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Is There a Benefit to Menopause?

June 3, 2011 by Pat Richards

Menopause is a challenge, to say the least.   Those night sweats and mood swings can be rather intense and can disrupt your life.

But now someone has found a little good news about menopause.  According to the latest research, women who have menopause also have a 11% lower risk of heart disease in the 10 years following their menopause!   According to one report, the researchers do not know why this occurs, but there is a theory that the blood vessel activity that is generated during menopause somehow pumps the heat and its vessels and that helps combat a hardening of the arteries.

It’s almost like the woman is doing some cardio!

Menopause

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Smoking and Breast Cancer

May 18, 2011 by Pat Richards

Smoking and Breast Cancer

For many years, we have been warned that smoking can cause a number of different kinds of cancers.  Throat and lung cancer are the most well known, of course.  Then there is larynx, kidney and stomach cancer.  And now a new study suggests that smoking may cause breast cancer as well.

This study has found that premenopausal women who smoke have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who don’t smoke.  It also found, however, that women who were postmenopausal were less likely to develop the disease than nonsmokers.  I’m told that is because women who have experienced menopause have low levels of circulating estrogen and they may actually benefit from tobacco’s anti-estrogenic effects.

Of course, the more women smoked the higher the risk of getting cancer.

To this day, I wonder why a person would even pick up a cigarette?.  Besides the obvious health risk, it’s a totally disgusting habit.  I mean, c’mon, have you ever kissed a person who smokes or smelled their clothes?  Gross me out.

So, if you don’t want to have to worry about getting yet another kind of cancer, don’t smoke – period.

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Progress Against Portpartum Depression

April 21, 2011 by Pat Richards

Postpartum depression is serious stuff, as we all know.  I won’t take up your time recounting the numerous horror stories of women who had some rather serious reactions to the disorder.  Suffice it to say that more

Post Partum Depression

needs to be done to diagnose and cure this problem that is experienced by many, many women.

I am now pleased to report that there may be some progress in the fight against postpartum depression!  It seems that some researchers are reporting that when pregnant women took fish oil,

they had fewer depressive symptoms in the months following their giving birth than those women who took a placebo.  That’s because fish oil has been shown to increase mood-lifting brain chemicals which,

in turn, relieves depression.

As with any research, more needs to be done.

But the initial findings are certainly good news for women who are thinking of having children.

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Combatting Heart Disease

April 13, 2011 by Pat Richards

Healthy Heart

I think we all know that fasting from food is not a really good idea.  But now there are some researchers in Utah who suggest that the occasional 24 hour fast can actually be good for your heart!

It seems that if you fast, it could lead to a better cholesterol reading and lower blood sugar levels.  This, of course, can help you combat heart disease.   At this time, however, this idea is only an idea.  It is not part of a full-fledged study.  Indeed, even the researchers acknowledge that not eating can also make one more stressful which, on the other hand, might also damage the heart!

I’ll guess I’ll wait to do my Gandhi thing until we get more info.

Meanwhile, an 11 year study of British workers says that there is a 67% greater risk of heart disease in people who regularly work more than 11 hours a day.    Note to Self:  chill out.

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New Test for Down’s Syndrome

March 24, 2011 by Pat Richards

Pregnancy at an Older Age

We all know that anytime you become pregnant, there are risks.  Not just to you, but to the baby as well.  We also know that more women are getting pregnant later in life and that the chances of the baby being born with some kind of disorder, like Down’s syndrome, increases with the mother’s age.

Fortunately, I just heard about a new simple blood test that is being tested that might be able to identify Down’s syndrome in fetuses that are 11-14 weeks old.   Right now, the current tests involve amniocentesis where a piece of fetal tissue is removed from the womb with a needle.  These tests are done a little later and also carry a small risk of miscarriage.  This new, less invasive blood test might ultimately become an important part of future prenatal care.

We will continue to monitor the progress on this new test!

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Cell Phones – Are They Safe?

February 28, 2011 by Pat Richards

Are Cell Phones Safe?

Are cell phones and/or cell phone towers dangerous to our health?

I ask because a telephone company is asking to construct a cell phone tower in my neighborhood and folks are up in arms.  Besides it being unsightly, neighbors are screaming about the radiation, getting cancer, etc.  Personally, I think that’s a crock.   I’ve read a little about this and learned that the average cell phone emits as much radiation as a television or a microwave.  Besides, we stick our cell phones right into our ears for gosh sakes.  How much more dangerous can a pole be?  My bottom line is that I have no cell phone coverage in my area which, in this day and age, is preposterous.  So, I have always supported getting better reception.

But now, here comes a new study and it’s one that has caught my attention.  Before I try to explain, please understand that I don’t know jack about science.

Anyway, this new study has found that cell phone emissions can actually change brain activity.  We’re not saying it proves you can get cancer, mind you.  But this study showed that the regions of the brain nearest to the cell phone’s antenna had higher rates of glucose consumption than the rest of the brain.  Increase in glucose activity is somewhat normal but what isn’t knows is whether repeated spikes in activity due to exposure to electromagnetic radiation from cell phones can permanently alter brain function or result in harm.  Doesn’t prove much, but it’s the first study to show that cell phones can actually change brain activity.

Hmmmmmm….

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Teen Dating Violence

February 25, 2011 by Pat Richards

Singer Rihana after Being Abused by Boyfriend

President Obama has declared the month of February as “

Love is Not Abuse

.”

The purpose of this action is to promote better understanding of the violence that could occur in relationships among young people. It’s hard to believe but each year almost 25% of teens report being the victim of verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual violence.  Abusive relationships can impact adolescent development, and teens who experience dating violence may suffer long-term negative behavioral and health consequences.  Adolescents in controlling or violent relationships may carry these dangerous and unhealthy patterns into future relationships.

Although this is a pervasive problem, many teens are understandably afraid to talk openly about the issue and they may not recognize how serious the problem is.  At the same time, adults at times are also uncomfortable talking about the problem or even acknowledging it.

To help stop abuse before it starts, mentors and community leaders must stress the importance of mutual respect and challenge everyone to talk more about the issue.  Teen dating violence is a serious issue and one that cannot be ignored.  In declaring this month, President Obama is encouraging concerned teens, parents, and loved ones to contact the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474 or visit www.LoveIsRespect.org to receive immediate and confidential advice and referrals.

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Watch Your Kids Closely!

February 17, 2011 by Pat Richards

Stressed Student

We have an 18 year old in high school.  He is an amazing young man.  He is number one in his senior class, President of his class, etc.   Yet, sometimes I wonder if I or my spouse are pushing him too much.  I mean, he seems pretty well adjusted.  He is not a nerdy, all books and no play kind of kid, he exercises regularly, just seems to have his act together.  Of course, I am saying this as I knock on a piece of wood.

In a few days, I am going to see a new movie called “Race to Nowhere,” which apparently is about the stress that our kids are under these days.  Just look at getting into college.  You can have a 4.0 grade point average is still not get into a good college.  And the pressure to build up a resume is incredible.

Years ago, a counselor in my son’s elementary school noticed that he seemed stressful and she alerted us to the situation.  It was more serious than we thought, but we got him some help for his anxiety and he is what he is today.   Still, I am always watching for signs of stress.

In that regard, the American Academy of Pediatrics has just compiled a list of signs that might indicate that your child may be under too much stress.  Take a look at them.  You could be saving your kid’s life:

Physical complaints such as a stomach ache or headache.

Fatigue, restlessness or agitation.

Irritability and loss of interest in favorite activities.

Lack of interest in school, dropping grades.

Behavioral changes such as lying, stealing, avoiding responsibilities at home or becoming more dependent on parents.

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Kids Who Work During the School Year

February 7, 2011 by Pat Richards

Teenagers at Work

I have a 21 year old in college and another ready to graduate from high school.  I just ran across an interesting report recently dealing with kids like mine.

 

According to a study published in the February issue of the journal Child Development, high school students who work more than 20 hours a week at part-time jobs during the school year may be more likely to have academic and behavior problems.  The study was based on information collected in the late 1980s from 1,800 middle-class teens in grades 10 and 11.

I was not surprised to read that students who worked more than 20 hours a week were less involved in their school.  I mean – duh!  What really concerned me was that these same kids had lower expectations for further education and an increase in illegal activities including stealing, carrying a weapon, and using alcohol and illicit drugs.  Even after the teens reduced

Frustrated Student

their work hours, these negative behaviors persisted.

“Although working during high school is unlikely to turn law-abiding teenagers into felons or cause students to flunk out of school, the extent of the adverse effects we found is not trivial, and even a small decline in school engagement or increase in problem behavior may be of concern to many parents,” said study leader Kathryn C. Monahan, a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of Washington.

But guess this:  their recommendation was that parents, educators and policymakers monitor and limit the number of hours worked by high school students.

Brilliant conclusion, huh?

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More Good News on the Health Care Law

January 30, 2011 by Pat Richards

Republicans and Health Care

The Republicans recently voted to repeal the “Affordable Care Act.”    They were all full of themselves, high fiving each other, slapping the backs of their compatriots.  Meanwhile, down at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue:

Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, released a new study showing how families and businesses will actually SAVE MONEY in 2014 on their health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs.  For example, it looks like every year a low-income family of four could save up to $14,900 and businesses will benefit from the savings and tax credits in the new law.

The report finds that, compared to what they would have paid without the law:

Middle-class families purchasing private insurance in the new State-based Health Insurance Exchanges could save as much as $2,300 per year in 2014;

Tax credits provided by the Act will lead to even greater savings.  For example, in 2014, a family of four with an income of $33,525 could save as much as $14,900 per year since they will also qualify for tax credits and reduced cost sharing;

In 2014, small businesses could save an average of up to $350 per family policy and many may be eligible for tax credits of up to 50 percent of their premiums;

The tax credits are already available to small businesses, and cover 35 percent of their premiums.   For example, a firm with 10 workers who earn an average of $20,000 annually could currently receive credits of $35,000 annually.   These tax credits could save small businesses $6 billion in 2010 and 2011.

And the Republicans want to reverse this?    What am I missing here?

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