Everyone gets sick once in a while. Itis expected. Therefore people have sick time at work. Therefore there are doctors and insurance organizations. However here are a lot of basic things to make sure you stay in general perfect health. You must wash your hands. Sadly enough, not enough people do this. When taking the restroom. Studies have been done and a shockingly low percentage of men and women wash their hands after taking the lavatory or before meals.

I always say: Drink liquid. Water cures all ills. Dehydration is the culprit of many general indisposition such as headaches and addition bloating. 8 cups of water is the minimum so make sure you're getting at least that much. Think that fruits and vegetable juices count towards your daily dose of hydrating beverages. Exercise. Physical activity doesn't have to mean hours on the treadmill sweating away to exhaustion. Physical activity can be as easy as walking across the parking lot to the grocery store or doing housework. That's true! Vacuuming burns calories intake! The more active in general you are the more exercise youare getting. Consider getting a passometer. Pedometer's have shown that men and women who wear pedometer's are more effective than those who do not.

The weight loss industry exploded in the 1990's with new and improved drugs such as Fen-Phen, and new promises of being able to loose weight without exercise. Everything appears to come at a risk, however. Fen-Phen itself is actually 3 different drugs, fenfluramine, phentermine and dexfenfluramine, and is known to cause cardiac valvular dysfunction, among other things. Today, 7 years later after the governments warnings on that drug, we have a new drug Xenadrine.

Xenadrine is made by Cytodyne, and is ephedrine free. Ephedrine is a synthetic drug originally used to treat bronchitis and asthma. Although recently, it's use in weight loss products has led to more than 800 reports of adverse effects associated with use of products containing ephedrine alkaloid since 1994 to the food and drug administration. Xenadrine EFX contains Vitamins C, B6, Panthothenic Acid, Magnesium and a proprietary Thermodyne Complex, which constitutes 89% of the ingredients. I'm sure you've heard of those vitamins, along with Magnesium. Panthothenic Acid is vitamin B-5, an antioxidant used to break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as is an important ingredient in hair growth.

Panthenol is a common ingredient in Pantene, a leading shampoo by Proctor and Gamble. Panthenol is also Panthothenic acid, in the form of alcohol. While Xenadrine does have some important vitamins in it, you have to decide whether or not you feel that it is safe to take Panthothenic Acid orally, I would also look into the patented Thermodyne Complex, if at all possible. The Thermodyne complex could be anything., if the company isn't willing to list the ingredients that make up that complex on the label. Xenadrine also contains Tyroplex, which contains green tea extract, and stimulants like caffeine. A health product website encourages using the drug to lift one's mood, to fight depression.

There are side effects. Users of the RFA-1 version of the drug have experienced side effects that have not affected users of the newer EFX version. The side effects are similar to those experienced with other stimulants, such as light headedness, feeling faint, increased heart rate, the need for water (which could turn into dehydration) and upset stomach. Xenadrine is a “mix of all types of chemicals”, some of which we mentioned previously in the article. It wouldn't surprise me if the “chemical mix” was in the Thermodyne Complex and Tyroplex, of which the exact ingredients are unknown to consumers. Plus you have the fact that vitamin B – 5 is a shampoo ingredient. In fact, the manufacturer has discontinued RFA-1, because of reported Ephedrine issues.

But there's more, an 8 hour version, NRG, which bodybuildingforyou.com describes as addicting. The 8 hour NRG also contains Norambrolide and a Thermoxanthin Blend. Norambrolide works by increasing c-AMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate). Basically, the drugs work with each other to burn fat in ways that the vitamins and stimulants alone can't. This the “chemical mix”, that bodybuildingforyou.com is referring to, the mix that changes with each new release of the drug.

Drugs have always had patented ingredients, although these ingredients in fat burning drugs have always been a bit more complex, difficult to accurately describe, and unproven, given the concerns over fat burning drugs in the past. For one, why Cytodyne would even consider using Ephedrine, in any capacity, in the original version of Xenadrine confounds me, particularly as stimulants have always proven themselves to be harmful to individuals who suffer from heart conditions.

Xenadrine is a rarely new drug, manufactured primarily by one company, with no generic alternatives. While you can try this drug out for yourself, without any studies by the food and drug administration it would be rather dangerous to rely on it to loose weight that you could loose through other means. Some of the stimulants in the drug, like Ephedrine and Caffeine, can be found anywhere. Most of the vitamins can be purchased singularly or digested through food. It is never safe to digest manufactured vitamins without food anyway, as the body is not readily prepared to break down vitamins in highly concentrated does, particularly when such vitamins are synthetically engineered.

Xenadrine may be good in small incremental dosages, then again the drug contains alkaloids. Many alkaloids, such as nicotine, quinine, cocaine, and morphine, are known for their poisonous or medicinal attributes. Interesting, the alkaloids in Xenadrine are known for their medicinal attributes, for now, but if the risk outweighs the benefit, those attributes will be seen as poisonous. There are two ways to loose weight, one is to exercise, the other is to take the various shortcuts, which often includes using diet remedies. The drugs in these remedies have both positive and negative effects, you can loose weight, but they're also habit forming, for the right person. It's a personal decision you have to make for yourself.

FDA Warns Against Taking Fake Alli Diet Drug

Washington, D.C., D.C., United States (AHN) – The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers away from counterfeit versions of the weight-loss drug Alli.

The agency said in a statement that the counterfeit versions did not contain orlistat, the active ingredient found in the FDA-approved version made by drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline. Instead, they contained a chemical called sibutramine. Sibutramine should not be taken without a doctor’s oversight, and it may interact in a harmful way with other medications a consumer may be taking, the FDA statement continued.

People began to report the existence of counterfeit Alli in December 2009. The FDA said that so far, it is only being sold over the Internet, and the agency has no evidence of it being sold at retail stores.

The counterfeit Alli has tell-tale markings on its packaging like: no “lot” code; an expiration date that includes month, day and year, while real Alli only includes month and year; a plastic bottle that has a slightly taller and wider cap with a coarser ribbing than the real product; plain inner safety seal foil with no printed words, while the real Alli’s foil reads “SEALED for YOUR PROTECTION;” and the counterfeit product contains larger capsules with a white powder, while the legitimate Alli are small, white pellets.

Consumers who believe they have received counterfeit Alli are asked to contact the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations by calling 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site (fda.gov/OCI). Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events that may be related to the use of these counterfeit products to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, or by mail at: MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.

Mac Danzig vs. Justin Bucholz—155 lb

This fight features two fighters who are a combined 1-6 in their last seven fights inside the octagon. Danzig, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 6 winner, has lost his past three fights to Clay Guida, Josh Neer, and Jim Miller. When Mac dropped to the 155lb division, many thought he would take the weight class by storm after winning a season of “TUF” at 170lbs. Danzig needs this win to establish some type of credibility in the lightweight division. Bucholz has never gone the distance in a professional fight.

Prediction: Danzig by unanimous decision.

Ronys Torres vs. Melvin Guillard—155 lb

Torres makes his UFC debut on an eight fight win streak and with an overall record of 14-1. The Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has rattled off three straight submission victories—two armbars and a kimura. His opposition is Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard. Melvin has always been a very fast starter with devastating punches right out of the gate, but he has also been susceptible to submissions, having been forced to tap out seven times in his career. This is a bad matchup for Guillard, and unless he is able to get an early knockout, it is hard to see him winning this fight.

Prediction: Torres by submission

Phillipe Nover vs. Robert Emerson—155 lb

This fight matches two former “The Ultimate Fighter” participants. Both fighters are coming off of two straight losses, so something has to give. The Brooklyn-born Nover was very impressive on TUF and reached the finals with a very good and well-rounded striking game. His last fight was against Kyle Bradley, and Nover was surprisingly out. Emerson had looked to be improving heading into his fight vs. Kurt Pellegrino, but was submitted and subsequently beaten by Rafael dos Anjos. Emerson’s most impressive victory in the UFC was against another former TUFer Manny Gamburian, whom he knocked out. The problem for Emerson was that this occurred in August of 2008.

Prediction: Nover by T.K.O.

Phil Davis vs. Brian Stann—205 lb

Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis will make his UFC debut against Brian “All-American” Stann. Stann is on a two-fight win streak after losing to Krzysztof Soszynski. This will be Stann’s third fight in less than 6 months. In his first fight in this time period, he avenged his WEC loss to Steve Cantwell. Davis is a former NCAA champion at 197lbs for Penn State University and is undefeated in his MMA career. A former marine, Stann will take on the two-time Big Ten champion and American Kickboxing Academy product. A.K.A. has been known for helping wrestlers transition into very successful mix martial artists as Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch have shown.

Prediction: Davis by decision

Tim Hague vs. Chris Tuchscherer—265 lb

Hague against Tuchscherer is another matchup of two fighters coming off of losses. Tuchscherer made his UFC debut against a very tough Gabe Gonzaga and was handed his second loss, and it also marked the first time Tuchscherer was stopped. His opponent, “The Thrashing Machine” has won half of his fights by knockout and earned submissions in three others. Both are big heavyweights, and Tuchscherer definitely benefits from training at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. The Canadian-born Hague will have his hands full in this fight.

Prediction: Tuchsherer by knockout

Rolles Gracie Jr. vs. Joey Beltran—265 lb

This matchup features two octagon first-timers. Rolles' father is known as one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and he has learned well from his father, as he has won all of his professional fights by submission. Gracie is 3-0 and was originally slated to fight Mustafa Al Turk, but Al Turk had visa problems and was unable to make the fight, so Beltran was given the opportunity to put his skills to test in the world’s best fighting league. Beltran has won 10 fights, and nine of them were by knockout. His biggest and latest win is against UFC veteran Houston Alexander in the 5150 Combat League. “The Mexicutioner” has not faced many submission experts, and Gracie is a second degree BJJ black belt. I do not like Beltran’s style against Gracie’s Jiu-Jitsu in this fight.

Prediction: Gracie by submission

Sources: weight management

Biotech, Weight Loss, Drugs

Zafgen’s Mysterious Weight Loss Drug Advances Into First Trial for Obese Women

Luke Timmerman 2/8/10

Zafgen arrived on the Boston biotech scene about 18 months ago with blue-chip venture backing, a highly regarded scientist as CEO, and an audacious idea. The Cambridge, MA-based company was developing a powerful new weight loss drug made to work unlike any other treatment in development, by cutting off the blood supply to fat tissue.

One year later, results are in. The idea was wrong.

“That was the theory,” says CEO Tom Hughes. “It doesn’t appear to be the case.”

As it turns out, though, that’s not the end of the story. Allow me to begin at the beginning.

Zafgen first emerged in public in September 2008. That’s when Hughes joined the company after a stint as global head of cardiovascular and metabolism research at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Cambridge. Third Rock Ventures and Atlas Ventures provided the initial backing. The idea was to build on research at Children’s Hospital Boston that found drugs which are made to block formation of blood vessels—a successful cancer-fighting strategy—might also help shrink fat tissue. It was a provocative finding from mouse experiments, partly because nobody had really tried it before. Many other drugs in development for obesity work on receptors in the brain, trying to coax the body to think it’s full and stop eating.

VCs listened with some interest because obesity is one of the biggest market opportunities in the pharmaceutical business now. An estimated two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One of the key things Zafgen learned over the past year, based on detailed animal experiments, was that its drug didn’t work through the mechanisms it intended. The company conducted experiments on its lead candidate and found at the tiny doses it intended to use, “we have absolutely no effect on angiogenesis,” the scientific term for formation of new blood vessels.

People: Duggars Pose With Hospitalized Preemie, Say They Want More Kids

Promoting risky medical decisions is becoming a trend for People: This week, the Duggars share pictures of their 19th child, who was born premature, and declare they're open to having more kids because, “You can't let fear direct your lives.”

Though Josie Brooklyn, who was born three months premature on December 10 and weighed only 1 lb. 6 oz., is still in a neonatal intensive care unit, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar feel now is a great time to address their critics in People. “The negatives don't bother us” says Jim Bob, “Our hearts haven't changed.”

For those of you who wondered if Josie being born at just 25 weeks would change the Duggars' commitment to not using contraception, the answer is a resounding no. According to People:

[The Duggars] remain committed to their belief that “each child is a gift from God” and are open to having more. Michelle knows how their position is likely to be viewed, particularly following Josie's arrival. “When I say we would love more children, we open ourselves up for attack,” she admits.

So why make a public announcement about your family plans, especially when Josie and Michelle's health situation is still so unclear? Unlike the Heidi Montag plastic surgery cover story, People quotes several medical sources in the article. They all say more pregnancies would be harmful to the Michelle and the child, including obstetrician Dr. Jeffrey Richardson, who warns that after four children, pregnancies become much more dangerous and, “postpartum hemorrhage, dysfunctional labor, preterm labor and early miscarriage are all risks.” The article also mentions that while Michelle became pregnant with Josie six months after her last pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends spacing out pregnancies by at least 18 months.

It's not even clear at this point if Michelle, who is 43 and was diagnosed with preeclampsia while pregnant with Josie, can have more children. Usually, the Duggars only method of birth control is following the Biblical recommendation to abstain from sex for 40 days after having a boy and 80 days after having a girl. “It is not as if we're going for another immediately. This is going to be a year of different focus for me, getting Josie through her first year of life,” says Michelle.

Of course, Michelle has a right to do whatever she wants with her body, but that doesn't make her decision to appear in People any less questionable. It's hard to say which is the stranger symbol of how our society treats pregnancy: Kourtney Kardashian's baby appearing on four tabloid covers in his first month of life, or Josie Duggar appearing on the cover of People with a tube taped to her tiny face seven weeks before her due date. The public is curious about the Duggars and the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting provides some of the money to raise all those children, but do we need to read quotes from Michelle and Jim Bob about their reproductive decisions wrapped around the photo above, of their newest baby fighting for her life? It's bad enough that tabloids are mainly focused on how fast moms lose the baby weight, but People has achieved a new low by focusing more on the novelty of a 20th Duggar that the health of the 19th.

Baby Josie Duggar's 18 Siblings Getting To Know Her Onscreen

The full article is available in the February 15, 2010 issue of People.

Earlier: Hey, Nineteen
Just Perfect: People Glamorizes Plastic Surgery Addiction
The “Baby Weight” Obsession: Officially Out Of Control

Send an email to Margaret Hartmann, the author of this post, at margaret@jezebel.com.

loss weight

Watching our weight isn't just for looks. Obesity increases our risk of health problems like joint and back pain, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gall stones, certain cancers, fertility problems, depression and breathlessness.

How to check your weight

Most of us can tell when we've put on some weight. But it can be harder to know when it's time to lose some weight for our health's sake. Fortunately, scientists have come up with a simple way to check using a simple calculation known as the Body Mass Index (BMI). This describes your weight in relation to your height.

Keeping your weight in hand can sometimes seem like hard work. But with just a few simple diet and lifestyle changes, weight control can become easier. And you'll feel a whole lot better.

Importance of exercise

Whilst a healthy low fat diet is key to achieving a healthy body weight, exercise is also very important. Physical activity is the only way to increase energy expenditure, and exercise combined with decreased calorie intake, is the best way to decrease body fat and very importantly, maintain lean body weight over the long term.

Getting active need not mean kitting yourself out in lycra and heading for the gym. Why not start by taking regular walks, cycling if you have a bike, swimming at the local pool and using the stairs instead of a lift. If these sound dull, consider yoga, kick boxing, dancing – anything, just get moving!

See your doctor before embarking on any new exercise regime.

Top Tips for Healthy Weight Control

* Start your day with a healthy low fat breakfast, featuring Kellogg's cereals for example.
* Be realistic, be prepared for ups and downs, and think long term.
* Keep a food diary to learn more about your eating habits.
* Enjoy regular, low fat, high carbohydrate meals and snacks.
* Be active in your daily life.
* Don't go it alone – enlist support from family or friends.

Why a High Carbohydrate, Low Fat diet does the trick

Carbohydrates are all the sugars and starches in food. Scientific studies confirm that they are the body's favourite fuel, they contain less than half the calories of fat and they are naturally good at controlling our appetite. Examples of healthy carbohydrate-rich foods are breakfast cereals (like Kellogg's), breads, potatoes, rice, noodles and pasta. Base your meals and snacks on these, eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, and limit fatty foods. This is the simple route to enjoying filling and nutritious food. And it helps keep your weight in hand.

Why we genuinely feel that Kellogg's Cereals can help you and your family control your weight

* Eating breakfast doesn't make you fat. In fact research shows that breakfast cereal eaters have lower fat diets, and tend to be slimmer than those who don't eat a cereal breakfast.
* Kellogg's will ensure that every breakfast cereal we make is at least 90% fat-free. All that energy you get from carbohydrate-rich foods like Kellogg's cereals is much more readily burned off than energy from fatty foods.
* Did you know that one gram of fat has nine calories, compared to four calories per gram of carbohydrate.
* Studies highlight that filling up on a cereal-based breakfast makes mid-morning munchies much less likely.
* Kellogg's cereals are fortified with essential vitamins and iron. They help give everybody a nutritious diet, but they're very important for weight watchers. When you eat less than usual it's harder to get all the nutrients you need. This is especially true for women and teenage girls who need a lot of the mineral iron in their diet. Kellogg's cereals can also help provide the important vitamin Folic Acid, and milk on top adds bone-strengthening calcium.
* A Kellogg's breakfast is ready in no time, and a family favourite. This increases the chances of something being eaten before they rush out of the door in the morning.

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Celebrex (Celecoxib) and Mobic (Meloxicam) are both classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). I have taken both of these drugs in order to try and control the inflammation in my muscles. I currently take Mobic because it seems to present fewer side effects for me.

Celebrex Vs. Mobic: My Side Effects With Each Drug

I was initially prescribed Celebrex for my muscle inflammation. When I began taking this drug I experienced nausea, upset stomach, mild stomach pain, mild dizziness, headache and heartburn. None of these symptoms became less intense nor did they go away throughout the entire time I was taking Celebrex. Since I was having such a difficult time with this drug my doctor decided to prescribe me Mobic instead for my muscle inflammation. When I began taking this drug I experienced nausea, mild stomach pain, heartburn, headache and mild dizziness. After about two weeks of taking Mobic the mild dizziness completely went away and the headaches I experienced due to this drug were few and far between. I still take Mobic, but I now only take a half of pill per day so the nausea, stomach pain and heartburn are less noticeable.

Celebrex Vs. Mobic: Potential Side Effects That I Did Not Experience

Other common side effects of Mobic include difficulty sleeping, gas and diarrhea. Other common symptoms of Celebrex include stuffy nose, gas, diarrhea and sore throat. These drugs may also present severe side effects such as an allergic reaction, vision changes, unusual pain in the muscles or joints, hearing loss, unusual bleeding or bruising and weakness. There are several other severe side effects that may occur in patients taking Celebrex and Mobic as well. If any of the severe side effects occur it is recommended that the patient seek medical attention right away, especially if they suspect that they are having an allergic reaction.

Celebrex Vs. Mobic: How To Alleviate the Common Side Effects of These Drugs

Both Celebrex and Mobic should be taken with food. You don't have to eat an entire meal, but just a small snack. When I didn't take these medications with food the stomach pain, upset stomach, heartburn and nausea would always be much worse. When nausea and upset stomach occurred I would simply sip some ginger ale and eat a few crackers and this usually alleviated those symptoms. When Celebrex or Mobic gave me a headache I would take a few Tylenol and rest for a bit and my headache would soon go away. When I would get dizzy I would just lay down for about fifteen minutes and this seemed to alleviate the dizziness I experienced. I also took an over the counter antacid when the heartburn got to be nagging.

Disclaimer: I am not a pharmacist or doctor and this article is meant for informative purposes only.

Popular Anti-Inflammatory Drug Shown to Reduce Risk of Skin Cancer

Stanford, FL, United States (AHN) – A widely-available anti-inflammatory prescription drug has been shown to reduce the risk of a common skin cancer in humans.

Researchers at Stanford’s School of Medicine capitalized on a previous finding suggesting that celecoxib, which belongs to a class of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can inhibit the development of a different kind of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, in mice.

Although oral administration of the drug, celecoxib, sold under the brand names Celebrex and Onsenal is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in some people, it’s possible that topical application could provide a safer, protective effect for people prone to developing the cancers, called basal cell carcinomas, the researcher believes.

Celecoxib is thought to work to prevent or slow cancer growth by interfering with the action of an enzyme called Cox-2, which causes tissue inflammation. Celecoxib has both pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties.

“Basal cell carcinomas are the most common human cancer in the United States,” said Jean Tang, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology, “and their incidence is increasing steadily. This work identifies a possible way to prevent them.”

Researchers found that although both groups continued to develop new cancers during the study, oral celecoxib treatment decreased the growth of skin tumors by about 50 percent as compared to placebo in participants who entered the trial with 15 or fewer basal cell carcinomas.

Popular Anti-Inflammatory Drug Shown to Reduce Risk of Skin Cancer

Stanford, FL, United States (AHN) – A widely-available anti-inflammatory prescription drug has been shown to reduce the risk of a common skin cancer in humans.

Researchers at Stanford’s School of Medicine capitalized on a previous finding suggesting that celecoxib, which belongs to a class of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can inhibit the development of a different kind of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, in mice.

Although oral administration of the drug, celecoxib, sold under the brand names Celebrex and Onsenal is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in some people, it’s possible that topical application could provide a safer, protective effect for people prone to developing the cancers, called basal cell carcinomas, the researcher believes.

Celecoxib is thought to work to prevent or slow cancer growth by interfering with the action of an enzyme called Cox-2, which causes tissue inflammation. Celecoxib has both pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties.

“Basal cell carcinomas are the most common human cancer in the United States,” said Jean Tang, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology, “and their incidence is increasing steadily. This work identifies a possible way to prevent them.”

Researchers found that although both groups continued to develop new cancers during the study, oral celecoxib treatment decreased the growth of skin tumors by about 50 percent as compared to placebo in participants who entered the trial with 15 or fewer basal cell carcinomas.

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Urinary tract infections are annoying at best and can be excruciatingly painful if left untreated. ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) states that approximately 60% of women are affected by urinary tract infection over their lifetime. While men do experience urinary tract infection as well, they get them at a much lower rate than women; just 5-8 men out of every 10,000 younger than age 50.

Urinary Tract Infection: Cranberry

The NIH (National Institutes of Health) has conducted reviews of medical studies to assess the effectiveness of cranberry to treat urinary tract infection. Cranberry has been shown to be effective, particularly in the prevention of urinary tract infection when taken on a regular basis.

The therapeutic dose of cranberry for preventing urinary tract infection is three 8 oz. glasses of unsweetened cranberry juice per day, or one 300-400mg capsule of dried cranberry twice daily. A higher dose may be taken if a urinary tract infection is already developing.

Urinary Tract Infection: Antibiotics

If you have a urinary tract infection which is not responding to cranberry and increased water consumption, your health care provider will most likely recommend a course of antibiotics. Common drugs used for urinary tract infections include Cipro, Amoxil, and Bactrim.

A fraction of urinary tract infection sufferers will experience problems with recurrent infections. If this is the case, your health care provider may recommend a six month course of antibiotics at a low dosage.

Urinary Tract Infection: Follow-up Testing

If extended antibiotic treatment does not eliminate the recurrent urinary tract infections you may be referred to a urologist. This urinary specialist may order tests that can diagnose problems such as a narrow urethra, backup of urine into the kidneys, or interstitial cystitis which is a chronic condition of the lining of the bladder.

Urinary Tract Infection: Prevention

You can minimize your chances of developing a urinary tract infection by:

- urinating after sexual relations
- drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day
- urinating upon the urge; don't hold it
- wearing all cotton underwear
- forgoing underwear when you sleep
- wearing comfortably fitting clothing; no tight pants for long periods of time

Urinary tract infections are a nuisance and can develop into worse, a kidney infection, if left untreated. With a little prevention and good communication with your health care provider, treatment of this problem doesn't have to be a pain.

Cranberry for the Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20041201/2175.html

New Guidelines for Management of Urinary Tract Infection in Nonpregnant Women:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571545

Other information you can find at Online Pharmacy in Austin.

When caring for a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, the complications associated with mental and emotional health can be overwhelming for many families. From depression to extreme episodes of exhilaration and happiness, many Alzheimer's patients are simply unable to control their emotions as they once did.

A behavior that is quite common among Alzheimer's patients is commonly referred to as agitation outbursts. Symptomatically, agitation encompasses a complication wherein the Alzheimer's patient will scream, shout, pace back and forth, and curse for unknown reasons. Often, it is the agitation outburst episodes of the Alzheimer's patient that result in the most frustration for friends and loved ones.

While commonly believed to be associated to the side effect of medication administered to the Alzheimer's patient, agitation outbursts can result from any event that is deemed frightening or stressful to the Alzheimer's patient. Such agitating events might include moving to a new home, changing of caregivers or just a simple change to the dynamics and arrangement of the home in which the Alzheimer's patient lives.

When agitation in the Alzheimer's patient is related to an event or change in lifestyle, usually the episodes of outburst will dwindle with time. However, when the complication is persistent and related to a side effect of medication, it is important to speak with a health care professional to determine what, if any, treatment can be provided to alleviate the complication and frequency of agitation outbursts in the home.

When in the middle of an outburst, families and caregivers can learn simple techniques to alleviate agitation in the Alzheimer's patient. For example, re-directing their attention to another object, offering re-assurance, and using calming and positive reinforcement speech are all ways in which the agitation outbursts can be diminished.

While some medications can be used to manage agitation, your healthcare professional will need to take great care in prescribing additional medications so as to avoid other side effects or contraindications. Most commonly, however, the physician may want to use drugs such as Zyprexa, Seroquel or Risperdal to quell or subside the frequency of agitation outbursts in your loved one.

Creating a relaxing and stress free environment is the best way in which to reduce the agitation outbursts in the Alzheimer's patient. Avoiding the movement of furniture, loud sounds and changes in lighting are all measures you can take to create that environment that is so desperately needed by the Alzheimer's patient and, ultimately, create an environment where agitation and outbursts are less frequent.

Last news ongonorrhea

The Federal Drug Administration on Friday issued a warning to doctors that adolescents taking the drug olanzapine have an "increased potential" — in comparison with adults taking the new-generation antipsychotic drug — for weight gain and metabolic disturbances that could result in diabetes or elevated blood cholesterol levels.

"Clinicians should consider the potential long-term risks when prescribing to adolescents," the FDA said in a statement released Friday night. "In many cases, this may lead to prescribe other drugs first," the statement went on.

The agency has not approved the marketing of olanzapine — sold under the commercial name Zyprexa by the drug maker Eli Lilly — for use in children under 13 who are diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. But the medication, one of a class of psychiatric medications called the "atypical antipsychotics," is widely prescribed for young patients, despite growing evidence that call its safety profile into question for this population.

The warning comes in the wake of the October publication in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., in which a study showed that children and adolescents taking their first-ever course of Zyprexa gained, on average, more than 17 pounds over a 12-week period, as well as dramatic increases in triglycerides and cholesterol levels — all factors that put them at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. While two other antipsychotic drugs — Seroquel and Risperdal — were implicated in significant weight gain and metabolic changes, Zyprexa was found to carry the highest risks of all three.  

The FDA said that in cases where physicians opt to prescribe olanzapine, the drug should be part of a "comprehensive treatment program," which could include psychological, educational and social counseling as well as medication therapy.

–Melissa Healy

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) shares are rebounding today, up nearly 1.5% to $65.51. The drugmaker is trying to recover from a rough week, when the Justice Department charged it with paying kickbacks to a pharmacy company to boost sales of its drugs to nursing-home patients, and the Food and Drug Administration accused it of being too slow with its product recall during a Tylenol scare.

Late last year, J&J, based in New Brunswick, N.J., expanded its recall of its top-selling Tylenol line, which sold at least $1 billion in the U.S. last year. The incident echoes an unsolved 1982 crime in which seven Chicago-area Tylenol consumers died after using tampered Tylenol laced with cyanide. Johnson & Johnson's quick, decisive response to the incident earned plaudits and sparked reforms in packaging over-the-counter drugs. The current recalls began in September, expanded in late December, and then expanded again last week to include more batches and other brands.

Voluntary Recall

The issue at hand is an unusual moldy, musty, or mildewy odor in the drugs caused by small amounts of a chemical associated with the treatment of wooden pallets. Users who reported the smell complained of nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Despite a voluntary recall, J&J's McNeil Consumer Healthcare Products got a stern warning from the FDA for manufacturing-standards violations and for failing to report and investigate the problem quickly. Timothy Calkins, a marketing professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, told The New York Times that the FDA's criticisms “were devastating, because they make the company seem to be complacent and sloppy.”

To make matters worse, the Justice Department has filed a civil False Claims Act complaint against Johnson & Johnson for paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to Omnicare, the nation's largest pharmacy to specialize in dispensing drugs to nursing homes.

The allegation isn't a huge surprise: In Novevember, Omnicare entered into a $98 million settlement for taking kickbacks from J&J. Omnicare's pharmacists, according to the complaint, reviewed charts of nursing-home patients with dementia and then recommended that the physicians add antipsychotic drug Risperdal if the patient showed signs of agitation or inappropriate behavior. Physicians, who were not involved in the scheme, agreed with the pharmacists' recommendations about 80% of the time, although Risperdal isn't approved to treat this form of psychosis.

“Kickbacks in the nursing home pharmacy context are particularly nefarious, because they can result in excessive prescribing of strong drugs to patients who have little or no control over the medical care they are receiving,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz.

Risperdal sales brought J&J $1.73 billion in the first nine months of 2009: nearly 4% of the company's $45.3 billion in revenue.

Chemical Restraints

Risperdal doesn't reverse or relieve dementia, and in fact carries a “black box” warning of increased chances of death among elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Still, it has been widely prescribed in nursing homes, in a practice criticized as “chemical restraints”: altering patients' behavior for the convenience of the staff. The practice still continued by 2006, as a study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows, although at a lower rate. Because most elderly patients are covered by Medicaid, the lawsuit suggests, J&J and Omnicare J&J and Omnicare had to have been creative in accounting for the kickbacks and listed them as education funding, grants, and data on the drug. J&J did not respond to inquiries.

J&J is on the hook not only with the FDA and the DOJ but with public opinion. The company's actions after the Tylenol scare of 1982 fully restored its corporate and brand images, but this recall and the FDA letter (not to mention the kickbacks allegations) has harmed its stature.

J&J reports financial results on Jan. 26. Whether the recall affects its business is unclear. The company doesn't expect the recall to be material, but the lasting effects on the company's image might be significant.
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Many of us, especially around New Year's, resolve to become more fit. However, going to the gym doesn't help much if you don't know what you're doing. Medical studies suggest improving your METs level may save your life. The following explains what METs are, how they measure your current fitness, and how to increase your METs level.

METs Defined

METs is short for “Metabolic Equivalents” with one MET equal to 3.5 milliliter oxygen per kg body weight per minute. Put simply, METs measure how hard your body is working. The harder your body works, the more oxygen it burns to release the energy it needs to work, the higher the METs level. At complete rest, on average, your METs level will be 1.0 or 1 MET.

METs During Activity

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ provides useful tables of METs levels for a variety of activities, both day-to-day and fitness.

Some interesting examples:

- Studying – 1.8 METs.

- Walking a dog – 2.5 METs.

- Walking at 3 mph – 3.5 METs.

- Shoveling – 6 METs.

- Hiking – about 7 METs.

- Swimming at moderate speed – about 8 METs.

- Running at 6 mph – 10 METs.

- Running at 10 mph – 16 METs.

- Interestingly, weight-lifting has a value of about 6 METs, lower than a fast jog.

What Your METs Level Tells You

Dr. Howard LeWine, chief editor of Internet publishing, Harvard Health Publications, and clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital says1: “average healthy but non-athletic middle-aged men and women have peak exercise capacities in the range of 8 to 10 METs; marathon runners can have values as high as 18 to 24.”

A rule of thumb he provides sets a target METs level (here's a bit of math, but not too hard): for men subtract 0.11 times your age in years from 14.7. For women, subtract 0.13 times your age from the same 14.7 METS. Thus a 40 year old woman would have a target METs level of 9.5 (= 14.7 – 0.13 x 40).

Personal trainers recommend you also check your pulse rate and not exceed a rate given by subtracting your age from 220. For example, if you're 45 years old, your maximum pulse should not exceed 175 beats per minute. Many modern exercise machines (treadmills, elliptical trainers, recumbent bikes, etc.) display your METs level as well as your pulse.

How You Can Improve Your Fitness using METs

Before starting a new fitness program consult your doctor to make sure you can follow the new fitness regime safely. Personal trainers usually start with an assessment of your current fitness level. Get on a treadmill and start at a brisk walk or slow jog (depending on your health and fitness level) to warm up. Within what your doctor permits, speed up until you feel close to the fastest pace you can maintain for more than a minute. Look at the METs level and make note of it.

You can expect the best results by running on a treadmill (or exercising on an elliptical trainer) almost every day for 15-30 minutes. Each time warm up well before ramping up to a challenging METs level. One recommended method is called “interval training.”

The interval method has you boost your speed (and METs) to a point you feel challenging and maintain that pace for 45 – 60 seconds, followed by 90 – 120 seconds at lower METs level to catch your breath. Repeat this cycle for as long as you can, starting at 10 minutes, and working up to 20 or 30 minutes over time.

Once you've reached your goal for the day, slow down to a brisk walk and continue until your pulse slows down by about a third. After this cool-down, carry out stretching exercises to improve your flexibility.

What METs Say About Your Health

Dr. LeWine reports1 that according to a study published in 2005 in the New England Journal of Medicine “Women whose exercise capacity [in METs] at the start of the study in 1992 was less than 85% of the predicted value for their age were twice as likely to have died over the next eight years compared with those who achieved 85% or better.”

Bottom Line About METs

While the definition of METs sounds esoteric, it is a very important measure of your fitness. Calculate your target METs rate using the guideline above and test yourself (after checking with your doctor). You may find your fitness is too low for your age and gender. If it is, exercise regularly to improve your METs capacity. It may save your life.

1Aetna Intelihealth (1/20/2006)

Dennis Publishing has acquired Health & Fitness magazine from rival group Hubert Burda Media.

Health & Fitness, which is a female-focused title, had an ABC audited circulation of 35,436 in the first half of last year.

Dennis's portfolio already included Men's Fitness, which it acquired in the UK and Ireland in September, having published it under licence from American Media since 2001.

The editorial and advertising teams of Health & Fitness will join as Dennis Publishing employees and will move to the company's headquarters.

The editorial director of Men's Fitness, Pete Muir, will expand his role to include the second magazine.

The sum of money involved in the deal was not disclosed.

Female fitness is an active sector at present, with another monthly title, Women's Running, launched on 29 December with a a print run of 60,000 copies and a cover price of £3..

It is the first title to be launched by Wild Bunch Media, a health and fitness publishing company set up in September by the former NatMag-Rodale publishing director Nick Troop and the former IPC circulation director Kevin McCormick.

• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.

• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly “for publication”.

Like many girls, and a few boys, I had a stab at ballet classes in my long-forgotten school days. Back then I was as unfazed by dressing up in a pink tutu as dressing up as Cinderella or a pumpkin or a Transformer. Now I am older and wiser, and the chances of me dressing up in anything resembling a sugarplum fairy are very slim, mainly because you have to be, well, very slim – or into fancy dress theme parties.

So what the bejesus am I doing attending a fitness ballet class? Two reasons: ballet is a fantastic way to get fit and lithe – just look at Darcey Bussell – and I'm promised there won't be a tutu in sight.

Are you sure it isn't just for wannabe ballerinas?

No previous ballet experience is required. Founder Kirsty Pellant set up the classes in Canterbury with the aim of combining her ballet background with her fitness classes, making ballet accessible to people with none of the technical training. They proved so popular they have now spread all over the country.

Casting a nervous glance around the class on arrival I clock both willowy youngsters and white-haired pensioners, wearing anything from ballet pumps to socks and tracky bottoms. The class kicks straight in with 'balancés' and leg raises to high-energy chart tunes which everyone seems to follow pretty easily – some, admittedly, with more grace than others.

Does it deliver?

As the class progresses the routines build steadily, adding basic turns or pirouettes, jumps and 'arabesque' kicks. Concentrating on the routines takes my mind off how hard I'm working out. Kirsty is like a high-energy dynamo, giving vocal encouragement and singing along to the sound track (did I mention she's a professional singer, too?). I can't help it, I find myself wanting to please her – she's just so happy!

We then move on to leg-toning exercises, 'pliés', jumps and 'grand battement' powerful kicks. They don't let up on my heart rate, which is hammering far harder than on my regular 45-minute run. Mat work means some excruciating stomach crunches, and Jane Fonda-esque leg raises, winding up with deep stretching exercises and a cool-down. I am dismayed to see the pensioner in front of me effortlessly bending her head to her knees – presumably a class regular.

What's so good about it?

Instructor Kirsty Pellant leads the class through some stretches

The emphasis of the class is on fitness, rather than ballet. I found my previous ballet experience helpful, but the routines didn't require it. The idea is to get the benefits of classical ballet moves without the rigid structure. Kirsty explains that the classes can help to improve flexibility, posture, strength and core stability, and to lengthen muscles. So hopefully you'll end up with long dancers legs, a flat stomach and learn some nifty footwork too. I felt thoroughly worked out by the end of the class.

Perfect if …

You are looking for a sociable fitness class that seriously works you out without taking itself too seriously; if you used to do ballet and want to get back some of your lost fitness without returning to the barre; or are bored with your regular aerobics class and fancy something a bit more challenging and creative.

Is there a downside?

There were plenty of times when I was channelling French and Saunders rather than Ms Bussell. Floating like a feather is not as easy as it looks – at least with step classes or kickboxing there's no pretence that you're aspiring to anything other than sweat and burn. If you prefer your fitness regime to be delivered in military commands by a man in combats, best save your dancing for Saturday nights.

• Kirsty Pellant is Group Exercise Manager at DW Sports, Canterbury. Visit fitnessballet.co.uk for more information

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