STAYING HEALTHY

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Obesity Limits Pregnancy Weight

ST. LOUIS (UPI) -- A U.S. doctor challenges the recommended guideline that obese women should gain 11-20 pounds during pregnancy. Dr. Raul Artal, chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health at Saint Louis University in Missouri advises overweight or obese mothers-to-be to eat a nutrient-rich diet of between 2,000-2,500 calories a day, and in some cases, to lose weight. He says overweight or obese women should not gain more than 10 pounds when pregnant. "Recommending a single standard of weight gain for all obese classes is of concern since higher body mass index levels are associated with more severe medical conditions and have long-term adverse health implications," Artal says in a statement. Artal writes in a commentary for Obstetrics & Gynecology, that he does not endorse recommendations made by the Institutes of Medicine in Washington -- an independent, non-profit organization that provides advice for health decision makers and the public. "The recently published Institutes of Medicine recommendations for gestational weight gain are virtually identical to those published in 1990 with one exception -- obese women are now recommended to gain 11-20 pounds compared to the previous recommendations of at least 15 pounds," Artal says.
Copyright 2010 by United Press International

Bariatric laparoscopic surgery an option

DALLAS (UPI) -- Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is an option for people considering bariatric procedures for weight loss, a U.S. researcher said. Dr. Edward Livingston, professor and chief of gastrointestinal and endocrine surgery at the University of Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said having just a single entry point means less scarring than in traditional laparoscopic surgery, in which five or more incisions are required. "The promise of fewer scars really appeals to patients, evidenced by the growing demand," Livingston said in a statement. "Not everyone has heard about it, but the enthusiasm is striking once they find it's a possibility." Single-incision surgery can help reduce post-operative pain, speed healing and reduce risk of infection, studies in the emerging field indicate. Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, is performed for the purpose of losing weight on the stomach and intestine of people who are dangerously obese. The two most common procedures are the Roux-en-Y, a form of gastric bypass surgery which closes off a portion of the stomach and bypasses part of the intestine, and gastric banding, which places a restrictive band around the stomach.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Cheap test as good as MRI to detect stroke

BALTIMORE (UPI) -- A simple, one-minute eye movement exam worked better than magnetic resonance imaging to distinguish new strokes, U.S. researchers said. Dr. David E. Newman-Toker of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Illinois in Peoria, said people experiencing a stroke have eye-movement alterations that correlate with stroke-damage to various brain areas -- and these are distinct from eye-movement alterations seen with benign ear diseases. Some patients, for example, can't immediately adjust their eye position if their heads are quickly turned to the side, or they experience jerky eye movements as they try to focus on a doctor's finger when looking to either side. The findings, published in the journal Stroke, found the quick, extremely low-cost exam caught more strokes than the current gold standard of MRI. "The idea that a bedside exam could outperform a modern neuroimaging test such as MRI is something that most people had given up for dead, but we've shown it's possible," Newman-Toker says in a statement. Dizziness is the cause of some 2.6 million U.S. emergency room visits annually and the vast majority of these complaints are caused by benign inner-ear balance problems. But 4 percent are signals of stroke or transient ischemic attack -- a condition that often warns of impending stroke in the coming days or weeks.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Maximum Weight Limit easier than BMI

RENO, Nev. (UPI) -- A statistician has developed a "speed limit" for weight, a Maximum Weight Limit, for those who find body mass index complicated, U.S. researchers say. George Fernandez, director of the Center for Research Design and Analysis at the University of Nevada, Reno, says he wanted to give people a simpler way of calculating their healthy weight that didn't involve charts or online calculators. "It's a very simple calculation that most of us can do in our heads. For men and women, there is a baseline height and weight. For men, the baseline is 5-feet, 9-inches tall and a Maximum Weight Limit of 175 pounds, meaning that a 5-foot, 9-inch tall man should weigh no more than 175 pounds," Fernandez says. "For women, the baseline is 5-feet tall and a Maximum Weight Limit of 125 pounds." From the baseline, calculate how much taller or shorter in inches -- for a man, add or subtract 5 pounds for every inch taller or shorter than 5 feet 9 inches. If a man is 5 feet 11 inches tall, 2 inches taller than the baseline, add 5 pounds for each of those 2 inches for a Maximum Weight Limit of 175. For women add or subtract 4.5 pounds for each inch differing from the baseline height of 5 feet.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Breast cancer drugs raise blood clot risk

PORTLAND, Ore. (UPI) -- Drugs used to lower the risk of breast cancer in women have the side effect of increasing the likelihood of blood clots, researchers in Oregon say. The study, published in the current issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, examined the effects of tamoxifen, raloxifene and tibolone reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer by 30 percent to 68 percent. But it also found tamoxifen and raloxifene increase the chance of blood clots by 60 percent to 90 percent, and that tiboline, which is not on the U.S. market, is associated with strokes in women over 70. "They did differ on the harm side. That's important to know," said Dr. Heidi D. Nelson, a research professor at Oregon Health & Science University who was the lead author. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, BELIZE

Today, the independent nation of Belize is 28. Yes, we are a young nation. We are proud of this land we call home and we are certain with the struggle we battle each day that we will build a better Belize, one day at a time.

To all Belizeans all over the world, I take this time to wish you all a Happy Independence Day.

Three cheers for Belize. Hip Hip Hooray. Hip Hip Hooray!!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

Less chocolate, more veggies may help acne

OSLO, Norway (UPI) -- Researchers in Norway have made associations between acne, high intake of chocolate and chips and low intake of vegetables. Jon Anders Halvorsen of the University of Oslo and colleagues in Tibet and the United States studied 3,775 adolescents to explore the possible causes of acne. The 18- and 19-year olds were given questionnaires to monitor their diets, lifestyle variables and mental conditions. Study participants reported on their own acne. The researchers acquired the sociodemographic status of the young people from Statistics Norway. The study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, found in girls, there was a significant link between acne and a diet low in raw and fresh vegetables. "Our study shows a possible link between diet and acne. However, when we introduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in our statistical model, the role of diet became less clear," Halvorsen said in a statement. "On the other hand the association between acne and mental health problems was still strong when diet was introduced." It is too early to give evidence based diet advice to teenagers with acne, further studies are needed, Halvorsen said.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Your Health: Feet Hurt? It Could Be Plantar Fasciitis

If you're like most Americans, you spend more than four hours a day on your feet and take around 5,000 steps daily. That's quite a pounding for your poor pups, so it's no wonder they whimper at the end of a long day. But if your feet hurt as soon as they hit the floor each morning, you could have a condition called plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a fibrous band of tissue that runs under the arch of the foot from the heel to the base of the toes. With each step you take, your heel strikes the ground, flattening your arch and stretching your plantar fascia. When this tissue gets stretched too often or too far, it can become irritated and inflamed, leading to plantar fasciitis. The condition can affect one foot or both. Symptoms can strike folks who are sedentary or active, and those with high arches or flat feet. Flare-ups may occur after walking or standing on any surface that your feet are unaccustomed to, whether it's deep sand, the rung of a ladder or rock-hard concrete. The condition may also be triggered by wearing different types of shoes. Women who trade their customary high heels for a new pair of flats are especially vulnerable. Weekend warriors and super jocks can develop plantar fasciitis when they push themselves too hard. Even weight gain can lead to the condition. Regardless of the cause, the end result is rather predictable. If you're unfortunate enough to develop plantar fasciitis, you'll likely experience discomfort along the arch of your foot and at the inner part of your heel. The pain typically strikes in the morning with your first step of the day. After a few minutes spent hopping and hobbling about in agony, the pain may subside, only to return with a vengeance later in the day. Getting plantar fasciitis is easy, but getting rid of it is another story. If you're lucky, the condition -- and the associated pain -- will resolve in a matter of days. But in some cases, it lingers on for weeks or months. The sooner you start treating plantar fasciitis, the better off you'll be. You can begin your treatment at home with a few do-it-yourself remedies. Since inflammation is at the root of the problem, taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine is a good place to start. This helps reduce the swelling in your feet, as well as the pain. Rubbing your aching arches with ice cubes several times a day can also ease your suffering. If your significant other owes you a big favor, you might be able to negotiate a therapeutic foot massage. But if you strike out, rolling a golf ball or a can of corn beneath your arches is the next best thing. If your dogs are still barking in spite of your best efforts, you might want to walk them directly to your doctor's office. Depending on your level of pain and desperation, you might agree to a steroid shot, which your physician will inject into the heel of your foot. Most people who've had this type of treatment agree the week of relief it provides is well worth the 30 seconds of agony it causes. Your doctor may also advise you to treat your feet to a pair of support devices called orthotics. These shoe inserts can help shore up weak arches and stabilize your feet. You might get some relief with over-the-counter arch supports, but those of the custom-made variety are generally far superior. They're also far more expensive -- a good pair can set you back several hundred dollars. If you've never had plantar fasciitis, you'll probably want to keep it that way. Well-made shoes are your best protection, since they give your hardworking feet the support they deserve. Proper arch support and flexible soles are basic requirements, but even the best shoes won't help if they don't fit your feet. Since feet and toes tend to expand and change shape with age, it's entirely possible that the shoes you wore to your high school prom may not fit properly today. It's a good idea to have your feet measured at least every two years, and adjust your shoe size and style accordingly. If your feet are your major mode of transportation, you'll definitely want to take care of them. You've still got a lot of ground to cover.

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Website is www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

Your Health: Bladder Control Problems Are Treatable

Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.
A few things haven't changed since kindergarten, like the rules and regulations regarding potty breaks. If you've ever lost control of your bladder as an adult, you may have felt just as embarrassed as you did when you were a preschooler. Although it may be unsettling, involuntary loss of urine isn't uncommon. Urinary incontinence, the official name for involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder, currently affects more than 12 million American adults. Urinary incontinence is more prevalent in older individuals, but young people aren't immune to the condition. Women are more likely to be affected than men for several reasons. Childbirth can weaken or injure the nerves and muscles of the pelvis, especially in women who deliver big babies or those who require forceps deliveries. Nearly a third of U.S. women experience long-term bladder leakage following childbirth. Among men, those with enlarged prostate glands are at increased risk for bladder control problems. Temporary urinary incontinence is relatively common following surgical procedures involving the bladder or prostate, and in some cases, the condition may be permanent. The involuntary loss of urine from the bladder may be due to one of several types of urinary incontinence -- each with different causes, symptoms and treatments. Stress incontinence is a condition in which involuntary loss of urine occurs during activities involving the muscles of the abdomen and pelvis, including sneezing, laughing or coughing. Stress incontinence may occur during running, jumping and other types of exercise, since these activities create physical forces that push down on the bladder and force urine out of the body. Urge incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, is caused by urinary muscle spasms that lead to the uncontrolled loss of urine. In many cases, individuals who suffer from an overactive bladder experience strong, unexpected urges to void, especially after drinking liquids or hearing the sound of running water. Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder stays perpetually full. As additional urine is manufactured by the kidneys and delivered to the bladder, the excess liquid dribbles from the body. If you experience problems with bladder control, you may be a little embarrassed, but you shouldn't let it prevent you from seeking medical attention. In some cases, urinary incontinence is completely reversible, especially if the condition is the result of a medication side effect or caused by a smoldering urinary tract infection. Even if the condition isn't easily reversible, you're not doomed to a lifetime of dampness. Fortunately, a number of effective treatment options are available. Surgery can return a dropped bladder to its proper position, enlarge a small bladder or tighten weakened pelvic muscles. In many cases, a more conservative approach to treatment can correct the cause of urinary incontinence and put a stop to bladder-control problems. A cure might be as simple as treating an infection with antibiotics or taking a daily dose of medication that prevents problematic bladder contractions. If the condition doesn't respond to drug therapy, specific exercises may be helpful. Your doctor may instruct you to begin urinating at frequent, regular intervals, starting with once every hour and then progressively lengthening the interval. This practice, known as bladder training, significantly reduces symptoms in three-quarters of affected individuals and completely eliminates the problem in nearly 15 percent of those with urinary incontinence. If you have mild symptoms of urinary incontinence, you may be able to improve bladder control with pelvic floor exercises. Also known as Kegels, these exercises have been shown to improve bladder control in about 80 percent of incontinent adults. Kegels are easy to perform, and you can do them anywhere without anyone being the wiser. To execute the perfect Kegel, simply contract the muscles you would use to stop the flow of urination. It may require a little experimentation, but once you've mastered the maneuver, simply hold the contraction for three seconds and then relax for three seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times per session, and try to squeeze in three sessions per day. Kegel exercises can be very effective, but only when they're done regularly. The more you exercise your pelvic floor muscles, the more likely you are to see significant improvements in bladder control. In addition to performing Kegels, losing excess weight can significantly improve symptoms of urinary incontinence. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine may also be helpful. If exercises and dietary changes don't seem to help, it's time to see your doctor. With proper treatment, there's an excellent chance you can overcome urinary incontinence for good.

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Website is http://www.rallieonhealth.com/. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at http://www.creators.com/.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

Women more sensitive to looks rejection

BUFFALO, N.Y. (UPI) -- Women are more sensitive than men to appearance rejection, U.S. researchers say. Lora Park, assistant professor of psychology, graduate student Ann Marie DiRaddo of the University at Buffalo, and Rachel Calogero of the University of Kent in England said the study also finds men and women who had internalized media ideals of attractiveness had higher levels of appearance-based rejection sensitivity than did their peers. The study, published in the Psychology of Women Quarterly, says no relationship was found between parents' perceptions of attractiveness and study participants' increased sensitivity to appearance-based rejection. Therefore, peer and media influences, rather than parental influence, play a key role in appearance-based rejection sensitivity, the researchers say. "There is a lot of research to suggest that physically attractive people are less stigmatized by others in this society, and have significant advantages in many areas of life than those who are viewed as physically unattractive," Park says in a statement. The study observed 220 of U.S. college students ages 18-33 -- 106 women and 114 men. The subjects completed a series of questionnaires, including scales that assessed the perceived influence of peers and parents on sensitivity to appearance-based rejection, and an assessment of dimensions of media influence related to body image and appearance. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

ERs may not use lung blood clot guidelines

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (UPI) -- Emergency room physicians may not be following clinical guidelines for diagnosing patients with possible lung blood clots, U.S. researchers say. Researchers at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I., said current accepted clinical practice indicates patients with a low clinical suspicion for pulmonary emboli should undergo a blood test for D-dimer, a protein fragment present in the blood after a clot is degraded, then multi-detector row computed tomography, if positive. The study, involving 5,344 patients, found, however, that 42 percent of patients had a positive D-dimer exam but did not have a CT scan. "Current protocols suggest that those patients should have had a scan," Dr. Michael T. Corwin, the lead author, said in a statement. "Multi-detector row CT was performed in 7 percent of patients with negative D-dimer results, and the same protocols suggest that those patients should not have undergone a scan. "Anytime a patient gets a CT scan there is a radiation dose. The evaluation of patients with suspected PE should include D-dimer and CT testing in a more standardized fashion so that we can save patients from having unnecessary CT scans. " The D-dimer test should only be used in patients with a relatively low suspicion of having a pulmonary embolus, but if the D-dimer test is positive, then patients should have the CT. If the test is negative then no scanning is needed, Corwin explained. The finding is published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Toronto H1N1 flu-related death probed

TORONTO (UPI) -- A 44-year-old Toronto man with undisclosed pre-existing medical conditions who died tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, medical officials said. Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, told a news conference autopsy results would be needed to determine if the virus originally named swine flu played a role in the man's death, the Toronto Sun reported Tuesday. Williams said the east-end man's condition took a sudden bad turn at his home Saturday, and paramedics were unable to resuscitate him. His was the second H1N1-related death in Canada since April, when a northern Alberta woman, also with pre-existing medical problems, died. Her autopsy results couldn't conclude whether the flu virus killed her, the Sun said. The World Health Organization said after this death that Canada is second only to Mexico in reporting new cases of the flu. More than 11,000 people in 46 countries have contracted the virus.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Level of response to alcohol, risk factor

SAN DIEGO (UPI) -- A U.S. doctor says teens who report they "drink others under the table" may be at higher risk of alcoholism. Dr. Marc Schuckit of the Alcohol Research Center at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and the University of California, San Diego, says a low level of reaction to alcohol has been found to be a unique risk factor for alcohol use disorders across adulthood and not simply a reflection of a broader range of risk factors. Schuckit, the corresponding author of a study, looked at alcoholism risk factors such as family history in 297 men. The men -- participants in the San Diego Prospective Study -- were tested on their level of response when recruited between the ages of 18 to 25. They were also evaluated at 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-year follow-ups. "We showed that a low level of reaction at age 20 predicts later heavy drinking and alcoholism even if you control for all these other predictors of alcohol problems at age 20," Schuckit says in a statement. A person with low level of reaction may tend to drink more each time they imbibe, he says, but identifying the risk early in life may allow ways to decrease the risk. The study does not mean not having a low level of reaction means not developing alcoholism, Schuckit added. The findings are scheduled to be published in the September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Race may have impact on teachers

ITHACA, N.Y. (UPI) -- A U.S. study found high-quality teachers may tend to leave schools that experience inflows of black students, researchers said. Study author C. Kirabo Jackson of Cornell University said the study suggests a school's racial makeup may have a direct impact on the quality of its teachers. "It's well established that schools with large minority populations tend to have lower quality teachers," Jackson said in a statement. "But it is unclear whether these schools are merely located in areas with a paucity of quality teachers, whether quality teachers avoid these schools because of the neighborhood or economic factors surrounding a school, or whether there is a direct relationship between student characteristics and teacher quality." Jackson said the findings suggest it's not neighborhoods keeping high-quality teachers away. "This is particularly sobering because it implies that, all else equal, black students will systematically receive lower quality instruction," Jackson said. The study of the Charlotte-Mecklenberg school district in North Carolina ended its race-based busing program in 2002 and some schools had a large and sudden inflow of black students -- but the racial makeup of the neighborhood and economic factors were the same. The study, published in the Journal of Labor Economics, found the black teachers were slightly more likely than white teachers to stay in the schools that experienced a black inflow. However, those black teachers who did leave black schools tended to be the highest qualified.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Sweden reports nationwide blood shortage

UPPSALA, Sweden (UPI) -- Sweden's hospitals are suffering a shortage of blood due to increasingly advanced healthcare techniques, a top hospital doctor said. The blood shortage forced Uppsala University Hospital to suspend operations until more blood is found, Johan Ronnelid, the hospital's chief physician, said Monday. "We have searched the country and will receive supplies by taxi during the day from some remote locations," he said. "There is a shortage of blood in the whole country." The shortage is most acute in blood groups O and B, Ronnelid said, explaining that increasingly sophisticated medical techniques require larger quantities of blood. Blood shortages in Sweden sometimes occur during the summer months, but rarely as early as May, the Swedish news agency TT reported Tuesday.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International