Many mainstream mouthwashes contain ingredients that you wouldn't want to swallow or rinse down the drain. Fortunately, there are many natural alternatives available now, including recipes for making your own. (Thinkstock)

Many mainstream mouthwashes contain ingredients that you definitely don’t want to swallow, or even put down the drain. According to the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia’s (EHANS’s) “Guide to Less Toxic Products”—a free online resource designed to help consumers choose healthier, greener everyday products—conventional mouthwash is often alcohol-based, with an alcohol content ranging from 18-26 percent. “Products with alcohol can contribute to cancers of the mouth, tongue and throat when used regularly,” the guide reports, adding that a 2009 review in the Dental Journal of Australia confirmed the link between alcohol-based mouthwashes and an increased risk of oral cancers.

And you might want to avoid mouthwashes with fluoride (aka sodium fluoride). While fluoride may help fight cavities, ingesting too much of it has been linked to neurological problems and could be a cancer trigger as well. Common mouthwash sweeteners have also been linked to health problems: Saccharin is a suspected carcinogen while sucralose may trigger migraines. Synthetic colors can also be troublesome.

Some brands contain formaldehyde (aka quanternium-15). According to the National Cancer Institute, overexposure to formaldehyde can cause a burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat as well as coughing, wheezing, nausea and skin irritation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers formaldehyde a “probable human carcinogen” and research has shown an association between long term workplace exposure and several specific cancers, including leukemia. Few of us are exposed to as much formaldehyde as, say, morticians, but does that mean its okay to swish it around in our mouths every day?

Other problematic ingredients in many conventional mouthwashes include sodium lauryl sulfate, polysorbate, cetylpyridinium chloride and benzalkonium chloride, all which have been shown to be toxic to organisms in the aquatic environments where these chemicals end up after we spit them out.

So what’s a concerned green consumer to do? EHANS recommends the following mouthwashes that do not contain alcohol, fluoride, artificial colors or sweeteners: Anarres Natural Candy Cane Mouthwash, Auromere Ayurvedic Mouthwash, Beauty with a Cause Mouthwash, Jason Natural Cosmetics Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash, Dr. Katz TheraBreath Oral Rinses, Hakeem Herbal Mouthwash, and Miessence Freshening Mouthwash. Besides these brands, the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database also lists Tom’s of Maine Natural Baking Soda Mouthwash, Healing-Scents Mouthwash, and Neal’s Yard Remedies Lavender and Myrrh Mouthwash as least harmful to people and the environment.

You can also make your own all-natural mouthwash at home. Eco-friendly consumer advice columnist Annie Berthold Bond recommends mixing warm water, baking soda or sea salt, and a drop of peppermint and/or tea tree oil for a refreshing and bacteria-excising rinse. Another recipe involves combining distilled or mineral water with a few dashes of fresh mint and rosemary leaves and some anise seeds; mix well and swish! A quick Internet search will yield many other down-home natural mouthwash formulas.

CONTACTS: Guide to Less Toxic Products, www.lesstoxic.ca; Skin Deep Database, www.ewg.org/skindeep/; Annie Berthold Bond, www.anniebbond.com.

Echinacea has gained popularity in recent years as a remedy for the common cold. But because it is not regulated as a medical drug by the FDA -- and given the variation between dosages and formulations available to consumers -- it is difficult to get definitive answers as to its effectiveness. (iStock)

Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, has gained popularity in recent years as a nutritional supplement that proponents believe is helpful in staving off the common cold and shortening its duration. But given the variation between dosages and formulations—such herbs are not regulated as medical drugs by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and so makers have little incentive to standardize—it’s hard to get definitive answers as to Echinacea’s effectiveness.

Historically, Native Americans relied on the root of Echinacea to numb toothache pain and treat dyspepsia as well as snake, insect and spider bites. While some modern day folks rely on Echinacea just based on this anecdotal evidence, scientific studies have verified that the herb can be effective. To wit, a 2008 University of Connecticut review of 14 different clinical trials of Echinacea use found that taking the supplement reduced the chances of getting a cold by 31 percent, and helped people get over cold and flu symptoms a day and a half earlier than those who didn’t take it.

Researchers initially thought Echinacea’s effectiveness was due to its immune-boosting traits, but they now believe instead that the herb works more as an anti-inflammatory agent. A 2009 University of British Columbia study found that typical commercially available Echinacea preparations are effective in reducing the body’s production of inflammatory proteins in human bronchial cells. In layman’s terms, this means that Echinacea can help lessen the annoying symptoms of common colds, the flu and other respiratory ailments. Furthermore, the study found that Echinacea is just as effective in reducing bronchial inflammation whether it is consumed before or after a viral infection sets in, indicating that taking moderate doses on a regular basis during cold season can help prevent some bronchial irritation if and when cold symptoms begin.

Interestingly, though, a 2010 study of 719 participants in Wisconsin focusing on illness duration and severity found that the duration of the common cold could be shortened by taking a pill of some sort, whether Echinacea or a placebo with no active ingredients. But this study merely underscored the importance of psychological factors in fighting illness and did not say that Echinacea isn’t effective.

Given the lack of FDA oversight of herbs, different formulations may contain vastly different amounts of Echinacea. A 2004 evaluation of 19 different Echinacea brands by the non-profit Consumers Union and published in Consumer Reports found that the amount of Echinacea actually present in supplements varied considerably from brand to brand—and even in some cases from bottle to bottle of the same brand. The magazine recommended a few brands as “best picks,” including Spring Valley, Origin and Sundown, all which featured high concentrations of Echinacea and reliable dosage amounts from pill to pill.

Before taking the Echinacea plunge, beware that the herb can cause allergic reactions in some people and may interact negatively with some common medications. Researchers warn that anyone with autoimmune disease or a handful of other illnesses should not take Echinacea without first consulting with their doctor.

CONTACTS: FDA, www.fda.gov; Consumers Union, www.consumersunion.org.

Asthma rates have doubled since the 1980s, in spite of air quality in U.S. cities having increased over the same time period. This has led some experts to conclude that other factors -- including Vitamin D deficiency, obesity, overuse of acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) and spray mist from glass cleaners and air fresheners -- are now playing a role. (Thinkstock)

Asthma is on the rise across the U.S., doubling since the 1980s. According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), most people who develop asthma likely have a genetic predisposition but also probably experienced “critical environmental exposures during the first years of life.” Asthma rates are highest in urban areas where auto and industrial emissions make for difficult breathing. But air quality in U.S. cities has improved in the last few decades, leaving researchers puzzled as to what’s behind the trend.

One theory is that better hygiene in developed countries means that Westerners have less exposure to bacteria, viruses and parasites, altering our immune response with the result being increased risk for allergic diseases like asthma. Indeed, Western asthma rates are 50 times higher than in rural Africa. While this “hygiene hypothesis” may be part of the story, researchers believe that there are also other factors.

Some studies have shown a correlation between asthma and obesity, though a direct link is hard to prove. Other research has shown that psychological stress can trigger asthma attacks in those already predisposed. Dr. Harold Nelson, professor of medicine at the National Jewish Health in Denver, explained in a 2009 New York Times blog post that increased acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) use in young children, exposure to household cleaning sprays, and lack of Vitamin D also likely contribute to rising asthma rates. But how?

Pediatricians recommend against giving young children aspirin today, given the increased risk of Reye’s syndrome, so many parents now use acetaminophen to relieve pain and reduce fever. But acetaminophen lowers levels of the antioxidant glutathione, resulting in an increased asthma risk. A 2008 study found that use of acetaminophen in the first year of life was associated with a 46 percent increase in the prevalence of asthma symptoms among a study group of 200,000 six- and seven-year-olds.

In regard to household cleaners, frequent inhaling of the spray mist from glass cleaners and air fresheners among other products irritates the lungs and increases the risk of developing asthma. A 2007 study found that European adults who used spray cleaners four days a week faced double the risk of developing asthma symptoms, while weekly use of cleaners increased the risk by 50 percent.

The link between Vitamin D deficiency and asthma comes from several studies on the topic over the last decade showing that low levels of Vitamin D in pregnant mothers result in more asthma in offspring. Those who spend lots of time indoors are particularly vulnerable to Vitamin D deficiency, as exposure to sunlight increases the body’s ability to produce the important nutrient.

Dr. Nelson says that people can take steps to lower their exposure to these “new” asthma risk factors. For one, forego spray cleaners and air fresheners for liquids and pump sprays that don’t produce a fine mist. Pregnant women might consider Vitamin D supplements. And parents should discuss pain relievers with their doctor and consider alternating different types so kids don’t get overexposed to any particular one.

CONTACTS: EDF, www.edf.org/health/air/asthma; “New Risks Linked to Asthma Rise” (New York Times, 2/12/09), well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/new-risk-factors-linked-to-asthma-rise.

In a study done by the University of Kansas, more than 10,000 patients were observed in relation to their vitamin D intake. Researchers discovered that more than 70 percent of those being analyzed were suffering from vitamin D deficiency, which makes them highly susceptible to health problems, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiomyopathy.

Also, a vitamin D deficiency nearly doubles an individual’s chances of dying.

Dr. James L. Vacek, a professor at the University of Kansas Hospital and Medical center, said “We expected to see that there was a relationship between heart disease and vitamin D deficiency; we were surprised at how strong it was”.

However, vitamin D supplements could provide a solution. In the study, patients who suffered from deficiencies and were treated with supplements were proven to be 60 percent less likely to die from any cause.

Experts consider 30 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood a healthy amount, but research has shown that up to 70 percent of Americans are not reaching that standard. Vacek believes that this is because 90% of vitamin D supposedly comes from skin exposure to the sun, and 10 percent from food. During the winter months, the sun is generally not strong enough to provide an adequate amount.

Vitamin D can be attained through 20 minutes of full body exposure to the sun on warm days and by eating foods like oily fish, milk products, and eggs.

A study by researchers from the US Centers for Drug Control and Prevention has linked the majority of hospitalizations to four drugs: warfarin, oral antiplatelet medications, insulins, and oral hypoglycemic agents. A majority of these hospitalizations are due to allergic reactions and accidental overdoses, and 48.1 percent were 80 years old or older.

The study has also shown that better management of related drugs could potentially lead to the avoidance of thousands of hospital admissions.

The biggest funder of the fight against three major diseases has run out of money, slowing the advance in research and aid to poor patients.  An official with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced the news on Thursday, saying that they are unable to give new grants until 2014 due to global economic trouble, according to CBS News.

The Fund gathered an independent panel last March to discuss the financial situation of the organizations biggest donors, and the panel suggested that they create tougher financial safeguards.  The Fund has been the target of allegations of money mismanagement and alleged fraud.  Since the allegations, they have found $20 million in mismanagement, alleged fraud and misspending.

Because of these allegations, Germany, the European Commission and Denmark have withheld hundreds of millions of Euros from the Fund until a n internal investigation of money management occurs.  Germany has since given back the funding.

Since its 2002 creation, the Geneva based company has distributed about $15 billion to programs to coordinate world efforts against disease and to hasten emergency funds from wealthy nations to the poorer, more affected nations.

“We’re not cutting back — we’re not expanding,” the fund’s board chairman, Simon Bland, told The Associated Press from Accra, Ghana, according to CBS.

Just this year, the Fund spent $2.8 billion, including money to pay for treatment for almost half of the developing world’s AIDS patients.

The Fund can afford to keep existing AIDS programs going, but will not be able to expand or add new patients, CBS reports.  It will repurpose funds that had previously been allotted to countries such as China, Brazil, Mexico and Russia.

“It is deeply worrisome that inadvertently the millions of people fighting with deadly diseases are in danger of paying the price for the global financial crisis,” the fund’s executive director, Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, said in a statement according to  CBS.

Although there is no definitive proof, many studies seem to indicate that consumption of onions, garlic and other members of the allium family (leeks, shallots and chives) reduces the risk of certain cancers. (Thinkstock)

Natural healers have extolled the cancer-preventing virtues of garlic and onions for years, but only recently do we have enough scientific research to draw some conclusions. Several animal studies showing promising results using garlic and other members of the allium family (onions, leek, shallot, and chive) to prevent tumors have led to hundreds of studies involving human garlic eaters. While it is near impossible to pinpoint a direct link between garlic consumption and cancer prevention, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that “several population studies show an association between increased intake of garlic and reduced risk of certain cancers, including cancers of the stomach, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and breast.”

To wit, a multi-year study of 25,000 people from Switzerland and Italy found that those who ate the most garlic and onions were up to 88 percent less likely to develop various types of cancer (including cancers of the esophagus, mouth, throat, colon, breast, ovary, prostate and kidney) than those who said they ate little or none. “High onion intake, for example, was associated with a 56 percent lower risk of colon cancer and a 25 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared to no onion intake,” reports Karen Collins of the non-profit American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).

According to Collins, another study found a 32 percent lower colon cancer risk among Iowan women who ate at least one garlic clove a week compared to others who ate one once a month or less, while an analysis of several studies worldwide “linked a 31 percent lower risk of colon cancer with consumption of about four to five cloves of garlic weekly.” And the results of several studies conducted in China show that that those who eat five cloves of garlic a week are half as likely to develop stomach cancers than non-garlic-eaters. Meanwhile, AICR reports that isolated components of garlic have shown the ability to slow or stop the growth of tumors in prostate, bladder, colon, and stomach tissue.

Just how do allium plants prevent cancer? “Like many vegetables, onions and garlic contain antioxidants that can block highly reactive free radicals from damaging cell DNA and starting the cancer process,” reports Collins. “Laboratory studies have shown that onion and garlic compounds can increase enzymes that deactivate carcinogens in the body, enhancing our ability to eliminate carcinogens before they do any damage.”

Some researchers, however, say that study limitations—that is, the accuracy of reported amounts and frequency of garlic consumed and the inability to compare data from studies that used different garlic products and amounts—make a definitive declaration on the topic unlikely anytime soon. And without such definitive conclusive proof of a causal link, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will not allow food purveyors to state the health benefits of the garlic in their products on their labels.

NCI would like to see better-designed human dietary studies using predetermined amounts of garlic to discern potentially effective intakes as well as more studies directly comparing various garlic preparations. “Given this protective potential, the challenge now is to identify amounts that will provide optimal effects,” says Collins. In the meantime, don’t skimp on the garlic and onions.

CONTACTS: National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov; American Institute for Cancer Research, www.aicr.org.

Most researchers now agree that environmental factors -­ including exposure to chemicals and pollution -­ play a significant role today in determining who gets cancer and who doesn't. (Thinkstock)

With the World Health Organization hinting that cancer could unseat heart disease as the leading cause of death around the world, it’s no surprise that per capita cancer incidence is on the rise globally. In fact, cancer is the only major cause of death that has continued to rise since 1900. While it might depend on whom you ask, most researchers now agree that environmental factors—including exposure to chemicals and pollution—play a significant role today in determining who gets cancer and who doesn’t.

A blue ribbon panel of cancer experts initially convened by President George W. Bush researched hundreds of studies and concluded in 2010 (in its 240-page report, “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now”) that our exposure to chemicals, pollution and radiation is to blame for the uptick in cancer deaths. “The American people—even before they are born—are bombarded continually with myriad combinations of these dangerous exposures,” the panel reported. “With the growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to cancer, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the unacceptable burden of cancer resulting from environmental and occupational exposures that could have been prevented through appropriate national action.”

The panel cited grim statistics about cancer’s march, noting that 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, with 21 percent likely to die from it. Cancer researchers fear that our reliance on chemicals is the main culprit, as borne out by hundreds of studies.

To wit, a 2000 study involving the examination of health records of more than 44,000 pairs of twins across Scandinavia found that “inherited genetic factors make a minor contribution” in causing most cancers but that “the environment has the principle role in causing sporadic cancer.” A 2010 UK study, whereby researchers investigated the level of chemical exposure of more than 1,100 women during their employment history, found that those study subjects who had been exposed to various industrial chemicals and airborne hydrocarbons were at least three times more likely to get breast cancer later on than women with little or no exposure in their backgrounds.

Not everyone agrees. Writing in Forbes magazine, Henry I. Miller and Elizabeth Whelan of the industry-friendly American Council on Science and Health argue that the findings of the presidential panel are based on politics not science: “If the authors had only bothered to consult a standard textbook on cancer epidemiology, they would have learned that lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and overexposure to sunlight—not chemicals in air, water and food—are the underlying causes of most preventable human cancers.”

While few today would doubt the health risks of such personal lifestyle factors, the President’s cancer panel nevertheless concluded that “the burgeoning number and complexity of known or suspected environmental carcinogens compel us to act to protect public health,” and urged President Obama to use the power of his office to “remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation’s productivity, and devastate American lives.”

CONTACTS: President’s Cancer Panel, deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/; American Council on Science and Health, www.acsh.org.

According to the Times of India, scientists in London have developed a new flu vaccination which they claim to be “universal”. The new vaccine, Flu-v, supposedly offers lifelong protection against any and all strains of influenza. Professor John Oxford, scientific director of Retroscreen Virology, said “A universal vaccine could…reduce the need for people to have vaccines each year against seasonal flu”.

The new vaccination is said to recognize a constantly recurring element within the many strains of the virus, and is intended to defend the immune system against that element.

Plans are being made to conduct a larger clinical trial, and hopefully have the vaccine available for the public in three to five years.

A sinusitis surgery has been shown to clear up chronic fatigue also, according to a study in the journal Laryngoscope.

“Finally we have good, scientifically consistent evidence that fatigue will very often improve significantly after surgery,” said Dr. Neil Bhattacharyya, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a senior author of the study, in a statement.

According to the study, people who suffer from sinusitis list chronic fatigue in addition to facial pain and nasal blockage as their worst symptoms.

The research showed that endoscopic sinus surgery to remove blockages dramatically improved their energy afterward.

The paper looked at 28 studies of 3,427 patients. Each study showed that patients who were fatigued before surgery had their energy back an average of one year later.

Obviously, depression hits men, woman, boy, girls, of all ages and all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.

But research is showing some of the more complex reasons for depression in women.

“Depression is not ‘one size fits all,’ particularly when it comes to the genders,” according to Helpguide.org. “Not only are women more prone to depression than men, but the causes of female depression and even the pattern of symptoms are often different.”

Here are five reasons why women get depression:

1. Genes

According to research, depression can result from a combination of multiple genes with environmental and other triggers. That’s one reason why your mom might have depression and you might not. Of course, it’s not that simple.

It’s not a definite, but if a woman has a family history of depression, she is at an increased risk.

2. Hormones, chemicals, and PMDD

Research shows that brain chemistry plays a big role in the possible development of depression.

MRI scans of depressed people actually look different than non-depressed. The parts of the brain that regulate behavior, eating, sleeping, and mood appear to be working differently, and neurotransmitters are out of balance. Scientists determined that hormones directly affect the chemicals in the brain that control emotion and mood.

In women, studies also show that the more severe form of premenstrual syndrome called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can make women depressed to the point where it changes their day-to-day activities.

3. Childbirth

Women are very susceptible to developing depression after giving birth.

Postpartum depression develops when a combination of hormonal and physical changes merge with the added responsibilities of raising a newborn. This can be very overwhelming for women.

It is fairly common for new mothers to experience a brief period of mild moon swings after birth, but that does not mean they all suffer from postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is serious and requires treatment.

“Many new moms experience the baby blues after childbirth, which commonly include mood swings and crying spells and fade quickly,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “But some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression. Rarely, an extreme form of postpartum depression known as postpartum psychosis develops after childbirth.”

4. Stress

Stress is dangerous for both genders. In women, the loss of a loved one, ending of a relationship, birth of a child, maintaining a home, and other situations, even welcome ones, can trigger depression.

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that women respond to stress in a way that prolongs their negative feelings than men do, which can lead to depression.

As a result of a 2007 lawsuit brought by the American Environmental Safety Institute, two leading tattoo ink makers must now place warnings on their product containers, catalogs and websites to say that the “inks contain many heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and others” and that the ingredients have been linked to cancer and birth defects. (Media credit/Thinkstock Hemera Collection)

Some red inks used for permanent tattoos contain mercury, while other reds may contain different heavy metals like cadmium or iron oxide. These metals—which give the tattoo its “permanence” in skin—have been known to cause allergic reactions, eczema and scarring and can also cause sensitivity to mercury from other sources like dental fillings or consuming some fish. While red causes the most problems, most other colors of standard tattoo ink are also derived from heavy metals (including lead, antimony, beryllium, chromium, cobalt nickel and arsenic) and can cause skin reactions in some people.

Helen Suh MacIntosh, a professor in environmental health at Harvard University and a columnist for the website, Treehugger, reports that as a result of a 2007 lawsuit brought by the American Environmental Safety Institute (AESI), two of the leading tattoo ink manufacturers must now place warning labels on their product containers, catalogs and websites explaining that “inks contain many heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and others” and that the ingredients have been linked to cancer and birth defects.

Of course, exposure to mercury and other heavy metals is hardly the only risk involved with getting a tattoo. The term tattoo itself means to puncture the skin. Tattoo ink is placed via needles into the dermis layer of the skin, where it remains permanently (although some colors will fade over time). Some people have reported sensitivity springing up even years after they first got their tattoo; also, medical MRIs can cause tattoos to burn or sting as the heavy metals in the ink are affected by the test’s magnetism.

Beyond the long term risks of walking around with heavy metals injected into your body’s largest organ (the skin), getting a tattoo in and of itself can be risky business. If the tattoo parlor’s needles and equipment aren’t properly sterilized in an autoclave between customers, you could be exposing yourself to hepatitis B or C, tuberculosis, mycobacterium, syphilis, malaria, HIV or even leprosy.

“The potential risk of infectious spread from tattooing (particularly due to Hepatitis B) is high enough that it is a practice that should be avoided by pregnant women to safeguard the health of the baby [and that of the pregnant woman herself] whose immune system is down regulated and is much more vulnerable to these types of infection,” reports dermatologist Audrey Kunin, who runs the popular Dermadoctor website. Dr. Kunin advises to be careful about choosing a tattoo parlor: “Make sure the place is reputable, perhaps check with the health department to see if there have been past claims against the parlor in question if you still have doubts.” She adds that since tattoos are essentially open wounds, they must be cared for properly, especially in the first few weeks, to stave off infection.

Those who want go ahead with getting a tattoo anyway despite the risks should consider steering clear of colors derived from heavy metals. Dr. Kunin reports that black might be the safest permanent tattoo ink; it is often derived from a substance called carbon black and rarely causes any kind of sensitivity issues. If your heart is set on red in your tattoo, ask around to see if any tattoo parlors in your area are willing to work with non-metallic organic pigments that lend a red color such as carmine, scarlet lake, sandalwood or brazilwood. There are non-metallic alternatives available for many other popular tattoo ink shades, too.

CONTACTS: Treehugger, www.treehugger.com; Dermadoctor, www.dermadoctor.com.

Dogs really are man’s best friend.  Studies show that dog owners walk faster and more often and are more likely to have an active lifestyle all because of their four-legged friend.

Dr. Sandra McCune, an animal behaviorist from Leicestershire, England co-edited the book in which this study was published, called “The Health Benefits of Dog Walking for People and Pets.”

“I’m fascinated by what a great motivator dogs can be,” said McCune.

According to a recent survey of more than 1,011 dog owners done by Mars Petcare, dogs are the reason for 66 percent of walks the owner takes per week. 25 percent of people with children and pets visit parks and other outdoor spaces regularly because of their dog.

“Personally, I have a Labrador,” McCune said. “When it’s dark, when it’s raining, the dog needs a walk, every day.”

In addition to helping with diet plans, dog walking also boosts social and communal ties, McCune claims.

“If people go out with a dog, they’re more likely to have a conversation,” she said.

Because of all the health benefits dogs can provide to their owners, the YMCAs in several U.S. cities will host “The Power of Pets,” a program that includes dog runs and walks, as well as dog yoga and other activities.

“It’s a chance to get the community together,” Katy Leclair, executive director of the Lake View, Illinois YMCA said of the program. “Families with dogs tend to be more active.”

Experts believe that dogs promote exercise and health because they provide companionship, much like a workout partner.

“Dogs can provide that companionship,” said Shirley Archer, a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.” Frisbee tossing, ball throwing, agility competitions, dog and human boot camps, are great opportunities to be active,” she said. “But obedience training is a must.”

Laura Cartwright Hardy is a grandmother, fulltime graduate student and active dog lover, according to Reuters.  The Little Rock, Arkansas resident owns two large German Shepherds and cites them as the reason for her health.

“I’ve had big dogs since I was 20 and that’s definitely been part of the reason I’ve always been fit,” she said. “They certainly keep you honest about walking. Those big brown eyes make it impossible to say no.”

Researchers have identified traces of pharmaceutical drugs -- including antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives and steroids -- in the drinking water supplies of some 40 million Americans. (Stockbyte)

Pharmaceutical drug contamination in our groundwater, rivers, lakes, estuaries and bays is a growing problem. Millions of us are flushing unused medications down the toilet and discharging them in our body waste—even though sewage treatment plants and septic systems were never designed to deal with such contaminants. Additional discharges by healthcare facilities exacerbate the problem. As a result, researchers have identified traces of pharmaceutical drugs in the drinking water supplies of some 40 million Americans.

A nationwide study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1999 and 2000 found low levels of pharmaceuticals—including antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives and steroids—in 80 percent of the rivers and streams sampled. According to Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), the effects of constant, low-level exposure of pharmaceuticals on ecosystems and humans are uncertain, though “possible health concerns include hormone disruption, antibiotic resistance and synergistic effects.” And antidepressants, says CCE, can “alter the behavior and reproductive functions of fish and mollusks.”

CCE cites a recent Stony Brook University study showing that some fish species in New York’s Jamaica Bay are experiencing “feminization”—the ratio of female to male winter flounder was 10 to one in the studied area—likely a result of flushed pharmaceuticals that can act as “hormone mimics” and cause such effects. New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation concurs, citing a number of other studies underscoring the impacts on aquatic life. What irks CCE about the problem is that almost all known sources of drugs in the environment first pass through wastewater treatment plants where they could be filtered out, but these facilities are not required to be equipped with pharmaceutical filter devices.

In light of the problem, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007 established its first set of guidelines for how consumers should dispose of prescription drugs. First and foremost, consumers should follow any specific disposal instructions on a drug’s label or the patient information that accompanies the medication—and shouldn’t flush the drugs down the toilet. If there are no disposal instructions, the FDA recommends finding out from your municipality if any take-back programs are in place. Also, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Days across the country at various sites a few times a year.

“If no instructions are given on the drug label and no take-back program is available in your area, throw the drugs in the household trash, but first take them out of their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter,” says the FDA. This will make them less appealing to children, pets or people who may intentionally go through your trash, says the agency, which adds that a final step is to put the medication into a sealed bag or other container to prevent leaks.

CONTACTS: CCE, www.citizenscampaign.org; National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, www.nationaltakebackday.com; FDA’s “How to Dispose of Unused Medicines,” www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/ucm107163.pdf.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is alerting people of a new antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea superbug discovered in Canada.

Scientists discovered that the strain resists all currently available treatments, and health officials warn that the new H041 strain may turn a once simple and easily treatable sexually transmitted disease into a pandemic.

Gonorrhea is also known as “the clap.” It is one of the most common STDs in the world and can lead to infertility. It can also increase likelihood of HIV infection and can cause death in rare cases.

This gonorrhea evolution appears to have been in the works for some time. For years, scientists have been observing resistance to different treatments, and they have moved on to different antibiotic options.

“Gonorrhea has progressively developed resistance to the antibiotic drugs prescribed to treat it,” the CDC said in a statement.

In 1993, the medical community recommended Cipro and cephalosporins to knock out the infection, but by the late 1990s and early 2000s, scientists started finding cases that were resistant tot he drugs. By 2006, nearly 14 percent of cases studied were resistant to the two antibiotics, and in 2007, the CDC recommended against using Cipro to treat gonorrhea.

In 2009, 23.5 percent of gonorrhea cases studied were resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, Cipro, or some combination of these antibiotics.

Cephalosporin antibiotics remain effective, and the CDC has not reported any cases of resistance in the country yet, but the news out of Canada has medical experts gearing up.

Recently, after staring slack-jawed at my computer screen as my inbox flooded with 15 emails two minutes before 5 p.m., I wanted nothing more than a stiff drink.  After heading to a favorite waterfront bar, I declared my specifications to the bartender  (“whiskey” and “strong”) and went on to enjoy a fabulous Old Fashioned. A few sips in and I had lovingly dubbed it the “Email Eraser.”  Though my praise stopped at the bar’s libation, it should have gone on to praise taxis and public transportation; a new study published in the journal “Addiction” suggests that even after one drink, I am in no shape to drive.

At my body weight, a single Old Fashioned leaves me with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .05 immediately and .03 for hours after. While both of these numbers are below the legal limit of .08, recent research suggests that they are both high enough to seriously impair my ability to drive. Researchers at the University of California San Diego analyzed close to 1.5 million fatal domestic car accidents over the course of 14 years and arrived at results that suggest that even one sip of wine is one too many.

Even a BAC as low as .01 percent is enough to increase the risk of a serious accident, the researchers say. They found that with a BAC of just .01 percent, “there are 4.33 serious injuries for every non-serious injury versus 3.17 for sober drivers.” The researchers define “sober” as completely abstaining for the night. The study also showed that the likelihood of having a fatal accident correlates with the amount of alcohol in one’s blood.

Sociologist David Phillips, the leader of the study, said in a statement that “Accidents are 36.6 percent more severe even when alcohol was barely detectable in a driver’s blood.”

“Compared with sober drivers,” said Phillips, “buzzed drivers are more likely to speed, more likely to be improperly seat-belted and more likely to drive the striking vehicle, all of which are associated with greater severity.”

With a legal limit of .08 percent, America is more lenient than most countries. The majority of European countries (including the marijuana-friendly Netherlands) set the limit at .05 percent. Japan’s legal limit is .03 percent and Sweden’s is .02 percent. The considerable contrast between what different countries deem safe suggests that forces other than the cold facts are at hand when it comes to a country’s official stance on how much is too much of that cold beer. There is an obvious and interesting difference between what we as a society think we can handle and what the results of the study suggest is safe.

The Environmental Working Group recommends avoiding spray sunscreens entirely. With so little known about the effects of sunscreen chemicals on the body when rubbed into the skin, they say, we may never know how much worse the effects may be when they are inhaled. (ThinkStock)

Spray cans of sunscreen may no longer contain chlorofluorocarbons (also known as CFCs, which were phased out in the 1990s for causing holes in the stratospheric ozone layer), but many contain other chemicals that are no good for our health or the environment. Researchers have found that the chemicals and/or minerals in the vast majority of commercially available sunscreens—even the rub-in creamy or oily varieties—can cause health problems just from ordinary use; inhaling them only magnifies the risks.

And just what are the risks? According to the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are two major types of sunscreens available in the U.S. “Chemical” sunscreens, the more common kind, penetrate the skin and may disrupt the body’s endocrine system, as their active ingredients (e.g., octylmethylcinnamate, oxybenzone, avobenzone, benzophone, mexoryl, PABA or PARSOL 1789) mimic the body’s natural hormones and as such can essentially confuse the body’s systems. Quite a risk to take, considering that the chemical varieties don’t even work for very long once applied.

Meanwhile, “mineral” sunscreens are considered somewhat safer, as their active ingredients are natural elements such as zinc or titanium. But “micronized” or “nano-scale” particles of these minerals can get below the skin surface and cause allergic reactions and other problems for some people. EWG recommends sticking with “mineral” sunscreens whenever possible but, more important, taking other precautions to avoid prolonged sun exposure altogether. “At EWG we use sunscreens, but we look for shade, wear protective clothing, and avoid the noontime sun before we smear on the cream,” the group reports.

As for spray varieties, EWG recommends avoiding them entirely: “These ingredients are not meant to be inhaled into the lungs.” With so little known about the effects of sunscreen chemicals on the body when rubbed into the skin, we may never know how much worse the effects may be when they are inhaled. But suffice it to say: When your neighbor at the beach is spraying down Junior, it’s in your best interest to turn away and cover your nose and mouth.

The root of the problem, according to EWG, is failure on the part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), despite repeated requests from public health and consumer advocates, to implement sunscreen safety standards, some of which were proposed by government scientists more than three decades ago.

EWG only considers a small percentage of the sunscreens on the market—none of which come packaged in spray cans—safe for human use. Some of the top rated varieties come from manufacturers including All Terrain, Aubrey Organics, Badger, Blue Lizard, California Baby, La Roche-Posay, Purple Prairie Botanicals, thinksport, and UV Natural. None of the mainstream drug store variety brands appear on EWG’s recommended list. The full list is available on the sunscreens section of EWG’s Skin Deep website. With summer now upon us, stock up on good sunscreen before it’s too late.

CONTACT: Skin Deep, www.ewg.org/skindeep.

It might feel nice to kick up your feet and unwind by watching TV after work or to relax by the pool all day, but a sedentary lifestyle can be just as bad for your health as smoking, according to recent research.

Dr. David Coven, a cardiologist at New York’s St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, told CBS.com San Francisco earlier this month that “Smoking certainly is a major cardiovascular risk factor and sitting can be equivalent in many cases.” Coven added that according to several new studies, a sedentary lifestyle is linked to the increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer and premature death.

According to exercise science expert Steven Blair, as quoted in Science Daily, as many as 50 million Americans live a sedentary lifestyle. Not surprisingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than two-thirds of Americans are overweight and a third are obese.

Callie Durbrow, a personal trainer at Durbrow Performance Training in Cambridge, Mass., says, “It’s all an unfortunate chain of events: sedentary lifestyle leads to obesity, which, in turn, is a well known factor in heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.” She adds that not getting enough exercise is a “recipe for disaster.”

So what can you do to get active if your day revolves around sitting at a desk at work and sitting in the car during your commute? Sneak “mini-workouts” in, says Durbrow. Durbrow recommends getting at least 30 minutes of “moderately intensive” physical activity five days a week.

“Finding time to exercise–maybe before or after work or during the lunch hour–can literally be a real life saver,” she says.

Here’s what you can do:

Take the stairs, and make this mini-workout session even more effective by running up and down instead of walking. “If you do it several times a day, every day, it’ll add up,” says Durbrow.

Get out and walk briskly, enough to get your heart rate up, instead of driving short distances.

Try to use your free time for exercise instead of watching TV or surfing the Web. “If you finally have a bit of free time, use it for some form of physical activity, not to sit around some more,” she says.

With bikini season so close, it’s once again time to agonize over finding the perfect workout routine for a beach-ready body. One of the latest trends to start popping up across the nation is hula hooping, also known as just “hooping” or “hoopdance” to distinguish it from the child’s toy we all know and love. Hooping is, according to Hooping.org, a full mind-body exercise for all ages that helps relieve stress, can burn 200 to 500 calories an hour and boosts cardiovascular endurance, just for starters. Hooping is also said to improve coordination and balance, build muscle, tone your body all over and build confidence.

Many Americans remember hula hoops as a beloved toy from their childhoods. The craze swept the nation in the 1950s when Wham-O released their popular version, but the art of hooping has been recorded as far back as 500 B.C. Rolling hoops made of willow, rattan, grapevines or stiff grasses with sticks became a popular form of play and exercise for Ancient Greek and Egyptian children. Hoops popped up again in 14th century Great Britain, and medical records from the era show doctors treating dislocated backs and heart attacks that were attributed to hooping, says Hulahooping.com.

LED hula hoops bring flair to a childhood favorite. (Media Credit/madmarv00 via Flickr)

Fast forward several hundred years, and keeping with the idea that history repeats itself, hula hooping is back again. The jam band “String Cheese Incident” has been credited with the resurging interest, tossing hoops into the crowds at music festivals. In a 2005 interview with NPR, band member Michael Kang said, “We had it worked out that during our set, our buddy Austin would throw these hoops out into the crowd. And the next thing you know when we’re playing, there’s like 70 people Hula-Hooping all over the place and it kind of just caught on and took off after that.”

Even celebrities are getting in on the trend. First lady Michelle Obama was seen hula hooping on the White House lawn when she hosted a Healthy Kids Fair in the fall of 2009 to promote childhood obesity prevention.  One of the biggest advocates has been Marisa Tomei. She revealed in a 2010 interview with The New York Times that she used hooping to get in shape for her nude scenes in 2008’s “The Wrestler,” and she now has her own hooping kit and workout DVD available for purchase through Amazon.

Blast spoke with local hooping instructor Lindsey Hollett, also known as Siren of the Circle, to learn more about the trend. She’s been hooping since 2009, after seeing another hooper at a music festival, and has been hooked ever since. Lindsey loves hooping for “a jillion reasons. There’s always something new to learn. There’s no perfection–just progress.” For example, she says, when you think you know a trick, you can try it with the opposite hand, try it spinning in the opposite direction, or, in Hollett’s case, try adding fire. “I’m taking a fire safety course first, though,” she says. Teaching hooping is also a joy for her. Aside from just meeting new people, her favorite part is “the look people get when they finally land a new trick. Their eyes light up in this ‘a-ha’ moment and that’s very fulfilling for me.” Lindsey teaches courses for all skill levels, most recently at Salem State University, Lynn Arts and JMK Pole Fitness Studio in Providence, R.I.  She also makes her own custom hoops that students can purchase.

One of those students is Katie Hallett, a 25-year-old from Lynn, Mass., who has been hooping for several months. She got into hooping much the same way as Hollett, after seeing hoopers at, of course, a music festival. Katie also emphasizes that there is always something new to learn, and recently got an LED hula hoop to use at night, creating dazzling after-images on the eye.  “It’s a lot of fun, and I’ve definitely seen the health benefits; I’ve lost some weight and strengthened muscles I didn’t even know I had,” she said.

If you can’t find a class near you, there are plenty of free YouTube tutorials. For the cost of your hoop, you can entertain yourself (and friends!) for hours, and spend more time outdoors instead of on a treadmill inside. As the Siren of the Circle would say, “Happy Hooping!”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the recent past issued import blocks on temporary tattoos that do not comply with federal labeling regulations. Buyer beware: Make sure the ones you get clearly list their ingredients on the packaging. (Thinkstock)

For the most part, so-called temporary tattoos are safe for kids and grown-ups alike, even if they do contain a long list of scary sounding ingredients including resins, polymers, varnishes and dyes. But if they are sold legitimately in the U.S., their ingredients have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FSA) as cosmetics, meaning the agency has found them to be safe for “direct dermal contact.” The FDA has received reports of minor skin irritation including redness and swelling, but such cases have been deemed “child specific” and were not widespread enough to warrant general warnings to the public.

Those who are concerned anyway but still want a temporary tattoo might consider an airbrush tattoo—they are sprayed on over a stencil using FDA-approved cosmetic inks. The rub on these in the past was that they didn’t last very long, but new varieties are reported to last two weeks, and can be easily removed prior to that with isopropyl alcohol, just like their “press-on” cousins.

Another alternative way to go is henna-based tattoos, which typically do not contain any additives whatsoever. Henna is a flowering plant used since the days of our earliest civilizations to dye skin, fingernails, hair, leather, and wool—and it makes for a relatively natural—although monotone—temporary tattoo.

But the FDA warns consumers to steer clear of any temporary tattoos labeled as “black henna” or “pre-mixed henna,” as these have been known to contain potentially harmful adulterants including silver nitrate, carmine, pyrogallol, disperse orange dye and chromium. Researchers have linked such ingredients to a range of health problems including allergic reactions, chronic inflammatory reactions, and late-onset allergic reactions to related clothing and hairdressing dyes. Neither black henna nor pre-mixed henna are approved for cosmetic use by the FDA and should be avoided even if they are for sale in a reputable store.

Something else to watch out for are the micro-injection machines used by some professional temporary tattoo artists such as might be hired for a corporate event or a festival  While getting a microinjection-based temporary tattoo may not hurt, it does puncture the skin. The United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive recently issued a warning that improperly cleaned machines could facilitate the spread of infectious diseases including HIV and hepatitis. As a result, several types of micro-injection machines with internal parts that could carry contamination from one customer to another have been banned there. Such machines aren’t as popular in the U.S., but if you aren’t sure, it’s best to avoid it. The more familiar press-on temporary tattoos are a safer bet regardless.

Just in case you’re worried that the FDA isn’t checking, the agency has in the recent past issued import blocks on temporary tattoos that do not comply with federal labeling regulations; buyers beware that the ones you get should clearly list their ingredients on the packaging per FDA requirements.

CONTACTS: FDA, www.fda.gov; United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive, www.hse.gov.uk.

The nonprofit group Beyond Pesticides warns that some 60 percent of pesticides used today have been shown to affect the thyroid gland’s production of T3 and T4 hormones. Commercially available insecticides and fungicides have also been implicated. Women are most at risk. (Getty Images)

The American Cancer Society reports that thyroid cancer is one of the few cancers that have been on the rise in recent decades, with cases increasing six percent annually since 1997. Many researchers, however, attribute these increases to our having simply gotten better at detection. Regardless, exposures to stress, radiation and pollutants have been known to increase a person’s risk of developing thyroid problems.

Thyroid disease takes two primary forms. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid produces too much of the T3 and T4 hormones that regulate metabolism. This can cause a racing heart, weight loss, insomnia and other problems. In cases of hypothyroidism, the body produces too few hormones, so we feel fatigued and may gain weight, among other symptoms. According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), many people with thyroid problems don’t realize it, as symptoms can be mistaken for other problems or attributed to lack of sleep. Thyroid problems in children can delay or impair neurological development.

Doctors are not sure why some people are prone to thyroid disease while others aren’t, but genetics has much to do with it. One recent UCLA study found that genetic background accounts for about 70 percent of the risk. However, researchers have begun to find links between increased risk of thyroid disease and exposure to certain chemicals, especially among women. “Pesticide Use and Thyroid Disease among Women in the Agricultural Health Study,” published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2002, found that Iowa and North Carolina women married to men using such pesticides as aldrin, DDT and lindane were at much higher risk of developing thyroid disease than women in non-agricultural areas. According to Dr. Whitney S. Goldner, lead researcher on the study, 12.5 percent of the 16,500 wives evaluated developed thyroid disease compared to between one and eight percent in the general population.

It’s not just farm women who should worry. Trace amounts of chemical pesticides and fertilizers most certainly end up in some of the food we eat. The nonprofit group Beyond Pesticides warns that some 60 percent of pesticides used today have been shown to affect the thyroid gland’s production of T3 and T4 hormones. Commercially available insecticides and fungicides have also been implicated.

Likewise, some chemicals used in plastics and flame retardants contain toxins shown to trigger thyroid problems in those genetically predisposed. And a 2007 study at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio found that triclosan, an anti-bacterial agent found in everything from hand soaps to facial tissues to toys—it’s present in the bloodstreams of three out of every four Americans—could be causing some mothers’ thyroid glands to send signals to fetuses that may in turn contribute to autism.

An increasing number of doctors now believe that hypothyroidism could be precipitated by a dietary deficiency in iodine, a trace element found in the thyroid’s T3 and T4 hormones and essential in small amounts for good health. Besides eating more seafood, switching to iodized salt and/or taking iodine supplements can boost iodine intake without the need for medications. But too much iodine is not healthy, so always consult with your doctor before embarking on any new health or diet regimen.

CONTACTS: ATA, www.thyroid.org; Beyond Pesticides, www.beyondpesticides.org.

A long term study is underway that will track the cell phone usage of 250,000 cell phone users between the ages of 18 and 69 over three decades. In addition to looking for cancer links, the study will be on the lookout for links to neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. (Pink Sherbert Photography via Flickr)

Cell phones have only been in widespread use for a couple of decades, which is far too short a time for us to know conclusively whether or not using them could cause cancer. Research thus far appears to indicate that most of us have little if anything to worry about.

According to the federally funded National Cancer Institute, the low-frequency electromagnetic radiation that cell phones give off when we hold them up to our heads is “non-ionizing,” meaning it cannot cause significant human tissue heating or body temperature increases that could lead to direct damage to cellular DNA. By contrast, X-rays consist of high-frequency ionizing electromagnetic radiation and can lead to the kind of cellular damage resulting in cancer. Nonetheless, some cell phone users and researchers still worry about our cell phone usage, given how much we now use them and how little we know about their potential long-term effects.

The reason the issue keeps coming up is that some initial studies in Europe, where cell phone usage caught on a decade before the U.S., showed links between some forms of tumors and heavy cell phone usage. As a result, researchers teamed up to do a more definitive study, called the “Interphone” study, across 13 countries between 2000 and 2004. The results, published in May 2010 in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Epidemiology, indicated no increased risk of developing two of the most common types of brain tumors, glioma and meningioma, from typical everyday cell phone usage. Study participants who reported spending the most time on their phones showed a slightly increased risk of developing gliomas, but researchers considered this finding inconclusive due to factors such as recall bias, whereby participants with brain tumors may have simply remembered past cell phone use differently from healthy respondents.

Researchers looking to get past the relatively short timing window and the recall bias issues of the Interphone study recently launched a longer term study, dubbed COSMOS (short for Cohort Study on Mobile Communications), in Europe. Some 250,000 cell phone users between the ages of 18 and 69 and located in Britain, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark will participate by allowing researchers to track their cell phone usage and health over three decades. According to an April 22, 2010 article in Reuters, the study will factor in the use of hands-free devices and how people carry their phones and will also be on the lookout for links to neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

There are some precautions you can take to minimize whatever risk may exist. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suggests reserving the use of cell phones for shorter conversations, or for times when a conventional phone isn’t available. Also, using a hands-free device places more distance between the phone and your head, significantly reducing the amount of radiation exposure. If the fact that many states require hands-free devices for using a cell phone while driving isn’t enough to make you go out and spend the extra money on such an accessory, maybe the cancer risk, perceived or real, will.

Losing weight is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions after the gluttony of the holiday season. If you’re pledging to lose some pounds this year by joining a gym, our friends at the Better Business Bureau recommend asking ten questions before signing on the dotted line.

In 2009 alone, BBB received 7,787 complaints about gyms and health clubs, putting the industry in the top 20 for most complained about businesses.  Not only does BBB receive a lot of complaints about gyms, but complaints increased by 21 percent in 2009 over the previous year.

“Regardless of how eager you are to start losing weight in the New Year, take the time to do your research before joining a gym and don’t give in to high-pressure sales pitches,” said Paula Fleming, BBB spokesperson. “Always check the health club out with your Better Business Bureau, inspect the facilities closely and read the contract carefully, making sure that all of the promises are in print.”

BBB recommends asking the gym and yourself the following 10 questions before signing up for a membership:

Questions to ask the gym:

1. What are the terms of any introductory offers?
   Gyms often use special introductory offers to lure in new members. Just make sure you understand the terms and what the price will be once the introductory period is over.
2. Will my membership renew automatically?
   Every year, BBB receives a large number of complaints from people who joined a gym and didn’t realize that their contract would renew automatically and that they would have to take specific steps to cancel their contract.
3. How can I get out of my contract? Getting out of a gym contract isn’t always as easy as getting into one so make
   sure you understand what steps you would need to take to cancel your membership
4. What happens if I move?
   Gyms have any number of different policies when it comes to how moving will affect your membership. It might depend on how far away you’re moving and if they have other locations nearby.
5. What happens if you go out of business?
   BBB often receives complaints from people after their gym suddenly closed up shop and took their money with them. Ask the gym to explain what will happen to your money if they suddenly go out of business.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. What are my fitness goals?
   Determining your fitness goals in advance will help you select a facility that is most appropriate for you. If you have a serious health condition, consult with a medical professional when setting your fitness goals.
2. Is this location convenient? If the gym is across town, you’ll be less likely to workout. Choose a fitness club that is convenient to work or home so the location is not a deterrent to getting exercise.
3. Can I really afford this every month? Monthly gym fees add up and, after any introductory periods are over, the price could jump higher than your budget can handle. Do the math before you join and make sure you can afford a gym membership.
4. Am I feeling pressured to join? Do not give in to high-pressure sales tactics to join right away. A reputable gym will give you enough time to read the contract thoroughly, tour the facilities and make an informed decision.
5. Did I get everything in writing? Read the contract carefully and make sure that all verbal promises made by the salesperson are in writing.  What matters is the document you sign, so don’t just take a salesperson’s word for it.

For more advice from BBB on how to be a savvy consumer all year long, visit bbb.org/us/Consumer-Tips/

Walgreens pharmacy chain alerted customers today that their email addresses may have been stolen by spanners.

“We recently became aware of unauthorized access to an email list of customers who receive special offers and newsletters from us,” the company said in the email. “As a result, it is possible you may have received some spam email messages asking you to go to another site and enter personal data. We are sorry this has taken place and for any inconvenience to you.”

The company did not say how many addresses may have been stolen.

According to the statement, only the customers’s email addresses were taken. No prescription information, credit card numbers or addresses were stolen.

“Online security experts have reported an increase in attacks on email systems, and therefore we have voluntarily contacted the appropriate authorities and are working with them regarding this incident,” Walgreens said.

Concerned customers can call Walgreens at 888-980-0963.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that the risk of heart attack hospitalization dropped by 46 percent among MassHealth members who used a smoking cessation program provided by the state, according to a new study published in the online journal PLos Medicine.

The dramatic decline was evident in the first year after use of the benefit. The risk of hospitalization for other acute coronary heart disease diagnoses dropped by 49 percent in the first year after use of the benefit.

“These dramatic results demonstrate how the Commonwealth’s health care reform efforts have made a difference in just a short amount of time,” said Governor Deval Patrick, in a statement. “By making a comprehensive smoking cessation benefit available to MassHealth members, we have significantly reduced the number of expensive hospitalizations — helping people lead healthier lives and saving taxpayer dollars.”

This is the first time the health effect of the MassHealth smoking cessation benefit has been analyzed in such depth, DPH said Tuesday. In the first two and a half years of the benefit, over 75,000 MassHealth members used it to try to quit smoking, comprising 40 percent of all smokers on MassHealth, a state health insurance program.

“This study demonstrates that the Commonwealth’s efforts to help people quit smoking are a sound investment,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. “It’s clear that MassHealth’s smoking cessation benefit has had a very real, positive health impact for people across the state, while at the same time lowering health care costs.”

Experts agree that smoking is the leading preventable cause of sickness and death. More than 8,000 Massachusetts residents die every year from the effects of smoking, and tobacco use is associated with $4.3 billion in excess health care costs in Massachusetts each year.

Furthermore, in Massachusetts, 77 percent of adult cigarette smokers say they want to quit, 60 percent of smokers have tried to quit within the past year, and 44 percent report that they plan to try to quit in the next 30 days.

The report is available online at: plosmedicine.org.

A gene that can cause congenital heart defects has been identified by a team of scientists, including a group from Princeton University. Authors on the paper included, from left, Rebecca Burdine, a Princeton molecular biology professor, and graduate students Jason McSheene and Kari Baker Lenhart. The team made the discovery by studying the embryos of zebrafish. Princeton University (Brian Wilson/Priceton University)

Researchers at Princeton University have found a gene that can cause congenital heart defects, a discovery that could one day lead to new treatments for those who may otherwise die suddenly.

Princeton researchers focused on identifying and studying the gene in zebrafish embryos, and the team’s work expanded to include collaborations with other groups studying the genetics of mice and people.

“This work really showcases the use of collaborative science and multiple model systems to better understand human disease,” said Rebecca Burdine, an assistant professor of molecular biology at Princeton who led her team.

The newly discovered gene, called CCDC40 (for “coiled coil domain containing protein 40″), controls right-to-left patterning as tissues develop, a critical factor in the configuration and effectiveness of organs. Scientists found the gene by zeroing in on zebrafish and mice in which the placement, and sometimes the internal structure, of organs is disrupted or reversed. While these so-called “left-right patterning” defects occur very rarely in zebrafish and mice, they occur at high frequency in the animals with mutated CCDC40 genes. Their study was published online in Nature Genetics on Dec. 5. A separate paper by another group identifying a sister gene, CCDC39, based on studies of genes in sheepdogs, appears in the same edition of the science journal.

“We used the strengths of different model organisms to gain an understanding of how a novel protein, produced by this new gene, functions,” said Irene Zohn, who led a research group studying mice genetics at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and is one of the first authors on the CCDC40 study with Burdine’s group. A third group, led by physician Heymut Omran and based at University Hospital in Freiburg, Germany, rounded out the team, with other individual participants located elsewhere. “These findings would not have been possible without the collaborations between the three groups,” Zohn added.

The collaboration started several years ago when Zohn contacted Burdine, a renowned expert in the study of left-right patterning in animals. Developmental biologists such as Burdine investigate what factors contribute to patterns in vertebrates relating to symmetry and leading to where organs are placed in the spatial configuration of the body. In humans and many animals, for example, the heart is usually situated on the left side with the liver at its lower right. Flaws in left-right patterning can lead to congenital heart defects in humans.

It is estimated that one in 10,000 people have a condition known as situs inversus, when the left-to-right patterning in the body is switched. In most cases, there are no adverse consequences of this condition, but problems arise when perturbations in the patterning signals produce reversals within organs, including heart structures such as the aorta and pulmonary artery. In rare circumstances, the heart can be located on one side without any supporting structures around it such as arteries and veins. That condition can be fatal.

Editor’s note: This is a brief dispatch from Brittany Eddy, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the Children’s Nutrition Program. Eddy has been in Haiti working with CNP since long before the January earthquake further devastated the country. Now water is the problem, both in the form of damaging rains and tropical storms and in the form of unclean drinking water.

The lack of government infrastructure has left the people in the grips of a deadly cholera outbreak that could kill many. CNP is working with Clean Springs International in an attempt to create a safe potable water supply in affected parts of the country.

LEOGANE, Haiti — The rains began yesterday, about 6 p.m., intensifying throughout the night.

Luckily, we have not gotten much wind, so many of the tarps and tents are still intact. However, the downtown is very flooded with areas of water about 3 feet deep. The main roads downtown look like rivers and the currents in some areas are extremely strong.

To our knowledge, there were emergency shelters set up around Leogane. We are unsure of the status of many of the tent camps around town.

Children’s Nutritional Program made preparations to suspend programs until the storm passed. All patients from the Stabilization Center were discharged yesterday, so
none of the patients were directly affected by the flooding of the hospital.

Deep Springs International has been busy helping with the cholera response and hurricane preparedness. DSI sent 500,000 aquatabs and 225 gallons of locally produced chlorine to Port-au-Prince yesterday to be used in tent camps there, distributed by MINUSTAH. Chlorine production continues here at the house for use here in Leogane and to send to Port-au-Prince.

The CNP/DSI residence is dry and unaffected. The internet at the house is out, but we were able to use a Digicel modem.

Fighters and forwards at greatest risk. Photo: Dan4th Nicholas/Flickr CC

A shocking number of junior hockey players are getting concussions from being checked and punched in the head — and they are skipping out on visits to their doctors, according to a report in the November issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

The report, co-authored by Robert C. Cantu, MD, at Boston University Medical School, found that players, parents and coaches were often too annoyed by their doctors’ orders — such as staying off the ice, and making follow-up visits — to be bothered heeding the advice.

“This study showed a disturbing lack of compliance by the athletes to undergo requested neuropsychological evaluations and multiple physician visits, as well as a lack of understanding about the seriousness of concussion,” read a statement from another of the paper’s co-authors, Charles H. Tator, MD, at the University of Toronto’s Western Hospital.

Previous research has linked sports concussions to immediate and long-term cognitive impairment.

In a single season, in which brain docs tracked 67 Canadian male players between the ages of 16 and 21, 17 suffered concussions.

One-third of those players went on to get at least one more concussion in the same study period.

Two of the players concealed their concussions to avoid being benched.

The position you play determines your risk for getting a concussion, the new report also suggests.

Forwards in the study received 71 percent of the concussions. Defensemen got about a third. Goalies were undamaged.

Fighting appears to have caused one-quarter of the concussions.

Ignorance doesn’t exist anymore. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you. By now we’ve all seen the TV and magazine ads and read the surgeon general’s warning. We all know someone who’s gotten cancer.

Still, 1 in 5 American adults continues to smoke cigarettes and 40 percent of nonsmokers were exposed to secondhand smoke during 2007-2008, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most disturbing: nearly all (98 percent) children who live with a smoker are exposed and have measurable levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies from cigarette smoke.

The CDC says that smoking rates dropped from 2000 through 2005. But since then, the rate has remained constant at about 20 percent.

Of note:

• In 2009, more men (nearly 24 percent) than women (about 18 percent) smoked.
• Smoking remains prevalent among the poor, as 31 percent of those living below the poverty line are smokers.
• Less than 6 percent of adults with a graduate degree smoke, but 25 percent of adults with no high school diploma smoke.

“Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death in this country,” said CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden.  ”But progress is possible. Strong state laws that protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke, higher cigarette prices, aggressive ad campaigns that show the human impact of smoking and well-funded tobacco control programs decrease the number of adult smokers and save lives.”

Last year, Mormon-heavy Utah had the lowest rates of smoking, followed by California. California has had strict tobacco laws for years. Adult smoking in California declined by about 40 percent during 1998-2006, and as a result lung cancer in California has been declining four times faster than in the rest of the nation, according to the report.

And if you need a subtle reminder from the CDC: “Smoking causes cancers of the lung, mouth, stomach, pancreas, kidney, colon, cervix, bladder and leukemia, as well as heart attacks, stroke, blindness, pneumonia, emphysema and other lung diseases, and many other health problems. Exposure to secondhand smoke causes sudden infant death syndrome and low birth weight, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, exacerbated asthma, respiratory symptoms, and decreased lung function in children. It also causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults.”

Salem State University will ban tobacco on its campus, Boston.com reported Tuesday.

In an email to faculty, staff and students, the North Shore college will expand its current ban of smoking in buildings to cover the entire campus, including all grounds and outdoor areas.

Chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco are also banned.

“The university has an opportunity to dramatically impact the health and welfare of the members of our community and guests by making a change in the currently accepted campus smoking practices,” Stanley P. Cahill, Salem State’s executive vice president, said in the message.

There are 10,000 students at Salem State, and 2,000 live on campus, Boston.com reported.

Students and employees will be offered assistance with quitting before the policy goes into effect on September 1, 2011.

(ARA) – When fingers get pointed in debates over the obesity epidemic in the United States, technology sometimes shoulders some of the blame. Time in front of computer screens or television is often listed as part of the reason why Americans aren’t as healthy as they have been in the past. But the truth is there are also technological advances that have the potential to guide you in your quest for a healthier lifestyle, whether that is eating right, exercising or keeping tabs on vital numbers that are important to your health.

Take smart phone applications for example. Nowadays, you can find applications for just about anything in life that might capture your interest, and healthy living is no exception. So if you’re looking to stay fit and healthy, here are six mobile apps that give you and your family a little extra help:

1. Lose It!

Counting calories is perhaps the simplest and most effective way to keep track of your health goals, especially if it involves weight loss. But it’s difficult to do all the adding and subtracting in your head, which is where the free app Lose It! comes in. The app allows you to enter what you eat each day and calculates not only calories, but fat, protein, cholesterol and carbohydrates based on portion size. It also allows you to enter different types of workouts, from walking to yoga, to see how many calories you will burn while you are exercising.

2. Carb Counting with Lenny

This app is designed to help children with diabetes count carbohydrates to help manage their diabetes, but can be of use to anyone. Using their mascot Lenny the Lion, who also uses insulin pump therapy, Medtronic Diabetes introduced this app, which allows children with type 1 diabetes to learn about carbohydrate levels in basic foods. The application also allows users to create a customizable food guide using their own photos or ones they find on the Internet, as well as play games to test their carb-counting knowledge. Periodic contests and giveaways (www.medtronicdiabetes.com/carb-counting-contest) are announced to reward registered users who get highest game scores. Medtronic Diabetes, which makes such products as continuous glucose monitoring devices, designed the app to be useful and educational for both children with diabetes and others who are interested in monitoring carb intake.

3. Size Me Up

Another application for kids. This one allows children to enter their current height and receive estimates for how tall they might be in the future, at any given age. This can be used to help keep your child motivated to eat right, so they can grow up to be tall and healthy.

4. BP Buddy

This application allows people who are monitoring their blood pressure to input their blood pressure numbers and heart rate numbers and log them for up to 60 days. An e-mail feature allows users to send their numbers to their doctor for analysis.

5. The Carrot

As an interactive journal, this application allows you to track multiple items related to health. In addition to entering information on meals, workouts, and even medication, you can also enter your assessment of your moods or the level of job satisfaction you are feeling at the moment to see if you can pinpoint what healthy habits work best for you.

6. FitReach

This training and diet application allows you to enter information on your meals, as well as workouts. It also encourages you to do regular weigh-ins so you can compare your weight loss with your goals on graphs that are a part of the app.

Applications are available on iTunes and can also be downloaded through your iPhone, smart phone or other compatible mobile device.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Mario Lopez, host of “Extra,” was at this year’s Health and Fitness Expo at the Hynes Convention Center promoting healthy living through his new book “Extra Lean.”

Along with Lopez, the expo featured Shawn Thornton from the Boston Bruins, Krista White — winner of America’s Next Top Model — Teddy Bruschi from the New England Patriots and other well-known celebrities. People crowded the entire first floor of the expo, which was divided into sections: health screenings, cooking demonstrations, a dancing stage, food samples, and fitness activities.

Upon entering the Expo, Mario was on stage cooking a recipe from his book. I waited for him in the Celsius section which featured the Fitness Age Challenge, a computerized fitness assessment program to learn one’s real "fitness age". Mario is the spokesperson for Celsius and is promoting their new summer campaign the "Ultimate Workout Challenge". I spoke with him about his new book Extra Lean, how he stays fit, and he told me what it was like to be on Dancing With the Stars.

BLAST: What inspired you to write fitness and health books?

MARIO LOPEZ: I love the health and wellness industry, and as I’ve gotten older, the things that I’ve learned and applied in my own life I want to share with others. I hope that what I’ve written helps change lives.

BLAST: In your book Extra Lean, you say you live extra lean. What does this philosophy mean to you?

ML: Extra lean is a philosophy and approach toward food in general. It means living healthy in all aspects of life, beginning with how we embrace and enjoy food. It is not a diet book, but a food book with principles that I believe in and live daily. I want to help people because it is a scary thing to manage weight when you do not know what to do. The three things I want people to remember are to eat carbs, protein, and fat at every meal. I want them to eat frequently throughout the day and practice portion control. The dedication to one’s health through food will allow so many other areas of life to come alive; from relationships to the economy, disease prevention and longevity. It all starts at the table.

BLAST: Through your book, how can one live their life according to this philosophy?

ML: The way to live the philosophy is to renew your mind when it comes to food. A true paradigm shift needs to occur. Because it’s not about what you can’t eat, but it’s about putting food to work in your favor, helping you feel and perform at your best.

BLAST: My favorite aspect of your book is your seven day meal plan (Seven Windows of Opportunity), which includes muffins, a tropical smoothie, fresh tomato pita pizza, and chicken enchiladas. I love how your meal plan does not deprive people of what they want to eat. What is the most important aspect you want readers to remember?

ML: The book breaks it down and explains the principles, but it keeps you motivated because the results will come quick. It’s amazing when you cut calories how much weight you lose. I encourage people to have a cheat meal every week like pizza because you are still living extra lean. When it comes to the seven windows of opportunity, the most important aspect is to treat your body like a small blaze. You don’t throw a huge log on a fire and hope it burns efficiently. No, you steadily and methodically put small quick-burning kindling on the flame. Our metabolism works the same way. Don’t worry if you don’t eat seven times, per se. Just make sure you’re constantly eating and allowing your inner fire to burn.

BLAST: What is the best way to practice making healthy choices in unlikely places?

ML: Once you incorporate the philosophy of living extra lean you can make those choices really easy. Eating out you should avoid anything fried and stick with grilled chicken, salmon, or pork. Almonds, bananas, and peanut butter are good for snacks and can be found in any convenient and grocery store. You learn to become aware of what you’re eating.

BLAST: What are your favorite meals to eat that help you stay fit?

ML: Some of my favorites are sweet potatoes, salmon, and chicken, but I still love Mom’s enchiladas (her recipe inspired my healthy chicken enchiladas in Extra Lean). That’s the important thing though, I’m too big a fan of food to exclude things I love. The key is to learn how to incorporate those foods into your lifestyle. I’ll never give up Mexican food and I’ll always stay in shape— so the two can go hand-in-hand. Also, drinking Celsius during the day helps me burn calories when I’m not working out and keeps me energetic throughout the day.

BLAST: When did you start using Celsius and how is it different from other energy drinks on the market?

ML: I started drinking Celsius a couple of years ago just because I had tried every energy drink out there. I like how it tastes; that’s the first thing that attracted me. Celsius has no sugar, no carbs, and low sodium. I like that it helps you burn calories it gives you a nice kick before you work out. Plus, it comes in other good flavors.

BLAST: Why is fitness so important to you?

ML: Well, fitness is a top priority in my life and has been for a while. I’m the Boys and Girls Club of America national ambassador of fitness and the governor and presidents counselor of physical fitness. It’s become a passion of mine.

BLAST: Do you have any workouts that you like?

ML: I like to mix it up, keep the muscles guessing. I like boxing a lot and dancing.

BLAST: Growing up did you have weight issues?

ML: "When I was a little kid I did. Obesity is prominently featured in my family. I wanted to help my family first and be an inspiration. Next I went through to my community and with the platform of my own show I can now help and inspire people on a national level."

BLAST: You wrestled in high school. Did this help overcome your weight issues?

ML: Oh, absolutely. I grew up wrestling and also did dance. Being active in wrestling not only helped me lose weight and build muscle, but I think those days helped me form my foundation for my passion for fitness and competition. Just being active is always important. As I’m getting older, I learn to eat and drink right. I don’t drink sodas either.

BLAST: How did it feel to be competing with Emmit Smith on Dancing With the Stars?

ML: Emmit was great. From the football field to the dance floor, Emmit is a true champion. I was honored to compete with him. Everyone on the cast was great. I will never forget the experience.

BLAST: As host of Extra and America’s Best Dance Crew while acting, where do you find time to work out?

ML: It might sound cliche, but I get it in when I can fit it in. If I know my afternoon and evening are jam-packed, I’ll make sure to train before work. Basically, not training is not an option. Living a healthy lifestyle sometimes takes strategic planning. If you are serious about training and changing your body, you will find the time.

BLAST: Will you continue writing health and fitness books?

ML: Absolutely. Health and fitness will always be a big part of my life and career. I hope to continue doing my part to help America become a healthier, fitter nation.

Six months of rent money will be sucked out of your bank account if your dog develops a very common knee injury. If you’re looking to use new stem-cell therapy to aid your ailing kitten, that will cost you a couple of years of car payments. The surprising part? Pet owners are more than willing.

While people are still facing financial losses, being laid off and limiting expenses, the pet population is faring rather well.

As a country, we spend $45 billion a year on our animals and that number is expected to rise by 5 percent this year, according to Fast Company magazine.

The reason? One explanation may be the new and expensive medical treatments available at animal hospitals:

• Interventional Radiology circumvents the need for surgery by using catheters and stents in a minimally invasive procedure. “You’re closing something that ought to be open or you’re opening something that ought to be closed,” said Dr. John Berg, a small animal surgeon at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals, a Tufts veterinary school teaching hospital in North Grafton. But it’s not necessarily cheaper than surgery. You can pay up to $2,500 for the implant, anesthesia, the procedure itself and lab work.
• Dialysis, which can cost up to $20,000, is another popular new treatment. When an animal’s kidneys aren’t working, a machine does the job for them. Armelle De Laforcade, part of the Emergency and Critical Care Team at Fosters said the hospital dialyzes about 25 pets a year, often because the animal has ingested a toxin.
• Mood-altering drugs are now available for dogs with conditions such as separation anxiety. Berg said they are certainly helpful in certain situations, but that “the danger is that the drugs could get overused.”
• Stem-cell therapy, not yet approved for human use, is now available for small animals. Vet-stem, the company that pioneered the procedure, has had over 1,000 vets take their online certification course since January, according an article in Time, which places the total cost between $2,000 and $4,000. Cells taken from the pet’s fat are injected into the site of an injury, repairing it much faster than surgery would.

But these new procedures aren’t the only expensive treatments on the market. Knee injuries in dogs are very common and cost $3,000 to fix with surgery.

Orthopedic surgery for horses can run over $100,000 while cancer in dogs and cats can cost up to $10,000 to treat.

Paying for pets is undoubtedly a burden, but it’s one many are happy to carry for the animals they love. So, how can PEOPLE deal with these often unforeseen expenses?

“They’re not just going to die of old age. Your pet will get sick,” said Berg. He recommends saving about $5,000 for when that time comes. He said that pet insurance will only pay off in the event of catastrophic illness and that saving is the better choice.

De Laforcade disagrees. “In general pet insurance seems like a good idea,” she said, “as it will offset some of the cost for something like a broken leg.”

According to Berg, only about three to five percent of his patients have pet insurance.

But they also see owners who can afford to treat a pet, but don’t. Said De Laforcade, “Occasionally we see people who can afford the care but choose not to pursue it, and if the pet has a bad disease that is very much understandable. If the pet is very fixable it is harder for us to deal with. In these cases sometimes we have no choice, and sometimes someone will adopt the pet and give it the care it needs.”

Said Berg, “Sometimes people shouldn’t get animals. They should have expectation that at some point they’re going to pay veterinary bills.” He added that for most people, veterinary care is very affordable.

Despite the fact that the exact same machines and treatments are used on humans, medical care for animals is much cheaper. “If you want to know how much medical care costs,” said Berg, “look at veterinary medicine.”

According to Berg, medicine for humans is jacked up because of forces not present in animal medicine. These include malpractice lawsuits, bureaucracy and insurance.

But expensive or not, most owners are willing to pay to keep their pets healthy. “I think if there’s an ‘oh wow’ factor to that, it’s how much people care for their animals,” Berg said. “If people didn’t care so much, this hospital simply wouldn’t exist.”

A study appears in the Annals of Internal Medicine conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical school purports to show that people’s alcohol consumption habits are the direct result of the people they associated with.

The study, which analyzed the drinking patterns of 12,000 people, concluded that people are 50 percent more likely to drink heavily if they have friends or relatives who are heavy drinkers also.

The study also shows that even if you’re just surrounded by heavy alcohol consumption, your drinking will go up by about 70 percent, while your drinking will drop in half if you’re around people who aren’t drinking.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Forget all you heard about Vitamin D from the sun’s rays — the sun is not your friend, folks.

Tanning is not good for you, and sunscreen is your very best friend.

OK, so you think we’re crazy, but doctors and decades of research don’t lie. The sun is your skin’s worst enemy. Ultra violet rays are extremely harmful to your health many ways. Doctors at the Academy of Dermatology Convention in Miami cannot emphasize this enough: there is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan.

"There are two types of rays that you are exposed to," says Dr. Dale Isaacson, "UVB rays that give you that instant burn, and UVA rays that generally lead to tanning and in the future, skin cancer."

Some skin cancer types are treatable and curable by removing the damaged cells, but some cancers are deadly. Melanoma is one of the deadliest types of skin cancer in the world, and millions die from it each year. It starts out looking like a bad mole, but extra sun exposure mutates it and turns it into cancer which can spread through your entire body.

"If you notice any of those symptoms, see a dermatologist immediately," said Dr. Isaacson.

The sun not only poses health risk, but it poses cosmetic ones too. Dr Marilyn Berzin treats people for sun exposure in as early as their late twenties.

"When you expose yourself to too much sun, it can seriously mutate your skin, but even worse, it can cause early wrinkling. I treat many young women who have premature wrinkles on their face, and they’re not even thirty."

Patients see Dr Berzin for laser resurfacing procedures and Botox injections to remove wrinkles. These procedures are often painful, but they are considered important in a youth driven society.

“If you want to stay young, stay out of the sun," says Dr. Berzin. "There is nothing wrong with being pale. And those of you who are naturally pale need to apply extra sunscreen protection."

The higher the SPF on your sunscreen, the greater protection. And make sure to re-apply it twice if you stay out in the sun too long.
Take it from a girl who is as pale as can be, your skin stays soft and smooth when you use a sunscreen moisturizer everyday. And don’t forget to put some on when its cloudy, you can get sun exposure then too. So think about all of this when you head out to tan on the beaches this season. Cover up.

Pop music star Cyndi Lauper and music sensation Lady Gaga are teaming up on a new campaign by joining MAC Cosmetic’s VIVA GLAM program, as the new voices and faces of the campaign to support women battling HIV/AIDS, a campaign that MAC started in 1994. Fergie, Christina Aguilera, Eve, Mary J. Blige and Lil’ Kim have helped to advertise and sell the lipstick line. Every dollar coming from the sale of Viva Glam lipstick and lip gloss is going to the MAC AIDS Fund. The Viva Glam Cyndi and Viva Glam Gaga lipsticks, each for $14, will be available on March 18.

According to HealthDay, Lauper said, “Fighting HIV/AIDS is not a one-woman job. Lady Gaga and I are using our voices as a call to action for women all over the world. I lost a lot of friends to AIDS before we even knew what it was. Today, across the world, women are more likely to become infected with HIV than men. Each one of us needs to do our part to fight for women impacted by HIV and AIDS.”

“We’re raising the VIVA GLAM bar this year with the voices of two incredible artists,” said John Demsey, president of Estee Lauder and chair of the MAC Aids Fund. “Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper are bringing women’s issues to the forefront of the HIV/AIDS crisis. We have one artist that hit the music industry at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, and another that is explosively popular with young people today. They represent different generations that are equally as affected by this disease, and both are helping to spread the message of the power of one lipstick.”

The program has already raised more than $150 million to combat the disease all over the world, from South Africa to the rural southern United States.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Chestnuts are roasting over an open fire. The goose is getting fat. Families are decking the halls with boughs of holly.

However, your hard-of-hearing grandpa sits in the corner by himself, attempting to partake in the holiday festivities.

The problem is that he can’t hear his favorite holiday tune, the jingle-jangle of the bells or even in some cases, the screeching fire alarm when disaster strikes in the kitchen. Most importantly, he can’t hear what his loved ones are saying as they laugh and frolic around with each other.

Here are some quick communication tips to get your grandpa (or grandma) engaged:

1. Speak slowly and loudly: It is difficult for even people without hearing loss to listen, process, and comprehend soft and rapid speech. Give your old gramps a little more of your patience and a few extra seconds of your time. In return, it will save both of you a load of frustration as he will be able to understand what you’re saying.
2. Be next to Gramps during conversations: Elderly people depend on visual cues such as body language and lip movement to fill-in-the-blanks of what isn’t heard. Standing across the room and shouting to grandpa isn’t going to make him understand you any better, especially if he also has vision problems. Position yourself right in front of him or next to his good ear during communication so both auditory and visual cues are best delivered.
3. Repeat what he says: By repeating what he says back to him, you’re showing your grandpa that you heard what he was saying, understood his intended message, and cared enough to clarify his main point. This will make him feel understood, secure, and more likely to initiate a conversation in the future.
4. Don’t point out his hearing loss: Your grandpa has already felt the effects of his hearing loss and how it’s impacted his social ability to communicate with everyone. You don’t need to point this out to him. Being reminded of his hearing loss will make him feel threatened and targeted while enhancing his sense of isolation from the family.
5. Conversation starters: Don’t know what to say? Try to focus on topics that you share in common, such as the present you bought for your mom or the funny thing your dog did the other day. By bringing up familiar topics, your grandpa’s brain will have less work to process and the bond between you is strengthened due to the commonalities you both share.

With these tips good old gramps will once again be engaged through communication, feel like part of the family, and be able to partake in the holiday festivities just like everyone else. It will be the most wonderful time of the year… for everyone!

Three Massachusetts high school students recently made it into the eastern region semifinals of the Siemens Competition, which will head into National Finals in New York in early December. One of them, Minhye Kim, a Brookline High School senior, took a moment with Blast Magazine to discuss her findings as a young researcher.

Blast: Congratulations on your research studies! Could you explain briefly what your research focused on?

Minhye Kim: Thank you! The title of my project is "Hepatitis B Virus Infection Increases the Risk for Developing Diabetes." I studied and found the mechanism that links the two diseases together.

Blast: What was your inspiration for this research?

MK: I was actually having a conversation with my mentor and he… mentioned something very interesting. He said that over 350 million people worldwide are infected with HBV. I had no idea HBV was such a serious health problem. So, I did a little research on my own and found out HBV leads to different liver diseases. I knew from past knowledge that glucose production happens in the liver and glucose production is very important in type 2 diabetes. So, I was curious whether HBV had anything to do with type 2 diabetes.

Blast: What is the goal of your research?

MK: The goal of my research was to find whether HBV and type 2 diabetes were linked at all. Actually, no previous research had been done about my topic of research. So there really wasn’t anything known about the link between the two diseases.

Blast: How long did it take you to come up with all the background information and analysis for your study?

MK: There were definitely lots of readings to do! There were a few days when I would just read manuscripts and not do anything else, like running experiments. I would say the entire project took about a year. It spanned throughout my junior year.

Blast: And being so young and talented in this field, do you feel or hope that more young people will get involved in research like this?

MK: Yeah! I think it would great for young people to go out there and have research internships because it’s an awesome experience. You find out what is like to be a scientist in a real-life setting and it’s worth it!

Blast: What is your ambition for the future? Do you plan on studying science or medicine?

MK: I definitely want to go to medical school. I want to become a pediatrician and have my own diabetic clinic for children… if there is no cure for diabetes by then.

Winners of the regional event are invited to compete at the National Finals at New York University December 3 — 7. For more info visit http://www.siemens-foundation.org.

The Siemens Foundation contributes over $7 million annually to support the field of science, math, engineering and technology in the United States. The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology encourages and recognizes high school students who challenge themselves through their studies and research, and may obtain national recognition for their high school research projects in science and technology.

Nathalie Blanchard has been on sick leave from her IBM job in Bromont, Quebec for a year, but she just lost her health benefits, the Associated Press reported.

Blanchard’s sick leave was for depression, and when her Manulife insurance agent found photos on her Facebook where she was apparently having fun, her monthly benefits were promptly cut. The pictures depicted Blanchard at a Chippendales bar, at a birthday party and on vacation.

Blanchard got a lawyer and is fighting back. She says the doctor told her to try to have fun, and that’s what she was doing. Manulife had no comment on the particular case for the Globe, but did say that the company does not deny or terminate claims based on what’s published on Facebook, or other Web sites.

I’m a man. As a man, I don’t have the right to tell a woman what to do about her own womanly health.

But I know one thing: Too many women die of breast cancer every year.

Now we have to hear so-called health experts tell women to wait until age 50 to get potentially life-saving mammograms? Those same experts are saying that self-examinations may be worthless.

The Boston Herald’s Margery Eagan got it best.

Statistically, it’s true that breast cancer rates skyrocket after age 50, but you don’t need to click this link to know that women under 50 get breast cancer. A 10-year-old girl got breast cancer this year in the US.

While we’re on the topic of numbers, we also know that children are going through puberty faster and faster over recent generations.

I understand that people are worried about false-positives among mammograms. It’s scary. It’s a science that we should be working to perfect, especially with today’s computer technology. But do you know what’s scarier? A dead mom. A dead wife.

Men will never have to experience a mammogram. We hear it’s unpleasant. We hear it can be painful. I understand it’s equal to 1,000 x-rays. I’m not saying every woman should be forced to undergo a test they don’t want, but if you’re a 35-year-old woman, and your mom died of breast cancer, you should be able to get any test you want, whenever you want, to ensure you don’t have to die, too.

It’s outrageous, and you shouldn’t be surprised when men are getting recommendations not to get their own “manly” cancer screenings before a certain age either.

Well, they came for the woman, and I’m not going to wait to let them come for me. Defaultly waiting until age 50 for a mammogram is awful advice that appears to be solely driven by money.