Health Alert

Healthy Fried Food

2012-02-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

You like fried foods, but want to make them a little healthier. Maybe the answer is olive oil.

Let's be honest, who doesn't like fried food once in a while.

But the problem is that fried foods can be bad for your health, especially if consumed too much. They can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and even high blood pressure. All of which can increase a person's chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

A group of researchers out of Spain, where both sunflower and olive oil are just about the only oils someone can find, wanted to see what the difference would be if foods were fried in these healthier types of oils. After following over 40,000 adults for 11 years, they found that when people used olive or sunflower oil to fry foods they didn't increase their risk of coronary heart disease or death. But that doesn't give us a blank excuse to consume more fried foods, even if cooked with healthier oils. It's still best to practice my favorite word, moderation, and add in plenty of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables. That's the best way to keep your heart healthy all year long.

Avoid Blood Clots, No Window Seat

2012-02-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

Avoiding blood clots while flying might mean picking the right seat.

New guidelines are out on the best ways to avoid getting a blood clot while flying, and one suggestion is to not pick a window seat.

It's the so-called Economy Class Syndrome. The thinking is that blood clots form during long flights when someone is sitting in the less roomy economy class section. The new guidelines just put out by the American College of Chest Physicians say that it's not the economy class section that causes these clots to form, but sitting anywhere for long periods, even in first class, can be the reason. The same goes if you are driving in a car or bus or even taking a train. If you sit still for long periods of time your chances of getting a blood clot in your legs goes up. But overall, the risk for most of us is pretty low. Your chances go up if you choose a window seat.

This group of experts does recommend a few things to help make sure a blood clot doesn't form. For flights lasting more than 6 hours they recommend frequently getting up and walking around the aisles and stretching out your calf muscles. They suggest not getting the window seat since it's tougher to get out and walk around. But when seated, even by the window, you can do calf stretches or use knee-high compression stockings to help as well.

Staying Limber & Agile With Green Tea

2012-02-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

Want to stay limber and agile as you get older? Green tea may be the answer.

It looks like green tea can actually help us stay independent as we get older, and that's a good thing.

The goal as always is to age not only gracefully but with as much independence as possible. But as we age we also tend to lose flexibility and balance which can lead to more falls and fractures. So one key to staying independent into our twilight years is to stay as flexible as possible and that's where green tea comes into play.

A new Japanese study, just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, followed almost 14 thousand people aged 65 or older. Researchers found that drinking green tea cut the chances of developing what's known as a functional disability nearly in half. The more people drank green tea the lower their risk of developing a disability that could impact their independence. Other studies have shown that green tea can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and even strokes and maybe even help someone maintain muscle strength as they get older.

Although researchers aren't sure why green tea has these benefits they do point out that it has more antioxidants than even black tea.

iPad Shoulder

2012-01-31T17:49:00.000-08:00

You may have heard of BlackBerry thumb, well how about iPad shoulder?

It sounds painful and it can be, especially if you've been using an iPad or other tablet computer for a while.

These new conditions are a byproduct of our increasingly convenient technologies. BlackBerry thumb refers to the pain someone gets from texting too much. It's a repetitive type of injury. But now doctors are seeing more patients complain of shoulder and neck pain and finding out it's probably related to their tablet computer, or more specifically how they use that tablet.

Most of us hold the tablet either flat on a table or our laps, or vertically up in the air. Both of these positions can force you to use a poor posture and that can put a strain on your neck and shoulders. The longer you use the tablet the more that strain can grow.

Some things you can do to avoid this problem are to switch positions during the day when you're using the tablet. This will allow body areas to get a break every now and then. Also, when using a tablet, put it down every now and then and stretch out your neck and shoulder muscles. And although this might defeat some of the benefits of a tablet, using a keyboard can help as well. The main thing is to make sure your technology is helping you and not hurting you.

Chocking Game

2012-01-31T17:28:00.000-08:00

You may not have heard of it, but chances are your kids have. And it's a game that can be deadly.

It's called the "choking game" or sometimes just "the game" and is exactly like it sounds. Someone chokes themselves, or has someone do it for them, to try and get a buzz. But that "game" has led to deaths. And unfortunately, according to a new study, more students are doing it than we thought.

Researchers from the Sam Houston State University found that almost 1 out of every 7 students surveyed had played this deadly game at one time or another. And on the average, most of them started when they were only 14.

What essentially happens is someone will try and choke themselves with their hands, or have someone else do it. That cuts off the blood supply to the brain and causes a very brief buzz. That buzz comes from brain cells not getting the oxygen they need. Unfortunately, this also led to fainting, seizures and convulsions and in some instances death. Sometimes, something wrapped around the neck or plastic bags over the head are used for the same reason.

What the survey did show was that oftentimes the main reason for playing this game was simply curiosity. Most had heard about it from their friends. So, talking to your kids about this game and its dangers is one key to making sure they don't end up getting hurt because of it.

Allergic To Cold Weather

2012-01-24T16:14:00.000-08:00

You've heard of people being allergic to all sorts of things. But can they actually be allergic to cold weather?

As odd as it sounds, people can truly be allergic to the cold.

Every now and then doctors see patients with allergic hives and can't quite figure out what is causing the obvious allergic reaction. After testing for the usual offenders, things like detergent, shellfish, nuts and animal dander, the doctor scratches his or her head and ends up treating the symptoms without being able to figure out the cause. And although the strangest things can seemingly cause an allergic reaction, including cold weather, it's been hard to pin down if this is a true phenomenon or not. Until now.

A new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine found a genetic mutation in people with this kind of allergy. In other words, they've found out it really does happen and now they know why.

Usually what happens is after being out in the cold weather for a few minutes, someone with this type of allergy will start getting itchy hives. In extreme cases they might even develop life-threatening reactions. The treatment is to warm up. To be safe, taking an antihistamine before going out in the cold weather can help. And keeping an Epipen, used to treat severe reactions, on hand when out in the cold is a potentially life-saving step.

Playing Games Help Fight Alzheimer's

2012-01-24T16:08:00.001-08:00

Playing games might be just what the doctor ordered. At least when it comes to avoiding Alzheimer's.

We are talking about mind games, things like Sudoku and chess. But even games like Angry Birds, that smartphone APP, might help keep you from getting Alzheimer's.

We've known for some time that both mind games and physical activity worked to keep the mind sharp as we get older. But now we know that the same things might also help keep the bigger problem of Alzheimer's at bay.

Research, just published in the Journal Archives of Neurology, found that those study participants that played more mind games also had less of the protein build up in the brain thought to cause Alzheimer's Disease.

According to these researchers, it didn't matter what types of games or mind activities someone used, just that they did them early and often. As a matter of fact, starting them in early and middle life seemed to offer the most protection from this protein buildup.

But no matter how young or old you are, it is really never too late to start picking up the game habit. So grab a puzzle or a smartphone game and start playing away. That might be one big step towards keeping your mind sharp.

Acne & Overweight Girls

2012-01-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

Acne is one of the tough parts of the teenage years. But overweight teen girls seem to have a higher risk of this than other teens.

Most of us can think back to our teen years and remember that acne breakout right before a big event, like the prom or school photos. And today's teens still have to work through this tough skin time period in their lives. But for overweight or obese teen girls, acne might be an even tougher issue.

Researchers recently questioned teenagers about their health and lifestyle habits. They found a connection between acne and weight for girls, but surprisingly not for boys. These researchers found that girls who were overweight or obese also reported more overall problems with acne.

But what the researchers didn't know was what was causing this connection. It's possible that overweight and obese girls have more self image issues, so pay closer attention to their skin issues as well. But it's also possible that being overweight causes hormonal issues that can make acne worse. Either way, getting weight under control, for both teenage boys and girls can go a long way towards improving their health. And it might also help improve their skin as well.

Sitting & Depression

2012-01-17T18:08:00.000-08:00

We tend to sit most of our days. But can sitting too much lead to depression?

It turns out that sitting, especially if you do it most of the day, can be bad for your health in more ways than one.

We've known for a few years that sitting too much during the day raises your chances of being overweight. And although exercise is important, it's the little fidgeting we do while standing during the day that really helps keep those extra pounds away. So, spending house sitting at work can lead to a bigger waistline.

But new research is showing that same long sitting time can also take its toll on your mental health. Scientists looked at more than 1,000 workers and compared how long they sat to how healthy they were and how well they felt. Turns out on average most of us sit more than 5.5 hours at our desks every day. And this study found the more people sat, the more they weighed. But surprisingly researchers also found the more people sat, the more problems they had with their mental well being. And the more people sat at work, the more they tended to sit at home as well, adding to the amount of "down" time they had, which can take an even bigger toll on their health.

But the solution is simple. If you can get a standing desk, great. But if not, taking breaks a few times every hour just to stand up and stretch can help. And instead of sending an e-mail or talking to an office worker on the phone, get up and make it a face-to-face conversation. That little step could help you look and feel better.

Distracted Walking

2012-01-17T18:01:00.000-08:00

You see them just about everywhere these days, earbuds and headphones. But wearing them might increase your chances of getting run over.

We are talking about the small buds or even larger headphones people use to listen to music. They fit nicely inside the ear and give you a great sound, but they also tend to block out any outside noise and that's where the problem comes in.

It's basically distracted walking and it's taking a bigger toll around the country than you'd probably think. A new study has found that the number of pedestrians seriously injured or killed while walking near roads or railways while wearing headphones or earbuds has tripled in the last 6 years alone. Although the numbers are still small, with only 47 deaths happening this way last year, that's still a big increase for the 16 occurring back in 2004 and 2005. This study, published in the Journal Prevention found that in some cases horns or even sirens were used before the pedestrian was struck.

We've heard recently about the issues with distracted driving, but now it looks like we need to concentrate a bit more on avoiding distracted walking. Something that unfortunately could prove fatal. But the solution is simple, turn down the volume and pay attention to what's going on around you, especially if crossing a street.

Nicotine Patches: Do They Work?

2012-01-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

When it comes to quitting smoking, that nicotine patch many use might not do the trick.

It looks like the nicotine replacements don't work as well as most of us thought, at least not by themselves.

Hopefully many smokers are trying to break the habit this new year. That's one of the best things you can do for your own health. But according to this new study, if you're just using nicotine patches, gum or lozenges alone, that might not do the trick.

Researchers have found that these nicotine substitutes didn't help someone quit smoking over the long term any more than just going cold turkey. Those types of nicotine replacements were not the "magic" pill needed to kick the habit. But they do seem to work well if used along with professional therapy offering counseling and advice on how to cut back on this habit. As a matter of fact, those trying to quit by using the patches or gum alone ended up smoking again twice as often as those using these same nicotine replacements along with counseling.

And here in Colorado that counseling, and the nicotine patches, are supplied for free. All you need to do is call the Colorado Quitline. It's funded by the state and is set up to help you with what you need to quit, something that's sometimes tough to do on your own. To get a hold of the Quitline simply call 1-800-Quit-Now or go to www.coquit.org.

Eating Out Weight Loss

2012-01-10T18:01:00.000-08:00

You want to lose weight, but find yourself eating out a lot. What can you do?

It basically has to do with portion control, but oftentimes that's easier said than done.

If you're trying to lose weight, or even more often simply trying not to gain weight, then eating out can be tough. That's mainly because of the big calorie laden portions restaurants serve.

And what most of us don't realize is that our brains are trained to "clean" off our plates so more than likely whatever is put in front of us goes into our stomachs. So cutting back on what's served to you can also cut down on your weight. In a word, controlling your portions can also help control your weight.

Some tips experts give include splitting a meal with someone else, that way you only get half of what's served. And in most restaurants, that half will be more than enough. Also, instead of ordering an entree plate order off the a la carte side of the menu. In other words did you really want three tacos with rice and beans or just a couple of tacos by themselves? By simply using these tips researchers were able to get a group of middle aged women to lose 3 to 4 pounds over a six week period. They simply did it by watching portion size, picking less fattening foods and putting down their forks before they felt stuffed. Something all of us can do, especially when eating out.

Kids, Junk Food & ADHD

2012-01-10T17:42:00.000-08:00

Kids and junk food go hand-in-hand, but could that be one reason behind the rise in ADHD.

It looks like food might affect more than just the weight of a child, especially if they have ADHD.

Over the last few years, there have been a lot of diets that claim to help control Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in kids. These have included diets that restricted certain types of food coloring or eliminated things they might be allergic to like wheat, eggs or nuts. But researchers found that these types of restrictive diets don't actually do much in the way of controlling ADHD symptoms. Instead these researchers found that the best way to help out, diet wise, was to put the child on what is essentially a healthy and balanced eating program. After looking at more than 70 prior studies and grouping the results all together, these researchers found that a simple diet high in whole grains along with fruits and veggies, while staying low in fats did the best at controlling kids ADHD symptoms.

But they also point out that oftentimes diet alone might not do the trick and should be used in combination with behavioral therapy and treatments with medication when needed. But all in all, getting your kids on a healthy diet, in addition to simply keeping them healthier, might also get some behaviors under control.

Acts Of Kindness & Mood

2012-01-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

Can random acts of kindness improve your own mood? Turns out it can.

You probably heard stories over this past holiday season about people's "good Samaritan" acts. They donated time, donated money, paid off other people's layaway bills. Although this happens often during the holidays, doing something to help someone else anytime during the year may actually help you.

Research is showing that helping someone else out can actually treat depression. And this type of treatment is very effective and usually low cost. According to the researchers involved in a new study, although doing something positive for someone else might only seem like it makes you feel good for a short time after, it can actually have a longer lasting effect. And the more often it's done, the longer that effect hangs around.

Plus, in a pay-it-forward kind of way, it can actually affect other parts of your life as well. Helping others can help your depression, which puts you in a better mood. Your family or co-workers might recognize this better mood and compliment you on something, putting you in an even better mood. This can snowball over time to help increase your own self worth.

So the secret here is to do something for someone else, and it doesn't even have to cost you anything. Thank the cashier at the store, help someone shovel snow, or even let someone take the parking spot you were eyeballing. These simple acts can go a long way towards improving your own mood all year long.

Exercise For Kids Makes Them Smarter

2012-01-03T16:34:00.000-08:00

Exercise can help keep your kids fit. But now it looks like it might also help keep them smart.

Turns out this is another example of the overall health benefits of exercise, especially as children and their brains are developing.

A group of Dutch scientists combed through earlier research on children to see how exercise actually affected them. They looked at over 12,000 children from the United States, Canada and South Africa. These researchers found a huge connection between exercise and academic performance. As a matter of fact, they found the more physical activity children had the higher test scores they also had, especially in the basic subjects Math, English and Reading.

According to the authors of this study, part of the reason this might be happening is because exercise increases the blood and oxygen flow to the brain. This can help increase the hormones that reduce stress and at the same time bring on new nerve cells in the brain which help with academics.

So in addition to hitting the books, getting regular exercise this year might translate to a better report card.

Healthy Resolutions

2012-01-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

Now that the New Year has come and gone, it’s time to think about those resolutions you made.

You probably didn’t keep all of last year's, but now its time for new ones, especially ones dealing with your health.

First off, make a resolution to schedule a check up with your doctor, get all the necessary screening tests that are appropriate for your age, and the vaccinations that can keep you healthy. Remember, don’t just go to the doctor when you’re sick. Treat your body like your car and schedule a check up now.

Next, make a resolution to find out what foods can keep you healthy and make sure you have those around the house. Get rid of the ones that aren’t good for you. That bag of chips in the pantry can be too tempting to ignore.

And always remember to give yourself the gift of time - everyday. Just 15 minutes a day to relax and you’ll find yourself more refreshed all year long.

But also remember to stay as fit as possible. Set aside 30 minutes at least 3-4 times a week for some type of exercise. It doesn't matter as much what you do, just that you do something consistently.

But the hardest part will come around late February or March as our resolutions start to gather dust. Here’s when you’ll need to recommit to staying physically active and healthy. That’s something a good strong New Year’s resolution plan will help with.

Lose Weight, Get Smaller Plate

2011-12-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

This is the holiday season, but it's also the season for most of us to gain a pound or two. So, how do you keep those pounds off?

It's simple, easy and cheap, but something most of us don't do---portion control. And the big tip here is to change the size of your plates.

Measure the size of your dinner plates. Chances are they are 10 to 12 inches across. In a restaurant, they are most likely 12 to 14 inches wide. The interesting things is that if you happen to have and plates from your parents or grandparents, from back in the 60s or so, they'll probably only measure around 8 inches. The point is that plate size has increased over the years and that means portion size has gone up as well. That increase in portion size is what's helping pack on the pounds. So, by simply changing out to smaller 8 to 9 inch plates, you'll lose weight.

Here's why. We tend to stop eating based on what are called external factors---in other words, we eat until our plate is clean when we should only be eating until we start to feel full. And researchers have found that we'll do the same with smaller plates, but since the portion sizes are smaller we tend to eat less. It's a very cheap and very effective way to trick our brains into cutting back on how much we eat and a great way to start shedding pounds.

Dads: Help Out More

2011-12-13T16:37:00.000-08:00

When it comes to household duties, it looks like dads are doing a better job. But there is still some room for improvement, because moms are still more stressed out.

A new study does show that the American dad has really paid attention and now is doing more of the housework than ever before. As a matter of fact, dads and moms now spend pretty much equal amounts of time working both in and out of the house. So it seems all should be well, right?

But it turns out that moms end up doing a lot more multitasking when they are doing their chores which adds to the amount of stress they feel. In other words, moms juggle dishes, helping kids with homework and planning tomorrow's carpool all at the same time. Dads on the other hand do one task at a time. And that means they probably don't get as much done as the moms do.

So, although dads can feel pretty good about helping out more around the house, they also need to realize that moms are still doing the majority of the work and could use a little more help. That means the next time you see her trying to do 4 things at once, jump in and take some of those chores off her plate.

Cookie Dough Warning

2011-12-13T16:20:00.000-08:00

Just about all of us love cookies. But if you're one who also loves eating cookie dough, pay attention.

A new study, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Disease found that the culprit of a multi-state E.coli food poisoning outbreak was ready-to-bake prepackaged cookie dough. This dough was the type found in most grocery stores. Although the Centers For Disease Control doesn't know which ingredient caused the widespread sickness that landed many in the hospital, it's probably not what most of us think would be the dangerous part of the batter, the eggs. Instead researchers think this outbreak was because of the flour used in the batter. Other ingredients, including the eggs, molasses and sugar go through a rigorous process to kill germs, the flour does not. And that contaminated dough can cause food poisoning if the batter is eaten raw.

The CDC is recommending that manufactures make all ingredients safe to eat. But in the meanwhile the researchers involved in this study are asking that we simply bake cookies before eating them. Although the dough might taste good, it might also cause you to end up in the hospital.

How Much You Sleep In Your Genes

2011-12-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

Are you a big sleeper needing 9 or 10 hours a night, or someone that can just get by with 6 or 7? Well, how much you sleep might be determined by your genetic makeup.

We've known for a while that some people need plenty of sleep to function each day. Others of us can get by with just a few hours. And for the group that needs more sleep, they don't know how the other group does it.

But researchers in Europe have found a gene in our bodies that might have a lot to do with how much sleep we actually need. They studied more than 4,000 people across the continent and found those with a change in the gene called ABCC9 needed more sleep than those without. They also looked at fruit flies and found the same ABCC9 gene and sleep connection with them.

It turns out that this gene is used by our bodies to determine how much energy our cells are using. And depending on how much energy they use, you might need more or less sleep. The hope is that scientists can use this information to help people with sleep problems. But in the meantime, if someone gives you are hard time about how much or little you sleep, tell them it's because of your ABCC9.

Who's The Better Driver?

2011-12-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

When it comes to driving, guess who's causing the most accident? It's probably not who you think.

It's men in 4-wheel drives. At least when it comes to driving on our winter roads.

A new study out of Purdue University looked at more than 23,000 accident reports covering all weather conditions, including dry roads; wet, rainy roads; and slick, snowy and icy roads. The researchers involved in this study found out a few surprising things. Although this won't solve the big debate as to who's the best overall type of driver, it did find out that different ones of us get in more accidents depending on what the conditions are like.

Younger men, under 45, do much worse when the roads are dry. That's probably because they can get overconfident and simply drive too fast. But when the roads are wet, it's women who have the most accidents. Researchers think this is because they fail to sense the reduced friction on the wet roads.

But probably not too surprising to anyone driving around during a snow storm here, it's the men over 45 who are much more likely to crash when the roads are slick and icy. As a matter of fact, they are five times more likely to have an accident. And if they are driving a pickup truck, most likely with 4-wheel drive, then they also are the biggest hazard on the road. This is probably because they get overconfident in how well they can get past slower non-4-wheel drive vehicles that are being cautious. But they also forget that just because they have more traction when moving, they stop just like everyone else and end up in more overall accidents.

So, the bottom line for all of us---slow down.

Measles Comeback

2011-12-06T17:09:00.000-08:00

It's a disease you probably haven't heard much about recently. But it's making a strong comeback and its proving deadly for some.

We're talking about measles; something most of use don't even think about these days. You've probably only hear about it when your kids get vaccinated with the MMR, that's the measles, mumps and rubella shot.

That's because over the last few decades we've made great strides in holding this disease at bay, at least here in the U.S. Back in the 1950s there were up to 4 million cases of measles in this country with about 500 people dying because of it every year. The vaccine, introduced in 1963, dramatically cut that down. But it looks like it's starting to come back. This year there have been 205 cases, the most in a decade. Typically we only get about 50 cases per year, so this is a 5-fold increase. Many of these come from travelers to other countries including Europe where they are seeing very large numbers of measles cases. France along has had 14,000. According to The World Health Organization, many of these outbreaks, here and in other parts of the world, happen because of low vaccination rates, making people, and children in particular, more susceptible to the virus.

And since measles can prove deadly, especially to infants, public health experts are pushing for parents to continue to get their children vaccinated against this and other diseases, even ones most of us might have thought were a thing of the past.

Toy Safety Tips

2011-12-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

The holiday season means plenty of shopping. But when you are looking for that special toy, there are some safety tips to keep in mind.

Last year, more than 100,000 children were treated in emergency rooms for toy related injuries. By following some simple tips put out by the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can make sure those special gifts you buy are both fun and safe.

Your main job is to become a label reader. Look for warning like "not recommended for children under three," "flame retardant" or "flame resistant." Then look for and pay attention to the age recommendation on the packaging.

But on top of all this, keep certain basic guidelines in mind. The two biggest ones being making sure a toy is free of sharp edges and that all pull toys you get have short stings, less than 12 inches, to prevent an infant from getting strangled. However, you need to keep in mind that some toys might produce sharp edges if they're broken, so avoid fragile looking ones.

It's also important you check out the toys before hand to make sure they won't be a choking hazard. The general rule here is for children, especially under three - buy them toys with individual parts that are still larger than their mouths so they won't be able to fit them in and choke.

And be very careful with toys that have magnets or button type batteries. Both of these are very dangerous and even deadly for younger children if swallowed.

Just keep these tips in mind when braving the store crowds over the next few weeks. You'll find that perfect gift and keep the holidays happy and healthy.

Daytime Snacking & Weight Loss

2011-12-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

Want to lose a few pounds? Maybe the secret is in when you grab that daytime snack.

We all love to snack at some time or another during the day. But it's not so much in the "what" you snack on, but the "when" you snack that's important. And it seems that morning snacking, grabbing that quick bite between breakfast and lunch, could be what's ruining your diet.

A new weight loss study found that the timing of your snacking could be more important than we thought, especially when you're trying to lose weight. Women involved in this study were overweight or obese and between the ages of 50 and 75 lost more weight. Although almost all of the women snacked during the day, those who snacked mid-morning didn't lose as much weight as the others.

Part of the reason might be because researchers also found that morning snackers tended to snack more frequently during the day. And those more frequent snacks added extra calories and hurt their attempts to lose weight.

But that doesn't mean you need to stop snacking all together, especially since other studies have shown that snackers tend to eat more fruits and veggies. Instead, try and limit your snacking and keep it to the afternoon.

Age Gap & Academic Success

2011-11-29T18:01:00.000-08:00

One big question when it comes to having another child is "when?" Turns out the answer could impact their academic success.

Is it better to have children closer together so they can play, or further apart so the first child can become more independent. It seems like when it comes to the future academic success of your kids, the greater age gap the better. At least that's the conclusion of a study just published in the Journal of Human Resources. Economic researchers looked at more than 12,000 siblings between the ages of 14 and 22. They found that when there was a bigger age gap, the older child was more likely to do better on math and reading tests.

The magic age gap, according to these researchers, appeared to be 2 years. They speculate that part of the reason this is happening is because it's easier for a parent to spend more productive time with the older child when he or she is still in the crucial 1- to 2-year-old language development stage. If the second baby comes along during that time period, the older child might not get the same language exposure.

But if you do have children closer together, don't lose hope. The key here is to make sure you read to your children as much as possible, especially the older one and constantly talk to them.

Lose Weight, Eat Slower

2011-11-29T17:43:00.000-08:00

When it comes to losing weight, one key might be in just how fast or slow you eat.

It turns out that slow eating might be one key to keeping slim. But one group of us doesn't do a very good job of that---guys! So, you are probably packing on more unwanted pounds over the holidays.

New research out of the University of Rhode Island discovered a couple of things about our eating habits. First off, probably not a surprise to anyone, men eat significantly faster than women. In their study they saw that men consumed about 80 calories per minute. Women, on the other hand, only ate 52 calories per minute. But they also found that heavier people eat faster than slimmer ones.

The importance behind the eating time difference is that it takes our body time to catch up to itself and tell our minds that we are full. If you're a fast eater, you tend to eat more than your body needs and that packs on the pounds. Slower eaters give their body more time to put out it's "fullness" signal so they won't take in as many calories.

So the secret to keeping weight off this holiday season, and all year long for that matter, is to slow down while eating. That will also give you more time to enjoy your company or surroundings.

Avoiding The Holiday Blues

2011-11-22T17:23:00.000-08:00

The holidays are a wonderful time, but not everyone can enjoy them.

They call it the holiday blues because for some people they can get sad and depressed this time of year. But there are ways to avoid it.

Here's the main problem:
It looks like everyone else is enjoying the holiday season, but you just feel lonely and depressed. You might have family or job issues or you can't afford that special gift a loved one wants. These "holiday blues" can be intense and unsettling. But the good news is they are usually very short-lived and they tend to go away after the holiday rush is over and daily routines are resumed.

These "blues" are a normal response to a very stressful time of year. Everyone gets a little frazzled right about now, but those with the "holiday blues" experience more intense symptoms ranging from headaches, to sleep problems and maybe even full blown depression.

Some things can help you avoid this. Keep your expectations of yourself and others realistic. Not everyone's home is going to look like a magazine home and you don't have to buy that expensive gift someone is eyeing. Share your time by volunteering this time of the year, that will help you put things into perspective. Let go of past issues, spend time with people you care about, and try to make new friends. Also, look for activities like caroling, these are usually the ones that remind us of our carefree childhood days. Of course, getting plenty of rest and exercise during this stressful season can also help you feel you're best.

Avoiding Holiday Heartburn

2011-11-22T17:09:00.000-08:00

This week is the start of the holiday season, but it can also mean time for your heartburn to return.

It's that dreaded holiday heartburn any of us can get from simply eating way too much of certain foods this time of year.

Just picture what you'll be eating this Thanksgiving and at all the other holiday meals. That plate piled high with great food might taste wonderful, but you also might end up paying the price with heartburn. This happens when acid flows back up your esophagus, or feeding tube, that can cause not only heartburn, but also wheezing, coughing and a sore throat.

If this happens to you around this time of year, it's probably because you are eating large amounts of so-called "trigger" foods, foods that set off your heartburn. But you can help yourself by avoiding, as best you can, the foods that do this. For most of us that means limiting fatty cheeses, peppermint and peppermint flavored drinks and desserts, eggnog, hot chocolate and alcohol. For others it means limiting tomato based products and citrus type drinks. And if this tends to affect you on a regular basis, medicines, some available over the counter, can help as well, but these usually have to be taken on a regular basis.

The goal here is to have you still enjoy all this holiday has to offer, but to slow down just a bit when it comes to the overindulging most of us do.

Hearing Loss

2011-11-17T17:41:00.000-08:00

More of us are having troubles with our hearing than you'd probably think.

A first of its kind national analysis found that almost one-our-of-five of us have significant hearing loss. But it's not just happening as we get older, but even kids as young as 12 are having permanent hearing problems. That puts the number of those having hearing impairment at about 48 million. In some cases the problem is so severe that it's tough to make out normal conversation even just sitting down in a restaurant. This number is surprising since prior estimates were around 29 million.

Part of the concern is that a decline in hearing can also mean a higher risk of getting dementia. A lot of times this happens, the hearing loss, to older adults and occurs so gradually that they often don't realize it's happening. And that's why experts are pushing for more regular hearing tests, to catch a problem when it's still early on.

For younger adults and children, hearing loss often occurs because of our plugged-in society. Ear phones and ear buds, with music turned up loud, can take their toll on young hearing.

So the bottom line is for all of us to pay a bit more attention to not only our hearing but also the hearing of those around us. If you're constantly having to repeat yourself, or are frequently getting misunderstood, then maybe suggesting a simple hearing test might be just what the doctor ordered.

Tooth Decay & Heart Disease

2011-11-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

One way to fight heart disease could also leave you with healthy teeth.

As strange as this sounds, getting regular dental cleaning could also lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

We've known for years that there is a connection between how healthy your teeth are and your chances of having heart disease. That's because having tooth decay and periodontal disease leads to an increase in inflammation around the mouth. That inflammation can spread to other parts of the body including the heart, causing the risk of having a heart attack to rise.

So, keeping teeth clean is important, but two new studies show just how much needs to be done. In one study, following more than 100,000 Taiwanese for 7 years, those who had their teeth cleaned by a dentist at least twice a year cut their risk of having either a heart attack or stroke.

In a separate Swedish study, researchers found that different types of gum disease lead to different problems. People who fewer teeth and more infections at the base of the teeth they had left, also had a greater risk of a heart attack or congestive heart failure. On the other hand, those with more gum bleeding also had a bigger risk of having a stroke.

So, the bottom line is to take care of your teeth and they will help you take care of your heart.

Getting Your Kids' Cholesterol Checked

2011-11-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

It's pretty common to know your cholesterol numbers, but how about your kids?

There is a new recommendation to get cholesterol checked at a younger age than you'd probably think. How about as early as 9?

Although that might be a bit of a surprise for most parents, guidelines just released by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute call for cholesterol screening of children between the ages of 9 and 11. This recommendation is also being endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. And because cholesterol naturally dips a bit during puberty, but can rise right after, they also recommend children get retested between 17 and 21.

The panel of experts that came up with the recommendations is also suggesting diabetes screening every two years for certain children. In particular, starting at age 9, those that are overweight or have a family history of type 2 diabetes should get tested regularly tested for this disease.

The reason behind these new recommendations are because of the increasing number of children with what used to be adult-only problems, high cholesterol and blood sugars. And since around 10% of the 4th graders already have high cholesterol, if we wait until they are in their 20s it can already start taking its toll on their body.

Importance Of Vitamin D For Spinal Surgery

2011-11-10T15:50:00.000-08:00

Before a big spinal surgery you have plenty of things to think about, but you might also need to pay attention to your vitamin D level.

It's because going into surgery, many patients are low in vitamin D and this vitamin is important to get the bone to heal.

We've talked before about how many people are low in vitamin D, especially here in Colorado. And we also have found that vitamin D plays a role in keeping our risk of getting cancer, diabetes and even multiple sclerosis low. But for spinal surgery patients, vitamin D's role in keeping our bones strong and healthy becomes even more important after surgery, when the bone is in its healing phase.

The problem is, according to this newest study, that many spinal surgery patients researchers examined were low in vitamin D before the surgery. These researchers found over half of them had low levels and one quarter were severely deficient. So, for your overall health, and particularly your bone health after surgery, make sure you get enough vitamin D in your diet. That means eating fortified foods, like milk and cereal, or vitamin D rich foods like eggs and saltwater fish, or taking a supplement. For most of us, we want to get 600 to 800 international units every day.

Air Fresheners & Allergies

2011-11-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

They might make your house or work space smell great, but they could also be causing you health problems.

We're talking about air fresheners and scented candles. Both are causing a rise in the allergic reactions around the country. And since they tend to be used more often this time of year, they can cause more problems for more people.

We've all seen then and most of us have used scented candles and air fresheners to get that seasonal smell into our homes or offices. The reason they spread a good smell around is because they emit VOC, volatile organic compounds. Those are chemicals from an unseen gas or vapor these products put out that float around in the air. It's those chemicals that can cause an allergic reaction. According to a new study, around 1 in 3 of us have reported adverse reactions to these types of scented problems. Oftentimes these reactions mean sneezing, coughing and runny nose; typical allergy symptoms.

This doesn't mean you need to get rid of these products, it just means you need to be aware that if someone starts having allergic type reactions in your home or office, look to see if these products are in place. If so, then you might want to consider putting them aside, at least while the affected person is around.

Sitting & Cancer

2011-11-09T08:01:00.000-08:00

We all know that exercise can help keep you healthy. But did you know that sitting too long can take a heavy toll?

The amount we sit during the day could be increasing our chances of getting cancer.

And to make matters worse, all that sitting around, at home and work, might also wipe out any benefit we get from exercising.

Experts think we sit a little over 15 hours a day. Between driving to and from work, sitting at a desk, then sitting at home either in front of the TV or computer, we spend the good part of our day just sitting.

The government recommends 150 minutes a week of exercise. This can help keep us healthy by keeping our weight, blood pressure and blood sugar levels under control. But even if you do exercise this much, too much sitting around can make it seem like you don't. Being sedentary by sitting the amount most of us do can not only raise your risk of cancer but a recent study found it might also cut years off your life.

So what can you do? The best step is to keep exercising, or start a program if you aren't. Then take a look at how much you sit during the day. And change what you can. Getting a standing desk can help. Taking as many breaks as you can during the day and getting up and walking around can help too. The important part is to realize it's the little things that count. And those little things might just keep you around a bit longer.

Lack Of Sleep & Premature Births

2011-11-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

Sleeping while pregnant can sometimes be tough. But now we know it's also important to the child's health.

It turns out that lack of sleep might lead to a premature delivery. Many pregnant women have trouble getting a good night's sleep. Sometimes it's because they are excited and anxious about the new baby and have trouble falling asleep. Other times it's because they need to constantly get up to use the bathroom or suffer from leg cramps. Often times it's just because they simply can't get comfortable and nod off.

According to a new study out of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, pregnant women with sleep problems during their 1st and 3rd trimesters ended up also being more likely to have a premature delivery. Although unsure why this is happening, experts think it might have to do with the stress not sleeping puts on the body and how the pregnancy reacts to that.

But whatever the reason, this study shows the importance of sleep to both the mother to be and the unborn child. Plus it makes it a subject both patient and doctor should bring up during prenatal visits. Hopefully that way a solution can be found that can get mom to be a little more shut eye while waiting for the baby to come.

Live Longer, Be Happy

2011-11-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

Want the secret to living longer? Be happy.

It's a little more complicated than just this; but happy people do tend to live longer.

A new study, just released in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has found a connection between happiness and long life. Researchers found that people reporting feeling the happiest also cut their risk of dying by 35% when they were compared against those who ended up being the least happy. This study looked at nearly 4,000 adults, aged 52-79 and followed them for 5 years. And regardless of their overall health, how educated they were, whether they were married, and how wealthy they were, the happiest were the least likely to die during that 5-year period.

Although experts can't say why they got these results, they do point out that other studies are finding out that positive outlooks can benefit overall health. As a side note giving us a glimpse into how we work as humans, the researchers in this study also found out that overall, most of us tend to be less happy when we wake up and most happy around 7 p.m.

So, as the saying goes, to get healthy, "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

Soft Drinks & Marketing To Kids

2011-11-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Soft drink manufacturers are advertising as much as ever. But it's who they are marketing to that has experts concerned.

It seems like soft drink markers are marketing more and more to kids. So are the makers of other sugar-laden drinks.

A report from Yale University has found that children's exposure to ads touting full calorie sodas doubled over the last few years. This includes ads targeted to teenagers.

This same group also saw 18% more TV ads and nearly 50 % more radio ads for energy drinks last year alone. And since energy drinks also can have as many calories and added sugar as a normal soda, this is worrying experts---especially since children are having an obesity epidemic.

From a parent's perspective, the main thing to do with this news is to simply realize what kids are being exposed to these days. And since they are seeing even more ads for these sugar laden drinks, realize that they will be looking for them more often.

And that can help them pack on unwanted pounds, pounds that will be hard to remove later in life.

Halloween Safety

2011-10-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just a few days away and that means plenty of excited kids running around. With all the kids running around with sugar induced excitement, they won't be thinking much about staying safe, so that's where you come in.

Start by making sure their costumes are safe. If it's too long, that could cause tripping. Then look at the label to see if it's made of flame retardant material. Some decorations still use candles. That along with a costume that's not flame retardant can spell trouble.

If your children are wearing a mask, teach them to take it off while walking in between houses so they can see where they go---then they can put it on just before ringing the doorbell.

Also, send them with an adult or responsible older sibling, and have them carry flashlights with fresh batteries so drivers can easily see them.

Of course, kids do all this for one reason---candy! But remind them to not eat any of it before they get home. When they do get to the house, take a look at it to make sure none of it has been tampered with. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

But most importantly, especially for the kid in all of us, get out there and have fun, but keep it safe.

Kids' Eyesight & Getting Outside

2011-10-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

There might be a new way to help keep your children's eyesight sharp. And it means getting them outside.

For a variety of reasons it looks like being outdoors more can mean better eyesight for your kids.

Children and the outdoors tend to go hand in hand. But they don't seem to spend as much time outside playing around as we did when we were growing up. With video games, TV shows and computers it's sometimes tough to get them to play with low tech devices like jumping ropes, bicycles and swing sets.

But getting them outdoors can mean more than just getting them out of your hair for a minute or two. It can also mean them having better eyesight.

Researchers out of England have found that outdoor play could prevent nearsightedness in children. In their study they found out that children with myopia, the medical term for nearsightedness, also spent nearly 4 hours less per week outside than those kids with better eyesight. It didn't seem to matter what they were doing when they were out there, just being out in the sun helped them. And for each additional hour they spent outside, they dropped their chances of having vision problems by another 2 percent.

Scientists think this outdoors eyesight connection could have to do with how UV light interacts with the eye or even the fact that when outside children tend to look more into the distance then up close. Regardless of the reason, this simple step can not only get kids off the computer or video game for a while and improve their eyesight at the same time.

Alzheimer's GPS Device

2011-10-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

When a loved one has Alzheimer's, it can be tough to keep track of them. But now a new device is helping out.

A company is putting a GPS tracker in something everyone wears, a shoe. And this hi-tech shoe should help keep track of them even if they wander off.

When a loved one suffers from Alzheimer's, they don't always know where they are or even where they want to go. So oftentimes they wander off. This can create a lot of heart ache and headaches for the family members taking care of them, not to mention be dangerous for the person involved. There are tracking devices already implanted in watches, bracelets and other pieces of jewelry. The problem is that oftentimes if an Alzheimer's patient doesn't recognize the watch as their own once they take it off. But the company making this shoe, and their medical experts, feel that since shoes are changed all the time this won't be as much of an issue.

And being a hi-tech device, there are all sorts of things you can do with it to help out. You can set it so that if an Alzheimer's patient wonders outside a certain area---let's say the yard or neighborhood---the shoe will notify you. And you can then track them down and bring them home, keeping them safe and you relieved.

The cost is expected to be around 300 dollars and the shoes should be released this month by the footwear firm Aetrex Worldwide.

Premature Babies & Autism

2011-10-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

In addition to other health risks, premature babies may also be at a much higher risk of developing autism.

I'm not sure anyone knows exactly why, but premature and low-weight babies could have a greater chance of developing autism. But knowing this might help get them treatment early on.

A new study, just appearing in the Journal Pediatrics followed 862 infants born in the 1980s, researchers watched them until they turned 21. They were all born premature and at low weights. 5% of them ended up developing autism. That's a 5 times greater risk than most infants have, since only 1% of infants in the general population end up with this disorder.

So, why is there a bigger risk with preemies and low-birth weight babies? Although no one knows for sure, we do know that premature and low-birth weight babies have other developmental issues. And these other developmental issues can hide their autism until much later in life. But knowing they are at a higher risk of developing autism means we can look more closely for it. And finding it earlier can mean earlier treatment, making it more likely to be successful.

Hair Stylists & Skin Cancer

2011-10-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

They say only your hairdresser knows for sure. But what your hairdresser knows may save your life.

Think about it for a second. Who else gets that close of a look at your scalp. Now, in addition to helping you look good, they might also be looking for signs of skin cancer. A new study, just published in the medical journal Archives of Dermatology, has found that many more hair professionals are looking for signs of skin cancer while cutting or coloring your hair. And when they find something suspicious they have been recommending visits to a doctor to get that lesion checked out, saving lives in the process. According to this study, nearly 40% of these hair professionals already look at the scalp and some included the neck and face skin as well. Although they are looking for lesions, not many have been trained in what to look for. But experts feel that getting them trained in the ABC & Ds of skin cancer can help find more cases and probably save more lives.

Those ABC & Ds suspicious for skin cancer mean:
A for asymmetric shape, moles with irregular shapes or patterns.
B for irregular border.
C for growths with multiple colors or uneven spread of the colors.
D for diameter larger than 1/4 inch; about the diameter of a pencil eraser.

So, in the near future, as you get your hair done you might also be getting that all important skin check for your scalp.

New ADHD Recommendations

2011-10-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

When it comes to ADHD, new recommendations are out and researchers want it looked for earlier and longer.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has put out new recommendations for diagnosing and treating ADHD. They want it looked into earlier and for treatment to include non-medicine approaches as the first step.

Up until now, experts have concentrated on evaluating kids from 6-12 for Attention Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD. But since ADHD problems, including behavioral issues and lack of an attention span, can show up earlier, they want evaluations to start at age 4 and for those evaluations to continue until age 18.

Once diagnosed with ADHD, these guidelines also call for behavioral interventions as the first step in treatment for preschool children. This includes getting family members involved in the overall treatment. For older children, elementary school age and adolescents, they still recommend medication, but alongside behavioral treatments.

The important step is that ADHD is treated with a team approach this means involving the child, their parents, doctor, therapist and even teachers. This more robust approach should help them better control their symptoms and when needed medication can add to this treatment plan.

The main change with these guidelines is the earlier and later age of diagnosis and the concentrating on behavioral treatment instead of just medication.

Working Odd Hours & Your Health

2011-10-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

Although 8-5 is still the norm, more of us are working odd hours. But what do those odd hours do to your health?

It seems like shift work, or even just working odd hours can cause your stress hormone to go up and that can take its toll on your health, especially if you are young.

According to a new Dutch study, doing shift work or working odd hours can cause a rise in the levels the stress hormone cortisol in your blood stream. Researchers involved in this study found that long term levels of cortisol were much higher in shift workers than regular day workers. This was even more pronounced in younger workers, those under 40.

This becomes important to your health because the hormone we are talking about, cortisol, can cause a rise in your blood pressure, increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes and contribute to an obesity problem. And if you are having a constant increase in this stress hormone over the years as you work those odd hours, then your health could be taking a hit as well.

So, what can you do? First off recognize that shift work, or working odd hours, might be causing this issue. Then take steps to reduce the impact from this stress hormone. This includes eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and veggies, along with foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids. It also means being a regular exerciser, one of the best methods to not only reduce your levels of stress hormones, but also your overall levels of stress as well. And doing what you can to relax both during and outside of work, especially if you work odd hours -- this can go a long way to keeping you healthy in spite of when you clock in for the day.

Migraine Relief Without Medication

2011-10-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

When it comes to treating migraines, researchers have found a new method that is pretty much free of any side effects.

It's actually one of two new methods, relaxation and/or exercise, and yes, both are free of the side effects all medicines have.

If you've ever suffered from a migraine, or been around anyone that has, then you know it's much better to stop them from coming on in the first place. There are medicines that can help keep migraines at bay. But all medications, including those for migraines, have side effects, so not everyone can take them long term.

But, researchers out of Sweden found that two separate things worked just as well as the drug TOPAMAX, at keeping migraines at bay. Those were regular aerobic exercise and relaxation therapy. During the trial, scientists found that 1/3 of the women in the study reported medicine side effects including fatigue, depression and vertigo, some bad enough that they stopped taking the drug all together. But none of the women undergoing relaxation therapy or engaged in the exercise program reported any side effects.

The medicines used for migraines are still helpful, but this study shows us that simple, side-effect free, things like exercise and relaxation can be equally helpful. And while they are helping you with your migraines they can also help get you in better shape, both emotionally and physically.

Daily Vitamins - Good or Bad?

2011-10-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

If you're taking a daily vitamin you need to listen up because you just might be getting too much of a good thing.

Turns out that most of us who take daily vitamins and supplements are probably taking too much, and in some cases that too much could be affecting your health.

Two new studies looked at how we use vitamins and supplements and how that affects us. One study, looking at over 8,000 men and women found that those taking added supplements also tended to eat better than most people. That means they were less likely to need the added vitamins and supplements they were taking.

And this is important because a second study found that some of these vitamins and minerals might be causing more harm than good. Researchers looked at nearly 40,000 women over the age of 60 starting back in 1986. They followed them for 19 years and found that those taking a vitamin b6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper or a multivitamin also had a higher risk of dying during the study time frame.

Although they can directly blame these vitamins and supplements on the early deaths, they do point out that our diets are for the most part already rich in these vitamins and supplements, so taking more in the form of a pill can give us a bigger dose than our bodies can handle. But some things did seem to help keep us healthy, mainly calcium and vitamin d. But otherwise experts recommend checking with your doctor first to see if you really need to add anything to your normal daily diet to begin with.

Being Embarrassed Is Good

2011-10-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

Are you an easily embarrassed person? If so, you may be a better person than you think.

They might seem shy and easily embarrassed to most of us, but it turns out this might actually be a good thing. A new study, just published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology used college students to study how well embarrassed people got along in society.

They had students give a speech about an embarrassing moment. Then they played a game used to measure selflessness. According to the researchers involved in this experiment, those participants who were most embarrassed also showed the most generosity.

According to one the authors of the study, moderate levels of embarrassment are a sign of virtue, more of a good thing than a bad thing. In other words, people that get easily embarrassed tend to also be more trustworthy and generous. They are also more likely to be monogamous.

But, the authors of this study do point out that this doesn't mean those of us that don't get embarrassed are just the opposite. They need more studies to look at that. But for now, they feel that embarrassment is a good thing and not something that anyone should fight.

Facebook - Do Your Kids Need Help?

2011-10-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Facebook is a great tool to keep in contact with your kids, but it also might be one way to see if they need help.

We love seeing the pictures on sites like Facebook; a great way to get a peek into our kids lives away from home. Those same pictures might help point to a drinking problem, but at the same time give us a way to help get it under control.

College drinking has been an issue for just about as long as colleges have been around. But over the last few decades it seems to have gotten worse, with more college students getting injured and even nearly 2000 getting killed every year because of alcohol.

According to the authors of a new study just published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, one way we might be able to help them is by seeing what types of pictures they post on Facebook type sites. These researchers looked at what students posted on social network sites and how much they admitted drinking on a separate survey. Those students who posted pictures and updates on Facebook about being intoxicated, or things that happened to them because of drinking too much, like long hangovers of accidentally ending up in someone's room overnight, also were considered to be in an at-risk category for problem drinking.

And even though many college students block their parents from seeing these pictures over relatives often aren't blocked and should recognize these issues as well. The goal here, according to these researchers is, if you find troubling photos or posts on Facebook, to simply ask your college student, "are you doing alright." A big first step to stop a big problem.

Choosing Healthier Food Options

2011-10-04T10:06:00.001-07:00

When it comes to eating healthy, looks like more of us talk the talk but don't necessarily walk the walk.

By that we mean that what we say and what we do when it comes to picking healthy foods don't always add up.

Right now, around 2/3rds of us are either overweight or obese. To try and help fight this epidemic a lot of restaurants, including fast food joints, have started to offer healthier options. And in some states, because of local laws, some of these restaurants even have started listing calories right next to the food choices.

But according to a recent survey, these steps aren't making as big of an impact on our menu choices as you might think. It turns out that although nearly half of us would like to see restaurants offer healthier items, like baked potatoes or more salads, only 23% of us actually order these types of foods. And we don't seem to be making any better choices when it comes to our kids either. Only 11% of parents ordered apple slices instead of fries in McDonald's Happy Meals recently.

So, to help get you and your family back on the health track, remember your better, healthier options next time your eating out.

Memory Loss & Vitamin B12

2011-09-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Low levels of one vitamin might be one reason for memory loss as we get older.

We're talking about vitamin B12 and according to a new study, elderly folks with low levels of this vitamin also ended up having the smallest brains and the most memory problems.

This new study, just published in the Journal Neurology, looked at 121 people aged 65 and above. They tested their B12 levels, had them perform memory and brain function tests, and then did a brain scan. And since blood levels of B12 don't always match up with how much of this vitamin someone actually has, they also looked at what are known as B12 markers, called Methymalonate and Homocysteine in the blood. It was lower levels of these markers, which meant lower levels of B12 in the body, that also matched up with those people who had poorer memories on the tests and smaller brains on the scan.

This adds to previous studies where researchers found out that giving B vitamins, including B12, B6 and Folic Acid, to those over age 70 actually helped improve their memory during a two-year period.

So, although this new study was small, only 121 people, and researchers aren't yet ready to tell everyone to take more of this vitamin, it's always a good idea to eat foods rich in vitamin B12. Not only might they help keep your memory sharp, but they can also help protect against heart disease.

Bedbug Treatment Can Make You Sick

2011-09-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Although bedbugs won't make you sick, what you do to get rid of them might.

The concerning thing is that over 100 people have gotten sick and one has died because of the treatment they used to try and get rid of bedbugs. And the treatment in common to all of these cases were the use, or in most cases misuse, of insecticides to try to get rid of the pests.

According to the CDC, these cases occurred in seven different states over the last eight years. Insecticide poisonings occurred either because too much was used, the wrong type was used or the treated bedding wasn't changed after. In most cases the insecticides were applied by the home occupant themselves or by a non-certified exterminator.

The one death occurred in an elderly woman with multiple medical problems whose husband used 18 cans of an insecticide fogger over a two day period. The couple did not air out the house before reentering.

Although this is an extreme example of what can happen, the CDC does go on to say that this and other cases highlight the misinformation about bedbug treatment. They recommend using professional exterminators and what they call an integrated pest management system that uses a variety of different methods to dispose of what is becoming a more common problem... the bedbug. The main goal here is to get rid of this pest without hurting you or your family members.

Talk To Your Doctor About Depression

2011-09-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

Some people dealing with depression might not even let their doctor know about it and that means they may not be getting the treatment they need.

The surprising finding behind this new survey is just how many people are reluctant to talk with their family doctor about their depression and the reasons behind it. This survey screened more than 1,000 adults for depression like symptoms. It also asked them about their beliefs about treatment and any barriers to treatment they thought might be in place.

According to the researchers involved in this study, nearly half of the adults surveyed had some misgivings about talking with their primary care provider about any symptoms of depression they might be having. Surprisingly, those "showing" signs of depression were also more likely than most to not want to talk with their doctor about it.

Those getting surveyed had a few main concerns. Many thought that this wasn't something their doctor dealt with, when in fact your primary car provider is trained to deal with depression screening and treatment and is the best choice for an initial conversation about how you are feeling. They also felt that there was a possibility an employer might see the diagnosis of depression on their medical chart. Government privacy laws ensure that your chart, especially when it comes to mental health issues, is only seen by those you give permission and definitely not by your employer, even if they pay for your medical insurance. But the top concern was that they would get prescribed an antidepressant. Although, like all medications, antidepressants do have side effects, they have also proven to be very effective in treating depression. On top of this, if you don't want to be placed on medication, just talk with your doctor about your concerns and you both can decide an avenue of treatment that you, as the patient, feel very comfortable with.

The bottom line is to go ahead and talk with your doctor about any depression symptoms so they can both get it out into the open where you can talk about it and together seek treatment that can help you get back to a normal life.

Children & Poisonings

2011-09-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

Over half-a-million kids a year get poisoned, but what they are getting poisoned with might surprise you.

Unfortunately, around 50,000 of those children end up in the emergency room after getting poisoned by prescription medications adults have in their homes.

Anyone with a toddler or preschooler knows just how fast they can get themselves into trouble and how much they like to explore their surroundings. So imagine what happens when they come across bottles or prescription medications. And even keeping these potentially deadly medications, from blood pressure pills to narcotic pain relievers, up and out of the way doesn't always work. So, your best bet is to, number one, get rid of any and all medications that are expired or no longer needed. Storing them for future use might leave young ones vulnerable. Number two, keep a close eye on your young ones. Be especially careful when grandparents are visiting. Ask them to keep their medicines stored properly and maybe even keep their door locked.

If your child does get into pills, then your best action is to call the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center. They have toxicologists on hand to walk you through what to do and when to take the kids to the ER if necessary. That number is 1-800-222-2222.

Eyelids & Health Risks

2011-09-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

They say the eyes are windows to the soul, but can your eyelids be windows to your heart health?

It's amazing how much information about our health you can get by looking at certain body clues and now it looks like an eyelid condition might be a hint that our heart health isn't doing too well.

Yellow markings on the upper of lower eyelids are known as Xanthelasma. These are basically yellow "pockets" that appear on the eyelids and are mostly made up of cholesterol. A new study out of the British Medical Journal has found that these eyelid fatty deposits also end up being a sign of an increased risk of someone having a heart attack. The researchers involved in this study followed people both with and without these eyelid deposits since the 1970s. They found that over the last 33 years, those with the eyelid deposits also ended up having more heart attacks than those without them. Part of the reason could be that these fatty cholesterol deposits also mean higher cholesterol in the body. That higher cholesterol leads to more heart attacks over the years.

These researchers hope more patients will start to look for these eyelid deposits and bring them to the attention of their doctors so they can use that as a sign to check for high cholesterol and heart problems.

Drinking & Women's Health

2011-09-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

Is drinking alcohol good for a woman's health?

It depends.

Whether it's good for you to have a drink a day depends on what you're most at risk for, a heart attack or breast cancer.

New Research is showing that overall, one drink a day, which is considered moderate drinking for women, can mean being overall healthier once you reach 70. It seems to be particularly protective when it comes to keeping heart attack and stroke risks down.

But, other research has shown that even moderate drinking can increase a woman's risk for certain types of cancer, in particular breast and liver cancer.

So what does it all mean? Should you drink to be healthy or not drink to avoid cancer? Now we get back to the "it depends" part of all this. You need to look and see what you're at the greatest risk from, based on your personal and family history. If you're at a higher risk for these cancers and particularly breast cancer, drinking alcohol can be bad for you. If, on the other hand, you're at a bigger risk of having a heart attack or stroke, then one drink a day can help keep you healthy.

Your best bet is to talk this over with your doctor and see where you stand.

Colon Cancer & Vitamin D

2011-09-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

When it comes to reducing your chances of getting colon cancer you might want to think about the sunshine vitamin.

It looks like having high levels of vitamin D can lower your chances of getting colon cancer.

Over the last few years we've found out that vitamin D is a lot more important than we used to think. It was originally thought to be important for the development of strong bones. But now we're finding out that it also having high levels of vitamin D seems to decrease our chances of having heart disease or strokes and might even cut down on our chances of getting certain cancers.

The problem is that many of us don't have enough vitamin D in our bodies. Over half of us even have levels low enough to be considered vitamin D deficient. And according to this latest study, those with the higher levels of vitamin D also had a much lower risk of getting colon or rectal cancer.

So, your best bet is to make sure you get at least the daily recommended amount of this crucial vitamin. For most of us the government recommends 600 international units a day. Your best source is sunshine but you also have to remember to reduce your risk of getting skin cancer at the same time. Other sources include fortified foods and drinks as well as supplements or daily vitamins.

Pregnancy & Preventing Blood Clots

2011-08-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

There are some new recommendations out for women having a C-Section that could save them from a deadly blood clot.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, blood clots during pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal death here in the U.S. Pregnancy itself can increase the risk of developing a blood clot and women are at risk of developing one even up to six weeks after delivering their child. But, this group representing the nation's obstetricians also say that C-Sections double a woman's risk of developing this type of clot and that most of these start off in the deep veins of the left leg.

Because of this, they are now recommending all women having a Cesarean delivery use special inflating boots that are strapped onto their legs before the C-Section and these boots stay strapped on until a woman is able to walk after delivery.

These are the same types of inflatable boots commonly used to prevent leg blood clots after other major operations, especially orthopedic ones like hip replacements. Because these special boots self-inflate, they help keep the blood flowing in the legs which cuts down on the chances of developing a potentially deadly blood clot. But these expert OB/GYN doctors also want to remind us that these special compression boots shouldn't lull a new mom into thinking she can spend more time resting in bed rather than pushing herself to walk. The goal is to prevent that clot from forming in the first place by getting up and about as soon as possible.

Best Bet For Losing Body Fat

2011-08-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

When it comes to working out, we all want to get the best workout in the limited time most of us have.

So, what's your best bet?

That depends on what your goal is, but if it's losing weight and body fat, then jogging is going to be your best bet.

Researchers out of Duke University wanted to answer this very question, if you want to lose weight, and more importantly bell fat, is it better to lift weights or run? So, they recruited overweight non-exercising adults who, over an 8-month period did both. They either jogged or lifted weights. Then they looked to see what happened to the fat around the participants' bellies, the so-called spare tire many of us carry around. The researchers particularly focused on this area since belly fat is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer. Turns out the aerobic exercise, jogging, significantly decreased the amount of belly fat participants started the study with. Resistance training, lifting weights, didn't.

That's not to say that resistance training doesn't have its place. If you're looking to increase strength and muscle mass, then lifting weights is part of what you want to do. But, if you're looking to lose some weight and more importantly some inches from your waistline then your best bet is to tie up those running shoes and hit the road.

Children & Window Dangers

2011-08-26T17:19:00.000-07:00

When it comes to keeping your children safe at home you need to take a second look at your house's windows.

That's because of the number of children hurt each year when they do fall out of windows in their homes. Some of them even end up getting hospitalized.

According to the latest bit of information, 14 children end up in the Emergency Room each day in the U.S. because they got hurt falling out of a window. That's over 5,000 kids a year. And 65% of these injuries occur to children 4 and under.

According to the authors of the study, done by the The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio, parents simply aren't aware of how frequently windows cause serious accidents and injuries. And the reason toddlers have more of these injuries is because they tend to be curious, don't yet understand the dangers of falling and also have a high center of gravity. This high center of gravity means that as they lean out a window to look they have a hard time not tumbling over. And almost half of these children have injuries to their heads or faces as a result of the fall.

But perhaps most surprising is that most of these falls happen from a second story window, like ones we have plenty of here in Colorado, and not a high rise apartment window.

So, the authors of this study are hoping more parents look at their own houses and upgrade their window safety measures. This includes window guards or stops, especially on upstairs windows. Most importantly remember that window screens themselves won't do much good at holding back even a small toddler.

Working Moms & Depression

2011-08-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

You work hard then come home and take care of the family. You're supermom. But could doing all of that raise your risk of depression?

It's sort of a two answer question. Seems like working moms overall are less likely to be depressed, but certain types actually have higher levels of depression.

I know this all sounds a bit confusing, but a new study is showing there is a bit of disparity when it comes to mom, especially those that work.
According to researchers, working moms show less signs of depression than stay-at-home moms. But for some working moms the pressures of work and family along with unrealistic expectations about balancing both can lead to some higher levels of depression.

Prior studies have shown that outside work is actually beneficial to women's mental health. But the not so secret secret behind not getting depression is to have realistic expectations about how much you can actually do. Trying to be the so called “supermom” that does it all won't help. Instead, delegating some tasks and letting others slide can help working mom's better cope with both family and outside responsibilities.

Diet Soda & Weight Gain

2011-08-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

Grabbing a diet soda to avoid gaining weight might just have the opposite effect from what you think.

It turns out that drinking diet soda could be causing you to gain those unwanted inches to your waistline instead of actually losing weight.

A new study out of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio looked at the drinking habits of adults and followed them for 12 years to see what would happen. The results are pretty surprising.

Diet soda drinkers ended up gaining more inches to their waistline than those who didn't drink diet sodas. Overall, the waistlines of those who drank diet sodas expanded 3 times more than those who drank water, juice or even regular sodas. And those drinking 2 or more diet sodas a day gained 6 times more in the waist area.

This is especially concerning since extra fat in the waistline means more fat surrounding your internal organs. And this can increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

Although this sounds a bit odd, that drinking diet sodas can actually make you gain weight, scientist think this might have to do with what you body is thinking as you down that artificially sweetened beverage. The thought is that your body recognizes the sweetness so starts looking for the calories. It doesn't find them in the drink so you start going for the sweetened snacks. And that adds on the pounds. The bad part about this is that you don't even realize you're doing it.

As the researchers put it, diet sodas may be free of calories but not of consequences.

Video Games & Blood Clots

2011-08-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

You might have heard of blood clots from long airplane flights, but how about one from playing video games too long?

Economy class syndrome. That's when you get a blood clot in your legs from sitting in a cramped position for too long during a flight. Now it seems that a 20-year-old might have died from the same thing only he didn't fly; he just played video games.

A young man out of the UK recently died from what the coroner says was a blood clot to his leg that broke off and ended up in his lung. This type of clot, called a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT for short, forms when someone is inactive for long periods of time. According to the man's father, the 20-year-old would play his video games on line for up to 12 hours in one stretch. He thinks this is what caused the blood clot to form in the first place. This is a very rare occurrence, but does highlight the need to stay as active as possible.

Whether you're sitting on an airplane for hours on end, or sitting down at your computer or video game console, the bottom line is the same. You need to take breaks, get up and stretch and walk around a bit. Doing this, and keeping hydrated, both at home or on an airplane, can help prevent that clot from forming.

Choosing The Right Backpack

2011-07-25T00:51:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again. Time to start getting your kids ready for school. That means buying supplies and something to carry them in... usually a backpack.

It's important to make sure you get the right kind.

That backpack they use might be causing more pain than you, or they, think. Nowadays, kids are lugging more and more supplies back and forth to school. If you try to pick up their backpack, you'll see that it's pretty packed. Unfortunately, that same pack might be the main reason up to half of 15-16 year olds complain of back pain.

Most doctors and physical therapists recommend a backpack weigh no more than 15% of a student's body weight. That means it shouldn't weigh more than 15 pounds for a 100 pound person. And the most it should ever way, regardless of how big someone is, is 20 pounds.

But, besides making sure it doesn't weigh too much, there are other things that can help keep it comfortable.

Make sure it has 2 wide, padded shoulder straps and that both straps are always used. Also, teach kids to stand up straight when using a pack. If they're leaning forward or hunching over, it probably weighs too much.

Also, try and lighten the load. See if you can convince them to not carry things they don't need, just bring home the necessities. Store the rest in their locker.

Encourage your kids to let you know if they have any back pain, or if they get numbness or tingling in their arms. That's a sign of a heavy pack, or one not used correctly.

The key here is to make sure their homework doesn't turn into a bigger pain then they already think it is.

Fork Diet

2011-07-22T00:30:00.000-07:00

Want to lose a couple of extra pounds? Maybe the key is in the size of fork you use.

As odd as this sounds, the size of you fork might determine how much you actually eat at any given meal.

Dieting is tough to do which is why there are so many of them. Most of us can lose a pound or two, but keeping the weight off seems almost impossible. The key is to find lifestyle changes that you can do day after day over the years that will help you shed weight.

We know that one trick is to simply change out to a smaller plates. This forces you to have smaller portions and tricks you mind to eat less. Well now it looks like in addition to plate size, fork size might do the same thing.

Researchers found that when people eating at a restaurant used a larger fork they also tended to eat less overall. The researchers involved in this study think the reason you end up eating more with a smaller fork, at least in a restaurant setting, is because a small fork gives diners a feeling that they weren't making much progress towards there goal of satisfying their hunger, which is often why we go to a restaurant in the first place. That means eating more food off of your plate simply because of the smaller fork.

So, a couple of tips that might help you eat less and lose weight year after year are to combine this big fork theory with a smaller plate to begin with.

Concussions & Dementia Link

2011-07-19T22:52:00.000-07:00

Concussions or other head injuries are causing more cases of dementia than previously thought.

Unfortunately this seems to be something that war vets, football players and even soccer players have in common. Hits to the head, especially ones that result in concussions, seem to be causing more cases of dementia, including Alzheimer's, than we had suspected.

This new information comes about as a result of two new studies. In one, veterans that had been diagnosed with a brain injury were over twice as likely to develop dementia years later. In the second study, researcher found out that 35% of former NFL players had signs of dementia later in life. That's almost three times higher than the 13% rate in the general population.

So, it seems that head injuries, even small ones, can take their toll over time. As a matter of fact, in a separate study even soccer players, when compared to swimmers who typically don't get any head injuries, did not perform as well on thinking type tests.

Experts think this has to do with how the brain tries to protect itself after an injury. This protection causes so called "plaques" to form and that leads to dementia. The bottom line here is that head injuries, especially concussions, take a bigger toll over time than we thought. That means they need to be taken more seriously and anytime an athlete, or anyone for that matter, suffers a head injury, they should be checked out if they have any symptoms. And until those symptoms *completely* go away, they need to stay out of the game.

New Test To Detect Alzheimer's Early

2011-07-18T01:26:00.000-07:00

Detecting Alzheimer's early on helps get needed treatment started, but that's been difficult to do.

But, now, a new test might help out.

The beauty of it is that it's a simple eye test, but this simple test might detect Alzheimer's way before symptoms start up.

Over 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's, which is the most common form of dementia. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this devastating disease, but there are medicines and physical therapies that can help ease symptoms, especially if they are started early on. But early detection has been a problem. Brain scans can often detect changes years before someone has symptoms of Alzheimer's, but they're often too expensive and time consuming for everyone to use.

Well, now researcher have found that a simple eye test could help detect who will develop Alzheimer's Disease years before symptoms start to show up.

This eye test is still in the experimental stage, but results so far have been very promising. A study presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference found changes in the eye's blood vessels in people with Alzheimer's. The width of these blood vessels were different in people with Alzheimer's and that difference was consisted with changes also found early on in brain scans.

Although this was a small study, the researchers involved hope to do larger studies soon to verify the results. Hopefully this will become one test in the near future you can get at your local eye doctor as a great screening tool for all of us to help detect Alzheimer's early on, when treatment can have the biggest impact.

Hypoallergenic Dogs

2011-07-15T00:21:00.000-07:00

Looking for a pet that won't flare up your allergies? You might be thinking about a hypoallergenic dog.

But, not so fast. That hypoallergenic dog might not be much better than a regular dog.

Dogs are great, especially if you have kids, but sometimes allergies and dogs don’t mix. One thing we do know is that exposure to a dog during a baby’s early life can provide some protection against developing allergies in the first place. And dogs are wonderful to have around; they help us increase the amount of exercise we do and provide constant companionship.

But, if someone in the family already has a dog allergy it can be tough to try and keep a one around. Some breeders have been touting what are known as hypoallergenic dogs, dogs that supposedly cause fewer allergy symptoms. However, a new study, just published in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, shows that there probably isn’t such a thing. Researchers looked at dust samples from homes that had regular dogs and ones with dogs considered hypoallergenic. They found both types of dogs had similar amounts of allergens meaning both could cause the same types of allergy symptoms.

According to those researchers, the bottom line is to pick a dog based on based on what type of dog you like not on whether they are hypoallergenic or not.

Avoiding Mosquito Bites

2011-07-12T23:30:00.000-07:00

The rain is falling again. But along with the needed moisture, we have to get ready for the inevitable mosquitoes.

So, how do you avoid those pesky bugs?

And it’s not just the peskiness you need to avoid but remember to that some of those mosquitoes can spread West Nile Virus.

Although the West Nile Virus isn’t here yet; now that we are getting more moisture we’ll get more mosquitoes and most likely the kind that do carry this potentially deadly virus.

The best way to avoid mosquito’s bites is to use mosquito repellents. The kind that contain deet or picaridin or even oil of lemon eucalyptus are effective and safe, although the American Academy of Pediatrics does recommend not using deet type repellents on babies up to 2 months old. And when applying any repellent to older babies and children instead of spraying it in their face where it can get in to their eyes or mouth, spray it on your hands then wipe it on their face. Also, using the repellent on their clothes instead of their skin can help keep mosquitoes from landing on them in the first place.

Mosquitoes also tend to come out during our early evenings and mornings, so going out later in the day might help prevent bites. And researchers have found that mosquitoes tend to be attracted to the color blue and other darker colors and aren’t as attracted to the color yellow or lighter colors. So avoiding the darker color clothes can help as well.

The goal here is to not only prevent the itchy bite, but also the potential West Nile Virus some of the upcoming mosquitoes might carry.

Lose Weight, Get Sleep

2011-07-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

When it comes to losing weight, you might want to think about getting a little more shuteye.

It's amazing just how important sleep is to our health and now it looks like it's equally important to our overall weight.

For years we've known there has been a connection between how many hours of sleep we get each night and how we feel the next day. We've also known that good sleep works to help keep our weight under control. But a new study is showing how just a few late nights can actually add on the pounds.

Researchers recently kept 30 men and women in a lab for 10 days so they could closely regulate their sleep and eating patterns. For part of the study, they only let them sleep for four hours a night, other days they slept nine hours. The researchers found that both groups burned the same amount of calories during the day, around 2,600. But on the days study participants only slept for 4 hours, they also ended up eating about 300 more calories. Although that might not sound like much, a small snack here or there can quickly pile on the pounds.

Experts think part of the reason lack of sleep makes us eat more is because it plays havoc with the hormones in our bodies that tell us how hungry we are. Also, if we are tired during the day, we are less likely to resist our cravings and pick up that extra snack or two.

So besides keeping us rested, it looks like getting enough sleep can also help us keep the pounds off.

Fireworks Safety

2011-07-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

Monday was the 4th of July, our Independence Day.

Besides celebrating our freedom, the big goal is to make sure on one gets hurt and that means firework safety. Now remember, fireworks are illegal in many areas.

If you can use them, you need to follow some simple precautions. First, never let small children hold or light fireworks, even if they beg, it's just a set up for disaster. Before starting to light up, make sure you have a water source nearby. A garden hose or a bucket of water to put out any accidental fires.

Now, when you're lighting a firework, make sure you point them away from everyone. Also, don't shoot them from metal or glass containers, because if they break, the flying pieces could hurt someone.

If you end up with a dud, leave it alone for 15 or 20 minutes. Then soak it in a bucket of water.

Believe it or not, a large percentage of fireworks burns, especially for children, are on your feet, so have everyone wear shoes, not just flip flops.

If an accident happens, and someone gets hurt, there are a few things you need to know. If it's a minor burn, like a sunburn or less, use cold water soaked cloths to cool off the area. Once it's cooled, keep it clean and dry for a couple of days. If the burn is worse than that, use cold water soaked cloths to cool off the burn then go to the emergency room or doctor. Never put anything other than cold water on the burned skin.

Getting An Accurate Blood Pressure At Home

2011-06-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

It's a common scenario, you go to see your doctor only to find your blood pressure is high. But is that the best way to measure you blood pressure?

Turns out, you will get a better idea of what your real blood pressure is by taking it at home instead of just at your doctor's office.

High blood pressure is called a silent killer. That's because it takes its toll over time, damaging your blood vessels, kidneys and heart along with other organs. You don't feel the effects of having high blood pressure until years later once the damage is done. So keeping it controlled all your life, even when you don't think you need to is very important to your overall health.

The problem is that the reading you get at your doctor's office isn't always the most accurate. That's because most of us suffer from what's known as "white coat hypertension," meaning our blood pressure at that time is higher than normal because we are sick or hurt and maybe a little anxious about being in a doctor's office.

Taking your blood pressure at home is one way to get a more accurate reading. As a matter of fact, a new study out of the journal "Archives of Internal Medicine" found that using a portable home monitor over a 24 hour period to measure blood pressure better predicted whether someone would develop kidney failure or even death.

The simplest way for you to take your own blood pressure is to buy and inexpensive monitor. Take your blood pressure twice a day, once in the morning and once again at night. Record these numbers over at least a 5 day period. Take these numbers with your to your next doctor's appointment and that will give you and your doctor a better idea of what your true blood pressure numbers really are.

"Media Diet" For Kids

2011-06-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

When it comes to keeping your kids slim and trim you might want to think about a "media" diet.

The main reason is because childhood obesity is still an epidemic in this country and part of the reason seems to be too many junk food commercials.

According to the CDC three times as many kids are obese now as they were back in 1980. A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics is suggesting that banning companies from advertising junk food during children's television programs could help control kids weight. This is their so called "media diet". According to one of their pediatric experts, Dr. Victor Strasburger, studies have shown that kids are psychologically defenseless against advertising. And seeing all the advertising for junk foods helps fuel their desire for these foods instead of healthier choices. Other experts don't necessarily agree that it's the junk food commercials that mainly cause this weight gain issue in children. They feel that just the amount of time spent watching TV is the main culprit. To them, 6 hours of TV watching isn't all that different from 6 hours of bed rest. The same goes for computer time.

So, some suggestions that will help keep your kids weight down include getting TVs and computers out of their rooms. That will make it much easier to monitor how much time they really spend on these activities. And limit the amount of time they spend watching TV to no more than 2 hours per day. That will give them more time to run around and just have kid fun, something that will also help them keep a healthy weight all year long.

Shower Before Getting In The Pool

2011-06-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

You change into your bathing suit and jump in the refreshing cool pool waters. But did you forget one important step?

That step you missed might be getting yourself or other people sick, something a simple shower can help with.

Interestingly, most of us take a shower after swimming, but according to a national poll conducted by the University of Michigan, not many of us shower before getting into the water, and the same goes for our kids. Only 26% of parents surveyed felt it was important to shower "before" getting themselves or their kids into the water. But at the same time 64% of those same parents thought it was very important for their children not to swallow pool water to avoid getting sick.

But showering before you get into the pool can help cut down on what's known as recreational water illnesses. Bacteria from our bodies, especially those of young children can get into the water. Although most disinfectants used nowadays do a good job getting rid of what might make you or your kids sick, there are a couple of bugs that chlorine can't kill, cryptosporidium for one. This comes from fecal matter, usually because of dirty diapers.

So, one key to keeping yourself and everyone else swimming healthy is to shower off before getting into the pool. And the key word is to shower off, not just rinse off. Use soap and water and for diaper wearing or young children you need to make sure the diaper area is well washed. While in the pool check children frequently to see if they need to use the restroom. Simple steps that can help keep us all enjoying a cool dip on a hot day.

Roughhousing Good For Kids

2011-06-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

When it comes to playing with your kids a little roughhousing may be doing a lot more good than you'd think.

Small kids love to attack and pounce all over Dad and Mom. It's a good time had by all. But that good time might also be crucial to how well a child develops over the years. According to Australian researchers this type of rough and tumble play between Dad's and kids helps shape a child's brain. Roughhousing between the ages of 2 and 5 allows them to learn to manage emotions and thinking along with physical action and put these crucial steps all together. Watching films of children playing with their fathers, these researchers noticed that not only were the children having fun and giggling, but they could also see the child concentrating really hard to try and get one over on the Dad. And when they were able to "defeat" the Dad, whether he let them or not, they gained a sense of achievement. On the other hand if they lost they learned a lesson in life about not always being able to win. So either way, whether the child came out on top or not, it worked to teach them something about life. And this type of play also help build a sense of trust between child and parent.

Although the study was done with Dads and children, the same most likely applies to how Moms roughhousing with children can help them as well. The lesson here is that simply spending one-on-one time playing with your kids, without the interference of TV, video games or computers is crucial to helping them develop into strong adults.

New Cigarette Labels

2011-06-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Coming soon to the nearest cigarette pack, graphic pictures of what smoking can actually do. But will these labels work?

Experts are certainly hoping that pictures of rotting teeth or even a corpse will get some to give up the smoking habit.

The U.S. was the first country to issue warnings on cigarette packages over 25 years ago. But now many nations have been putting graphic and even gruesome pictures, of what can happen when someone smokes, right on the box so you have to see it before lighting up. And in those other countries the pictures seem to help cut down on smoking, so now the U.S. is adding similar ones. The FDA is requiring that by October 22 of next year all cigarettes sold in the U.S. have one of nine graphic pictures along with short one liners like "cigarettes cause cancer." The pictures will cover most of the package and include images of a man smoking from a tracheotomy tube, a mom holding a baby with smoke swirling around both of them and even a picture of diseased lungs caused by cigarette smoking.

Each label will also include a national quit hotline phone number with the hope being that after seeing the pictures smokers will call the line to get help in breaking this costly addiction. And although some experts feel the photos used on packaging here in the U.S. are too tame, especially when compared to what other countries use, they do hope the message gets carried to all smokers, but especially young teenagers who are picking up a cigarette package for the first time. A little shock value to get them to hopefully stop a bad and deadly habit.

What Teens Are Drinking

2011-06-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

There's good news and bad news when it comes to what teenagers are drinking these days, and that could have a big impact on their health.

Although teens are now choosing healthier drinks, they are still reaching for sodas far too often.

The CDC found that teenagers are drinking more water, milk and juices than they used to. Their national survey found that nearly three quarters of teens drank at least one glass of water a day, almost half drank one glass of milk a day and 30% drank 100% fruit juice. This is good because these types of drinks can help keep kids healthy and help them avoid excessive weight gain.

But, unfortunately, the same survey found that although soda drinking is down, around 1 out of every 4 teens admitted to still drinking one soda a day. Interestingly, although boys were more likely than girls to drink milk and whole fruit juices, they were also more likely to drink soda daily. And when you add how many teens drink other sugary sports drinks it turns out that nearly two thirds of teens drank a sweetened beverage everyday.

Those sugary drinks, even just one a day, can pack on the calories and pounds and that can add to the obesity and overweight problems we are seeing in today's teens. But hopefully this downward trend in sweetened drinks will continue and more teens will find the benefits of simply reaching for a glass of water, milk, or 100% fruit juice to quench their thirst.

Children & Pet Allergies

2011-06-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

Your bringing home a new baby, so what do you do with your pets? Turns out, that dog or cat might be one key to keeping your baby healthy.

What that pet might do is keep your baby from developing allergies, even later in life.

Researchers followed babies from back in the 1980s until they just recently turned 18. They looked at what types of pets they had in their homes back then, if any, and what kind of allergies they developed as young adults.

They found that children with a dog or cat were not at an increased risk of developing pet allergies. But the important time frame was that first year of life. Infants who had cats had a 50% less chance of developing allergies later on. Growing up with a dog, on the other hand, had the same affect on boys, but not on girls, a finding the researchers are still trying to figure out.

Part of the reason having a pet during the first year of your baby's life protects them from allergies, could be what some are calling the "hygiene hypothesis." In other words, dirt is good for children and getting exposed to pets and occasionally playing in the dirt can help build their immune systems. And since the immune system is like a muscle, the more of a workout it gets early in life the stronger it will be when these kids are grown up, then exposing them to everyday things and not getting to concerned about keeping them clean all the time might be one key to helping them fight off illnesses later in life.

In other words, it's OK to be a kid and get messy every now and then. But like our moms always said, "don't forget to wash up before dinner."

Sleep & Your Marriage

2011-06-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Not getting a good night's sleep could be fueling marital arguments. But you might be surprised at who it seems to affect the most.

If you don't get a good night's sleep you can be irritable the following day. And that can have an impact on just about everything you do. But a new study shows that when a wife doesn't get a good night's sleep, it can affect the marriage for both partners. In other words, as the saying goes "when mama's not happy, nobody's happy".

Researchers found that when women took longer to fall asleep the night before they ended up having poorer interactions with their husbands the next day. As you can imagine, being tired can make small things that might otherwise seem a little funny become frustrating and annoying. And that can lead to a little marital conflict.

Surprisingly, when husbands got less sleep it actually made for a happier marriage. Although the researchers involved in this study aren't sure why, they think it might be because when the husband isn't getting sleep it's most likely because of nighttime interactions in bed, whereas when the wife can't sleep it's because she is worrying about work, the family or even the marriage.

So, one key to a good marriage is making sure you get a good night sleep. If your partner is keeping you awake, because of snoring or tossing and turning, talk with them about it. In some cases there might even be a medical problem, like sleep apnea that can not only affect your marriage but your spouse's life as well.

Bathroom Dangers

2011-06-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

We all use it everyday, but it's a more dangerous place than you probably think. We're talking about your bathroom.

Why? How about over 200,000 reasons. That's how many adults go to the ER every year after getting hurt in their bathrooms. But, there are some easy fixes you might not have thought much of.

For most of us, a bathroom is a bathroom is a bathroom. However, if you think about it, there are plenty of things in your bathroom that could cause you to fall or hurt yourself. Number one, is the fact that after a shower or bath, surfaces get wet and slippery and with all the heat you can get a little dizzy. Add to that, all the hard surfaces in a bathroom that you can strike if you fall. And that's how the majority of bathroom injuries happen.

It happens to all age groups. Younger adults tend to slip and fall getting in and out of the shower or bath. Older adults tend to get hurt more using the toilet.

Simple bathroom additions can help keep these injuries to a minimum. Quick fixes like non-slip surfaces and bathmats can help keep that area safe. But, most experts say that your best bet, regardless of how young or old you are, is to install grab bars in and near the shower or bath. That way, you'll make the one place we all visit everyday as safe as possible.

Children Too Wired?

2011-06-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

Are children too wired into technology these days?

How about---on the average---75 hours each week? Seems like a lot, but that’s how much time children are spending using electronics, which means less time doing the things kids need to do---just run around.

According to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average 8- to 18-year-old kid spends 2 ½ hours a day listening to music, around 5 hours watching TV or movies and 3 hours on the Internet or with video games. And this doesn’t include the time they spend texting or talking on cell phones. Compare that to the 38 minutes each day they spend just doing old fashion reading.

But even smaller kids are affected. A separate study found that kids 2 to 5 are better at using computers and cell phones then they were at some of what we consider basic life skills, tying a shoe, learning to swim or knowing how to ride a bike.

So, are these kids too wired in today? Probably? But many parents and some experts agree that learning technology is important for these children’s future. However, it should be balanced with other basic life skills. Plus, disconnecting from the online world can get kids outside this summer more and that can help not only keep them fit but also allow them to socialize in an unstructured way with others during this important developmental period.

So, your best bet is to simply limit how much time they can be online, on the phone or watching TV. You might be met with protests at first but your children will have tons of fun this summer doing what children do best, just running around.

Cell Phones & Cancer Link

2011-06-01T05:20:00.000-07:00

The link between cell phones and cancer has been feared for some time now. Today, the World Health Organization announced the link is possible.

5 billion cell phone subscriptions are estimated worldwide. The WHO says radiation from those phones could cause cancer. That puts cell phones in the same category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. That goes against what we've been told before.

The WHO assured consumer no adverse health effects had been established. However, a team of scientists who reviewed studies on cell phone safety, are being more cautious.

The doctor who headed the research team, said in a statement released by the WHO, "The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk."

Mobile phone use is in its relatively early stages. It's only been popular for the last 15 years. The chief of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai says it may take sever decades of exposure before we know more about potential consequences. There's a real concern here among experts. The European Environmental Agency is pushing for more studies, saying cellphones could be as big a public health risk as asbestos and smoking.

The cell phone industry maintains there is no conclusive proof of danger. For now, experts suggest using a headset or speaker phone to avoid possible health risks.

Let Kids Be Kids To Stay Healthy

2011-05-30T03:38:00.000-07:00

It's summertime and that means more time for the kids to find something to do. But it seems... sometimes it's just a good idea to let them hang out.

By hanging out, I mean getting outside and doing what kids to best, just running amok. That will keep them in better shape than any program around.

To fight childhood obesity, a recent study is showing that what your kids need most is "unstructured" activity. And they've even narrowed it down to how much does them good. For those between the ages of 5 and 17, they need up to 90 minutes a day.

So, for many of us parents, that also means showing your child the door. That doesn't mean going to a friend's house for video games. In this study, children that were the most active also ended up with the healthier numbers for blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin. That's not a big surprise. What might be though is that this applied to all children, whether they were obese or thin as a rail.

And again, this didn't mean having them join a guy or hop on a treadmill. They simply need to do what they do best... play... run around like you did when you were a kid.

These researchers found out that physical activity for children doesn't need to be intense, like playing soccer or tennis, but instead just small bouts of activity, like running around with friends, can do the trick.

What this and other studies are showing is that it's the little things that count, and for the young ones that means just playing like kids tend to do anyway once you pry them away from the computer or TV.

Protein Breakfast

2011-05-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

You might have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But what you eat for breakfast can go a long way towards helping you stay slim.

Besides just "breaking the fast," breakfast, especially a high protein one, can keep you from getting over hungry during the day.

For years scientists have told us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It not only gives us a boost of energy when we need it the most, right after waking up, but has also been shown to keep you from eating too much during the day. And we've also known that skipping breakfast can lead to unhealthy snacking during the day and to overeating.

But a researcher out of the University of Missouri has found that a high protein breakfast in particular can make you feel fuller and help reduce hunger pangs throughout the day. In this study the worst offenders----"breakfast skipping" teenagers were given different types of breakfast and MRIs were taken of their brains to see how they responded. The ones eating high protein breakfast, in this case Belgian waffles, syrup and yogurt had the part of their brain activated that controls our food motivation.

So, at least according to this latest study, not only do you want to make sure you eat breakfast every day, but you'll also want to make sure it's rich in proteins---an easy way to help in the battle of the bulge.

Cholesterol Testing For Kids

2011-05-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

We all know high cholesterol can be bad for you, but when is it time to start getting tested? It's probably earlier than you or your children think.

It'll probably come as a surprise to most of us but a new group of experts is now recommending that children as young as 2 get tested for cholesterol.

Many of us suffer from high cholesterol. Untreated it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Up until now it's mostly been thought of as something adults needed to worry about. But over the past years we've noticed heart attacks and strokes in younger adults and more children with high cholesterol.

And since cholesterol is one of those things that takes its toll over time, getting treatment started early on is the key to keeping it from causing problems later in life. The National Lipid Association has issued new guidelines aimed at getting children tested for cholesterol. The new guidelines call for all children to be tested for high cholesterol when they are 9 to 11. They go one step further and say that if your family has a history of early heart disease than your children should be tested as early as age 2.

Although these are just guidelines, they do point to a growing problem with obesity and high cholesterol in our young children. A problem that if not treated early on, hopefully through improved diet and exercise, can lead to cardiovascular problems in early adulthood.

Coffee: Good or Bad?

2011-05-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

Is coffee good for you or bad for you? Seems like the story keeps changing, but some new info might have you sipping away on that morning cup.

And the answer to whether coffee is good or bad for you is "yes," or better yet, how about "it depends." And it depends on how much you drink. And since my motto is "everything in moderation," coffee definitely falls into that category. In addition to keeping you awake and alert, now it looks like a "moderate amount" might also be fairly healthy for you.

Recent studies have shown that coffee can reduce your chances of developing anything from type 2 diabetes and possibly even certain cancers, to keeping away heart problems. But now it looks like part of the reason might be because coffee is rich in antioxidants. According to a new study, just published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, coffee is one of the richest sources of antioxidants in our diets.

But of course too much of a good thing can be bad and in coffee's case too many cups a day can lead to jitteriness, make your heartburn flare up or your heart rate speed up and can even cause you to lose some sleep. So to keep coffee healthy for you, make sure you practice my favorite word---"moderation."

How Long Will You Live Test

2011-05-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Can a simple blood test tell you how long you will live? One company says yes. But others say... "not so fast."

This is definitely one of those read the fine print before relying on a test like this.

There is a company out of England offering a simple blood test that will tell you how old your body is. And as most of us know, our body could be a lot older or a little younger than our actual age, depending on how well we've taken care of it.

This company's blood test looks at something we all have called telomeres. These are bits of dna at the ends of our chromosomes, like the x and y chromosomes that decide whether we are boys or girls. As we get older, these telomeres start to shrink and the older we are, the smaller they are. This blood test looks at how long they are and uses that to tell us how old our bodies are. According to the manufacturer of this test, it can tell you within about a decade what your biological age is.

This currently costs around $700 and most experts don't think it's something you need. They pretty much feel that more testing needs to be done to figure out how valuable this information is. But at the same time, the company making this test says that with the results you can see if your telomeres are much shorter than they should be for your age and take steps to improve your health. But other experts point out that you probably don't need an expensive blood test to tell you you need to eat better and exercise more.

Cat Scan Kids

2011-05-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

When it comes kids and head injuries are we getting to many cat scans? A new study says, "yes."

This isn't so much a don't get a CT scan story, but more of a “sometimes” it's better to do a little of what we call watchful waiting.

According the the CDC, more than half of the children brought to the Emergency Room for head injuries end up getting a cat scan. And although it gives the doctor and parents some very useful information it also gives the child a dose of radiation. And repeated cat scans over time can increase the amount of radiation they are exposed to.

Researchers involved in a new study feel that more watchful waiting might mean less CT scans for children and less exposure to that radiation. According to them, blunt head trauma in children is very common but oftentimes not serious. The problem is that it's sometimes hard to tell which is which. But for some cases they feel that watching a child for a few hours might eliminate the need to get the cat scan. However, they also say that for some more severe cases, especially when children ended up vomiting, ended up losing consciousness at some point or have a memory loss, these are more serious signs that could mean a cat scan is needed sooner rather than later.

So, if you end up in the ER with a banged up child the doctor might want to just observe them for a few hours instead of getting a quick CT scan.

Measles Outbreak

2011-05-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

It's not a disease you hear much about these days, but the U.S. is on track to have the most measles cases in the last decade.

Most of the new cases doctors are seeing here in the U.S. are linked to other countries, especially Europe. Health experts are blaming this increase on a failure to vaccinate children. Some of the cases are from adults visiting the U.S., other cases are children who live here but visited a foreign country recently and returned infected with the measles.

In a typical year, this country only sees around 50 cases. So far this year we've seen 89 and are on track to have more cases than we did back in 2008 when 140 people got infected. Measles is a very contagious disease with up to 90% of unvaccinated people getting infected if exposed to a sick person. Unfortunately, in bad cases it can cause pneumonia or even encephalitis, which is a swelling of the brain. And for every 1,000 kids that get sick, around 2 will die.

Prior to the introduction of the MMR vaccine about 500 died from the measles every year. But now fewer children are getting vaccinated than in the past decades meaning they can not only get this disease, but they can spread it once they become infected. And for those traveling overseas, especially to Europe, this vaccine is more important than ever.

Beware The Baby Bottle

2011-05-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Using a baby bottle to comfort your older toddler, might be setting them up for obesity.

According to a new study, 15 months seems to be the cutoff point for the bottle.

Researchers looked at the diet of over 6,000 children and found that more than 20% of them still used a baby bottle. When these same children were looked at three years later, when they were 5 1/2, more of the late bottle users ended up being obese children. Prolonged bottle users were much more likely to be obese children even if they were breastfed early on and regardless of when they started solid foods or even if they spent more time in front of the television or video games. In this study, late bottle feeding seemed to be the big issue.

Part of the reason is because at this stage, beyond 15 months, using a bottle sets up bad food management habits that children use later in life. It lets them get food, in this case from a baby bottle, for behavior reasons and not because of hunger or appetite.

The researchers involved in this study, from temple university have a couple of recommendations when it comes to bottle feeding. Weaning them by 12 to 14 months could help fight this obesity issue. Also, instead of using the bottle to calm children, parents should instead address their underlying hunger and nutritional needs. And, of course, switch them to a cup as soon as you can.

New Autism Test

2011-05-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

There's a new, quick test that might help doctors and parents spot Autism earlier than ever.

The important part behind this is that when it comes to Autism, the earlier treatment is started the more successful it is. And this new, simple test can help discover it much earlier than what we can currently do.

Right now, it's usually discovered around the time a child turns three. But researchers have found clues in early infancy that can be used to help spot it even earlier. And they have turned that information into a new test that can find signs of autism in infants as young as 12 months old. And one of the beauties of this test is that it only involved about five minutes worth of paperwork while waiting in the doctor's office.

Researchers involved in this study used a 24-question checklist asking parents about things ranging from, "When your child plays with toys, does he/she look at you to see if you are watching?" to, "When you are not paying attention to your child, does he/she try to get your attention?"

By using this checklist, doctors involved in the research were able to diagnose around 75% of babies that went on to develop Autism. Although this survey tool still needs some fine tuning and isn't ready for widespread use yet, once more testing has been done to verify its accuracy it should become widely available.

The hope is this simple tool will be used by doctors and parents to get treatments started earlier on children at a higher risk of developing Autism.

Liposuction - Fat Comes Back

2011-05-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

Liposuction can help shape parts of your body, but the fat it takes away might not stay away.

A new study is showing that one year after liposuction the fat does come back, but it comes back in a different area of the body. And most women in the study were still happy with the results.

A University of Colorado study looking at what happens to women's fat after liposuction found that in the 14 women they followed, the fat returned to their bodies. The women in this study had a modest amount of fat removed from their thighs and hips. Fat measurements, using a device called a DXA that not only measures body fat but tells where most of it is, found that 12 months after undergoing liposuction, the fat they lost had actually come back. But instead of going to the waist or hips, where they had it removed, for most of the women it was added to their abdomen.

Obesity experts think the reason the fat comes back is because our bodies defend the fat it has. So, when it's removed by liposuction the body brings it back. But it doesn't come back to the area it was removed from since the structures supporting fat in that area were damaged, but instead goes to other parts of the body. In this case, the abdomen. However, the women in the study were still happy with the results of their liposuction, probably because it improved their "problem areas."

Happy/Sad States

2011-04-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

Colorado is ranked as one of the happiest states, but does all this happiness also have a downside?

It turns out that misery does indeed love company. But in the case of happy states like Colorado, some might not be finding that company and it could be part of the reason happy states also have higher suicide rates.

Colorado is in the top 10 in this year's "happy states" ranking. That's great news and means that we as a group are doing pretty well on the happiness scale. But Colorado is also ranked 6th in suicide rates. As a matter of fact, four of the top 10 happy states are also in the top 10 for suicide rates.

Perhaps more surprising, of the bottom 10 states for happiness, only one, West Virginia, was also in the top 10 for suicides. States like New York, one of the unhappiest, also had low suicide rates.

Although experts aren't sure why this is happening, some think it could be that when someone is depressed in a place where everyone around them seems happy, it makes it all that much tougher to deal with. On the other hand, if you're feeling sad in a place like New York City, it might feel like you have plenty of people around you sharing the same feeling.

But for those in a happy state like Colorado, the big message here is that you aren't really alone, no matter what it seems like as you look around. If you are feeling depressed, and especially if you are considering harming yourself, talk to someone. And if it's needed, seek professional help.

Prescription Drug Abuse & Drug Drop-Off

2011-04-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

More and more Americans are ending up in the ER from overdoses. But what they're overdosing on may surprise you.

It's not the street drugs you might think about, or even household chemicals, but prescription drugs that come from people's medicine cabinets that are getting them into trouble.

According to a recent study, more Americans are landing in the hospital because of overdoses from prescription painkillers, sedatives and even tranquilizers

This study found between 1999 and 2006, hospital admissions due to poisonings by these medications increased 65%. That number is about twice the increase from overdosing on all other drugs or medicinal substances.

And according to the White House prescription drug overdose has now become this country's fastest growing drug issue. It's an even bigger problem than crack was in the 80s and heroin in the 70s. In 2007 alone, about 28 thousand died from drug overdoses and most of these were because of prescription drugs.

You can help fight this problem, and do a little spring cleaning while you're at it, this weekend. On Saturday, from 10 till 2, local public health departments, local law enforcement and the DEA are holding their second annual National Prescription Drug take-back day at various spots in southern Colorado. It's the perfect time to get rid of any medicines, expired or not, in your house that you aren't using. Getting them out of the house can get rid of the temptation they sometimes present and will give you a little more shelf room to boot.

You can go to KRDO.com, under links we mentioned, to find drop off sites near your house.

Birth Control & Blood Clot Risk

2011-04-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

There's a new report out that a certain type of birth control puts you at a higher risk of blood clots. But how big of a risk are we really talking about?

Have you ever heard of the birth control Yaz or Yasmin? Those are the ones that two new studies are now showing put women at a higher risk for blood clots. But experts are saying that even though the risk of a blood clot is higher than other types of birth control, it's still very low overall.

These new studies now back up what a lot of doctors have seen in their own practices. Researchers found that women taking so-called "fourth" generation birth control pills, ones like Yaz or Yasmin, that use a new type of progestin hormone, doubled their chances of developing potentially life threatening blood clots.

Other experts are saying that although this increase risk with newer birth control pills is true, the overall risk is still small. With all birth control pills, you always run a risk of getting a serious blood clot. It's just that some of them, like these newer ones, seem to have a higher risk.

OB/GYN experts are saying that this needs to be looked at on an individual basis. For someone already on Yaz or Yasmin, especially if they've been doing well for six months or longer, it might still be the medicine for them. But for newer patients, or those with a higher risk of blood clots already, another type might be best.

Spring Sports Injuries

2011-04-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

Spring time also means sports time for many of us. But it can also mean injury time if you're not careful.

No matter what the sport, we always see an upswing in injuries during the spring. Part of the reason is because after a few winter months of only intermittent sports activity or none at all, most of us are anxious to get back at it. The problem is that sometimes we are a bit too anxious and jump in with vigor only to find ourselves with an injury.

The best way to avoid this is to remember a couple of key points. Number one, start off slow and don't go all out the first few weeks. Secondly, and this isn’t always the easiest thing for most of us to remember, but we aren’t 16 anymore. That means we aren’t quite as spry and agile as we were a few years ago, so we’ll need more time to recover, especially after a tough go at it.

Some other tips to help keep you safe include making sure you warm up before exercising. And once you do start exercising you need to keep things consistent. Trying to be a weekend warrior and only playing a couple of days a week can set you up for an injury early on.

You'll also want to make sure you’re prepared for your particular sport. Check the equipment that’s been lying around all winter long to make sure it’s not worn out.

But perhaps the biggest tip is to remember to listen to your body and let pain be your guide. If it hurts to do something, than slow down or switch to a different activity. If you do get hurt, you might need to visit a doctor. But you also need to give yourself time to recover. Remember, you aren’t 16 anymore so won’t bounce back quite as quickly.

Pregnant Moms & Children's Weight

2011-04-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

You’ve probably heard the saying that you are what you eat, but now it looks like what you eat could affect your kids as well.

It looks like what a mother-to-be eats while pregnant can have a big impact on their child’s chances of having weight problems later in life.

For years we’ve been focusing on children’s diet and exercise habits to try and fix the ongoing obesity epidemic. And while these are very important to maintaining a healthy weight, especially in kids, scientists are also starting to focus on what happens in the womb during pregnancy.

A new study found that what a mom eats while pregnant can have a very important impact on a child’s weight---even years later. A poor diet during pregnancy causes what are known as epigenetic changes in a child’s DNA. These changes can cause the fetus to lay down more fat cells and this increase in fat cells can have a lifelong effect not only on a child’s weight but on how he or she will respond to exercise. As a matter of fact, scientists involved in this study were able to “pick”---based on the changes a mom’s diet caused---which kids would be overweight 6 and even 9 years later.

So, in addition to taking enough folic acid, not drinking alcohol and quitting smoking while pregnant, now it looks like one of the best ways to help your child stay healthy later in life is to make sure, as a mom-to-be, you are eating a healthy diet yourself.

Kids' Sports Teams Safety

2011-04-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's getting closer to summer which means it's time to start gearing up for sports teams and sports camps. However, with injuries on the rise, it's more important than ever to make sure your children stay safe.

Getting involved in sports, especially during the slow summer months is a great way for your kids to not only stay healthy, but to also develop healthy workout habits. But a little bit of protection goes a long way towards keeping them safe.

April is National Facial Protection Month. So, it's a good time to remind your children that even in sports you probably won't think much about getting mouth and tooth injuries, you still should use a mouth guard. It turns out about half of the 85,000 baseball injuries that occur every year for kids, happen to the mouth, face and head. Having a mouth guard, along with a helmet could protect them from a large percentage of these injuries.

Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics has other tips for keeping kids safe during sporting events. Besides the usual keeping hydrated, resting when tired and wearing the proper gear, they also recommend two big things. One, if it hurts to do something, then stop doing it, at least until you don't have any more pain. It's better to sit out a little bit now then to have an injury that will plague your kids all their life. Two, reduce the stress. Remind them and remember yourselves that the most important part of sports is simply to have fun. To much pressure on winning can take its toll and will certainly make things less fun for them and for you.

Hookah Pipe Risks

2011-04-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

When it comes to smoking, the good news is that cigarette smoking is on the decline, the bad news is that more people are using a hookah pipe, but what they don’t know about them could cause major health problems.

College students in particular are starting to pick up the hookah pipe habit.

If you’re not familiar with a hookah pipe, it’s a type of water pipe used for centuries mostly in the Middle East. It uses a tobacco blend, with flavors added. And since the smoke passes through water before it’s inhaled, some think it isn’t all that bad for you.

WRONG! As I’ve said before, tobacco is tobacco is tobacco, no matter how you smoke it. In the case of a hookah pipe the water does nothing to stop the cancer causing parts of tobacco from getting in your lungs. To make matters even worse, since hookah sessions typically last an hour or so, you are getting up to 100 times more tobacco in your lungs than you would from just one cigarette. But even if you only hang out in a hookah lounge, but don’t smoke, you still can’t escape. Although you might not be smoking, you are inhaling an amazing amount of second hand smoke. And now we know that second hand smoke by itself can cause cancer.

Hopefully this fad will fade quickly as more people, and especially college students, realize what most experts say, that smoking is smoking no matter how you do it.

BMI vs. BAI

2011-04-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

When it comes to staying healthy and maintaining a good weight, you've probably heard of a BMI, but how about a BAI?

BAI is a more accurate way to see if you're holding onto a healthy weight or not, and you'll probably hear a lot more about it in the new future. It's called the BAI - Body Adiposity Index.

For years we've been hearing about the Body Mass Index, or BMI, as a good way to figure out where we sit on the weight spectrum. High BMIs, above 25, meant being overweight or even obese. However, the BMI method has problems. If you're muscular, it gives you one that is too high, if you're old, one that could be too low. So, for many, it isn't all that accurate.

Now, the BAI steps in. It's a much more accurate way to show whether you're in a healthy weight range. The "A" stands for Adiposity, a measurement of your Adipose tissue, otherwise known as your fat tissue. The good part of this newer measurement is that it better estimates your percentage of body fat using your height, weight and waist measurement. Even for those the BMI misses, the muscle bound or elderly, this new index can give a fairly accurate estimate of their body fat.

The goal, body fat wise, is to be between 16% and 26% for women and 12% to 22% for men. The best way to calculate where you fall is to go to www.intmath.com/functions-and-graphs/bmi-bai-comparison.php for the BAI calculator.

Summer Vacation & Your Health

2011-04-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

It might seem early, but it's about time to start thinking about what to do for summer vacation.

If your plans include traveling, then listen up!

Experiencing other cultures and bringing back that special souvenir is what traveling is all about. Getting sick on your trip isn’t.

Most important is to figure out what kind of health concerns are in the area you’re going to. One quick way is to go online to the CDC’s “travel health site”. You can find this information under the "links we mentioned" section of KRDO.com.

If vaccinations are required, start them now. Some require more than one shot and some vaccines need to be special ordered, so they take time to get.

Next, figure out what medicines to take with you. Get an ample supply of your prescriptions meds. For traveler’s diarrhea, a common problem, this might need anything from Pepto-Bismol to antibiotics.

And none of us expects anything to go wrong on our trip, but accidents do happen, so taking a first aid kit is “essential.” Depending on where you go, this might only contain band aids and Tylenol, or, if exploring more remote areas, be better supplied, with even IV solutions and your own needles.

But trust me, nothing will have you experience your destinations culture up close and personal like having a toothache and trying to find a local dentist. So, go visit one here before your trip, that way you know all your teeth are in good shape, saving you big headaches, or toothaches, later on.

But the most “important” point to remember is to have fun. It’s your vacation; just prepare a little now to make it a smooth one.