---

QuikWik(R) Power Play Skirt

Hit the courts in this tennis-inspired skirt. Side slits and elastic waist allow a full range of motion. Built-in underneath shorts provide extra coverage, with side ball pockets on each leg for convenient storage. Our exclusive QuikWik(R) fabric is endlessly soft and stretchy, moving with your body without binding or chafing. The poly/Lycra blend wicks moisture, dries quickly and is treated with an odor-resistant finish. 50+ SPF fabric provides the highest possible sun protection. (Size 1 length 17″, short inseam 5 1/2″). 90% Micropoly/10% Lycra. Machine wash, cold water. USA. Classic fit. #419035

---

Love in the Time of Cholesterol

A food writer’s moving portrait of how she and her husband cope in the aftermath of his heart attack and bypass surgeryFor the millions of readers coping with a loved one’s medical issues, this moving account by food editor Cecily Ross will strike a deep chord. With honesty and humor, she tells the story of her husband’s unexpected heart condition, his recovery from bypass surgery, and the dramatic toll it took on their lives.In 25 chapters with two heart-friendly recipes at the end of each, you’ll join Cecily and her husband, Basil, as they swear off doughnuts, learn how to meditate, flirt with vegetarianism, and come to better appreciate the simple pleasure of sharing a meal. This glimpse into the lives of a man who survived a life-threatening illness and the woman who supported him throughout his recovery offers consolation and courage to the many who face this disease every day.

---

Cancer in the headlines, October 30

Some cancer news for you this weekend…

Andrew Lloyd Webber vows to beat prostate cancer
British star composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his spokesman revealed. But he is not taking a passive stance but vows to beat the disease. He cleared the next couple of months of work but aims to be back by the end of the year. He began treatment in a private clinic last weekend. Webber is well-known for his musical hits Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats and Starlight Express. Webber is 61 years old.

Hispanics Who Move to U.S. Face Higher Cancer Rates
Moving to the US increases the risk for Hispanics to develop cancer by 40%, according to a study from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Florida has one of the biggest and the most diverse Hispanic population in the US. Researchers  believe that the lifestyle change that comes with immigration may be responsible. More about this report in a later post.

Family of teen who fled chemo wants court out
13-year old Daniel Hauser made headlines earlier this year when he and his Mom fled to avoid chemotherapy. Daniel was diagnosed childhood Hodgkin’s lymphoma but his family decided to opt for alternative medicine. The case was brought to court which decided that Daniel show follow standard oncology treatments. He and his mother disappeared for a couple of weeks but eventually came back to Minnesota. He has finished his chemotherapy sessions in September but is still undergoing radiation therapy. The family has now filed a petition that court supervision of his treatments should end.

FDA Approves New Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
The US FDA has just approved a new treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The drug is called Arzerra (ofatumumab), a monoclonal antibody developed by the UK pharma  GlaxoSmithKline. LCL is a slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow

Unused cancer meds can be donated, law says
There are those who can’t afford cancer drugs but there are lots of excess unused cancer drugs lying around. The unused drugs come from people who could afford it but the drug has to be stopped for one reason or another. What happens to the unused, unopened but paid for drugs? Since cancer drugs are resulted prescription drugs, it is illegal to give them away. A new law in several American states may change this and allow that the unused drugs be donated under strictly controlled and monitored conditions.

Photo credit: stock.xchng

---

Heart(y) news, October 30

News update on heart issues coming up…

Hero dog saves heart attack victim
This cattle dog in Queensland Australia will be awarded the RSPCA’s animal achievement award for saving her master’s life. Jim Touzeau suffered from a heart attack two years but survived thanks to his dog Teka, who jumped up and down and barked loudly, causing him to wake up. The dog then ran outside to the sidewalk, barked and jumped up and down to attract people’s attention. Heart experts were not sure how it happened but they think that by jumping up and down, the dog probably kick-started Touzeau’s heart.
Over the years, there have been reports of house pets recognizing danger, sometimes before it happens and coming to the rescue of their human friends. Some dogs are trained to sniff out hypoglycemic attacks in diabetes patients or even cancer.

American Heart Association joins international organizations to urge public to fight stroke
AHA joined international organizations the world over to observe World Stroke Day yesterday, October 29. According to Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, chairman of the World Stroke Day Working Group and first vice president of the World Federation of Neurology:

“World Stroke Day dedicates a day of awareness to the issue of stroke once a year. Each of us must confirm our commitment in the fight against stroke not just today, but every day.”

Guidance for Industry: Letter Regarding Point of Purchase Food Labeling
earlier thtis month, the US FDA issued a guidance letter to the food industry, expressing its current thinking on Point of Purchase Food Labeling, which includes:

• Front of Package (FOP) labelling , voluntary information that is intended to convey to consumers the nutritional attributes of a food.
• Symbols that are typically linked to a set of nutritional criteria developed by food manufacturers, grocery stores, trade organizations, and health organizations.

A study suggests that consumers are less likely to read the Nutritional Facts written at the back of the packaging . The FDA is therefore urging the food industry to place this information in front of the packaging.

Cleveland Clinic Health Chats

• Oct 30 Adult Congenital Heart Disease by Richard Krasuski, MD
• Nov 3 FMD Webchat by Heather Gornik, MD (Note: Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare disorder characterized by abnormal cellular growth in the walls of medium and large arteries.)
• Nov 11 Congenital Heart Disease in Children  by Constantine Mavroudis, MD
• Nov 20  Arrhythmias – Atrial Fibrillation and More! by Walid Saliba, MD
• Dec 2     Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease  by Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD
• Dec 9     Heart Disease in Women by Julie Huang, MD
• Dec 11   Sports Health: Preventing Hockey & Ski Injuries by Anthony Miniaci, MD, FRCSC
• Dec 18   Treatment of CAD and Interventional Procedures by Stephen Ellis, MD

---

Black OM Cotton Yoga Mat Bag

Carry your yoga mat easily and comfortably with a beautiful cotton OM yoga mat bag. OM is the whole universe coalesed into a single sound and represents the union of mind, body, and spirit that is at the heart of yoga. Each bag features this beautifully embroidered OM design, an adjustable shoulder strap, a small zippered pocket inside the bag, and a large zippered pocket on the bag’s exterior. The bags are solid, and yet still quite light in weight. They’re also 100% cotton, extremely high quality, and will fit both the 1/8″ and 1/4″ sticky mats. Each bag is 30″ long by 7″ across, and is available with either a zipper running the length of the bag or a drawstring closure at one end. The following mats fit inside this Black OM Cotton Yoga Mat Bag: 1/8″ Classic, 1/4″ Deluxe, Short, Nature Collection, Eco-Conscious, Travel, Mandakni, and Pilates.

---

Dad’s testicular tumors and baby’s genetic disorder

It is well-known that maternal age is a big factor in the health outcomes of the baby. It has been shown that children born to older women are more likely to suffer from chromosomal aberrations. What is less known is that the age of the father also matters and contributes to the development of certain diseases in the offsprings.

According to a study by researchers at the University of Oxford and Copenhagen University Hospital, there is a link between severe genetic disorders in children and a rare form of testicular tumors that occur among older men.

The rare childhood genetic disorders referred to by the study report include:

• Achondroplasia
• Aper Syndrome
• Noonan Syndrome
• Costello Syndrome

Some of these conditions are so serious that they can result in retarded growth and development or even result in stillbirth.

According to study leader Professor Andrew Wilkie from the University of Oxford:

“We think most men develop these tiny clumps of mutant cells in their testicles as they age. They are rather like moles in the skin, usually harmless in themselves. But by being located in the testicle, they also make sperm – causing children to be born with a variety of serious conditions. We call them ‘selfish’ because the mutations benefit the germ cell but are harmful to offspring.”

Sperms develop from germ cells. Mutations in these cells cause tiny tumors in the testicles. These tumors are normally harmless. However, these genetic aberrations tend to affect the ability to produce healthy sperms. These mutations and the resulting tumors accumulate as a man ages. Thus, an older Dad is most likely to pass on mutant sperms to the next generation, causing the abovementioned genetic disorders than a younger father.

More common diseases linked to paternal age are breast cancer, autism and schizophrenia but the mechanisms behind the link are not known. The researchers hypothesize that similar but milder mutation as reported above maybe responsible.

Dr. Wilkie continues to explain:

“What we have seen so far may just be the tip of a large iceberg of mildly harmful mutations being introduced into our genome. These mutations would be too weak and too rare to be picked up by our current technology, but their sheer number would have a cumulative effect, leading to disease.”

With recent developments in reproductive medicine, it is now possible for women to get pregnant, even at the postmenopausal age. However, there have been questions about whether there should be an age limit to motherhood. But nobody says anything about an age limit to fatherhood. The current study suggests that maybe there should be.

---

Safety tips for Halloween

Boo! Halloween is here. This Saturday actually. It can be fun but also dangerous especially for little kids. Health experts therefore give us some tips (from the American Academy of Pediatrics) on how to keep our little ones happy and healthy during this fun and spooky occasion. However, the tips can apply to adults as well.

On costumes:

• Costumes should be visible – “bright and reflective”. All the better for motorists as well as supervising adults to see.
• Avoid costumes/shoes that can cause tripping, entanglement, or asphyxiation.
• Masks can obscure vision. Hats shouldn’t slide over the eyes. Face faints can cause allergic reactions (check out US FDA warning in face paints below).
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.  Hats and wigs should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• Costumes, wigs and accessories should be flame resistant.  Check the labels.
• Accessories such as a sword, cane, or stick shouldn’t be sharp, too long, or cause the child to trip.

On decorations:

• Small children should never carve pumpkins according to the AAP. They can draw the faces on the jack-o-lanterns but adults should do the cutting.
• Use votive candles for candle-lit pumpkins.
• Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.
• Avoid decorations that may be a fire hazard. Garlands can cause entanglement and choking.

On home safety:

• Remove from the porch and front yard anything that trick-or-treaters could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes, garbage cans, and lawn decorations. Clearly mark or temporarily fence off ponds. Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves are slippery and should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets, especially dogs so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite trick-or-treaters.
• Lock up if you aren’t home at Halloween.

On the trick-or-treat trail:

• An adult should always supervise young children on their neighborhood rounds. There is no age limit but parents should know when their kids are ready to go alone or not.
• Use flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Teach children how to call somebody, be it 9-1-1, the local emergency number or their parents in case they have an emergency or become lost.
• If older kids are going alone, plan and review the route that you feel is safe and emphasize that they should stick to the route, just in case you need to find them. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to houses with a porch light on and stay on the porch. Tell the kids never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Trick-or-treaters should stay together in a group.
• Carry a cell phone and important numbers for quick communication.
• Walk on the sidewalks and go on well-lit streets only. Don’t take shorts or cut across yards or use dimly lit alleys. Cross only on crosswalks.
• Watch out for motorists.

On treats and sweets:

• A good healthy meal before trick-or-treating will discourage kids on gorging on their booty.
• Think about treats that can be alternative to sweets: sugar-free candies, whole grain cookies, little toys.
• Advice kids not to eat any sweets until you’ve checked them out. Throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Pay attention especially if your kids have allergies. Check out the labels for undesirable ingredients.
• Try to ration the sweets over several days.

On face paints:

Check out what the US FDA has to say about face paints and theatrical make up:

• Follow all directions carefully.
• Don’t decorate your face with things that aren’t intended for your skin.
• If your face paint has a very bad smell, this could be a sign that it is contaminated. Throw it away and use another one.
• Like soap, some things are OK on your skin, but not in your eyes. Some face paint or other makeup may say on the label that it is not for use near the eyes. Believe this, even if the label has a picture of people wearing it near their eyes. Be careful to keep makeup from getting into your eyes.
• Even products intended for use near your eyes can sometimes irritate your skin if you use too much.
• If you’re decorating your skin with something you’ve never used before, you might try a dab of it on your arm for a couple of days to check for an allergic reaction BEFORE you put it on your face. This is an especially smart thing to do if you tend to have allergies.
• [Check] the list of ingredients on the label. Look for the names of the colors. Then check the Summary of Color Additives on FDA’s Web site. There’s a section especially on colors for cosmetics. If there’s a color in your makeup that isn’t on this list, the company that made it is not obeying the law. Don’t use it. Even if it’s on the list, check to see if it has FDA’s OK for use near the eyes. If it doesn’t, keep it away from your eyes.
• [Pay attention to] fluorescent colors [especially those which contain] D&C Orange No. 5, No. 10, and No. 11; D&C Red No. 21, No. 22, No. 27 and No. 28; and D&C Yellow No. 7.None of them are allowed for use near the eyes.
• Don’t go to bed with your makeup on. Wearing it too long might irritate your skin, and bits of makeup can flake off or smear and get into your eyes, not to mention mess up your pillow and annoy your parents. How you take the stuff off is as important as how you put it on. Remove it the way the label says.

And don’t forget to have fun!

 

Photo credits: stock.xchng

---

Oasis Spa: Yoga (CD)

This great music collection includes 10 songs composed by various artists. Titles on the CD are: Shaman’s Call – Peter Kater Prayer For Home – Flesh & Bone Surrender – Peter Kater One Voice – Peter Kater Dreaming Shree – Steven Gorn Angel’s Breath – Paul Avgerinos A Fresh Wind – Nawang Khechog Dreamtime Waltz – Flesh & Bone Skibbereen – Joanie Madden Journey’s End – Peter Kater

---

October 29 is World Stroke Day

“Stroke, what can I do?“ is this year’s World Stroke Day theme. Started in Capetown in October 2006, WSD has become a global initiative. This year, World Stroke day falls on October 29.

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke killed 143,579 people in 2005. 60.6% of stroke fatalities were women. Aside from being a leading cause of death, stroke also causes long-term disability.

Some facts about stroke:

• Stroke is preventable but rising globally.
• Aging, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, and physical inactivity, fuel a growing epidemic of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and vascular cognitive impairment.
• Worldwide, stroke accounts for 5.7 million deaths each year and ranks second to ischemic heart disease as a cause of death; it is also a leading cause of serious disability, sparing no age, sex, ethnic origin, or country.
• Four out of five strokes occur in low and middle income countries who can least afford to deal with the consequences of stroke.
• If nothing is done, the predicted number of people who will die from stroke will increase to 6.7 million each year by 2015.
• Six million deaths could be averted over the next 10 years if what is already known is applied.
• Much can be done to prevent and treat stroke and rehabilitate those who suffer the devastating consequences of stroke.

Here’s what you can do in your own small way in observing this day and helping fight stroke:

• Know the signs and symptoms of stroke. The American Stroke Association (ASA) gives tips on how to recognize the warning signs of stroke, namely:
  • o   Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • o   Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
  • o   Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • o   Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • o   Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
• Know your and your loved ones’ risk factors. The Power to End Stroke initiative of the ASA provides an online, easy-to-do personal stroke risk assessment.
• Concentrate on prevention. Stroke can be prevented through lifestyle change strategies. Know what you can change in your lifestyle to lower your risk for stroke and other cardiovascular disorder.
• Spread the news to increase awareness. You can download posters and e-cards which you can send to friends, families and colleagues. Posters and e-cards are available at the World Stroke Day site.

---

Gene therapy to treat congenital blindness

Many people are born partially or fully blind. A recent development in biomedical research is bringing hope to people with congenital blindness and it’s called gene therapy.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia used gene therapy to treat five children (age range: 8 to 17)and seven adults (maximum age of 44 years) born with Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA). All of the patients treated showed marked improvement in vision but the best improvements were seen among the children who, after the treatment were able to navigate a low-light obstacle course. Six of those treated are no longer classified as legally blind.

One of the patients, a 9-year old boy showed a “spectacular” recovery of vision after just 1 dose of gene therapy that allows him to play sports like other children.

About LCA:

Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a group of inherited blinding diseases that damages light receptors in the retina. It usually begins stealing sight in early childhood and causes total blindness during a patient’s twenties or thirties. Currently, there is no treatment for LCA. LCA affects around 1 in 80,000 population.

About the therapy:

The therapy entails a single injection of genes that produce proteins to make light receptors in the retina. The researchers sued a vector to carry the genes. The research team used a vector, a genetically engineered adeno-associated virus, to carry a normal version of the gene, called RPE65, that is mutated in one form of LCA, called LCA2, that accounts for 8 to 16 percent of all LCA cases.

Effectiveness of the therapy was best seem among the children treated. Since LCA is a progressive disease which damages the retina, treatment is best when progression is stopped or delayed at a very early stage when retinal damage is still minimal.

According to principal author Dr. Albert M. Maguire

“Children who were treated with gene therapy are now able to walk and play just like any normally sighted child. They can also carry out classroom activities without visual aids.”

Gene therapy is relatively new development and is still in the experimental stage. The patients in the current study were among the first to receive gene therapy for a non-lethal disease. The children were the youngest so far to be treated with the therapy. The patients will be closely monitored in the coming years for signs of side effects or regression.

This new therapy gives hope to people with vision problems, not only those with LCA but other forms of retinal degeneration.

---

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Annual 5

A progress report on the cutting-edge research into Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia, this important volume has particular emphasis on topics that are applicable to clinical practice. In this latest instalment, Serge Gauthier, Philip Scheltens and Jeffrey Cummings cover some of the emerging therapies for Alzheimer’s Disease, including: statins; GAG minetics; immunotherapy; and the use of hormonal therapy and atypical anti-psychotic agents in the treatment of other related dementias. Also summarizing current understanding of the pathophysiology of mild cognitive impairment, as well as research into tau pathologies, this is a key addition to literature in the area.

---

More fruit and vegetables, please

Last week, I reported on the latest IOM recommendations to revamp the 14-year old Nutrition Standards and Meal Requirements. Another report, this time from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the recommendations, which call for more fruit and vegetables in US school lunches, are really necessary should be implemented as soon as possible.

According to the CDC report, Americans of all ages are not eating enough fruit and vegetables to meet their dietary requirements. This is especially evident among teenagers. This comes 9 years after Healthy People 2010 which set a target that 75% of the population would eat at least 2 servings of fruit each day and 50% would eat at least 3 vegetable servings daily. Well, 2010 is just a few months away but the target is still as far away as ever. The CDC State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables 2009 reveal:

• Not one state is meeting the targets for fruit and vegetable consumption.
• 32% teens (high school students) eat the recommended daily servings of fruit and 13% for vegetables.
• Only 33% of adults eat the daily fruit consumption recommendation and 27% of vegetables.
• Only 1 in 5 (21%t) middle and high schools offer fruits and non–fried vegetables in vending machines, school stores or snack bars.

Fruit and vegetables are important for optimal growth, weight management, and prevention of chronic diseases. With children obesity an all time high, health experts are urging for better nutrition among the younger generation – in school and at home.

Can fruit and vegetables help in weight management? The few studies done on this topic indicate that the answer is yes. Food may be classified based on energy density which is the relationship of calories to the weight of food (calories per gram).

• High energy density foods (4 to 9 calories/g): Examples are high fat foods like butter, bacon, and cookies.
• Medium energy density foods 1.5 to 4 calories/g):  Examples are hard-boiled eggs, dried fruit, lean sirloin steak, and whole wheat bread
• Low energy (0.7 to 1.5 calories/g) and very low energy density foods (0 to 0.6 calories/g): Examples are fruit and vegetables and fat-free yoghurt or cheese.

Several studies show that consumption of low energy foods “promoted feelings of being full, reduced hunger, and decreased energy intake regardless of how the food was changed to lower the energy density.”

On the CDC site, the brochure How to use fruits and vegetables to help manage your weight is available for those who might be interested. The brochure especially gives useful tips on

• How to combine foods of different energy density to get a tasty dish with acceptable amount of calories.
• Using low energy substitutes
• Preparing fruit and vegetables without increasing calories (e.g. no frying, whole fruit vs. juices)

---

Taking a closer look at pink marketing

Pink ribbons used to be just an accessory for little girls. Nowadays it’s the trademark symbol for breast cancer and the health advocates fighting the disease. The pink ribbon can also be seen adorning T-shirts, jewelry, as well as yogurt lids and sneakers, all for a cause. Cause marketing or cause-related marketing is defined as (Source: BusinessDictionary)

…joint funding and promotional strategy in which a firm’s sales are linked (and a percentage of the sales revenue is donated) to a charity or other public cause. However, unlike philanthropy, money spent in cause related marketing is considered an expense and is expected to show a return.

Is it right for businesses to get involved in cause marketing?

A 2004 survey by Cone revealed that 72% of Americans think it’s appropriate for companies to sponsor a cause for marketing purposes. A 2008 survey shows this opinion has increased to 85%. In practicing “corporate social responsibility”, the for-profits can make money and polish their image and the not -for-profits raise funds for cancer research and other projects. The consumers who buy pink products get the “feel good” effect. Everybody wins. However, some advocacy groups are concerned that the pink ribbon is being misused and abused. The Think Before You Pink initiative of the Breast Cancer Action “calls for more transparency and accountability by companies that take part in breast cancer fundraising, and encourages consumers to ask critical questions about pink ribbon promotions.” Guidelines for such disclosure may be set by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Your local BBB chapter might have some more info.

Where does your pink money go?

In a Newsweek report, Claudia Kalb looks at the different strategies of pink marketing. Some companies donate a percentage of the retail sales price, regardless of the amount. Others set minimum and maximum donations. Example of a capped donation campaign:

“…Give Hope Jeans, sold by White House Black Market for $88, donated “net proceeds” from the sale to the organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer. But they’ve capped their contributions at $200,000. This means that once they had reached the $200,000 limit they stopped contributing, no matter how many pairs of jeans were purchased.”

Think Before You Pink

It is recommend that consumers should check out carefully pink products and the campaigns involved before they buy.

Here are some tips:

Read product labels carefully.

Usually companies give relevant information on the product packaging (read the fine print!) as to the recipient charity organization and as well as the percentage or amount of donations. The Think Before You Pink site also gives a list of critical questions to ask “before you buy pink.”

Be choosy and go for bona fide charities.

Go for charity groups which are selective. Organizations such as the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society carefully choose their corporate partners. Komen for example does not just accept any corporate partner. It requires that a company donates at least 3 to 5 % of the retail price. It wouldn’t get involved in sales of alcohol, tobacco, or firearms. In addition, it expects partners to be sincerely committed to cause by engaging in breast cancer education as well as participate in fund raising events. According to Karen White, Komen’s director of corporate relations

“We are selective. [The partners]  are not just buying a ribbon, they’re authentically committing to our cause.”

Beware of pink washers.

The Think Before You Pink initiative is criticizing some cause marketing campaigns by companies whose products actually contribute to cancer. They cite, for example, cosmetic companies who purport to be pink but manufacture products which contain potentially carcinogenic ingredients (e.g. phthalates). Another pink washing example are the pink campaigns by car companies even though cars contribute to air pollution that leads to cancer.

Perhaps most criticized of all was the long-standing pink campaign of Yoplait, which used milk with the controversial hormone rBGH in their dairy products. Recently, manufacturer General Mills announced that Yoplait yoghurt is now completely rBGH-free, a move applauded by advocacy groups.

Consumers have the power to change things.

In being discriminate about who to support, con summers have the power to weed the unethical from the sincere. According to the 2004 Cone survey, 86% of respondents would willingly switch brands of comparable price and quality to a brand associated with a cause. However, 90% will also immediately switch brands in case a company is proven to have behaved inappropriately.

Donate directly to the charity of your choice.

Finally, even if you are confused or sceptical about all the pink marketing going on, don’t lose sight if the real cause – fighting breast cancer. Why not donate directly to the charity of your choice? At least you know exactly where and how much of you money goes…

---

Tunturi T60F Series Treadmill

Features: -Position speed control (PSC): Tunturi’s patented hands-free speed control system: machine slows down when the user slows down and accelerate when the user speeds up the pace -Fully shock absorbent T-Flex

---

Flu updates, October 26

Obama declares swine flu a national emergency

US President Barack Obama has declared the swine flu epidemic a national emergency. The declaration will make it easier for U.S. medical facilities to handle a surge in flu patients by allowing the waiver of some requirements of Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health insurance programs as needed.

Swine flu vaccine met with a big dose of skepticism

Not everyone welcomes the H1N1 vaccine with open arms. Many people are sceptical about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine and the skeptics, including some healthcare professionals who are opposed to the mandatory vaccinations in their line of work. A September survey by Consumer Reports revealed that

• 51% of parents are agreeable to giving the shorts to their kids.
• 40% of adults are certain they will get the shots.

NYC Schools to Start Offering Swine Flu Shots

Meanwhile, New York City is not seemed to be fazed by the scepticism surrounding the H1N1 vaccine. The city will start offering flu shots or nasal sprays at the public primary schools this week. Private schools are also welcome to participate. Older kids in middle and high schools will have to wait till November or December for vaccination. School nurses will administer the vaccine.

H1N1 in turkeys poses ‘minimal’ human risk: official

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, many people are already planning the holiday menus. However, there are concerns over about the safety of the turkey that will end up on the family table. In Canada, there was a reported incident of a swine flu outbreak in Ontario, CBC Canada reports. Health officials however, declared that the birds in the said farm were not meant for eating but only for egg production and there poses “minimal” risk to humans.

Doctors Told to Give Flu Medicine Promptly

US health officials warned doctors not to wait for the results of flu tests before prescribing flu medications. The lab tests would take time and people with high risk factors, e.g. children under 2, pregnant women, and those with underlying condition such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease should be treated promptly.

Get H1N1 vaccine: health minister

Country leaders are urging their people to get the vaccine. And to set a good example, many heads of states and other leaders have got the vaccine. Canada’s health ministers Leona Aglukkaq is appealing to the public, especially those who are at high risk, to accept the vaccine. Canada is said to have entered the 2^nd wave of H1N1 infections.

---

Aristo CB1 Commercial Upright Bike

Aristo CB1 Commercial Upright Bike.Features: USA Designed and Developed Step through design 1 Manual program setting 7 programmed workout settings: Constant Load, Weight Loss, Interval, CV Workout, Heart Rate Control, Fat Burn, &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Rolling Hills. Each has 8 class selections that alter the total resistance and can be graphically seen in the Workout &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Profile Display Workout Data includes: Time Heart Rate, Watts, Calories, Distance, Mets, Workout Level, Speed, and RPM Adjustable Levelers at the four corners, allow easy positioning. Display also tilts a few degrees forward and back to offer better viewing for all sizes of users. Built in reading rack. Molded color in the plastic offers greater durability and scratch integrity. A design of the future that all others must follow Power: 110 volts, daisy chain availability 1 watt starting capability crank arm width 5 1/2 Dimensions:

---

The best and worst US states in heart attack care

Somebody told me once that it all boils down to the right location, whether it’s real estate, business venture, or vacation. It seems it is the same when it comes to health care. In previous posts for example, I have tackled how geography can influence health, from based on the levels of air and noise pollution as well as UV radiation

A study published in the July issue the journal Circulation lists the best and worst states to be in, in order to survive a heart attack. This is based on the quality of care that hospitals in the states can deliver in terms of the treatment and management of heart attack and heart failure.

Of the best states, New Jersey tops the list, with “the least deaths and fewest hospital readmissions following a heart attack or heart failure.” The top 5 states are listed below:

• New Jersey
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Washington
• Oregon

The US national average for heart attack mortality is 16.6% and 11.1% for heart failure. The best performing states have a maximum mortality rate of 10.9 and 6.6% for heart attack and heart failure, respectively.

Most of the states are sort of middle of the road when it comes to heart disease care but some states performed worse than the others. The 5 worst states to be in for patients of heart attack or heart failure are:

• Oklahoma
• Arkansas
• Tennessee
• Missouri
• Louisiana

In these states, mortality rates from heart attack were about 24.9% and rates from heart failure were about 19.8%.

Aside from mortality rates, the rankings also took readmission rates into account. In the worst performing hospitals, 1 in 4 heart failure patients and 1 in 5 heart attack patients were readmitted within 30 days of their first admission due to many reasons including:

• Medication problems
• Infection
• poor follow up care
• Recurrence of the heart attack or failure.

Readmission and complications are preventable and in preventing these, deaths are also prevented.

According to study author Dr. Gregg Fonarow, professor of cardiovascular medicine at UCLA

“Being able to prevent preventable deaths is very important. Preventing early hospitalization again is also very important. The large difference highlights that more could be done.”

The researchers, however, were quick to emphasize that the ratings were general averages and do not necessarily reflect the performance of all hospitals in the said state. The state of Florida, for examples, has hospitals which were ranked among the bets but also has others which were ranked among the worst. A more detailed ranking of individual hospitals clinics according to different therapeutic areas is given by the US News and World Report. The top 4 hospitals are

• Johns Hopkins Hospital
  Baltimore, MD
• Mayo Clinic
  Rochester, MN
• Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
  Los Angeles, CA
• Cleveland Clinic
  Cleveland, OH

None of these hospitals are located in the top ranking states.

---

Treatment of Stress Response Syndromes

Treatment of Stress Response Syndromes is a comprehensive clinical guide to treating patients with disorders related to loss, trauma, and terror. Author Mardi J. Horowitz, M.D., is the clinical researcher who is largely responsible for modern concepts of posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD). In this book he reveals the latest strategies for treating PTSD and expands the coverage to include several related diagnoses. The author uses a unique approach to treatment. Rather than organizing the book by diagnoses, he outlines essential explanatory principles that cover a range of diagnostic entities. Readers will learn an integrative approach that is based on a cognitive-dynamic theory, showing how to combine dynamic, cognitive-dynamic theory. This approach enables readers to apply solid foundation principles for more effective diagnosis and treatment.This book has great practical value for psychotherapists working with patients experiencing the effects of serious life events. Readers will learn how to • Diagnose, formulate, and treat stress response syndromes• Do a step-by-step formulation, emphasizing strengths as well as problems• Use a treatment approach that shifts as the patient changes Treatment of Stress Response Syndromes provides clinicians with tools to help patients develop hope for improvement, courage to face traumatic events, and new knowledge and skills for making adaptive change.

---

The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Testicular Cancer

This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to testicular cancer (also Cancer testes; Hematocele; Hydrocele; Spermatocele; Testicular cancer; Testis tumor), from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on testicular cancer. Given patients’ increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon terms.

---

iPedal Pink iPod Spoof Jr. Jersey T-Shirt

Show everyone how you got those great looking legs with this iPod cycling spoof.

Next Page »