Horse Hearers Know Who's Talking
When horses heard a familiar person's voice from a loudspeaker they preferentially looked at that person versus a stranger. Amy Kraft reports.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Thursday, May 31, 2012
How To Get Healthy Skin - Get Clear Skin Naturally With These Easy Tips
How To Get Healthy Skin - Get Clear Skin Naturally With These Easy Tips
If you're anything like me, you really care about your health. You are trying to live a healthy life even though it's not so easy all the time, try to eat right and get some exercise. Perhaps you even take a multivitamin or some supplements and make time to relax though your life is busy? But are your lifestyle choices making your skin look as healthy and clear as you expect? If not, it could be that there are still some ways to get healthier skin that I might be able to teach you. If you want to learn how to get clear skin naturally, try these easy tips...
Source: EzineArticles.com
If you're anything like me, you really care about your health. You are trying to live a healthy life even though it's not so easy all the time, try to eat right and get some exercise. Perhaps you even take a multivitamin or some supplements and make time to relax though your life is busy? But are your lifestyle choices making your skin look as healthy and clear as you expect? If not, it could be that there are still some ways to get healthier skin that I might be able to teach you. If you want to learn how to get clear skin naturally, try these easy tips...
Source: EzineArticles.com
How to Treat a Sunburn
How to Treat a Sunburn
It's that time of year again- summertime! Unfortunately, chances are that if you go out in the sun unprotected, you will get a sun-burn and it's never fun; you'll definitely need to know how to treat a sunburn. Sunburn is caused by the sun's UV rays which are wavelengths of sunlight too short for humans to see.
Source: EzineArticles.com
It's that time of year again- summertime! Unfortunately, chances are that if you go out in the sun unprotected, you will get a sun-burn and it's never fun; you'll definitely need to know how to treat a sunburn. Sunburn is caused by the sun's UV rays which are wavelengths of sunlight too short for humans to see.
Source: EzineArticles.com
In Myanmar, stigma and neglect add to HIV misery
YANGON (Reuters) - The mother and child who touch hands in an overcrowded Yangon hospice are not family, but their tragic history begins in the blood. Jam, 42, a mother of six, and Kanama, aged 2, are both HIV positive. Abandoned by their families, they must now find comfort in each other, although Jam still yearns for her husband to return to the private HIV hospice in the suburbs of Myanmar's biggest city. "He promised to come back but I'm afraid he never will," said the woman as she burst into tears. She is known in the hospice by her nickname, Jam. ...
Get the complete story
Analysis: Greeks count mental health cost of a country in crisis
LONDON (Reuters) - Behind every suicide in crisis-stricken countries such as Greece there are up to 20 more people desperate enough to have tried to end their own lives. And behind those attempted suicides, experts say there are thousands of hidden cases of mental illness, like depression, alcohol abuse and anxiety disorder, that never make the news, but have large and potentially long-lasting human costs. ...
Credit of the story
U.S. women see assault on reproductive rights: poll
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About one-third of American women believe there is a broad effort under way to limit their access to reproductive services including contraception, family planning and abortion, according a poll released on Thursday. After months of election-year culture wars over Planned Parenthood, abortion and President Barack Obama's policy on contraceptives, researchers said 42 percent of women have felt strongly enough to take some sort of action including trying to influence another's opinions or donating money. ... Click here to read the rest
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Breaking myths about women and risk of heart disease
When it came to heart disease, Susan Grandin figured she was bulletproof. Credit of the story
Olympus to cut 2,500 jobs, sell equity stake: media
Olympus to cut 2,500 jobs, sell equity stake: media
Source: news.yahoo.com
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Olympus Corp, hit by a $1.7 billion fraud scandal, plans to shed 2,500 workers and sell an equity stake to either Sony Corp or Panasonic Corp in a bid to bolster its finances, local media reported Wednesday. Olympus, the world's leading maker of diagnostic endoscopes, is struggling to recover from an accounting fraud uncovered last year by its then CEO, Michael Woodford. It was forced to correct years of accounts, leaving its balance sheet badly weakened. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Taking Anti-HIV Meds Prior to Exposure May Help Prevent Infection
TUESDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- Preventive antiretroviral treatment appears to be an effective way to help protect high-risk people against HIV infection, a new study suggests. Continue reading...
Turkey Looks To Curb Abortion, C-Sections
Turkey Looks To Curb Abortion, C-Sections
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
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May 29, 2012
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Common painkillers tied to lower skin cancer risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a new study from Denmark, people who had taken aspirin, ibuprofen and related painkillers -- especially at high doses and for years at a time -- were less likely to get skin cancer, compared to those who rarely used those medications. The findings add to growing evidence that long-term use of the medications, known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, may help protect people against skin cancers, including melanoma, the deadliest type. ... Credit of the story
Adcock Ingram H1 earnings down 10 percent
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's No.2 drug maker Adcock Ingram posted a 10 percent fall half-year earnings on Tuesday, hit by the loss of high-margin drugs and said it would continue seeking acquisitions in emerging markets. Adcock, the nation's top over-the-counter drugs maker, said diluted headline earnings per share totalled 198.4 cents in the six months to end-March, compared with 220.7 cents a year earlier. The company said sales increased 5 percent to 2.25 billion rand. ...
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Monday, May 28, 2012
Cannabis fails to slow progress of multiple sclerosis in UK study
Cannabis fails to slow progress of multiple sclerosis in UK study
Source: news.yahoo.com
LONDON (Reuters) - Cannabis capsules failed to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis in a large British study, dealing a blow to hopes that the drug could provide long-term benefits for patients with the debilitating nerve disease. Despite promising signs in earlier, shorter studies, researchers found patients who took capsules containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a key active ingredient in cannabis, fared no better than those given a placebo. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
How to Choose the Best Creams for Getting Rid of Dry Skin
By the time you finish reading this you should be able to choose the best creams for getting rid of dry skin. The secret is purchasing the right creamy cleansers, emollient based moisturizer, and a gentle exfoliate for dry skin, and topping all off with the best sunblock. Source
Key to More Active, Slimmer Kids: Friends
MONDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Could your young child be putting on excess pounds because her friends sit around? A small study suggests it's possible: Kids seemed to become more active in after-school programs if they hung out with active kids, and the reverse was true, too. Click here to read the rest
Friend groups may encourage kids to be more active
Friend groups may encourage kids to be more active
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Kids in after-school programs often increase their own physical activity if they make friends who run and jump around more than they do, a new study from Tennessee has found. Though not completely surprising, that finding could be important as parents, after-school teachers and camp counselors try to encourage youngsters to move more and head-off obesity before it starts, researchers said. The results are also in line with research that's been done in teens and adults, who tend to look like the rest of their friend group in terms of weight and fitness level. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Kids in after-school programs often increase their own physical activity if they make friends who run and jump around more than they do, a new study from Tennessee has found. Though not completely surprising, that finding could be important as parents, after-school teachers and camp counselors try to encourage youngsters to move more and head-off obesity before it starts, researchers said. The results are also in line with research that's been done in teens and adults, who tend to look like the rest of their friend group in terms of weight and fitness level. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Physical Education Is Good for Kids' Grades, Study Finds
Physical Education Is Good for Kids' Grades, Study Finds
SUNDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Boosting students' levels of physical education improves their grades, a new, small study says.
Source: news.yahoo.com
SUNDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Boosting students' levels of physical education improves their grades, a new, small study says.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Physical Education Is Good for Kids' Grades, Study Finds
Physical Education Is Good for Kids' Grades, Study Finds
SUNDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Boosting students' levels of physical education improves their grades, a new, small study says.
Source: news.yahoo.com
SUNDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Boosting students' levels of physical education improves their grades, a new, small study says.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Saturday, May 26, 2012
WHO agrees to tackle research on neglected diseases
Campaigners on Saturday welcomed a World Health Organization pledge to tackle research and funding gaps concerning some of the developing world's biggest killer diseases.
Continue reading...
How Self-Talk Can Help Accomplish Goals
How Self-Talk Can Help Accomplish Goals
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
A new study sheds light on the best way to "self talk" your way through a task.
TIME reported on the study, published in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, showing that self-talk works best when you think about the goal, and then actually enact the goal, and then reflect on how you accomplished the goal.
The study was conducted in fifth- and sixth-grade students who were learning how to throw darts in a PE class.
Self-talking aloud can have benefits, too. A recent study in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology showed that talking to yourself as you search for something could actually help you to find that item faster.
In that study, researchers found that participants who repeated an item name aloud were able to find it more quickly than those who didn't.
And the Daily Mail reported in 2010 on a study from University of Toronto researchers, showing that talking to yourself could actually improve self-control and decrease impulsivity.
Do you regularly talk to yourself, either aloud or in just in your head? How do you think it helps you as you carry out daily tasks? Tell us in the comments!
Also on HuffPost:
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
WHO agrees to tackle research on neglected diseases
Campaigners on Saturday welcomed a World Health Organization pledge to tackle research and funding gaps concerning some of the developing world's biggest killer diseases.
Read more
WHO agrees to tackle research on neglected diseases
WHO agrees to tackle research on neglected diseases
Source: news.yahoo.com
Campaigners on Saturday welcomed a World Health Organization pledge to tackle research and funding gaps concerning some of the developing world's biggest killer diseases.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Friday, May 25, 2012
U.S. panel split on Pfizer rare disease drug
U.S. panel split on Pfizer rare disease drug
(Reuters) - A U.S. health advisory panel on Thursday issued a split vote on data for Pfizer Inc's drug to treat a rare neurodegenerative disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13 to 4 that the drug did not show that it met the main goal in a study in treating the fatal condition. However, the panel also voted 13 to 4 that the drug treated a surrogate endpoint, which may correlate with treating the underlying disease. The panel's recommendation will be considered by the U.S. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
(Reuters) - A U.S. health advisory panel on Thursday issued a split vote on data for Pfizer Inc's drug to treat a rare neurodegenerative disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13 to 4 that the drug did not show that it met the main goal in a study in treating the fatal condition. However, the panel also voted 13 to 4 that the drug treated a surrogate endpoint, which may correlate with treating the underlying disease. The panel's recommendation will be considered by the U.S. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Leann Reynolds: Changes to Mental Health Diagnosis Could Impact Caregivers
Leann Reynolds: Changes to Mental Health Diagnosis Could Impact Caregivers
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
How mental health professionals diagnose their patients could be changing and therefore affect patients, families, and caregivers after 2013.
According to the American Psychiatric Association:
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the standard classification of mental disorders that is used by mental health professionals in the United States. It is intended to be applicable in a wide array of contexts and used by clinicians and researchers of many different orientations (e.g., biological, psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, family/systems). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) has been designed for use across clinical settings (inpatient, outpatient, partial hospital, consultation-liaison, clinic, private practice, and primary care), with community populations. A wide range of health and mental health professionals, including psychiatrists and other physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses, occupational and rehabilitation therapists, and counselors can use it. It is also a necessary tool for collecting and communicating accurate public health statistics.
Anticipated changes to the DSM (now commonly referred to as the DSM-5) will go into effect in May 2013 and have been generating a fair amount of controversy.
"It's complicated for family members," said Ken Duckworth, Medical Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. "They want to make sure people are getting help."
Changes to the DSM-5 will be the first to the manual in 17 years, and might affect everything from research and treatment to insurance coverage.
One of the more hotly-debated changes is in the autism diagnosis. The proposed changes include a recommendation for a new category called autism spectrum disorder which would incorporate several previously separate diagnoses, including autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.
"For some people it may enlarge their access to treatment," said Darrel A. Regier, M.D., M.P.H. and Director for the Division of Research at the American Psychiatric Association and Vice-Chair of the DSM-5 Task Force and Director of the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education.
Across websites devoted to autism and in other public forums, people have been expressing fear and concern that eliminating specific autism diagnoses might eliminate access and treatment for loved ones. The goal of the proposed changes is have more accurate diagnoses -- not just of autism, but many mental disorders -- and therefore better treatments.
Considering that studies have shown that family caregivers are at a higher risk for depression than non-caregivers, it's also important to note proposed changes to how major depression is treated by clinicians.
"I think caregivers are at a increased risk for depression because of the persistent stress level they are under, " said Dr. Regier.
The DSM-5 will highlight a link between depression and anxiety, a combination that can mean a patient is at an increased risk for developing a "treatment-resistant illness" and higher risk for suicide. "The DSM does not specifically have treatment guidelines," said Dr. Reiger. "It helps clinicians recognize what is clinically meaningful when prescribing a course of treatment."
To learn more about the DSM-5 proposed changes, visit the site www.dsm5.org. If you are a caregiver and need support, contact the Homewatch CareGivers in your area.
For more by Leann Reynolds, click here.
For more on mental health, click here.
Follow Leann Reynolds on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hwcaregivers
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
More Mental Health Care Urged for Kids Who Self-Harm
FRIDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors have long known that some kids suffering severe emotional turmoil find relief in physical pain -- cutting or burning or sticking themselves with pins to achieve a form of release. Click here to read the rest
Thursday, May 24, 2012
U.S. panel split on Pfizer rare disease drug
U.S. panel split on Pfizer rare disease drug
(Reuters) - A U.S. health advisory panel on Thursday issued a split vote on data for Pfizer Inc's drug to treat a rare neurodegenerative disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13 to 4 that the drug did not show that it met the main goal in a study in treating the fatal condition. However, the panel also voted 13 to 4 that the drug treated a surrogate endpoint, which may correlate with treating the underlying disease. The panel's recommendation will be considered by the U.S. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
(Reuters) - A U.S. health advisory panel on Thursday issued a split vote on data for Pfizer Inc's drug to treat a rare neurodegenerative disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13 to 4 that the drug did not show that it met the main goal in a study in treating the fatal condition. However, the panel also voted 13 to 4 that the drug treated a surrogate endpoint, which may correlate with treating the underlying disease. The panel's recommendation will be considered by the U.S. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Theravance licenses antibiotic tech to Hospira
Theravance licenses antibiotic tech to Hospira
(Reuters) - Biopharmaceutical company Theravance Inc said it licensed its technology to manufacture antibiotic Vibativ to specialty medicines maker Hospira Inc. The company would purchase from Hospira more than a majority of its Vibativ 750 mg dosage form requirements during the five-year agreement, Theravance said in a regulatory filing. Vibativ is approved in Europe for the treatment of adults with nosocomial pneumonia and for bacterial skin infections in the United States and Canada. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
(Reuters) - Biopharmaceutical company Theravance Inc said it licensed its technology to manufacture antibiotic Vibativ to specialty medicines maker Hospira Inc. The company would purchase from Hospira more than a majority of its Vibativ 750 mg dosage form requirements during the five-year agreement, Theravance said in a regulatory filing. Vibativ is approved in Europe for the treatment of adults with nosocomial pneumonia and for bacterial skin infections in the United States and Canada. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Leslie Spry, M.D., FACP: Kidney Disease: To Screen or Not to Screen? That Is the Question
Leslie Spry, M.D., FACP: Kidney Disease: To Screen or Not to Screen? That Is the Question
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
When it comes to screening for various diseases, an ounce of prevention was always thought to be worth a pound of cure. Recently, this old adage has been called into question. While potentially lifesaving, many health screening tests and procedures come at great emotional, physical and financial cost. At what point do these costs outweigh the benefits? Or vice versa? From the lens of a kidney doctor, where does screening for kidney disease fit into this larger picture? Should everyone be routinely screened or should screening be targeted to specific groups? Do the benefits of screening for kidney disease outweigh the costs?
The answer is both yes and no. Yes, there are many significant benefits of screening and early detection of kidney disease, but no, not everyone should be or needs to be screened.
It is recommended by the National Kidney Foundation that we screen everyone who has a high likelihood and/or is at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. This means that anyone who has high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of chronic kidney disease should be screened. Diabetes and high blood pressure damage the kidneys over time. Often there aren't any physical symptoms associated with this kidney damage, so people with either of these conditions should be tested for kidney disease on a regular basis. While population-wide screening is not currently recommended, as the number of people with these risk factors spiral higher, the gap between those at risk and the general population narrows. We're talking about screening 1 in 3 Americans, or roughly 74 million who are at risk because of hypertension and/or diabetes.
When detected early, chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be slowed, and often more serious complications can be prevented. Many CKD patients, especially those with diabetes and heart disease, may be able to delay or avoid going on dialysis or ever needing a kidney transplant when kidney disease is detected and managed early on.
Additionally, as we age, the kidneys tend to work less effectively. If you are over 60 years old, you have a higher rate of developing CKD. While some decrease in function is normal, often people don't realize that even in the elderly population kidney function should be monitored over time to ensure that the kidneys are working properly. If you have heart or peripheral vascular disease (hardening of the arteries), you also have a greater risk of developing CKD. If you are African American, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian or Pacific Islander, then you also have a greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Obesity in the United States is rising rapidly and also increases the risk of CKD.
How do you screen for kidney disease?
There are two simple tests that are quick, easy and routinely performed to screen for chronic kidney disease: a blood kidney function test for creatinine and a kidney damage test for protein in the urine.
1. Creatinine is a waste that healthy kidneys filter out of the blood. The creatinine level in the blood reflects how well the kidneys are filtering these wastes and can vary depending on age, race and body size. The serum creatinine (blood) level is used to estimate how well the kidneys filter. The estimated glomerular filtration rate or eGFR is a number that you can think of as a percentage of how well your kidneys are functioning. Above 90 is considered normal and below 60 for three or more months is chronic kidney disease.
2. Protein in the urine is an early sign of chronic kidney disease. Persistent amounts of protein in the urine (proteinuria) indicate kidney damage. Normal is less than 30 milligrams of albumin (a type of protein) per gram of urinary creatinine. Greater than 30 milligrams per gram is abnormal. If there is an abnormal level of protein in the urine, it indicates that when filtering wastes from the blood, the kidneys are relegating protein to the "discard pile" rather than recycling it back into the body. The protein then leaves the body in the form of urine, which is why this test can detect kidney damage.
Together, these two screening tests determine how well your kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood and whether products that should remain in the body, such as protein, are being leaked into the urine. Because these are relatively non-invasive, inexpensive tests and because early detection can prevent further kidney damage, I and the National Kidney Foundation recommend that all people with risk factors be screened for chronic kidney disease.
To screen or not to screen: What's the bottom line?
If you have any of the risk factors mentioned above, you have a 1 in 3 chance of developing chronic kidney disease. It is very likely that you are either part of this 33 percent or know someone who is. If so, get screened to make sure your kidneys are working as they should be and to prevent further kidney damage!
Ask your doctor for these tests during your next visit or attend the National Kidney Foundation's free kidney health screening program called the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP). KEEP provides free testing in communities across the country for those at risk of developing chronic kidney disease
For more by Leslie Spry, M.D., FACP, click here.
For more health news, click here.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Autism Often Not Diagnosed Until Age 5 or Older: U.S. Report
Autism Often Not Diagnosed Until Age 5 or Older: U.S. Report
THURSDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- Even though autism symptoms typically emerge before age 3, most children with autism are diagnosed when they're 5 or older, a new snapshot of autism in America shows.
Source: news.yahoo.com
THURSDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- Even though autism symptoms typically emerge before age 3, most children with autism are diagnosed when they're 5 or older, a new snapshot of autism in America shows.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Long-term contraception more effective: study
Long-term contraception more effective: study
Source: news.yahoo.com
Women who choose birth control pills, the patch or vaginal ring are 20 times more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy than those using long-term methods such as IUDs and implants, a study found.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Health Officials Testing 35 Babies For TB Exposure
Health Officials Testing 35 Babies For TB Exposure
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
SAN FRANCISCO — A person with an active case of tuberculosis who visited two Northern California neonatal intensive care units had a valid reason to be there and had not been diagnosed at the time, officials said Wednesday.
Little information has been released about the contagious individual, who was not a hospital employee or health care worker. The person has since been placed in isolation and is receiving treatment. Officials have cited patient privacy laws in not offering details that could lead to identifying the individual.
The Solano County resident visited Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento during the last half of March and NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield in early and mid-April.
"We knew who the person was and the person was certainly there for a reason," said Steve Huddleston, a spokesman for NorthBay.
The person was not diagnosed with tuberculosis until late last week and had just recently started showing symptoms, said Dr. Olivia Kasirye, chief public health officer for Sacramento County.
Initially a total of 35 babies were thought to have been exposed at the two hospitals to the bacteria that spreads through the air and can lead to a sometimes fatal respiratory disease, but officials lowered their estimate to 26 at most. Kasirye said 20 babies were thought to have been exposed in Sacramento but further evaluation of hospital records showed only 11 were at potential risk.
Officials said they believed the risk of infection to the infants was low but were asking parents to have the babies tested by their doctors by the end of the week.
Because access to neonatal intensive care units is tightly controlled and records are kept on everyone who comes and goes, the hospitals were able to identify everyone who may have been exposed to the infected person, Kasirye said.
Exposure to tuberculosis often does not lead to the full-blown active version of the disease, in which patients typically come down with a bad cough and chest pain and sometimes cough up blood. Instead, the infection can lie dormant for years, only emerging when a patient's immune system weakens.
Because the babies are already in a vulnerable state, most will likely be placed on an antibiotic to eradicate the germ and prevent the active version of the disease from developing, said Dr. Michael Stacey, chief medical officer for Solano County.
Any adults at the hospital who may have been exposed will also be tested both for their own safety and to gauge how contagious the infected person was at the time, Stacey said. He said initial tests have shown the infection does not appear to be drug-resistant.
In recent years, varieties of tuberculosis that don't respond to standard antibiotics have raised fears that a disease once thought effectively eradicated in the U.S. could become more prevalent.
Last week, California took the unusual step of jailing and charging a tuberculosis patient who they say refused to take medication to keep his disease from becoming contagious. Stacey said the current case is purely a public health issue and that no further investigation is under way as officials focus on making sure everyone possibly exposed is safe.
"This is an unfortunate situation that happened, but it was not the fault of the person or the hospitals," he said.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Lab uses skin cells to help repair heart muscle
Lab uses skin cells to help repair heart muscle
Source: news.yahoo.com
Lab scientists on Wednesday reported that for the first time they had taken skin cells from patients who had suffered heart failure and turned them into cells that could repair damaged cardiac muscle.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Kids suffer long-term from parents' smoking: study
Kids suffer long-term from parents' smoking: study
Source: news.yahoo.com
Children exposed to their parents' cigarette smoke are at greater risk of suffering serious cardiovascular health problems later in life, a study showed Wednesday.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Kids suffer long-term from parents' smoking: study
Children exposed to their parents' cigarette smoke are at greater risk of suffering serious cardiovascular health problems later in life, a study showed Wednesday.
Original Source
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Garth Sundem: Salk Study: Eating for Eight Hours Reduces Obesity and Diabetes Risk
Garth Sundem: Salk Study: Eating for Eight Hours Reduces Obesity and Diabetes Risk
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Let's get this out of the way: No one's recommending you sit down and eat for eight hours. But a Salk Institute study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, shows that if you condense the total time you eat each day to only eight hours -- say 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. -- you can prevent weight gain and reduce diabetes risk, without changing your total calorie consumption.
Again: if you eat exactly the calories you're currently eating, but squish the total time you eat into eight hours a day, you'll avoid packing on pounds and lower your risk of all sorts of metabolic badness including diabetes.
"Of course, the foods you eat matter," says Satchin Panda, Salk Institute researcher and the paper's senior author, "But we showed that when you eat is just as important as what."
The seeming magic of fitness without eating less hinges on the function of mitochondria in your liver. Among other things, these mitochondria process food, cycling through a defined schedule of work and rest. While they rest, mitochondria divide. And if you eat while they're dividing, you force them back to work -- disrupting their metabolic cycle and leading to a higher rate of DNA damage than in mitochondria that aren't bombarded by burritos when they're trying to get their division on.
At Salk, 8-hour feeding mice used nutrients more efficiently and had more energy than free-feeding mice. Astoundingly, the study writes that these 8-hour mice, were also "protected against obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation and have improved motor coordination."
Despite the header of its Wikipedia entry encouraging readers not to confuse it with foie gras, hepatic steatosis or "fatty liver" is no joke.
"Our circadian clock separates functions throughout the day so that our organs stay healthy," says Panda. But the clock in your liver isn't a sundial -- it doesn't simply monitor lightness and darkness and click through its organ functions based on time of day. Instead, "it gets information about time by when we eat," says Panda. Your liver needs to know when you've taken your last bite of the evening so that it can tell mitochondria it's safe to divide. "And if you eat all the time, the clock gets the clue too many times, it tries to adjust too many times, and it never knows when it's breakfast," says Panda.
This forced adjustment of circadian rhythm and the resulting mitochondria damage is one reason that shift workers -- who are nocturnal on weekdays and then try to adjust to a diurnal schedule on weekends -- have 150 percent higher rates of metabolic disease than workers with standardized schedules of eating and sleeping.
And, Panda points out, with people in the United States now averaging more than 160 hours of TV viewing per month, "we have 100 to 120 million people who are social shift workers," he says. Led by the TV's silver tongue, Americans have made the social decision to act like shift workers. "And this population is more at risk for every type of metabolic disease," says Panda.
So don't be a social shift worker. Your mitochondria will thank you for it. And if you want to lose weight on your current high-fat diet, eat your calories in an eight-hour window.
Follow Garth Sundem on Twitter: www.twitter.com/garthsundem
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Takeda drug impresses in ulcerative colitis study
Takeda drug impresses in ulcerative colitis study
Source: news.yahoo.com
(Reuters) - More than 40 percent of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis achieved clinical remission from the debilitating condition after a year of taking an experimental drug developed by Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co, according to data from a pivotal late-stage trial. The biologic drug, vedolizumab, met the goals of the Phase III trial with highly statistically significant advantages in rates of remission, clinical response and bowel healing compared with a placebo, researchers said. Of the patients taking part in the year-long maintenance study, 44. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Pomegranate juice claims deceptive, US rules
Pomegranate juice claims deceptive, US rules
Source: news.yahoo.com
Pomegranate juice has not been proven to be an effective treatment for cancer, heart disease or erectile dysfunction, US regulators said Monday, calling a company's ad claims deceptive.
Source: news.yahoo.com
More Research Points to Long-Term Ills With Bone Drugs
MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Adding more weight to concerns about possible long-term dangers of osteoporosis drugs, a new study finds that people who take the drugs, known as bisphosphonates, may be at increased risk for atypical fractures of the thigh bone (femur). Courtesy of Yahoo News
Monday, May 21, 2012
Health Tip: Comforting Baby's Pain
Health Tip: Comforting Baby's Pain
(HealthDay News) -- When your baby is in pain -- be it from things like a circumcision, vaccine or incoming tooth -- parents can take steps to soothe, comfort and ease the pain as much as possible.
Source: news.yahoo.com
(HealthDay News) -- When your baby is in pain -- be it from things like a circumcision, vaccine or incoming tooth -- parents can take steps to soothe, comfort and ease the pain as much as possible.
Source: news.yahoo.com
COPD Can Put a Damper on Sex Life
COPD Can Put a Damper on Sex Life
MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Shortness of breath during sexual activity is common for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new, small study finds.
Source: news.yahoo.com
MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Shortness of breath during sexual activity is common for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new, small study finds.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Major Cancer Groups Recommend CT Scans for Lung Cancer
Major Cancer Groups Recommend CT Scans for Lung Cancer
Source: feeds.abcnews.com
Source: feeds.abcnews.com
Old drug for arthritis is effective against killer parasites
Old drug for arthritis is effective against killer parasites
Source: news.yahoo.com
A cheap off-patent drug that is commonly used for arthritis could be a wonder treatment for amoebic parasites that infect 50 million people each year, 70,000 of them fatally, a study on Sunday said.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Georgia woman with flesh-eating disease in "critical" condition
Georgia woman with flesh-eating disease in "critical" condition
(Reuters) - A Georgia woman fighting a flesh-eating bacterial infection was in critical condition at Augusta Hospital on Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman said. The spokeswoman said she could not comment on whether Aimee Copeland had undergone surgery to remove her hands and right foot, amputations that Copeland's father had said were pending on Friday. Surgeons had amputated the 24-year-old's left leg at the hip. "All I can say is Aimee is still in critical condition," hospital spokeswoman Barclay Bishop said. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
(Reuters) - A Georgia woman fighting a flesh-eating bacterial infection was in critical condition at Augusta Hospital on Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman said. The spokeswoman said she could not comment on whether Aimee Copeland had undergone surgery to remove her hands and right foot, amputations that Copeland's father had said were pending on Friday. Surgeons had amputated the 24-year-old's left leg at the hip. "All I can say is Aimee is still in critical condition," hospital spokeswoman Barclay Bishop said. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Friday, May 18, 2012
Antibiotics prevent UTIs better than probiotics
Antibiotics prevent UTIs better than probiotics
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Antibiotics are still better than probiotics at preventing urinary tract infections, but at least "good bacteria" don't add to a person's antibiotic resistance, a new study concludes. Recurring UTIs are common among some women and low-dose antibiotics are sometimes used to prevent them. The worry is that overuse of the drugs also reduces their effectiveness by making disease-causing bacteria like E. coli resistant. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Antibiotics are still better than probiotics at preventing urinary tract infections, but at least "good bacteria" don't add to a person's antibiotic resistance, a new study concludes. Recurring UTIs are common among some women and low-dose antibiotics are sometimes used to prevent them. The worry is that overuse of the drugs also reduces their effectiveness by making disease-causing bacteria like E. coli resistant. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Georgia Woman With Flesh-Eating Disease to Lose Hands, Right Foot
Georgia Woman With Flesh-Eating Disease to Lose Hands, Right Foot
Source: news.yahoo.com
Aimee Copeland Shed No Tears, Family said
Source: news.yahoo.com
Rare Genetic Mutations May Underpin Diseases Like Schizophrenia And Cancer
Rare Genetic Mutations May Underpin Diseases Like Schizophrenia And Cancer
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
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New York Times:
It now appears that large numbers of very rare genetic mutations may underlie common human diseases like schizophrenia and cancer. But because the mutations are so rare, costly studies involving large numbers of patients would be needed to identify their role in each disease.
Read the whole story at New York Times
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Filed by Amanda L. Chan |
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Diabetes Can Take a Toll on Your Emotions
THURSDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- Many people know diabetes -- both type 1 and type 2 -- can take a serious toll on physical health. But these blood-sugar disorders also can affect your emotions and, in turn, your emotions can wreak havoc on your diabetes control. Read more
Thursday, May 17, 2012
GSK melanoma drug shows promise in early trial
LONDON (Reuters) - An experimental cancer drug developed by Britain's GlaxoSmithKline may add vital months to the lives of melanoma patients whose disease has spread to their brains, according to data from an early-stage trial published on Friday. Results of Phase I trial published in The Lancet medical journal showed substantial shrinking of tumors in patients treated with the drug, dabrafenib, and showed promise against secondary melanoma tumors, or metastases, in the brain. ... Original Source
How To Prevent Stretch Marks in Pregnancy
Most women will get stretch marks somewhere on their body during pregnancy. Stretch marks or striae gravidarum are thick, linear bands that present on the abdomen, bottom and thighs, arms and breasts. When they first appear they will usually look like angry streaks that are red, purple or pink in colour. Read more
Don't Forget Your Sunscreen!
Don't Forget Your Sunscreen!
When it comes to sunscreen, many people believe that they only need to apply it during the summer and if they are in direct sunlight. However, this is a common misconception.
Source: EzineArticles.com
When it comes to sunscreen, many people believe that they only need to apply it during the summer and if they are in direct sunlight. However, this is a common misconception.
Source: EzineArticles.com
Do You Have Misophonia?
Do You Have Misophonia?
Do you think you have misophonia? Here are the major symptoms of misophonia, also known as selective sound sensitivity, as explained by Dr. Marsha Johnson: Presence of “trigger sounds” which evoke strong emotional or physical reactions, generally limited to a few sounds. Most common are...
Source: feeds.abcnews.com
Do you think you have misophonia? Here are the major symptoms of misophonia, also known as selective sound sensitivity, as explained by Dr. Marsha Johnson: Presence of “trigger sounds” which evoke strong emotional or physical reactions, generally limited to a few sounds. Most common are...
Source: feeds.abcnews.com
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Data suggests drug treatment can lower U.S. crime
Data suggests drug treatment can lower U.S. crime
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. crime statistics show illegal drugs play a central role in criminal acts, providing new evidence that tackling drugs as a public health issue could offer a powerful tool for lowering national crime rates, officials said on Thursday. An annual drug monitoring report, released by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, also showed a decline in the use of cocaine since 2003, a sign that drug-interdiction efforts and public education campaigns may be curtailing the use of the drug's powder and crack forms. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. crime statistics show illegal drugs play a central role in criminal acts, providing new evidence that tackling drugs as a public health issue could offer a powerful tool for lowering national crime rates, officials said on Thursday. An annual drug monitoring report, released by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, also showed a decline in the use of cocaine since 2003, a sign that drug-interdiction efforts and public education campaigns may be curtailing the use of the drug's powder and crack forms. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
The Best Botox Alternative - Natox Organic Anti-Wrinkle Cream
The Best Botox Alternative - Natox Organic Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Natox by Richibrown is a natural, organic Botox alternative. It produces the same effects as Botox but without the discomfort of injections. Natox works on the same principle as Botox as it can stop facial muscle contractions, and consequently, it can eliminate fine lines, reduce wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming.
Source: EzineArticles.com
Natox by Richibrown is a natural, organic Botox alternative. It produces the same effects as Botox but without the discomfort of injections. Natox works on the same principle as Botox as it can stop facial muscle contractions, and consequently, it can eliminate fine lines, reduce wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming.
Source: EzineArticles.com
Scientists hunt ways to stall Alzheimer's earlier
Scientists hunt ways to stall Alzheimer's earlier
Source: news.yahoo.com
Look for a fundamental shift in how scientists hunt ways to ward off the devastation of Alzheimer's disease — by testing possible therapies in people who don't yet show many symptoms, before too much of the brain is destroyed.
Source: news.yahoo.com
A better, easier way to measure fat than BMI?
Body mass index (BMI) may soon be replaced with a new tool for measuring body fat and associated health risks - waist-to-height ratio.
Continue reading...
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Britain to fund prostate cancer pill in U-turn
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's drug watchdog has reversed a controversial decision not to fund a new prostate cancer pill that was developed in the country after maker Johnson & Johnson agreed a new discount on supplies to the UK state healthcare service. Zytiga, which is known chemically as abiraterone, was approved last year in Europe and the United States to treat advanced prostate cancer in patients who previously received chemotherapy. The drug was developed by researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research and London's Royal Marsden Hospital. ... Read more
Sleepwalking Linked to Depression and OCD
Sleepwalking Linked to Depression and OCD
A new study published on Monday found that almost a third of American adults have sleepwalked at least once in their lives. Some 3.6 percent are actually prone to doing so fairly regularly, a statistic that translates into some 8.5 million people, according to a report by MSNBC.
Source: news.yahoo.com
A new study published on Monday found that almost a third of American adults have sleepwalked at least once in their lives. Some 3.6 percent are actually prone to doing so fairly regularly, a statistic that translates into some 8.5 million people, according to a report by MSNBC.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Health Care Costs For Families With Insurance Reach Staggering Amount: Study
Health Care Costs For Families With Insurance Reach Staggering Amount: Study
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Health care costs for a family of four covered by workplace health insurance will exceed $20,000 for the first time ever this year -- $20,728 to be precise -- according to a new study released Tuesday. That's $1,335 more than in 2011.
A family of four will pay $5,114 in premiums for a preferred provider organization plan, a common type of health insurance, along with $3,470 in out-of-pocket costs like co-payments for doctor visits and prescription drugs, according to the report issued by Milliman, a firm that consults with companies on employee benefits. The remainder of the expenses will be paid by employers, though money spent on health care and other fringe benefits is money not spent on higher wages.
Relentless increases in health care costs, which the federal government says rose to $2.6 trillion in 2011, are squeezing employers, workers, families and government budgets every year.
Almost 50 million Americans had no health insurance as of the 2010 census, more people are going without medical care they need because of cost, employees are being asked to shoulder a greater share of the burden for health care costs while seeing their benefits scaled back, and more companies are dropping coverage for workers. Meanwhile, the United States falls behind other industrialized nations on measures of health care quality, in spite of all this spending.
Family health care costs grew by 6.9 percent between 2011 and 2012, slower than in previous years, but Milliman suggests there's little comfort in that.
"The rate of increase is not as high as in the past but total dollar increase was still a record," the report says. "The dollar amount of the increase overshadows any relief consumers might derive from the slowing percentage increase." The health care reform law enacted by President Barack Obama in 2010 "has had only a limited effect" on health care costs, the report continues.
Spending on physician services will reach $6,647 and spending on hospital stays will rise to $6,531, making them the two biggest components of a typical family's annual health care expenses, the report says.
Health care costs varied among the 14 metropolitan areas that Milliman analyzed. Miami and New York City are the most expensive, with costs about 20 percent higher than the national average. The report says that Phoenix, Atlanta and Seattle were the only three cities where annual costs are projected to be less than $20,000 this year.
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Iraq veteran uses rap to treat his PTSD
Iraq veteran uses rap to treat his PTSD
Source: news.yahoo.com
On one of the many days Leo Dunson wanted to die, the Iraq veteran put a gun to his temple and pulled the trigger. The loaded weapon misfired. For the troubled former soldier, it was another inexplicable failure, like his divorce or inability to make friends after returning from the war.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Iraq veteran uses rap to treat his PTSD
On one of the many days Leo Dunson wanted to die, the Iraq veteran put a gun to his temple and pulled the trigger. The loaded weapon misfired. For the troubled former soldier, it was another inexplicable failure, like his divorce or inability to make friends after returning from the war. Continue reading...
Monday, May 14, 2012
FDA Issues Multiple Sclerosis Drug Alert
FDA Issues Multiple Sclerosis Drug Alert
MONDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- The multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya (fingolimod) should not be given to patients with certain pre-existing or recent heart conditions or stroke, or those taking certain medications to correct heart rhythm problems, says a U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety announcement issued Monday.
Source: news.yahoo.com
MONDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- The multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya (fingolimod) should not be given to patients with certain pre-existing or recent heart conditions or stroke, or those taking certain medications to correct heart rhythm problems, says a U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety announcement issued Monday.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Health Tip: How to Wash Your Hands Properly
(HealthDay News) -- Got germs? Everyone does. So you need to wash your hands properly to prevent the potential spread of infection. Click here to read the rest
Wendell Potter: How Sarah Palin's Irresponsible Rhetoric Prevented Medicare Savings
Wendell Potter: How Sarah Palin's Irresponsible Rhetoric Prevented Medicare Savings
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
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May 14, 2012
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US panel gives nod to new obesity drug
US panel gives nod to new obesity drug
Source: news.yahoo.com
A panel of experts on Thursday urged US regulators to approve what could be the first new anti-obesity drug on the market in more than a decade -- Lorcaserin, made by Arena Pharmaceuticals.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Americans Are Happier Than Ever, Study Says
Americans Are Happier Than Ever, Study Says
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Americans are the happiest they've been since 2008, according to a new Gallup study.
The Gallup and Healthways began tracking emotional health in January 2008, and the latest Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index shows that Americans' emotional health index score is now 79.9. The previous high was 79.8, which was reached in March 2008 and May 2010.
The study is based on about 30,000 interviews that were conducted every month between 2008 and 2012.
The participants were asked to answer a number of questions about their emotions over the previous day, including: whether they experienced worry, enjoyment or stress; whether they experienced sadness or happiness; whether they learned something interesting or participated in something interesting; whether they smiled or laughed; whether they were angry; whether they were treated with respect; and whether they were diagnosed with depression.
Compared with September 2011, Americans reported higher scores in all of these categories, researchers found.
For example, in September 2011, 66.1 percent of Americans said that they "did not experience worry a lot of the day yesterday;" meanwhile, 68.9 percent of Americans responded positively to this statement in April 2012.
Similarly, in September 2011, 83 percent of Americans said they "experienced enjoyment a lot of the day yesterday;" meanwhile, 85.6 percent of Americans responded positively to this statement in April 2012.
The researchers noted that the improvements in emotional health occur at the same time as Americans' views improved on their standards of living, as well as economic confidence.
According to this index, the lowest Americans' emotional health has been was in December 2008, when the score was 77.5.
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Georgia student likely to lose fingers to flesh-eating infection
ATLANTA (Reuters) - A Georgia college student who has already lost a leg to a rare, flesh-eating bacterial infection is now expected to suffer the loss of her fingers too, her father said. Aimee Copeland, 24, was kayaking and zip-lining along the Little Tallapoosa River near Carrollton, Georgia, on May 1 when the line broke and she sustained a cut to her calf. Emergency room doctors closed the wound with 22 staples and released Copeland, a graduate student at West Georgia University. ... Read more
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Young cancer patients' 'Stronger' video a big hit
Young cancer patients' 'Stronger' video a big hit
Source: news.yahoo.com
A video featuring cancer-stricken children, their nurses, doctors and parents lip-synching and dancing to the popular Kelly Clarkson song "Stronger" has become an online sensation.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Friday, May 11, 2012
A True Mother Of Invention
A True Mother Of Invention
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
After two baby showers, Michal Chesal owned a ton of baby gear and felt fully prepared for the birth of her first baby. But then something happened that she wasn't prepared for: Her baby, Coby, was born in December 1999 with Down syndrome. Immediately after Coby's birth, Chesal entered into a whirlwind of therapies, classes and adjustments. But when the therapist told her that her baby carrier wasn't good for Coby because of his low muscle tone, it was the final straw. "I thought, 'Great, one more thing I can't do,'" Chesal said. "But that's when I started to get creative."
Experimenting with products, Chesal put two slings together to create a baby carrier that provided Coby with the support he needed. People constantly asked Chesal, who worked as a director of academic affairs for a university based in Israel, where she got the unique carrier. But she didn't seriously consider starting a business until her friends, Isaac and Aviva Wernick, borrowed the carrier after their baby's open heart surgery and encouraged her to bring her creation to market.
Now in business with Isaac, Chesal sells about $1 million worth of the Baby K'tan internationally each year through roughly 700 specialty shops and chains including Buy Buy Baby and Bed Bath & Beyond. She has even tapped that must-have market for baby businesses: celebrity parents, including Patrick Dempsey and Jenna Fischer. But Chesal's biggest accomplishment has been to provide not only physical comfort and support for babies through Baby K'tan, but also comfort and support for her own children, Coby, now 12, Noa, 9, and Ally, 7, as a single mother.
How did you find out your son had Down syndrome?
We suspected it when he was born, but tests confirmed it when he was two weeks old. He had low muscle tone, so even though looking back, it was so obvious, I was young, and this was my first kid. I had no idea that newborns' arms don't typically flop around. Those first two weeks, waiting for the test results, were a whirlwind. And when I got the news, it was like being hit on the head with a baseball bat. It was just out of left field, the last thing I expected. It was definitely a huge shocker.
My whole life was upside down. I had to adapt and use things in different ways, to rethink everything. It was a process with new baby products, new baby classes, infant massage -- everything I planned on doing I had to do a little differently.
How did you realize the baby carrier you had wouldn't work for Coby?
I put him in this baby carrier I got because I wanted to carry him the way everyone was carrying their babies. But the physical therapist told me the traditional front pack carrier wasn't appropriate for his development because he could have hip dysplasia. He has different issues. With low muscle tone, he needs more support.
How did you get the idea to put two baby slings together?
Just by sort of playing around. With a carrier, he hung loose and his arms and legs were free. With a sling, he was swaddled and held closely to me, but one sling on one shoulder didn't offer enough support, because he could lean forward. The only other option was a wrap, but there's a big learning curve with the wrap, and I was already overwhelmed with everything else. I was trying to brainstorm, so I made a sling out of the same cotton material as a wrap, and then did a second one and slung it over my other shoulder. He was snuggled up and sat in it like a pouch, completely swaddled, and I didn't have to wrap anything or tie anything. He had support from both sides, and I showed it to the physical therapist and she said, "That works. You can carry him in that."
So you were just using it to solve a personal need, but people noticed you were using something different than what was on the market?
I had no intention of doing more with it than just using it myself. But I got comments every day I used it. People would say, "Is that a wrap, a sling, what is it?" I was surprised at how many comments I got. But starting a business was the furthest thing from my mind. I had second child and then a third, and I used it for them, too. It worked great for every newborn. And the comments continued, so as time went on, I realized I had something really good here.
What role did the Wernicks play in helping you finally start a business?
Their third child had a rare heart defect and had open heart surgery a few days after he was born. He's doing great now, but at the time, it was very scary. When they got home with him, I brought over the carrier. He needed something where he was swaddled and secure, but couldn't just be hanging loose or leaning forward, because he was fragile. When they started to use it, they again started getting comments from family, friends, strangers on the street, walking up and saying "that's really cool." They were like, "This is crazy, everyone makes comments about it," and I said, " yeah, I've been hearing it for five years." And they said, "We should make it." We started doing it part time in 2005 and in 2007, went full force doing this full time.
How did you manage to start a business while raising three children as a single mom?
It just happens. It's hard, it takes a lot of work, but if you sort of pretend in your head you don't have a choice, you just do it. I had three kids, but we decided, if we don't do this, we're always going to regret that we didn't try.
Did your business experience any big breakthroughs?
No, it was a slow process. Nothing happened overnight. It grew a little faster than we anticipated only because of -- and I know this sounds cliche -- word of mouth. It was organic marketing, moms using it and telling others moms about it or giving it as a gift. It was from the ground up, because we didn't have a marketing budget. We decided if we were going to invest, we should put our money into having a presence at the main industry trade shows. We built relationships with retailers and built slowly -- we took baby steps. The more stores we got in, the more moms wore us, and the more moms wore us, the more stores wanted to carry us. It was like a chicken and the egg thing.
How did celebrities start using your product?
That was also completely organic. We didn't spend money to be part of a gift basket or attend celebrity events because we didn't have the budget. So luckily, a lot of it happened independently -- celebrities would randomly buy it at the store. The first celebrity who ever wore it, in our first year, was Sara Gilbert. She read about us on a blog, tried it and loved it and called our customer service line to buy another one.
Do you hear from any moms about how this has helped their babies?
Tons. Baby K'tan is written up in a lot of Down syndrome community boards, and we get hundreds of emails from moms who have babies with special needs. At a trade show just last month, a retailer came to our booth and said she had opened a new baby store and wanted to carry our line. She had actually used Baby K'tan with her son, who had a brittle bone disease, and she said he was in casts all the time and it was easier to get him in and out of the Baby K'tan. It worked for her, and it was interesting to see that this can be used in a lot of different ways to help a lot of babies. We also donate a portion of every carrier we sell to the American Heart Association and the National Down Syndrome Society.
Now that Coby is 12, do you tell him that he's the reason this whole business exists?
Oh yeah. He and his sisters grew up knowing this is their mom's business, this is part of their lives. And he even says, "You wore me in Baby K'tan," and he talks about working here when he's older. So it's like full circle. When he's older, I won't be worried about him finding a job, because he can be working in my company.
So even though this was tough, it has all worked together to help you be a better mother and business owner?
It's wonderful to have something you feel good about, with something meaningful behind it. What better way to earn a living for your kids than with something you started yourself because of your children? It's interesting the way everything turned around.
Entrepreneur Spotlight
Names: Michal Chesal and Isaac Wernick
Company: Baby K'tan
Ages: 40, 42
Location: Davie, Fla.
Founded: 2007
Employees: One full-time, three part-time, nine reps
2011 Revenues: More than $1 million
Website: www.babyktan.com/
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Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Only Half of Meds Taken by Kids Have 'Adequate' Safety Info: Study
Only Half of Meds Taken by Kids Have 'Adequate' Safety Info: Study
THURSDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- About half of medications used in children have little or no label information about drug effectiveness, safety or dosing in children, new research finds.
Source: news.yahoo.com
THURSDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- About half of medications used in children have little or no label information about drug effectiveness, safety or dosing in children, new research finds.
Source: news.yahoo.com
FDA Panel Gives Blessing to New Weight-Loss Drug
THURSDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended approval of the weight-loss medication lorcaserin, even though concerns remain about cardiovascular side effects. Original Source
Thursday, May 10, 2012
FDA warns MS patients about risky treatment
FDA warns MS patients about risky treatment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. drug regulators are warning people with multiple sclerosis that an experimental treatment that props open internal veins in the neck and chest can cause death or serious injury. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said at least two people had died from the procedure, which uses stents or balloon angioplasties to widen veins that connect the brain and spinal cord to the heart. One person was permanently paralyzed, and others had bleeding in the brain, suffered strokes, blood clots or other side effects. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. drug regulators are warning people with multiple sclerosis that an experimental treatment that props open internal veins in the neck and chest can cause death or serious injury. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said at least two people had died from the procedure, which uses stents or balloon angioplasties to widen veins that connect the brain and spinal cord to the heart. One person was permanently paralyzed, and others had bleeding in the brain, suffered strokes, blood clots or other side effects. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Novartis to probe Indian drug approval allegations
Novartis to probe Indian drug approval allegations
Source: news.yahoo.com
ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis said on Thursday it would investigate alleged drug approval irregularities in India after a parliamentary report found the country's regulator colluded with pharmaceutical firms to speed up approval procedures. "We will investigate the allegations presented in the government's report," Novartis said in a statement. The parliamentary committee reviewed 39 randomly selected drugs approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
FDA panel urges approval for Pfizer arthritis drug
An advisory committee to the US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday urged US regulators to approve a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis made by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
Click here to read the rest
Paralyzed Teen Rides Horses To Recovery
Paralyzed Teen Rides Horses To Recovery
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
A brave teen has shown doctors that horse riding can be an effective way to overcome paralysis, CNN reports.
Two years ago, Krystal Greco had just stepped out of the shower when she suddenly felt an "explosion of pain" in her lower back. After being rushed to the hospital, the teenager learned that she had suffered from a ruptured disk which had bruised her spinal cord.
"I was tested numerous times to establish why my disk ruptured, but the cause was never determined. All they could tell me was that I was paralyzed from the waist down," Greco, now 16, wrote in a blog post for CNN.
An avid horseback rider from the age of 4, Greco was devastated.
"It never occurred to me that a day might come when I wouldn’t be able to ride," she said.
But CNN reports that thanks to an innovative form of physical therapy called 'hippotherapy' -- which in Greco's case involves therapeutic horse riding -- the teen is not only back on the saddle, but has started the journey of getting back on her feet.
More than six months after her paralysis, Greco began riding horses as part of the Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Program in Port Deposit, Md.
Greco said it was challenging at first, but before long, she was riding unaided.
Incredibly, within 5 months of starting hippotherapy, Greco was able to move her legs for the first time.
According to CecilDaily.com, by 2011, the teenager was not only competing in -- but winning -- horse shows.
Her doctors say her recovery has been "remarkable".
Greco, who believes that the therapeutic horse riding played a central role in her recovery, still cannot walk unaided but has regained some sensation in her legs and can now move her hip and toes. The teen hopes that she will one day be back on her feet.
"I'm pushing myself harder and harder to get to where I want to be because I eventually do want to walk again and I can see that mentally as a realistic goal," she told CNN.
Now a volunteer at Freedom Hills, Greco hopes that her story will inspire others who have disabilities.
"Having a spinal cord injury doesn’t have to mean an end to the hobbies and sports that you love -- it just means having a view from a different angle," she said.
Watch a video about Krystal Greco from CecilDaily.com here:
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Doctors Unravel Mysteries of Heart Failure During Pregnancy
Late-Pregnancy Complication Starts in the Heart's Blood Vessels Original Source
U.S. may speed approval of 'breakthrough' drugs
U.S. may speed approval of 'breakthrough' drugs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Experimental drugs that show a big effect early in development for treating serious or life-threatening diseases would get a faster and cheaper path to U.S. approval, under a proposal likely to become law this year. U.S. drug regulators would be able to label such treatments "breakthrough" therapies, and work with companies to speed up clinical trials, for example by testing the drugs for a shorter time or enrolling fewer patients. The U.S. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Experimental drugs that show a big effect early in development for treating serious or life-threatening diseases would get a faster and cheaper path to U.S. approval, under a proposal likely to become law this year. U.S. drug regulators would be able to label such treatments "breakthrough" therapies, and work with companies to speed up clinical trials, for example by testing the drugs for a shorter time or enrolling fewer patients. The U.S. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com
Germany's Bayer considers diabetes device unit sale: report
Germany's Bayer considers diabetes device unit sale: report
Source: news.yahoo.com
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's largest drugmaker Bayer is considering the sale of its blood glucose meters business, a German newspaper reported. Bayer has held talks with prospective buyers of its Diabetes Care unit, which has annual sales of about 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion), Financial Times Deutschland said in its Wednesday edition, citing sources close to the possible suitors and in the financial industry. The paper said that Bayer declined to comment. ($1 = 0.7695 euros) (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Ed Lane)
Source: news.yahoo.com
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Treatment Of Venous Leg Ulcers
Venous leg ulcers are caused by blood pressure build up in the leg's veins. Faulty valves are the cause of this condition. Instead of blood flowing upward toward the heart as it should, it flows backward. This causes damage to the tiny vessels inside the skin and causes dry and itchy skin along with inflammation. Source
Probiotic Products May Prevent Antibiotic-Linked Diarrhea
Probiotic Products May Prevent Antibiotic-Linked Diarrhea
TUESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Consuming probiotic-rich foods may decrease the risk of diarrhea for patients who are taking antibiotics, a new study suggests.
Source: news.yahoo.com
TUESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Consuming probiotic-rich foods may decrease the risk of diarrhea for patients who are taking antibiotics, a new study suggests.
Source: news.yahoo.com
FDA favors first drug for HIV prevention
FDA favors first drug for HIV prevention
Source: news.yahoo.com
Federal drug regulators on Tuesday affirmed landmark study results showing that a popular HIV-fighting pill can also help healthy people avoid contracting the virus that causes AIDS in the first place. While the pill appears safe and effective for prevention, scientists stressed that it only works when taken on a daily basis.
Source: news.yahoo.com
S. Korea cracks down on flesh capsules from China
South Korea has intensified a crackdown on the smuggling of capsules from China containing the powdered flesh of dead babies, taken by some as a cure for disease or a way to boost sexual performance, a customs official said Tuesday.
Courtesy of Yahoo News
One in 4 Of The World's Children Are Malnourished: State Of The World's Mothers Report 2012
One in 4 Of The World's Children Are Malnourished: State Of The World's Mothers Report 2012
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
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May 8, 2012
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
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