
As I was reading the article, I thought how stupid it was to blame global warming on obese people. How can people really believe that the amount of food that an obese person consumes are causing the consumption of large quantities of fuel, which has a direct environmental impact. So all of those countries that have starving people live is a perfect world because they don’t consume as much food?
I’m not saying there aren’t any problems with being obese. But to blame a group of people for global warming so outrageous.
There other factors that contribute to global warming. Here is a list of what causes global warming is from the website: EcoBridge,org
Carbon Dioxide from Power Plants
Carbon Dioxide Emitted from Cars
Carbon Dioxide from Airplanes
Carbon Dioxide from Buildings
Methane
Water Vapor in the Atmosphere Increasing
Nitrous oxide
Deforestation
City Gridlock
That list doesn’t include all the diapers going into landfills and people not recycling.
Had you heard about this study? Blogged about this story? Are you as angry about this as I am? Is there anyone who thinks it's o.k. to blame global warming on fat people?
]]>Breaking News: Senator Ted Kennedy Has A Malignant Brain Tumorhttp://www.blogher.com/breaking-news-senator-ted-kennedy-has-malignant-brain-tumor2008-05-20T12:46:58-05:002008-05-20T19:40:26-05:00Catherine Morgan
Breaking: Senator Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
BOSTON - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor. Doctors for the Massachusetts Democrat say tests conducted after Kennedy suffered a seizure this weekend show a tumor in his left parietal lobe. His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.
The 76-year-old senator has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from Cape Cod after a seizure at his home.
His wife and children have been with him each day but have made no public statements.
His doctors said in a statement released to The Associated Press that he has had no further seizures, is in good spirits and is resting comfortably.
Please leave your thoughts and comments on this news, and come back for more information as it becomes available.
]]>Women and Hair Loss: It's More Common Than You Think http://www.blogher.com/women-and-hair-loss-its-more-common-you-think2008-05-20T01:17:20-05:002008-05-20T01:50:08-05:00Catherine MorganWhen it comes to my hair...I don't play very nice. For at least the last ten years I have put my hair through more than most heads of hair will go through in a lifetime (I bleach it, color it, over process it). I'm sure if my hair could talk, it would have plenty of nasty things to say to me.
]]>When it comes to my hair...I don't play very nice. For at least the last ten years I have put my hair through more than most heads of hair will go through in a lifetime (I bleach it, color it, over process it). I'm sure if my hair could talk, it would have plenty of nasty things to say to me.
You would think, that since the women in my family tend to eventually have problems with female pattern hair loss, that I would take better care of my hair. But, I don't. And apparently, thinning hair and hair loss isn't that uncommon among women, it's just that nobody seems to want to talk about it.
There have been some breakthroughs when it come to genetic testing and hair loss in women, I'm just not sure I would really want to know. Personally, I find there are times in life when ignorance is bliss. And this just may be one of those times. Do I really want to spend the time between now and my hair falling out, worrying about my hair falling out? Honestly, I've got enough things to worry about right now, without worrying about my hair falling out too.
[Note to anyone going to the BlogHer Conference in July: If you notice my hair falling out, please don't tell me.]
But, there are many good reasons to know if you are predisposed to the problem of hair loss. Elaine from Genetics and Health talks about the new genetic testing...
Until now, Female Hair Loss has been difficult to predict and diagnose. That changes with today’s announcement that HairDX, LLC pioneers of consumer-friendly genetic tests for hair loss, has introduced a screening test using genetic markers strongly associated with Female Hair Loss (Female Androgenetic Alopecia).
The easy to understand test, which costs US$149, provides an accurate and understandable genetic analysis of a woman’s likelihood of developing this common type of hair loss.
Here are some links to women brave enough to talk about this problem.
Several recent studies of men have found that smoking also seems to increase hair loss. I don't know of any similar studies in women, but one thing is clear: Smoking is harmful for a multitude of reasons, whether or not increased hair loss is among them! The best plan of action for anyone experiencing hair loss is to determine the underlying cause and eliminate it. And the best place to start is a routine physical exam with blood work. By simply drawing your blood, your physician can determine your ferritin (iron) levels, thyroid levels, and estrogen status - and that will already get you far in recognizing or ruling out many of these causes.
Recently I was speaking with my hairdresser and the topic of hair and the impact of life-events on its luster, texture, thickness, and color came up. He confided in me that the impact of hormonal fluctuations is so great that he often knows when/if his clients are pregnant long before they're prepared to share the news and sometimes even before they themselves know. But it's not just the strong hormonal changes that come with pregnancy that have an impact on your hair; have you ever noticed that a prolonged period of stress results in hair loss for you? If you're struggling with other hormonal imbalances you may have also noticed the unpleasant common symptom of dandruff or an itchy scalp. So, what is the connection?
At my annual well woman exam two weeks ago, I told the doctor my concerns over the massive amounts of hair loss I have been experiencing since April. I walked her through my hair color time line which left off with my last color job right at the precise time that my hair began to disassociate itself with my scalp.
My intent for this blog is to provide a senior citizen voice. In that regard, I am eminently qualified since I have recently joined the 55+ gang. With that in mind, here are a few things you should know about me. I live and work in corporate America, I like to cook, and reading is my obsession. There’s much more, but for now I’d like to talk about my “cotton candy hair.” I don’t mean to imply my hair is pastel pink or blue. What I’m saying is, my hair has lost all semblance of what is commonly known as “body.” When I watch shampoo commercials on TV and the model’s lustrous hair is bouncing and flowing from side to side in slow motion, I sigh deeply, and force myself to face reality. The fact is there is no shampoo on the face of this planet that is going to change the fact that I have cotton candy hair.
After loosing a great deal of my hair I found out that generic hair loss is much worse for women who are deficient in iron and those who have low levels of the B vitamins.
What’s worse is that nine out of ten women between the ages of 16 to 50 are iron deficient.
Surprisingly these figures are much worse nowadays than for our mothers. The reason? So many of us are on some kind of a health kick, and tend not to eat meat or other iron-rich foods like fresh green leafy vegetables.
We can hardly complain about dull, thinning hair if we're just not giving it the food it needs to be healthy, glossy and thick. So - here's a quick checklist to add to your shopping cart next time you hit the supermarket.
Eat lots of:
* Fresh vegetables - high colored and green leafy * Non-citrus fruits- natural yogurt * Cold pressed oils- such as olive oil, flax seed or sesame * Soy protein- in the form of tofu, soy milk or soy yogurts * Legumes- peas, beans and lentils * Whole grains- especially brown rice, oats and buckwheat * Seeds-sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and linseeds * Almonds, figs and dates * Fresh oily fish- like salmon, tuna, herring, pilchards and sardines
Drink:
* Lots of: pure still water to aid your digestive system and eliminate toxins - a sluggish digestion leads to limp, dull or oily hair
Cut down on:
* Dairy (cow's milk) products * Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, and soda drinks) * Sugar and salt
If you can alter your diet to include more healthy hair foods - you will be rewarded not only with great looking hair, but loads of energy and glowing skin.
I like the idea that if I eat healthy my hair may stay healthy. And since eating healthy is something I am now trying to do more of, this is just another incentive for me.
So, do you have a story about hair loss? Is it something you worry about? Would you want to know today, if you were going to lose your hair in the future? Let me know in comments.
