Pick Your P-O-R-N

You know what's not sexy? Watching people get infected with STDs, and yet that's what there's a reasonable chance that you may be doing when you're watching bareback porn. Although, in theory, the adult film industry polices itself with regular medical check-ups and quarantines, the evidence suggests that that may be too little too late. After all, even if people were screened once a week, it can take time before an individual tests positive- time when they are still be able to pass on infections to any one they sleep with. Think it's not a problem? According to the L.A. times there have been 22 new HIV infections among adult film performers in the past 5 years along with more than 2000 cases of chlamydia and almost another 1500 of gonorrhea... all diseases which can be effectively prevented by practicing safe sex. Regulation doesn't seem to be a viable option at the moment, so in my mind that means it's up to the marketplace. If people stop buying porn where condoms aren't used, then maybe production companies will stop making it. So here's my proposal - if you're a porn consumer, look for porn that features safe sex. When you find it, write to the companies that make it and tell them you appreciate their work and the fact that they care about the health of their performers. Convinced that bareback porn is hotter? Picture every fluid exchange as teeming with bacteria and viruses and I bet you'll get over it.

Carpal Tunnel Styndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when a nerve is pinched in the wrist. This nerve, called the median nerve, is the connection from the brain and spinal cord, down to the finger tips. In patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve is pinched as it passes through the wrist. Because of the compression, the nerve does not function properly.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused when there is pressure in the carpal tunnel that compresses the median nerve, causing the nerve to function improperly. Because the carpal tunnel is surrounded by bone on one side, and an inflexible ligament on the other, if pressure builds, the nerve has nowhere to go. Simply put, in carpal tunnel syndrome the nerve gets squished.

When carpal tunnel syndrome occurs, the median nerve is pinched, and the normal functions (as described above) are impaired. Problems that can occur in carpal tunnel syndrome include:

* Pain
* Numbness
* Tingling
* Weakness

New Anti-Psychotic Drugs work better than Old

A new study has shown that people diagnosed with their first episode of schizophrenia fare much better when treated with newer anti-psychotic drugs than with traditional medications. The double bind study was conducted in China by American and Chinese scientists. It is the first study to directly compare treatment with clozapine (Clozaril), an 'atypical' anti-psychotic medication, with chlorpromazine (Thorazine) in people who had an episode of schizophrenia for the first time.

200 patients diagnosed with first-episode schizophrenia were randomized to receive one drug or the other. Neither they nor the scientists knew who received which drug until all the data had been collected. The findings strongly suggest that clozapine works better than chlorpromazine in early schizophrenia.

The findings of this study were presented December 11, 2000 to the 39th Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Jeffrey A. Lieberman, M.D. of the University of North Carolina summarized the study this way: "We found that clozapine acts faster and produced fewer patients who drop out or stop treatment because of side effects. This is the first time a study's ever been done comparing the prototype of this new class of drugs with the old group in a large sample of patients."

Clozapine is the second most widely used medication for schizophrenia in China, but its use is restricted in the United States. The FDA approved clozapine as a 2nd- or 3rd-line of treatment for people who were unresponsive to other medications because early studies showed it suppressed the immune system's white cells in one percent of people who took it for more than six weeks . The authors conducted the study in China where these restrictions do not exist.

Based on the study's results Lieberman sees a wider role for the newer medications. "We think using these new drugs as first-line medications increases the likelihood of recovering from the illness and reduces the likelihood of a second episode when they remain in treatment. Patients who are at the beginning of their illness are extremely sensitive to treatment. That sensitivity makes them very responsive to the therapeutic effects of anti-psychotic drugs. They respond to all treatment including the newer and better treatments. However, they're also more sensitive to side effects and this can become a real problem in terms of their willingness to continue their medication and the likelihood of them stopping."

In a footnote, the study also found that patients in the study whose blood tests showed signs of exposure to the parasite toxoplasmosis had a poor response to treatment. Toxoplasmosis is a parasite borne by cats and some other domestic animals. Lieberman speculated on this result: "There's a theory that an infectious agent, a parasite or some other microorganism, can cause schizophrenia - and toxoplasmosis has an affinity for the nervous system, where it can lie dormant for a long time in its migration to the brain." Lieberman suggested that schizophrenic patients in a population with a high risk for toxoplasmosis should be given standard anti-psychotic medication along with one of the drugs typically used against the parasite.

Clozapine was the very first of the new 'atypical antipsychotic' medications. Other medications in this class seem to have some of the benefits without the infrequent dangerous side-effect. This study suggests that physicians should at least consider a medication in this class for patients newly diagnosed with schizophrenia. Is there still a role for older anti-psychotics? Maybe - but their role continues to shrink.

Tramadol - 10 Things You Should Know

TRAMADOL, the generic version of Ultram, is a synthetic analgesic medication. The exact mode of action of tramadol is unknown but it is said to work like morphine. Tramadol binds to opioid receptors in the brain -- receptors that transmit the sensation of pain throughout the body. Here are 10 things you should know about tramadol to ensure its safe use.

1 - Tramadol is prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.

Tramadol belongs to the class of drugs known as opiate agonists. Primarily, tramadol works by changing the way the body senses pain. Some people mistakenly believe that tramadol is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), but it is not.

2 - Tramadol is available in immediate release and extended release formulations.

Tramadol may be prescribed as an immediate release tablet (50 mg.) or as an extended release tablet (100, 200, or 300 mg.). The extended release tablets are usually reserved for patients with chronic pain who require continuous, long-term treatment. Your doctor will determine the appropriate dosage schedule for you.

3 - Tramadol extended release tablets must be taken whole, not split, chewed or crushed.

It is important to take tramadol properly and to follow prescribing instructions. If taken improperly or in a way that is not recommended, serious side effects and even death can result.

4 - Tramadol can be habit-forming for some people.

Do not take more tramadol than has been prescribed for you. Taking more tramadol or taking it more often can cause dependency on it. You should also not stop taking tramadol without first consulting your doctor. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stopped it suddenly. You doctor will likely decrease your dose of tramadol gradually.

5 - Drug interactions are possible with tramadol.

Be aware of the following possible drug interactions:

* Carbamazepine reduces the effect of tramadol
* Quinidine increases the concentration of tramadol by 50% to 60%
* Combining tramadol with an MAO (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) inhibitor or SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can lead to seizures or other serious side effects.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking.

6 - Tramadol, when combined with certain other substances, can increase central nervous system and respiratory depression.

In other words, breathing may be affected or even stop if tramadol is combined with alcohol, narcotic drugs, anesthetics, tranquilizers, or sedatives.

7 - The use of tramadol during pregnancy should be avoided.

Because the safety of tramadol use during pregnancy has not been established, the medication should not be used during pregnancy. The safe use of tramadol in nursing mothers has also not been established.

8 - Tramadol is usually well-tolerated. Any side effects are usually temporary.

Some of the common side effects associated with tramadol include:

* nausea
* constipation
* dizziness
* headache
* drowsiness
* vomiting

Less common side effects include: itching, sweating, diarrhea, rash, dry mouth, and vertigo. There have been patients who developed seizures after taking tramadol.

9 - A Cochrane Review of tramadol to treat osteoarthritis revealed some small benefit.

The Cochrane Review stated that when tramadol is taken for up to 3 months, there may be decreased pain, improvements in function and stiffness and overall well-being. However, tramadol can cause side effects that are significant enough to require that the patient must stop taking the medication. Risks outweigh benefits for many people who have tried tramadol.

10 - If an overdose of tramadol has occurred, call your local poison control center, or call 911 if it appears to be an emergency situation.

Symptoms of an overdose include decreased pupil size, difficulty breathing or staying awake, unconscious, coma, heart attack, or seizure. Call for help, even if you are unsure about what to do.

Acetaminophen: 10 Things You Should Know

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a widely used drug which is considered safe when used appropriately. Tylenol safety decreases the chance for undesirable side effects. Safety warnings about Tylenol should be respected. To enhance patient safety, Tylenol must be taken according to directions. If you take Tylenol or may take it in the future, here are 10 things you should know.
1 - Tylenol is a medication prescribed for pain relief and fever reduction.

Tylenol belongs to a class of drugs known as analgesics and antipyretics. Acetaminophen, the generic equivalent of Tylenol, is the most commonly prescribed and widely used analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic agent (fever reducer) in the world. Tylenol (acetaminophen) does not have anti-inflammatory properties though. Tylenol is prescribed for many health problems, one of which is arthritis pain.

2 - Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is contained in more than 100 different products and combination products.

Acetaminophen is contained in countless pain formulations, cold products, sinus preparations, and more (e.g. Sinutab, Midol, Ultracet, Dristan). The wide availability of acetaminophen, sold over-the-counter and in prescription products, make it one of the most common drugs associated with intentional or accidental poisoning. Taking multiple products which contain acetaminophen and exceeding the maximum allowable daily dose can cause serious side effects and can have potentially fatal consequences.

3 - The maximum allowable daily dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) is 4 grams (or 4000 mg) in adults and 90 mg/kg in children.

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is available as a tablet, chewable tablet, capsule, caplet, geltab, gelcap, extended-release tablet, or liquid suspension to be taken by mouth with or without food. It is also available as a suppository. Regular strength Tylenol is 325 mg per pill. Extra strength Tylenol is 500 mg per pill. For adults, 8 extra strength Tylenol tablets is the maximum allowed per day. If you exceed that amount, you risk serious consequences.

4 - You must be aware of the cumulative effect of taking various products which contain acetaminophen.

As previously explained, many products contain acetaminophen. It is your responsibility to add up the amount of acetaminophen you are ingesting daily, even if from more than one product, to be sure you are not exceeding the daily dose which is allowed. For example, if you take two Darvocets per day, that is equal to 1300 mg acetaminophen since one Darvocet contains 650 mg. acetaminophen. Darvocet contains propoxyphene and acetaminophen. If, in addition, to Darvocet for pain, you also take cold or sinus medication which contains acetaminophen, you must add the total amount ingested (e.g. add up the acetaminophen in both Darvocet and the cold medication) in order to be aware of the cumulative effect. The label on Tylenol recommends that you not take more than one product at a time which contains acetaminophen to ensure that you won't exceed maximum allowable dosages.

5 - Drinking alcoholic beverages while taking acetaminophen is not advised.

If you drink three or more alcoholic beverages every day or have had alcoholic liver disease, ask your doctor if you should take acetaminophen. The combination of alcohol and acetaminophen can be seriously damaging to the liver, with possibly fatal outcomes.

6 - Acetaminophen side effects can be serious. Know when you should call your doctor instead of assuming the problem will disappear.

Certain side effects can be signs of an allergic reaction or a situation which requires immediate medical attention, such as:

* Rash
* Hives
* Itching
* Swelling
* Hoarseness
* Difficulty breathing
* Difficulty swallowing

7 - Symptoms associated with acetaminophen overdose can be serious too, and require immediate medical attention.

The symptoms can occur whether the overdose is accidental or not:

* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Loss of appetite
* Confusion
* Sweating
* Extreme fatigue
* Unusual bleeding or bruising
* Pain in stomach (especially upper right portion)
* Yellowish skin or eyes
* Flu-like symptoms
* Diarrhea
* Irregular heartbeat

8 - There are recommendations and guidelines for how long you should take Tylenol (acetaminophen) if you are self-treating.

Current recommendations suggest that you may take acetaminophen for up to 3 days when treating a fever, and for up to 10 days when treating pain. If symptoms persist beyond that time frame, consult with a doctor to see if you should continue with acetaminophen or change your treatment plan.

9 - Acetaminophen is classified as FDA Pregnancy Category B, meaning, it is unlikely the drug would harm an unborn baby.

If you are pregnant, do not take acetaminophen without discussing it with your doctor. Acetaminophen passes into breast milk. Though it is considered safe to use during breastfeeding, discuss it with your doctor.

10 - When used as directed, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered generally safe. That's the bottom line.

When taken according to directions, side effects from acetaminophen are rare. The most serious side effect is liver damage. Kidney toxicity is also a possibility. The risk of liver damage increases with:

* Large doses of acetaminophen
* Chronic use of acetaminophen
* Concomitant use of acetaminophen with alcohol (i.e. taken together) or with other drugs that can also potentially cause liver damage

WEAR and FEEL SAFER

Condoms are a great way to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases. However, for them to be most effective, you have to know how to use a condom correctly.

Here's How:

1. Make a decision to have sex.
2. Talk about safer sex with your parter.
3. Check the expiration date on the condom package. Throw out the condom and open a new box if the condom has expired.
4. Check for any punctures in the condom/wrapper by feeling the package to see if it contains an air bubble. If there is no air bubble, throw out the condom and try a new one.
5. Carefully tear open the package, making certain not to tear the condom.
6. The condom should go on like a hat, not like a shower cap. Make certain that you place it on so that it unrolls easily down the outside of the penis. You shouldn't need to put your fingers inside the condom to unroll it.
7. Pinch the tip of the condom to remove any air. You want to leave room for the ejaculate when you roll it on the penis.
8. Holding the tip of the condom, begin to roll it down the shaft of the penis. There should be room at the end of the condom, but there should not be any trapped air.
9. Roll the condom the rest of the way down the penis. The condom should be put on after the penis is erect, but before there is any contact between you and your partner.
10. After ejaculation, hold onto the base of the condom while withdrawing your penis from your partner. Carefully remove the condom and dispose of it in the trash. Do not flush the condom down the toilet unless you want to risk a large plumbing bill.

Tips:

1. Using lubricants can reduce the risk of condom breakage, but you should use only water-based lubricants with condoms. Oil-based lubricants, such as vaseline, can damage the integrity of the condom.
2. With a little practice, it is possible to put a condom on your partner using your mouth. This can be a fun way to practice safer sex, but be careful not to bite down on the condom and tear it. Also, you might not want to use N-9 lubricated condoms, since the lubricant can make your tongue go numb.
3. Never reuse a condom. Always change condoms each time you have sex, and if you are going to go from penetrating one orifice to another. You should, for example, never have vaginal intercourse after anal intercourse without changing condoms.
4. Some people find that putting a small drop of water-based lubricant inside the tip of the condom can increase the wearer's pleasure. It, however, should be a very small drop, and it is largely a matter of personal preference.
5. Frequent use of N-9 (nonoxynol-9) based lubricants may increase your risk of STDs. If you are having a lot of sex, it is best to use lubricants that do not contain N-9.

DUNKIN DO NUTS

I just left a Dunkin Donuts, and once again I am disappointed with my coffee. I am not a "coffeaholic," but I do consume Dunkin Donuts coffee about 1-3 times per week. When I am on the road traveling, I visit many different Dunkin Donuts locations. I have discovered that my coffee tastes drastically different from one franchise to another.

In addition, the coffee often tastes different depending on which Dunkin Donuts employee is serving it. These employees sometimes seem to be poorly trained. This doesn't happen when I go to Starbucks or any other coffee-oriented store. I can line up 10 coffees from 10 different Starbucks locations, and they will all taste the same.

I can see inconsistencies happening like this in a local restaurant. If they have 2 different chefs working, sometimes the food tastes slightly different, but most of the time it tastes pretty much the same. But for a franchise company this is totally unacceptable. There should be systems in place to keep all of the products looking and tasting the same. When you buy a franchise you should be buying into a proven system.

Jobs for Nurses in Saudi Arabia

50,000 to 60,000 jobs awaits Filipino Nurses in Saudi Arabia within the next six months. Officials of the King Fahd Medical Center are in the country today interviewing prospective applicants.

Lito Soriano of the LBS E-recruitment Solutions said that the demand for nurses in the Middle East are very high and immediate in fact, King Fahd Medical Center has linked up with more than two Philippine recruitment agencies to fill up their vacancies.

Saudi increased its inflation allowance from five percent to 10 percent of the basic salary, which would range from $600 to $1,000. This is on top of free housing, free transportation, and yearly vacation.

Nurses with two years actual experience in tertiary hospitals with at least 200 bed capacities and working with modern equipment are the top priorities.

Unfortunately, the Philippines cannot fill out those requirements due to lack of tertiary hospitals in the country and the volunteer work of Filipino nurses in government hospitals were not properly recognized.

Applicants may send their applications to aplymsd@e-recruitment.com.ph or may also visit http://www.e-recruitment.com.ph for more details.

Fluoride in Water

The number of U.S. residents who ingest fluoride via their community drinking water has now reached 184 million Americans or about 70 percent of the total population, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Fluoride, the naturally occurring chemical touted for its tooth decay preventing effects, has been met with a love it or hate it attitude by Americans since first being injected into municipal water systems in 1945.

"Community water fluoridation is an equitable, cost-effective, and cost-saving method of delivering fluoride to most people," said Dr. William Maas, director of CDC's Division of Oral Health, whose agency has a goal of seeing to it that 75 percent of U.S. residents get fluoride in their city drinking water by 2010.

"This common additive to your water supply, and ingredient in the toothpaste you and your children use may be contributing to the increased rates of hypothyroidism -- and other health concerns -- in the U.S. . . without improving dental health," says Mary Shomon, About Guide to thyroid disease.

While the CDC contends that fluoridation drove a major decline in the prevalence of tooth decay during the second half of the 20th century, several communities have now stopped spiking their drinking water with the chemical.
In 2006, the National Academies of Science concluded that the EPA maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water does not protect against adverse health effects, and can place children at risk of developing dental problems including discoloration, enamel loss, and pitting of the teeth.

BRAIN: How Gamblers Think?

The brains of gamblers respond similarly to the brains of lab animals after being given euphoria-inducing drugs or when being tempted by good food, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Results of tests conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and two other institutions suggest that the same mental circuitry is involved in the highs and lows of winning money, abusing drugs, or anticipating a tasty meal.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers mapped the neural responses of 12 male subjects while they played a simple game of chance in which they could either win or lose money. Each subject was give a $50 stake and told that they might lose some or all of the money, keep it (break even), or even increase it. The subjects then played a game similar to the "wheel-of-fortune" game found in most casinos. The trials were divided into two phases — expectancy and outcome. During the expectancy phase, the subjects were shown how much money they might win depending upon where the arrow stopped on a spinning disk. During the outcome phase, the arrow stopped on a designated monetary value, and the subjects found out whether they had won or lost money on that spin.

Data produced while the players watched the spinner showed:
•The incentive of money produced blood flow changes in the brain similar to those seen in response to other forms of rewards, such as euphoria-producing drugs;
•Blood flow in three areas of the brain rich in dopamine receptors, the NAc, SLEA, and hypothalamus, roughly paralleled findings in monkeys during anticipation and experience of reward;
•The right side of the brain responded predominantly to winning or the prospect of winning, while the left side of the brain responded to losing.
According to the researchers, the response patterns observed suggested that dysfunction of neural mechanisms and psychological processes crucial to decision-making and behavior may contribute to a broad range of impulse disorders such as drug abuse and compulsive gambling.

Heart Problems: Female>Male?

Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks.

Among the 515 women studied, 95-percent said they knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack, or Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue (70.6-percent), sleep disturbance (47.8-percent), and shortness of breath (42.1-percent).

Many women never had chest pains
Surprisingly, fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43% reported have no chest pain during any phase of the attack. Most doctors, however, continue to consider chest pain as the most important heart attack symptom in both women and men.

The NIH study, titled "Women's Early Warning Symptoms of AMI" is one of the first to investigate women's experience with heart attacks, and how this experience differs from men's. Recognition of symptoms that provide an early indication of heart attack, either imminently or in the near future, is critical to forestalling or preventing the disease.

In a NIH press release, Jean McSweeney, PhD, RN, Principal Investigator of the study at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, said, "Symptoms such as indigestion, sleep disturbances, or weakness in the arms, which many of us experience on a daily basis, were recognized by many women in the study as warning signals for AMI. Because there was considerable variability in the frequency and severity of symptoms," she added, "we need to know at what point these symptoms help us predict a cardiac event."

Women's symptoms not as predictable
According to Patricia A.Grady, PhD, RN, Director of the NINR, "Increasingly, it is evident that women's symptoms are not as predictable as men's. This study offers hope that both women and clinicians will realize the wide range of symptoms that can indicate heart attack. It is important not to miss the earliest possible opportunity to prevent or ease AMI, which is the number one cause of death in both women and men."

H-2-O: Toxic Avenger

Without enough water flowing through our systems to carry out wastes and toxins, we would literally drown in our own poisonous metabolic wastes. I don't mean to sound alarmist, but this is no exaggeration. Even slight dehydration can wear down our systems in ways that seriously compromise our overall quality of life.

Just as the liver is crucial to the digestive process, the kidneys are necessary for helping the body remove water and waste. The kidneys are a pair of small organs that are located near the spine at the small of the back. They take in about 20 percent of the body's blood each time the heart beats, cleans it of unwanted substances and then produce urine, the fluid by which these wastes are eliminated from the body. Normal-functioning kidneys also control the concentration levels of body fluids. If body fluids are too dilute, the kidneys expel excess water via urine. If body fluids are too concentrated, the kidneys excrete the excess solutes and hang on to the water. In short, the kidneys are all about balancing the fluids and electrolytes in our bodies so that our systems run smoothly.

If the kidneys don't get the water they need to perform these filtering functions, our health deteriorates rapidly.

Electrolyte is the scientific term for a type of salt made up of ions that are positively and negatively charged. These are the "sparks" that transfer electrical messages across cells, and this activity is what makes our bodies function. Our kidneys work to keep our electrolyte concentrations steady, since they must be replaced constantly. If they're not, dehydration can set in, which can lead to organ damage and seizures. How can we be sure that we're getting enough electrolytes? Do we need to buy specially formulated, sugar-enhanced sports drinks? Many sports physiologists actually recommend water -- that's right, plain water -- over the fancy sports drinks that are marketed to us. Experts have found that the difference in electrolyte content between water and sports drinks is important only to elite athletes who are competing professionally in endurance events. Since electrolytes are already plentiful in the American diet, moderate to regular exercisers don't have to worry about running out of these salty ions. Edible sea vegetables, the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, are a great source of electrolytes as well as of minerals and trace elements.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys and bladder regulate the fluids in our bodies and make up the Water Element. Our kidneys are fantastic waste removers; they get rid of the waste products from protein metabolism -- uric acid, urea, and lactic acid -- but they need lots of water to accomplish this.

Traditional Chinese Medicine reveres the kidneys because they distribute qi, or vital life energy, throughout the body. The kidneys are responsible for removing excess hormones, vitamins, minerals, and foreign toxins such as drugs, chemicals, and food additives.

Tips for a Good Night's Sleep

Sleep, or rather lack of good quality sleep, is often an issue for those with ADD or ADHD. Sleep is so important for our health, our well-being, our moods, our ability to focus and concentrate, but many people don’t get the sleep they need. As a result, ADD or ADHD symptoms are often worse during the day.

Readers responded to a request for sleep tips and the response was overwhelming. Thank you for helping one another. Your tips are compiled below.

Maintain a Regular Bed and Wake Up Time

Many readers find that going to bed at a set time each night and waking up at a regular time each morning promotes better sleep. Our own internal biological clock helps regulate our sleep and wake cycles. It functions according to normal day and night schedules. When we maintain a regular wake up time in the morning it helps with sleep onset at night. A consistent bedtime at night in turn helps ensure that we get the adequate sleep we need.

Develop and Maintain a Relaxing Bedtime Routine

A simple, consistent and relaxing routine before bed helps prepare your body for sleep -- listening to relaxing music or soothing “outdoor” sounds like running water or crickets, deep relaxation and breathing exercises, visualizing and channeling positive thoughts, a warm shower or bath, quiet focused playtime for children or quiet reading time for both adults and children.

A few more bedtime routine suggestions sent in from readers:

“We allow our son to take something to bed. It helps entertain his mind and hands in the event he is not ready to sleep right when he goes down.”

“My ADD son has always had difficulty letting his mind wind down so that he can fall asleep. When he was in early elementary we let him start listening to an excellent series of story tapes/CDS called ‘Adventures in Odyssey.’ They helped him relax with the lights out and eventually fall asleep.”

Read or Listen to a Book on Tape with Automatic Turn Off

Lots of readers like to read a book to prepare for sleep. One reader noted that if the book is really interesting, reading can sometimes backfire as it is easy to get sucked in to a good book and read for hours! Her suggestion? A magazine. Other readers find that listening to books in bed is helpful.

“I decided to listen to a book on tape just before bedtime. I lay in bed in the dark with my eyes closed and listened. The tape would play for 30 minutes and then click off. Funny thing was that it took me several days to finish even the first side of the first tape because I kept falling asleep after just a few minutes of listening.”

White Noise

What is white noise? Any gentle, steady, monotonous, peaceful sound like a fan humming or background sounds that are calming and not stimulating.

“I use a fan for white noise...can’t fall asleep without it. It muffles the traffic noise so it doesn’t draw my attention and wake up my brain. It also feels like an audible cushion of sorts. The room feels ‘empty’ without the fan on.”

A Warm Cup of Tea

Many readers find that a cup of warm chamomile, green or “sweet dreams” tea helps promote a good night’s sleep.

Aromatherapy

Try soothing scents like lavender, jasmine, and chamomile. One parent shares what is helpful for her daughter.

"...a shower before bed using some of the sleep specific bath gels and aromatherapy. She also has a little bean bag that is filled with herbs such as lavender and chamomile which can be heated in the microwave and put on her pillow while she sleeps.”

Melatonin

This naturally occurring hormone is secreted by a part of the brain called the pineal gland. Melatonin helps us regulate our sleep. When it is dark the production of melatonin is stimulated and when it is light the production is suppressed. Many readers have found melatonin supplements to be helpful for inducing sleep.

Another reader shares that L-Theanine combined with melatonin does the trick. L-Theanine is an amino acid commonly found in green tea leaves. It is thought to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

As with any supplements, it is important that you consult with your doctor before taking them as they may interact or interfere with other drugs you are taking.

Eat a Light Healthy Snack

Too much food before bedtime can make sleep more difficult, but many readers find that a light snack is helpful. One parent’s suggestion -- toast with shaved turkey breast and cheese microwaved for 45 seconds, then throw in a glass of milk.

Get the Computer Out of the Bedroom

The problem with the computer is that it's easy to get absorbed in it and fall into hyperfocus mode. Two or three hours of sleep time can easily pass by without you even realizing it! That is precious sleep time quickly lost. Removing the temptation of the computer from the sleep environment helps.

“I had to rearrange my room and take the computer out of there and my TV and any distractions and make it just for sleeping and maybe one other thing!”

Television/Radio: Mixed Responses

Readers had differing views on the television and radio. Some find it helpful for sleep, while others find it hinders sleep. Below are a few responses.

“I am 45 and have experienced sleeping problems since childhood. I Exercise during the day and work hard. But just a TV is able to stop my radial thoughts. Then, I sleep...”

“I truly have an urge to put on the tv to fall asleep to, but problem is I then want to stay up and watch it or flip channels! The thing that works best for me to GO to sleep is to read…”

Avoid Alcohol

Many people think of alcohol as a sedative. Indeed, it does appear to help induce sleep. The problem is though you may get to sleep a little quicker, your night time sleep will be less restful and more disruptive. The use of alcohol before bedtime will increase the number of times you wake throughout the night, so you won’t get the quality sleep you need. In addition, alcohol is a diuretic, so you’ll also be up several times during the night to urinate. One reader shares her experience with alcohol below.

“I found out that I was self medicating with it to calm down and sleep, but it actually worked the opposite way by not letting me reach some type of stage of sleep, you know the deep sleep level.”

Caffeine: Mixed Responses

Caffeine is a diuretic, so you may be making several bathroom trips during the night if you’ve consumed caffeine close to bedtime. Caffeine is also a stimulant. One reader noted that a little caffeine helped ease the restlessness she feels at nighttime, stimulating her just enough to go to sleep. Most readers, however, find it helpful to avoid caffeine at least 4 hours before bedtime.

“Sleep (or lack thereof) has always been an issue, getting to sleep in the first place, staying asleep, etc. Over the last 6 months or so, I’ve made two simple lifestyle changes that have virtually eliminated insomnia. I gave up caffeine (tea and Coke were my weaknesses!) and made a commitment to bless my body with at least 45 minutes of exercise every day. When I do slip up and drink caffeine, it totally wrecks my sleep. Had a glass of Coke at a friend's house recently -- I was up all night! Not cool.”

Exercise

Lots of readers find that exercise not only promotes good health, and overall good feelings, it also promotes good sleep. Vigorous exercise right before bed isn’t recommended, but exercise during the day will make it easier to get to sleep and stay asleep at night. Be sure to include lots of physical outdoor play for your ADD/ADHD children.

Shelve Problems That Need Solving for Later

This is a big issue for many readers. Once your head hits the pillow, problems of the day start racing through your mind making sleep impossible. Here is a tip from one reader:

“I still have days I have a full mind and I have not solved some problem or I am wrapped around the axle because something made me mad and I find myself in that negative cycle of crud! I am learning to analyze these things and realize that maybe I cannot solve them right away and I am learning to put them on a shelf for a later time...I am also learning this thing of visualizing a filter at my office door to leave work issues at work and not dwell and obsess about them at night!”

If thoughts continue to get in the way at night, try keeping a pen and pad of paper by your bedside. Jot down your thoughts and commit to returning to them at a more appropriate time during the day.

Think Positive Thoughts

Though it may take some time to readjust your thinking, try to think “happy thoughts” at bedtime. Set aside those worries and any negative thoughts and get into the habit of positive thinking at bedtime. One parent helps her child think of his favorite place -- the beach in Florida. To help visualize and reinforce these positive thoughts, she even bought her son a special clock that plays ocean wave sounds. These soothing and happy sounds have helped promote happy thoughts and good feelings around bedtime and sleep has been easier for her son.

Don’t Start New Projects at Bedtime

This goes along with maintaining a bedtime routine and a set bed time. As you approach the evening, it is not the time to begin a project you know will result in hyperfocusing and losing track of time. One reader shares:

“Another thing, or skill, I am trying to perfect, is not to start any projects or engaging things within the time I should be winding down for bed, like don't get into a distracting or hyper-focus type of thing. I used to get on the computer or into a video game or start an intense drawing to close to a reasonable bedtime and look up at the clock and realize I had just blown 3 or 4 hours of sleep time! Yikes!”

A wonderful suggestion this reader shares to help avoid a hyperfocus situation -- set a timer to prompt yourself to stop for the night.

Meditation

Several readers shared that meditation and deep breathing exercises have helped ease their mind and body into better sleep.

Check Your Iron Levels

“My 12 year old son with ADHD was found to be iron deficient. He has been on replacement therapy, and it really has seemed to help the sleep problem. I did not realize prior to this that being iron deficient would inhibit sleep!”

Some people with iron deficiency anemia do experience which can cause difficulty falling and staying asleep.

Adjust Medication Times

Several readers found that a simple addition or adjustment in their medication dosage and time helps make sleep a little easier.

Give Up Those Cigarettes

We all know smoking can be harmful to your lungs, but nicotine may also make it more difficult to fall asleep and can result in disrupted sleep during the night.

Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks Late in the Day

That extra initial energy boost from sugars can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Limit or avoid sugary foods and drinks later in the day.

A Transitional Object

A soft, plush blanket or special, safe toy can help babies and toddlers transition to bedtime. Many parents shared that a simple transitional object continues to be helpful for their older children, as well.

Sleep Environment

A good pillow always helps! Make sure your sleep environment is comfortable and conducive to sleep – pillows and mattress are comfortable, lights are dim, temperature is cool (not cold or too warm), etc.

Be Patient with Changes

Sleep issues make take some time to resolve, so be patient. Stick with your routine and slowly but surely you will begin to experience the benefits of a good night’s sleep.

Talk with Your Doctor If Sleep Problems Continue

Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, or other medical issues may be causing the sleep problems. If you continue to have concerns about sleep, consult with your doctor.

Hotdogs Can Cause Brain Tumor?

I have heard that if a child eats a certain number of hot dogs per week that the probability of a brain tumor is tremendous. Is this correct?

Answer: No, a child will not be at a greater risk of forming brain tumors if he eats too many hot dogs. However, moms-to-be may want to cut hot dogs and other processed meats such as bologna, sausage, pepperoni and other packaged luncheon meats out of their diets for that reason.

Your question probably stems from research that looked for a possible correlation between the consumption of processed meats by pregnant women and the occurrence of brain tumors in their children. Laboratory research performed on lab animals showed that substances formed from sodium nitrites would cause neurological tumors in the offspring of female animals that were fed the nitrates.

These findings spurred researches to study human populations and they found that women who ate more processed meats had children who were more likely to develop brain tumors. Later research also found that women who ate diets high in processed meats were also more likely to have babies who weighed less than they should.

While there is a correlation between mothers-to-be and childhood brain tumors, that same risk doesn't extend to the children when they eat hot dogs. Actually, while rates of childhood brain cancer went up in the 1970s through the 1990s, the amount of nitrites used in processed meats actually went down.

Hot dogs, franks, wieners or whatever you wish to call them are certainly not healthy foods for children or adults to eat even if they don't cause brain tumors in people who eat them. Like other processed meats, they are high in calories and saturated fats. Plus they contain those nitrites, which may combine with other substances to form N-Nitroso compounds in the body.

These compounds may be part of the reason why eating processed meats has been associated with a higher risk of cancer, not just brain cancer in children of women who eat processed meats, but also for colorectal cancer in adults.

Another reason why hot dogs are unhealthy may be due to the overall diet of a typical hot dog eater. People who eat high fat diets including red and processed meats are more likely to be overweight or obese, plus that hot dog may be taking the place of a much more nutritious fruit or vegetable. Hot dogs are also prone to carry the bacteria called listeria that causes foodborne illness.
Hot dogs, like all processed meats, should be eaten only rarely. While the occasional hot dog at a baseball game may not ruin your health, frequent consumption of hot dogs and other processed meats cannot be part of a healthy diet.

Bleeding During Pregnancy

Why Vaginal Bleeding Occurs During Pregnancy

Bleeding during pregnancy can be a frightening experience. There are several reasons why bleeding may occur in pregnant women. Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can pose a serious risk to you and/or your baby. Depending on the cause, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy may also not pose a serious risk. It's important to inform your health care provider immediately if you experience any amount of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.

Vaginal bleeding during the first trimester (12 weeks) occurs in many women. This does not necessarily mean that a miscarriage is immanent; however, any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should be investigated by your health care provider. Most miscarriages occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. About half of pregnant women who experience vaginal bleeding during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy do not have a miscarriage. If you pass anything you think is fetal tissue be sure to take it to your health care provider for examination.

Unfortunately, most miscarriages are not preventable; a miscarriage is often nature's way of dealing with abnormalities. Exercise and sex have not been proven to cause miscarriage, in fact continuing regular exercise (always check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program during pregnancy) during pregnancy can help ease labor when it is time for your new baby to be born. Fifteen to twenty percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage.

Another potential cause of bleeding during early pregnancy is having an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself in one of the fallopian tubes. This is often called a "tubal pregnancy." Ectopic pregnancy is much less common than miscarriage occurring in about one out of sixty pregnancies.

An extremely rare cause of vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy is a molar pregnancy. A molar pregnancy occurs when abnormal tissue grows rather than an embryo. This type of pregnancy is often referred to as gestational trophoblastic disease or GTD; it may also be called a "mole."

Vaginal bleeding during late pregnancy is often due to an inflamed cervix or cervical growths. Bleeding during late pregnancy may be a serious health risk to both the woman and the fetus, and may require hospitalization. Heavy vaginal bleeding during late pregnancy is, most often, an indicator of a problem with the placenta. The two most common problems that involve the placenta are placenta previa and placental abruption.

Placenta previa occurs in about one out of every two hundred pregnancies. If your placenta is laying low in the uterus it can cover all or part of the cervix. While many women experience placenta previa early in pregnancy, the placenta often moves before labor occurs. If a woman has placenta previa in the last weeks of pregnancy, a cesarean section will be scheduled. Placenta previa poses a serious risk to both the mother and the baby if it is not diagnosed and labor is allowed to occur; both the mother and baby are at risk of death in this situation. Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is often the first sign of placenta previa.

Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus either before or during labor; most often, placental abruption occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding may occur or not; most women will experience stomach pain even if they do not have any obvious bleeding. Fortunately, placental abruption occurs in only about one percent of pregnancies.

When labor arrives, many women will experience a "bloody show." This is when the plug that covers the opening of the cervix during pregnancy is passed shortly before birth occurs. This often contains a small amount of blood and mucous; it is quite common and not a health threat if it happens with a few weeks of your due date.

Remember anytime vaginal bleeding occurs during pregnancy, whether early pregnancy or late pregnancy, it should be reported to your health care provider.

What Cause Schizo?

There is no known single cause of schizophrenia. Many diseases, such as heart disease, result from interplay of genetic, behavioral, and other factors; and this may be the case for schizophrenia as well.

Is Schizophrenia Inherited?
It has long been known that schizophrenia runs in families. People who have a close relative with schizophrenia are more likely to develop the disorder than are people who have no relatives with the illness. For example, an identical twin of a person with schizophrenia a has the highest risk – 40 to 50 percent – of developing the illness. A child whose parent has schizophrenia has about a 10 percent chance. By comparison, the risk of schizophrenia in the general population is about 1 percent.

Scientists are studying genetic factors in schizophrenia. It appears likely that multiple genes are involved in creating a predisposition to develop the disorder. In addition, factors such as prenatal difficulties like intrauterine starvation or viral infections, perinatal complications, and various nonspecific stressors, seem to influence the development of schizophrenia. However, it is not yet understood how the genetic predisposition is transmitted, and it cannot yet be accurately predicted whether a given person will or will not develop the disorder.

Several regions of the human genome are being investigated to identify genes that may confer susceptibility for schizophrenia. The strongest evidence to date leads to chromosomes 13 and 6 but remains unconfirmed. Identification of specific genes involved in the development of schizophrenia will provide important clues into what goes wrong in the brain to produce and sustain the illness and will guide the development of new and better treatments. To learn more about the genetic basis for schizophrenia, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has established a Schizophrenia Genetics Initiative that is gathering data from a large number of families of people with the illness.

Is Schizophrenia Associated With A Chemical Defect In The Brain?
Basic knowledge about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia is expanding rapidly. Neurotransmitters, substances that allow communication between nerve cells, have long been thought to be involved in the development of schizophrenia. It is likely, although not yet certain, that the disorder is associated with some imbalance of the complex, interrelated chemical systems of the brain, perhaps involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate. This area of research is promising.

Is Schizophrenia Caused By A Physical Abnormality In The Brain?
There have been dramatic advances in neuroimaging technology that permit scientists to study brain structure and function in living individuals. Many studies of people with schizophrenia have found abnormalities in brain structure (for example, enlargement of the fluid-filled cavities, called the ventricles, in the interior of the brain, and decreased size of certain brain regions) or function (for example, decreased metabolic activity in certain brain regions). It should be emphasized that these abnormalities are quite subtle and are not characteristic of all people with schizophrenia, nor do they occur only in individuals with this illness. Microscopic studies of brain tissue after death have also shown small changes in distribution or number of brain cells in people with schizophrenia. It appears that many (but probably not all) of these changes are present before an individual becomes ill, and schizophrenia may be, in part, a disorder in development of the brain.

Developmental neurobiologists funded by the NIMH have found that schizophrenia may be a developmental disorder resulting when neurons form inappropriate connections during fetal development. These errors may lie dormant until puberty, when changes in the brain that occur normally during this critical stage of maturation interact adversely with the faulty connections. This research has spurred efforts to identify prenatal factors that may have some bearing on the apparent developmental abnormality.

In other studies, investigators using brain-imaging techniques have found evidence of early biochemical changes that may precede the onset of disease symptoms, prompting examination of the neural circuits that are most likely to be involved in producing those symptoms. Meanwhile, scientists working at the molecular level are exploring the genetic basis for abnormalities in brain development and in the neurotransmitter systems regulating brain function.

Source: National Institutes of Mental Health articles and brochures on Schizophrenia

Top 10 Causes of Death Among Adults

In 2003 there were a total of 2,448,288 deaths in the United States. The list here represents the number of deaths for the leading causes of deaths overall.

The information is from the latest data on the leading causes of death overall from the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics. The data is based on the latest statistics available from 2003.

1. Heart disease accounting for 654,092 deaths.
2. Cancer accounting for 550,270 deaths.
3. Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases) accounting for 150,147 deaths.
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases accounting for 123,884 deaths.
5. Accidents (unintentional injuries) accounting for 108,694 deaths.
6. Diabetes accounting for 72,815 deaths.
7. Alzheimer's disease accounting for 65,829 deaths.
8. Influenza and Pneumonia accounting for 61,472 deaths.
9. Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis accounting for 42,762 deaths.
10. Septicemia accounting for 33,464 deaths.