Florida Health News - June 2009 issue by Global Health Tribune

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FLORIDA HEALTH NEWS P.O. Box 542527 Lake Worth, FL 33454-2527

No. 5 • June • 2009

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WEST PALM BCH, FL PERMIT NO. 1340

Hospitals oppose Obama's Medicare, Medicaid cuts

THE BEST INFORMATION IN YOUR HANDS SERVING PALM BEACH COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

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Let us meet your diagnostic needs at our State of the Art Facility located at The Palomino Park Professional Park 3347 State Rd 441 in Wellington.

• High Field MRI

• 64 Slice CT Scans

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The president suggests trimming federal payments to hospitals by about $200 billion over the next 10 years, saying greater efficiencies and broader insurance coverage will justify the change. PAGE 13

Also in this issue

• Nuclear Medicine

• Cardiac Stress Tests

Top five tips to help manage your family’s health ..................3

• MRA

Swine Flu Now a Pandemic: WHO ........................................4

• Ultrasound Couples in Good Relationships Sleep Better. PAGE 4

Sedatives and Hypnotics May Increase Risk for Suicide in Elderly Patients ....................5 Skin Care Enjoy the Magic of Fruits! ...................................6

Keep an eye on your vision health this summer...................7

Diabetes Mellitus A Silent Malady......................................8 First Annual Palms West Surgicenter Family Fun Day ................................10

...and announcing "The Women's Center at Independent Imaging/Advanced Diagnostic Solutions" offering Digital Mammography,DEXA Bone Density, Breast MRI, and Obstetric and Breast Ultrasound in a private and relaxed setting...

Please call 561.795.5558 to schedule an appointment or speak to one of our associates

The Importance Of Water For Health PAGE 8

Celine Dion and others show their support for the Kids Cancer Foundation of South Florida......................11

If Mom or Dad Is Depressed, Kids Need Help Too ...............12

Obama urges doctors to back his health care plans ..............13

American Cancer Society’s 2009 Diamond Derby Gala ....14

FDA says Zicam nasal spray can cause loss of smell. PAGE 14

Need a Walking Partner? Try a Dog ...............................15

2 JUNE • 2009

FLORIDAHEALTHNEWS-ONLINE.COM

Marijuana (Pot) VS Alcohol By Lauren Armstrong

ADVERTISING SALES

I know many of you like to drink alcohol but I want to show you how grass can be much greener on the other side. Marijuana is an age old natural plant that came into play ions ago much before alcohol was thought as a consumable item. The effects of Marijuana are well known all over the world only to those who want to know about it. The proponents of alcohol in western societies looked down upon the good effects of Marijuana because they had the belief that Marijuana was a mysterious ancient and dangerous plant that caused devilish mood alterations - and this belief still stands. I would like to put forward a few points about the effects of Marijuana and alcohol on the human body and mind. Studies have repeatedly shown that Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol.

Marijuana

Marijuana has been safely used over thousands of years by millions of people without any known long term side effects.

I have not heard of withdrawal symptoms from Marijuana. There is no such thing as an overdosage of Marijuana. There has never been a single death from Marijuana overdose. Users do not become violent. Marijuana is not addictive.

Marijuana does not lead to cirrhosis of the liver/liver damage. Marijuana users do not become violent.

Marijuana in pain management is much safer.

Sergio Aguilar Phone: (561) 716-5054 sales@floridahealthnews-online.com PUBLIC RELATIONS Ranjita Shar ma Phone: (561) 267-5232

Alcohol

Alcohol over the past hundreds of years has been documented to cause permanent damage to the human being both physically and emotionally.

P.O. Box 542527 Lake Worth, FL 33454-2527 Phone: 561-716-5054

Alcoholics get severe withdrawal symptoms.

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Alcohol in excess can cause overdosage.

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Thousands of people every year are killed directly or indirectly by alcohol abuse. Spousal abuse is linked to alcohol. Drunken driving is also related to alcohol. Alcohol is addictive.

CONTRIBUTING ARTICLES U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Contexto Latino, ARA Content, Hispanic PR Wire, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, METRO Editorial Services, Family Features,

It is a well known fact that alcohol causes liver damage.

Many homicides, family breakups, divorce and depression are due to alcohol. Numbing pain with alcohol has side effects.

We have to go beyond the mystery of Marijuana. Is this because western societies have not understood this plant unlike alcohol that is glamorized in advertisements? Drinking alcohol has become fashionable and fun thereby it has been accepted by society unlike Marijuana users who are treated as criminals. Marijuana users should not be considered as a threat to society and be treated as criminals. According to the Center of Disease Control between 2001 - 2005 there were 79,000 deaths annually related to excessive drinking. The short term health effects of Marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long term effects of criminal records of those who consume large amounts of alcohol. One must remember that too much of either will seriously harm an individual. Then again too much of anything is hazardous for your health.

Florida Health News is a newspaper published every month in Broward, Palm Beach, and surrounding areas. Copyright 2009, all rights reserved by SEA Publications, Inc. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts not responsibility for advertisement error beyond the cost of the portion of the advertisement

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JUNE • 2009

FLORIDAHEALTHNEWS-ONLINE.COM

Top five tips to help manage your family’s health

it helps you become more active and engaged in your healthcare.

As kids head to summer camp or back to school this fall, moms everywhere will be digging through their files searching for immunization records and other health information.

Make doctor visits more efficient. The time you spend with your doctor is typically brief, but valuable. Take advantage of your time by arriving to the appointment prepared. Before you go, write down any questions you have so you don’t forget to ask them. Bring a list of any medications, vitamins and supplements you’re taking.

ome will find exactly what they need with just a few flips through an organized file cabinet. But many busy moms will be sifting through piles, shoe boxes, or drawers full of papers trying to find the most recent health records.

Managing health information, making appointments, keeping track of medications, and monitoring self-care recommendations are just a few of the routine tasks of today’s family health advocate, a role often played by mom. In addition to managing their kids’ health and their own, many moms are also in charge of managing health matters for their spouse or partner, and sometimes an elderly parent or other relative. Taking care of yourself and your family can be overwhelming at times. Mayo Clinic suggests five tips for managing your family’s health:

Ask yourself a few questions. Take a few minutes to sit down and figure out the questions you’ll most likely be asked in the event of an emergency or in common healthcare situations. If your child’s school nurse called today and asked for his health history, what details would you be able to

provide? If your mother fell in the shower, would you have access to critical information needed by emergency caregivers?

Get organized. It seems that health information is never where you need it, when you need it. An online tool like the Mayo Clinic Health Manager gives you the opportunity to store and update personal health records and those of your family members. This free and secure online application gives you a place to store medical information and receive real-time individualized health guidance and recommendations based on the expertise of the Mayo Clinic. You can give access to family members or your doctor and use the tool no matter where you receive medical care. The Mayo Clinic Health Manager isn’t just a place to store and organize your health information,

How to keep summer foods fresh and safe

ummer is the season to be outdoors with friends and family at picnics, barbecues and many other events. But the warm weather also brings an increase in foodborne illnesses when food sits out in hot, humid conditions. Make sure your summer party is memorable for reasons other than food poisoning by taking steps to keep food fresh and safe.

Dr. Claudia Fajardo-Lira, spokesperson for the Institute of Food Technologists, says most foodborne bacteria thrive in summer’s steamy conditions. “It’s critical to protect yourself and your family from foodborne illness like E. coli and salmonella,” she says. “Always remember to wash your hands and, if you don’t have running water, bring along a water jug, some soap and paper towels; or use hand sanitizer.”

Fajardo-Lira suggests following food safety steps recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

Get food safely to its destination

* Keep cold food cold and stored at 40 F or below to prevent the growth of bacteria. Use a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs

“I truly appreciate when my patients are actively engaged and informed about their health,” says Dr. Sidna Tulledge-Scheitel, a primary care physician. “The Mayo Clinic Health Manager can help patients share information more easily with their doctors and manage their own health better between office visits.”

Know and use your history to be more proactive. Use the Mayo Clinic Health Manager to track wellness visits and immunizations for you and your family, as well as to gain control of medication schedules and chronic condition symptoms. Sharing this information with your doctor could help determine future treatment.

Build your health assets. Finances, retirement savings and home equity are all viewed as long-term personal management projects, but people don’t often see their health the same way. Look at your health as a long-term investment and take steps to quickly address any issues while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Community Blood Centers of South Florida

Whole blood donations are the most common way of saving lives.

Each whole blood unit can generate up to four components: red cells, platelets, plasma and white cells. All whole donors must meet all regular donor criteria. The donation procedure is quite simple, and generally only takes 30 to 45 minutes. You may donate whole blood every 56 days. Bloodmobiles travel throughout the south Florida region to schools, businesses, religious organizations, and civic groups. You may also donate at one of our 15 convenient donor centers.

Hospital Blood Drive Locations*

June 5, 2009

Good Samaritan Medical Center 9:30am-7:30pm June 11, 2009

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center 8:00am-8:00pm June 17, 2009

Boca Raton Community Hospital 7:30am-7:30pm June 18, 2009

Delray Medical Center 9:00am-8:00pm and limit the number of times you open the cooler. * Pack beverages and perishable foods in separate coolers. * Keep raw meat, seafood and poultry wrapped securely to keep juices from contaminating other foods. * Rinse all fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before packing and eating.

Grill to perfection

* Never marinate foods outdoors or on a kitchen counter. Always marinate in the refrigerator. Do not reuse marinade that has touched raw meat. * Cook food thoroughly and use a food thermometer to ensure proper temperature. Steaks and fish should reach 145 F, pork 160 F and poultry and hamburgers 165 F. Shellfish should be closed tightly before

cooking and cooked until their shells open. * Keep hot food hot by moving finished meats to the side of the grill rack, away from the coals. * Do not reuse platters or utensils that have touched raw meat, poultry or seafood.

Keep food out of the “danger zone”

* Never let your picnic food sit outside in temperatures between 40 F and 90 F for more than two hours. When temperatures are above 90 F, food should not sit out for more than one hour. Discard any food that has been left out for a longer time. * Perishable foods can be placed on ice or in a shallow container set in a deep pan filled with ice. * Wrap hot food well and place in an insulated container until serving.

*Dates & times are subject to change without notice.

Community Blood Centers of South Florida, Inc, (CBCSF) is a non-profit all voluntary blood collection agency. Each year, CBCSF collects over 250,000 pints of blood and blood products for hospital and kidney dialysis patients.

The Blood Center operates 15 donor centers which are conveniently located throughout South Florida in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. In addition, 50 bloodmobiles travel throughout the community on a scheduled basis visiting businesses, places of worship, government agencies and schools. If you would like to arrange for a bloodmobile to visit your organization, please contact our Donor Resources department at 504-5550 in Palm Beach; or toll-free at (888) 454-2362 or call at (800)-879-5020.

4 JUNE â&#x20AC;˘ 2009

FLORIDAHEALTHNEWS-ONLINE.COM

Swine Flu Now a Pandemic: WHO The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the first flu pandemic since 1968, triggered by the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus across North America, Australia, South America, Europe and regions beyond.

HO director Dr. Margaret Chan made the much-anticipated announcement immediately after an emergency teleconference with flu experts from a number of countries. "The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century," Chan said in Geneva, according to the Associated Press. "The [swine flu] virus is now unstoppable." The declaration pushes the WHO alert status on the outbreak from phase 5, where it had remained for weeks, to the highest level, phase 6, as the number of swine flu cases hit close to 30,000 in the United States, Europe, South America and Australia. The rapid spread of cases in Australia, where they rose by more than 1,000 on Monday, appeared to fit a key criteria for

declaring a global pandemic -- if at least two regions of the world are hit. WHO said 74 countries have now reported 28,774 cases of swine flu, including 144 deaths, the AP reported. U.S. health officials on Thursday were not surprised by the pandemic announcement. "It's based on the data," CDC director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden said during an afternoon press conference. But, he added, "this does not mean there is any difference in the severity of the flu. There has been no change in the virus." "Here in the United States, we have been responding as if it were a pandemic already," Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, added. What the pandemic declaration means, she said, is that "for countries that were not seeing the flu we have seen here, they need to dust off their pandemic plans." According to WHO statistics, the last pandemic -- the Hong Kong flu of 1968 -- killed about 1 million people. By comparison, ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year. Other experts also cautioned that the new declaration does not mean that the swine flu has gotten more severe.

Couples in Good Relationships Sleep Better

'Don't go to bed angry' may be age-old advice, but it's true, study says.

Electronic Micrograph of the H1N1 Virus. Photo: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"A World Health Organization level 6, which in effect states that H1N1 infections are now worldwide in distribution, is simply a declaration of the extent of geographic spread, and not a statement of severity of the clinical disease," Dr. Pascal James Imperato, a former New York City health commissioner and dean of public health at the State University of New York's Downstate Medical Center, said in a statement. "The disease remains relatively mild in most people. A

positive consequence of this declaration is that it empowers countries to move forward with vaccine production." Chan on Thursday also characterized the H1N virus as "moderate," and WHO officials said they would be now urging flu vaccine makers to start producing swine flu vaccine. Since the outbreak started in April, health officials in the United States have also said that infections have been mild for the most part, and most people recover fairly quickly. Testing has found that the H1N1 virus remains susceptible to two common antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza. During the next few months, CDC scientists will be looking to see if the swine flu virus mutates or becomes resistant to antiviral medications or is more easily spread among people. U.S. health officials have said there's no way to tell now if the H1N1 virus will be more virulent when -- and if -- it returns to the Northern Hemisphere with the approach of winter. A vaccine for the swine flu virus could be ready by October, if research and testing proceed on pace this summer. Candidate viruses have been shipped to vaccine manufacturers, agency officials said.

Laughter Can Boost Heart Health Research finds it improves blood flow and may help ward off high blood pressure. New research lends weight to the old adage that laughter can be powerful medicine, particularly when it comes to your heart.

Two studies presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting in Seattle found that laughter not only can reduce stress, which can damage the heart, it can lead to improved blood flow, which can help ward off high blood pressure.

Happy at home and sleeping well? New research shows that relationship satisfaction and sleep quality might be linked. he study included 29 heterosexual couples who didn't have children. Each partner completed sleep diaries for seven days and also recorded interactions with their partner six times a day.

Among men, a good night's sleep was linked with positive ratings of relationship quality the next day, the researchers found. Among women, negative daytime interactions with their partner resulted in poor sleep quality that night for both them and their partner. "When we look at the data on a day-by-day basis, there seems to be a vicious cycle in which sleep affects next-day relationship functioning, and relationship functioning

affects the subsequent night's sleep," principal investigator Brant Hasler, a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona, said in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "In this cycle, conflict with one's partner during the day leads to worse sleep that night, which leads to more conflict the following day," Hasler said. "Although these results are preliminary due to the relatively small sample size and a subjective measure of sleep quality, the woman's perception of the relationship seems particularly important as it impacts both her own and her partner's subjective sleep quality that night."

Hasler suggested that it's best if disputes can be resolved before going to bed, adding that difficult discussions should be postponed until both parties have had a good night's sleep. The findings were to be presented in Seattle at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

The first study included a small group of healthy adults who were asked to watch either a comedy or documentary film. They were then checked for activity of the carotid arteries -- the main arteries in the neck that bring blood to the brain and face -- during the films. People who watched the comedy displayed improved "arterial compliance" -- the amount of blood that moves through the arteries at a given time. Decreased arterial compliance is often linked with high blood pressure and heart disease, according to an American College of Sports Medicine news release.

documentary, there was more dilation of blood vessels during the comedy. Constricted blood vessels can be a cause of high blood pressure, the news release said.

The second study focused on vascular function and the dilation of blood vessels. When a second group of adults watched either a comedy or a serious

In both studies, the beneficial effects of laughter lasted for 24 hours, the researchers said.

"Arterial compliance was improved for a full 24 hours after subjects watched a funny movie," said lead researcher Jun Sugawara. "Laughing is likely not the complete solution to a healthy heart, but it appears to contribute to positive effects."

"Not only did comedies improve vascular dilation, but watching a documentary about a depressing subject was actually harmful to the blood vessels," said Takashi Tarumi, lead researcher on the second study. "These documentaries constricted blood vessels by about 18 percent."

JUNE â&#x20AC;˘ 2009

FLORIDAHEALTHNEWS-ONLINE.COM

Sedatives and Hypnotics May Increase Risk Metformin for Suicide in Elderly Patients May Help Laurie Barclay, MD

affective and anxiety disorders abolished this association for antidepressants in general and for selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors. Adjustment for psychotic disorders abolished the association of antipsychotic use.

Sedatives and hypnotics may increase the risk for suicide in elderly patients, according to the results of a case-control study reported online in the June issue of BMC Geriatrics. "While antidepressant-induced suicidality is a concern in younger age groups, there is mounting evidence that these drugs may reduce suicidality in the elderly," write Anders Carlsten and Margda Waern, from Gothenburg University in Gothenburg, Sweden. "Regarding a possible association between other types of psychoactive drugs and suicide, results are inconclusive. Sedatives and hypnotics are widely prescribed to elderly persons with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance."

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of specific types of psychoactive drugs with suicide risk in late life, after controlling for appropriate indications. In Gothenburg and 2 adjacent counties, the investigators performed a case-control study of 85 patients 65 years or older who had committed suicide matched with 153 con-

trol subjects from a population-based comparison group. Of the 85 suicide cases, 46 were men and 39 were women; mean age was 75 years. A psychiatrist interviewed close informants for the patients who had committed suicide, and control subjects were also interviewed face-to-face. Primary care and psychiatric records were also reviewed for case patients and control subjects, and analysis of all available data allowed diagnosis of past-month mental disorders based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria. Unadjusted analysis showed that use of antidepressant, antipsychotic, sedative, and hypnotic drugs were all associated with an increased risk for suicide, but adjusting for

In the unadjusted analyses, use of sedatives was associated with nearly a 14-fold increase of suicide risk, and this persisted as an independent risk factor for suicide even after adjusting for any disorder based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. In the adjusted model, having a current prescription for a hypnotic was associated with a 4-fold increase in suicide risk. Limitations of this study include inability to determine causality or the contribution of availability of suicide means on suicide risk, small sample size, and diagnoses of the patients who had committed suicide based on data obtained by proxy interviews. "Sedatives and hypnotics were both associated with increased risk for suicide after adjustment for appropriate indications," the study authors write. "Given the extremely high prescription rates, a careful evaluation of the suicide risk should always precede prescribing a sedative or hypnotic to an elderly individual."

Global Airlines Move to Reduce Infection Risks By Karen Jacobs

ATLANTA (Reuters) Global airlines, still reeling from the recent flu-virus scare, have stepped up efforts to protect passengers from health risks on international flights.

In Asia, carriers spooked by the memory of SARS have stepped up cabin cleaning, installed state-of-the-art air filters and allowed in-flight staff to wear face masks. For example, Cathay Pacific now replaces used pillows, blankets, headset covers and headrest covers, spokeswoman Carolyn Leung said. China Southern Airlines has been disinfecting the cabins of all aircraft. China Eastern Airlines flight attendants are required to wear disposable facial masks, gloves and hats and even disposable overcoats during flights to select destinations. Mexicana Airlines uses high-efficiency filters that can trap small particles that would normally recirculate back into the air, spokesman Adolfo Crespo said.

The H1N1 flu virus has been confirmed in 20,000 people in 68 countries, killing at least 126, according to the World Health Organization. Although it appears mild, experts worry that the disease, which formerly was called "swine flu," could change into a more dangerous form. In the wake of the spread, some countries have intensified health precautions.

Singapore saw its first case of the H1N1 flu in late May, after a native student flew from New York to the city-state on a Singapore Airlines flight. Singapore has been thermalscreening everyone coming into the country. The method, which identifies travelers with a fever, did not help authorities spot the sick student, as she had not yet developed a fever. The government quarantined the passenger and about 60 other people on the same flight

who were sitting within three rows. "This won't be the last case in Singapore unless we could stop people from traveling," Singapore's Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said. Singapore Airlines Ltd , the world's biggest by market value, is giving passengers traveling to the United States health kits that include a thermometer, masks and antiseptic towels. Its cabin and flight crews are getting mandatory temperature checks before flights.

U.S. STANDARDS In contrast to the measures taken by Asian airlines, U.S. carriers have simply continued safety standards already in place, relying on the advice of authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atlanta-based CDC has not recommended that airline crews wear face masks or disposable overcoats. "The issue with H1N1 and airlines is an issue of translocation, not necessarily on-board transmission," Shelly Sikes Diaz, a CDC spokeswoman, said in an email. She added that people were no more likely to catch the flu on a two-hour plane flight than they were sitting next to someone for a two-hour movie. "Therefore, at this time, recommended onboard infection control measures would be similar to community infection control measures" such as frequent hand-washing, Diaz added. David Castelveter, a spokesman with the Air Transport Association trade group, said U.S. airlines for the most part

have made no major changes in the wake of swine flu, but continued standing practices that include looking for passengers with symptoms of flu, measles or other infections. He added that in-flight air filters ensure that aircraft are sanitized.

"We take our guidance from the professionals (such as the CDC) who tell us the precautions that are needed to prevent the spread," Castelveter said. "We're not taking the type of precautions that are unnecessary." While Castelveter said media coverage of the flu has boosted awareness of airline safety procedures, Mexicana's Crespo stressed that carriers still have work to do to change public perceptions that air quality on planes is bad.

"Inside, our aircraft is cleaner than in a hospital," Crespo said. Julian Tang, a consultant for the microbiology division at National University Hospital in Singapore, also said hygiene practices such as covering the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing in confined areas may be the best way to limit infection. He said safety measures such as costly air filters may be of limited use for carriers.

"This is because most of the transmission between passengers probably mostly occurs just after the sneeze/cough in the immediate vicinity of the passenger rather than after it flows through the ventilation/circulation system and back out again," he said.

Make Vaccines Work Better By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) A common diabetes pill may help trick the body into making more powerful immune system cells that could help make vaccines and cancer treatments work better, U.S. and Canadian researchers said. When they gave the drug metformin to mice, they made more of a type of immune system memory cell that can recognize infections or respond to vaccinations.

"Our findings were unanticipated, but are potentially extremely important and could revolutionize current strategies for both therapeutic and protective vaccines," Yongwon Choi of the University of Pennsylvania, whose study appears in the journal Nature, said in a statement.

Choi and colleagues said they may be able to use the drug in non-diabetics to boost the body's response to vaccines or new cancer treatments that rely on the immune system to fight tumors. In diabetics, metformin works by stimulating AMP-activated protein kinase or AMPK, a master circuit for energy metabolism in the body. "What happens in diabetics is this circuit is broken," Russell Jones of McGill University in Canada, who worked on the study, said in a telephone interview. Jones said metformin works in part by tricking the body into thinking it is starving, activating the AMPK circuit. The team wanted to see how this same energy metabolism circuit affects white blood cells of the immune system known as memory T-cells. Jones describes them as a special group of sentinels left behind after the army has left a battle. "It's like the guys guarding the fort. They've seen the enemy and they know what is is," Jones said. Jones said when they body makes memory-T cells, it uses some of the same energy metabolism circuits. "This is where metformin comes in," Jones said. The team gave the drug to mice that lacked a gene needed to make memory T-cells.

"To our surprise, we completely rescued the memory cell defect in these mice," Jones said. And when they gave metformin to normal mice, they actually made more memory T-cells. "When we give metformin, it's like giving the T-cell response a boost," he said. Jones said the findings would need to be studied in humans, but he thinks it may be possible to use metformin to help routine vaccines work better, and it may even help strengthen the immune system's response to vaccines being developed to fight cancer. Metformin is used to treat type 2 diabetes, which linked to a poor diet and lack of exercise and accounts for about 90 percent of all diabetes cases. The International Diabetes Federation estimates more than 380 million people will have a form of diabetes by 2025.

6 JUNE â&#x20AC;˘ 2009

FLORIDAHEALTHNEWS-ONLINE.COM

Enjoy the Magic of Fruits!

By Michael Russell

Natural fruits have been found useful for healthy and beautiful skin. Since this is essential, we compiled the list of some effective natural aids for your skin right from your kitchen, fridge and garden. Some healthy fruits for your skin:

Apple juice - is an effective home remedy for healing wrinkles, itching and inflammation, they can also be used as conditioner and toner. For many centuries, apples have been used in skin-healing. When taking a bath, remember to add a cup of apple juice and that will helps to cleanse and soften your skin. After each time you shampooing your hair, don't forget to put a final rise with apple juice, because its power can prevent dandruff. Fresh apricot juice - has been known good for sunburn, itching and eczema.

Avocado - is an effective facial mask.

Banana - another inexpensive but effective facial mask.

Cucumber - can prevent pimples, wrinkles, blackheads and dryness of the face.

Guava boiled leaves - used as natural antiseptic.

Lemons - are the most popular home beauty ingredient. People preferred using lemons to cleanse and freshen the skin and hair. A few lemon slices to soften rough skin spots such as elbows and heels. Lemons can be a very powerful deodorizer, just simply mix a few teaspoons of lemon juice in your bath and you will feel fresh the whole day. Lemon juice can be added to your favorite cleanser or shampoo to refresh and tone your scalp, as well as prevent dandruff.

Lime Juice - is a natural aid for beautiful skin. Frequent drink of lime juice will help you to look young and beautiful. It will also help cure acne. It is also known to help in controlling oily skin, improve a dull and greasy complexion, improve rough and dry skin, relieve tired eyes and remove freckles Mango leaves - known to be boiled and be used as antiseptic.

Orange juice - effective remedy for pimples and acne, and can also be used for scar and blemish removal. Orange and green papaya - is used to remove whiteheads, boils and spots. It also contains the papain enzyme, which is effective in skin whitening.

Peach skin - It can be made good anti-wrinkle cream. Pineapple - are good skin softeners which cleanse and rejuvenate dull and dry skin. Tangerine - If you want to enjoy a naturally glowing complexion, try adding tangerine to your daily skin care ritual! Just squeeze enough juice from a tangerine and apply it liberally on your face and neck. Do this regularly and soon enough, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a skin that can be the envy of your friends!

Watermelon - To effectively remove those unsightly blemishes on your skin, try applying fresh watermelon juice. Simply extract enough juice from a small slice of watermelon and apply it over your face and neck. Leave it on for about fifteen minutes to get the best results. Rinse the juice off your face and neck using warm water. Splash your face and neck with cold water afterwards to close your pores.

More Eyeglasses Could Help Global Economy - WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) Giving away free glasses is a cheap way of boosting the global economy with billions of dollars lost every year due to visual impairments, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. n estimated 153 million people worldwide have impaired vision due to untreated eye conditions such as near or farsightedness that can cause blurred vision, researchers from around the world reported in the WHO Bulletin journal.

"Eyeglasses are a low-cost intervention," the researchers said, calculating a total direct cost of $26 billion to give vision tests and glasses to those who lack them worldwide, plus additional costs related to boosting ophthalmological services.

The researchers found that "even under the most conservative assumptions, the global provision of eyeglasses would result in considerable savings per case treated and in a net benefit to the global economy." Most

"Many less economically developed countries still lack basic infrastructure for distribution and training and have insufficient equipment and personnel to provide eyeglasses to those in need," it said.

sufferers are in developing countries and about 8 million of the total are blind, the WHO said in its report, estimating repairable eyesight problems cost the global economy hundreds of billions of dollars a year in lost productivity.

The WHO has previously estimated that 87 percent of the world's visually impaired people live in poorer countries, with older people and women most heavily affected. The Western Pacific, including Australia, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, was estimated to have the highest cost because of untreated eye conditions, worth almost 1 percent of the region's gross domestic product.

JUNE • 2009

FLORIDAHEALTHNEWS-ONLINE.COM

Want to Stop Cancer? You Can, Experts Say

Although some believe that certain people are destined to get cancer and nothing can be done to change their fate, that's just not the case, experts say.

ven people who have genes that predispose them to certain types of cancer might be able to reduce their risk by living a healthy lifestyle, they say. "Between 27 and 49 percent of people think preventing cancer is impossible or highly unlikely," said Karen Collins, a registered dietitian and a nutrition adviser for the American Institute for Cancer Research. But, she said, the institute has identified three steps people could take to dramatically affect the chances of developing cancer: ■ Eat a mostly plant-based diet. ■ Maintain a healthy weight. ■ Exercise regularly.

"The data is pretty clear that we can make a significant drop in the cancer rate with these three changes," Collins said. "We can prevent about one-third of cancers with these changes. And if you add tobacco prevention, which reduces about 30 percent of cancers, over half of today's cancers could be prevented." Dr. Virginia Kaklamani, an oncologist who specializes in breast cancer at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in

Chicago, added that "increased weight increases the risk of cancer, and physical activity, regardless of weight, decreases breast cancer risk." The institute joined with the World Cancer Research Fund to release a report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective, that was prepared by a team of international researchers who reviewed more than 7,000 studies on cancer.

Their recommendations included: ■ Weight: Maintain a body mass index (BMI) between 21 and 23 and avoid gaining weight during adulthood. Although a BMI of up to 24.9 is considered normal, the lower end of normal is better for cancer prevention, the report said.

■ Exercise: Participate in moderate activity -- brisk walking or something equivalent -- for at least 30 minutes a day. Ideally, though, people are advised to work up to 60 minutes of moderate exercise daily, or 30 minutes of vigorous exercise. The report also advised limiting sedentary activities, such as TVwatching.

■ Diet: Eat healthily. That means a diet that consists of mostly plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The experts recommended avoiding sugary, processed foods and fast foods as much as possible and limiting red meat consumption to no more than 18 ounces a week. Salt consumption should also be restricted to no more than 2.4 grams of salt daily. And, the report advised, limit alcohol consumption to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

■ Supplements: Don't rely on them. The cancer-preventing benefits derived from nutrients are believed to come from foods, not from individual supplements. Authors of the report advised against taking supplements.

Health Secrets of Red Wine Uncovered

cientists already knew that drinking red wine in moderation is good for your health; now they are figuring out why. New research is uncovering the diseaseprevention secrets of a polyphenol called resveratrol, one of compounds in red wine that seems to improve health. Although the benefits have been touted for years, researchers weren't sure how polyphenols, and resveratrol in particular, worked in the body. "The breadth of benefits is remarkable - cancer prevention, protection of the heart and brain from damage, reducing age-related diseases, such as inflammation, reversing diabetes and obesity, and many more," said Lindsay Brown, an associate professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Queensland in Australia and co-author of a study that will appear in the September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Brown said scientists are beginning to understand how resveratrol does its work. Possible mechanisms include:

If you’ve ever come in from a day sailing, picnicking or lying on the beach and your eyes felt tired, sore and gritty, you likely experienced ultraviolet radiation (UVR) overexposure. It’s critical to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays to decrease your risk of developing serious vision issues such as cataracts and agerelated macular degeneration, the leading causes of blindness.

aintaining vision health can be especially important for women. In fact, a report from the National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC), “Women and Healthy Vision,” shows that women are at higher risk than men of having vision problems. “Studies show women tend to live longer than men, putting them at a higher risk for developing eye issues that become prevalent with age,” says Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, a registered nurse and executive director of the NWHRC. “It is important for women to understand the facts when it comes to sun exposure and eye health so that they can better prevent unnecessary sun-related damage.”

Understanding ultraviolet radiation

There are three ranges of UVR: UV-C, UVB and UV-A. The most damaging form is UV-C, but luckily it’s absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere and doesn’t reach your eyes.

High doses of the compound may prevent cancer by increasing the process of apoptosis (programmed cell death). Low doses improve cardiac health by increasing cellular protection and reducing damage. Resveratrol may help remove very reactive oxidants in the body and improve blood supply to cells. Scientists are also studying how the body absorbs resveratrol into the blood stream, since the compound is largely inactivated in the gut and liver.

The second kind of UVR is UV-B rays. Exposure to these rays is closely linked with photokeratitis (a kind of sunburn of the cornea and iris), cataracts, pterygium (a white or creamy growth attached to the cornea) and even a form of eye cancer called squamous cell cancer. The third type of UVR is UV-A. Although laboratory studies find it can damage the retina (the light-sensitive membrane that covers the back of the eye), very little UV-A reaches your retina because most is absorbed by other parts of the eye. Still, some researchers suspect it may contribute to cataract development.

How to protect your eyes

Think sun exposure and eyes and you probably think sunglasses. While wearing sunglasses is definitely a good idea when it comes to eye protection, not all sunglasses are created equal. Look for sunglasses that transmit no more than 1 percent UV-B and 1 percent UV-A rays. Sometimes the information on the glasses will say they block at least 99 percent of the UVR.

Other things to look for when selecting a pair of sunglasses include:

■ Lenses large enough to completely cover the eye and prevent as much light as possible from entering through the edges of the glasses. Wrap-around sunglasses are best.

■ Gray lenses, because they provide the greatest protection.

■ Darker lenses, particularly if you spend a lot of time exposed to UVR.

If you wear contact lenses, don’t toss the sunglasses. The best way to protect your eyes from the sun is a combination of quality sunglasses, contact lenses (if you wear them) and a wide-brimmed hat.

Protecting children’s eyes

Just as significant exposure to the sun in childhood is a leading risk factor for skin cancer in adulthood, so, too, is it a risk factor for later eye damage. In fact, researchers estimate we receive 80 percent of our lifetime exposure to UVR rays before age 18.

Additionally, children’s eyes transmit more UVR rays to the retina than adults’, increasing their exposure and risk of later eye damage. That’s why it’s so important to protect children’s eyes. While sports glasses offer important safety benefits, they’re designed to protect a child’s eyes from injuries, not from the sun.

It is best to teach children to wear a hat that shades their eyes as well as a pair of sunglasses. Use the stroller hood and try not to walk directly into the sun, pick the shaded side of the street if you can and while at the park, pool, or beach, try to keep little ones in a shaded area.

Diabetes Mellitus 8 JUNE • 2009

Shekhar V. Sharma M.D. Board Certified in Internal Medicine

iabetes Mellitus can be defined as a disease where an individual’s overnight fasting blood sugar is more than 125 mg. Impaired blood sugar is defined as blood sugar levels between 110 mg. and 125 mg. A diabetic can only be diagnosed by the checking of blood sugars. Diabetes Mellitus is definitely a silent disease that can hurt an individual without their knowledge. In fact, one could be totally unaware that one has it most of the time. It is a condition that could become worse if left undiagnosed, untreated, and mishandled. How does one get Diabetes Mellitus? One of the reasons is impairment of insulin secretion from a group of cells in the pancreas called the ‘islets of langerhans’. One of the most common symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus is polyuria which means frequent urination on a daily basis. Other symptoms are excessive hunger called polyphagia and excessive thirst polydypsia when one drinks a lot of water. Failure to diagnose Diabetes Mellitus can be due to various reasons such as: individuals not seeking medical attention, or the physician not doing a simple blood

sugar level. Persons with diabetes usually present themselves to a physician feeling good, with no symptoms. Sometimes the individual may say that they have blurry vision, numbness of the extremity, and feeling weak and fatigued. Studies have shown that complications of Diabetes Mellitus, especially microvascular disease (which means blood vessel disease) has a direct correlation with control of one’s blood sugar. Cardiovascular disease also remains a leading cause of death in Diabetes Mellitus Type II individuals. Other risk factors like hypertension, (which means blood pressure) high cholesterol, and obesity in Diabetes Mellitus should be taken into consideration in coordination with good control of one’s blood sugar. Individuals with impaired fasting blood sugar are at high risk for the development of diabetes and arterial disease. Approximately one third of patients with

impaired blood sugar develop full blown Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus also runs in families and family history is an important indicator of this disease. Complications of Diabetes Mellitus are strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease, especially of the lower extremities and retinopathy of the eyes which can lead to blindness if left untreated. Treatment for Diabetes Mellitus is first of all DIET CONTROL controlling what you eat. This way you can not only lose weight but

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you can also control your diabetes. Eating the right foods and avoiding foods such as high carbohydrate/starch, diet and sweets with a high sugar content is important. Reduction of saturated fat intake and the addition of high fiber in one’s diet have become critically important. Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in the prevention of the onset of Diabetes Mellitus Type II. The added benefits of exercise is lowering of one’s blood pressure, improving cardiac performance and raising the good cholesterol called HDL in the blood. If blood sugars are still high despite diet and exercise, I would recommend a continuation of a diet and exercise program along with pharmaco therapy. There are various ways of treating Diabetes Mellitus with either tablets or with insulin and blood sugars can definitely be contained. We all need to be aware that there is so much more to this disease that is not

understood by the lay person. This is where the physician who is well versed and experienced in the disease steps in and this can be beneficial to any individual with Diabetes Mellitus. Dr. Sharma is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has been in practice for 19 years in the Western communities. His office is located at 3347 State Rd. 7 (2 miles south of the Wellington Green Mall in the Palomino Park Center) Suite 200, Wellington, Florida. Please contact his office at 561-795-9087 for an appointment.

Ask Dr. Sharma:

: I am a 28 year old female who has a urinary infection. I was treated with an antibiotic and I still don’t feel better. Days have gone by and I still quite don’t feel completely well. Please explain this, doctor. Sharon in West Palm Beach

: Dear Sharon, First of all, I recommend you contact your physician to see whether he has done a urine analysis and culture before you started taking the antibiotic since you could be having a resistant strain of a bacteria causing your UTI (urinary tract infection) which you may not be aware of. This is why the antibiotic you are taking may not be the right one, if the bacteria is resistant to the antibiotic. If the culture and sensitivity is known, I would recommend going along with the antibiotic that the results dictate. If no urine analysis and culture have been ordered than I would suggest an immediate urine analysis and culture be done since this would help the physician decide which antibiotic to choose for the treatment of your condition.

: I am a 62 year old male that loves sex.However,I suffer from the embarrassment of not being able to perform sexually.I do have heart disease. Is there something that can be done doctor? Larry from Boynton Beach.

: There are different reasons why one has your kind of problem which I presume is erectile dysfunction.One of them is the side effects of medications that you may be on.The other could be emotional.You could also have low testesterone levels in your blood.All the above needs to be addressed by your physician.One of the common causes of ED(erectile dysfunction) is diabetes mellitus.There are certain medications that you can take for ED as long as you discuss it with your physician.You should make sure you are not on nitrates since you mentioned heart disease.This is because medications such as Viagra,Cialis etc could cause a severe drop in blood pressure especially if you are on nitrates.

Questions to Dr. Sharma can be mailed to P.O. Box 542527 Lake Worth, FL 33454-2527 or by email: info@floridahealthnews-online.com

The Importance Of Water For Health

by Jane Thurnell-Read

Water is critical to our health: we can survive much longer without food than we can without water. Water is a coolant, a lubricant and a solvent. A large part of what I call 'me' is simply water.

f we do not drink enough water, the body will do various things to conserve water. These conservation strategies can lead to various unpleasant symptoms, but from the bodys viewpoint these are less harmful than being depleted further of water.

For example, simply drinking more water can relieve many cases of constipation. If the body is short of water, it will extract water from the faeces, making them hard and difficult to pass. The end result is constipation. An abundant intake of water can quickly solve this problem for many people. For many years top models have been fanatical about drinking water to maintain a clear skin.

If you want to lose weight, try drinking a large glass of water whenever you feel peckish. Wait ten minutes, and then decide if you still need that food. Dr F Batmanghelidj in his excellent book Your Bodys Many Cries For Water documents how he has helped people

suffering from a wide range of illnesses including asthma, headaches, depression, colitis and hypertension, just by getting them to drink more water.

Don't avoid water in order to reduce water retention. If you do that, your body will think a drought is coming and hang on to all the water it can!

A recent study by Dr David Lewis sponsored by Brita, the water filter company, shows that water plays a vital role in our immune system's ability to fight infection, making those who drink sufficient less likely to suffer from flu and colds. This study also showed that those who drank enough water were less likely to suffer from the winter blues and recovered from stress more easily. Athletes know that, if they wait till they are thirsty before drinking, they are probably already dehydrated, and that means that their performance will be affected. So, what's an adequate amount of water? For a normal adult it is about eight glasses a day. It should be drunk as water (not as tea, coffee, cola, beer, etc.). To begin with you may find this difficult. It seems that the body damps down the thirst reflex when it goes unanswered for so many years. Initially you may find you need to go to the toilet more, but gradually your system gets used to the extra intake.

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On Staff: At Palms West Hospital, Wellington Regional Medical Center 9 AM - 5 PM MONDAY - FRIDAY SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE 24 HOUR SERVICE AVAILABLE

3347 State Road 7 Suite 200 Wellington, FL 33449

Tel: (561) 795-9087 Fax: (561) 753-8730

425 SE 2nd Street, Belle Glade, FL 33430

Tel: (561) 996-7742 Fax: (561) 753-8730

10 JUNE â&#x20AC;˘ 2009

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First Annual Palms West Surgicenter Family Fun Day

n Saturday May 30th Palm West Surgicenter celebrated their first Annual Family Fun Day, on the campus of Palms West Hospital. Families stopped by to enjoy a spectacular barbeque. The kids participated in activities like Bounce House and Face Painting and the Fire Department was at hand for a live demonstration.

Families stopped by to enjoy a spectacular barbeque and the kids participated in the Bounce House.

Fire Department conducting a demonstration.

Children lined up for face painting with flowers and fun shapes.

JUNE • 2009

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Celine Dion and others show their support for the Kids Cancer Foundation of South Florida

n May 9th, 2009, local and international celebrities turned out to support the Kids Cancer Foundation to help local children battling cancer at the 3rd Annual Jenna McCann Golf Tournament and Gala. The golfers teed off in the morning followed by a night of dining and dancing at Jenna’s Gala at Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington, FL.

Rene Angelil, husband of Celine Dion, spent his morning on the beautiful greens at Binks Forest Golf Club along with almost 100 other golfers. Also, hitting the greens were Steve Walsh, starting quarterback for the 1987 National Championship University of Miami football team and head coach at Cardinal Newman High School, as well as Colonel Mike Gauger of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. Celine Dion and husband, Rene Angelil, showed their support for the Kids Cancer Foundation by making a donation in honor of their son, Rene Charles, in the amount of $10,000.

Morgan Hayes, a senior at Pope John Paul II High School, already a veteran performer and winner of Radio Disney's 2004 national "Sing like a Star" competition, amazed those in attendance with her powerful vocals making it a night to remember.

The Jenna McCann Memorial Golf Tournament and Gala is named in memory of a local 4 year old Loxahatchee girl who lost her battle with cancer 3 years ago. Her family believes it is their way to help her memory live on by helping current and future children who battle or will battle cancer. During Jenna’s time in treatment her mother, Kaye McCann, had to take her up to Duke University in Durham, NC to receive the treatments Jenna desperately needed; forcing Kaye to leave behind her 5 year old daughter, Tara, and 3 month old son, Jacob, with her husband and other family members to care for them.

She was not able to be there for Tara’s first day of school or for Jacob’s first steps and so many other first’s. It is their wish that future families will not have to leave the area, much less the state, to get the treatments their child needs to save their life. The Kids Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) foundation that supports local children battling cancer and their families by providing supportive care and connecting the families with other agencies who offer support in our community. It is their ultimate goal to procure funding to build an outpatient cancer treatment center right here in Palm Beach County. For more information on the Kids Cancer Foundation you can visit their website www.kidscancersf.org

Kids Cancer Foundation Staff: Sandy Erb, Treasurer, Jenna McCann (picture), Steven Pliskow MD, and Michelle O’Boyle, President .

David Albright and Carlos Alvarez.

Seema Dass, Dr. Kishore Dass and Mitch Diamant.

Anne Harris, Julia Ryborich, Suzanne Schirmsh and Monique Simpson.

Mitch Diamant, Dr. Ronald Ackerman, Dr. Shekhar Sharma and Ranjita Sharma.

David and Staci Martin, Ranjita Sharma.

Ramya and Krishna Tripuraneni, M.D., M.B.A. María Alejandra and David Ghiragossian.

Joslyn Davis enjoying her toy that was gifted at the Gala and Michelle, O’Boyle, president of Kids Cancer Foundation of South Florida.

Debra Mackles, Dr. Harold and Kathy Bafitis.

RenéeRonnie and Jennifer List.

12 JUNE â&#x20AC;˘ 2009

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If Mom or Dad Is Depressed, Kids Need Help Too

Coordinated assessment and care for all family members is warranted: report.

Computers Causing Injuries in the Home

Falling monitors, dangerous wires a growing risk, especially for kids, study shows.

omputers are everywhere in the home these days -- the office, the kid's room, maybe even on the kitchen table. And that, according to new research, has led to more people showing up in emergency rooms with computer-related injuries. That increase has not been slight: From 1994 to 2006, injuries caused by people tripping over computer wires or getting hit by falling equipment rose from about 1,300 a year to 9,300 a year, an increase of 732 percent nationwide. Children under the age of 5 had the highest injury rate. The leading cause of injury for small children, and for adults over 60, was tripping or falling over computer equipment. But while most injuries were to the extremities such as the arms or legs, young children were five times more likely than other age groups to sustain a head injury. "It's a pretty significant problem, given that computers are in most homes these days and many homes have more than one," said study author Lara McKenzie, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The study will be published in the June 9 online issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. From 1989 to 2003, the number of U.S. households with a computer increased from 15 percent to 62 percent, according to the most recent statistics available from the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly one-third of those had at least two computers.

"There are a lot of safety recommendations for all areas of the home -- the bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms, but computers are not mentioned in the literature of the safety world," McKenzie said. "Yet kids are spending a lot of time on computers, and people are spending a lot of time on their computers or in their home offices." McKenzie and her colleagues looked at injury data collected by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Over a 13-year period, about 78,000 people sustained computer-related injuries. The annual rate peaked in about 2003, when about 10,000 were injured by computers. The number has since dropped off, possibly because lighter, LCD screens have become more prevalent. For all ages, the most common acute computer-related injuries were lacerations (39 percent) and contusions and abrasions (23 percent). Computers aren't the only dangerous items in the home. A recent study also by Nationwide Children's Hospital found about 15,000 children a year are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries caused by furniture tipping. And since the early 1990s, the number of children injured by falling TVs, shelves and dressers has risen 41 percent. Recently, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson's 4-year-old daughter was accidentally strangled by a treadmill cord.

hen parents are depressed, their children can suffer too. A new report from the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine calls for health and social service professionals to pay greater attention to the impact of parental depression on their children. Rather than treating only the depressed adult, health-care and mental-health professionals should evaluate the fallout of the depression on the entire family, particularly children, and design treatment programs with everyone in mind, according to the report that was to be released Wednesday. Since most depression counseling and treatment programs are designed to deal only with the depressed individual, federal and state agencies, nonprofit organizations and private-sector providers should work to find nontraditional ways of helping the whole family, the report says. "To break the vicious circle of depression, we need to refocus our view of this illness through a broader lens that sees the whole family, not just the individual with depression," said committee chair and psychiatrist Mary Jane England, president of Regis College in Weston, Mass. "Our report describes a new vision for depression care that would provide comprehensive services not just to adults, but to their children as well. It will take significant policy changes to make this vision a reality, but the benefits warrant the effort." About one in five U.S. parents experience depression annually. About 15.6 million children under 18 live with an adult who has had major depression in the past year, the report noted. While depressed parents don't necessarily harm their children -- deliberately or inadvertently -- studies have shown parental depression can increase the chances of children having health, emotional and behavioral problems. Yet, even if health-care professionals come up with creative ways to include all family members in the treatment plan, obstacles remain. Only one-third of adult sufferers seek treatment for their depression, which means their children probably won't get treatment either. Removing barriers to coordinating care across agencies and service providers, ask-

ing patients with depression if they have children and if their depression affects family members and requiring health plans to cover a greater range of mental-health services would help put the focus on the family, according to the report. In addition, making affordable depression treatment available outside of traditional doctor's offices may encourage people to make use of the services. Suggested locations include Head Start facilities, schools, prisons, other community locations and people's homes. The report also called on states to revise regulations that prohibit services from being offered outside of clinical settings, and urged federal agencies to establish a national program to improve the ability of primary-care providers, mental-health and substanceabuse professionals to treat depression and lessen its effects on children. To help protect children from the negative impact of parental depression, the report suggested that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extend Medicaid services for new mothers to two years after birth, a critical period of development. CMS could reimburse primary-care providers for mental-health services and cover preventive services for children at risk of developing problems, rather than cover treatment only after problems occur. The study was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, California Endowment, U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Daytime Nap Has Benefits Beyond Rest for Kids

Nappers have less hyperactivity, depression and anxiety, research suggests.

hildren's nap time is not only beneficial to caregivers who may need a break. For children aged 4 to 5 years, taking a nap during the day may help reduce hyperactivity, anxiety and depression, new study findings show. In the study of 62 children categorized as either napping (77 percent) or nonnapping (23 percent), researchers found that those who didn't take daytime naps had higher levels of anxiety, hyperactivity and depression. The study findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, in Seattle. Children who took naps did so an average of 3.4 days a week, the researchers found. The study data was based on the parents' or caregivers' reporting of the children's typical weekday and weekend bedtime/wake time and napping patterns. Family demographics and behavioral assessments of the children were also included in the analysis. "There is a lot of individual variability in [the age] when children are ready to give up naps. I would encourage parents to include a quiet 'rest' time in their daily schedule that would allow children to nap if necessary," lead author Brian Crosby, a postdoctoral fellow of psychology at Pennsylvania State University, said in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. An optimal age for children to stop napping hasn't yet been determined, Crosby noted.

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Hospitals oppose Obama's Medicare, Medicaid cuts

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said he wants to help pay for his health care overhaul by slowing Medicare and Medicaid spending, but hospitals, medical technicians and others are resisting.

he high-stakes struggle over medical care is heating up as Obama declares the status quo unacceptable. The president suggests trimming federal payments to hospitals by about $200 billion over the next 10 years, saying greater efficiencies and broader insurance coverage will justify the change. Hospitals, especially those with many poor patients, say the proposed cuts are unfair and will harm the sick and elderly. Congress ultimately will shape the new laws. Obama is urging lawmakers to be bold and to resist powerful lobbies trying to maintain their clout and profits. "Americans are being priced out of the care they need," Obama said in radio and Internet address. Obama said high health care costs hurt the entire economy and contribute to the nearly 50 million people who lack coverage. His address focused on payments to Medicare and Medicaid, which cover millions of elderly and low-income people and involve thousands of doctors, hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions. He proposed cutting $313 billion from the programs over 10 years. That's in addition to the $635 billion "down payment" in tax increases and spending cuts in the health care system that he announced earlier.

President Barack Obama said high health care costs hurt the entire economy.

Together, Obama's plans would provide $948 billion over a decade in savings and/or tax increases to help insure practically everyone and to slow the rate of soaring health care costs. The president wants to cut $106 billion over 10 years from payments that help hospitals treat uninsured people. Spending on Medicare prescription drugs would fall by $75 billion over a decade. And slowing projected increases in Medicare payments to hospitals and other providers — but not doctors — would save $110 billion over 10 years, the president said. Obama called them "commonsense changes," although he acknowledged that many details must be resolved. Some powerful industry groups called the proposals unwise and unfair. "Payment cuts are not reform," Rich Umbdenstock, president of the American Hospital Association, said even before Obama's plan was announced. His group is urging hospitals with large proportions of low-in-

come patients "to push back on proposed cuts." The pharmaceutical industry is wary of Obama's plan to extract $75 billion over 10 years from Medicare prescription drug spending. The White House said "there are a variety of ways to achieve this goal." For instance, it said, drug reimbursements might be reduced for people who receive both Medicare and Medicaid. The drug manufacturers' chief trade group issued a cautious statement Saturday, saying pharmaceutical companies support health care changes, but that much work remains to be done. An industry group that which represents makers and users of medical imaging devices, such as MRI and CT equipment, was more hostile. Obama wants to reduce government payments for such services. He said the devices are used so frequently and efficiently that providers can spread their costs over many patients, requiring less government reimbursement. The Access to Medical Imaging Coalition, a trade group, disagreed. It said the president's plan would "impair access to diagnostic imaging services and result in patients' delaying or forgoing life- and cost-savings imaging procedures." The group said Obama's efficiency estimates were based on a flawed survey. Even if Obama and Congress could hit the overall goal of $948 billion in health care savings over 10 years, it still might not be enough to cover all the nation's uninsured. Outside experts say the 10-year cost could range from $1.2 trillion to $1.8 trillion, depending on factors such as how generous federal subsidies turn out to be.

Obama urges doctors to back his health care plans

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama, continuing to barnstorm for his health care proposals, will urge doctors gathered in Chicago to support wider insurance coverage and targeted federal spending cuts. Obama planned to tell the American Medical Association's annual meeting in his hometown that overhaul cannot wait and that bringing down costs is the most important thing he can do to ensure the country's long-term fiscal health, a senior administration official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the president's remarks before they were delivered. The nation's doctors, like many other groups, are divided over the president's proposals to reshape the health care delivery system. The White House anticipates heavy spending to cover the almost 50 million Americans who lack health insurance and has taken steps in recent days to outline just where that money could be found. For instance, Obama wants to cut federal payments to hospitals by about $200 billion and cut $313 billion from Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years. He also is proposing a $635 billion "down payment" in tax increases and spending cuts in the health care system. To an audience of doctors Obama plans to say the United States spends too much on health care and gets too little in return. He says the health industry is crushing businesses and families and is leading to millions of Americans losing coverage, the administration official said. Obama's turn before the 250,000-physician group in his latest effort to persuade skeptics

that his goal to provide health care to all Americans is worth the $1 trillion price tag it is expected to run during its first decade. The president plans to acknowledge the costs. But he also will tell the doctors it is not acceptable for the nation to leave so many without insurance, the official said. Unified Republicans and some fiscally conservative Democrats on Capitol Hill have said they are nervous about how the administration plans to pay for Obama's ideas. There have been indications Obama has been quietly making a case for reducing malpractice lawsuits to help control costs, long a goal of the AMA and Republicans. Obama has not endorsed capping jury awards

President Barack Obama addresses the American Medical Association during their annual meeting in Chicago.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Monday that controlling the cost of malpractice insurance would have to be a part of the Obama administration's overhaul of the health care system. Daschle, whose nomination for secretary of health and human resources was derailed because of questions about his personal fi-

nances, said much of the unnecessary annual health care cost can be attributed to doctors ordering extra tests and taking extra precautions to make sure "they aren't sued." Obama has been speaking privately with lawmakers about his ideas and publicly with audiences, such as a town hall style meeting last week in Green Bay, Wis. Obama and his administration officials have blanketed the nation in support of his broad ideas, and Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday said it's up to Congress to pin down the details on how to pay for them. "They're either going to have to agree with us, come up with an alternative or we're not going to have health care," Biden told NBC's "Meet the Press." "And we're going to get health care." In Chicago, the president's remarks are likely to focus on how his ideas might affect the medical profession. His proposed cuts in federal payments would hit hospitals more directly than doctors, but physicians will be affected by virtually every change that Congress eventually agrees to. Many medical professionals are not yet convinced Obama's overhaul is the best for their care or their pocketbooks. Broadly, the AMA supports a health care "reform" -- a term that changes its definition based on who is speaking -- although the specifics remain unclear. In a statement welcoming Obama, AMA president Dr. Nancy Nielsen said the medical profession wants to "reduce unnecessary costs by focusing on quality improvements, such as developing best practices for care and improving medication reconciliation."

JUNE • 2009

PROMISES, PROMISES: American Indian health care's victims

CROW AGENCY, Mont. – Ta'Shon Rain Little Light, a happy little girl who loved to dance and dress up in traditional American Indian clothes, had stopped eating and walking. She complained constantly to her mother that her stomach hurt. When Stephanie Little Light took her daughter to the Indian Health Service clinic in this wind-swept and remote corner of Montana, they told her the 5year-old was depressed. Ta'Shon's pain rapidly worsened and she visited the clinic about 10 more times over several months before her lung collapsed and she was airlifted to a children's hospital in Denver. There she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, confirming the suspicions of family members. A few weeks later, a charity sent the whole family to Disney World so Ta'Shon could see Cinderella's Castle, her biggest dream. She never got to see the castle, though. She died in her hotel bed soon after the family arrived in Florida. "Maybe it would have been treatable," says her great-aunt, Ada White, as she stoically recounts the last few months of Ta'Shon's short life. Stephanie Little Light cries as she recalls how she once forced her daughter to walk when she was in pain because the doctors told her it was all in the little girl's head. Ta'Shon's story is not unique in the Indian Health Service system, which serves almost 2 million American Indians in 35 states. On some reservations, the oft-quoted refrain is "don't get sick after June," when the federal dollars run out. It's a sick joke, and a sad one, because it's sometimes true, especially on the poorest reservations where residents cannot afford health insurance. Officials say they have about half of what they need to operate, and patients know they must be dying or about to lose a limb to get serious care. Wealthier tribes can supplement the federal health service budget with their own money. But poorer tribes, often those on the most remote reservations, far away from city hospitals, are stuck with grossly substandard care. The agency itself describes a "rationed health care system." The U.S. has an obligation, based on a 1787 agreement between tribes and the government, to provide American Indians with free health care on reservations. But that promise has not been kept. About one-third more is spent per capita on health care for felons in federal prison, according to 2005 data from the health service. "She was a gift, so bright and comforting," says Ada White of her niece, whom she calls her granddaughter according to Crow tradition. "I figure she was brought here for a reason."

AP – This July 2005 photo provided by the Little Light Family shows Ta'shon Rain Little Light in Crow Agency.

14 JUNE • 2009

American Cancer Society’s 2009 Diamond Derby Gala

FLORIDAHEALTHNEWS-ONLINE.COM

More U.S. Men Report Negative Health Behaviors than U.S. Women

Men should look for ways to make healthy choices in their daily lives, including physical activity, eating, and alcohol and tobacco use.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, males make up 49.3% of the United States population. CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) recently released 2008 data on U.S. adult health risks and behaviors. Self-reported health practices and behaviors for U.S. men shows compelling health gaps when compared with the values reported for their female counterparts.

The Event Chairs Colette K. Graham-Brown, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. and Daxa Patel, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

n Friday May 29th, 2009 the American Cancer Society held their Diamond Derby Gala at the Breakers West Country Club in West Palm Beach Florida. Event chairs were Dr. Colette Graham-Brown, M.D. F.A.C.O.G., and Dr Daxa Patel, M.D. F.A.C.O.G. Auction Chairs Jamie Caste-llanos, Fran Friedman and Suzette Burger made the live and silent auctions a great success. Sponsorship chairs Hope Barron and Rocky Goins as well as Publicity Chair Lisa Gardi worked toward the success of this gala.

The auctions raised money for the American Cancer Society’s Reaching Out to Cancer Kids Programs such as Families R.O.C.K. Weekend, R.O.C.K. Camp, and College Scholarship Programs. These programs help children who have had the disease as well as those who are winning the battle. For additional information about the American Cancer Society's services or how you can help, contact the American Cancer Society Florida Division, at 1.800.ACS.2345 or visit the website at cancer.org

Several items were on display at the silent auction.

Guests enjoy the entertainment and dining at the Diamond Derby Gala.

ASHINGTON – Consumers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can permanently damage the sense of smell, federal health regulators said. The over-the-counter products contain zinc, an ingredient scientists say may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell. The other products affected by the Food and Drug Administration's announcement are adult and kid-size Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs. The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives' Zicam products since 1999. Shares of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company plunged to a 52-week low after the FDA announcement, losing more than half their value. "Loss of the sense of smell is potentially life threatening and may be permanent," said Dr. Charles Lee, of FDA's compliance division. "People without the sense of smell may not be able to detect dangerous life situations, such as gas leaks or something

burning in the house." Matrixx defended the safety of its products, but said it may remove them from the market. The FDA said Zicam Cold Remedy was never formally approved because it is part of a small group of remedies that are not required to undergo federal review before launching. Known as homeopathic products, the formulations often contain herbs, minerals and flowers. A warning letter issued to Matrixx on Tuesday asked the company to stop marketing its zinc-based products, but the agency did not issue a formal recall. Instead, regulators said Matrixx would have to submit safety and effectiveness data on the drug. "The next step, if they wish to continue marketing Zicam intranasal zinc products, is for them to come in and seek FDA approval," said Deborah Autor, director of FDA's drug compliance division. The agency is requiring formal approval now because of the product's safety issues, she added. "It won't bring my smell back, but at least I

Data Source: 2008 BRFSS Prevalence and Trends.

FDA says Zicam nasal spray can cause loss of smell

The Food and Drug Administration said consumers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can permanently damage the sense of smell.

feel like there's some justice that's starting to take place," said David Richardson, of Greensboro, N.C., who lost his sense of smell after taking Zicam for a cold in 2005. He said he hopes the product will be for-

mally banned. Medical records appear to support Richardson's claim that his lost sense of smell was linked to using Zicam. The global market for homeopathic drugs is about $200 million per year, according to the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists. The group's members include companies like Nutraceutical International Corp. and Natural Health Supply. Matrixx has settled hundreds of lawsuits connected with Zicam in recent years, but says on its Web site: "No plaintiff has ever won a court case, because there is no known causal link between the use of Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and impairment of smell." The company said in a statement Tuesday that the safety of Zicam Cold Remedy is "supported by the cumulative science and has been confirmed by a multidisciplinary panel of scientists." But government scientists say they are unaware of any data supporting Zicam's labeling, which claims the drug reduces cold symptoms, including "sore throat, stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing and congestion."

FLORIDAHEALTHNEWS-ONLINE.COM

Need a Walking Partner? Try a Dog

By MaryAnn Mott HealthDay Reporter

Forget about joining a gym. If you want to get into shape, all you need is a four-legged pal.

r. Robert Kushner, a human obesity expert and professor of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, said that dogs make great workout partners in winning the battle of the bulge. "They are natural exercise machines on a leash," he said. Research has shown that it's easier to be physically active and stick with an exercise program when you team up with a workout buddy, Kushner said. But unlike human partners, who might make excuses for not wanting to go for a walk or run, a dog never will. They will generally be the first ones at the door, ready to go, rain or shine. Deborah Wood, an animal shelter manager in Portland, Ore., lost 140 pounds in two years after enrolling in a national weight loss program and going for three-mile daily walks with her three papillons -- pushing the two oldest in a doggie stroller. "I always liked walking my dogs," Wood said, "but I just made it a priority and worked on going farther and faster." Finding the right walking speed to reap health benefits is easy, said Dr. Dawn Marcus, a professor in the anesthesiology department at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "If you're so winded, you can't talk with someone, then you're probably walking at too hard of a pace," she said. "On the other hand, if you're walking so slowly that you can easily sing, you're prob-

ably not walking fast enough." If your dog tends to saunter down the street, she said, you can intensify the workout by taking a hillier route or by stepping on and off curbs. Marcus said that one of her most valued "colleagues" in the hospital is Wheatie, her wheaten terrier and a trained hospital therapy dog. "I've found that Wheatie motivates patients to open up, try new things and get healthier," she said. But enthusiasm for exercise is just one of the healthy behaviors humans can learn from dogs, said Marcus, who last year wrote Fit as Fido: Follow Your Dog to Better Health. Dogs instinctively get enough sleep and maintain good hydration -- traits that have, for instance, been linked with weight loss in people. "A lot of times as humans, we mistake that drive for water with a drive to get more food," Marcus said. Currently, an estimated two out of three adults in the United States are overweight.

And being overweight, Kushner stressed, has been associated with significant medical problems, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and stroke. A few years ago, Kushner co-authored a study to see if pets and people could help each other lose weight. It compared the weight lost by 36 overweight people who were paired with an obese dog with the weight lost by 56 overweight people who participated alone. Pets were fed a calorie-controlled diet. When their ideal body weight was reached, based on their breed and age, the animals were put on a maintenance diet. People participating in the study were given dietary counseling and encouraged to walk at least three times a week for 30 minutes. Published in the journal Obesity, the study found that people with dogs were slightly more active than those without dogs and that, after a year, they had lost an average of 11 pounds, or 4.7 percent of their body weight. Pudgy pooches benefited from the buddy system, too. They slimmed down an average of 12 pounds, or 15 percent of their body weight. Kushner said that pets really do motivate people to stick with a diet and exercise plan until the pounds come off and stay off. People in the study reported that their dogs not only gave them incentive to work out but made the experience more enjoyable -- two predictors of sustaining an exercise program long term, he said. For Wood, taking long treks with her dogs has paid off. She's now half the woman she used to be, dropping in dress size from a 3X to an 8. "Walking a dog is absolutely fun," Wood said. "It's good for the dog; it's good for the human."

JUNE • 2009

Mary Beth Bollinger, an associate professor of pediatrics and interim chief of the pediatric pulmonology and allergy division, said in news release from the American Osteopathic Association, suggested that anyone thinking about getting a pet: ■ Consider different kinds of animals and breeds and select the one that's best for your home and your family's needs. Carefully assess your family's routine of work, school, social activities and travel and choose a pet and breed that can live comfortably in your home and neighborhood.

■ Understand how to properly interact with your pet. Different kinds of animals and breeds have different traits and temperaments and need to be handled and cared for appropriately.

■ Realize that there are no truly hypoallergenic furred pets. Even singlecoated or hairless dogs promoted as being hypoallergenic produce allergens - allergy-triggering proteins found in the animal's dander, saliva and urine.

■ Reptiles can carry salmonella and other potential infections and shouldn't be in homes with children younger than 5 years old or children with weakened immune systems.

■ Buy pets only from reputable breeders or shelters. This helps ensure that you get a healthy animal that's had all its recommended shots.

Once a pet has joined the family, remember that annual checkups with a veterinarian reduce the risk of fleas, parasites and infections that can spread in your home.

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